New Reviews from Ronn Wiegand
We are pleased to share the most recent reviews from Ronn Wiegand’s Restaurant Wine in his latest issue #181-183. Ronn Wiegand is an international wine professional with 40 years of experience as a sommelier, wine journalist, wine critic, wine educator, wine judge, and wine consultant. He is a Master of Wine (1991) and Master Sommelier (1986)—and was the first person in the world to hold both titles.
Wiegand began writing about wine in 1981 and has published hundreds of articles in such publications as Decanter and Wine Spectator. He was wine columnist for both the San Francisco Examiner and the trade publication Nation’s Restaurant News for 5 years. Since 1988, he has been Publisher and Editor of Restaurant Wine, a subscription-only journal read by sommeliers and restaurant wine directors throughout North America. www.restaurantwine.com
RESTAURANT WINE®’S EVALUATION SYSTEM QUALITY ratings are:
★★★★★ EXCEPTIONAL quality for its type and style; a superstar (5 stars) within its price category. Merits an extra special effort to purchase. Very highly recommended.
★★★★ EXCELLENT quality for its type, style, and price. Among (4 stars) the very best of its type for its price. Highly recommended.
★★★ VERY GOOD quality for its type, style, and price. Has (3 stars) distinctive character and positive attributes.
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2016 CHARDONNAY, ESCOLLE ROAD VINEYARD, SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS ★★★+ To Be Released March 2019
A complex, toasty Chardonnay that is full bodied, very supple in texture, and long, with a woody finish. In aroma/ flavor, it tastes of pear, butterscotch, vanilla, pineapple, and spicy oak. Needs modest aging. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. Partial ML. 100 cases. 14.8%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2017 SAUVIGNON BLANC, MONTEREY ★★★★
Very fine Sauvignon in a fairly delicate style. It is full bodied, crisp, long on the palate, moderately intense in flavor, and spicy and lingering on the finish. In aroma/flavor, it tastes of pear, white pepper, lemon, and tropical fruit, with a hint of lemon grass. 100% Sauvignon. Aged 6 months in stainless steel. 1,734 cases. 13.5%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2016 GRENACHE BLANC, SAN LUCAS VINEYARD, MONTEREY ★★★+
The 2016 is a very good wine: crisp, delicately flavored (grapefruit, white peach, pear, pineapple), and medium full bodied, with good balance and a medium long finish. 100% Grenache Blanc. Aged 6 months in stainless steel. Unwooded. 100 cases. 12.8%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2017 GRENACHE BLANC, SAN LUCAS VINEYARD, MONTEREY ★★★★+ To Be Released March 2019
The 2017 is delicious: full bodied, supple, and rich; a wine with subtle, delicate fruitiness (pear, lime, honeydew melon, dried fig), excellent balance, and a very long finish. Great value. 100% Grenache Blanc. 30% fermented on the skins. Aged 7 months in stainless steel. Unwooded. 132 cases. 12.8%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2017 ALBARIÑO, ARROYO SECO, MONTEREY ★★★+ Sold Out
A delicately flavored Albariño of very good quality. It is medium bodied, crisp, floral-and-fruity in flavor (lime, honeysuckle, lemon, white peach), balanced, and vibrant on the finish. 100% Albariño. Unwooded. 195 cases. 12.5%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2015 PINOT NOIR, DOCTOR’S VINEYARD, SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS ★★★★ To Be Released November 2019
The 2015 is in a ripe, complex style. It is very supple in texture, intensely flavored (cherry, plum, strawberry jam, spicy oak, black tea), and balanced, with a very long finish. Needs further aging. 3 day cold soak. Aged 18 months in oak barrels, 75% French and 25% other European. 150 cases. 14.5%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2016 TEMPRANILLO, SAN LUCAS VINEYARD, MONTEREY ★★★+ To Be Released September 2019
The Tempranillo is a very good version of the varietal: supple and complex, with fully body, light oakiness, good balance, and a long finish, tasting of plum, tobacco, rose petal, and oak. Can be aged further. Aged 18 months in 80% American and 20% Hungarian oak barrels. Unfiltered. 135 cases. 14.6%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2016 DOLCETTO, RIVERVIEW VINEYARD, MONTEREY ★★★★+ To Be Release May 2019
The Dolcetto is excellent: red-purple in color, distinctly flavored (plum, red licorice, blueberry jam, blackberry, herbs), well balanced, and medium long on the finish. Will benefit from modest aging. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. 100 cases. 14.5%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2015 TANNAT, HAMES VALLEY VINEYARD, MONTEREY ★★★★+
The Tannat is a very impressive wine: fleshy, rich, and oaky, it is full bodied and quite powerful on the palate, with excellent depth, firm structure, and a very long finish, tasting of blackberry, cherry, black tea, clove, and spicy oak. Aged 18 months in 51% French and 49% Hungarian oak barrels. Unfiltered. 147 cases. 14.5%
SCHEID VINEYARDS, 2015 PETITE SIRAH, HAMES VALLEY VINEYARD, MONTEREY ★★★★★
The Hames Valley Petite Sirah is exceptional: an ultra-ripe, full bodied, intensely flavored wine that is fleshy in texture, balanced, and very long and mildly tannic on the finish. 100% Petite Sirah. Aged 18 months in Hungarian oak barrels. Unfiltered. 100 cases. 14.9%