VascoUrbanoWines

Just in case you hadn’t heard, California Rhone is awesome. Yeah, the varieties don’t get the same fanfare as Cabernet, but that doesn’t mean, they can’t be a rich, deep, and flavorful. And, just in case you hadn’t heard, also, the Livermore Valley is one of the best places in the state to grow the grapes. There, Vasco Urbano Wine Company focuses solely on Rhone-Style wines, with winemaker Collin Cranor (and others) working alongside their vineyard partners to source some of the valley’s most exceptional fruit. Visit them and taste just how good Cali-Rhone can be.

Nottingham_13GSM

Vasco Urbano 2013 “The Sheriff” GSM Blend

Grape(s): 61% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 14% Mourvedre

Region: Livermore Valley, Ca

Price: 30-35

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of raspberries, plums, and blueberries interweave with suggestions of pepper and earth on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of blueberry, boysenberry, and strawberry, which open up into traces of pepper and minerals. A bright wine with welcoming fruit, it’s a fine example of a Cali Rhone-Style blend. 1,000 cases produced.

Rating: 92

758-Vasco_HP_2012a

Vasco Urbano 2013 “Brunswick” Petite Sirah

Grape(s): 100% Petite Sirah

Region: Livermore Valley, Ca

Price: 25-30

Tasting Notes:

Fragrances of blueberries, blackberries, dark chocolate, and pepper greet the senses. The palate delivers flavors of blueberry, plum, and blackberry alongside accents of cocoa and spice. Rich and dark but still quite smooth for a Petite Sirah, it’s a perfect wine for anything barbecued. 1,700 cases were made.

Rating: 91

Nottingham_13Grenache

Vasco Urbano 2013 “Norm” Grenache

Grape(s): 100% Grenache

Region: Livermore Valley, Ca

Price: 40-45

Tasting Notes:

Notes of strawberries, plums, and cherries meld with traces of spice and vanilla on the nose. With a sip, flavors of strawberry, plum, and pomegranate flow into highlights of sweet spice, cola, and white pepper. A lighter wine with vibrant flavors, enjoy a bottle with grilled chicken or pork. 675 cases produced.

Rating: 91

758-Vasco_HP_2012a

Vasco Urbano 2012 “H.P” Mourvedre

Grape(s): 100% Mourvedre

Region: Livermore Valley, Ca

Price: 40-45

Tasting Notes:

A bouquet of cherries, blackberries, smoky bacon, and pepper rises up from a glass. Flavors of black cherry, blueberry, and blackberry emerge on the palate, along with suggestions of smoked meat, thyme, and pepper. Hearty flavors and supple tannins make this wine a fine choice to pair with lamb kabobs. 100 cases were made.

Rating: 90