Monday, March 25, 2024

Wine Tasting: Sommelier's Choice

Over the many years I have been tasting wines and teaching wine tasting courses, there are certain wines that have stood out in my sensory mind bank and have also stood the test of time with regard to consistency in quality, value and overall pleasure in drinking.  It was not an easy choice to make as there are quite a few that I could have chosen.  However, for my latest class a few weeks ago, I chose a mix red and white, foreign and domestic, large and small producers, to offer a broad selection of widely available distinctive wines to suit a variety of occasions.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Cheers!


Galen Glen Gruner Veltliner  2021  ($17 at Wegmans or at the winery)



Origin:  Andreas, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

Varietal: 100% Gruner Veltliner

Production/Tasting Notes: "Brimming with ripe pear and green apple aromas plus some white pepper. Juicy and mouth-filling for 12% alcohol, the spritz of carbon dioxide lifting the palate beautifully. Long, delicately spicy finish that pulls you back for more." (92 Points, James Suckling)

Food Pairing: Aperitif; light appetizers; shellfish

Alcohol:12%

 

Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2022 ($14 at Total Wine; a little more in PA)



Origin: Lodi, Sonoma, Lake County, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Napa, California

Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc

Production/Tasting Notes: Long, cool fermentation in 100% stainless steel tanks; aromas of white peach, honeydew melon, guava, passion fruit with citrus notes;; on the palate, tropical fruit flavors giving way to crisp, refreshing acidity and notes of tangerinc, lime sherbet;fresh-cut green apple; fresh-grated ginger; grapefruit; long, harmonious finish. (91 points, 31/100 Top Wines 2023, Wine Spectator)

Food Pairings:

Alcohol: 13.9%

 

Talbott Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay 2017 ($20 at Total Wine)



Origin: Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Production/Tasting Notes: Long, cool growing season; deep sand, gravelly soil; medium-bodied; vanilla, brioche aromas; lush palate with dense fruit flavors of bosc pear, pineapple, melon.

Food Pairings: grilled fish or chicken; shellfish

Alcohol: 14.1%

 

Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva 2020 ($21 at Total Wine)



Origin: Denominazione di Origine Controllata Cannonau di Sardegna

Varietal: 100% Cannonau (Grenache)

Production/Tasting Notes: Estate grown; granite, schist, sandstone and limestone soil; fermentation on the skins in stainless steel vats; 6 months oak barrel aging; aromas of blackberry, cranberry, lavender, hibiscus, sage; medium to full-bodied; soft, polished tannins; undertones of chocolate; vibrant acidity; plum notes on the palate; long, lingering finish with tinge; of herbal, licorice. (94 points, James Suckling; 91 points, Wine Enthusiast, Vinous)

Food pairing: roasted meats; aged cheeses

Alcohol: 14%

 

Château de Nages Héritage Rouge 2020 ($20 at Total Wine)



Origin: Appellation Costières de Nîmes Contrôlée

Varietals: 70%  Grenache; 15% Mourvedre; 15% Syrah

Production/Tasting Notes: Rolled pebbles over iron-rich red clay; certified organic farming; manual harvest; native yeast fermentation, warm maceration for 20 days; partial aging in French oak barrels for 12 months; complex array of red ripe berries (raspberry, cherry), oriental spice, pepper, aromatic herbs; black cherry; licorice;  minerally; long, lush finish.

Food pairing: Cheddar, muster; roasted or grilled; lamb; beef; game; mushrooms; lentils;

Alcohol: 14.5%

 

 

Meandro do Vale Meao 2019 ($30 at Total Wine; less at Lisbon Wine in Spirits in Newark, NJ)



Origin: Douro Denominacao de Origem Controlada

Varietals: 44% Tourigo Nacional; 35% Touriga Franca; 15% Tinta Roriz; 4% Tinta Barroca; 2% Alicante Bouschet

Production/Tasting Notes: 14 months aging in French oak barrels;  ripe black fruit; mulled cherry; dried mint; earthy; creamy tannins; concentrated but, soft and fruity as it opens up; long, fresh, complex, chewy finish; (92 points, Wine Enthusiast; 91 points Wine Advocate; 89 points, Wine Spectator)

