We have been to the Occasio Winery before, but were shocked to discover that we had been away for more than a year. Happily, a recent weekend opened up and gave us the opportunity to revisit Occasio and catch up on everything that has happened since our last visit.
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| Fun lighted purse hangers |
The tasting room has gained some new decorations, with some unique touches around the room. The visual centerpiece continues to be the large watch icon over the back arch leading to the club tasting room. One fun new feature is their purse hangers illuminated with ethereal purple rope lights. Nicely done!
But on to the wine! We started with their 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. A new release, this earned exclamations of “yum” and “where’s my pool recliner?” from our group. A hint of citrus really made it refreshing.
Next up was their 2011 Merlot, another new release that represents the Merlot name very well. Hints of tobacco in the aroma that didn’t make it to the palate. All in all, a nice Merlot that will only get better in the coming years.
We moved onto their 2011 Telos. This is a blend of 50 Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. This wine won a Double Gold in the recent Chronicle wine competition, and we could taste the reasons.
We were next served their 2011 Petite Sirah, which earned 90 points from Wine Enthusiast magazine. We enjoyed the blackberry notes and crisp, somewhat acidic finish. A true representation of the Petite Sirah varietal!
Our final taste was their 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. This was another Double Gold winner at the Chronicle competition. The balance of fruits and clean finish make this a great pairing with any hearty meal. We gave it two Yums up!
We said our goodbyes to the every-friendly staff and promised ourselves that we would not wait a year before our next visit. Cheers!
About the Author: John grills a mean steak and is always in the market for another wine fridge. Believes that if a winery has more than 10 employees, it's probably too big. Buys wine faster than he drinks it, but who cares?
