Community Tasting Notes 2

• Snoot Doggie Dogg Likes this wine: 88 points

  May 26, 2023 - Cabernet Pfeffer? What in the devil is that?? Well, it’s a unique grape! Despite its name, it has no relation to Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc; it is light ruby in color, and it has more in common with Syrah and Nebbiolo since it has ample spicy and peppery notes instead of earth and black currants. Its genealogy has not been confirmed, but it appears to be related to some obscure French and Spanish grapes. The name “Pfeffer” means “pepper” in German, which is apt due to the variety’s tendency to produce spicy, peppery wines. It is named after William Pfeffer, who sold cuttings and introduced the mysterious grape over to California in the 1870s. The variety has never seen much planting; it peaked in the 1850s with about 25 acres total before losing popularity and nearly vanishing entirely. But lately there has been resurgence of the grape as a novelty, and today California is home to the most extensive plantings of Cabernet Pfeffer in the world—a whopping 10 acres in San Benito County. The grape exists almost nowhere else on the planet, so it is truly a rare gem!
  
  Light ruby in color, this is intensely aromatic, wafting forth from the glass with an interesting, youthful nose consisting of a mix of red fruit (fresh red cherry, red plum and cranberry) backed by a curious mix of peppery and green herbaceous notes. Upon sipping, one meets a dry, medium-bodied wine with medium alcohol, high tannins and moderate acidity. The attack features fresh red cherry, which is almost immediately joined in an intense midpalate by a significant peppery note and then juicy red plum with cranberry. There is also a green vegetal character that, while certainly present, is not overbearing. The finish is of medium length, seeing the emergence of a slight tobacco leaf accompanied by fresh red cherry and white pepper, which fade away into a lingering tannic dryness. After a few sips a slight perfumed quality emerges in the nose, which is quite pleasant.
  
  The flavor profile is fairly simple, but it is uniquely spicy and the flavors are quite intense. This is definitely a quaffable wine that goes well with Manchego cheese. Recommend drinking now, as this does not have tremendous ageing potential; while some age may cause the tannins to settle down a bit, the fruit is a bit simple and may fade, thus being overpowered by the herbaceous aspect of this wine. Ultimately this would be an interesting picnic wine – simple and flavorful, sit back and enjoy it with lunch!

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• Central Coast Sharon Likes this wine:

  March 19, 2023 - Garnet in color. Bouquet of enticing sweetness, balanced by cinnamon spice. A bright palate with cranberry notes. It is lean, medium bodied and unique, rare. We took one home. I hope we will cellar it for a bit.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2021
• Type Red
• Producer I. Brand & Family
• Varietal Cabernet Pfeffer
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard Gimelli Vineyard
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Central Coast
• Appellation Cienega Valley

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 33 (83%)
• Consumed 7 (18%)

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