Home Wine U The Buzz Wine Reviews   Review Archive     00 M-P Ceazar     03 Toccata Riserva     03 JanKris Riatta     04 Presidio Sang     04 Grenache     04 Zinfandel     05 Grenache Bl     05 Grenache Rosé     CWC nv Chard     05 Koehler Vio   Rating System Calendar Fun Stuff About Us Key Contacts Search FAQ Links		September 2006 Wine Tasting Notes: 2003 Mandolina Toccata Riserva, Santa Barbara County. This Super Tuscan is deep red in color with a purple edge. The nose starts with fragrant cedar aromas and progresses to display currant, raspberry and blackberry, hints of hard spice and light earthy undertones. Raspberries and currant open the palate which wraps up with light oak to make for a medium body. A moderate finish of blackberries and raspberries ends with hints of chocolaty oak. Mildly prominent alcohol carries through the palate and to the finish.  RWB Score: 91 breakdown 14.1% Alcohol $32.00 Retail (from winery);        822 cases produced. (Not yet released). The 2003 Toccata is an elegant marriage of varietals in a wine with classical styling. Bordelaise nose and a distinctively Tuscan palate define this blend. This soft wine's density evolves over the course of the bottle. Expected to soften a bit more over the course of the next five years or so, but very good right now. Recommended with hearty and savory dishes or barbecue. Detail Tell a friend about this wine Cite this review More Mandolina reviews More on Santa Barbara County A blend of 35% Sangiovese, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Freisa, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, the component wines were aged for 18 months in new French oak, blended and aged another four months in new French oak. The 2003 year was marked by climatic trials and tribulations in some regions. Some growers reported early bud break (January), rain during fruit set and August heat. At harvest time, temperatures became moderate. Despite the ups and downs, the resulting crop was one of particularly dense and flavorful fruit.  Lucas & Lewellen sources the fruit for this Super Tuscan from their Los Alamos Valley Vineyard. Over a mile long, and running along Highway 101 south of Los Alamos, this vineyard is planted with Rhône, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Italian varieties. Some of the vines, originating from cuttings brought over from Europe, are 25 over years old. The fruit from this vineyards is highly sought-after by many winemakers. Lucas & Lewellen also grow Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in the lower elevations of the south-facing Valley View Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Total Lucas & Lewellen acreage in Santa Barbara County exceeds 400 acres. Daniel Gehrs is the wine maker for Lucas & Lewellen. He has over 30 years of experience making wine in Northern and Central California. In 1997, he departed from his position as winemaker at Zaca Mesa and resumed his consulting practice in Santa Barbara County while continuing his own label. It is his understanding of the importance of careful vineyard practices in the production of fine wines that made Louis Lucas seek out Gehrs for the position of winemaker. He has been on board since 1999. Color  5 points Nose  4 points Palate  4 points Finish  4 points Tannins  4 points Acidity  5 points Alcohol  4 points Aging potential  2 points Overall quality  9 points Back to top Tell a friend about this wine! Your name: Your e-mail: Your friend's name: Your friend's e-mail: Your message: 100 character limit Send me a copy of this email redwinebuzz.com respects your privacy. The information you enter here will not be used to send unsolicited mail and, in accordance with our Privacy Policy, it will not be disclosed to any third party. Back to top. Search our wine reviews archive by: review date, vintage and winery.			Get the buzz: Wine reviews Great stories Interviews Wine education tools New content every month It's FREE! Click here
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