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In Vino Unitas: California Producers Direct Market

St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, California

Tasted January 25, 2011 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 1,469 views

Introduction


In Vino Unitas is a group of wineries, most of which have long track records, that have banded together to present and market their wines directly to restaurants, wine shops and other major buyers. Their website asserts that, "Conducting business in this manner allows us to develop more connected and long lasting relationships." In pursuit of that agenda, the group stages periodic tastings for buyers and selected media. The one I attended, at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco last week, was one of five tastings the group offered over a week-long period in five different locations in California, starting January 24 in Napa and ending in Del Mar on February 2. The participating wineries are: Buoncristiani Family Winery, Chase Family Cellars, Dolce, Ehlers Estate, Far Niente, Gargiulo Vineyards, Gemstone Vineyard, Grgich Hills Estate, Heitz Wine Cellars, Jericho Canyon Vineyard, Krupp Brothers, Larkmead Vineyards, La Sirena, Mayacamas Vineyards, Meyer Family Cellars, Navarro Vineyards, Nickel & Nickel, Quill Wines, Testarossa Vineyards, and Yorba Wines.

Most of these producers I was already familiar with. Some, like Navarro, Grgich and Nickel & Nickel, I've visited over the years. The majority of the producers also participate in the annual Family Winemakers events, which is where I'd first encountered Yorba last year. In the case of a few producers at this event (e.g., Jericho Canyon, La Sirena, Krupp Brothers), I'd recently tasted through their wines at another type of direct marketing event--the SF Vintners Market--aimed at sales to the general public. I posted about that tasting, which occurred last November, here: http://www.rjonwine.com/cabernet-sauvignon/sf-vintners-market/ That November event happened on a very chilly day in San Francisco, at the hard-to-heat Fort Mason Pavillion, right on the water, and a number of wines did not show all that well there due to the "cellar temperature" tasting conditions. I was therefore quite glad to have a chance to re-taste many of those wines here. I found that most all of them I had tasted before did show better at this event, under more typical room temperature conditions. The La Sirena wines, for example, which had been among the best I tasted at the Vintners Market, all showed even better at the Yacht Club. A couple of these producers, on the other hand, are fairly new (e.g., Gargiulo and Quill), so this was my first chance to taste their wines. In all, I tasted 90 wines, which was basically every wine being shown, at a fairly relaxed pace, at least compared to a Family Winemakers event. This gave me a little more time to focus on my notes and to compare, and even re-taste some wines. I think the group does a remarkably good job in organizing these events, and I liked the fact that the crowd was small enough to allow for conversation and interaction with the winemakers and winery representatives.

I came away pleased by the quality of the wines overall, and delighted by how well new releases from '07 and '09 are showing from many producers. The producers responsible for wines that I scored 92 points or higher at this event were: Dolce (under the same ownership group as Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel), Grgich Hills, Heitz, La Sirena, Navarro, Nickel & Nickel, Quill and Yorba. The producers that really stood out for me, for the quality of the wines overall, were Buoncristiani, Heitz, Jericho Canyon, Larkmead, La Sirena, Navarro, Quill and Yorba. My very top wines of the tasting, with ratings 93 points or higher, were:
2006 Dolce Winery Late Harvest
2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard
2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard
2006 La Sirena Syrah Barrett Vineyard
2007 La Sirena Cabernet Sauvignon

For my tasting notes and further details about a few particular producers, see below:

Flight 1 - Buoncristiani (4 notes)

Buoncristiani wines are a collaboration amongst four brothers who, collectively, handle the viticulture, winemaking, production, artwork and marketing. Jay Buoncristiani, who is in charge of the winemaking, is making the Gemella wines under his own label. I was particularly impressed with the '07 Cabernet.

