13.5% ABV Salute to Lulu Peyraud of Domaine Tempier in France. Lulu’s father owned the vineyard , and she along with her husband took it over. Sadly we lost her in October 2020 at the age of 102 y/o. This is a blend of old vine Mataro and Grenache. Light salmon color, watermelon initially , later apple. Very nice! — 2 years ago
Wes really likes it. Unique flavor, tart, crisp. I didn’t love it — 13 days ago
Very drinkable — a month ago
Very smooth gorgeous red. — 3 years ago
Nose has mashed blackberry, ripe black current, ripe black cherry, wet saddle leather, horse barn, dried mint, fried green herbs, chopped bacon, muddy garden soil, constantly developing...
Palate has mahogany shavings, black cherry 🍒, dried garden soil, day old bacon bacon 🥓, over-ripe black currant, warm dark chocolate, (minor) baking spice with a very long and intense finish. This wine has at least a decade in front of it tonight. Perfect, supple cork on extraction.
Still quite tannic, decanted 4h, needs much more time to reveal it's true self.
My retailer commented this was not a standard CA Cabernet, more Bordeaux-like, and he was fully on point. The stink on the nose really pointed us away from CA right away.
Paired to some expertly grilled, medium-rare Delmonico steaks from my favorite, local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm), well salted (in advance). Finished with Maldon smoked sea salt, best which exists in the world, IMHO. Also roasted beets with goat feta from VT, where I can only image goats listen to Phish and eat Ben & Jerry's ice cream daily, because only a stress free life like that could yield cheese this good.
I'd like to know the blend on this, should anyone know, I can't believe it's 100% Cab based on the stinky nose, which we appreciate. — 4 years ago
See several previous Delectable notes on this wine and vintage. A pale crimson colour with tawny garnet shades. Aromatics of red fruits (strawberry) and Sous Bois on the nose. It may be pale in colour but carries a Medium plus palate intensity of good length. A very good 2nd wine from Bell Hill from the Canterbury district (just to the north of Christchurch) which deserves more recognition as a source of high quality Pinot Noir. Also referred to as the Waipara District. — 2 months ago
Drinking it too early, but excellent blend from an old vineyard. — 3 months ago
Watched MN Gophers mens hockey shut out Buckeyes in hockey. Should be a 10, but give solid rating. 1880's vines being saved by Bedrock so us Schmucks can watch hockey with wine. What could be better?? — 4 years ago
Doug Powers
Very fresh, lively, primarily redfruited aromas and flavors, some spicy notes as well, super nicely balanced, great acid, shows admirable restraint, should age nicely midterm (5-10 years?), very good “entry level” Zinfandel, long finish!! I’d read that the 2023 Zins, grown in a relatively cooler year, had a very long growing season, with excellent acidity, and I’d say this shows all of those characteristics. Morgan nailed this, it was great to finally meet his “adult” version, my wife and I first met him about 35 years ago at a ZAP event at Ravenswood hosted by his father Joel. — a month ago