Super Cult Syrahs and Whites/ Cloverdale is Back but then Gone Forever We are loaded with great offerings and releases today. It's wines like these that gets us really excited and what makes us one of the best. We have found for you two very small production and Super Cult Syrahs. Along with two Super Cult Whites that are both at the lowest prices you will find anywhere. And finally Cloverdale Ranch is back with their Cabernet and Merlot but not for long. (See Cloverdale story below) All of today's newsletter wines will be available at Saturday's tasting starting at 1:30 along with a high scoring Rioja Reserva, Single Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay at half the price, Big Time Single Vineyard Estate Cab from Alexander Valley, and much more. And this Friday night we will be tasting DRC’s A.P. Villane’s Single Vineyard Côte Chalonaise and Mercurey Burgundies, Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2012, Some great Napa Valley finds, and more. Both of these tastings will be phenomenal and we hope you can join us.
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94RP L'Avion $29.98 Best Price Anywhere! Stolpman has been garnering great praise from the critics for almost a decade now. They are one our favorite producers because of the high quality and unique wines they produce from the Santa Ynez Valley (Santa Barbara County). Their L'avion is no different. Receiving 92-94 points by Wine Advocate L'Avion this is a big time white wine with loads of character. Stolpman Vineyards The vineyards at Stolpman were originally planted with the sole intention of selling the fruit to other great Central Coast wineries. Now, with our own estate wine program, we continue to provide fruit to other wineries but on a smaller, more selective scale. In many cases, producers choose to bottle wine from Stolpman fruit separately under a vineyard-designated label. Situated on 3 finger-like ridges leading down from a 1600ft headland, the vineyard blocks have excellent drainage. The defining element of the vineyard is only a thin layer of clay-shale above Limestone. The limestone drains all water, and because Stolpman dry farms the vineyard, roots are forced to search deeper and deeper in pursuit of water. The search is futile, and the roots suck dry minerality. The result: Some of the smallest, most concentrated, and perfectly balanced grapes in the entire region. As one of the pioneers in Ballard Canyon, the Stolpmans had to experiment to find the perfect match to the micro-ecosystem. Bordeaux varietals initially excelled on the vineyard, but slowly weakened due to the harsh soil Most unique to Stolpman’s methodology is the constant experimentation with vineyard plantings and farming in the pursuit of world-class wine. Organic Farming: No herbicides, fungicides, or pesticides are used in the vineyard. The natural ecosystem is promoted through the establishment of natural habitats including Hawk Perches and Owl Boxes. Bio-diversity is also aided by a 12 acre rotating crop of organic vegetables and 5 acres of Olive trees. Stolpman Vineyards has the only “Cote Rotie” styled vineyard in all of California. On the steepest hill in the property, there are 6000 vines planted so close together one can barely walk through, let alone fit tractors or machines. Identical plant material to Domaine Rostaing (Cote Rotie) was used, and the vines are farmed in the same manner: head pruned and dry farmed. In coming years, parallel tastings between Domaine Rostaing Cote Rotie and Stolpman’s new “Cote Rotie” block will be held to compare terroir with all other variables removed. The Vineyard has several own-rooted blocks in pursuit of a purer terroir aspect and fruit profile. These blocks are planted at varying densities: closer together where there is more topsoil present, and further apart where there is only Limestone. Stolpman L'Avion 2010
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“You can’t make great wine out of average fruit.” This statement is part philosophy and part inspiration for Sashi Moorman, who founded Any enthusiast of Stolpman, Evening Land, or Sandhi Wines – where Moorman has been winemaker and consultant - will immediately recognize Sashi Moorman’s devotion to quality wine. Moorman’s philosophy comes from experience- after graduating from Vasser with a senior thesis titled “The Geography of Zinfandel,” Moorman worked as a cook in restaurants in New York City and Washington, DC. That’s where he met and worked for Peter Patsan, owner and chef of DC’s Obelisk and Two Amys Pizzeria and who knows works on the harvest with him. He learned an important lesson. “Wine, just like food, or music, or art, should have a certain kind of authenticity--it should come from someone and somewhere.” Moorman has translated this committed to local, season, and high quality food into his wine business. Believing that California’s wine industry still has uncharted potential, he’s dedicated Piedrasassi to the Syrah grape. While they do make smaller bottlings of other