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What We Say 2009 DAX Ryder Red
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT:
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Mission Codename: Diogenes Alejandro Xenos
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Revisit Teri Love, owner and winemistress extraordinaire at Gioia Winery, procure her unique Paso Red Blend, the delicious 2009 DAX, a perfect blend of Sangiovese an Petit Sirah
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Gioia Winery
Wine Subject: 2009 DAX Ryder Red – Paso Robles
Winemaker: Teri Love
Regional Backgrounder:
Paso Robles, in California’s Southern Central Coast region (San Luis Obisbo County) is one of California’s oldest and fastest-evolving wine growing regions. The first vines were planted in the late 1700s by the Spanish missionaries. Paso’s unique climate, perhaps influences its vine more than any other area in California. The hot, dry weather that is only minimally effected by coastal fog and wine results in grapes that are more concentrated in flavor and intensity. This climate makes Paso uniquely suited to grow the big red varietals. Today’s delicious wine is a perfect blend of 86% Sangiovese and 14% Petit Sirah, making it an intriguing, delightful wine that earns our strong recommendation.
Varietal Backgrounder:
The most widely planted grape in all of Italy, Sangiovese, is used in everything from blended inexpensive table wines like Chianti, to the finest Super Tuscans. Italian immigrants introduced this varietal to the U.S. in the 1800’s. First plantings of this grape in the Atlas Peak region of the Napa Valley were legendary and today, some of the most exciting California Sangiovese are found there.
In California, Petite Sirah dates back to a time when it was believed to be a close relative of the Syrah grape. Later, it would be found to be genetically identical to the Durif, named for its after French discoverer, François Durif, who found that the varietal was a Syrah grape pollinated with Peloursin flowers. Petit Sirah’s smaller berries have a higher skin to pulp ratio, which leads to more intense flavors.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Deepest ruby with perfectly consistent coloration, from core to the very edge of the glass. After swirling, tall, skinny, wine-stained tears move quickly down the glass.
Smell – Bold, fresh cherry, warm wild strawberry, wild blueberry and soft leather all rush up to greet the nose. Just behind these, black pepper, brown spice, dried red rose petals, soft smoked meats and faint cigar box follow on.
Feel – Ultra soft, on entry. Then, the wine takes on a sexy, plush feel as a slowly spreading dryness spreads from the edges of the palate, inward. Then, uniquely, the dryness spreads back outward, eventually drying the lips and cheeks.
Taste – Ripe, complex and delicious, with bold black cherry, blackberry, tart dried cranberry and soft brown spice out in front. As the wine opens up, it also reveals dried leather, smoked meats, cedar, dried rose petals and black pepper.
Finish – Very long and packed with red and black fruit flavors that gradually give way to dried flowers, cedar and spice. At the very end, an intriguing warmth can be felt along the gumline.
Conclusion – A very impressive wine from one of our very favorite small producers, today’s 2009 Gioia DAX – Red Ryder red blend earns our heartiest recommendation! Aromatics are bold and rich, which lead one member of our tasting panel to declare, “Sniffing this wine is like eating a rich meal!” Flavors are perfectly balanced between rich & savory, and sweetly fruit-driven. The finish is long and intriguing, taking the drinker’s palate through something of a journey along the way. Kudos to Teri Love for crafting another remarkable, delicious, intriguing red blend. Don’t miss out on this one, dear Operative!
Mission Report:
WINERY INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Teri Love, Proprietress
WINE EDUCATION: Real-life experience – tasting wines all over the world; Apprenticing under Jim Porter of KLJ Cellars.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: The fruit speaks for itself.
WINEMAKER QUOTE: “In wine there is truth”, Latin proverb
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: September 2009
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Teri. We are thrilled to be showing your 2009 DAX today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
TERI: Always a pleasure to show off our wines to your savvy Operatives, Agent Red!
RED: Tell me, was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
TERI: Wine makes the most wonderful occasion even better.
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
TERI: Jim Porter – his palate and talent are enviable.
RED: Who do you make wine for?
TERI: Myself – if I am loving the taste chances are good that others will as well
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
TERI: DAX’s nose is of faded roses, a touch of cedar & rich berries. The color is a bright garnet. Fresh fruity flavors of strawberry, raspberry, black pepper, nutmeg, clove & boysenberry jam – All contributing to the soft round mouth feel with a lingering flavor of vanilla. We have blended the Sangiovese with Petit Sirah. It has added more complexity and quality to the flavor of the wine. The small berries of the Petit Sirah with their high skin-to-juice ratio, blackberry fruity character mixed with black pepper notes, add deep color and body to the Sangiovese.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
TERI: It is impossible to pick just one favorite pairing because DAX pairs beautifully with all types of dishes and personal tastes. Roasted meats, chicken, mesquite grilled steak, fish, lamb, pork, stews, tomato based pasta, pizza, well-aged cheese, veggies grilled or roasted with extra virgin olive oil, herbs, & garlic. Herb seasonings such as basil, thyme & sage play off the herbal notes in DAX in a delicious dance on the palate.
