Wild Heart Winery-Summer ‘08 Tasting
Open till 7pm, Wild Heart Winery is one of the last rooms to close, set back a bit from Grand Ave. Alhough tastings here are usually $10, we were invited in with a $2 off coupon. The tasting room itself was shady and clean with a very large L-shaped bar made to handle many guests. There was a good amount of retail merchandise being sold in the way of jewelry and trinkets laid out in cleverly designed display cases built into the wine bar.
At the end of May, the tasting menu consisted of 4 whites and 3 reds. The bartender informed us that they source all of their grapes.
First on the list was a 2006 Viognier, an almost clear selection with a light oak aroma with equally light butter taste overwhelmed by a very abrupt alcoholic finish. The ’06 Tropique du Pinot, a Pinot Blanc, was also nearly crystal clear with a pineapple nose that melds into light oak with a short finish.
Devoid of color, the ’06 Viognier Reserve smelled gently of oak and fresh peaches with hardly any detectable body and an ending of alcohol. The last of the whites, ’07 Soleil Cabernet Sauvignon had just a ghost of golden color. A mostly sweet nose of red berries (think strawberry and raspberry) blended with a citrus body that ended as quickly as it began.
Heart’s dark ’05 Ghost Red comes from Paso Robles, a blend of Merlot, Malec, and Petite Syrah. An initial sugary sweet nose gives way to a deep red berry core with a strong liquor taste.
The Joie Rouge is an anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak since 2002. Undoubtedly, the best of the entire tasting, its caramel nose follows through with a smooth full-bodied toast flavor.
Possibly because of the stark contrast between the Cabernet preceding it, I couldn’t stomach finishing the last of the wines, the ’06 Vivace Refosco, the 1st Italian grape Wild Heart has bottled. The deep purple red of the wine delivered empty promises with a body tasting largely of equal parts grape juice and rubbing alcohol with a harsh burning end.
After pouring out the remaining 06 Vivace, we were asked if we’d like to revisit anything which was kind considering the breakneck speed at which we (along with the rest of the room) were being served. We politely declined considering our major disappointment with most of the wines. Perhaps Wild Heart will have some potential in the future, but for now it seems that they’re rushing out a vastly unpolished product.
My tasting was: $8 with coupon(normally $10) for 7 wines including a logo glass
Wild Heart Winery
2933 C Grand Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441