varietals, their different Syrah show an astonishing breadth of taste. And they’ve been a favorite of the critics, too. Writing for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: “Started in 2003, these brilliant wines are by Sashi Moorman (of Stolpman and Sandhi) and show laser-like focus and precision with racy mouthfeels. While his single vineyard Rimrock Syrah perhaps has a tad more focus and acidity than his traditional cuvee, I prefer the depth and richness of the latter. Either way, these are serious wines that merit attention.” “There is little doubt Sashi Moorman is one of the great rising talents in California.” -- Antonio Galloni Piedrassasi is one of my favorite wineries in California. Winemaker Sashi Moorman has the magic touch, and not just when it comes to his own wines at Piedrasassi and Domaine de la Cote, but also those he makes for Sandhi and Stolpman. Syrah is the main player at Piedrasassi. The entry-level PS wine is made in a fruit-forward style and is meant to be drunk young. With the Rim Rock, Moorman is going for as much site-specific character as possible. That wine sees 16-18 months in barrel, with an increasing preference for 400-500L barrels. The Central Coast bottling typically spends a little longer in barrel, as Moorman thinks it needs more time in oak to soften some of its more robust contours. Ultimately, it's hard to argue with the quality of what goes into the bottle. These very special, hand-made wines are richly deserving of a far broader audience. Moorman’s dedication to fine wine has made every vineyard he’s put his hands into a critically acclaimed success and cult classic. His own vineyard is no exception, and has a very telling tag line: “We try to make honest wines we believe in.” Piedrasassi PS Syrah 2012 |
Cloverdale Ranch is Back but then Gone Forever The Pellegrini Family traces its heritage in winemaking to the early 1900s when brothers Nello and Gino Pellegrini arrived in New York City from their native Tuscany. They soon made their way to the West Coast and in 1925 became Sonoma County grape merchants, shipping grapes throughout the U.S. for home winemaking. In 1933 after repeal of Prohibition, the brothers established the original Pellegrini Wine Company, shipping grapes from Sonoma County and producing quality wines for many of San Francisco's finest shops and restaurants. Nello's son Vincent took over direction of the winery in the early 1950s, and expanded into wholesale distribution of imported and domestic wines and spirits. In 1973, Vincent In the mid 1980's, Vincent's children Robert, Richard and Jeanne decided to increase the family's vineyard holdings, and subsequently purchased the Cloverdale Ranch in the Alexander Valley of Sonoma County. Today, Cloverdale Ranch's 55 acres are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines, with the resulting production enjoying worldwide critical acclaim. When Vincent Pellegrini passed away in 1989, Robert, Richard and Jeanne assumed leadership of the wine business, and decided to focus on producing estate-bottled artisan wines of the highest quality. As part of their commitment to the production of fine wine, in 2001 they built a state-of-the-art winemaking facility on the Olivet Lane Estate. With this addition, the family has been able to recruit a top winemaking team and produce estate-designated, consistently award-winning products. Together, the family continues to produce some of Sonoma County's finest wines, and is committed to continuing the legacy of distinction and quality, now and for future generations. Pellegrini Cabernet Sauvignon Cloverdale Ranch 2010
Pellegrini Merlot Cloverdale Ranch 2009 |
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| Mon-Sat | 10:00 am - 8:45 pm |
| Sun | 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm |
We are closed annually in observance of these holidays:
New Year's Day
Christmas Day
All other holidays we are usually open from 10am-4pm. On Christmas Eve (December 24th) we typically close at 7pm and on New Year's Eve (December 31st) we typically close at 7pm.
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n started keeping the best blocks for himself and today, in concert with winemaker Sashi Moorman; they continue to produce some of the central coast’s best wines. 
Piedrasassi in 2003 Lompoc, California- just up the coast in Santa Barbara’s famous wine region.
and his wife Ida purchased a 70-acre apple and plum orchard on West Olivet Road in Santa Rosa. They converted this prime Russian River Valley property to grape vines, and Vincent had the foresight to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In the late 70s, Robert Pellegrini named his first wine "Olivet Lane" Chardonnay, and the name took. Olivet Lane was one of the first Pinot Noir estates in the Russian River Valley, and over the years has been the grape source for many of the Valley's Pinot Noir luminaries, in addition to the family's own award-winning Olivet Lane Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production.