Red
2007 Buoncristiani OPC Proprietary Red USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Dark purple red violet color; subtle oak, ripe plum, cedar, red berry nose; tasty, fresh, tight, ripe red plum, berry palate, needs 2-plus years; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2007 Buoncristiani Syrah Artistico USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Opaque purple red violet color; spicy plum, roasted berry, baking spice nose; ripe plum, berry, black fruit, spice palate; medium-plus finish (16 mos. in 30% new French oak)
Comment
Red
2007 Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dark purple red violet color; plum, berry nose; solid, ripe berry, plum palate; medium-plus finish (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 1% Merlot; 20 mos. in 80% new French oak)
Comment
White
2008 Gemella Wines Viognier USA, California, Napa Valley
87 points
Light yellow color; floral, ripe apple, ripe peach, vanilla nose; tight, tart peach, floral, mineral, green fruit palate; medium finish
Comment

Flight 2 - Chase (2 notes)

Rosé
2009 Chase Zinfandel Rosé Hayne Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
86 points
Medium pink color; berry, red plum nose; sweet and tart red berry, red plum palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2006 Chase Zinfandel Hayne Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
86 points
Dark red violet color; deep berry, ripe plum nose; ripe, rounded plum, berry palate; medium finish 86+ pts.
Comment

Flight 3 - Dolce (1 note)

A delicious sweetie, with just the right acid balance.

White - Sweet/Dessert
2006 Dolce Winery Late Harvest USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
From 375 ml - light golden yellow color; nice, ripe apricot, pear, botrytis nose; tasty, delicious, juicy, tart apricot, ripe apricot, ripe peach, baked peach palate; long finish (90% Semillon, 10% Sauvignon Blanc)
Comment

Flight 4 - Ehlers (4 notes)

White
2009 Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley
88 points
Very light yellow color; nice lemon grass, ripe grapefruit nose; tight, tart grapefruit, citrus palate; medium finish 88+ pts. (stainless steel)
Comment
Red
2007 Ehlers Estate Merlot St. Helena USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
87 points
Dark red violet color; smoke, berry nose; ripe berry, smoke palate; medium finish (with 8% Cabernet Sauvignon)
Comment
Red
2007 Ehlers Estate One Twenty Over Eighty St. Helena USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
89 points
Very dark red violet color; ripe black fruit, plum, fig nose; ripe black fruit, berry palate; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2007 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon "1886" USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
90 points
Very dark red violet color; nice cassis, red currant nose with lift; tasty, ripe cassis, red currant, herbal palate, needs 2-plus years; medium-plus finish 90+ pts. (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Petit Verdot and Merlot)
Comment

Flight 5 - Far Niente (4 notes)

White
2009 Far Niente Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley
87 points
Light lemon yellow color; oak, apple, pineapple nose; oak, apple, pineapple palate with lowish acidity; medium finish
Comment
Red
2009 EnRoute Pinot Noir Les Pommiers USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
85 points
Dark cherry red color; oak, smoke, red berry nose; smoke, oak, red berry palate; medium finish 85+ pts.
Comment
Red
2008 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Oakville USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
89 points
Pre-release - very dark red violet color; cassis, smoke, red berry nose; ripe berry, tart red berry, cassis palate; medium finish (93-95% Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot)
Comment
Red
2004 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Oakville USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
91 points
Very dark red violet color; red berry, plum, cassis nose; tight cassis, red berry, wild berry, red plum palate; medium finish
Comment

Flight 6 - Gargiulo (3 notes)

Red
2007 Gargiulo Vineyards Aprile Super Oakville Blend USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
87 points
Dark red violet color; herbal, smoke, red currant nose; plush, red currant, tart red berry palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Gargiulo Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Money Road Ranch USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
90 points
Very dark red violet color; ripe raspberry, Chinese red bean, floral nose; plush, red raspberry, red plum, Chinese red bean palate, needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2007 Gargiulo Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon G Major Seven Study USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
91 points
Very dark red violet color; nice ripe berry, blackberry, plum nose; plush, soft, berry, raspberry, blackberry, plum palate, ready to drink now; medium-plus finish (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot)
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 7 - Gemstone (3 notes)

Red
2007 Gemstone Facets USA, California, Napa Valley
88 points
Very dark red violet color; tight, tart black fruit, oak, espresso nose; tight, ripe, blackberry, espresso, black fruit palate, needs 2-plus years; medium finish (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot)
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Gemstone G USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
88 points
Dark purple red violet color; mint, sweet oak, mint chocolate nose; mint chocolate, ripe black fruit, blackberry, oak palate; medium-plus finish 88+ pts. (20 mos. in 70% new French oak; 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Merlot, 3.5% Petit Verdot)
Comment
Red
2006 Gemstone G USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
90 points
Dark purple red violet color; smoke, tar, tart berry nose; tasty, tart black fruit, tar, espresso palate; medium-plus finish 90+ pts. (98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot)
Comment

