Following in the steps of its predecessors,
Layer Cake’s latest release brings
tremendous value to wine drinkers
everywhere! Their “Virgin” Chardonnay is so
named because it never comes in contact with
any oak. Fellow wine lovers have expressed a
shared interest in getting back to what
Chardonnay used to be: clean, crisp,
layered, refreshing fruit, a hint of summer,
with none of the overbearing heaviness of
oak. If the taste of buttered popcorn is
what you crave, look somewhere else. The
wine is made by taking grapes from excellent
vineyards on California’s Central Coast,
gently pressing them and fermenting them in
stainless steel tanks, and ZERO contact with
oak. The nose is blossoming with white
flowers, wet cobblestones, and a hint of
lemon meringue. Fresh and vibrant, the wine
builds in body and texture as it sits in
your mouth. Kaffir lime, guava, pineapple
and a note of flint flow in first, then the
light creamy texture of lemon curd fills in
the flavor palette. The finish is clean and
crisp, lingering enough to make you want
another sip.
$12.95
750ml [276499]
COHO 2006 “HEADWATERS” NAPA VALLEY
PROPRIETARY RED
This month’s “must-have” Cabernet pick comes
from, where else, the Napa Valley! Brooks
Painter and Gary Lipp have aimed to produce
flavorful, balanced wines grown in select
cool-climate vineyards to emphasize fruit
purity and vitality. Their wines posses ripe
fruit while being versatile with many foods;
guess their fifty years of combined wine
industry experience pays off! This is
another one of those “...had it at a
tasting, had to bring it in” type of wines,
as several of us found balance in this
wonderful bottling. Even James Laube of
Wine Spectator loves it, as he
gave this wine 95 points!
WINE SPECTATOR 95
POINTS - “Ultrarich, complex
and concentrated, with ripe currant, black
cherry and blackberry fruit that’s notably
elegant and polished for a wine this size.
Ends with ripe, mouthcoating tannins. Long
on finesse. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2017.”
$44.95
750ml [212220]
LUCIA 2007 “ GARYS’ “ SYRAH SANTA LUCIA
HIGHLANDS
The Pisoni family’s Lucia wines are no
stranger to our store (or our newsletter),
as their flamboyant personalities entice
both novices and connoisseurs alike! The
grapes for this bottling are sourced from
the Garys’ Vineyard, a phenomenal 50-acre
parcel farmed by Gary Pisoni, Mark Pisoni
and Gary Franscioni, located on a sloping
hillside in the center of the Santa Lucia
Highlands AVA. While the Pinot Noir from
this vineyard seems to steal the limelight,
Lucia has been one of our favorite domestic
Syrahs since its first release! Even the
critics love this wine!
ROBERT PARKER 95
POINTS -
“The dense
purple-colored 2007 Syrah Garys’ Vineyard
exhibits a gorgeous perfume of
boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries,
charcoal, camphor, and spring flowers. It
reveals full-bodied power along with great
elegance and freshness, good acidity, and
super-rich fruit that is neither heavy nor
overbearing. While it will not last as long
as a great French Hermitage or Cote Rotie,
it will offer sensational drinking over the
next decade.”
$39.95
750ml [238820]
LULI 2009 PINOT NOIR SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS
Master Sommellier Sara Floyd and the Pisoni
family have brought great value with the
Luli wines. Their Chardonnay has become a
staple in our store for it’s clean,
refreshing, easy-drinking style and
every-day price point. Now, they have
introduced a Pinot Noir to match! Sourced
from several different vineyards in the
Santa Lucia Highlands for increased
complexity, the grapes undergo a long cold
soak for maximum flavor extraction and a
subsequent fermentation by native yeast.
The wine is aged for eleven months in
French oak barrels before being bottled,
without fining or filtration. A very low
percentage of new oak barrels are used in
order to maintain the bright vineyard
flavors. The wine has bright aromatics of
cherry, strawberry, and raspberry mixed with
clean, fresh flavors of sour cherry, almond,
spice, and a kiss of earth. Lovely acidity
and a velvety texture make this a GREAT wine
for the price!
$17.95
750ml [238880]
JAM CELLARS 2008 CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA
VALLEY
Last December, this was “go to” under $20
Cab, and it sold out very quickly. We’re
happy to announce the new release is here,
and it’s every bit as good! Made by Rob
Lloyd (who worked at Rombauer for 8 years),
he has put together a luscious, fruit
forward Cabernet blended with just a touch
of Petit Verdot. Aged in a combination of
French and American oak barrels, this
ruby/garnet colored wine has intense aromas
of ripe plum, cherry, chocolate, and a touch
of coffee. It is a sexy, opulent wine with
velvety flavors of ripe black cherry, wild
berry, plum, and finishing with a touch of
spice, oak, and polished tannins. This is a
hedonistic wine; one that doesn’t require
you to have an extensive wine knowledge, you
just need to know that this is delicious
wine. So drink up!
$19.95
750ml [232380]
An Incredible Duo from DuMol Winery!
