Drinking Exploring the wine world and more with Tyler Worth

Post #170: Temecula Tuesday #39: Discovering Doffo Winery 20 09 2011

http://whatsworthdrinking.com/?s=doffo

For those who have not visited the site since I posted my last update or may not have seen my posts on twitter and facebook, lately I’ve been busy. Following the release of my last article, I spent ten days on the Central Coast, where I tasted something like 400 wines at around 60 wineries. Then just last Friday, after months of studying, I passed my Certified Sommelier exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Preparing for that exam required my full attention which was why when I got back from my trip I did not post anything new until today. I apologize for disappearing for so long, but now that I’m back and I’ve got my Certified exam out of the way, things should be back to normal.

 Many of the upcoming articles I’ve got planned will feature my discoveries from the Central Coast, but not all. Today is one of those exceptions. A few days before I left for my trip, my friends at Doffo winery in Temecula asked me to come try their new vintages. I have always been impressed by Doffo’s wines, and I’d say they are one of the Valley’s best, most quality minded producers. For that reason I’ve talked about their Syrah, Malbec, Zinfandel, and Port style dessert wine before. If you missed those, check them out by clicking the links, they’re really worth investigating. Today we’re talking about four more of their wines, specifically chosen to show the diversity of their line, one white, one red blend, one varietal red reserve, and concluding with a white, late harvest dessert wine.

Wine #1: Doffo 2010 Temecula Valley Viognier	Doffo’s Viognier is an intoxicating plethora of tropical fruits on the nose. Ripe tones of banana, sweet mango, and freshly sliced apple and pear create an incredibly inviting aroma, accented by white, tropical flowers and a very faint mineral streak. Smooth and delicately creamy on the palate, this wine is also faintly spicy with a flinty minerality that adds to its depth. Driven by citrusy and tropical fruit tones, it’s refreshingly crisp while remaining ripe and balanced. Worth Buying. 88 points.
the Nose this wine is smoky, dark, and spicy. Rich notes of black plums and cherries are balanced by an undertone of black stone and an interesting grilled peppercorn element on the edges. Smooth and rich with lots of black pepper black stone, and plum, there is also a very faint green, almost jalapeno like, quality to the palate. A lively, persistent acidity makes the fruit flavors feel plush and juicy, while the dusty tannins provide exceptional structure. An incredibly well made wine for the price.  Worth Buying. 92 points.	Wine #2: Doffo 2009 Temecula Valley “Mistura”
Wine #3: Doffo 2009 Temecula Valley “Private Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon	Dense tones of blackberry, black stone, and a subtle smokiness define the aroma, with rich tones of black currant and dried violet also making an appearance. This wine is obviously young and still tightly wound up. As intriguing as the aroma is now, given some years in the cellar, it will no doubt become absolutely captivating. The palate is deliciously rich with an acidity that keeps it feeling fresh and precise. A symphony of dark fruit and stone, this wine wells with blackcurrant, blackberry, and plum. Dense fruit, a faint, oak toned creaminess, and a lightly gripping tannin structure all come together brilliantly to create a wine that’s well… Worth Trying. 93 points.
This wine’s aroma is defined by an artful balance of crisp fruit and minerals with a nectar-like quality. Sliced apples and pears meet pineapple dripped in honey, creating a delicate and inviting combination. Sweet and rich on the palate, Doffo’s Late Harvest Pinot Blanc has an impressive density of flavors, while avoiding feeling heavy or overly thick. Like bottled sunshine, it’s fresh, bright, and clean. Ripe tropical fruits, honey, and floral tones come together to create a wonderfully versatile sweet wine. Worth Trying. 91 points.	Wine #4: Doffo 2007 California Late Harvest Pinot Blanc

Taste of Wine - By Frank  Mangio, The week of May 1, 2011

Sniffing Around the Temecula Wine Scene
An old seafaring phrase is that a higher tide raises all boats; and so it is that Temecula Wine Country is producing much better wine from many wineries these days. 
I first met Marcelo Doffo over a month ago at the most recent Wine Country event, the World of Wine Barrel Tasting. I like a lot of things about my job but right up there on top is the private tastings of ultra premium varietals that are “under the table.”  Doffo had some real treasures.  His Italian-Argentinian heritage oozed Old World . 
                                                     

(Left - Marcelo Doffo makes a point on making wine next to his 2006 Tiarella Blend at Doffo Winery in Temecula.)   

His outdoor courtyard, part of the 15 acres tucked away
in wine country, has a wood-burning oven and grill for gatherings, while classical music plays in the vineyard
to “soothe the grapes.”

Wines to try at Doffo include:  2009 Malbec, 2009 Zinfandel, 2006 Tiarella Blend and a vintage Merlot
that goes for $300., if there are any bottles left.

Frank Mangio - TASTE OF WINE - Columns at: www.tasteofwinetv.com

What's Worth Drinking with Tyler Worth
Post #54 Malbec Week Part 2: Temecula There’s something exciting about up and coming wine regions. From the completely undiscovered to tomorrow’s next big name appellation, these regions offer limitless potential and grounds for exploration.

I was recently in a conversation with a fellow wine enthusiast, whose experience and knowledge of wine I respect very much, about the classic wines of Europe, and which one of them has the credentials to label itself the king of wine. After discussing the iconic wines of Burgundy and Piemonte, he enquired about my thoughts on Bordeaux. Although I have had some truly spectacular wines from the region, I told him that I would still take something obscure, from an unheard of place and producer over a classic Bordeaux any day.

What I love about places like Temecula, which have yet to achieve much mass media attention, is that just about anything can happen. The producers are willing to plant and attempt just about anything because the best use of the area’s potential has still yet to be discovered. This can lead to amazing wines, unlike any you would find anywhere else. Sure, they aren’t all going to be winners, but the excitement of finding a real gem is worth the search.

Another thing that I appreciate about these wines is that they are very frequently exceptional bargains. They offer excellent quality, but because of the unfamiliarity of the market, they do so at a price that simply cannot be matched by better known regions and varietals. The demand for a Temecula produced Lemberger (check out my article on the real thing) needs to be created. This means the producer not only has to price the wine attractively, but they also have to make a product good enough to overcome the buyer’s uncertainty associated with purchasing something so
new and different.

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