2008 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Aglianico
Mission Codename: First Growth
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to Jacuzzi Family Vineyards, and secure a limited allocation of their unique and delicious Aglianico, a wine that is a favorite among Jacuzzi winery visitors and wine club members
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Jacuzzi Family Vineyards
Wine Subject: 2008 Aglianico – Paso Robles
Winemaker: Charlie Tsegeletos
Backgrounder:
Aglianico (pronounced, roughly “ah-LYAH-nee-koe”) is a black grape grown in the Basilicata and Campania regions of southern Italy. The vine originated in Greece and was brought to the south of Italy by Greek settlers. The name may be a corruption of Vitis hellenica, Latin for “Greek vine”. In early Roman times, it was the principal grape of the famous Falernian wine – which was the Roman equivalent of a First Growth wine today.
Here in California, a very number of producers grow this grape. Our friends at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards have crafted a uniquely delicious Aglianico that is well worthy of your attention.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Gorgeous dark garnet hues with perfectly concentrated color, from core to edge. After a hearty swirl, the wine settles quickly, leaving behind chubby, slow-forming, slow-moving legs that meander down the wall of the glass.
Smell – Bold and bright, with dark cherry and Bing cherry, plum and black licorice. These sit atop cocoa dust, soft baking spice, hard strawberry candy and a hint of dry dark earth.
Feel – Light and cool on the attack, bright and fine. At the mid palate, firm tannins frame the flavors and coat the mouth, giving the wine a very well-structured feel.
Taste – Wild black plum, blackberry and chocolate dust lead thee charge. Then, Bing cherry, red plum, dark strawberry, cranberry, dark spice, black pepper and a fine minerality appear.
Finish – Long and flavor-filled, with dark fruit yielding to dark fruit and minerals, all supported and sustained by spice and black pepper.
Conclusion – The 2008 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Aglianico is a delicious southern Italian-style wine that delivers a great deal of excitement – and originality. Italian varietals are known to be picked before the usual California standard for ripeness, making them brighter and less fruit forward. Usually. This Cali-born Aglianico is darker than most Italian varietals we have shown in recent times, delivering a dark fruit that is balanced by a bright acidity and solid tannin structure. This wine is bold and very flavorful, but not overbearing. Pair with a spicy pizza, or spaghetti with a spicy Italian marinara.
Mission Report:
WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER
SUBJECT: Charlie Tsegeletos
WINE EDUCATION: 30 years of working with winemakers and growers that know what they are doing and what it takes to make good wine. BS Ag Sci and Management and Plant Science from UCD.
CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Apprentice Winemaker with tiny Pendleton Winery in San Jose; Assistant Winemaker with family owned Hacienda Winery in Sonoma; Winemaker for historic D’Agostini Winery in Amador County; Senior Director of Winemaking for ground breaking Glen Ellen Winery in Glen Ellen; Winemaker for fun-loving Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Balance is everything. Make big flavorful red wines that have sharp edges and make crisp, fresh white wines that tantalize.
WINEMAKER QUOTE: ”Put ten of your favorite wines in a brown paper bags and taste them blind with your friends. I think you’ll like our wines.”
FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 1981 Pendleton Monterey Chardonnay released in early ’82.
WINEMAKER INTERVIEW
AGENT RED: Greetings, Charlie. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 Jacuzzi Family Vineyards Aglianico today. This is a unique wine, and we thank you for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.
CHARLIE: Thanks for having me, again!
RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?
CHARLIE: A bottle of 1974 Charles Krug Reserve Cab spun my head around and I wanted to have a go at making something like that.
RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?
CHARLIE: I’ve had a chance to work with a lot of winemakers over the years and each has his “special” winemaking secrets and some of them even work. Joel Aiken who had been the Beaulieu Vineyards winemaker for years once asked me what my wine stood for and that really made me think that each wine I make should stand for something – in other words it should have it’s own signature and not just taste like something else in the lineup.
RED: Who do you make wine for?
CHARLIE: I make it according to my sense of balance and that seems to work out okay for the consumers, sales folks and reviewers. I do listen to what folks say about the wine and then try and refine the wine each vintage.
RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.
CHARLIE: You are showcasing our 2008 Jacuzzi Aglianico. It is 100% Aglianico and the grapes were grown in San Luis Obispo County. We produced under 700 cases of this wine and it is our first year of production.
RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?
CHARLIE: This is a wine of great structure (medium plus tannin) and lovely fig and cherry flavors. It pairs beautifully with flavorful meat dishes or a big flavorful Greek dish and you’ll know why in a minute.
RED: In your opinion, what makes the Paso Robles appellation so special?
CHARLIE: The vineyard is about 25 miles east of the town of San Luis Obispo. It gets warm during the day and but it is cooled by breezes from the Pacific Ocean in the late afternoon so you get great ripening and good acid. Really – that is the best of both worlds.
On a historical note it is thought that this grape came to Southern Italy from Greece by way of the Phoenicians. The name is derived from “Ellenico” which is an Italian adjective meaning “Greek”. It may have come to Italy in the 7th Century BC so you get a time machine with every bottle.
RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?
CHARLIE: We have had a lot of visitors lately– from local to international so I have been a tour guide.
RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?
CHARLIE: Pour it, ponder it and drink it. You’ll know if you like it and if my sense of balance works for you too.
RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
CHARLIE: Don’t take it too seriously – remember it started out as a grape.
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!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
