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Hand of God Wines Review – A Delicious Rapture of Flavor
Category: Haute This Issue
Published on Thursday, 04 December 2014 18:18
Written by Janet Walker
With a name like Hand of God Wines there is little room for error and when an inviting sampler of its newest vintages showed up the expectation for a delightful, rapturous, cloud nine of flavor experience was high.
The Hand of God Vineyards, the brain child of Co-Founder Jon Staenberg, a former Venture Capitalist and Co-Founder Santiago Achaval, "The Master of Malbec" a wine maker from Mendoza Argentina. The two met at Stanford Business School became friends and shared a deep appreciation for wine as Archaval at the time owned the Archaval-Ferrer Winery, in Mendoza.
Santiago Archaval, no stranger to delicious wines, boasts five of the highest rated Argentina Wines, two 99's and three 98's with renowned wine critic Robert Parker awarding him the highest rated Argentinean wine to date.
Hand of God vineyards, a new world wine producing outside of the traditional growing areas, has two large vineyards, Sobremesa Vineyard and Stolen Horse Vineyard with a soil concentration which is best suited for the grapes.
With two separate vineyards, each growing distinctive grapes, located in the Maipu region of Mendoza appellation of Argentina, Hand of God wineries are carrying on the tradition.
After receiving the autumn newsletter from Hand of God Wines, the name itself drew me deeper into the newsletter and website, I reached out to the company as the descriptions were so tempting that I reached out to congratulate and casually ask for a review sample.
Agreeing to send a beautiful three bottle sampler arrived the week before Thanksgiving from our friends at the Hand of God Vineyards.
Ted Apostolou, Director of Operations, sent the signature HGV collection including a bottle each of the 2010 Stolen Horse Old Vine Malbec, 2010 Fingerprint Series Sobremesa Red Blend, and the 2012 Fingerprint series VRM White Blend to our table for the holidays.
The Ultimate Test – Taste
The 2010 Stolen Horse Old Vine Malbec
The Old Vine Malbec, a new world Red, from the Stolen Horse old Vineyard, on its own had an intense, deep, rich robust, earth taste, and for me I feel more developed palettes prefer the strength of the Red's alone.
I found the old vine Malbec delicious when paired with either a very hot, spicy sauce, and having had a introductory course to wine and food pairing, I chose to add a simple hot sauce which I felt tamed the seriousness allowing the wine to become a gentler, smoother wine and with that enhancing the flavors alone.
The 2010 Stolen Horse Old Vine Malbec is a 2010 vintage, a Malbec grape and is cultivated in the Maipu appellation, from the Stolen Horse Vineyard. The 2010 Old Vine Malbec was raised entirely in new oak, aged 20months in 100% French oak, which accounts for the barrel, or oaky flavor and has an alcohol content of 14.5%
2010 Fingerprint Series Red Blend
Both the 2010 Fingerprint Series Sobremesa Red Blend and the 2010 Stolen Horse Old Vine Malbec, if Red is the preference, are singularly delicious. With a nice crest, both had nice legs with a deep rich aroma, and a nice finish that gently lingered like a good lover.
With a finish that separates in flavors and ones palette does not need to be sophisticated to understand and appreciate the bountiful flavors as they seem to dance on the tongue, and with clear and distinctive difference one is able to taste fruits as the wine separates.
Paired with ground chuck or a heavy meat, such as steaks or anything cooked in deep fat, add elements of silky smoothness, a nice gourmet Kobe Beef Berger or pasta with a rich red sauce, which is why when one visits any of the more famous steak houses they see the menu loaded with Reds, Burgundy's and Merlots.
The 2010 Fingerprint Series Red Blend is a 2010 vintage, from a Malbec-Syrah-Petit-Verdot grape and is cultivated in the Uco Valley appellation, from the Sobremesa Vineyard. The 2010 Fingerprint Series Red Blend was aged 20months, raised 10months in new French oak and the second year in seasoned oak, which accounts for the deep, robust flavor and has an alcohol content of 14.5%.
2012 Fingerprint Series VRM White Blend
I do admit White Wines are my favorite, and with a swirl that is enchanting, fresh, spring like enveloping aroma and a sweetness that lingered on the lips, a light flavor with a finish that stirred memories the 2012 Fingerprint Series VRM White Blend from Hand of God Wineries has it all and was simply delicious.
A standalone wine, and of course, it wouldn't be fair without explaining just as with the reds white wine flavors are also enhanced by food pairings. What is most unusual with food-wine pairing is that a seemingly small amount can enhance the flavors to where one would think they were enjoying two different wines. A simple white cheese or a white fish can noticeable change the delicate flavor.
The 2012 Fingerprint Series VRM White Blend is a 2012 vintage, from a Viognier-Marsanne-Roussanne grape and is cultivated in the Uco Valley appellation, from the Sobremesa Vineyard. The 2012 Fingerprint Series VRM White Blend was raised 10months in third year seasoned oak, and has a alcohol content of 14.4%.
Revered Wine Critic Robert Parker who developed the numerical wine evaluation scale has bestowed the 2012 Fingerprint Series VRM Blend from Hand of God Wines a 90.
Hand of God Wines are a charming rapture of delicious flavors!