Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

Overview

This was a new winery for me up to a couple weeks ago.  I participated in an online tasting of a few of their wines, one of which was the winery’s 2010 vintage of this wine.  Just a few days after the event, Wines Til Sold Out (WTSO.com) offered the newest vintage at a great price, so I grabbed four bottles.  I need to thank Charles Communications for introducing me to this winery

 

My post on the event along with reviews of four of their wine is available by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

The Winery

Casey Flat Ranch a 5,000 acre ranch, is based in the Capay Valley AVA, bordering the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side of Napa County (22 miles due east of St. Helena).  The ranch is about 90 minutes north of San Francisco.  The family has owned the ranch for 30 years.  The vineyard is defined by its award-winning Rhone and Bordeaux-style blends, stunningly rugged location, the purebred Longhorn cattle that roam the estate, and a rich homesteading heritage that dates back to California’s Gold Rush era.  With its unique history and stunning high-elevation mountain vineyards, Casey Flat Ranch produces deep, concentrated wines that evoke the raw natural beauty of the land, aided by the earnest, discriminating and pioneering team behind each bottle.

 

The first vines were planted in 2004 and the vineyard is sustainably cultivated, using materials and farming techniques that emphasize water and soil conservation.  The growing season brings warm days and cool nights, creating climate conditions similar to the St. Helena appellation, just 22 miles to the West.

 

In addition to the vineyards, the family has maintained a Longhorn Cattle operation on the property for 11 years.  Current estimates have the herd numbering between 140 and 170 head, with 30 to 40 heifers as annual replacement.  Registered Bulls, purchased out of Texas from the Bass Brothers Ranch have been used as the basis for the line breeding program.

 

More information about the winery, ranch and Capay Valley is available on their website by clicking here.

 

 

 

2011 Casey Flat Ranch Estate – SRP $35

This vintage is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 1% Viognier.  The wine has a release price of $35 and is worth the price of admission.

 

“Each CFR block is farmed, harvested and made as a unique wine specific to that soil, varietal, clone and microclimate. It is not until almost two years later that we blend these blocks together to craft the CFR Estate Red Wine. Only the very best of CFR goes into the blend.”  Laura Barrett, Winemaker

 

This wine has 14.3% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The very open and inviting nose has blackberries, dried herbs, minerals, blueberries, vanilla, fresh ground espresso, eucalyptus, Asian spices, plums and a touch of cedar.  This has a medium body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  Spicy berries and minerals grab the palate initially, slowly allowing espresso beans, vanilla and dried herbs to join the party.  The finish has very good length with a touch of eucalyptus adding some complexity.  Even though this is very young and opened nicely with an hour of air, I think it will be even better down the road.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

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

 

 

2012 Azienda Agricola Centanni Giacomo Offida Pecorino

2012 Azienda Agricola Centanni Giacomo Offida Rosso di Forca

2012 Rio Maggio Offida Pecorino Colle Monteverde

2010 Rio Maggio Rosso Piceno Vigneto Contrada Vallone

 

 

 

 

Culture You Can Feel, Quality You Can Taste

 

 

 

Opening comments

I had the good fortune to be part of a Twitter based #WineStudio, multi-week chat with Jonathan Zeigler of ZGR Imports.  Even though I did not know the company or the specific labels they imported, I’m always game for some quality Italian wines.  These are usually very informative (and tasty) events.  We generally spend the first week simply chatting and learning about the company, winery or region.  The following weeks are generally reserved to a more detailed conversation on the specific wines we are tasting.  I highly encourage everyone to check out the Protocol Wine Studio link a little later in this post.

 

 

 

 

About ZGR Imports

ZGR Imports is an importing and distribution company based in Dana Point, California.  We are here to bring the culture of Le Marche [mar-kay], Italy, to the United States.  Marche is a region rich in culture and production.  It’s people craft everything from fine wine and foods to leather goods and beauty products.  Here you will find a slew of beach towns, mountain and hilltop villages, medieval cities, ancient monuments and thousands of family farms and factories all in between.  Our goal is to connect consumers with quality products that reflect the people and the place they are sourced from.

 

The story starts in 2011, when owner Jonathan Zeiger traveled to the Marche for the first time to work at Lavanda Blu, a lavender farm and agriturismo, earning his keep in exchange for farm work.  Not knowing a soul and unable to speak the language, this was quite an adventure for a young graduate to embark on.  “I knew I wanted to work in the wine industry, and something about this place was just calling to me”, recalls Jonathan.

 

It was soon thereafter that, while out restocking wine for the farm, Jonathan was introduced to Giacomo Centanni, the young winemaker of Centanni Vini di Famiglia [chen-tawny].  They chatted for a while, and eventually Giacomo offered Jonathan the opportunity to become the U.S. importer for Centanni.  Thus were the roots of ZGR planted and the company’s journey across the region began.

 

Try our boutique wines that are enjoyed by both local families and traveling excursionists! Connect with the culture of beautiful Marche, this distillation of Italy, through ZGR.  To learn more about the region, sign up for our monthly newsletter!

 

Interested in visiting Marche? Contact us for information about traveling to the region.  Our suppliers have wonderful Bed & Breakfast accommodations that we’d be happy to arrange for you.  Imagine yourself sleeping amongst the vines of Centanni or the lavender fields of Lavanda Blu.  If it fancies you, we can help you find winery and gastronomic tours, truffle hunting, hiking, or just a place for relaxing in the sun, plus a multitude of other activities! Pristine beaches, rolling hills, cascading mountains – Marche has it all! We guarantee you will fall in love, as our founder did on his first journey.  Contact us at info@zgrimports.com for more information.

 

Much more information about ZGR Imports, the region, wineries and the wines is available by clicking here.

More information about the importing side of ZGR Imports is available by clicking here.

 

 

 

About WineStudio

#WineStudio PROTOCOL wine studio presents an online twitter-based educational program where we engage our brains and palates! It’s part instruction and wine tasting, with discussions on producers, grapes, tourism, terroir, regional culture, food and wine matching and what all this means to us as wine drinkers.

 

Wine Studio events generally last multiple weeks and can border on “information overload” at times.  These events provide a complete picture of all elements involved in the event’s theme.

 

Description

How do you join #winestudio? Using a tool such as Hootsuite, log into your twitter account & follow the #winestudio stream. Be sure to include #winestudio at the end of each tweet so everyone in the stream can see you!

 

You don’t have to have the wines that are being discussed to become much more knowledgeable in the subject matter but having them will make the event a lot tastier.  Check out the Protocol Wine Studio site for information on upcoming events and information on purchasing the packages that will be discussed.

 

Grab a glass and join in!

 

If you are in San Diego, Protocol Wine Studio hosts a lot of events onsite.  Again, check out their site for information.

 

 

 

The line up for the three week long #WineStudio series.

 

 

 

The first week of Wine Studio did not include imbibing in specific wines.  This week was an introduction into the world of ZGR Wines.

 

 

 

The second week of WineStudio included these two wines from Centanni, a white Pecorino and a red Montepulciano-Sangiovese blend.

 

 

 

2012 Azienda Agricola Centanni Giacomo Offida Pecorino – SRP $28.99

This wine was 100% Pecorino from Offida.  Offida is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Ascoli Piceno in the Italian region Marche.

