Our Weekly Tasting Roundup

For those that are new to our Blog or Wine Spectrum…Every week we taste dozens of wines looking for only the best to offer to our clients. Each year sees thousands of wines poured at our office. From these we choose only the best. From those, our Advisors choose the perfect wines for you, their clients.

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2012 Blankiet Estate ‘Prince of Hearts’ Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 95+: A companion red wine to the ‘Paradise Hills’ and the ‘Rive Doite’ is assembled from barrels that did not get selected for the flagship cuvées. This wine is produced under our “Prince of Hearts” label. Our first seven vintages were made by the legendary Helen Turley. Then for a few years Martha McClellan Levy assisted by world famous oenologist Michel Rolland oversaw vinification. For the past three years our director of winemaking has been Denis Malbec, former cellar master at Château Latour in Bordeaux.

Antonio Galloni: The 2012 Prince of Hearts Paradise Hills Vineyard is fabulous, as it has been the last few years. Racy and perfumed, the 2012 impresses for its balance, class and overall symmetry. Sweet floral and spiced notes add lift on the finish. Best of all, Prince of Hearts remains one of the very finest values in handmade, artisan Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2012 is simply exquisite. 

2012 Wallis Family Estate ‘Estate’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain

Wine Spectrum 95: Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has pulled out all the stops for this Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and it is a true portrayal of a Diamond Mountain Cabernet. Composed of 100% Estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon from our single vineyard on Diamond Mountain Road. It was aged 20 months in 80% new French oak barrels. Alcohol content 14.5%. 500 Cases Produced.

Antonio Galloni 94: Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon from Wallis Family Estate saturates the palate with huge fruit and equally imposing mountain tannins. Cedar, tobacco and a host of savory notes develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s sumptuous texture and broad resonant personality that stands out. This is a fabulous showing from Wallis.

 

 

 

2013 Gamba Estate ‘Old Vine’ Zinfandel, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum 95: A delightfully brilliant, dark ruby-garnet greets your eyes. Aromas in the nose offer a buoyant perfume of ripe cherry, raspberry compote, cocoa and sweet toasted oak. Full to medium bodied on the palate, with deep and vibrant flavors of black cherry, dark berry bramble fruit, black olive, and a cascading spice, are wrapped in lavish, creamy toasty oak, and framed by a proportionate balance of acidity. Mouthfeel is rich and decadent, with a silky polished texture, rounded out with glycerin-like seamlessness that gracefully dances with finely integrated tannins. Sensuous, layered flavors of dark berry fruit and compelling, sweet toasty oak persist in a long, enjoyable finish.

In the heart of the Russian River Valley on gently rolling terrain above the valley floor, the Gamba Estate Vineyard has been organically grown and dry farmed since its original planting in 1900 – cultivated without the use of herbicides or pesticides, and relying on winter rains as its sole source of irrigation for over 115 years. This historic old vine vineyard produces very low yields of outstanding fruit, approximately one half ton per acre. The low yields provide concentrated flavors, and we strive each year to capture and bring these intense flavors to your glass. This historic, treasured, and spectacular vineyard site is truly a shining star among the relatively few truly old vine vineyards left in Sonoma County, and we are honored to share with you its glorious bounty.  

2012 Ilaria Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 94+: The 2012 Ilaria Cabernet Sauvignon possesses an expressive bouquet of blackberry, black currant and briary fruits. Aromas of roasted sage, volcanic rock and graphite unfold in the glass showing beautiful complexity and depth. The Ilaria Cabernet Sauvignon reveals gorgeous finesse and a long lasting finish. 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 11% Malbec. 475 cases produced. 

2012 Silverpoint Cellars Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

Wine Spectrum 94: For our fourth vintage of Chardonnay, our desire is to continue creating an elegant Chardonnay which balances the concentration of the fruit with a natural acidity and a long finish. Our Chardonnay grapes are harvested exclusively from a single Sonoma Coast vineyard – Rodger’s Creek. Facing west towards Petaluma and the Pacific, the windy and foggy conditions of the Petaluma Gap see daily movement from chilly nights and foggy mornings to ample late morning and afternoon sun.  This distinctive climate works well with the chalky soil to produce low yields during a long, gradual growing season.  As the fruit slowly matures, natural acidity is maintained, allowing us to achieve the balance between the rich flavors of the fruit and its bright acidity.

The 2012 Chardonnay was whole cluster pressed after it was harvested on October 10 and 18,  2012.  The wine was 100% barrel fermented (primary and malolactic) and aged sur lie in fine-grained French oak (50% new) for 15 months.  After bottling, it was aged an additional 8 months prior to its initial release. 152 total cases were produced.

2012 Gather ‘Decimo’ Shake Ridge Ranch, Amador County

Wine Spectrum 93+: Medium, ruby hue with hints of amethyst at the meniscus. Aromatics of Chelan cherries, wild Louisiana strawberries, black plum, cocoa, espresso, lavander and salmiak licorice.  Savory notes of lardons and dried thyme carry over to the palette, and are complimented by hints of Aztec chocolate, Luxardo cherries, candied violets and dried porcini. Rich, fine-grained tannins give way to a refreshing, balanced acidity, and leave one with a long, lingering finish. 89% Tempranillo, 11% Graciano. Just 98 cases produced.

Shake Ridge is warm, sun-kissed site, high on the slopes of Amador, at the base of the Sierra Mountains. The combination of high altitude and cool air drainage from the mountains allows temperatures to drop significantly in the evening, with a diurnal shift of up to 60 degrees. This juxtaposition translates to rich fruit flavors, while retaining freshness and acidity.  Meticulously farmed by Ann Kraemer, our Tempranillo and Graciano come from the original planting of Duero clones in the F Block, embedded in iron-rich volcanic soils with quartz outcroppings. Shake Ridge Vineyards supplies fruit to bevy of notable winemakers, and we are excited to be included amongst them. 

Gather is made by winemaker Jessica Tarpy, assistant winemaker to Annie Favia at Favia wines, and associate winemaker to Andy Erickson at Dancing Hares, Leviathan and ROOM. 

2014 Rarecat ‘Brigitte’ Rose, California

Wine Spectrum 93: RARECAT Rosé has been created to be a rosé with a pedigree, a lyrical expression of Grenache with a touch of Viognier.  Pink-salmon in color, aromatic and elegant, this wine offers citrus blossom, pink grapefruit and lavender.  Lively acidity makes RARECAT Rosé a perfect partner with shrimp, salmon or almost any appetizer, whether you’re at lunch with friends or at the ocean.  This wine is meant to be utterly delicious and bring great happiness to those beautiful days spent with friends.

 

 

 

2013 Zotovich ‘SR/246’ Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills

Wine Spectrum 92+: This introductory level Pinot Noir is a slam dunk for anyone searching for a delightfully quaffable and easy-going red wine. Bright, balanced acid, Rainier cherries, cranberries and hints of red plums and cassis make this a very enjoyable Pinot Noir with fruit sourced from the Estate Vineyard in Santa Rita Hills.