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Mission Codename: The Manzoni Code II

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Unlock more secrets of the Manzoni Family

Mission Status: In Process (details below)

Wine Subject: 2005 Santa Lucia Highlands Manzoni Estate Reserve Pinot Noir

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Juicy ruby red, with pink sparkling highlights at the edges

Smell – Big cherry, with caramel, oak, vanilla and subtle gunpowder with none of the barnyard we have tasted in recent Pinot Noirs from this region. A refreshing change!

Feel – Soft in the mouth with nice round tannins that please the entire mouth

Taste – Big boom of cherry, followed by restrained lavender, lightly toasted caramel, vanilla and easygoing oak
Finish – Long-lasting, all over mouth flavors and tannins that taper off beautifully… but then beg you to sip more

Conclusion – This is a superb Pinot Noir that breaks the mold and dares to be juicier and less rigid than most other Pinots I have tried recently. The combination of grapes grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands, tended by Master Grower Mark Manzoni and wine made by Master Winemaker Steve Pessagno is a certain winner in this spy’s opinion!

Wine Spies Mission Summary:

This is a follow-up to a previous mission in which I reported on Manzoni’s stupendous Syrah

For generations, the Manzoni Family have farmed the fertile land of Monterey County. The presence of the family in Monterey County began in 1921, when Joseph Manzoni and his wife Carolina left their home in Switzerland to seek a new life in America. Joseph brought with him old-world secrets of wine and grappa making. It is surmised that these secrets were passed to his son, Louie Manzoni, who founded Manzoni Estate Vineyard, and later to Joseph’s grandsons, Mark and Michael Manzoni.

I recently learned that a plot was under way to steal the family’s winemaking secrets and I rushed to investigate. So enamored with Manzoni wines am I that had to take action to protect the family.

A rival winemaker identity censored boasted to a Wine Spies asset that the family’s secrets were encoded within the family crest which is emblazoned on every bottle of Manzoni wine.

I decided that in order to protect the secrets, I must first decode the crest. While I pride myself on my ability to crack codes, this one proved extremely difficult. This time around I uncovered a very different message. In fact, as you read this report work is still underway to uncover additional information. Stay tuned to future reports when I will provide additional intelligence. For now, I have only been able to decode the following, which I can only conclude is either a delicious recipe or devious misinformation, meant to throw potential interlopers off the trail. You decide for yourself:

* Pinot Noir poached figs & berries*

Serves 6

Gather:
18 figs
1lb of raspberries
5-6oz of castor (fine) sugar
1 bottle Manzoni Estates Reserve Pinot Noir

Create:

Put aside 18 raspberries for garnish and puree the remainder in food processor or blender, straining out the seeds.

Place the puree in a saucepan with the sugar.

Bring to the boil gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves; add the wine.

Poach the figs in this mixture over low heat, uncovered for 4 minutes, turning once.

Remove figs with a slotted spoon and place in a shallow bowl.

Reduce the sauce gently and cool.

Serve the figs cold with sauce spooned over.

Decorate with a few freshly picked mint leaves and scattered raspberries.

Mission Conclusion:
As with this incredible Pinot Noir detailed above, the figs proved to be quite delicious. I suspect that this is a clever distraction, designed to throw me off the trail.

I will continue to attempt to decode the crest. Look for subsequent reporting in briefings on additional Manzoni wines.

The region where this wine came from can be seen in this satellite photo.

Wine Spies Technical Wine Analysis:

Harvest Date: September 27, 2005

Brix: 26.5

pH: 3.47 Alcohol: 14.7%

TA: 6.5 gram/liter

Production: 88 cases

Bottled: Oct. 1, 2006

Winemaker: Stephen Pessagno