This past Sunday was a fantastic day of tasting in Yorkville Highlands/Anderson Valley, including stops with fellow Berserkers Paul at Halcon Vineyard and Joe at Foursight.
At Halcon, Paul and Jackie Gordon showed us their amazing site for Rhône varietals- 2500 feet elevation in the Yorkville Highlands AVA, organically-farmed, schist soils, and temperature patterns similar to Ampuis. It’s a beautifully remote site with expansive views of Anderson Valley. A great lineup of wines- we especially loved the 2015 Alturas Syrah, with elegant Northern Rhône-style expression of fruit and savory herbs and flowers, as well as the 2015 Esquisto Grenache/Mourvedre blend. The great hospitality included a comparative tasting with a 2009 Levet La Chavaroche.
We also had a nice stop with Joe at Foursight. Excellent 2014 Pinot Noirs showing fig fruit and dusty spices & earth. A sneak preview of the upcoming 2015’s showed great density and complexity.
ANDERSON VALLEY, JULY 2 - (7/4/2017)
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2013 Halcon Vineyards Prado Alder Springs Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
Aromas of wheat straw, honeysuckle, mineral, yellow apple and lemon zest. Silky texture with the spice and honeysuckle notes becoming more pronounced on the palate. Nicely textured. Medium acidity. Good depth throughout. -
2015 Halcon Vineyards Pinot Noir Wentzel Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of raspberry, earthy spice, forest floor, clove and lavender. Fig-driven fruit on the palate, with mineral notes, spices and earth depth. Elegant density, medium-plus acid, fine tannins, expansive on the finish. Very nice. -
2015 Halcon Vineyards Esquisto - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
Dark aromas of earthy spice, black cherry and lavender. Fresh and lively on the palate, with bright dark fruit and flowery spice depth. Elegant, medium weight, with balanced acidity and fine tannins, and solid depth on the finish. Very nice. -
2015 Halcon Vineyards Syrah Alturas - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
Aromas of mesquite smoke, sous bois, eastern spices, blackberry and violet. Bright, open and layered on the palate, blending black raspberry fruit with seamless secondary balance. Elegant, medium weight, nice complementary acidity with elegant fine-grain tannins. Good depth throughout. Exceptional. -
2015 Halcon Vineyards Petite Sirah Tierra Theopolis Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
Aromas of tea leaf, allspice berry, cassis, damp earth and black cherry. Dense dark fruit notes on the palate with layered secondary depth. Medium to full body, nice elegance, broad firm tannins and solid depth. Rhone-ish style Petit Sirah- very nice. -
2016 Foursight Sauvignon Blanc Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Showing citrus, green apple, gooseberry, white florals and white pepper throughout. Round on the palate with just enough richness to the texture to balance out the pyrazines and bright acidity. Nicely done. -
2015 Foursight Sémillon Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Showing notes of tea leaf, white pepper, clove and citrus zest. Round, mouthfilling palate with spice & fig. Full bodied and finely textured, with medium acidity and a full finish. Very nice. -
2014 Foursight Pinot Noir Zero Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of tea leaf, fig, spices and sandalwood. Elegant texture showing dried fig & raspberry, tea leaf, allspice and hibiscus. Medium-plus acid, fine tannin and a full finish. Very nice. -
2014 Foursight Pinot Noir Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of baking spice, fig, dried hibiscus, red cherry- open red fruit on the palate with nuanced floral spice notes. Elegant texture and weight, medium acidity & fine tannin. Lingering spice and dried herb on the finish. Very nice. -
2015 Foursight Pinot Noir Clone 05 Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of eastern spice, sandalwood, fig, and dried black raspberry. Complex on the palate with fig, baking and savory spice, cedar, earth and mineral notes. Densely structured, medium weight, fine tannins and a full finish. Very nice. -
2015 Foursight Pinot Noir Paraboll - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of cedar, baking spice, fig cake. Cherry and fig fruit on the palate, rich and ripe with backing spice and cedar. Fine broad tannins. Full finish. -
2015 Foursight Pinot Noir Zero Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of baking spice, fig, sandalwood, orange zest. Consistent flavors on the palate, elegant and floral. Medium acid, fine tannins, full finish. Looking good early. -
2015 Foursight Pinot Noir Charles Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of fig, sandalwood, wet stones, dried hibiscus and eastern spice. Richly elegant palate with layered secondary flavors, medium-plus acidity, fine-grained tannins and an expansive finish. Excellent. -
2015 Drew Family Cellars Viognier Valenti Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge
Notes of apricot, lemon oil, tropical fruits and honeysuckle flowers. Nicely balance, nice acidity, finely structure, with a full finish. Very nice. -
2015 Drew Family Cellars Pinot Noir Fog Eater - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Notes of pomegranate, mushroom, sandalwood, cherry and violets. Bright red fruit on the palate with densely packed secondary earth and spice notes. Ample acidity, fine smooth tannins, and good depth overall. -
2015 Drew Family Cellars Pinot Noir Fashauer Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Aromas of mushroom, sandalwood, braised fig, lavender and earth. Bright fruit on the palate, with dense secondary minerality & earth, savory spice. Finely textured, medium acidity, silky tannins and a broad finish. Excellent. -
2015 Drew Family Cellars Syrah Valenti Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge
Aromas of dried black fruit, cherry, white pepper, allspice, cassis and dried flowers. Bright black current fruit on the palate with dense earth & spices and mineral notes. Medium body, with fine tannins and good depth on the finish. Very nice.
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