2021 Muscardini Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills
Tasting Notes
Our 2021 Vermentino is a lively crisp white wine with bright acidity. Tropical aromas of guava, orange zest, green apple, grapefruit, and apricot are complemented with notes of Asian pear, white peaches, and honeydew melon. Enjoy this refreshing white wine with raw oysters, classic ceviche, creamy cheeses, fettuccini alfredo, and any of your favorite sautéed white fish with garlic.
Vineyard
Coyote Creek is located on the east side of Lodi close to Dog Town, an 1850s mining site that is now a ghost town, although registered as a California Historical Landmark. The topography of this area typifies the Clements Hills appellation: gently rolling hills at about a 200-ft. elevation, with shallow, orangy-red clay soils replete with cobble and stones, derived from volcanic mud flows and alluvial stream deposits formed over the course of 250,000 to 500,000 years.
Specs
Varietal: 100% Vermentino
Harvested: September 8, 2021
Bottled: February 13, 2023
Alcohol: 11.6%
Production: 575 cases
Winemaker: Michael Muscardini
What’s Included
4-bottles:
4x 2021 Muscardini Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills Case:
12x 2021 Muscardini Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills
With a focus on tradition and family, relationships are at the heart of Muscardini Cellars, and at that heart’s core are the relationships that proprietor, Michael Muscardini has cultivated in the vineyards with the growers from whom he receives phenomenal fruit from every year. Michael Muscardini’s passion for Old World varietals extends beyond crafting exceptional Sangiovese, Barbera, Brunello-style vintages, and Super Tuscan-style wines. Muscardini Cellars wine conjures up a la dolce vita celebration, which reflects Michael’s indefatigable tasting and lifestyle research on his sojourns to Italy.
Michael has forged deep relationships with Sonoma growers since founding Muscardini Cellars more than fifteen years ago. These close ties have established consistent sourcing of some of the area’s finest fruit in pursuit of superb Italian blends and non-Italian varietals, met with an Italian winemaking approach. The results of these collaborations have been nothing short of extraordinary.
Michael Muscardini founded Muscardini Cellars to celebrate family, fellowship, and the storied Italian culture. Inspired by his grandfather and frequently extended holidays to Tuscany, Michael Muscardini remains committed to blazing his own trail, crafting highly regarded single vineyard varietals and robust Italian blends.
From our family to your family.
Michael Muscardini shares his zest for life and profound appreciation for the fruit of the vine with the Muscardini Cellars wine portfolio which consists of mostly single-vineyard, limited-production wines. The mission of Muscardini Cellars is to culminate the knowledge, tradition, and respect of more than a century of family experience in the industry with wines that artfully capture flavor and spirit.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
It’s always nice to get a labrat bottle, especially when it’s a varietal I particularly enjoy. Vermentino isn’t one we see very often, but when we do, I always make sure to grab some. We had time to plan a meal to have with it, and I was in the mood for one we haven’t had for a while: creamed chicken and mushrooms over puff pastry shells. This was the perfect wine for that dish, just the right astringency and acid to cut through the creamy sauce. Upon opening, I caught a faint aroma of apricots and white peaches. The wine was probably a bit colder than ideal, but I got more of the stone fruits on the palate, maybe a faint hint of citrus, as well. Again, while I can’t really claim credit for the pairing (got lucky), this was exactly what I had in mind. As we enjoyed our dinner (with a side of asparagus), the wine continued to warm up, the flavors became more prominent, and some tropical fruits joined the fun. I really enjoyed this wine. A lot. I would happily pay $20 a bottle for this wine. For $15/bottle, it’s a great deal, and at the case price, it’s an absolute steal. We have wine club memberships at a couple of places that keep us pretty well supplied with white wines, but this is too good to pass up. Under $11/bottle for a wine worth twice that much? In for a case.
