(Bedrock Wine Co. Bedrock Heritage) Hello friends. Today we have a survey of our neighbor two doors down, featuring one terrific up-and-comer working with extremely old fruit – Bedrock – and one classic of the genre: Chappellet. Wine Spectator: Copyrighted material withheld. The heart of Morgan’s winery is Bedrock Vineyard, a site planted in 1854 (!) that then had to be replanted in 1888 post-phylloxera: As always, from the 1888 plantings at my family’s vineyard planted in the heart of Sonoma Valley. This field blend of 27 varieties performed beautifully in 2017, doing exactly what a field blend should do in a warmer year: the Carignan, Mataro, Syrah, and other later-ripening varieties retained acidity and perfume even though earlier-ripening varieties like Petite Sirah and Tempranillo got a bit riper than normal. This has the trademark Bedrock spice, citrus oil/cointreau, and dark red fruits (Mulberry? Raspberry?) I would expect from our dearly beloved home vineyard. This is going to age quite well, though similar to 2015, this could be consumed slightly earlier thanks to the delicious fruit. Roughly 55% Zinfandel, 15% Carignan, 10% Mataro, and then everything else (Syrah, Alicante, Trousseau Noir, Mission… you get the point). Drink 2019-2030+. So yeah, this is a crazy field blend, featuring 27 different grape varieties, coming from vines that look like this. It’s an only-in-America, only-in-California story. All native yeast fermented and basket-pressed and raised in French oak (40% new), this clocks in at 14.6% listed alc and begins with a nose combining deep brambly fruit with wonderful savory tones of roasted herbs and tomato paste, all lifted by high-toned spice and orange-blossom notes. It’s a singular nose, truly appetizing, and it leads into a palate bursting with power and fruit intensity. I love the classy tannin structure here, the back-end chew that cries out for grilled or smoked meats. This tickles the intellectual and sensual sides of the brain in equal measure. We also have access to a miniscule number of bottles of three successive vintages of Chappellet’s crown jewel.
By Paul Zitarelli
(Bedrock Wine Co. Bedrock Heritage) Hello friends. Today we have a survey of our neighbor two doors down, featuring one terrific up-and-comer working with extremely old fruit – Bedrock – and one classic of the genre: Chappellet. Wine Spectator: Copyrighted material withheld. The heart of Morgan’s winery is Bedrock Vineyard, a site planted in 1854 (!) that then had to be replanted in 1888 post-phylloxera: As always, from the 1888 plantings at my family’s vineyard planted in the heart of Sonoma Valley. This field blend of 27 varieties performed beautifully in 2017, doing exactly what a field blend should do in a warmer year: the Carignan, Mataro, Syrah, and other later-ripening varieties retained acidity and perfume even though earlier-ripening varieties like Petite Sirah and Tempranillo got a bit riper than normal. This has the trademark Bedrock spice, citrus oil/cointreau, and dark red fruits (Mulberry? Raspberry?) I would expect from our dearly beloved home vineyard. This is going to age quite well, though similar to 2015, this could be consumed slightly earlier thanks to the delicious fruit. Roughly 55% Zinfandel, 15% Carignan, 10% Mataro, and then everything else (Syrah, Alicante, Trousseau Noir, Mission… you get the point). Drink 2019-2030+. So yeah, this is a crazy field blend, featuring 27 different grape varieties, coming from vines that look like this. It’s an only-in-America, only-in-California story. All native yeast fermented and basket-pressed and raised in French oak (40% new), this clocks in at 14.6% listed alc and begins with a nose combining deep brambly fruit with wonderful savory tones of roasted herbs and tomato paste, all lifted by high-toned spice and orange-blossom notes. It’s a singular nose, truly appetizing, and it leads into a palate bursting with power and fruit intensity. I love the classy tannin structure here, the back-end chew that cries out for grilled or smoked meats. This tickles the intellectual and sensual sides of the brain in equal measure. We also have access to a miniscule number of bottles of three successive vintages of Chappellet’s crown jewel.Full Pull California Love, 4/11/2019, (See more on Full Pull...)