Flight 8 - Grgich Hills (8 notes)

White
2008 Grgich Hills Sauvignon Blanc Fumé Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Light yellow color; lemon grass, lime, lime skin nose; tart green fruit, subtle smoke, lemon grass, mineral, lime palate; medium finish
Comment
White
2008 Grgich Hills Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley
86 points
Light lemon yellow color; oak, tart apple nose; tart apple, oak palate; short-medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Grgich Hills Zinfandel USA, California, Napa Valley
87 points
Dark purple red violet color; oak, red berry nose; soft, ripe red berry, oak palate; short-medium finish
Comment
Red
2006 Grgich Hills Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley
84 points
Very dark red violet color; tart black fruit, plum, oak nose; oak, black fruit palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2006 Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
85 points
Very dark red violet color; smoke, black fruit, char nose; tart black fruit, charcoal palate; medium finish
Comment
White
2006 Grgich Hills Chardonnay Carneros Selection USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
86 points
Light medium green-tinged yellow color; oak, pineapple nose; oak, tart pineapple palate with low acidity, needs 3-plus years; medium finish (all Wente clones)
Comment
Red
2005 Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Yountville Selection USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
85 points
Very dark red violet color; red bean, plum nose; ripe plum, cassis palate with low acidity; medium finish 85+ pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2008 Grgich Hills Violetta Late Harvest USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
Light medium chartreuse yellow color; focused vanilla, pear, baked pear, peach nose; tasty, rich, ripe pear, ripe peach, tart orange, mineral palate with good acidity; long finish
Comment

Flight 9 - Heitz (8 notes)


This is, of course, a legendary producer, and the Martha's Vineyard Cabernet is one of the most distinctive Cabernets in California. The '05 Trailside and Martha's Vineyard were both gorgeous young Cabs, and the Sauvignon Blanc is one of the better California SBs I've tasted in the last couple years.

White
2009 Heitz Cellar Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Very light green-tinged yellow color; lemon grass, lime nose; tasty, tart lime, citrus, lemon grass palate with good acidity; medium finish
Comment
White
2008 Heitz Cellar Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Light green tinged yellow color; green apple, green herb nose; tart green apple, citrus palate with medium acidity; medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Heitz Cellar Zinfandel USA, California, Napa Valley
88 points
Dark purple rd violet color; tart berry, red plum nose; tight, ripe red plum, berry, blackberry, oak palate; medium-plus finish 88+ pts.
Comment
Red
2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Very dark red violet color; ripe cassis, red plum nose; tasty, tart cassis, red plum palate, needs 2-plus years; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
91 points
Medium dark red violet color; herbaceous, eucalyptus, tart cassis nose; tasty, tight, eucalyptus, tart cassis palate, needs 3-5 years; medium-plus finish 91+ pts.
Comment
Red
2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
93 points
Very dark red violet color; ripe and tart cassis, red plum, blackberry nose; very tasty, ripe blackberry, berry, plum palate; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
93 points
Very dark red violet color; mint, cassis, red raspberry nose; tight, tasty, ripe cassis, mint palate with balance, needs 6-plus years; medium-plus finish 93+ pts.
Comment
Red - Fortified
N.V. Heitz Cellar Port Ink Grade Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
88 points
Dark purple red violet color; big, baked berry, red berry nose; rich, youthful, sweet berry, baked berry palate, lacking acidity; long finish 88+ pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 10 - Jericho Canyon (3 notes)

White
2009 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Light lemon yellow color; lemon grass, lime nose; tasty, ripe green fruit, lime, lemon grass palate; medium finish 90+ pts.
Comment
Red
2006 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Jericho Creek Block USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Very dark red violet color; ripe cassis, raspberry, berry nose; tight, ripe berry, cassis, raspberry palate, needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot; 20 mos. in 70% new French oak)
Comment
Red
2006 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Very dark red violet color; tart plum, berry nose; tight, tart berry, plum palate, needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish 90+ pts. (97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot; 20 mos. in 80% new French oak)
Comment

