Every bottle has a story. Winemaker Damian Doffo tells us a bit of history about four of our favorite Doffo Wines.
Mistura History
Mistura was the first wine ever produced by my dad Marcelo Doffo on the original 3.5 acre Doffo vineyard during the 2002 harvest. This delightful four varietal blend acquired its name from a conversation between Marcelo and his Portuguese friend Ivo. “Mistura” is a literal translation for mixture in Portuguese. Marcelo’s original plan was to produce this blend every other year, as it was quite literally a field blend of everything planted at the time. The original vineyard was planted with 60% Cab Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. The 2004 harvest produced an incredible vintage for the Mistura. So much so that Marcelo decided that he needed to make this delightful blend every harvest going forward. The Mistura is now a staple wine in our portfolio and often considered a Doffo favorite. This wine is structured to please a sophisticated palate and appeal to those who are new to red wines and their bold flavor.
Cab Reserve
The first vintage of the Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was 2003, which is still regarded to as the “Holy Grail” by my father. This very elegant Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon is meticulously cared for and receives an extra level of attention being the only wine in our portfolio to age in 100% new American oak barrels for 24 months. This wine is cellar worthy and we recommend 3 to 5 years of cellar aging before enjoying this perfect vintage blend.
Syrah
Our Syrah has developed a cult following since it first was released in 2003. Our approach on the Syrah is to make a fruit forward mid-palate with a balanced influence of oak, highlighting dark coffee notes with mocha finish. This is an insider’s pick of litter and it usually does not last long! Our advice is to stock up when you can.
Zinfandel
This fabled varietal is one my father and I always look forward to bottling. Many years ago, we decided that if and when we made a Zinfandel, it had to be nothing less than a full-bodied fruit forward style Zinfandel. The first release of our Zinfandel was the 2008 vintage, a full-bodied, fruit forward wine with a fine touch of oak. The wine was an instant hit and lasted very few months on the shelves. We set out to produce this delectable wine in the same style and fashion every year since inception. Our Zinfandel boasts a big fruit forward palate with heavy notes of ripe blackberries and plum. This savory wine is always a crowd favorite.
