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Wine Recommendation
Casa Nuestra
2004 Petite Sirah(Solano County)
Gene Kirkham established Casa Nuestra, or “Our House,” in 1979. He had taken over the property from his mother in 1974 and began learning about the pre-existing vines. The winery produces about 1,500 cases per year of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, dry Chenin Blanc, Riesling, a dry Rosado, a late harvest old vine French Colombard, and red blends. The Chenin Blanc is made from 40-year old vines and is wonderfully expressive. The Tinto Classico red blend is made from an unusual field blend of at least nine varietals planted side by side in 1943. This Petite Sirah was sourced from a friend’s nearby 1 acre head pruned vineyard. The vines are at least 50 years old.
121 cases of this dark, wild beauty were produced. Bright opaque purple, it has notes of cranberry, raspberry, sage, dill, mountain-grown Greek oregano, orange peel, tar, and hay. After the initially light, graceful, and silky entry, the palate becomes full-bodied, sleek, and powerful. Typical fruit tannins then kick in for a lively, robust, chewy finish. The wine has plenty of vibrant underlying natural acidity to balance its voluptuousness. It’s like biting into a huge height of season strawberry and licking the juices off the lips and chin.
Reviewed December 12, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.
Other reviewed wines from Casa Nuestra
The Wine
Winery: Casa Nuestra |
The Reviewer
Catherine Fallis
Founder and President of Planet Grape LLC, a company committed to bringing the joy of wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the “grape goddess guides to good living,” a series of books, television presentations, seminars, and e-learning programs. The fifth woman in the world to become a Master Sommelier, grape goddess Catherine Fallis is still very much down-to-earth. |