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Good day and welcome to my weekly dig by means of the pile of wine samples that present up asking to be tasted. I’m happy to carry you the newest installment of Vinography Unboxed, the place I spotlight a number of the higher bottles which have crossed my doorstep not too long ago.
Let’s begin this week with a very wonderful Chardonnay from husband-and-wife Erica Landon and Ken Pahlow, who began Walter Scott in 2008 after emptying their retirement accounts to take action. It’s the form of tiny household operation that Oregon’s Willamette Valley hosts quite a lot of of. They make small portions of wonderful wines, with nice consideration to element.
Talking of tiny outfits run by husbands and wives from Oregon, I’ve acquired a couple of of the present releases from Big Table Farm, together with a few very scrumptious Pinot Noirs, and a deep darkish Syrah for individuals who like their Syrah on the inky finish of the spectrum.
Persevering with the family-run-theme, and dodging again to white wines for a second, we’re on to the Two Shepherds Pastoral Blanc, a stunning white Rhone mix that’s a pleasure to drink. It options Vermentino, an Italian grape that continues to make inroads in Southern France below the synonym Rolle.
And final, however actually not least, let’s spend slightly time with husband and spouse Paul Gordon and Jackie Bracey, who haven’t fairly managed to give up their day jobs, however scraped collectively sufficient cash to purchase a winery method up within the Yorkville Highlands AVA of Mendocino County. Planted with Syrah (and a variety of love) on decomposed schist, Halcón Vineyards has develop into (IMHO) top-of-the-line sources for organically-farmed Syrah in California, which till not too long ago I had solely tasted in bottles with different individuals’s names on them. However Bracey has additionally been making wines below their very own label, which I’m comfortable to say are fairly distinctive. I’ve acquired a couple of of them to share this week, together with their knockout Syrah known as “Alturas” which references the 2500 ft of elevation that distinguishes their web site.
Earlier than we depart the world of Rhône grapes, I’d wish to advocate the newest classic of the venerable Tablas Creek‘s “Cotes de Tablas” crimson mix, which is a wonderful and dependable homage to a grenache-dominated Côtes du Rhône.
Final however actually not least, I’ve acquired two extra Steve-Matthiasson-shepherded Cabernet Francs from Ashes and Diamonds, my favourite of which is the 2015, which soars with expressive aromatics which can be starting to emerge because it ages. The 2016 is not any slouch both, providing juicy, tart plum pores and skin and inexperienced herbs.
Notes on all these under.
Tasting Notes
2019 Walter Scott “Freedom Hill Winery” Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Palest greenish-gold in shade, this wine smells of lemon pith, melted butter, and white flowers. Within the mouth, intensely brilliant and juicy flavors of lemon pith, lemon curd, pink grapefruit, and white flowers are positively bursting with acidity. Notes of dried herbs, kumquat, and white flowers, tinged with a touch of butterscotch linger within the end. Crackling, crystalline, and totally scrumptious. 13% alcohol. Rating: between 9 and 9.5. Value: $65. click to buy.
2016 Two Shepherds “Pastoral Blanc – Saralee’s Winery” White Mix, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Gentle greenish-gold in shade, this wine smells of apricots and lemon bars. Within the mouth, notes of apricot swirl with natural flavors of chamomile and heat hay. Hints of pear and kumquat linger within the end. Wonderful acidity, with only a faint bitter bitterness. A mix of 45% Viognier, 25% Roussanne, 25% Marsanne, and 5% Vermentino (or ought to we are saying, Rolle?). 12.5% alcohol. Rating: round 9. Value: $28. click to buy.
2019 Large Desk Farm Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Medium garnet within the glass, this wine smells of forest flooring, potting soil, and crushed berries. Within the mouth, earthy flavors of cherry and raspberry are shot by means of with inexperienced herbs and notes of dried flowers. Lithe, elegant, and fairly scrumptious. Wonderful acidity and faint, velvety tannins. 12.8% alcohol. Rating: round 9. Value: $45. click to buy.
2019 Large Desk Farm “Pelos Sandberg Winery” Pinot Noir, Eola Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Gentle to medium garnet in shade, this wine smells of forest flooring, dried flowers, and dried herbs. Within the mouth, silky-textured flavors of cedar, mulling spices raspberries, and cherries have faint velvety tannins and beautiful acidity. Fairly fragrant, this wine lingers with the scent of redwood duff for a protracted end. 13% alcohol. Rating: between 9 and 9.5. Value: $75. click to buy.
