Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
15.6 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-07-20
Deep, dark cherry red with some light rims. Aromas of prunes paired with chocolate lava cake and completed by hints of baker's yeast and ground coriander. Complex! Balmy! On the palate warm (the alcohol!) with compote-similar structure. But only at the beginning. Suddenly a tart sourness arises which becomes stronger and stronger up to the long - very long - finish. Far, far at the end suddenly a velvet carpet enters the scene and ensures for a smooth, rounded down finish. Bravo!
For years I have been looking for a red wine which can easily be paired with dishes based on eastern spices (not too hot!). Voilà. Here it is. This sourness to the end paired with the warm ground structure is perfect. Take a sip when the spiciness of the dish reaches nearly the top. I promise an explosion of flavors. Not convinced? OK. Something different. My wife wonders about tarte with bacon, goat cheese and figs. Lots of figs. I must confess that I like this idea.
Jeff Cohn. Hm. Shall I write something about one of - my - icons in wine history and culture? Makes no sense. I met him once. During harvest time. Totally stressed and soiled. My friend Brian asked him for a photo. And even if Jeff was tired, stressed and really in hurry he took his five minute of time not only for the photo but also to give us the feeling that all this wine business is very important but not everything. Friendly, very obliging and everything else but snotty. I visited the winery's website and I like one special sentence: "We are an urban winery because we have a zeal for fruit that is grown in the best micro-climates from all over California and we love Alameda. It is great place to make wine, and is a huge part of what we are as a family and a winery." Nothing to add.
Do you know the movie "The 5th Element" by Luc Besson? This Cassata would represent the earth. Drink this "element" over the next five years.
Wednesday, July 20. 2016
2012 Jeff Cohn Cellars Zinfandel Cassata Vineyard (94/100)
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