Vintage Eve Circa 3/2016: Tasting Sicily’s Nero d’Avola

March 19, 2019 by evebushman

I’ve tasted Sicily’s Nero d’Avola wine before, well at least once in 2010 during my Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) course, and during annual Italian wine tasting events. These two wines below, sent for review, I had never had before and was anxious to continue my education. So, without further adieu, here is your virtual taste.

Photo credit: VinePair

2013 Stemmari Nero d’Avola, Sicily

Tasting Notes:

Dried black currant, sweet plum, tobacco, mint chocolate, red bell pepper and forest floor on the nose was followed by smooth flavors of red fruit, white pepper and black cherry with a sharp, yet lingering, dry finish. 88 Eve pts.

About (From the tech sheet)

Prince of the enological re-birth of Sicily, the Nero d’Avola is a very important native varietal. Initially found in Siracusa, it is now found in all of the wine-making areas of the island.

PRODUCTION AREA

Sambuca di Sicilia, in the province of Agrigento, where rich, mature, and structured Nero d’Avola is obtained. It prefers clay-like terrain and is very sensitive to excessive dryness and too much exposure to sunlight. The type of farming is “Espalier”, used with an average density of planting where there are 4500 plants per 2.5 Acres.

VINIFICATION

100% Nero d’Avola. It is an average to early varietal maturing around the first week of September. This wine is obtained from grapes that have reached perfect aromatic and polyphenolic maturation. Destemming and alcoholic fermentation with the skins occurs for 6-8 days at 22-24 degrees. Malolactic Fermentation occurs with selected bacteria, then finally maturation occurs for 6 months in French barriques.

CHARACTERISTICS

Color: Deep ruby-red with pleasant reflections of violet. Bouquet: Intense and covered, notes of currant stick out, wild strawberries, and pomegranate.  Flavor: Soft and velvety. Distinct characteristics of fruitiness come forth.  ALCOHOL CONTENT: 13.5%  CHARACTERISTICS:  Color: Deep ruby-red with pleasant reflections of violet.  Bouquet: Intense and covered, notes of currant stick out, wild strawberries, and pomegranate. Flavor: Soft and velvety. Distinct characteristics of fruitiness come forth.

2012 Tenuta Rapitala “Nuhar” Pinot Nero, Nero d’Avola

Tasting Notes:

Aromas of grape jelly, bruised red plum, cedar and mint leaves; and then in the mouth it was all about dried red currant, lush juicy raspberry, burnt toast and mushroom. 89 Eve pts.

About (From Frederick Wildman and Sons)

Nuhar, meaning flower, is sourced from parcels located in the heart of the vineyard. Here, vines grow on clay soils, sheltered from the wine, and in full sunlight. Two great varieties are planted: Nero d’Avola, which develops rich tannins and body in these conditions, and Pinot Noir, King of Burgundy, which responds well to the heat of Sicily with color, softness and depth unlike anywhere else.

Terroir: Select parcels lie at 1,800 feet above sea level are Guyot-trained on clay soil with yields of 32 quintals per acre.

Vinification: Each variety is manually harvested, first the Pinot Noir at the end of August, then the Nero d’Avola at the end of September. Each parcel is vinified in small, stainless steel tanks. Long maceration at a controlled temperature of 75-82°F allow for the extraction of only the best polyphenols. The Nero d’Avola ages in stainless steel to preserve freshness, while the Pinot Noir matures for nine months in small French barriques. Following blending, the wines are bottle refined.

Additional Information

Bright, ruby-red color and a bouquet with strong aromas of dried fruits. The palate is warm and full with a balanced acidity and elegant tannins. The finish is long and lingering and at this point, we discover again the classic aromas of a Pinot Noir ripened by the hot, Sicilian sun. Pairs well with roasted meats, game and truffle dishes.

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Van Duzer Corridor AVA Approval Shows Location Matters in Oregon

March 4, 2019 by evebushman

PORTLAND, Ore. (PRWEB) – Oregon wine lovers now have 19 reasons to celebrate Oregon’s acclaimed viticultural bio-regions. Now with the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) having approved the Van Duzer Corridor as an official AVA, or American Viticultural Area, Oregon has 19 winemaking regions—second only to California—with sufficient distinct features to be declared their own unique areas. The Van Duzer Corridor AVA and 18 others are showcased on the Oregon Wine Board’s trade site, each paying homage to their distinctive characteristics, and the Van Duzer Corridor has joined the Willamette Valley’s other six embedded AVAs listed on the Willamette Valley Wineries Association (WVWA) site.

Now that the federal government has approved the AVA, on January 14 bottles with “Van Duzer Corridor AVA” may be printed on labels from the AVA’s seven wineries nested within the Willamette Valley.

There are more than 240 AVAs in the US, yet the complex process in place to approve a new AVA is a mystery to many wine aficionados.

People who live in Oregon, the state with the second highest number of AVAs behind California, can be proud that their region is wonderfully geographically diverse, boasting a unique patchwork of soils and features thanks to volcanic activity, glaciers and ice-age floods.

Having an AVA tells the world that your region—be it tiny or massive—is acknowledged as a special place to make wine. Said Sally Murdoch, communications manager of the Oregon Wine Board, “This AVA, in the context of OR’s overall momentum in the market, shows how globally recognized our region is for superior quality. This new AVA reinforces the continued discovery of new and distinct viticultural characteristics of Oregon.”

“AVA designations take years to achieve as standards are rigorous for proving a region is clearly differentiated and capable of producing grapes of distinction,” she continued. “Each Oregon AVA reinforces the reality that Oregon is a collection of superior grape growing zones,” continued Murdoch.

It also means your soil or sedimentary qualities and naturally shaped landmarks are unique within the winegrowing world. The Van Duzer Corridor winds blow in from the Pacific Ocean to cool off this section of the Willamette Valley and moderate temperatures during the growing season.

