Journal | November 5, 2020

Hardscrabble Journal

2020 wines: First Impressions

Writing about wines at this early stage may be premature, but we are getting a sense of the vintage, which correlates with our expectations as harvest unfolded.

The white wines have two attributes that make me smile: pungent aromas and crisp, mineral acidity. This isn’t a surprise given the cool, slow ripening conditions. They are light to medium bodied with low alcohol. Wines for enjoying with dinner. Or even better: lunch.

In the red category, I must say that Cabernet Sauvignon is king. Although lighter bodied than usual, the tannins and length exceed expectations. Petit Verdot may make a feisty varietal wine with exotic aromas and refreshing acidity. Merlot and Cabernet Franc have good balance, but lack the concentration that is needed for them to be big contributors to any single vineyard blends. The one important exception is the Avenius Merlot which has fine tannins and some good mid-palate weight. 

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Hardscrabble JournalJim Law2020