From a site planted in 1906, it possesses dramatic fruit in addition to a wonderful perfume of black raspberries intermixed with kirsch, loamy soil, and spice box. Deep, full-bodied, opulent, and elegant, this is another beautifully pure, flashy Zin to consume over the next 5-7 years.
An abyss of black pepper on the nose, with some whiffs of white cotton. Imagine strapping an eight cylinder engine to a basket full of berries and black peppercorns and watching it go: That's what this wine tastes like. It's full-throttle and fruit-ripe, with lifted fruit, spice and black pepper on the finish.
Was aged sur-lie for 14 months, and bottled unfiltered. It possesses more alcohol, fruit, concentration, and orange marmalade-like characteristics. Drink it over the 1-3 years.
Boasts lovely notes of tropical fruits and orange marmalade offered in a medium to full-bodied, lush, exotic style. It is an impressive, crowd-pleasing Chardonnay to enjoy over the next 1-2 years.
A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a lovely perfume of flowers, raspberries, black currants, smoke, vanilla, and spice box. Rich and medium to full-bodied, with loads of concentration as well as some tannin and oak to shed, it should be at its finest between 2009-2019.
Is fashioned from the rocky, mountain top Jackson Park vineyard in Bennett Valley along with a small amount of fruit from Alexander Valley as well as Knight's Valley. Its dense purple color is accompanied by wonderful notes of espresso, white chocolate, black currants, sweet kirsch, smoke, earth, fruitcake, mincemeat, and truffles. With formidable intensity, full body, sweet tannin, and tremendous delineation as well as structure, it will be at its peak between 2008-2020+
This is some of the Vale's most sought-after Grenache; it was planted by the Smart family in 1946 and narrowly escaped being pulled up a few years back. Mint, fresh herb and black pepper aromas are profound; on the palate, lifted black cherry and plum fruit is swathed in fine tannins. A wine worth seeking out, as it tends to sell out shortly after release.
A high elevation planting between 1200 and 2400 feet. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot aged primarily in new French oak. Its dense purple color is accompanied by sumptuous aromas of graphite, black currants, licorice, and smoke. This full-bodied, opulent 2002 exhibits moderately high, sweet tannin. Drink over the next 15-16 years.
Planted at elevations of 900-1800 feet...an impressive effort. The deep ruby/purple-colored 2002 exhibits a sweet nose of cassis, chocolate, dried herbs, and loamy, earthy notes. Full-bodied, with superb purity, this rich tannic, ageworthy Cabernet should be at its finest between 2008-2020.
It might be worth laying this Shiraz down for six months or a year before giving it a go, because it's still pretty closed. Only light meat aromas emerge, and some graham cracker and fruit on the palate. Finishes juicy. Will emerge as the elegant complement to the winery's full-throttle grenache-based wines.
Sees about 30% new French oak, enjoys 100% malolactic in barrel, and is aged sur-lies. This gorgeous Chardonnay displays vanilla cream, white peach, lemon butter, and popcorn-like characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, with good underlying acidity, an alluring texture, and tremendous purity, it is a fine value and, there are 77,542 cases!
Aromas of honeysuckle, orange rind, and lemon zest are followed by a medium to full-bodied, fruit-driven white displaying a subtle touch of oak. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.
...Emerges from Monterey County vineyards planted with French clones, was barrel-aged for 12 months prior to bottling. This finesse-filled, complex Pinot exhibits plenty of smoky, plum, cherry, and mineral notes along with medium body, crisp acidity, and abundant sweet red and black fruits. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years.
Syrah aged 11 months in French oak, of which one-third is new. The deep ruby/purple-hued 2002 displays big, pepper, blackberry aromas and flavors with a notion of graphite in the background.
Perhaps the finest example of this cuvee yet produced. There are 1.9 million cases, and it is the same wine no matter when it is bottled. Approximately 80% comes from the estate vineyards, and amazingly, the entire cuvee is aged 6.9 months in both French and American oak. Lees stirring is done for about one month. Undeniably the best Chardonnay for the price in the marketplace, it offers notes of crushed minerals, intermixed with lemon custard, orange skins, and tropical fruits. This crisp, medium-bodied, elegant, dry Chardonnay is an astonishing achievement considering the quantity produced as well as its price.
Less weighty with more elegance as well as nuance. It possesses the same aromatic and flavor profiles as the 2002, but is not as generous. It, too, should drink well over the next 1-2 years.
Reveals notes of black currants intermixed with blueberries, acacia flowers, chocolate, and coffee...Layered and rich...elegant and soft. Should drink well for 10-13 years.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc sourced from vineyard sin the Mayacamas Mountain Range as well as the Alexander Valley and Knight's Valley. Notions of black cherries, lead pencil shavings, cedar, and spice box are offered in a medium-bodied, stylish format. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.
Which exhibits more kirsch, plum, forest floor, and spice notes in a more tightly-knit, more concentrated, fleshier example of Pinot Noir.
Offers up scents of black cherries, currants, mocha, and coffee beans. This medium bodied, moderately tannic Merlot will be at its finest between 2007-2015.
Exhibits a sweet bouquet of dried herbs, mocha, and berry fruit as well as an elegant, medium-bodied, soft, supple style that begs for consumption over the next 5-7 years.
Revealing more forest floor, herb, earth, and sweet cherry qualities
A wine that has improved dramatically over the last few years in the Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir. There are 100,000+ cases of the 2003, a blend of 98% Pinot Noir and 2% Syrah, all produced from Sonoma Coast and North Coast vineyards. Aged completely in French barrels, with malolactic in barrel (17% new oak), it offers classic Pinot characteristics of forest floor, figs, plums, red currants, and cherries along with a touch of smoke in the background. This round, tasty Pinot must be tasted to be fully appreciated.
Exhibits herb, plum, cherry, and floral notes, medium body, a soft, round texture, and well-integrated wood and acidity.
A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 16 months in French oak, of which 51% is new. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of vanilla, crushed rocks, black currants, spice box, and tobacco smoke. Medium-bodied, with fine ripeness as well as moderate tannin, it will age nicely for a decade.