2002 Pezzi King Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Blend

 

Mission Codename: The Kings Blend

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Pezzi King for another of their great wines

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Pezzi King Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah blend

Winemaker: Gabriella Gazzano

Backgrounder: Our Operatives loved the last wine we featured from Pezzi King. Today, we send Agent Red back to procure another of their wines. Read his tasting notes and mission report below, and find why he selected today’s wine

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark ruby hues, exhibiting a tight and springy with clear-pink edges and thick, ropey legs that speed down the sides of the glass

Smell – Sweet and concentrated aromas of raspberry, blackberry, apricots, white pepper and mild oak

Feel – Light, soft, round and cool at first as the wine slides across your palate, then the wines soft tannins grip the tongue and dry the lips slightly

Taste – Layers of fruit, this wine starts off like a fruit-driven Cabernet Sauvignon with classic Cab flavors of black currant, cherry, and vanilla, but then the Syrah appears mid-pallate with dark fruit, vanilla, custard, powdered sugar and goji berry

Finish – Full-bodied and robust, the wines flavors linger on and on for a long time

Conclusion – Once again, our Operatives have the opportunity to score big with today’s wine. As a 2002, the wine has enough bottle age to make it a perfect right-now drinker, and I suspect that the wine will continue to improve with age. Personally, I don’t see how the bottles I got for myself will last through the month. This wine is that good.

Mission Report:

Maybe I should have dubbed today’s mission The Return of the King as this is the second Pezzi King wines we have featured in as many months.

The Wine Spies are big fans of Pezzi King’s great wine and we are fortunate to be granted access to their private wine archive – where we are able to sample wines and secure small quantities, exclusively for our Operatives.

Today’s wine is a unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. It is interesting to note that the wine embodies the best characteristics of both varietals; the Cab imbues the wine with sweet fruits and soft initial tannins, while the Syrah in the wine provides for a mid-palate boost of darker fruits, vanilla and unique berry flavors – and a more Syrah-like finish of slightly bigger tannins and a hint of oak.

As a 2002 vintage wine, this wine is ready to enjoy now. I don’t think it is peaking, and should be good for a few more years of cellaring. I’ll try to hold on to a few bottles for myself, but doubt I’ll have the willpower.

If you missed the Pezzi King we ran last month, please do not miss out on this one. Of course, if you are a fan of this wine, please leave some for those less fortunate!

The location of the Pezzi King vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.