2021 Taddei Wines, Tu Es Belle Vineyards Cabernet Franc
The Winery and Background
Photos ©Michael Kelly
Sometimes in a chance meeting, you find exactly what you have been looking for! So it happened to me, as I was to meet another winemaker, I ended up spending some time with Chris Taddei, winemaker and owner of Taddei Wines. This chance encounter with Chris turned out to be a “gold mine” of information and a producer of some excellent quality wines. He has been producing small and boutique lots of wines for over twenty years.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
He is located at the southern portion of Windsor at 7730 Bell Road where he has his tasting room as well as crush pad and barrel storage. He also does custom crushing for many clients. The crush pad, barrel storage and tasting room are located in an industrial building. No over the top elegance in the facility but only in his wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
After graduating from University of Hawaii in Economics and Political Science Chris moved to Seattle for a high tech company. He started making wines in his garage, and started making wines professionally in 2003. After he moved to Sonoma County, he was mentored by Carmine Indindoli and was passionate about understanding wine making, especially wine chemistry. His love affair with wine started when he graduated from college and bought a bottle of La Tache at dinner. That wine was his ah-ha moment and as he stated “he had no idea a bottle of wine could be so profound”. When I asked him what attracted him to Pinot Noir he responded “Pinot is moody and seductive, it’s not like other varietals”. He finished off the conversation with a profound sentence stating “Wine is the greatest communication tool ever made. I feel lucky to be able to make something that can be shared in such a positive way”. For only making 1,000 cases a year, he has focused on small lots, many being only one or two barrels.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Winemakers are artists but with wine stains on hands as opposed to paint. Chris has a keen affinity and respect for artists and one of his proudest paintings in the tasting room is one of the ten most popular artists in the world. How many can you identify?
The Wine, 2021 Taddei Wines, Tu Es Belle Vineyards — “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First time tasting this wine. It was extremely dark with a heavy viscosity on the eyes. On the nose, aromas of soft bouquet of black and red fruits wafted into the senses along with violets. On the palate, black cherry and blackberry flavors. Followed by minerality (crushed rock) and “pencil lead” (graphite) with a finish of medium acidity and soft velvety tannins. No strong pyrazines were present (bell pepper a typical trait). While so dark, it was still a bit young. Based on tasting previous vintages, this would be one to purchase and hold for a couple of years. It goes for $80/bottle and comes in at 15.5% alcohol.
The Food and Wine Pairing “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a marinated Flat Iron Steak at Verona18 Restaurant at the Copper Valley GC. Accompanied by rosemary fingerling potatoes, and maple glaze green beans. Requested the sauce on the side. The meat was served medium rare and was extremely tender with sauce on the side and the potatoes heavenly. The steak and the Cabernet Franc were a good food & wine pairing.
Sláinte,
Michael
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