Meza Wine Cub / April 2025
Connoisseur
(red) Wine 1: Fielding Hills Cabernet Franc
90% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Syrah
Mike Wade crushed the first vintage of Fielding Hills Winery in 2000. With his first vintage, Mike was named Rising Star winemaker of Washington State by Wine Spectator. Since then, for over two decades, the family-owned estate winery has earned a rock-solid reputation as a world-class wine producer.
The first vintage produced 400 cases; after two vintages Mike doubled that number to 800 in 2002. With continued consumer demand, Mike increased to 1,200 cases in 2011. Fall of 2013 saw the first Malbec crushed off of Riverbend Estate Vineyard. Crush in 2014 was at Fielding Hill’s new winery and tasting room in Chelan Washington. At this new facility, production has again doubled with grapes crushed to produce 2,400+ cases. With the move to Chelan and an increase in production, Fielding Hills hired its first employees. Together, Mike and the winemaking team work to create a stand-alone product that reflects their passion.
Tasting Notes: Dark red color with aromas of fresh berries, allspice, and mint; pomegranate, crushed gravel, and a peppercorn medley that wraps around the red fruit notes.
(white) Wine 2: Hourglass Sauvignon Blanc
This is a blend of 78% Napa and 22% Sonoma. It is 91% Sauvignon Blanc and 9% Semillon. Green/sliver/light gold in color, clear and bright. The nose has guava, peach, slight minerality, an herbal note and a bit of lime peel. Medium bodied. Slightly oily texture. Good acidity. On the palate, this has some depth. Tasty with flavors of peach, apple and citrus. Long finish. This drinks well on its own and will work well with lighter foods. It worked nicely with pasta. Drink over the next few years.
(white) Wine 3: Silenus Winery Chardonnay
The Silenus Chardonnay is grown in the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley Red Hen Vineyard. The Red Hen Vineyard near the winery consistently produces complex and lush wines that fully showcase the unique Oak Knoll terroir of cool morning fog and mild mid-day temperatures which allow for the longest hang-time and flavor development in the Napa Valley. The grapes were harvested at the peak of ripeness and gently whole-cluster pressed. After settling for two days, the juice was moved to French oak barrels, 30% new, for fermentation. The wine was aged “sur lie” or on the lees for a full 10 months to build complexity and mouth-feel. The barrel aging provided an elegant layer of oak flavor underlying the vibrant fruit flavors. The resulting wine has a fresh, bright fruit profile with a pleasant, rich viscosity.
The elegant nose starts with flavors of perfumed lemon blossom opening up in the glass to flavors of fresh tropical pineapple, apricots and lingering notes of brioche. The palate is creamy and exceptionally well balanced with flavors of mandarin, preserved lemon and hazelnuts. With each vintage, our Chardonnay proves timeless to its Oak Knoll roots. Enjoy this wine with a simple French-style roasted chicken and a light salad.