RED: In your opinion, what makes Paso Robles region so special?
TERI: The Sangiovese grape thrives in the Central Coast Region of California. A dryer climate along with the acidity naturally occurring in the grape, less watering = more concentration & intensity in the finished wine.
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
TERI: We are getting ready for our next wine to be bottled while sourcing other interesting varieties to merge together in new and exciting blends as well as continuing on our tradition of producing premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
TERI: With an open mind and an empty glass
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
TERI: Enjoy and share the Gioia!
RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!
What the Winery Says
Gioia Wines
About This Wine:
The fruit for this luscious Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Jaeger Vineyards in the Oak Knoll District of the Napa Valley.
40 years of growing quality grapes beyond expectation have made this wine exude deep, rich cherry & cassis flavors with a slight hint of green bell pepper & warm spice.
Pair with flavorful & hearty pastas, grilled, roasted or stewed meats. Italian food is a superb choice. Strong flavored cheeses such as Blue cheese, aged Gouda & Cheddar – my favorite – chunky Parmesan….. All chocolate – especially rich dark chocolate knocks the yummy factor into another dimension.
About The Winery:
GIOIA Italian for JOY
The inspiration for GIOIA was born from the joy my son Tyler brings to my life.
He studied abroad for a year in Florence, Italy, cherishing every second of his time there. Making the most of learning the language, traveling extensively…getting into the spirit of Italy.
GIOIA is in honor and memory of his strength, his loyalty, how fiercely he loved life, his family, his friends, animals and his ability to embrace each day with open arms.
Ty showed me by example, to enjoy a great glass of wine while appreciating a gorgeous view in a tropical locale, snow covered mountains, pounding surf, or just chillin at home.
Every moment was an occasion to be celebrated, whether traveling, racing down a ski slope, hiking with our dogs, scoring a perfect ace in tennis, smacking a golf ball, dunking a basketball, riding his bicycle for hours, working out at the gym, dining at his favorite Italian restaurants, shopping for the coolest clothes and Italian shoes, hanging with his friends, enjoying and appreciating his girlfriend….all the while, laughing at himself, never taking life too seriously.
To say he was a joy to be around is a supreme understatement.
Tyler was taken from this world, along with one of his closest childhood friends (Keith Naylor) at the age of 22 on November 12th, 2005.
He was doing another of his favorite pastimes, driving his Ducati. Keith was on the back of the bike that night. They were going to visit friends.
A motorist pulled out from a parked position on the side of the road, in front of them, with no warning. He made an illegal U-Turn across two sets of double yellow lines on the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, California. This act ended the lives of these beautiful, dynamic, vital, amazing young men.
My reason for sharing this tragedy, is to reach out to others. I implore everyone to welcome joy into your lives. Take nothing for granted.
Please honor and appreciate all of your relationships. Open your hearts and arms to all of your loved ones. Enjoy what life has to offer.
Share the GIOIA
LUMU (Tyler’s signature sign off) “Love U Miss U”
Tyler’s Mama – Teri Love
TERI LOVE, ON WINEMAKER, JIM PORTER:
Jim Porter is a masterful wine maker from Santa Maria, California. He began making wine at a very young age just because he loved it. Jim put everything he had into use – kitchen utensils, strainers & trashcans while he was concocting his potions in his barn.
Spurred by his successes in home wine competitions and all of his family and friends enjoying his wine so much – Jim’s dreams of becoming a wine maker were taking shape.
During his college years at California State At Fresno, he majored in Crop Science. His connections with various vineyards made through his agricultural irrigation business and everything he learned at Cal. State – Jim entered the commercial wine making scene in Santa Barbara County in 2003 and immediately began producing award-winning wines.
Jim knew where to go in his search along California’s Central Coast – all the way from Monterey to Santa Barbara, learning the unique characteristics of soil and microclimate at each of the region’s numerous vineyards, determining where to find grapes of the highest quality.
Jim believed that starting with the best from the soil up – he could utilize what he required to create delicious and unique wines.
Jim’s vision is to make wines that sit comfortably somewhere between being fruit forward – stand alone wines, as well as food friendly wines for the ultimate pairing of taste and flavor for a delectable dining experience.
I met Jim in 2007 after moving to the Santa Ynez Valley. To say I went to a lot of wineries and tasted tons of wines is an understatement. Once I was introduced to Jim at a dinner at my own home, and tasted his wines – I knew I had found the wine maker to make my own dreams come true.
We have very similar palates and have the same passion in making the most deliciously satisfying wines possible.
The first 2 wines we “made” together were the 2007 SBC Chardonnay and the 2007 SBC Pinot Noir.
Jim – being a very patient and understanding man – allowed me to blend the barrels together for our 2007 Pinot Noir….it felt like a party with a purpose – so much fun!
Bottling day was an exciting and nerve-racking experience for me – I was smiling like a crazy person all over the place!
That feeling has stayed with me for each and every bottling we do.
Gioia would not be Gioia without Jim Porter.
Technical Analysis:
Alcohol: 14.5%
