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Wine Recommendation
Twisted Oak Winery
2004 Tempranillo(Calaveras County)
Jeff & Mary Stai moved to this bucolic spot just outside Murphys in the Sierra Foothills from southern California, bringing their “surfer dude” mentality to the program (check out their wacky website -- www.twistedoak.com).
The estate, named after a majestic 300 year old California Blue Oak, is 120 acres, at 2000 feet elevation, and has 10 acres planted to Grenache, Graciano, and Tempranillo. They also produce Albarino, Verdelho, Viognier and Petite Sirah as well as a few blends from purchased fruit. Winemaker Scott Klan, a Murphys native, oversees production in the new four level gravity flow winery, completed in 2004.
This Tempranillo is harvested from Twisted Oak's Rolleri Vineyard. Bright and fairly opaque purple with violet highlights, this wine has intriguing notes of dark berry, earth, cantaloupe, black olive, cedar, molasses, bacon, and mint. High in alcohol and very viscous on the palate, it has plenty of briar patch, brambly fruit along with sweet, grainy oak and juicy acids. This big boned wine has a blueberry/mint/vanilla finish and would be delicious with earthy, game dishes such as wild boar or venison or some Fra Mani salami.
Reviewed December 13, 2006 by Catherine Fallis.
The Wine
Winery: Twisted Oak Winery |
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. |