Two Bottle Post: Mystic Hills Vineyard Grand Trio and Golden Star Vineyards Purple Haze

Two wineries that generously will be sharing some of their vintages at the non-profit event (created and co-hosted by yours truly) Wine on the Roof 5/16 include Mystic Hills Vineyard and Golden Star Vineyards. While the former takes advantage of the Monterey terroir the latter is in the high desert. And both wines that I have for the tasting today I have had past vintages of, and am fully prepared to love again today:

2015 Mystic Hills Vineyard Grand Trio

Monterey County, bottled in Paso Robles

15% alcohol

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot

$28 retail

https://www.mystichillsvineyard.com/

Color: Dark garnet with a blackberry edge, opaque.

Aroma: Blue and black fruit, black pepper, fig, mushroom, toasted oak, balanced.

Flavor: Round mouthfeel, lingering blackberry, quite a bit of red fruit, slightly peppery, cigar, and nice tannins allowing for a long length, very balanced. I would decant this for just a bit – or swirl away like I did to enjoy all that fruit and spice.

 

2016 Golden Star Vineyards Purple Haze

California Red Wine, Littlerock.

14.4% Alcohol

Zinfandel, Merlot and Malbec

$30 retail

https://www.goldenstarvineyards.com/

Color: Dark plum stretching out to a darker edge, opaque.

Aroma: Blackberry, red hard candy, port, dried fruit, woody.

Flavor: Also round mouthfeel, dark, cigarette and cigar, big, deep and lingering fruit. No need to decant IMO.

Sound good to you? Then you can do several things: Join us 5/16, contact the wineries to get your own bottles and/or visit them. Lee and Helen Williams of Golden Star Vineyards and the whole Cox family at Mystic Hills Vineyard are all very welcoming people and would, no doubt, love to meet you.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.