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Fiddlehead Cellars has been an icon in California’s Central Coast area since its founding in 1989 by winemaker Kathy Joseph. Her now-famous Fiddlestix Winery started as grime and has grown to be maybe the premiere winery on this area, used for a few of her personal prized wines whereas promoting its grapes to quite a few different bottlers as nicely. (Fiddlehead’s Fiddlestix Sauvignon Blanc even makes a key look within the film Sideways.)
At a latest dinner with Joseph at San Francisco’s Cassava, she spoke at size concerning the movie, her winemaking — which now consists of wines comprised of grapes in Oregon in addition to the Central Coast — and her plans for the long run which, you learn it right here first, embrace the sale of Fiddlestix to new house owners Justin Willett (Tyler Wines), Erik Mallea and Todd Grey (Willett-Mallea Farming), and William Borgers. It’s the start of a brand new chapter for the gregarious Joseph — whose equally genial household appeared on the dinner to say hello — who introduced a bevy of latest releases (showcasing the extensively various kinds she makes her wines in) in addition to some gems from her private cellar to attempt. I took embarrassingly temporary notes on all of the wines tasted. Ideas observe.
2019 Fiddlehead Cellars Pink Fiddle Rose of Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – Barely gummy, with sturdy orange peel notes. A superb begin to the night time, however not my favourite of Joseph’s wines. B+ / $30
2016 Fiddlehead Cellars Joyful Canyon Sauvignon Blanc Santa Barbara – A slight natural notice, wealthy and enveloping. Nice stuff. A- / $30
2019 Fiddlehead Cellars Goosebury Sauvignon Blanc Santa Barbara – Basic tropical character, shiny with mango and tart fruit. A basic summer time sipper. A- / $42
2012 Fiddlehead Cellars Hunnysuckle Sauvignon Blanc Santa Barbara – Distinctive, distinctly meaty, chewy, and barely darkish. Loaded with earthy-sweet “hunny” to make certain, wealthy, salty, and satisfying. A- / $42
2016 Fiddlehead Cellars Gruner Veltliner Santa Rita Hills – California makes valuable little gruner however Joseph is aware of what she’s doing. Right here we discover mild petrol notes blended with an unique, tropical character that’s touched with almond notes. Barely yeasty, it evolves to showcase notes of roasted nuts and, oddly, some chocolate late within the sport. Actually uncommon. A- / $42
2015 Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – 2015 is the present launch, wow. Lush, darkish, and chewy with cocoa powder notes, this dense wine was powerful to place down and paired superbly with buttermilk fried rooster. A steal at this worth. A / $46
2015 Fiddlehead Cellars Oldsville Pinot Noir Oregon – An attention-grabbing distinction, brighter on the palate with some graphite and crimson clay notes. Extra classically structured. A- / $60
2014 Fiddlehead Cellars Lollapalooza Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – Once more, a present launch. Beautiful graphite notes right here. Wealthy, cherry heavy, with gentle chocolate on the end. A / $88
2014 Fiddlehead Cellars Alloro Pinot Noir Oregon – Fairly muted and odd, with notes of rhubarb and mint, plus honeysuckle including a perfumed notice. Boldly floral, it jogs my memory a little bit of gin. B / $88
2017 Fiddlehead Cellars Sweetie Late Harvest Gruner Veltliner Santa Rita Hills – If you happen to thought California gruner was uncommon, what about California dessert gruner? Honeyed and fairly, with extra of that petrol on the nostril. We had cheese for dessert as Joseph doesn’t love sweets, and I discovered the pairing a bit fitful. B+ / $35
2010 Fiddlehead Cellars Lollapalooza Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – The primary of a number of archive bottlings we tried. This one was attractive and under no circumstances austere, nonetheless within the prime of its life. A / $NA
2008 Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – Unctuous and luxurious, although beginning to fade a bit. Nonetheless fairly fairly and approachable. B+ / $NA
2011 Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills – Evening and day vs. the 2008. Basic and vibrant and filled with each crimson and black fruit, citrus peel, and a whip of licorice. Nonetheless obtainable for buy, too. A / $55
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