Sweepstakes Award - Best Red Wine in the San Francisco Chronicle 2011 Wine Competition!!

  We are so proud and ecstatic over our huge win and tie for the Best Red Wine in the over 5050 wines entered! Judge Bob Foster said "" I was one of the wine judges for the Chronicle Wine Competition. That Cab was amazing. GREAT JUICE! (Reminds me of the 68 BV Private Reserve-and I know no higher compliment than that!) "

Check out the winners at : http://winejudging.com/medal_winners.htm -   More info coming soon!!  

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Focus on the Central Coast       ISSUE 1 4 7 , NO V EM B ER/ DEC EM B E R 2 0 0 9

Josh Raynolds

Ecluse

2007 Improv Paso Robles  89 Points! 

( 69% Zinfandel and 31% Syrah) Full ruby. Deep aromas of plum, blueberry, tar, earth and roasted herbs. The palate offers good definition and energy, with nicely perfumed dark berry and floral flavors and very good intensity. Finishes with a light dusting of tannins and good energy and sweet persistence. Delicious right now.  $36.00

2006 Rendition Paso Robles  90 Points!! 

(59% Syrah, 22% Grenache and 19% Mourvedre) Dark red. Sexy aromas of red berry and cherry preserves, musky herbs, flowers and Asian spices; smells like there's more grenache than syrah in here. Sweet, fleshy red fruit flavors provide very good palate coverage, with zesty acidity providing spine. Blends depth with energy and finishes with excellent clarity and spicy persistence.  $38.00  

Robert Parker Ratings - August 2009

2007 Ecluse Wines Improv Lock Vineyard

Rating:89

The 2007 Improv Lock Vineyard,a combination of 69% Zinfandel and 31%Syrah.This is another layered, medium to full-bodied, opulent, seductive red exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color as well as a boatload of blue and black fruits interwoven with notions of mountain berries, earth, and spice. 

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2007 Ecluse Wines Rendition Proprietary Red Wine

Rating:91

The 2007 Rendition,a blend of 52%Syrah,42%Grenache, and the rest Zinfandel, is a knock-out. Sexy and opulent with loads of spice box, pepper, kirsch, and black currants, it is made in a seductive, broad, savory style with medium to full body, and not a hard edge to be found. 

AFFAIRS OF THE VINE

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Shootout

September, 2009

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Shootout began with a series of blind tastings over a six week period as the wines were tasted in groups of 32 wines per session. The top wines were then tasted blind to determine the best of the best.

The final tasting was held at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Our professional panel brought their experienced palates and love of Cabernet to this task. One thing that all of these wines have in common is balance. It is the quality that we look for when tasting and evaluating wines both for immediate consumption and long term aging.

The tasting panels was comprised of a diverse range of wine industry professionals from varying disciplines including restaurant and retail trade, winemakers, wine writers, wine educators, and viticulturalists.

The process and manner utilized by Affairs of the Vine for assessing and judging the entries is unique within competitions in that it employed the following procedures:

• All wines were tasted blind. (How could you ever do it differently?)
• All wines were tasted without reference to producer, appellation, vintage or price.
• Each wine was judged and reviewed on its own merit.
• The wines were rated using a 100 point scale. The wines were placed into flights and evaluated by a team of judges. The top 64 wines selected by the team of judges were then submitted to our panel for review. Our panel was divided into two teams and each team reviewed only 32 wines.

All wines reviewed indicate a numerical score and are recommended "from the heart" with the additional reference of

s designating the following:

= Love at First Sip
= An Affair to Remember
= Will Provide Fond Memories

ÉCLUSE  SCORED BIG!!!

  AFFAIRS OF THE VINE

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Shootout

ÉCLUSE RESULTS!!

= Love at First Sip

  (95)   Ecluse Wines Ensemble 2006 Bordeaux Blend      $38.00                                                                                                     

                     392 cases produced

Female: Inky in color. This is a very masculine wine - dark, deep and dry. The mouth-feel is satiny through mid-palate. Tannins join in and carry through the finish. This could be "red velvet" with maturity.

Male: Mint, herbs and blackberry aromas with hints of spice, Broad black fruit flavors on opening through mid-palate where the tannins kick-in. The finish is tight. Should age well.

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  = Love at First Sip

(94) Ecluse Wines 2005 Lock Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
                           107 cases produced                       Paso Robles, $59.00

Female: Brooding aromas of dark cherry, campfire and cocoa lead to big dark berry flavors highlighted by chocolate, tobacco and olive notes. Licorice on the intriguing finish of this well made wine. Pair with a grilled rosemary steak.

 Male: Cherry, berry and vanilla aromas and flavors. Inviting. This Cabernet Sauvignon has a generous concentration of mouthwatering fruit and soft tannins. A well made wine with great potential.

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  = Love at First Sip

(92) Ecluse Wines 2006 Lock Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon  $28.00
                          259 cases produced

Female: Big, rich meaty notes on the nose delivering tons of dry blackberry and bramble flavors. Good tannins that don't overpower. A BIG STEAK WINE! This one's a crowd pleaser.

Male: Pleasant nose of crushed berries. Lovely soft tannins balance the blackberry and plum fruit. Enjoy this with grilled lamb chops.

