Texas Heritage Wines Deliver Distinctive Fall Flavors

In the 1970s, the wine industry in Texas made a profound shift. Rather than chasing popular grapes unsuited for the Texas soil and climate, they began planting “grapes that love our state and thrive in our culture and climate,” as Texas Heritage Winery puts it.

We had a chance to sample three wines from this outstanding Lone Star State winery and came away impressed.

Viognier is a Rhone grape that has found a welcome home in Texas. It is the most-produced white grape in the state. The 2022 Wildseed Farms Viognier is delicate and crisp with notes of lemon and honeysuckle. At 11.7% ABV, it is perfect for pairing with seafood or light dishes with aromatic herbs. It is priced at $30.

We paired the Viognier with a butternut squash bisque. The acidity of the wine cut through the creaminess of the soup for a delightful pairing.

The 2020 Gotneaux Creek Vineyard Syrah is the only Syrah produced by Texas Heritage. It spends 30 months in neutral oak. “We don’t oak a lot,” says co-founder Susan Johnson. “The grapes are great enough to speak for themselves. We let the true character of the grapes shine through.”

If you haven’t tried Texas Syrah, prepare yourself for a real surprise. This bottle is smooth and expressive. Some Syrah can be too big and brambly, but this is delicious with rich blueberry and plum notes. You get a nice dash of pepper on the long finish. SRP for this bottle is $42.

Alicante Bouschet is a large-cluster, thick-skinned grape that can be somewhat of a problem child. Thankfully, the 2019 vintage saw no difficulty in the vineyard and Texas Heritage produced this outstanding 2019 Estate Alicante Bouschet from the oldest part of their vineyard. It won Reserve Texas Class Champion at the 2022 Houston Rodeo Uncorked and Double Gold at the 2021 Harvest Terroir.

Alicante is a true tenterer, a rare grape that has red flesh and red skin. This is a full-bodied wine that needs at least 45 minutes in the decanter to help tame it. It is fruit-forward with an incredibly deep and dark ruby color. There are floral notes and lush black cherry and currant flavors. This is a perfect sipping wine.

We paired the reds with a wild boar and pasta entree and enjoyed a sunny and warm fall day on the patio. The Alicante Bouschet sells for $48. In fact, Texas Heritage specializes in producing really good wines at affordable prices. No bottle is more than $50.

Texas Heritage wines are available online via their website. It’s a perfect introduction to the noteworthy wines of Texas.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

South African Dinner Dazzles With Tasteful Dishes And Stark-Condé Wine

Stark-Condé South African Wines

Wines from South Africa find the sweet spot between Old World winemaking techniques and New World flavors.

Stark-Condé Syrah

Diverse Roots

When we were invited to sample a selection of South African wines from Stark-Condé. It was the perfect occasion to throw an aandete partytjie (dinner party) pairing these delicious bottles with elegant dishes.

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Stark-Condé is a family business that encompasses a story of diversity as well.

South African patriarch Hans Schroder was raised in Stellenbosch. In the 1960s while attending university in Japan, Hans met and married fellow student Midori Maruyama. At the time, their marriage was illegal in Hans’ native South Africa due to the apartheid regime’s Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act so the young couple settled in Japan. They remained in Tokyo for the next nearly three decades where they raised three daughters.

South African dinner and scallop entree

In the late 1980s and with the changes on the horizon in South Africa, Hans and Midori decided it was time to return to his native country. They purchased the Oude Nektar farm in 1989 and focused on growing grapes. In 1998, eldest daughter Marie and her American husband José also relocated to South Africa to join the family – and the family business, where with an artisan’s attention to detail and a purist’s approach in the cellar, José slowly developed Stark-Condé’s wines.

Gary and Diane and Bobotie

Today, Stark-Condé wines and the family of brands includes Stark-Condé, MAN Family Wines, Lievland Vineyards, Essay, and KaraTara. The range has something for everyone, from wine novice to lovers of classically styled wines.

Celebrating South African Wine

Friends enjoying dinner and sosatie kabob

To make a six-course meal possible, we enlisted the culinary expertise of our guests, inviting them to create a dish for an assigned wine. Our guests were Kyle and Natalie Hampton, Arthur and Mary Barham, Rob and Chris Rudloff, and Gary and Diane Wessell. Of course, this would not have been possible without the cooking and organizing of my wife, the Green Dragon.

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After a bit of bubbly, we uncorked our first SA wine: the 2021 Warrelwind Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, from MAN. Warrelwind is a whirlwind in Afrikaans, and this was a beauty, with an accent on herbaceousness and rich tropical notes. A nice accompaniment to the fresh Caprese Salad.

South African Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is one of South Africa’s most well-known wines, and we featured two on our menu. The first was the 2021 Monk Stone Chenin, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch, from Stark-Condé. This is a complex wine aged in amphorae and second-use oak. It has lovely nectarine and apple flavors with notes of wet stone. The tasty leek and asparagus quiche was a perfect partner, not overpowering the delicate tastes of the wine.

The 2021 Essay (“S A” get it?) is a blend of Chenin Blanc, Roussanne, and Viognier from the Coastal Region. This wine is slightly off-dry with generous fruit and a palate of pineapple and guava. It is a dynamite food fine and glasses were refilled and the bottle emptied as we tasted the succulent seared scallops and shrimp served with oranges and rocket salad. At an SRP of $11.99, this is a steal.

Bobotie is a South African casserole with minced beef at the bottom and a thin layer of egg custard on the top. Diane and Gary seasoned it to perfect. The KaraTara Pinot Noir was striking with the bobotie. I couldn’t imagine a better match. A touch of pepper is typical from Pinots in this area and it really worked with this dish. It also had classic cherry and strawberry notes.

Exploring South African Cuisine

Sosatie is a lamb kebab from South Africa with Cape Malay roots. Arthur whipped this up with three different sauces, including one with apricot. In the past, the only really good Pinotage I’ve had is what I tasted in South Africa. The Lievland Bushvine Pinotage from Paarl turned my preconception upside down. This was an elegant Pinotage with luscious raspberry and hints of oak and vanilla. It is a smooth and savory wine. SRP is $18.99.

