September 2006 Wine Tasting Notes:
2004 Consilience Zinfandel, Rhodes Vineyard - Redwood Valley, Mendocino County.
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A black purple color with good clarity. The nose is plump with raspberry, blackberry, currant and cherry - all wrapped in light oak. Alcohol is notable. The palate opens with aromatic oak notes. Flavors of raspberry, cherry, blackberry and currant follow. A medium body with moderately astringent tannins play on the mid palate. No spices or darker briary, leathery notes are present. A lasting finish is composed of nicely tart fruit: cherry, currant and blackberry. Alcohol is prominent throughout. |
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RWB Score: 90 breakdown 15.8% Alcohol $30.00 Retail (from winery); 611 cases produced |
This is a satisfying, heady, medium bodied and fruity Zinfandel. The nose is a bit fragile with aromas dissipating somewhat with aeration. Although Zinfandels don't tend to last, this one may soften over the next 5 or more years. Recommended with milder dishes as the alcohol will light up the spices. |
More Consilience reviews
Detail
Composition: 89% Rhodes Vineyard Zinfandel, 9% Rhodes Vineyard Petite Syrah, 2% Rodney Shull Grenache. Aged 20 months in 82% French and 18% American oak (no new barrels).
2004 saw one of the shortest growing seasons and earliest harvests in the state’s history (at the beginning of August, which was two to three weeks earlier than most years). Mendocino County reported a crop below the estimated levels. A heat spell in early September put a rush on harvest but also increased must weight. As in the rest of the state, wine quality was expected to be very high.
This Zinfandel is softened a bit by the Grenache from the Santa Ynez Valley. The Santa Ynez Grenache and Redwood Valley Petite Syrah also add fruit and structure to this blend. The Rodney Shull Vineyard (named after Fess Parker's late son-in-law) surrounds the winery on Foxen Canyon Road. Its 118 acres are planted to Chardonnay (16 acres), Grenache (10 acres), Petite Syrah (8 acres), Syrah (38 acres) and Viognier (27 acres). The vineyard experiences morning fog, warm daytime temperatures and cool marine breezes in the afternoons. The Zinfandel and Petit Syrah in this wine come from the Redwood Valley area of Mendocino County. The 182 acre Rhodes Vineyard is farmed essentially in an organic manner: without pesticides and herbicides and with nutrients supplied through composts. Some of the vines in the vineyard are reported to be over 90 years old (at this time, it is not know to us which varietals). In addition to Zinfandel, the vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and petite Syrah. The Redwood Valley is subject to a strong marine influence and temperatures can vary as much as 50 degrees from day to night. The resulting long growing season allows the Rhodes fruit a long hang time.
Although our focus is on Central Coast wines, we wanted to address this wine as part of a showcase of Brett Escalera's wine making abilities. Consilience winery has been making wine since 1997, but was formally founded in 1999. They have been making wines "loosely focused around the typical Rhône varietals" ever since. Their philosophy is to create wine with distinct expression of regional characteristics. Brett Escalera is the winemaker for Consilience. He brings experience from his ongoing tenure at Fess Parker Winery where he has been making wine since 1996.
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5 points |
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Nose |
4 points |
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Palate |
4 points |
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Finish |
4 points |
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Tannins |
4 points |
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Acidity |
5 points |
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Alcohol |
3 points |
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Aging potential |
3 points |
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Overall quality |
8 points |
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