Thurs Last Call-2 "Must Have" Wines from Ringland

 

 

2 "MUST HAVE" Wines from Chris Ringland-$115

 

Robert Parker describes Chris Ringland's Luchador and Ebenezer reds as "Fabulous and Amazing Values" giving them "92" and "93" Points respectively.  Unfortunately, stellar ratings plus modest price points creates huge consumer demand.  We can sell you a mixed (6) bottle case of 3 bottles each for $115.00 or a full (12) bottle case of 6 each for $225.00

 

I ask you to trust me on this one...if you like reds with lots of character and depth than you really want these wines.

 

Nacho Libre enters the ring for another go-around...

 

El Luchador! Gigante! Malo! El Ray! Jack Black's lovable character of "Nacho Libre", the Orphanage cook who wants to earn enough money wrestling in order to purchase a new bus for all the kids (and win the respect of Sister Encarnacion) apparently made quite an impression on Chris Ringland (Robert Parker's "100 Point man") as he put a remarkably similar depiction of Nacho on the label of his 2006 Luchador Syrah.

 

As Chris puts it "My longest-term employee (warehouse manager) came into my office one day and said "My friends and I usually drink beer whenever we watch the Lakers, but now we're drinking wine.  Why don't you make a wine for us?"  How do you want it? "Big".  How much do you want to pay? "About $18 bucks".  So I made it.  Even though it doesn't say it on the label, Luchador is a classic, regional Barossa Shiraz.  It's the baby brother of the CR Ebenezer.

 

Ringland continued; for those who don't know, a Luchador is a wrestler in Mexico.  I'm not sure what inspired me to put a Luchador on a Barossa Shiraz label, but I did and I love it.  This label is designed by a very cool team of designers called "Morning Breath" who are known for their CD designs for artists like the Stone Roses, Eminem and Jay-Z.  As it says on the label, this wine will body slam your tongue.  A Mexican friend of mine took a bottle to a family party in East L.A. and someone commented "I've never seen wine with Hispanic appeal before". I love when stuff like this happens.  Good is good and appeals all over."

 

A cool spring with good rainfall followed by a moderate summer was broken up with a brief warm period in January.  This provided good ripening conditions.  The wine is 95% Shiraz and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon made from vines aged 10-30 years of age.  It was aged one year in a combination of French and American oak.

 

"92 Points"...Robert Parker..."The 2006 Luchador Shiraz contains 5% Cabernet.  60% of the fruit was sourced from Barossa Valley and 40% from McLaren Vale.  A glass-coating opaque purple, it features first-class aromas of spice box, cedar, mocha, lavender and blueberry.  Velvety-textured, fruit-driven and intense, the wine has excellent depth of flavor and a long finish.  IT IS A FABULOUS VALUE". 

 

*2006 Ebenezer Shiraz...Made from the finest wine producing regions in Australia and made by Chris Ringland...talk about pedigree!  If this wine was a canine, it would win the Westminster Dog Show.  By the way, this is the first wine Chris has put his name on since his eponymous $300.00/Bottle "Chris Ringland" label (3 years, "100" Points Parker).  Everyone who tastes this wine has been compelled to say "WOW!" and "93 Points" from the Wine Advocate (Parker) may be the best way to describe this incredible, no-brainer liquid order maker.

 

Made from 100% Barossa Valley (Ebenezer Region) Shiraz and aged 20 months in French and American oak hogsheads.  The best wines of 2006 were made from grapes harvested before the rains came in mid-April.  This is a typical Ebenezer; rich, dark and deep with blackberries, chocolate and Christmas cake; sweet fruit with blackstrap molasses on the finish.

 

I know you're smart...I can see it in your eyes...the way you arch your eyebrow...the way in which you speak...your commanding presence...and this wine's for you.

 

"93 Points" Robert Parker..."Sourced from Ringland's favorite sub-region of Barossa, Ebenezer. It was aged for 20 months in seasoned French and American oak hogsheads.  Purple/black, it delivers a brooding nose of cedar, tar, smoke, licorice, blueberry and blackberry.  Full-bodied and massive, particularly for a wine in this price category, it offers succulent, savory fruit, great depth and a 60 second finish.  Seamless and complete, it should have a 15 YEAR LIFESPAN.  Smart consumers will load up on this amazing value".

 

This may be the biggest "Bang-For-The-Buck" offer of 2008 and I strongly recommend you buy it if you like muscular, teeth-staining, fruit-driven and powerful wines. $115/6  $225/12

 

-Your Humble Wine Merchant    

 

 

 

 

 

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Super Saturday Sauvignon Blanc Travelogue

 

 

A Sauvignon Travelogue-4 Countries/4 Wines

 

A superb selection of 4 Sauvignon Blancs from four corners of our round planet; New Zealand, South Africa, Chile and California.  Perfect Summertime thirst quenchers! Case of 4 wines, 3 bottles of each-$148.00 saves you $25 off S.R.P.

 

This will be fun.  We've selected four luscious, bright and thirst quenching splashes of Sauvignon Blanc from four distinct regions of the world known for producing some of the finest examples of this ambrosial variety.

 

You Silly Savage!