Caprese salad and rich dessert

Do they love dark chocolate in South Africa? We don’t know, but the Green Dragon decided that a Deep Dark Chocolate Cheesecake would be the ideal pairing with the 2018 Stark-Condé Syrah. She was right. The key to pairing with Syrah is to have dark or bittersweet chocolate desserts. Something sweet would be a recipe for disaster. This was a scrumptious highlight of the evening. The Syrah is one of the best I’ve tasted this year, rich with dark fruit and jammy currant. The tannins are silky smooth and there is a touch of savory mushroom on the close.

Our guests were quite tickled with the fantastic food and wine feast, but we were not done. As we continued to savor the cheesecake, I opened a bottle of Amarula. Amarula is often shared during a South African braai, a gathering of friends and family around a wood-fired grill. The creme liqueur is made from the Marula fruit, which is the favorite food of African elephants. It is creamy with a fruity, toffee-like flavor.

It was an evening to remember thanks to a culinary marriage of great food and exemplary South African wines.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Adelaida Wines Trumpet Paso Robles Excellence

Adelaida Vineyard Wines from Paso Robles

The Paso Robles AVA is among California’s largest. It is also the fastest growing. Here are three recommended Paso bottles.

Adelaida Vineyards & Winery is located in the mountainous terrain of the Paso Robles AVA in California. Its vineyards span distinct areas of mountainous terrain characterized by chalk-rock limestone soils, afternoon blasts of cool coastal air, and a daily 40 to 50-degree temperature swing.

Only about 10% of Adelaida’s 1,900 acres are planted with vines, and more than 1000 acres of land remain undeveloped and unfenced, for ecological and wild animal habitat. The winery farms organically and is a leader in the ecology movement. All of the estate’s energy needs come from its own solar farm.

The microclimates, elevation, and unique soil result in superb wines, as we discovered as we recently tasted a trio of new Adelaida releases.

2022 Rosé, Anna’s Estate Vineyard

In the glass, this single-vineyard rosé is a brilliant salmon color with the aromas of fresh strawberries and melon. There is a pleasing minerality that mingles with strawberry rhubarb and citrus zest. It is crisp and decidedly easy to drink.

The blend is  34% Mourvèdre, 33% Grenache, 17% Counoise, and 16% Cinsaut. The wine was aged in equal amounts of neutral oak barrels and concrete eggs for four months. SRP is $35.

2020 Anna’s Red, Anna’s Estate Vineyard

One sip of Anna’s Red, and my reaction was, “Wow!” This is everything we look for in a red blend: deep rich flavors, supple mouthfeel, and an enduring finish. This is a blend of 32% Grenache, 24% Syrah, 17% Counoise, 14% Mourvèdre, 7% Cinsaut, 3% Petite Sirah, 3% Touriga Nacional. Grenache plays the leading role and contributes soft raspberry flavors, Syrah and Mourvèdre add weight and texture while Counoise and Cinsault lend a spicy character.

Anna's Red is a beautiful Paso Robles blend

It has a soft mouthfeel but is full-bodied. This is a blend that changes composition from year to year. Anna’s Red gets 20 months of aging in French oak (18% new). Priced at $50, we highly recommend it.

2020 Syrah, Anna’s Estate Vineyard

Paso Robles excels at Rhone varieties and this Syrah is a shining example. Almost black in the glass, it is rich with rounded blackberry, cocoa, and dark cherry notes. Baking spice and tobacco add to the long, layered finish.

This is a full-bodied wine to be enjoyed anytime. Beef and lamb entrees will pair perfectly. SRP is $50.

Adelaida produces bold and beautiful wines. Their full selection is available online including some sourced from the historic HMR vineyard.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Moon Mountain District Wines Sky High With Premium Quality

Moon Mountain District Dinner

Moon Mountain District crafting premium reds from mountainous perch in Sonoma County.

By Dave Nershi, CSW

Vino-Sphere Publisher

Ten years ago I tasted my first wine from Moon Mountain, buying five bottles from the Moon Mountain Vineyard winery. The luscious wine soon ran out and to make matters worse, I learned the winery was closing. My lingering fears were unfounded as Repris Wines purchased the property and continued and expand the reputation of the legendary vineyard and wine from this special slice of Sonoma continues to flow.

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The Moon Mountain District AVA, formed in 2013, is in a mountainous region in the very east of Sonoma County. It is made entirely of hillside vineyards, some incredibly remote, with iron-rich volcanic soil. A clear view of San Francisco 50 miles south is not uncommon.

Moon Mountain wines

Wines made there have been famed since the 1880s. Phil Coturri, vineyard manager and pioneer of organic and biodynamic winegrowing in California, explains the uniqueness this way, “The multiplicity of slopes, aspects, exposures, and elevations, combined with volcanic soils enlivened with organic matter and enhanced by complex cover crops creates flavors as unique as the terroir found in the Moon Mountain District --  of course, the attitude of the winegrower adds additional spice.”

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We recently celebrated these magnificent wines with the Red Side of the Moon: A Moon Mountain AVA Dinner, pairing six wines with tasty gourmet dishes. These are premium red wines and most have limited production. Although these are "big" wines, we were impressed with the richness and balance that translated to grace and power. We decanted each wine for at least an hour.

Kamen Cab, Lasseter Syrah and stew

Our group included wine writers Dathan and Jen of Triangle Around Town and Arthur and Mary Barham of Merlot2Muscadine as well as friends Robert and Linda. Each wine was served with a specially crafted dish.

For “lift-off” on our voyage to the Moon, we started with a sparkling Grüner Veltliner Sekt (more on that in a separate story) and the Reprise 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clones. This was paired with Vadouvan Spiced Carrots & Radishes and a cheese selection. The unique French spices, a take on Indian masala, created a complex blend of smokiness and sweetness that worked wonderfully with both wines.

Moon Mountain diners

The Repris Cabernet uses the Moon Mountain Clone evolved in volcanic soil over four decades. It includes some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in California and delivers a wine that delighted the group with aromas of dark fruit and sweet spices. This is a savory wine that immediately opens your eyes to the glorious potential of Moon Mountain District.

Pairing six big reds with a dinner menu can be ticklish, but the Green Dragon was up to the challenge. Our next dish was a Beef & Vegetable Stew and a Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad (prepared by me). The stew was a lighter affair just perfect for the Kamen 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain and the Lasseter 2018 Syrah Moon Mountain.

