2019 Sabelli-Frisch Mission La Malinche- USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Mokelumne River (5/1/2021)
Very light in color - midway between a red and a rose. Blind, I might pin this as a Pinot Noir, but an unusual one. It’s lighter in body (and color), but a bit more substantial in tannin structure.
Bright, light, elegant, graceful, subtle. But not boring or quiet or subdued - this is a very nice, enjoyable, balanced wine. Red fruit, like a juicy ripe watermelon. Strawberry. Medium tannin backbone that gives it heft. Spice - ginger? Gentle white pepper? Cinnamon?
Thanks for the notes. I have two bottles of La Malinche and two Hernan that I’m looking forward to open soon. Last wednesday I had a mission wine for the first time, it was a 2019 Cara Sur from Argentina (Criolla Chica is how mission is known down there). Ripe watermelon was also my first impression, specially on the nose, so I guess that it’s the typical character of the varietal.