Leese Fitch Wine Review
Located in Sonoma, California, Leese Fitch wine has won multiple awards. Included in their winnings are Silver Medals at the California State Fair in 2011 for both their Chardonnay and their Cabernet Sauvignon.
Their wines are produced in Napa and are bottled with a unique peel and reseal ZORK closure instead of a cork. The ZORK is a recyclable closure that doesn’t require a cork screw to open the bottle.
This “two for one” review is of Leese Fitch Chardonnay 2013 and Leese Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon 2012.
My Back Story With Leese Fitch
This review has little a story to it!
Several of my reviews have been featured in the Planet Weekly Magazine from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. One of the editors of the magazine contacted me and told me about Leese Fitch wine and how he and his wife have been enjoying their wines.
He was also in touch with them and mentioned to me that their wines have been gaining in popularity in the Tuscaloosa area.
So, he put Leese Fitch and myself in touch with each other with the suggestion I might want to check them out.
They liked the idea and sent me a sample of their Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to review.
So with that said, on to the reviews!
Leese Fitch Chardonnay Review
Appearance: Light golden in color with no apparent legs. Suggesting an especially light in body Chardonnay.
Aroma: Light sweet citrus, like a Myers lemon. Also a hint of a sweet nose you’d find in a Moscato. Very little alcohol noted in the aroma.
Alcohol Content: 13.5% per the bottle.
Taste: The light citrus hint in the aroma carries through to the taste with also a bit of sweetness you might not expect in a Chardonnay.
I suspect the sweetness is coming from the 2% Viognier that is in this wine.
I would further guess that it may even have been a late harvest Viognier, but can’t pinpoint that for sure.
It’s definitely not oaky as some Chardonnays can be.
Tannins: Tannins were minimal but definitely sensible via the slight bitterness and also a bit of tingling behind the upper lip.
Finish: Finish is long and pleasant.
Overall, I found this to be a smooth enjoyable Chardonnay with just the slightest bitterness in the finish. I really enjoyed the blending with the Viognier. Even at just 2%, I think it’s what makes this Chardonnay so unique. Recommend!
Leese Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon Review
This Cabernet Sauvignon is actually a blend of the following:
78% Cabernet Sauvignon
9% Petit Verdot
5% Alicante Bouchet
3% Tannat
3% Merlot
2% Barbera
Appearance: Medium dark garnet with a little bit of plum color. Very leggy, including fast forming and slow forming legs.
Aroma: Lovely dark earthy nose with hints of caramel and over ripe black cherry. Just the tiniest whiff of alcohol noted. From the aroma, you’d expect this to be a sweet red.
Alcohol Content: 13.5% per the bottle.
Taste: Super smooth and warm in flavor. Flavors included dark cherry, classic Cabernet grape and a hint of vanilla. Not sweet in flavor at all (which suits me when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon).
Tannins & Mouthfeel: Well balanced tannins with no bitterness. Silky mouthfeel. A slightly dry tingling noticed all over the mouth.
Finish: Finish is long and lingering. Again, noted all over the mouth.
Overall, I really loved this wine. The complexity is great and the way the winemaker was able to negate sweetness in the flavor and bitterness in the tannins and finish was exceptional.
Definitely recommend!
Conclusion
A big thank you to my editor at Planet Weekly and also Leese Fitch for sharing this find with me. Two great wines, with the Cabernet being the best of the two. Grab ’em if you can find ’em.
Leese Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon price about $8.00-$12.00 (a great value).
Leese Fitch Chardonnay price about $8.00-$9.00 (also a good value).
So far have not found the 2013 Cabernet. I did try a 2014 and suspect it was a little cooler than ideal because I found it slightly sharp in mouth feel. I only consumed half the bottle, re-screwed the cap and left it on the kitchen counter. This evening I poured a glass, let it sit for a few minutes and was blown away by the taste and texture. Any thoughts on how this wine might age? I’m definitely getting at least half a case for immediate consumption, but wonder about cellaring a case for a few years.
Thanks,
Dan
Thanks for commenting Dan.
The 2014 is said to have a relatively low alcohol content, i.e. 13.5.
Some people feel that alcohol content is an important factor in determining how well a wine will age.
13.5 and below is “supposed” to be in the range of aging well.
So, given that, along with the winemakers claims about the wine’s tannins being mature, I see no harm in aging a case over a few years.
But, I would drink one bottle every 3-6 months or so to “check in” and make sure it still tastes good. Write your tasting notes in a wine journal so you can compare timeframe to timeframe.
If you start to find a flatness to the wine’s flavor, I’d drink the rest that year.
Just a suggestion…. hope you find it helpful. Cheers!
Jon, have tried both Cab and Chard from Leese Fitch and agree with your review. Great pair for the price point. Chard hard to find in Stuart FL area. Also how can I get your free wine food pairings?
Hi Rick… Glad you like the Leese Fitch reviews!
You can get the free wine & food pairings by signing up at the bottom of any review.
People who sign up also get email tips about lots of different wine related topics that aren’t on the site. Just for subscribers only!
Cheers!
Jon