 

This wine has 14.5% alcohol by volume, the bottle is sealed with a glass stopper.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright golden yellow color.  The stunning nose has ripe pears, honey, lemon zest, orange blossoms, stony minerals, anise and a hint of spice.  This is barely medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate the ripe pears and hint of honey are quickly balanced and offset by tart citrusy acidity with minerals and a touch of spice coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a touch of anise joining the party.  This is a very nice bottle of wine to enjoy on a warm evening with a light dinner on the deck or patio.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Azienda Agricola Centanni Giacomo Offida Rosso di Forca – SRP $17

This wine is a blend of 50% Montepulciano and 50% Sangiovese.

 

The wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a glass stopper.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to deep ruby color.  The intoxicating nose has crushed berries, vanilla, chalky minerals, black cherries, dark bittersweet chocolate, baking spices, licorice and earthy underbrush.  This has medium body soft to moderate tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate spices and berries pop out first quickly followed by minerals and dark chocolate.  The finish has very nice length with cherries and a touch of earthiness coming into focus.  This is a well balanced wine that is full of flavor but that carries no excess weight or overly ripe notes.  Great job.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

The third week line up included another Pecorino and Montepulciano-Sangiovese blend.

 

 

2012 Rio Maggio Offida Pecorino Colle Monteverde – SRP $24

This wine is 100% Pecorino and is from Offida.

 

This wine has 13.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow to straw color.  The captivating nose has apples, pears, orange blossoms, stony minerals, baking spices, smoke, lemon zest and melon.  This has medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate apples, pears and minerals lead off with spice and toasty notes coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a healthy dose of citrus kicking in.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Rio Maggio Rosso Piceno Vigneto Contrada Vallone – SRP $24

This wine is a blend of 70% Montepuciano and 30% Sangiovese.

 

The wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby color, much lighter at the edge.  The enticing nose has black cherries, raspberries, dusty minerals, licorice, vanilla bean, baking spices and violets.  This has a medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  The mineral laden red fruit and spice coat the palate with a bit of spicy oak coming in late.  The finish has decent length with a bit of earthiness joining the spicy oak with a touch of fruit in the background providing some sweetness.   (89 pts)

 

 

Conclusion

The first two wines from Centanni are more “new world” styled where as the Rio Maggio are more “old world”.  The Centanni wines were a little riper, more fruit forward.  The Rio Maggio have lower alcohol and show their mineral/savory sides.  Both styles have their own devoted followers.

 

For the record, I was more of a fan of the New world styled Centanni wines.

 

I recommend grabbing a bottle of each and conducting your own “taste test” comparison.

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

 

1994 Schloss Schönborn Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Spätlese

2012 Folk Machine Pinot Noir

2005 Copain Syrah Brosseau Vineyard

2009 Carlisle Zinfandel Gold Mine Ranch

2007 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc

 

 

 

1994 Schloss Schönborn Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Spätlese – $16.99

We’re real big fans of off-dry German Riesling wines with some age on them.  The overt sweetness and tingly acidity mellow and integrate over time leaving a delicious, food friendly elixir.  These wines are better defined as rich instead of sweet.  Try an aged Riesling with a spicy dish and you will become a fan.

 

The wine has 9.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle was sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Schloss Schönborn – famous wines with a long tradition.  Located in the heart of the Rheingau valley, the Domänenweingut Schloss Schönborn has long stood for premium wine culture.

 

Many of the vineyards along the slopes bordering the Rhine River have been part of the Schönborn family estate since 1349, which has been added to continuously since then.  Several top sites were acquired in the 17th and 18th centuries, giving the estate a real boost.  The estate now covers 50 ha, of which 90% are planted with Riesling.  The remaining vineyards feature Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc.  The Schloss Schönborn wine estate is one of the founder members of the Association of German Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) and has for many years been managing its valuable vineyards in tune with nature.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a vibrant yellow with golden highlights.  The exciting nose has apples, orange blossoms, lime zest, petrol and stony minerals.  This has medium body, crisp citrus acidity and more richness than sweetness.  Tart apples, lime and minerals coat the palate with an outstanding balance of richness and lime acidity.  The finish has very good length with a floral note joining the lime and rich honey notes.  I can’t believe this is 20 years old, it still tastes very vibrant and compelling.  This could use a touch more complexity but that is a minor quibble for such a delicious elixir.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Folk Machine Pinot Noir – $18.99

This was a new one on me when I saw it sitting on the local store’s shelf a couple weeks ago.  It turns out Folk Machine is owned by Hobo Wine Company.  Since I really like the Hobo Zinfandels, especially their Rockpile one, I had to grab a bottle.  I’m always on the lookout for good, under $20 Pinot Noirs.

 

Even though 98% of the grapes for this wine come from two Monterey vineyards, the winery is using the broad “Central Coast” appellation.  I guess this means the grape sources can change over the vintages without having to “create” a new wine.

 

This has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The inviting nose has cherries, baking spices, crushed stone minerals, violets and some subtle earthiness.  This is barely medium body with silky tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cherries and spice jump out first followed by minerals with some earthiness coming in on the backend.  The finish has decent length with a smoky element joining the earthiness and fruit.  This doesn’t offer a lot of complexity but it is still very tasty and a good deal at under $20.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah Brosseau Vineyard – $45

A few years ago, Copain had a change in their wine making philosophy away from big, full bodied, overly ripe wines to ones with lower alcohol and more finesse.  This vineyard was one of the few Syrah vineyards that survived the change.

 

This has 14.4% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Wells Guthrie discovered early on that his taste in wine gravitated toward Europe in general and France’s Rhône Valley in particular.  So much so, he picked up and moved with his new bride to the region to learn from the best.  For two years, Wells apprenticed for esteemed winemaker and living legend Michel Chapoutier in France’s Rhone Valley.  During that time, Wells was deeply inspired by the traditions and practices of French winemaking, not to mention the European attitude that wine is an essential part of life. At Copain, he creates wines that are firmly rooted in California, yet with the sensibilities of the European wines that so moved him.  He is as committed to crafting these elegant, nuanced wines as he is to building a legacy that will be passed down to his daughters in the great tradition of European winemakers whose estates have been in the same family for generations.

 

For more information on Copain, visit their website by clicking here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The stunning nose has blackberries, charred meat, minerals, licorice, raspberry liqueur, dark chocolate, dried herbs, fresh ground espresso beans and dried flowers.  This is rich and sexy on the palate with spicy berries and minerals up front with dried herbs and dark chocolate coming in on the backend.  The finish has very good length with some espresso grounds and a floral note popping out.  This is drinking very nicely but should hold for another 4 to 6 years.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Carlisle Zinfandel Gold Mine Ranch – $31.00

If you are on the Carlisle mailing list, congratulations, you are on one of the best lists out there.  If you are not on their mailing list, I highly recommend you upgrade your circle of friends to include someone on the list that shares their good stuff.

 

Now that Carlisle has their own winery and won’t be using outside crush facilities, I look forward to even greater things coming from them in the upcoming years.

 

This wine has 15.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The Vineyard

Planted in 1914 by Charlie Derrick, just before riding off to join the Cavalry of World War I, this gorgeous property is tucked amongst the redwoods in the hills of the southwest corner of Dry Creek Valley.  While Charlie’s gold mine on the property is no longer productive (he used to produce jewelry from the gold and silver he found), his vines certainly are.  Organically and dry farmed, this is usually one of our first Zinfandel vineyards to be picked.