Flight 11 - Krupp Brothers (5 notes)

White
2007 Krupp Brothers Estates Black Bart's Bride USA, California, Napa Valley
88 points
Light yellow color; apple, oak, green apple nose; soft, green apple palate with low acidity; medium finish (43% Marsanne, 37% Viognier, 20% Chardonnay)
Comment
Red
2007 Krupp Brothers Estates The Doctor USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak
89 points
Very dark red violet color; roasted red plum, herbal, red berry nose; tart red fruit, herbal, red plum palate; medium finish (Tempranillo, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon)
Comment
Red
2007 Krupp Brothers Estates Syrah Black Bart Stagecoach Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dark purple red violet color; big, roasted plum, berry nose; tasty, ripe red berry, roasted plum, boysenberry, charcoal palate; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2007 Veraison Synchrony Stagecoach Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Dark red violet color; herbaceous, olive, tart black fruit nose; herbaceous, olive, tart black fruit palate; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2006 Stagecoach Cabernet Sauvignon Veraision Krupps Brothers Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Dark red violet color; roasted red fruit, currant, oak nose; soft, silky textured, ripe cassis, red currant palate; medium finish (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc)
Comment

Flight 12 - Larkmead (4 notes)

Red
2008 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Very dark red violet color; olive, tart black fruit nose; tasty, olive, tart black fruit, bay leaf palate; medium-plus finish 90+ pts. (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot)
Comment
Red
2007 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dark red violet color; tart red fruit, cedar, slightly herbaceous nose; tasty, concentrated, tart red currant, cassis, red berry palate; medium-plus finish (95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc)
Comment
Red
2006 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dark red violet color; VA, red berry, Chinese red bean nose; tart red berry, red bean, currant palate; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2005 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Very dark red violet color; cassis, herbaceous, olive, red fruit nose; cassis, herbaceous, olive, red fruit palate; medium-plus finish
Comment

Flight 13 - La Sirena (6 notes)

Heidi Barrett, flanked by her beautiful daughters Remy and Chelsea

I was very glad to get to try these wines again, under non-freezing room conditions. A very impressive line up across the board, as one might expect from someone with Heidi's long and impressive track record. The Syrahs each had a different flavor profile. The Barrett Vineyard Syrah was the single best, but all were good. The Cabernet is also terrific.

White
2009 La Sirena Moscato Azul USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Light yellow color; nice orange blossom, peach nose; tasty, tart peach, orange blossom, orange palate with good acidity; medium finish 91+ pts. (good food wine)
Comment
Red
2006 La Sirena Syrah Barrett Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga
92 points
Dark red violet color; roasted red fruit, smoke nose; tasty, smoke, tart black fruit, chocolate palate, with fig on medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2006 La Sirena Syrah USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
Very dark red violet color; herbal, roasted plum nose; tasty, tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, smoke, meaty palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
Comment
Red
2006 La Sirena Syrah Barrett Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga
93 points
Dark purple red violet color; oak, herbal, roasted plum nose; tasty, tart black fruit, roasted plum, charcoal, tar palate; medium-plus finish 93+ pts.
Comment
Red
2007 La Sirena Pirate TreasuRed USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
Very dark red violet color; smoke, tar, tart black fruit nose; tasty, tart black fruit, tart plum, charcoal, tar palate; medium-plus finish (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Grenache; 40% new French oak for 22 mos.)
Comment
Red
2007 La Sirena Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
Very dark red violet color; green herb, black fruit, tar, charcoal nose; tasty, rich, tart black fruit, charcoal, tar palate; long finish (86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc; much better than when I had it in the very cold Fort Mason tasting a few months back, as was the whole La Sirena lineup)
Comment

Flight 14 - Mayacamas (4 notes)

