Your window into the world of a Professional Wine Advisor

Is there a better job out there than Professional Wine Advisor? I don’t think there is. We taste 1000′s of wines a year to make sure that we only offer the BEST to our clients. Enjoy a few of the wines from this week that made the cut.

2012 Passenger Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum Rated 95+: The 2012 has beautiful, intense, dark purple color. Balanced with a moderate alcohol level that is supported and absorbed by structure and concentration. Rich, juicy red and black berry fruits. Moderate oak that seems familiar, but not overwhelming, and barely noticeable, even after 20 months in 50% new and used top quality French oak. It finishes long with powerful fruit and structure, elegance and fine, integrated tannins. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot and 8% Petite Verdot. Only 192 cases produced. Made by Benoit Toquette.

2012 Post Parade Cabernet Sauvignon,  Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum Rated 95: Much like preparing a great meal, the final product can only be a result and reflection of the hard work, attention to detail and ingredients used to make it. Post Parade works with two of the finest vineyards in Napa (Tench, Redhead), both of which are expertly farmed, however without Mother Nature’s cooperation, those first two can often not be enough. In 2012, we were able to start realizing the potential of this project and the sites that make it special. The 685 clone from the Red Head Vineyard provides lifted aromatics and a fruit forwardness that let you know we are firmly in Napa Valley. The Tench brings a slightly more brooding, tight knit profile of minerality, gravel and blackberry that gives tremendous complexity and balance. A wine that truly represents vintage, Cabernet and Napa Valley. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 411 cases produced.

2012 Sojourn ‘Wohler Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Wine Spectrum Rated 94+: The 2012 vintage of this wine is big and deep and continues to evolve in glass with complexity and nuance. It is a concentrated, lush Pinot noir with excellent length and has become a fan-favorite for Sojourn enthusiasts. Wohler has matured into a premier vineyard that showcases its renowned Russian River Valley terroir and unique Goldridge loam soils. We blended Pinot noir clones 828, 115 and Wadensville 2A to create a concentrated wine with dark red fruit aromas and hints of plum, vanilla and spice.  This vineyard is located at the junction of Wohler Rd and Eastside Rd just minutes from the iconic vineyards that originally established the Russian River Valley as a world-class growing region for Pinot noir. 550 cases produced.

2011 Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain

Wine Spectrum Rated 94+: The 2011 vintage of our Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from grapes grown along the mountain tops above St. Helena. The soils are primarily volcanic and the location is wild, literally. The vines grow on steep southeastern facing slopes that produce concentrated flavors and provide bold mountain structure. The cool 2011 vintage resulted in a polished wine with pure mountain fruit character, aromas of berries and cassis, and hints of perfume, thyme and sweet vanilla. It has seamless tension between the acid and fine-grained tannins, providing a lively pallet and nice length on the finish. 450 cases produced.

2012 Sojourn ‘Durell Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

Wine Spectrum Rated 94: Durell has been the source behind some of the highest-rated and most sought-after Chardonnay wines in California. This brand new, marquee Chardonnay was made using 100% Old Wente clone from two blocks of the renowned Durell Vineyard. The Hill block was planted in the 90’s and offers low yields of small clusters with prominent hen and chick berries. These small bunches provide robust flavors, complexity and texture. Each lot was harvested separately at night when the fruit was cold and whole cluster pressed immediately to extract only the highest quality juice. The resulting wine is lively and exotic with rich flavor, complexity and smooth texture. 275 cases produced.

2012 Kathryn Kennedy ‘LATERAL’ Meritage, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum Rated 94: This new release, made exclusively from 100% Napa Valley grapes, is sure to please the loyal Lateral fan and convert those yet to have tried the blend. The elegant interplay of Bordeaux varietals dances on the palate, with supple tannins and a silky mouth feel. Round and very well balanced, this luscious wine is both complex and approachable. Don’t miss out on this impressive, versatile blend!

2009 Fin Amour Rhone Blend Cotes Catalanes, Languedoc Roussillon

Wine Spectrum Rated 94: Similar to Dave Phinney’s D66 bottling, the Fin Amour wines come from the French region of Maury. Although this region has been producing sweet wines, they have have flown relatively under the radar. The steep vineyards of schist have a long history of magnificent wines, turbulent history and wild beasts; it is land called the “Frontera.” Made from vineyards over 80 years old, these splendid rocky schist vineyards yield a wine of iris and violet aromas macerated with strawberry, black cherry and ripe boysenberry. The dense, structured majestic mouth feel is framed in minerality. Power and elegance lay the foundation for a complex wine of dark brooding fruit, savory and meaty, licorice and violets, dried fruits and floating rose petals. 70% Grenache, 30% Carignan. 177 cases produced.