Winery - Di Stefano
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Fresh, creamy, big and bold, this big, delicious wine is fleshed out with 17% semillon (note to winery: not semillion!). It has a lifted, spicy freshness which, despite the 14+% alcohol, keeps it on the elegant side, and food friendly.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is a full-bodied wine, with very ripe (14.7% alcohol) fruit and a liberal dose of oak. The result is a hot, vanilla-flavored wine that will appeal to those who like the California style.
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Di Stefano Merlot - 2000
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Light, soft and plummy fruit, with some pretty pie cherry tartness. There is a whiff of spice—sandalwood?—but the overall impression is fairly neutral; hard to find a distinctive point of view. —P.G.
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Di Stefano Merlot - 1999
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A straightforward, simple Cabernet. There are varietal flavors of cassis and black cherry, and some stiff tannins. 515 cases made. —P.G.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This opens with a very pretty nose composed of rose petals, pear, orange peel and orange liqueur. Soft and pretty, it shows the feminine side of Viognier, avoids the bitterness and excessive alcohol that can detract from its elegance. A lovely springtime apéritif.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Slightly soapy and pungent, the aromas do not immediately suggest Sauvignon Blanc fruit. There’s a pine resin undertone, but once in the mouth the wine asserts itself and tastes of ripe citrus and fresh herb. It’s fairly soft and lush for Sauv Blanc.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
An excellent Cabernet from the superb ’99 vintage. It shows the steely, bound-up strength of the vintage, and will need cellar time to unwrap. But the balance between physiological (not sugar) ripeness and ageworthy acids and tannins is there; the wine is going to improve and last for many years.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A strange wine that doesn’t knit together. The high alcohol, super ripe fruit and nutty, oxidized flavors suggest that it will have a brief lifespan. Flavors of preserves, raisins, prunes and carmelized sugars.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
There is nothing shy here at 14.7% alcohol, but the impressive bouquet mixes together orange blossoms, citrus rind, powdered sugar and baking spices. It plays out broadly across the palate, with ripe, lightly tropical fruits and a dusting of spice. The only fall-off is right at the end, but the last impression is of a sweet lick of honey.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is 96% Cabernet Franc, and why the winery doesn’t just call a spade a spade is beyond me. But that quibble aside, there is much to recommend here. The fruit is plenty ripe and tastes of strawberry, raspberry and cherry preserves. The oak flavors bring on the smoke and toast, and the natural tendency of Cab Franc to impart green coffee bean notes is also much in evidence. The tannins have been softened up, but still leave a lingering green tea impression in the back of the throat.
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