DEAR FRIENDS,
Happy fall to you! This vintage handed us a slightly unusual harvest; due to the frosts earlier this year the crop was limited, then due to the record heat followed by an early storm our harvest timeframe was condensed, and we made it through in record time. As a result, each lot of grapes has already now completed fermentation and is resting in barrel or tank for the next few months. We’re confident the wines from this vintage will be delicious, however, they will be small in quantity and quick to sell out as we release them over the next several years.
In this release we’re including a new wine for you, our 2020 Chardonnay, which also features a new 1850 label. This new wine is the color of California sunshine, with aromas of caramel green apple and popcorn. You may find flavors of apple and lemon in this opulent medium-full bodied Chardonnay with lingering hints of peach on the finish. It’s perfect for pairing with fall and winter dishes and we’re sure you’ll enjoy it.
We’re also including several library releases for you, our 2017 Syrah and 2017 Cabernet Franc, now aged to perfection. Our 2017 vintage wines continue to be one of our best aging vintages yet and we’re excited that Mother Nature gave us such a bountiful harvest that year, allowing us produce enough to continue enjoying the wines as they age.
We hope you can join us November 5th & 6th for our next release party and enjoy these wines with fall inspired food pairings by Lisa Scott. Don’t forget to RSVP!
Cheers,
The Team at 1850 Wine Cellars
2020 Chardonnay
Jodar Vineyard, El Dorado
Jodar Vineyard, El Dorado
TASTING NOTES: The color of California sunshine in a glass, with aromas of caramel green apple and popcorn. You may find flavors of apple and lemon in this opulent medium-full bodied Chardonnay with lingering hints of peach on the finish.
WINEMAKING NOTES: In 2020 we pressed these perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes when they reached the winery early in the morning. The juice was barrel fermented in long toasted American oak barrels for a perfectly integrated oak profile in the finished wine. After fermentation completed, we left the wine on the lees in barrel, stirring the lees back in at least once per month as the wine aged.
FOOD PAIRING: For your cheese boards, soft aged cheeses with apple slices tend to pair well with Chardonnay. Butternut squash soup or roasted winter squash are perfect fall pairings! For a light and fresh pairing, we recommend tasting this wine with a shaved fennel and citrus salad with cranberry vinaigrette and arugula. For a richer pairing, the sweetness of corn chowder tends to play perfectly with the flavors of Chardonnay. Fleshy white fish like halibut, crab cakes, clam linguini, or even pork tenderloin with apples all are great choices to pair with this wine.
AGING: Aged for 9 months in 80% new American Oak.
ABOUT ENGBERS VINEYARD: This vineyard in Fair Play neighbors our sister winery, Mediterranean Vineyards, and we’ve been farming it since 2016. The vineyard is dry farmed, which presents more of a challenge and lower yields but also rewards us with additional concentration in the grapes and resulting wines. The vineyard was originally planted in 1974 with periodic replants since and is situated at around 2,000 feet of elevation.
WINE SPECS
100% Chardonnay
13% alcohol
128 cases produced
$30 per bottle
2018 Petite Sirah
Fair Play
Fair Play
TASTING NOTES: Original Tasting Notes: This Petite Sirah grown in Fair Play showcases the power of this varietal, boasting a deep earth and fruit profile and full-bodied structure sufficient to age for a number of years or pair now with the heartiest of meals. You’ll find aromas of black pepper, dried herbs and blackberry along with some brighter fruit flavors. Strong, supple tannins and deep fruit flavors round out the palate.
TASTING NOTES UPDATED JUNE 2022: This wine still has quite a few years of aging possible ahead of it, with a tannic structure that is only beginning to soften. We’re noticing more baking spice notes at this tasting than at our initial release.
WINEMAKING NOTES: Harvested at peak flavor maturity, which was around 26.5 brix, for a bold Petite Sirah that showcases the power of this varietal. Fermented to dryness and then held on skins before pressing for extended maceration to smooth out the tannin structure before barrel aging.
FOOD PAIRING: Higher tannin wines like Petite Sirah pair best with rich, fatty foods that complement their tannic structure. It’s hard to go wrong with steak, which would work great with a bearnaise sauce. Lamb shank and Duck Confit would also stand up nicely. A rich Chicken in Molé sauce plays well off of the pepperiness of this wine.
AGING: Aged with 20% new American oak and 5% French oak for a hint of spice, for 24 months.
WINE SPECS
97% Petite Sirah,
3% Merlot
125 cases produced
14.4% alcohol
$36 per bottle
2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Granite Springs Vineyard, Fair Play
Granite Springs Vineyard, Fair Play
TASTING NOTES: Original Tasting Notes: This exceptional Cabernet is a deep ruby color and nearly opaque in the glass. It has a complex profile of cassis, cocoa, forest floor and subtle anise. It is bold on the palate but not aggressive, with dusty tannins and dark fruit flavors. Especially strong on the mid palate with a long finish. It will age beautifully for 10 to 15 years so you can enjoy some now and save some for the future!
TASTING NOTES UPDATED JUNE 2022: The aromatic complexity of this wine begs for contemplation, with that lovely interplay of dark fruit, earth and chocolate with a hint of sandalwood. This wine has become even more interesting in the past year. The tannins are silky but weighty, perfect for pairing with a special cut of meat and stewed vegetables.
WINEMAKING NOTES: When we harvested this fruit, it was one of the last vineyard blocks to ripen. The Granite Springs vineyard sits in a small valley just above Perry Creek, where it is common for the temperature of the vineyard to be 10-20 degrees cooler than other vineyards in the region. This micro-climate enables the grapes to reach full flavor maturity. The wine was aged for 24 months on 25% new French oak. The resulting wine is a bomb of elegant flavors, rich tannin structure, and bold, dark fruit. We feel this wine is reminiscent of wines from the renowned Rutherford Bench growing region in Napa Valley. The result is a wine that will age beautifully for many years to come.
FOOD PAIRING: Ribeye steak or other nicely marbled cuts of steak. Braised beef short ribs. Prime Rib. Grilled lamb rubbed with herbs like rosemary and thyme. Beef tenderloin. Aged semi-hard cheeses like an aged cheddar or gouda. Rich vegetarian dishes featuring portobello mushrooms and/or lentils may compliment this wine.
AGING: Aged 24 months with 25% new French Oak, 75% neutral oak.
WINE SPECS:
78% Cabernet Sauvignon,
19% Cabernet Franc,
3% Merlot
14.5% alcohol
126 cases produced
$50, $45 per bottle upon release to club members
