Posts tagged ‘L’Uvaggio di Giacomo’

Cliffs Wine Picks – Lodi Summer Wines – Vol 2

2016 M2 Vintners Carignane Rosé of Carignane

2016 Jeremy Wine Company Albariño

2016 St. Amant Winery Barbera Rosé

2015 Michael-David Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2016 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Cinsault Rosé

2016 d’Art Wines Barbera White Barbera

This post is based on samples that were provided to me. I am showing the suggested retail price for the wines.

For a great, all inclusive look at Lodi, visit the Lodi Wine site. I highly recommend reading ” The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing” to learn more about the region’s commitment to the environment and leaving the area better for future generations. This is very important for a region built around family owned businesses.

2016 M2 Vintners Carignane Rosé of Carignane – SRP $18

This wine is made from 100% Carignane grapes grown from the Mule Plane Vineyard that was planted “sometime” around 1920. The vineyard’s name, “Mule Plane”, is in respect of the mules that pulled cast-iron blades to cultivate the ground and vines in the early days.

This is made in a traditional French style; the grapes were harvested, then crushed, and the skins were allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period of time to gain color and flavor. After the must is pressed, the juice is fermented as if it was a white wine at a very low temperature. The total production was only 180 cases.

Much more information on the winery and their wines is available on their website by clicking here.

The wine is a light peach color. The bright and vibrant nose has cherries, chalky minerals, strawberries, white peach, melon, orange blossoms, subtle underbrush and a hint of leafy herbs. This is barely medium body with nice acidity and just a subtle hint of sweetness. On the palate tart cherries, white peach, strawberries and minerals grab your attention immediately with melon and a touch of underbrush coming in later. The juicy finish has good length with orange blossoms and a touch of leafy herb providing nice depth. The nice upfront fruit makes this easy to sip and the savory notes coming in on the back end and finish keep it interesting. Nice job! This has 12.6% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure. (91 pts)

2016 M2 Vintners Carignane Rosé of Carignane

2016 Jeremy Wine Company Albariño – SRP $20

Jeremy Wine Co is owned by Jeremy & Choral Trettevik. The winery has grown from 5 tons of grapes in their first harvest to now harvesting well over 100 tons.

I’ve been very impressed by the Albariño wines being produced in Lodi. These are world-class wines that rival the wines being produced anywhere in the world. The grapes for this 100% Albariño come from the Felten Vineyard. The grapes were fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel. There were only 210 cases of this wine produced in this vintage.

For more information on the winery and their wines or to make a purchase, visit their website by clicking here.

The wine is a light straw golden color. The alluring nose has apples, white peach, lemon grass, orange blossoms, lime zest and dusty minerals. This has light to medium body with crisp acidity. On the palate apples, white peach and lemon grass jump out on the front end with minerals and orange blossoms coming in later. The finish has very nice length with mouthwatering lime zest providing depth and compelling you to grab another sip. This is great as an aperitif or with a light meal, preferably one with seafood. This is very easy to like. This has 13.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (92 pts)

2016 Jeremy Wine Company Albariño

2016 St. Amant Winery Barbera Rosé – SRP $15

St. Amant is a family owned and run winery that was founded in 1979 by Tim and Barbara Spencer. Their son, Stuart is currently the knowledgeable and very friendly winemaker. I highly encourage you to read about the wonderful history and growth of this winery by clicking here. While you are visiting the site, you can purchase their wines.

My first exposure to this specific wine was at a “welcome” reception and dinner in Lodi in September. I love this crisp and flavorful wine. I’m glad I was able to try the latest vintage.

The wine is a bright cherry color. The fresh and lively nose has strawberries, cherries, dusty minerals, orange blossoms and a touch of leafy herb. This has light to medium body with nice acidity. On the palate tart strawberries and cherries jump out on the front end with minerals and a hint of leafy herb coming in later. The finish has nice length with orange blossom and a touch of citrus zest providing depth. This is extremely easy to sip on a warm and sunny day alone or with a light meal. This may not be the most complex bottle of wine out there but it is extremely tasty. I like this one a lot. This has 12.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (90 pts)

2016 St. Amant Winery Barbera Rosé

2015 Michael-David Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc – SRP $16

The Michael and David are brother Michael and David Philips, the fifth generation of grape growers in the Philips family storied history.

