Back to wining...

Hi, All! It's been a minute since I posted, but 2025 turned out to be a challenging year on multiple levels. Luckily, things got better! So, I'm back in the wine world, and happy to be here.

I am always excited when long-established wineries look for ways to improve their winemaking processes and systems. In this case, I had the opportunity to taste two new wines from Robert Hall that embody the goal of making wines that are organic, sustainably made, and climate conscious. Winemaker Amanda Gorter has produced Robert Hall's first commercially available Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC®), offered exclusively through Whole Foods Market. 

JD and I tried the 2025 Sauvignon Blanc first. Typical of the Paso Robles Geneseo District AVA, the wine is bright and tropical. Lots of pineapple, lime, and guava on the nose, followed by more pineapple on the palate, with floral notes and more citrus on the finish. It's got 15% Grenache Blanc blended into it, which provides the white flower aromas. Tasty and refreshing at 13% abv. 

We moved on to the 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon, also from the Geneseo District. This wine has 14% Petite Sirah blended into it, providing some deep color and tannic backbone. Honestly, when we first opened it, we weren't that happy. It just didn't seem to open. We recorked it and put in the fridge, reopening it about a week later. I let it come up to room temp, and was delighted to see how it had evolved. The nose was full of blackberry and baking spices. On the palate, the tannins were silky, and the dark fruit had emerged. A good finish with enough acid to keep the wine food-friendly enhanced our enjoyment. Coming in at a well-balanced 14.5% abv, there was no undue heat or alcohol aromas. 

A couple of minor quibbles had to do with the labels on both wines. The labels are attractive and emphasize the 'green' aim of these ROC® wines. However, I had to search with reading glasses to find the vintage, which was printed in a tiny font on the back label. Also - and this may just be me - but with the increasing demand for clarity in labeling, it would have been nice if both wines showed the grape percentages included. It's not legally necessary, but it's nice to know.

So congratulations to Robert Hall for their ecologically-minded farming methods, and delicious new wines!

As mentioned, these wines will be offered through Whole Foods, value-priced at $29.99 each. For more information on these wines, check out the winery website at https://www.roberthallwinery.com/sustainability/.

Cheers!