To say we are ecstatic about carrying the
wines from DuMOL would be a severe
understatement! Proprietors Kerry Murphy and
Michael Verlander have been working
tirelessly for over a decade to bring
consumers their best expressions of wine
from the Russian River Valley, and they have
succeeded like few others have! Andy Smith
is the talented winemaker and viticulturist,
and he’s worked with some of the best in the
industry, including Ted Lemon (Littorai) and
Paul Hobbs. These are stunning, age-worthy,
flavorful wines that can compete with any
other producer in California, or the world
for that matter! Many of our customers have
been asking for these wines for quite some
time (as we have, too), and production is
quite small, so don’t hesitate on picking up
some of these treasured wines!
DUMOL
2007 CHARDONNAY RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
The fruit for the Russian River bottling
comes from 6 prized vineyards, including
Dutton Ranch, Heintz, Ritchie, and Hyde.
Yields were a lowly 2 to 3.5 tons per acre,
with vines in the 13 to 39-year range (wow,
that’s old!). The grapes were whole cluster
pressed, barrel fermented with native
yeasts, with only a small portion going
through malolactic fermentation.
ROBERT PARKER 93
POINTS -
“A blend of
different vineyards, their 2007 Chardonnay
Russian River might turn out to be one of
the best Chardonnays they have made under
this moniker. Crisp acids, beautiful lemon
butter notes intermixed with brioche and
orange/nectarine notes are all present in
this full-bodied wine, with the oak pushed
well into the background. This is a beauty
that should drink nicely for 3-4 years.”
$54.95
750ml [220230]
DUMOL
2008 PINOT NOIR RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Vineyards such as Dutton-Widdoes, DuMOL
Estate, and Sonoma Stage were harvested at a
measly 2 tons per acre. While this meant
decrease production, it translates into
superior wine! A combination of clones are
utilized, including Dijon clones (115, 667,
& 777), and old Calera and Swan selections.
Hand harvested and hand sorted at the
winery, 10% whole cluster fermentation was
used for increased complexity and mouthfeel.
Native yeast fermentation and malolactic
fermentations occurred in French oak
barrels, of which 40% were new. The wine
possesses a medium dark ruby red as delicate
spring flower aromas deepen to violet,
allspice and a note of tea leaf. Bright
crunchy red fruits open the palate then
darken to black raspberry, ripe plum, black
cherry and a touch of game and spicy
sassafras. This is intense, yet beautiful at
the same time, and will increase in richness
for another 6 to 8 years if properly
cellared.
$64.95
750ml [220280]
Previously Featured...
AARON 2009
“SWELL” PASO ROBLES ROSÉ OF PETITE SIRAH
We featured winemaker Aaron Jackson and his
“Swell” Petite Sirah earlier in the year,
and it has become our top selling Petite
Sirah in the store! Aaron loves rosé, plain
and simple. While living in Australia, Aaron
and friends would guzzle bottle after bottle
of dry, pink stuff to beat the heat at
barbecues. The 2009 vintage inspired him
enough to go ahead and produce a rosé, and
of course it had to be from Petite Sirah! He
used juice from two separate lots, one
Eastside vineyard and one Westside. Because
of the monster color of this grape, only
30-60 minutes of skin contact were necessary
to attain the vibrant pink color. His goal
was a rosé in a crisp white wine style with
good acidity yet plenty of fruit. We adore
the aromatics of unripe strawberry,
watermelon and rhubarb, aided by the long,
cold fermentation. The bright, fruit-driven
palate has plenty of acidity and just a
touch creaminess to add complexity.
Finishing fresh and clean, this wine leaves
your mouth watering and asking for more.
Drink it with fruit, oysters or ice cubes...
just make sure you finish the whole bottle
and enjoy the sun!
$11.95
750ml [201510]
LEWIS 2009 “VIN GRIS” NAPA VALLEY ROSÉ OF
SYRAH
While Randy Lewis and his family are known
for their superstar Cabernet Sauvignons and
Syrahs, this has quickly become one of their
more sought-after (and hard-to-find) wines!
Hours after their Syrah fruit is sent to
open-top fermenters, the Lewis winemaking
team drains off some of the pink-hued juice
to concentrate color in the final red wine
and create a fun rosé. Their 2009 Vin Gris
is 100% Napa Valley Syrah, fermented and
aged 3 to 4 months in neutral French oak and
stainless steel barrels. This rosé is
beautifully colored and packed with ripe
raspberry fruit. Focused, fresh and fragrant
with subtle spices, the wine is dry and
perfect for Spring or Summer sipping! Only
100 cases produced!
$21.95
750ml [237445]
EBERLE 2009 PASO ROBLES MUSCAT CANELLI
Gary Eberle is a wine pioneer in every sense
of the word! After graduating from U.C.
Davis’ winemaking doctoral program, he
headed off to run his family Estrella River
Winery, and co-founded the Paso Robles AVA.
In addition, California Syrah might still be
in the “dark ages” if it were not for his
hard work to get this grape more widely
planted! He and current Eberle winemaker Ben
Mayo have worked hard to make every one of
their wines the best it can be. Their latest
rendition of Muscat Canelli won a 4-Star
Gold medal at the Orange County Fair! With
just a hint of sweetness, this tasty wine
reveals floral aromas of orange blossom and
ripe melon integrated with hints of citrus
and bursts of guava and nectarine,
culminating in a finish laced with spice.
Crisp and semi-sweet, this wine is a
surprising delight to enjoy with every
occasion and a diversity of fare from crème
brulée to foie gras.