Sustainable farming practices are just slogans and buzzwords for the Michael David Winery. They have adopted some of the most progressive sustainable farming practices in state. All 750 acres of the family’s vineyards are third party certified. The winery goes as far as offering a per ton bonus to follow in the family’s foot steps. Starting with the 2011 vintage, 100% of the Lodi grown fruit crushed at Michael David winery have been certified sustainable.

Much more info on the family, the winery and their wines is available on their website.

The wine is a very light straw yellow with a slight green tint. The enticing nose has green apples, flinty minerals, lemon grass, apricot and grapefruit zest. This is barely medium body with crisp acidity. On the palate tart apples, apricot and minerals pop out on the front end with lemon zest coming in on the back end. The finish has nice length with mouthwatering grapefruit zest providing depth. This would be very nice by itself or with a light meal on a warm day in a sunny location. This is very appealing and refreshing. This has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure. (90 pts)

2015 Michael-David Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

2016 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Cinsault Rosé – SRP $24

The proprietor/winemaker for Uvaggio is Jim Moore. Jim has a long history in the California wine business. It was his vision and development that lead to the creation of La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi. This was my first introduction to the other wines coming out of California beyond Cabernet, Zinfandel, Merlot, etc. Their Barbera was our “house wine” for several years. I’m glad I now know and can enjoy the newest iteration of these wonderful wines.

Much more information on Jim, the winery and their wines is available by clicking here.

This 100% Lodi sourced wine is a blend of 80% Cinsaut from the Bechthold Vineyard, 11% Vermentino from Gayla’s Vineyard and 9% Grenache from the Mettler Vineyard. For this wine, the winery co-fermented the Vermentino with the Cinsault and a week later added the Grenache to prolong the fermentation to add additional complexity.

The wine is a bright salmon pink color. The expressive nose has strawberries, cherries, orange blossoms, lime zest, white peach and a hint of white pepper. This has light to medium body with nice acidity and just a hint of lingering sweetness. On the palate bright strawberries and cherries are joined with orange blossoms on the front end with white peaches coming in on the back end. The finish has good length with white pepper and tart lime zest providing nice depth. This is very easy to sip and enjoy. This has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork. (91 pts)

2016 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Cinsault Rosé

2016 d’Art Wines White Barbera – SRP $22

“What does a Spanish dancer have to do with a winery that has a French name?” so begins the history of d’Art Wines.

d’Art Wines is owned by Helen and Dave Dart, and this is truly a family business. Dave and their daughter Jessica handle the winemaking end of the business while Helen greets visitors in the tasting room and shares the winery’s history and some of her wine friendly recipes to pair with the wines. Some of these recipes are available on their website. I know I’m looking forward to trying here recipe for Pappa Al Pomodoro, especially with a few of the serving suggestions.

Much more information on the Darts, their winery, the wines and Helen’s recipes is available by clicking here.

The wine is a pale orange color. The fresh and exotic nose has cherries, orange blossoms, leafy herbs, strawberries, white pepper and dusty earth. This is barely medium body with nice acidity and seems to be totally dry. On the palate tart cherries, strawberries and orange zest come through on the front end with white pepper and leafy herbs coming in later. The finish has decent length with a touch of dusty earth providing some depth. This is a lighter bodied wine that will stand up to a lighter meal or even better with a small platter of cheese. This is easy to sip on a hot sunny day. This has 14% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork. (89 pts)

2016 d’Art Wines Barbera White Barbera

Conclusion and recommendations

These are all wines made with pride by families who either grow their own grapes or buy them from “friends”. The over riding thing I learned during my visit is this region performs like one big team. Everyone from the grape growers to the winery owners are equals when it comes to producing these world class wines. The wines in this post are generally not available at you local wine store. They are available via the winery’s websites or from the Lodi Wine & Visitor Center.