I received an email from Terry at Casemates, who was filling in for Alice, that a bottle was coming our way! The box arrived with a bottle of 2021 Muscardini Coyote Creek Vineyard Clements Hills Vermentino. ddeuddeg popped it in the fridge right away so it could get a good chill for dinner that night. By the way, the Muscardini Tasting Room is in Kenwood, CA. We visited it before when they shared a tasting room with Ty Caton. I’m not sure if they still share that space. It’s been a few years since we’ve been in that area.
I opened the bottle before we got dinner on the table and did a preliminary taste. On the nose, I got a lot of grapefruit and some green apple. Upon first taste, those aromas continued into the tasting palate with an added crispness and minerality.
ddeuddeg decided that creamed chicken with sautéed mushrooms over puff pastry shells would work well with this wine. I decided that steamed asparagus with lemon juice and freshly ground pepper would be the vegetable du soir. Bingo! We found a match made in heaven—especially once the wine warmed a bit. It wasn’t quite as crisp, but it was definitely well-balanced. I enjoyed reading the back label AFTER dinner to see that fettuccini alfredo was a suggested pairing. ddeuddeg’s cream sauce hit the mark!
Just before I wrote this review Friday night before midnight ET, I checked the winery price and found that it was $32. The four-bottle price on Casemates is really good for this quality wine. The case price is a screaming good deal! Stock up for the summer!
I like the idea of this wine. In Italy, the coastal areas of Genoa make a lower alcohol version of vementino (compared to the heavier sometimes malolactic Tuscan style) that is the prototypical ‘zippy white’ wine. This appears to be in this style and at the price it is a tempting offering.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Muscardini Vermentino - $50 = 27.77%
@chipgreen@davidj94112 @WineDavid59 acquired a defunct site and assets where a bottle is offered at a price and you can purchase, but most are ‘automatically upgraded’ to other more costly bottles from a list of possibilities; some quite pricy. The New Underground Cellar
I went in on a six bottle offer at $25 each (169.60 total taxed and delivered) and ended up with a 2013 Opus One as one of the upgrades where Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate were also possibilities.
@chipgreen@davidj94112@rjquillin@Winedavid59 some here have had great luck with UC. I haven’t. Never gotten a high worth upgrade. I’m not complaining - is part of the game - just don’t expect that you’re going to be the one to get the single high end bottle.
Aside from a lone 2007 Tesero tucked away in my cellar, I haven’t seen Muscardini wines in many years, but they used to be a favorite. I, too, visited their tasting room when they shared with Ty Caton, another favorite. I’m not familiar with this variety, but $10 a bottle for a new-to-me wine variety from a very good winery is hard to pass up, even though my cellar shelves are beyond maxed out.
This was a nice surprise, though I don’t have a lot of experience with Vermentino, I was very impressed with this wine. It is a quite vibrant and refreshing white wine that exemplifies the bright, fruit-forward character of the Vermentino grape, crafted with an Old World-inspired touch.
It opens with pear, green apple, peach, with a really round texture. From there is moves to more grapefruit, guava, and then a big turn into minimality and energy. It’s quite a cool thing to experience, delicious dry fruit, and then boom, minerality and refreshment.
This was a really terroir focused wine and is really enjoyable.
I think it’s a standout choice for lovers of zesty, medium-bodied whites. At its current price point, it’s both a summer staple and a cellar-worthy buy for near-term enjoyment. This is an easy buy for me. Nice job, Casemates on acquiring a really cool, quality wine.
I am a club member at Muscardini and have had this wine several times. It is a nice, easy drinking Vermentino and a steal at the case price. A summer porch sipper.
@karbon223 the two rats at the top would have said something if it was anything other than dry. Based on what you’ve said you will probably like this wine.
