Ripe and exotic, an aristocratic wine with lush plum, blackberry and currant flavors at the core, framed with spicy oak, all of which echoes intensely on the plump finish.
Deep ruby color w/garnet hues; elegant bouquet: leather, black cherries, licorice + plums; medium to full palate where ripe red fruit, goût de terroir, subtle notes of vanilla + violets harmonize and linger, interlacing w/the soft tannins + silky texture. Firm backbone, ideal balance.
Bright plum, dried cherry and flowers on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and refined berry and cherry flavors. Drink now!
The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Xtant exhibits a sexy bouquet of chocolate, smoked herbs, black currants, and blackberries, full body, nicely integrated tannin, acidity, wood, and alcohol, and a seductive, long finish.
A rich, graceful and seductive style that exhibits layers of ripe plum, currant and jazzy smoky, toasty oak, with hints of mocha that fan out on the palate. Ends with ripe, supple tannins and a long, elegant finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
Our 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an orchestral mélange of hand-selected fruit from our Hardester, Napa River Ranch, Bergfeld and Sacrashe vineyards. Each distinctive terroir interweaves complementary components which culminate in a preeminent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a gestalt of balanced, rich, concentrated character. The inviting deep ruby color and rich aromatics of cassis, roasted espresso bean and dark ripe plum follow through with flavors of blackberry, crème cassis and hints of graphite that linger relentlessly. Rewarding now, this wine will continue to impress for 5-10 years.
A rich, dense, concentrated style, this is full-bodied, focused and pure, with hints of mocha and black licorice rounding out the core currant, plum and black cherry flavors. Focused and persistent, with a long finish.
This complex and focused Sauvignon Blanc seamlessly combines mouth-filling fruit with refreshing acidity. The aromas highlight elements of bright citrus and passion fruit, underscored by pineapple and layers of gala apple and lychee. The tropical aromas are echoed on the palate and given added dimension by the addition of Semillon, which helps to showcase the juicy guava, passion fruit and pineapple upside-down cake flavors, alongside notes of fresh apple, vanilla and key lime pie.
This Merlot offers a rich texture, ripe tannins and seamlessly integrated French oak. The bouquet displays lush layers of ripe plum and bright raspberry underscored by notes of sandalwood, walnut and spice. On the palate, polished flavors of red cherry and raspberry are accented by an enticing layer of graham cracker piecrust.
The 2005 Howell Mountain has an opaque ruby red color with a garnet hue. Ripe cherry, blackberry, smoke, tobacco leaf, coco bean and dark chocolate aromas are framed by sweet vanilla oak. Elegant but concentrated flavors of espresso bean, graphite, raspberry and strawberry preserves are followed by a long complex finish with silky tannins and good acidity.
The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is a beauty, with dark ruby/purple color and a big sweet nose of tobacco leaf intermixed with black currant, black cherry, new saddle leather, and white chocolate. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, with superb purity, texture, and length. It’s approachable now but promises to be better in 3-4 years, and last for at least 15 or more.
Tannins are stilll front and center on this vintage but this one is going to age into a graceful wine. Deep burgundy color. Must be decanted the day before at this early stage and it really opens up the fruit, the bouque and rounds out the tannins. Alcohol levels back to the 13% level. Fruit flavors of of blueberries with red cherry and black/red currants with a long peppery, tannic finish.
This superb wine is the perfect expression of Monterey Chardonnay. Aromas are expressive of apple and pear with notes of crème brûlée. The palette is very rich with many layers of ripe tropical and citrus fruit flavors accented with toasty oak nuances which linger on a long, creamy finish.
Gold hue. Forward aromas of sliced apple and butterscotch with a whiff of cinnamon. A rich, well-structured Chard offering baked apple and pineapple flavors. A lengthy finish with toasted oak, youthful acidity and expressive tropical fruit.
A bouquet filled with an array of wild raspberries, strawberry, rhubarb, cherry, baking spice, clove, and cinnamon. Lively yet rich tannins embrace flavors of fresh blackberries nuanced by sage and finishing with mineralality.
The most successful of Stemmler’s ‘06 Pinots, this beauty shows the silky texture and crisp acidity of cool-climate Carneros. It offers immediately pleasurable flavors of cherries, raspberries, pomegranates, cola, cinnamon spice and sandalwood.
The 2007 Chardonnay Amphitheater Block reveals tremendous minerality as well as abundant buttery lemon oil notes, a crisp, steely component, medium to full body, excellent texture, and lots of acidity. It is completely different from Chardonnays made further north.
The 2007 Merlot opens with fresh cherry and currant aromas which are underscored with subtle notes of chocolate. Ripe flavors of cherry, cassis and plum are laced with hints of dried herbs and cigar box. The wine’s connection to its Rutherford appellation is reflected in the understated essence of earth and dust. Generous and plump, this wine’s lush texture is balanced with a delicate acidity that promises a long, memorable finish.
The 2008 A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir reveals all of the depth, concentration and beauty of the 2008 vintage. Deeply colored with aromas of minerals, red and black cherries, and spice, the wine opens in the mouth with rich, red and blue fruits, dark spice and dusty tannins. Great ripe acidity and tannic structure bring balance to this classic, succulent, intense wine, perhaps the most beautiful Pinot Noir we have made.
