Blog Post with Pictures: http://thewinenerds.ca/visit-stefania-wine-august-20-2014/
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In August, my wife and I did an unforgettable two week trip to California. From beaches to mountains, hiking through redwood forests to coastal trails, it was truly amazing. Of course a big part of the appeal for me was to visit a few wineries. Some wineries we visited were favourites some were relatively new to me.
When we started to plan our trip one of the first things I did was reach out to Paul Romero of Stefania Wine. I had never tasted any of his wines, but because he is so involved in the online wine community I really wanted to pay him a visit. He and his wife Stefania started making wine in 2005 and now source fruit from and manage many different vineyard sources. They focus on Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet, Mourvedre, Grenache and to a lesser extent Pinot Noir. Paul was very receptive and helpful in our planning. We had a lovely three hour visit with him at his old winemaking facility (they just recently moved). He is incredibly knowledgeable and an all around great guy, making very high quality wine at a fair price. We joined Paul and Stef for a dinner with their local tasting group later that evening. They are amazing hosts and fun people to visit with.
As noted in the tasting notes below we had the pleasure of trying two Syrahs and two Cabs with Paul and they showed very well. They are very pure, rich and deep wines, focused on lush dark fruit. Paul keeps an immaculately clean winemaking facility and it shows in his squeaky clean wines. Often my preference is for more rustic wines, but I understand the enjoyment factor on these and my wife especially enjoyed them.
Tasting Notes:
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2011 Stefania Syrah Coastview - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
This pours a dense inky purple with some bright, punchy blue and purple tinged fruit. Contrasting this, there’s a real tartness and freshness to the fruit profile. The nose shows blueberry, blackberry, mulberry and a hint of smoke. Good fresh acid and pure fruit on the medium minus finish. Has the potential to pick up a point or two as it ages and hopefully picks up some secondary aromas. Overall this is very focused on the very pure fruit. A good start. (88 pts.) -
2008 Stefania Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
This wine is in a really nice spot with lots of caper, green peppercorn, olive, tar, crushed rock, smoke, cedar, iodine, blueberry, blackberry liquor, anise and blue licorice. Pretty classic Syrah. Palate still has light dusty tannin with moderate acid and a medium plus finish built on capers, smoke and bright licorice fruit. Very enjoyable and in a good drinking window. (91 pts.) -
2007 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Uvas Creek Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara Valley
Thanks, Paul for opening something with a little age on it. This opens up with a really nice chocolatey, espresso note. Additionally: cassis, plum, dark cherry, black currant jelly, graphite and crushed rock. Grippy tannin, somewhat low in acid and finishes on ripe dark plums and dark mixed berries. This is another wine that is focused on very pure, dark and optimally ripe fruit. For me to go higher score-wise I would usually look for overall complexity, however I’m sure others would like this even more than me. Very nice wine here. (91 pts.) -
2008 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Crimson Clover - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara Valley
Very focused on bright aromas of dark plum, dark cherry, purple licorice, anise, toasted hazelnut, purple flowers, blueberry jam and high quality oak that is nicely integrating. The palate displays soft, sweet tannin, and again is lower in acid. Finish is medium in length built on the bright purple and blue licroice tinged fruit. (90 pts.)