“You may not remember a specific grape in a blend comprised of thousands. But you will always remember that one varietal that is bold enough to stand on its own. Mystic Hills Vineyard Reserve Malbec…stubbornly refusing to fit in.” Nice teaser about a Malbec only available to wine club members – and their guests:
“Come to our 2013 Reserve Malbec Release Party, and taste this special wine… and some yummy appetizers to go with it! We will be pouring our other fabulous 2013 Reds as well! We can’t wait to see you there! And, don’t forget to RSVP: 805–610-1099 or email info@mystichillsvineyard.com” The party will be held on April 29, from 1-4pm at The Paseo Club for $40 per person. Please rsvp by April 20.
Tasting Mystic Hills Latest (As is my habit, I present the winery tasting notes along with my own – but I never peek at theirs until I’m done with mine. Its kind of fun to see where we may intersect!)
2013 Gran Trio
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot
Our grapes are hand picked and sorted by each varietal and our wines spend two years in oak barrels to insure consistent balance and character.
Winery Tasting Notes Our 2013 Gran Trio has the dark cherry and plum right from the start, followed by earthiness and mushroom. A touch of ginger and caramel help to finish off the cedar on the nose…(read more)
Eve’s Tasting Notes
Opaque with a deep cranberry color – picture cranberry sauce in your head – followed by aromas of dried black cherry, stewed plums, red licorice, white pepper and a slight hint of anise. In the mouth I got more Cabernet Franc flavors than the Cabernet Sauvignon that is the predominant grape in this wine, that dry black cherry again, black currant, black pepper and ash. The wine’s balance was quite perfect. Thought it might pair well with smoked meat, Beef Bourguignon, a Caprese Salad with Mozzarella or Burrata cheese. 90 Eve pts.
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Our grapes are hand picked and sorted by each varietal and our wines spend two years in oak barrels to insure consistent balance and character.
Winery Tasting Notes From the moment the bottle is opened there is a fun watermelon candy on the nose that slowly softens into vanilla and cranberry. Lovely cedar and suede appear, along with cassis and a hint of ginger at the back, to help round out a slight lilac scented aroma…(read more)
Eve’s Tasting Notes
Very opaque and dark blackberry in color, then I was greeted with aromas of blue to black fruits: dark plum, blueberry, blackberry and black currant. I also found vanilla, wet hay, black pepper, tobacco and almond. The tasting showed flavors of blueberry, black cherry, and thick berry jam slathered on toast. As with the other Mystic Hills Vineyard reds this wine could stand up to a great piece of meat, maybe a nice tri tip with a smoky marinade, sweet potato fries and a wedge salad. I could drink this now, but would also love to cellar a bottle to try in 5-10 years. 91 Eve pts.
2013 Unforgiven
50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, 15% Merlot, 5% Malbec
Our grapes are hand picked and sorted by each varietal and our wines spend two years in oak barrels to insure consistent balance and character. Fewer than 500 cases of superior blend were made.
Winery Tasting Notes This full-bodied wine emerges with toasted spice, cassis and plum and follows with delectable strawberry and bay leaf, giving it a fruity and herbaceous nose. It builds with cocoa and cedar aromatics that carry onto the palate…(read more)
Eve’s Tasting Notes
The color of the wine was an inky blackberry, and completely opaque from the center of my wine glass to the rim. Aromas of crushed blackberry, juicy plum, cracked green peppercorns, French toast, vanilla, clove, rich earth and…yes…was it pine needles? It sure was for me. Wow, all together it made me imagine a lovely holiday centerpiece, rich with the fruits and spices of the season. Couldn’t wait to dive in for a taste…and on the mouth I found dry and dark blue to black fruit, black pepper, dark chocolate, char, butterscotch, black olive and enough tannins for an incredibly long and satisfying finish. The wine would only benefit further with decanting and a decadent meal of anything from grilled filet mignon to a hearty beef stew to pepperoni pizza to chocolate bark. 92 Eve pts.
2013 Reserve Malbec
Monterey County, 14.8% alcohol
Check the website for availability of the 2013 Malbec. Currently this wine is only available to wine club members.
Eve’s Tasting Notes
The color of a resplendent garnet jewel enticed me in for aromas of BAM! RED ROSES you could detect from a distance, then mushroom, wet stone and black olives. In the mouth it was all spice and leather, followed by loads of black fruit, black olives, a wee bit of scallion – and all staying on the palate for a very long finish. Would be so yummy with loaded potato skins, your preference of steak and some cheese toast. (I tasted this one with a friend, and after we were done she wedged the cork back in and stole the rest to take home.) 91 Eve pts.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mystic-Hills-Vineyard-174322976034673/
Website: http://mystichillsvineyard.com/
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com
