Wednesday, August 4th, 2015
Newly Arrived; Producer Spotlight: Colgin Cellars; Six-Pack Deals – No Gym Membership Needed!; Produttori 2009; Arriving Friday; Ken Wright Cellars
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Newly Arrived
Josh Cellars Zinfandel, Lodi 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, 35 bottles available
Case-12 Josh Cellars Zinfandel, Lodi 2013 750ML ($139.95) $99 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Winery note “Notes of white pepper and spice on the nose, with deep concentrated aromas of vanilla bean, oak and blackberry fruit. The palate is complex with flavors of juicy blackberries, cardamom, and licorice finishing long with a toasted, almost smoky oak flavor.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver
Whisk your wine through warmer weather!
Beginning now, for the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
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Colgin Cellars
Considered one of the original California ‘cult’ Cabernets, Colgin Cellars has really distinguished itself over the years as becoming more of a ‘classic’ California Cabernet. Located high above Lake Hennesey, in a secluded mountaintop in St. Helena, Colgin Cellars was founded by Anne Colgin in 1992. A visionary who began her career in the world of fine art, Anne discovered her passion to create small, hand crafted wines from some of the best sites in Napa Valley after working for Christie’s New York and being exposed to some of the greatest wines in the world. Her first winemaker (who helped launch the new label in 1992) was Helen Turley, who is now one of the most highly regarded winemakers and winemaking consultants in Napa Valley.
Robert Parker’s 96-point score launched Colgin’s reputation, which occurred before the release of their first vintage. At the time, Colgin Cellars did not even own vineyards or a winemaking facility of their own; all of their fruit was sourced from local vineyards in the area. Due to the exposure and recognition, Colgin Cellars was able to complete its own facility in 2002 and is located at the northern end of IX Estate in the Pritchard Hill area. Colgin is known for producing exquisitely handcrafted red wines using the finest neo-classical winemaking methods in their gravity fed winery; small yields, gentle handling, attentive sorting, meticulous blending and no fining or filtration, are some of the methods they have chosen to focus on.
A quick run through of these extremely highly allocated wines we are currently carrying:
The IX Estate Syrah comes from low yielding clonal selections originating in the Cote-Rotie and Hermitage regions of the Northern Rhone, and is therefore characterized by its Old World aromatics. Considered “one of the most unique Syrahs being made in California today”, this wine has an incredibly voluptuous mouthfeel and is vinified from four different one-acre plots which all fermented and aged separately is some of the finest French oak. The 2010 in particular was a bit of a cooler vintage, but considered a very good, classic vintage in Napa which brought new dimensions, including ‘meaty’ components, and a slight feminine touch reminiscent of the Northern Rhone.
The Cariad is a Bordeaux-style wine of Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that demonstrates a very classic structure that has become the hallmark of Colgin wines. A vibrant bouquet with exceptional depth, yet balanced with an incredibly long finish. The 2004 was aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months, without racking, and bottled without fining or filtration in March 2006. The winery describes it as, “hedonistic in its complexity!”
The Tyshon Hill Cabernet comes from an exceptional site that imparts earthy, ethereal notes of power followed by elegance, and revealing layers of velvety intensity. The 2002 was the first vintage to receive a perfect score as “a wine of enormous concentration, multiple dimensions, layers of flavor, and a sensational one minute plus finish. Its purity, harmony and symmetry are prodigious.”
The Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon comes from what Colgin considers, ‘the best quality grapes to date from this special vineyard’. In 2004, the fruit was fermented with indigenous yeast and macerated for a total of 52 days on the skins. The 2005 vintage marked the first year they hired master viticulturalist, David Abreu to manage the 14 rows of the Herb Lamb vineyard from beginning to end, which included skillful pruning and careful management of the vines and fruit by thinning the fruit to historically low levels. This wine has incredible intensity, while maintaining freshness and has the ability to age for up to 25 years.
