This is my first experience with the 2017 Swan Clone, a wine that hasn’t been made since 2014. The wine pours a hazy garnet. Soaring aromatics on the nose. One can almost smell the red woods that surround this tiny 2 acre vineyard perched high up on Bonny Doon Road only a handful of miles from the Pacific Ocean. A beguiling combination of fresh, bruised red forest berries and pie crust. On the palate, very primary with a mix of red and dark fruits with some earth and a touch of baking spice. Medium tannin and high acid with a long, saline finish. The finish just goes. Even better with food, this is a wine with a long future. It’s always a treasure to drink the Pinot Noirs of McHenry. Only 48 cases made. — 3 years ago
Dried cranberry, coffee, and plumb. Medium body and tannin, with balance. Blackberry core. A touch of tobacco and mocha surround the fruit. Respectable finish. — 4 years ago
A big infant that you can tell will grow up to be 6’2” , 210 lbs . Flowers, oak and pears surround your nose. Bursting with energy and concentration in the mouth. Engulfs the palate with citrus and apples. The acid has a tight hold on the fruit for now. — 3 years ago
Very 2008 vintage with cool red fruit tones, a hint of sous bois and spice. The wine is fresh and bright in the palate. Red cherry, cranberry and pomegranate fruit are surround by great fruit tannins. This is lithe and focused. — 3 years ago
Opened up after a few hour decant, but still needed a marbled steak for balance. Deep dark blackberry pie, tobacco, evergreen needles, and uplifted cranberry. Well balanced with great purity of fruit and persistent length. American oak flavors surround both red and black forest berries. Still very youthful... definitely decant or cellar. — 4 years ago
Classic Classico! Red bricking color with all the wonderful tell-tale signs of the region and style. Bright red cherries are just blasting out of the bottle alongside rusted iron. Warm, but light acids surround a slightly tannic and medium dry body. Good finish. It’s an honest expression. — 2 years ago
An excellent white wine made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Taking its name from the imposing Dolomites mountain peaks which surround the San Leonardo Estate. Straw colored, dry with hints of white peach, mineral and acidity. An excellent Sauvignon Blanc surpassing most Chardonnay’s. Excellent pairing with roasted chicken. — 3 years ago
Austin Blackwell
Incredibly rich but still a delicious Pinot. Herbal aromas of tarragon and spice surround the core of stewed strawberries and black cherry. Palate is dense with creamy tannins and quite a bit of new oak is present. Vanilla, Cherry, and cola on the 30+ second finish. I’ll wait another couple years to open the next one. — a year ago