$14.98
750ml [218410]
ROAR 2008 SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS PINOT NOIR
Roar’s 2008 release is a culmination of
years of hard work and dedication from
owners Gary and Rosella Franscioni. As third
generation growers, their goal has always
been to produce beautiful wines that are a
direct reflection of the Santa Lucia
Highlands AVA. This region’s elevated
locations take full advantage of the morning
sunshine before the afternoon maritime
breezes cool the vineyards. This climatic
combination results in an especially long
growing season, which allows the grapes to
fully develop and attain maximum varietal
potential. Aged in 100% French Oak, of which
43% is new, the wine is medium and bright
ruby colored with a fruity nose rich in ripe
cherries, blueberries and root beer. Its
full palate has good acidity and carries all
the flavors of the nose with the addition of
raspberries and cinnamon. The acidity and
oak on the finish blend nicely with the
fruit and spice.
$39.95
750ml [255130]
THE
SHEPHERD 2008 PASO ROBLES CABERNET SAUVIGNON
When winemaker Valia Esh gave us a
sneak-preview of her Cabernet Sauvignon, we
knew this was a wine we needed in our store!
This wine over-delivers for its price, and
could easily compete with other wines in the
$25-$30 price point. Sourced from the
d’Anbino Vineyard, this tasty gem possesses
everything we have come to know and love
about Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, with
its ripe fruit and lush texture. The wine
leads off with aromas of dark plum, black
cherry cola, a light smoky characteristic,
cocoa and a hint of floral aromatics
reminiscent of Lotus flowers in bloom. The
mouth delivers everything the nose promises,
is very fruit forward, and while its
structure is rich and extracted, the soft
and elegant tannins make it an enjoyable
food wine!
$15.95
750ml [268690]
NICKEL & NICKEL 2008 “SEARBY” RUSSIAN RIVER
VALLEY CHARDONNAY
Established in 1997 by the partners of Far
Niente, Nickel & Nickel is based on a
philosophy of producing 100% varietal,
single vineyard wines that best express the
distinct personality of each vineyard. It is
from some of the most coveted vineyards in
the Napa and Sonoma valleys that the Nickel
& Nickel wines are produced. The Searby
Vineyard Chardonnay has beautiful floral
aromatics that are quite distinctive. It
opens with flavors of peach and passion
fruit, which give sweet impressions, even
though the wine is dry. Its naturally crisp
acidity is quite refreshing with the opulent
fruit, and the palate is enhanced by rich,
French oak that melds with the flavors to
achieve a long, lingering finish.
$34.95
750ml [276329]
THE
TERRACES 2007 NAPA VALLEY ZINFANDEL
Located in the Rutherford AVA of Napa Valley
next to wineries such as Quintessa,
proprietors Timm and Sharon Crull grow some
of the best grapes in the valley! Those
grapes are so fantastic that most of them
have gone to such blue chip names such as
Duckhorn, Nickel & Nickel and Beringer! They
also grow Zinfandel, but Timm likes to keep
it all for themselves so that he and
assistant winemaker Nate Page can make some
of the most gorgeous Zinfandel in the Napa
Valley! In fact, this has become the “go to”
Zinfandel for several members of our wine
staff. Aged in a combination of American and
French oak for 18 months, the wine leads off
with a deep ruby color, and exudes aromas of
ripe raspberry, cherry, clove, savory meat
and a bit of that classic black pepper note.
Ripe, yet perfectly balanced, lovely flavors
of raspberry, black cherry, spice and
boysenberry are presented before a smooth
and exceptionally long finish.
$27.95
750ml [268850]
FONTANELLA 2007 MT. VEEDER CABERNET
SAUVIGNON
They say when it rains, it pours; and the
accolades for Jeff and Karen Fontanella’s
Cabernet keep coming down! Their Cabernet
Sauvignon stood out to us at a recent trade
tasting, even among Cabs from other wineries
that sold for a lot more money. One taste,
and we knew this was a wine we had to carry
in our store! But more recently, Wine
Spectator gave this lovely wine a 92-point
rating, and it even received a 4-Star Gold
Medal at this year’s Orange County Fair!
Jeff Fontanella cut his “winemaking teeth”
at Opus One and ZD, so he knows how to get
everything he wants out of his grapes. This
bottling is all Mt. Veeder fruit, aged for
20 months entirely in French oak. In the
glass, the extremely intense aromas of dark
cherry, cassis, vanilla and hints of
lavender can be identified from across the
room. On the palate, the concentration and
extraction of Mount Veeder hillside fruit is
seamlessly balanced by pure dense fruit and
layered sweet tannin structure. Dense
blackberry and boysenberry flavors are
finished with a hint of dark chocolate and
mocha.
$49.95
750ml [222320]
AARON 2007 “SWELL” PASO ROBLES PETITE
SIRAH
Producers of Petite Sirah
need to take note: there’s a young gun out
there who’s going to show you some new
moves-- winemaker Aaron Jackson is one
amazing guy! He fully commits to whatever
the task at hand is. So, being the hardcore
surfer that he is, you can imagine how
dedicated to winemaking Aaron must be when
he has to leave those firing Central Coast
point breaks to head for the vineyards. His
wines have been staples at our store for
years, and it’s amazing how he can make
Petite Sirah taste so good, keep it complex
yet easy to drink, and sell such a tasty
wine for so little money! Blended with just
a splash of both Zinfandel and Syrah, it is
still a massive wine, yet a touch more
supple and approachable than others, with
its big nose of chocolate-covered cherries,
plums, licorice and similar flavors
intermixed with blueberries, vanilla bean,
grilled meat and spice. This wine is dense,
rich, flavorful, fruit-forward, and has a
long finish balanced with velvety tannins.
