Ep 161 - El Dorado

Court of Wine

This week we are talking about the small AVA in California call El Dorado. El Dorado is a sub-appellation of the 2,600,000-acre Sierra Foothills AVA which is one of the largest appellations in California.

If you want to learn more about the Sierra Foothills, check out episode 160.

Wine Recommendations

RPM Wines 2014 El Dorado Gamay Noir - priced around $33.

• Light Garnet colored wine with aromas of dried cherries, balsamic and a hint of coriander
• It’s dry with light to medium body, light tannins and medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas as well as a bitter component to the finish, almost like radicchio
• This wine is starting to show it’s age but still is fruity
• We loved the candied cherries aromas, the nose in more intense than the flavors of this wine
• Although it’s not an intense flavored wine, more delicate, we think this would compliment food really well and could still be aged if you are looking to see how the aromas and flavors continue to develop over time.

Skinner Mourvèdre 2015 - priced around $30.

• For this wine we got aromas of red berries, dust, violets and graphite
• It’s dry with medium body, medium tannins and medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas, red fruit - cherries, strawberries, sandy dirt, violets with a hint of mushroom
• This is a really approachable wine and is more fruity in aromas than in taste
• We think this wine who do well with food: Beef and lamb dishes, Chili, Hard Cheese, dishes with earthy flavors like Mushrooms or lentils,
• Had a hard time finding the 2015 online but the 2014 and the 2016 is available on Skinner’s website.

If you are looking for some additional El Dorado wine recommendations check out our past episodes listed:

• Episode 54 on Viognier
• Episode 98 - Four Wines January 2018
• Episode 113 - Four wines May 2018
• Episode 145 on Orange Wines

Sources used for this episode:

• El Dorado Wines
• American Winery Guide
• Book: American Wine by Jancis Robinson and Linda Murphy