Simon takes Troy Patterson to task for asserting that orange wines are an assault on pleasure.
Simon takes Troy Patterson to task for asserting that orange wines are an assault on pleasure.
Spicy and herbaceous fruit with lots of structure and thirst-quenching fruit acids. Some charm has been sacrificed for the sake of extract and oak-ageing, but this is still quite enjoyable
Stewed plums and rather soupy fruit downgrade this effort, which has reasonable freshness and fruit – but just a bit too ripe and too wooded, for my tastes at least.
Seriously tannic, with rather weedy fruit that can’t really cope with the oak or the extraction here. The acidity is actually good, but overall this is disjoined and lacking in harmony.
Feels a bit overripe and over extracted, should Zweigelt really be made into a wine of this weight? Very cooked, and roasted plummy fruit characters, with chocolate, mocha, woodsmoke overtones.
Good fruit, with drive and a balsamic note. More of a dark berry character than usual with Zweigelt, making this feel more classic and more serious. Refreshing too – the fruit is juicy and the tannins are not OTT.
Rather harshly extracted, with decent enough acidity and an attractive blackcurrant leaf note on the nose. Blaufränkisch’s character is in there somewhere, trying to escape,, but the oak and the extraction really get in the way.
Wiry and rather green fruit, with nice acids but a bit nervy and jarring. The tannins are really bitter, a shame as the finish opens out to a nice subtle creamy note.
The fresh acidity here speaks of Blaufränkisch, but overwise oak is covering the fruit character in an unwelcome way, Smoky, roasted notes dominate the nose and the palate. The sour cherry character is still nestled in there somewhere. Maybe this could improve in a year or two if the oak recedes a bit.
Quite a bit of wood, but it’s nicely integrated, and the red fruit feels fresh and lively. Quite a straightlaced, classic kind of style, but with balance and drinkability (even at 14ABV).