Community Tasting Note
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Cyclist Likes this wine: 96 points
October 24, 2021 - Tasted at the new production facility with Michael and Andrea on the rainiest day California has seen in years. I'm going for a lot of water and rain-based puns here so stick with me. Some not-so-dry humor. While it was pouring outside, we were pouring inside. After thoroughly drying ourselves from the walk from the loading dock to the door, we tasted through the line-up of 2018, 2019, and 2021 from barrel. Both the 2018 and 2019 had a plethora of black fruits but the 2019 was more approachable than the 2018 and was my preference of the two. The 2019 also seemed to have a bit more depth and more layers and just more balance overall. The 2018 was great too, just more of a tannic wall stopping the fruit from flooding the mouth, should hopefully catch up to the 2019's performance in a couple years, but I think the 2019 will perhaps pull a bit ahead in that time as well. Great QPR on these wines. No more specific notes or thoughts you ask? Well let me tell you why. After about 30 minutes of hanging out, checking out the new facility, and tasting...Russell Bevan (consulting winemaker) walked in and dragged us to the table to taste all of the facilities ferments and barrels so he could make any alterations necessary before dryness and to check on the barrels. Who would say no? Who could say no? Well about 20 or so progress checks later and a total of around 1000 grams of a river of sugar coating my mouth, all rational thought left my being and I was stuck with these notes. Spitting never works as well on sugar for me. The 2021 was coming together great in barrel from what my poor palate could tell at that point and also, some new vineyards coming online for the 2021 wines that should be fun. A real fun-soaked afternoon.
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22 Comments
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Decanting Queen commented:
10/25/21, 3:02 AM - Haha great review, thanks for sharing. I liked the 2018 but it needed a lot of coaxing fo be drinkable! Excited for the 19’s
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Mark1npt commented:
10/25/21, 7:07 AM - Yes, fun review/note! Looking forward to my '19s as well.
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#1Winelover commented:
10/25/21, 8:36 AM - Fun review! I do agree that I needed to work with the '18 but did end up enjoying it and picked up the '19. Nothing like a little rain to hang out inside and drink up!
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MJP Hou TX commented:
10/25/21, 8:37 AM - Great notes. Sounds like you guys are getting the rains we are used to in Houston. Hopefully you just don't get it all at once!
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sfwinelover1 commented:
10/25/21, 9:08 AM - Wow! Good note, and sounds like a great tasting. Yet another winery I seem to be the last to know about! Where are these guys located, and what's the retail on their wines? btw, if you ever need a wingman, you know where to find me, as long as you're not cycling up to Napa in the rain!
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AGELVIS commented:
10/25/21, 11:29 AM - I’m late to this one, but I did snag a few ‘19 bottles.
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Mark1npt commented:
10/25/21, 11:35 AM - AG, you'll have the '18 when you're here.......
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AGELVIS commented:
10/25/21, 12:25 PM - Add this to our list. ;)
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sfwinelover1 commented:
10/25/21, 12:26 PM - As if any of need another, really . . . Thanks, cyclist!
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Cyclist commented:
10/25/21, 1:12 PM - Hi everyone. Yes, the 2019 was pretty tasty, I'm assuming Michael did a slow ox as the bottles were open when we arrived. And MJP, we definitely got it all at once basically...ha.
SF- They used to make their wine at the Tench facility as Michael was "Director of Winemaking" there but has since moved to a new custom crush facility that is being built in Napa that Michael will be running for several clients as well as making Pezzato. Bevan is still involved as a consultant. This was only their second vintage, first was 2018, so still a very young brand. The price of these was $65 on release, pretty good QPR. I believe Andrea said they still have some left, so you might be able to snag some if you want. I'll let you know next time I'm exploring a new project on my lonesome without the bike haha. Always fun to have some company. -
sfwinelover1 commented:
10/25/21, 1:24 PM - Also, don't have a bike at present--and can tell you unequivocally, if I did, I wouldn't be up for biking up to Napa, but might be interested in renting a bike up there and joining you (even though you said you liked to keep biking and winedrinking separate--no fun! [but probably a good idea]).
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Cyclist commented:
10/25/21, 2:06 PM - Ha, I usually drive up and bike the mountains/roads up there, I don't usually bike all the way up there from the Bay. But yes, biking to a couple tasting can be fun! I've done it a couple times. It's even more fun in Paso, where there's many less cars.
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Decanting Queen commented:
10/25/21, 2:10 PM - Now I am very jealous, because the other thing I am, besides the decanting queen, is the cycling queen! Not great riding here in Atlanta. I need to plan a ride around Paso trip.
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sfwinelover1 commented:
10/25/21, 2:14 PM - Haven't been to Paso, whether by foot, car or bicycle, for 15 years. Am well overdue for a visit to see what's going on down there. Also appealing close to the Santa Rita Hills, which is doing some of the State's most interesting Burgundian stuff.
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Cyclist commented:
10/25/21, 3:54 PM - Sounds like we need to organize a Paso wine and cycling trip!
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sfwinelover1 commented:
10/25/21, 5:29 PM - Next spring, knock on wood . . .
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Cyclist commented:
10/25/21, 6:30 PM - Perfect time, late winter/early spring down there I find is the best time as it gets quite hot for mid-day biking later in the year otherwise...
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Decanting Queen commented:
10/26/21, 3:36 AM - I was hoping to get there in the spring so that would be perfect.
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#1Winelover commented:
10/26/21, 4:15 AM - I could be the designated driver that would not only carry all of the wine that we buy, but extra tires and water for you Cyclists.
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sfwinelover1 commented:
10/26/21, 7:40 AM - Very nice offer, #1WL. I also have a couple of CT friends who are pretty outdoorsy who might be interested (csimm, Aaron_Maxwell). Would be fun to go around 4/8, as I'm hoping to have something to celebrate . . .
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Cyclist commented:
10/26/21, 10:17 AM - Sounds like the workings of a great trip! We should definitely try to figure this out. I’m sure we can discuss more details in person SF and take off CT as it gets closer.
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sfwinelover1 commented:
10/26/21, 11:23 AM - Sounds great. After 20+ months of not leaving the Bay Area (yeah, the BA is nice, but not for 20 months!), I'm hoping for '22 to be a year of travel, and this would be a great add.