• Bordeaux
• Blends
• Cabernet Franc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Gamay
• Malbec
• Merlot
• Mourvedre
• Petite Sirah

From the stellar 2003 vintage this classic Bordeaux is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The owner of this property is the famed Jean Claud Berrouet, the winemaker of Petrus, Lafleur and Trotanoy. The estate sits on 6 acres in Montagne Saint Emilion and was planted in 1957. Showing brilliant ruby/garnet color, the wine really shows its Merlot roots, but only in color. Aromas are certainly Cabernet Franc dominant exhibiting rhubarb, blueberry and earth notes. A punch of white pepper underlying the rhubarb displays the beauty of the Cabernet Franc. The palate is perfectly structured. Impressive weight and a long finish give this wine a regal feel. A good drink right now, but I might put some away for a few years and watch it develop.

 

60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine shows pleasant aromas of rose petals and currants. Medium bodied with nice found tannins and a clean finish. Soft and supple palate with blackberry, chocolate and coffee character.

 

60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. An amazingly rich bouquet of espresso roast interwoven with blueberry liqueur, violets, and graphite is followed by a wine of enormous richness, full body, superb acidity, huge tannin, and nearly perfect symmetry. This staggering effort is more backward than such recent vintages as their 2003 and 2000, but after 5-10 years of cellaring, it will provide immense pleasure for three decades or more. It's a titan in the making!

 

60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. The estate sits on 6 acres in Montagne Saint Emilion and was planted in 1957. Showing brilliant ruby/garnet color, the wine really shows its Merlot roots, but only in color. Aromas are certainly Cabernet Franc dominant exhibiting rhubarb, blueberry and earth notes. A punch of white pepper underlying the rhubarb displays the beauty of the Cabernet Franc. The palate is perfectly structured. Impressive weight and a long finish give this wine a regal feel. A good drink right now, but I might put some away for a few years and watch it develop.

 

This rich blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot is barrel aged in Slovenian and Allier oak for 12 months. The result is an intense ruby red color with a harmonious bouquet of red berries, rose petals and spice. It's full-bodied, dense on the palate and has great tannin structure which tells me it'll age a good 8 - 10 years in your cellar….but I'm sure you won't wait that long! It drinks more like a California Meritage than the Bordeaux –style that it's made to reflect…lots of sweet forward black fruits.

Yes, it's really 1997! That stellar Italian vintage that you thought you would never see again in a wine shop….and we've got the last of it! This is the way Amarone is meant to be drunk: with 9 years in the bottle and going (and growing!) strong. Immense, intense, dense. 3 words that best describe this rare gem. This blend of 90% Corvina, 5% Rondinella, and 5% Molinara is made intense by the natural drying of the grapes for about 3 months when their natural characteristics become apparent after 3 to 4 years of refinement in barrel. It offers excellent toasted sensations and bouquet of ripe fruit, plum, vanilla, coffee and chocolate. It'll last 20 more years in your cellar…..easily….a great wine for reflection. So grab a chunk of the strongest, smelliest Italian cheese and go to town!

Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape red has a full deep color with the bouquet of spice and old leather, with flavor and balance of tannin, length and ripe fruit. It is a cepage of the many of the 13 Rhone grape varietals including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Carignane. It can be enjoyed over 8-12 years, and accompany all red meats, casseroles and cheeses.

 

Cellar Notes
With an inky purple hue, this Meritage blend offers aromas of ripe black plum, blackberry and violets on the nose. Saturated fruit flavors of plum, black cherry and berry mingle with nutmeg and mocha, as hints of forest and wintergreen tease the senses. The presentation of lovely ripe, unctuous fruit continues throughout a long finish of black cherry, spices and toasted oak.

