Topel Winery
Alta Orsa Hillside Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Mendocino, North Coast, California, USA
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, green tea and peppercorn.
Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 7 year old Cabernet based Bordeaux blend is still drinking at its peak, but will not last long, so drink up.
Showing lots of earth notes for a Californian wine, and feels more like Bordeaux in style.
I had it over 3 years ago, and it is drinking better now.
Needs 30 minutes to open up properly, and good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. A tiny production of only 5 barrels.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$30.
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing red and black fruits with wood, earth, vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee, green tea and peppercorn.
Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 7 year old Cabernet based Bordeaux blend is still drinking at its peak, but will not last long, so drink up.
Showing lots of earth notes for a Californian wine, and feels more like Bordeaux in style.
I had it over 3 years ago, and it is drinking better now.
Needs 30 minutes to open up properly, and good by itself as a sipping wine.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. A tiny production of only 5 barrels.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
90 points.
$30.
Topel Winery Alta Orsa Hillside Cuvee 2018, Mendocino County, California
Dark ruby in color, almost Inky, with a short reddish rim.
On the nose blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, light vanilla, dark chocolates, coffee, cloves, black pepper, earth, pencil lead and light vegetables.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Very dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, wood, spices, black tea, peppercorn, earth, green vegetables, bitter herbs and tobacco leaf.
Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very nice red blend from Mendocino County. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.
An Interesting wine that feels more like a French Bordeaux. Tangy with nice balance between the fruits and the earth notes. A good everyday wine.
Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up and shows the tannins (1 hour).
Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.
Good by itself and better with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Paired very nicely with the wild mushroom Brie cheese.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Grapes are grown at 1,200 feet of elevation. A small production of only 5 barrels.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$32.
Topel Winery Alta Orsa Hillside Cuvee 2018, Mendocino County, California
Dark ruby in color, almost Inky, with a short reddish rim.
On the nose blueberries, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, light vanilla, dark chocolates, coffee, cloves, black pepper, earth, pencil lead and light vegetables.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Very dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cherries, wood, spices, black tea, peppercorn, earth, green vegetables, bitter herbs and tobacco leaf.
Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very nice red blend from Mendocino County. Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.
An Interesting wine that feels more like a French Bordeaux. Tangy with nice balance between the fruits and the earth notes. A good everyday wine.
Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up and shows the tannins (1 hour).
Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years.
Good by itself and better with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses. Paired very nicely with the wild mushroom Brie cheese.
A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Grapes are grown at 1,200 feet of elevation. A small production of only 5 barrels.
14.3% alcohol by volume.
89 points.
$32.