If you want to plan a trip to Lodi, which I highly recommend, your first step should be to visit the Lodi Wine Site. If you find yourself in Lodi and want to sip some wine, buy some wine or look for recommendations, I encourage you to visit them at:

Lodi Wine & Visitor Center

2545 West Turner Road

Lodi, CA 95242

Phone: (209) 367-4727

Email: lwwc@lodiwine.com

This is also a great place to buy Lodi wines. They have an extensive inventory of wines that you can have shipped to your home.

How can’t you talk about these food friendly wines and not show a few of the dishes that were paired with them.

Seafood Boil with Jeremy Albarino

Shrimp Stir-fry with Michael-David Sauvignon Blanc

Steak Bruschetta with Uvaggio Cinsault Rose

Lodi Information

Lodi is just east of San Francisco and has provided grapes for producers all over the world since the 1800’s. The Lodi area has provided grapes for producers all over the world for decades, and many families in Lodi have been growing grapes for six and seven generations. Today, there are approximately 85 wineries and tasting rooms, over 750 growers and more than 100,000 acres planted to vineyards. The wines we tasted commemorate the heritage of Lodi and are not only exquisite, but tell a narrative.

It is a well-known fact that Lodi is predominantly a red wine region, proudly holding the self-proclaimed title of “Zinfandel Capital of the World”. What is lesser known is that Lodi’s unique Mediterranean climate allows for over 75 different varietals to thrive.

Tons of great and useful information is available on the Wines of Lodi, LOCA website. I highly encourage you to read about the area by clicking here. You can also follow Lodi on Twitter at @Lodi_Wine.

Lodi Green Program

The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing is California’s first 3rd party-certified sustainable winegrowing program. Originally launched in 2005, over the past two years the program went through and extensive review to update and make standards more rigorous.

The Lodi Rules takes a comprehensive approach to farming that goes beyond just pest management to promote practices that enhance biodiversity, water and air quality, soil health, and employee and community well-being. This allows us to produce higher quality wines more reflective of the places and people that grow them. It gives you the opportunity to promote responsible farming by enjoying the great wines from these vineyards.

When you drink a certified sustainably grown Lodi wine, you are supporting a farmer, a vintner, and a community that embraces its responsibility to take care of the environment.

Visit the Lodi Certified Green site for more information on the region’s sustainable winegrowing.

Calhoun & Company enjoys a diverse portfolio of wine and spirits clients. From family owned to corporate managed, luxury to everyday priced, small lot wines to nationally distributed, Napa to Oporto, we thrive on the varied media opportunities each of these categories presents. We are exceptionally proud of the breadth and depth of our practice, as illustrated by this partial list of brands we have worked with over the past 13 years. For more information, visit their website.

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Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines. I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar. I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com. Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear. There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase. I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but always check out the sale and close out items when in a store. Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges. None of the prices include the sales tax.

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

Cheers!

July 12, 2017

Cliff

Cliffs Wine Picks – Lodi Wines Vol 4

2013 Bokisch Vineyards Tempranillo

2014 Mettler Family Vineyards Pinotage Lodi

2011 Bokisch Vineyards Garnacha Terra Alta Vineyard

2014 Macchia Sangiovese Amorous Lodi

2015 Michael Klouda Wines Hatterle Zinfandel Lodi

2014 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc

2013 Michael-David Vineyards Syrah 6th Sense Lodi

2012 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Barbera Lodi

2013 Borra Vineyards Old Vine Barbera

This post includes a mix of wines from my cellar that I purchased and samples that were provided to me. I have the samples clearly stated as samples and show the suggested retail prices. Some were from my cellar, some were purchased during my recent tour of Lodi and some were purchased after I returned. I write about wines but I am also a collector and wine consumer. I may write about some wines that are provided to me but I buy the wines I want to drink. Here are some of the wines from Lodi that are now part of my cellar.

