2017 Onesta Cinsault, Bechthold Vineyard
Divvy-Up
80 Points
Tasting Notes
This is an atypical, rich and intense Cinsault that explodes strawberry rhubarb pie in the glass. The 2017 vintage was a challenging year with heat waves in California, but the ancient vines persevered and produced a Cinsault with great concentration - lots of juicy black cherry, rhubarb and plum, with notes of vanilla and mocha from extended barrel aging.
This wine pairs extremely well with roasted chicken, teriyaki salmon, margarita pizza, smoked baby back ribs, and Thanksgiving dinner.
Vineyard Notes
The Bechthold vineyard is the oldest vineyard in the Lodi region, planted in 1886. It is the oldest Cinsault vineyard in the world! The old vines are head trained, organically grown and dry farmed. Onesta is lucky to have a 4.2 acre block on the east side of the vineyard where the weakest vines are planted producing the most concentrated fruit in the whole vineyard.
Comments
My first Cinsault and it was wonderful! I liked its freshness. Strawberry maybe cherry fruit with a little bit of earthy tannins. Perfect for the warm evening with our chicken chaser salad.
How the oldest Cinsault Vineyard in the world, almost wasn't
Over 100 years ago, Joseph Spenker, a German immigrant lured to California by the Gold Rush, decided to try his hand at farming. A local nurseryman convinced him to plant fruit for wine. The cuttings were brought over from Europe, but the origin was sketchy and they were presumed to be what was then called Black Malvosier.
Generation after generation continued to tend the vineyard, and it still remains in family hands. While the fruit was well regarded, over the years the value of the crop diminished as winemakers sought more premium varietals. By the early 2000s Al Bechthold was ready to replace the vines with a varietal that would fetch far higher prices. But Wanda Wook Bechthold, the great granddaughter of Joseph Spenker, knew the vines had to be protected. Working with recently developed DNA testing techniques employed at US Davis, Wanda and the UC Davis team uncovered the true identity of the venerable vines - Cinsault.
Winemakers lined up for the rare fruit, including Booy Doon, Michael David, Turley and our featured winemaker Onesta. The vineyard is dry farmed and the fruit is organically grown. Blocks are earmarked for various purposes. A portion near the canal which gets more water and produces more fruit typically goes toward the production of Rosé. Onesta reserves fruit from a portion where the old gnarled vines struggle, producing lower yields of much more concentrated fruit. An ideal block for producing a red bottling of Cinsault.
Read more about this historic property:
https://www.visitlodi.com/blog/lodis-legendary-ancient-vine-bechthold-vineyard/
https://www.lodiwine.com/blog/lodis-oldest-existing-vines-the-magical-bechthold-vineyard
Oooh....another vintage of this favourite wine! I haven't even cracked open any of the 2015 yet.
I had to go back and check after I read your comment. I actually haven’t either. That may be what I’m drinking tonight if I can find where’s it hidden in the basement.
Apparently I drank one 2015 and liked it according to my CT notes but still have have 7 of the 2015, I better find them and start drinking them. Price has gone up, a lot.
SFwiner is inviting you to join their public Divvy-Up for 12.
Come on. Let’s close this Divvy-Up before the Wine Event expires.
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Join the Divvy-Up;
https://divvy-up.com/2017-onesta-cinsault-bechthold-vineyard/?group=f01823a8-75f8-701c-48fa-930803888528
I was so excited to receive a PrevView bottle of the 2017 Onesta Cinsault! I’ve had previous vintages of this wine multiple times before, specifically at Friendsgiving dinner which paired quite well with the menu, and was a hit among all my friends. As expected, the 2017 did not disappoint. I did not pair this with food, but it was still very good.
I consider this a medium bodied wine and the strong berry notes came through. I’d recommend this to a Pinot lover but also someone like me who prefers a more full bodied wine and is looking for something different.
I will surely be ordering more!