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What We Say 2008 'Persuasion' Red Wine
QPR ALERT:
Today’s exceptional red blend blend is truly a fantastic wine that, at today’s price, drinks above its price class – earning it this special QPR (Quality to Price Ratio).
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Mission Codename: The Ultimate Persuasion
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to Wine Spies Operative favorite, Olson Ogden, and acquire one of their sought-after red wines.
Mission Status: Accomplished
Current Winery: Olson Ogden Wines
Wine Subject: 2008 Persuasion – North Coast Red Blend
Winemaker: Tim Olson
Backgrounder: We first featured fantastic wines from our friends at Olson Ogden Wines a few years. Ever since, our operatives have been clamoring for us to feature another! Through careful negotiation, Agent Red was able to procure a limited quantity of their outstanding North Coast red blend, Persuasion. Today’s delicious Olson Ogden selection is a blend of 69% Syrah, 13% Grenache, 12% Pinot Noir, and 6% Marsanne.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:
Look – Dark Burgundy hues with deeper, almost inky core. On swirling, the wine exhibits a tight surface that settles very quickly, leaving behind skinny, wine-stained tears that run quickly down the glass.
Smell – Bold from the outset, and deepening in complexity as it stretches out, this wine delivers a rush of black plum, overripe blackberry, dried black fig, cassis and black cherry. These are followed by lightly toasted oak, exotic mixed herbs, black tea leaf, subtle leather, tobacco and crushed violets.
Feel – Soft and light on entry, then round across the mid-palate. After a moment, a gradual, mineral laden dryness spreads from the center of the palate and radiates outward. As this dryness spreads, it dries the cheeks and pucker the lips.
Taste – Big and rich, with ripe black fruit that takes an immediate lead. This bold overripe blackberry, plum and black cherry maintain their place on center stage – before dark raspberry, leather, oak and mocha are revealed. At the very tail end, India black tea, exotic spice and subtle herbs and black pepper round out the palate.
Finish – Very long and very flavorful, with layers of flavor that tail off gradually. As the fruit dwindles, exotic spice, tea and herbs emerge, adding a wonderfully earthen character.
Conclusion – The 2008 Persuasion is a boldly delicious gem of a wine that our tasting panel really enjoyed. For its relatively low price, there is an awful lot going on in this approachable, complex and delicious red blend. Olson Ogden has, in the years since we first met them, had quite a stellar rise. Their wines have garnered high praise, accolades and top scores across the wine world. Our Operatives know them best for their Pinot Noir, but through clever negotiation we were able to secure today’s wonderful North Coast red blend. Bold, big, spicy and a little chewy, this is a wine to pair with a hearty beef dish or a grilled steak. We also enjoyed sipping it all on its own. No matter how you enjoy yours, we are sure that this high QPR wine will impress you.
Mission Report:
Winemaker, Tim Olson, assures us that he’ll have time for a full interview, the next time we feature another Olson Ogden wine. Believe us, there will be a next time!
Wine Spies Vineyard Check:
The location of the vineyards where today’s wine was grown remains… TOP SECRET
What the Winery Says
Olson Ogden Wines
About This Wine:
“An inviting focused blend showing black and red fruits with hints of leather, mocha and a whisper of vanilla and violets. A medium to full bodied wine showing layered complexity, excellent balance and supple tannins followed by a lingering finish. This wine is ready to uncork and drink now with family and friends but could be cellared for a few years for future enjoyment.” – Tim Olson, Winemaker
Created to be the “brash, carefree offspring of artisan winery Olson Ogden Wines”, Persuasion was born to be indulged – a special occasion wine at an everyday price point. Each vintage we strive to create the highest quality blend which can be brought to market at an accessible price point.
About The Winery:
Olson Ogden Wines is a small, artisan wine company located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. We specialize in small production, handcrafted wines. Our focus is on Pinot Noir and Rhone varietals, with an emphasis on vineyard designated Syrah’s. We seek out passionate growers with special vineyards.
Our primary goal is to produce balanced, complex and tasty wines that express the terroir and vintage from which they come. Olson Ogden Wines are made with food in mind as we feel that wine is an integral part of a good meal. Our winemaking philosophy has its roots in traditional methods but is tempered by trial and error and creative innovation. Our wines are usually bottled unfined and unfiltered and will likely contain a natural sediment during their evolution. This results in an authentic and honest wine that is rich and complex and a pleasure to drink.
The People:
Tim Olson has been a winemaker in Northern California for more than 21 years. For six years Olson served as winemaker for Tarius Wines in Santa Rosa, CA. With a focus on vineyard designated Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels, Tarius Vineyards produced 1500 cases a year and was distributed in 12 states and three foreign markets. Olson’s wines have garnered numerous awards including “Best of Show” at the California State Fair and numerous gold medals in other competitions. His wines scored well in national wine publication tastings including Wine Spectator, Wine and Spirits, Wine Enthusiast and Connoisseurs Guide To California Wine, among others.
Prior to Tarius Wines, Olson spent three years at French cooperage Tonnellerie Nadalie in Calistoga, CA. There he served as director of enology, managing experiments on cooperage variables in addition to his work in wine sales and marketing activities. His research culminated in organized wine tastings involving nearly 300 winemakers in which he gathered a wealth of statistical data later published in Practical Wine & Vineyard magazine. While at Tonnellerie Nadalie, Olson learned all aspects of forest selection, wood curing and barrel production. His work allowed him to visit over 300 wineries and taste and critique literally thousands of barrel samples.
Before joining Tonnellerie Nadalie in 1995, Olson’s winemaking experience included work at Acacia Winery, Caymus Vineyards and Rosenblum Cellars. He also spent a couple years in the lab as Enologist for St. Supery Winery.
John Ogden manages marketing, sales and business operations for Olson Ogden Wines. Over the course of his 15-year career, Ogden has overseen numerous successful sales, marketing and business development initiatives for a range of businesses from ventures at their earliest stage of development to multi-million dollar companies.
Ogden was an early employee of America Online in Dulles, VA and worked in a variety of business development, sales, marketing and management positions that directly contributed to the company’s hyper growth from 300,000 to 30 million members in five years. After America Online, Ogden advised early stage and mid-size Internet industry companies on their growth, brand and sales strategies.
In addition to his role at Olson Ogden Wines, Ogden is president of Progressive Design Playgrounds, a Southern California Company that designs and manufactures environmentally sound commercial playgrounds, natural playgrounds, safety surfacing and recreation site furnishings that are available nationwide through a network of sales representatives. Widely regarded as a pioneer in children’s play products, Progressive Design Playgrounds recently launched a line of natural playgrounds called Outdoor Learning Environments.
Ogden’s career includes work in the public sector as a legislative aide in the United States Senate and a staff assistant for the United States Senate Financial Committee.
Technical Analysis:
Appellation: North Coast, California
Composition: Grenache (13%), Marsanne (6%), Pinot Noir (12%), Syrah (69%)
Barrel Aging: 17 months in French Oak Barrels, 44% new
Brix @ Harvest: 23.4°-25.1°
Bottled: April, 2010
pH: 3.53
TA: .59 g/100 ml
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 1,406 cases
Release Date: May, 2010
Suggested Retail: $25 per bottle
