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At
Martin & Weyrich, dreams of Italy's Piemonte region are a
driving force, and winemaker Craig Reed has been part of those
dreams with the close knit Martin & Weyrich family for twenty
years. Originally the Martin Brothers Winery since it's 1981 inception,
the family owned winery has gone through several hand changes,
bringing them to the current status of the Martin & Weyrich
Winery. Growing Nebbiolo has become their infatuation, and it
is truly a labor of love. Simply transplanting the grape from
its home in the foothills of the Alps was an ordeal involving
trips to Italy, a misidentified cutting from Mexico, and help
from the University of California Davis. Once in the ground, Nebbiolo
is exceptionally challenging to grow, but for Craig and owners
David and Mary Weyrich, it has become the backbone of the winery
and made them the top producer of Nebbiolo in North America. Three
thousand cases are finding their way successfully into all 50
states.
To
know the Nebiolo grape, is to fall in love with grapes all over
again. It's lighter in color, light bodied looking, but not light,"
says Craig Reed. He goes on to explain the layering element. "There
are layers of flavors. There are dark berries, wild berries, tobacco
leaf, less fruit driven, more earth driven characteristics such
as cigar box, cedar, layered, layered, layered. We tame the tannins,
to make it more approachable for the American palate, but our
reserve is more aged and more serious. It's a very dry wine. We
call it the king of wines and the wine of kings," Craig concludes
with a smile in his voice.
Muscato
Allegro, however, is the staple of their growing wine empire.
A 100,000 case a year winery, 70,000 of those cases can be attributed
to Muscato Allegro. This was purely a demand of function says
wine maker Craig Reed. "We started producing this in 92,
and just did 500 cases at that time. We kept running out of it,
even when it grew to 15K cases a year. Every time we double production,
we just kept running out."
In
fact, for those new to tasting this varietal, it is worth the
effort to get a hold of it and give it a try. It's a sweet wine
with 10% residual sugar but only 7% alcohol content. The high
acidity balances out the sugars, so it doesn't have a clawing
sweetness. The profile satisfies the health conscious due to its
lower alcohol content and it's a good, crisp wine.
Amenities
- Tasting room
- Gift Shop
- Hotel (click
here for lodging)
- B&B
- Wine reviews
- www.martinweyrich.com
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E A T U R E D -W
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2003
Nebbiolo II Vecchio / Paso Robles
A distinctive, expressive wine worthy of notice. Itís
bouquet of earth tones, smoke, and dark fruit unfold
on the palate with an engaging complexity. Layers of
cedar, cigar box, tobacco leaf give way to dark berries,
plums and raspberries in the true Italian sense of this
varietal. The palate is firm and savory and the finish
lingers and unfolds, offering many edges to the last
sip. Mild tannins make this the wine to place at both
ends of the table when crafting that hearty Italian
feast. If this is your first venture into Italian varietals,
this will please, please, please. Aged in French Oak
for 24 months, Wine maker Craig Reed has immersed himself
in the Italian varietals, and leads the way.
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2003
Nebbiolo / Paso Robles
An earth driven bouquet greets the nose, yet this wine
is much more delicate than the Nebbiolo Reserve. Aromas
of cherry with floral notes are the difference here,
and lighter tannins lend themselves to an easy mouth
feel and a bright finish. Paired with bold marinara
sauces and pestos ground from fresh basil right out
of the garden, this Italian varietal is crafted right
here in Paso Robles by talented wine maker Craig Reed.
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2006
Pinot Grigio / Paso Robles
Think fresh, light and crisp with a bright fruit forward
bouquet of fresh figs, pears and citrus. The palate
has a subtle hint of tartness and a well balanced acidity
that leads to a clean, refreshing finish. This oh so
drinkable wine is perfect for a summer dinner party,
especially when paired with a prosciutto and melon appetizer.
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2006
Pinot Noir / Paso Robles
A fruit forward Pinot that truly caters to a crowd.
An exquisite dark red color with the edges of a warm
sunset give this wine an enticing hue. Subtle cherry
notes on the nose are pleasant and refreshing, and the
subtle tannins make this wine highly drinkable. The
balanced finish is dry yet smooth. A great table wine
to be framed with many platters of food and warm laughter.
Pass the bottle, please!
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2004
Sangiovese II Palio / Paso Robles
The varietal character and richness shines through with
scents of cherry and leather, yet the palate is supple
and lighter than the aromas would indicate. Earthy tones
surround the dark fruit flavors that are well balanced
and spicy. The finish is superb, a fine balance of smooth
and dry. This is meant to be a hearty companion to an
Italian feast, and we made sure by tasting with our
own sausage lasagna and rich 5 Italian cheese raviolis
with a freshly ground pesto sauce. MMmmmmm. Just to
be sure, we tested it twice!
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2003
Cabernet Sauvignon Etrusco / Paso Robles
A tasteful blend of 85% Cabernet and 15% Sangiovese
make this a superb wine. This understated Tuscan blend
hits the mark with its marriage of the dark rich fruit
flavors of the Cabernet, and the brighter red berry
characteristic of the Sangiovese. The full nose bouquet
and the endless bottom belies the simplicity of the
blend. The mouthfeel is rich, well-balanced, supple
and smooth, yet the finish still retains a pleasing
hint of dryness. An incredibly fine wine overall. Pairs
exquisitely with tomato based dishes and pastas in general.
Makes a great impression sitting on the table, too !
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2006
Moscato Allegro / Paso Robles
A warm, apricot nose offering a full floral bouquet,
this dry, smooth white wine is perfect as an after dinner
drink, or with dessert. Fermented at very cold temperatures,
this 7% alcoholic content wine pleases with intense
flavor without the hangover. Wine maker Craig Reed has
developed a following for this one, producing over 70,000
cases a year. Well balanced acids keep it dry on the
palate, and fresh in the glass. If you've been looking
for just the right wine to finish the meal with, this
is a must try!
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Martin
& Weyrich Winery
( Tasting Room )
2610 Buena Vista Drive
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 238-2520
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Martin
& Weyrich Winery
4230 Buena Vista Drive
Paso Robles, CA 93446
(805) 238-9234
www.martinweyrich.com |
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