Demetria Cuvée Constantine

All the components in the right proportion. Fresh cut flower, cinnamon and pepper, and some heat scent. Rich, juicy cranberry, mocha, mint and mineral flavor with ripe tannins. Big, but more sophisticated and better balanced than expected. A beautifully made wine. Tastes like an outstanding Chateauneuf-de-Pape with a bit more fruit. What is not to like.

Sweet and supple, with abundant fruit, a nice tannic backbone and full, velvet mouthfeel. Bottle-aged just right. New world, but not overbaked.

This one was just as good as the first bottle, if not better. It held up well over a few days. Interestingly, at first it seemed dominated by Syrah flavors (even though it only has a little Syrah). It was blue/black fruit with a thread of tart acidity. After a day or two, it seemed more Grenache and Mourvedre dominated, with red fruit flavors and some spice and tannins on the back end. This should have several good years left.

Great concentration of fruit, without seeming jammy or overextracted. Nice mix of red fruit and savory flavors, backed with decent acidity.

This seems to continue to improve. Sort of a high-acid/central coast version of a modern style CDP. Having had more Demetria, you can definitely see the forward/high-acid style across the range. Very nice.

Tasty Rhone blend. Light fruit with classic spicy undertones. Goes very well with food.

27th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic (Avila Beach Golf Resort) : Nice nose, spicy, black cherry soda, oak on the finish.

Tasted at winery

At first the nose reminds me of a rich, syrupy Pinot Noir. The mildly tart Grenache holds the forward thrust of this GSM blend, while the 27% Mourvedre lengthens its crisp dryness as with its 6% Syrah gives a little tease of pomegranate and strawberry. Well balanced, long on the palate, and just delightful overall. Its curious back-end fruit might show a little more mischief over the years, while the well structured front end will wait patiently. Great now, undoubtedly …

Not a bad Grenache blend