Although 2010 was a very cool vintage for Edna Valley, followed by a heat wave around harvest, this wine is aging impressively. Winemaker Fintan du Fresne aged the wine in 41 percent new French oak for seven months, then blended his best lots of pinot and barrel aged it another seven months. The oak is beautifully integrated in this smooth, layered red. The vibrant raspberry and cranberry notes meld with darker notes of black cherry and plums, weaved with a fine thread of spice and earth. It paired as seamlessly with my grilled steak as it did with my husband Dan’s salmon while dining at Lido. You can still get it at Chamisal’s tasting room for $40 retail (or $32 for wine club members).
This article appears in Jun 27 – Jul 4, 2013.