TN: 2012 Halcón Esquito

WINE TALK
1

2012 Halcón Esquito $32
65% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah (all estate)
pH: 3.66 T.A.: 0.63 g/100mL Alcohol: 14.1%

PnP: (cellar temp) on the nose, the wine is pretty closed, but it smells like light red fruits and earth. No noticeable alcohol on the nose. No tertiary scents present yet. The palate is light and firm. The tannins are all over the palate, but underneath, there is lean, pure red fruit, nice, earthy structure, and an unmistakable mineral component that I’m starting to think is part of the Halcón estate terroir. The acidity keeps the palate lively. Long, full finish. At this moment, this is all about the Mourvèdre.

4 hours later out of a decanter: Wow. This wine has changed for the much better. It’s full in the mouth and has serious balance and structure. It’s obviously a cool-climate wine. The fruit is lean and isn’t sweet or ripe at all. I think that the M is still front and it might fade to the background. It’s a bit young, but I think that there’s a lot of early drinking potential. However, I think the structure is there that it could age for at least a couple years. This wine would be perfect with a pork roast or BBQ.

24 hours (kept in fridge): The wine has become pretty lean. It’s still good, but I preferred it after a few hours’ decant. It’s retreated quite a bit at this point.

48 hours: bright, really juicy fruit is dominant, tannins are gone and the acid is much less. It’s been sitting open, unchilled for 24 hours and open for a total of 48 hours.

I don’t know where this wine will go in a year or two or three, but my guess is that this wine will piece together in the bottle and become delicious across the board. My basis for this is that throughout the tasting, nothing was out of balance. Nothing sticks out as being off or too prominent; everything is just situating. I like this wine and while I think that GSM is a tough category, competing with CdP for a bit more or a CdR for much less, this is a different beast entirely. This is not a S. Rhone wine and it doesn’t try to be. [cheers.gif]

2

Another buy in January… thanks!

3

You two are just cruel.
Let me know before the order.

4

And this is on the WB boards instead of w.w??

Looking forward to tasting more Halcon.

5

Kyle,
Great ntoes, thank you for posting. I had this a few months ago, and generally agree. A few years will do this good, but it shows well with some air now. This cool climate style combined with GSM blend is an area of high interest from me these days. I think this is fairly priced too.

I would be interested to hear from the board of other GSM blends from cooler climates across the globe that might be worth checking out.

6

Glad you like the wine Kyle and Joe.
Mailer for the 2012 Esquisto and 2012 Prado goes out this weekend.
We are offering a case discount again - $20/bottle.

7

Paul- I can’t resist that case discount- please desist! [cheers.gif]

8

Daaaaaaamn! Thats a very nice offer!

9

Last years Prado was so damn delicious. I have one left that I’m trying to let age a bit. $20 is kind of an insane price for either of these wines.

10

Just in time for reviews in pdwr!