2007 Angelica Port -- Trentadue Winery Northern California

[Victor D.]

I stopped in locally to the Trentadue Winery several weeks ago in Greysville California after being told this winery produces several ports made from California's historic mission grapes. Being a somewhat Vintage Port newbe (anbout a year), and now a Portugal Quinta do Noval snob since reading all Roy's tasting experiences (THANK YOU) and NOW a person who ONLY drinks Portugal ports, this visit was going to be interesting. I had never visited a California winery before. This is sad as I live in California as well. :-(

I looked over the Port menu and the new 2007 Angelica Port caught my eye. I had the very friendly gal pour me a swig and boy WHAT A SURPRISE! The Port is light, semi sweet (to me) , that also resembles a tawny. The slight woody taste that lingers, along the superb aroma was spectacular! This wine is still very young and the wine maker told me that it will age very well past 10 years +.

Oh, and to the surprise of the gal pouring, I ordered a case of this 5 minutes after the first sip. Also, they did return my $5 tasting fee.

This port made me a believer that California can make a port that can keep up with a Portugal port. I hope others (more experienced) can try this one and let me know what they think. I really like this port.

Vic

Here is their description
Our 2007 Angelica is made from Mission grapes-once abundant now very hard to find. The grapes and the wine made from them have a long history in California dating back to the first years of colonization when the Franciscan monks made very sweet, high alcohol wine for sacramental purposes. There are two ways to make Angelica: fortifying unfermented juice and the port style-fermenting the juice to some degree and than adding the brandy. This wine was fermented for about four days before the addition of brandy. At the time of these notes the wine has been aged for more than three years in small neutral oak barrels. The sugar level at bottling is about 12%-not too sweet with balancing acidity. The flavors and aromas are very interesting-creamy, sherry like but with obvious fruit aromas-plums, dates, raisins and slight nuttiness. Further aeration reveals layers of brown sugar and maple syrup coated hazelnuts. On the mouth the wine is sweet, warm and silky with seductive finish begging for another sip. Enjoy it by itself or with your favorite deserts or cheeses! This Angelica should age well for many years to come!

[Roy Hersh]

I've had two versions of that that I was aware of and several that I was not aware of at the time of tasting (blind, while at a professional wine competition judging). I've found it to be a solid version and wish I had it more recently to provide greater details. Thanks for the note. We are certainly always open to domestic versions of the wannabe ports and also from So. Africa, Australia etc. Kudos to wineries that use the native Portuguese cultivars like Quady, Ficklin and Miller from CA; as well as a few in Missouri.