Tasting Notes Friday, 10/19/12

SIKA WINES WITH WINEMAKER PARIS DRIGGERS 10/19/12

SIKA CHARDONNAY 2010
Sika Wine is a boutique winery orchestrated by long-time wine professional Paris Driggers and wine lover, Rodger Grove. Sika was founded in 2009 in an effort to bring well known, high quality vineyards to consumers at a fraction of the normal price. This, their second vintage of Chardonnay, hails from two VERY highly regarded Napa wineries. Unfined and unfiltered, it displays rich aromas and flavors of baking spices over ripe apple and pears. It’s full-bodied and impeccably balanced, with light minerality and a clean finish. $19.97.

SIKA PINOT NOIR 2010
For this, his first vintage of Pinot, Paris went to Anderson Valley and managed to get his hands on some primo fruit, from a source that once again we cannot reveal. Again leaving the wine unfined and unfiltered, he produced a harmonious, balanced example, with clean, ripe cherries, light vanilla, and subtle spice notes decorating both the nose and palate. $26.97.

SIKA MERLOT 2009
Sika 2009 Merlot hails from serious pedigree. Two ridgeline vineyards located in the Atlas Peak AVA in the eastern reaches of Napa. Grand Cru quality when it comes to Napa Valley Merlot, although we cannot disclose the source. These grapes garner mid-ninety point scores from the major wine critics year in and year out. Plum, cocoa and essence of roasted coffee beans mingle with blackberry, bing cherry, pomegranate, fresh raspberry compote and hints of lavender. Soft and plush yet solid in structure. Bottled unfined / unfiltered. 91% Merlot, 9% Cabernet. $19.97.

SIKA CABERNET FRANC 2007
With serious connections in the wine business, Sika sources some of the most sought after fruit in the Napa Valley. Rumor has it a very high profile winery was planning on using this juice for a new Cab Franc that was going to sell somewhere north of sixty bucks a bottle. They decided this economy might not support that, so the juice ended up with Sika. It has plenty of deceptively plush dark cherry and mulberry fruit with some smoke and chocolate nuance, plus a subtle dash of mint. $19.97.

SIKA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
This intriguing wine will tantalize you with aromas of dark raspberries, black cherries, vanilla and cocoa powder. All of that comes together beautifully, and seamlessly, on the palate, with soft, ever-so-slightly dusty tannins shepherding the fruit all the way through the dry, lingering finish. Subtle herbal and mineral notes add complexity. As you know, we can’t tell you where the fruit comes from, but ultimately all that matters is how it tastes, right? $21.97.

SIKA SYRAH 2009
Once again we can’t tell you where this juice comes from, but it certainly tastes expensive. “There’s a richness and a plushness to the fruit that you can’t create in the cellar. Sweet black currant fruit, notes of plum, pepper and vanilla, round in the mouth and textured with the impression of seamlessness. Clearly this juice was not intended for this kind of price range and it rivals a lot of stuff we have had that costs a lot more.” $18.97.