Terry Hoage 5 Blocks Cuvee 2012
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5 Blocks is a fan favorite at Terry Hoage. Syrah leads the blend with its classically dark color, big mouth feel, and savory notes of beef and bacon fat. The Syrah is blended with carefully chosen amounts of Mourvedre, and Grenache, each adding their own unique character. Our 5 Blocks cuvee is generally bigger than the Pick (also a GSM), but can be more feminine in certain years. It always shows beautifully in its youth and is one of the most interesting, balanced, and complex blends that we produce. Named for the five blocks of fruit the blend was first made from, it also happens to be the number of blocked field goals Terry made at the University of Georgia (possibly still a school record!).
Other Vintages
2011-
Robert
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The wines are created using a minimalist philosophy. Using 100% French oak, the Hoages craft their wines without racking, fining or filtering. The only time the wines are moved is during the bottling process. With extremely minimal processing, the wines deliver intense fruit flavors and showcase Terry Hoage Vineyard's dedication to winemaking.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.