Month: April 2016
Hunnicutt Wines
A visit to Hunnicutt Wines was a bit different by their design. On their 13 acre estate, no vineyards are planted, but you will not be disappointed. They opened in 2001 and have been ramping since. They do have some 18,000 square feet of caves which serves besides Hunnicutt, another 18 production wineries and some twelve unique winemakers!
The grounds are wooded and inviting to sit outside (not on the rainy day I was there however) or even inside at their quaint tasting room.
One of the noteworthy sights is seeing how many different styles and sizes of barrels/vats/stainless steel containers are featured by these winemakers in one location.
Their winemaker is the never standing still, Kirk Venge. He can’t afford to stand still with his hands on some many wineries all producing exceptional wines. Besides Hunnicutt, this list includes: Venge Vineyard, Igneous, Macauley Vineyard, Frazier, Bacio Divino, JAX, B Cellars, Trespass (on my list of the best of 2015), JR Wine and Calistoga Ranch.
While tasting their Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon three wines stood out for varying reasons. First their 2013 Zinfandel from Calistoga thus far this year, it received my highest scores for this varietal. You are first met with a distinct nose, a hint of blackberry on the palate and a Zin that could be consumed with the best meats or simply by itself as it is smooth and the fruits are reserved.
The second wine that stood out was the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon which was a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. This wine was immediately approachable, drinkable and could be consumed upon purchase. This is their flagship wine and was surprisingly moderately priced for a Calistoga Cabernet!
The third wine was their Oakville 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Brinkman Block from Rutherford, specifically 100% Georges III Vineyard. This provided much more depth and tannins. This wine is meant to be laid down between 15-20 years. It provided both depth and layers on the palate and a deep ruby color.
Slainte
https://www.hunnicuttwines.com/
****Don’t forget the article on some unique offers from three wineries as the time frame to “collect” will expire.****
If you like this post, please hit the Follow and Subscribe buttons on the right side of the page. Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWinesAndWineries/ for more wine information
Fog Crest Vineyard
A winery that has it all! From unique vineyards, beautiful tasting room, gorgeous views, excellent winemaker and distinctly affordable and delicious wines.
Fog Crest Vineyards established in 1998 and is located just outside Sebastopol in the Russian River Valley AVA. On property they have planted 5 ½ acres of Chardonnay and just over 3 ½ acres of Pinot Noir. They have a finely appointed tasting room with exceptional views of the area.
The tasting room offers besides the normal walk up tasting counter, sit down sessions with the staff and/or winemaker and outside chairs to capture the views of the area. If you plan in advance, you can set up a vineyard/winery tour, enjoy a platter of artisan cheeses or even have them arrange a luncheon.
Met Jerome Chery briefly who is originally from Chateauroux France. He got his degree from University of Burgundy and like many has traveled extensively to hone his craft. Travels include: Provence, Australia’s Swan Valley, Newton Winery in Napa, Littorai Winery featuring his passion for Pinot’s and Chardonnay’s and lastly as Director of Winemaking at Saintsbury Winery. In 2014 he arrived at Fog Crest Vineyards as Winemaker. Typically for his Chardonnay, he presses whole clusters and uses 55-60% Burgundian new oak. It is bottled some 18 months after harvest. For the Pinot’s he releases them 16 months after bottling using 40% new French oak. Both varietals are unfiltered.
I tasted a variety of wines at Fog Crest, but two wines separated themselves as extremely noteworthy. The first outstanding one was the 2013 Russian River Chardonnay from Laguna West with 100% malolactic fermentation – but not sappy or too buttery. This received only 90 points but is a genuine sleeper! The second wine is the 2012 Russian River Pinot Noir. Out of the bottle it has a bright Ruby red color and strawberries on the palate. Both wines were extremely moderately priced for the quality.
Fog Crest Vineyards on a bright sunny day is definitely worth a leisurely afternoon visit and stay.
Slainte
http://www.fogcrestvineyard.com
****Don’t forget the article on some unique offers from three wineries as the time frame to “collect” will expire.****
If you like this post, please hit the Follow and Subscribe buttons on the right side of the page. Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWinesAndWineries/ for more wine information
Progeny
Progeny is hands down the best wine thus far in 2016. While I know that is a bold statement, I have smelled, swirled and tasted over 300 wines this year already and I gave this my highest marks without hesitation.
If that wasn’t enough this winery is situated on a pristine Mt Veeder property. They have 260 acres with only 32 planted in vineyards. At first glance, you might think of yourself back in the “ode sod” of Ireland. The hillsides were strikingly green with the recent rains.
Betty and Paul Woolls, wanted to take their experience with O’Shaughnessy one step further and purchased the land which had been a cattle farm since 1885. While predominately plantings are Cabernet Sauvignon the also have Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and St Macaire on the property. Also in some remote areas they have a small portion planted in Grenache, Mourvedre and Counoise grapes.
Additionally they enlisted the “stars” of O’Shaughnessy to put Progeny on the map. Sean Capiaux continues as winemaker, Alan Pierson once again is making the vineyards into art work. The charming and engaging Blanca Preciado will be running the hosting of guests as Hospitality Manager.
They are in the midst of construction of their production facility which is slated to be completed in August 2016. This September/October will be their first production on site. Their hospitality building will start this summer and hope to have it completed by fall of 2017.
Now about their wines. I want to mention two only, but all four wines were near perfect. The first is their 2014 Trinity Blanc which is just in time for summer enjoyment. It combines Marsanne (46%), Roussane (46%) and Viognier (8%) producing a classic white Rhone blend. The golden color is exquisite, the aromas of peaches, apricot and soft melon are evident with flavors of honeysuckle and cantaloupe — a complete white refreshing wine.
