1997 De Loach OFS RRV

[winoweenie]

What a sad ending to a beautiful success story. Back in the late 70s' I was sitting with Joe Swan on his back screened-in porch drinking a bottle of his killer juice and when I got up to leave he told me I should stop by the new vineyard that a San Fran ex-firefighter had planted. His first vintage was pretty derned good according to Joe so I looked it up on the way back to town. This was Cecil DeLoach. A marverlous individual living his dream.He went on to produve some really good wines but expansion got him. This is one of his signature bottlings. Deep ruby with aromas of red fruits, spice, cream brulee, and cocoa. Solid entry, weighty center and a 4 lapper finish. Still has some lite tannins lurking in the back-ground. Needs maybe anoter 1-2. 89/88. 38 by the box. 14.5% alc. WW