Varietal Content 81% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Merlot
4% Cabernet Franc

Harvest Appellation: Napa Valley
Harvest Dates: September 15 - October 25

Release Release Date: Summer 2005
Case Production: 5,300

Reviews
Wine Advocate
Rated 92 … Vivid blue/purple color is accompanied by a sweet perfume of incense, Asian spices, black currants, blackberries, and vanilla. These is terrific fruit on the attack, medium to full body, a sweet mid-palate, fine length, and nicely integrated ripe tannin. Consume it over the next 10-15 years. (Robert M. Parker, Jr.) February 28, 2005

This 2005 bursts with the slinky red fruits of the family-owned Domaine, which have rounded out beautifully as the vineyard has grown up. A medium-bodied and supple wine, this is a classic Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Drink now to 2010.

This may be Hahn's most Bordeaux-like Cabernet Franc offering to date. Aromas of lavender, chocolate, and dried herbs. The mouth is rich and filling with flavors of bright red fruits and plums finally tapering off with subtle notes of pepper from the Petit Verdot. Solid acidity and grainy tannins suspend the finish.

Harvest commenced the last week of October. Fruit was delivered up the hill to the winery in small picking bins and crushed into 15 ton open top fermentation tanks. At 14 days, the tanks were pressed out and the wine allowed to settle for two more weeks so secondary fermentation could finish up. The wine was transferred into a mix of new and neutral French oak barrels to age for 11 months. A small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot was blended into the wine prior to bottling to round out the flavors and complete the blend.

Try this wine with Italian sausage and wild mushroom risotto, a bruschetta made with portobello mushrooms and topped with rosemary aioli, or cider-braised pork chops.

There is nothing shy about this Cabernet Sauvignon. It carries true characteristics of this noble grape and an amazing variety of flavors. Powerful plum and rich blackberry fruit marry well with the licorice and vanilla notes. The lively structure and matured depth of the wine wraps around a core of spicy currants and black cherry. Aged in New French Oak for 13 months; 6,100 cases produced.

Dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 offers up aromas of black fruit, cassis, chocolate and cedar, followed by flavors of luscious blackberry cobbler, dark chocolate and toffee. The acids are medium-soft, and on the palate the wine is medium-full, with rich, fine-grain tannins and a long, lingering finish. Delicious with steak, the 2003 Cabernet is also enjoyable with roasted game meats and grilled lamb chops.

The 2004 Hahn Estates Cabernet Sauvignon is a serious wine….their biggest in terms of flavor and mouthfeel to date. As with previous releases, this wine is a blend of Hahn's best Cabernet from the Smith Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands and their two favorite Cabernet vineyards from Paso Robles - Big Red, and Serena Vista. Malbec and Cabernet Franc were added to the final mix prior to bottling.

The wine opens with cedar and raspberry fruit on the nose. Rich and mouthfilling with flavors of blueberry, cherry, mint, and chocolate. Seriously silky tannins wrap around the tongue while a considerable amount of cool climate acidity keeps the flavors lively through the finish.

Pairing this wine with steak has got to be one of those matches made in heaven. Try with charcoal grilled rib eye and grilled corn on the cob, braised beef short ribs with roasted potatoes, or if you can get it, buffalo burgers with a tangy BBQ sauce.

Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon is a quintessential Napa Valley Cabernet. Our most concentrated vintage yet. Aromas of rich chocolate, coffee, cassis, mixed dark fruit and hints of raspberry. Super rich and mouth filling with flavors of cassis coffee and toasted oak that lends to a great body and texture with rich, ripe supple tannins on the lingering finish. 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.

The deep purple color is accentuated by vibrant red hues. This Cabernet Sauvignon is an attractive fruit driven red, with a full bouquet of sweet berries and violets complemented by subtle French oak. The ripe berry characters flow smoothly onto the palate, combining with spices and vanilla oak and soft chewy tannins. A generous wine representing tremendous value for money. Drinking well now, additional complexity may be gained with ageing. Served with Roasted Lamb and game with fresh herbs, especially thyme, rosemary and sage also vintage cheddar.

