Michael and Anne Dashe are a husband-and-wife winemaking team with a 35+ year history of winemaking in both France and the US. They’ve worked at such wineries as Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Ch. La Dominque, Far Niente, Chappellet, as well as Ridge Vineyards, where Michael Dashe worked for nine years helping to make world-class Zinfandels. The winery was founded in 1996 and the Dashes are renowned for combining Old World-style winemaking with the delicious fruit of California. Dashe Cellars wines are balanced and complex, crafted to pair beautifully with a wide range of foods.
The grapes for this blend came from Signal Ridge Vineyard at over 3000 feet, the highest elevation vineyard in all of Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma Counties. The elevation of the vineyard is
so distinctive that it falls within a special appellation, the “Mendocino Ridge,” which is the only appellation in America that is designated on the basis of elevation. The high elevation, steep slopes, and extremely rocky soil make the ideal growing conditions for making complex, balanced, compelling wines. We modeled this wine after Grand Cru wines from the Beaujolais
region of France. Its light red color, excellent aromatics, and silky smooth texture mark it as a more “Old World” style of wine; extremely drinkable and enjoyable on its own.
Production
We make this wine using a technique called “carbonic maceration.” About 10% of the grapes are pitchforked into the tank as whole clusters. We do not crush the remaining grapes, and instead let the whole berries fill the tank. The tank is closed and blanketed with CO2 gas, and the fermentation is then conducted using the native yeasts on the grapes. This technique results in a distinctive fruity aroma, lighter color, and complex mid palate. After fermentation, the wine is racked into a special aging barrel-a giant 900-gallon French oak foudre from Burgundy, whose large format allows us to age the wine without much oak flavor in the wine. The result is a very fruit-forward wine that has much of the character and texture of oak-aged wine, but without the typical oak flavoring. We age the wine for five months in barrel, and then immediately bottle it to capture the fresh fruit character of the wine. The result is a beautifully balanced wine that is delicate, yet with lots of complexity and great length in the finish.
Color: Cherry red
Aroma: Raspberry, pomegranate, plum, and fresh earth, followed by hints of white pepper and minerals.
Taste: Raspberry, cranberry, and darker hints of black cherry and plum. Great acidity to balance the sweetness of the fruit, and a long, spicy red fruit finish.
An Urban Winery Crafting Age-Worthy Wines since 1996 Dashe Cellars is a family-owned artisan winery located in the heart of the Urban Wine Country. After 15 years in Oakland’s Jack London Square district, Dashe Cellars has moved to Spirits Alley on the old Naval Airbase in Alameda, CA.
Founded by the husband and wife winemaking team of Michael and Anne Dashe, Dashe Cellars crafted its first vintage of Dry Creek Zinfandel in 1996. Since that time, the Dashe’s have focused on producing exceptional, single-vineyard wines using a traditional, non-industrial approach to winemaking.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
@klezman sounds like it’s all macerated together, but 10% of the grapes are whole cluster and stems? But I don’t know shit, hopefully someone else chimes in.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Dashe Cellars “Les Enfants Terribles” Zinfandel - $55 = 24.99%
This bottle was sent to me while out of town for a business trip so I did not get the pleasure of tasting. Fortunately, Mrs. @timnath was home and up for the task. Her tasting notes below were compiled with the opinion of another “helper”. Cheers!
This Zinfandel presents a visually appealing garnet hue with a medium-light body. The aroma is reminiscent of cherries or subtle cherry cola. On the palate, the wine delights with jammy notes of raspberry and blackberry, accompanied by a touch of smokiness and tart cherry flavors. It boasts a low acid profile and features smooth, soft tannins. Pairing wonderfully with charcuterie and dark chocolate, this Zinfandel proves to be a crowd-pleaser, making it an ideal choice for a spontaneous girls’ night.
WE:
92 points. This appetizing and well-balanced wine offers fresh, fragrant fruit flavors of blackberry jam and black figs accented by earthy, peppery notes, on a medium to full body. It’s good and ripe but not over-ripe. — Jim Gordon 11/1/21
Vinous Reverie (retailer)
Dark red with a powerfully aromatic nose of pomegranate, cherry, earth, violets, clove spice and black pepper. Structured but nicely balanced with complex flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, black raspberry, chocolate, minerals and black pepper spice.
Wine Spectacle:
Snappy and lively, with cherry and red plum flavors, laced with bay leaf and white pepper, finishing with briary tannins. Drink now through 2027. 854 cases made. Tim Fish 5/6/21
TL;DR: It’s a pass for me. Too acidic, too bitter, not enough payoff. (Please read the rest, though.)
I was delighted to hear that I was the favored recipient of the veritable golden ticket and even MORE excited when I saw that the varietal I was sampling was zin. Having not heard of this particular vineyard before, I deliberately didn’t question the Google, but tasted blind.