Faces at the Red Side of the Moon dinner

The Kamen captured fans right away with raspberry and violet notes riding on complex dark chocolate layers. Minerality and smooth tannins make for a great finish. The Lasseter was the only non-Cabernet wine and provided a nice contrast with a decided Old World vibe and brambly notes of sweet oak and blackberry. At this point, our guests have become avid Moon Mountain admirers.

All six wines have ABV levels above 14.5% and two have more than 15%, so it was time for a pause. Arthur presented his intermezzo, a chilled fruit soup duet. We enjoyed a Peach & Champagne Shooter and a Pear, Prosecco & Mint Spoon. Now that’s the way to cleanse your palate!

Peach & Champagne Shooter and a Pear, Prosecco & Mint Spoon

Two very special wines were teed up for our next entrée: Seared Duck Breast with Port & Cherry Sauce. What a refreshing food pairing. The duck offers a delicious change from steak, with its rich meat and robust flavor.

Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso and Duck

The Louis M. Martini 2018 Monte Rosso Vineyard has the vineyard’s signature spice and sweet oak aromatics. Topping out at 16.1% ABV, I wondered if this would be too “big,” but it proved to be big, balanced, and agile – like the Yankees Aaron Judge. Monte Rosso has been producing award-winning wines for three generations. This is a bottle that can and should be aged to fully integrate the tannins.

Stone Edge Farm Winery is an interesting producer that is focused on organic grapes and high environmental standards. It produces energy independent of the power grid and has a carbon footprint below zero. However, my main interest was its 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. This has 4% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc, which fine-tunes the powerful Cabernet flavor. On the tongue, there are baking spices, ripe cherries, and tobacco.

Red Side of the Moon and chocolate

For our “wine-down,” we moved out to the patio and amidst the torch flames enjoyed a selection of Dark Chocolate Truffles and Caramels. Our final Moon Mountain District wine was the B Wise 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, just over 500 cases were produced. After five big reds, could the B Wise still delight? Yes, with exceptional balance, jammy goodness, dark fruit, and hints of leather this was a perfect wrap-up to the evening.

The greatness of these wines is undeniable right now, even though most are designed to age, some up to 20 years. The warmer climate, longer growing season, and rocky high-altitude soils make Moon Mountain wines a memorable treat. If you are unfamiliar with this unique region, the Moon Mountain District Winegrowers Association website provides a nice background.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Deerfield Ranch 2012 Estate Syrah, Sonoma Valley

Scoring A Win For Clean Wine

A Treasure From The Cave

With 2020 basically being a wipeout in terms of wine travel, we really treasure the memories from our pre-pandemic wine visits. One especially sweet trip was to Sonoma back in 2017. The occasion was the Wine Bloggers Conference (since redubbed as the Wine Media Conference). Joining the Green Dragon and I were our good friends Steve and Tracey (aka the Cabernetor and Glorious T).

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We crisscrossed Sonoma and Napa stopping at places that produce some of our favorite wines as well as new-to-us wine producers that would create indelible impressions. One unique experience was at Deerfield Ranch.

Truth be told, we decided to visit primarily because it was located on our route to other wineries we had penciled in. I didn’t know much about it, but its website did mention a wineglass-shaped wine cave. That was enough to tip the scales and redirect our rental car.

To get to the wine cave tasting room, you walk through the production area, past barrels and tanks and hoses. The payoff is certainly worth it. The cave is decked out with comfortable seating areas such that each party could have its own semi-private tasting area. It was social distancing before its time!

A slightly weird note is that this was in October, so the cave was decorated with mannequins dressed in Halloween costumes. This led to a lot of clowning and photos on our part. But the main attraction was certainly the wine.

Sonoma Syrah At Its Best

Deerfield has many wines that top $100, and our small sips certainly were delicious. What grabbed our attention, though, was a beautiful Syrah, which we purchased and cracked open recently.

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The Estate Syrah uses organic grapes and is a biodynamic wine. In addition, Deerfield has a focus on “clean wine” which means they triple hand-sort their grapes and keep the free oxygen levels low resulting in fewer sulfites and histamines.

Another beautiful aspect of Deerfield Ranch wines is their aging. They aren’t presenting wines that are two years on from vintage, they’ve had a chance to mature for several years before release.

Only 500 cases of the Estate Syrah were made and it is aged in oak for 40 months. This wine is rich with cherries and strawberries in a beautifully refined style. Loose tannins and vibrant flavors are underpinned with lively acidity. The mid-palate is clean and precise with berry flavors. A savory finish adds to the experience. Drinking it reminded us of the great time and great friends with whom we enjoyed it.

WIYG – A Cavalcade Of Wine Reviews

WIYG? That’s a question we are often asked. Here’s a look at what's in our glass.

What the heck is a cavalcade and what’s it doing in my wine blog? Well, if you must know, it is defined as a formal procession of people walking, on horseback, or riding in vehicles. Many years ago there was a variety TV show called Jackie Gleason’s Cavalcade of Stars. I never saw the show and my introduction is veering into the weeds quickly, so I’ll simply say that I’m proud to present a cavalcade of wine so that I can catch up on wines that we’ve tasted but haven’t yet been reviewed. So, ta da, here is the cavalcade…

Nadia 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard

Although we carefully cellar our wine, when you dip back 10 or more years, the quality can be hit or miss. With Nadia, it was a big hit. We love Napa Valley, but it is nice to explore Cabernet Sauvignon from other regions.

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We were rewarded with a rich, rich, body. The wine has lovely notes of caramel and plum. This is a single vineyard Cab from Santa Barbera County, a wonderful – and less explored – part of California wine country.

2007 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel, Columbia Valley

This is a wine from one of the coolest wineries around: Long Shadows. Long Shadows pairs international winemakers with the fantastic vineyards of Washington State. The winemaker of Sequel Syrah is John Duval, the former winemaker for Penfolds Grange in Australia.

We purchased two bottles, drinking one in 2013 and the last seven years later. Alas, the wine didn’t hold up. The wine is still broodingly dark, but the fruit has all but disappeared with some olive notes and faint blueberry left. Time to get a new vintage.

