The Hedonistic Taster | № 16 | Meeker Wine | Sonoma
by L.M. Archer, FWS | Bourgogne ML
A Tasse de dégustiation, or tastevin, is a silver tasting cup used by vignerons and negociants in Burgundy to taste wines. Most are presented as christening gifts at birth.
" data-orig-size="289,175" sizes="(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px" data-image-title="tastevin" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg" style="border:0;height:auto;max-width:100%;clear:both;display:block;margin:5px auto 10px;border-radius:2px;vertical-align:middle;box-sizing:inherit;" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg?w=289" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2016/04/10/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-1/imgres-4/" alt="Tastevin" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg 289w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg?w=150 150w" class="size-full wp-image-13244 aligncenter" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/imgres.jpg?w=289" />“Wine should not be regarded simply as a beverage, but as an art of living, a pleasure.” – Henri Jayer
Welcome to The Hedonistic Taster, a binNotes | redThread™ trade sampling of gorgeous, small-lot artisan pours in an intimate tasting format.
The title derives from the term ‘hedonistic tasting,’ coined by legendary Burgundian vigneron Henri Jayer. Santé!
Today’s Tasting:
Meeker Wine proprietors Charlie and Molly Meeker craft Old-World style wines from Dry Creek and Sonoma Valley.
" data-orig-size="900,384" title="Charlie and Molly Meeker" data-image-title="Charlie and Molly Meeker" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/the-meeker-story-e1491416088150.jpg" style="width: 696px; height: 297px;" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" height="297" width="696" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/the-meeker-story-e1491416088150.jpg?w=300" data-original-height="297" alt="Charlie and Molly Meeker | Image courtesy Meeker Wines." data-original-width="696" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/the-meeker-story-e1491416088150.jpg?w=700" /> Charlie and Molly Meeker | Image courtesy Meeker Wines.There’s no business like show business. Except the wine business. And no wine business like the family wine business. Meeker Wine owners Charlie and Molly Meeker enjoy fame, a foot – and a hand – in all three.
Back in 1977, Charlie (Attorney-turned-Film Producer-turned-Studio Executive) and Molly (actress-turned-Entertainment Business Affairs Executive) bought a “weekend” vineyard in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Vineyard.
By 1984 they established The Meeker Vineyard, going on to produce award-winning Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay.
After several years of success built upon a grueling schedule divided between Los Angeles and Sonoma, the Meekers sold their original vineyard and bought a new one in eastern Dry Creek Valley, where Charlie left studio helming in Los Angeles to focus on crafting limited production, Old World-style wines of age-worthy complexity, depth and finesse.
Today, Charlie enjoys the fruits of his labor, while Molly reprises her recurring role as Meeker Wine’s Chief Executive of Everything, son Lucas revels in his ladder-climb from cellar rat to head winemaker, and daughter Kelly steers all things media and technology.
Meeker Wines. “For us, wine means family.” Not a bad billing.
Note:
I first learned of Meeker Wines through #wineStudio, an virtual educational wine community. You can learn more about Tina Morey, the taste maker and trend setter behind #wineStudio, here.
2013 Meeker Wine Hoskins Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Grenache is a SF Chronicle Silver Medal winning wine.
" data-orig-size="250,444" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" data-image-title="2013 Meeker Wine Hoskins Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Grenache." data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2013grenachemeeker.jpg?w=700" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2013grenachemeeker.jpg?w=700?w=169" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2017/04/11/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-16-meeker-wine-sonoma/2013grenachemeeker/" alt="" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2013grenachemeeker.jpg 250w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2013grenachemeeker.jpg?w=84 84w" class="aligncenter wp-image-16415 size-full" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2013grenachemeeker.jpg?w=700?w=250" />Wine: Meeker Wine Hoskins Ranch Dry Creek Valley Grenache
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 14.4%
Suggested Retail: $37
Specs
TASTING NOTES:
Robe: Clear garnet robe.
Nose: Marsh rose, cranberry, red currant, white pepper notes.
Palate: Red candy, acerola, persimmon bouche; light body, medium acid, medium tannins, zesty finish.
Suggested Pairings: Grilled vegetable salad.
Meeker Wine’s 2013 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Franc scored 91 points in the March 2017 Wine Enthusiast.
" data-orig-size="180,320" sizes="(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px" data-image-title="2013 Meeker Wine Cabernet Franc" data-orig-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2012cabfrancmeeker.jpg?w=700" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-medium-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2012cabfrancmeeker.jpg?w=700?w=169" data-permalink="https://binnotes.com/2017/04/11/the-hedonistic-taster-%e2%84%96-16-meeker-wine-sonoma/2012cabfrancmeeker/" alt="" srcset="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2012cabfrancmeeker.jpg 180w, https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2012cabfrancmeeker.jpg?w=84 84w" class="aligncenter wp-image-16414 size-full" data-large-file="https://binnotes.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/2012cabfrancmeeker.jpg?w=700?w=180" />Wine: Meeker Wine Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 14.7%
Suggested Retail: $45
Specs
TASTING NOTES:
Robe: Deep garnet robe.
Nose: Blackberry, bing cherry, green pepper nose.
Palate: Red and black berry bouche; medium body, light acid, medium tannins with good aging potential.
Suggested Pairings: A perfect pairing with ratatouille.
Wine: Meeker Wine Handprint Sonoma County Merlot
Vintage: 2013
Alcohol: 14.7%
Suggested Retail: $45
Specs
TASTING NOTES:
Robe: Dark garnet.
Nose: Dark cherry, dark fruit, herbaceous notes.
Palate: Blackberry, brambleberry bouche; medium body, medium acid, medium tannins, lengthy finish. Age-worthy.
Suggested Pairings: This wine begs for prime roast and garlic mashed cauliflower.
❦
You can find more of The Hedonistic Taster here.
Copyrighted 2017 L.M. Archer | binNotes | redThread™. All Rights Reserved.