A beautiful week of tastings.

2012 Sojourn ‘Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 95+: This wine was produced from famed Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III in Rutherford. This vineyard is the former Beaulieu Vineyard No. 3, originally planted by Georges DeLatour in 1928.  Soils are primarily sandy loam, with a fair amount of rock from the old creek bed that runs through F-Block. The 2012 vintage provided idyllic weather conditions in Napa Valley, with moderate heat and dry conditions to ripen the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes at an even pace. This is one of Beckstoffer’s premier Napa Valley vineyards and showcases the signature “Rutherford Dust” aromatic profile, as well as layers of dark fruit and lush textures. The resulting wine is impressive and complex with silky tannins, full body and lingering flavors. Red and dark fruit aromas lead to flavors of dark cherry, earth and mocha.  300 cases produced. 

2013 Sojourn ‘Gap’s Crown’ Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Robert Parker 95:From a hillside vineyard situated in the cool Petaluma Gap planted with Dijon clones 115, 828 and 667, the stunning 2013 Pinot Noir Gap’s Crown Vineyard reveals notes of forest floor, baking spices, blue and red fruits, a beautiful, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, velvety tannins and a stunningly complex texture as well as length. It stood out as one of the finest Pinot Noirs I tasted on this trip. The natural alcohol came in at 14.6%, and the color is a healthy dark ruby. 

Wine Spectrum 95+, Pinot Report 96: Deep ruby color; complex, lush dark cherry aromas with some spice aromas; deep, earthy cherry flavors with bright fruit and oak notes; moderate tannin; silky texture; great structure and balance; long finish. Dense and deep Pinot that needs patience in your cellars and time in the glass to open. Worth your patience.

2012 ElevenEleven ‘Bacigalupi Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 95: The debut production of this 100% varietal is a Pinotphile’s fantasy – full of character, color and style. The aromas that lift from the glass are round and ripe with notes of bright raspberry, ripe strawberry basket and a delicate oak vanillin background. The approachable yet layered palate remains strong and voluminous from front to back, while plush red fruit flavors swirl to balance the tannins. The fruit-forward entry settles toward a deeper finish punctuated by vibrant acidity. 316 cases produced. 

Kirk Venge is one of the most recognized and sought-after winemakers in Napa and Sonoma. He is the owner and winemaker of Venge Estate Vineyards and Winery and the new label, Croix Estate. He is also the Consulting Winemaker for several boutique producers throughout Napa Valley, including B Cellars, Bacio Divino Cellars and the Janzen label, Beau Vigne, Entrepreneur Wines, Hunnicutt Wines, Jax Vineyards, Macauley Vineyard, Renteria Wines and Trespass Vineyards.

2013 Sojourn ‘Durell Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

Robert Parker 95, Wine Spectrum 94+: A steely, mineral-dominated white, the 2013 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard was made from the Old Wente clone and was aged in 40% new oak. A pebbly, rocky minerality along with notes of white peaches, honeysuckle and a subtle touch of roasted nuts emerge from this full-bodied, complex, impressively endowed, multilayerd wine. It is capable of evolving for 5-6 years. 325 cases produced. 

2012 Bernard Margrez Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 94+: Bernard Magrez Napa Valley Cabernet is the California cut winery label for the owner of famed Bordeaux Chateaux Pape Clement and Magrez Fombrauge. The fruit for the 2012 vintage comes exclusively from the Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard in Saint Helena. This is the third vintage that winemaker Benoit Touquette (Hartwell Estate and Realm Cellars) has produced, and the first vintage sourced from Dr. Crane fruit. This is a must have wine for any collector or any lover of Beckstoffer fruit!

Notes of plum, black cherries and blackberries. A pure, concentrated wine, with full-bodied depth, finishing with great, intense length. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Less than 200 cases produced.

2012 ElevenEleven ‘Estate’ Syrah, Oak Knoll

Wine Spectrum 94: Our 2012 Estate Syrah is beautifully balanced and possesses the perfect middle ground between earthy and fruit-forward characteristics. On the nose, you’ll find red fruit, plum and preserves balanced by the nuance of cold wet stones. The palate emphasizes the clean, high notes of the varietal including ripe, red berry, black cherry and subtle spices. 137 cases produced. 

Kirk Venge is one of the most recognized and sought-after winemakers in Napa and Sonoma. He is the owner and winemaker of Venge Estate Vineyards and Winery and the new label, Croix Estate. He is also the Consulting Winemaker for several boutique producers throughout Napa Valley, including B Cellars, Bacio Divino Cellars and the Janzen label, Beau Vigne, Entrepreneur Wines, Hunnicutt Wines, Jax Vineyards, Macauley Vineyard, Renteria Wines and Trespass Vineyards.

2009 Voces Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 94: The 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet is a wonderful result of the smaller yields on the vines, resulting in great ageability. The concentrated dark purple color is a reliable hint to the structure and plush fruit that follow on both the nose and the palate. The 2009 is a full bodied wine with nuances of currant, black cherry, crushed herbs, barrel toast, espresso beans and ripe plums. A versatile wine – with tannins that are taut and as concentrated as the fruit – this will pair nicely with grilled or roasted meats. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak for 18 months. 450 cases produced. 

Fernando Candelario started working for T-vine as a cellar master and became the assistant winemaker in 2001. He has been making wines under the Voces label since this vintage, but it wasn’t until 2012 that he decided to focus 100% on his own label. Voces means “Voices” and is the manifestation of one man’s dream of hard work, success and reward. This wine is made with heart and soul. Small batches of this intelligent and artfully crafted wine are created each harvest and meticulously cared for throughout the year. Voces wines are aged in American and French oak barrels for about 12 months and then cellared to bottle age for an additional 2 years. This small production wine is produced from grapes of exceptional quality, sourced locally in the Napa Valley.