Alcohol: 14%

 

Notes on Wineries and Producers

Galen Glen Winery

Galen Glen was the first winery to commerically plant Gruner Veltiner in the US east of the Rockies in 2003.  The owners, Galen and Sarah Troxell, established the winery in 1995 on the Troxell family farm, purchased from Galen's father.     Transitioning from corporate jobs in mechanical engineering and chemistry, they represent the 7th generation to farm the land which sits atop a 1000 ft ridge on the fringe of the Lehigh Valley Viticultural Area.  Their daughter Erin, with degrees from Cornell University and the Vinifera EuroMaster program, heads the winegrowing program.

Joel Gott

Established in 1996, Joel Gott wines are known for their consistent high ratings among prominent wine publications at moderate price points and are sourced from vineyards throughout California, Oregon and Washington.  A 4th generation vintner, Gott first made waves among wine critics with his Zinfandel, which has since expanded to many varietals.

Talbott Vineyards

Specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Talbot Vineyards was established in 1982 in the Santa Lucia Highlands, eventually incorporating two distinct estate vineyards, Diamond T and Sleepy Hollow, whose 1990 vintage Chardonnay garnered 100 points in a Wine Spectator retrospective tasting.        

Sella & Mosca

Sella and Mosca were an engineer and a lawyer, respectively, who, in 1899, established a winery after becoming entranced with a property in Alghero and imagining the possibility of recovering the uncultivated land to produce wines suited to the particular terroir, namely Vermentino and Cannonau.

Chateau de Nages

The Rhone Valley estate  of the Chateau de Nages was originally purchased during World War II by patriarch Joseph Torres.  Upon his death, the estate was passed onto his son-in-law Alfred Gassier, whose son Roger, in turn, invested heavily in planting high quality grape varietals, modernizing equipment and renovating the farmhouse. In 1993, Roger's son Michel took charge of the estate and focused single-mindedly was on transforming the Chateau into a premium organic winery.  His daughter Isabel joined the team in 2022.  The Costieres di Nimes appellation incorporates the Rhone Valley's southernmost vineyards. The Chateau has been cited over 10 times by Wine Spectator as one of the Top 10 French Wineries for Value.

Quinta do Vale Meao

The original property of this renowned Quinta goes back to 1877 when the matriarch, D. Antonia Adelaide Ferreira purchased 300 hectares of virgin land to be developed into a model farm from scratch.  Over the succeeding decades and generations, grapes were cultivated and vinified under the auspices of the Casa Ferrereinha. In 1998, Francisco Javier de Olazabal resigned from his position at Sogrape which had acquired Casa Ferrereinha to dedicate himself,  along with his son, to producing high quality wines wines at the Quinta, namely, Quinta do Vales Meao and the second label Meandro do Vale Meao.  In 2014, the flagship cuvée was awarded 97 points by Wine Spectator for its 2011 vintage, and ranked number 4 in the magazine's Top 100 of the year.


Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Chianti Classico - A Tasting

 There was a time when mentioning "Chianti" conjured up images of cheap red wine in large round bottles with straw casings, otherwise known as "fiaschi".  In my latest class, one of the objectives was to disabuse students of any such notions, and instead focus on Chianti Classico, and feature several iterations of this highly renowned toast of Tuscany.  We sampled Classicos from a variety of producers and subzones of the DOCG, and discovered the wide and diverse range of taste profiles that grace the Sangiovese-based wines from the rolling hills of central Italy whose history and traditions date back many centuries.  

I invite you to examine or re-examine the delights of this preeminent wine region which has seen a great renaissance of style and quality in the new millenium.

(All wines were purchased at Total Wine in Claymont Delaware, except the Cafaggios and the Clememente VII which were Chairman Select wines at the 11th and Chestnut Pa. store in Philadelphia.)

Tenuta di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 ($22)

    

Origin:  Chianti Classico DOCG (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata e Garantita) Riserva

UGA Subzone: Greve in Chianti

Varietal: 100% Sangiovese

Production/Tasting Notes: Maceration with délestage and racking in stainless steel vats for about 20 days; malolactic fermentation; 24 months aging in French oak barriques; 3 months bottle aging; ripe, red berry and cherry aromas and flavors; lavender; violet; mid-weight texture;  earthy undertones; vibrant, fresh acidity with a backbone of firm, sleek tannins; lingering finish. (93 points, James Suckling).

