Smith & Son Wine Co.
Johannes Zillinger
Revolution Weinviertel Chardonnay Blend
Day 1: beeswax, almost-burnt toast, Granny Smith apples, Parmesan tang and ginkgo that comes and goes on the nose. Acid on the nose. Spice on the front of the mouth, like cayenne, soft pears or red skinned soft fleshed apples, lemon juice minerals. Like a champagne without the bubbles. Not super long, but interesting.
It kind of tastes like one of those lemon cayenne cleansing drinks, but super refined.
Day 2: like a strange mix between the honeyed notes of a Chenin with the citric acidity of Chardonnay and Riesling. It calmed down a bit and became more electric, like putting it through a tube compressor.
50% Chardonnay partially fermented (carbonic) in amphora followed by co-fermentation with Scheurebe, and blended with Riesling from a solera of vintages 2013-2015 aged in used wood, unfined, unfiltered with no sulfur added. — 5 years ago
Jacques Selosse
Initial Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay 2011
OK. I have a six pack of this which has the disgorgement date of my only child’s birthdate. So, so cool right? I’d planned to keep these for a while, but after tasting someone else’s bottle a few months ago which was brought through the US importer, Rare Wine Co, which showed very, surprisingly advanced, I thought to begin my kid’s birthDAY 6-pack early, so we didn’t miss the magic of this wine just in case. Wow, best Initial I’ve ever had and not at all advanced. Fresh, very long and textbook initial in every way. Glad to have checked in since this will@last many years and ill slow down on popping their corks. Will be a great wine for my son for many, 5 to be exact, birthdays to come. — 6 years ago
Enfield Wine Co.
Heron Lake Vineyard Chardonnay 2018
I literally gave up on domestic Chardonnay...but I love the flavor profile—Tart, juicy Granny Smith and ripe sweet pear. No discernible oak, light crisp acid/ fruit balance and ABV under 13. What a food wine! Every time I pop an Enfield, I congratulate myself on my perspicuity and good sense. It’s not hard to drink well, just ignore the big names and hype. — 4 years ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
Old Vine Zinfandel 2017
Coming soon to Destinations Wine Bar...made by Morgan Twain-Peterson MW, son of Joel Peterson of Once and Future (the guy who started Ravenswood) - come in to see Doug and Eric and have some Bedrock! — 6 years ago
Sinegal Estate
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016
Of the Napa wines I tasted over 4 days on this trip, the 16 Sinegal Reserve & the 13 Seavey Cabernet were my favorites. Both great wines but, stylistically very different. The Seavy big and bold and the Sinegal pure beauty & elegance.
The nose reveals very dark currants. Dark & milk chocolate. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum & plum, mocha powder, core of anise, beautiful dark spice, soft volcanic soils, some dry brush and lavender, violets and fresh dark red florals.
The body is full. The tannins are really meaty but, exceptionally soft, fine and meaty. Lots of dark spice with plenty of heat. The mouthfeel is gorgeously sexy with feminine elegance. Dark & milk chocolate. Blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum & plum, mocha powder, core of anise, beautiful dark spice, big sweet tarry notes, soft volcanic soils, some dry brush, lavender, violets and fresh dark red florals. The acidity is perfect. The finish is well balanced sexy and gorgeous. The structure, tension say this needs to cellar eight to ten years.
Photos of; tasting cellar area, modern stainless tanks, outside terrace tasting and or dining area and their grounds and lake.
Producer history and notes...Sinegal Estate was founded in 2013 with wines made from their 30 acre Inglewood estate in St Helena (not to be confused with the Inglenook Estate in Rutherford). This is not a new property, it was part of an original land grant and its more modern day history dates back to 1879 when owner Alton Williams purchased the property and planted the first vines in 1881.
The property has changed owners a number of times over the decades. At one point the Jaegers’ owned the estate, Bill Jaeger and his wife Lila lived here. These Napa Valley pioneers were in part responsible for helping establish Freemark Abbey and Rutherford Hill. Lila was also a gardener and established beautiful gardens on the property.
Owners, David (father)and James (son) Sinegal purchased the property in 2013. James was the co-founder of Costco and once CEO. David worked at Costco for 21 years.
After the purchase, David divided each of their vineyards into smaller blocks, picking selectively (30 times in 2013) rather than all at once, and adding technology to the vineyards so they have up to the date reports on a number of data points including temperatures, soil moisture and various barometric pressures. If they want to selectively water, say vine #67 in row number three, they can do so with their irrigation system. Extremely efficient!
Nine acres of vines are planted to various red varietals including; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They have some of the older Cabernet Franc vines in the valley that are 30+ years old.
The soils here are diverse and can vary even within small geographic ranges on the property. Some of their vineyards are planted on the valley floor – while their upper vineyards are hillside, on the edges of the Mayacamas Mountains.
Their landscape above the property is interesting and part of the Mayacamas Mountains. Visually, it appears drier than other parts of this mountain range and the vegetation reflects that with grey pine and more open natural vegetation rather than the thicker wooded vegetation more commonly associated with parts of Spring and Diamond Mountains to the north.
