2020 Linne Calodo Nemesis

The 2020 Nemesis is based on 88% Syrah, 7% Grenache, and 5% Mourvèdre that spent 18 months in barrel. It has a smoky nose of ripe blackberries, leather, ground pepper, barbecue smoke, and violets to go with a medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, round, supple red. There are a lot of smoky nuances here, but it's balanced, the tannins have good sweetness, and it's certainly a solid, satisfying wine. I was only able to taste a few of Matt Trevisan’s Linne Calodo releases, but these continue to be terrific wines that are overflowing with character. The wines are almost always blends and focus either on Rhône varieties or Zinfandel-based blends. I loved both 2019s I was able to taste, and the 2020s showed well, although the 2020 Nemesis seemed to have some influence in the aromatics, so it’s one to watch, and I would drink that bottle in its youth.

Inky violet. Expansive, spice-tinged cassis, kirsch, fruitcake, cola and floral aromas pick up licorice and smoky bacon nuances with air. Juicy, chewy and energetic in style, offering palate-staining black and blue fruit preserve, candied violet, star anise and mocha flavors that deepen as the wine opens up. The floral and mineral notes repeat emphatically on a wonderfully long, juicy finish that features building tannins and a hint of bitter chocolate