 

Winery history

We are a small Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated zinfandels and red Rhone varieties (syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, and petite sirah).  While we like our wines to be bold, rich, and intensely flavored, each reflecting a sense of place, its origins in the vineyard, we also strive to create wines of balance, complexity, and perhaps most importantly, pleasure.

 

Rich.  Lusty.  Hedonistic.  These are some of the descriptors we often hear applied to our wines.  However, we also hear the words elegant, balanced, complex.  Yes, through hard work in the vineyard and winery, we believe you can have it all, the best of both worlds.  Our approach to winemaking is simple, yet difficult.  We prefer to intervene in nature’s process as little as possible but we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to maximize the quality of each wine we produce.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to purple color.  The very enticing nose has brambly berries, black peppercorns, melted licorice, Asian spices, minerals, dried violets, black cherries, earthy underbrush and charred meat.  This has a fairly full body with moderate silky tannins and good acidity.  This coats the palate with rich berries, black pepper and Asian spices up front with nice earthiness and a floral note coming in on the back end.  The finish has very good length with the spicy fruit seeming to last forever.  This is an outstanding wine in a very good drinking window.  Enjoy this one over the next two to three years.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc – $6.64

I grabbed a few of these on close out at the local wine store last January.  I wanted to try one to see if I should grab some more to last through the upcoming Spring/Summer seasons.  I was a more than a bit leery about buying a six year old wine of unknown provenance.  Those fears were put to rest as soon as I had my first sip.  This is a blend of 64.3% Roussanne and 35.7% Grenache Blanc from the Beeswax Vineyard in Arroyo Seco.  Somehow one of the bottles survived last Summer, it won’t be around to see this Memorial Day.

 

This has 14.6% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a glistening yellow to gold color. The Spring breeze like nose has honeysuckle, beeswax, minerals, apples, lemon zest, white peaches, orange blossoms, and spice. This has light to medium body and very good acidity. On the palate tart apples and pears loaded with stony minerals hit first followed by nice citrusy acidity. The finish is fairly long with a touch of juicy peach adding a little something extra.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

Overview

This wine was from my first purchase from Underground Cellar.  If you’re not familiar with them, I recommend checking them out.  The unique feature of the company can be summed up in two words, “free upgrade”.  In this case I ordered 6 bottles of the generic 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.  After subtracting a credit on my account, my final price was only $28.17 a bottle.  After completing the purchase I was notified five of my six bottles were upgraded to the winery’s single vineyard offerings.  Three of the upgraded wines were this one and the two others were upgraded to the Sangiacomo Vineyard wine.  If you aren’t familiar with the winery and their wines, I should point out the single vineyard wines are usually considerably more expensive.  On Cellar Tracker, this wine has a community average cost of close to $50.

 

For more information on Underground Cellar, please click here.

 

 

The Winery

Sojourn Cellars began in 2001 as a collaboration between two tennis buddies who discovered a mutual passion for great wine and the things that tend to go with it – good food and good company.  Utilizing Erich’s experience as an Assistant Winemaker at Arrowood Winery, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley developed a plan to produce distinctive Pinot noir wines complemented by small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from extraordinary vineyard sources.  Over the next 10 years, they worked together to develop their shared love of fine wine into a winery that has established a consistent track record of producing highly rated wines under the Sojourn brand.  Today, what began as their own personal journey into the world of winemaking has evolved into a first-class boutique winery committed to creating high-quality artisan wines for people who know and appreciate them.

 

More information about the winery and their wines is available by clicking here.

 

 

2012 Sojourn Pinot Noir Rodgers Creek Vineyard Sonoma Coast – SRP $48

Rodgers Creek Vineyard sits high on a ridge in the heart of the cool Petaluma Gap.  The vineyard takes the brunt of the wind and thick fog that define this cool climate zone.  The vines are grown in light, chalky soils on steep inclines.  Two blocks of the Pommard Pinot Noir clone form the foundation of this wine, 15% of which was fermented whole-cluster, contributing verve and depth.  Clone 777 is blended in, adding a layer of bright red fruit to rich spices and dark cherry flavors.

 

After open-top fermentation using native yeast, this 100% Pinot Noir was aged in French oak barrels, 50% of which were new.  The wine was bottles unfined and unfiltered in September 2013.

 

This wine has 14.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  There were 725 cases produced.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright cherry red to ruby color.  The spellbinding nose has cherries, warm baking spices, strawberries, minerals, white pepper, dried flowers and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This is barely medium body with silky tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the spices and cherries jump out first with minerals and strawberries coming in on the back end.  The finish has outstanding length with white pepper and some earthiness entering the picture.  This is extremely young but already outstanding.  This is perfectly balanced and carries no excess weight.  With a lot of upside potential, this could be mythical in a few years.  Load up if you can find this and can afford a big purchase.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

2007 Villa Creek Garnacha Denner Vineyard

2008 JC Cellars The Impostor

2011 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch

2011 Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Les Becs Fins

2007 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard

2005 Château Margüi Côteaux Varois

 

 

 

2007 Villa Creek Garnacha Denner Vineyard – $35.00

Villa Creek is one of my favorite wineries.  This wine along with their Avenger wine are my favorites they produce.  The winery produces several very nice red wines, most of them being innovative blends from the big name vineyards in the Paso Robles area.  Besides the reds, they also produce a very nice white Rhone styled wine and a good Rosé.  The winery is worth the effort of tracking down a few bottles either locally or through their website.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and is closed with a Stelvin LUX+ stopper.

 

Winery history

In the spirit of the great wine producers of the southern Rhone and the bodegas of Rioja and Priorat, blending is what Villa Creek does best.  The area’s finest Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Tempranillo Vineyards are just a stone’s throw from the west Paso Robles winery where these blends are lovingly produced by winemaker Cris Cherry and his wife JoAnn.

 

The grapes of the area’s most progressive vineyards, James Berry, Denner, Ohana and Booker, currently grace the wines of Villa Creek Cellars.  Per acre contracts insure that the fruit comes off the same blocks each vintage.  The Cherry’s own 70 acre estate on the west side of Paso Robles boasts elevations of 1400-1800 feet, calcareous soils, south facing slopes and ample water.  In the spring of 2012, the Cherry’s finished planting their first grape vines, 3.5 acres of Grenache.  They look forward to planting Mourvèdre and Carignan in the months to come.

 

Much more information is available on their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The very alluring nose has cherries, black raspberries, cola, warm baking spices, white pepper, violets, stony minerals, touch of pine needles, and some earthiness.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the spicy, peppery cherries grab hold first, slowly allowing some minerals and earthiness to slip into focus.  The finish has very nice length with a nice blend of fruit and savory elements.  This has exceptional balance and should drink well for at least another 3 or 4 years.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2008 JC Cellars The Impostor – $23.74

Jeff Cohn just keeps cranking out the hits.  Since his earlier days making outstanding wines for Rosenblum, Jeff is now making the same style of wines for his own label.  These are generally full throttle, distinctive wines.

 

This wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, Carignane, Grenache and Viognier.

