SEVEN OF HEARTS / LUMINOUS HILLS – BYRON DOOLEY – WINEMAKER
Byron has two labels. Seven of Hearts is wine made from purchased fruit and Luminous Hills is made from estate fruit. Don’t wait to visit him at his fantastic tasting room on the main street of Carlton where he pours so many of his great wines. He makes wines from several varietals, from Roussane to Viognier to Pinot Noir. Dana Dooley, Byron’s partner in food and wine crime, owns Honest Chocolates and she makes incredible, chocolates, silky and bursting with flavor, the best for me being the dark chocolate salted caramels and the milk chocolate salted caramels with lavender. Holy cow, they linger on your palate for 20 minutes.
At his tasting room, Byron often pairs a wine or two with chocolates and I always learn something new from these pairings. Byron is flat-out passionate about wine making and it really does radiate from within, and it is so very nice to bask in that glow. For you techno wine geeks, Byron’s knowledge and attention to detail in his wine making process is amazing and educational. Byron and Dana, they are also just good souls and it is always gratifying to support gifted artisans and their craft.
2009 Luminous Hills Lux and Astra -Byron Dooley - Winemaker. 50% whole cluster fermentation for Lux and 60% for Astra. Lux - Lush year and you can taste it in these wines. Nose was spice and earth and ripe blueberries, red strawberries. Flavors mirrored the nose, but offered up and higher toned red fruit component I liked alot, with a great acidity and astringent component that balanced the wine out. I tasted loam and minerality. Astra - Sappy and spice, but has a more tannic profile that evened the playing field. The nose on this wine, is all red polka dot dress with a full skirt and white sash at the waist. Wonderful dark and red fruits. Tannins are assertive like a well starched shirt and provides great structure that pairs with the good acidity. Redolent of “hot from the oven” cherry pie, and ripe red berries amidst a lush English flower garden, full of heirloom English roses. Flavors were higher toned fruit like red currants and raspberries with toasted walnuts. Both wines are thought provoking, delicious and invite contemplation or great conversation with good friends.