Dec 30, 2022
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Wrath Wines
| Owner(s) | Barbara Lemmon |
| Web site | www.wrathwines.com |
| Link to this site |
A producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc from the San Saba Estate Vineyard (18 acres of Pinot Noir along with Chardonnay, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc) and other vineyards in Monterey County including Doctor's, McIntyre, and Tondré Grapefield.
Formerly San Saba, the label is now Wrath Wines since Michael Thomas, an archeologist, and his mother and business partner, Barbara Lemmon, bought San Saba winery and vineyards in late 2007 from Thomas' stepfather. Michael Thomas named the project Wrath, after a Led Zeppelin tune. Replanting of the 68-acre site, previously Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, ensued with the assistance of local grower Steve McIntyre.
The winemaker is Sabrine Rodems who earned her MS in Viticulture and Enology at University of California Davis. She interned at Gloria Ferrer Winery and joined Wrath in 2004. She is also consulting winemaker at Ventana Winery. Byron Kosuge is a consulting winemaker for Wrath.
Production is very small and sold primarily through a mailing list (the Wrath List) with the initial releases in April of 2009.
Articles About Wrath Wines
Reviewed Wines
2019 Wrath Saignée Monterey Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., 197 cases, $21. 100% clone “828.” Grapes are from
San Saba Vineyard. A bleed off of clonal pinot lots. Aged 1 month in neutral French oak barrels.
·
Moderately
dark pink salmon color in the glass. Inviting aromas of strawberry, red cherry and wildflower honey. A
somewhat hearty rosé featuring flavors that echo the nose plus notes of watermelon and blood orange. Brisk
acidity, with a satisfying, lip-smacking finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath EX Monterey Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $27 (winery website). Produced and Bottled by Wrath
Wines, Soledad, CA.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of cherry and spice that fade a bit over
time in the glass. Light in weight but very charming, offering an array of juicy red fruits framed by gossamer
tannins. Easy to cozy up to. Pinot Noir unplugged.
Score: 89.
Reviewed November 12, 2020
ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath 115/667 Monterey Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.71, TA 0.60, RS 0.01, 679 cases, $35. Estate
grown grapes from San Saba Vineyard. 50% each 115 and 667. 16% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in an
assortment of French oak barrels, 20% new, and rested in bottle for an additional 12 months before release.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry and dark red rose petal lead to a richly flavored
mid-weight wine featuring a core of black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors with an appealing earthy bent.
Well-managed barrel treatment and a satisfying finish of some length. Excellent value.
Score: 92.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath Pommard 4/777 Monterey Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.73, TA 0.62, RS 0.01, 677 cases, $35.
50% each Pommard 4 and 777. 20% whole cluster fermentation. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 24%
new, and then laid down for an additional 12 months of aging before release.
·
Moderately light garnet color in
the glass. Very enticing aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and floral goodness. The flavors replicate the aromas
with a touch of oak in the background. Suave in texture with minimal tannins and a modest finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath Boekenoogen Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.76, TA 0.58, RS
0.01, 381 cases, $49. This 100-acre family vineyard was established in 1998 by John Boekenoogen. The
family’s cattle business has existed for five generations in the Salinas Valley. 50% 115 and 50% 113. 3-day cold
soak, 20% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 30% new, and laid down for
another 12 months of barrel aging before release.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Earth-kissed aromas of
black cherry, black licorice and seasoned oak. A dreamy texture captures attention upon entry. Somewhat shy,
offering mid-weight flavors of black fruits framed by tame tannins. Needs more time in the cellar.
Score: 91.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath San Saba Vineyard Monterey Pinot Noir
14.2%
alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.60, RS 0.01, 404 cases, $49. Yields 3.5-4.0
tons per acre. Clones “828,” Pommard 4, 667, 777, 115 and
Swan selection. 3-day cold soak, 35% whole cluster
fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 35% new,
and laid down for another 12 months of barrel aging before
release.
·
Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Beautifully
perfumed nose with aromas of dark Boing cherry, spice and
sous-bois. Complex and provocative in a middleweight style
with a delicious core of dark cherry and raspberry fruits
accented with a hint of spice, dark caramel and earthiness.
Admirable balance with welcome finishing persistence.