White
2007 Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
88 points
Light yellow color; nice ripe lemon, peach nose; tart apple, tart peach palate; medium finish 88+ pts. (6 mos. in American oak, then 1 year in French oak, 10% new)
Comment
White
2007 Mayacamas Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
87 points
Light green-tinged yellow color; tart apple, tart peach nose; tart peach, green herb palate, lacking in acidity; medium finish
Comment
Red
2005 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
90 points
Dark red violet color; cassis, menthol, herbaceous nose; tart cassis, herbaceous, menthol palate with medium acidity, needs 4-5 years; medium-plus finish 90+ pts. (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc; 1.5 years in large oak barrels, 1 year in 60 gallon oak barrels)
Comment
Red
2006 Mayacamas Vineyards Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
90 points
Dark cherry red color; nice wild berry, blackberry, black fruit nose; tasty, tart berry, currant, wild berry palate; medium finish 90+ pts. (83% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon; 6 mos. in large oak casks, then 1 year in small barriques)
Comment

Flight 15 - Meyer Family (4 notes)

Rosé
2010 Meyer Family Cellars Dry Rose of Syrah USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
86 points
Barrel sample, to be bottled the following wee - smoky, tart berry, cranberry nose; smoky, tart cranberry, red berry palate; medium finish (with 15% Petite Sirah)
Comment
Red
2006 Meyer Family Cellars Syrah USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
88 points
Dark purple red violet color; tart black fruit, smoke, charcoal nose; sweet black fruit, charcoal palate; medium finish 88+ pts.
Comment
Red
2005 Meyer Family Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Bonny's Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
87 points
Very dark red violet color; cassis, herbal nose; ripe cassis, red berry, herbal palate; medium finish
Comment
Red - Fortified
N.V. Meyer Family Cellars Meyer Family Port USA, California
87 points
Bricking medium dark red violet color with pale meniscus; ginger cake, chocolate, VA nose; ripe ginger cake, prune, chocolate palate with low acidity; medium-plus finish (modified solera dating back to 1987)
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)

Flight 16 - Navarro (7 notes)


Navarro wines have to be among the most consistent, and fairly priced wines, year after year in California. Their Gewürz is always one of the best in California, and the Pinots and other varietals are strong too.

White
2008 Navarro Vineyards Gewürztraminer USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
91 points
Light green tinged yellow color; lovely roses, light grapefruit nose; tasty, tart grapefruit, roses, mineral palate with zingy acidity; medium finish
Comment
White
2008 Navarro Vineyards Chardonnay Première Réserve USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
89 points
Light lemon yellow color; ripe lemon, citrus, tart pineapple nose; tart citrus, oak, tart pineapple palate with medium acidity; medium finish
Comment
White
2009 Navarro Vineyards Muscat Blanc USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
90 points
Pale yellow color; light honeydew melon, apple, orange blossom nose; tasty, tart apple, orange blossom, mineral, citrus palate with near medium acidity; medium finish 90+ pts.
Comment
Red
2007 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir "Méthode à l'Ancienne" USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
91 points
Dark cherry red color; dark cherry, raspberry, subtle oak nose; tasty, tart cherry, tart strawberry, mineral palate with near medium acidity, needs 2-3 years; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2007 Navarro Vineyards Zinfandel USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
90 points
Medium dark cherry red color with pale meniscus; big red berry, floral, blackberry nose; poised, red berry, tart blackberry, minerally palate with near medium acidity, needs 3-plus years; medium finish
Comment
Red
2008 Navarro Vineyards Navarrouge USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
85 points
Dark scarlet red color; smoke, roasted berry nose; smoke, tart roasted red berry palate with medium acidity; short-medium finish (90% Syrah, 10% Zinfandel)
Comment
White - Sweet/Dessert
2007 Navarro Vineyards Riesling Cluster Select Late Harvest USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
92 points
Medium apricot color; rich tart apricot, ripe peach, ripe mandarin orange nose; tasty, ripe apricot, tart apricot, ripe peach, mandarin orange, mineral palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (205 grams RS)
Comment

Flight 17 - Nickel & Nickel (4 notes)

