Tasting Notes For Friday, 2/1/13

NCWC DERBY WINERY TASTING 2/1/13

DERBY PINOT GRIS 2009
From the winery’s Derbyshire Vineyard, just two kilometers from the ocean and bordering the Hearst Ranch, this delightful Pinot Gris carries grapefruit aromas accented by a sea spray minerality. On the palate you’ll find excellent purity of fruit, with juicy citrus once again decorated with clean mineral notes, finishing nice and crisp. $8.97 ($24 at the winery).

DERBY FIFTEEN 10 WHITE BLEND 2009
This White Rhone blend hails from the Derby vineyard in Paso Robles. It’s a blend of 43% Marsanne, 33% Roussanne, and 24% Viognier. Ripe pear and white peach aromas are complimented by marzipan, honey, and orange blossom. The palate reveals those same white stone fruits, with zesty citrus emerging on the finish, and a distinct minerality ever-present. $8.97 ($28 at the winery).

DERBY PINOT NOIR 2009
For their Pinot we return to the Derbyshire Vineyard, a cool climate site that is very low-yielding, but produces delicious Pinot fruit. Damp earth tones on the nose hover over dark cherries. On entry you’ll taste rich cherry and plum fruit, with accents of forest floor, mushrooms, and loamy earth emerging quickly and hanging on through the finish. The mouthfeel stays rich and smooth, despite a fair amount of tannic grip. $16.97 ($36 at winery).

DERBY PINOT NOIR RESERVE 2007
From the same vineyard we present this Reserve Pinot, which shows less obvious earth on the nose and palate but still makes for very tasty mouthful of wine. It’s quite juicy all the way through, with concentrated black cherry, currant, and rhubarb flavors, and a dash of vanilla as well. There’s a nice bright quality to this to go with the ripeness, actually finishing crisp, with woody tannins for balance. $19.97 ($42 at the winery).

DERBY IMPLICO 2007
“Implico” is Latin for “intimately connected,” which is a great description for a seamless Bordeaux-style blend like this. 39% Cabernet, 22% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 17% Petit Verdot, with the first two from East Paso and the latter two from the West side, this displays vivid flavors of black currant, cassis, black licorice and mocha which complement the rich tannins providing the wine’s lush backbone. $15.97 ($32 at the winery).

DERBY PETITE SIRAH 2007
From Laura’s Vineyard in East Paso Robles, this one will get your attention. Unfined and unfiltered, the wine spent 34 months – yes, 34 – in French oak. It shows off a core of concentrated, rich blackberry, boysenberry, dark chocolate, and raspberry flavors, with accents of spice, cedar, coffee and tobacco. Big dusty tannins will take hold of your cheeks like they’ll never let go. This will make a fine companion to a big, juicy steak. $15.97 ($26 at the winery).