Hooray for Wine

Hooray for Wine!!! This is what we think every time we sit down to do a tasting. Considering we taste dozens of unique wines a week, that is a lot of joy being felt in our office.

2013 Remoissenet ‘Bougros’ Grand Cru, Chablis

Wine Spectrum 95: A strikingly unique Grand Cru Chablis that is rich and textured with layers of complexity. Mouth watering lemon chiffon and sweet citrus aromas intermingle with flavors of honeyed vanillin and jordan almonds. Only 14 cases imported. Grab this one before it’s gone!

 

 

 

2013 Novy ‘Papera Ranch Vineyard’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 95, Antonio Galloni: Inky blue and black fruits, dark spices, licorice, leather and lavender meld together in the 2013 Zinfandel Papera Ranch Vineyard. In this vintage, the Papera is decidedly powerful, most of that a conscious decision by Adam Lee to give the wine more darkness and overall intensity, qualities this site seems to generate in abundance on its own.

 

2012 Ziata ‘Mia Madre’ Proprietary Red, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 94+: Focused, bold and complex, this very special blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot proved worthy of the endearment, “Mia Madre.” It exudes exotic aromas of cinnamon bark, blackberry, vanilla and espresso bean that lead to a vibrant entry of ripe black plum and licorice. Densely layered with lifting acidity, the sumptuous mid-palate delivers freshly picked blackberry, dark cocoa, crème de cassis and crushed violets. Framed by sweet fine grained tannins, the wine finishes long and luscious with lingering black fruit, flowers and toasted oak. The wine’s depth, drive and structure will allow it to age beautifully over the next 10-15 years. 50% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 140 cases produced. 

 

2013 Clos du Mont Olivet ‘Cuvee Unique’, Chateauneuf du Pape

Wine Spectrum 94+: Mont-Olivet, a third-generation family winery, is the collector’s choice for traditional, aromatic, age-worthy Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Signature aromas of spicy black and pink peppercorns intermingle with fresh leather and hints of toffee Heath bar bits. Old-vine Grenache provides the core of the estate’s red blends, tasting of fresh red cherries and strawberries with notes of passionfruit and white grapefruit. 

 

2013 Novy ‘Carlisle Vineyard’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 94+, Antonio Galloni: The 2013 Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard hits the palate with an intriguing mélange of dark blue and purplish fruit, sweet spices, tobacco, cedar and lavender. Exotic and juicy to the core, the Carlisle is another delicious red from Novy. Although technically a Zinfandel, the Carlisle is best described as an old-style, mixed blacks field blend, with about 86% Zinfandel and the rest assorted other varieties.

 

2013 Remoissenet ‘Sous le Puits’ 1er Cru, Puligny Montrachet

Wine Spectrum 94+: Lemon curd and limestone are the first flavors that jump out of your glass. Underlying characteristics of a more delicate citrus chiffon and crushed rocks are secondary but lend the wine a more nuanced and complex texture. Bright, fresh acidity dances on the palate, and a lengthy finish makes vineyard located on the very northern part of Puligny Montrachet worth every penny. Just 1 barrel produced. 

 

 

 

2012 Ziata Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 94: The ideal conditions of the stellar 2012 vintage allowed for the perfect development of lush aromatics highlighted by wild berries, rose pedals and cedar. On the palate juicy notes of white raspberries, strawberries and crème, nougat and a delicate touch of malted milk steal the show. A silky and creamy texture is accented by velvety tannins that meld gracefully on the long finish. 225 cases produced. From the Crinella Vineyard in Green Valley.

 

 

2013 Vacheron ‘Les Romains’, Sancerre

Wine Spectrum 94: A sensational bottling from one of the Loire’s top organic/biodynamic estates; “Les Romains” every vintage is the sine qua non of Sauvignon Blanc, nervous and lush at once, with the classic purity of the family’s 100% organic/biodynamic vineyards giving every drop of wine energy and light. Abundant aroma, lots of flavor and a vintage in the classic Loire style–a great bottle for the cellar, too. The region’s 100% flint soils shine through here, with suggestions of candied lemons, tangerines, and ripe limes seamlessly blending with chalky minerals giving the wine great definition and lift. 

2012 Domaine La Milliere ‘Cuvee Unique’ VV, Chateauneuf du Pape

Wine Spectrum 94: Beautiful aromatics of spicy black pepper and rich, robust fruits are highlighted by flavors macerated brandied cherries, blackberries, and baked raspberries. Undertones of toasty oak and leather are well integrated into this 2012 vintage of classic Chateauneuf. 

Wine Advocate: The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is beautiful, with textbook, slightly old-school notes of saddle leather, garrigue, incense and sweet kirsch and blackberry fruit. Made from a blend of 60% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Counoise, it still has some tannin to integrate, but it has a solid, medium-bodied, classically styled palate feel with lots to like. It should drink nicely through 2021.

2011 Ziata Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 93+: A dark inky violet color hints of the concentration and delineated aromas to come. Floral aromatics mixed with the scent of fresh rain fill the glass, while on the palate mouthwatering minerality sets up the concentrated core of cassis, dark cocoa, walnut, black tea, and tobacco with a hint of cedar. Rounding out this symphony are fine-grained, supple tannins that create a deliciously long and silky finish. 100% Cabernet Franc. 90 cases produced. Fruit for this wine is sourced from the Crocker Vineyard in St. Helena and the Vaca Mountain Range in the Eastern hills of Oakville.

 

 

2014 Vacheron, Sancerre

Wine Spectrum 93: A vibrant, steely 100% organic/biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc from a mix of flint and chalk soils in the heart of Sancerre. Aromas suggest grapefruit zest and gunflint; in the mouth the wine is pure and fresh, with plenty of mineral energy and citrus-inspired flavors. This is classic Sancerre—limpid and clean, with lots of freshness and lovely energy. 

 

 

 

 

 

2014 Pastou ‘La Cote de Sury’ VV, Sancerre

Wine Spectrum 93: This is pure, razor-sharp Sancerre, with the cut and bite and juice one should always demand of these gorgeous chalky hills.  Citrus zest and Chablis energy runs through the nose; the mouth is awash with delectable white fruits and plenty of chiseled mineral power, thirst-quenching and reinvigorating. Expertly crafted; 100% tank-made; and always a jaw-dropping value for its top-notch quality.