 

Sauvignon Blanc (literally translated as "wild" or "Savage" White) can be traced to France's Bordeaux region where (by law) it is the predominant grape variety in white Bordeaux, Sancerre, Entre Deux Mers and Pouilly-Fume'.  Depending on the climate in which it is grown as well as the way it is managed/trellised, SB can run the gamut between excessively grassy/kiwi/cat pee flavors and aromas to nuances of tropical fruit/peaches and figs.  In the late 1960s' Bob Mondavi decided to coin a variation of SB by aging the wine in oak barrels and calling the result "Fume' Blanc" (literally "smoke white") as an homage to France's Pouilly-Fume', a wine made from Sauvignon Blanc on the opposite side of the Loire River from Sancerre (and not to be confused with Pouilly-Fuisse' which is made from the Chardonnay grape).  Generally, Sauvignons labeled as Fume' Blanc see some time in wood (which can give the wine a round, smoky characteristic) however it is a discretionary decision made by the winemaker as to what their finished wine will be called and in the last decade "Fume' Blanc" has lost ground to "Sauvignon Blanc".

 

  One of the more famous California wineries to continue calling their wine Fume' Blanc is my winemaking Alma-Mater, Dry Creek Vineyards.  For decades, DCV has consistently made one of the finest examples in California hence it is the first wine in our little world tour.  (I've long given up trying to figure out why a winery called "Dry Creek" has a sailboat on every label)

 

*3-2006 Dry Creek Vineyards Fume' Blanc...Dry Creek's FB does NOT see any oak, it is stainless fermented (dry) at an average of 52 degrees for a month before bottling.  The 2006 vintage just won the annual "Oyster Award" competition (Best wines to pair with Oysters on the half shell held in L.A. S.F. and Seattle), highly recommended by the Connoisseur's Guide, the Wine Spectator and the Grapevine.  The 2006 strikes a balance between bright, crisp varietal character and mineral nuances. Aromas of cut grass, citrus lead to flavors of kiwi, lime and river stones. The finish is crisp and extremely food-friendly although the wine also makes a great "end of the day on the back deck" decompression refresher.

 

The Connoisseur's Guide says "One of our perennial favorites...the wine comes through again in 2006 with a fresh, fruity, lightly but distinctly grassy edition.  It has the zesty, incisive character to be right at home with both the lighter white fishes or with brothy bowl of Moules Mariniere".

 

A midnight flight into the skies of Antipodes...

 

*3 2007 Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc...Let's raise the Spinnaker and head down south of the Equator to New Zealand and one of our all-time favorite Marlborough Sauvignons, Whitehaven.  A New York Times affiliate described this wine as a "Rock star", and there's good reason to see it that way as a number of the original Cloudy Bay employees (winemaker/vineyard manager) defected to Whitehaven after the French buyout of that winery.  Cloudy Bay had long been considered the benchmark for Marlborough SB (and sells for over $25/Bottle) however I honestly feel that Whitehaven has eclipsed that icon in recent vintages.  Again, the Connoisseur's Guide:

 

"Exceeding most of its peers in fruit depth and complexity, this generous, rich wine is loaded with minerally and slightly grassy adjuncts to its outgoing melony fruit.  Medium-full in body and impeccably balanced, it is as long in flavor as it is outgoing in its inviting aromas.  It is not a wine for lovers of grassy Sauvignon but will make the rest of us quite happy indeed".  The Whitehaven is quintessential Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc; ripe, bright and sassy with wonderful flavors of ripe citrus, tropical fruit and a hint of delicious (not "hot") Jalapeno in the finish.

 

"When you see the Southern Cross for the first time..."

 

*3-Le Bonheur Sauvignon Blanc...We set the compass on a western course to head across the Indian Ocean to South Africa for our next splash of refreshing Sauvignon Blanc made at "Le Bonheur" ("The Happiness") a Stellenbosch winery founded in 1689 by those wild and wacky Huguenots after a FIVE FRICKING MONTH ocean crossing from the European continent. (Can you even imagine being on a leaky, creaky, smelly, rat infested, scurvy-laden, Mother Dog! sailing vessel for five months on the open sea? Yikes)...anyway, Stellenbosch is a wonderful region for growing SB and the Bonheur is a fine example.  The grapes for the 2007 (100% organically grown) were hand harvested in mid February (they're 5-6 months ahead of us down there) and immediately destemmed and crushed.

  The free-run juice was fermented between 12-14 degrees Celsius and left on the lees for 90 days to concentrate the flavor of the wine.  The Le Bonheur is a brilliant clear diamond color with a greenish tint.  Esters of tropical fruits, pink grapefruit, passion fruit and mango waft up from the surface; those odors carry through to the palate, particularly tropical fruit, ruby grapefruit, pineapple and kiwi; the finish is slippery, juicy and delicious.  A slight hint of residual sugar compels your hand to involuntarily reach for the glass and another sip.

 

"You were roundin' the horn in the eye of a storm..."

 

*3-2007 La Playa Chilean Sauvignon Blanc...We'll head west across the south Atlantic to challenge Cape Horn, arriving in Chile's Colchagua Valley for a few bottles of "La Playa" SB.  This property is located at the western end of the valley on the shores of Tinguiririca River near Lake Rapel; this estate enjoys a unique micro-climate blessed by the tempering effects of Pacific breezes.  The La Playa consistently makes the "Top 10 white wine values" in the WS annual survey and the 2007 recently won Gold, Best of Class at the "New World International Wine Competition". 