 

This wine has 15.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color. The very open and nice nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, dark chocolate, violets, licorice, meat juices, and a touch of earthiness. This has a full body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity. On the palate the wine is a mouth full of juicy, peppery, berries with dark chocolate and earthy elements coming in on the back end providing extra depth. The finish is fairly long but a touch of excess oak does pop out. This is a big and rich wine that is not sweet or syrupy and has no raisiny notes.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch – $22.00

I joined the Bedrock mailing list a few years ago to get access to the red wines they were producing.  Even though I really like those reds, I love their white wines.  In my opinion, Morgan Twain-Peterson is currently producing some of the best white wines coming out of California and selling them at killer prices.

 

The wine has 13.4% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright straw color with glints of green and gold.  The nose is a fresh and refreshing, full of apples, white peaches, stony minerals, citrus zest, eucalyptus, fresh cut grass, with a nice floral note.  This is light to medium body with crisp, citrusy acidity.  This is bright and very lively with the fruit, citrus, and herbal notes taking turns enticing the palate.  The finish is fairly long with the eucalyptus making an appearance to lend a savory element to the fruit and citrus.  This is in a real nice place right now, but should hold for another year, maybe longer.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Les Becs Fins – $12.99

This is a blend of 60% Syrah and 30% Grenache.  The Grenache vines are over 60 years old and the Syrah vines are over 30 years old.  This wine was 100% tank/cement raised (NO wood).

 

This has 14.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has blackberries, minerals, wood smoke, ripe cherries, licorice, violets and a touch of garrigue.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  The berries, cherries, smoke and minerals coat the palate with outstanding flavor and concentration with a floral element coming into the picture on the back end.  The finish has good length with some dried herbs and a touch of earthiness slipping in.  I wouldn’t hold onto this for more than a year or two, open a bottle and enjoy.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard – $48.61

This wine is a blend of 52% Cabernet Franc, 21% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot from Washington state’s Horse Heaven Hills.

 

This wine has 14.7% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Champoux Vineyard

Champoux (pronounced “shampoo”) Vineyard is set back five miles from the Columbia River in the Horse Heaven Hills.  The 175 acre vineyard was first planted in 1972 and Block 1, the oldest section, provides the Cabernet Sauvignon for Andrew Will’s Sorella.

 

Paul Champoux, the leader of the partnership that owns the vineyard, is on site to monitor the growth and to manage the vineyard.  The balance of the plants is sought through use of micro nutrition and keen viticulture practices such as pruning to fruit ratio.  Andrew Will is part of the minority ownership of the vineyard.  Other partners include Quilceda Creek, Woodward Canyon, and Powers.

 

The soil is sandy loamy (Warden-Schano-Esquatzel).  The area is differentiated from other parts of Washington by the wind from the Columbia River Gorge, which never seems to stop.  Tannins are noteworthy in the wines from this vineyard.  Noted British wine author and critic Jancis Robinson wrote after tasting several Champoux Vineyard wines including Andrew Will, “what linked them most obviously was the quality and character of the tannis: extremely fine, dark and elegant.  Together with the naturally well balanced acidity, they create a wonderful framework for the rich, dark, blessedly not- overripe fruit; powerful wines that are nevertheless models of restraint.”

 

The Winery

Andrew Will Winery was started in 1989 and is owned by Chris Camarda.  The winery was launched out of a love for wine that Chris had developed while working in the restaurant trade for almost 20 years.  Named after the Camardas’ son Will and nephew Andrew, Andrew Will has been a major contributor to the success and notoriety in recent years of Washington State wines.  Initially, the winery consisted of 900 square feet of rented industrial space in Seattle.

 

In 1994, the Camardas moved to Vashon Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle, where they built the present winery.  The fruit however comes from the mainland, across the Cascades in Eastern Washington, where all the significant vineyards lie in the rain shadow of the mountains.

 

Klipsun and Ciel du Cheval vineyards are adjacent on the loam and gravel soils of Red Mountain but produce different styles of wine.  Klipsun makes massive, opulent wine to appreciate early. Ciel du Cheval possesses a slightly more tannic structure and great ageing potential.

 

Much more information is available on the winery’s website by clicking here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The sensuous nose has cassis, blackberries, minerals, dried herbs, violets, mint, smoke, licorice, warm baking spice and a slight green herbal note.  This has medium body with moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate big fruit and spice jump out first with minerals, mint and a floral note popping out on the mid-palate.  The finish has very good length with a nice herbal note and more mint joining the rich fruit.  This is on the young side and will improve with some additional cellar time but it is already stunning.  (95 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Château Margüi Côteaux Varois – $15.83

This was a spur of the moment purchase from Garagiste several years ago.  How could you pass up on a wine with the following Jon Rimmerman description and a cost of under $16?

 

The Syrah, which makes up 70% of the cepage has teeth like a Northern Rhone (not a Southern Syrah) and the Cabernet is like Left Bank Cabernet in a vintage like 1982 or 1990 – ripe and seductive with a fine tannic bite that only Cabernet skin tannins can provide.  Mix the two together and you have a cool-climate/warm-climate dichotomy from a great vintage (2005) that drinks like a much more expensive wine – no wonder the restaurants are lining up to buy this (can you imagine what the mark-up will be from a Michelin starred venue?).  With only 12.5-13.0% natural alcohol and fascinating levels of balanced natural extract, the glowing red fruit, mineral-dipped flavor has an uncanny Bordelaise edge that is magnified by the meaty, floral capacity of the Syrah.  Basically, it’s a great effort and EXTREMELY LIMITED (only 50 cases of the 2005 for the US).

 

This has 13.0% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The appealing nose has cherries, blackberries, minerals, dried herbs, cedar, tobacco, eucalyptus and damp earth.  This has medium body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit and savory elements share top billing, each taking turns strutting their stuff.  The finish has nice length and shows outstanding balance.  This has a couple more years of life ahead of it before it starts declining.  This is a very nice bottle of wine to share over a meal.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

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

 

 

N.V. STLTO Prosecco

2012 STLTO Pinot Grigio

2012 STLTO Merlot

 

 

 

About the company:

Stlto is a wine created and produced by women for women.  The company is owned and was created by Sarah Liberatore.  Sarah is a self proclaimed shoe-aholic and spent her formative years admiring her mother’s incredible collection of stilettos, so it was only fitting to call the wine Stiletto (the contemporary stiletto was invented by an Italian too!). The word STILETTO could have been considered gimmicky though, and she wanted to ensure that her wines would be taken seriously.

 

It was part of Sarah’s business plan to make the production of her wines a totally female experience (from admin work to the bottling line, every employee is a woman).  I wanted to ensure that my wine was of excellent quality and that its creation was a totally female experience.  From admin work to bottling at the winery and loading the trucks, everyone who is part of my brand was going to be a woman.  She hired 5 women to work at the vineyard to help make these wines and together they felt that these 5 words encompass how this wine makes them feel.

 

 

Sophisticated, Timeless, Lavish, Trendy, and Outstanding.

The brand is (S)ophisticated, (T)imeless, (L)avish, (T)rendy and (O)utstanding, just like all of the amazing women in my life, so we decided to name the wine STLTO.  From the vineyard and cellar to administration and production, STLTO is an all-woman run operation and we celebrate women with my brand by marrying Italy’s best assets – wine and fashion!

 

 

HARVESTING:

The grapes used for STLTO’s wines are-hand harvested to eliminate the use of farm equipment.

 

WINE STORAGE:

STLTO is stored four metres below ground in tanks to eliminate the need for refrigeration.