Winemaker Selection 2018 Pinot Noir, Hawkes Bay

This wine goes into the “why not” category. I picked this up for less than $8 at the Lidl grocery store. Hawkes Bay is perhaps New Zealand’s best known region for red wine. We weren’t expecting much based on the price, but were pleasantly surprised.

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The Winemaker Selection isn’t complex, but is varietally correct and quite satisfying. Notes of smoke and raspberry carry this medium-light bodied wine. Low price but super high QPR (quality price ratio).

Gran Corte 2015 Red Blend, Valle de Colchagua

This wine comes from the southern reach of Chile and sounded like a winner with a promising blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, and Syrah. Gran Corte, in Spanish, designates an assemblage of high quality wines. This wine weighs in at 15% ABV and the bottle has a bit of heft too.

This is another wine from Lidl and I thought I’d opt for quality by spending a few dollars more. This cost about $13. However, it was a bust. The wine was grapey, which is a funny thing to say about a product that is entirely made of grapes. It had no refined flavors – strictly one dimensional with weak bleary flavors.

Beaux Frères 2014 The Upper Terrace 2014 Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge

The Upper Terrace rocked it from first drop to last. The wine comes from the uber-cool Ribbon Ridge AVA, which is part of the beloved Willamette Valley AVA in Oregon. The wine is unfiltered, unfined and unparalleled. On the nose there are sour cherries. On the tongue there are earthy plum notes and black tea leaves. It has a divine, lush texture and finished with a touch of spice.

Beaux Frères was one of the earliest wineries in Oregon, founded in 1986 by Michael G. Etzel, and brother-in-law (Beaux Frères in French) wine critic Robert M. Parker Jr.

El Viejo del Valle 2019 Chardonnay, Central Valley

El Viejo del Valle means Old Man of the Valley. This Chilean Chardonnay, with 1950s-style Chilean street graffiti on the label, was a sub -$10 buy on sale at Great Grapes in Cary. The wine, imported by the French company Boutinot, is unoaked with pure notes of apple and pear. It is lively with a crisp finish. Fruit for this 2019 vintage comes from the Central Valley and an old vines vineyard beneath a volcano.

Chilean wines represent great value. Many of the white grapes take on different flavor expressions in the unique Chilean climate.

Tenet 2014 The Pundit Syrah, Columbia Valley

With all the political fireworks, we’ve just about had our fill of pundits – except when it comes to The Pundit, a Syrah from Washington’s Columbia Valley. It’s a blend of 88% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre,  and 2% Viognier.

We paired it with Beef Bourguignon and the red cherry, blackberry and earth undertones of the wine melded beautifully with the dish. The label art is captivating, so much so you’ll feel you’re being watched. It explodes with flavor and is refined by aging in French oak and concrete. A true beauty.

Cavalcade out!

Reyneke Biodynamic Winegrowing Yields South African Gems

A stranger to South African wine? Whet your appetite with these picks.

Ancient Practices For Modern Wine

Biodynamic methods have been at the cutting edge -- some might say the outer fringe -- of winegrowing for many years. Rather than a new technique, it harkens back to age-old cycles of agriculture.

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Biodynamic farming, while very similar to organic farming, is unique in that it conceives of a vineyard as an entire ecosystem on its own. Biodynamic practices also incorporate ancient ideas like astrological influences, natural preparations to protect and aid the vines, and lunar cycles. No synthetic chemicals are used in the farming of the grapes, and oftentimes animals like cows, alpacas, and sheep are used to complete the vineyard ecosystem and increase biodiversity.

There are now more than 4,500 certified biodynamic wineries worldwide in more than 50 countries. Reyneke Wines in Stellenbosch has the distinction of being the very first winery certified as biodynamic (by Demeter International) in all of South Africa.

The Reyneke team is led by Johan Reyneke who took over farming activities on the family farm more than 20 years ago and produced the first wine. He gradually moved from conventional farming practices to organic and now to biodynamic principles.

Sustainable Wine Ecosystem

At Reyneke, the farm is seen as an ‘individuality’. It needs to be self-sustainable and self-supporting. Why? If the farm can produce its own fertilizer and compost, this means it’s less dependent on trucking-in fertilizer in clouds of diesel exhausts. If the farm is self-sufficient, their own cow manure ‘costs’ the same every day, no matter the price of oil.

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The vineyards are herbicide, fungicide, and pesticide-free. Instead, companion plants are used to out-compete the weeds and natural predators (like ducks) are used to combat pests.

Is all the care that goes into growing the grapes reflected in the glass? We recently opened a selection of Reyneke wines to find out.

First of all, we are mighty fans of Stellenbosch and South African wines. We find that wines from here have Old World sensibilities with the bold flavors of the New World. Our faith in this great wine region was borne out with the Reyneke wines.

The 2018 Vinehugger Red is a blend of 85% Shiraz and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is an explosion of red fruit and spice flavors with several layers. It’s a smooth wine with light tannins courtesy of 25% aging in used oak barrels. This is amazingly good for $14.99.

The white counterpart is the 2018 Vinehugger White, which is 100% Chenin Blanc. This is a fresh and vibrant surprise for anyone whose love of white wine has been dulled by nondescript Chardonnay. There are flavors of apricot and citrus and lip-smacking acidity. The finish is 80% stainless steel and 20% mature oak barrels. This wine was a favorite as we wrapped up a long, hot day on the patio. SRP is $16.99.

Reyneke also offers its 2018 Chenin Blanc, a top of the line South African Chenin that has captured a slew of awards. The grapes come from vineyards planted in the 1970s and the wine is aged in second use French oak and larger 2,500-litre casks. It is aged on the lees for 10 months to give added complexity. Pear, grapefruit, and melon flavors abound in this delightful wine. SRP is $33.99.

A Spectacular Syrah Wine Dinner

We selected the 2017 Syrah for a special wine dinner. This wine retails for $28.99. A third of the grapes are crushed by foot and all are then fermented in concrete tanks. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and gets 14 months in oak and another three months in stainless steel.

This is biodynamic winemaking at its best. All the nuances of the wine are present with rushing blueberry and raspberry fruit notes and a complex undercurrent of savory herbs and pepper. The tannins provide a nice structure without being overbearing.

