Dave’s Club Fall Newsletter & Tasting Notes
By Jesse Malvesti & Catalina Perez October 2023
Oscar Wilde said, “And all at once, summer collapsed into
fall.” Such true words. For some, that means autumn colors
rushing through the windblown trees while trading sweatshirts for
jackets. For others, it’s a much-needed break from the
constant sweltering heat. For the winery, it’s harvest time,
our busiest time of the year. The crew is busy handpicking grapes from
our 20-acre vineyard while the production staff works to de-stem,
ferment, and barrel the 2023 harvest for aging. And Dave, as always,
overseeing every single stage down to smallest detail to make sure you
end up with the absolute best wine to pour in your glass. 2023 came
with some challenges. Rains were welcome after several years of drought
but created a delayed bud break in the spring, resulting in a later
than ever start to the harvest. Now that the harvest is officially
underway, the quality seems to be on par with recent vintages, and we
are expecting another successful year!
Your fall club allocation is highlighted by two 2019 wines, aged here
so you didn't have to! The Zin is a great representation of the wine
that put Dry Creek Valley on the map and the Estate Cuvée is
the wine that started it all in 1994 with a gold medal - the first wine
in the area that saw Zin and Cab blended together. As for the rest of
the line-up, either the Italiano or Carignan are great candidates for
your holiday dinners, and when you're ready for something a little dark
and brooding, the Escuro is just the ticket. The Block 4 is always a
favorite anytime of the year.
Member Exclusive Specials
Library Wines
$30/bottle
Ask about our selection of perfectly cellared, library offerings straight from Dave’s personal cellar.
November Case Sale. A not-to-be missed 12pk special coming your way. Mix and match Italiano, Pinot and/or Block 6 Zin.
Notes from Dave:
What's New for 2023? DC Fusion! - a wine that has evolved
through the years. The first time I created this label, I had the
unconventional and crazy idea of blending multiple vintages of older
bottled wines with some new fruit. So we took some previously bottled
red wines which were higher in alcohol and acid and mixed that wine
with low sugar juice from newly harvested grapes. The result was a
non-vintage, lighter style wine with lower alcohol. When we released
it, we heard from many people as to how well it was enjoyed. That
surprised the heck out of me, but because of your positive feedback, I
decided to revive the label this year and make a DC Fusion from 2023
grapes. In fact, the grapes for it have already been harvested,
crushed, fermented, pressed, and transferred to neutral oak barrels for
10 months of aging. We're expecting a wine with good depth and
structure from a combination of Alvarelhao, Souzao, Tannat, and Petite
Sirah. At an estimated 12.5% ABV, it can be either a perfect afternoon
sipper, or a wine which you could have with a light meal. Why not give
it a try - on sale now at the club price of $13.60 a bottle through
March 2024.
Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Red Wine Cranberry Sauce
Steaks:4 – 6oz Beef Tenderloin Steaks • Salt • Pepper • Ground Espresso • Olive Oil
Sauce:
8oz-Frozen Cranberries (thawed) • 12oz-Red Wine
• 4oz-Cranberry Juice
4oz-Brown Sugar • 3-Sprigs Fresh Thyme •
1-Shallot (finely diced) • 2-Cloves Garlic
Sprinkle steaks with salt, pepper and espresso. In a cast iron
skillet, cook steaks in oil over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Turn
steaks over and bake uncovered, at 375° for 14-20 minutes or
until meat reaches 130°. Remove steaks from the pan. In the
same skillet, sauté shallot for 3 min., add garlic and
sauté for 1 min. Deglaze pan with red wine and cranberry
juice. Add in the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil and reduce
by half. Remove thyme sprigs. Serve with horseradish mashed potatoes.
October 2023 Featured Wines
2019 Zinfandel
DATA: 100% Zinfandel
Lighter in color, with strawberry rhubarb & just a hint of menthol on the nose, you will absolutely recognize the vibrancy of fruit and balance of flavors. Each sip of this century old Zinfandel rolls along the tongue with notes of bergamot and wild berries. Great acid, lighter tannins- awesome food wine.
Pairing: Gourmet garlic butter grilled cheese with gouda, parm
& white cheddar.
2021 Carignan
DATA: 100% Carignan Garnet in color, with fresh flavors of red
plums, fresh oregano & thyme, this Carignan smells jammy, like
dried cranberries- but the bright acidity really hits home. Once you
swirl this in the glass, softer tea-like tannins and a good body carry
it to a dry, lingering finish. If you like the zest of an acid forward,
fruity wine, drink now, or let it mellow with age. Pairing: Smothered
pork chops with potatoes Au gratin
2019 Estate Cuvée
DATA: 37% Zinfandel / 33% Cabernet Sauvignon / 20% Carignan /
10% Petite Sirah Taut & with terrific posture, this is a toasty
blend for the cellar, that will also drink beautifully this holiday
season. With an almost sweet, nutty oak and musky aromas, there are
hints of nutmeg, sandalwood & star anise that truly warm the
soul. Brandied cherries round out the spicy finish which is why we
think this could be the star of the show at your holiday dinner.
Pairing: Beef tenderloin steaks with red wine cranberry sauce (see
recipe on page 1)
2020 Italiano Style
DATA: 28% Lagrein / 22% Aglianico / 20% Sagrantino / 12% Barbera / 9% Sangiovese / 7% Montepulicano/ 2% Nebbiolo Ripe and dripping of sweet anise and maple, the color alone of our Italiano Style will command attention. But the wine is even better than it looks! Perfect tannins and dark cherries are met with meaty, subtle oak and a savory black olive finish. This dry wine coats the palate & numbs your lips with its intensity.
Pairing: Spicy pork sausage, broccoli rabe & garlic
orecchiette with chili flakes
2021 Block 4 (16)
DATA:50% Zinfandel / 25% Petite Sirah / 9% Carignan / 8% Peloursin / 8% Syrah
As usual with our Block 4, the nose is completely intoxicating. You will notice the dark ruby color & smell fresh cracked pepper as soon as you pour it into the glass, which fades into aromas of freshly cut wood and a subtle kiss of oak. The perfectly balanced fruitiness is a great representation of Dry Creek Valley & clearly a product of our oldest estate vines because of its noticeable complexity and depth.
Pairing: Bison chili with shredded gruyere cheese, sour cream
& green onions
2021 Escuro (16) or 2020 Escuro (16)
DATA: 30% Souzao/ 27% Alvarelhao/ 19% Tannat/ 16% Aglianico/ 8% Lagrein
Escuro is a full-throttle expression of our most intense grapes, dark & rich with a purple hue. Hearty and meaty on the nose, both vintages feature ripe fruit and mulling spices that finish with a cola- really committing to flavor, scent & power, but it’s surprisingly drinkable.
Pairing: Salami and mozzarella stromboli with fresh basil and ricotta