Rare blend of Walla Walla Syrah and Domaine Serene’s estate Pinot. About 50/50. Fascinating blend.
7 years in bottle allowed this thing to smoothen out. Wet earth, big black cherry and a light gamey-ness on the nose (maybe Northern Rhône style??). A little reductive but opening up nicely.
Palate shows a lovely balance of the two grapes. Bright acid, rounded fruit and the finish was all Syrah. Little fresh leather, some manure and smoked meats. Phenomenal blend.
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A longtime favorite of mine, and it always drinks a little more linear than some of the other Etna big guns like Tere Nere, Benanti, Planeta, etc.
Poured a glass for a friend who typically likes lighter wines but gravitates towards old world meets new world Pinots from SB, Oregon, Hawkes Bay, etc. He enjoyed it, but made multiple comments about how dry and “serious” it was. Made me realize that Etna reds, even for those who enjoy “light and mineral” wines, can be over-powering in their intense and musing dryness. These wines do not play around, even with 5 years of age like this one. Not as much of a crowd pleaser as I always anticipate it will be, but still one of my favorite wines of all time.
Nose: wet gravel, stewed raspberries without sugar added, dry fall air
Palate: underripe red fruit, dry amaro notes, graphite, smoked sea salt
Age: 5 years- drinking well but could easily go 3-4 more years and develop further complexities
Had with dumplings and duck at grand opening of Zoe Tong in Austin.
2017 was a weird year for WV but this wine is smack dab in its prime. Classic Willamette style, leaning towards Old World with very elegant and earthy palate. Fruit was present but overshadowed by earthy and mineral notes. More figs and prunes than fresh red fruit.
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2017 Domaine Serene Grand Cheval
3/10/2024 - HettermannWine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rare blend of Walla Walla Syrah and Domaine Serene’s estate Pinot. About 50/50. Fascinating blend.
7 years in bottle allowed this thing to smoothen out. Wet earth, big black cherry and a light gamey-ness on the nose (maybe Northern Rhône style??). A little reductive but opening up nicely.
Palate shows a lovely balance of the two grapes. Bright acid, rounded fruit and the finish was all Syrah. Little fresh leather, some manure and smoked meats. Phenomenal blend.
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2018 Passopisciaro Passorosso
12/14/2023 - HettermannWine Likes this wine: 91 Points
A longtime favorite of mine, and it always drinks a little more linear than some of the other Etna big guns like Tere Nere, Benanti, Planeta, etc.
Poured a glass for a friend who typically likes lighter wines but gravitates towards old world meets new world Pinots from SB, Oregon, Hawkes Bay, etc. He enjoyed it, but made multiple comments about how dry and “serious” it was. Made me realize that Etna reds, even for those who enjoy “light and mineral” wines, can be over-powering in their intense and musing dryness. These wines do not play around, even with 5 years of age like this one. Not as much of a crowd pleaser as I always anticipate it will be, but still one of my favorite wines of all time.
Nose: wet gravel, stewed raspberries without sugar added, dry fall air
Palate: underripe red fruit, dry amaro notes, graphite, smoked sea salt
Age: 5 years- drinking well but could easily go 3-4 more years and develop further complexities
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2017 Lemelson Vineyards Pinot Noir Thea's Selection
11/19/2023 - HettermannWine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Had with dumplings and duck at grand opening of Zoe Tong in Austin.
2017 was a weird year for WV but this wine is smack dab in its prime. Classic Willamette style, leaning towards Old World with very elegant and earthy palate. Fruit was present but overshadowed by earthy and mineral notes. More figs and prunes than fresh red fruit.
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