Linne Calodo Wines - Paso Robles Innovator
Mind-Boggling Rhone-Style Red Blends from California
Aug 9, 2008
The 2005 vintage from California winery Linne Calodo was a stellar one according to Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. In the 8-31-07 issue all nine wines rated received scores ranging between 92 and 96 points. While these high scores are a good indicator that winemaker Matt Trevisan knows what he's doing, what's more interesting is how he's getting there.
Zinfandel meets France's Rhone Valley
Anyone who appreciates Rhone varietals like Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre will recognize immediately that Linne Calodo excels at blending these wines. What is less common is that Trevisan incorporates old vine Zinfandel into many of his creations.
A Sense of Place
The name Linne Calodo comes from the rocky limestone soil types found in the area west of Paso Robles where Linne Calodo grows and purchases fruit. As winemakers have discovered in recent years, these soils are well-suited to Rhone varietals in addition to the area's heritage grape, Zinfandel.
A Sense of Humor
While the wines of Linne Calodo are serious, their names are a good indication that there's no wine snobbery behind this brand. Memorable names like Nemesis, Outsider and Problem Child just increase the desire to pull the cork and then mull over why the winemaker bestowed these funny monikers.
Cult Wine Status
Low production, relatively high prices and critical acclaim all add up to success for this small Mom and Pop winery. Most wines sell out quickly to mailing list customers. Prices are in the $45 to $95 range at release. According to the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Linne Calodo produces just 2,750 cases of wine per year.
Winemaking Philosophy
As a biochemistry major at Cal Poly, Matt Trevisan learned the science of wine, but it is in the vineyard where his wines are truly made. With a passion for sustainable farming practices and a desire to let the fruit speak for itself, his winemaking style is low-tech. He's guided by the qualities of the fruit and each year the blends are different, depending on what he has to work with.
2006 Linne Calodo Wines
At a recent tasting of the 2006 Linne Calodo Leona's, a blend of 74% Zinfandel, 12% Mourvedre, 8% Alicante and 6% Syrah, the wine revealed a superb balance in spite of an alcohol level over 15%. The rich, fruity Zinfandel had plenty of structure and a long white pepper finish that was an ideal match for a mixed grill of sausages and vegetables. Looks like 2006 will be another winning year for wines from Linne Calodo. Buy them while you can.
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