White
2009 Nickel & Nickel Chardonnay Searby Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
88 points
Light medium lemon yellow color; ripe apple, pineapple nose; tart apple, pineapple palate with good acidity; medium finish 88+ pts.
Comment
Red
2007 Nickel & Nickel Merlot Harris Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
87 points
Dark red violet color; tart black plum, berry nose; tart black plum, berry palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
87 points
Dark red violet color; tart berry, black plum nose; tart berry, black plum palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Vogt Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
92 points
Very dark red violet color; berry, eucalyptus, plum nose; tasty, tight, tart plum, eucalyptus, berry palate, needs 3-plus years; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
Comment

Flight 18 - Quill (5 notes)

Shana Graham, owner of Quill Wines

Quill was the newest producer represented at the tasting. Ehren Jordan is now making the wines, at his Failla Winery, and the '07 Diamond Mountain Cab and '07 Bismark Mountain Ranch Syrah were particularly strong.

Red
2007 Quill Wines Syrah Bismark Mountain Ranch USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
91 points
Opaque purple red violet color; big, floral, baked berry, baked raspberry, oak nose; oak, ripe red berry, smoke, Chinese red bean, green herb palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2006 Quill Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
89 points
Very dark red violet color; high pitched, floral, ripe cassis, red berry, raspberry nose; plush, berry, blackberry palate, with low acidity; medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Quill Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
92 points
Pre-release - very dark red violet color; black fruit, licorice, blackberry nose; tasty, poised, blackberry, tart blackberry palate; medium-plus finish
Comment
Red
2006 Quill Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
89 points
Very dark red violet color; blackberry, berry nose; ripe blackberry, berry, ripe black fruit palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2007 Quill Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
89 points
Pre-release (to be released Spring '11) - dark red violet color; mulberry, berry, ripe plum nose; tasty, berry, mulberry, ripe plum palate, ready now; medium finish
Comment

Flight 19 - Testarossa (5 notes)

White
2009 Testarossa Chardonnay Santa Barbara County USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
88 points
Light green yellow color; ripe green apple, white peach nose; tasty, ripe green apple, white peach palate with some acidity; medium finish 88+ pts.
Comment
White
2009 Testarossa Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
90 points
Green yellow color; ripe green apple, lemon curd nose; tasty, ripe apple, ripe lemon palate with balance; medium finish 90+ pts.
Comment
White
2009 Testarossa Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
90 points
Light greenish yellow color; light oak, apple, baked apple nose; tart apple, white peach palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2009 Testarossa Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
87 points
Medium cherry red color with pale meniscus; primary, smoky, red berry nose; tart black cherry palate; medium finish
Comment
Red
2009 Testarossa Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
88 points
Dark cherry red color; smoke, red berry, oak nose; soft entry, red berry, cherry palate with low acidity; medium finish
Comment

Flight 20 - Yorba (5 notes)


Ann Kraemer, on the left above, is the viticulturalist for Ken Bernards, of Ancien, so Ken makes the wines for Ann. I tasted the Yorba wines for the first time at Family Winemakers last year, and wrote then that it's a strong lineup, and that the Tempranillo is the best I've tasted from California. Definitely a producer to watch.

Red
2007 Yorba Barbera USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
89 points
Dark red violet color; herbal, red berry, tart plum nose; tasty, tart red plum, herbal palate; medium finish 89+ pts.
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Red
2006 Yorba Zinfandel USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
91 points
Dark purple red violet color; nice spicy, berry, black fruit, tar nose; tasty, poised, ripe black fruit, blackberry palate with subtle herbs; medium finish (82% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah)
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Red
2006 Yorba Syrah USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
92 points
Opaque red violet color; nice, ripe black fruit, floral, licorice nose; tart, plush black fruit, tart berry palate, soft and rich; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
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Red
2007 Yorba Tempranillo USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
92 points
Dark purple red violet color; nice ripe berry, spice, blue plum, licorice nose; tasty, lovely, ripe plum, berry palate, delicious now but should be humming in 3-plus years; medium-plus finish 92+ pts. (95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano)
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Red
2007 Yorba Shake Ridge Red USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
90 points
Dark purple red violet color; spicy red plum, floral, raspberry nose; tasty, plush, poised, red raspberry, spicy red plum palate; medium finish 90+ pts. (31% Syrah, 28% Primitivo, 18% Petite Sirah, 10% Mourvedre, 7% Malbec, 6% Merlot)
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