Food Pairing: grilled meat; pasta

Alcohol:14%

 

Baruffo Cantalici Chianti Classico Riserva 2018 ($25)

    


Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva

UGA Subzone: Gaiole in Chianti

Varietals: 100% Sangiovese

Production/Tasting Notes: Hand harvested grapes; cold maceration, fermentation in stainless steel; 18 months (70%)  aging in French oak barrels; notes of berries, ripe plums, spice, tobacco and chocolate on the nose; soft, immediate opening on the palate with red fruit and rich, rigorous tannins; cherry and spice on the finish.

Food  Pairings: Roast game; fiorentina steak; pasta

Alcohol: 14.5%

 

           

 Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico 2021 ($28)

    


Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG

UGA Subzone: Castellina in Chianti

Varietal: 95% Sangiovese; 5% Canaiolo

Production/Tasting Notes: 7 days maceration with racking and pumpovers;14 months aging in barriques; 7 months bottle aging; fragrant, fresh aromas of red fruit, licorice, currant; hint of vanilla, cedar spice; soft, round, flavorful on the palate; persistent acidity on the finish. (89 points, Wine Enthusiast)

Food Pairing: medium-aged cheeses; lasagna; ragu' sauces; roast rabbit; braised veal shank

Alcohol:  13.5%

 

Castelli Del Grevepesa Clemente VIII Chianti Classico 2019 ($13; retail $25)

    



Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG

UGA Subzone: San Casciano

Varietal: 100% Sangiovese

Production/Tasting Notes: Cherry, plum fruit; vibrant acidity; ripe tannins; herbal notes of thyme, fresh oregano; spice, tobacco; velvety; lingering finishing; (90 points, Wine Spectator)

Alcohol: 14%

 

 S. Andrea in Colle Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 ($24)

    


Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG

UGA Subzone: San Cascino

Varietal: 100% Sangiovese

Production/Tasting Notes: fermentation up to 15 days; 24 months aging in French oak; medium-bodied; intense aromas of violet flowers, red berries; rich bing cherry flavor; white rose; vanilla; hints of spice and leather; complex, smooth.

Food Pairing: grilled or roasted meats; pasta with red sauce

Alcohol: 14%

 

Tenuta di Renierei Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 ($27)

    


Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG

UGA Subzone: Castelnuovo Berardenga

Varietals: 100% Sangiovese

Production/Tasting Notes: Made with organic grapes; 18 months aging in Allier oak barriques; "[F]ruity nose of peaches, plums, lemons, tea leaves, seaweed; vibrant, racy, medium bodied; tight-grained tannins and crunchy acidity. Salty undertones". - James Suckling, 93 pts.

"Spicy aromas of wild berries, ripe cherry, licorice and herbs with silky texture."  (Producer/label notes.)

Food Pairing: pasta with red sauce; grilled pork; hard cheeses

Alcohol: 14.5%

 

Cafaggio Basilica Solatio Chianti Classico Riserva 2015 ($20; retail $50)

    


Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG

UGA Subzone: Greve in Chianti

Varietal: 100% Sangiovese

Production/Tasting Notes: 24 months aging in Slovenian oak barrels; 6 months bottle aging; black cherry, plum, wild rosemary,thyme; measured, balance; soft, exuberant fruit; soft integrated tannins; fleshy, fruity finish. (92 points, Wine Spectator; 93 points Wine Advocate)

Food Pairing: mushroom risotto; slow cooked pork belly

Alcohol: 14%

 

Cafaggio Basilica Solatio Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2017 ($20; retail $50)

    


Origin: Chianti Classico DOCG

UGA Subzone: Panzano in Chianti

Varietals: 85% Sangiovese; 15% Cabernet Sauvignon

Production/Tasting Notes: 18 months aging in French oak barriques; 12 months in glass-lined concrete vats; 6 months bottle aging before release; organic grapes; concentrated; "dense matrix of tannins"; blackberry, black currant, plum, tobacco flavors; lingering finish. (94 points, Wine Spectator; 92 points Wine Advocate)

Food Pairing: grilled steak or lamb

Alcohol: 14%


Factoids about Chianti Classico

·       The Classico region between Florence and Siena was defined in 1306 by the Lega del Chianti.

