Lexicon Sauvignon Blanc 2018

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Thorn Clarke Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz is made from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Shiraz.

14 months in Oak, 40% new combination of French and American – French for Cabernet and American for Shiraz

When the Clarke forebearers discovered gold in 1870 at the Lady Alice mine in the Barossa goldfields, so began a family dynasty intrigued by geology. A fine legacy that is reflected today in the terroir of our vineyards. The Shotfire range immortalizes the Shotfirer's hazardous job of setting and lighting the charges in the mines.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz blends are uniquely Australian and goes against the traditional wine-making grain. This wine embodies the Clarke families tendency to swim “against the current”. In the 1980’s when many growers were pulling out vines, David and Cheryl were planting.

Deep red in color with brick hues on release. Leafy Cabernet varietal Cabernet is balanced by ripe plum, licorice and slight eucalyptus characters on the nose. Upfront dark fruits and long grainy tannins dominate the palate. In addition, maturation on French oak adds spice and cedar-like characters. The wine has a distinct acid backbone which gives the wine long persistence.

The grapes are crushed and de-stemmed into fermenters. Yeast is added immediately once in fermenter and the ferments are pumped over twice daily to maximize color, tannin and flavor extraction. Cooling is used to ensure ferments remain in the 22-25°C range which will allow the fruit to display maximum fruit expression.

Pairs well with Australian lamb chops, rack of lamb.

Review:

"The 2015 Shotfire Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz is a 76-24 blend. It favours the Cabernet in its aromas and flavour profile as well, with mint and cassis leading the way, the Shiraz serving mainly to help round out the mid-palate and provide some juiciness to offset the dry Cabernet tannins. It should drink well for several more years. - Joe Czerwinski"

- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue # 238, August 31st 2018), 91 pts

Tres Ojos Garnacha Calatayud is made from 100 percent 85% Old Vine Garnacha (40-50 year old vines) and 15% Tempranillo.

The wine has a brick red color with a bouquet of red raspberries, spice and white pepper. The palate is incredibly concentrated and rich. The modern styles of Garnacha in Spain are continuously being perceived worldwide as wines of extraordinarily good quality. This wine is fruity, juicy and shows a great depth, ripe tannins, length but yet with wonderful elegance and lightness.

The wine ferments for 7 days at 30ºC, followed by 14 days maceration on the skins. Aged 12 months in large stainless steel vats. Cold stabilized and lightly filtered before bottling

Enjoy with sausages, roasted meats, aged cheeses etc.

This California Cabernet Sauvignon has rich flavors with a hint of black currant and cherry. The tannins are soft, leading to a smooth finish with a hint of oaked vanilla and a touch of eucalyptus/mint freshness.

100% California AVA Cabernet Sauvignon.

Average age of the vines: 15 years.

Picked at premium ripeness. Fermented in static tanks with pump-overs three times per day.

Aged five months French oak Barrels.

Alcohol: 13.5%
RS 0.5 g/l
TA 5.7 g/l

Serve this deep purple hued beauty with a variety of hearty dishes ranging from Osso Bucco to grilled red meats and cheeses.

Siegel Single Vineyard Los Lingues Carmenere is made from 100 percent Carmenere. 

An intense violet color. Smells of black fruits that are complemented with notes of figs and spices. Soft, round tannins. Excellent concentration, juicy flavor and very voluminous.

This particular wine received the BEST CARMENERE IN CHILE award during the Cata d'Or Wine Competition.

After carefully determining the moment for the harvest, the grapes are harvested by hand and later de-stemmed and marinated in cold temperatures for 5-6 days. Alcoholic fermentation is between 26ºC and 29ºC during which daily reassembly is implemented according to taste. Post-fermentation infusion lasts for two or three weeks. Once the blend is made, the wine is gently clarified and stabilized in cool temperatures if necessary.

Quilceda Creek Columbia Valley Red is made from

Vineyards: Champoux, Discovery, DuBrul, Galitzine, Klipsun, Palengat, Shaw, Tapteil and Wallula 

Paul Golitzin, Director of Winemaking, comments:
The 2014 Quilceda Creek "CVR" Columbia Valley Red Wine is a Bordeaux-styled wine filled with satisfying layers of black and red fruits, smoke, spice and minerals. The "CVR" is an exciting preview into the 2014's which are historic wines in the making. This blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec was aged 20 months in 100% French oak. Approachable now, this wine will best be enjoyed over the next 15 years.

Review:

"The entry-level 2016 Columbia Valley CVR is a beauty and well worth purchasing, particularly as it drinks well right out of the gate where the top cuvee benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. Full-bodied, ripe, and sexy, with terrific notes of kirsch, black cherry liqueur, lead pencil shavings, and graphite, it has plenty of tannins as well as terrific balance and elegance."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2019), 93 pts

Fullerton Three Otters Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir - 7-40 years old

This Willamette Valley blend hails mainly from three different vineyards in the north, east, and south of the Willamette Valley, with a smaering from five of Fullerton's other sites. The soils of the vineyards represent the breadth and diversity of the Willamee Valley with both sedimentary- and volcanic-based soils. 

Blueberry and ripe strawberry with a dash of baker’s spice, bramble, and herbs. The palate carries the fruit forward elegantly with balanced tannins following. Intriguing complexity and depth—an impressive wine for all.

This wine comes from 100% destemmed rotator barrels fermented at ambient temperature reaching a peak temperature of 73° F. The rotator barrel spun twice daily during fermentation yielding a gentle extraction. After fermentation, the wine went through a three-week extended maceration, allowing the tannins to polymerize, soffening the wine. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and three months in tank, the wine was then bottled after filtration.
This wine is handled very gently in the cellar allowing the nuances of the delicate fruit to be preserved and the wine to be very approachable in its youth. We have a preference for pump-overs versus punch-downs for its smoother extraction and softening effect on the tannin. To retain freshness and verve we age most of the wine in tank. However, we softened up and rounded out about 25% of the blend in barrel. The result is a fresh, fruit forward, yet earthy and intriguing, Pinot Noir.

Review:

"A fresh array of bright, ripe strawberries and fresh wild herbs here with attractive, spicy oak. The palate is neatly framed in fine, easy and fresh tannins. Drink now."

- James Suckling (July 2019), 91 pts