“Throughout the anomaly in the Coast Range known as the Van Duzer Corridor, buffering winds create the perfect paradigm to produce world-class Pinot noir wines that showcase mouthwatering acidity and tension in their tannin expression,” explains winemaker Florent-Pierre Merlier of Van Duzer Vineyards. “These winds also support our desire of sustainability by significantly reducing disease pressure in the vineyard.”

By introducing a cooling influence to flow through the Coast Range, this allows the production of world-class wines in the Willamette Valley and specifically within the 35.9 square-mile triangle that constitutes the new AVA.

For winemakers within the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, they’ll be able to market their wines with their AVA name as a unique sub-brand within a brand. Already known for its premium quality wines, Oregon wine lovers who study up on all seven of the sub-AVAs within the Willamette Valley will now be able to taste the distinct terroir within this special region.

“The approval of this exciting new sub-AVA reflects the hard work of Van Duzer-area winemakers and grape growers and the increasing recognition worldwide for our region’s diversity and unique features,” says Morgen McLaughlin, executive director of the WVWA. “We are excited and proud to share this historical moment for the Willamette Valley.”

Legislative Support of AVAs

The Oregon wine community has long been at the forefront of protecting its wine regions and promoting truth-in-labeling. In 1977 the state approved stricter wine labeling standards than required by the federal government at the industry’s request, among them a requirement that 100% of wine grapes must come from Oregon (vs. 75% federally), 95% from the named AVA (vs. 85% federally), 90% from the named variety except 18 grapes traditionally used in blends (vs. 75% federally). This effort has played a critical role in building Oregon’s reputation for producing exceptional wines that are highly sought after in the marketplace. While the effort to protect Oregon’s appellations of origin has gained more momentum recently, the OWA has worked with wine regions around the world for years to protect wine place names and to promote truth-in-labeling.

In September, under U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley’s (D-Oregon) leadership, the Senate passed a resolution recognizing the uniqueness and economic value of American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) and U.S. winegrowing regions. This is a prime example of keeping Oregon’s sense of place intact as it relates to winemaking, but lighting a fire under the TTB was also necessary to get this AVA approved; Oregon’s Congressional Delegation, led by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, played a crucial role in TTB’s approval of Oregon’s 19th federally-recognized winegrowing region after years of delay.

More accolades and AVAs for Oregon’s future

While Oregon is a small grape growing region, responsible for less than 1% of the world’s wine grape acreage, the state’s wines net numerous awards, most recently setting a new record in the Wine Spectator with six wines in its 2018 Top 100 list of wines from all over the globe.

First brought to the TTB almost eight years ago by Jeff Havlin, owner of Fender’s Rest Vineyard, the Van Duzer Corridor AVA covers 59,871 acres and is located 20 miles northwest of Salem. Its nine brands are: Johan Vineyards, Chateau Bianca, Namasté Vineyards, Firesteed Cellars, Andante Vineyard, Left Coast Cellars, Holmes Gap Vineyard, Havlin Vineyard and Van Duzer Vineyards. The AVA also has 18 commercial vineyards, with 1,000 acres of grapes planted.

There are four additional AVAs in the TTB pipeline in the Willamette Valley: Laurelwood District in the Chehalem Mountain AVA; Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon; Tualatin Hills and Lower Long Tom in Benton and Lane counties.

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About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent Oregon state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance the Oregon wine and wine grape industry. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s diverse winegrowing regions. Visit oregonwine.org.

About the Willamette Valley Wineries Association
The WVWA is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to achieving recognition for Oregon’s acclaimed Willamette Valley as a premium Pinot noir–producing region. The WVWA has more than 230 members representing wineries, tasting rooms, and vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley. Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country and Wine Country Thanksgiving are the two oldest WVWA– sponsored touring events in Oregon. The organization also hosts Willamette: the Pinot Noir Auction, an annual, trade-only wine auction in April. Visit http://www.willamettewines.com for more info.

Second Annual ‘International Volcanic Wine Conference’ Coming to NYC in June

February 3, 2019 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – John Szabo, Master Sommelier and award-winning author and Volcanic Wines International (VWI) are proud to announce the 2nd annual ‘International Volcanic Wine Conference (IVWC), to be held in New York City on June 5, 2019. The event follows the highly successful inaugural conference, held in March of 2018, and Szabo’s acclaimed book on the subject, “Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power,” published in 2016.

The IVWC, in its second year, aims to continue its mission of establishing a volcanic wine movement, and to provide educational and promotional opportunities for volcanic wine producers internationally. The conference acts as a catalyst and facilitator to eventually bring together all of the world’s volcanic regions and wines, while incredibly diverse, represent a unique category of wines produced under some of the most extreme viticultural conditions on the planet. The annual conference also aims to help establish the ‘volcanic wine classification’ as a premium category of high quality, terroir-driven wines with a true sense of place.

“This year’s inaugural conference was wildly successful, exceeding all expectations,” says John Szabo. “Guests were able to taste quality wines from diverse volcanic soils and learn from leading winemakers and experts about the unique characteristics that make these wines special.”

A first of its kind, the 2018 conference brought together producers from all over the world, helping raise the profile of volcanic wines; exclusively for qualifying wine trade and media, 300 industry professionals attended the event. During the conference, guests were able to sample wines from over 50 wineries from 16 different volcanic wine regions and engage with some of the world’s leading volcanic wine experts.

“The Soave Consortium has always believed in the need of creating a specific category to identify volcanic wines and their unique characteristics,” says Sandro Gini, Soave Consortium President. “The event in New York in March 2018 brought us much satisfaction, especially by seeing a strong interest in these wines’ peculiarities by wine professionals and writers.”

