2007 Spring Release Notes
2005 Garnacha
Garnacha is our annual tribute to one of our favorite grapes, Grenache or Garnacha as they call it in Spain. The bright acidity and bold red cherry and strawberry flavors of Grenache makes such a complex stand alone yummy wine which is why we have chosen it for our only single varietal wine to date. Every year we save a few prime barrels for this special wine and it is always the first to sell out.
The 05 Garnacha is a compilation of the standout Denner Vineyard Grenache barrels. Our blocks at Denner are located on a steep south facing slope. After the intense season of rainfall following several years of fairly dry winters, these vines were invigorated! The fruit sets were amazing. Even with a 50% green harvest the yields far exceeded those of years past with no loss in depth or flavor.
Vinification of all the 05’s took place at the brand new Denner winery. Grapes were hand sorted both pre and post de-stemming and then fell down into the fermentation boxes below (it’s all gravity flow). The grapes were left alone to cold soak for 3 days after which a regimen of 3 punch downs per day was initiated. The wine was pressed at 3 brix to allow primary fermentation to finish in barrels.
- Blend
- 100% Denner Vineyard Grenache
- Oak
- 50% Neutral, 25% New French Terrensaud, Bel Aire and Seguin Moreau, 25% Hungarian Seguin Moreau and Budapesti Kadar
- Appearance
- Ruby red.
- Nose
- Strawberry, green tea, tobacco and vanilla spice along with aromas of cherry candy.
- Palate
- Medium bodied, lush black cherry and plum, medium tannins and bright acidity, luxuriously lingering finish. Drink now and for the next 5-7 years.
2005 Willow Creek Cuvée
Willow Creek Cuvée, as in past vintages, is a blend of James Berry and Denner Vineyard fruit grown across the street from one another on Willow Creek Road. While James Berry has the gift of age, both vineyards can boast of limey, calcareous soils, steep slopes and the cooling coastal influence enjoyed in West Paso.
The 05 Willow Creek Cuvée is predominately Denner Grenache with James Berry Syrah and Denner Mourvedre. Large yields in both vineyards, even after large amounts of fruit dropping, produced incredibly complex wines. The fruit was gently and meticulously hand sorted before and after de-stemming. Vinification took place in our usual fashion with a 3-5 day cold soak followed by 3 daily punch downs.
- Blend
- 60% Denner Grenache, 20% James Berry Syrah, 20% Denner Mourvedre
- Oak
- 50% neutral, 50% new French Terrensaud, Saury and Segiun Moreau and Hungarian Seguin Moreau
- Appearance
- Deep blood red.
- Nose
- Dark fruits, minerals, licorice, meat and earth.
- Palate
- Dried figs, plums with notes of kirsch, smoked meats and black cherries. Hints of wet stones and silky tannins give this wine a rich and complex mouth feel. Perfect Duck Confit wine! Should cellar nicely for 7-10 years.
2005 Mas de Maha
Several years back we were offered a box of Tempranillo grapes. Enamoured as we are of the wines of Rioja and Toro the prospect of putting together a Spanish style blend was irresistible. Mas de Maha continues to grace our roster and hold court as the best wine to pair with a steak on the barby. The earth and structure make it a great meat wine. Tempranillo just may be the first grape to be planted on our 65 acre estate which the old timers fondly refer to as “the old Maha ranch”.
Simon and Hillary Graves continue to supply us with Tempranillo from their small, family Ohana vineyard on the east side of the Salinas River. James Berry and Denner Vineyard fruit make up rest of the blend. Large yeilds and big flavors are the buzz words across the board for this vintage. The juicy Tempranillo grapes dripping with flavor and tannin comprise most of the blend. The wine was vinified in our standard fashion and barreled down almost dry to finish primary fermentation in barrel. The wine was aged fourteen months in 50% new wood comprised of half French and half American oak.
- Blend
- 60% Ohana Vineyard Tempranillo, 25% Denner Grenache, 15% Denner Mourvedre
- Oak
- 50% neutral, 25% new French Terrensaud, Seguin Moreau, 25% new American Seguin Moreau and Saury
- Appearance
- Dark purple.
- Nose
- Black fruits, cocoa, freshly turned earth, tapenade.
- Palate
- Plush, ripe black fruits, molasses, tabacco and spice, lengthly tannins that will allow for 8-10 years of cellaring.
2005 Bete Noire
We always strive to improve the quality and complexity of our wines. We regularly sample wines from around the world in an effort to maintain a global palate. Call it R & D. This year we wanted to present something with old world complexity, depth and character combined with the luscious fruit and spice for which the Villa Creek wines are known. Bete Noire (black beast) is named for our favorite earthy, inky, dark purple wines but also after our very first four legged child, the old codger black lab Javier who departed last summer.
Bete Noire combines James Berry and Jensen Syrah with Denner and James Berry Mourvedre. The Syrah was meticulously hand sorted then 50% placed in fermenters with stems intact. The Mourvedre enjoyed a pre and post destemming hand sort. Fermentations were long and laborious with outstand=ing results. The wines were vinified in our traditional fashion save for pigeage by foot of the whole stem boxes, and barreled down to finish the last bit of primary fermentation. The oak profile was slightly more aggressive with 75% new oak, 50% of which was French and 25% of which was American.
- Blend
- 60% James Berry and Booker Syrah, 40% Denner Mourvedre
- Oak
- 50% neutral, 75% new French Tarrensaud 400 liter punchins,
- Appearance
- Dark inky purple.
- Nose
- Old world, earthy, aromas of smoky meat, agave nectar, tar and wet earth.
- Palate
- The wine is dark and complex with ripe dark red fruits, anise, spice and tobacco. To borrow a phrase our friend Wendy used to describe butter ice cream she enjoyed at Bacar, this wine is ”so good you’ll want to roll in it.”. Will age gracefully for 10-15 years.