Five from California, one from Italy
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio 2011– Alto Adige, Italy. “Crafted in the Northern Italian region of Alto Adige, this crisp, elegant wine was introduced to the United States by Anthony Terlato in 1979. A true classic, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is perfect for entertaining and pairs beautifully with a wide variety of dishes. It offers a fresh, clean bouquet and a crisp, sophisticated flavor brightened with hints of citrus. It is perfect with light pasta, seafood and chicken dishes.” $22.99
“In 1961, Santa Margherita’s enologist had the inspired idea of applying traditional white wine vinification techniques to the pink-hued Pinot Grigio grapes of Trentino Alto Adige, immediately separating the skins from the must in the pressing phase and thus preventing them from yielding the (until then) classic rusty color. Thus was created this innovative white wine which, with its characteristics of a fresh, fragrant bouquet and versatile taste, represented a real revolution for the wine sector. Ever since, it has continued to gain popularity and accolades both in Italy and abroad, maintaining its strong position of leadership among D.O.C. Pinot Grigios.”
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Gris 2012– Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California. “The 2011 Russian River Valley Pinot Gris possesses an expressive fruit-forward character, exhibiting rich aromas of fig, white peach, and pear. These specific flavors and aromas are able to develop based on the longer hang time and exposure to sunlight. After six to eight months of time in bottle, the bright aromas and complex varietal characters of citrus, fig, and spice add both weight and interest to the wine. The flavors of peach, spicy pear and citrus meld together in a rich core, developing a round mouth feel which complements its crisp, clean finish.” $12.99
“The grapes for this Pinot Gris were selected from two Russian River Valley vineyards– predominantly the Monte Bianco block at MacMurray Ranch, with the balance hailing from Two Rock Vineyard. In 2011, the Russian River Valley growing season was very challenging with cold spring temperatures and unprecedented rains that continued throughout the summer. Some precipitation lingered into early fall, but strong Pacific Coast winds quelled our concerns, as they dissipated the rain and ushered in warmer weather for harvest. Despite the challenges, our wines are displaying enchanting aromas, excellent natural acidity and ripe fruit flavor.”
MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir 2011– Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California. 66% aged in on its lees in oak barrels for 9 months. “From Sonoma’s Russian River Valley wine region, this Pinot Noir has elegant varietal fruit character, with rich aromas and flavors of raspberry, cherry, red currant and boysenberries. Hints of lavender and mushroom are supported by a subtle oak influence. This wine will evolve into a silky, smooth wine with time in the bottle.” $17.99
“Grapes from our premier Russian River Valley estate vineyards contributed to the final blend of this Pinot Noir. The fruit was harvested at the peak of ripeness and gently destemmed, retaining approximately 80 percent whole berries for fermentation. Following a two-day cold soak, a percentage of the must underwent natural fermentation, while the remainder was inoculated with Burgundian yeast strains to reflect the individuality of each terroir included in the blend.”
Franciscan Estate Chardonnay 2011– Napa Valley, California. Barrel fermented; aged for 7 months sur lie in small French and American oak barrels, 20% new oak. “A fruit-forward bouquet of Meyer lemon, Bartlett pear and crisp apple mingle with hints of vanilla and flinty mineral notes. Toasted almond rounds out the nose, evoking the creaminess that is to come on the palate. The palate is bursting with vibrant fresh pear and citrus flavors with a mouthfilling, creamy, round palate. Bright fruit flavors and a silky texture lead to a lingering finish of apple, honeysuckle and vanilla.” $13.99
“After an unusually dry winter, a wet April provided most of our rainfall for the growing season. April proved to be a roller coaster for the vines, offering up a mixture of very wet weather and cold nights that required frost protection, followed by summer-like temperature spikes late in the month. From there, it was smooth sailing for the spring and summer. Lots of sunny, warm days brought flowering 3-4 weeks ahead of 2011. A typically warm summer was followed by a September with cooler than average temperatures and clear skies. These conditions lead to a perfect long ripening season for cool climate Chardonnay which we began harvesting off our Larsen Estate Vineyard on September 21st. As the harvest progressed, the quality of the Chardonnay was outstanding and the last came in on October 9th.”
Franciscan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2011– Napa Valley, California. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 3% Syrah, 1% Malbec. “Complex and vibrant aromas of red plum, anise, cherry, violets, and tobacco accentuated by notes of black currant, dried herbs, toasted oak, and cocoa. Elegant and supple texture on the palate make the frame for generous flavors of sweet plum and dark cherry, with notes of vanilla and mocha. Silky tannins and well-integrated structure tie together and linger in the finish.” $19.99
“Over three decades ago, Justin Meyer took over the winemaking at Franciscan with a highly meticulous approach. Dividing our Oakville Estate into sections, he fermented and aged each vineyard block separately to bring out the best expression of each lot, then blended the best lots together to create wines of distinction. Thus began our tradition of small lot winemaking, which we are proud to continue today. Each vintage, we make over 200 separate lots of Bordeaux varietals, honing the blend during 18 months of barrel aging. Only the finest lots are included in each glass of Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon, to show the best of the vineyards, and the vintage. The reds are deeply colored and elegantly structured with abundant dark cassis fruit, fine-grained tannins, and supple mouthfeel.”
Newton Vineyard Claret 2010– Napa County, California. A blend of 66% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 20 months in French oak, 50% new. “This dark red cherry colored wine offers aromas of ripe red and black fruits and cinnamon layered with dark fruit flavors of cherry, plum and raspberry supported by vanilla and mocha spice. The dark fruit flavors carry through to the palate, combining with dark chocolate notes on the soft mid-palate. Dusty, fine-grained tannins make this wine an appealing choice now or over the next 5 years.” $22.99
“Winemaker Chris Millard suggests this wine will complement grilled meat dishes nicely and also prove versatile with a wide variety of foods from hearty pasta dishes to braised beef.”
“At Newton Vineyard, the lone pine tree that sits atop the mountain ridge, known as Pino Solo, can be distinctly seen from the valley floor and symbolizes the individuality of our wine and winemaking approach. Newton seeks to preserve the quality of fruit achieved in the vineyard with wines that best express the essence of the fruit and nature’s intertwining of sun, soil and vine.”