Feel free to pick one up for your filet, or
for that pizza after your next sunset
session!
$17.95 750ml [201475]
JUSTIN 2007 “ISOSCELES” PASO ROBLES
PROPRIETARY RED
Since being founded in 1981, Justin
Vineyards & Winery has been the benchmark
for Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from Paso
Robles. Their wines have received numerous
high scores from the critics, and they have
a
very
loyal following. 2007 is a year destined for
the history books, as the wines have
incredible balance, depth and intensity, and
perhaps no wine can attest to the greatness
of this vintage like Justin’s 2007
Isosceles! This year, the blend is 88%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4%
Merlot. It offers an opaque, dense
purple-black core with barely perceptible
color change to the rim, indicating
extraordinarily high extract and viscosity.
The nose is redolent of black and blue
fruit, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and a sense of
roasted coffee beans. The palate reveals
similar flavors, leading to layered notes of
dark cocoa, black pepper, and a drop of
vanilla. Full-bodied, intense, and with
powerful yet succulent tannins, this
gorgeous Isosceles is the most cellar-worthy
since the legendary 1997.
$49.99 750ml [233600]
LORING 2008 CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIR
If you enjoy California Pinot Noir, then you
must
know the name Brian Loring! How he became a
winemaker is a great story, and can be read
on his web page (loringwinecompany.com),
but the best thing he says is: “My
philosophy on making wine is that the fruit
is EVERYTHING. What happens in the vineyard
determines the quality of the wine - I can’t
make it better - I can only screw it up!
That’s why I’m extremely picky when choosing
vineyards to buy grapes from. Not only am I
looking for the right soil, micro-climate,
and clones, I’m also looking for a grower
with the same passion and dedication to
producing great wine that I have.” Just take
a look at this bottling. It’s the first time
he’s made this “vineyard blend” and it comes
from some of the greatest vineyards in
California, such as Rosella’s, Garys’, and
Cargasacchi! Aged for 10 months in French
oak, this ranks at the top for quality wine
at the sub-$25 price point! A strong, deep
ruby color leads you to a lovely, rich nose
of cherries, strawberries, raspberries,
almond sage and loamy earth tones.
Succulent, juicy, and savory all at the same
time, the flavors mimic the aromas, joined
by mushroom, velvety tannin and nice acidity
(just as every Pinot Noir should!). Bravo!
$24.99 750ml [235960]
CHAMISAL 2009 “STAINLESS” CENTRAL COAST
CHARDONNAY
This just may be the best “No
Oak” Chardonnay in the house! And it’s no
surprise that it comes from Chamisal
Vineyards; it’s the same winery that brought
us the Goss Creek Chardonnay last year and
was one of our best “Wine of the Month”
offerings in years! In fact, we STILL have
people coming in looking for that sold out
wine! The grapes for this bottling come from
two sustainably-farmed vineyards; one near
the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation, the
other a few miles from the Chamisal
vineyard. Both vineyards have similarly
fresh and bright characteristics. No oak is
used in the winemaking process so the wine
may showcase the essence of Chardonnay. 25%
of the wine was put through maolactic
fermentation to soften the acids, without
adding buttery flavors. Intended as a pure
expression of what the Chardonnay varietal
represents, Chamisal’s 2009 Stainless
Chardonnay has loads of fresh pineapple,
lemon zest, golden apple and white peach
fruit on the nose and palate. This wine has
mouthwatering acidity, a bright and
succulent profile and a long finish of ripe,
fresh flavors.
$12.95 750ml [216040]
ODISEA 2007 “MELT DOWN” LODI LATE HARVEST
VIOGNIER
If more wineries made their
sweet wines like this, then dessert wines
would be a staple on everybody’s table!
Proprietors Adam Webb and Mike Kuenz have
chosen to make wine in small lots from
unique vineyard sites around California--
and to let the wine speak for itself. With
only 90 cases of this wine produced, it
speaks volumes about their commitment to
quality! The grapes were frozen for five
days then pressed off. This process allows
only the pure nectar of the grape to be
extracted while leaving behind much of the
water. The juice was transferred directly to
neutral barrels for a long, slow
fermentation using only native yeasts. The
resulting wine displays a beautiful, bright
golden color and intense floral and
honeysuckle aromas, along with ripe apricot,
peach, mango, lychee and brioche flavors. It
is ripe, decadently sweet, yet possesses
lovely acidity to keep it lively. This is,
in a word, delicious, and makes a great
introduction to the world of California
sweet whites!
$22.95 750ml [247230]
New &
Notable! Smart, sebella
This
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon is the culmination
of its creators' journey-- “From the Land of
the Sun to the Valley of The Moon.”
