Caymus 2007 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon In 1971 Charlie Wagner and his wife Lorna Belle Glos Wagner asked their son Charles (Chuck) Wagner, who had just graduated from high school, if he would be interested in joining them in starting up a winery. If Chuck declined the offer, Charlie and Lorna were planning to sell out of their ranch in Napa Valley and move to Australia. Chuck accepted his parents’ offer to launch the winery, Caymus Vineyards. The Wagners produced their first vintage in 1972, consisting of 240 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, Caymus has focused their efforts in the production of quality Cabernet Sauvignon, and make a few more…
-
-
Honig 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon In 1964, Louis Honig purchased a 68-acre ranch in Rutherford, in the heart of the Napa Valley. The vineyard was planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which he sold to neighboring wineries. Louis dreamed of the day he could retire from his San Francisco advertising agency and make wine from his vineyard. Unfortunately Louis passed away before he could realize his dream, leaving the estate to his family. In 1981, as a tribute to his legacy, his family produced a few hundred cases of Louis Honig Sauvignon Blanc in the vineyard’s old tractor barn. After the wine won a Gold Medal at…
-
Clos Du Val 2010 Stags Leap District Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Clos Du Val, French for “small vineyard estate of a small valley,” was founded in 1972 in the now legendary Stags Leap District of Napa Valley by Franco-American entrepreneur John Goelet. After a worldwide search to purchase vineyard properties from which to craft world-class wines, 150 acres in Stags Leap and 180 acres in Carneros were chosen, solidifying Clos Du Val’s iconic stature and formidable place in Napa Valley history. Today, Winemaker Kristy Melton, handcrafts wines to reflect the classic style, finesse and grace Clos Du Val is known for. The Three Graces, Splendor, Mirth and Joy have adorned Clos…
-
Turley 2012 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Born in Tennessee and raised in Georgia, Larry Turley of Turley Wine Cellars has spent the better part of his life on a farm. Being in the south, there were primarily tobacco and dairy farms; nevertheless, his respect for the land and its cultivation began at a young age. As an adult, Larry channeled this passion for preservation towards people, studying medicine and working as an emergency room physician. Because Larry has never met an old vine vineyard he didn’t like, Turley makes 28 separate wines from 35 different vineyards, some with vines that date back to the late 1800’s. Often weak and decaying, these…
-
Newton 2012 Napa Chardonnay Unfiltered Widely acclaimed as a California wine trailblazer, Newton Vineyard was one of the first wineries on Spring Mountain, a rugged yet serene appellation located west of St. Helena on the eastern flank of the Mayacamas range which separates Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Newton Vineyard was established in 1977, the vision of founders Dr. Su Hua and Peter Newton, who recognized the potential of Spring Mountain as a prime viticultural region. Newton’s approach to winemaking is meticulous, using techniques based on an old-world style including natural fermentation and bottling without filtration. The grapes are handled with care, hand-picked in small lots and transferred for gentle pressing…
-
Turley 2012 Howell Mountain Cedarman Zinfandel For the past 20 years, the strongest hand at the Zinfandel wheel has been Larry Turley of Turley Wine Cellars, which released its first wines with the 1993 vintage. Turley pioneered a plush, richly fruity style of Zinfandel that helped establish the varietal as a world-class contender. Turley’s Zins appear on some of the wine lists of America’s best restaurants. Born in Tennessee and raised in Georgia, Larry has spent the better part of his life on a farm. This being the south, they were primarily tobacco and dairy farms; nevertheless, his respect for the land and its cultivation began at a young age.…
-
Quinta do Sagrado 2007 Reserva Douro Tinto One of the most representative Quintas in the Douro, located near the mouth of the Pinhão River, has belonged to the Calem family (now in its 5th and 6th generations) for about 150 years, and before that was owned by the A.A. Calem & Filho, Lda. company. When it started, there were neither trains nor tanker-trucks, so it was designed to receive the wines produced at the Quinta and at the Region’s other landholdings, and from there transport them via barge (known as Barco Rebelo), to the main warehouses on Diogo Leite Avenue in Vila Nova de Gaia. The Quinta do Sagrado, located…
-
Robert Mondavi 2010 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Robert Mondavi winery, located in Oakville, CA, makes a number of outstanding and consistent quality wines and established his winery in 1966 with a vision to have his Napa Valley wines to be among the world’s finest. Robert Mondavi also believed his wines should reflect its “roots” and be a signature creation from a combination of the soil, climate and production techniques, both new and old, which transforms the grapes into a fine wine. Opening a bottle of 2010 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, I noticed a dark purple, almost inky color with blue and black fruit aromas. The wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet…
-
Chateau St. Jean 2010 Cinq Cépages The estate of Chateau St. Jean is located at the foot of Sugarloaf Ridge in the Sonoma Valley near Kenwood, California. The estate was founded in 1973 and recognized as a true leader in “Vineyard Designated” wines. The winemaker, Margo Van Staaveren, brings with her 30 years of experience and draws out the best that Chateau St. Jean vineyards has to offer. I opened a bottle of Cinq Cépages, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, and noticed a deep ruby color with aromas of complex dark black fruit, cacao and spice with oaky notes. The attack…
-
Gemola 2007 Colli Euganei Rosso Merlot Cabernet Franc Vignalta was founded by Lucio Gomiero in 1980 who proclaimed that he could produce wines as good as anything in Bordeaux. Colli Euganei is located in the Northwest region of Italy and shares the same lines of latitude with Bordeaux. The estate is spread over 123 acres on the south facing slopes of Colli Euganei, an area with unique soil and varietal combinations. Colli is Italian for “hills” and Vignalta translates to “high vines”. The Colli Euganei, with their volcanic origin, has terrains rich in minerals, a mild climate and good thermals producing extraordinary grapes. Their wine cellar is completely dug into…