 

REUSING STORAGE TANKS:

When not in use, STLTO’s storage tanks are placed on hills behind the winery to collect rain water, which is used to water the vineyard.

 

BOTTLING:

I redesigned the standard glass bottle to use less material and ultimately produce a lighter weight bottle – STLTO’s bottles are only 420 grams!

 

After three years of perseverance, rejection, and paving her own way in the male-dominated Italian wine industry, she recently honoured by the Hostelry Institute as one of Ontario’s Top 30 Under 30.

 

 

How well is the business plan working?  From all signs the wines have found their niche with the movers and shakers.  It’s been making waves recently as well in Hollywood as one of the favorite wines of countless celebs and was featured at some Academy Award events.  A quick Google search revealed many pictures of celebrities sipping or talking about the wines.  It doesn’t hurt to have a celebrity proclaiming a glass of STLTO is her favorite way to unwind in the evening.

 

 

Much more information about Sarah and STLTO is available on their site by clicking here.

 

Here is a video of owner/founder Sarah Liberatore talking about the wines:

 

 

All the hoopla helps marketing, but the real secret to continued success and growth is what’s in the bottle.

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

N.V. STLTO Prosecco – SRP $12

This 100% Prosecco uses grapes sourced from the rolling hills of Veneto just north of Venice.

 

This bubbly has 11.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated sparkling wine cork with a plastic “tip” on the inside edge.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow to straw color with small persistent bubbles.  The slightly shy nose has apples and pears.  The wine has a light body with good acidity, nice effervescence and a touch of sweetness.  On the palate apples and a touch of lemon zest carry the load.  The finish is on the short side with just a hint of sweetness.  This would work as a party sparking wine among non wine geeks.

 

 

 

2012 STLTO Pinot Grigio Terre di Chieti IGT – SRP $10

For this 100% Pinot Grigio, the grapes are sourced from 40 year vineyards from Italy’s Central Abruzzo region.

 

This wine has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow to golden color.  The fresh smelling nose has apples, honey, orange blossoms and just a touch of spice.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity and just a touch of sweetness.  On the palate tart apples and lemon zest grab hold and grudgingly allow a touch of spice to slip in on the back end.  The finish is a touch short but full of apples and citrus.  The slight sweetness would make this a nice wine to sip on its own or at a friendly gathering.

 

 

 

2012 STLTO Merlot Terre di Chieti IGT – SRP $10

The grapes are sourced from 40 year vineyards from Italy’s Central Abruzzo region.  The grapes are hand-harvested, picked and packaged by STLTO’s all female production company in Abruzzo

 

This wine has 13.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to deep ruby red color.  The inviting nose has plums, baking spices, mint, cherries, minerals, tobacco and violets.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy plums and mint carry the load with a hint of cherries coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with nice closing spice and plum.  This does not offer a lot of complexity but would work in a party environment or with a light meal.

 

 

 

Closing Thoughts

With the softer acidity and slight sweetness I can see these wines being very popular at a social gathering or paired with a light meal.  I can easily imagine cases of these wines making appearances at wedding/baby showers, graduations or social events centered around women.  These wines won’t satisfy a wine aficionado (wine geek), but so what, that’s not the targeted audience.  As for the targeted audience, this hits the bulls-eye.

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

 

Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

 Overview

I guess you can call this a Social Media relationship.  I learned of Jean Edwards Cellars via Twitter.  I read their Tweets and started following them, luckily they followed me back.  Over the last couple of years we have exchanged jokes and Tweets about just about everything.  I was finally able to order a few bottles of their wine, and after giving a bottle a good 15 minutes to recover from the trip half way across the country, I popped the cork.  I am now a big fan and I spread their name to anyone who will listen to me.  I highly encourage you to check out their website and join their mailing list.  These are two very nice people making some of the best wine in the Napa Valley.

 

 

 

 

The Winery

The owners of Jean Edwards Cellars are John and Karen Troisi.  Karen and John used their middle names when determining what to name their winery.  The couple is a bi-coastal family, retaining their home in New Jersey but also setting up a west coast residence in California’s wine country.  When they are in New Jersey, the third member of their team, Kian Tavakoli, their consulting winemaker handles the day to day duties.  Jean Edwards uses the custom crush facilities at the Michael Mondavi Family Winery.

 

In their words:

We are the owner/vintners of Jean Edwards Cellars – we share a passion for wine, a similar palate and a singular vision on the style of wines we produce.  We live by our motto that “you should only make wines you love to drink” and focus our production on artisan red wines that are full-bodied and classically styled.

 

Quality and heritage are important to us – our wines are reflective of their origins and are sourced some of the most prestigious vineyards (and vineyard blocks) throughout Napa Valley including Stagecoach Vineyard (on Pritchard Hill); vineyards on the valley floor in Rutherford, Oakville and Coombsville; and mountain vineyards on Howell and Spring Mountain.

 

Time really flies – we started producing commercial wines in 2004 but our dream of producing high quality Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon wines started much earlier when we traveled to the valley in 1985.  During that trip, we developed a true appreciation for cabernet sauvignon wines and decided we would some day be a part of the business and produce a wine called Jean Edwards Cellars (our two middle names).  It was a goal worth waiting for and twenty plus years later we released our first wine in the Spring of 2006.

 

For more information, to order wine, or to join the Jean Edwards mailing list, visit their website.

 

 

 

2011 Jean Edwards Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – SRP $65

This is a new wine for the winery.  It is sourced from a well-known vineyard on the eastern hillsides of St. Helena (just below Howell Mountain).  According to the winery, “We wish we could share the vineyard name with you, but contractually we can’t”.  This wine has 12% Merlot blended in with the Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to deep ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has cassis, stony minerals, mint, black cherries, cedar, tobacco, baking spices and violets.  This has medium body, moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the rich cassis and spice jump out first with cedar, minerals and mint coming in later.  The finish has very good length with the fruit and mint seeming to linger forever.  For such a young wine, this already tastes very good.  Down the road this could turn into something very special.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2012 Cline Cellars Marsanne Roussanne

2013 Cline Cellars Mourvedre Rosé

2012 Cline Cellars Pinot Noir Cool Climate

 

 

 

Overview

Cline was the guest of honor for the Twitter based #winechat on April 30^th.  I was lucky to be sent the three bottles we will be discussing during the event.  I’ve been a fan of the wines made by Cline for a number of years.  Their wines are generally very reasonably priced and they have great distribution around the country.

 

 

 

The Winery

In the latter part of the 1800s, Oakley, Contra Costa County was a booming farming community with thousands of acres of orchards and healthy vineyards.  Fred Cline’s maternal grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi of pump and spa fame, called this place home.  On summer visits to his grandparents, Fred learned both the love of agricultural life and the mysteries of vinifying grapes into wine.  These lessons led Fred to obtain a degree in Agriculture Management from U.C. Davis.  In 1982, with an inheritance from his grandfather, Fred founded Cline Cellars near Oakley, California.  Here, he preserved and restored many ancient vine sites to their rightful reign as premier California wine lands.

 

In 1991, Fred and his wife Nancy relocated the winery from Oakley to the Carneros region of Sonoma County on a historic 350-acre estate with new vineyards and facilities.  While much of the cool Carneros region is planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Merlot, Fred pioneered the planting of Rhône varietals including Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

 

Much more information on the winery and their wines is available on their website by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

About Winechat

#winechat is a weekly, Twitter based discussion about something dealing with the world of wine.  Generally, each week’s chat session deals with a specific theme and is lead by an “expert” in that area.  This is generally a nice way to learn about a region, winery, type of wine, etc.

