Napa Valley Distillery Old Hollywood Ginn
Intensely aromatic, Napa Valley Distillery’s Old Hollywood Ginn is perhaps my favorite out of the four craft spirit samples I’ve received. The distillery website refers to it as a “speakeasy style,” a playful nod to the founder, Arthur Hartunian’s penchant and passion for using old, pre-Prohibition recipes. The website also notes that Old Hollywood Ginn […]
Napa Valley Distillery East India Cocktail
From Napa Valley’s first bonded distillery since prohibition, this incomparable East India Cocktail. Owners Arthur and Lusine Hartunian craft all of their spirits using old pre-Prohibition recipes and their website notes that the East India Cocktail is from recipe an 1830’s recipe, and it’s very hard not to imagine old maps, steamer trunks and wicker […]
La Marea Mourvedre Spur Ranch Vineyard 2013
For those of you familiar with Ian Brand’s first label, Le P’tit Paysan, La Marea is produced with equal care and craft, and is dedicated to the production of single-vineyard Spanish varieties from San Benito and Montery County. The 2013 Spur Ranch Vineyard Mourvedre is sourced from vines that are at an 1,000 foot elevation […]
Gallo Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Another wine from Gallo’s Signature series, I’ll be the first to confess that I’m pleasantly surprised at how nice these wines are, given the extraordinary prices of most Napa Cabs. It’s a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, the bulk of which is from Gallo’s William Hill Vineyard, with a dash of […]
Ghost Pines Winemaker’s Blend Zinfandel 2013
Soft and pliant, the 2013 Ghost Pines Winemaker’s Blend is comprised of 100% Zinfandel of which 53% is sourced from San Joaquin County and the remaining 47% is from Sonoma County. While not overly complex, it does offer inviting aromas of blackberry liqueur, juicy black cherries, vanilla and spice. On the palate, it’s smooth and easy-drinking […]
Grgich Hills Estate Merlot 2012
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ivo Jeramaz on my last visit to Napa Valley. He’s the nephew of winemaking legend, Mike Grgich and has taken the lead in much of the wineries day-to-day operations along with Mike’s daughter, Violet. Ivo is a quiet and thoughtful in his speech—and his wines seem to reflect this. […]
Cornerstone Cellars Stepping Stone Cabernet Franc 2012
I don’t see a lot of varietally labeled Cab Franc coming out of the Napa Valley. And it’s a different animal altogether from the CFs from the Loire Valley or even from Washington State. Expect a wine that is richer, more robust and concentrated, with a very nearly opaque garnet robe and enveloping notes of […]
Trisaetum Wichmann Dundee Estate Pinot Noir 2013
Trisaetum’s 2013 Whichmann Dundee Estate Pinot Noir is sourced from the winery’s smallest estate vineyard, at just under nine acres. It’s also at high elevation and has classic Dundee Hills volcanic Jory soils. It’s a bit masculine in expression, with robust notes of espresso and mocha followed by forest floor, underbrush and spry red berries. […]
Trisaetum Pinot Noir Estates Reserve 2011
Trisaetum Pinot Noir Estates Reserve” width=”200″ height=”200″ /></a>My pick of Trisaetum’s Pinot Noirs, the 2011 Estates Reserve is comprised of 13-20 barrels that are aged 11 months on French oak and offers elegant, complex aromatics. Dried mint, bittersweet chocolate, and lively orange zest notes lead into a wine that is bright, yet balanced. The fruit […]
Raptor Ridge Chehalem Mountains Estate Pinot Noir 2012
I’ve enjoyed tasting through Raptor Ridge’s current releases, which always strike me as being produced in a manner that is both thoughtful and sensitive. That being said, the aromatics on this 2012 Chehalem Mountains Estate Pinot Noir are heady, so much so, I can pick up lush black cherry notes wafting from the glass some […]