Selections Archive

2006 25% Viognier / 75% Chardonnay

2007 Cabernet Franc

• A gorgeous, bold wine. Gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh. Aromas of jam, vanilla, and exotic wood. On the palate the tannins are chewy, rich, and tight, promising to unwind with age. What follows are flavors of currants and blackberries and ends with a hint of toast. The finish goes on forever, haunting your taste buds. 75% Cabernet Franc and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Will cellar for as long as you can resist not drinking it.

Continue reading January 2009 Club Shipment

2007 Claret

• The second release of the 2007 reds. This is a dark, robust wine showing well-integrated fruit and dusty tannins on the nose. The palate offers a classic Bordeaux profile with a hint of jam, followed by earth and a trace oak. Made primarily with Cabernet Franc, and rounded out with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. This will cellar well; drink after one year.

Solera

• The latest blend of our Solera, made with 70% 2007 Vidal Blanc and 30% of a blend of previous years’ Solera. This is the “solera” fractional blending used in making Spanish sherries; each year’s release contains an ever-decreasing amount of each of the previous year’s blend. Ours is an oloroso-type sherry. The nose is very aromatic, characterized by butterscotch, cashews, and honey. The palate is rich, sweet, and robust with a finish that never wants to go away. 15.5% alcohol and 8% sugar. Bottle age is not required for sherries. Perfect for swirling in your glass before enjoying.

Continue reading Winter 2008/2009 Club Shipment

2006 Chappell Charlemagne Chardonnay

• The French love discussing “terroir,” and wine critics are becoming more critical of homogeneous wines. BOTH would love our Chappell Charlemagne Chardonnay. This vineyard site has a tendency to exhibit its uniqueness in its wines. Fruit and flint dominate this wine, while a hint of butter from a complete malolactic fermentation adds to its complexity. Fermented and aged in French oak barrels, this wine will age for 1-2 years. Pair with white meats (such as turkey) and holiday vegetables. 100% Chardonnay

2006 Headwaters Norton

• Our second release of 2006 Norton. This blend is characterized by a slightly more earthy element than our house 2006 Norton. Dark and robust with intense fruit, but without the over the top floral character sometimes present in Norton. Norton’s natural intense acidity is mellowed by a complete malolactic fermentation. Aged 4 months in bottle. Medal winner at the ultra prestigious 2007 National Norton Wine Competition in St. Louis. Pair with lamb, eggplant, sourdough bread, and intensely flavored cheeses such as gorgonzola. 75% Norton, 25% Cabernet Franc.

Continue reading December 2008 Club Shipment

2007 Chardonnay

• Our flagship white wine sings the praises of the 2007 vintage. Extraordinary weather during verasion coupled with low yielding vines produced grapes of unmatched ripeness. The result is a classic Chardonnay nose of nectar and hay followed by toasted spice. The palate offers exceptionally clean aromas of green apple, hay, and vanilla. The finish is remarkably long, a feat in a white wine with such robust alcohol. Pair with grilled white meats such as chicken or pork skewers along with grilled onions, green peppers, and asparagus. Fermented and aged in French and Virginia oak barrels. This wine stands with the best that California has to offer. Bottled with corks guaranteed to be free of cork taint.

2007 Rosé

• Our 2007 rosé continues the tradition of the best off-dry Loire rosé wines. Made primarily with Cabernet Franc grapes, this wine tenders aromas of raspberry and watermelon. The palate is clean and sharp with subtle berry flavors. Classic rosé wines are underappreciated and notoriously difficult to make, so enjoy with the knowledge that you are experiencing one of winemaking’s truly unique wines. Pair with green salads and tree nuts. A delicate wine, drink within a year.

Continue reading November 2008 Club Shipment

2007 Chardonnel

• This wine has a strong backbone of Chardonnay character with a hint of tropical aromas, as might be expected from this cross of Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc. Fermented and aged 5 months in French oak barrels, this is a robust white in which nuances of oak spice mingle with a touch of peach. Pair with white meats, cream sauces, and grilled vegetables. Drink within a year. A Wine Club-only selection. 100% Chardonnel.