I had the extreme good fortune to be invited on a Press Trip to Lodi last September and it was a wonderful trip. I had been a fan of Lodi Wines before the trip but now I am a fan of the people of Lodi. The growers are outstanding people with a true dedication to tending to their vines and producing some of the best grapes in the world. The winery owners and winemakers treat the grapes with the respect they deserve and produce some of the best wines in the world. If you think Lodi means big, burly red wines, you owe it to yourself to revisit the area. Besides the big red wines, the area produces outstanding, lighter bodied, nuanced red wines and some of the best white and rose wines in the world.

2013 Bokisch Vineyards Tempranillo – SRP $23

This is based on a sample provided to me but this is a personal favorite. I have a couple bottles in my cellar that I purchased before this sample arrived.

This wine includes a touch of Graciano.

Bokisch Vineyards is one of my favorite Lodi wineries. The winery specializes in Spanish varietals. If you ever find yourself in Lodi, I highly recommend a stop at Bokisch. Besides their top notch red wines, they make some of the best white wines anywhere. Much more information is available on the Bokisch website.

The wine is a deep ruby red color. The exotic nose has black cherries, crushed stone minerals, baking spices, blackberries, dry underbrush, roasted leafy herbs, wildflowers, white pepper and a touch of dark roast coffee beans. This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very nice acidity. Tart black cherries, baking spices, underbrush and wildflowers immediately grab your attention on the palate with minerals, tart berries and roasted herbs coming in later. The finish has very nice length with dark roasted coffee beans and white pepper providing nice depth. This has great balance and is very easy to enjoy. Who says Lodi only makes big, bold red wines? This is full of subtle nuances with no rough edges. This has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (92 pts)

2013 Bokisch Vineyards Tempranillo

2014 Mettler Family Vineyards Pinotage Lodi – SRP $25

Pinotage is an rare grape in California. In the entire state there are only 58 acres of Pinotage vines and the Mettlers have 4 of these acres.

The Mettler family has been growing grapes for 8 generations and in Lodi for over 5 generations. The grapes the family produced were sold to other well known wineries. In 2001 the family started the winery and released their inaugural wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon. Much more information on the family, the winery and their history is available on their website.

The wine is a deep ruby red color. The inviting nose has crushed berries, underbrush, baking spices, dark roasted coffee beans, dried herbs, cherries and dry loam soil. This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and nice acidity. On the palate crushed berries, underbrush, coffee beans and dried herbs take over on the front end with loamy soil and baking spices coming in later. The finish has good length with berries and earthiness lingering nicely. With out a doubt one of the best Pinotage wines I have ever tasted. It seems like the grape could have a future in Lodi. This is a nice wine, not a novelty. This has 14.7% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (91 pts)

2014 Mettler Family Vineyards Pinotage Lodi

2011 Bokisch Vineyards Garnacha Terra Alta Vineyard – $12.12

This bottle was purchased from Last Bottle wines, my favorite “flash” wine site. If you use the provided link and sign up, you get an immediate credit and I get a credit if/when you make a purchase. Check them out, they have awesome deals and their Marathons are always something special.

Markus Bokisch was raised in California but spent his childhood summers in Spain with his family. In 1992 Liz & Markus Bokisch moved to Spain and worked in the Spanish wine industry. Upon returning to California, they quickly purchased the Terra Alta Vineyards property. Using the connections they formed while living and working in Spain, they began importing “budwood” and planted the Las Cerezas Vineyard. They produced their first vintage under the Bokisch label on 2001.

The wine is a bright red color. The enticing nose has cherries, crushed blackberries, baking spices, white pepper, crushed stone minerals, dried violets and dry underbrush. This has medium body with soft to moderate ripe tannins and decent acidity. On the palate ripe cherries, berries and white pepper come through on the front end with dried flowers, baking spices and minerals coming in later. The finish has good length with cherries and dry underbrush carrying the load. This is in a prime drinking window and should hold for a few years. This is another wine that shows the diversity and quality of wines being produced in Lodi. This wine is a steal at the SRP of $20. This wine has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (91 pts)

2011 Bokisch Vineyards Garnacha Terra Alta Vineyard

2014 Macchia Sangiovese Amorous Lodi – $21.99

This is another wine from Lodi I picked up at Total Wine in Columbia after returning from my trip to Lodi. I loved my visit to Macchia and highly recommend trying any you may see on a shelf. I’m thankful the local Total Wine carries several Macchia wines.

