Subscribe to RSS
Fenestra has a long history in the Livermore Valley, as it has been in operation for over thirty years. Their recently promoted head-winemaker, Meredith Miles, is relativity new to the winery, but she’s looking to further the legacy of Fenestra’s owners, the Replogle family. Sourcing fruit primarily from the Livermore Valley and Lodi, they offer a wide variety of wines, so you are bound to find something that’s to your liking .
Here’s what our panel had to say about a handful of Fenestra’s current releases:
Fenestra 2012 Verdelho
Grape(s): 100% Verdelho
Region: Livermore Valley
Price: 10-15
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of lime and tropical fruit open up into floral hints on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of tart apple, lime, and kiwi, accented by hints of minerals. A supple wine that will pair nicely with a variety of seafood dishes, fans of dry, fuller-bodied whites should try this bottle, especially at the price.
Rating: 88
Fenestra 2010 Petite Sirah
Grape(s): 100% Petite Sirah
Region: Livermore Valley
Price: 25-30
Tasting Notes:
Notes of blackberries, blueberries, and black cherries mingle with suggestions of clove, black tea, and oak on the nose. Flavors of bramble fruits and blueberries come together with nuances of sweet spice, tea leaves, and earth on the palate. Dark and supple but still quite smooth, if you’re not a fan of robust, peppery Petite Sirah, this is a wine to try.
Rating: 89
Fenestra 2009 Malbec
Grape(s): 100% Malbec
Region: Livermore Valley
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of blueberries, plums, and boysenberries mingle with notes of sweet spice and clove on the nose. The palate delivers flavors of blueberry, raspberry jam, and plum accented by notes of cinnamon, minerals, and floral hints. Quite smooth, with rich dark fruit, it’s much more approachable than most earthy South America versions of the variety.
Rating: 89
Fenestra 2009 Conjugation
Grape(s): 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, & 3% Malbec
Region: Livermore Valley
Price: 40-45
Tasting Notes:
A bouquet of dark berries, minerals, cocoa, and floral hints rise up from a glass. Flavors of blueberry, raspberry, and black cherry emerge on the palate along with hints of earth and sweet spice. A smooth, lush red with soft tannins, fans of laid-back Bordeaux-style blends will enjoy this bottle.
Rating: 90
Fenestra 2009 Grenache
Grape(s): 100% Grenache
Region: Livermore Valley
Price: 20-25
Tasting Notes:
Aromatics of bramble fruit and cherries meld with notes of vanilla and baking spice on the nose. A sip delivers flavors of raspberry, blackberry, and plum that unfold into suggestions of pepper and herbs. A lighter, fruit-driven red that’s very approachable, enjoy a bottle with grilled chicken or Spanish tapas.
Rating: 90
Fenestra Tawy Port
Grape(s): 50% Petite Sirah port, 16% 1999 Petite Sirah port, 9% 1999 Mourvedre port, 9% 2001 Syrah port, 8% 1998 Zinfandel port, and 8% 1999 Syrah port
Region: Livermore Valley
Price: 30-35
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of walnuts, almonds, dark chocolate, mingle with notes of cassis and maple on the nose. The palate delivers flavors of currants, almonds, and cocoa along with suggestions of apple pie and caramel. A tawy port that’s true to their traditional character, pick-up a bottle to have with your Thanksgiving pies.
Rating: 89
