2003 Red Wines in Review by AV Winemaker –

Cecil McLester

1. - 2003 AV Merlot/Cabernet,

Want to have your cake and eat it too? If you like Merlot but wish it had more stuffing…this is your wine! The fruity Merlot flavors are kicked up a notch with this almost 50/50 blend with Cabernet that adds character and fullness to the blend.

Excellent with a Buffalo Rib Eye Steak and a baked Potato….MMMMM!

2. - 2003 AV Shiraz/Grenache,

If the Aussie’s can do it…so can we ! This Classic blend of Shiraz and Grenache was invented in Australia, but perfected in the Antelope Valley. Rich Shiraz fruitiness and the bold flavors of Grenache combine to produce a wine of great complexity and body.

Try this wine with BBQ Buffalo Ribs on the Barbie, Mate.

3. - 2003 AV Zinfandel – Our own AV Estate Vineyard and Smith Vineyard combined in this classic AV Zinfandel that is full of Zin spiciness and character.  The addition of Syrah and Grenache to the blend propels this Zinfandel to another level.  When you can’t decide on a wine for dinner, try our 2003 AV Zinfandel for a pleasing surprise.

4. - 2003 AV Syrah - This is not your classic inky, dark AV Syrah. It’s different…it’s dark…true, but, it’s also very spicy and full due to the blend of Syrah and Sangiovese fruit that just love one another. Where’s the Leg of Lamb? Pizza?  

5. - 2003 AV Cabernet Sauvignon – This will be our last Cabernet Sauvignon for a while and it’s a good one. A 50/50 blend from two vineyards on opposite sides of the Antelope Valley with Body and Structure from Vincent Hill in the South and Rich Cabernet Fruitiness from Smith in the North.

This is a sipping Cab with great “smell it to death” qualities that will turn a good Prime Rib Dinner into a feast!

6. - 2003 AV Fusion - What do you get when you painstakingly blend the best bits of our 2003 Red wines together? Fusion of course! This is the quintessential BLEND…. ain’t no other like it!

You have in one bottle all that is good and great to enjoy in blended wines. It comes together in a glorious fashion and will complement your best meal and make you wish for more!

Limited supply…AV Wine Club only!

The year 2003 was a typical warm year in the Antelope Valley with our harvest completed by the second week of October. The grapes we crushed from four different Antelope Valley Vineyards were excellent quality with all of the grape varieties coming into the winery at the desired sugar/acid balance. As a result, we were able to produce wines with huge fruit flavors, spicy American Oak complexity and moderate acidity that is so characteristic of our big Antelope Valley California Wine style.

The 2003 wines  mark an  AV Winery turning point with most of the wines being blends put together to enhance and supplement the varietal character of each wine in the blend. As you taste these wines, try to pick out each grape in the blend. It’s an interesting exercise and one I found to be quite exhausting, but also FUN, as a Winemaker looking for the best blend. I hope you enjoy drinking the 2003 Red Wines  as I did Making and Blending them.

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