November 18, 2019
Napa’s David Clinton Wine Cellars is a Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma Zinfandel house. Unique, and pretty darn cool. Their “Teldeschi” Zinfandel vines are up to 130 years old. What do you get with age? Think of it as rings on a tree, and each ring adds another smell or flavor. Vine age translates to wine complexity rather than concentration. What do 130 years of dirt time mean for David Clinton “Teldeschi” Zinfandel? Spice! Licorice, mint, black pepper, cumin, clove and espresso coat the brambly raspberries and blueberries. I know what you’re thinking: Do I have 120+ more descriptors to reach […]
October 1, 2019
60 year old vine, cool climate, high acid grapes and classic Grand Cru Burgundy winemaking* makes for an excellent and versatile Chardonnay. Honestly, I’m surprised this Sleeping Giant Chardonnay was made in this style as the green apple/quince, mouth-watering acidity and rocky “crunch” lead me tasting notes. While butter and toast do play a part in the wine, these two flavors are way in the back. I think the crisp, tangy style is to the wine’s benefit as so many eschew the oaky/buttery style of Chardonnay these days. Personally, I like both styles equally. *Indigenous yeast, barrel fermented, 100% malolactic, […]
February 28, 2019
Get red plums, strawberries, raspberries, cracked black and white pepper and a whiff of violets in the Belharra Rose of Syrah. Dry and light, showing more subtlety than most Syrah Rosé wines I taste. Careful lees-stirring adds texture to the wine without going overboard. This is all Syrah from “Las Madres Vineyard” Carneros. Picked early and pressed for Rosé. This is fermented and aged in stainless steel tank with some lees-stirring for texture. Stylistically, this falls in between the white wine-esque Provence types and the fruitier Southern Rhone style. More Information Belharra is a new, micro-winery owned, made and operated […]