2016 Viader Black Label Napa Valley Viader Vineyards and Winery (pronounced “Veeya Dare”), founded by Delia Viader, born in Argentina, who is a ground-breaking visionary and one of the first female winemakers who was very successful in creating one of the sought-after “cult” boutique wineries. Grapes sourced from a 92-acre Howell Mountain vineyard at a 1200 ft elevation with a 32% slope, with a terrior that features rocky volcanic soils, western exposure and vertical planting of vines, resulting in low yields and exceptionally concentrated fruit. I should note that most Napa vines are planted with horizonal terracing. The result are wines that are soft, expressive and align with the terrior…
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Elyse Winery 2016 GlenLyon Vineyard Sonoma County Syrah; 2014 York Creek Vineyard Napa Petite Sirah Continuing on with my Elyse Winery visit, see my November 1, 2019 review of their 2018 California Rose & 2015 Sonoma County Chardonnay and November 15, 2019 review of their 2014 Korte Ranch Vineyard Napa Zinfandel, 2014 Morisoli Vineyard Napa Zinfandel &2014 Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County Zinfandel together with some of its history. After thirty years of stewardship, Ray and Nancy decided that it was time to retire. What began as a casual conversation over dinner evolved into the next chapter for Elyse Winery. In October 2018, Ray and Nancy Coursen sold Elyse Winery…
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2017 Napa Carneros Red Shoulder Ranch Shafer 2016 Napa Relentless 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…
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2018 California Rose 2015 Sonoma County Chardonnay In 1983, Nancy and Ray Coursen arrived in California from Cape Cod to fulfill Ray’s dream of making wine and Nancy’s taste for adventure. After working harvest at Mt. Eden Winery in Saratoga, they moved to Napa Valley and became innkeepers for a bed and breakfast. Ray then spent productive time at Tonella Vineyard Management, where he gained practical knowledge and perspective working in the vineyards. Ray’s 9-year tenure at Whitehall Lane Winery under the tutelage of Art Finkelstein, beginning as a cellar worker and then as head winemaker,…
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Roald Wine Company GSM Blend 2016 Roald Wine Company was formed by Greg Nelson who has a real passion for wine and he was inspired by his father, Roald David Nelson, who was a guru in supply chain management. Greg Nelson, after receiving a PhD in Biology at UC San Diego, became interested in biology and the process of winemaking which brought him to Sonoma County where he worked at several wineries, including Ramey and Martinelli, before starting Roald Wine Company. Greg has an affinity for journeys, jazz and American novelist Jack Kerouac. Roald has a “Wine Club” which offer some tremendous values on small production wines that can only…
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Jaffurs Syrah Thompson Vineyard 2014 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend to try…
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Margerum Wine Company M5 Reserve 2015 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend to…
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Jamie Slone Wines P1 Red Blend 2014 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend…
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Jaffurs Syrah Santa Barbara County 2016 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend to…
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Jaffurs High Tide Santa Barbara County 2014 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends. There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate. It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time. The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard. I recommend…