The Tasting Panel magazine

August 2018

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august 2018  /  the tasting panel  /  71 Doing "What's Good for the Earth" The Storyteller Series campaign also lays the groundwork for successes to come, as the anniversary celebration naturally coincides with new releases. Blended with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Merlot and aged in a mix of stainless steel and French/ American oak, the commemorative 2016 Anniversary Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is "certainly a nod to our past," Pramanik says. She adds that she and Fetzer Vineyards Head Designer Aaron Woolsey "went back and found every old bottle [they] could" to revive a vintage logo for the three-piece label, which also bears a commissioned illus- tration of the barn on Fetzer Vineyards' Hopland property. Conversely, Pramanik explains, the 2016 Flatbed Red "looks to the future" as "the biggest product innovation [the winery has] had since Eagle Peak Merlot" first hit shelves in 1993. Though the label on the blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, and Petit Verdot depicts the same pickup truck fans of the core port- folio will recognize, Pramanik explains "it's much more modern to introduce a new group of consumers to Fetzer." In the wake of these new releases, the company's legacy of innovation as a force for good persists. Consider Fetzer Vineyards' commitment to sustain- ability, based on what Regenerative Development Manager Elizabeth Drake summarizes as "Barney's ethos that what's good for the earth is good for the grape, and therefore makes better wine." After committing to utilizing 100 percent renewable energy in 1999, Fetzer Vineyards has since become the first wine company to report and verify greenhouse-gas emissions with The Climate Registry, as well as the largest to receive zero-waste and B-Corp certifications. It was also the first U.S. winery to be certified as Carbon Neutral®, and additional goals are set for reductions in both water and energy use by 2020. The company also assists in helping growers go sustain- able in their own practices. Another guiding principle at Fetzer Vineyards is that of "regeneration," or, as Drake puts it, "looking beyond just minimizing negative impacts—a more traditional approach to sustainability— to seeking out opportunities to create positive impacts in the world." To that end, the company recently organized its inaugural Force for Good Day, shut- ting down operations so employees could volunteer in their communities. As the winery forges ahead into its sixth decade, Blue sees the values he's helped implement throughout his career already "carrying forward to the next generation—there's a continu- ity there." It certainly bodes well for Fetzer's next 50 years. Fetzer 2016 Shaly Loam Gewürztraminer, Monterey County ($11) Off-dry with an abundance of intense aromatics. Stone fruit is like nectar on the nose and palate as the crisp acidity works its way through dense melon, peach, and apricot. The mid-palate brings in quiet rose-petal notes with a hint of ginger spice. 91 Fetzer 2016 Flatbed Red, California ($10) This wine offers up a berry happy nose of vibrant boysenberry and cherry. On the palate, plump, delicious flavors of plum and black cherry play up against round tannins; white-peppered cassis and dark chocolate also come into play with extended length on the finish of pomegranate and cherry jam. Aged for eight months with a mix of French and American oak. 92 Fetzer 2016 Anniversary Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, California ($13) This release stands for 50 years of sustainable practices and quality. With its full-flavored aromas of strawberry, black raspberry, and nutmeg, this wine overdelivers. There's a density to the mouthfeel and the flavor profile delves deeply with cassis, fudge, and toasty toffee, but it brightens up due to ripe, vibrant fruit surfacing on the mid- palate. Aged in a combination of stainless steel, French oak, and American oak for eight months. Happy Anniversary! 92+ Tasting Panel Picks: Best Value Wines Fetzer Vineyards Winemaker John Kane with the winery's portfolio, including the 50th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon. PHOTO: KAARE IVERSON

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