 

The La Playa is super ripe and bright with jump-out-of-the-glass aromas of honeydew melon, citrus, kiwi and fresh lemongrass; the flavors follow the nose adding lemon-lime notes and a refreshing, thirst quenching finish.  Another perfect pair-up with fresh shellfish, fowl or mild cheeses.

 

California, New Zealand, South Africa and Chile.  It would be fun to invite some like-minded people over (have THEM bring the vittles) and pull the corks (or screw caps) on a bottle each of these four wines for a taste-comparison.

 

Sauvignon Blanc Travelogue $148.00...What a Bargain!      

 

     

 

 

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Wed Super Saver-Provence Rose

 

 

Provence's "Blue Sands" (Sables D'Azur) Rose'

 

A (12 Bottle) case of Provence Summer sun, the wonderfully romantic "Sables D'Azur" Rose...$120.00

 

Glowing Pink liquid bottled in a whimsical and unique bottle festively decorated in sand, seashells and starfish...

 

Released June 1st, sales of the remarkable Sables D'Azur Cotes de Provence Rose' have been rolling in like the waves breaking on the beach in St. Tropez.  This gorgeous wine can be found on various internet sights for a relatively sane $179.40.  Our price is $120.00/Case of 12.

 

With air-fare prices literally sky-rocketing toward the stratosphere and petrol aiming for $5/gallon, methinks a lot of us are going to be vacationing in a kind of a vicarious, backyard "let's pretend we're somewhere else" type of mentality this year. There are few products one can purchase which aid in virtual sightseeing more than delicious wines which fare from the far-flung vinous outposts of Central Europe, the Southern Hemisphere and the wine-growing regions of the Pacific coast.  Today's offer comes to us straight out of the warm, sun-baked vineyards of southern France, located just inland from the Mediterranean's beautiful Cotes de Azur.

 

How can you ignore a wine with seashells on the label?

 

The vineyards which produce this lovely wine have their roots in the Bouches-du-Rhone, at the foothills of Mount Sainte-Victoire.  These Cotes-de-Provence properties cling to the slopes in "restanques"...dry stonewalls supporting hillside terraces, or isolated in the middle of piney woods.  Here they benefit fully from the Mediterranean clime; mild winters, early spring and warm summers when the sun's continuous presence encourages the vines to produce fully matured grapes just oozing with sweet, ripe juice.

 

The (very stingy with their ratings) San Francisco Chronicle's professional tasting group sampled 72 imported Rose's from 14 countries and found only 11 which they felt they could recommend.  Of the 11, one of the standouts was/is the Sables D'Azur:  Quoting Blake Gray..."We tasted a number of abominations from large, well-known producers and importers who will remain nameless while pining for the delightful, limited-release rose's that everyone knows exist.  The good news is that the (Sables D'Azur) is affordable for daily drinking and charms us in the way a good rose' should; as a light-bodied, lighthearted, easy to drink quaffer.  "Two Stars...Good-to-Excellent"..."this light orangish-pink wine has bright watermelon and pineapple fruit with an herbal, woodsy note.  It's made from Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault"

 

The Wine Spectator placed this wine in their "Best Values" issue with the following review..."87 Points...This has a rose petal aroma and a structured, well-defined berry, cherry and Fuji apple flavor with a creamy finish.  (The wine) is bright pink with watermelon and pineapple fruit with an herbal, woodsy note.  Made from Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault".

 

While doing research on this item I stumbled onto a wine-related Blog which includes the author's "note to self, remember this wine" and includes a (camera-phone?) photo of the "monthly specials" of a restaurants wine list.  The Sables D'Azur is featured at "$9/glass or $28/Bottle" (some special). Apparently, this guy was quite taken by the "Blue Sands" regardless of the ridiculous restaurant price (which would become $336.00/Case!?)  Other sites offer the wine at a more reasonable $179.40.

 

Cotes D'Azur..."The French Riviera", Cannes, St. Tropez, Ste-Maxime, Healdsburg, the back porch.

 

The Sables D'Azur is Linda's favorite summer sipper. She's a seashell freak. I fear that one day she's gonna' knock herself out cold running head-long into a pier support whilst staring down at the sand, searching for just one more pretty shell to add to her collection.  She loves the delicious, slightly sweet and fruity lusciousness of this sexy beverage and the uniquely shaped bottle with its marine-inspired, starfish and mollusks label and matching capsule let her imagine she's relaxing at her precious seashore while in truth she's stuck pulling weeds in the back yard with her two poodles of enchantment (and Moi).    

 

All of which makes $120.00/Case look even more attractive!        

 

 

Dominus/Napanook...Christian Moueix's California Petrus

 

 

Dominus/Napanook...Christian Moueix's California Petrus

 

A (6) Bottle Case of the 2005 Dominus (2) and Napanook (4) Napa Valley Bordeaux Inspired Cabernet blends...$485.00

 

Petrus-Dominus a Theological connection (if you took Latin)

 

*Facts: Christian Moueix is the proprietor of Chateau Petrus, the "most collectable wine in the world". The current vintage (2005) retails for around $5,000/Bottle and is rated "96" by Parker in Wine Advocate #176.

