French Camp, Paso Robles
TASTING NOTES:
The 2023 Lagrein has a dark inky
color that, in 2023, eclipses that of Petite Sirah. This wine has a deep
brooding aroma that includes ripe plums, black currants, and blackberry preserves.
Try as I might, I can’t seem to find anything to the aroma that I would
describe as ‘rustic.’ Perhaps I am
misreading the intense brooding nature of the aroma. Just shy of a year and a half of barrel aging
has generated a bouquet of nutmeg, mocha, a suggestion of coffee, and toasty-smoky
oak. On the palate, mouth coating flavors of savory dark fruit, mocha, and
toasted oak are delivered by a rich full-bodied wine. While there are some moderate tannins, they
are well integrated and not the least bit aggressive or coarse. This is a well extracted wine that will stand
up to game, stews, braises and well-seasoned meat dishes. The full ripe flavors transition to a
lingering finish that concludes with a dusty minerality.
TECHNICAL NOTES: 100% Lagrein
14.6% Alc. 0.68 g/100ml TA 3.46 pH
Oak Regime: 23% American Oak 65% French Oak 12% Neutral Oak
Lagrein is a red
grape that hails from the Trento-Alto Adige region of northeast Italy. Jancis Robinson describes the wines produced
from Lagrein as deeply colored, having intense berry-fruit flavors and although
the tannin levels are not necessarily high, they can be slightly rustic. Margie and I came across Lagrein while on a
hiking tour of the Dolomites. We had
been producing Teroldego, another Italian red grape from Trentino, and became
curious about this wine Lagrein that kept showing up on local wine lists
alongside Teroldego. We tried a few
examples and were impressed. Upon
returning home, I made some inquiries and discovered that there were 64 acres
of Lagrein grown in California mostly in Mendocino County and the Highlands
District of Paso Robles. We reached out
to the grower in Paso Robles, the Miller Family, and they were gracious enough
to let us try a couple of tons in 2019.
The reaction from our wine club has been more than just warm. The flavors and style have been fully embraced
to the point that production has tripled to six tons, just enough for Lagrein
to be a Wine Club selection.
Gold Medal - OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition
The price of this product varies with the quantity of products ordered in the category "Mix and Match"
| Qty | Unit Price |
| 1 - 11 | $30.00 |
| 12 + | $30.00 $27.00 |
|