Viticulturist Diego Smart (at left with
their awesome kids performing a "family
punch down") was farming his own vineyard in
Mendoza, Argentina –The Land of the Sun-
when he met winemaker Lynda Hanson (below
left with grower Mark Barnes). Eventually he
followed her to Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon
and the pair started a family. Diego began
working in some of Sonoma’s best vineyards
as a vineyard manager and Lynda as a
winemaker first at Wellington Vineyards
in Glen Ellen, then at Hanzell vineyards in
Sonoma. In 2007 they had the
opportunity to combine their
passion and expertise to
create their own wine.
SMART CELLARS 2007 CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The grapes for this wine come from a small
organically farmed vineyard in Glen Ellen.
Diego oversaw all the farming and hand
harvesting while Lynda oversaw the details
of winemaking and aging. Only 2 barrels were
produced in this first vintage.
$39.95 750ml [264821]
2007 SEBELLA CHARDONNAY
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: Charming and
complex with aromas of ripe apple, hazelnut
and honeysuckle. As the wine opens, more of
the classic characteristics of our
vineyard-- chamomile and citrus peel-- shine
through. The wine’s pedigree is evident with
a creamy entry, fullness in the mouth yet
with great acidity, and expansive flavors of
lemon custard combining with a long,
mineral-laden finish.
Sebella is the new companion label to the
Hanzell Vineyards Estate wines. Lovingly
named after the owner’s children (Sebastian
and Isabella), Sebella has been created by
following old world Grand Cru Domaine and
First Growth Château classification
philosophies. After finalizing the blend for
the Hanzell Estate Chardonnay from eighteen
separate barrel lots, we tasted through each
remaining barrel. We then blended these few
select barrels to craft a Chardonnay to
enjoy now, while our Estate Chardonnay, with
its intensity and structure, ages gracefully
in the cellar. As our new Chardonnay
vineyards come into their own sense of place
and time, Sebella will also allow us a way
to audition these new clone and rootstock
combinations prior to inclusion in the
Hanzell Estate Chardonnay.
Winemaker’s Vintage Notes: A dry, cool
spring started the 2007 growing season with
an even budbreak throughout the vineyard.
Very mild weather carried through May and
June when temperatures spiked for four days.
The remainder of July and August was marked
by warm, sunny days followed by cool nights
and foggy mornings. At times, the fog was so
thick that the vines looked as if they had
been rained upon, necessitating increased
diligence in the vineyards. The large
diurnal swings allowed flavor development to
keep pace with the sugars so we were able to
harvest our fruit with fully ripe flavors
and balanced sugar accumulation. The result
is an elegant and refined expression of our
Chardonnay.
$35.95 750ml [228660]
TOR 2007 “CIMAROSSA” HOWELL MOUNTAIN
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
While this was listed in last month’s “New
Release” section, we felt this wine merits
its own feature. Tor Kenward spent 27 years
as a senior executive with Beringer
Vineyards working in winemaking and
marketing. For three decades, he made at
least one barrel of wine each vintage from
Beringer’s best vineyard sites. He had two
of the best mentors to help him along (Ed Sbragia and Bob Steinhauer), and they shared
their knowledge and expertise, encouraging
Tor to make great wine... mission success!
Tor crafts a few different bottlings; this
one comes from the fantastic Cimarossa
vineyard atop Howell Mountain. We’ve been to
this vineyard; folks, it is one AWESOME
piece of property! This red volcanic rock
property produces Cabernet grapes from small
clusters, but with BIG flavors.
ROBERT PARKER 93 POINTS
-
“The dense ruby/purple-tinged
2007 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Cimarossa
Vineyard reveals juicy, seductive aromas of
red and black fruits intertwined with
crushed rock, graphite, and flower notes.
Medium to full-bodied with loads of texture
and a heady, rich finish, this wine can be
drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.”
$74.95 750ml [267830]
TEIRA 2009 “WOODS VINEYARD” DRY CREEK
VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC
This is a recent “revisit”
that shows just how vibrant and refreshing
Sauvignon Blanc can (and should) be! A prior
vintage was a “Wine of the Month” for us,
and owners Daniel Donahoe and Alexis Woods
haven’t missed a beat! The vineyard is
located in the Southern end of the valley on
benchland bordering Dry Creek, and is only a
few miles from the Russian River Valley
appellation. The vineyard is farmed
sustainably and organically by legendary
Sonoma County vineyard manager Duff Bevill
of Bevill Vineyard Management. Fermented
entirely in stainless steel, this Sauv Blanc
strikes a beautiful balance between new
world and old world style on the nose and
palate. Classic Sancerre-like aromas of
minerals, lemon zest, and citrus ruminate on
the nose. Light and crisp on the attack, the
mid-palate shows strong tropical fruit notes
of kiwi, grapefruit and tangerine. Balance
and elegance are key descriptors of this
wine. Light, crisp and dry, this wine
finishes extremely clean with a bright
acidity that begs for another sip!
$10.95 750ml [276364]
PALMINA 2009 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PINOT
GRIGIO
This winery can’t stay out of our
newsletter! If you have been one of the
customers that have cleaned us out of the
winery’s other varietals, then you know why.
