WBW#15 Small Production Wines

A big thanks to  Fatemeh from Gastronomie for thinking of something really challenging. I went through my cellar looking for something that I knew was less than a 200 case production, and the closest I got was a Toffanelli Zinfandel that was 294. That was my fallback choice in case I couldn't find anything else that fit the requirements.

I dashed into the Wine House at lunchtime, (dangerously close to my office), and found this beauty. A meger 182 cases were made. And to my astonishment was less than $15.00. You would be hard pressed to find any French carignane from the South of France for that price that is nearly as enjoyable.

Sutton Cellars
Caringnane Alexander Valley
Angeli Vineyard 2003
A big part of the attraction of this wine for me was that it was a pure Carignane, which is as the back label says "always a bridesmaid, never a bride." Usually this grape is reserved for blending, usually for color and acid. As most things Californian, this has old world charm with new world fruit. It has the tang and cocoa/spice notes of a typical Carignane but juicier. All of Sutton Cellar's wines are unfiltered and gravity  filled by hand. In the past 8 years, the total output from Carl Sutton gone from 350 cases to 3500 cases. Still very small by any definition.

Color: red-purple
Nose: violets, cocoa, spice, red raspberries
Flavor: Juicy and dark, delicious
Repeat buy? I wish! Especially at $13.98. I bought the last one at the Wine House, but I'll be checking out more Sutton Cellars wines soon. In fact, I bought one of Carl's Pinots at the same time!

Comments

[JC]

Keep searching for Carl's wines, they're worth it. Carl has a great selection of vineyard select Pinot Noirs if you can find them, the best I have ever tasted.

[carl sutton]

wow- who are you guys? thanks for appreciating my efforts. you should check out my dinner at Maverick in SF next tuesday www.sfmaverick.com
four courses w/ four wines for $62 or six wines by the glass and regular menu. cheers- carl

[andy asp]

Carl you son of a bitch... I'm eating at Maverick TONITE (the 14th), I'm a week late. If I don't see your bottles on the list, I'll try that new Beringer white merlot everybody's raving about.

-ASP

ps give me a call 510 978-8660 cell