Pfenix Vineyards

[Drew]

I visited my favorite wine shop the other day and purchased the below two wines with others. The check out girl boxed my bottles and after paying, I picked up the box and CRASH! the bottle of the Pfenix Cabernet Pfeffer was all over the floor. The box had a hole in the bottom which no one spotted. Here's the point. The front of the store became saturated with the most glorious, floral Cab scent that I wanted to lick the floor. The bottle was replaced, no questions. A little investigation produced the following with both wines receiving medals in the San Diego National Wine Competition. This wine will be a must find if it is as good as it smells....anyone have any experience with these two? I'm gonna pop em next weekend.

Drew

Winery: PFENIX WINERY Varietal: OTHER RED VARIETALS COMPETITION YEAR: 2000 Wine Description: CABERNET PFEFFER - 1997 Medal: BRONZE MEDAL Cost: $20.00 State: CA Region: CIENEGA VALLEY Alcohol: 12.5 Sugar: 0.0

Winery: PFENIX WINERY Varietal:
BLENDED RED - OTHER COMPETITION YEAR: 2001
Wine Description: BENU - 1998 Medal: BRONZE MEDAL Cost: $16.00 State: GA Region: CALIFORNIA Alcohol: 13.2 Sugar: 0.0

Grape

Cabernet Pfeffer
Cabernet Pfeffer is a grape derived from the varietal Cabernet Sauvignon, created by William Pfeffer in the mid 1800’s. There was much debate and controversy regarding Cab Pfeffer in the late 1880’s due to its classification. In 1897 a court ruling declared that Cab Pfeffer is a Cabernet variety and should be considered as such.

Survival
The phylloxera epidemic wiped out most of this grape in the 1890’s. Propagating from his original cuttings, William Pfeffer grafted to resistant rootstock and replanted. In 1908, William Pfeffer gave cuttings to two growers in the Cienega Valley. The grapes from which the D' Elissagaray Basque Blend is made are the progeny of those seedlings.

Precious and rare
There are only about 10 acres reportedly producing this unique varietal in California at this time. Cabernet Pfeffer is similar to Cabernet Sauvignon in flavors, though lighter in tannins and heavier in spice.

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 05-31-2003).]

[Innkeeper]

Did it smell anything like cabernet franc?

[winoweenie]

Had a glass of the 2000 in Costa Mesa 3 or 4 mos ago. They have the 2001 coming in. Will try and buy next trip even tho the dummies don' know how to spel. (2 weeks ) WW

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 05-31-2003).]

[Thomas]

Never tasted one; would love to know how it turns out. Would also love to know how your local wine shop got its hands on it?

Anyway, be aware that a bronze medal usually means that the wine is commercially viable and of some interest.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 05-31-2003).]

[Drew]

Would agree, Foodie, but only 850 cases were produced. What profit/marketing could be made with such few cases?

Drew

[ShortWiner]

Interesting--I was once warned about this very scenario by Willie Gluckstern at a tasting. He told us a story of breaking a bottle of fairly run of the mill wine; everyone in the room was wowed by the scent. His explanation was the surface area of the puddle--just as we swirl in a glass (and use oversized glasses) to increase the surface area, causing more evaporation and thus a more intense aroma, so wine spilled all over the floor lets loose an intense cloud of vapor--which probably smells more intense than it will in the glass.

Anyway, I'm not saying you won't be happy with the wine, but I'll be curious to know whether or not it lives up to expectations.

[winoweenie]

Hi SW and do that be the famous Willie G of the " ABC " fame? ww

[ShortWiner]

ABC? I don't know. But he called his book "The Wine Avenger" and is given to ranting. Bit of a specialist in German wines. Interesting fellow.

[winoweenie]

" Anything But Cabernet/Chardonnay " WW

[ShortWiner]

Sounds like him, though his attitude seems more "Anything But Chardonnay/Merlot" He's big on wine-as-food, and he's extremely (self-conciously) irreverent. Leans heavily to the SWs.

[Drew]

bing,bing,bing,bing,bing...ShortWiner wins the prize! Popped over the weekend and very disappointing. Clear, medium garnet in color, nose of raspberry and dark cherry. In a blind tasting would have picked Pinot Noir and not a spin off of Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium body in the mouth, very new world with little oak. Tastes like an average, mass produced Pinot, pleasant enough but not worth the money, IMHO...Bucko, you medaled this wine at the San Diego Wine Competion? [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Drew