I let the bottle rest at room temperature for 24 hours after receipt. The color was a pretty red, with rust undertones. The cork was loaded with very pretty wine crystals and the first glass had a bit of sediment in the bottom. I glanced at the label again and saw this was a 2018 vintage, so it has some age on it.
Initial whiff gave literally nothing but alcohol. Initial sip was tart, almost acidic. The flavor was, well, wine. I sniffed, I tasted, sniffed, tasted. Nada. The mouthfeel was thin and rather light, especially for a zin. No legs to speak of. Definitely more European in taste. I put the rest of my glass aside to see if some magic would happen.
Fast forward 2 hours. I tasted again. Still very acidic. Still a bit biting in the mouth. Still not MUCH in the way of aroma, but I got almost a little cranberry?? And there was definitely a mineral quality about it. I corked it and put it aside to the next night when The Big Guy could taste it as well.
Snacks: TJ’s Super Seedy Cheese Bites; (Go Get These Now!)
Dinner: Chicken & lentil stew with pancetta and spinach. (A hearty Italian peasant stew.)
Opened the wine this evening to drink with dinner and it had definitely opened up some. I got some red berries on the nose, but they were more acidic berry scents. Cherry, maybe cranberry. There was again, some minerality on the nose. Definitely still a light to medium bodied wine, definitely acidic. But now, there was a pronounced bitterness that obscured any real flavors in the wine. I tried to find a reason to like it. I tried to keep drinking it.
It did OK with the Cheesy Bites. It was still just OK with the stew. (Better with the sharpness of the snack bites. It minimized the bitterness of the wine.)
The Big Guy’s Observations: There’s a lot going on here, but I can’t get to it. It’s too bitter for me. I’m not finishing this glass. Don’t buy this one.
We disagreed slightly on the price. I thought it was about a $30 bottle that CM would sell for $16. He thought it was a $19 bottle that ya’ll would sell for $10. (I see I was right. Ha!)
I left a glass in the bottle to taste on night #3. It had completely turned and was undrinkable. (Not totally surprising for an old red. I was just checking to see how it lasted.)
IMHO, based on the bottle that I received, this wine is on the edge. It is at the end of its drinkable life. I kept trying to find a reason to like it, partially because this is only the second bottle I’ve gotten from casemates that I didn’t at least “like a lot”, but I really couldn’t. The other reason is I love old world style wines. I especially like dry reds, but this one, I just couldn’t wrap my tongue around.
I didn’t finish my glass on the second night either. And that says a lot.
@klezman - agree. Having not had it before and reading subsequent comments, it should not have tasted that way. Especially considering the way it tasted on day 3. Pure vinegar.
@cruelmelody - love Beaujolais. Actually, I like quite a few of the “lighter” European wines. Grew up drinking cheap Italian red wine (from Italy) and didn’t have my first sip of white until the oaky buttery swill of the 90’s. LOL!
@rjquillin - house is at 68. Colder outside. Wine cellar sits at about 60. (Not climate controlled. Just a very cold closet on the first level.) Probably got a little warmer than that in the kitchen while drinking.
I usually like Dashe wines very much. And Mendocino has some lovely zinfandels. But am a bit alarmed to read veevandyke’s review. Am hoping they just got a bad bottle. Will take a chance on 3 bottles!
2018 Dashe Cellars “Les Enfants Terribles” Zinfandel, “Mendocino Cuvee”, Mendocino
Tasting Notes
Production
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $384/case MSRP
About The Wineries
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Feb 26 - Wednesday, Feb 28
2018 Dashe Cellars “Les Enfants Terribles”
Dashe Cellars Zinfandel
3 bottles for $54.99 $18.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $164.99 $13.75/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
In for one! Tased at Dashe back in the day and their wines were great. Happy to check out their new stuff!
/giphy calamitous-respectable-ogre
@Huntersmoon
Are you sure it was the wine that made a lasting impression on you or was it the 50,000 volts?
Interesting - so is this all carbonic or 10%? If the latter, what’s the regime on the other 90%?
@klezman sounds like it’s all macerated together, but 10% of the grapes are whole cluster and stems? But I don’t know shit, hopefully someone else chimes in.
@CruelMelody @klezman Agree. Sounds right to me. All carbonic, 10% whole cluster, 90% whole berry, not crushed
@CruelMelody @kaolis that would also make sense!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Dashe Cellars “Les Enfants Terribles” Zinfandel - $55 = 24.99%
This bottle was sent to me while out of town for a business trip so I did not get the pleasure of tasting. Fortunately, Mrs. @timnath was home and up for the task. Her tasting notes below were compiled with the opinion of another “helper”. Cheers!
This Zinfandel presents a visually appealing garnet hue with a medium-light body. The aroma is reminiscent of cherries or subtle cherry cola. On the palate, the wine delights with jammy notes of raspberry and blackberry, accompanied by a touch of smokiness and tart cherry flavors. It boasts a low acid profile and features smooth, soft tannins. Pairing wonderfully with charcuterie and dark chocolate, this Zinfandel proves to be a crowd-pleaser, making it an ideal choice for a spontaneous girls’ night.