Cellar Notes
Enticing aromas of blueberry, black cherry, coffee and toffee are the introduction to this elegant Cabernet Sauvignon. A full-bodied entry of blackberry and wild cherry hit the palate as flavors of cola, chocolate, coffee and leather commingle to create a complex and multifaceted wine. The velvety tannins carry notes of blueberry through to the long, supple finish that lingers with hints of smoke from the 100 percent French oak.

Varietal Content 96% Cabernet Sauvignon
4% Cabernet Franc

Release 7,300 Cases Produced

 

THE 2002 VINTAGE will be remembered for its cold winter that included snow and frost, followed by a very cool spring fi lled with rain. With one of the mildest summers on record, Labor Day weekend brought multiple days of 100+ degree temperatures with ultra low humidity fanned by dry inland winds that quickened harvest. The result is wines with good concentration and maturity that remind us that C A B E R N E T from the Napa Valley is not only in our blood but in our soils. Winemaker Kevin Morrisey fermented the grapes in small lots, in a combination of open and closed-top fermenters. Gentle punch downs of the caps during extended maceration produced good color and tannin extraction. After fermentation, Morrisey aged the wine in 100% French oak barrels (50% new) for 22 months. A hint of Cabernet Franc and Merlot were added to the blend to lend complexity and structure. Rich and concentrated, this wine delivers beautiful black fruit aromas of blackberry and cassis backed by hints of black pepper, black olive and brown spices. A deep and dense entry fills the mouth with forward red and black fruit flavors of rhubarb, red cherries, raspberries and boysenberry. Lightly structured with round, chewy tannins, the finish is long and supple with layers of bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee beans.

This stylish Cabernet Sauvignon shows bright plum and black currant aromas accompanied by distinctive notes of vanilla. Ripe tannins lead to a long, velvety finish. The different soils of the vineyard sources (clay and limestone in Limoux and gravel in the Gard ) add complexity and richness to the wine. Enjoy it paired with tomato-based dishes, hearty pastas, grilled beef tenderloin and hard, aged cheeses.

2003 marks the first vintage that Grgich’s Cabernet Sauvignon is estate grown. By blending wine from their Yountville vineyard with small amounts from the Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards, which are all farmed organically, Mike creates a complex Cabernet Sauvignon with a distinctive personality. The result is a dark, muscular wine with intriguing aromas of licorice, cedar and blackberries with a hint of earthy truffles. Wonderfully drinkable upon release, the wine’s firm tannin structure promises it will benefit from aging. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot….aged 21 months in new French Oak.

 

Malbec is one of the five red grapes responsible for the great reds of Bordeaux in France . It is only in Argentina , however, where Malbec has shown that it can stand at the table of the world's greatest wines. It is Argentina 's signature red grape and the 2003 Funky Llama proves a worthy introduction to the style. It is a deep, robust red color and features a rich, brooding black fruit and mineral nose. In the mouth the wine is full and weighty with ripe tannins and generous flavors. It is a warm, hearty red with ample character yet is easy to drink.

This Merlot is a wine that is plush, elegant and expresses remarkable concentrated fruit flavors with Franciscan's hallmark supple tannins. The 2002 vintage was noted for the ideal combination of warm weather and long hang time, which provided perfect conditions for fully ripened fruit. Additionally, slightly lower yields and small berries further enhanced the concentrated flavors in the fruit and ultimately the wine. Incredibly rich, with intense blackberry and black cherry, accented by vanilla-toasted oak with hints of cassis. Supple and ripe blackberry, black cherry and hints of toasted oak and vanilla fill the mouth with a full mid-palate and a long, round finish.. 87% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep garnet with vibrant red hues. A soft, supple red with a fruit driven bouquet of ripe cherry, plum and violet with cedar overtones. The flavorsome palate of plum and sweet fruit blend nicely with vanillin oak. A delightful, medium weight wine, which finishes long with soft, firm tannins. Excellent drinking now this merlot is well suited to Steak grilled or fried, pork sausages, osso bucco, red capsicum, basil and garlic, also Camembert, Gouda and Parmesan cheese.

