Tercero Wines -- some brief impressions from the Summer TASTE event MERGED

WINE TALK
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copied word-for-word from the other board, because I’m lazy like that.

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Summer TASTE event at the Grove. The event was in support of the TJ MARTEL FOUNDATION, raising money and awareness for Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The web page for the event, in case you are interested, is here: Cvent - Error" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Most of the wineries represented were underwhelming, at best. I was excited to see Dragonette there, as I had read many good things about their Sauv. Blanc. As it turns out, their rep. actually did sneak a bottle of said Sauv. Blanc into the event, but it wasn’t chilled when I stopped by the table at the beginning of the event, and I unfortunately forgot to stop back later on … {sigh} … some other day, I suppose. Other things I found out:

Derby (a Paso producer) is making some good wines, but I feel they are overpriced.

Ranchita Canyon (another Paso producer) makes wines that are not my style.

L’Aventure’s “Estate Cuvee” is waaaay overpriced, but tasty.

Zaca Mesa’s wines just did not do it for me … simple and alcoholic … but I have read positive reviews from others.

Blair Fox is making some good Syrah for his epononymous label – I thought his Purisima was going down hill, but the Tierra Alta was good and the Paradise Road was excellent.

and finally,

Larry Schaffer is making some great wines for his Tercero label and they represent great QPR … enough so that my wife and I signed-up for his wine club. Larry’s wines were, by leaps and bounds, the best I tasted at the event. Larry was kind enough to provide a plethora of '07 barrel samples to try in addition to the bottled wines he was pouring. Soooo … on to the brief impressions of Larry’s wines (please keep in mind, these notes are what I was able to cull from my memory and able to discern from the few chicken-scratch notes I took at the event; the event was a madhouse, especially around Larry’s table) … so FWIW:

I had a chance to try at least the '06 and the '08 Grenache Blanc. Both struck me as being pleasantly low in alcohol. I preferred the '06, and pretty much agree with Tom Hill’s assessment of said wine (which he posted earlier today). The '08 was significantly fresher than the '06, and much more in-line with what I expect from Gr. Blanc. The '08 brought to mind the “Monkey Wrench” Grenache Blanc made by Graves Winegrowers, a small Paso producer that also makes a low-in-alcohol Gr. Blanc.

The Rose had a great bouquet, but was fruiter than I prefer my roses … for whatever reason I prefer the earthier/greener roses … go figure.

The '08 Gewurztraminer was excellent – one of my favorites of the tasting. I don’t drink much Gewurz … ok ok, I practically never drink Gewurz … but, if I were to go pick out a bottle, I would probably look for something off-dry from France. Larry’s Gewurz is, quite simply, not that. Nearly bone dry, it has amazing aromatics and a lithe mouthfeel – surprising, and excellent.

I really enjoyed the '06 Tierra Alta Syrah – it was almost Aussie-like to me, but in a good way … I remember vibrant raspberry and a healthy dose of pepper, and thinking it would pair wonderfully with a rich steak.

The '06 Mourvedre was a good red wine, but not-at-all what I expect, or hope for, from Mourved. IIRC, it struck me as a Grenache-dominated Grenache/Syrah/Mencia blend, if one were to exist.

The '07 Mourvedre bbl sample was much more up my alley. Much earthier than its '06 brethren, with a darker fruit profile and greater structure — this was one of my favorites.

The '07 Petite Sirah (bbl sample) was awesome! This varietal doesn’t normally “do it” for me, but I really liked this one. I thought this was lacking in varietal typicity, but perhaps that’s why I liked it. FWIW, my wife did not share my “lacking in varietal typicity” opinion - she also liked this wine.

The '06 Cuvee Christie was my second favorite of the bottled red wines, but was a little sweeter than I prefer my red Rhone blends, and seemed somewhat lacking in structure … the '07 Cuvee Christie bbl sample was better, and was surprisingly smooth for not being in the bottle yet.

The '06 Grenache was o.k. – it seemed a bit oxidized to me, and was starting to brown … damm Grenache!!

Larry then poured two '07 Grenache bbl samples – of the two I preferred the second (the 1st one being very tannic right now). I cannot remember the separate vineyards, but I know Larry or Tom commented on them in Tom’s thread from earlier today. The one I preferred was the cool climate one.

I noted “nice structure and rusticity” for the '07 Larner Syrah. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad Larner wine — great fruit.

finally, the '07 Climb was my favorite of all the wines Larry poured for us. I could’ve smelled that pour all night long!

In short, the '06 bottles were good, but the '07’s portend to be much better. I’m looking forward to them, Larry. Thank you, and Cheers!

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Brian,

It was GREAT to finally get to meet you in person! Though not a ‘proper’ setting for taking serious notes, I enjoyed the setting at the Grove - and it turned out to be a beautiful late afternoon for an outdoor tasting!