Besides the usual Lodi wine suspects, Macchia produces several wines from Italian varietals. A stop at the “man cave” tasting area at Macchia should be on your short list of places to visit in Lodi. Additional information about the winery is available on their website.

This wine is a fairly deep ruby color. The sexy nose has cherries, warm baking spices, raspberries, dry earthy underbrush, violets, dusty minerals and a touch of licorice. This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity. On the palate this wine is full of rich fruit, spices and earthiness on the front end with minerals and a nice floral note on the back end. The long, lingering finish closes with a hint of orange zest. This is nothing like an Italian Sangiovese but the wine world would be a boring place if every wine made from a specific grape tasted the same no matter where it was grown. This demands a hearty meal, think pasta with a meat sauce or a pizza with plenty of pepperoni and sausage. This has 16.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (92 pts)

2014 Macchia Sangiovese Amorous Lodi

2015 Michael Klouda Wines Hatterle Zinfandel Lodi – SRP $26

This “own rooted” vineyard was planted in 1930, Mr Hatterle has been farming the vineyard for almost 50 years.

I’ve now had the opportunity to try a couple Michael Klouda wines and both have left me VERY impressed. In my opinion, we will hear more about the winery in the coming years. More information on Michael, the winery and the wines is available on their website.

The wine is a garnet color. The sensuous nose has brambly berries, black peppercorns, baking spices, scorched earth, violets and licorice. This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate tart berries, black pepper and baking spices take control on the front end with scorched earth coming in later. The finish has very good length with a nice floral note providing some depth. This is a stylish and refined Zinfandel, not a burly beast. This food friendly and balanced wine would be a nice companion with your dinner. I like this style of Zinfandel more than the ones that push the ripeness levels to the extreme. This has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (93 pts)

2015 Michael Klouda Wines Hatterle Zinfandel Lodi

2014 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc – $9.49

Ironstone Vineyards is a family owned winery that we visited during our Lodi excursion. The Kautz family were gracious hosts during the visit. I enjoyed their entire line-up of value priced wines. The quality of the wines far exceeded the “low price of admission”. To me, their Petite Sirah and this Cabernet Franc were the standouts. I like the wine enough to include a few bottles in the case I bought soon after returning home. Visit the Ironstone Vineyards website for a ton more information on the winery, family and the wines.

This wine is 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alta Mesa and Sloughhouse AVAs in Lodi. The wine gets a brief two month aging in new French oak.

The wine is a medium to dark ruby color. The very approachable nose has crushed berries, stony minerals, dried leafy herbs, vanilla, cedar and wild flowers. This has medium body with soft tannins and good acidity. On the palate juicy berries, vanilla and dried herbs dominate the front end with toasty cedar coming in on the back end. The fruit laden finish has nice length. This isn’t a wine to lay down, I’d drink this one on the younger side while the fruit is crisp and fresh. Open this one with a juicy burger hot off the grill or even better with a platter of cheeses and meats with a few friends. This wine is a steal if you can find it for around $10. This has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an artificial cork. (90 pts)

2014 Ironstone Vineyards Cabernet Franc

2013 Michael-David Vineyards Syrah 6th Sense Lodi – $12.99

This wine is mostly Syrah with a touch of Petite Sirah. The winery likes to add a bit of Petite Sirah to most of their wines. I was jokingly told they would add it to their Chardonnay if they could. This wine was aged 12 months in French oak barrels.