We had to up our culinary game to match this fine wine. Our meal was a succulent Seared Duck with Date Jus and Parmesan Foam with Smashed Fingerling Potatoes. My diet lately has been pretty regulated with mostly plant-based dishes. For the night, though, we reveled in the rich duck breast with the sweet date sauce. The fingerling potatoes were cooked in duck fat -- oh, the delicious decadence! The Syrah was bold enough to stand up to the richness for a divine pairing of biodynamic goodness and fine dining.

I’ve never been sure how much difference the practices of biodynamic winegrowing really makes. One thing that has always been certain is that when you are meticulous in the details and show care for the earth, the quality and love shine through to the wine. We heartily recommend Reyneke wines!

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Château des Crès Ricards 2017 Stécia, Terrasses du Larzac

Languedoc, located in the south of France, produces flavorful wines at a great price point. We pop open the cork to find a pleasant surprise.

Champion of Sud de France

Jean-Claude Mas can certainly be considered the champion of France’s southern wine regions. The founder of Domaines Paul Mas, he is carrying on a family tradition that dates back to 1892 when his grandfather bought the first family vineyard.

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Today Domaines Paul Mas encompasses a number of different labels. Mas has developed what started as a 61-acre gift from his father into an enterprise than spans more than 1,800 acres in the heart of Languedoc wine country.

The region is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the south and mountains in the north. Temperate conditions contribute to thriving agriculture. More than 45 different grape varieties are available for Domaine Paul Mas wines.

In the past Languedoc has been regarded as a fountain of unremarkable wines. Winemakers in the region today are turning heads with their bottles. Mas has been a leading advocate for the region and its wines.

Silky Stécia

Upon uncorking, Stécia came on strong. At 14.5% ABV, this is a big wine. This  surprised me since many Languedoc wines are simple and a bit meek.

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Stécia is a blend of 60% Syrah, 25% Grenache, and 15% Carignan. The Syrah, grown in pebbly soil on steep, terraced vineyards, leads with power. After opening up, the finer points of this wine are on display with a delicate interplay between the three grapes.

The wine has a unique aging regimen, with 45% of the wine getting eight months of oak aging in French and American barrels. The barrels range from new to two-year old. Carbonic maceration is used for the Syrah and Carignan.

We found the wine to be complex and rewarding, especially at a $19.99 SRP. The flavors are deep with blackberry notes and herbal undertones. This is an outstanding French wine available for a song. Pair it with a nice steak, grilled lamb or a casual evening with friends.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Flickr Tags: French wine,Syrah,wine tasting,Languedoc,wine

Hawk Haven Celebrates A Decade Of Award-Winning New Jersey Wine

Wine from New Jersey? Say what? Say “yes.”

From Lima Beans To Cabernet

Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery began as a New Jersey dairy farm in the 1940s, later branching out into lima beans, watermelons and pumpkins. When Todd Wuerker and his brother came of age, it was time to take the family farm in another direction. Out with the lima beans and in with the Cabernet Sauvignon!

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Since changing course with the planting of the first vines in 1997, Hawk Haven has earned a passel of honors for its wine. Located in scenic Cape May, the winery has 16 acres of European grape varieties making head-turning wines.

Lower Cape May, part of the Outer Coastal Plain wine region, is considered by some to be the premier growing region on the East Coast. Hawk Haven’s 2007 Merlot captured a gold medal in the New Jersey State Wine Competition – something never before done by a winery with its first vintage. The winery was runner up for the prestigious Governor’s Cup.

Todd and wife Kenna opened the doors of the Hawk Haven tasting room on Memorial Day weekend in 2009 with their first-ever Sangria Weekend, serving chilled Sangria in mason jars. That tradition has continued every summer Sunday since then.

As a native of New Jersey, I was surprised to recently discover the renaissance of winemaking in the Garden State. You can read all about it in our article here. With that in mind, I was anxious to sample the wines of Hawk Haven.

A Paella Pairing

As part of our journalistic mission to inform you of cool wines from all around the world, we taste beaucoup wines. It’s not always possible, but when it is we like to pair each wine with a tasty meal. With two Signature Series wines from Hawk Haven at the ready, our chef began preparations.

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Our first wine was the 2018 Signature Series Albariño, Outer Coastal Plains. Having sipped Albariño in Spain, I know it is best served with seafood. As luck would have it, the Green Dragon (my wife) was preparing to make paella – a delightful rice and seafood dish.

In the glass the Albariño is a brilliant platinum color. The aroma of citrus preceded the cool, bright and crisp wine. It has ample acidity and a mere 12.5% alcohol, making it an ideal food wine. On the palate there are lemon and peach notes.

It’s a lively and delicious wine that is especially well suited for shrimp, shellfish and mussels. It also works well as a refreshing glass on a hot summer day. This was bottle number 842 of 975. A limited edition luxury wine at a mere $23.99 SRP.

The Porkchop Challenge

I was ready to take matters into my own hands with the 2016 Signature Series Syrah. I picked out some lovely rib-in porkchops at Trader Joe’s to take advantage of a picture-perfect grilling day.

A knock against winemaking in the Eastern states, some would say, is that robust reds aren’t as, well, robust. Would the Syrah stand the challenge of a perfectly grilled (I say this humbly) porkchop? My normal go-to Pinot Noir was looking neglected in the wine rack.

One sip of the Hawk Haven Syrah and my doubts floated away like a puffy summer cloud. It was superb! The emphasis is on balance and delicious fruit flavor. Medium-plus in body, it was a nice pairing with the chop. For added complexity, the Syrah was fermented with added Viognier skins. This is a Rhone Valley technique which added to the wine’s complex beauty.

There are marvelous flavors of raspberry with a hint of pepper. On the back of the palate there is tart sour cherry. The finish is long and lingering. Wow. I was thankful I didn’t overcook our porkchops.

This was bottle 12 of a 650-bottle production run. We were moving up in the world! This is a wonderful bottle for $39.99 SRP.  Based on our experience with these two bottles, we heartily recommend Hawk Haven wines, particularly the Signature Series.

Ready for the unexpected? Explore New Jersey wines. Hawk Haven Winery is a splendid place to start.

Full Disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

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Four Cairn 2011 Syrah, Napa Valley

Sometimes you have to dig through some dirt to find a buried treasure…

Small Production Syrah

A few years ago I ordered a number of wines from Invino, a great online wine retailer which, regrettably, has morphed into something called Cellar Thief. The really cool Syrah I ordered was somehow out of stock. Instead they substituted this Four Cairn 2011 Syrah from Napa.