WE:
92 points. This appetizing and well-balanced wine offers fresh, fragrant fruit flavors of blackberry jam and black figs accented by earthy, peppery notes, on a medium to full body. It’s good and ripe but not over-ripe. — Jim Gordon 11/1/21
Vinous Reverie (retailer)
Dark red with a powerfully aromatic nose of pomegranate, cherry, earth, violets, clove spice and black pepper. Structured but nicely balanced with complex flavors of black cherry, pomegranate, strawberry, black raspberry, chocolate, minerals and black pepper spice.
Wine Spectacle:
Snappy and lively, with cherry and red plum flavors, laced with bay leaf and white pepper, finishing with briary tannins. Drink now through 2027. 854 cases made. Tim Fish 5/6/21
fwiw
TL;DR: It’s a pass for me. Too acidic, too bitter, not enough payoff. (Please read the rest, though.)
I was delighted to hear that I was the favored recipient of the veritable golden ticket and even MORE excited when I saw that the varietal I was sampling was zin. Having not heard of this particular vineyard before, I deliberately didn’t question the Google, but tasted blind.
I let the bottle rest at room temperature for 24 hours after receipt. The color was a pretty red, with rust undertones. The cork was loaded with very pretty wine crystals and the first glass had a bit of sediment in the bottom. I glanced at the label again and saw this was a 2018 vintage, so it has some age on it.
Initial whiff gave literally nothing but alcohol. Initial sip was tart, almost acidic. The flavor was, well, wine. I sniffed, I tasted, sniffed, tasted. Nada. The mouthfeel was thin and rather light, especially for a zin. No legs to speak of. Definitely more European in taste. I put the rest of my glass aside to see if some magic would happen.
Fast forward 2 hours. I tasted again. Still very acidic. Still a bit biting in the mouth. Still not MUCH in the way of aroma, but I got almost a little cranberry?? And there was definitely a mineral quality about it. I corked it and put it aside to the next night when The Big Guy could taste it as well.
Snacks: TJ’s Super Seedy Cheese Bites; (Go Get These Now!)
Dinner: Chicken & lentil stew with pancetta and spinach. (A hearty Italian peasant stew.)
Opened the wine this evening to drink with dinner and it had definitely opened up some. I got some red berries on the nose, but they were more acidic berry scents. Cherry, maybe cranberry. There was again, some minerality on the nose. Definitely still a light to medium bodied wine, definitely acidic. But now, there was a pronounced bitterness that obscured any real flavors in the wine. I tried to find a reason to like it. I tried to keep drinking it.
It did OK with the Cheesy Bites. It was still just OK with the stew. (Better with the sharpness of the snack bites. It minimized the bitterness of the wine.)
The Big Guy’s Observations: There’s a lot going on here, but I can’t get to it. It’s too bitter for me. I’m not finishing this glass. Don’t buy this one.
We disagreed slightly on the price. I thought it was about a $30 bottle that CM would sell for $16. He thought it was a $19 bottle that ya’ll would sell for $10. (I see I was right. Ha!)
I left a glass in the bottle to taste on night #3. It had completely turned and was undrinkable. (Not totally surprising for an old red. I was just checking to see how it lasted.)
IMHO, based on the bottle that I received, this wine is on the edge. It is at the end of its drinkable life. I kept trying to find a reason to like it, partially because this is only the second bottle I’ve gotten from casemates that I didn’t at least “like a lot”, but I really couldn’t. The other reason is I love old world style wines. I especially like dry reds, but this one, I just couldn’t wrap my tongue around.
I didn’t finish my glass on the second night either. And that says a lot.
@veevandyke lack of fruit and up front bitterness in a young wine like this suggests that maybe you got a corked bottle.
@veevandyke do you typically like Beaujolais wine or carbonic maceration?
@veevandyke
Were all tastings at ‘room temperature’?
And for you, that would be what?
@klezman - agree. Having not had it before and reading subsequent comments, it should not have tasted that way. Especially considering the way it tasted on day 3. Pure vinegar.
@cruelmelody - love Beaujolais. Actually, I like quite a few of the “lighter” European wines. Grew up drinking cheap Italian red wine (from Italy) and didn’t have my first sip of white until the oaky buttery swill of the 90’s. LOL!
@rjquillin - house is at 68. Colder outside.
Wine cellar sits at about 60. (Not climate controlled. Just a very cold closet on the first level.) Probably got a little warmer than that in the kitchen while drinking.
@veevandyke
Thanks for re-visiting with the additional insights
I usually like Dashe wines very much. And Mendocino has some lovely zinfandels. But am a bit alarmed to read veevandyke’s review. Am hoping they just got a bad bottle. Will take a chance on 3 bottles!