Last week, I participated in an informative Zoom wine tasting with Lori Budd of Dracaena Wines. I’ve done a few virtual wine tastings since the start of the pandemic, and this was fun with tons of great info sharing about the winery and Paso Robles.
About Dracaena Wines
Lori and her husband Michael left corporate America, and New Jersey, four years ago to live out their dream in Paso Robles, California. Through hard work they’ve grown to producing over 400 cases of wine yearly.
Dracaena, pronounced [druh-see-nuh], is the scientific name of the plant better known as the Draco plant. The name allowed the couple who come to winemaking from scientific backgrounds to also honor the memory of their Weimaraner, Draco, through their winemaking business.
We tasted three wines: 2019 Rosé of Syrah, 2017 Reserve Cabernet Franc and the 2017 Cabernet Franc Classic.
2019 Dracaena Wines Rosé of Syrah
Lovely Provence-style rosé that would be great with food but also perfect for sipping on a warm day. This has bold flavors and definitely not a wimpy, watery rosé (amen to that).
Looks: Dark rich pink/coral color in the glass
Smell: Fresh, ripe strawberry
Taste: Juicy strawberry and raspberry with some floral notes
Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, crisp, great acidity, dry finish
Pairings: Grilled fish, roasted chicken, creamy cheeses or as an aperitif on a warm day
Style: Rosé Wine
Grape Type(s): Syrah
Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA
Price: $20
2017 Dracaena Wines Reserve Cabernet Franc
Single clone, single vineyard (Plummer Vineyard) Cabernet Franc. According to Lori “not made to taste like bell pepper” which I can absolutely appreciate.
Looks: Dark ruby in the glass
Smell: Dark fruit, black berries with smoky/mocha notes
Taste: Ripe raspberry, dark fruit, chocolate/leather notes
Texture and Finish: Medium-heavy bodied, rich, medium tannins, medium finish
Pairings: Grilled/roasted red meats, aged cheeses, ribs
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA
Price: $45
2017 Dracaena Wines Classic Cabernet Franc
This wine received a stellar 92 points from Wine Enthusiast and is a big boy that could benefit from some cellaring to attain its full potential. For the tasting, I used my aerator and it saw an immediate softening. Lori stated it could easily go 10 years in the cellar.
Looks: Dark purple/red in the glass
Smell: Dark fruit (raspberry/cherry)
Taste: Ripe raspberry, chocolate-covered cherry, pumpkin pie spice
Texture and Finish: Medium-heavy bodied, rich, medium tannins, medium-long finish
Pairings: Grilled/roasted red meats, aged cheeses, beef short ribs would be especially tasty
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type(s): 95% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petite Syrah
Region: Paso Robles, CA, USA
Price: $34
Wine Club
Dracaena Wines has a very popular wine club called Chalk Club where fans of their wines can become members by buying three bottles twice a year at a minimum. A progressive discount is offered for folks who remain members. Members can choose either all red wines or a mix of red and rosé. For more information on Chalk Club, visit: https://dracaenawines.com/chalk-club.
Dracaena Wines are distributed through the winery, available online for purchase and available at many places.
Lori teased by telling us that 2020 will bring about a Chenin Blanc from Clarsburg and I cannot wait to get that in my glass.
Cheers,
Veronique
Note: Wines were provided by Dracaena Wines complimentary for this tasting.
Thank you so much for participating in the virtual tasting and for sharing your thoughts on your blog. We are so happy you enjoyed the wines!