27 July 2007

Domenico's Elegant Pinotage

"It’s a pleasant surprise to find a Pinotage that not only is elegant but also made in the U.S." writes Jean Deitz Sexton on Appellation America.com . "Domenico Wines has produced a gorgeous Pinotage: the 2004 Domenico Amador County Pinotage. One of the things I like about this wine is that it is juicy – none of that unctuous, heavy mouth feel that so often creeps into California wines. It has a luscious blueberry nose, notes of blackberry and cayenne pepper on the mid palate and notes of tobacco, cigar and earth but in the right balance to add interest and depth. The tannins are evident and the finish is long and satisfying. This wine can stand up to hearty fare."


Domenico have also impressed the judges; this year their Pinotage 04 won a Silver medal at the New World International Wine Competition and a Bronze at the Dallas Morning News Wine Competition. (I wonder if they'll enter the 2007 Pinotage Top 10)


Domenico is a new name to me, and I am glad to welcome them to the Pinotage family. They are not growing Pinotage themselves, but have bought them from California's largest Pinotage vineyard, Sutter Creek Vineyards which I visited in 2002 and whose own tasty Pinotage is sold under the Sutter Ridge label. The vineyards was planted by John Bree Snr (pictured right in his Pinotage vineyard). Sutter Creek is on a ridge high in Amador County which is in the foot-hills along the Nevada border.

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