Leal Vineyards Tasting

This was a Woodward Wines tasting which showcased this new up and coming winery. Four wines were poured and then a couple of bonus wines after the formal tasting was concluded. I had never run across Leal Vineyards before. They are based in San Benito, close to Monterey, an area best known for high yield fruit for large production and jug wines. However Leal crop at about 1.5 tons per acre, use aged French oak for aging, and bottle the red wines without filtration (they were throwing off a lot of sediment last night). The commitment to quality really showed and each wine showed good structure and balance, as well as their own individual style

• 2003 Léal Vineyards Chardonnay 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County

  A terrific Chardonnay. This does have toasty and buttery notes but it is not overpowering, is well-balanced, and is very clean. The nose is very attractive, with some buttery and toasty notes, with apple and butterscotch aromas that have a crisp underpinning that prevent the nose from becoming cloying. The palate is smooth and creamy with hints of tangerine, clove and spicy apple, and some honeyed notes on the finish.

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• 2002 Léal Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County

  Garnet, with a nose of chocolate and some berry fruit but which one might not identify as a Cabernet at first. Given time the wine opens up nicely to reveal flavors of blackberry, currants and cocoa (at first, there is herbal streak with some green fruit but it still drinks nicely at this point) but again, this is not a typical Cabernet. Still, a nicely made, well balanced and rewarding wine.

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• 2003 Léal Vineyards Threesome 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County

  87% Syrah, 9% Grenache, 4% Mourvedre. A rich and supple wine with aromas of plum, black raspberry and dark chocolate. The palate is smooth and compelling with good fruit, bite and grip, and chalky tannins on the finish to round out this elegant and appealing wine.

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• 2003 Léal Vineyards Syrah 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, San Benito County

  A fine Syrah. Dark garnet, with a nose of smoky blackberries, spice and pepper. Dark and brooding, with a firm tannic bite, and flavors of plum and blackberry, with dark chocolate hints on the finish.

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Joel from Woodward Wines and Colin McCullough, the Vintage store manager, were kind enough to pop these bonus wines open for attendees. I wouldn't recommend either, although neither were terrible.

• 2001 Saviez Zinfandel

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Not overly impressed with this wine. Some spicy and tobacco notes but overall the wine seemed tired and jaded. Over the hill perhaps or a bad bottle?

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• 2001 Barra of Mendocino Petite Sirah Redwood Valley

  USA, California, North Coast, Redwood Valley

  A tight and unyielding wine with a typical PS core of dark fruits. Blackberry and smoky fruits were discernable but not much more. Not rated as this wine is either closed down or needed a really solid 2 hour decant.

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On the Leal wines: For around $25 these are all worthy purchases. The Chardonnay is impeccably balanced while the Threesome is a very nice Rhone blend. The Cabernet doesn't really have true varietal fruit but it is nevertheless well-made, as is the Syrah. All of the wines are drinking well now, but the structure and balanced between fruit and tannin is certainly there for them to age 3-4 years with ease and most likely, in the case of the reds, longer than that.