Just a few notes / comments / corrections on your notes:

All of the 07 reds you tasted were barrel samples from wines that will be bottled in late August - therefore, pretty darned close to ‘finished wines’ . . .

The Grenache Blancs poured were the 06 and the 08 (sold out of the 07) . . .

The Rose poured was my 08 version - 90% grenache and 10% mourvedre . . .

The Gewurztraminer that I poured, which I call The Outlier, was actually an 08, not an 07. 08 was my first year working with this fruit and this variety . . . and will definitely NOT be my last! Glad you enjoyed this one!

The 07 Cuvee Christie has a very different make up than the 06 . . . The 06 is 60% grenache, 30% syrah, and 10% mourvedre while the 07 is 60% syrah, 20% grenache and 20% mourvedre . . .

The two 07 grenache barrel samples poured were from Camp 4 and Watch Hill . . . Both 100% grenache . . . Both 25% whole cluster . . . The first was the Camp 4 sample from a ‘warmer’ climate vineyard, while the second, from Watch Hill, comes from grapes grown in a much cooler climate . . .

The Climb is a 50% syrah (from Thompson Vyd) / 50% petite sirah (from Rodneys Vyd) blend . . .

I know I also poured a sample of my 07 Thompson Syrah (with 25% whole cluster inclusion) for you as well . . . .

In any event, looking forward to having you come up and do a more ‘formal’ tasting when time permits!!!

Cheers!

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the Climb, the Petite Sirah are both awesome wines. I was absolutely stunned by the complex nose and distinct mouthfeel on them… and this was almost 4 months ago!! Can’t wait for them when they are ready for delivery =)

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Some great press for Larry in WS today…his 07s syrahs were well received

Cuvee Christie - 91
Larner - 88
The Climb - 88

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Were they good in a Schwinn kinda way or more a Mercedes kinda style?
[rofl.gif]

jokes aside, good stuff. I need find/try some Tercero up here in WA state.

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[pwn.gif] Loring? Have you tried this? Larry…have you had El Nido? hows the style of this compared to El Nido if you have?

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Just noticed three of Larry’s wines got nice reviews in yesterday’s Tasting Highlights from Wine Spectator:

2007 Cuvee Christie - 91 points
2007 Syrah Larner Vineyard - 88 points
2007 The Climb - 88 points

I’m not one for points, but I always like to see good people who are making good wine get recognition like this. Congrats, Larry!

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Larry is a class act and deserves any praise he gets about his wines.

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I enjoyed the 06 Christie. I guess I will have to bite on one of Larry’s MOT call to arms err purchase emails about his 07’s. [thumbs-up.gif]

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You guys kill me - no REALLY!

Thanks for the kind words . . . very much appreciated!

Brian has NOT tried my 07 mourvedre - unless he’s been sneaking around in the cellar after hours . . .

And Jack, you know I’m not a nudge when it comes to trying more of my wines - when you get to it, you get to it (-:

Cheers!

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i think you did pour an '07 mourved bbl sample for ashley and i at the TASTE event … or I mis-labelled the '07 thompson syrah as the '07 mourv … or i’ve been sneaking around you cellar after closing [tease.gif]

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Soo well? can you talk about it more in detail Larry?

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Humberto,

DO you mean the Mourvedre in particular? Or my wines in general?!?!?

The Mourvedre comes from Camp 4, a warmer climate vineyard owned by Fess Parker in Eastern Santa Ynez. It gets enough late harvest heat to really ripen the variety, leading to a more fruit forward version. Yields were not very good in 07, so I only got about 1/2 ton - enough to make about 1 1/2 bbls. The 1/2 bbl went into our 07 Cuvee Christie, and I bottled the single barrel by itself. This was a 3 year old barrel, IIRC . . .

With regards to texture/flavor/etc, I would listen to Brian - he seems to have a great feel for the variety based on his various tasting notes . . .

Should you want more info on the 7 other red bottlings I did for the 07 vintage, let me know [shock.gif]

Cheers!

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Heh, a little background Larry. Brian’s psycho babbling tasting notes turned me on to El Nido, which is 100% Monastrell. I believe he has called it his favorite wine, and appears to own a crazy ammount of the stuff. Anyway, I agree with him. One day I realized that I was taking advice on a huge wine from a pinot maker. Later on Brian started talking about this Monastrell he is working on (cant friggin wait.) So when I saw you made a Mouv, I got excited :slight_smile: I read most of what you write, I know about the other wines you make. I was just particularly in love with the idea of the mouv :slight_smile:

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Humberto,

Got it! Too many Brian’s on this thread (-:

I really do like Mourvedre as well and am satisfied with my 100% version . . . it has some nice brambly fruit, a great deal of pepper, some herbaceousness, and a hint of leather … .

Cheers!