Cellar Notes
Dense ruby red in color, this wine explodes with fruit aromas of ripe black plum and black cherry together with hints of coffee and vanilla. Immediately the celebration of fruit greets the palate and commingles with flavors of candied violets, cedar and sweet tobacco from the 100 percent French oak barrels. The supple, velvety tannins in this delectable Merlot create a long, complex finish of spice and black fruit to the very end.

Varietal Content
77% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon

Release
Bottling Completed: July 2003
Release Date: March 2004
Case Production: 5,200

THE BLACK NOBLE grape of Petite Sirah occupies a profound place in the rich viticultural heritage of Stags' Leap. “Our prized volcanic soils and warm microclimate are home to the oldest Petite Sirah vines within the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley. From these rustic vines on this historic property, along with fruit from vineyards in the cooler areas around Napa , we produce an exceptional Petite of beauty and finesse,” says winemaker Robert Brittan.

The power of Petite Sirah has lured Brittan to craft Rhone varieties with a distinctive Napa Valley style. “Our Stags' Leap Petite is an elegant wine with a strong sense of place,” says Brittan. Stags' Leap Petite Sirah grapes sourced from the estate offer jammy, berry notes, while clusters from Brittan's personal vineyard near Napa contribute to the mineral, pepper and smoke components. “The 2001 vintage expresses a classically earthy profile punctuated with red fruit and a hint of pepper spice,” adds Brittan.

The luxuriant 2001 Petite Sirah welcomes you with ripe blackberry aromas and flavors burnished with raspberry and black cherry. Look for a touch of mint hidden among leather and tobacco. Brittan chose to protect the fruit's integrity by aging the wine in mostly used French oak barrels for 14 months-keeping the wood nuances integrated and balanced. A touch of Syrah was added for complexity, and a solid structure of round tannins supports the long finish of this full-bodied wine.

Keeping with the tradition established by Andrew Frei in 1890, Frei Brothers Reserve wines are crafted to reveal the personality of the land and bring out the natural expression of the fruit. This is why they chose the Russian River Valley as the home of their Pinot Noir.

This Pinot Noir possess a fruit-forward character with intense aromas and flavors that reflect the land and the climate that created the grapes. The wine is medium to full-bodied and bursts with pure varietal flavors and aromas of rose petal, black cherry, and raspberry delicately balanced with sweet vanilla notes and soft tannins.

This 100% Pinot Noir from the Marlborough regioin was handpicked, destemmed and crushed into open vats. The wine was lightly pressed immediately after ferment, and racked to French oak barriques, for 10 months ageing. During this period the wine was regularly stirred on light yeast lees, and full malolactic fermentation occurred.

Bright, rich ruby hue. Rich plum and cherry fruit flavours, lifted by sweet, charry oak and underlined by a gamey complexity. Soft, velvet textured, medium bodied wine, supporting plum flavours and a lingering finish.

Soft and round on the palate, this Pinot Noir is chock full of ripe, wild berry flavors and aromas that culminate in a long, supple finish. Pretty weighty on the palate with a touch of spice and earthiness….great French Pinot for the money!

This fun Rhone blend entices the nose with hints of raspberry and boysenberry enhanced by underlying accents of clove and nutmeg. A medium body is laced with plum flavors and vibrant black cherries. Godd tannins and a clean finish round out thishighly approachable wine. Fun and easy drinking, this flirty Rhone blend is a real palate pleaser. This is a classic Rhone blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Try it paired with chicken from the barbeque or a smoky bratwurst sandwich. 2,500 cases produced.

A blend of 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc.  The wine begins with a rich, fruity fragrance of blackcurrant and cherry.  On the palate it is supple and well-rounded with a pleasant array of dark fruit flavors.  The soft texture carries through to the finish making this beauty a delightfully easy-drinking red.  Perfect with just about anything off the grill!