·       The Gallo Nero (black rooster) was selected by the Chianti League as its symbol in 1384.

·       In 1938, the association known as the Comissionaria Industria Fiaschi for the manufacture of fiaschi (straw-wrapped bottles) is created in Empoli. Fiaschi are not permitted for riserva or gran selezione selections.

·       Chianti earns DOC status in 1967, and DOCG status in 1984.

·       In 2014, the Consorzio Vino Classico introduces the gran selezione category, the highest quality from estate-grown grapes for Chianti Classico wines.

·       UGAs (Unita' Geografiche Aggiuntive) are approved by the Consorzio Vino Classico in 2021.  Currently, there are 11 such subzones.

·       There are 3 quality levels within the DOCG: Gran Selezione (5%), Riserva (38%) and Annata (57%). Aging requirements are 30 months, 24 months and 12 months, respectively. Minimum Sangiovese percentages are 90, 80 and 80, respectively.

·       47 different varietals (all red) may comprise up to 20% of the blend.

·       Sangiovese is the most widely planted grape in Italy, mostly in Tuscany

·       Sangiovese comes from the Latin saguis Jovis, meaning "blood of Jove". Other monikers include: Brunello, Prugnolo Gentile, Niellucio, Sangioveto, Morellino.  


 For more information on Chianti Classico, please see the following pictograms from the October 21, 2022 issue of the Wine Spectator:


    




















Friday, September 22, 2023

Best Winery in Jersey? (So far...Yes!)... Update - Unfortunately, the winery closed for good this season! The search continues for the best Jersey winery!

 Readers may recall that last year I posted about a trio of wineries down by Cape May that a couple of friends and I visited, the upshot being that some of the wines we tasted were pretty decent, others not especially remarkable.  This has been my experience over the years that I've been tasting Jersey wines, with standouts relatively few and far between.  However, overall I would say that possibilities are expanding for more noteworthy wineries in the Garden State.  Case in point, my most recent visit to three more establishments in the Cape May area with the same friends.

Lest I bury the lede, so to speak, the first on our itinerary, Turdo Vineyards and Winery https://www.turdovineyards.com/ started our journey off with a bang - every wine we tasted, both reds and whites, was a winner, in particular the estate grown wines labeled Turis.

    Although Turdo was not on a list of "Ten Best Wineries in Jersey" that I came across in one of my news feeds, for some reason I had a feeling or premonition that we should check this one out.  I'd never heard of it before, but perusing the website, I got a sense that these people were serious wine producers.  Indeed, the passion and quality come through not only in the final product but in talking with the owners Salvatore and Luca, and their son who is the current wine master.

Established in 1998, Turdo began producing vintages within a few years after the initial planting of vines, focusing largely, but not exclusively, on classic Italian varietals such Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Nero d'Avola.  Indeed, we also tasted their "Bordeaux" style blend as well as a Cabernet Sauvignon, which were particularly impressive as they are notoriously difficult to do well in the northeastern states.

    





We started off, of course, with the whites, the first being a lovely fragrant and crisp Pinot Grigio with bracing acidity and notes of pear, white peach and Meyer lemon.  There are so many mediocre PGs  in the market place, that it's a real delight to come across one that hits the mark. Next on the list was a Riesling, vinified from grapes sourced in Mulacca Hills, if I'm not mistaken.  A fine rendition of the grape widely celebrated in the Finger Lakes, the DiLuca Riesling, embodies its distinctive traits with aromas of Granny Smith, citrus peel and kiwi, leading to flavors of tangerine and lime with a minerally finish.  

    



The Turis Rosato, made from 100% Merlot, was another delight with scents of raspberry, cherry and strawberry, accompanied by vibrant acidity and a clean, crisp finish, unlike so many mass-produced roses that are listless, limp and lackluster.

