Uncorked - All American!
In honor of the Fourth of July holiday, this month’s wine club selection featured an ‘all-american’ lineup with bottlings from stellar California and Oregon producers.
Sass ‘Annie C’ Soloro Vineyard, Applegate Valley, Oregon 2020
A gorgeous blend of Roussanne and Marsanne, whole-cluster pressed, then cool-fermented in neutral French oak barrels and stainless steel to preserve the fresh fruit and floral aromas and flavors. White Rhône varietals offer a terrific alternative to Chardonnay. With bold style and stone fruit notes, Marsanne and Roussanne are a fantastic match for rich poultry and fish dishes that feature roasted fruit or fruit-based sauces. White Rhone varietals are also a wonderful match for vegetarian fare.
The Applegate Valley is a special place for Oregon vinicultural, although it is often eclipsed by the Willamette Valley. You can read more about the Applegate Valley here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/dining/drinks/oregon-wine-applegate-valley.html
You can read more about Sass Winery here: https://www.sasswinery.com
Art + Science ‘Kaleidoscope’ Pet-Nat 2020 Willamette Valley, Oregon
A petillant naturel blend of Mondeuse and Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley, fermented with native yeast and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Due to the potential of smoke in the valley in 2020, this vintage was pressed very gently, resulting in a lighter rosé color and subtler flavors than the previous vintage. This vintage is bright and zippy with notes of red fruit and spice – perfect for picnics and parties, the wine is dry, floral and spritzy.
You can read more about Art + Science here: https://www.artandsciencenw.com
Gesso ‘American Red Wine’ McMinville, Oregon 2013
Scour the internet, and you won’t learn much about Gesso’s ‘American Red Wine.’ Tasting the wine however will yield something otherworldy. Black and brooding, and driven by notes of tar and hot asphalt this is Syrah with a heart of darkness. This is Syrah to sip late into the evening, shrouded in smoke from the barbecue pit, surrounded by friends, the moon, stories and starlight.
Ambyth Estate ‘Validus’ 2015 Paso Robles, California
A blend of Tempranillo and Sangiovese, this extremely small lot of wine is the combination of years of drought on Ambyth’s dry-farmed vineyard. The vines produced small amounts of fruit but with amazing quality and concentration of juice.
The wine greets the palette with plum, leather and tobacco notes, with a bright, Sangiovese -influenced finish. Just 13 cases made. Demeter certified biodynamic.
You can read more about Ambyth here: https://www.ambythestate.com and here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/dining/drinks/paso-robles-wine-climate-change.html
