Many instances on this area, I’ve alluded to the truth that I’m a moderately lucky particular person: I’ve a loving spouse, two wholesome children, an obedient canine, and nonetheless have most of my colleges (most?).
It doesn’t cease there (though that’s already lots). Over the course of scripting this weblog, I’ve been very lucky to go to some fascinating elements of the world, drink some superb wines, and, most significantly, grow to be buddies with some unbelievable individuals.
A lot of the interactions I’ve with these persons are on their residence turf, which is okay with me; getting out of Houston is normally a optimistic, significantly in the summertime. Occasionally, nevertheless, a few of these buddies pay me a go to right here within the Bayou Metropolis.
Such was the case final week when Larry Schaffer, the proprietor and winemaker at tercero wines in Los Olivos, CA got here to Texas. [On an aside, if you are a wine-lover and have never been to Los Olivos on the Central Coast, you should add it to your bucket list.] I first met Larry a dozen years in the past, when, as a nascent blogger, I attended my first Wine Bloggers Convention.
We had a whole lot of enjoyable at that convention and maintained contact on and off for the subsequent dozen years. When he contacted me just a few weeks in the past that he was coming to Houston and had some free time, we shortly determined {that a} wine tasting/dinner was so as. Thus, this previous Friday, I invited just a few different wine writers over, cooked up a little bit fajita bar, and tasted by means of ten of Larry’s wines.
Larry on the fajita “bar”.
Larry focuses primarily on Rhône varieties and his wines are simply a few of the most fascinating wines you should buy. Starting from his racy whites to his sturdy and reflective reds, tercero produces low-production however high-caliber wines at greater than cheap costs.
I can’t converse for Mr. Shaffer, however I’ve a sense this is not going to be the final such get-together.
2023 Tercero Picpoul Blanc, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $35. Very Accountable Bottle (478g, 16.8oz). Below screw cap. Considerably muted on the nostril with some delicate apple and a touch of citrus. On the palate it’s fairly tart and fruity. Whoa. This is likely to be the most effective Picpoul exterior of France I’ve tried. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2022 Tercero Chenin Blanc Jurassic Winery, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $35. Very Accountable Bottle (475g; 16.7oz). On the nostril? Pleasant. Wealthy and layered with beeswax and even cinnamon on the nostril. Pretty. Oak noticeable on the palate with loads of acidity and a zingy tartness. Yowza. That is in contrast to most home Chenin and I prefer it. Glorious. 91 Factors.
2017 Tercero Verbiage (Blanc), Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $40. Accountable Bottle (571g; 20oz). Below screw cap. 50% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne. A little bit of beeswax and a touch of petrol on the nostril, fairly pretty and intriguing. Whoa. The palate is weighty and layered with peach and inexperienced apple. However it’s greater than that with a zingy acidity and an incredible end. Yowza. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2021 Tercero The Outlier, Carrari Winery, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $35. Very Accountable Bottle (468g; 16.5oz). Below screw cap. 100% Gewürztraminer. Floral and expressive. Known as “The Outlier” as a result of “Gewürztraminer” is simply too arduous for People to pronounce. Basically utterly dry at 0.5% grams of sugar per liter. Chrome steel fermented and aged. Great. I’m not an enormous fan of Gewurz however that is pleasant, wealthy, and weighty but in addition pretty mild on its toes. There isn’t a doubt that that is Gewurz, however it isn’t in any respect overdone like most home variations of the range. Glorious. 92 Factors.
2023 Tercero Counoise, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $35. Very Accountable Bottle (483g; 17oz). Below screw cap. 100% Counoise (pronounced coon-WAHZ). Foot stomped by the winemaker/proprietor, Larry Schaffer. Pretty mild in shade however full in aromas and flavors. Brilliant pink fruit, a superb acidity, very easy to drink, and fairly improbable. I’ve had just a few Counoises and that is significantly satisfying. Excellent. 94 Factors.
2020 Tercero Grenache Spear Winery, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $35. Very Accountable Bottle (481g; 16.9oz). Below screw cap. A cool local weather Grenache from the Sta Rita Hills appellation on the Central Coast. Surprisingly, extra black fruit than pink however with a beautiful brightness, appreciable carry, and a touch of black pepper. Tart and on level, that is fairly pretty with oodles of fruit on the palate and a super-zingy acidity. Glorious. 92 Factors.
2021 Tercero Pinot Noir, Kessler-Haak Winery, Sta Rita Hills, CA: Retail $50. Very Accountable Bottle (473g; 16.7oz). Below screw cap. Larry Schaffer simply began making Pinot in 2020, rendering this his second classic. Properly, if this wine is any indication, he appears to have gotten it down moderately shortly. Earthy but fruity with shiny pink fruit and a touch of florality. A bit stemmy on the sides, however beautiful. Wealthy, shiny, fruity, and tart on the palate, that is each fairly tasty and sophisticated. A beautiful iteration of the range. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2021 Tercero Cabernet Franc, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $40. Very Accountable Bottle (485g; 17.1oz). Below screw cap. Pretty nostril with simply the correct quantity of pyrazine compounds however right here it’s extra of a mint or basil than inexperienced pepper. Pretty. Wealthy and fascinating on the palate however with a zippy acidity. There must be extra Cab Franc like this in my life. Implausible. Glorious. 92 Factors.
2015 Tercero Syrah, White Hawk Winery, Santa Barbara County, CA: Retail $60. Accountable Bottle (570g; 20.1oz). Below screw cap. Foot-stomped by Larry. 40 months in barrel. Present launch; take a second to let that soak in: this can be a nine-year-old wine! Darkish. Even actually darkish with blackberry fruit and tons of acidity. Wealthy and a bit rustic with oodles of character. Tremendous. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2016 Tercero Roussanne, Zaca Mesa Winery, Santa Ynez Valley, CA: Retail $40. Accountable Bottle (567g; 19.9oz). Below screw cap. Being a white, this was a curious selection for the final wine of the evening. Larry stated he additionally wished it barely chilled, near room temperature. I used to be curious as to why, however as soon as I tasted it, it was clear, this wine is extra paying homage to a fortified wine; assume sherry, however with out the sweetness. Some citrus and tree fruit are evident on the nostril, however they’re escorted out of the best way by the beeswax and honey blossom. The palate is pleasant, with these aforementioned flavors but in addition a gripping acidity that begs for extra. “Particular” is over-used, however this wine? Yeah, it applies. Excellent. 95 Factors.
Larry and the incomparable Sandra Crittendon, with some clown photo-bombing.
