The Bottle Meister bottling truck with the crew hard at work.

Into the Bottle

It’s May at Sculpterra Winery, and time to bottle the latest wines. We usually bring in the bottling truck four times each year. They do an incredible job, with their all-in-a-trailer machinery being able to fill, label, and cork at a rate of 80 bottles per minute. A crew of people is still required though, loading bottles, placing capsules, boxing bottles, and loading complete cases on to pallets. It’s frantic, noisy work, keeping up with the machines, and it can go on for a couple of full days. Still, after all the effort of producing the wine, it’s great to see it in the bottle, awaiting release.

A Preview of the Wines

I was lucky enough to be invited to try the wines ahead of the bottling, so of course, I accepted. Flavours and aromas will evolve in the bottle, so by the time these wines are released, there will be differences. I’m more than happy, however, to offer my opinions on them now. Besides, as an aspiring winemaker, it’s of great benefit to be familiar with how very young wines should taste.

Héroe Pinot Noir 2019– 598 cases produced. Due for release soon. Patience, friends.

Entirely estate-grown fruit. 83% 777 clone, 17% 115 clone.

Very fruit-forward, ripe aromas of cranberry, red cherry, and plum. A little floral, but not nearly as earthy as some Pinot Noir.

A little very fine tannin gives it some dryness, and yet it’s juicy and very drinkable. This is going to be a very popular wine.

Grenache 2019– 600 cases produced. Due for release early 2021.

4 different yeast strains in separate batches, adding complexity. 5% Petite Sirah for body and colour.

Estate fruit plus San Miguel Vineyards.

Ripe, sweet, and fruit-forward on the nose. Lots of cherry, blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry, with vanilla and cinnamon. Very slight herbaceous notes. 

Dry with a fine tannic structure on the palate. The youthful, lively acidity really helps those sweet fruit flavours pop. Flavoursome stuff!

Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018– 1,080 cases produced. Due for release late 2021.

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, all estate grown.

On the nose, I got blackberry bush, cherry, cedar, vanilla, and coffee.

Super-young, and yet to go through final filtering. I found the palate had some interesting cedary, floral notes. Can’t wait to try this in a couple of years.

Very refined tannin for such a young wine, with balanced acidity.

Maquette 2018– 750 cases produced. Due for release late 2021.

39% Cab Sauv, 27% Cab Franc, 26% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, all estate grown.

Ripe, plummy aromas dominate, along with cherry, blackberry, and cedar.

Full-bodied and fruity on the palate.

Despite being a young wine, the tannin was very smooth and the lively acidity wasn’t too much. Very drinkable indeed.

Bentley Ironworks Cabernet Sauvignon 2018– 240 cases produced. Due for release late 2021.

90% Cabernet Sauvignon from the oldest vines on the estate with 10% Petite Sirah.

100% new oak barrels used (46% New French, 54% New American). 22 months in barrels.

Beautiful ruby-purple colour. Great depth and vibrancy.

Complex, intense nose. Cherry, blackberry, baking spice, cedar, chocolate, violets.

Dark chocolate cherry truffle taste.

Full-bodied and dry with ripe flavours and a lingering finish. Delicious now, this wine should be sublime in a few years. This is one to hang on to.

Primitivo Dessert Wine– 392 cases produced. 14th bottling.

100% Primitivo fruit, 47% from the 2019 vintage, combined with every year back to 2013.

Fortified using a high-proof spirit supplied by Loch and Union Distillery in Napa.

Turkish Delight (a rosewater candy) and coffee on the nose at first, quickly evolving.

Aromas of raisin, fig, fine sherry, and baking spice came through in time. Reminded me of a rich English Christmas fruit cake (which is actually a good thing in England). 

On the palate, it’s complex. Flavours of cherry, raisin, and blueberry. A honey-like sweetness lingers.

Pair with the finest dark chocolate you can lay your hands on for an indulgent treat.

I would recommend Hotel Chocolat chocolates. They’re an English company with a few outlets in the US. They make the silkiest dark chocolate I’ve ever found. I would, however, be open to alternate suggestions.

Conclusions

What a fantastic opportunity to taste some new wines at this stage in their journey.

For me, the stand-out samples were the Bentley Cab and the Grenache. The Grenache, especially, not only had delicious fruity flavours but could be enjoyed right now.

The Bentley Ironworks Cabernet Sauvignon tasted great but is just going to get better and better as it sits, patiently waiting its turn. With fruit of that quality aged in 100% new oak, this is one to stock up on when it’s released and keep for a later date.

While you’re waiting for these wines to be released, do check out the current vintages at Sculpterra.com.

Disclaimer- 

While I am an employee of Sculpterra Winery, any opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Darren.

Peltier Glassworks does a fantastic job of screen-printing the labels.