The facts are undeniable; although this
isn’t even California’s strong point, these
Italian-varietal wines have made their mark
here at the store. Owner/winemaker Steve
Clifton (of Brewer-Clifton fame) and his
wife Chrystal spent years of their life
immersing themselves in Italian varietals
and Italian winemaking and how the two
“marry.” Now that they are utilizing similar
techniques here in California, these wines
are like no other! The pale, straw-like
color, along with the brilliant clarity of
the wine makes it seem like Pinot Grigio is
dancing in your glass. A swirl unleashes a
delicate bouquet of white clove, lime
blossom and a granite-like minerality. There
is a silky yet tart texture that skips
across the palate, displaying notes of
citrus, lemon-lime and lychee nut, joined
with notes of Gala apples and Bosc pears. A
hint of quince, then a remembrance of a
well-made marmalade round out the flavor
profile on the clean, refreshing finish.
$15.99 750ml [249020]
CAMERON HUGHES 2007 “LOT 136” NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Cameron Hughes has become a recent star in
the winemaking world. The premise is simple:
buy excess juice from notable producers and
put your own label on it. However, what
makes this label stand apart from the rest
is the fact that they will purchase the wine
and barrel the lots down under their own
barrel program! Upon first sniff of the
wine, we were able to peg the vineyards in
Rutherford and Oakville where the majority
of this wine came from and let us tell you,
this is a wine that would normally sells for
4-6 times this price!!! It’s a
crimson/purple-colored wine with a profound
nose of mint, vanilla, blackberry, currant
and a good dose of oak. Forward and
consumer-friendly, blackberry, cassis, black
cherry, currant and a hint of that classic
“Rutherford dust” join on the palate. A
seductive fleshiness is steadied by an ideal
tannic structure, firm and well integrated.
Just starting to disrobe, this wine drinks
beautifully now, and even though it will
improve with age, we can’t imagine anybody
who wouldn’t drink all they had!
$14.98 750ml [209830]
PRAXIS 2008 MONTEREY PINOT NOIR
Praxis is derived from the Greek word for
practice; just as a doctor or lawyer
practices their craft, owner/winemaker Bill
Arbios has practiced his craft to
perfection! He has built a reputation for
releasing high quality wines at everyday
price points. Bill also has a keen eye for
knowing quality vineyards when he sees them,
and when he came across such a vineyard in
the Santa Lucia Highlands, he used those
grapes to help him start Praxis in 2000.
Bill uses only the Pinot Noir clones which
he feels are best (667 and 777), and
ferments them in small lots, then ages them
in French oak barrels for months. The result
is a ruby-colored wine with garnet hues.
Aromas of roses, violets, red cherries,
pomegranate and cranberries are followed by
hints of truffle, vanilla and smoke. The
Pinot has lovely flavors of tart red cherry
and raspberry with a touch of vanilla.
Smooth and silky, the wine is dry and mouth
filling with bright acidity.
$15.95 750ml [274582]
ESCA 2005 SONOMA COUNTY ZINFANDEL
We tried this wine and absolutely loved it!
So we bought a stack of it, put it on our
by-the-glass list at the winebar and it sold
out in three days! If that’s not a rolling
endorsement, we don’t know what is! Well, we
got more, and supply should be good for a
bit. The wine is made by the husband and
wife team of Mario and Anna Monticelli. “Esca,"
Italian for allurement, is an expression of
winemaking and living that they embrace.
Mario has worked with Antinori and Philippe
Melka, while Anna honed in on her skills at
Cheval Blanc, Seavey, and Bryant Family.
This is pure (100%) Zinfandel from some
high-quality, yet not widely known vineyard
in the Dry Creek area of Sonoma County. Aged
for 18 months in a combination of new and
used American and French oak, this
crimson/purple-colored wine has enticing
aromas of wild berry, violets, spice box and
cedar. It is as intense and alluring as the
wine is bright, yet shows rich raspberry,
cherry, and blackberry notes, along with
good acidity. The mouthfeel is very ripe and
juicy, and retains soft and integrated
tannins, while vanillin notes linger on the
finish.
$11.95 750ml [274166]
BUCCELLA 2007 NAPA VALLEY MERLOT
This is... the best domestic Merlots we’ve
tasted in several years! In fact, when we
told that to the broker, he said another big
retailer in L.A. said it was the best
they’ve ever had! It’s that story that
starts off like many of our favorite wines;
proprietors Bill and Alicia shared a common
love of wine and decided to pursue making
the best wine they could. Winemakers Chris
Justin (Merus, Carter and Del Dotto) and
Celia Welch (Scarecrow, Corra, Keever and
Kelly Flemming) have put their heads
together to get the right barrels, vineyards
and final blends to make sure only the best
goes in each bottle! The wine is primarily
Merlot from the famed Hyde Vineyard, with a
small amount of Cabernet from Oakville,
Yountville and Combsville. Whole berry
fermented in small T-bins, and aged for 22
months in 100% new French oak barrels, this
opaque purple-colored wine has a intensely
perfumed nose that screams of ripe plum,
blueberry, boysenberry, creme-de-cassis,
violets and a hint of chocolate, all of
which follow through to the palate. This is
a ripe, rich, succulent wine, with excellent
purity, glorious texture, unmatched
definition and a length that seems to go on
for over a minute. If everybody made Merlot
like this, Cabernet could be dethroned as
king!
$74.95 750ml [206970]
DEEP SEA 2008 CENTRAL COAST CHARDONNAY
Sure, we see new Chardonnays at the sub-$20
price point all the time, but while most of
them aren’t worth the glass they’re bottled
in, this Deep Sea will make you think it’s
worth more than you paid for it! From the
Conway family, Deep Sea brings a unique
freshness and vitality to this varietal.
