I received some samples from the folks representing a new venture started in 2006 called Chronicle Wines. To kick the venture off right, the owner, Mike Hengehold, sought out two of the best Pinot Noir and Old Vine Zin winemakers in the North Coast: Ted Lemon and Dan Cederquist. If I was to start a wine business, this is one great way to get started, though I am not sure how economical it is to hire two seasoned veterans like these. However, chances are in your favor that there is going to be some pretty good wine produced.
Most probably know Ted Lemon is owner and winemaker of Littorai Wines in the Sonoma Coast. I had the pleasure of recently tasting some Pinot Noirs from Littorai that were made from Mendocino and Anderson Valley fruit and they were phenomenal. Let’s not overlook that Ted studied in Burgundy and was the first American to become a winemaker of a French winery. You know the Pinot is going to be good and be reflective of the vineyard. Dan Cederquist started at Stag’s Leap and then moved on to DeLoach, becoming an expert of Old Vines Zinfandel, which is exactly what Chronicle was looking for as well.
Here’s the order in which I drank these, somewhat driven by the price points, which were surprisingly high having received them as samples, but then when I got down and dirty with each, it all became clear.
2006 Chronicle Old Vines Zinfandel ($28)- this was only “disappointing” bottle of the bunch as there was not much I could get beyond the heat on the nose. Blended from 3 different sites in the Russian River Valley, the heat (alc 14.7%) took over most of the nose on day 1. Day 2 was able to get more of the blackberry and candied fruit aromas, followed by black fruit and sandalwood on the palate and a mid-level of tannin. I would enjoy more complexity and more pronounced fruit like I’ve recently experienced from Dry Creek Valley Zins, but if you like spice and bramble with your steak, this will work well.
2006 Bacigalupi Zinfandel ($36)- Now we’re hitting on all cylinders. This Zin was the bizz-omb! This wine was much more fruit-forward with big black fruits, including black cherries, on the nose followed by a good amount of spice on the palate with a just a hint of vanilla.
2006 Chronicle Cerise Pinot Noir ($48) - Bringing on some funk (forest floor), cherries and maybe even some meaty notes on the nose while a little heat blew off early one. This had a good bit of tannin for such a delicate varietal and finished strong with some spice. This is not your velvety smooth Burgundy and was made from Anderson Valley fruit.
Good Luck to Mike and the folks at Chronicle!
