Fess Parker Winery
2008 Triune Synthesis
Red Blend
Santa Barbara County
Mission Briefing
Combined Forces
Today’s 2008 Triune Synthesis is a delicious Santa Barbara red blend that really took our tasting panel by surprise. Concentrated dark fruit melds with earthy spice minerals and a lively acidity, framed against fresh, ripe tenants, to deliver a most delicious and wonderful overall experience.
This very highly recommended, budget-friendly wine is drinking just beautifully now. Balanced flavors and bright acidity make this morning and easy companion for most fine meals. At a price that won’t bust your budget. If you do decide to sample today’s wine, just be sure to purchase a few extras to keep on hand for the next few years. This wine will certainly continue to evolve overtime. Decant for best results and be rewarded with a wine whose flavor profile really comes alive, offering a softer feel and brighter, more authentic fruit.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Darkest ruby red hues, with a slightly opaque core. Soft ruby edges catch the light, offering lovely red glints as the wine is swirled. As the wind settles it leaves behind type clusters of chubby, slow-moving legs. |
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| Smell: | Lush, dusky aromas of dark raspberry, black cherry and wild strawberry jump from the glass. As the wine opens up - with some hearty swirling - it reveals a bevvy of follow-on aromatics. These include sweet Blackberry, spiced cherry candy, blackcurrant, cigarbox, sweet leather, violets and a hint of peppercorn. |
| Taste: | Focused, lush and complex with rich flavors of cherry, wild strawberry, blackberry juice, smoky blueberry, mild tobacco, something toasty oak and sweet spice. |
| Finish: | Very long and lush, with a mouth coating presence that lingers on for a very long time. Dark flavors of ripe black fruit, spice, wood and a soft minerality fade very gradually. At the very end a subtle graphite flavor remains behind for a long time. |
| Pairing: |
What the Winery Says
Steve Heimoff
Soft, rich and spicy, with loads of cherries and cranberries, sweetened with a touch of oak. It’s a nicely balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah and Carignane. — (10/1/2011) — 88 Points Wine Enthusiast
Varietal Composition
Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, and Carignane.
Appellation
Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County
Production
260 Cases
Alcohol
15.4%
About the Winery
When Fess Parker was cast in the roll of Davy Crockett in the mid-1950’s, it caused an international sensation and changed his life forever. So too did the purchase of 714 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley change the course of the Parker family’s history.
Realizing the potential of Santa Barbara County as a premium grape-growing region, Fess and his son, Eli, originally set out in 1989 to plant a small vineyard and sell fruit to local producers. But, as Fess’ daughter, Ashley explains, “ Fess is from Texas, so he can’t do anything small. “The Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard now farms almost 700 acres on four vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County.
Working as a family has always been a great source of pride and pleasure for the Parker family. Eli Parker began in the family business as assistant winemaker in 1989. After several years of learning the craft at the side of renowned and accomplished winemakers, Eli took the reins himself as winemaker with the 1995 vintage. A leader of the winery since its inception, it was in 1996 that Eli formally assumed the title and responsibilities of President. In the early 1990’s, Ashley ran the first tastings out of the barrel room and represented the winery at trade shows. In 1998, Ashley became Eli’s partner, working on the public relations and sales and marketing teams.
Winemaker Blair Fox
Winemaker Blair Fox draws his inspiration from many Old World producers and from the experiences he had as a winemaker during a stint in Australia’s Barossa Valley as well as Haselgrove Winery – a custom-crush winery in the McLaren Vale. Their work inspires him as he continues to build a portfolio of wines that remain firmly planted in Old and New World styles of wine growing and winemaking.
Graduating from UC Davis in 1999 with a combined degree in Viticulture and Enology, Blair Fox gained winemaking experience at Sunstone Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley as well as Australia. He also traveled through France’s Rhône Valley before returning to his hometown of Santa Barbara.
At that point he joined Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard as Associate Winemaker, overseeing the Rhône varietal wines, having previously consulted in the vineyard for the winery’s 2002 harvest. Fox continues the stylistic direction set by Eli Parker when capturing the terroir of the vineyards. He aims to continue raising the bar for the award-winning Fess Parker wines.