Tim Atkin: Very pale straw, with a slight haze. Unfiltered? Also showing a touch of spritz. Toast and hazelnuts on the nose, with subtle fruit framing. Intense, yet well-balanced palate, with fresh acidity, subtle lees, some wood smoke, and a citrus backbone. A successful attempt at a Burgundian style but with just a little too much oak - 16
Stephen Brook: Cloudy, so clearly unfiltered. Sweet nose, stewed apricot, apple compote. Quite rich and juicy, a forthright style with plenty of fruit, though it does tail off on the finish. There’s enough bright acidity to perk up the wine, even if the finish is a bit weak. I didn’t discern much structure and would drink it young, when you have a better chance of avoiding the bacterial spoilage that will probably result from the lack of filtration - 13.5
Alex Hunt: Cloudy appearance—unfiltered wine. Good depth of aroma, with toasted hazelnuts over ripe peach: a nice balance of sweet and savory. The palate is both leaner and edgier than I was expecting, with a linear mouthfeel and a yeasty flavor that both seem at odds with the underlying fruit. There are interesting aspects to this, but it doesn’t present as a unified whole - 14
Details
Wine expert | Stephen Brook Alex Hunt Tim Atkin |
Tastings year | 2013 |
Region | California |
Appellation | AVA |
Peay Vineyards

