A little bit of everything this week.

This week the stars of the show came from a variety of styles and producers. We have: 2 Cabs, 2 Pinots, 1 Chard, 1 SB, and 1 Red Blend. The best part is they come from 7 different producers and 6 different AVA’s.

So if you love variety, this is the week for you. Reach out to us if any of these strikes your fancy. We would be happy to get them out to you.

2012 Revana ‘Terroir Selection’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 96+: This is the Estate’s first release under winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, and the inaugural release of the Terroir Selection’ Cabernet. A luscious bouquet of bing cherries, bramble fruit, and cedar with just a hint of cigar box on the nose. Ripe red fruits, cassis, and toasted brioche dance on the palate and are framed by a structure of balanced minerality and supple tannins with a long, lingering finish. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. 1200 cases produced.  

2013 Bevan Cellars ‘Ritchie Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 95+: The 2013 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay is a red-wine-drinkers Chardonnay. It has an expansive mid-palate texture that you normally only get in red wines, but the flavors are pure Chardonnay. It starts with orange blossoms, but quickly turns to white peaches and an intense minerality. The finish is long and lively as the acidity keeps the wine alive on the tongue.

2012 Hoopes Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville

Wine Spectrum 95: Our 2012 Oakville Cabernet is an exciting wine for me, personally. Oakville is the heart and soul of the Napa Valley and my favorite playground for winemaking. The Hoopes Vineyard site is classic Oakville. Our 2012 offering is a rich, deep wine. It is juicy, with layers of dark cassis, blackberry and cherry as well as elements of cola, baking spices, leather and graphite. Although our wine has been called “big” in the past, this description matches this vintage to a ‘T.’ I love how this wine opens up and pops in the mouth with complexity on the nose, but freshness on the palate. This wine follows through to a lovely finish, with supple tannins. 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot. Critics have called these wines ‘reminiscent of Screaming Eagle.’

Anne Vawter is a talented winemaker that began her career working under Heidi Barrett at Paradigm. 

2012 Arkenstone ‘Estate’ Sauvignon Blanc, Howell Mountain

Wine Spectrum 94+: Pale gold in color, this incredibly complex and well-structured wine is drinking beautifully now, but also has great aging potential. The clean, bright nose of wet stone, pineapple, peach, lilac and honeysuckle invite you into flavors of papaya, ripe nectarine and fig. Moving into the mid-palate, the razor sharp focus of green apple and lemon curd integrates perfectly with the lush, soft roundness of papaya, mango, pineapple, and pear. Honeydew melon, peach and crisp apple blend with spring floral notes of lavender and lilac on an exceptionally long, satisfying finish. 97% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% Semillon. 320 cases produced. 

2013 Loring Wine Company ‘Keefer Ranch’ Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 94+, Pinot Report 94: Medium ruby color; rich, spicy cherry and earthy aromas; deep, forward, juicy cherry flavors with spicy notes; silky texture; good structure and balance; long finish. Rich, spicy Pinot with beautiful flavors. 300 cases produced. 

2010 Cenyth Proprietary Red, Sonoma County

Wine Spectrum 94+, Robert Parker 94: Beautiful dark ruby in color, this wine showcases lovely spice notes on the nose. On the palate, this elegant, classic Bordeaux blend demonstrates hints of spice and nutmeg that co-mingle with white pepper flavors in delicate harmony. The finish is long, smooth with very fine tannins, ending with a lingering freshness of fruit. This wine is to be enjoyed in the next 5-10 years. 54% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. WORLD CLASS VINEYARDS + CELEBRATED BORDEAUX WINEMAKING FAMILY + HANDCRAFTED WINES MADE AT VERITE = A STUNNING BOTTLE OF WINE

Cenyth (pronounced sen-eth) is the ancient form of the word zenith. Deftly blending Bordeaux-style technique with Sonoma County terroir, Cenyth is the expression of a winemaker, trained in the vineyards of France – and drawn to the hills of Sonoma County. Cenyth is made by  Helene Seillan, whose mentor is her father Pierre Seillan, legendary winemaker of Verite and Chateau Lassegue. To her, winemaking is an art. And here, balanced between the sunshine and drifting fog, she has found her ideal canvas.

2012 Sandler Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands

Wine Spectrum 94: The 2012 Sandler Santa Lucia Highlands comes from the Peterson and Soberanes Vineyards, both located on opposite sides of River Road in Soledad.  The clones from Peterson are Pommard 5, 667 and 828 while the Soberanes is the Pisoni selection.  2012 was an abundant growing season for Pinot Noir in California, and the cool fall weather allowed the fruit to hang until it was perfectly ripe, which occured in mid October.  With a spicy Pinot nose unique to the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2012 Sandler SLH shows a lot of youthful vibrance with birght acidity and flavors of rhubarb and blood orange.  The drinking window will open up toward the end of 2014 and last through 2020.