    


Now onto the reds which were especially notable, three of which were Turis estate grown - Sangiovese, Persara (Bordeaux blend) and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The DiLuca Rosso "Black Label" is a Tempranillo-Syrah blend sourced from Mulacca Hill grapes.

The Sangiovese was a lovely example of the predominant grape of Tuscany that is a major component of Chianti, Brunello and many Super Tuscans.  With aromas of tobacco, spice and fruit, this well-balanced,  medium-bodied red delights the palate with  red currant and tart red cherry, finishing with notes of pepper and toasted oak.

As a connoisseur well-versed in Bordeaux wines (I spent a year in there back in the '80's), I have a special predilection on the palate for the French classic, and was duly impressed with Turis's version which is composed of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot and Cab Franc.  Although I had some very fine Meritage blends in Virginia recently, it's been much harder to find decent versions further north. The Turis Persara blend notably exudes aromas of rich, dark fruit with notes of vanilla, and on the palate raspberry preserves and blueberry meld together for a luscious mouth feel.

Likewise, the Turis Cabernet Sauvignon was also a very well-produced example of this noble variety which has way too many iterations in the Northeast that fall far short of quality standards expected by the discriminating wine aficionado.  Aged for 30 months in new French oak, this rich, complex 2020 Cab hits all the right notes - plum, cassis and black cherry with nuances of cocoa, vanilla and baking spice.  Now for a good quality red Jersey wine, you will pay a higher price - in the $30-40 price range - but you will feel good about supporting local vintners who really know their craft.

We were also graciously offered samples of the newly released Barbera, one of the "secondary" varietals of the Piedmont region of northern Italy, after Nebbiolo. This is one of my favorite Italian grapes and Turdo does of very fine job of vinifying this varietal into a medium-body wine full of red fruit (cherry and raspberry) with a hint of vanilla, and nicely balanced with the right level of acidity that goes well with pizza and pasta.

The next stop on our winery tour that day was Cape May Winery https://capemaywinery.com/, a sprawling establishment that includes a couple of inside wine bars and lounges as well as spacious outside patios along with a walk-up counter to order from their abundant tapas menu.  There is also regular live music throughout the summer.

 


All this to say that the focus seems to be more on entertainment than serious wine appreciation, although you can opt for a guided tasting.  Given the vibe, we decided to just order a selection of wines for tasting while nibbling on snacks.  I did order the crab slider which was very tasty.  On the other hand, the wines were generally unremarkable, so that if you decide to stop by, don't hold high expectations of the wine, but do enjoy the food, music and bonhomie.






The final destination of the day was Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery https://www.hawkhavenvineyard.com/ established in 2008 and located in Rio Grande, just north of Cape May.  Producing mostly popular vitis vinifera wines such as Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec, the winery makes available both estate grown wines as well as wines vinified from a cooperative of vineyards in the area.

     

For our guided wine tasting, we sampled 6 different wines - whites, a rosé and reds, beginning with the estate bottled "signature series" of the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc and 2022 Pinot Grigio, both fine examples of these popular varietals, exhibiting aromas of gooseberry, lime and white flowers, and notes of green apple and minerality on the palate for the former; and lemon verbena, toasted almond and macademia on the nose, and Meyer lemon and apricot on the palate in the case of the latter. I reiterate that it's always noteworthy to find a Pinot Grigio that stands out among the innumerable insipid versions flooding the market. 

The Signature Series rosé is a kind of "kitchen sink" blend, consisting of 9 common red varietals that all come together to produce a delightfully crisp, tantalizing pink wine exuding vanilla, strawberry and apricot on the nose, and cream, white peach and tangerine on the palate.


The three reds were tasted were the 2020 Q (a Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Malbec & Petit Verdot, aged 2 years in oak barrels), the 2020 Proprietor's Red Blend (70% Merlot, 20% Cab Sauv & 10% Petite Sirah, 17-18 months aging) and the 2020 OA Cabernet Franc (98% with 2% Petit Verdot, 20 months aging).  These were also well-produced wines that exhibited prominent characteristics associated with quality wines of the respective blends or varietals. For example, the Cab Franc offered up aromas of plum, clove and lavender with notes of blackberry, black currant and strawberry on the palate.  This red topped out at $46, but all the whites were in the low to upper $20s, and the Proprietor's Red came in at $25 and the Q at $39.   The range in price points will allow most customers to find something that fits there palate at reasonable price.  