*Christian Moueix also produces a Napa Valley counterpart to his famed Pomerol estate called "Dominus". The current vintage (2005) retails for (suggested) $144.00/Bottle and is rated "96" by Parker in Wine Advocate #174.

 

Hmmm...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...While I realize this is not an entirely fair comparison; you must admit it has some validity.

 

Should you ask Moueix why it is that Dominus sells for a fraction of the cost yet enjoys the same public demand of similarly made, high profile Napa Cabernet based efforts such as Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Colgin etc., he will tell you that "I don't need to charge those astronomical prices because I own Petrus (as well as Trotanoy, Magdelaine and La fleur Petrus) which sells for $5,000.00/Bottle.  I want to give the consumer good value yet offer a top quality Napa Cabernet".

 

In the late 1960's, Moueix broadened his winemaking knowledge by taking enology and viticulture classes at U.C. Davis.  In his spare time he traveled the blue highways of N. California, falling in love with the environment and climate of Napa and Sonoma.  He deduced that he could make a wine of similar quality to that of his famous "St. Peter of Pomerol" in the Napa Valley.  

 

With his families rather deep financial recourses at his disposal (and at the encouragement of Bob Mondavi) in 1982 Moueix partnered with Yountville's Napanook vineyard owners Robin Lail and Marcia Smith to form Dominus Estate.  The first 13 vintages of Dominus were made at neighboring Rambauer winery.  In 1995, Moueix bought out Lail and Smith to become sole owner of Dominus and in 1996 a new, 50,000 sq. foot winery (designed by Swiss Architectural firm Herzog and de Meuron) was built on the site.  The building itself is unique and is composed of Gabions (galvanized baskets) filled with rocks which protect, cool and insulate the interior of the building during summer as well as maintain a comfortable setting during the winter months.   

From the same property Moueix also produces a more approachable-early-on and considerably less expensive wine called "Napanook" which often receives similar ratings as that of his famous Dominus.   The Dominus style is a California-Bordeaux hybrid with the intensity, depth and age-ability of the best of Pomerol, the Napanook is a fruitier version with softer tannins and a more time-friendly nature.

  

Moueix first released Napanook in 1996 with the intention of producing a wine to be enjoyed in its younger years.  Napanook is a blend of the Bordeaux varietals coming from vineyard lots chosen for their finesse, lively fruit and subtle tannins.  The goal is to find the perfect equilibrium between these elements, creating a wine that is harmonious and, of course, pleasurable to drink.  Napanook is intentionally made to be approachable young yet will age approximately 10 years after release.  

 

"Moueix produces his wine "in the vineyard", not in the cellar.  Terroir is a word that is slightly abused today.  The precise definition is the combination of a given climate and a specific soil, and how the two interact.  The Napanook terroir is much more variable than one would expect.  The ranch is 124 acres of which 108 are planted in three different types of soil-the gravelly part (specifically volcanic soil), the heavy clay and the loam.  The goal is to find the rootstock and the grape variety that will best adapt to the aspects of each block.  Both the Dominus and the Napanook are grown solely on the Napanook property...they are "estate" bottled in the spirit of the Bordeaux chateaux.  The ranch is dry-farmed, the ideal manner to allow the terroir to express itself."

 

*"94-96"/RC...The 2005 Vintage in Napa was textbook "excellent" ("95" Parker "92" WS).  At the Napanook Vineyard bud-break and set were ideal, allowing the vineyard personnel to harvest top quality grapes and reduce intervention in the cellar.  The 2005 is dark red, almost deep crimson in color.  The nose is dense and compact, filled with dark berries, blonde tobacco, black cherries and cacao.  The entry is powerful and supple, spherical in quality; perfectly ripe and enveloped in firm, round and elegant tannins.  Black fruit and licorice linger throughout the evolution in the mouth; a superb vintage, this wine clearly has aging potential (as have all Dominus) and decanting is recommended prior to serving to allow the wine to develop its full potential.

 

*Harvest began on September 29th and ended on Halloween

*The 2005 is a blend of 76% Cabernet, 14% Cab Franc and 10% Petit Verdot.

*The wine was aged 16 months in 20% new French oak and bottled in June of 2007.

*A total of 2,500 (6) cases were produced

*The wine was released May 1st, 2008.

 

*"96" Parker..."The 2005 Dominus has come of age, and is one of the strongest efforts they've made.  It is possibly the BEST DOMINUS SINCE 2001, and perhaps even the 1997 or 1991.  A beautiful, sweet nose of roasted coffee interwoven with kirsch, black currant, cedar and spice box emerges from this deep ruby/purple-colored wine.  The wine has fabulous intensity, a layered, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, well-integrated acidity and a stunningly long finish.  The layering of this wine as it builds incrementally on the palate is something to behold.  An outstanding, sexy, age-worthy Dominus, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and last for at least 25-30 years.  When I am tasting Dominus, they always present a wine opened the day before and decanted, and one just opened, and the extended aeration version always seems to be the better example of the wine, so plenty of decanting seems to be in order. (Release date ! of summer, 2008)".