@karbon223@klezman I’ve always liked the “weird” whites, mostly considered weird in this country anyway. An earlier discussion of old W.W wines reminded me of Albariño Rhino
@pmarin I thought that was an odd choice. I didn’t pick it. That’s what popped up when I entered my order. This is the first time I have tried it and precisely why I’ve never cared for that cute ritual until today
@pmarin@winesnob You may find it more trouble than it’s worth, but there’s a 5-minute editing window for your posts, and each time you do an edit and save, you get a different Giphy.
2021 Muscardini Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills
Tasting Notes
Vineyard
Specs
What’s Included
4-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$384.00/Case for 12x 2021 Muscardini Vermentino, Coyote Creek Vineyard, Clements Hills at Muscardini Cellars
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jun 2 - Wednesday, Jun 4
2021 Muscardini Vermentino
4 bottles for $59.99 $15/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $129.99 $10.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Close to four years old not sure
Rats?
@losthighwayz Nothing to worry about with a wine of this quality. It should be good for a couple more years.
It’s always nice to get a labrat bottle, especially when it’s a varietal I particularly enjoy. Vermentino isn’t one we see very often, but when we do, I always make sure to grab some. We had time to plan a meal to have with it, and I was in the mood for one we haven’t had for a while: creamed chicken and mushrooms over puff pastry shells. This was the perfect wine for that dish, just the right astringency and acid to cut through the creamy sauce. Upon opening, I caught a faint aroma of apricots and white peaches. The wine was probably a bit colder than ideal, but I got more of the stone fruits on the palate, maybe a faint hint of citrus, as well. Again, while I can’t really claim credit for the pairing (got lucky), this was exactly what I had in mind. As we enjoyed our dinner (with a side of asparagus), the wine continued to warm up, the flavors became more prominent, and some tropical fruits joined the fun. I really enjoyed this wine. A lot. I would happily pay $20 a bottle for this wine. For $15/bottle, it’s a great deal, and at the case price, it’s an absolute steal. We have wine club memberships at a couple of places that keep us pretty well supplied with white wines, but this is too good to pass up. Under $11/bottle for a wine worth twice that much? In for a case.
I received an email from Terry at Casemates, who was filling in for Alice, that a bottle was coming our way! The box arrived with a bottle of 2021 Muscardini Coyote Creek Vineyard Clements Hills Vermentino. ddeuddeg popped it in the fridge right away so it could get a good chill for dinner that night. By the way, the Muscardini Tasting Room is in Kenwood, CA. We visited it before when they shared a tasting room with Ty Caton. I’m not sure if they still share that space. It’s been a few years since we’ve been in that area.
I opened the bottle before we got dinner on the table and did a preliminary taste. On the nose, I got a lot of grapefruit and some green apple. Upon first taste, those aromas continued into the tasting palate with an added crispness and minerality.
ddeuddeg decided that creamed chicken with sautéed mushrooms over puff pastry shells would work well with this wine. I decided that steamed asparagus with lemon juice and freshly ground pepper would be the vegetable du soir. Bingo! We found a match made in heaven—especially once the wine warmed a bit. It wasn’t quite as crisp, but it was definitely well-balanced. I enjoyed reading the back label AFTER dinner to see that fettuccini alfredo was a suggested pairing. ddeuddeg’s cream sauce hit the mark!
Just before I wrote this review Friday night before midnight ET, I checked the winery price and found that it was $32. The four-bottle price on Casemates is really good for this quality wine. The case price is a screaming good deal! Stock up for the summer!
I like the idea of this wine. In Italy, the coastal areas of Genoa make a lower alcohol version of vementino (compared to the heavier sometimes malolactic Tuscan style) that is the prototypical ‘zippy white’ wine. This appears to be in this style and at the price it is a tempting offering.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Muscardini Vermentino - $50 = 27.77%
Interesting coincidence that Muscardini showed up on the latest RWS Insider Deal (Sangiovese and Fortuna).
@Mark_L
The Sangio is also in a current UC offer.
@chipgreen What site is UC? I’m not familiar.
