Skinner Vineyards Roussanne 2013

Skinner Vineyards Roussanne 2013

  08:30    Stu.

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Preddominantly Roussanne with a few other varieties of Southern French origin thrown in (85% Roussanne | 8% Grenache Blanc | 5% Marsanne | 1% Viognier | 1% Picpoul Blanc).

Softly imbued with a little honey, there's a little nuttiness at the core, florals. 

It really is a textural wine, 2 years on gross lees might do that. Spice - cinnamon, a little ginger - zest, and cleansing acidity that cut nicely through the dairy of the Risotto that I paired this with. 

Slight astringent note on the back palate - barely noticeable with food. Great memory of a fantastic visit. 91 

Tasted on: Friday 6th January, a Leaf to Fruit day

Source: Sample
Price: $28 (US$)
Alcohol: 14.3%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://skinnervineyards.com/

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Edmunds St. John Bone-Jolly Gamay Noir 2014

Edmunds St. John Bone-Jolly Gamay Noir 2014

  14:30    Stu.

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Essential research prior to a visit to California's Sierra Foothills was undertaken by way of Jon Bonné's "The New California Wine". You see, the Sierra Foothills, and particularly the area around Fair Play AVA are the original gold rush country, and Fair Play sits atop a huge Granite monolith. And Granite and Gamay are happy bedfellows.

Steve Edmunds is the principal of Edmunds St. John, and whilst he might ply his trade in the Bayside city of Berkeley, he largely sources fruit from up in the Sierra Foothills. It was his Gamay that I was particularly keen to sought out.

Inherent brambly red fruit, a little underlying meat and funk, a suggestion of fennel. Possesses a gently spiced palate, black pepper that traverses. Fine tannin that carries that fresh cracked pepper across the finish line.

Tasted on: Sunday 25th December, a Flower day
Source: Retail, Chambers Street Wines
Price: $21 (US)
Alcohol: 12.6%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://edmundsstjohn.com/

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Miraflores Methode Ancienne Syrah 2012

Miraflores Methode Ancienne Syrah 2012

  11:00    Stu.

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Miraflores is located up in California's Sierra Foothills, in the original gold rush country. About 2.5 hours from San Francisco, just a little further east of state capital Sacramento, the Tuscan inspired winery seems a million miles from that tech-centric global icon.

'Methode Ancienne' here in the wine's title simply refers to less intensive methods of winemaking, wild yeast fermented, foot trod etc

Shows initial hit of funk, settles: spice, sandalwood, perhaps a little camphor. 

Medium bodied, cocoa-powder tannin, meaty with some brambley black and red fruit. Acid spikes a little toward the back end. Decent length. 91 

Tasted on: Wednesday 9th November
Source: Cellar Door Purchase
Price: $30 (US$)
Alcohol: 14.1%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.mirafloreswinery.com

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Skinner Vineyards Dry Diggings Rhone Blend 2013

Skinner Vineyards Dry Diggings Rhone Blend 2013

  08:30    Stu.

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Rhone inspired blend from California's Sierra Foothills, the mix combining 39% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 14% Counoise, 11% Petite Sirah, 6% Mourvedre, 5% Viognier. 

I found the classification of Californian Wine quite confusing, this cites itself as being from the El Dorado AVA (American Viticultural Area), similar to an Australian GI (Geographical Indicator eg Hunter Valley). Except El Dorado sits within the Fair Play AVA, which itself sits within the far broader Sierra Foothills region. Still, bloody stunning country within California's original Gold Rush location.

To the wine: A touch pruney, leathery; red fruit comes forward slowly. There's oak - French: nutty, hazelnuts (23 Months: 58% Neutral French Oak, 42% New French Oak)

Silken on entry, liquid chocolate, intense spice - all in short succession. There's acid for freshness, carrying that spice along with some tobacco. Pretty intense. 89

Tasted on: Wednesday 11th January, a Root to Flower day
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $32 (U$)
Alcohol: 14.3%
Closure: Cork
Website: skinnervineyards.com

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Donkey & Goat Grenache Noir 2015

Donkey & Goat Grenache Noir 2015

  07:32    Stu.

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Donkey and Goat is Jared and Tracey Brandt, a couple who ply their trade from that hotbed of social activism, Berkeley. Making their wines in what could be considered a 'natural' manner, and in their own words: "a term that covers both the vineyard and the cellar. That is what distinguishes natural wine– the extension of natural farming philosophies that drive the practices for sustainable, organic and biodynamic farming into the cellar". The brand gets its name from two animals prominent during time spent learning their craft in France with Eric Texier.

This Grenache Noir is a blend from the Fenaughty, Lightner and Girard vineyards off loamy soils in the Sierra Foothills, specifically the El Dorado AVA (American Vitucltural Area).

Opening well, it exhibits a touch of black fruit, loose leaf tea, spice. 

The palate is where the fun happens: vibrant, juicy, energetic. Light, life, it draws you in with its acidic profile, light tannin that coats the mouth. Touch of Stonefruit on the finish: soft, delicate, generosity in spades. A great intro to this powerhouse duo. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 6th November
Source: Retail, K&L Wines
Price: $24.99 (US$)
Alcohol: 13.4%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.donkeyandgoat.com/

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