Sonoma County

Full

Natural Cork

I fell absolutely in love with Garden Creek when I visited the winery for the first time in 2018, and I grew more invested in their efforts after an unforgettable meal hosted by Outstanding in the Field in 2019. In early January of 2024, I revisited them. They'd been knocked down pretty hard after wildfires swept through their property in late 2019, but they were in excellent spirits, and it was all but impossible to tell anything had happened. The red wine of the estate is an exceptional wine, not just because it is incredibly well-made, but because owners Karin and Justin Warnelius-Miller hold their wines back much longer than most California wineries (as of this writing in 2024, their current release Tesserae Red is 2016!). What a treat for consumers. As for this 2004 Tesserae -- wow. Is this a perfectly-cellared, ex-Chateau, left bank classified growth? It sure seems like one. Deep colour to the rim, you'd be hard-pressed to call its age by the colour. Superbly fresh with all sorts of savoury nuances. Everything is subtle, though, and it continues to tease a potential. Tobacco, red currants, charcuterie, white pepper, dried sage, and anisette lead the charge before its medium to full-bodied expression, offering a warming richness balanced by cooling acidity that is all coiled up. There's a ripeness and sweetness of the currant-rich fruit from the hot growing season, and the tannins are voluptuous, have weight and are connected but expansive on the palate. There's a chalky mineral edge on the long finish. This is a symphonic wine with harmony, depth, and longevity. It's utterly beautiful and resonant with the most seductive, sweet earthen notes that grow more and more expressive on the finish, which lasts more than a minute. Shows the quality of this very special site in the Alexander Valley.

Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Garden Creek Vineyards, Tesserae Red Wine, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley, California, USA, 2004

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I fell absolutely in love with Garden Creek when I visited the winery for the first time in 2018, and I grew more invested in th

Oaked

Garden Creek Vineyards, Tesserae Red Wine, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA 2004

Garden Creek Vineyards, Tesserae Red Wine, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA 2004

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