 

Mission

What is #WineChat?  Click here to learn more.

 

Description

How do you join #winechat? Using a tool such as Hootsuite, log into your twitter account & follow the #winechat stream. Be sure to include #winechat at the end of each tweet so everyone in the stream can see you!

 

Grab a glass and join in!

 

The #winechat schedule is available on their Facebook page by clicking here.

 

#winechat is hosted by Protocol Wine Studio.  For more information on them, click here.

 

 

 

My line up for this event looked like this:

 

 

 

2012 Cline Cellars Marsanne Roussanne – SRP $22

This wine is a blend of 66% Marsanne and 34% Roussanne.  The Marsanne comes from Cline’s estate vineyard in Sonoma Carneros, the Roussanne comes from their Sonoma Coast vineyard.

 

The grapes were hand-picked and destemmed.  After pressing in a tank press the juice is pumped into a settling tank and chilled at 55 degrees.  The next day the juice is racked to another tank and fermented.  This wine does not receive any oak aging to preserve the fresh and lively fruit character.

 

This wine is not distributed.  It is only available at the winery or via their website.

 

The wine has 14.5% alcohol by volume.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light straw color.  The fresh smelling nose has ripe apples, peaches, orange zest, minerals, honey, lime zest and white flowers.  The wine has a medium body with decent acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  Rich and ripe fruit quickly coats the palate with a jolt of citrus, spice and minerals grabbing hold on the mid-palate.  The finish has good length with spice, minerals and citrus closing the show.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Cline Cellars Mourvedre Rosé – SRP $14

This wine is made from 100% Mourvedre grapes from the winery’s Oakley vineyard in Contra Costa County.  The vines in this vineyard are over a century old.

 

This wine is made as a Blanc de Noir or “white of a red grape” in style.  Just after fermentation begins, the wine is pressed to remove the skins.  A small amount of color, flavor and astringent tannins are retained in the juice.  The juice is fermented slowly at a cold temperature to preserve the bright fruit flavors.  Fermentation is halted just before the wine is fully dry to add a touch of sweetness.

 

The wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and there is .81% residual sugar.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a vivid pink to red color.  The lively nose has cherries, plums, underbrush, minerals and a touch of spice.  This has a medium body with good acidity and a bit of lingering sweetness.  On the palate sweet fruit and minerals pop out first with some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with the fruit and earthiness closing the show.  This leaves a pleasant, lingering sweetness.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Cline Cellars Pinot Noir Cool Climate – SRP $18

This 100% Pinot Noir uses grapes from the estate’s vineyards in the Sonoma Coast appellation.  This region is often covered by coastal fog which helps mitigate daytime heat during the growing season.

 

For this wine, the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed and pumped directly into stainless steel fermentation tanks.  The wine is pumped over the cap of grape solids three times a day to help extract additional flavor and color.  After fermentation completes, the wine is pressed off the solids and moved into settling tanks.  After settling, the wine is racked into 35% new French oak barrels for 9 months of aging.

 

The wine has 14.5% alcohol by volume.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has cherries, eucalyptus, vanilla bean, baking spices, earthy underbrush and a nice floral note.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the bright red fruit and spice lead off with eucalyptus and an earthy note coming in later.  The finish has good length with a floral note closing the show.  This is a very good value for under $20.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

Closing comments

Cline always offers wines that are tasty and value priced.  Any time you grab a bottle with Cline on the label you are guaranteed to not be disappointed.

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN MARCH 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks – White wines for spring.

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014-5296/?viewall=1#ixzz2z411esZO

 

Snooth

WINES WE’VE LOVED!  Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-we-yve-loved/?viewall=1#ixzz2yOsinkhN

 

Snooth

OUR FAVORITE REDS FOR SPRING – The Wine Cognoscenti Recommend

http://www.snooth.com/articles/our-favorite-reds-for-spring/?viewall=1#ixzz2xkH0dfSj

 

Snooth

WHAT’S A GREAT GRENACHE? – Our Friendly Wine Experts Share Their Favorites!

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-ys-a-great-grenache-5209/

 

Snooth

SPRING TIME IS FOR PAIRING – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/spring-time-is-for-pairing/

 

Balzac

Balzac Communications & Marketing – News & Views

http://balzaccommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/948F113D27729D90/DF475947E7F379DE2A1BF84ACBDD178B

 

Snooth

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DRINKING – News and Reviews from Around the Blogosphere

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-we-yve-been-drinking/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4idw7a

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN FEBRUARY 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4DCh5L

 

Crave Local

California Wine Reviews: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/california-wine-reviews-cline-cellars-and-jacuzzi-family-vineyard/

 

Crave Local

Sample Boutique Wines at Affordable Prices with Tastingroom.com

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/sample-boutique-wines-at-affordable-prices-with-tastingroom-com/

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2013 Casey Flat Ranch Sauvignon Blanc

2013 Casey Flat Ranch Viognier

2013 Casey Flat Ranch Syrah Rosé

2010 Casey Flat Ranch Estate

 

 

 

Overview

I was extremely fortunate to get an invite to an online chat with a winery that was new to me from an area that was equally unknown.  The winery was Casey Flat Ranch from California’s Capay Valley.  This online chat had the added bonus of also featuring streaming video which is always more enjoyable than just reading Tweets.

 

 

The Winery

Casey Flat Ranch a 5,000 acre ranch, is based in the Capay Valley AVA, bordering the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side of Napa County (22 miles due east of St. Helena).  The ranch is about 90 minutes north of San Francisco.  The family has owned the ranch for 30 years.  The vineyard is defined by its award-winning Rhone and Bordeaux-style blends, stunningly rugged location, the purebred Longhorn cattle that roam the estate, and a rich homesteading heritage that dates back to California’s Gold Rush era.  With its unique history and stunning high-elevation mountain vineyards, Casey Flat Ranch produces deep, concentrated wines that evoke the raw natural beauty of the land, aided by the earnest, discriminating and pioneering team behind each bottle.

 

The first vines were planted in 2004 and the vineyard is sustainably cultivated, using materials and farming techniques that emphasize water and soil conservation.  The growing season brings warm days and cool nights, creating climate conditions similar to the St. Helena appellation, just 22 miles to the West.

 

In addition to the vineyards, the family has maintained a Longhorn Cattle operation on the property for 11 years.  Current estimates have the herd numbering between 140 and 170 head, with 30 to 40 heifers as annual replacement.  Registered Bulls, purchased out of Texas from the Bass Brothers Ranch have been used as the basis for the line breeding program.

 

More information about the winery, ranch and Capay Valley is available on their website by clicking here.

 

 

The Capay Valley

In Yolo County, just across the border from Napa Valley, sits the secluded and little-known Capay Valley.  It was established as an AVA in 2002.  Originally part of the Berryessa Spanish land grant, the area was settled in the 1850’s during the California Gold Rush. Vines were planted a decade later, making it one of the pioneer winegrowing regions in California.

 

The Capay Valley features warm days, mild nights and plenty of sunshine perfect weather for both Bordeaux and Rhone varieties.  The appellation’s best sites are situated in the higher elevations where the temperatures are cooler and the soils are more complex.

