2020 Michael Shaps L. Scott, USA, Virginia, Monticello, Wine Review
This is an interesting blend of 50% Tannat, 33% Merlot, and 17% Malbec from Virginia. The name, L.
This is an interesting blend of 50% Tannat, 33% Merlot, and 17% Malbec from Virginia. The name, L.
I don't think this vineyard is in production any longer which is a shame as they were the source of some great Pinot Noir. Luckily, there is still some out there and it is beautiful. Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries, sour cherries, and spice. Great texture. Good balance. On the palate, this is deep. Flavors of sour cherries and slight cranberries. Long finish. This is at peak at age 17 but still has about five to seven years at this level if well stored. Nice on its own but better with food. It would go well with pasta in a mushroom sauce.
This is their basic Washington Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a nice value and provides good quality for the money. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose is nice with cassis, black cherries, slight bell pepper and spice. Full bodied. Medium tannins. Good balance. On the palate, cassis and black cherries with underlying char. Good finish. This drinks great on its own and will work well with typical Cab matches. A nice wine with a sausage Pizza. Drink over the next ten years.
This vineyard's Pinots keep getting better and better. Deep ruby in color, clear and bright. A nice nose with black cherries, cherries and baking spices. Medium bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, plenty of cherries and black cherries. This is drinking well now and should continue to for another ten to fifteen years. It is nice on its own and will work nicely with pork chops.
Deeper ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries, spices and char. Medium to full bodied. Silky texture. Firm tannins. On the palate, black cherries with some forest floor and char. Long finish. This is delicious and deep and should improve with some short term cellaring. It is on the bigger side (for Oregon) but it has the stuffing to develop. Nice on its own, this will work wellw ith flavorful food. A good choice with duck. Great value.
This is a bit more elegant than most Sineann wines. Light ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has sour cherries and sandalwood. Medium bodied. Light tannins. On the palate, this is very nice albeit not that complex. It drinks easy with persistent sour cherries. Good acidity. Nice finish. It is nice on its own and will well with many foods. Pork chops would be a great pairing. Drink over the next six to nine years.
Very light ruby in color, clear and bright. The nose has cherries with green herbal streak. Soft texture. Light to medium tannins. Moderate acidity. On the palate, plenty of cherries with a slight bitter cherry note. Long finish with some heat. Overall, a nice Pinot that is drinking well and should continue over the next five to eight years. It is better with food and would work well with savory pasta and mushroom dishes.
This is a Rosé made from Pinot Noir grapes. The wine saw about four hours of contact with the skins. Pale salmon pink in color, clear and bright. It has a very nice nose with watermelon and rhubarb. Creamy texture. Good acidity. On the palate, flavors of strawberries and watermelon. Long finish. This drinks easy with no bite or bitterness. It would work well with lighter foods but also fried chicken. Drink over the next few years.
This is their basic Pinot Noir bottling. It is made with estate fruit from their six vineyards which are vinified separately and then blended. It is an easy and accessible Pinot Noir (and realistically priced). Medium ruby in color with blue hues, clear and bright. The nose is tight and took about an hour to really show much (if drinking soon, give it a decant). With air it shows cherries, dust, slight pomegranate, and forest floor. Plush texture. good acidity. Light to medium tannins. On the palate, cherries, slight sour cherries, forest floor. Some menthol on the finish. A very
One of the old guards of Oregon, this winery had gotten away from Chardonnay for a time, but in the last decade they revived it. This is 100% Chardonnay. Light golden in color, slight green hues, clear and bright. The nose is classic with lemon peel, nutmeg, and slight dust. Full bodied. Creamy texture (stirring of the lees?). Light tannins. On the palate, this has slightly crisp, tart acidity. Flavors of Meyer lemons with nice minerality. Long finish. This is a very good, middle of the road, Chardonnay that drinks wonderfully on its own and will work well with the usual foods; s