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At the time I was bummed. I was looking forward to tasting the other bottle. I paid $20 and this bottle was supposed to be an upgrade. I got over it and stashed this bottle for drinking at a later time.

Napa Know-How

Napa Valley produces scrumptious wines, but for Syrah I usually look northward to Washington State. We’ve been in the middle of a devilish hot spell – and that means we’ve been dipping into an array of chilled white wines and rosé.

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When the Green Dragon (my wife) finally made the call for a red, I was ready. I plucked and popped the Four Cairn Syrah, resolved to finally discover what I had actually purchased back in 2014.
Four Cairns Vineyard sits at the foot of Spring Mountain in the St. Helena AVA and has primarily gravely loam soil. A cairn is a monument made out of stacked stones and the vineyard name is a nod to the stony composition of the four-acre Syrah vineyard.

When this vintage was released, the word was it needed some aging to taste its best. That’s good news, because I’ve had it tucked away for some time. This was a small lot production, with only 125 cases produced. The prime drinking window was listed as 2015-2017. Oops – we’d missed the window of opportunity by a couple years.

Getting To The Bottom Of The Bottle

In the glass, the Four Cairn is a deep, dark opaque purple. On the palate there is a rich texture and flavor notes of black fruit, leather and spice. This is a mature bottle, and so I’m glad we didn’t wait any longer to open. However, it is complex and elegant with savory notes. Syrah can be tannic, but the years of aging have mellowed the beast into a refined glass of goodness.

When we got toward the bottom of the bottle, the Green Dragon exclaimed, “What’s this in my glass?” It was a healthy dose of dark clumpy sediment. The bottle itself looked like someone had added several spoonfuls of dirt.

Sediment isn’t a bad thing. It’s often a byproduct of aging. Phenolics, the molecules that give wine color, aroma and flavor, combine to form heavier polymers that then drop to the bottom.

When you are searching for treasure, you have to dig through some dirt – or in this case, sediment. Four Cairns Syrah is a small production gem and built to last.

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Domaine de Châteaumar 2017 Cuvée Vincent Sélection, Côtes du Rhône

Do Tennis And Fine Wine Mix?

My tennis team had a very good run this year. We won all but one match during the USTA season and earned a berth in the North Carolina state championships. That meant not only more tennis, but a trip to one of our favorite cities, Asheville.

Asheville has a wonderful dining scene, spectacular mountain vistas, great live music and just about anything a person could want. In this case, our hungry group of teammates was looking for a place to eat.

From  previous trip, I knew that The Market Place restaurant was a great upscale choice. As we wandered the downtown area I noticed we were not far from the place and suggested we stop there for dinner.

A Reliable French Pick

I had the honor of picking the vino. Most of our group was going for the Wood Grilled Pork Shoulder served with strawberry glaze, Farm & Sparrow faro, spring vegetables and asparagus butter. Scanning the wine list and not wanting to put anyone too deeply in the hole, I settled on the Domaine de Châteaumar 2017 Cuvée Vincent Sélection, Côtes du Rhône.

Côtes du Rhône is a people pleasing wine with a reasonable price tag. Rhône Valley winemakers rely on Syrah and Grenache grapes to craft easy drinking reds. Upon inquiring, our server said that the wine was primarily Grenache. Since that is a smooth, lighter style I thought it would be a spot-on match for our pork.

When it arrived, I was surprised to see that the wine was 180 degrees different – instead of 100% Grenache, it was 100% Syrah. No worries – Syrah is one of our favorite grapes and this wine blended nicely with our meal and conversation. The wine has smooth tannins and delightful blackberry and cranberry flavors. It is medium full in body. There’s a little bit of spice to ramp up the complexity.

Fueled by this great French wine, we went on to win three straight matches, win the semi-final and get into the state championship match. Apparently we needed to buy a second bottle, because we lost the championship match 1-2.

This is a sub-$20 bottle that is guaranteed to improve your tennis game – and if perchance it doesn’t, you won’t care as much!

Technorati Tags: wine,winelover,Syrah,winetasting,French wine

Cross Border Cooperation Fuels Oregon And Washington Winemaking

Walla Walla and The Rocks District are creating a collaborative buzz in the Pacific Northwest.

Photos and Article

By Dave Nershi, CSW

Vino-Sphere Publisher

Reaching Across Borders

In the Old World countries of France, Italy, Spain and Germany, the boundaries of the highest quality wine appellations are strictly drawn. Not only are there geographic limits, but regulating councils frequently mandate types of grapes, yield levels, alcohol percentages, production methods and more. In fact, the name of the wine region defines the wine style. There are walls as solid as the medieval fortresses that dot the European countryside.

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The rules and expectations in the US are decidedly different. Winemakers not only collaborate with those in other parts of the state, but in other states. In Washington and Oregon winemakers are reaching hands across state borders in the quest for exceptional wines. We recently visited to learn more about these unique collaborations.

In Oregon and Washington, three American Viticultural Areas (AVA) span the two states. Columbia Valley is one of the largest appellations in the country and, like the Columbia Gorge AVA, spills across the Columbia River which divides the two states. Although the city of Walla Walla is in Washington State, the Walla Walla AVA crosses into Oregon.

The Concrete Mama

Not far from downtown Walla Walla’s landmark Marcus Whitman Hotel is the Seven Hills Winery. Seven Hills is one of the oldest and most respected wineries in the region.

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Its success has deep roots across the state line. The Seven Hills Founding Blocks Vineyard was planted in the 1980s in Oregon and features some of the oldest commercial plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Walla Walla AVA. A side-by-side tasting of the 1998 and 2016 Merlot vintages, plus a barrel sample of the 2017 demonstrated the layered flavors and elegance for which Seven Hills is known.

A stroll down Walla Walla’s charming main street will take you to Passatempo Taverna. The restaurant is owned by Mike Martin. Martin and winemaker Ali Mayfield are business partners in The Walls winery. The Walls is a play on the nickname for one of Walla Walla’s most notorious landmarks, the Washington State Penitentiary – also known as “Concrete Mama.”

