Concannon
Vineyard 2007 Assemblage White / Livermore Valley
Over
their 125 year history, the folks at Concannon have learned
how to take advantage of the austere, rocky soil of Livermore
Valley estate to produce fruit with highly concentrated
flavors. For this wine, winemaker Adam Richardson
has expertly blended the classic Bordeaux varietals of
Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Pause to take in the
nose and you'll find lively aromas of melon, grapefruit
and other citrus fruits, balanced by herbier, grassier
notes. The crisp, refreshing acidity flows into
a bright, citrus finish that makes for great drinkablity.
Pair a bottle with fresh cuts of swordfish hot off the
grill and you won't be disappointed. |
Concannon
Vineyard 2006 Viognier / Central Coast
Concannon's
stony soils, cool mornings, and late afternoon breezes
are key elements in their production of quality viognier
fruit. The sweet, floral nose of honeysuckle and
orange blossoms, which rises out from the soft yellow
hue, is best savored in the warm, fresh air of a clear
day. A palate busting with pineapple, honeydew melon,
and green apple flavors make a second sip hard to resist.
The wine comes to a close with a smooth, creamy finish.
Bring a bottle along for a nice romantic picnic or grab
a few and cook-up a spread of your favorite shellfish
for friends. |
Concannon
Vineyard 2007 Righteously Rosè / Central Coast
Rosès
are often overlooked in America, but winemaker Adam Richardson's
effort might cause a few cynics to give them a second
look. A blend of mainly Rhone varietals, including
Petite Sirah, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and
Zinfandel, this is a lively wine. Aging in cool
stainless steel highlighted the floral notes and maintained
a crisp hint of acidity, giving the wine a bright, fresh
character. Out of the vibrant pink-ruby hue, flavors
of cherry, cranberry, and strawberry fill the palate,
flowing into a tart, citrusy finish. This is a wine
made for summertime! |
Concannon
Vineyard 2005 Stampmaker's Syrah / Central Coast
James
Concannon, the vineyard's founder, was a stampmaker by
trade. His memory is honored with this Rhone-styled
wine, blending 77% Syrah, 14 % Petite Sirah, 4% Cinsault,3%
Cunoise, 2% Grenache. Hold a glass to the sun and
admire the deep violet hue. A sip will bring ripe
flavors of blackberry and boysenberry. More subtle
notes of vanilla, licorice, and pepper float upon supple
tannins. Close your eyes to savor the smooth finish,
with lingering notes of toasted oak from 12 months of
aging in French and American barrels. Enjoy this
fine, newly released wine with hearty dishes, like a well-seasoned
rack of lamb. |
Concannon
Vineyard 2005 Assemblage Cabernet Sauvignon / Central
Coast
This
rich Cabernet is made in the style of elegant Bordeaux
wines. Central Coast and Livermore Valley fruit
was aged in carefully in selected oak barrels after long
periods of cool fermentation. The resulting wine is one
which deserves your full attention. Pause to appreciate
the deep purple hue and its soft ruby edges. Take
a sip and firm tannins allow lush flavors of black cherry,
currants, and plum to drift over your palate, unfolding
into a silky finish that offers complex layers of oak,
dark chocolate, and hints of smoke. A very nice
wine that deserves the company of elegant cheeses or a
delectable cut of filet mignon. Open a bottle now,
but cellar one for later, too. |
Concannon
Vineyard 2005 Petite Sirah / Central Coast
Concannon
Vineyards pioneered producing the varietal back in the early
1960's. Today, winemaker Adam Richardson carries on
the tradition, making the grape a cornerstone of the winery.
This limited release vintage offers rich and complex flavors.
A nose of bright red fruit, oak, must, and spice unfolds
into a palate bursting with black cherry, vanilla, pepper,
and earthier tones, held up by a full-body and firm structure.
At its finish, the wine leaves dry and smooth, with lingering
hints of cherry to tide you over untill your second glass.
Serve this wine to dinner guests alongside hearty meats,
or pair it with your favorite dark chocolate dessert as
a special indulgence. |
La
Rochelle 2006 Classic Clones Pinot Noir / Arroyo Seco
The
Mirassou family has a long history with Pinot Noir and this
wine is the latest addition to that account. The fruit,
which comes from a late fall harvested on the family vineyards
in the Arroyo Seco region, was aged for over a year in French
oak. The resulting wine presents with a bold ruby
hue in bright sunlight. Swirling a glass releases
aromas of black cherry and cola, with hints of spice and
herbs lingering in the background. Ripe cherry flavors
dominate the palate, with subtle hints of spice and earth
that give the wine added depth and entice you back for a
second sip. With its lingering, lively finish, the
flavors' memory hangs on. A very nice Pinot Noir to
pair with salmon in a soy sauce and garlic marinade or a
roast chicken seasoned with rosemary. |
La
Rochelle 2006 San Vicente Vineyard Chardonnay / Monterey
The
San Vicente Vineyard was first planted back in the 60's,
and quality fruit has been coming from there ever since.
With this latest harvest, winemakers Tom Stutz and Steven
Mirassou have produced a fine wine, with an excellent depth
of flavors that unfold from its golden hue. The ripe
essence of peach and pineapple are balanced by softer nuances
of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. A nice lively
acidity and a crisp tropical finish make this wine quite
drinkable and a lovely compliment to an outdoor dinner on
a soft, sunny evening. You may even want a second
bottle, just in case. |
Murrieta's
Well 2006 White Meritage / Livermore Valley
The
vineyards 92-acre estate was first planted in 1884 with
cuttings brought over from France. Today, winemaker
Sergio Traverso carries on the tradition of making Bordeaux-
style blends. This white consists of 65% Sauvignon
Blanc and 35% Semillon, achieving a lovely balance between
the crisp and creamy characters of the contrasting grapes.
