TN: Harrington SubRosa SumuKawVnyd '15...(short/boring)

WINE TALK
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Continue delving into my latest Harrington shipment:

  1. Harrington SubRosa SumuKawVnyd/ElDoradoCnty (50% Syrah/Mourvedre; 13.1%; 47 cs) 2015: Med.dark color; strong blackberry/plummy/spicy/Syrah some earthy/dusty/graphite/mineral rather savory quite interesting nose; bit tart/tangy/metallic rather Syrah/blackberry/blueberry/plummy/bit licorice some ElDorado/earthy/mushroomy/loamy bit forest floor/herbal savory flavor w/ light tangy/angular tannins; very long tart/tangy/metallic bit austere strong blackberry/plummy/blueberry/Syrah some savory/herbal/forest floor classic ElDorado/earthy/mushroomy finish w/ modest tangy/bitey tannins; needs several yrs; speaks mostly of Syrah and speaks strongly of ElDoradoCnty; reminds a lot of the Holly’sHill blends and some of the early SierraVista Syrahs w/o the oak; a rather good bit rustic Rhone at a very good price. $23.00

A wee BloodyPulpit:

  1. SumuKaw: A vnyd up in the PleasantVlly area of ElDorado, to the South of Placerville. Owned by David & Shiela Bush, it has a bunch of interesting varieties therein; including Nebbiolo. David is the son of MadronaVnyds owner DickBush. Madrona is mostly run by another son, PaulBush. It’s not clear that any of the SumuKaw grapes go to Madrona. And I don’t believe David makes wine under his own label, so I gather he’s strictly a grower. Grapes are farmed organically, though not certified organic.
    Tom
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Thanks for the notes, Tom.

Madroña does get some Sumu Kaw fruit for their “New World Port”. Seven traditional Port grape varieties are grown at Sumu Kaw - Touriga Nacional, Bastardo (Trousseau), Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Tinta Cão, Souzão, Tinta Amarela (Trincadeira), and Alvarelhão. We got some Touriga Nacional and Alvarelhão a few years ago at Harrington and made a dry red blend. Got more Alvarelhão this year - it was the more interesting of the two varieties - and it should turn out to be very nice. Those Portuguese varieties are not always available to purchase in the vintages when Madroña takes them for their Port-style wine.

Edit - my memory is going for sure! It was actually last year that we got the Alvarelhão from Sumu Kaw and it’s already been bottled, and did turn out nicely. Was thinking of something else from this year.

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Thanks for the note, Tom!

The Sumu Kaw Vineyard has some major clients in the small-production realm.

I think I have loved every wine from Harrington that I have tasted so far, too!

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Here is a cool enotecaMarcella blog article on Harrington, its wines, and sources, dated August 31, 2014:

“HARRINGTON WINES: TEROLDEGO, LAGREIN, MARZEMINO, MONTEPULCIANO, CHARBONO, NEBBIOLO …”