Yesterday it was white wines, today we taste reds. Listen to the presentation, sniff, taste and write. 10 wines in an hour – all reds today.
First up – Peirano Estate Wines. The Other 2013 red blend, Lance Randolph, 4th generation grower/winemaker. 50% Cab, 40% Merlot and 10% Syrah. He does 14 different wines. Out of Acampo, CA. Fruit forward, the blend changes slightly each year. Distributed across the nation at $12.99.
Klinker Brick 2014 Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon. Newly released, first Cab from Klinker Brick.Owner Steve Felton is presenting. $19 – 10,000 case production. American oak. Another excellent value, bursting with red fruit.
Entry level wine from Cultivar in Napa Valley. 2013 Cabernet. $29, available at Whole Foods and nationwide. 12 months 100% French oak, 40% new. 14.3% alcohol. They also have Merlot and several other varieties. Great value for a solid Napa Cab.
Oak Ridge Winery pouring two wines, first up 2014 OZW, old vine Zinfandel. Small amounts of Cab, Petite Sirah and Merlot blended in. 12,500 acres. This is a jammy in-your-face Zin. Wow! $10.99. If you’re a fan of jammy Zins this one’s for you. Also pouring Moss Roxx Ancient Vines Zin, 105 year old vines. $21.99.
Next is 2013 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon from Ehler’s Estate in St. Helena. 100% French oak, 70% new. 100% estate fruit all organically farmed. $110… this is what you get for the money. You can taste the difference.
2014 Troon Malbec from Oregon. Deep purple color. Trodden by foot! Native yeast fermentation. 16 months in neutral French oak. Craig Camp has done an incredible job with this $29 wine. Only 200 cases produced. Named for Oregon wine pioneer Dick Troon.
Naked Wines has 3 wines for us in five minutes. Mission is to cut America’s divorce rate in half. $25 2014 Cab is first. From Columbia Valley, winery is in Oregon. The Oh! Orgasmic 2014 Tempranillo next. $80, again Columbia Valley fruit. Last the 2012 Oh! Orgasmic Nebbiolo at $90… all lovely.
2014 Federalist Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit is from Lodi, winery is in Rutherford in the Napa Valley. $17.76 retail. Their wines are under the Terlato Wines family. Bryan Parker is the winemaker and is pouring for us. Outstanding value. Great everyday Cab.
Mark Oliver from Windrun Santa Barbara. 2013 Pinot Noir is from Santa Rita Hills from La Fond Vineyard. A great value at $30. A blend of five Pinot clones. Really love this wine. Stelvan (screw cap) enclosure. Only 479 cases produced.
Corner 2012 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel from Sonoma County. 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Retails at $50. I cringe at the price, but dammit, I think it’s worth it. Brilliant fruit, bursting with flavor. Elegant. Love this.