Esterlina Vineyards

Located near the Mendocino coast, ideal growing conditions for the types of wines the Esterlina’s favor; you will find the family-owned boutique winery in Philo, California.  Limited production, the grapes are grown on the estate and also in the Anderson Valley.  Handcrafted, Esterlina Vineyards’ wines are made bottle by bottle, hurry to get your favorite for they are quickly snatched up. 

Making wine for generations, the Esterlina family winery derives its name from the Spanish word for Sterling, the family name.  They originally were based in Anderson Valley.   

Esterlina owns the Cole Ranch in Ukiah, California where they harvest grapes for their Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinoir Noir and Reislings.  The ranch possesses a unique microclimate at a higher elevation and the cold nights extend the grapes’ ripening time.  The wines are delicate and earthy with a bright fruit flavor. 

My brother introduced me to this fantastic wine from the Bacigalupi Valley over the holidays and it has become one of my favorites:

2005 Zinfindel

Balanced and smooth, this Zin has a nose of bramble fruit and spice.  It has a nice long finish and is very enjoyable.

Another favorite of mine is:

2005 Sonoma County Port

Ruby-style port made from Zinfandel, Syrah and a little bit of traditional port grape Touriga Nacional.  It is smooth and wonderful with dark chocolate after dinner.

Technorati Tags: Esterlina Vineyards, Mendocino, port, Zinfindel

Dry Creek Vineyard

Founded in 1972 by David S. Snare, an MIT grad who was inspired by the Loire Valley wine growing region of France, Dry Creek Vineyard was his dream.  He intended on moving to France but was convinced instead to give it a try in Sonoma Valley, California.  He took classes in winemaking at U.C. Davis.

The Dry Creek location was an orchard and Snare replaced the prunes with grape vines and began to produce Sauvignon Blanc from his French inspiration and against all advice.  Since then Dry Creek has become the standard for Fume Blanc in Northern Sonoma County.  And in the last few decades they have also gained a reputation for Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Dry Chenin Blanc. 

My personal favorite is:

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

.  Grapes 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
.  Harvest: September 27 – October 30, 2006
.  Barrel Aging: 20 months in 54% French oak, 28% American and new oak, 18% Hungarian oak
.  Aging Potential: 8 – 12 years

Recommended to age for a decade or more, I tasted this wine in 2010 and it was smooth with a nose of cherry and dried flowers.  It is opulent on the palate with silky smooth tannins.  With oak nuances the palate fillings are of cocoa, black cherry and sweet current.  It is delicious.

Technorati Tags: cabernet sauvignon, Dry Creek Vineyard, Sonoma County

Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon Estate Winery

Over a hundred years ago in 1870 the Finnish explorer Gustave Niebaum came to Napa Valley with the goal of creating a wine estate to rival those of France.  In the mid 1960’s his estate was divided and a decade later Francis Ford Coppola purchased 1,500 acres of the historic property.  Wine-making began again in homage to Niebaum and in 1995 Coppola purchased the remainder of the estate.

From making movies to making wine, are they so far removed, Coppola produces a wide variety of wine types but is best known for “Rubicon” named after the estate.  The first bottle was produced in 1978; it has a unique black cherry cola taste.  The rare 1979 vintage is now fetching $200.00 a bottle.

Coppola’s goal is to perfect Rubicon, to allow him the time to write and make another film that is more “him”.  There is no better place on this planet than Napa Valley for inspiration; it is filled with artists, great natural beauty and some of the best wines in the world.

The flagship wine of the Rubicon Estate is blended primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon grown from vines with the same genetic material that Niebaum brought from France in the 1880’s.

2006 is an excellent vintage for Rubicon; 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc.  Aged in 80% new French Oak for 22 months.   Release date is March 15, 2010. Suggested retail is $145.00.

Technorati Tags: cabernet savignon, Napa Valley, Rubicon Estate Winery

Silver Oak Cellars

Located in the Napa Valley of Northern California is the Silver Oak Winery.  They produce the best Cabernet Sauvignon I have ever tasted; it has been their specialty for over 35 years. 

Raymond Twomey Duncan first visited the Napa Valley in the late 1960’s, it seduced him as it does everyone who goes there and he began investing in vineyards throughout the Napa and Alexander Valleys.  Justin Meyer, a winemaker from Christian Brothers, agreed to help Duncan in 1972 under the condition they raise the standards of California wine and they certainly have succeeded.  Meyer has since left but Daniel H. Baron was selected as his replacement.

Silver Oak Cellars devotes all of their attention to only Cabernet Sauvignon, and from the day of release it is ready to be enjoyed.  The wine is a blend of Bordeaux varietals and Cabernet Sauvignon.  

Current releases:

2005 Napa Valley

.  80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
.  Available in 750 ml bottle, 1.5L Magnum, 3L Double magnum and 6L Imperial
.  Released February 6, 2010
.  750ml $100.00

This wine has a complex nose of black pepper, soy, wild game, truffles and boysenberry with a dark garnet color.  It has a silky feel on the palate and a long finish with a slight tannic grip.  Correctly stored it should be enjoyable through 2032.

2005 Alexander Valley

.  100% Cabernet Sauvignon
.  Available in 750 ml bottle, 1.5L Magnum, 3L Double magnum and 6L Imperial
.  Released August 1, 2009 
. 750ml $70.00

Full-bodied with a dark garnet color and a nose of licorice, lavender, cinnamon, clove and black cherry.  Seamless on the palate it has an excellent length, velvety tannins and a solid core of berry fruits.  With the right storage it should be delicious through 2032.

Technorati Tags: cabernet sauvignon, Napa Valley, silver oak cellars

RABBIT RIDGE ALLURE DE ROBLES

Central California is not where most people think the best wines in California hail from but Rabbit Ridge in Paso Robles is quite smooth and a good value.  Produced from grapes grown in three different vineyards, the Paso Robles Allure de Robles comes from three vineyards on the property; Cristalla Ranch, grown from a Syrah clone grafted for Rabbit Ridge, Estrella Ranch and Tablas Creek Ranch also clone grafted vineyards.  The fruit ripens at different times from these three vineyards as the elevations vary and the soil is a bit different giving it a complex and fruity taste.

Medium bodied and barrel aged with notes of raspberries, blackberries, black currents and pepper Allure de Robles makes for a wonderful brunch accompaniment with ham and breakfast foods, as I sergved it.  It seems the limestone in the soil impart the earthy characteristics of this Rhone-style wine.  Let this one breathe a bit before enjoying, the air enhances the fruity flavors making them come alive.  Also wonderful after dinner for sipping with a piece of dark chocolate or a little cheese, it goes wonderfully with brie.

Allure de Robles won the Bronze Metal in the San Francisco Wine Competition January 2008 for its 2005 vintage.  It’s 2004 vintage won a variety of awards ranging from Silver to Bronze.  I picked up a few bottles at Trader Joe’s and I am considering grabbing a case before it’s all gone.  2008 was a very good year for Allure de Robles, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it winning a few awards of its own.

Technorati Tags: Allure de Robles, californian wine, Rabbit Ridge Wine, red wine

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