Educational seminars included “Volcanic Italy… as seen through Aglianico and Garganega,” sponsored by LLS, a member of The Winebow Group, “Soave: A Never-ending Volcanic Wine Story,” sponsored by the Consorzio Tutela Vino Soave, “The Volcanic Wines of Santorini: 3700 years in the making,” organized by Wines from Santorini & Wines of Greece and “Extreme Cabernet from Lake County’s Extreme Volcanic Terroir,” sponsored by the Lake County Winegrape Commission & Lake County Winery Association. The seminars explored what differentiates volcanic wines in the world of wine, and what unites them. It also gave participants an unprecedented opportunity to taste a vast collection of volcanic wines under a single roof, with producers at hand to further explain their unique attributes.

“We were thrilled to support this unique opportunity to delve into a compelling and important topic that goes beyond any one specific region to foster a broader understanding of soil and geology, and its impact on winegrowing and winemaking,” said Ian Downey, Executive Vice President of Winebow Imports. “The high level of enthusiasm, questions, and dialogue surrounding the conference indicates that the discussion is far from over and we look forward to future initiatives.”

Producers from regions around the world such as Sicily, Soave, Campania, Santorini, Tokaj, Badacsony, Somló, Washington State and many more will be participating in the second annual conference. Winemakers, academics, and journalists will be presenting in-depth educational seminars during breakout tasting sessions on various aspects of volcanic wines.

“I am excited for what’s to come. Next year’s conference will give us the opportunity to present new volcanic regions and new research, and continue our mission to define and elevate the volcanic wine category in the eyes and palates, of industry professionals and wine lovers,” says Szabo.

Additional details regarding the conference, including confirmed participants and seminar schedules, will be announced in the following months.

For more information and latest updates, be sure to visit the Volcanic Wines International official website http://www.volcanicwinesinternational.com, as well as following the VWI’s Facebook (Volcanic Wines International) and Instagram (@volcanicwines_intl) pages.

About John Szabo
John Szabo is a Toronto-based author and wine critic, and in 2004 was the first Canadian to add the Master Sommelier credential to his name. He was named ‘Canada’s best-known sommelier’ in Meininger’s Wine Business International, and he is a partner and a wine critic for WineAlign.com and freelances widely. In addition to “Volcanic Wines, Salt, Grit and Power,” his book titles include “Pairing Food and Wine for Dummies” and “Sommelier Management.” John also works as a restaurant consultant and speaks and judges internationally when he’s not making a few dozen bottles of wine from his vineyard in Eger, Hungary.

About Volcanic Wines International (VWI)
The mission of Volcanic Wines International is to take the leading role in defining and establishing a Volcanic Wine Movement, and to provide educational and promotional opportunities for volcanic wine producers internationally. Volcanic Wines International also plans to establish the volcanic wine brand as a premium category of high quality wines with a true sense of place.

About Colangelo & Partners
Colangelo & Partners specializes in premium food, wine and spirits brands, and has long-established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and distribution as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on “closing the loop” between creative communications programs, distribution, promotion, publicity, and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results. Founded in 2006, Colangelo & Partners was honored as one of the year’s top integrated communications firms at the 2013 Agency Elite Awards and for one of the best digital marketing campaigns at the 2014 Digital PR Awards.

Slow Wine to Add Oregon Wineries in Guide and on Tour for First Time

January 7, 2019 by evebushman

NEW YORK (PRWEB) – Slow Food International and Slow Wine Editore are proud to announce the release of the latest English-language edition of Slow Wine, the acclaimed and comprehensive annual wine guide of over 500 different wineries worldwide, with its annual US Tour in March 2019.

This year, the Slow Wine guide continued their expansion into the US, by including Oregon wineries for the first time. The wineries were reviewed with the same Slow principles as their Italian peers. The move to add non-Italian wineries is not unprecedented – the 2018 edition added seventy wineries from California– this year’s additions continue to show the guide’s vigorous efforts to take their Slow philosophy worldwide.

Slow Wine’s move into the US started in California, where it officially opened its chapter in the summer of 2017. After visiting hundreds of producers on the West Coast and evaluating them according to the same high standards the guide is known for, 70 producers were selected and added to the 2018 guide. Now, moving into Oregon is a significant step for the Slow Wine Guide, as the pioneering state is home to internationally-celebrated wine producing areas. Oregon’s commitment to sustainable wine-making and respect for the terroir is consistent with Slow Wine’s principles and its mission to support local agriculture.

Slow Wine Editore, the Slow Wine guide publisher, and a delegation of its top wineries will hold tasting events for press and trade during their annual US tour, this year making stops in five cities nationwide. Attendees will get a chance to preview this innovative guide, discover new wines, and meet the people behind 100+ Italian and American select producers who represent the Slow Wine values.

The dates and locations of the 2019 Slow Wine US Tour are:
March 4th, San Francisco, California
March 5th, Portland, Oregon
March 7th, Denver, Colorado
March 11th, New York, New York
March 12th, Boston, Massachusetts

Slow Wine recognizes that the wineries they review not only put their hearts and souls into the wines they produce, but also into the land on which it is made. The guide uses the following symbols to evaluate each winery:

The Snail, the Slow Food symbol, signals a cellar that has distinguished itself through its interpretation of sensorial, territorial, environmental, and personal values in harmony with the Slow Food philosophy. Only wineries that are herbicide free can receive the Snail.
The Bottle, allocated to cellars that show a consistently high quality throughout their range of wines.
The Coin, an indicator of great value.

Slow Wine features wines that represent outstanding quality, expressing the history and identity of the land from which they come in each sip.

“We are very happy to continue our adventure into the US, featuring wineries from California and now, Oregon. As we delve deeper into the US wine world, the more impressed we are with its landscape, and how more and more wineries and winemakers are adopting organic and sustainable beliefs and practices. The newly chosen Oregon wineries are core examples of this; these producers represent the “Slow” philosophy, which continues to be increasingly important to consumers in wine and food globally,” says Giancarlo Gariglio, Editor of Slow Wine. “We look forward to carrying on our work of discovering new wineries and winemakers around the world, whose beliefs and practices coincide with the “Slow” philosophy, as well as continuing the guide’s role of helping readers find these wineries, which have become even more numerous in Italy, and the US, in the nine years since we started the guide.”

