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…
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Taken 2012 Napa Valley Red Wine Taken Wine Company was founded in 2009 when next generation winemakers, Carlo Trinchero and Josh Phelps realized their mutual dream to start their own wine label. Josh and Carlo grew up together in the winegrowing town of St. Helena, in the Napa Valley; wine is in their DNA. The wines are crafted to appeal to the millennial generation in terms of both what’s inside and outside the bottle. The names (Taken, Complicated, and Available) all tie into social media and are relevant to their generation. The two friends launched their Taken line of wines in 2010, with the tagline, “great wine made by great…
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Ramey 2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Ramey Wine Cellars crafts outstanding quality wines that are both delicate and magnificent and comes from some of the finest vineyards in Napa and Sonoma. Ramey selects vineyards for their ability to continue producing the highest quality fruit. David and his wife Carla founded Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996 after spending time at Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus and Rudd. Ramey Wine Cellars is located in Healdsburg, in the heart of the California wine country. Ramey’s varietals are basically Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Syrah. Today I will review their Napa Cabernet. The Ramey Wine Cellars 2009 Napa Valley, consists of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon with small…
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Sequoia Grove 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Who would have guessed Napa Valley, a small pioneer community established during the gold rush days would flourish into one of the most prestigious wine growing regions in the world today? Surrounded by its purple hued mountains, Sequoia Grove Winery sits on 22 acres right in the heart of the valley floor in a region referred to as the “Rutherford Bench”. Here the alluvial soil, rich in minerals, combined with the fog from the bay, mingling with the warm inland temperatures create the ideal location to produce Cabernet Sauvignon. Michael Trujillo, the Director of Winemaking and President, has been with Sequoia Grove since its…
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Clos Du Val 2011 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 Du Val’s labels…
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Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2010 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is considered by many one of the “first growths” of Napa and produces celebrated collectible wines from the historic Stags Leap District. The winery was founded in 1970 at the time Napa Valley was undergoing a rebirth after the lingering effects of prohibition. During the mid-60’s there were less than 20 wineries at the time this new enthusiasm was entering Napa Valley. The distinguishing event that put Napa on the map was the famous 1976 Paris Tasting “Judgment of Paris” (click on for Wikipedia link) when their 1973 Cabernet S.L.V won the event. At this point I would…
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Shafer 2009 Napa Merlot Shafer Vineyards traces its beginnings to 1972 when John Shafer left a 23-year career in the publishing industry and, with his family, moved to the Napa Valley to pursue a second career in wine. After purchasing a 210-acre estate in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District, the Shafer family faced the arduous task of replanting the existing vineyards, which dated to the 1920s, and terracing the steep and rocky hillsides, eventually expanding vineyard acreage to its current 50 acres. From a modest beginning of 1,000 cases in 1978, the winery has grown steadily until reaching its present size of 32,000 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and…
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Justin 2011 Isosceles In 1981, Justin Baldwin purchased 160 acres in Paso Robles, with the aim of crafting wines that belong in the company of the finest in the world by making world-class Bordeaux-style blends. Rich in limestone, the soil of Paso Robles produces grapes with intense flavor and great structure, making it a perfect location for JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. Limestone “stresses” the vines, producing grapes that fully express their varietal character. Rich dark purple color with aromas of black fruit, spice and a whiff of dusty chocolate. The wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc that spent 24 months in new…
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Mullan Road Cellars 2012 Columbia Valley Red Wine Blend Dennis Cakebread, from the renowned Napa Valley winery, Cakebread, ventured into Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, for a Bordeaux style blend of grapes, launching Mullan Road Cellars, a wine made from grapes purchased from Walla Walla’s Seven Hills vineyard. This is Cakebread’s first step into what could evolve into a full-fledged winery. Time will tell if the project gets legs. Pouring a glass, the color was a very deep Ruby red, with noted aromas of dark fruit and sweet spice. On the palate, the blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 12% Cabernet Franc, showed ripe dark fruit, blackberries and…
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Andrew Will 2008 Champoux Red Andrew Will began in 1989 with a simple building (10×60), that is still standing today, where they made their first five vintages for a total of 2000 cases. They loaded 2 trucks (that’s all they had) and moved to Vashon in 1994 and within an hour became ready for the 1994 harvest. They harvest fruit from several areas, this wine was from Champoux vineyards, one of the first two vineyards used by Andrew Will. Opening a bottle of the 2008 Champoux, which is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, I notice deep ruby color with a bouquet of aromatic…