 

*2005 Napanook "91" Parker..."The 2005 Napanook, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, has turned out to be a beauty.  Four thousand cases of this wine were made, and it exhibits wonderful cedar, spice box, roasted herb and sweet black cherry and cassis notes in a medium to full-bodied style with sweet tannin, impressive texture and silky, long, lush finish.  It should drink well for 10-15 years".

 

Dominus and Napanook have been on a roll throughout the decade.  The 2005s' are both spectacular.  Drink the Napanook while you wait for the Dominus to soften.  $485.00 case of 6...2 Dominus, 4 Napanook.

        

 

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Dominus/Napanook...Christian Moueix's California Petrus

 

 

Dominus/Napanook...Christian Moueix's California Petrus

 

A (6) Bottle Case of the 2005 Dominus (2) and Napanook (4) Napa Valley Bordeaux Inspired Cabernet blends...$485.00

 

Petrus-Dominus a Theological connection (if you took Latin)

 

*Facts: Christian Moueix is the proprietor of Chateau Petrus, the "most collectable wine in the world". The current vintage (2005) retails for around $5,000/Bottle and is rated "96" by Parker in Wine Advocate #176.

*Christian Moueix also produces a Napa Valley counterpart to his famed Pomerol estate called "Dominus". The current vintage (2005) retails for (suggested) $144.00/Bottle and is rated "96" by Parker in Wine Advocate #174.

 

Hmmm...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...Five Thousand or One Forty-Four...While I realize this is not an entirely fair comparison; you must admit it has some validity.

 

Should you ask Moueix why it is that Dominus sells for a fraction of the cost yet enjoys the same public demand of similarly made, high profile Napa Cabernet based efforts such as Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Colgin etc., he will tell you that "I don't need to charge those astronomical prices because I own Petrus (as well as Trotanoy, Magdelaine and La fleur Petrus) which sells for $5,000.00/Bottle.  I want to give the consumer good value yet offer a top quality Napa Cabernet".

 

In the late 1960's, Moueix broadened his winemaking knowledge by taking enology and viticulture classes at U.C. Davis.  In his spare time he traveled the blue highways of N. California, falling in love with the environment and climate of Napa and Sonoma.  He deduced that he could make a wine of similar quality to that of his famous "St. Peter of Pomerol" in the Napa Valley.  

 

With his families rather deep financial recourses at his disposal (and at the encouragement of Bob Mondavi) in 1982 Moueix partnered with Yountville's Napanook vineyard owners Robin Lail and Marcia Smith to form Dominus Estate.  The first 13 vintages of Dominus were made at neighboring Rambauer winery.  In 1995, Moueix bought out Lail and Smith to become sole owner of Dominus and in 1996 a new, 50,000 sq. foot winery (designed by Swiss Architectural firm Herzog and de Meuron) was built on the site.  The building itself is unique and is composed of Gabions (galvanized baskets) filled with rocks which protect, cool and insulate the interior of the building during summer as well as maintain a comfortable setting during the winter months.   

From the same property Moueix also produces a more approachable-early-on and considerably less expensive wine called "Napanook" which often receives similar ratings as that of his famous Dominus.   The Dominus style is a California-Bordeaux hybrid with the intensity, depth and age-ability of the best of Pomerol, the Napanook is a fruitier version with softer tannins and a more time-friendly nature.

  

Moueix first released Napanook in 1996 with the intention of producing a wine to be enjoyed in its younger years.  Napanook is a blend of the Bordeaux varietals coming from vineyard lots chosen for their finesse, lively fruit and subtle tannins.  The goal is to find the perfect equilibrium between these elements, creating a wine that is harmonious and, of course, pleasurable to drink.  Napanook is intentionally made to be approachable young yet will age approximately 10 years after release.  

 

"Moueix produces his wine "in the vineyard", not in the cellar.  Terroir is a word that is slightly abused today.  The precise definition is the combination of a given climate and a specific soil, and how the two interact.  The Napanook terroir is much more variable than one would expect.  The ranch is 124 acres of which 108 are planted in three different types of soil-the gravelly part (specifically volcanic soil), the heavy clay and the loam.  The goal is to find the rootstock and the grape variety that will best adapt to the aspects of each block.  Both the Dominus and the Napanook are grown solely on the Napanook property...they are "estate" bottled in the spirit of the Bordeaux chateaux.  The ranch is dry-farmed, the ideal manner to allow the terroir to express itself."

 

*"94-96"/RC...The 2005 Vintage in Napa was textbook "excellent" ("95" Parker "92" WS).  At the Napanook Vineyard bud-break and set were ideal, allowing the vineyard personnel to harvest top quality grapes and reduce intervention in the cellar.  The 2005 is dark red, almost deep crimson in color.  The nose is dense and compact, filled with dark berries, blonde tobacco, black cherries and cacao.  The entry is powerful and supple, spherical in quality; perfectly ripe and enveloped in firm, round and elegant tannins.  Black fruit and licorice linger throughout the evolution in the mouth; a superb vintage, this wine clearly has aging potential (as have all Dominus) and decanting is recommended prior to serving to allow the wine to develop its full potential.

 

*Harvest began on September 29th and ended on Halloween

*The 2005 is a blend of 76% Cabernet, 14% Cab Franc and 10% Petit Verdot.

