We tasted last week the two new Darren Delmore releases at Pig+Fig:
1. Delmore PinotNoir DeerRidgeTrailVnyd/SantaCruzMtns (13%; 3 brls; U; www.DarrenDelmore.com) 2023: Med.color; fairly strong PN/bit cherry/black cherry rather earthy/dusty/OV/mineral some pencilly/toasty/oak rather perfumed lovely nose; rather tart/tangy/bit metallic rather mineral/earthy some toasty/Fr.oak structured light/black cherry/PN tangy flavor w/ modest tangy tannins; very long/lingering black cherry/mineral finish that tracks flavor; a rather unusual expression of Calif PN that shows more minerality than most; reminds some of the old Mt.Eden or CongressSprings Pinots but w/ much less oak, more minerality & less Burgundy character; quite an attractive expression of the SCM PN terroir. $45.00 (vLC)
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2. Delmore Syrah StoloVnyd/SLO Coast (12%; WildFrmtd/U) DarrenDelmore/PasoRobles 2023: Dark color; strong very peppery/c-c/Syrah/black pepper some blackberry/Syrah/very spicy some smokey/toasty/oak rather complex slight Rhonish nose; fairly tart/tangy very spicy/Syrah/blackberry strong c-c/peppery structured some toasty/oak bit Rhonish rather complex flavor w/ modest tangy tannins; very long/lingering c-c/peppery Syrah finish that follows flavor; a fairly structured c-c Syrah that needs more age; atypical of Paso Syrah, not as ripe & more restrained; needs some 3-8 yrs of age yet; a beautiful Syrah from on of Calif's best Syrah vnyds. $45.00 (vLC)
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More DellyScript from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. Darren Delmore is the National marketing director for TablasCreekVnyds. He also make a little wine on the side under his own label at the Tin City site in PasoRobles.
Stolo Family Vnyd is slightly East of Cambria, Grows mostly Syrah & PinotNoir. From the top of the vnyd, you can look West and see the Pacific. It is definitely one of the coldest Syrah vnyds in all Calif; colder than Bassetti. They also make wine under their own label, made by Raj Parr I believe.
These wines came thru Laura Crucet of Pig+Fig Cafe. She & I usually split a case of each of Darren's release.
Darren has also written two book (maybe three) that are an absolute hoot, worth reading, and a fascinating/irreverent look at the Calif wine industry.
Tom