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Costa Del Sol

Three Wine Company

Spinelli Vineyard Mataro 2015

Doug Powers
9.3

128-year-old Mataro vines from the Spinelli Vineyard in Contra Costa County, the dark black fruit aromas and flavors seem unmistakably Californian, quite ripe, still shows lots of structure and old vine intensity, long, lingering finish, last bottle but this is another outstanding wine from Matt Cline!! — 2 hours ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Vin and 3 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I used to order these wines through Wine Access years ago. I enjoyed them initially but then over time grew a bit weary of them because none of them weighed in at less than 15%. The fruit was impeccable. I love those old CC vineyards. But I prefer it when people like Ridge, Bedrock, and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sandlands, bring in and vinify those gorgeous old vine grapes at a slightly lower level of ripeness.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said, I wish these 3 Wines were more 14% than 15%, but I’ve way worse from some “name” southern Rhône wines (my favorite region in the wine world) — I guess it’s “climate change”??
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

If other wineries can source the fruit from the same CC old vineyards and come in under 15, that suggests that the difference is a conscious choice. But in the Southern Rhone, I think your point is more applicable. They’re primarily working with Grenache there, and, particularly in CDP and Lirac, it’s a real challenge to get phenolic ripeness without sugar levels that take you to 15 and beyond. I feel for those folks. Climate change is an existential challenge for them.

Three Wine Company

Contra Costa County Old Vines Zinfandel 2019

Doug Powers
9.1

Classic old vines Contra Costa Zinfandel, brambly, spicy, rich yet not heavy, some heat (15.2%), but it really tastes great with homemade pizza, even in high-90s heat here in NorCal!! — 4 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Dave, Jan and 2 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Actually @Dave Clinton, it was more like 97-98, but “it’s a dry heat” — yeah, when I was 30-40 years old, probably true, but as I get older, much over 90 and I wanna curl up in the wine cellar!!
Dave

Dave

I hear that.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

The humidity the last two weeks here in NoVa has been oppressive. I love me some old vine CC Zin.

Gaja

Costa Russi Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016

leon egozi
9.3

NY wine spectator event — 6 days ago

Juan, Bob and 12 others liked this

Sandlands

Contra Costa County Red Table Wine 2022

Tom Casagrande
9.1

This really does live into the moniker “Red Table Wine.” 100 year old vines. Pure sand vineyards. 75% Carignane 35% Mataro. No one varietal stands out. It’s just gutsy and deep and balanced and good. Little bit of everything: ripe fruit, earth, spice, acids, tannin. — 2 months ago

Pooneet, Ray and 15 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, OK, your math is “good enough for government work”!! 🤔🤷🍷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - Makes sense since that’s my employer.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, same for me (formerly), but since I was a tax lawyer, no way they woulda cut me that slack!! 🤷

Marisa Cuomo

Furore Bianco Fiorduva Costa d'Amalfi White Blend

Tyler Felous
9.5

Perfect pool day wine. Just delicious — 4 months ago

Tom, Andrew and 3 others liked this

Turley

Duarte Vineyard Zinfandel 2017

Joe DAscoli
9.4

Somewhat of a dessert wine and post dinner vino. This wine held up with great fruit and complexity. Really nice follow on to 25 year old CdP and high end champagne. Held its own with good concentration and depth. — 5 months ago

Tom, Bob and 2 others liked this

Three Wine Company

Old Vines Field Blend 2019

Doug Powers
9.0

Spivey, brambley, red fruits, definitely ripe (15.2% ABV), but nicely balanced and with a long, lingering finish, very enjoyable Contra Costa County field blend!! — 2 hours ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom liked this

Gaja

Costa Russi Langhe Nebbiolo 1998

Pooneet K
9.3

So good. Definitely has relaxed a bit - the tannins are pretty smooth, but the quality and depth of the fruit both on the nose and palate remains. Excellent with steaks off the grill. I think our last bottle. Opened for 3 hours and decanted for 30 mins. Very nice. — 2 months ago

Dave, Tom and 4 others liked this

Cline Cellars

Ancient Vines Contra Costa County Carignane 2023

Katie Pierce
9.5

Good fruit flavor but still super dry! Very enjoyable! — 3 months ago

Janet Pierce
with Janet

Sandlands

Contra Costa County Mataro 2016

Jay Kline
9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2016 Contra Costa County pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, mostly black and blue fruit: blackberries, blueberries, plums, Montmorency cherry, purple flowers, black pepper, dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I’m very happy to have holed away some bottles from the first few years of Sandlands. Not only do I believe these older vintages are showing well, but I also believe his newer vintages will be even better. Drink now through 2031. — 4 months ago

Ely, Dave and 10 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Nice restraint tucking some of these away!