To register for the Slow Wine trade and media events in San Francisco and New York, please visit the links below. Registration for Portland, Denver, and Boston will follow shortly.

San Francisco https://www.eventbrite.com/e/slow-wine-2019-us-tour-san-francisco-tickets-52089322566
New York https://www.eventbrite.com/e/slow-wine-2019-us-tour-new-york-tickets-52089477028

About Slow Wine
The Slow Wine Guide, published by Slow Food Editore (the publishing arm of Slow Food Italy*), adopts a new approach to wine criticism and looks at a variety of factors to evaluate wineries in their entirety. They take into consideration wine quality, history and adherence to terroir, value, environmental sensitivity and ecologically sustainable methods of practice. Slow Wine was conceived to give a realistic snapshot of the current Italian wine landscape. The guide features reviews of over 500 different wineries, each one visited by Slow Food experts. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com as well as in select bookstores.

*Slow Food International is a global grassroots organization that envisions a world in which all people can access and enjoy food that is good for them, good for those who grow it, and good for the planet. A non-profit member-supported association, Slow Food was founded in Italy in 1989 to counter the rise of fast food and fast life and the disappearance of local food traditions, and to encourage people to be aware about the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

Perlis Picks: Mauritson

December 22, 2018 by Michael Perlis

“Sense of place” is often bandied about in conversations about wine. Wines should not only be delicious but they should reflect their terroir – where they are from and the conditions unique to the vintage. The Rockpile AVA in Sonoma County is one of our favorite sources of wines that epitomize where they are from. Located at the far western end of the Dry Creek Valley, for me the wines (especially Zinfandels) from this area make me think of a combination of the power of Paso Robles with the complexity of the Russian River Valley.

So, when Clay Mauritson, in response to my inquiry about Karen and me visiting with him at his namesake winery during harvest, suggested that we spend the morning out in Rockpile to get grape samples, that sounded pretty exciting to us.

Mauritson is not too far from the entry to the Dry Creek Valley just west of Healdsburg. We met Clay there at 8 AM and headed west to Rockpile. Along the way Clay told us about some of the area’s history and the impact that Clay’s family has had on it.

Clay’s family emigrated from Sweden. Clay told us that “they settled in the Rockpile area of Dry Creek Valley and began growing grapes immediately, circa 1868. In 1884 my great, great, great, grandfather attempted to export wine back to his homeland of Sweden.” The homestead and ranch had grown to about 4,000 acres until 1968 when the Army Corps of Engineers acquired 3,300 acres of the land owned by the Mauritson family by virtue of eminent domain due to the perceived need to build a dam, thereby creating Lake Sonoma. Clay said, “When we lost the Rockpile property, my grandparents purchased the ranch in Alexander Valley where they continued growing grapes. The Rockpile property was used for livestock: sheep and cattle, but we did not resume growing grapes there until 1998.” But it wasn’t until Clay returned from college and worked in the winemaking industry in the area that he made the decision that the Mauritson name should actually be on wine bottle labels as the winery. The Mauritson winery was officially born with the release of its first vintage in 1998. The modern winery and tasting room was opened in 2004.

It didn’t take long for Clay to revisit the Rockpile area and realize its potential for making great wine. The Mauritson Rockpile Zinfandels are some of my all-time favorites. Rockpile was granted official AVA status in 2002, due primarily to the efforts of Clay’s dad Thom along with Rod Park and Jack Florence Sr.

Clay also discussed how happy he was with the current 2018 harvest. The growing season had been virtually perfect. Sometimes near the end of the growing season, the threat of impending heat spikes or rain could impact when the grapes are picked. Not this year. The grapes only needed to be picked when they were ready to be picked. Clay said that they test the grapes early and often at Mauritson, so they can plan the optimal picking window. He explained you can do a lot of things at the winery but you “can’t change the flavors” – those happen in the vineyard.

Walking the vineyards with Clay as he pulled samples to take back to the winery for testing, I felt a new appreciation for an AVA that has always been at the top of my list of favorites. And since I wanted to play “winery helper” and carry the buckets that Clay was filling, I also felt a greater appreciation for the hard work that happens in the vineyard, especially those steep ones in Rockpile. I am sure that Clay would have finished sooner without me, but my excuse is that I am 63 and out of shape while Clay is 20+ years younger and still looks like he did in his football playing days at Oregon.

We spent a couple of hours in the vineyards and I admittedly weenied out and let Clay walk at least one of them alone. But now it was time to head back to the winery and taste some wine.

While when I think of Mauritson I automatically think of Zinfandel, I soon found out those aren’t the only varietals that Clay is making, and making well, I might add.

We tasted through several wines:

2017 Mauritson Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley – I really liked the richness of this wine.

2017 Mauritson Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

2016 Charlie Clay Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley – Clay makes this with/for renowned Chef Charlie Palmer; the only wine he makes with purchased grapes.

2015 Mauritson Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley – Excellent in its own right, this was a great lead-in for the Rockpile wines…

2016 Rockpile Zinfandel, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard

2016 Rockpile Zinfandel, Cemetery Vineyard

2016 Rockpile Zinfandel, Pritchett Peaks Vineyard

All three of these wines were excellent representations of what Rockpile is known for.

We also tasted three more wines from Rockpile:

2016 Rockpile “Madrone Spring” blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah

2015 Rockpile “Buck Pasture” blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc.

2015 Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard

All of these showcased the intensity of the Rockpile fruit.

Whew. Clay makes a lot of wines and we didn’t even taste all of them. But, as an added bonus we got to taste one of the wines from Clay’s single soil Cabernet series, which focuses on producing Cab from four distinct soil types. We had the 2014 Clough and it was outstanding.

Something else to consider: Annually in August, Clay Mauritson and Chef Charlie Palmer co-host the Project Zin event in Healdsburg. This is a gathering of winemakers and chefs to benefit Down Syndrome Association North Bay. The winery lineup is Zinfandel heaven and August now looks like a pretty good time to visit the area.

