Wines
of the Week: Yorkville Cellars - Mendocino County
We
cYorkville Cellars, in Mendocino County, was one of
the pioneers of Eco-friendly farming in the wine industry. Their
vineyards have been certified by the California Certified Organic
Famers (CCOF) since 1986, and they've made great wine from the
beginning. Recently, our panel tasted a selection of the winery's
current releases.
Yorkville
Cellars Label Reviews:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Yorkville
Cellars Malbec 2009
Winery:
Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): Malbec
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: (none)
Farming
Certification: CCOF Organic
Price: 25-30
Review:
Aromas of blackberries, cherries, and earth rise up from
a glass. Rich flavors of blueberry, bright cherry, and
boysenberry come together with notes of violets and cocoa
on the palate. A supple Malbec that's much more fruit-driven
than most from Argentina, if you enjoy reds with rich,
layered but fairly light flavors, this is a bottle to
try.
Rating: 91 |
|
Yorkville
Cellars Richard the Loin-Heart 2009
Winery:
Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40%
Merlot, 10% Carmenere, 5% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, and
2% Petit Verdot
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: Richard the Loin-Heart
Farming
Certification: CCOF Organic
Price: 25-30
Review:
On the nose, highlights of blueberries, blackberries,
and boysenberries meld with accents of barrel spice and
oak. On the palate, rich dark berry flavors come together
with hints of oak and cinnamon. A lighter, layered blend,
that's a fine pairing for a roast chicken or quite easy
to sip on its own.
Rating: 89 |
|
Yorkville
Cellars High Rollr Red 2009
Winery:
Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot 35%, Malbec 22%, Carignane
14%, Zinfandel 12%, Cabernet Franc 9%, Petit Verdot 4%,
Cabernet 4%
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: High Rollr Red
Farming
Certification: CCOF Organic
Price: N/A
Review:
A bouquet of blackberries, plums, and raspberries melds
with suggestions of sage on the nose. A sip reveals flavors
of cherry, blackberry, and plum with accents of spice
and dusty earth. A nice, approachable red with moderate
tannins, it can pair with a variety of food.
Rating: 87 |
|
Yorkville
Cellars Merlot 2009
Winery:
Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): Merlot 90% & Cabernet 10%
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: (none)
Farming
Certification: CCOF Organic
Price: 20-25
Review:
Aromatics of bramble fruit and black cherry melds with
notes of chocolate and a slight floral hint. Flavors of
cherries, boysenberries, and blackberries with accents
of anise and dusty minerals emerge on the palate. A bright,
fruit-driven red, with medium tannins, it's a Merlot that
even Cab lovers can enjoy.
Rating: 89 |
|
Yorkville
Cellars Eleanor of Aquitaine 2010
Winery:
Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): Semillon 60% & Sauvignon
Blanc 40%
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2010
Special Designation: Eleanor of Aquitaine
Farming
Certification: CCOF Organic
Price: 20-25
Review:
Fragrant notes of honey, pear, and citrus fruits with
accents of dusty minerals rise up from a glass. Lively
notes of lemon, lime, and ruby red grapefruit meld with
fresh minerals on the palate. A bright wine that's very
food friendly, it's great to pair with white fish in a
creamy sauce or to enjoy on its own if you're a fan of
crisp, minerally whites.
Rating: 89 |
|
Yorkville
Cellars Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Winery:
Yorkville Cellars
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Mendocino County
Year: 2010
Special Designation: (none)
Farming
Certification: CCOF Organic
Price: 20-25
Review:
Aromas of gooseberries and citrus notes combine with hints
of grass on the nose. Flavors of lime, grapefruit, and
gooseberries meld with a few herbaceous notes on the palate.
A fairly crisp white, that still offers plenty of fruit,
if you're seeking that nice balance, this is a bottle
to try.
Rating: 88 |
By
Jason Barlow
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
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