2012 Bedrock Wine Company, Evangelho Vineyard Heritage, Old Vines, Contra Costa County.
This wine is a true California all-star, a wine that could only be from California and tastes like it, it is a remarkable field blend of Carignane, Mourvedre, Zinfandel as well as Palomino (white), Alicante Bouschet and the Mission grape all coming from a single vineyard of own rooted vines that date back to 1890! These vines have been a source of interesting red wine since California’s big Gold Rush and or just after more than a Hundred years ago, they are living history and Bedrock’s Morgan Twain-Peterson is crafting some amazing wines from them today, especially this 2012 which he co-ferments and ages in both small and large French oak casks. This wine is sexy and juicy young, but I have to believe it will be much more intriguing when about 5 to 10 years old, and it may live past 25 years if cellared well, this is classic stuff from a super vintage. The nose is bright and fruity with crushed red berries, earthy spices, red peach and kirsch leading to a vibrant and vivid palate of mouth filling red and black fruits including raspberry, black cherry, plum and loganberry as well as a hint of minty anise, briar, baked cherry compote, cedar spice, wild game, new leather and a whiff of vanilla. At this early stage it shows a forceful fruit driven charm, but I’m interested to see what a few years brings, this is an extraordinary wine of extreme potential, I imagine it aging like a fine Bandol, regardless it is a totally thrilling California treat, drink now through 2026.
($35 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
avail at www.sfwtc.com ($33.95)