Robert Sinskey presents...
Milwaukee, WI
Tasted November 4, 2012 by nzinkgraf with 475 views
Introduction
They started planting in 1982. They were partners at Acacia before Chalone bought Acacia in 1985. They cancelled vineyard contracts, so the started making their own wine. Aside, in the early 80s, Pinot was $300/ton, Merlot was $600/ton and Chardonnay was $800/ton. Winemaker, Jeff Virnig, has been there for 25 years. Sounds like he was their first harvest intern, in fact.
In 1991, they started to convert to Organic and Biodynamic. Phylloxera came in the late 80’s and. Their vineyards suffered. Pascal Marchand, and Anne Gros provided on the ground inspiration, but this was France. In CA, they could look to Amigo Bob or Alan York. Alan York got tagged. Trees in LA, the olives, finally settling into wine working for Fetzer and now Benzinger as their Vineyard Guru.
All vineyards at Sinskey are Demeter certified.
Noted to check out Rudolf Steiner's Biodynamic lectures in 1928.
Flight 1 (3 notes)
Melon, green apple and citrus. really Riesling oriented on the palate. an edge of extraction? he says 'no skin contact,'' it is whole cluster though. PB, PG, Riesling, and GW. no lees stirring. 2011 is Riesling based. Abraxas in Jungian philosophy is the a balance of good and evil.
Flight 2 (4 notes)
More density and concentration of fruit. Lots of mineral into raspberry aromas. Floral, some spice, black tea. 'Their feminine style, Vandal is jammier with more plum.' A little salty and full of complexity.
'2009 more structured than the 2008'. 'St Emilion on a suntan'. And the 'tighter lots go to Marcien'