 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
- 2008 Chardonnay – Parmelee-Hill Vineyard (Sonoma Valley)
- 2007 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)
- 2007 Zinfandel – Reserve (Sonoma County)
- 2007 Zinfandel – Hillside Vineyards (Sonoma Valley)
- 2006 Syrah – Archer Vineyards (Russian River Valley)
- 2007 Syrah – Cuvée Ellen (Sonoma Valley)
- 2007 Syrah – Sonoma Hillside Vineyards (Sonoma County)
- 2006 Cabernet Shiraz – Grandfathes’s Cuvée (Sonoma Valley)
- Sonoma Reds – Lot 3
- 2008 Late Harvest Zinfandel (Sonoma County)
- 2007 Syrah Port – EnglandCrest Vineyards (Sonoma Valley)
- 2008 Port (Sonoma Valley)
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS:
10% on 6 bottles, 15% on 12, 20% on 24 or more
WINE CLUB DISCOUNT:
20% on all wine purchases
*SPRING 2010 RELEASE (Others Released in Fall 2009)
*2008 CHARDONNAY – Parmelee-Hill Vineyard (Sonoma Valley) $28
This is my third release of Chardonnay from this highly-acclaimed vineyard which sits on the north border of Carneros. My section of this vineyard sits up above some of the other blocks and keeps good acidity which helps keep the wine balanced. Early heat during harvest sent the crews out at night under lights to pick so that we could preserve maximum fruit flavors of pear and pineapple. Barrel fermented with minor use of new oak and kept on yeast lees to help build richness on the palate. My richest Parmelee-Hill Chardonnay to date. Bottled with a screwcap. 151 cases produced.
*2007 PINOT NOIR (Russian River Valley) $35
Gold Medal – Sonoma County Harvest Fair
I read a recent Wine Spectator lauding the virtues of the 2007 Pinot Noirs from California. I actually agreed with what they were saying. It was a great year for Pinot Noir (and most red wines). The combination of uniform weather, no rain and two great Russian River vineyards in Archer and Hawk Hill have make this a rich and delicious wine. The fruit from the Hawk Hill vineyard in particular, was the smallest berries I’d ever seen and this lead to great concentration. It shows a classic Pinot aroma of rose petals and forest floor and then a powerful and harmonious palate. 161 cases produced.
*2007 ZINFANDEL – RESERVE (Sonoma County) $30
In 2007, I received a small amount of outstanding Zinfandel from a 100 year old vineyard in the Russian River Valley and it inspired me to think about blending a Reserve Zinfandel. I used the old vine fruit as the base, then added another Russian River component as well as some from the Stonetree and Buck Hill vineyards. Just four barrels produced and a little more of everything that makes Zinfandel so yummy. It shows well now, but will be even better in a year or so. 101 cases produced.
2007 ZINFANDEL – Hillside Vineyards (Sonoma Valley) $25
The 2007 Zinfandel uses fruit from three sources; the Buck Hill vineyard which is near Santa Rosa, the Stonetree vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains and a vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The Stonetree vineyard brings peppery notes and tannin structure, the Buck Hill vineyard brings bright red fruit characters and the Russian River component gives raspberry notes and good acidity. All mountain grown fruit, this is a ripe and rich Zinfandel that would be great with ribs. 465 cases produced.
2006 SYRAH – Archer Vineyards (Russian River Valley) $30
Gold Medal – Sonoma County Harvest Fair
The Archer vineyard is a great site located in the rolling hills of Russian River, just south of Healdsburg. Planted with three clones of Syrah, I take a little of each and keep them separate until blending in the spring. This wine shows uncommon richness and concentration, excellent soft tannins and a floral aspect that reminds me of violets and makes me think there might be some Viognier in the blend (there is not). A wine for richer dishes or the cellar. 198 cases produced.