The second wine is their first release of Special Selection Reserve (SSR), a 2009 Progeny 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. This was the WINNER! Only 100 cases were produced. This wine was aged in French oak barrels for 30 months and then aged 2 years in bottle before release. This was perhaps one of the darkest and voluptuous Cabs I have come across in years. This was described as “a mouth filling wine of power and elegance” and I can only second that statement.
2010 only 50 cases were produced, 2011 it was not made and 2012 will be their next release in fall of 2017. It is not too early to make a note on your calendar for fall of 2017 to get a wonderful wine.
Slainte
If you like this post, please hit the Follow and Subscribe buttons on the right side of the page. Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWinesAndWineries/ for more wine information
Three Promotions for Readers of California Wines & Wineries
Three wines have agreed to a “special promotion” for the readers of California Wines & Wineries. I have done a story on each of these during Q1 2016. Each of these wineries will honor this promotion for a limit time and then it will end. The wineries listed have recently won awards or have a solid track record for their wines so they are sharing their good fortune. This is not moving out “non-saleable inventory”, it is an opportunity to buy and taste some exceptional wines. Use code CAWINEQ2 when placing an order on their website or in person in the tasting room.
Incendium Wines – https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/03/29/incendium-wines/
Winemaker/owner Vince Kalny just won Silver & Gold Medals at the SF Chronicle tasting. Above is the link to the article I wrote about Incendium Wines. 20% discount on 2 bottles or more with no limit, on the following wines below:
- 2013 IW Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Napa Valley — Gold Medal Winner for 2016 Winemaker Challenge and Critics Challenge
- 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 100% Napa Valley – Silver Medal Winner for 2016 SF Chronicle, Winemaker and Critics Challenge
- 2014 Chardonnay Carneros – Oaked – Silver Medal Winner 2016 SF Chronicle and Sonoma Grand Harvest
- Other specifics:
o You must use the coupon when ordering
o Any other discounts for number of bottles purchased or club membership will not apply
o Starts 4/7/2016 and ends 5/1/2016
o Minimum of 2 bottles purchased
o Shipping charges will apply
- Place your order at: http://www.incendiumwines.com and apply code at checkout.
Kent Price Wines https://californiawinesandwineries.com/?s=kent+price+wines
Owner Kent Price and winemaker Rudy Zuidema have made exceptional wines for years now. Rudy is a winemaker who is one of the top winemakers in Napa. Above is the link to the article I wrote about Kent Price Wines. Kent Price Wines are offering an exclusive opportunity only to our Readers to purchase their “pre-release” of 2012 Kent Price Venant du Coeur and 2014 Venant du Coeur Blanc. Both wines are limited in quantity and have a dedicated following among the Kent Price Wines Friends and Family followers. Complimentary shipping on 6 bottles or more with no limit (you can mix):
- Other specifics:
o You must use the coupon when ordering
o Starts 4/7/2016 and ends 5/7/2016
o Minimum of 6 bottles purchased
o Shipping charges are complementary
- Place your order at: http://www.kentpricewines.com/ and apply code at checkout.
McKahn Family Cellars https://californiawinesandwineries.com/?s=mckahn+family+cellars
Winemaker/owner Charles McKahn and his family team just won Silver & Gold Medals at the SF Chronicle tasting. What is surprising, this was his first production release! His future as a winemaker is extremely bright. Above is the link to the article I wrote about McKahn Family Cellars. 10% discount on any of their award winning wines, but you must purchase at the tasting room in Livermore in person which is open Saturday and Sunday.
- 2014 Chardonnay – Sonoma – 2016 Gold Medal Winner SF Chronicle Competition
- 2014 Zinfandel – Mendocino
- 2014 Syrah – Napa Valley – 2016 Silver Medal Winner SF Chronicle Competition
- Other specifics:
o You must use the coupon when ordering at the winery
o Any other discounts for number of bottles purchased or club membership will not apply
o Starts 4/7/2016 and ends 5/7/2016
o No minimum
- Get address and directions at: http://mckahnfamilycellars.com/
If you like this post, please hit the Follow and Subscribe buttons on the right side of the page. Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWinesAndWineries/ for more wine information
Shadybrook Estate purchases Chateau Lane Winery
Shadybrook Estate owners Alice and David Alkosser, just took a new bold step purchasing Chateau Lane Winery in Coombsville. Today they have some exciting and large plans/ideas how to move forward with this choice location and vineyard. The winery has a full modernized winery production plant including optical sorting, large presses with built in bladders and pump over capabilities, etc.
First, the vineyard which is planted in 12 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon is as tranquil as one could imagine. The estate is on 25 acres in total. The planted clones are 337, 338, 191 and 15 on property. Rudy Zuidema of Shadybrook Estates will again be the winemaker, vineyard manager and even forklift driver (saw him doing this while there). Karen McFarland also from Shadybrook Estates will be the General Manager of this property.
While not going too deep into the details (which are under wraps today), they will use the full service kitchen and private outdoor tasting areas in the future. This new facility will augment a tasting venue for Shadybrook Estate. Opening date for production and tasting under the Shadybrook Estate brands is targeted for October 2016.
More to come as the soft opening happens later this month and the grand re-opening in October. Besides taxes, put April 15th on your calendar to see firsthand this lovely facility and hear about their plans from Karen and/or Rudy!
http://www.chateaulanewinery.com/
http://www.shadybrookestate.com/
Slainte
If you like this post, please hit the Follow and Subscribe buttons on the right side of the page. Also check out: https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaWinesAndWineries/ for more wine information
California Wines & Wineries 