You’ll find that several wineries make wine from Rockpile grapes – some even own vineyards in Rockpile and other just purchase grapes from the area – and you’d be hard pressed to find wine from this AVA that you won’t like. But I heartily recommend that you at least start your enjoyment of Rockpile wines with the family that had so much to do with putting Rockpile on the map in the first place – Mauritson.

Mauritson

2859 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Learning, Tasting and Lunching: The Planeta MasterGlass With Alessio Planeta

September 28, 2018 by evebushman

The last time I met with Alessio Planeta and tasted through his wines was in 2015. So I was overdue for a new tasting, and this time it would include a lesson, a luncheon and a wine glass made especially for the wines!

Anthony Dias Blue (Tasting Panel Magazine), me, Piero Selvaggio (Valentino’s Santa Monica) and Alessio Planeta.

The Mouth-Watering Invite

I’d like to invite you to join us for a special “MasterGlass” experience hosted by Alessio Planeta, co-owner/lead winemaker for Sicily’s Planeta winery…Alessio will take us through a formal tasting of various expressions of Nero d’Avola from four different regions/terroirs across Sicily: Noto, Menfi, Vittoria and Capo Milazzo. Italian fine dining legend Piero Selvaggio will provide insight…“MasterGlass” comes in to play because the tasting will be conducted using glasses designed by Riedel specifically for Planeta and Nero d’Avola. The tasting will include a vertical of Planeta’s top Nero d’Avola, Santa Cecilia: 2013, 2007, 2005.

The Lesson

Alessio – along with Piero – had joined together to share what Alessio called the “Sicily of the present and the past.” Alessio began by telling his audience that to fully immerse themselves in the culture of Sicily he highly recommended the book, Palmento: A Sicilian Wine Odyssey. (From Amazon: Inspired by a deep passion for wine, an Italian heritage, and a desire for a land somewhat wilder than his home in southern France, Robert V. Camuto set out to explore Sicily s emerging wine scene. What he discovered during more than a year of traveling the region, however, was far more than a fascinating wine frontier.)

We also learned:

The wine grape Nero d’Avola is comparable to other grapes grown in other regions of the world, for example Sangiovese from Tuscany.

Harvest is a 3-month process in Sicily.

Planeta Winery prefers to keep alcohol levels to 13.4% or 13.5%, as high “alcohol is not for long aging.”

In the four areas where they have vineyards, each has a different culture as well as a different terroir influenced by both soil and sea.

Piero added:

There were no wines from Sicily when he opened Valentino’s Santa Monica over four decades ago.

There were two Italys – and when he immigrated people automatically assumed he had mafia affiliations.

With Planeta’s rise beginning 20 years ago there is a new Sicily and development on the Island.

“Tuscany is out – and Sicily is now the place to be” for wines.

The Tasting – aromas and flavors separate by ;

Cerasuola di Vittoria 2015

Cerasuola di Vittoria DOCG

Crushed red cherries, mushroom, stems, rich minerality, green peppercorn; light, bright cherry and strawberry.

Dorilli 2015

Cerasuola di Vittoria CLASSICO DOCG

Cherry liqueur, red fruit, layered spice, pleasant aromatics; red fruit again, nicely balanced with the spice and a medium finish.

Mamertino 2015

Mamertino DOC

A great nose filled with blueberry, milk chocolate, sweet port and dust; rich red to blue fruit, dry and dusty finish.

Santa Cecilia 2013

Noto DOC

Black fruit, black pepper, stewed mushroom, Bolognese sauce, perfumy; very dry, dark fruit, oak and tannins.

Santa Cecilia 2007 – MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE IN THE TASTING

IGT Sicilia

Dried blue fruit, crushed leaves, liqueur and Port qualities, rich soil; big, bold, dry dark fruit and pepper.

Santa Cecilia 2005

IGT Sicilia

Incense, forest floor, red-blue-black fruit; rich, layered fruit and spice.

Details on all of the wines can be found here: https://planeta.it/en/wine/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Limited Release 2015 Cabernets from 17 Prestigious Wineries: The 2015 Stags Leap District Appellation Collection

August 23, 2018 by evebushman

NAPA, Calif. (PRWEB) – The Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association (SLDWA) announced today that their highly-limited Appellation Collection will be released on October 15th, 2018. This is the only collection of this type offered to consumers. This year’s Appellation Collection includes one bottle of 2015 Stags Leap District-designated Cabernet Sauvignons from the seventeen Association member wineries. Only 150 sets are available for this one-of-a-kind offering and it is only available for purchase between October 15th through December 15th, 2018.

“The Appellation Collection is a highly sought-after wine gift,” said Remi Cohen, Vice President and General Manager at Cliff Lede Vineyards and President of the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association. “It is an exclusive collection that allows wine lovers to experience the entire District in one complete horizontal set. Each bottle unveils the unique terroir and soft tannin structure that makes the Stags Leap District the iconic region it is.”

The 2015 Appellation Collection includes one bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from each of the following: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate Winery, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards.

“The 2015 vintage is a classic vintage in Napa Valley,” added Cohen. “Higher than average temperatures produced an exceptional vintage, that was high in quality but low in yields. The result are wines that are sensuous and full of character.”

The 2015 Appellation Collection is priced at $1,999.00 for the 17-bottle set, packaged in two boxes, with ground shipping included. The Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association is the exclusive retailer of the Appellation Collection and the only American Viticultural Area (AVA) or appellation to offer a vintage-specific assemblage of its wines.

Consumers interested in purchasing the Collection may order online beginning October 15th, 2018, at http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/appellation_collection.php. For additional information, contact the Association’s Executive Director Nancy Bialek at (707) 255-1720.

