Sans Liege The Adversary

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：2478

The 2016 The Adversary is medium ruby-purple with a nose of candied blueberries, confectionary sugar, blackberries, dried herbs, dried leaves and dust with a sweet red berry core. The palate is light to medium-bodied with candied red fruits, chewy tannins and good juicy acidity, finishing long with sweet fruit.

An attractive Mourvèdre cuvée, the 2015 The Adversary opens in the glass with notes of aromatic bark, roasted plums, cocoa and toasted nuts. On the palate, it's full-bodied, supple and nicely concentrated, with excellent balance and a moderately long finish.

An interesting blend of 97% Mourvedre and 3% Syrah (you don't see many Mourvedre-dominated cuvees from Cali), the 2012 The Adversary is a full-bodied, savory and tannic release that gives up quality notes of white pepper, forest floor, spice, kirsch and dried currants. Again, the tannin level is worrisome, but tannin management in 2012 was difficult. It should come together nicely though, with 1-2 years in the cellar and hold through 2024. Curt aged this 22 months in 17% second-fill barrels.

Made from 97% Mourvedre and 3% Syrah, the 2011 Adversary comes all from the Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard and was aged in 15% new barriques. Giving up a meaty, bloody profile, with notions of iron, mulled dark berries, kirsch, dried herbs and spice, it has a balanced and layered feel on the palate to go with full-bodied richness and depth. I'm a fan and would lean toward drinking bottles over the coming 4-5 years. Curt Schalchlin continues to produce a bevy of outstanding wines under his Sans Liege label. These never lack for fruit, texture or character, and in most cases, represent smoking values. Tel. (805) 773-2770; www.sansliege.com

Made from 100% Mourvedre, the 2010 The Adversary dishes out copious red and black fruits, roasted meats, ground underbrush and smoked earth to go with a full-bodied, structured and rich palate that has layers of sweet fruit, big tannin and a clean, pure finish. Give it a couple years and drink through 2020. Drink 2014-2020. Made by Curt Schalchlin, these are all impressive wines that don’t hold back on flavor or richness, yet always stay beautifully drinkable and fresh. Across the board, the 2010s are more tannic and firm than some past releases and most warrant another 6-12 months or so of bottle age. Tel. (805) 773-2770; www.sansliege.com