Wine Enthusiast awards 88 Points to our Wild Hogge 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon

Produced solely for the Bermudian market, Wild Hogge wines, distributed by Discovery Wines and Burrows, Lightbourne, can be found at many markets, shops and restaurants in Bermuda.

Pair this new release of our 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon with a grilled steak or mushroom risotto by the ocean in Bermuda. Now that is the perfect trifecta for the Cup Match holiday!

“Roasted cherry, coffee husk, soy and woodspice aromas draw the nose into this bottling. There's an impressive density and lingering tension to the palate, where rich black fruit and espresso flavors pick up a balsamic touch on the finish.”  — Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast - 88 Points!

2017 Cabernet Sauvignon reviewed by Linda Balot & friends in North Carolina

At a private tasting of 13 wine connoisseurs, the group consensus of our wine was thankfully forwarded to be shared here. Thanks Linda, Bob, and friends! - Dale

Overall, they found our 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon to be “Dark fruits with a touch of spice/pepper on the nose. Garnet color with an eruption of flavors. Currant. Spice/pepper on finish lingers on the back of your palate.”

On this April 1st evening, they tasted 8 various bottles of wine all together and a good time was had by all.

An honor to be part of a special dinner at Michael & Gay’s house!

A Special Evening

Robinson, Michael. "Grape Expectations: A Special Evening” The Royal Gazette [BDA] 19.08.2022 Print - Edited to relevant parts of the story by Dale

“Three years is far too long to go without seeing your first born, his young sons and their mother, but covid complications and a passport that disappeared into the maws of government in March, has put me in that position. Last night (Sunday) it came to an end, and my wife prepared a fine welcoming meal that was served in our home.”

“A tenderloin of beef was on the barbeque and my son has often told me of the Zinfandels that he has enjoyed over the years. This sounded most appropriate, and we were ready. 2012 Wild Hogge Moongate from Paso Robles was poured, and in January of 2021 I wrote, “ If you were using the grape in Croatia, you would call it Tribidraq or Crljenak Kastelanski; in Italy the label would read Primitivo and in California Zinfandel. Huw and Dale Morris call their blend of 75 per cent Zinfandel, 13 per cent Syrah and 12 per cent Cabernet Franc, Moongate, and we know they do that because of their long association with Bermuda. They prefer to call the major grape Primitivo.

“Their website reads: “Primitivo, an Italian Zinfandel, contributes a unique taste of rich ripe fruit. The Cab Franc adds a little black pepper, and the spicy Syrah balances out the richness of the Primitivo. Matured in American oak for two years and in the bottle for another two years, the wine exhibits a powerful aroma of earthiness and dark berry fruit. The palate has a rich texture and notes of blackberry jam. 177 cases were produced.” This wine, at ten years, is at the optimum age for me, with a little of the excitement of youth still there, but now showing what tertiary flavours age can offer.”

Special Offer for Bermuda - January 2021

Wild Hogge: a very special offer at Burrows Lightbourn Ltd 

Michael Robinson

Created: Jan 15, 2021

Although it took place over ten years ago, I remember well the afternoon that Huw Morris came to the hotel that my wife and I were staying at in Paso Robles to let us taste a sample of cabernet sauvignon.

He was apologetic as he felt that it was still too young to reveal its quality. I loved it and expressed interest in working with him and his wife Dale as they developed their idea of producing a wine that celebrated the many years that they had lived on our island.

We were told that the label would be uniquely Bermudian and, in honour of our first residents, it would be called Wild Hogge. Their website leads off with: “History has it that sailors would carry live pigs aboard the ships while crossing the Atlantic as a source of fresh meat. These ships would often wreck on the many reefs that surround Bermuda and the pigs would swim ashore. These Spanish feral hogs, similar to the domestic pig, were the first real Bermuda settlers.”

Over the ensuing years they have expanded their range and received excellent reviews; in fact one publication lamented that these very limited production wines were only available in Bermuda. Well of course times have changed with restaurant demand greatly reduced, as have the occasions to offer something “Bermudian” to our visitors both private and corporate.

Wild Hogge only produce a few hundred cases a year, but their stocks have built up and Burrows Lightbourn have agreed to co-operate with the Morris family to get their stock levels down to an acceptable level. Small production, high quality wines are never inexpensive and Wild Hogge has been priced in the mid-forties, but for the foreseeable future the very considerable stocks that Burrows Lightbourn and Discovery Wines now have will represent a sizeable savings for those that appreciate the exceptional.

Please pardon me for quoting from a Grape Expectations written on my birthday last November: “This is not just about thinking of good friends in wine, as their pinot noir, with the lovely Winslow Homer watercolour label of wild hogs on our South Shore, rated a fine 93/100 from Wine Enthusiast magazine. It is a blend of the French 115 clone and one of my favourite, the University of California at Davis clone 777. If you are unfamiliar with Davis, it is one of our world’s top seats of learning for oenology and viticulture. Potential winemakers worldwide travel there to study.

So many of us drink pinot noir in its youth as the velvety tannins and softness allow for this. I have Californian pinot noir from the early 1990s in our cellar and am a firm believer that a vast majority of red wine improves with age. As I am officially a year older today, I look forward to immediate and further vinous improvements. (I am allowed to tell that overused joke on my birthday!)“

Enjoy 2012 Wild Hogge Pinot Noir for a much reduced $32 (Stock #5966). If you buy a case and get the ten per cent discount, it goes down to $28.80 a bottle.