The Walls winery is in the business of tearing down walls with outstanding wine. Wines like Cruel Summer, a rosé of Grenache and Mourvedre, and the 2016 Curiositas Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, an expansive wine fermented in concrete, are earning The Walls superstar status.

The Walls Concrete Mama Grenache and Syrah wines also display the cross-border handshake. The grapes come from The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, the only nested AVA in the Walla Walla region. The Rocks District, which officially debuted in 2015, is considered by some to have the most unique terroir in the US.

Cobblestones And Funk

“The area is very young, we are still learning,” says Steve Robertson as he walks through SJR Vineyard, “Usually it takes generations for people to figure things out.” Robertson spearheaded the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau petition to gain approval for The Rocks District as a new AVA.

A casual observer would wonder why anyone would plant vines in this soil – or if there is any soil there at all. The soil consists of softball-sized cobblestones made entirely of volcanic basalt rock. The roots of the vines must plunge deeply in search of water. The surface stones collect and radiate heat protecting the vines against colder evening temperatures.

The Rocks District is the only AVA in the US with boundaries drawn based on a single soil series (Freewater). The AVA is 5.9 square miles, a size that is dwarfed by the enthusiasm for wines from The Rocks District. Wines display deep minerality, complexity and funk.

“When you can taste a wine and know where its from, that’s magic,” said Robertson. In addition to providing SJR grapes to some of the premier wine producers, Robertson produces Delmas Syrah. It is produced in micro-quantities and sells out quickly. SJR is a family operation focused on Northern Rhone style wines with daughter Brooke serving as director of viticulture and wife Mary as director of sales.

Leading The Way To Rocks Growth

One winery that knows the value of cross-state collaboration and the emergence of The Rocks District is Force Majeure. The winery produces ultra-premium reds, primarily from their Red Mountain AVA estate vineyard.

The Force Majeure production facility and tasting room has been in Woodinville, near Seattle. That’s about to change. Recently Force Majeure has acquired a vineyard in The Rocks District and is building a winery and tasting room there in a former schoolhouse. The location is about an hour from Red Mountain and close to SJR Vineyard.

“We’ve been Red Mountain all along,” said Emily Pavela, director of hospitality for Force Majeure about the cross-border migration during a recent tour. “Now we’ll all be in one place.” It’s a good place to be, too. The 2016 SJR Syrah by Force Majeure has amazing nuanced flavors and is acclaimed by critics. It is scarce, with production of only 45 cases.

From Apples To Hallowed Stones

Watermill Winery is in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, and is known not only as a premier producer of estate wines, but also as home of the Blue Mountain Cider Company. It is the largest packer of apples in Walla Walla Valley.

High in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, the Anna Marie Estate Vineyard produces outstanding single vineyard Bordeaux-style reds. Just minutes away is the flagship of the estate holdings. The Watermill Vineyard is the only one of its seven vineyards located entirely within The Rocks District.

While walking through the cobbles of the vineyard, Watermill Commercial Director Alex Hedges explains that excitement about The Rocks District is growing. “There are no tasting rooms currently in The Rocks,” he said. “By next year there will be four.”

Syrah makes up 45% of overall Rocks vineyard plantings, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Watermill produces a Rocks Syrah and Cabernet Franc (under its Hallowed Stones label) and a Watermill Mouvedre. The Syrah and Cab Franc are co-fermented with 5% Viognier using a technique popular in France’s Rhone Valley. The quality is sensational, helping to build the reputation of this unique AVA.

Washington and Oregon are blending terroir and winemaking knowledge across boundaries, serving up irresistible premium wines.

Three Rivers Winery, Walla Walla: A Wine And Culinary Experience

Like the rivers for which it is named, Three Rivers Winery was flowing during our recent visit. The streams of premium wine were accompanied with superb culinary creations.

The Mystery Winery Revealed

One of the highlights of the Wine Bloggers Conference, held last month in Walla Walla, Washington, is the mystery bus tour. You line up and hop into a vehicle not knowing where you’ll end up. It’s a good surprise because your final destination will be a winery.

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This year instead of a rickety school bus, we were whisked away by limo to Three Rivers Winery. It was an evening of not-soon-to-be-forgotten wine, food and frolicking.

Three Rivers is named for three of the three most prominent rivers in Eastern Washington: Columbia, Snake, and Walla Walla. It was founded in 1999 and is best known for wines made with red Bordeaux grape varieties. It is part of the Foley Family Wines group, which includes a number of prominent California wineries and a trio in the Northwest.

The winery is set on a knoll overlooking surrounding vineyards and nearby Mill Creek. The building includes the production and storage facility, a tasting room and private meeting room. We met winemaker Holly Turner on the expansive porch and enjoyed a glass of the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc.

A Culinary Tour De Force

Our group of about 20 stepped inside the tasting room, which features vaulted ceilings, a stone hearth fireplace, and rustic timber beams. Notes of jazz wafted from a trio as we surveyed a table adorned with grape vines and so many wine glasses that we knew something special awaited.

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Turner began her winemaking work at Chateau Ste. Michelle before heading to Argentina to work at Bodega la Rural. It was her experience there that triggered her interest in Malbec. Under her guidance, Three Rivers has earned dozens of 90-plus scores in the wine press.

The Pacific Northwest is known not only for standout wine, but a vibrant food scene. Executive Chef Matt Antonich was equal to the stellar lineup of wines, presenting a five-course meal of succulent treats.

The wines for the evening are limited production, like most are in Walla Walla, with the majority being under 150 cases. While we enjoyed an excellent 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Three Rivers estate vineyard, the bulk of grapes come from some of the top vineyards in the Columbia Valley, such as Bacchus, Gamache, Seven Hills, Sagemoor and Weinbau. The fine-tuned blending of different grapes and vineyards is truly exceptional.

While reds from Washington State generate the most buzz, let’s give the white wines their proper due. After enjoying the refreshing, floral Sauvignon Blanc, our first course was pan seared Saffron Scallops over Alaskan king crab risotto and Reserve Chardonnay saffron beurre blanc served with the 2016 Reserve Chardonnay.

I would have considered it a fantastic evening if I only had the first course and the Chardonnay! The Chard blended magnificently with the scallops, remaining delicate with just the right oaking.

