Wines
of the Week: Bent Creek Winery
Before
opening Bent Creek Winery, Pat
Heineman and her good friend Carol Howell,
both worked as principals in the Livermore school district.
For them, a way of unwinding was to meet for a nice glass of
wine every Thursday evening. That weekly ritual turned into
a tradition (one which they still follow to this day) and, once
they got their husbands Tom and Rich involved, it helped start
them down the path towards starting their own winery. Today,
Bent Creek is doing quite well, consistently
producing some of the best wines in the Livermore Valley. Here's
what our panel thought about a selection of their current releases:
Bent
Creek Winery Label Reviews
 |
Bent
Creek Cabernet Franc 2008
Grape(s):
Cabernet Franc (85%) & Cabernet
Sauvignon (15%)
Winery: Bent Creek
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation:
Price:
20-30
Review:
A bouquet of plums, cherries, and raspberries rise from
a glass. Flavors of cherry, plum, a bit of strawberry
meld with a few notes of spice and oak. A fairly light,
bright wine that's very approachable, it's for fans of
easy going reds
Rating: 90
Character:
Farming Certification: (none) |
 |
Bent
Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Grape(s):
Cabernet Sauvignon (95%) & Cabernet
Franc (5%)
Winery: Bent Creek
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation:
Price:
25-30
Review:
Aromatics of blackberries and cherries meld with notes
of oak, dark chocolate, and pine of the nose. On the palate,
blackberry, plum, and cherry flavors mingle with hints
of oak, spice, and anise. A lively, rich Cab with expressive
tannins, enjoy a bottle now if you like a bit bolder wine;
give it some time to age if you prefer something more
elegant.
Rating: 89
Character:
Farming Certification: (none) |
 |
Bent
Creek Red on Red 2008
Grape(s):
Syrah (67%) & Cabernet Sauvignon
(33%)
Winery: Bent Creek
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation:
Price:
20-25
Review:
Blackberry and cherry aromas are accented by suggestions
of leather and spice. Flavors of cherries, plums, and
blackberries meld with notes of pepper and a hint of cocoa.
A ripe, rich, hearty red, it has a nice balance of fruit
and spice along with moderate tannins making it a food
friendly wine.
Rating: 89
Character:
Farming Certification: (none) |
 |
Bent
Creek Petite Sirah 2008
Grape(s):
Petite Sirah
Winery: Bent Creek
Region: Livermore Valley
Year: 2008
Special Designation:
Price:
-
Review:
On the nose, aromas of dark berries meld with hints of
pepper and dusty oak. A sip reveals flavors of blackberry
and blueberry with accents of oak, sweet spice, and vanilla.
A fairly smooth wine with rich fruit and mellow spice,
it's for fans of lush reds that still have a bit of structure.
Rating: 90
Character:
Farming Certification: (none) |
By
Jason Barlow
| 96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
| 92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
| 85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
www.bentcreekwinery.com
|
