AUTUMN 2020 TASTING NOTES
2014 Barbera Gold | Platinum
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Gold | Platinum
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Concierge
2013 Malbec Gold
2014 Malbec Concierge
2014 Petite Sirah Gold | Platinum | Concierge
2014 Teroldego Gold | Platinum
2014 Zinfandel, DCV Platinum | Concierge
Message in a Bottle
We always enjoy receiving photos of Amphora wines “out in the world”, whether it’s a mountaintop, beach retreat, or poolside in a backyard… and never more so than during these days of no travel, no-go, sheltering-in-place. So we were very pleased to receive a report about a well-travelled bottle of Amphora GSM from our friend Randall Reeves. Last October, Randall completed an epic, solo voyage aboard his 45-foot sloop, Moli. Randall’s “Figure-8 Voyage” circumnavigated the Americas and Antarctica, traversing the fabled Northwest Passage and the treacherous Southern Ocean (twice!): 40, 000 miles, eight months beyond the sight of land…and alone! Continued on page 7 Amphora has been producing this rare northern Italian varietal (which origi- nates in Trentino/Alto-Adige) since 2008 vintage, and this may very well be the best! The 2014 was the first rendition to spend time aging in our terra- cotta amphorae, and that time in clay has fixed the deep color inherent to this varietal, and somehow amplified the aromatic aspects of this wine: an intense perfume of black cherry with an intriguing mineral note., The flavors follow through with blackberry, pomegranate syrup, and cherry. The wine’s body is emphasized by grippy tannins that will age-out very nicely, while working well with food during its relative youth. The lingering finish trails off with cassis and dark plum.
The Bevill/Hart Vineyard is situated a couple of miles north of the winery, on the east side rolling bench-lands here in Dry Creek Valley. It consistently bears concentrated and flavorful grapes, as typified by this 2013: enticing blackcurrant and blackberry aromas, a lively mouth-feel, and a finish that trails off into a sunset of sweet oak and black tea. It is well-balanced, and eminently drinkable on its own, or with a tasty meal. Consider a homage to Argentina with chimichurri-grilled flank steak , or a wintry braise of lamb shanks seasoned with rosemary and lavender. This block of Cabernet Sauvignon is on the bench-lands immediately east of the winery. These grapes consistently render a wine that shows the classic attributes of Cabernet, with the easy-drinking character typical of Dry Creek Valley red wines. Our 2013 is fully ripe, very aromatic, and mouth-filling. Its aromas open to blackcurrant, dark plum and just a touch of juniper berry. The flavor profile leans towards the deep and dark end of the fruit spectrum, with woodsy balsamic notes on the persistent finish. Rick deemed this vintage worthy of an additional year-plus of barrel-aging (32 months), in entirely French oak. Winning food pairings for this wine lean towards grilled red meats and braised greens.
There’s something about our Dry Creek Zinfandel that brings to mind the first dead-ripe blackberries of summertime. Here in Sonoma County, the “wild” blackberries (actually the non-native Himalaya berry) grow rampantly along every creek, and the first tasty, plump berries ripen in late July, just before veraision begins in the vineyard. They’re a delicious reminder that ripe Zinfandel grapes will follow in a month or two. This ripe ’14 Zinfandel is flush with dark berry and cherry flavors, and in true Zin fashion, it’s amenable to the entire spectrum of foods, from the refined, to the microwaveable. Enjoy this bottled sunshine with everything from pizza to crown roast of pork, and cheeseburgers to cheese courses.
True to type, our 2014 Petite Sirah is a big, substantial wine. Its characteristic deep plum fruit is seasoned with a touch of vanilla and spice, and will age beautifully. We still have a few bottles in the library dating back to the late 90’s, and it is always interesting to taste those well-aged wines. This varietal has the tannins, body and fruit to last a long while. With extended aging, a sassafras/root beer note emerges in the nose, and a supple mouth-feel persists. That said, the appeal of this wine in its youth is undeniable: thick, juicy, assertive… and ready for just about any food you care to send its way. We’ve shared many a memorable bottle of Amphora Petite Sirah (young and old) over campfire-grilled ribeye steaks and roast sweet corn.
A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.
Our Barbera consistently shows a delicious combination of savory notes and dark fruit character, and this 2014 is no exception. This one is a bit deeper and darker than some of its predecessors, an intensity characteristic of that vintage. There’s a note of leather and herb alongside the dark berry fruit, and the mouthfeel carries a nice brightness and moderate tannins. A particular vineyard character of clean loamy earthiness is evident in this wine, as it is across the board in the varietals we source from it. It’s very approachable now, but it has the character to reward a few more years in bottle.
Consistency is a hallmark of this vineyard, and this 2014 confirms our experience. The tightly-wound dark fruit notes unreel to a delicious blackberry-black currant concentrate, with a lush mouthfeel. This wine is immediately approachable, and the first sip invites the second…and a third. Just like the 2013 vintage, we suggest a food-pairing paying homage to Malbec’s New World second-home Argentina. Perhaps chimichurri-grilled flank steak, or a wintry braise of lamb shanks seasoned with rosemary and lavender.
This wine is an excellent example of just how well Cabernet can perform in Dry Creek Valley: appealing aromatics of blackcurrant with a touch of cedar, and a juicy combination of both dark and red fruit flavors, all wrapped up in a “just-right” framework. This block of Cabernet Sauvignon is on the bench- lands immediately east of the winery, and the grapes arrive at the crusher so fresh and beautiful that fermentors of de-stemmed grapes look like they’re filled with just-picked blueberries. For a great autumnal pairing, consider squash/pumpkin ravioli with brown butter and sage!
Wine is sunlight, held together by water.
Message in a Bottle, continued
Among the minimal creature comforts Randall packed aboard Moli for the voyage was a supply of Amphora wines, including six bottles of Amphora Blanc de Blancs for celebrating voyage milestones such as crossing the equator (twice), rounding Cape Horn (twice), and completing the Northwest Passage. After the brief celebrations, the empty, well-stoppered bottles were consigned to the sea with a message inside… and one of those bottles was discovered this April, intact, on a beach in the Bahamas. Randall had launched it nearly a year, and some 1400 nautical miles east, in the Atlantic. The label had completely washed away of course, but Randall’s note inside was still legible, and apparently still redolent of GSM! You can discover more about this record-setting voyage, including Randall’s eloquent and evocative blog posts, and stunning photos and videos from the most remote areas of our planet, at www.figure8voyage.com.
The well-travelled bottle of Amphora GSM: Randall’s note inside still legible, and wine-scented, after a year at sea! Retail Concierge Platinum Gold
2014 Barbera 35 26.25 28.00 29.75
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon 65 48.75 52.00 55.25
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 65 48.75 52.00 55.25
2013 Malbec 40 30 32 34
2014 Malbec 40 30 32 34
2014 Petite Sirah 42 31.50 33.60 35.70
2014 Teroldego 42 31.50 33.60 35.70
2014 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 30 22.50 24.00 25.50
To order, please call us at 707.431.7767 or email us at [email protected] as many of these wines are exclusive to our club members and do not appear on our website. Remember, Concierge and Platinum members receive shipping discounts of 50% and 25% respectively.