This Thursday I had the good fortune to meet tepe, his wife and son. I was in Philly on business and returning to CT so I swung by his homestead to meet up. Shortly after few kindred words about our home town of Norwalk CT and extending a hearty welsoming tepe shows me his wine making operation. Not to put too fine a point on it but this guy got me and most of you all beat, hands down. I walked into the living room, 20 carboys there, study 15 there, dining room another 8 I stopped counting at 50. I'm thinking to myself "this guys is to wine like Willy Wonka is to candy" but no, it doesn't stop there, we haven't even gotten to his cellar yet.
As we traverse the stairways of the beautiful converted 1800's country store I see a row of cases.......then another one. My eyes do a quick case count and 100 is about all I can keep track of without leaving my jaw noticibly on the ground. California, Chilean and Italian varietals 04, 05, 06, 07 everywhere on stainless wine racks all whispering "pick me! pick me!". Every bottle is meticulously labeled and capsuled. We hone our sights on a Chilean Cabernet Merlot (80/20) blend and a Tempranillo, that took ten minutes alone becasue there were so many different wines to choose from I felt like a kid on Christams morning. We journey back upstairs to the inviting open air kitchen and uncork them both as I look forward to this carftsman's labors.
Tempranillo has great body, floral nose and buttery as all heck. Its rare when I drink a white and the roof of my mouth feels buttered like when one takes a sip of cream so I know malo has done its job well here. This is my first taste of Tempranillo and boy it's a benchmark to live by. I'm a red guy through and through yet I find myself pouring another glass just to get a "second opinion".
Now I have some Chilean wine experience in both generous "testing" and making so I am looking forward to the Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blend from the moment it called my name. Mentally I'm bowing to tepe as not to overdue the praise but hell it just keeps spilling out. An encompassing fruity nose, smooth across my entire pallete and clean silky tannin finish. Just the right acids and astrigency levels where i really enjoy it on its own as well as knowig it will pair perfectly with a carb and protein rich meal. Not to dilute the meaning and the bonding of this wine to my soul nor the experience with words only wine drinkers use, I simply love this wine.
Great conversation flows easily and I find myself wishing I could camp out here for a while and take it all in. I'm loving the wines alot but elect to excersise extreme discretion as I have 3 hours on the road in front of me. I bid tepe and his gracious wife goodbye and head off to wrestle I-95 back to CT. As I drive I contemplate calling Wade and running my mouth but I'll save that for another post.
Tepe, thank you once again for inviting and welcoming me into your home. I had a great time and a hope to do so again.
P.S. Wade, let the Mrs. know I'll be kidnapping you for a ride down to tepe's place soon.