Terlato Family Vineyards Galaxy 2011
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Winemaker Notes
Deep garnet color. Aromas of cassis, boysenberry, and red fleshed plums with floral and white pepper undertones and a hint of sweet smoke. Juicy with a plush mid-palate and smooth finish. The muscular structure is well integrated with judicious use of new French oak. There is a great aging potential here but drinks beautifully right now.
Blend: 40% Syrah, 40% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Other Vintages
2012-
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For years, Anthony J. Terlato was known for importing wines of quality and distinction to the US Market. During a visit to Italy in 1979, Terlato found himself in a restaurant tasting a selection of wines the US had not yet seen. His most important find: a varietal called Pinot Grigio. From there, a legacy was born. Forty years later, the Terlato Family set out to continue their passion for Pinot Grigio and find the pinnacle of production to share with the U.S. In 2014, Bill Terlato wanted to find a new Pinot Grigio for the portfolio that would be even more elevated in taste and quality - unlike any other Pinot Grigio in the market that boasted more complexity and minerality. The ultimate quality was found in the hills of Friuli, with a partnership between the Capaldo Family and Sirch Families. It was with this combined partnership and discovery of Friuli that the Terlato family knew they could continue to tell their luxury story and continue to evolve Pinot Grigio. With over four decades of experience importing, marketing & sharing luxury wine with American consumers, a new era of Pinot Grigio was born. Terlato Vineyards continues to promote luxury Pinot Grigio that highlights a sense of place and delivers the ultimate quality. In 2018, a new package was introduced and in 2019, a partnership with Riedel was formed to develop a Pinot Grigio-specific glass to enhance the Terlato experience.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.