Availability:
October 15th – December 15th, 2018
150 Appellation Collection sets (Limited Edition)
Sold exclusively by the Stags Leap District Winegrowers Association

Order online:
http://www.stagsleapdistrict.com/appellation_collection.php
Contact Executive Director Nancy Bialek at (707) 255-1720

Cost:
$1,999.00 includes ground shipping for 17 bottles shipped in two boxes with detailed winemaker tasting notes. Additional sales tax applies to purchases made in California and in various other states, to the extent required by law.

Shipping:
Included (where allowed by law).

The 2015 Appellation Collection includes one bottle of each of the following Stags Leap District-designated wines:

Baldacci Family Vineyards, 2015 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Chimney Rock Winery, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Ganymede Vineyard
Cliff Lede Vineyards, 2015 Moon Fantasy Cabernet Sauvignon
Clos Du Val, 2015 Hirondelle Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Ilsley Vineyards, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Lindstrom Wines, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Malk Family Vineyards, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Odette Estate Winery, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Pine Ridge Vineyards, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Quixote Winery, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Regusci Winery, 2015 ‘The Elders’ Cabernet Sauvignon
Shafer Vineyards, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five
Silverado Vineyards, 2015 SOLO, Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, 2015 FAY Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Stags’ Leap Winery, 2015 The Leap Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Steltzner Vineyards, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
Taylor Family Vineyards, 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

About Stags Leap District Winegrowers:
The Stags Leap District Winegrowers is a non-profit association of vintners and growers united by the mission of enhancing the reputation of the appellation and its wines, and sharing its quality with the wine-loving world. The SLDWA is comprised of 17 wineries and 10 grower members. Wineries include: Baldacci Family Vineyards, Chimney Rock Winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards, Clos Du Val, Ilsley Vineyards, Lindstrom Wines, Malk Family Vineyards, Odette Estate Winery, Pine Ridge Vineyards, Quixote Winery, Regusci Winery, Shafer Vineyards, Silverado Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Stags’ Leap Winery, Steltzner Vineyards, and Taylor Family Vineyards. To learn more about the Stags Leap District, please visit stagsleapdistrict.com or find the Association on Facebook.com/StagsLeapDistrict, Instagram.com/StagsLeapAVA, and Twitter @StagsLeapAVA.

Two Wines from Catena’s Adrianna Vineyard are First South American Wines Awarded 100 Points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

August 8, 2018 by evebushman

MENDOZA, Argentina (PRWEB) – Since its inception 40 years ago, a 100 point score from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate has marked the rise of a select few wineries from around the world. Most extraordinary is that this first-time South American perfect wine score was awarded to two wines produced in one vineyard, the Catena family’s Adrianna Vineyard. When Nicolás Catena planted this site in 1992, he was called crazy for cultivating the vines at such a high altitude. Vineyards had never been planted in the Gualtallary District, Tupungato Alto, Mendoza, because the climate was considered too extreme. This award for Argentina’s finest Grand Cru site, Adrianna, marks a historic moment for South American wine.

“Since 1902, every generation of my family has worked to elevate Argentine wine, and these awards for the Adrianna Vineyard are a true recognition for our region,” says Dr. Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata.

“Terroir is everything, whether in France, Italy, or Argentina,” Catena adds. “When he planted the Adrianna Vineyard, my father, Nicolás Catena, was seeking an ideal location to make age-worthy wines in Mendoza, a site at the cool climate limit of vine cultivation. The organically farmed Adrianna Vineyard lies at almost 5,000 feet elevation on an ancient dry riverbed with a unique combination of stony and limestone soils, microbiomes and climate, resulting in a labyrinth of different micro-terroirs. By separately vinifying the grapes from each small parcel, we’ve found ‘the gold’ within this site.”

The Adrianna Vineyard River Stones Malbec 2016 comes from a particularly stony alluvial soil section of the vineyard. The small, oval stones provide excellent drainage and moderate the vast temperature shifts between the sunny days and cool nights. The wine’s suggested retail price is $160 per bottle and is scheduled for release in 2019.

Catena Zapata’s head winemaker Alejandro Vigil was also behind the Gran Enemigo Single Vineyard Gualtallary 2013, a partnership between himself and Adrianna Catena, Nicolás Catena’s youngest daughter. A blend of 85% Cabernet Franc and 15% Malbec from the cool 2013 vintage, this exciting wine will evolve gracefully in the cellar for many years. Its suggested retail price is $120.

For more information about Catena Zapata, please visit http://www.catenawines.com, and for El Enemigo, http://www.enemigowines.com.

About Catena Zapata:

Dr. Nicolás Catena Zapata and Dr. Laura Catena are the third and fourth-generation of Bodega Catena Zapata, a family winery founded in 1902 by Italian immigrant, Nicola Catena, in Mendoza, Argentina.

Although he was born in a small wine-producing village of just a few hundred inhabitants, Nicolás Catena Zapata sought to understand wine beyond his native Argentina. While studying Economics at Columbia University in the 1970s, and later, during an academic sabbatical in California, Nicolás was inspired by Robert Mondavi’s Napa revolution. Mondavi aimed at making American wines that could stand with the best of the world, and Catena asked himself: “Why not do this in Argentina?” What followed in the 1980’s and 1990’s was the beginning of Catena’s High Altitude Malbec Revolution. Nicolás decided to plant vineyards higher and higher in the Andean foothills, searching for greater concentration and elegance in his wines. Many in Mendoza thought his grapes would never ripen.

Inspired by her father’s quest for knowledge, born from small village roots, Nicolás’ daughter Laura studied biology at Harvard and received a Medical Doctor degree from Stanford. At first, Laura thought she would spend her life drinking, not making her family’s wines, until she came to the realization that her father and country needed her help back home in Argentina. In 1995 Dr. Laura Catena founded the Catena Institute of Wine with the aim of understanding the best high altitude sites in Argentina, and of bringing Malbec back from near-extinction. Malbec had been, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, France’s most important variety from the Middle Ages until the phylloxera epidemic of the late 19th Century, and father and daughter sought to bring back Malbec to its historic prominence. Two decades of soil studies by Laura and the Catena Institute led to the discovery of the special ‘parcelas’ of the Adrianna Vineyard.