*The wine was aged 16 months in 20% new French oak and bottled in June of 2007.

*A total of 2,500 (6) cases were produced

*The wine was released May 1st, 2008.

 

*"96" Parker..."The 2005 Dominus has come of age, and is one of the strongest efforts they've made.  It is possibly the BEST DOMINUS SINCE 2001, and perhaps even the 1997 or 1991.  A beautiful, sweet nose of roasted coffee interwoven with kirsch, black currant, cedar and spice box emerges from this deep ruby/purple-colored wine.  The wine has fabulous intensity, a layered, opulent, full-bodied mouthfeel, well-integrated acidity and a stunningly long finish.  The layering of this wine as it builds incrementally on the palate is something to behold.  An outstanding, sexy, age-worthy Dominus, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and last for at least 25-30 years.  When I am tasting Dominus, they always present a wine opened the day before and decanted, and one just opened, and the extended aeration version always seems to be the better example of the wine, so plenty of decanting seems to be in order. (Release date ! of summer, 2008)".

 

*2005 Napanook "91" Parker..."The 2005 Napanook, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, has turned out to be a beauty.  Four thousand cases of this wine were made, and it exhibits wonderful cedar, spice box, roasted herb and sweet black cherry and cassis notes in a medium to full-bodied style with sweet tannin, impressive texture and silky, long, lush finish.  It should drink well for 10-15 years".

 

Dominus and Napanook have been on a roll throughout the decade.  The 2005s' are both spectacular.  Drink the Napanook while you wait for the Dominus to soften.  $485.00 case of 6...2 Dominus, 4 Napanook.

        

 

This message was sent from Root's Cellar to paul@rootscellar.com. It was sent from: Root's Cellar, 1401 E Grove Street , Healdsburg, CA 95448. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

 

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'06 Hirsch Estate Pinot-Liquid Crimson Silk

2006 Hirsch Estate Pinot-Liquid Crimson Silk

Case Lots (6) of the 2006 Hirsch Estate Pinot Noir $355.00

This wine runs in the same league with the finest efforts from such
luminaries as Marcassin, Littorai, Failla, Williams Selyem, Scherrer,
Kistler and Siduri.

*"Crimson" 'krim-zen "Strong, bright deep red combined with blue resulting
in a vibrant shade of purple"

This word describes the color as well as the soothing, palate enveloping,
mellow sensation which this sexy, silky wine provides with each sip.

David and Marie Hirsch are true visionaries. In 1980 they saw the potential
for growing world-class Burgundian grape varieties on the wind-swept, fog
enshrouded hillsides of the Sonoma Coast north of Jenner. Between 1981-2002
the Hirsch's' planted (roughly) 48 acres of painstakingly researched clones
of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For two decades, Dave sold his highly-sought
after fruit to a carefully selected group of producers who have become
legend in the "Who's Who" listing of American Burgundian varietal
specialists including Williams-Selyem, Littorai, Siduri, Scherrer, Failla
and Kistler.

In 2002, the Hirsch's' built a small (15,000 cases annual production)
winery facility and enlisted the guidance of specialist Vanessa Wong (Peter
Michael, Lafitte, Franciscan) to produce the first "Hirsch Estate" Pinot
Noir. This was an auspicious moment for Pinot Freaks the world over.
Vanessa turned over the winemaking reins (Vanessa's wonderful; she's a new
mommy and has her hands full making her own fabulous Peay Pinots and
Chardonnays) to Mark Doherty, formerly of Plump jack and Davis Bynum.

Read a thorough description of the clone selection, soil varieties and
planting decisions on the Hirsch web site.

The five vintages of Hirsch Estate Pinots have all possessed the common
characteristics of perfect ripeness, (it seems the vineyard crew picks at
the tipping point between ripe and over-ripe), polished and concentrated,
juicy, dark cherry fruit flavors, medium to full body weight and a silky
texture that has become the calling card of the finest Sonoma Coast Pinot
Noirs.

*David says that 2006 was the "seven year harvest" at Hirsch vineyards. "In
our case it had been nine years since yields and tonnages this high had been
seen (the reason for my ability to offer you case lots). Our quixotic San
Andrean climate conspired to produce apt conditions at pretty much every
stage of vine development right up to harvest. It was a fairly normal year
save for heavy winter rainstorms which caused massive landslides and slips
on the ranch and around the county. The vines opened on April fool's Day,
and warm weather promoted good root and shoot growth.
It wasn't until early August when the fruit continued to grow ever heavier
that we realized the magnitude on our hands. The bunches and berries were
not unusually large, but very compact. I estimate that we dropped at least
twice as much fruit as we had harvested the previous year!

The wines have a pronounced fruit character, but with a serious tannic
expression. They exhibit excellent balance. The "Hirsch" character is
evident; you will have the opportunity to experience how our site expressed
itself with this excellent wine.

Parker describes the Hirsch Estate Pinot as "A beauty, the dark
ruby-colored, beefy Hirsch Pinot has notes of *animal blood and roasted
meats and shows good sweetness and tannin, medium to full-body and excellent
acidity and length. This is a solidly built, borderline-rustic Pinot with
loads of character and depth. It should drink nicely for up to a decade".

*There have been reports of a vampire dressed in Chinos lurking in the
streets of Monkton!