From our first taste, we knew this was
something we had to bring to you, our
customers! The wine was fermented in a
combination of stainless steel and French
oak (both new and used) to bring harmony and
balance to a full-bodied white wine. The
wine’s color is golden and clear. The nose
shows a mix of fresh citrus, with a
background of pear, apple, fresh dough and
layered with minerality. The smooth entrance
shows a soft balance, with notes of citrus,
apple tart and just enough oak to add
another layer of complexity that includes
vanilla and toffee, complemented with crisp
acidity.
$19.95 750ml [213160]
ORSIANNA 2006 MENDOCINO COUNTY CABERNET
SAUVIGNON
What can we say about this gem of a find?!?
A few weeks back while in Napa, we stumbled
upon this wine while at an exclusive tasting
event. First off, it was the fruit sourcing
that caught our attention. While Mendocino
County is better known for its Pinot Noirs,
there are some pockets that are warm enough
to grow outstanding Cabernet (Alder Springs
is the most well-known and coveted
vineyard). Once the wine was poured, we
sniffed, sampled, and did a double
take…”Wow!” was the first words to come out
of all our mouths! It has a rich ruby/garnet
color and beautiful aromatics consisting of
oak, cedar, rich red berries and hints of
rose petals. It’s a richly layered, medium-
to full-bodied wine boasting supple tannins,
rich brambly fruit and medium sweet tobacco
overtones. This steal drinks great now with
some decanting and will also age gracefully
over the next 5-6 years. If you enjoyed our
sub-$20 Cabernet from December (which sold
out), then here’s your next bottle!
$19.95 750ml [250540]
WINDOW PANE 2008 NAPA VALLEY PROPRIETARY RED
This Cabernet blend is made by the same
geniuses that brought you Kobalt
(Kevin Carriker and Mark Herold). These are
two guys who, in our opinions, have never
brought us bad wines. To the contrary,
whenever they bring us something new, it’s
always fantastic! Window Pane is not
Kobalt’s second label, but a different
label, as it contains varietals not found in
Kobalt. It is crafted in a more accessible
style to be enjoyed while your Kobalt
Cabernet ages for the next few years.
Consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec,
Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, this is a
rich, flavorful, full-bodied wine with deep
and enticing notes of sweet berry, toast and
coffee bean aromas. On the palate, ripe,
rich blackberry, black cherry, blueberry,
anise crème de cassis and cola nut all strut
their stuff. Black pepper, mocha and hints
of spicy oak round out this fleshy,
flamboyant wine that is a GREAT
representation of what is to come from the
2008 vintage in Napa Valley!
$33.95 750ml [289000]
MOLNAR 2007 “POSEIDON’S VINEYARD” CARNEROS
PINOT NOIR
This 2007 Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of rose
petal, red cherry and cola with hints of
candied citrus and an undertone of plum. The
wine is silky in texture with a focused
black cherry flavor that hits the palate,
after which an elegant dash of vanilla
sweetens the wine for a long, inviting
finish. This young wine is best appreciated
when decanted prior to serving and will hold
well for several years of extended bottle
aging. Poseidon’s Vineyard, planted in 1973,
lies at the confluence of Carneros Creek and
the Napa River at the northern edge of the
San Francisco Bay. At the southernmost
section of Napa’s Carneros appellation, the
land on which the vineyard sits was among
the first cultivated land in the Napa
Valley. Pacific winds blow through the
Petaluma Gap from the west and bring cooling
fog throughout the spring, summer, and fall,
tempering the generosity of California sun.
Although Poseidon was the god of water, in
his additional role of god of earthquakes he
created the uplifted Mayacamas Range, which
provides the soils and gravel of this unique
vineyard.
$21.95 750ml [240060]
LUCIA 2009 “LUCY” ROSÉ OF PINOT NOIR
That time is here, and just what time is
that, you ask? Springtime! That time when
the days get longer, the weather gets warmer
and rosés start coming out to quench that
thirst. One of the first delicious 2009s
from California is Lucia’s “Lucy” bottling,
made by the Pisoni family. Year after year,
this rosé of Pinot Noir always hits the
spot. The Lucy rosé is made utilizing the
saignée process. After absorbing color from
the Pinot Noir berries, a small amount of
grapes juice is drained from the recently
filled fermentation tank. The juice is
fermented in a both neutral oak barrels for
texture, and stainless steel barrels for
aromatics. This rosé undergoes no malolactic
fermentation to maintain its acidity. This
Rosé carries a very pretty color reminiscent
of a near-ripe strawberry. The nose boasts
exuberant watermelon and wild strawberry and
raspberry notes. On the palate, the wine is
dry but flavorful with a peach character and
a crisp, mouthwatering finish. This is one
of their most complex rosés to date.