2007 Norton

• The first release of the 2007 reds. This is a robust wine. Lots of color, tannin, flavor, and alcohol – but all in balance. Especially rich in the mouth, this wine sings as it offers up flavors of raspberries, spice, and an insinuation of oak. Fermented on its skins and 100% malolactic fermentation complete, diminishing the acidity that Norton can be known for. Aged in French oak. Pair with eggplant and red meats. Will age for 5-10 years. 75% Norton, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Beware, if you’re “not a Norton” drinker, you will be converted.

Continue reading September 2008 Club Shipment

2006 & 2007
25% Viognier / 75% Chardonnay

• This month’s selections allow you to compare two vintages side by side. The 2007 Viognier is such a robust component that it features prominently in the 2007 blend, offering floral and tropical characters against a base of Chardonnay. The 2006 blend has an extra year’s worth of age and exhibits a nice integration of nectar, creaminess, and fruit that only time in the bottle can offer. The Chardonnay components of both blends were fermented and aged in French and Hungarian oak barrels. Both wines pair well with lighter fare such as chicken skewers with rice and grilled vegetables. Uncork the 2006 blend about 30 minutes before serving.

Continue reading August 2008 Club Shipment

2007 Viognier

• Gold medal – 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition
• A full-bodied white wine showing classic ripe Viognier characters of honeysuckle, peach, and lemon peel. With crisp acidity and a towering 14.5% alcohol, the palate displays a robustness rarely found in white wines. This is a food wine; pair with grilled vegetables and grilled chicken skewers. 100% Viognier. Drink within a year. Serve at 55° F. The highest rated Viognier at the 2008 S.F. Int’l Wine Competition.

2006 Meritage

• A classic, old-world, Bordeaux style blend. Distinguished on the nose by concentrated aromas of raspberries and cassis, yet not a fruit bomb like some its new-world counterparts. The palate is robust and rich, though not a tannic monster. An elegant balance of tannin, alcohol, acidity, and oak spice. 63% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2012.

Continue reading July 2008 Club Shipment

2007 Vidal Blanc (375 mL)

• A late harvest style wine expressing fresh peach and apricot aromas. With 8% residual sugar, this wine is rich and viscous without being cloying. The naturally tart character of Vidal Blanc balances the residual sugar to create a robust and refreshing aperitif. 15% alcohol. Drink within a year.

2005 Claret

• The last of the 2005 Claret. A beautiful, medium bodied wine showing just the right amount of age. Aromas of cigar box, strawberry jam, and spice dominate, while the palate offers just the right combination of tannin, fruit, and alcohol for a long finish. Drink within a year.

Continue reading June 2008 Club Shipment

2007 Noblesse Blanc

• This wine is teeming with aromas of fresh fruit – orange, lemon, melon, and pineapple. The palate gives way to aromas of orange zest against an off-dry background complemented by robust acidity. A blend dominated by Vidal Blanc, with Seyval Blanc, Viognier, and Chardonnay. Pair with lighter fare such as salads and cheeses. 0.8% residual sugar. Drink within 1 year.

2006 Cabernet Franc – 3rd bottling

• This wine has seen 17 months in barrel and its extensive élevage has yielded a wine with beautifully developed tannins and harmonious integration with the fruit and oak spice. Lots of mellow tannins provide for substantial weight and sweetness on the palate. Aromas of mocha, caramel, and graphite against a classic Bordeaux base of restrained fruit. Cellar for several months and drink through 2010. 77% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Continue reading May 2008 Club Shipment

2007 Chappell Charlemagne Vineyard Chardonnay

• The second vintage of our stainless steel Chardonnay, this wine reprises the 2006 with upfront aromas of orange, kiwi, lemon, and melon that linger on into the palate. New for 2007 is a complete malolactic fermentation that provides a hint of creaminess that pleasantly contrasts the bright acidity. 100% Chardonnay from a specific block of grapes in the Chappell Charlemagne vineyard in Faquier County that exhibits a unique orange blossom character over time in the bottle. Due to limited quantities in 2007, this wine is available only to club members. Drink now through May 2009.

2006 Claret

• Dense layers of chocolate, cherry, and spice embrace your nose in this full-bodied Bordeaux style red. A deep, rich garnet color foretells a robust and opulent, yet smooth structure on the palate. 14 months in French, Hungarian, and American oak barrels have mellowed out ample tannins to yield a lush, fat, and sweet mouthfeel that lingers on well after you set your glass down. 50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 12.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12.5% Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2012.

Continue reading April 2008 Club Shipment