*"94"/RC...Thirty-two blocks of Pinot Noir on the Hirsch estate and all of
them were processed on site to create the final blend of the 2006. Wow!
such incredible spice, cinnamon, clove, allspice and fennel; rich, textured
flavors of black cherry, cassis, cola, sweet cranberry, dried blueberry and
creamy blackberry liqueur. Gorgeous color of transparent jewels; a silky
and nearly cloying texture; seductive and a little slutty in the
aftertaste...one of the finest 2006 SOCOAST Pinots we've yet tasted from the
vintage.

*6-Bottle Case of 2006 Hirsch Estate Pinot Noir $355.00

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Solena:"Outstanding...One of the Finest"-Parker

 

 

Solena: “Outstanding…One of the Finest” –Parker

 

Robert Parker describes the Solena (“Sun and the Moon”) “Grand Cuvee” Willamette Valley as “One of the finest Pinot Noirs on the market at this price category”.  We have just received our allocation of the 2006 vintage of this delicious wine and are able to offer it to our clientele at $320.00/Case of 12.  Oregon Pinot of this quality generally retails for $40-$60/Bottle; at $26 and change this stuff is the bomb.

 

The French-Napa Connection…

 

Solena is a relatively new venture, founded by the husband and wife team of Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus-Montalieu.    Laurent (a 1987 graduate of the Bordeaux Institute of Oenology) worked at Chateau La Tour Blanche before coming to the American west coast where he gained practical knowledge at Napa’s Domaine Mumm and Oregon’s Willakenzie prior to establishing Solena with his wife Danielle Andrus in 2003.  Danielle had been immersed in the wine business from the age of 10 when she worked at her family’s original Napa facility, Pine Ridge.  A native Oregonian, Danielle returned to her home state in 1996 to participate in her father’s new venture, Archery Summit.  After spending 6 years at that new (and very successful) enterprise, Danielle le! ft to join Laurent at Solena in 2002-03.

 

This beautiful 2006 PN was crafted from a variety of premium vineyard sites in OR’s Willamette Valley.  It has a deep ruby color with an aroma of fresh picked red fruits; specifically, cherry and strawberry with a touch of pastry spice.  The wine is lively, fresh and bright with perfect balance.  Typical of the 2006 vintage, the tannins are supple and complement the fruit/spice flavors with an extended finish.

 

*2006 in the Willamette Valley will be remembered as one of our finest vintages in terms of disease pressure and overall quality.  Favorable weather in April resulted in a generous crop set, and thinning was done throughout each of our selected vineyards.  Limited precipitation resulted in near zero need for adjustments during the growing season.  As harvest approached we were blessed with fully ripened fruit.  Overall, ’06 yields were slightly up from the two previous harvests with exceptional quality.

 

“91 points”…”The dark cherry-scented Solena “Grand Cuvee” is an outstanding wine as well as being one of the finest Pinots on the market at this price point.  Medium-to-full bodied, it delivers broad, intense layers of black cherries in its powerful, full-flavored and marvelously lengthy personality.  Drink it over the next 5-6 years” -Robert Parker, WA #165

 

The Grand Cuvee is made from combining grapes from several appellations including Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and Eola-Amity Hills.   In the Willamette grapes were harvested from Sunset Knoll, Nuestro Sueno, Vista Hills and our Estate Domaine Danielle Laurent property.  All fruit was hand-harvested under ideal conditions.

 

“90”/RC…”Dark, ruby/blue and purple color; nose of ripe blueberry, dark cherry, cola, vanilla and sandalwood; plush texture, fairly weighty on the tongue, creamy fruit flavors of dark-fleshed plum, Dr. Pepper, sweet blackberry jam, creamy oak and vanilla; the overall personality of this wine is a little forward and brazen…very confident while ignoring  its “commoner” price. No question this wine would hold its own in a single-blind tasting including a number of 2006 OR and CA Pinots twice its relatively modest tare.”

 

All grapes from the individual vineyard sites were hand sorted and de-stemmed prior to isolated fermentation.  Cold maceration preceded the fermentation to maximize color and flavor.  The majority of the fruit was processed in 2.5 ton, open-top stainless steel fermenters.  Punch-downs were done by hand for a total of three weeks of skin contact. 

 

“Light and polished, with high-toned plum and currant fruit floating on very fine tannins, persisting nicely on the finish.  Drink now through 2011” –Harvey Steiman/Wine Spectator

 

The fruit from Domaine Danielle Laurent Estate was fermented in special rotary oak barrels (?) providing gentle oak and fruit/tannin integration.  After primary fermentation the juice was gravity-fed directly to barrels.  100% ML occurred over a six-month period; the wine was aged for 9 months in French oak (from a variety of coopers) of which 25% was new.  The wine was bottled unfined/unfiltered.

 

Case of the 2006 Solena Grand Cuvee OR Pinot Noir $320.00

 

 

This message was sent from Root's Cellar to paul@rootscellar.com. It was sent from: Root's Cellar, 1401 E Grove Street , Healdsburg, CA 95448. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

 

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Our Greatest Chard deal of the year...Super Saturday

 

 

Our Greatest Chardonnay Deal of The Year?!

