Sean Burke

9.1

Really like and versatile — 3 months ago

Joshua Figg

9.2

Subtle, slightly crisp. Strong aromas of apple and pear, balanced acidity. Easy drinker. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

Cheers to old-vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa! 🇿🇦 In South Africa, Chenin Blanc also goes by the name “Steen.”

It’s such a versatile grape and wine, capable of producing beautiful sweet, dry, still, and sparkling wines.

This wine is still and dry. We’ve paired it with sushi and it’s a delightful duet.

The grapes for this wine were grown organically in the Citrusdal Mountain district, north of Cape Town, west of the Olifants River, on the Western Cape. The bush vines were originally planted in 1957 (old!!), contributing to an intensity and a concentration of primary aromas and flavors in the grapes.

Indeed, the nose and palate offer medium(+) aromas and flavors of ripe pear, yellow apple, white peach, vegetal, boxwood, white blossom, crushed stone, and aged cheese rind notes. Lively acidity gives it lift and balances the high alcohol and intensity of fruit.

This wine was produced by Ginny Povall, American-born proprietor and self-taught winemaker of Botanica Wines. I love the botanical images on her labels, each an homage to the flower farm on which she began her wine production journey in South Africa.   

Botanica Wines, Chenin Blanc (Mary Delany Collection), 2019, ABV 14%. — 4 years ago

with Deked1

Tom Garland

8.9

HAPPY 4TH of JULY!! 1st vintage from this Napa vineyards syrah from Heidi Barrett(200 cases). Pays homage to L'Hermitage Rhone region(got a kick out of the wine name and bought it, forgot it, pulled it from the cellar today).

Double decant and pour. A stately inky dark garnet color. On the nose: plum, earthy, smoked meat, herbal, vanilla. Taste: A juicy, silky wine with fading dark fruit, dried herbs, milk chocolate.....with a spicy leather medium plus finish. Tannins are resolved...drink em if you got em!! — 6 years ago

with Brenda

Joe Roth

9.1

Well structured. Too bad there is no more Clos Pepe - only what’s left in cellars. — 7 years ago

with Jeff and Michael

President Obama

9.7

Low acid. Gift from Derek. — 8 years ago

Eric

9.4

Now that’s more like it. Nice complex Syrah from the Alder Springs Vineyard. Wildflowers, plums, camphor, leather, tar, and charcoal. 👍 — 8 years ago

Christopher Thomas

9.7

Strong, rich flavor. Smooth finish for Malbec. — 5 months ago

James Mosman

9.0

Well worth another bottle. — 2 years ago

Joshua Figg

9.2

Fruit forward, very smooth. — 3 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

Soft and well integrated wine with definite homage to the Cabernet Franc on the nose. Drinkable now, and quite enjoyably!! — 5 years ago

Ken Z

9.0

Drank 2/21/20. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

An early drinking, more ripe style. Black cherry, black currant, magic marker, earth and a touch of underbrush on the bouquet. Black fruit and a hint of pepper on the nose well integrated tannins, full body, long finish.

4/21/8/3/4 +50=90 pts. — 6 years ago

Balakrishna Narasimhan

9.1

Excellent Pinot Blanc. Nice acid. — 7 years ago

DAL 9000

9.3

At the winery with Arnie and Todd. Hint of butter in the middle with a mineral ever so slight citrus finish. ( new oak barrels fined with egg whites) Grand Cru. Outstanding. — 8 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

occata Classico 2020
Santa Barbara County AVA, California 🇺🇸

Overview
A uniquely Italian-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and the very rare Piedmontese grape Freisa. Grapes are sourced from Los Alamos Vineyard (66%) and Valley View Vineyard (34%), both within Santa Barbara County. This cuvée reflects the region’s versatility and pays homage to Old World traditions with a distinctly Californian expression. Extremely approachable and crowd-pleasing, it’s a true bridge between Italian heritage and California winemaking.

Aromas & Flavors
On the nose, dark cherry, ripe plum, and dried roses are lifted by subtle baking spices and a hint of tobacco leaf. The palate continues with layers of blackberry, cassis, and a whisper of earthy leather, with Freisa adding a rustic twist of red berries and herbal undertones.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with velvety tannins, balanced acidity, and a polished structure. It feels plush and seamless, finishing long yet inviting, with a touch of savory spice.

Winemaking Notes
A thoughtful blend composition highlighting both classic Bordeaux varieties and the rare Italian Freisa, fermented and aged in French oak to achieve elegance while preserving fruit vibrancy.

Food Pairing
Pairs beautifully with osso buco, Tuscan-style grilled steak, roasted lamb, or rich tomato-based pasta. Also versatile enough for charcuterie and hard cheeses.