Score: 93.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., ph 3.77, TA 0.56, RS 0.01,
343 cases, $49. Father Tondré and son Joe Alarid planted the first 6.5 acres of Tondré Grapefield on a gravelly
bench above Salinas Valley in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Today, the 100-acre vineyard is certified
sustainable (SIP) source of Pinot Noir for many of California’s top producers. 40% Pommard 4, 40% 115 and
20% 493. 3-day cold soak, 20% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 27% new,
and laid down for another 12 months of bottle aging before release.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. An
array of aromas lead off including cherry spice cabinet, vanilla and sawdust. Noticeable richness and plush on
the palate, with flavors of black stone and berry fruits. Boldest of the three 2018 vineyard-designated Pinot
Noirs with also more oak in evidence. There is a curious petrol note appearing on the finish.
Score: 92.
Reviewed December 13, 2020
ARTICLE »
2019 Wrath Saignée Monterey Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., 197 cases, $21. 100% clone “828.” Grapes are from San Saba Vineyard. A bleed off of clonal pinot lots. Aged 1 month in neutral French oak barrels. · Moderately dark pink salmon color in the glass. Inviting aromas of strawberry, red cherry and wildflower honey. A somewhat hearty rosé featuring flavors that echo the nose plus notes of watermelon and blood orange. Brisk acidity, with a satisfying, lip-smacking finish. Score: 89. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath EX Monterey Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $27 (winery website). Produced and Bottled by Wrath Wines, Soledad, CA. · Light garnet color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of cherry and spice that fade a bit over time in the glass. Light in weight but very charming, offering an array of juicy red fruits framed by gossamer tannins. Easy to cozy up to. Pinot Noir unplugged. Score: 89. Reviewed November 12, 2020 ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath 115/667 Monterey Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.71, TA 0.60, RS 0.01, 679 cases, $35. Estate grown grapes from San Saba Vineyard. 50% each 115 and 667. 16% whole cluster. Aged 11 months in an assortment of French oak barrels, 20% new, and rested in bottle for an additional 12 months before release. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry and dark red rose petal lead to a richly flavored mid-weight wine featuring a core of black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors with an appealing earthy bent. Well-managed barrel treatment and a satisfying finish of some length. Excellent value. Score: 92. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath Pommard 4/777 Monterey Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.73, TA 0.62, RS 0.01, 677 cases, $35. 50% each Pommard 4 and 777. 20% whole cluster fermentation. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 24% new, and then laid down for an additional 12 months of aging before release. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Very enticing aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and floral goodness. The flavors replicate the aromas with a touch of oak in the background. Suave in texture with minimal tannins and a modest finish. Score: 90. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath Boekenoogen Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.76, TA 0.58, RS 0.01, 381 cases, $49. This 100-acre family vineyard was established in 1998 by John Boekenoogen. The family’s cattle business has existed for five generations in the Salinas Valley. 50% 115 and 50% 113. 3-day cold soak, 20% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 30% new, and laid down for another 12 months of barrel aging before release. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Earth-kissed aromas of black cherry, black licorice and seasoned oak. A dreamy texture captures attention upon entry. Somewhat shy, offering mid-weight flavors of black fruits framed by tame tannins. Needs more time in the cellar. Score: 91. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath San Saba Vineyard Monterey Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.77, TA 0.60, RS 0.01, 404 cases, $49. Yields 3.5-4.0 tons per acre. Clones “828,” Pommard 4, 667, 777, 115 and Swan selection. 3-day cold soak, 35% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 35% new, and laid down for another 12 months of barrel aging before release. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Beautifully perfumed nose with aromas of dark Boing cherry, spice and sous-bois. Complex and provocative in a middleweight style with a delicious core of dark cherry and raspberry fruits accented with a hint of spice, dark caramel and earthiness. Admirable balance with welcome finishing persistence. Score: 93. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »
2018 Wrath Tondré Grapefield Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., ph 3.77, TA 0.56, RS 0.01, 343 cases, $49. Father Tondré and son Joe Alarid planted the first 6.5 acres of Tondré Grapefield on a gravelly bench above Salinas Valley in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Today, the 100-acre vineyard is certified sustainable (SIP) source of Pinot Noir for many of California’s top producers. 40% Pommard 4, 40% 115 and 20% 493. 3-day cold soak, 20% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 27% new, and laid down for another 12 months of bottle aging before release. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. An array of aromas lead off including cherry spice cabinet, vanilla and sawdust. Noticeable richness and plush on the palate, with flavors of black stone and berry fruits. Boldest of the three 2018 vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs with also more oak in evidence. There is a curious petrol note appearing on the finish. Score: 92. Reviewed December 13, 2020 ARTICLE »