Colgin Cellars Wines Available Here Now
Colgin Cellars Cariad Red, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 97 points “My favorite wine of this quartet is the 2003 Cariad, a proprietary blend (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc) that comes from David Abreu-owned vineyards, primarily the Madrona Ranch in St. Helena. Its dense color is accompanied by a big, sweet bouquet of charcoal, white chocolate, spring flowers, meaty, blueberry and blackberry fruit. This stunningly complex, rich, full-bodied 2003 is just entering its plateau of full maturity. Drink this beauty over the next 10-15 years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $244
Colgin Cellars Cariad Red, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($399.95) $279 special, 3 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2004 Cariad, a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc, was made from fruit purchased from David Abreu’s vineyards, most of it coming from his St. Helena property, the Madrona Ranch. Always one of the most aromatically complex wines, the 2004 comes across as a Graves-like offering with enormous notes of scorched earth, a hot rocks sort of nose and meaty black currant and black cherry fruit. Some tannins are still left, but the wine is round, generously endowed, full-bodied and opulent with terrific complexity. Drink it over the next 10 years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $299
Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2002 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator & Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “(this north-facing vineyard was the last to be picked in 2002) Saturated ruby. Highly aromatic nose of black raspberry, violet, mocha and smoked meat, lifted by sexy baking spices. Dense, chewy and thick but leavened by its sheer extract and sappiness. This has virtually liqueur-like ripeness but comes across as fresher and fruitier than the young 2003. Finishes with outstanding length and substantial ripe tannins. Winemaker Aubert says that of the Colgin sites, this vineyard produces fruit highest in phenolics.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $350
Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Almost black in color. Flavors are of blackberry, cassis, Provençal herbs; the 100% new oak adds rich toast and char notes. Tannins are brilliant, dense and fluffy. Grown at the base of Howell Mountain, this is classic mountain Cab, beautiful now, fleshy and fat, but with a 20-year lifespan.” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $255
Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94+ points “(15.2% alcohol): Healthy dark red. Explosive, liqueur-like aromas of black raspberry, mocha, smoke, truffle and graphite. A juicy, powerful fruit bomb on the palate, with penetrating minerality and a surprising edge of acidity giving cut and lift to the dense dark fruit and mocha flavors. In a distinctly masculine style and fairly tannic but this wine softened nicely in the glass.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $269
Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2005 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 97 points “Shows amazing purity of fruit, focus, balance and depth, with tiers of spicy currant, anise, hazelnut, mineral and melted licorice, combining power with finesse and grace with intensity. Ends with a long, lingering finish that keeps repeating the core flavor themes. Best from 2010 through 2019. 110 cases made.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($499.95) $359 special, 3 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “The 2010 IX Estate Syrah is one of the most compelling Syrahs ever made in California. It ranks alongside some of the perfect Syrahs from Sine Qua Non in Santa Ynez and the Santa Rita Hills. Tasting like liquified steak au poivre with blackberry and blueberry sauce, this amazing wine reveals staggering aromas of flowers, bouquet garni, melted asphalt, licorice, pepper and meaty notes. It should drink well for 15+ years assuming you have that much patience.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $375
Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2001 750ML ($399.95) $299 special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 98 points “The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard (a valley floor site planted on a slight incline north of St. Helena) exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a beautifully sweet nose of creme de cassis, licorice, lead pencil shavings and pen ink. A classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with sweet tannin, full-bodied power and gorgeous purity and intensity, it will benefit from another 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for 30+ years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $315
Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 96 points “The small hillside vineyard across from Freemark Abbey called Tychson Hill is unquestionably a noble site, as evidenced by every wine that has been produced from this vineyard planted under the guidance of superstar viticulturist, David Abreu. Colgin’s 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill possesses an exquisite perfume of acacia flowers, cedar, creme de cassis, licorice, and graphite. Its style suggests a hypothetical blend of a Pauillac and Margaux. With silky tannin as well as an enormously concentrated yet elegant, pure style, this sensational Cabernet can be drunk now, but will be even better with another 5-7 years of bottle age. It should last for 20-25 years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $235
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Six-Pack Deals
No Gym Membership Required!
These are five of the 12 wines available as half-case (six-pack deals)!
