Wine Last Sold on: January 25, 2013
Cambiata Winery
Featured Wine:
2009 Rocosa Loma Vineyard Tannat
| Varietal: | Tannat |
| Region: | California: Monterey County |
| Avg. Price: | $29.00 |
| Wine Spies: | $21.99 |
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SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
We only showcase wines that we love. While our emphasis is on quality first, every now and again we come across a real standout wine that rises above. When we do, we issue alerts like this one.
SUPER QPR ALERT:
At today’s special Wine Spies price, this wine delivers tremendous value - and a drinking experience that exceeds expectations, easily earning it this special QPR (Quality to Price Ratio) Alert.
Mission Codename: Monterey Pyrénées
- Operative
- Agent Red
- Objective
- Return to Laumann Family Estate Wines on California’s Central Coast, and procure winemaker Eric Laumann’s fabled Tannat
- Mission Status
- Accomplished!
- Winemaker
- Eric Laumann
Final Assessment
Today’s 2009 Cambiata Winery Tannat comes with our highest recommendation.
If you are not familiar with the Tannat varietal, here is a little background: Normally found near the Pyrénées, in the Basque-influenced region of France, Tannat is often characterized by its bold, concentrated and tannic structure. Tannat is a big wine, not unlike Petite Sirah or Petite Verdot.
Today’s was so well-loved at our recent tasting panel that nearly every panelist pre-purchased some of the wine for their own cellars.
This wine is rich, delicious, aromatic and packed with flavors. Normally a great food wine to pair with rich, fatty foods, we actually think this would be a fantastic wine to enjoy all on its own. In fact, this wine could easily replace a meal.
When you do pair it with food, enjoy it with something rich like Asian short ribs, duck confit, duck l’orange or Peking duck.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic wine, from the modern master of California Tannat!
Tasting Profile
Vibrant dark purple with a pretty garnet edge. Tall, branching legs start high up on the glass, retaining color as it moves slowly down the glass. The wine coats the entire glass with dark maroon color that clings to the glass wall.
Smoky coffee and smoky dried meats meld together, giving way to deep black fruit of ripe blackberry, stewed plum and mission fig. Loamy earth, softly charred meat and savory dried mushroom appear after the wine has opened up a little.
As on the palate, this wine is savory and delicious. Dark pomegranate, darkest blackberry, concentrated dark unsweetened grape compote and dried fig. Subtle spice and subtle sweet oak round out the flavors.
Light tannins support a great deal of savory flavor for a very long time. Sweet and tart, this wine lingers forever on the palate.
What the Winery Says
Bold and rousing, this coveted grape from the Pyrenees Mountains is now grown in Monterey. Our wine displays the signature indigo color, mouth filling tannins and rich flavors that define luxury Tannat. It is a rich blackberry and licorice elixir for those aficionados looking to break through to another dimension of intense red wine.
Wine Specs
Vintage: 2009
Varietal: Tannat
Appellation: Monterey County
Alcohol: 14.5%
About the Winery
Cambiata is a small independently-owned winery. For 25 years I have made wine and grown grapes for quality California wineries. In 2002, following the fortunate securement of a long-term Monterey vineyard lease, I decided to produce wines under my own label. Simply, this venture came about from my enjoyment of making wine and the desire to have full control over winemaking and the end result. My intention is to make distinctive wines for wine enthusiasts who appreciate learning about and enjoying great food wines, wines that go beyond the Franco triumvirate of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone.
