Arizona Wine at Devoured 2013

By Pavle Milic Wed., Mar. 13 2013 at 1:00 PM

Categories: Vine Geeks

Continued from page 4

Next up are Rob and Sarah Hammelman from Sand Reckoner Vineyard. If I had to pick a lineup of wine that takes best of show as a group, it would be a dead heat between Dos Cabezas and these guys. The 2011 Malvasia was the first I tasted. I love what this grape does in our state. I think it's a varietal that shows incredibly well. This wine has tropical, citrus, and honey notes, and on the palate it is concentrated and lush. Good acidity makes this a very bright and enjoyable wine, and I think its impact is arresting.

The 2010 Sand Reckoner "5" is 82 percent Sangiovese Grosso and 18 percent Syrah. This wine was fermented and aged in neutral oak, and is very well balanced. Although its texture is light, it didn't lack any concentration of flavor. I got a good mix of toasted woody notes and plum. Downright enjoyable.

The 2010 "7" is 100 percent Syrah. I love the smoky cedar aromas I get on this wine. There is lot of spice and leather and texturally it has well-integrated tanins, just enough to grab your palate and make the nuances of the Syrah last longer.

The last in their lineup is the 2010 Sand Reckoner "11." It's 100 percent Zinfandel that is fortified with neutral grape spirits. This was definitely a decadent offering that could have ripped a layer of enamel off of my teeth. It's big and concentrated, offering all of the sexiness Zinfandel is capable of.

Out of 60 federally licensed and bonded wineries in the state, it was disappointing to only see five represented at Devoured. However, if we start talking about Arizona wines in terms of how they stack up against non-Arizona wines, I still remain enthusiastic about what is currently happening and what will continue to be the evolution of our wine regions.

Now excuse me, I have some bunting to do.

Follow Chow Bella on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.