We offer over 100 wines as case-12 deals, listed on our website under “DozenDeals”
Case-6 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($499.95) $376 special, 5 six-packs available (that’s only $62.67/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($89.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles available
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2011 1.5L ($159.95) $133 special, 11 magnums available
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of currant, bark and orange peel. Nutmeg powder. Full body and chewy tannins. Savory, with balsamic and nuts. I love the juicy, decadent character to this. Drink or hold.” JS
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Isole e Olena’s 2011 Cepparello is remarkably silky, polished and refined, especially considering the challenges of the vintage. Dark red stone fruits, wild flowers, menthol and sweet spices all meld together gracefully in the glass. Voluptuous and racy but also an impeccably balanced wine with phenomenal length and a super-expressive finish. The 2011 will offer a wide window of drinking pleasure pretty much upon release. Drink: 2017-2026.” AG
Case-6 Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Reserve, Napa Valley 2010 1.5L ($1199.95) $519 special, 2 six-packs available (that’s only $86.50/magnum!)
Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Reserve, Napa Valley 2010 1.5L ($399.95) $99 special, 13 magnums available
Vinopolnotes- Jack Nicklaus Wines, a line of handcrafted, limited-production wines from California’s famed Napa Valley is a partnership between Terlato Wines and golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his family. The Golden Bear Reserve Commemorative Series was inspired by the 50th anniversary of Jack’s first major championship. Each year for the next 18 years, Nicklaus wines will release a single limited-edition 1.5-liter bottle Napa Valley red blend to celebrate each one of Nicklaus’ major championships. Produced by Terlato Wine Group, each release will be limited to 1,000 bottles and each bottle will be packaged in an individual wooden display box and accompanied by a letter from Jack that includes his reflections on that major victory.
Case-6 Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 750ML ($359.95) $319 special, 7 six-packs available (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 24 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Very clear, discreet and refined on the nose – where the 2013 Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling GG displays fine stone and fruit aromas of lemons and green apples. Lean and vital but also intense, rich and juicy on the palate, this is a lovely pure, straightforward, piquant and very salty expression of the Karthäuserhofberg terroir and the 2013 vintage. This long-distance runner has more fruit intensity than the Edition and reveals a very fine raciness and a complex finish with lingering lemon aromas.” WA
Case-6 Mischief and Mayhem Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011 750ML ($149.95) $89 special, 5 six-packs available (that’s only $14.83/bottle!)
Mischief and Mayhem Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011 750ML ($29.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer notes “Hard work amongst the vines, fine vintage conditions and superb Pinot Noir vineyard sites with an average vine age of 45 years, all combine to produce this classic Bourgogne Pinot Noir. Beautiful pure, ripe fruit, so typical in 2011, light barrel treatment and élevage in stainless steel tank, all integrate to produce a wine of real purity, ripe fruit character, structure and finesse. Aroma: Complex nose of strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant and violets, with notes of vanilla and cinnamon spice. Taste: Lovely texture, good grip, yet supple and round with ripe tannins and soft acidity. Delicious red fruit notes, including juicy raspberry and red cherry with hints of blackberry, mocha, dark chocolate, spice and sandalwood. Soft, pure, and focused finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
Case-6 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Cascina Dardi, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($319.95) $249 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Cascina Dardi, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($579.95) $469 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
Alessandro e Gian Natale Fantino Cascina Dardi, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia hits all the right marks with a beautiful sense of elegance and grace that is immediately apparent. The aromas dangle in front of you, delicately and seductively, with ethereal layers of spice, blue flower, almond paste, anisette and dried cherry or wild berry. The workmanship here reflects an attention to the minute details offered by Nebbiolo. The tannins are silky and long with deeply polished texture. Barolo Cascina Dardi Bussia is a fine, poised and super-confident expression. Drink: 2016-2026.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-6 Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2012 750ML ($299.95) $259 special, 6 six-packs available
Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $47 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Utterly seamless, focused, powerful and elegant, layered with cherry, boysenberry and red plum fruit, revealing glints of coffee, jasmine and cardamom that add extra nuances. Delivers complexity without extra weight. The finish won’t quit. Drink now through 2022. 6,000 cases made.” WS
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2012 Bella’s Garden Shiraz has a nose of blackberry preserves and warm cassis with hints of menthol, dark chocolate, cardamom and cedar. Full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, the abundant fruit is well matched by firm, rounded tannins and refreshing acid before finishing with great length. Drink it now to 2024+.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Brilliant violet color. Powerful, deeply pitched aromas of blue fruit preserves, licorice, incense and mocha are lifted by a sexy Indian spice quality. Stains the palate with sweet dark fruit and cocoa flavors that gain energy and lift with aeration. Rich and expansive but lively as well. Closes velvety and very long, with lingering smokiness and smooth, harmonious tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Produttori del Barbaresco 2009
“Produttori del Barbaresco always offers one of the most exciting tastings of the year. This cooperative winery decided not to make single-vineyard expressions in 2010 and all the fruit went into the base 2010 Barbaresco instead. Managing Director Aldo Vacca tells me that the estate philosophy is to produce all nine vineyard expressions, or none at all. In fact, the 2002, 2003 and 2006 vintages were skipped over. Vacca explains that although the 2010 vintage was excellent in the Barolo appellation, he considered the mouthfeel to be too thin and watery for the production of great Barbaresco. Because the 2010 vintage saw humid conditions, the grapes swelled before harvest leading to wines with less structure and persistence. In general, Produttori del Barbaresco’s vineyard wines represent only 30 percent of the entire production, although some 70 percent of the cooperative’s vineyard holdings are located in single-vineyard cru designations. In increasing order of power and structure, the 2009 Riserva single vineyard expressions I tasted are: Pora, Pajè, Ovello, Asili, Rio Sordo, Montefico, Muncagota, Rabajà and Montestefano.” – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
“Italy’s top wine co-operative has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and the two new sets of wines I tasted in September were of consistently high quality. Aldo Vacca described 2009 as a warm vintage with good spiciness and structure, even if the wines are less fruity than the 2008s. Production was down 25% from 2008 due to strict selection. The 2008s, he went on, are “powerful, rich and fruity wines, a bit like the 2011s. Their fruit is very sweet and they should offer a wide drinkability window.” – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous Media
Produttori del Barbaresco 2009 Wines Available Here Now
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano brings together the best qualities of the vintage, with a solid core of intense fruit, expressive aromatics and a measure of tannic heft that will keep the wine fresh and vibrant for many years. Dark cherry, plum, spice and leather notes flesh out on the huge, voluptuous finish. In 2009, the Montestefano is fabulous.” AG
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 5 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Firm tannins provide the backbone for the 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Pora. Bigger and richer on the palate than it often is, the 2009 Pora is also quite beautiful in this vintage. Sweet floral and mint notes wrap around the palate in this impeccable, beautifully balanced, mid-weight Barbaresco from the Produttori. The 2009 impresses for its pliancy and generosity. Today, the tannins are a bit four-squared, but there is enough depth in the fruit to make me think the wine will come together a little more fully with more time in bottle.” AG
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is an impeccable wine that shows the strength, generosity and elegance that this important vineyard site is known for. Most significant is the wine’s structure that is endearing and firm but also supple. It shows power and a silken touch. Dark fruit, spice, licorice and herb make for a perfect fusion of aromas. The mouthfeel shows balanced power and vigor. This wine will improve with time. It is at the mere beginning of a long evolution.” ML
