First reviews of the 2010 reds released on September 1 and 3 from Dan McGrew.
From dogswine.blogspot.com
"It's always a fun day when the best local winery releases their wines, and yesterday Kinkead Ridge released their 2010 red wines. There's always a good crowd, and the crowd always has a good time and yesterday was no exception despite the overcast skies and the continuing threat of predicted downpours from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac. Fortunately, Isaac was just about the only no show for the day.
Let's start with a wine that was far and away my favorite of the four wines released, the 2010 Syrah. The wine was a dark purple color and was a bit paler at the edges - almost an electric purple. Wonderful fruity nose on this wine with bits of oak and a hint of smoke. It has deep flavors of black and red plums and white pepper, very deep flavors. The wood is noticeable but not overpowering and there is a good amount of tannin. The acid is great in this wine and it gives the wine a sharpness and an edge that balances out the deep flavors. The finish is long and smooth. Over the years I've tasted nearly every vintage of their red wines on release and this one is certainly at the very top. A year or so ago I opened a 2005 Syrah and it was the best wine I've had from Kinkead Ridge. I'm hoping for the same with this wine. 14.8 % alcohol, $20.99. 91 cases produced.
Next in line for me was the Cabernet Sauvignon. This was an inky dark wine that never thought about paling at the edges. It had a big, muscular frame that was evident just from the aromas. It had rich flavors of black cherries, black currants, oak and vanilla. There was nothing shy or reticent about this wine. It made a delicious statement. Good acid, strong tannin and a mouth filling finish. Very young and needs a couple of years to come together. 15.2% alcohol. $20.99. 180 cases produced.
There was Petit Verdot for this vintage, something that doesn't always happen, the last time being 2007. The best way to describe the color is "black." This is a dark, highly extracted wine with loads of black fruit and even more loads of tannin. Good fruity aromas of blackberries and earth, almost jam like in the nose. That sensation of jam carried over into the taste as well. To be fair, this wine hasn't totally come together in the bottle yet, but when it does it promises to be a mouth full. The 2005 is delicious at the moment and this wine should come along and in five years or more should be wonderful. 15.5% alcohol $21.99. 63 cases psroduced.
That leaves the Cabernet Franc pictured above from a previous vintage. This is usually the most forward of the Kinkead Ridge red wines and this year is no exception. There's a brighter color to this wine and the shades are more red than purple. Fresh aromas of red cherries and a bit of red currants in the nose. There's some vanilla from the oak as well. Bright, cheerful flavors of those red fruits are supported by a good structure of acid and tannin. It has the sweetest taste of any of the red wines, almost candy like on the first couple of sips. There's a tiny bit of heat at the finish. This wine will be gone by the time the Petit Verdot is ready to drink. 15.3% alcohol. 180 cases produced. $19.99.
There is good news on the 2012 vintage as well. The hot, dry summer has been more than kind to the grapes and the promise is there for some tremendous wines in a couple of years. As of this morning the torrential rains predicted for this area as the result of Hurricane Isaac have yet to show. For grapes in this area we've reached the time of year where the rain isn't such a good thing."
The last bottle of 2009 River Village Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon leaves the winery with Dave Gregorovic.
The last bottle of 2011 Riesling leaves the winery. Nancy with Brian, Janet, Barb and Jerry.
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