From the Winemaker's Desk: Spring 2023 Wine Society Release
With its warm days and cool nights, springtime calls for a variety of wines to usher in the change in seasons. With that in mind, I chose a broad mix of wines for the Spring 2023 Clandestine Wine Society release. We're giving members early access to our Dry Rosé, Pinot Grigio, and Ice Wine, two exceptional Tonneau Choisi bottles, and our Winemaker's Edition Cabernet Sauvignon. These wines have a unique purpose and history in our winery, and I am excited to share them with you.
We made Dry Rosé from a blend of Grenache and Malbec grapes grown for us in Clarksburg, California. We produced this wine from the 2022 vintage in a small lot, and it's likely only to grace our list for the spring and summer seasons. Aged in stainless steel, the aromatics of red fruit carry over into a balance and freshness you would expect from white wine. It's the perfect choice for these warm days and cool evenings.
Our Pinot Grigio is a true standout made with grapes grown in the Lake Erie AVA. It's exciting to share a wine made in the Midwest that is usually found in places like Italy and Oregon. With bright fruit character and gripping acidity, this wine is versatile and can be enjoyed poolside, porch side, or paired with a spring salad. I recommend serving this wine lightly chilled to experience the full range of aromatics.
Our Ice Wine is an actual labor of love, with an incredibly challenging and rewarding production process. This wine is a true masterpiece made from hand-harvested grapes in the Lake Erie AVA. We get notes of elderflower on the nose and tree-ripened tropical fruits on the palate. This wine is meant to be savored and enjoyed at cellar temperature. Trust us; you won't be disappointed.
Our two Tonneau Choisi bottles are exciting additions to this release, both made from Touriga Nacional grapes but in two completely different styles. Though our previous vintages were aged entirely in stainless steel, this particular selection has been aged in a unique American Oak barrel made by Heinrich Cooperage, resulting in a distinctive fruitiness that is unmistakably Touriga Nacional, balanced with strong oak character. Give in to your temptation to open the bottle right away, as it is best in its youth.
The fortified port-style wine is our Tonneau Choisi CVSK - pronounced "cask" - fitting, as we aged it in a large format thousand-liter French oak cask. It's a warm and slow number, a bracing sipper for after dinner. This particular vintage has showcased the versatility of this fantastic grape. We've worked to produce the best traditional method port-style wine, and I couldn't be more excited to share it with our CWS members.
The last wine in this release is Winemaker's Edition Cabernet Sauvignon 2017. When I drink this wine, I think of all the steps to take it to the bottle and how far we've come as a winery. We hope you cellar a few bottles, as this wine will stand the test of time. In fact, I've been enjoying a glass of this wine while writing this release! If you want to learn more about this wine, check out my previous post. It has robust tannin, so I recommend using a decanter a few hours before serving. There is no substitute for patience, and you will be rewarded for that patience with this wine.
Cheers,
Eric