This is based on samples provided by the winery or another organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2013 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc Soliloquy Vineyard

2012 Flora Springs Merlot

 

 

 

 

Overview:

Over the years Flora Springs was always one of our stops when we visited Napa Valley.  We took the two pictures below of the stained glass and wall murals during a visit in late August 2001, a couple weeks before 9/11.  When I was offered a couple samples from them, I was excited to reacquaint myself with these wines.

 

One of my favorite “Super Tuscan” style red wines from California is the Flora Springs Poggio del Papa.  Even though this wine is not part of this post, I had to give it a “shout out”.  The current vintage, 2012, is a blend of 69% Sangiovese, 16% Syrah, 10% Petite Verdot and 5% Malbec, all from the Napa Valley.  This wine is available only at the winery or via their website.

 

 

 

About the winery:

Flora Springs, located in the Northwest corner of the Rutherford appellation at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains, was founded in 1978.  The stone cellar of Flora Springs is a once abandoned “ghost winery”.  It was Flora Komes who along with her husband Jerry that found the area while looking for a place to “kick off their boots”.  Flora was the one who saw the possibilities hidden behind decades of neglect, over-grown ivy, and shifting rock walls.  The property’s winemaking roots go back to the 19^th century but if was the work of Flora and Jerry’s children, John Komes and his wife Carrie, and Julie Garvey and her husband Pat Garvey, that have etched the legacy of Flora Springs.

 

As both artisan winemakers and growers, the family is committed to the traditions of fine winemaking and responsible stewardship of its 650 acres of vineyard land for future generations to savor and uphold. Today, ninety percent of Flora Springs’ red wines are sourced from its organically-farmed estate vineyards, and all of these wines are crafted in their solar-powered 19th-century stone winery and caves.

 

Much more about the winery, the family and the wines is available on their website by clicking here.  I highly recommend checking out their “Working with Nature” and “Farming Responsibly” sections to read about their dedication to sustainability.

 

 

 

 

These bottles were supplied by the winery and Mora Cronin of Cronin Communications.

Cronin Communications is a marketing communications and public relations agency based in St. Helena, California.  Specializing in the wine industry, the firm provides services including strategic positioning and brand messaging, copy writing and media relations.  For more information, contact moracronin@comcast.net.

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

2013 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc Soliloquy Vineyard – SRP $25

In 1989, the winery handcrafted the first vintage of their Soliloquy Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc.  This one-of-a-kind clone is located in the heart of the Oakville appellation and has been certified by UC Davis as the “Soliloquy” Sauvignon Blanc clone.  Even though the Soliloquy clone is growing in a vineyard in the heart of Cabernet Country in Oakville, the Komes family has kept the Sauvignon Blanc, in part to protect the proprietary Soliloquy clone they found there.

 

This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc (57% Soliloquy clone, 43% Musque clone).

 

After fermentation, the wine was aged 7 months in a combination of concrete and stainless steel tanks, oak barrels and stainless steel drums.  A total of 4899 cases were produced.

 

This wine has 14.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow with a slight green tint.  The fresh and inviting nose has apples, lime, chalky minerals, grapefruit zest, white pepper and lemon zest.  This has medium body with crisp citrusy acidity.  On the palate tart green apples, minerals and lime grab hold first with grapefruit coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a hint of white pepper popping out before crisp, refreshing lemon zest leaves your mouth watering for another sip.  This is a very nice, easy to drink Sauvignon Blanc that will pair nicely with lighter fare but also easy to drink on its own on a warm day.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Flora Springs Merlot – SRP $25

This 100% Merlot is sourced from winery owned sustainably-farmed vineyards in St. Helena, Rutherford and Pope Valley.  Each vineyard adds a little something to the blend making the finish product “greater than the sum of the parts”.

 

After fermentation, the wine was aged 15 months in 95% French oak and 5% American oak barrels with a mixture of new and seasoned.  A total of 5300 cases were produced.

 

The wine has 14.4% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to garnet color.  The comforting nose has plums, warm baking spices, cedar, tobacco, dried wildflowers, dark chocolate, black cherries, chalky minerals and a touch of earthiness.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  Plums and spice jump out immediately with cedar and minerals not far behind.  The finish has nice length with black cherries and dark chocolate adding depth.  I’d let this one lay in the cellar for 6 months to a year to allow the oak to integrate and drink over the next several years.  This is a very nice, value priced Napa Valley Merlot.  Even Miles might like this one.  (90 pts)

 

 

Closing Thoughts

These wines, as well as the others produced by the winery, represent some of the better quality to price wines coming out of the Napa Valley.  If you follow me on Social Media, you know I am not a big fan of “value priced” Merlot wines.  This Merlot exceeds the price I would call a week night wine, but the quality provided for the suggested retail price is amazing.  If you see this wine on your local wine store’s shelf grab a bottle or two.

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

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Cheers!

 

 

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

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Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!