The Wines of a great Dane…
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ChrisO goes it alone in this latest podcast and introduces one of his favorite small wineries in north Sonoma County, Leo Steen Wines. These fantastically crafted wines (Chenin Blanc and Syrah) are the work of Danish winemaker Leo Hansen, who also happens to be the winemaker for Stuhlmuller Vineyards.
Leo has a very fascinating background that ranges from Haute cuisine Sommelier, world traveler, and ultimately passionate winemaker (more background info here). All this experience has culminated in Leo’s ability to craft very expressive wines that show both elegance and power, and this is most certainly true of his 2006 Syrah from the Russia River Valley in Sonoma. The total production of the 2006 vintage Syrah is 150 cases and has an incredible QPR (price to quality ratio) at $36.
Listen here for my review:
Here is what Leo says about the vineyards:
Windsor Oaks Vineyards, block 40, Russian River Valley. This block also called the “summit block” was planted in 1997 with Estrella River clone on a South-facing slope at 900 feet elevation. The iron rich well drained basalt and obsidian rock soil has pockets of chalk hill volcanic white ash. In this rocky volcanic soil the vines are driven deep in search for water and mineral nutrients making this a low vigor site with a great balance between fruit and foliage.
And the Vinification:
Traditionally fermented with “Pigeage” using the native yeast in an open top fermenter. An extended maturation for 10 days was completed before pressing to create a creamy mouth feel. The wine was aged in neutral French oak to showcase the indigenous site and a small percentage of new French oak for tannin integration. Wine was racked once during the16 months of cellaringand bottled without fining or filtration on February 27, 2008.
Global #PortDay 2012
This day is an opportunity for not only producers, but wine educators, geeks, blogs, mainstream media, and the general public to put down their Cabernet and Chardonnay and join in a global celebration and education centered around Port.