After purchasing the property, David created planned and laid out his vision to create a world-class boutique wine making operation. Many wineries in the Napa Valley can take years before they come to fruition, not so here. After only about 10 months, the existing winery was remodeled. 6,500 feet of caves were expanded and drilled into the hillside behind the winery and a new hospitality center was built. The hospitality center ties in very well with the winery. From the small tasting room, large doors open revealing the tanks.
A vegetable garden slightly under an acre grows just south of the winery building. Vegetables from this garden are sold to nearby restaurants.
A skeleton key appears on the labels of their wine and is prominently displayed on the outside of their winery building. This has historical significance. The original key opens the front door to the historic home on site and is displayed in the tasting room. With respect to the history of this property, this one key has already become iconic to the brand.
You only need to look inside of the winery to see that their wine making team is focused on quality. Each of the small lot tanks have built in pumps which can be controlled and programmed to do pump-overs anytime of the day or night. In addition, these tanks have multiple points at which the temperature can be controlled. These tanks do not necessarily handle all their fermentation’s. They also ferment small lots in puncheons and barrels as needed. Control across the board is the key here and it is the control of the details in wine making that is is so integral from when the fruit first arrives through to when it is bottled.
2013 was their inaugural release. The focus is currently on two primary varietals, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 Sauvignon Blanc were sourced from the estate but, then it was determined it was growing in an area better suited for red varietals so it was torn up and new plantings were made in the back of the property. While not far from these original plantings, their new home for their Sauvignon Blanc features different soils and is growing in a cooler part of the property.
The wine making team has been experimenting with the style of this varietal since 2013 with subsequent vintages seeing more oak. Especially, using the slightly longer cigar shaped barrels , which have extra surface area for maximizing complexities including textural feel imparted from aging the wine on the lees in these particular barrels. Maceration on the red wines is often 8-10 days and sometimes up to 20 days.
Most of their sales are direct to visitors or through their mailing list. However, they do have some distribution outside California in Florida, New York and Washington. Primarily to restaurants. — 6 years ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
Chuy Moon Mountain District Sonoma County Chardonnay 2016
No butter-popcorn or sugared fruit-bomb here. Tart Granny Smith and slightly crunchy pear notes... touch of oak but no toasted brioche. The wine exhibits tight, acid-fruit weight and balance in the mouth. What strikes me most and keeps me interested is the serious weight and amazeball long and powerful finish. Call me crazy, but I prefer Bedrock’s whites/Rose to their vaunted reds! — 4 years ago
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey
La Maltroie Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chardonnay 2012
Mother Mary of God! It’s a stunning example of why I adore White Burgundy.
The nose reveals; Meyer lemon, Granny Smith apples, pineapple, lime zest, stone fruit, under ripe green melon, beeswax, honeysuckle, touch of caramel, fruit blossoms, river stones, cream for days, gentle white spice, powdery limestone & brilliant, soft gentle chalkiness, steely minerals, some flintiness with jasmine, mixed greens, yellow lilies and spring flowers.
The body is full, rich, lush and waxy. It’s simply stunning as it glides over the palate. It just doesn’t get much better in White Burgundy unless you spend seriously more money. Meyer lemon, Granny Smith apples, pineapple, lime zest, stone fruit, under ripe green melon, kiwi, bruised Bosc pear, beeswax, honeysuckle, vanillin notes, touch of caramel, fruit blossoms, river stones, cream for days, butter, gentle white spice with soft, warm heat, herbaceous, powdery limestone & brilliant, soft gentle chalkiness, steely minerals, some flintiness with jasmine, mixed greens, yellow lilies and spring flowers. The phat, round acidity is like a warm, gentle rain shower. The rich, lush, ripe, polished, well balanced finish is delicious and persists several minutes.
Photos of, Chassagne Montrachet, the old vines of Domaine Pierre Yves Colin Morey, Pierre-Yves Colin the eldest son of the famed Marc Colin and cellar of Domaine Pierre Yves Colin Morey.
— 5 years ago
Is that how you spell syllable🤔
Palmer & Co
Blanc de Noirs Champagne Pinot Noir
Color : White
Wine estate : Champagne Palmer & Co
Designation : Champagne
Name : Blanc de Noirs
Country : France
Vivino : 4/5
Note : A very pleasant black white with its 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Pinot Meunier. A golden robe composed of bubbles balanced on a mineral and powerful nose. A roundness in the mouth that will continue on a greed and perfectly accompany a meal. A fruity blend with these two pinots gives us this champagne filled with freshness.
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Un blanc de noir très agréable avec son 50% Pinot noir et 50% Pinot Meunier. Une robe dorée composé de bulles balancées sur un nez minérale et puissant. Une rondeur en bouche qui va se poursuivre sur une gourmandise et accompagner parfaitement un repas. Un mélange fruité avec ces deux pinots nous donne ce champagne remplit de fraîcheur.
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👍🏻Vivino, FB : GabWine | IG : gabriel_dvl 🥂 — 6 years ago
Alex Garcia
This 2013 was a very pleasant surprise. Very smooth, little to no tannins, and a caymus like taste. Wow, very very impressed… — 3 years ago