09 Sep Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Deux Punx Teroldego 2018, Clarksburg AVA

The color of the wine was a deep red and opaque but in the glass and on the palate it was medium bodied with pretty fruit and earth aromas. I had put a little chill on the wine and it was so delicious! That is why the Deux Punx Teroldego 2018, Clarksburg AVA is the Please The Palate wine of the week. Deux Punx was founded in 2008 by two ex-punks, Dan Schaaf and Aaron Olson. Based in Napa, they take a minimal approach to winemakeing, using native yeasts, minimal so2, and ambient temperatures. They source fruit from vineyards across Northern California and let the raw materials from the vineyards shine. Deux Punx is about making wines to be enjoyed and shared and that is what this Teroldego is all about. Teroldego is an ancient grape variety grown in the Trentino region in northern Italy, where it is considered the “prince of Trentino.” DNA testing has revealed that Teroldego is a parent of Lagrein, and a sibling of Dureza, a parent of Syrah. It is possibly also related to Pinot Noir. The Teroldego grape is a late ripening grape that can be low in vigor. In fact, grape bunches are prone to fall off easily in windy sites and can be susceptible to botrytis in humid years. While Teroldego is mostly grown in Trentino, it is also planted in Tuscany, Sicily and the Veneto to be used as a blending grape that adds color. There are also small amounts planted in Australia, Brazil and California. In 2008, there were only 80 acres planted in California and by 2016, there were 665 acres. Now in 2020, many of those acres are starting to bear fruit. The Deux Punx Teroldego 2018 is sourced from Clarksburg AVA in Yolo County. The wine is made with native yeasts, neutral oak, low sulfur, no fining and no filtration. The wine does go through malolatic fermentation and is non-inoculated. It is a deep red, opaque wine. It has an intensely fruity nose with notes of sour cherry, blackberry and plum, as well as hints of mushroom and earth. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied with balanced acidity and soft sandpaper-like tannins. The wine has a lovely mid-palate texture that lingers and the wine finishes with a touch of spice and minerality. This wine is limited in availability but retails for $24. It is ready to drink and can be enjoyed with grilled meats. I especially loved it with a slight chill.