THIS WEEK’S WINE TASTING
Fiddle Creek, Davis Bynum and Michael David
Fiddle Creek
“The Wine Liberation Society was founded in 2005 by a veteran team of Birmingham wine enthusiasts and working stiffs. It is a custom crush negociant project. We source fruit for our wines through our long-term relationships with winemakers including Jeff Libarle in Healdsburg, Harry Parducci in Santa Rosa, and Laurent Montalieu in the Willamette Valley. By going direct to the negociant market in California, we utilize the same sources that the vast majority of wineries buy from everyday. This eliminates one of the tiers in the distribution process, thus providing exceptional quality and value for you, the customer.”
” International Wines and the Wine Liberation Society are proud to bring you Fiddle Creek Cellars from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Produced by winemaker Laurent Montalieu in his custom-crush facility in McMinnville, Fiddle Creek’s wines exemplify the integrity, style and quality of the best Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris from the region. Each wine is selected from specific vineyard sites and vinified to the same exacting standards as other Willamette Valley artisan producers.”
Fiddle Creek Pinot Gris 2011
Willamette Valley, Oregon. “This Willamette Valley Pinot Gris displays aromas of green apple, lemongrass, grapefruit, and pear. True to its Alsatian style, the wine has great balance, weight and substance throughout the palate with appealing acidity and vibrancy displayed in its long finish.” Jen’s note- Perfumed nose- tropical/pineapple, juicy fruit. Sweet entry/soft pear and apple. Very good. Honeyed and textured. Interesting. Good value. $11.99
Fiddle Creek Pinot Noir 2012
Willamette Valley, Oregon. “Aromas of ripe strawberries and fresh cut rose petals. Our Fiddle Creek Pinot Noir displays a traditional, yet energizing nose. The front palate leads with a core of bright cherry preserves followed by hints of red plums. The balanced acidity and soft tannins round out the finish, showcasing a complex yet easily approachable wine.” Jen’s note- Darker color. Spice/woodsy/garrigue. Dark fruit/cedar, some cherry fruit. Light to medium-body. Bright acid/juicy. More tannin, but nicely balanced. Good value. $15.99
“Davis Bynum is distinguished as the first winery to produce a single vineyard pinot noir from the Russian River Valley. The vintage was 1973 and the grapes were from Joe Rochioli’s now prized vineyard. Today, more than thirty years later, the heritage of Davis Bynum lives on through the hand crafted creation of pinot noir and chardonnay grown exclusively in Russian River Valley.”
“In August 2007, ready to retire from the day-to-day activities of running a winery, Davis sold the winery to Tom Klein and the Klein family, a fourth generation California farming family. The focus on Russian River Valley remains the same and the goal to produce excellent chardonnay and pinot noir is unchanged. Bynum agreed to stay on to provide insight and support so the winery could maintain the soul that he has come to embody.”
Davis Bynum Chardonnay River West Vineyard 2012
Russian River Valley, California. Aged 10 months in 100% French oak barrels. “The eastern parts of Russian River Valley, nearing Highway 101, tend to be slightly warmer than the very cool western reaches. While maintaining ample crispness due to balanced acidity, the additional warmth pushes the flavor profile toward tropical and the mouth-feel to a round texture that is at once lush, but with a clean lingering finish.” “The aromas have lemon curd, floral, toasty oak and apple tones. The mouthfeel is soft and beguiling at first, then shows fresh acidity with lingering flavors of mineral, apple and hints of vanilla.” Jen’s note- Pale yellow. Buttery nose/very ripe and lively/toasty. Sweet vanilla/full. Spice. Good acid. Friendly, rich and generous with slight lemon curd on the finish. $19.99
Davis Bynum Pinot Noir Jane’s Vineyard 2012
Russian River Valley, California. Aged 10 months in 100% French oak barrels. “Russian River Valley Pinot Noir expresses itself differently depending on location, site specifics, and the nature of the vines themselves. Jane’s Vineyard is in the golden triangle of the “Santa Rosa plain” region of the valley, just southwest of Windsor and centered on the intersection of Olivet and River roads. This small area tends to enjoy the very best of the iconic local climate; never too hot during the day, and consistently chilly at night. Jane’s Vineyard shows superior vine balance thanks to its well-drained, shallow and inherently low vigor soils. Finally, I choose a selection of Pinot “clones” to enhance complexity, while keeping to the food friendly flavor profile that has always been a hallmark of Davis Bynum: a little lighter, without being lean; a little crisper, without being tart; a little more fruit driven, without being distracting; with a round, soft mouthfeel.” $25.99
““Michael” and “David” are Michael and David Phillips, two brothers whose family has farmed in the Lodi region since the 1850’s, cultivating wine grapes for nearly a century. Today Michael David Winery has extended itself to the 6th generation of grape growers in the family, with Kevin Phillips and Melissa Phillips Stroud now joining the family business. The family continues to emphasize the importance of quality wines with unique and eye catching labels. Farming with future generations in mind, Michael David Winery has adopted some of the most progressive sustainable farming practices in the state. All 750 acres of the family’s vineyards are third party certified and the states first per ton bonus was issued for contracted growers to follow in the family’s foot steps. Starting with the 2011 vintage 100% the Lodi grown fruit crushed at Michael David winery was certified sustainable.”
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate says of Michael David Winery- “This is a “gold star” winery for consumers looking for values as just about every wine they produce offers abundant flavors as well as inexpensive prices, no doubt partly because they are working from the relatively backwater viticultural area of Lodi.” “This winery has a portfolio of marvelous, bold, flamboyant, value-priced wines that over-deliver across multiple varietals.”
Michael David Petite Petit 2011
Lodi, California. Aged for 12 months in French oak. “A blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot, offering a joyous explosion of color and fun! It is a substantial, dense, full-bodied, whopper style of wine loaded with pure black fruit and vanilla flavors that coat the palate. It reveals remarkable richness with a finish that is slightly dry and seems to linger.” 88 Wine Advocate– “The 2011 Petite Petit (a 45,000-case blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot) was aged 12 months in American oak. This soft, opaque purple-colored wine exhibits impressive density as well as lots of blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with graphite, licorice and a hint of tar. Thankfully, it keeps the Petite Sirah relatively civilized. Drink it now or cellar it for 5-7 years (Petite Sirah can sometimes last for decades).” $14.99
Michael David Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Lodi, California. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Petite Sirah. Aged for 14 months in French oak. 89 Wine Advocate– “One of the best labels in the wine business is no doubt Michael & David’s 2011 Freakshow. It would probably take a half hour with a magnifying glass to study all the wacko freaks and characters on the label. An 18,000-case cuvee of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that was aged 14 months in French oak, it offers abundant notes of espresso roast, melted chocolate and cassis, which jump from the glass of this deep ruby/purple-hued wine. Although not complex, it is full-bodied, big and juicy, saturating the mouth and staining the teeth. This is a big wine with plenty of color and richness, and no hard edges.” $17.99