October 2016 Domestic Wine: 2012 Clayhouse ‘Adobe Red’ Paso Robles, California
fine Wine Source Wine Club
October 2016
Clayhouse Wines: Is owned and operated by the Middleton Family, through their Anderson & Middleton Company. They pride themselves on providing delicious and affordable single-vineyard, estate grown wines from certified-sustainable Red Cedar Vineyards in Paso Robles, California…America’s fastest growing wine region. Clayhouse wines express the pinnacle of Paso Robles style: Ripe fruit character expressed with a consistent sense of elegance and poise. The winery is just south of the city of San Luis Obispo and is named for the 1840’s adobe house located on the site of the Red Cedar Vineyard. All Adobe, Clayhouse, and Clayhouse Estate wines are produced from the grapes grown on Red Cedar Vineyard. Winemaker Blake Kuhnn and vineyard manager Ben Mello work closely together (along with hundreds of owls) to tend, sustainably farm, and select specific varietal blocks. The Rolling benchland (above the Estrella River) and terraced vineyard plantings at Red Cedar range from 500-800 feet above sea level. The vineyard is certified sustainably-farmed by the California Sustainable Wine Growing Alliance.
About: 2012 was a warm vintage that produced ripe fruit translating into fruit forward, aromatic wines. Yields were average as were tannin levels producing smooth, rounded wines packed with varietal aromas and flavorful fruit character. Destemed fruit only is transferred direct to stainless tanks for temperature control fermentation. Cold soaked for two days before inoculation with various strains of yeast, depending on variety and desired fermentation temperature. Pressed at dryness and inoculated with malolactic fermentation. The Adobe Red was aged on a combination of primarily 70%new French oak, 20% American oak, and 10% European oak for 12 months. This helped produce a “Jack of all trades” wine with a complex blend of fruit flavors.
Varietals: 34%Zinfandel/39%Petite Sirah/12%Cabernet Sauvignon/10%Syrah/3%Tempranillo/2%Malbec
Alcohol: 13.86%
Tasting Notes: Dark black cherry, ripe blackberry, and cocoa aromas. Soft sweet jammy strawberry and black fruit flavors. Tannins are soft and rounded with a rich mouthfeel and warn toasty vanilla laced finish.
Food Pairings: Made for cheeses, meat and red sauce based pastas, BBQ, pizza of just quaffing with friends!
Jim Lutfy’s Thoughts: Vibrant and rich with layers of complexity and a deep colorful bouquet that will be great with anything from the grill!!!