Groth 2013 Chardonnay Hillview Napa Valley In 1981, Dennis and Judy Groth purchased 121 acre parcel in Napa known as the Oakville Vineyards, in the heart of the Oakville Appellation. In fact at that time some of their grapes found their way to Silver Oak and other notable Napa wineries. Between 1999 and 2003, almost 50% of their vineyard was replanted and in 2006 they rebuilt the barrel cellars, crush and fermentation areas. The Groth 2013 Hillview Vineyard Chardonnay was produced from grapes grown only in the Hillview Vineyard in Napa Valley, 100% Chardonnay. The 2013 growing season matched that of 2012 and produced a banner crop producing grapes that…
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Patz & Hall 2013 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay I previously reviewed the 2011 & 2012 vintages and found the wines impressive, but the 2012 growing season was longer and cooler allowing the winemaker to pick the fruit at the peak of ripeness. Founded by 4 individuals Patz & Hall is one of California’s premier wineries. I noticed a light straw yellow color and light aromas of fresh fruit, mostly green apples and slightly citrus with floral notes. On the palate, the flavor was somewhat full and rich with layered flavors of peach, green apple and vanilla spice. The wine had a slight mineral taste with light oak, noting that the wine…
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Cakebread Cellars 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Cakebread Cellars was founded, in 1973, by Jack and Dolores Cakebread and they have an enduring commitment to quality, their belief is that life’s occasions are elevated by good people, good food, and good wine flows through everything they do. The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc was Cakebread’s 38th vintage from Napa Valley, and considered one of their best. The wine is a blend of Grapes: 87% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Sèmillon, and 4% Sauvignon Musqué. In 2013, Cakebread Cellars celebrated their 40th wine harvest, and the second generation of winemaking, and in 1995, the family purchased a 60-acre former apple orchard in Anderson Valley near Boonville and…
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Ferrari-Carano Reserve Napa Chardonnay 2012 One of my absolute favorite California Chardonnay’s is the Ferrari-Carano offering from Sonoma County. Today I will comment on their Napa Reserve 2012 vintage. The Ferrari-Carano Winery was founded in 1981 by Don and Rhonda Carano and is located in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. If you enjoy pairing food with wine, be sure to visit the Ferrari-Carano website where Rhonda has a number of recipes. So if you are adventurous and have a passion for good food and wine, then try some of her recipes. I opened the 2012 Napa Reserve Chardonnay and observed a clear golden yellow color. The 2012 Napa Reserve Chardonnay…
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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…
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Château La Nerthe 2013 Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Blanc The vineyard of the Castle Nerthe represents 92 hectares of the single supporter, certified in organic farming since 1998, when the 13 grape varieties of the appellation are planted. It is about one of the biggest vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape (the New Pope’s castle). The land is there special. The majority of the vineyard is pebbly with high terraces, combined with clay, lime and loamy sands sprinkled with pebbles rolling down the slopes on the Southern exposure. Today I have tried their Blanc wine, which is a combination of 4 grapes: 40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 10% Clairette and 10% Bourboulenc. Only about…
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The Calling 2012 Russian River Valley Chardonnay When Jim Nantz and Peter Deutsch met, they discovered they had both found success by pursuing a calling in life. For Jim, that calling was to unlock the voice within, eventually calling the greatest sporting events of his generation. For Peter, it was transforming a small family business into one of the most prestigious wine companies in the world. Inspired by their mentor fathers and guided by their common values, the two found a new calling: a partnership to produce hand-crafted wines that bear the standard of excellence and style that are the hallmarks of these two men. The Calling. The 2012 vintage…
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Roederer Estate Sparkling Anderson Valley Brut N.V. Roederer Estate is the first California sparkling wine to be produced by Champagne Louis Roederer, further building upon a 200-year tradition of fine wine making from this family owned company. Roederer’s unique winemaking style is based on two elements: complete ownership of its vineyards and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines to each year’s blend or cuvée. The Roederer Estate is located 125 miles north of San Francisco near the Mendocino Coast, and since 1982 began developing its own vineyards and crafting wines. The Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut made its debut in October 1988. Anderson Valley offers a climate of warm days…
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Groth 2012 Napa Sauvignon Blanc In 1981, Dennis and Judy Groth purchased 121 acre parcel in Napa known as the Oakville Vineyards, in the heart of the Oakville Appellation. In fact at that time some of their grapes found their way to Silver Oak and other notable Napa wineries. Between 1999 and 2003, almost 50% of their vineyard was replanted and in 2006 they rebuilt the barrel cellars, crush and fermentation areas. The Groth 2012 Sauvignon Blanc was produced from grapes grown in various microclimates of the Napa Valley, 97% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Semillon. The warmer Napa Valley microclimates produces grapes that result in wines with a lush, full…
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Marco Felluga 2010 Molamatta Collio Bianco More than a century has gone by since the first Felluga’s history (Marco’s Great-grandfather) started making wine. Isola d’Istria, on the coast, was the production point of origin of Malvasia and Refosco. The Great War had just finished and it was a happy destiny that made the family set foot in Grado, on the other side of the Gulf, and then in Friuli. Only a handful of kilometres, but the scenery changed radically. It was here that Giovanni’s second to last son, Marco, as his grandfather before him, discovered, fell in love with and chose to live in that area called Collio which has…