Wines
9 Items Found
- Qupe Chardonnay Bien Nacido Y Block 2011 Product #26180 (In Stock)
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While Qupe is best known for their Rhone varietals (red and white), they turn out a pretty fine Chardonnay from the “Y Block” of the famous Bien Nacido vineyard. The ripe fruit is barrel fermented (25% new), but it’s the acidity and freshness that really grabs you. Plenty of crisp apple and asian pear fruit framed by juicy citrus acid and a touch of leesy creaminess. A crowd-pleaser and very strong value.
- Fiddlehead Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon 2010 Product #27025 (In Stock)
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As Kathy Joseph likes to say, it’s easy to make aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. Just ferment it cool in all tank and toss in a few enzymes and, poof, you’ve got explosive scents of grass, grapefruit, and more. Getting great texture and length in Sauvignon Blanc requires a LOT more work in both vineyard and winery.
Here, perfectly ripe grapes from Happy Canyon in the warm Santa Ynez Valley come to the winery cool and then ferment in one-third each stainless steel (for freshness), used oak (for texture) and new oak (for smoky accents and body). The result is a delicious wine with California Sauvignon Blanc body and fruit but a Pouilly Fume-like note of smoke and mineral. Delicious all by itself but fascinating with food, where it shows bright and crisp with rich dishes and rich and round with brighter, lighter, foods. As fine a bottle of California Sauvignon Blanc as I know."Sexy aromas of lemon curd, poached pear and vanilla, with hints of oak spice and honey adding complexity. Fleshy and smooth in texture but surprisingly dry, with powerful orchard fruit and melon flavors underscored by juicy acidity. Behaves like a blend of white Bordeaux and Pouilly-Fume, finishing with lipsmacking acidity and very good length. This wine could pair up with rich or light foods, or can be enjoyed on its own."International Wine Cellar 91 points
- Ampelos Cellars Pinot Noir Sta Rita Hills 2009 Product #26766 (In Stock)
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These guys are best known as a vineyard source for other top Sta. Rita Hills winemakers (e.g. Greg Brewer), but they make a tiny amount of wine on their own as well. This is a terrific example with more structure and focus than you often find in such ripe, Sta. Rita Hills Pinot. Just 600 cases made, though, so don't wait to get yours!
"Bright ruby-red. Fresh red berries and flowers on the highly fragrant nose. Spicy and focused, with good depth and energy to its redcurrant and cherry-cola flavors. A smoky note comes up with air and carries through a long, supple, appealingly sweet finish. This pinot is delicious right now."International Wine Cellar 90 points
- Beckmen Estate Syrah Santa Ynez 2009 Product #25682 (In Stock)
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"This is a fabulous set of wines from Beckmen Vineyards. I was especially impressed with the reds. The estate works almost exclusively with biodynamically farmed fruit, uses indigenous yeasts and (with one exception) has a very refined approach to cooperage. The 2009 Syrah Estate possesses dazzling purity and length in a cool, inward style that stands a bit apart from some of the more opulent wines in this lineup. There is a level of delineation in the aromas and flavors here that is quite striking. A vein of minerality frames the inviting finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019."Wine Advocate 91 points
"Distinctive for its restraint, with spicy, peppery notes on a trim body. The dried berry flavors are ripe yet not overdone, ending with a long, tight, focused finish. Best from 2012 through 2022. 1,800 cases made."Wine Spectator 90 points
- Melville Syrah Estate Verna's Sta. Rita Hills 2010 Product #26389 (In Stock)
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Another terrific vintage for one of the Central Coast's top Syrah wines.
"Longtime winemaker Greg Brewer has done a great job with these new releases. A delicate, finely knit fabric of aromas and flavors floats on the palate in the 2010 Syrah Estate Verna-s. Mint, plums and sweet herbs all meld together in this gracious, impeccable Syrah. The intensely perfumed, feminine finish has a sweet, almost-Pinot like register from the use of 50% whole clusters. Amazingly, in 2010 the harvest stretched into December 1. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018."Wine Advocate 90 points
- Longoria Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vyd 2007 Product #23457 (In Stock)
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"Fe Ciega" means "blind faith" in Spanish - this was the first vineyard Rick ever planted, and he did so based on his blind faith in the quality of the site. The 2007 Fe Ciega Pinot shows classic Santa Rita Hills aromatics - wild and vibrant, bursting with ripe berry fruit.Very cool and stylish already and the palate length is amazing. There's just enough tingle of tannin at the end to suggest another 2-3 years of cellaring - this is very fine and will only get better.
"Bright red. Highly aromatic bouquet displays scents of red and dark berry preserves, cherry skin, anise and dried rose. Deeply concentrated raspberry and cherry flavors are firmed by fine-grained tannins and pick up a suave, spicy character in the glass. The anise note resonates on the long, spicy, focused finish. I'd hold this one for a few more years."International Wine Cellar 91 points
- Melville Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills 2010 Product #25961 (In Stock)
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A long-time benchmark for the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, the 2010 Pinot marks another great vintage for Greg Brewer and the Melville estate. Made from select blocks of Melville’s estate vineyards. Greg uses about 30% whole clusters and neutral wood barrels for Melville’s Pinots, allowing the ripe red raspberry fruit and distinctive smoky/earthy notes from these vineyards to shine through. The tannins are silky smooth and the flavors linger nicely on the long finish where sweet, floral, notes linger nicely.
"Longtime winemaker Greg Brewer has done a great job with these new releases. Although there are a number of highlights here, it is the Pinots that truly shine in 2010. Melville-s 2010 Pinot Noir Estate presents an intriguing fabric of sweet candied cherries, rose petals, mint and sweet herbs. This is an especially juicy, yet medium-bodied Pinot built on finesse and elegance. The 2010 is simply gorgeous. Greg Brewer used approximately 33% whole clusters here. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016."Wine Advocate 91 points
- Shane Syrah "The Villain" 2011 Product #27069 (In Stock)
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From former Kosta Browne winemaker Shane Finley, this Sta. Rita Hills Syrah marries the cool-climate zing you'd expect with a fine ripeness and richness. Black fruit, blueberry, dark chocolate, and cassis notes flow across your palate with meaty, mineral, accents coming out with air. Plush in the middle and then finely structured with crisp tannins and acidity at the end. Rock solid California Syrah for rich foods.
- Fiddlehead Cellars Pinot Noir 728 Sta Rita Hills 2009 Product #27024 (In Stock)
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Kathy Joseph’s Fiddlestix vineyard sits at mile marker 7.28 on the road from Lompoc, on the western end of the east/west Santa Rita Hills valley. It would be far too hot to grow Pinot Noir this far inland in Central California, but for the fog and daily cooling breezes that roll in from the cold water upwelling just off the coast of Santa Barbara.
The 2009 728 Pinot explodes with classic Sta. Rita Hills aromas and flavors of dark black cherry, cola, fresh earth, and spice. But, there’s an unusual sophistication to the texture of this silky, elegant, wine along with terrific length, grip, and vivacity. Still young, it’s best decanted for 30-60 minutes now and even better from 2015-2020."Sexy aromas of black raspberry, cinnamon, minerals and potpourri; smells like there are stems here but Kathy Joseph says no. Precise and vibrant on the palate, with good nervy cut to its intense flavors of candied red berries and spicecake. Still youthfully taut and bound-up but shows excellent potential. Turns more floral with air, finishing with tangy grip and a lingering hint of Asian spices. This pinot shows impressive vivacity for its warm vintage."International Wine Cellar 92 points