Slightly better is the 2006 Syrah Shanel Vineyard. It includes 3% Viognier, but it is less noticeable at this stage. An opaque purple color is followed by enormous quantities of blackberries intermixed with tapenade, acacia flowers, and truffles. Full-bodied, meaty, and dense, it cuts an even broader mouthfeel than its sibling. It, too, can be drunk over the next decade.
There's lots of spices¿white and black pepper¿but also plenty of grapey dark berry, red licorice, herb, mineral and cedar notes. Very complex, full-blown and well-balanced, becoming even more complex on the finish, where the flavors unfold to reveal subtle nuances.
Deep magenta in color. Our signature aromas of cassis, cigar box and baked earth are joined by notes of incense and whole black peppercorns. A wine of great structure and grip with remarkable palate presence and focused flavors of black plum cobbler and Bing cherry. Balanced natural acidity lends a youthful brightness and indicates that the wine will age gracefully.
Deep Garnet color…Intense aromas of rose, lavender and dark cherry fruit. Bright juicy cherry flavors flow over a long lived core of lingering fruit, finishing in supple tannins. This is a fine example of a Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon, which is always a welcome accompaniment to cuisine.
The H3 Merlot entices the nose with spicy blackberry aromas and then explodes across the palate with slight dusty, earthy, and rich berry notes which cumulate in the seductive, velvety, cocoa finish.
Dark, supple and generous with its blackberry and black currant flavors, which play against superfine tannins on an open-textured finish. Floral, savory overtones add depth.
This is essence of Russian River Pinot Noir, with the classic black cherry and bright fruit character that makes this region one of California's best for pinot. Notes of orange peel, roses, cranberries and strawberries are intertwined in a wine that is perfectly balanced and silky on the palate. The finish is long and satisfying, practically begging you to take another sip. A great bargain, and one of the best pinots at this price we tasted in quite some time.
Rombauer Vineyards’ 2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel is luscious and jammy. True to the old-vine style, this wine is robust and flavorful. Velvety layers of blackberry and boysenberry are balanced with hints of clove and oak. This full-bodied wine has a smooth and spicy finish that lingers on the palate.
The 2007 Kali Hart Pinot Noir has a youthful medium garnet color with superb clarity. Aromas of blueberry, cherry and plum are complemented by floral notes and hints of spicy cinnamon and a touch of toasty French oak.. On the palate, this wine delivers lush flavors of cherry-cola, blueberry, while echoing the cinnamon, rose and violet aromatics. The finish is long and dry, with a subtle touch of French oak. In keeping with its signature style this wine is bright, supple and vividly fruit driven.
This stunning Bordeaux blend is 40% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah, 14% Merlot. Expressive aromas of coffee bean, smoke, dusty rose, gravel and fresh baked black cherry pie jump from the glass. On the palate, an entry of soft tannin quickly crescendos to intense flavors of dark chocolate, raspberries, fleur de sel caramel, plum and cherries. It finishes long with dark fruit character, mouthwatering acidity and brown sugar sweetness.
Pure, rich and very elegant; a powerhouse of lush black fruit, silky cocoa, black spice and cream, wrapped around blackberry, cherry and ripe plum. Layered and complex with a nose to linger over, a finish that never ends. Sweet anise, hints of tobacco, black chocolate, more cherries and exotic spices, layers of jam. This wine will stand and perform anytime you think of a Cabernet and want something just a little more exotic. Born at the base of the Andes and fed by the purest spring waters…I love this wine.
Dense purple-colored with notes of blackberry, earth, roasted meats, and a hint of barbecue spice, this wine exhibits great fruit, delicious, full-bodied texture, silky tannins, and a long finish. It does taste more like a $30-50 bottle of Malbec than one that can be purchased for $15. It should drink nicely for at least 2-3 years.
Aromas open with crisp green apples, pears, and bright citrus such as lemon and pineapple. Notes of peach cobbler, honey and a subtle grassiness follow. A strong pallet weight with flavors of fresh citrus and tropical fruits are upheld by a bright acid backbone.
For those of you not yet in the know, this Pinot’s moniker, Rita’s Earth, is our nick name for our appellation, the Sta. Rita Hills. I think it’s especially fitting with this wine since Sta. Rita Hills has become synonymous with the notion of good Pinot Noir, and this is yet another good one. And there is good news! We actually made a few thousand cases. This wine is great. Once again, it’s a less intense, easy to drink version of some of the trophy Pinots we have made from places like our estate Ocean’s Ghost. But it still has the kind of character that has prompted many growers over the last few years in the Sta. Rita Hills to plant more grapes. I love this stuff beginning with its hue. It’s not too light, which can be a trait with Pinot Noir. While light color is not supposed to be the end of the world, I do like to see in the glass a little bit of light being reflected in that spectrum known as red. It’s not too dark either, which is fine with me. While I do at times pause with some respect for really dark Pinots, they do tend to look like, well, Syrah. To be politically correct I try not to discriminate, but the classic stuff in my mind is still transparent and red, ruby red. With Pinot, purple makes me think of stylistic steroids. It’s either that, or the wine is inherently dark from an idiosyncratic terroir, like our Ocean’s Ghost. The mouth on this one is full of cherries and spice, which has become a very welcome standard. Cheers, Bryan
