tercero wines Mixed Reds

Tasting notes & discussion 74

Typically $38 - $75/bottle from tercero wines
Vintage 2011, 2014, and 2017 from Santa Barbara County
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IN; LA; MA; MD; ME; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; SC; SD; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
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About tercero wines
Larry Schaffer IS tercero wines. Once upon a time, he worked in the ever stable “music” and “publishing” industries. He soon realized that he desired more from life, perhaps more of a challenge. So, he went back to school, faced down humanity’s age old foe “The Sciences,” and emerged with degrees in both Viticulture and Enology, leading to a promising future in wine. A year after he moved to the Santa Ynez Valley and worked as enologist for Fess Parker Winery, he took the plunge and started making his own wines under a personal label: tercero wines.

The Tercero Quadrangle

TASTING NOTES:
Grenache - “This wine has soaring aromatics of bright raspberries, dark strawberries and garrigue; it’s full bodied for sure, and noticeable tannins are still present and give this wine a wonderful bookend finish. Since the aromatics jump out of the glass, sometimes I’ll just sit and smell it for hours (seriously!). This is a big, showy Grenache that, to me, shows what the variety can achieve on its own from great sites and using ‘the right’ techniques.” (AbV 14.5%, pH 3.71, TA 5.7 g/L)

Mourvedre - “This [Mourvedre] blend offers the perfect balance of fruit and brooding aromatics of ‘earth’, brambly fruit and some interesting herbs; fantastic medium bodied mouthfeel and a finish that just keeps going. I feel this is truly a ‘benchmark’ take on this variety.of lively acidity but noticeable tannin structure, and of pure enjoyment!” (AbV 14.2%, pH 3.60, TA 5.8 g/L)

Cinsault - “This wine reminds me more of a pinot noir than any other wine that I produce, both aromatically and texturally. It reminds me of some of the whole cluster pinots I helped craft elsewhere. This is a bright, fresh, light wine that is perfect to consume on its own or with a plethora of foods…” (AbV 12.3%, pH 3.65, TA 6.2 g/L)

Cuvee Loco - “Don’t let the age of this wine fool you - it is very much alive and still offering lots of wonderment and joy! The Grenache takes center stage in the aromatics - bright, brambly fruit, spice, a touch of herbs; the Mourvedre adds must enough ‘earthiness’ to tame the brightness of the Grenache; and the Syrah adds base notes and structure.“ (AbV 14.8%, pH 3.64, TA 5.8 g/L)

BARRELS:
Grenache - 34 months in older French oak.

Mourvedre - 34 months in older French oak.

Cinsault - 16 months in 5+ year old French oak.

Cuvee Loco - 30 months in 4+ year old French oak.

PAIRS WITH (winery recommended):
Grenache - basic burgers and pizza to more complicated red meat dishes.

Mourvedre - a side of mushrooms, roasted chicken, rustic lasagna.

Cinsault - simple salads to spicy duck.

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Grenache

Grenache
Mourvedre

Mourvedre
Cinsault

Cinsault
Cuvee Loco

Cuvee Loco

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