2016 Ashes and Diamonds “Quantity 3” Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Medium garnet in shade, this wine smells of plum and inexperienced herbs. Within the mouth, easy, suede-like tannins wrap round a core of plum and tart plum pores and skin flavors tinged with inexperienced herbs. Pretty acidity and stability, with only a trace of nut-skin bitterness within the end. The fruit for this wine comes from a choose few vineyards within the southern a part of Napa Valley. Aged for 20 months in 18% new French oak. Made by Steve Matthiasson. 13.5% alcohol. Rating: round 9. Value: $75. click to buy.
2015 Ashes and Diamonds “Quantity 2” Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, Napa, California
Medium to darkish garnet in shade, this wine smells of fantastically perfumed candied plum and roasted nuts. Within the mouth, beautiful plum and dried herbs combine with dried flowers and citrus peel. Unbelievable acidity and great size with a faint salinity within the end to make it additional gulpable. Opening up fantastically. The fruit for this wine comes from a choose few vineyards within the southern a part of Napa Valley. Aged for 20 months in 25% new French oak. Made by Steve Matthiasson. 13.5% alcohol. Rating: between 9 and 9.5. Value: $75. click to buy.
2019 Tablas Creek “Cotes de Tablas” Crimson Mix, Adelaida District, Paso Robles, Central Coast, California
Medium to darkish garnet within the glass, this wine smells of cherry, plum, and blueberry fruit. Within the mouth, juicy brilliant flavors of blueberry and blackberry have a zingy chunk, due to wonderful acidity. Hints of dried sage and dusty highway linger within the end with gauzy tannins that add some texture and complexity. Fairly tasty. A mix of 44% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 17% Counoise, and 9% Mourvedre. 14% alcohol. 1000 instances made. Rating: round 9. Value: $36. click to buy.
2018 Halcón Vineyards “Alturas” Syrah, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino, California
Medium garnet within the glass, this wine smells of grilled meat, black cherries, and white pepper. Within the mouth, white pepper, blueberries, black cherry, and dried herbs have a fantastically saline high quality to them and wonderful acidity that retains the mouth-watering. Faint, powdery tannins cling in a gauzy haze at the back of the mouth, whereas herbs and dried flowers linger within the end with a contact of white pepper. Killer stuff. 13.4% alcohol. Rating: round 9.5. Value: $35. click to buy.
2018 Halcón Vineyards “Elevación” Syrah, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino, California
Medium to darkish cloudy garnet within the glass, this wine smells of bloody steak, incense, and blackberry fruit. Within the mouth, intensely natural flavors of blackberry, blueberry, and sawdust emerge from a cloudy haze of tannins that appear to fill each nook and cranny of the mouth. Distinctly natural and barely bitter notes of licorice root and tarragon linger within the end. The wine leaves me considering “perhaps only a few fewer stems, please.” A variety from the winery of a single “heritage” clone, complete cluster fermented in a impartial puncheon. 13.3% alcohol. Rating: between 8.5 and 9. Value: $35. click to buy.
2018 Halcón Vineyards “Esquisto” Crimson Mix, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino, California
Medium ruby in shade this wine smells of strawberries, herbs, and cedar. Within the mouth, juicy strawberry, dried sage, and dried flowers have a citrus-peel brightness due to wonderful acidity. Powdery, voluminous tannins coat the mouth however stay extra of a texture than a power on the palate. Expansive and sophisticated. Fairly stunning. A mix of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Syrah. 13.9% alcohol. Rating: between 9 and 9.5. Value: $32. click to buy.
2018 Large Desk Farm “Funk Property Winery” Syrah, The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, Oregon
Very darkish purple within the glass, this wine smells of iodine and black cherry, cassis, and moist iron. Within the mouth, meaty flavors of black cherry and blackcurrant combine with sage and oregano amidst velvety tannins. There’s not as a lot acidity right here as I would really like, so the wine finally ends up being a bit plushy for me. A little bit of a change from the lean brightness of Large Desk’s Pinots and Chardonnays. The flavors, although, are tasty, with kalamata olive lingering within the end. 15.1% alcohol. Rating: round 8.5. Value: $48. click to buy.
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