The winery is one of the “big boys” in Lodi. The family has been growing fruit and vegetable in the region since the 1850s and have been growing grapes for nearly 100 years. With an eye to the future the winery has adopted some of the most progressive sustainable farming practices in the state. All of the 750 acres of family vineyards are third party certified as being sustainably farmed. Since the 2011 vintage, 100% of the Lodi grown fruit crushed at the winery has been certified as sustainably farmed.

Much more information on the winery is available on their website.

From the winery:

The Phillips brothers planted one of the first Syrah vineyards in California in 1982. With Michael’s son Kevin continuing the Phillips grape growing tradition into the 6th generation, this Syrah vineyard was one of the first he tended to as our Vineyard Manager. If you turn the bottle around you will see Kevin’s eye looking out from the inside of the bottle, making sure the wine is being enjoyed!

The wine is a deep purple color. The intoxicating nose has blackberries, blueberries, asphalt, dark chocolate, fresh ground espresso beans, dry underbrush, licorice, violets and black pepper. This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity. This has massive berries and ground espresso beans on the front end with underbrush, dark chocolate and a big floral note coming in on the back end. The finish is long and lingering with black pepper coming into play. Not a lot of subtlety here but the big fruit and nice structure makes for a worthy companion for something hot off the grill. This has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. This is a steal for the price. (89 pts)

2013 Michael-David Vineyards Syrah 6th Sense Lodi

2012 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Barbera Lodi – SRP $25

The Proprietor and Winemaker for Uvaggio is Jim Moore. You may not have heard of Jim, but there is a good chance you have tasted some of his wines over the years. While working for Robert Mondavi winery, Jim envisioned and developed La Famiglia di Robert Mondavi in California. Jim was also instrumental in helping to launch the partnership between Robert Mondavi Winery and Frescobaldi family of Florence to launch the Luce and Lucent labels from Tuscany.

This wine is 98% Barbera from the Leventini Vineyard and 2% Primitivo from the Bella Vigna Vineyard. The wine was fermented with a yeast strain isolated in Barolo. After fermentation, the wine was aged for 9 months in 27% new French oak, 13% once or twice used French oak and the reminder in fairly neutral oak.

Much more information about the winery is available on their website.

The wine is a medium ruby red color. The very inviting nose has cherries, black cherries, dry sandy loam, roasted herbs and wild flowers. This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate tart cherries and dry earth take control on the front end with roasted herbs and a nice floral note coming in later. The finish has very nice length and is loaded with fruit. This doesn’t offer a lot in the complexity department but the front loaded fruit makes it easy to drink and enjoy. No hurry on this one, it may even show some improvement with another couple years in the cellar. This has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork. (88 pts)

2012 Uvaggio (L’Uvaggio di Giacomo) Barbera Lodi

2013 Borra Vineyards Old Vine Barbera – SRP $25

I was able to attend a tasting at the winery’s Gill Creek Ranch in late September and loved the “alternative” wines they served. Their white wines were crisp, light and mineral driven. I was able to sample this specific wine at a large Barbera tasting with several wineries participating. This was one of the standouts (for me) at the event. The winery has a “second label” called Markus, these wines must be tasted, they are truly outstanding.

This is 100% Barbera from over 40 year old vines from the vineyard planted around their tasting room in Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA. The winemaker, Markus Niggli (Swiss born) uses native fermentation of only free-run juice. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 22 months in 35% new French oak. Total production was a miniscule 120 cases.

If you ever make it to Lodi, a stop at Borra Vineyards is a must. If you’re lucky enough to meet Markus, you’ll be impressed with his forward vision and old-school approach to wine making. Much more information about the winery, people and wine is available on their website.

The wine is a nice garnet color. The seductive nose has black cherries, crushed stone minerals, baking spices, cola, scorched earth and dried wild flowers. This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity. On the palate black cherries, minerals and spice quickly jump out with cola and dry earth coming in on the back end. The lingering finish adds a nice dried floral note. This won’t be mistaken for an Italian Barbera, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I liked this wine…a lot. This has 15.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist-off cap. (92 pts)

2013 Borra Vineyards Old Vine Barbera