The result is a rich wine with very nice depth. Pineapple
and other tropical fruits are carried by a fresh acidity
and balanced with flavors of ripe melon, honey, and creamy
oak. Combined with the zest of a crisp, tart finish,
this wine is sure to please. Pick up a bottle and
toast with some good friends. |
Murrieta's
Well 2006 Zinfandel / Livermore Valley
This
is a classically produced Zinfandel, from carefully farmed
old vines on the historic Raboli vineyard. Aged for
twenty months in French and American oak, we have a lovely,
lighter wine, with an elegant ruby-purple hue, which is
oh so drinkable. Lush aromas of strawberries, plums,
and tea rise from a freshly swirled glass. With a
sip, the strawberry returns, accented by hints of cloves
and earth. The light, jammy finish is sure to
put a smile on your face. Drink this one on its own
or with succulent slow smoked ribs. Without an abundance
of spice, it won't overpower the flavors. |
Murrieta's
Well 2004 Zarzuela / Livermore Valley
Winemaker
Sergio Traverso offers up a delectable blend of Spanish
and Portuguese grape varietals, including Touriga Nacional,
Tempranillo, and Souzao. Zarzuela is the Spanish word for
"operetta," and this wine exhibits a similar character
of great harmony. After 14 months of aging separately
in oak, the wine was then blended and returned to the barrels
for further development. Finished, the wine invites
you in by its deep violet hue, with bold ruby edges.
A bouquet of cherry, currants, pepper, and floral notes
wraps around your senses. After a sip, lush flavors
of black cherry, leather, and spices fill your palate as
they drift upon supple tannins. The wine's finish
is smooth and dry, leaving hints of coffee lingering behind.
A very nice wine. |
Murrieta's
Well 2005 Red Meritage / Livermore Valley
The
California tradition of making excellent French Style wine
continues. Here we have a lovely blend of meritage
varietals with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 12% Petit
Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Great care by the winemaker
and extended aging in French, American, and Hungarian oak
give this wine excellent depth. Scrumptious flavors
of plum, blackberry, and chocolate drift upon solid tannins,
accented by the elegant spice of cinnamon and pepper.
A soft touch of oak, hints of coffee, and dark fruit are
left lingering by the well-balanced finish. Pair this
with full-flavored cheeses or a barbecued lamb chop and
enjoy. |
Steven
Kent 2006 Merrillie Chardonnay, Unfiltered / Livermore Valley
This
wine comes from the gravelly soils and rolling hills of
the Livermore Valley. Made with fruit harvested out
of the Ernest Wente and Wisner Vineyard and named for Steven
Kent Mirassou's great-grandmother, we are offered a pure
Chardonnay, without filtration. Aging in American,
French, and Hungarian barrels brought out rich notes of
caramel, vanilla, and oak to balance the vibrant fruit flavors
of pineapple, melon, peach, and green apple. With
such depth, it is a wine to savor straight through to the
smooth, light, oaky finish. Paired with sole in a
butter and lemon sauce or pasta alfredo, it's sure to please. |
Steven
Kent 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Ghielmetti Vineyard / Livermore
Valley
With
its refreshing crisp character and vivacious acidity,
this is one of the best Sauvignon Blanc's to come out
of the Livermore Valley. From its white-golden hue
pours zesty scents of lime, grapefruit, pear, and subtle
floral notes. After taking in the vibrant nose,
sip and savor the bright palate, full of peach and citrus
fruit flavors. A clean, crisp acidity make for a
fresh, dry finish that's the perfect remedy to a balmy
afternoon. Enjoy this delicious wine, relaxing on
your own, before dinner with good friends, or as an accompaniment
to a lemon and herb shrimp scampi. |
Tamás
Estates 2007 Pinto Grigio / Arroyo Seco
An
old world varietal gets a new world touch with this wine.
Produced from fruit grown in the Arroyo Seco region, the
moderate costal temperatures allow for gradual ripening
that produces vibrant flavors. Aging in stainless
steal tanks allowed the wine to retain its crisp, fruity
character. A warm evening with a soft breeze is a
perfect time to take in the lively nose of zesty lemon,
grapefruit, and fresh cut grass. Then savory the bright
palate as the wine's firm acidity is balanced nicely by
vivid citrus flavors. Soft hints of minerals are left
lingering on the finish. Grab a bottle next time you
indulge in a salmon or shrimp topped salad or with a juicy
chicken breast marinated in a light Italian sauce. |
Wente
Vineyards 2007 Riva Ranch Chardonnay / Arroyo Seco
Made
predominantly from grapes grown on prime land in the Arroyo
Seco region where the cool growing season and gravelly soil
are ideal conditions for ripening Chardonnay, this wine
is another fine effort from fifth generation winemaker Karl
Wente. Eight months in American oak brought out rich
vanilla and oak character to balance the ripe bouquet of
fruit, including apple, pear, and peach that rise out of
a translucent golden hue . More subtle flavors of
tropical fruit and caramel round out the palate, which comes
to a close with lingering hints of oak. Pair this
very nice, medium-bodied, wine alongside pasta topped with
your favorite cream sauce or salmon with a fresh pesto marinade.
|
Wente
Vineyards 2006 Riverbank Riesling / Arroyo Seco
Picture
the cool fertile vineyards of the Wente Family ranch when
you pour a glass and admire the soft yellow hue. Swirl
and wait for indulgent aromas of honeysuckle and orange
blossoms. A sip adds lush fruit flavors of peach,
apple, and melon. Slightly sweet but charged by a
firm crisp character, the wine strikes a nice balance, making
it easy to drink. It's a perfect compliment to a light
fruit and cheese appetizer. So chill a bottle or two
and invite some friends over to join you. |
|