@davidj94112
Underground Cellar
@chipgreen @davidj94112
@WineDavid59 acquired a defunct site and assets where a bottle is offered at a price and you can purchase, but most are ‘automatically upgraded’ to other more costly bottles from a list of possibilities; some quite pricy.
The New Underground Cellar
I went in on a six bottle offer at $25 each (169.60 total taxed and delivered) and ended up with a 2013 Opus One as one of the upgrades where Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate were also possibilities.
@kawichris650 Thanks. I’ve got to check that out.
@chipgreen @davidj94112 @rjquillin @Winedavid59 some here have had great luck with UC. I haven’t. Never gotten a high worth upgrade. I’m not complaining - is part of the game - just don’t expect that you’re going to be the one to get the single high end bottle.
Aside from a lone 2007 Tesero tucked away in my cellar, I haven’t seen Muscardini wines in many years, but they used to be a favorite. I, too, visited their tasting room when they shared with Ty Caton, another favorite. I’m not familiar with this variety, but $10 a bottle for a new-to-me wine variety from a very good winery is hard to pass up, even though my cellar shelves are beyond maxed out.
I’d be in for an Atlanta split if anyone else is.
This was a nice surprise, though I don’t have a lot of experience with Vermentino, I was very impressed with this wine. It is a quite vibrant and refreshing white wine that exemplifies the bright, fruit-forward character of the Vermentino grape, crafted with an Old World-inspired touch.
It opens with pear, green apple, peach, with a really round texture. From there is moves to more grapefruit, guava, and then a big turn into minimality and energy. It’s quite a cool thing to experience, delicious dry fruit, and then boom, minerality and refreshment.
This was a really terroir focused wine and is really enjoyable.
I think it’s a standout choice for lovers of zesty, medium-bodied whites. At its current price point, it’s both a summer staple and a cellar-worthy buy for near-term enjoyment. This is an easy buy for me. Nice job, Casemates on acquiring a really cool, quality wine.
I am a club member at Muscardini and have had this wine several times. It is a nice, easy drinking Vermentino and a steal at the case price. A summer porch sipper.
Couldn’t resist trying this out. The case price is awesome.
/giphy bushy-harmless-octopus
PANS! GLANDS! CRAYONS! AWESOME!
Don’t buy much white but I like this varietal and if anyone in SE MI buys, I’d go for 4-6 if asked.
@jrbw3 I could do half a case with you
/giphy everlasting-mortal-walrus
I just enjoyed one of these a few nights ago. Definitely worth it at this price… in for a case!
/giphy savvy-brave-apricot
/giphy distinct-motley-wizard
/giphy elusive-insidious-buffalo
Can anyone comment on sweet vs dry, or residual sugar? I’m a white wine noob and tend to like SB or unoaked Chardonnay
@karbon223 the two rats at the top would have said something if it was anything other than dry. Based on what you’ve said you will probably like this wine.
@karbon223 @klezman I’ve always liked the “weird” whites, mostly considered weird in this country anyway. An earlier discussion of old W.W wines reminded me of Albariño Rhino
@klezman
Beastly-enamored-beagle
Muscardini is always
in my books. Besides I need more summer whites. In for a case!
/giphy domineering-trashy-shade
@winesnob maybe not a good random giphy for a site trying to sell stuff.
EDIT therefore, one random fly of questionable mental state
/giphy singular-deranged-fly
@pmarin I thought that was an odd choice. I didn’t pick it. That’s what popped up when I entered my order. This is the first time I have tried it and precisely why I’ve never cared for that cute ritual until today
POPSOCKETS! SPROCKETS! DAVY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
@pmarin How’s this?? (I made it up)
/giphy awesome-blissful-sunshine
OWLS! TOWELS! JOWLS! AWESOME!
@pmarin @winesnob You may find it more trouble than it’s worth, but there’s a 5-minute editing window for your posts, and each time you do an edit and save, you get a different Giphy.
/giphy crummy-tiresome-grasshopper