Later our dinner would be bookended with another white, the 2017 Riesling finished in steel with 3.7% residual sugar paired with a poached green Bartlett Pear served with – get this -- huckleberry mousse and a dollop of vanilla bean Frangelico cream.

Enter The Entrées

The red wines and the culinary team flexed their muscles with the three middle courses – each served with two wines. Our Rocky Mountain Elk Chop was served atop Asian short rib fried rice with a huckleberry Malbec gastrique and a fresh chanterelle elk demi-glace. This amazing dish was paired with the 2015 Walla Walla Syrah and 2016 Malbec. The Syrah dazzled with raspberry, dark fruit and cocoa. It has 10% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to add to the intrigue. The Malbec shows the high potential for the grape in the Columbia Valley.

After an interesting intermezzo called Lemon Herb Bees Knees (an adult slush mixed with lemon, herbs, local honey and gin) we were treated to the next course: Cabernet Braised Lamb Shank. This dish featured blue cheese corn grits, roasted butternut squash and toasted black truffle squash seeds. Coincidently, this is what we typically have around our house on Tuesdays – as if!

Two Cabernets were poured for the lamb. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Three Rivers estate winery and the 2015 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon is from the Seven Hills Vineyard. Deep rich and dark, each was a powerful and perfect match for the meat.

Although it sure didn’t taste it, the next dish was meatless Impossible Mole Empanadas. Impossible Burgers are a meatless sensation that feel, taste and even “bleed” like burgers, but are plant based. The empanadas were served with classic red mole, tomatillo verde, and a chipotle lime sour cream.

For this Southwest style dish, two superb reds were featured. The 2015 Svelte is a 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot Blend. The 2016 Trivulet is a 51% Cabernet Franc, 49% Merlot blend. These two wines illustrate why Three Rivers is known for the mastery of blends. The Svelte has coffee, cocoa and spice notes and won over the dinner table immediately. The Trivulet is a treat with blueberry flavors washing over a smooth texture.

This was an astonishingly wonderful wine dinner. Although far from New Orleans, it reminded me of the Cajun world lagniappe, which means giving something extra. Four courses would have been outstanding; our chef went above and beyond and served five. One outstanding wine with an entrée would have been expected and welcome – but we had two premium wines instead!

Bravo Three Rivers! This is a winery to visit and the wines are to savor and buy repeatedly.

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Terra Bella 2008 Estate Syrah, Paso Robles

Can this Syrah from Paso keep punching a full decade after the harvest? We uncork to find out.

Ten Years Are Gone

On a recent Friday night I pulled out the 2008 Terra Bella Estate Syrah from Paso. The bluesy sounds of John Mayall’s Ten Years Are Gone came to mind as I uncorked the bottle. “Ten years are gone, what of ten years from today?”

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Aging can do funny things to people and wine. Some mellow with age, some fade away and some just get weird. Which would it be with the Terra Bella?

Terra Bella is a former cattle ranch in Paso Robles that specializes in Rhone varieties and supplies grapes to some of the top California Rhone producers. Talented winemaker Andrew Murray crafted this single vineyard Syrah with grapes from the steep limestone hillsides of Paso Robles.

Into The Darkness

The drinking window for this wine was listed as going through 2017. High time to drink up! Pouring into the glass, the wine is an inky, opaque deep purple. On the neck of the bottle a fine coating of sediment lined the inside.

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On the nose there was a slight odor of acetone, making us wonder if we had waited just a year too long. Swirling and sipping dissipated the smell which gave way to subdued black fruit. The nose was pretty closed.

The Terra Bella has 15.5% ABV and seemed quite “hot” to me on first taste. The Green Dragon turned to me and said, “What are you talking about?” As the wine opened up I experienced the same slippery smooth tannins she was enjoying.

Despite being a decade on from vintage, this is still a big wine. Black fruit and blueberry notes contribute to a dark and powerful character. There are some brambly notes, which we love about Syrah – especially from hilly terrain. The wine has a medium-plus body and a hint of spice.

I’m not sure if Terra Bella is still producing their own wine, or just selling grapes from the vineyard, but this Syrah is an excellent one. We picked this up for a mere $18. To paraphrase John Mayall (with Blue Mitchell playing some mean trumpet behind the vocals), “Ten years are gone and the future worked out fine!”

Technorati Tags: Syrah,Paso Robles,wine tasting,California wine

Soléna 2010 Syrah, Del Rio, Rogue Valley

What happens when an entire valley “goes rogue?” In the case of Oregon’s Rogue Valley, the result is pretty impressive red wine.

Going Rogue

Oregon is a fountain of fantastic wine. Most of the wineries are located in the valley of the Willamette River. This area is cooler than many US vineyards and is well suited for cool climate grapes like Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir.

Further south in the state, closer to the border with California, it is a different story. The Rogue Valley is a warmer region, protected from cooling ocean breezes. It’s ideal for ripening red grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

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When we moved from Ohio to our new home in North Carolina, it disrupted the record keeping system for my wine. It was all loaded into Cellar Tracker, but the numbering system was outmoded when I had to switch to a couple of wine coolers in our new home. In the process of re-entering and reorganizing our wine, I came across the 2010 Soléna Syrah from sunny Rogue Valley! The corkscrew came out quickly after that…

Soléna – A Standout Winery

Soléna is a winery that we know best from their lineup of superb single vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It is owned by husband and wife team Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus Montalieu. They bottled their first wine in 2002.

They also produce Chardonnay and Pinot Gris and also source grapes from select vineyards in other Oregon locations and Washington State as well. That’s the case with the Del Rio Vineyard Syrah from Rogue Valley.

Del Rio Vineyards lies 15 miles northwest of Medford, Oregon at historic Rock Point in the beautiful Rogue River Valley. The rocky slopes of the vineyard face south and drain well, providing an excellent site for producing premium wine grapes.

The wine underwent a cold maceration, keeping the skins in contact with the juice to draw out the beautiful color and flavors. It was aged 15 months in 20% new French oak.

This is a limited run wine, with only 70 cases produced. In the glass, this unfiltered and unfined wine is opaque. On the nose, there is a stew of earthy and savory aromas. On the palate the flavors are concentrated and evoke raisins, warm black cherry and cooked fruit. The finish is medium length.

Soléna reds run from $30 to $55 and their whites from $20 to $75. This is a quality winery with selections that will keep you coming back for more.