- Terah Wine Co, 2022 Red Blend, Central Coast $36
- Cavalier Bartolomeo Enfant Langhe Rosso 2021 $29
- Cieck Erbaluce di Caluso 2022, $24
- Ch. Canon-Chaigneau 2019 Grand Vin, Lalande de Pomerol, $36
- Damiano Colli Silene Cesanese d’Affile 2022, $28
- Tsiakkas ‘Rodinos’ Dry Rose, Cyprus $20
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1. Terah Wine Co, 2022 Red Blend, Central Coast $36
The Wine
A blend of Syrah (63%) and Grenache (37%), the two varieties were fermented separately. The Syrah was 100% destemmed and fermented on the skins, while the Grenache was fermented with whole clusters to extract more texture, color, and aromatics. The wines underwent native yeast fermentations for both primary and malolactic fermentations. After malolactic fermentation, both lots were racked and returned to neutral barrels where they aged for 10 months before being blended for bottling.
Tasting Notes: On the nose, this red blend offers a pop of captivating aromas. Notes of ripe dark fruits (blackberries and plums) take center stage, followed by a subtle floralality and a touch of dried fig that add a layer of complexity and interest. Medium-to-full body with chewy tannins and a satisfying weight on the palate.
From a young, organic vineyard in Gilroy, CA. 13.5% ABV
The Winery
At Farmstead, we get contacted by a lot of suppliers seeking to introduce their wines. I mean a LOT. As in… too many. We simply don’t have time to taste with all of them AND get through the business of the day.
So when Terah Bajjalieh contacted me about carrying her wines, I was, perhaps, less than the best version of myself.
But in the next few minutes I found myself agreeing to schedule a tasting with her.
What changed my mind? Her focus on sourcing fruit from organic and biodynamic vineyards, her foot-treading crush practices, and her use of natural fermentations. Her background as a Sommelier (WSET Level 3, Wine & Spirits) and in fine dining (Michelin-starred) and her jet-setting winemaking experience across 8 regions and 17 harvests and… the fact she does a bit of everything herself at her eponymous Terah Wine Co – from visiting vineyards to harvesting, to production and sales and office management…
2. Cavalier Bartolomeo Enfant Langhe Rosso 2021 $29
The Wine
An immediately approachable red blend made from Nebbiolo, Dolcetto and Barbera – the “Big Three” in red grapes from Piemonte’s Langhe region. The estate vineyards that are the source of fruit for this wine are located in Castiglione Falletto, a small area on the border of Barolo.
In its youth, this wine is showing a deep ruby color and enticing, high-toned aromas of that evoke reddish-purple in my mind, though that may not be a helpful descriptor. If pressed for a more useful description I’d go with fruits such as violet and raspberry, though if you have the patience to lay down a few bottles for a few years, you’ll be rewarded with more complex bottle bouquet that suggests warm glove leather and mushroom-earthiness. The wine is dry and full-bodied, a zaftig wine fit for plates full of full-bodied foods – sausages, braised meats, cassoulet… and now look what’s happened, I’m getting hungry again.
The Winery
Cavalier Bartolomeo is now in its fifth generation of stewards. The first, Bartolomeo Borgogno, is best described directly from the winery website, with help from Google Translate and common sense:
“A few rows of peach trees behind the house; He arises from there, where he’s been doing a little work since the morning. Dressed like a peasant but careful weith every detail. Even in his work clothes, old and worn out from years of use, they are very clean and cared for. Hat and waistcoat, as is the custom of these lands, and not by chance: the hat protects him for the strong sun, the vest over the shirt protects from sudden changes in temperature.
He is a Patriarch, the symbol of a time that disappears and resists together. He shows a little over 70 years, but he is 92. His courtesy and sense of hospitality are very old, they come from generations and generations of farmers and winemakers in his family who have worked this land and these hills near Barolo, where the kings’ wine is born.
Bartolomeo Borgogno, born in 1899, proud of having been alpine, and proud of his wines.”
3. Cieck Erbaluce di Caluso DOCG 2022, $24
The Wine
Erbaluce is one of Italy’s great white grapes. High in lip-smaking, mouth-watering acidity, it is valued for what it brings to a sparkling wine when harvested young. Left on the vine until fully mature, it become one of those white wines with layers of nuance that beg for one more sip, one more sniff. One is tempted to use it as cologne, but to do so would be such a sad waste of delicoiusness.
This is 100% Erbaluce, an ancient white grape native to the Canavese district of Piemonte, interpreted in its purest expression. Here, minerality and freshness give back all the Canavese terroir that made this wine what it is.
Its nice fruit notes make this wine a perfect pairing for freshwater fish, lightly creamed pasta, the antipasti course, and vegetarian/vegan dishes.
The Winery
Speaking of the Canavese district, vineyard visitors will immediately note the common use of the “pergola” vine training system, which trains the grapevines to grown onto large over-head canopies. The system helps protect the delicate white grapes from sunburn, but requires workers to reach overhead all day to harvest the grapes. I don’t know about you, but I’ll stick to drinking the stuff and leave the overhead work to those souls lucky enough to enjoy a more youthful nimbleness.
The Cieck estate is young by Italian standards – established in 1985 by Remo Falconieri, a typewriter designer for Olivetti (!) and the son of farmers. Initially, it was just for fun. His intention was to become a small producer of sparkling wine. He travelled to France to learn how to make sparkling wine and in 1985, he set up the estate with just a few acres of vines. His first harvest produced just over 200 cases of Erbaluce Metodo Classico.
It was released for sale in 1987 and that was the debut of the Cieck estate, named after the old farmhouse in Aglié where it all began. Since then, the facility has moved to the Castagnola, in San Giorgio Canavese. Today Remo is over 80 years old, and he’s still an integral part of the 3-person operation. Working next to Domenico Caretto and Lia Falconieri, Remo is said to be the first one into work every day at 8 AM. May we benefit from many more years of his persistence!
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4. Chateau Canon-Chaigneau 2019 Grand Vin, Lalande de Pomerol, $36
The Wine
I am so pleased to introduce this wine, crafted by Thierry Garnaud, the former winemaker at Cheval Blanc (from 1988 – 2018, earning 100-pt scores for their wines in 1990, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2016). His wines are described as an iron fist in a velvet glove for their structure, sensuality and age-worthiness. Not surprisingly, this small (10,000 cases per year) winery is now enjoying its just rewards, though the wines are still a relative bargain.
Believing that wine should not be too heavy, concentrated or extracted, Thierry avoids many modern practises which can lead to over alcoholic, ‘heady’ wines. Instead, he aims for wines that are delicious, drinkable & complex. Representative of both terroir and vintage, they are singular, original & unmistakeable.
The Winery
I am so pleased to introduce you to this wine, crafted by Thierry Garnaud, the former winemaker at Cheval Blanc (from 1988 – 2018, earning 100-pt scores for their wines in 1990, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2015 and 2016). His wines are described as an iron fist in a velvet glove for their structure, sensuality and age-worthiness. Not surprisingly, this small (10,000 cases per year) winery is now enjoying its just rewards, though the wines are still a relative bargain.
Believing that wine should not be too heavy, concentrated or extracted, Thierry avoids many modern practises which can lead to over alcoholic, ‘heady’ wines. Instead, he aims for wines that are delicious, drinkable & complex. Representative of both terroir and vintage, they are singular, original & unmistakeable.
5. Damiano Colli Silene Cesanese d’Affile 2022, $28
The Wine.
The Winery
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6. Tsiakkas ‘Rodinos’ Dry Rose, Cyprus $20
The Wine
The Winery
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