 

Casey Flat Ranch’s vineyards are the highest in the AVA, roughly 2,000 feet above sea level.  This creates growing conditions that are radically different from the rest of the appellation.  The soils here range from sandy to rocky with a sub-layer of fractured sandstone.  The climate is similar to northern St. Helena with diurnal temperature fluctuations of up to 40 degrees.

To capitalize on its remarkable mountain terroir, Casey Flat Ranch uses the same low-yielding (three tons per acre), sustainable, vine-by-vine viticultural techniques employed at many of the top wineries in Napa Valley.  The resulting wines are deep, rich, concentrated and positively different than anything else produced in California.

 

 

 

About Charles Communications Associates

CCA is an independent creative marketing firm that employs traditional public relations and new media strategies to assist companies, organizations and non-profits in the creation, development and marketing of interesting and compelling brands.  Recognized as one of the most effective PR firms in the wine industry, we have an exceptional track record of promoting products in the gourmet, natural and organic food and beverage categories, from wine and tea to top shelf spirits and luxury goods.  We consider ourselves fortunate to work with clients who share our philosophy of social responsibility in work and everyday life.

 

For more information, visit the CCA website.

 

 

 

 

 

Alison Morey Garrett, Managing Partner and Laura Barrett, Winemaker, provided background on Casey Flat Ranch, the property and the wines, while also leading the audience through a tasting of the following wines:

– 2013 Sauvignon Blanc – SRP $18

– 2013 Viognier – SRP $20

– 2013 Rosé of Syrah – SRP $18

– 2010 CFR Estate Red Blend – SRP $35

 

Here was the line up for this tasting.

 

 

 

2013 Casey Flat Ranch Sauvignon Blanc – SRP $18

The grapes for this wine were whole cluster crushed.  This was aged 75% stainless and 25% neutral oak.  The grapes harvested extremely early for this wine, August 8th.  The total production of this 100% Sauvignon Blanc was just under 700 cases.

 

The wine has 14.1% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pale yellow with a slight greenish tint.  The crisp and very Spring like nose has apples, fresh cut grass, peach, lime zest, stony minerals and pineapple.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate tart apples and grass slip in first, quickly followed by minerals and lime.  The finish has very good length with a hint of peach and pineapple adding nice complexity.  This has nice balance and closes with a jolt of citrusy acidity.  This is a very nice Sauvignon Blanc and could stand up to one from anywhere.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Casey Flat Ranch Viognier – SRP $20

The winery only has about 1/2 acre planted of Viognier.  It was originally planted to be used in blends, but they decided it could stand on its’ own.  This was sged in 50/50 stainless and neutral oak.  There were 220 cases of this 100% Viognier produced.

 

This wine has 14.1% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pale straw to yellow color.  The inviting nose has peaches, ripe apples, baking spices, white flowers, orange zest, minerals and melon.  This has medium body with soft acidity and an oily texture.  On the palate ripe fruit and spice grab hold until minerals and orange zest swoop in and take charge.  The finish has nice length with a nice jolt of closing citrus.  This gets a touch heavy on the front end until the citrus kicks in, a bit of cellar time will help it balance out.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Casey Flat Ranch Syrah Rosé – SRP $18

There was a touch over 200 cases produced of this wine.  The Alban clone Syrah grapes were whole cluster pressed with minimal skin contact.

 

This wine has 14.1% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright salmon pink color.  The alluring nose has strawberries, spice, cherries, minerals and orange blossoms.  This has a light to medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate the spice and fruit jump out first but allow minerals and some orange zest to gracefully slip into the picture.  The finish has good length with fruit and spice slowly giving way to some nice mouthwatering citrus.  This would be nice with a light meal on a sunny day or on its own with friends.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Casey Flat Ranch Estate – SRP $35

The first vintage of this wine was 2008, there were only 100 cases produced.  The winemaker and her team spends 3 to 6 months with the blending process of this wine.  The final blend was 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, 19% Cabernet Franc and 4% Mourvedre.  There were 2266 6-packs produced of this wine.

 

This wine has 14.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to purple color.  The inviting nose has blackberries, dried herbs, cassis, minerals, cedar, tobacco and dried violets.  This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  The berries and dried herbs coat the palate slowly allowing cedar and minerals to come into focus.  The finish has good length with the spicy oak and a floral note joining dried herbs.  This cries out for a piece of juicy meat hot off the grill.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

Closing comments

The Casey Flat Ranch Sauvignon Blanc is a world class wine and their Estate Red wine cries out for a piece of juicy meat, hot off the grill.  I would highly recommend hunting down these two wines.  I think we’ll be hearing more from Casey Flat Ranch in the next few years as their vines grow a bit older.

 

If you would like to hear a LOT more about the winery and these wines in particular, the video for the event is available by clicking here.

 

 

 

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.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN MARCH 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks – White wines for spring.

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014-5296/?viewall=1#ixzz2z411esZO

 

Snooth

WINES WE’VE LOVED!  Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-we-yve-loved/?viewall=1#ixzz2yOsinkhN

 

Snooth

OUR FAVORITE REDS FOR SPRING – The Wine Cognoscenti Recommend

http://www.snooth.com/articles/our-favorite-reds-for-spring/?viewall=1#ixzz2xkH0dfSj

 

Snooth

WHAT’S A GREAT GRENACHE? – Our Friendly Wine Experts Share Their Favorites!

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-ys-a-great-grenache-5209/

 

Snooth

SPRING TIME IS FOR PAIRING – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/spring-time-is-for-pairing/

 

Balzac

Balzac Communications & Marketing – News & Views

http://balzaccommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/948F113D27729D90/DF475947E7F379DE2A1BF84ACBDD178B

 

Snooth

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DRINKING – News and Reviews from Around the Blogosphere

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-we-yve-been-drinking/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4idw7a

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN FEBRUARY 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4DCh5L

 

Crave Local

California Wine Reviews: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/california-wine-reviews-cline-cellars-and-jacuzzi-family-vineyard/

 

Crave Local

Sample Boutique Wines at Affordable Prices with Tastingroom.com

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/sample-boutique-wines-at-affordable-prices-with-tastingroom-com/

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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!

 

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Kick Ranch

2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley

2011 Lange Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

2011 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys’ Vineyard

 

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Kick Ranch – $30.00

To me, Morgan Twain-Peterson from Bedrock is trying to follow playbook written by Mike Officer at Carlisle.  The playbook is fairly simple, offer outstanding, personality filled wine at good prices.  Though relatively new to the game, Bedrock is following the playbook to perfection.  Bedrock has one upped Carlisle in one regard, besides their outstanding red wines, they put out some of the best white wines being produced at reasonable prices in the state.

 

This wine has 15.1% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Bedrock is an itsy-bitsy winery making wine in a converted chicken coop.  Fruit from only the most excellent vineyard sites is hand pitch-forked into the destemmer, fermented in open top redwood and stainless vats using only native yeasts, and are manually basket pressed by winemaker Morgan Twain-Peterson into the sexiest oak from the coldest French forests.

 

The winery’s objectives are:

 

.  To channel the fruit of ancient vines into powerful, elegant, and distinctly Californian wines.

.  To spread the gospel of Syrah in California by sourcing fruit from great terroirs throughout the North Coast.

.  To proclaim the greatness of Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by sparing no expense on wines of uniqueness and personality.

