Imagery

TRL/Staff/Wine: 10/8/7

This is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the afternoon. It’s quite picturesque with an art gallery that showcases the art of their labels. They have the largest label collection in the world, with over 400 labels.

If the place is busy, you’ll compete for the staff’s attention. Then again, in the middle of the experience, Joe Benziger came out and introduced himself.

The patio tasting is $20 per person, and there are only 4 wines on that menu, but 6 wines later, they’ve only poured one of the original four. You got to love the generous servings…

2010 White Burgundy $29/$23/$15

Chardonnay / Pinot Blanc/ Pinot Meunier

Rich, creamy nose consistent with a chardonnay that has been oaked in French barrels for some time. It has a very viscous fluidity to it. The nose has hints of peach, pineapple, and honey. Light-bodied with little or no acidity.

2011 Wow Oui $27/$21/-

Sauvignon blanc

This doesn’t smell like any sauvignon blanc that I’ve ever had. I pick out the usual pear and lemon, but there’s a sweet fruit that is difficult to identify. Whatever it is, it’s not on the palate. This is a clean, lemony sauvignon blanc with no oakiness, acidity, or toast, as if it was fermented in stainless steel.

2010 Viognier $29/$23/$16

100% stainless steel fermented. The nose is classic Viognier but the palate is too clean, with a significant lime presence. I’d love this wine more if it had some oaked wine blended into it.

2008 Barbera $39/$31/$30

Black spices on the nose, with notes of boysenberry, plum, and leather.  This is an enjoyable barbera with a nice dusty palate that follows. The fruit sucks you, but it doesn’t meet your expectations.

2010 Sangiovese $39/$31/-

575 cases this year. 15-17 months on all new French oak. 

Bright raspberry nose. The vanilla and raspberry followed on the palate, but it was thin and the finish was slightly peppery.

2009 Tusca Brava (super Tuscan) $55/$44/$45

58 Cabernet Sauvignon/40 sangio /2 malbec

The nose has a typical super Tuscan style with good spice and earth mixed well together.  The palate follows, but is more balanced towards earth than spice.  The fruits on the nose are the same on the palate, with blackberry, cherry, and just a little bit of blueberry.  I could swear I smell a little anise, but I get confused with a toasty oak aroma when I try to pull it out.

2008 Lagrein $44/$35/$35

Sourced from the Paso Robles region.

Smells of a peppery black fruit…and it tastes of a peppery black fruit. There’s a hint of tobacco.  The finish is smooth but short, but the flavors still please.

2009 Malbec Upper Ridge $39/$31/$33

Notes of black currant, blueberry, plum, and spices. It’s a nice mouthfeel, but I believe in an earthier Malbec, which this is not. In any event, the deep dark fruits of this wine are consistent with its bouquet.

2008 Malbec $39/$31/$37

This is more suited to my tastes and expectations of a malbec. Notes of graphite on the nose are interesting, but the palate has a  complex fruit composition where the raspberry jumps along with the blueberry.