$17.95 750ml [238740]
OJAI
2008 SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PINOT NOIR
While Ojai’s owner and winemaker Adam
Tolmach has garnered fame and praise for his
seductive renditions of Rhône varietals, his
Pinot Noirs are not to be overlooked. In
fact, several vintners do both wines, as
they each take true “know-how” to make a
superior wine from those grapes. Adam only
works with the best vineyards, as great wine
can only come from great grapes! Ojai has
only produced single-vineyard Pinots in the
past, but with Adam’s decision to scale down
the program, that left him with some
incredible wine that needed a home. Hence,
he made this wine from the low-yielding, yet
high-quality 2008 vintage! The wine is a
vineyard blend of mostly Bien Nacido and
Solomon Hills with a little bit of Presidio
and Fe Ciega. It’s a more elegant
representation of Santa Barbara County Pinot
Noir that is led by its natural core of
acidity rather than it’s full extract and
tannin. The fruit on average was around 2
tons per acre, which is extremely low by the
standard for boutique Pinot Noir in the
state. It was vinified for 14 months in
older French oak barrels without fining and
filtration, so the wine is free of the
presence of wood in the bouquet and palate,
only to be left with the purity of fruit,
subtlety and nuance that is Pinot Noir.
$29.95
750ml [247680]
CANNONBALL 2007 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET
SAUVIGNON
Here’s your chance to “jump” into a great
Cabernet value! Dennis Hill has over 25
years of winemaking experience with many
Sonoma wineries, including Blackstone. Over
the years, he has established great
connections with some great vineyard
managers, and he’s utilizing those
connections to get some good Cabernet fruit.
Call it what you want (we think it’s the
economy), but he’s getting the fruit for a
fraction of what it went for just a few
years ago. Put two and two together, and you
know you’ve got a wine that would sell for
double just a short time ago. Make no
mistake, this is a very well-balanced wine,
with bright red fruits, spice and chocolate
notes, and a dark ruby color. Full, rich,
and with bright acidity, the berry and spice
flavors are boldly presented along with a
racy vanilla-cherry note. It’s a great match
with food; we enjoyed a glass with brisket
marinated in a red wine reduction sauce.
This is where Homer would go “Mmmmm...
Brisket!”
$12.95
750ml [208140]
JALAMA 2006 “LA PRESA” SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
SYRAH
For some time, the La Presa vineyard has
been a “secret source” for several
high-scoring, hard-to-get, simply quite
notable wines. Winemaker Mark Cargasacchi
gave us a preview of this wine at last
year’s Hospice du Rhone tasting in Paso
Robles and ever since then, we’ve been
waiting with bated breath. Now that the wine
is here, it has gotten even better! Mark’s
portion is planted on an extremely steep
south facing slope; a staircase and a good
pair of hiking boots provides the only
access to the terraced vines. The layers of
flavor are big and bold and the finish just
goes on and on. La Presa has an impressively
opaque purple color with black currant and
blackberry flavors mixed with caramel,
mocha, vanilla and spice. It displays
outstanding concentration, length, intensity
and depth, with copious amounts of ripe
tannins, and a long, bold finish. Mark,
you’ve done good!
$29.95
750ml [232660]
DUCHAMP 2006 “CUVÉE TROUVéE”
DRY CREEK VALLEY SYRAH
The Dry Creek Valley is a special part of
Sonoma. Because of its unique soil
characteristics and cool afternoon breezes,
it is here that some of the best Syrah
grapes in the state are grown. And that’s
why Duchamp grows Syrah here, and ONLY
Syrah! Winemaker Gary Galleron (who worked
at Chateau Montelena, Grace Family, and
Whitehall Lane) has created a beauty of a
wine, one stylistically similar to those of
France’s Northern Rhône Valley, and this
beauty will compete with the best of them!
Their Cuvée Trouvée Syrah is elegance and
refinement in a bottle. It has a luminescent
ruby color, with complex aromas of leather,
tar, smoked meat and gunflint. Bright
flavors of tart cherry and raspberry are
punctuated by a peppery edge. This is a
fleshy, opulent wine that balances red and
black fruits with smoky earthiness, much in
a Northern Rhône style.
WINE
SPECTATOR 93 POINTS
-
"Intense and powerful, with a
rich mix of firm wild berry, black cherry,
pepper and spice, gaining depth and strength
and picking up tar and black licorice
flavors that add dimension. Drink now
through 2015."
$34.95
750ml
[217970]
LEWIS 2008 NAPA VALLEY CHARDONNAY
As it’s said in auto racing, if you’re not
at the front of the field, you’re gonna get
lapped! The Lewis Cellars team of Randy,
Debbie, Dennis and winemaker Brian Mox work
diligently to assure their place in victory
lane! The latest release of their Napa
Valley Chardonnay shows that when nature
takes half your grapes, you make what’s left
twice as good! Crafted from a combination of
Oak Knoll vines and longer-hanging Carneros
clusters, the wine is satisfyingly ripe, yet
focused and fresh in the same sip. Showy
stone fruit, pear, hazelnut and toasty oak
spices spill from the glass. Rich-bodied,
fruitful and round on the palate with
vanilla and subtle minerality, the wine is
threaded with lively acidity bringing length
and focus to a fine finish. 1,100 cases
produced.
WINE SPECTATOR 91
POINTS - "Rich and layered,
offering complex, full-bodied pear, fig and
melon flavors, with smoky, toasty notes that
take on a subtle roasted marshmallow hint.
Elegant and stylish, this is a shade less
rich and opulent than prior vintages. Drink
now through 2013. 1,000 cases made."
$42.99
750ml [237430]
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Hi-Time Wine Cellars | 250 Ogle Street | Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Store Hours: Sunday 10am -7pm | Mon-Wed 9am-8pm | Thurs-Sat 9am-9pm