.  To reclaim rose’ from the excesses of saignee and focus on precision, delicacy, aromatics, and food friendliness.

.  To make fascinating and quixotic white wines from unique sites and interesting varietals.

.  To make California Pinot Noir that ages as well as ’74 Swan.

.  To dream big but keep production low!

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, inky purple color.  The deep and bold nose has blackberries, black plums, fresh ground dark roast coffee, dying wood embers, Asian spices, licorice, dark bittersweet chocolate and dried flowers.  This has a full body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy berries, plums and ground coffee grab hold and grudgingly allows chocolate and smoke to slip in on the back end.  The finish has very good length with the savory elements pushing the fruit into the background with it provides some nice sweetness.  This is drinking very nicely with some air but has not reached its’ peak.  A couple more years in the cellar and this will be incredible.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley – $27.50

If you are on the Carlisle mailing list, congratulations, you are on one of the best lists out there.  If you are not on their mailing list, I highly recommend you upgrade your circle of friends to include someone on the list that shares their good stuff.

 

Now that Carlisle has their own winery and won’t be using outside crush facilities, I look forward to even greater things coming from them in the upcoming years.

 

The grapes for the wine came predominantly from Teldeschi Ranch (planted in 1885) and Mounts Ranch (planted in 1952).  An 11% mix of petite sirah and carignane completed the palate, adding just the right amount of tannin and acidity.  This was aged in French oak, 23% new and bottled unfined and unfiltered.  A total of 292 cases were produced.

 

The wine has 15.2% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

We are a small Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated zinfandels and red Rhone varieties (syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, and petite sirah).  While we like our wines to be bold, rich, and intensely flavored, each reflecting a sense of place, its origins in the vineyard, we also strive to create wines of balance, complexity, and perhaps most importantly, pleasure.

 

Rich.  Lusty.  Hedonistic.  These are some of the descriptors we often hear applied to our wines.  However, we also hear the words elegant, balanced, complex.  Yes, through hard work in the vineyard and winery, we believe you can have it all, the best of both worlds.  Our approach to winemaking is simple, yet difficult.  We prefer to intervene in nature’s process as little as possible but we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to maximize the quality of each wine we produce.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The outstanding nose has black cherry, licorice, brambly berries, wood smoke, black pepper, and dried flowers.  This has a fairly full body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit leans more toward cherry with some berries in the back ground with pepper and a smoky element.  The finish has nice length and adds a floral note.  This is in a nice place and should hold for a couple years.  This is very nice.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Lange Pinot Noir Willamette Valley – $12.99

In my ongoing quest to build up a stash of under $15 Pinot Noirs for week night dinners, this is my next candidate.  It looks like I got a great deal on a couple bottles since the average price on Cellar Tracker is almost $10 a bottle higher.  The more I drink Oregon Pinot Noir wines, the more I like them.  They are nice alternatives to the riper, rounder California versions that populate my wine cellar.

 

This has 13.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The mysterious nose has black cherries, smoke, minerals, earthy underbrush, warm baking spices, dried flowers and just a touch of nice funk.  This is barely medium body with silky tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the spices and cherries jump out first with minerals, smoke and some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with cherries and spice carrying the load.  This isn’t the most complex Pinot out there but is a winner for under $15.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc – $15.78

Cloudy Bay has been my favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for several years.  When I saw this wine on my local wine store’s shelf and found out the owner/wine maker is Kevin Judd, a decision to grab a few bottles was easy.  Kevin Judd, was the founding wine maker for Cloudy Bay.  After directing 25 vintages at Cloudy Bay, Kevin decided it was time to fulfill his life long dream and set his own course.  Greywacke, which opened in 2009, is the culmination of that dream.  After trying a bottle, I had to go back to the store while it was still on sale and stock up.

 

This has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light, pale, straw color.  The crisp and clean nose has grapefruit, minerals, lime, lemon zest, white pepper, gooseberry, and a touch of an herbal note.  This has a light body with tart citrusy acidity.  On the palate tart grapefruit and white pepper lead off with lime and lemon kicking in on the back end.  The finish is long and mouthwatering with minerals and an herbal note joining the citrus and white pepper.  A stunning wine for a warm afternoon with or without food.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys’ Vineyard – $29.99

This was a very easy wine to buy in bulk, one of my favorite wineries, one of my favorite grapes and one of my favorite vineyards.

 

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

 

Winery history

Our winemaking goal is to produce wines that best capture the distinct flavor and character of a given vineyard site.  To that end, we focus on sites that provide us with exceptional fruit.  We are fanatical in our protection of the vineyard flavor and are determined not to let any overt winemaking components mute the personality of an individual site.

 

In the cellar, we vinifiy each wine separately by block, clone and barrel type in order to maximize the individual components and provide greater complexity to the final blend.  This approach also provides us with much more flexibility in crafting a wine using only the best and most harmonious lots.

 

Given that the majority of our wines are single vineyard offerings, it is critical for us to maintain the site’s individual character in order to provide you with a truly diverse offering of wines.  To that end:

 

• We believe in minimal intervention, “gentle” winemaking.  In other words, we let the wine make itself.  We do not want to do anything to the wine that isn’t absolutely necessary.
• We believe in bottling our wines unfiltered and unfined whenever possible, convinced as we are that fining and filtering strip wines of flavor and character.
• We believe that the best wines express their origins.  Our goal is not to produce the world’s best Syrah or Zinfandel but rather to produce the very best wine from a given site.

 

Much more information on Novy and the wines they produce is available on their website by clicking here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to purple color.  The very enticing nose has blackberries, licorice, smoked meat, pepper, baking spices, blueberry, dried herbs, minerals and dark chocolate.  This has medium to full body with solid tannins and very nice acidity.  Spicy fruit with a nice meaty presence grabs hold of your palate with pepper and some earthiness coming in later.  This has a nice lingering finish which again highlights the meaty elements with chocolate and fruit in the background providing nice sweetness.  This is very nice with impressive balance.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

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!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN MARCH 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks – White wines for spring.

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014-5296/?viewall=1#ixzz2z411esZO

 

Snooth

WINES WE’VE LOVED!  Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-we-yve-loved/?viewall=1#ixzz2yOsinkhN

 

Snooth

OUR FAVORITE REDS FOR SPRING – The Wine Cognoscenti Recommend

http://www.snooth.com/articles/our-favorite-reds-for-spring/?viewall=1#ixzz2xkH0dfSj

 

Snooth

WHAT’S A GREAT GRENACHE? – Our Friendly Wine Experts Share Their Favorites!

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-ys-a-great-grenache-5209/

 

Snooth

SPRING TIME IS FOR PAIRING – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/spring-time-is-for-pairing/

 

Balzac

Balzac Communications & Marketing – News & Views

http://balzaccommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/948F113D27729D90/DF475947E7F379DE2A1BF84ACBDD178B

 

Snooth

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DRINKING – News and Reviews from Around the Blogosphere

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-we-yve-been-drinking/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4idw7a

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN FEBRUARY 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4DCh5L

 

Crave Local

California Wine Reviews: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/california-wine-reviews-cline-cellars-and-jacuzzi-family-vineyard/

 

Crave Local

Sample Boutique Wines at Affordable Prices with Tastingroom.com

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/sample-boutique-wines-at-affordable-prices-with-tastingroom-com/

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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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!