Joseph Filippi Winery & Vineyards

Gino Filippi is personally responsible for Cucamonga Valley becoming an American Viticultural Area. This southern California wine producing region has been long-overlooked. Brothers Joseph “J.P.” and Gino Filippi, and their winemaking team of Marc Lurton of Chateau Reynier in Bordeaux, Tish Cooper and Dr. Fred S. Nury, produce a wide spectrum of Cucamonga based wines as well as wines from other appellations. This rich, supple red, a Paso Robles appellation wine, is typical of that region.

Paso Robles Bordeaux varietals tend to show baked and dried fruit characters rather than the brighter berry, currant, plum, and leafy notes found in their counterparts in coastal and/or Northern California. Bright, vibrant and lightly saturated ruby, this wine has warm climate aromas of raisin, fig, and prune, along with cedar chest, maple, vanilla bean, bacon, and caramelized prosciutto notes. On the palate it is opulently fruity with dark bing cherry and blackberry, raisin, fig Newton, vanilla and orange zest. Oak tannins are well integrated until the finish, where the wine becomes chalky in texture. This would be delicious with braised veal with Portobello mushrooms, or with grilled venison.

Reviewed August 1, 2007 by Catherine Fallis.