 

 

 

How about a $27/Bottle (SRP) "90" Point rated (Parker) Single-Vineyard Chardonnay from the superb 2004 vintage ("99" Wine Spectator "92" Parker) for $90.00/Case of 6?  A Savings of (up to) $78.00/Case...This my friends, is a GREAT DEAL (but I only have 18 Six-Packs of the wine to sell).

 

 This weeks Saturday Super Saver Dad took over, this was too good to pass up. Enjoy and Grab it while you can.

 

Super Premium Chardonnay Lovers...Don't Miss this one!

 

 

 

Robert Parker rates this wine "90 Points" based on a retail price of $27.00/Bottle and says it's "not dissimilar to a top-notch Chablis".  You'll be paying $15.  Our cost on this item totally beats all other advertised pricing big time!  Man, I love a bargain...don't you?

 

 

 

The Two Rock Vineyard...

 

 

 

The Sonoma Coast Appellation is huge.  It runs east to west from Sonoma to the coast and north to south from Asti to the Marin border.  In its southern reaches it includes the Petaluma Gap, a wedge of land running from U.S. 101 to Bodega Bay .  This verdant aperture is dotted with rivers, creeks and hillsides which descend in temperature by a degree or two with each kilometer westward until it plunges into the mighty Pacific between Tomales Bay and the Mendocino county line.   It is in the southern portion of the Appellation that Two Rock Vineyard was planted to take advantage of the moderate, marine-influenced climate and summer fogs which march from the ocean to the far outposts of Sonoma County each afternoon during the long Spring-to-Fall growing season. 

 

 

 

About 10 years ago, Gina and Matt Gallo hung a hard left from their family's long-established domination of the mass-production wine business to focus on planting and crafting small lots of single-vineyard Chardonnay, Cabernet (plus other Bordeaux varieties) and Zinfandel from newly purchased and carefully planted vineyard sites in some of Sonoma Counties finest regions.  Everybody in the trade knew that there was zero question that this sister-brother team had the financial wherewithal to pull of just about any wine related venture they could come up with, and it wasn't long before they began purchasing both small and large parcels of plant-able land from Asti to Cotati.

 

 

 

Gallo finally gets the respect it deserves...

 

 

 

The results of this mini-revolution in the Gallo Empire began to pay off in huge dividends and although it had been policy for years to "hide" the Gallo name on peripheral company products (both domestic and imported), the new generation felt that it was time to put their family name and crest prominently on the front label of their products as they believed (correctly) that the quality of their efforts would speak for themselves.

 

 

 

The Gallo of Sonoma "Single Vineyard" line became the flagship of the entire company and the wines began to receive the recognition they deserved.  By creating a super-premium look in the pricing, packaging and advertising, Gallo successfully established the Gallo of Sonoma line as an independent but related entity.  Recently, the company decided to create a "global brand for all Gallo vineyards which would unify all of the various brands" hence "Gallo Family Vineyards Sonoma Reserve" will replace both the "Gallo of Sonoma" and " Two Valleys " lines in the future.

 

 

 

Which brings me to today's offer...

 

 

 

Yesterday, our Gallo rep called to make me an offer I couldn't refuse.  The "90" point rated Gallo of Sonoma super-premium/small production "Two Rock Vineyard" Chardonnay inventory was down to 18 cases and "we'd like to move on to the new package...would you be interested in offering this wine to your customers at nearly HALF PRICE?"

 

 

 

"Of course...but I've got to taste it first"; she sent a bottle over at 10:00 this morning...

 

 

 

*Packaged in the very dark green-brown (dead leaf?) bottle with weathered bronze capsule and very classy metallic gold "bikini" label with Gina and Matt's Signatures on the bottom, the deeply punted and arrestingly heavy bottle is instantly impressive in looks alone.  Pull the (excellent quality) 2-inch long cork and pour a splash...

 

 

 

*"90" Parker..."The Outstanding 2004 Chardonnay Two Rock is a wine with some hazelnut, lemon butter, poached pear and citrus notes, medium to full-body, and beautiful freshness in a crisp style not dissimilar from a top-notch Chablis.  Interestingly, 80% of the cuvee is aged in tank and fermented with indigenous yeasts.  This is a sleeper wine!"

 

 

 

*"91-93"/RC...Attractive color of light straw or diluted amber showing zero aging; expensive Chardonnay odors of citrus, hazelnut, sweet woods, vanilla and freshly baked sugar cookies; flavors of ripe citrus, pear, honey, vanilla, Granny Smith apple, moderate spicy oak and a touch of orange blossoms; partial malo-lactic fermentation gives the wine a buttery, rich and silky texture; the finish is super-clean and well defined with a pleasing balance of fruit, acid and oak; very sexy wine and an incredible bargain at $15.00 (it would definitely be in the correct neighborhood at its original "suggested retail price" of $27.00-$30.00.

 

 

 

This wine is still very youthful and will effortlessly last into the end of the decade if stored properly.

 

 

 

*6-Bottle Case of the Two Rock Vineyard Chardonnay $90.00

 While 18 cases last.          

  

 

This message was sent from Root's Cellar to paul@rootscellar.com. It was sent from: Root's Cellar, 1401 E Grove Street , Healdsburg, CA 95448. You can modify/update your subscription via the link below.

 

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