Light and just the right amount of sweetness. Medium dry, perfect for a warm Spring or Summer day. Floral and grapefruit flavors with the perfect balance of minerality. — 6 months ago
My last Gratitude, so now I’m bitter🥴
In the spring of 2018, our Winemaker, Jordan Fiorentini, headed Down Under to work a harvest in Barossa Valley, Australia with one of Bill Armstrong’s good wine buddies, Michael Twelftree of Two Hands Wines. During Jordan’s visit, the two bonded over their love of Grenache, and thus, worked together to create a wine from some stunning 70-year-old Grenache vines in the area. The 50% whole cluster fermentation took place in Barossa, but the resulting wine made its way back to Paso Robles to do its barrel-aging and bottling in our winery. This collaboration between two countries is the perfect way to say thank you to doctors, nurses, & volunteers who serve on the front lines during this global pandemic.
$40 a bottle; all proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders — 4 years ago
Tasting a more recent vintage, 460 cases produced, 16.7% alc/vol (seriously?!) So how does it compare with previous vintages? Purple red, highly extracted pigment. Wood in nose, wood, black cherry and black currant in mouth initially. Letting it breathe... Mint and blackberry flavors emerge after 30 minutes, and there’s got to be some RS in this. Well made, balanced, surprisingly not hot or alcoholic (which explains the sweet fruitiness), slightly syrupy in mouthfeel. A really nice wine. Reminds me why, growing up, Zin was always my favorite. Moderate chewy tannins emerge after 60 minutes, but acceptably so; they later dissipate. Fresh fig and tar emerge after that, greatness! Makes me wonder if, with global warming, the future of Zinfandel is here in the Pacific Northwest — 4 years ago
This is a great value in a CDR that tastes the way CDRs used to taste before global warming. Nose has lots of spicy dark berry fruit, and loads of assorted roasted green herbs and minerally, earthy notes. It’s bright and intense on the palate. Just ripe enough, not jammy at all. Tons of clingy, savory elements. Soft textured, with good acidity. More please! — 2 months ago
Needed something a bit more predictable after that Overnoy. Step right up JJ Girard. Maddeningly consistent. Love this version of a great 1er Cru. Global warming is helping Beaune 1er Crus.
Nose is tight but has lovely spice, dark flowers and black cherries. This is such a serious 1er Cru. Wispy sour cherry, herbs. Super complex and opening by the minute. Fruit filling in big time. Sour cherry, dark cherries, early season cherries. Brambly now. So pretty and deep. Perfect hint of framing oak. Girard is so good. Palate is just gorgeous. Young but awesome. Showing some wood but huge sap, density and really fresh. Girard is always invigorating. Good concentration and really black fruited palate. Black cherries and they are so clear. Long palate staining finish. Persistent. So juicy and with such a serious structure. Plus that just maddeningly consistently delicious Girard fruit. — 3 years ago
Nice medium body, not overly tannic. — 3 months ago
Resident Christmas party, found at the Cellar — a year ago
A minor ingredient in Bordeaux blends, Petit Verdot is one of those grape varieties that enjoy greater popularity away from home. Notoriously late-ripening, grapes can have difficulties undergoing veraison in Bordeaux, especially in cold years, remaining unusable green berries (hence its name, “little green”). While Petit Verdot often fails to ripen in Bordeaux, it seems to flourish in warmer regions, such as some parts of Australia, California and Spain, where its long-cycle offers winemakers a hedge against global warming. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the region of Ronda in southern Spain has turned out to be an ideal location for Petit Verdot - which even here, doesn’t get picked until late October or early November.
Cortijo Los Aguilares’ Tadeo is one of Ronda and Spain’s most recognized Petit Verdot bottlings. Sourced from the estate’s El Calero plot at 900m (nearly 3,000 ft) elevation in Ronda, in the province of Málaga. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak for 15 months. Dark ruby color with purple rim. Fragrant, very attractive, complex nose with layers of black fruit (bramble), smoke and graphite, herbal notes, sweet spices, vanilla and violets. Full-bodied, structured, powerful tannins. Impressive. — 4 years ago
Jeff Christner
Great aperitif to grilled salmon. — a month ago