Fetzer Vineyards Latest Vintage

After a damp, cool spring that led to some mold and mildew, the vineyards of California have now been hit with a terrible heat wave. The weather for most of the growing season was cool, so growers thinned the leaves of the vines to allow for more sunlight. A heat wave is now frying the grapes on those open vines. There is no way of foretelling the final results on the 2010 vintage. May we suggest that you stock up on the current vintages, which are now available. One brand to look at is the very affordable wines from Fetzer Vineyards.

Fetzer Vineyards has again reconfirmed the quality of their wines with their latest releases which are now populating dealer’s shelves. There will be no long winded introduction; we will get right to the wines which we believe will speak their own praises at the first sip.

Fetzer 2009 Gewurztraminer ($8.99). To start with, let us tell you that the Fetzer 2009 Gewurztraminer is a sweet wine, but it is not a sugary sweet wine. The Fetzer Gewurztraminer is a wine that brings out all of the potential and possibilities of the grape and presents them in a dignified and enjoyable fashion. The aroma showcases dried apricots, peaches, rose petals and honey as its main elements. On the palate, there are the flavors of green apple, apricot and mango. To augment and enhance these flavors, there is a crisp acidity and the sensation of spice. Please, do not write this wine off as mere fluff. It is a serious and delicious wine that can accompany a broad spectrum of food and is almost guaranteed to please everybody.

Fetzer 2009 Riesling ($8.99). This wine is presented in the popular German sweet style, but at a considerably lower price than their German counterpart. In the past, this wine has been a consistent winner of countless medals at fairs and shows, and their latest offering is also outstanding. The aroma accents peaches and apricots with a delightful raisin background. This wine, which tastes sweeter than it really is, has a pear and honey flavor and a positive acid content, which is typical of the variety. This is the perfect sipping wine or as an accompaniment to salads and lightly seasoned foods.

Fetzer 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($8.99). The Fetzer 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon displays all of the traditional flavors and aromas that made this variety so popular throughout the world, but also has an added bit of sweetness to further entice American taste buds. The aroma is big and open, offering the sensations of black cherry, cassis, cola and vanilla with a suggestion of tobacco in the background. Cranberry and black cherry dominate the flavor and are backed up by dignified amounts of mocha spice and oak. This is an excellent wine that displays everything that one would want from a cabernet sauvignon without being totally dry.

Fetzer 2008 Merlot ($8.99). Here is a merlot that has it all; aroma, flavor and aftertaste. The best way to describe this wine is to call it jammy. The aroma mirrors cherry jam, blueberries, and mint with cedar and vanilla bringing up the rear. The flavor stresses the same elements that are in the aroma; cherries and blueberries but with hints of chocolate and cola in the background. These flavors are also found in the aftertaste, which is long and delicate. This wine is a delight Try it, we do believe that you will love it as we do.

Fetzer 2009 Chardonnay ($8.99). The Fetzer 2009 Chardonnay expresses the new California chardonnay style perfectly. There is not one flavor to pick from but a host of constantly changing flavors that seem to be endless. Pineapple melds with golden apple and nectarine all lying on a bed of light sweet oak. The wine ends in a friendly and memorable finish which last in the mouth long after the wine has been swallowed. This is the type of white wine we Americans love.