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Dark cherries, menthol, cloves, cinnamon and leather wrap around the palate in the 2009 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà. A rich, layered, enveloping wine, the Rabajà is a wine that shows plenty of character and personality. Deep, implosive and full of personality, the Rabajà is another wine that delivers tons of character, class and personality.” AG
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Francesco Rinaldi
Arriving Friday, August 7th
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barolo Le Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barolo Le Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2010 1.5L ($159.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2010 Barolo Le Brunate is the most dynamic and textured of these wines. Dark cherry, plum, smoke and violet notes flesh out in a firm, muscular Barolo endowed with tons of classic Brunate nuance. The flavors are intense, dark and bold. Balsamic overtones develop in the glass, adding further shades of nuance and complexity. Today, the Brunate is reticent and austere. Readers who can wait will be rewarded with an exquisite Barolo.” AG
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubbio, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $61.90 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Translucent and sensual, Rinaldi’s 2010 Barolo Cannubi graces the palate with exquisite finesse. The floral aromatics, silky tannins and precise, sculpted fruit are pure Cannubi. Mint, hard candy and cinnamon are laced into the soft, gracious finish. Disarmingly open and seductive, the 2010 is absolutely joyous today, yet it also clearly has the pedigree to age well for many years.” AG
Also Arriving Friday, August 7th
Cellar Cecilio Black Slate Gratallops, Priorat DOCa2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “(70% garnatxa, 25% carinena and 5% syrah; aged for a year in concrete tanks): Bright purple. Zesty redcurrant and cherry aromas show good clarity, picking up floral and allspice qualities with air. Silky and open-knit, offering pliant red fruit flavors and a touch of rose pastille. Finishes supple and spicy, with lingering raspberry and white pepper notes and soft tannins.” ST
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Ken Wright Cellars
Ken Wright Cellars is a Willamette Valley producer in a true sense, since they produce wines from all of the AVAs. Named one of the two outstanding producers of Pinot by Robert Parker, the winery has an excellent reputation. Ken Wright founded Panther Creek Cellars and was the first winemaker at Domaine Serene. He founded Ken Wright Cellars in 1994. Originally from Kentucky, Wright transferred to UC Davis to study enology when he fell in love with wine while waiting tables for college.
KWC produces almost 15 different single-vineyard wines from vineyards with which they have long-term leases as well as from the estate vineyard, Abbott Claim. Despite the vast array of wines, attentive care is given, treating each vine as an individual and address their specific needs. The grapes are picked according to the ripeness level of each section of the row and grapes are hand-sorted on tables before being mostly destemmed. The wines are expressive and vary dramatically between each individual vineyard.
Ken Wright Wines Available Here Now
Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 7 bottles available
Winery note “Pinot Blanc is a lighter-colored natural mutation of Pinot Gris. Our sources for this fruit are a two acre block of Meredith Mitchell Vineyard and a half acre block of Freedom Hill Vineyard. After pressing the fruit, the juice is fermented in neutral French barrels. The neutral casks give us rich textures without imparting new oak that would detract from the bright fruit/mineral/floral profile of the wine. The new wine remains in barrel with the original yeast and is not racked until bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Ken Wright Cellars ‘Abbott Claim Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 3 bottles available
Winery note “Floral & spice focused; tart cherry, pomegranate & grapefruit with notes of cardamom, anise and fresh cut pine. This site is a portion of the original John F. Abbott Donation Land Claim and lies in the middle of Savannah Ridge, a small east-west ridgeline of sedimentary rock just east of Carlton. This is a consistent broad face of land with soil depths of 30 inches to mother rock. Elevation ranges from 400′ to 475′ and the inclination is S-SE. Soils are mostly Wellsdale with some areas of Willakenzie, Melbourne and Peavine. All of them lie atop mother rock of fractured sandstone and siltstone. The planted acreage totals 17 acres. Vines are roughly an equal mix of Pommard clone on Riparia Gloire rootstock, 777 on 101-14 and 115 on both 101-14 and 3309. As would be expected from a vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton District the wine is very darkly colored, dense and lush. Fruits tend to be darker such as plum, cassis and black cherry. Ken and Karen Wright own the vineyard. Mark Gould is the vineyard manager.”