Bodega Catena Zapata has been awarded the wine industry’s greatest honors from international food and wine media for its role in Argentina’s High Altitude Malbec Revolution. The family’s vision remains the same as its founder’s, to elevate Argentine wine.

Over 20 natural wines have been selected at third edition of Wine Without Walls

July 12, 2018 by evebushman

(PRWEB) – Italy is in pole position for organic, natural and biodynamic wine-growing. The country also has the largest surface area of vines under certified organic management worldwide, ahead of both Spain in second place and France in third. In light of this important reality, Vinitaly International added the “Wine Without Walls” section to its annual wine selection 5StarWines. Held April 11th to the 13th 2018 in Verona, the third edition of 5StarWines welcomed over 2,700 wines from around the world and showcased 45 bottles in Wine Without Walls. Chaired by biodynamic wine expert Monty Waldin, Wine Without Walls gives recognition to the ever-present growing importance and relevance of natural wines. The section is solely dedicated to wines either without added sulphites or wines with total quantity of sulphites (naturally produced and added ones) not higher than 50mg/l. During the last edition, 24 Italian wines made it through the selection, once again proving Italy as prime location for organic wine growing. The selected organic wines will be published on the 5StarWines – the Book, which will be available from July 2018.

During the first two editions of Wine Without Walls former Chairperson Alice Feiring devised criteria for judging to include the descriptors: ‘liveliness’, ‘evolution’, ‘balance’, ‘drinkability’, ‘savoriness’, ‘sense of place’, ‘emotional impact’, and ‘transparency’. Based off these editions, Monty Waldin decided to use and adapt six of the descriptors, changing ‘emotional impact’ with ‘individuality’ and ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity.’

Waldin chose ‘individuality’ to represent the individuality of a wine that can only come from vineyards and each individual vine transmitted from its particular piece of terroir: the exact type of soil and sub-soil it is on, the exact part of the slope, the exact amount of sun, rain, and wind that it gets. Individuality also stems from the human factor, i.e. how the vines were planted, picked, and pruned. These aspects, combined, affect how each berry will taste and how they are measured; whereas descriptors such as ‘emotional impact’ are less measurable and therefore more subjective.

Substituting ‘transparency’ with ‘clarity’, Waldin sees that clarity in wine not only comes from the winemaker, but also from the grapes themselves. A wine embodying clarity shows that the winemaker has a clear vision of how the wine will be made. Winemakers whose aim is to make wine as naturally as possible, must guide every step of the winemaking process with their mastery, skills and knowledge to include—date of harvest, choice of fermentation vessel, choice of bottling date—in such a way that the wine clearly expresses the terroir, grape and human touch. A wine with clarity will always be transparent, from the beginning to the end.

On the the experience, Monty Waldin commented “One of the delights of judging wines made by people working in tune with nature, rather than working against it, is that the wines show a brightness and levity which makes wine tasting a joy rather than a chore. We all felt refreshed at the end of the day’s judging as these natural, organic and Biodynamic wines tend to have lower levels of alcohol compared to conventional wines because the vines are in balance.”

Accompanying Monty Waldin in this year’s tasting, Wine Without Walls included 4 natural wine connoisseurs. Regine Lee, Christopher Barnes, Richard Kershaw MW and Gill Gordon Smith, all coming from various countries around the world, joined together at wine2digital. The panel agreed, at the end of the selection, that the wines far exceeded their expectations in terms of quality, complexity and, most importantly, value. Furthermore, the judges were pleased to see that the wines came from not only from small, artisan producers but also from medium to large scale producers. Despite their size, they showed that they are well organised and fully capable of bringing grapes into the winery at optimal ripeness and with diverting flavours.

Here’s the list of the Wine Without Walls selected wines:

ADRIANO GRASSO with BARBERA D’ASTI DOCG

CANTINA ALDENO S.C.A. with TRENTINO DOC GEWURZTRAMINER VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA VINICOLA ATTILIO CONTINI S.P.A. with CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA TENUTA MARA SRL with RUBICONE IGP SANGIOVESE VINO BIOLOGICO

AZIENDA AGRICOLA LUSENTI DI LODOVICA LUSENTI with COLLI PIACENTINI DOC MALVASIA

BORTOLIN F.LLI SRL with VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO DOCG SUPERIORE SPUMANTE BRUT

TENUTE DEL GARDA SRL with VINO SPUMANTE EXTRA BRUT

PIEVALTA SOC. AGR.R.L. with VERDICCHIO DEI CASTELLI DI JESI DOC CLASSICO SUPERIORE VINO BIOLOGICO and CASTELLI DI JESI VERDICCHIO RISERVA DOCG CLASSICO VINO BIOLOGICO

OLIS SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA SRL (FATTORIA LA MALIOSA) with TOSCANA IGT BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. LE CARLINE DI PICCININ DANIELE with VENEZIA DOC PINOT GRIGIO VINO BIOLOGICO and LISON PRAMAGGIORE DOC REFOSCO DAL PEDUNCOLO ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

AZ. AGR. CARLO TABARRINI “CANTINA MARGÒ” with UMBRIA IGT BIANCO

CASCINA DEL COLLE DI D’ONOFRIO A. & C. S.S. with ABRUZZO DOC BIANCO VINO BIOLOGICO and ABRUZZO DOC ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

LA CAPPUCCINA SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with SOAVE DOC VINO BIOLOGICO

POSSENTE SOCIETÀ COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA with SICILIA DOC GRILLO VINO BIOLOGICO and TERRE SICILIANE IGP CATARRATTO VINO BIOLOGICO

FOLICELLO SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA S.S. with PIGNOLETTO DOC FRIZZANTE VINO BIOLOGICO

MARCHISIO FAMILY ORGANIC ESTATE S.S.A. with ROERO DOCG ARNEIS VINO BIOLOGICO and LANGHE DOC NEBBIOLO VINO BIOLOGICO

AVIGNONESI SRL with ROSSO DI MONTEPULCIANO DOC VINO BIOLOGICO and TOSCANA IGT ROSSO VINO BIOLOGICO

ERNST TRIEBAUMER with BURGENLAND QUALITÄTSWEIN BLAUFRÄNKISCH

Vintage Eve Circa 10/2014 Sonoma Part Two: Discovering Seghesio and Mauritson

February 27, 2018 by evebushman

In this Part Two story from my Healdsburg trip, today I’ll be sharing a few tastes from Seghesio Family Vineyards and Mauritson Family Winery.

