Review by Level 2 Sommelier Anna Ortiz

2011 Rousanne

This clear, bright, straw in color wine, with an appearance that is of medium-intensity, has medium viscosity. On the nose pear skin and honey are the prominent aromas with a hint of petrol. The aroma is sound and clean with medium intensity, with a hint of age apparent. On the palette the wine is dry and full-bodied. The prominent flavors are ripe, even grilled lemon and slight nectarine. There is an oily mouth feel that is slightly off-putting. There is a hint of earth and slight oak. We found the alcohol to be medium, acidity to be medium minus, medium minus complexity and a medium plus finish. When we drank the wine with food the oiliness fades away. We give this wine an 78/100.

2013 Viognier

This clear, day bright, gold in color wine, with an appearance that is of medium-high intensity, has medium viscosity. On the nose orange and chamomile are the prominent aromas with a hint of warm baking spices. The aroma is sound and clean with medium-plus intensity, with a youthful aroma. On the palette the wine is dry and medium-bodied. The prominent flavors are clementine, passion fruit, with a bit of butter from new wood, and oxidized nutmeg. We found the alcohol to be medium, with low acidity, medium-minus/low complexity and a short finish. Perhaps the warm climate contributes to the low acidity and maybe with a little less wood, the acid that is there could shine a bit more. Given that this is a low alcohol wine, we found the taste of alcohol to be more like a wine of 14+%. We give this wine an 80/100.

2011 Grenache

This clear, bright, ruby/garnet wine, with an appearance that is of low intensity, has medium viscosity. On the nose cherry, cola, dried thyme and dusty earth are the prominent aromas. There is hint of mushroom with very slight oak influence. The aroma is sound and clean with low intensity, with a youthful aroma. On the palette the wine is dry and light bodied. The prominent flavors are candy/bubble gum, red plum, with thyme, violets, and a little bit of meat/salami. There is very little oak influence. We found the tannins to be low, alcohol to be medium-minus, with low acidity, medium complexity and a medium finish. Overall, we loved the wine and found it delightful. It is crisp, fresh, with good acidity and a nice finish. We thought it was super restrained for Temecula fruit- very reminiscent of a French Beaujolais or Cinsault. We would like to consider pouring it at the wine bar. We give this wine an 88/100.

2013 Barbera

This clear, bright, purple wine, with an appearance that is of medium-high intensity, has medium-plus viscosity. On the nose blueberry, black plum and boysenberry are the prominent aromas. There are also hints of graphite, pink peppercorn, garrigue (earth/herbs), and it is well-oaked. On the palette the wine is dry and medium-full bodied. The prominent flavors are boysenberry and red currant, with hints of roses, graphite and anise. The structure of the wine was very balanced: tannins, alcohol, acid, and oak were all of medium complexity. There was stewed sour cherry on the medium finish. Overall we found this bigger and more complex than a typical Italian Barbera. As it opened up, we kept picking up more aromas. It’s definitely a food wine, yet we found it very drinkable on its own. We give this wine an 85/100. 
 

2011 Syrah/Grenache

This clear, bright, ruby wine, with an appearance that is of medium intensity, has medium-minus viscosity. On the nose candy (pixie stick) and funk (brett?) are the prominent aromas. On the palette the wine is dry and medium bodied. The prominent flavors are raspberry, green strawberry, stewed dark cherry and that brett funk. There are hints of smoke. , with hints of roses, graphite and anise. We found the tannins to be medium-low, alcohol to be medium, with medium-minus acidity, medium-minus complexity and a long difficult finish.  We could definitely pick up that Grenache that we loved, but the Syrah made it a clunky blend. We give this wine a 75/100.

2011 Syrah

This clear, bright, dark ruby wine, with an appearance that is of medium-high intensity, has medium-minus viscosity. On the nose tomato leaf, red plum, raspberry w/its bramble are the prominent aromas. There are hints of mustiness (brett?), perfumed flowers and herbs. On the palette the wine is dry and medium bodied. We found the palette to be too perfumed, with very little distinctive fruit. The fruit that was there was stewed. There was slight salami on the finish. found the tannins to be medium, alcohol to be medium-high, with medium acidity, medium-minus complexity and a medium-minus finish.  Overall, we loved the nose, but all those wonderful aromas were absent from the palette. We thought that perhaps in this difficult vintage, the grower left the grapes on the vine too long to bring up the sugars which perhaps resulted in that stewed fruit. We give this wine a 70/100.