Andrew Murray Vineyards Today I am writing about 2 wines from Andrew Murray Vineyards, their Andrew Murray labeled Pinot Noir from Santa Ynez and their new offering “This is E11even” Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley. Both of these wines have similar price points and outstanding values. I recently met Andrew Murray at a tasting in Stew Leonard’s wine shop in Norwalk, CT (see picture of Andrew above). His wines were so popular that all of his higher priced offerings were sold prior to my arrival. However I was lucky enough to spend a few enjoyable minutes with Andrew discussing his wines, especially his new This is E11even offering. Hopefully…
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Girard 2012 Chardonnay Russian River Thirty years after first planting its vineyards, Girard continues to produce wines reflecting the quality that has made Napa Valley the most famous New World wine-growing region in the world. Today, Girard is experiencing a rebirth of sorts as longtime California vintner Pat Roney purchased the winery shortly after the new millennium. Roney’s career in wine began as a sommelier at Chicago’s renowned Pump Room, where he worked during and after college. Later he returned to his native California and eventually he took up the reins of two wineries: first as president of Chateau St. Jean, and later as president of Kunde, both in Sonoma…
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Sierra Cantabria 2009 Crianza Founded in 1957 by Guillermo Eguren, Sierra Cantabria is sheltered in the heart of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a town of historic winemaking tradition, positioned in a unique location between the River Ebro and the Sierra Cantabria mountain range. The Sierra Cantabria mountains and the Ebro river create a special microclimate with Mediterranean and Continental characteristics providing mild winters and gentle summers, unique for vine cultivation. In addition, the summers get a “thermal jump” with intense heat during the day with crisp night temperatures which creates an increase in the level of polyphenols, found in many fine wines. The soils are calcareous clay which is…
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Qupé 2010 Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah A California resident, Bob Lindquist named his winery “qupé” to honor the Chumash, the indigenous people of the Golden State’s Central Coast and Channel Islands. Since many of the sounds of the Chumash language have been obscured by time, Bob gave “qupe” its pronunciation (“kyoo-pay”), with an accent on the final syllable. In Chumash, “qupé” refers to the poppy, a flowering plant traditionally used for food and medicine. Pictured on the winery’s label, a stylized poppy stands amid a swirl of stems studded with leaves and seed pods. The arresting image – originally intended as an embroidered motif for bed linens – was selected…
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Castello Di Pomino 2012 Chardonnay Pomino, meaning “Little Apple” is a small DOC located in central Italy’s picturesque region of Tuscany. The classified area encompasses the town of Pomino and includes vineyards within the Chianti Rufina sub-zone in the province of Florence. Although relatively unknown, this is a premium wine producing area, and was granted its DOC title in 1983. In a decree drawn up by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1716, he declared Pomino to be one of four major areas in Tuscany that had the potential to produce quality wines. It was also hailed by the 17th-century writer and scientist Francesco Redi, who said, “The Pomino district…
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Byron 2011 Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley In 1984 Ken Brown founded Byron, with a plan to produce spectacular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Santa Barbara County. The good news at that time was that Chardonnay produced on Santa Barbara had established a solid reputation for its tropical, buttery offerings. The Santa Maria Bench – Byron’s home – is less than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean allowing for cool ocean air to sweep through. Note: Bench is a geographical term meaning the shoulder of a mountain. It’s that part of the hillside where the steep incline begins its rise, and in Byron’s case, roughly 500 – 800 feet above sea…
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Willm 2012 Riesling Reserve Founded in 1896 by the Willm Family, Alsace Willm was the first Alsace producer to export wines to the United States after Prohibition. Alsace Willm is located about 20 miles south of Strasbourg in Barr on the Route du Vin d’Alsace, which is the “Wine Road of Alsace”. Alsace Willm produces a selection of outstanding Alsace wines, both still and sparkling, as well as some Grand Crus. The 2012 Reserve Riesling is 100% Riesling that is aged for about 3 months on its lees, with bottling occurring about 10 months after the harvest. Note: “Lees” refers to deposits of dead yeast or residual yeast and other…
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Chateau St. Jean 2011 Chardonnay Robert Young Vineyards Not long ago, I commented on Chateau St. Jean’s 2011 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, today I am going to comment on their single vineyard Chardonnay from the Robert Young Vineyards. 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. The Robert Young Vineyard is tucked away in a protected cove…
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Heitz Cellars 2012 Napa Chardonnay In 1961, Joe and Alice Heitz purchased their first vineyard, 8 acres just south of St. Helena. Working out of their small California winery attached to the land they purchased, they put in round-the-clock sweat equity to build their business. Heitz Wine Cellars rapidly established a reputation as home base for one of the Napa Valley’s most innovative and brilliant winemakers, and the unassuming winery soon became a prestigious destination for wine connoisseurs. In 1964, Heitz acquired 160-acre parcel in Spring Valley and began sharpening his skills on Cabernet Sauvignon, and in 1965, by chance, acquired a small vineyard in Oakville from Tom and Martha…
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Sonoma-Cutrer 2012 Russian River Ranches Chardonnay Recently I commented on Sonoma-Cutrer 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir (see March 7, 2014 post) and described that I first became acquainted with Sonoma-Cutrer during a Sonoma wine tasting event in the 80’s and met Brice Cutrer Jones. When I tasted his Chardonnay, in a word, outstanding, one of the best I have tasted, but that was a while ago. The Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay was my “go-to” Chardonnay until about the time Brice Cutrer Jones was no longer associated with the winery. In 1999, Brown-Forman, the Kentucky-based drinks giant acquired Sonoma-Cutrer, and 2 years later fired Brice Cutrer Jones. Since Brice’s departure,…