Huge fan of Hook & Ladder Winery and winemaker Jason Deloach. Launched in 2003 by his grandfather and grandmother after the sale of Deloach vineyards, the winery amply named after Grandpa Cecil's 17 year career as a firefighter. Jason joined 3 years later and is making exceptional wines.
I had the opportunity to visit Hook and Ladder a few years ago meeting Jason and his wife, getting a tour of their operation and one of the highlights was having the opportunity to barrel taste. Folks if you ever get a chance to barrel taste by all means jump on it. The progression of a varietal from early barrel life to ready to bottle in your mouth is eye popping. Imaging bitter to heck yes give me another glass of that one and having the winemaker talk about the barrel ageing and transformation. Great wine learning experience.
The Tillerman Red is a wine I like to have on hand for its versatility and is an easy sipping wine. If you check their website out the 2019 is the current release but the consistency vintage to vintage is what makes this wine special as all their wines. The 2017 is a blend of 49% Cabernet, 1% Sangiovese, 26% Cabernet Franc and 24% Merlot all harvested from the family's Los Amigos Ranch in the Chalk Hill district. The nose is full of ripe berries with dark cherry, raspberry, with a hint of floral notes and spice. The mouth is full of juicy raspberry, hints of cherry with black currants, a kiss of spice and earth on the smooth silky long finish.
Touring wine country, I would recommend a stop at Hook and Ladder Winery to taste, sip and savor. They would appreciate you buy a bottle or 3 and even sign up for their wine club to receive shipments right to your home.
Keep an eye out I have a few more of their newer vintages to taste!
Cheers
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