Ken Wright Cellars ‘Canary Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 7 bottles available
Winery note “Fruit focused; modest structure, light tannins and bright acidity. Red and blue fruit – juicy red plum, pie cherry, and marionberry. Located at the southern end of the Eola Hills and faces east. The original vines were planted in 1983 and 1984. All of the acreage planted to Pinot noir was Pommard clone. Two and a half acres that were originally Chenin Blanc were replanted to Pommard and Dijon 114 clones. Six acres that were planted to Chardonnay were replaced with Dijon 777 clone. The entire 20 acres are now planted to Pinot noir. Elevation is 450′ to 550′. The soil is a mix of Jory and Nekia. Both are formed from igneous rock and have a reddish-brown tint. This site, however, has less depth than similar soils in the Dundee Hills. Wine from Canary Hill is typically very forward, with aromas of black cherry and cola. Approximately 625 cases are produced. The vineyard was owned, planted and tended for many years by Dick and Nancy Daniel. It is now owned by Ken and Karen Wright. Mark Gould and Seth Miller manage the vineyard.”
Ken Wright Cellars ‘Carter Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 1 bottle available
Winery note “Fruit focused; moderate tannins and acidity. Blue and black fruit, black cherry, blueberry, blackberry and plum skin. Located just 1 mile from Canary Hill in the Eola Hills, Carter Vineyard is lower on the hillside yet has a leaner and less fertile soil. It is mainly Nekia soil, which is formed from weathered basic rock. It lies at an elevation of 325′ and was planted in 1983. This bottling is comprised of the Wadenswil, Dijon 777, Dijon 667, Dijon 115, and Pommard clones. The wine is much firmer than Canary Hill in its youth but evolves beautifully after a few years in bottle to show dark fruits and fresh, healthy earth scents. Approximately 650 cases are produced. The vineyard is owned by Jack and Kathleen Carter, and managed by Mark Gould.”
Ken Wright Cellars ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “Floral & spicy focused; brighter acidity than most sedimentary sites. Red fruits, lush mouthfeel, juicy strawberry, watermelon with hints of leather & fresh-turned Earth qualities. Freedom Hill Vineyard is located in the Coast Range just south of Dallas, OR. The soil type is known as Bellpine, which is sedimentary in origin. The fruit from our 2.85 acre block is wholly Pommard clone. The vineyard was originally planted in 1980. Wines from this site were once the firmest and most structured that we worked with. After replanting from phylloxera devastation the site was refitted with a vertical shoot position trellis. This switch from a hanging trellis affords more shading of the fruit area. The less exposed berries have thinner skins and lighter tannin levels which allow the resulting wine to be lush and approachable at an earlier age. Approximately 340 cases are produced. The vineyard is owned and managed by Dan & Helen Dusschee.”
Ken Wright Cellars ‘Guadalupe Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles available
Winery note “Floral & spice focused; very forward & attractive in its youth with a depth of flavor – raspberry, black cherry, mulberry & five-spice. The vineyard was planted in 1989 and represents the definable change of the Jory soils of the Dundee Hills to the sedimentary soil of the Yamhill-Carlton District. It is spaced 7′ by 5′ and is planted to the Wadenswil and Dijon 115 clones. The soil, known as Willakenzie, is a well-drained shallow soil over siltstone. It lies at an elevation of 350′. The vineyard consistently produces small berries and clusters that are intensely colored. The wine possesses the character of blue fruits, cocoa, leather and earth. Approximately 400 cases are produced. Jim Stonebridge and Kathleen Boeve own the vineyard. It is managed by Joel Myers.”
Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles available
Winery note “Floral & spice focused. Black cherry, cranberry, pomegranate with earthy cola and saddle leather notes. This is the first vineyard directly owned and developed by Ken Wright Cellars. The vineyard is located in the Yamhill-Carlton District northeast of Carlton. Planting began in 1999 with 4.5 acres of clones 777 and 115 on phylloxera resistant rootstock. Total planted acreage as of spring 2002 is approximately 17 acres. Vine spacing is 6.5′ x 4′ and the elevations averages 450′. The soil is comprised of marine sediments known as Wellsdale and Willakenzie. These are sandy soils which drain quickly and hasten the ripening process. Our first commercial crop, 2002, has produced a muscular wine that has aromas of dense black fruit, seared meat, cedar and anise. Approximately 240 cases are produced. Ken and Karen Wright are owners. The vineyard is managed by Mark Gould and Taylor Varuska.”