Seghesio

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Photo: Seghesio Facebook page

When Edoardo Seghesio came out to California from Italy it was to work for Italian Swiss Colony wines. He, along with all of the winery workers, was given room and board. Seghesio worked three years before getting paid; and lots of workers at the time took the money they had earned to buy land and grow grapes – which Swiss Colony encouraged.

Seghesio stuck it out for 8 years, as he was a single guy like most of the others. He became the head winemaker at Swiss Colony before cashing out. He then began to plan to return to Italy to bring a bride to California with him.

The boss didn’t want Seghesio to go back to Italy, as he was afraid he wouldn’t come back. He warned Seghesio that he would most likely run through his money, lose out on the best land, and his girl at home was probably not waiting around for him anyway. Promising Seghesio that he had marriageable nieces coming for a visit in just two months, Edoardo said yes, and ended up married to the boss’s niece. Seghesio and 16 year-old Angela waited until she was 18 to be married, then in 1895 Edoardo and Angela purchased land from “the Colony” and planted it to Zinfandel – the same Zinfandel used today to make the Home Ranch wine. By 1902, Seghesio built a house and finished his own winery on the Home Ranch.

By 1902, Seghesio built a house and finished his own winery on the Home Ranch. They got cuttings of Sangiovese in 1910. With prohibition they continued working by making wine for churches. They also planted plums during the 14-years of prohibition. The Seghesios bided their time, and were in the bulk wine business for over 80 years.

In 1949, the Seghesio Family bought the current property. They now make wine with mostly Italian grapes*; 90% are Zinfandel. During the tour we noted ginormous redwood barrels that are rumored to be the largest, and possibly the oldest, in Sonoma.

*If you consider Zinfandel to be an Italian grape

Tasting Seghesio

(Aromas and flavors separated by 😉

2013 Arneis (Italian white grape varietal) Russian River Valley

Like a fruity Viognier, peaches, pink sweet grapefruit; tangy, acidic, red delicious apples, nice palate cleanser.

2012 Barbera

Strong smoky dark fruit; dark fruit, cigar, bittersweet chocolate.

2011 Sangiovese

Milk chocolate covered cherries, figs, wet bark; sharp, biting red fruit, made me want pizza.

2011 Block 8 San Lorenzo Zinfandel Alexander Valley

Black pepper, Italian plums, mint; same flavors follow through to the palate, nice drying tannins.

2013 Sonoma County Zinfandel – their workhorse, 2/3 of all the wine they make. Cigarette, nice smoky fruit; easy drinker, with or without food.

2012 Rockpile Zinfandel

Bursting black cherry, milky, mint, earth; chewy, tannic, ripe and ready.

2012 Home Ranch Alexander Valley (the oldest owned by Seghesio)

Balanced fruit and spice of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel; I liked this blend, nice peppery feel against juicy dark fruits. My favorite.

2012 Old Vine Zinfandel – the “Big Brother” of Sonoma

Cinnamon, cut figs, wet earth; perfect expression of Sonoma Zinfandel.

Marian’s Reserve Field Blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane.

Lighter nose, dusty red to dark fruit, dark chocolate with a hint of red pepper flakes; nice and chewy, redder fruit, peppery. Another favorite.

2010 Il Cinghiale Petite Sirah

Black color, darkest of blackberries, sweet plump raisins, mushroom; port-filled chocolates, dry, spice and smoke.

Mauritson

Clay Mauritson, a 6th generation winemaker, sells the majority of his winery’s fruit to other wineries, and does about 13,000 cases of his own. The wines are distributed to restaurants mostly, and direct from winery sales. The popular Rockpile label is all from that designated area, and one of the wine grape growing areas getting a buzz.

In the bright tasting room many guests had cozied up to bar stools – Clay’s father had brought one in for himself one day and realized how comfy it was so he had to bring in more. Carrie Mauritson, Clay’s wife, shared four different soil samples with us depicting the different areas they had chosen for grape growing. The example drove home the different terroir (earth and conditions) making up their wines.

During the tour we met Clay in his laboratory tasting samples. His energy was palatable for his task at hand, surprising, as they were also knee deep in harvest at the time.

Tasting Mauritson

2012 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

Allspice, grapefruit, mown grass, dried apples, lemon zest; kiwi, mango, crisp acidity, titillating finish.

2012 Chardonnay, Alexander Valley

Buttery, salted caramel, lightly toasted oak; nice oaky Chardonnay, malolactic acid, mouth-coating viscosity.

2012 Zinfandel, Dry creek Valley (They make 7 Rockpile zinfandels, this is their signature Zinfandel.)

Smooth chocolaty nose with hints of strawberry, to dark fruit; balanced fruit to pepper to tannin.

2012 Westphall Ridge Rockpile single vineyard (highest elevation)

Smoky, fruit-forward dark fruits; tannic, dark chocolate finish.

2012 Jack’s Cabin Rockpile single vineyard (lowest elevation)

Sweet dark fruit, slight port qualities, smoke, hay; great fruit and juicy finish.

2011 Rockpile Syrah, Madrone Spring Vineyard

Earthy, leather, violet; biting fruit, eucalyptus, peppery finish.

2010 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Sweet plums, white pepper, bark; dry, tannic yet full-blown dusty fruit.

Facebook album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204030874999605.1073741881.1455706632&type=1&l=ef858e481a