European vacation

 

Yet another tasting room is open for business on Grand Avenue in Los Olivos. Even though “the strip” is saturated with wine culture, my guess is that residents, travelers and wine enthusiasts alike will enjoy this new addition.

Tre Anelli may look somewhat familiar to passers-by. Those three interlocking horizontal rings in their logo are reminiscent of something … what is it? I’ll give you a hint. Turn the rings on their side. See it now?

Tre Anelli, which means three rings in Italian, is the new sister winery to Conscilience (the logo of which includes three vertically connected rings), a well respected and highly trafficked winery and tasting room on Grand Ave. Located less than a block from it’s older sister, Tre Anelli’s focus is on Italian and Spanish varietals.

 

Winemaker Brett Escalara has a soft spot for these grapes. His family has roots in both of these countries. Family heritage aside, I, for one, am very excited to see this talented winemaker work his magic with grapes that are often ignored on the Central Coast. These wines are indeed Californian. They are concentrated and filled with bold fruit flavors. However, there is a subtle elegance and “shake in the hips” that sings southwestern Europe.

Consistent with the impeccable style of Conscilience, Tre Anelli’s tasting room is luxurious yet comfortable. It’s easy to forget that one is just off of Grand Ave in Los Olivos. For a moment, with back turned to the street, I drift away to the other side of the world. My European vacation is much closer than I thought, and it still tastes phenomenal.  

 

’06 Pinot Grigio, SB County

Easy drinking yet sophisticated, this white wine is crisp and light bodied on the palette, but still exhibits a wide range of pronounced flavors. Citrus zest mingles with river mud and subtle floral components. I wouldn’t say this wine is fruity, but it still tastes Californian.

 

’06 Verdelho, California

This lesser known varietal is moving up in the world. A nose filled with early season stone fruits and the fresh rain that produced them leads to a clean mineral driven mouth feel begging for shellfish in drawn butter.

 

’05 Nebbiolo, SB County

One taste of well made Nebbiolo makes it very clear why this grape is given so much respect in Italy. Ripe black cherries fill the nose, taking on an exotic quality as they bounce off of deep, luscious, floral aromatics. Great acidity plays well with the wonderful syrupy consistency it presents on the palette, and it will keep getting better.

 

’05 Mourvèdre, Central Coast

Many wineries use Mourvèdre as a blending varietal, but it is less common to find this grape on its own in the bottle, and I often wonder why. There’s great depth of flavor here that deserves to take center stage. Smoky, slightly herbaceous, with tart raspberry fruit flavors that linger on the palette waiting for us to acknowledge this wine’s individual greatness.

 

’05 Tempranillo, SB County

I love to just drink Tempranillo like this one. Not that this wouldn’t go great with some baked mushrooms and goat cheese, but this wine’s medium-full body and finely tuned mouth feel would keep me happy for at least a few glasses. Classic Tempranillo spice and smoke follow the aromatics of a raspberry mocha. It’s almost a meal in a glass. 

 

’06 Sangiovese, SB County

This one has a lot of potential. Right now its good, but my guess is that in about six months it’s going to be great. The earth tones here will do well from this winter’s rain; washing away some of the old dirt to reveal fresh mud and old wood. And then there’s the fruit that’s bound to start coming through in spring . . . cherries and mulberries are already beginning to ripen. 

 

’06 Barbera, Walker Vineyard

Most foodies know how well Barbera goes with food, but for those of you who don’t, yes, it’s a great food wine. Big, full bodied, and best for a hearty meal, not the simple appetizer platter. Blueberries, blackberries and a hint of gasoline (and it’s great) lead to luscious tannins that waltz across the palette with just enough sass to turn a few heads.  

 

’06 Dolcetto, Walker Vineyard

Dark purple and viscous in the glass, this wine seems to speak: “Enjoy me.” Well, I don’t mind if I do. Bold fruit flavors tease the palette through the phenomenal tannins that left me chewing for more. Oh, and turns out this varietal has one of the highest antioxidant levels around. Take your vitamins.

 

 

 

Tre Anelli is located at 2923 Grand Ave. in Los Olivos. You, too, can enjoy a quick European vacation seven days a week between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.