WTN: 2005 Trinitas Old Vine Cuvee

Don't remember where we got this or how much it cost, but it's been sitting in the basement for some time now and I thought we'd give it a try. 14.5% alcohol, a blend of mataro, zin, carignan, petite sirah, and alicante bosche, and bearing the Contra Costa County appellation.

Appropriately dark purple-red in the glass. Big nose of bramble, earth, dust, and just a hint of baked fruit. Big flavors as well, with more earth, very dark fruit, some green character (carignan showing here?), a touch of heat, good acidity, soft tannins, not a lot of length. There's a firmness that I'd ascribe to the petite sirah that seems to underlie everything else from start to finish.

This is pretty much what you'd expect out of a field blend of old Contra Costa vines. It's a little rough around the edges but it has a lot going on in it and it's very tasty. I like it.

[David M. Bueker]

I've had a few Trinitas wines served blind at tastings. They always show well.

I was really impressed by the new Matt Cline project, 3 winery, which sources some of these same great Contra Costa vineyards. They have a tasting room and winery in Clarksburg, of all places, and I thought their wines were very interesting.

I was really impressed by the new Matt Cline project, 3 winery, which sources some of these same great Contra Costa vineyards. They have a tasting room and winery in Clarksburg, of all places, and I thought their wines were very interesting.

I've also been very impressed with what he's doing at 3. Did you get a chance to try his botrytized dessert stuff? Very nice. It's also good to see someone championing the remaining vineyards in Contra Costa.

I've also been very impressed with what he's doing at 3. Did you get a chance to try his botrytized dessert stuff? Very nice. It's also good to see someone championing the remaining vineyards in Contra Costa.

Yes! Nice stuff!

[David M. Bueker]

Put me on the other side of the debate regarding the 3 botrytis wine. I had it last summer and was not at all impressed.

Have to admit I liked some of the reds more, but for a desert wine, I thought it was good. I loved the Mouvedre (Mataro) though.