               


The summer shore season may be over, but it's always the right time for a good wine, and Turdo and Hawk Haven provide a good reason to take a weekend trip to taste some the best Jersey has to offer. Plus, there's always next summer!

Cheers!

Monday, August 21, 2023

Wining and Dining By the Shore - Selection from the Philly Wineguy's Cellar

 In late July, friends met down the shore for their annual summer wining and dining soirée.  We'd previously decided that I should select wines from my cellar that would be appropriately for a warm weather repast.  I chose a sparkling Rose, a couple of whites and reds, all from the Finger Lakes or Virginia except for the bubbly.  (You can read more about the Linden Winery from Virginia and its Petit Verdot in my previous post about my winery visits there.)




For extra fun and amusement, I had the guests try to guess the country or region of origin and the varietal(s).  More often than not, one of the imbibers would knowingly or unknowingly utter the correct answer after some hints on my part, which was impressive as identifying wines in a blind tasting is notoriously tricky and difficult.  Despite all the tasting I've done over the years, I am not especially good at it except for the most obvious wines. Usually, I will note familiar tasting profiles but then mix up the varietals.  So kudos to those guests who were on the mark.

    



As for the wines themselves, overall it was thumbs up, however, the Goldfinch Chardonnay caused some dissension among the ranks as I expected.  It was aged in French oak and as such did not go down well among those who have an aversion to oaked Chardonnay.  Now I am usually not a fan of the oak, but depending on how it influences the wine, I can appreciate those wines that have a nice balance of toasty-ness with the fruit, and acidity.  I actually tasted and compared the other Chardonnay from Prejean which was aged in American oak and had a slight preference for the French oak.  In any case, I do recommend visiting Prejean as they produce some nice quality wines and you can choose whether to taste the oaked Chardonnays or not.


Ampulheta Magica "Aplauso" Bruto Rosé Vinho Espumante NV

    


Origin: Bairada DOC (Portugal)

Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Baga

Production/Tasting Notes: Traditional champenoise method (secondary fermentation in bottle); 9 months cellaring for settling; one month of remouage; 2 months cellaring in bottle before release; light fruity sweetness - wild berries, strawberries, raspberry; thin, light bubbles; fresh, lively; balanced acidity; slightly creamy.

Food  Pairing: seafood; fish; pasta; light hors d'oeuvre; cold salad

Alcohol: 11.5%

 

Prejean Goldfinch Vineyards Chardonnay 2021

    


Origin: Finger Lakes (Seneca), New York State

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay

Production/Tasting Notes: Estate bottled; barrel fermented in grand Vosge French Oak;

Food pairing: poultry; seafood;

Alcohol:  12.6%

 

Prejean Dry Riesling 2021

    


Origin : Finger Lakes (Seneca), New York State

Varietal: 100% Riesling

Production/Tasting Notes:  Estate bottled; crisp; aromas of lime, orange peel, mineral; tropical fruit, apple flavors
 
Food Pairings: salmon; pork; Asian cuisine

 

Alcohol: 13%

 

Rock Stream Cabernet Franc 2020

    


Origin: Finger Lakes (Seneca), New York State

Varietals: 100% Cabernet Franc

Tasting Notes: Cherry and black raspberry aromas and flavors; hints of vanilla, dark chocolate; smooth, dry finish;

Food  Pairing: roast chicken; pizza

Alcohol: 12%

 

Linden Petit Verdot 2020

    


Origin: Loudon County, Northern Virginia

Varietals: 87% Petit Verdot; 13% Cabernet Sauvignon      

Production/Tasting Notes:  Double sorting before crush; whole berry fermentation; malolactic fermentation with cultured yeast; French oak aging (9-22 months); separate pressing and fermentation before blending; robust; notes of blackberry; dark fruit; earthy; steely tannins; full bodied.

Food Pairing: braised beef; lamb; mushrooms

Alcohol:  13.3 %