Afairs of the Vine California-Aussie Shootout December 2008

The 2008 California-Australia Shootout began with a series of blind tastings over a six week period November to December 2008 in San Francisco, California of over 200 California and Australian wines. The wines were tasted in groups of 32 wines per session.  All wines were tasted blind and were tasted without reference to producer, appellation or price. The wines were delineated by vintage in the first round of tasting but no vintage reference made in proceeding round.

 The top wines were then tasted blind to determine the best of the best.  The 55 top wines selected by the team of judges were then submitted to the entire panel for review.

 ALL  OF  THE FOUR  ÉCLUSE  WINES  ENTERED WERE AMONG THE TOP  55  FINALISTS!!

 The final tasting was held in San Francisco December 8, 2008 as the professional panel brought their experienced palates to judge the final round of the venerable California and Australian wines.  Each wine was judged and reviewed on its own merit.

 The final 55 wines were rated using a 100 point scale and are recommended “from the heart” with the additional reference of 1 to 4 hearts.

4 hearts the highest == Love at First Sip.

Here’s how we scored:

TOP SCORING WINE

Ecluse Wines 2006 Lock Vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles, California, $28.00

259 cases produced

(94)  Love at First Sip.

 Male: Spot on black currant and mint aromas. Great color. The wine is youthful with a healthy dose of new French oak (very Napa in style) with intense black fruit flavors, vanilla, licorice, blackberry and cola notes. The finish is long and delicious. Impressive!

Female: In the glass the wine is an intense purple. The cassis aromas are accented by plenty of spice with hints of cocoa. The expressive palate is powerful upfront with black cherry, black currant, rhubarb and anise flavors. Cocoa embraces the fruit. This wine is well balanced with pretty tannins. Yummy!

SECOND TOP SCORING WINE

 Écluse Wines 2006 Ensemble - 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Petit Verdot, 18% Merlot
Paso Robles, California, $38.00

392 cases produced

(93)  Love at First Sip.

Male: Deep dark ruby in color. Lovely aromas, of red blackberry fruit, chocolate and toasted oak. Deep cassis fruit, licorice and black cherry flavors with back notes of cola. Big and round in the mouth. Good balance and structure. Enjoy with grilled lamb chops. When the oak fully integrates, this wine will be amazing!

Female: Intense inky hue. Bright notes of pomegranate, blueberry, anise, and mushroom on the nose. Dense dark fruit intermingling with spices on the mid palate. Nice tannins that underscore the lingering finish.

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Ecluse Wines 2006 Rendition - 57% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre
Paso Robles, California, $38

429 cases produced

  (92)  Love at First Sip.

Male: The impressive nose delivers pomegranate and mulberry aromas. Very ripe baked plum, strawberry, red cherry, cocoa, cola, and spice flavors. A distinctive wine with mild tannins.

Female: Sweet toffee and baking spices on the nose. The fruit is dark and brambly. Herbs wrap around the black fruit flavors mid palate. The finish has smoky overtones.

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Écluse 2006 Lock Vineyard Syrah
Paso Robles, $32

212 cases produced

  (90)  Love at First Sip.

Male: The aromatics are enticing, a nice combination of subtle black and red fruit with underlying spice. Everything is in proportion. The nose introduces a very elegant style of Syrah. Nice structure - nice fruit on the palate and nice acid. One of the better Syrahs I've tasted in a long time!
  
Female: I really like this wine! Blackberry, blueberry and vanilla notes on the nose. This in an elegant wine with lovely berry flavors on the palate and subtle spice. Cocoa accent on the long finish. The acid makes this a wine to pair with food. The structure and balance are impressive.  

ÉCLUSE scores  a  93 and a 90 and “Four Hearts “Love at first sip”

Affairs of the Vine  2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Shootout

The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Shootout began with a series of blind tastings over a six week period November to December 2007 in San Francisco, California.   The wines were tasted in groups of 32 wines per session.  All wines were tasted blind and  were tasted without reference to producer, appellation or price.  The wines were delineated by vintage in the first round of tasting but no vintage reference made in proceeding round. 

The top wines were then tasted blind to determine the best of the best.  The 55 top wines selected by the team of judges were then submitted to the entire panel for review.

The final tasting was held in San Francisco as the professional panel brought their experienced palates and love of Cabernet to this task.  Each wine was judged and reviewed on its own merit.  

The final 55 wines were rated using a 100 point scale and are recommended “from the heart” with the additional reference of

1 to 4 hearts   -  4 hearts the highest =  Love at First Sip.

 ÉCLUSE WAS AMONG THE TOP  55 FINALISTS!!

 Here’s how we scored:

 Écluse “Ensemble”  2005  Bordeaux-style Cabernet Blend:

 93  and  4 Hearts – “Love at first sip”!  

“Black cherry, date, dense dark berries on the nose ; Lush fruit in the mouth. The flavors march through the lively entry through the clean, tapered finish.” 

 Écluse  2005 Cabernet Sauvignon:

90 and  4 Hearts – “Love at first sip”!

 “Rich blackberry fruit with aromas with clove and chocolate accents are delivered onto the palate.  Nicely balanced.”