Anthony Scotto III, energetic CEO of Scotto Cellars, is a member of a fifth generation of California vintners located in Walnut Creek. Recently he told me during a phone conversation that as a child, his family “never saw wine as glamorous. It was simply a piece of the puzzle when it came to dinner.” This large Italian family considered wine a humble addition to the meals served each Sunday when everyone gathered. Scotto’s great grandfather, Dominic, arrived in the United States from Ischia, Italy in 1903 and settled in Brooklyn. Having made wine in Italy, he taught his sons to make their own which they sold from horse drawn wagons on the streets of New York. Interestingly, Anthony Sr. and brother Sal introduced their first brand, Villa Armando, in 1948 and it continues to be sold today. In 1963, Anthony Sr. moved from Brooklyn to Livermore Valley in California with his own family during harvest and continued the tradition of winemaking.
I had a chance to taste wines sent to me as samples. The three selections from the Rare Wines brand will set you back a mere $10 or so and are blends from multi-vintages so that “the winemaker is able to be more creative.” I felt that all three wines were a good value for the price. The 50 Harvests 2012 Napa Valley Meritage was a stunner.
The Rare Rosé showed intense aromas and tastes of strawberries and juicy raspberries from a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, and Symphony (a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris developed for growing in hot Central Coast vineyards). Grapes were sourced from vineyards in Lake County, El Dorado Hills, and the cooler areas of the Central Valley. Light and refreshing, the tart citrus finish was lovely. With aromas of green citrus, stone fruit, honeysuckle and hint of minerality the Rare White was a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, and Symphony from grapes grown in Mendocino County, Lake County, Paso Robles, and the Central Valley. I noted a fruit forward palate profile with citrus, ripe stone fruit, and a bit of spice on the finish. The Rare Red is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Verdot, Petite Syrah, and Merlot from Lodi, Paso Robles, and the Central Valley. On the nose, ripe red fruits and a tingly spice led to more of the same on the palate. More of that zesty spice lingered on the finish and the Rare Red was just as good sipping on the deck as it was paired with dinner.
The 50 Harvests 2012 Napa Valley Meritage, commemorating fifty consecutive harvests for the Scotto family, is a wine I absolutely loved. Created at the family’s Napa Valley winery, Steele Cellars, the 2012 is its second release. From vineyards in the Oak Knoll District on the Silverado Trail, 50 Harvests is a rich Bordeaux blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot, and 10% Malbec. Deep garnet in the glass, I found aromas of overripe raspberries, plums, rhubarb, vanilla and hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. Dry with medium acidity and a well integrated tannic structure, notes of lush red fruits, white pepper, and graphite created a balanced wine with complexity and intensity that were memorable. The cost of the 50 Harvests is a well priced $50.
Cheers~ Cindy
