Saviezza - (An old Italian word for “wisdom” or “knowledge”) A Santa Barbara super-Tuscan styled proprietary blend
90% Sangiovese Tepusquet Vineyard in the Santa Maria bench.
5% Cabernet Franc Tierra Alta Vineyard in Los Olivos.
5% Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Blanca Vineyard in Los Olivos.
The 2010 is the third vintage labeled as “Saviezza”, but my 10th vintage of Sangiovese from the old Tepusquet Vineyard in the Santa Maria bench. Planted in 1971 to Cabernet Sauvignon, it was grafted in the early nineties to Sangiovese. Yield was less than 2 tons per acre.
Harvest: 10/22/10
The Sangiovese clone 3 was picked after six days of rain! The vintage was a cooler later one, producing very small berries and small clusters. I performed a saigne to bleed off some juice in the fermenter before the cold soak and fermentation began.
General style of vintage: The 2010 wines are big and bold with dark fruits, smooth and lots of spice, great structure with some integrated tannins.
Aromatics: Ripe black plums, blackberry fruit, cola, anise, cinnamon spice with a hint of sweetness from oak.
Body: Ripe dark fruit flavors and intense warm spices fill the mid palate,. The tannin is fantastically integrated with the fruit, forming a bigger structured wine than normal. This ball of fruit & spice carries into the finish.
Although this vintage has the exact same percentages & same fruit sources as the preceding 2008, and 2009 it is a different wine. It’s more like the 2008 than the 2009. Aging took place in Seguin Moreau French oak 500L puncheons for the first time. The extra time in barrel and tank, the 2010 has successfully married together the three grape varieties seamlessly to become its own personality.
Enjoy the 2010 with an Osso Bucco, or with a spaghetti bolognese.
Now through 2023.
**Please serve at 58°-62°F (20 minutes in the refrigerator before drinking.)