*2007 SYRAH – Cuvée Ellen (Sonoma Valley) $25
Gold Medal – Sonoma County Harvest Fair
I introduced you to my grandfather’s cuvée with the 2005 Cabernet Shiraz. Now, finally, I have my grandmother’s wine, the cuvée Ellen. It seemed a natural, made here in Glen Ellen using some of the grapes grown here in Glen Ellen, a fitting tribute to Ellen (or Nell to the family). It was fun to make this blend, starting with a few barrels from just outside the winery window, then adding some from Desimoney Vineyard on Arnold Drive, then more from Parmelee-Hill and finally a little from 2 vineyards in Russian River. Classic Syrah with red fruits, spice and meaty notes, some elegance and great structure. Bottled with a screwcap. 296 cases produced.
*2007 SYRAH – Sonoma Hillside Vineyards (Sonoma County) $28
In 2007 I kept back 12 barrels of the Archer Syrah to bottle as a potential vineyard designated wine. It was blended using fruit from three different Syrah clones grown in the steepest slopes of Gary Archer’s Russian River Valley vineyard. Prior to bottling, I found that an 8% addition of the softer and less acidic Parmelee-Hill Syrah really brought out more black fruit characters and filled out the middle palate. I made the decision to drop the Archer designation and just call it Sonoma Hillside Vineyards Syrah. The wine has great palate feel with excellent structure and tannin and has that peppery note that we get with cool climate Syrah. A wine for richer dishes and an excellent choice for the cellar. 331 cases produced.
2006 CABERNET SHIRAZ – Grandfathes’s Cuvée (Sonoma Valley) $30
This is my second release of this old time, classic Australian blend. The Cabernet component (62%) comes from the McGraw vineyard on a hillside to the west of the winery. There is a higher proportion of Syrah (38%) than last year’s release with the Syrah coming mostly from here at the winery and with a little from the Archer vineyard. Showing typical Cabernet cassis notes and Cabernet structure, but with the sweetness and soft tannins that Syrah and oak bring. The Syrah also fills out the middle palate. An excellent choice for the cellar or to pair with those big rich meals that demand a Cabernet. 298 cases produced.
*SONOMA REDS – Lot 3 $16
This release of Sonoma Reds is again a multi-varietal and multi-year blend. A bigger wine than the Lot 2 and more reminiscent of the Lot 1 from 12 months ago, this hearty red is 77% Syrah, 19% Zinfandel, 2% Pinot Noir and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a very easy to like wine! Bottled with a screwcap. 211 cases produced.
*2008 LATE HARVEST ZINFANDEL (Sonoma County) 500ml $28
Gold Medal – Sonoma County Harvest Fair
I’ve been making a Late Harvest Zinfandel since 2003 despite the risk (leaving grapes unpicked for a late harvest style just invites all the birds to eat the fruit and runs the risk of bad weather and rain that can ruin the grapes). That risk paid off well in 2008. Produced using grapes from a vineyard in Russian River Valley, this wine has lovely balance between the ripe fruit, sweetness and acidity to keep it from being cloying. Although I always think of dark chocolate after dinner when I have this wine, I discovered that fresh cherries in the summer are also a great match. 186 cases produced.
2007 SYRAH PORT – EnglandCrest Vineyards (Sonoma Valley) 500ml $28
Produced entirely using Syrah from the vineyard around the winery. Although many grapes have been used to make Port, Syrah has been the basis for most of the great older Australian Ports and is the grape of choice here. I have used unaged grape alcohol to stop the fermentation, rather than an oak aged brandy, as this allows the flavor of the grape and vineyard to show more easily. This port has incredibly rich color, great fruit intensity and excellent balance. A great way to end the meal with good dark chocolate or blue cheese! 194 cases produced.
*2008 PORT (Sonoma Valley) 500ml $28
Gold Medal – Sonoma County Harvest Fair
I think the ‘08 Port is even better than the ’07. Again made entirely from Syrah and I’ve used fruit from each of the different soil types we have here around the winery. The dry, rocky soils give the wine power and structure while the deeper soils give the wine fruit and richness. Using Syrah for the port as well as fortifying with a neutral grape alcohol, rather than aged brandy, seems to be a winner. 204 cases produced.
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS:
10% on 6 bottles, 15% on case, 20% on 2 or more cases
WINE CLUB DISCOUNT:
20% on all wine purchases