For me, the magic age to open a fine cabernet sauvignon is ten years as it still has some of the exuberance of youth, but it is now developing those aromas and flavours known as tertiary. For instance, ripe fresh fruit converts to stewed and dried components and tobacco and mushroom reveal themselves.

This is what the Wine Enthusiast originally wrote about 2011 Wild Hogge Cabernet Sauvignon: “A densely layered nose shows boysenberry, plum blossoms, mocha, coffee, kola nut and purple flowers. More cola shows on the palate with black cherry, plum-skin tartness and uplifting purple flowers, all presented on smooth tannins.” All the excitement of Paso Robles, in Southern California is here for you at $32, was $44.95 (Stock #5899).

If you were using the grape in Croatia you would call it tribidraq or crljenak kastelanski; in Italy the label would read primitivo and in California zinfandel. Huw and Dale Morris call their blend of 75 per cent zinfandel, 13 per cent syrah and 12 per cent cabernet franc 2012 Wild Hogge Moongate and we all know why they do that. They prefer to call the major grape primitivo.

Their website reads: “Primitivo, an Italian zinfandel, contributes a unique taste of rich ripe fruit. The cab franc adds a little black pepper, and the spicy syrah balances out the richness of the primitivo. Matured in American oak for two years and in the bottle for another two years, the wine exhibits a powerful aroma of earthiness and dark berry fruit. The palate has a rich texture and notes of blackberry jam. Will go well with any lamb dish or rich Italian meal. 177 cases were produced.” $32, was $44.95 (Stock #5967).

The one species of Bermudian wildlife that I find myself explaining more than any other to visiting friends – the ones who ask, “What the heck is that noise?” – is also one of our smallest. Here is how the Morris family describes their 2009 Wild Hogge Tree Frog.

“This unique blend of syrah and cabernet sauvignon combines the best of Central Coast’s favourite varietals. The syrah grapes come from a vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles and resulted in the best syrah we have ever tasted! The grapes for the cabernet sauvignon come from two blocks of neighbouring vineyards; one high, west-facing and the other from the valley floor. Both were aged in 30 per cent new French oak barrels for 29 months before being blended. This dark, rich blend has an earthy quality balanced with a fruit forward nose. The syrah (70 per cent) contributes a clove spice with soft tannins complementing the cabernet which adds structure to the blend. 219 cases were produced.” Gold medal winner. $35 (Stock #5897).

This column is an advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. E-mail mrobinson@bll.bm or 295-0176. Burrows Lightbourn has stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554) and Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355). Visit www.wineonline.bm

Latest write up in Bermuda's Royal Gazette from wine expert and connoisseur Michael Robinson for Grape Expectations.

Thank you Michael for including us on your birthday and honoring our 2012 Pinot Noir!!!

California Pinot Noir & Thanksgiving

Last week we featured Oregon Pinots with the thought of Thanksgiving and appropriate American wine. I confess that Cabernet Sauvignon takes first place in our home, but many would argue that, as the crown jewel of Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, averages $15,000.00 a bottle on release, so Pinot Noir must be the top drop. Please do not think that I do not highly enjoy Pinot Noir though, and today we feature a few fine examples from the “Golden State”, the official nickname bestowed on California in 1968.

We are advised not to have large family gatherings, so what better opportunity to share fine wine from folks that love our Island, and who many of us know, as they lived here for twenty-five+ years. I refer to Huw and Dale Morris and their 2012 Wild Hogge Paso Robles Pinot Noir.

This is not just about thinking of good friends in wine, as their Pinot Noir, with the lovely Winslow Homer water colour label of wild hogs on our South Shore, rated a fine 93/100 from the Wine Enthusiast magazine. It is a blend of the French 115 clone, and one of my favorite, the University of California at Davis, clone 777. If you are unfamiliar with Davis, it is one of our world’s top seats of learning for enology and viticulture. Potential wine makers worldwide travel there to study.

So many of us drink Pinot Noir in its youth as the velvety tannins and softness allow for this. I have Californian Pinot Noir from the early 1990’s in our cellar and am a firm believer that a vast majority of red wine improves with age. As I am officially a year older today, I look forward to immediate and further vinous improvements. (I am allowed to tell that overused joke on my birthday!) Enjoy this nine-year-old Pinot from Wild Hogge.

A wonderful review of our 2009 Tree Frog, with a bit of humor at the end!

by Alan Boehmer, Wine Writer

2009 Wild Hogge Tree Frog

Rich, velvety and effulgent nose of clear varietal character that one only finds in mature wines; in this case, 10 years. The deep blackberry nose is complemented by a faint suggestion of truffles. It’s age is also revealed by the beginning of a clear edge. The color is deep and warm. Richly flavored and mouth filling, a bold, voluptuous wine with assertive character, meaty and reminiscent of jammy fruit. Excellent balance of acid/body/tannins and a long, penetrating finish. A delicious stand-alone wine or to be enjoyed with smoky, barbecued meats, but not a great pairing for frogs.


 

The 2007 Pinot Noir is holding up well! Thank you for the review Alan.

2007 Wild Hogge Pinot Noir, Paso Robles


Brilliant, clear ruby color. Very good varietal nose of bright red cherries. Light body despite its 14.2% ABV. Although twelve years old, it is fresh and clean on the palate, thanks to a perfect acid balance. A delicious Pinot Noir that could easily be mistaken for a Côte de Beaune red.

Review by Alan Boehmer, wine writer, July 4, 2019

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