Verdict
A standout example of Santa Barbara’s Italian-driven winemaking spirit. Elegant, smooth, and versatile — this blend is both serious and fun, making it perfect for casual gatherings yet polished enough to impress the connoisseur. — 10 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Cabernet Sauvignon from the Central Ranges of New South Wales Australia. Winemaker pays homage to his Great Great Grandfather, who was one of Australia’s early convict settlers. Dark/Black fruit aromas and flavors. Hint of a green quality and spice on the bitter finish. Tannins are a bit harsh. Revisited in July 2022. This bottle is not as bitter as the last time we had this one. Upgrading my rating. Thanks for bringing this one again Ron B. — 5 years ago

Joshua Figg

9.4

Spicy, smooth, a bit jammy. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

9.4

opaque ruby violet; black cherry, milk chocolate, plum, vanilla bean, violets, menthol; soft, juicy, generous fruit; full bodied, medium+ acidity, soft tannins, 14.6% ABV; blend of 66% Merlot and 34% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from multiple sites, homage to Bordeaux’s right bank; $100 — 6 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.3

Year in and year out, one of my favorite wines being made in the U.S. Tegan pays homage to Jura, but this is also a distinctly Californian take on Trousseau. The purity of fruit he achieves here is incredible. — 7 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.6

It might shock you, but my favorite rosé is not French but instead comes from California! Blasphemy, I know - but Bedrock's Ode to Lulu is just that good. The difficulty is actually finding a bottle. For the last three years, I've only been allocated a case (or less) to sell here in Denver. It's possible you are one of the select few I've actually told about this wine... If not, now is your chance. This is the first year there's an "okay" supply. It won't last, but you should be able to get a bottle.

So yes, it's not French but it's made in the same style and method of Tempier Bandol Rosé- the most sought after, cult rosé out there. The name "Ode to Lulu" is actually an homage to the 4.5 foot tall, 101 year old woman named "Lulu" Peyraud (born Lucie Tempier) whose father gifted the Mourvedre heavy estate to her and her husband Lucien Peyraud. The wines they would go on to produce from the 1940's onward quite literally defined Bandol and put it on the map as some of the best rosés out there. She's still alive and presumably drinking plenty of wine.

This California-born "Ode to Lulu" is modeled after the great Tempier, but has some unique properties compared to it's French namesake. For one, the vines are EXTREMELY old. Tempier defined itself by focusing on old Mourvèdre and Grenache plantings, but even these French vineyards cannot compare to what Bedrock is working with in California. If you don't know, Bedrock is the winery of Morgon Twain Peterson, son of legendary Ravenswood founder Joel Peterson. Morgon grew up making wine and through his father has cultivated relationships with some of the most important heritage vineyards in California. The "Ode to Lulu" is made from Mourvèdre and Grenache planted as far back as 1888! These are some of the oldest plantings of these grapes around and make for unbelievable wines. Tempier's average vine age is around 40 years old today. Bedrock's is over 3x as old. Insane.

Morgon may be young, but he has a life time of winemaking experience. He started making wine with his father when he was 5 years old and hasn't stopped yet. In addition to absorbing his father's knowledge on heritage vineyards, he is a real student in the world of wine, earning a "Masters of Wine" designation (this industry's highest achievement). I've been drinking his wine for several years and I can say that his wine is made extremely thoughtfully and with expert attention to detail. This is true even with a wine as humble as rosé.

Unlike most California pink wine, Bedrock is not produced by "bleeding off" juice from a red wine. Instead, the grapes are picked early and separately at very low potential alcohols, and whole cluster pressed with low extraction. This preserves the freshness and acidity, creating a wine of clarity. In an old blog post I dug up, Morgon explains this idea:

"I pick at potential alcohols lower on the scale where brightness and lift still exist. This is not to say that fruit does not matter—I use Mourvedre from a block planted over 120 years ago for requisite concentration of complexity of flavor—but like fine champagne, the wonders of rosé lie in its unbearable lightness of being."

I agree with this idea of rosé and I think most people instinctively do as well. It's no coincidence that our best selling bottles come from provence. However, I urge you to pick up at least one bottle of this Ode to Lulu. It's a wine that's close in spirit to the best French rosé but made from vineyards that are American and unrivaled in age.

This is the fourth vintage of Ode to Lulu I've tasted, and I would say that's the most elegant yet. The 2015 was maybe my favorite for it's depth and I picked a few up to age, drinking my last bottle recently... This new vintage is great now, but it will reward with a short cellaring time. Honestly, if you can hide 2 bottles and drink them before fall or into next year, you will be blown away. Bandol rosé is a wine that improves dramatically over the course of 6 months to several years (Tempier Rosé is known to go decades). This bedrock is no different.

I can personally attest to past vintages gaining depth with time. How is this possible? Unlike other rosé which should be drank young, Bandol and Ode to Lulu are made of Mourvedre, a grape that is naturally reductive and resistant to oxidation. Further, the acidity is high and alcohol low. As the acidity starts to fall away, a depth and richness of character will emerge. In fruitier/riper rosé with more alcohol, this richness becomes too sweet and cloying... Not the case here. This keep balanced through time, gaining complexity while remaining refreshing. 

You should buy this wine. However, I think there is one more important facet to rosé that I should mention before you do... Rosé is not always about what's in the glass itself. Rosé is really an ethereal thing... It's more so an "essence" of terroir and vintage rather than a sturdy, hard representation like red wine is... Sorry if that doesn't make sense but what I'm trying to say is that sometimes rosé is more about the place and the people you enjoy it with than the exact flavors themselves. Of course, we cannot all visit the picturesque village of Bandol to visit Lulu Peyraud; but I think, with this sunny Colorado weather, we can come close. Perhaps Morgon said it better than I can:

"Proper rosé is refreshing, life-nourishing stuff that revives the soul... I drink as much for pure pleasure as for intellectual stimulation. In the warmer months there is something sacred about a late afternoon meal of cold chicken, fresh garden tomatoes, and rosé. It is one body in the sacred trilogy of rustic simplicity." - Morgon Twain Peterson

#rose #oldvine #lulu #tempier #bedrockwineco — 8 years ago