A quick update from Lionheart Wines….

I bottled the 2007 Roaring Red, Proprietary blend, yesterday into shiners (bottles without labels for capsules).  The chemistry for the wine is: S02 – 32 ppm, pH – 3.58, TA – 5.3 grams/liter, ABV – 14.65% and VA of 0.60 grams/liter.  We ended up with 26 cases plus 9 loose bottles.  It is a small amount of wine but the challenge will now be to sell it given the challenging environment. 

I need to get the label text figured out and submitted for TTB approval.  After the labels are approved and printed, I will get the shiners labelled.  The wine will not be released until the fall so the wine has time to integrate and get over bottle shock.  I learned from the 2006 Roaring Red that it need about 6 to 8 months for the wine to fully integrate, but you could tell how the wine was going to evolved after 4 months or so.

The final blend works out to be:
55% 2007 Dry Creek Valley, Syrah
23% 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
6% 2007 Mourvedre, Lodi
5% 2007 Napa Valley, Petite Verdot
9% 2007 Napa Valley, Malbec
2% 2007 Napa Valley, Merlot

So, this blend is very nearly a Bordeaux Blend just missing some Cabernet Franc to complete the big 5 varietals.  I guess you could say that this is a Bordeaux blend interpreted via the Northern Rhone (as the Syrah was co-fermented with Viognier).  The wine is a big, bold wine and truly lives up to the name — Roaring Red!

Appearance:
clear, light+ gold core transitioning to water-white rim

Nose:
medium intensity aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, freshly cut grass

Palate:
high acidity; medium body; medium intensity flavors of grapefruit, green apple, gooseberry and mild freshly cut grass; long length.  The wine is a between a New Zealand Sauv. Blanc and a Napa Valley Sauv. Blanc in style; the wine is an easy quaffer best served with a chill.  The acidity is a big sharp on the finish.

Quality:
The wine is an average to good depending on the retail price point purchased at.  The wine is more refined that you might expect from a sauvignon blanc from the Sierra foothills.

Appearance:
bright, medium+ ruby w/slight cranberry core transitioning to ruby rim

Nose:
Clean, pronounced aromas of cola, cherry (red and black), light toasty oak, warm spices (mace, allspice, cinnamon), blackberry.

Palate:
Medium, soft tannins (will probably become velvety with bottle age); medium+ intensity flavors matching the aromas; long length; medium+ alcohol; medium concentration but is excellent mouth-coating properties.

Quality:
Good to Excellent — you can drink now but will get better with bottle age;  the typicity of the Pinot Noir is excellent and a great example of Russian River Valley fruit.  The complexity and layered nature of the aromas/flavors are excellent and make you want to have another sip after you let the finish linger into nothingness on your tongue.

Alysian is Gary Farrell’s new wine project; 2400 cases total currently with plans to only reach 3500 cases.  Alysian’s winery is built in part of the old Belvedre winery and utilizes the top winemaking equipment and technology.   The wines will make you think of the best from the Gary Farrell Winery before Gary sold the winery.

Appearance:
Medium- lemon green core transitioning to water white rim

Nose:
Medium+ intensity aromas of mineral, apple blossom, green apple, asian pear, ripe pear and slight diacetyl

Palate:
pronounced intensity flavors of apple blossom, green apple, asian pear, green apple, bosc pear, oak and hint of diacetyl (layered, complex and evolving); medium alcohol; long length, medium+ concentration; medium+ acidity.

Quality:
Excellent quality due to the aromas / flavor intensity, concentration, long length, complexity, excellent typicity.  Gary Ferrell has done a tremendous job on his initial release from his new winery, Alysian.  The wine is complex, balanced and will hold up well for many years.

Alysian wines are very good now but will be excellent with a few years in the bottle.  The oak is very well done and a nice balance to the aromas/flavors intensity and profile.

Appearance:
Deep ruby core transitioning to light ruby rim

Nose:
Medium intensity aromas of slightly overipe red and black fruit, plum, slight reductive note, oak

Palate:
Medium dusty tannins with slight astringency; Medium+ alcohol; Medium intensity flavors of oak, cedar, black fruit (plum, cherry, olive and blackberry) and red cherry; Medium length; medium- body.

Quality:
Good quality merlot that would go very well with food especially braised meats.

Appearance:
Medium ruby w/brick hues core transitioning to water white ruby

Nose:
Medium intensity aromas of roses, slightly dried cherries, hint of tar and vanilla

Palate:
Medium+ acidity; medium velvety tannins; medium intensity flavors of dried red cherries, roses, cranberry preserved — layered; medium+ alcohol; medium+ length. 

Quality:
This is a good quality barbara with good typicity.  The wine is drinking well now and will probably hold up for another year or so.  The wine has nice balance and developed with time in the glass.

Appearance:
Deep ruby w/purple hue core transitioning to ruby rim

Nose:
Clean, medium intensity aromas of cherry (red and black), cedar, forest floor, mocha and vanilla

Palate:
Medium soft tannins; medium acidity; medium- body; medium+ intensity flavors of cherry (red and black), mocha, milk chocolate, vanilla and oak/cedar; The flavors are nicely layered / complex with enough oak to make it enjoyable but not overwhelming.

Quality:
Good quality wine well suited for summer BBQ and easy drinking events.  The wine is a very enjoyable easy quaffer.

Note:
The wine is a blend of 55% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The alcohol is 14.1%

Appearance:
Bright, medium- lemon green core transitioning to water white rim

Nose:
Clean, medium intensity aromas of pear, green apple, hint of mineral, hint of mineral

Palate:
Medium+ intensity flavors of pear, green apple, apple blossom, hint of nuttiness; medium+ body — great mouthfeel; medium+ length with a slight tartness on the finish; medium acidity

The wine is a very nicely balanced Pinot Gris that is best served with a slight chill and served with a Waldorf Salad.  The wine is a wonderful summer wine.