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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Rotta 2004 Black Monukka
The Award-Winning Wine:
Rotta 2004 Black Monukka
Reason for Reviewing:
Rotta 2004 Black Monukka is one of just four wines, out of 1,700 wines entered from wineries in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Baja California, British Columbia, Australia, and New Zealand, selected as a Sweepstakes Winners at the recently completed West Coast Wine Competition here in Santa Rosa, California.
Noteworthy:
Rotta Winery, founded in 1908 by the Rotta Family, is the only remaining family owned “original” winery in San Luis Obispo County. Mike Giubbini, grandson to the Rotta Family, Steve Pesenti, grandson to the founders of the Pesenti Winery (1934) and Mark Caporale of Napa, have combined their talents to “bring back to life” the historic and rustic winery.
The Grape:
Black Monukka is a vitis vinifera, or European grape, and the hardiest of the lot. It grows in long large clusters, and is a reddish-black large oval shape. It is a crisp and fresh, seedless, sweet table grape with tender dark skin. Generally served fresh, as grapes, or used to make raisins.
Winery Notes:
The caramelized, nutty and vanilla aromas of this baked cream sherry reveal the flavor of the Black Monukka grapes that produced this wine. After a lengthy aging in small oak barrels, its’ richness in the flavor will linger in your mind forever. A wine to be sipped and enjoyed with cheeses and after dinner. Rotta Winery is the exclusive producer of this rare, sweet dessert wine.
AlaWine Notes:
Rotta 2004 Black Monukka pours as a beautiful dark amber color in the glass and radiates rich, nutty aromas. Hazelnut and maple flavors blend in a vanilla context across the palate. A moderate tartness highlights a carmel flavored finish.
Bottom Line:
Rotta 2004 Black Monukka a well balanced, very flavorful, and satisfying fortified dessert wine. Suggested retail price is $22 for a 375ml half-bottle. Overall composite score: 98 points.