The inaugural release of Avila Syrah is deep, dark, dense, and chewy with an abundant mouthful of blueberry, dark plum, and currant. Approachable, plush warm climate fruit tones, characteristic Santa Barbara 's warm days merge with the 3,200 feet high elevation cool climate character of Asian spice, tar, and black pepper. Aged for 10 month in 50% American and 50% French Oak. 5,000 cases produced.

This in-your-face wine is a blend of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier from the Upper Hunter Valley.  The Viognier gives the wine a more aromatic aroma of rose petals and floral notes and helps to brighted the color of the Shiraz.  Surprisingly, the Viognier adds a bit more tannin structure.  It's a big fruit-bomb with spice notes of black pepper...love it!

Shiraz is the Australian synonym for Syrah, the grape made famous in France 's Rhone Valley . The 2003 Funky Llama Shiraz is the product of vines that are a direct descendant of plants that were originally brought from France , and upon tasting the wine, this fact becomes readily apparent to the knowledgeable wine drinker. The color is a deep ruby, while the nose features an earthy, complex wild game and blackberry quality that harkens to the wine's French roots. In the mouth this Shiraz is rich and full, yet it shows a sense of restraint and a balanced structure. The end result is a versatile wine that shows a bit more elegance than your average Aussie Shiraz.

Many winemakers will agree that some of the best wines are produced from the very first crop off of a vineyard. Why? I'm not sure. But I can say that this was certainly the case with Hahn's Doctor's Vineyard Block 2C Syrah. Four years ago, the land these vines cover at the top of this wonderful Santa Lucia Highlands vineyard were inhabited by some fairly uninspiring Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Nicky Hahn made the decision at that point to replace the vines with something we thought would be ideally suited for that particular site. The resulting Syrah wines from this first crop are unbelievably dark, dense, and extracted.

There are still pepper and floral notes on the nose, but blackberry, briar, and spice figure more prominently. Wildly expressive flavors of plum, cherry, and dark chocolate are the dominant components I pick up in the palate. The tannins are silky and round, and are supported with a racy acidity that will make this wine an ideal complement to richer meats.

Try with braised short ribs, roast lamb, or roast duck with a Syrah reduction.

 

A soft peppery shiraz, with ripe blackberry aromas. A flavorsome, medium weight wine revealing a warm palate of plum and blackberry with a subtle smoky oak finish. Enjoyable now or age for up to two years. This great everyday drinking wine is ideal with Pizza Neapolitan, crumbed Veal Cutlets or marinated Steak on the barbeque.

An old vineyard of Zinfandel in the winter is a sculpture gallery. The leaves have fallen off and winds have blown them across the road. If you get there before the pruning, you can see all the work of the vine as it is laid bare. This is a chance to see how much work nature goes through just to bring us the good stuff. The bundle of canes is just one year's work, the arms of the vine are decades of work, and the trunk is measured in fractions of centuries. Aromas and flavors of big blueberries and blackberries in a back ground of ripe plums. Mature oak tannins frame a well balanced, sturdy wine with moderate alcohol that enhances the lengthy finish. Enjoy this wine with a variety of foods like zesty pasta, pizza and your favorite Italian food, grilled meats and BBQ, or simply by itself—a true expression of the quintessential American Wine!

The bouquet of this rich, flavorful wine shows ripe black cherry and black currant with hints of vanilla and black pepper. Additional layers of clove, mint and sweet oak undertones add even more balance and depth. The flavors are ripe black cherry, currant and creamy spice with hints of dark chocolate. The interplay of black raspberry and cherry/berry fruit lushness will nicely accompany hearty pasta and grilled marinated salmon, or slow-smoked pork ribs. Aged 15 months in American and French oak and has an ageing potential of 3 – 5 years.

Seven of Lodi's best growers gave their souls and the first fruits of each of their old vine vineyards to contribute to the layered complexity of this fanciful blend. Soft, supple pepper and licorice-clove notes merge into a sinful marriage of deep, brambly blackberries and lustful cherries. The finish is clean on the palate with hints of rich vanilla, cocoa, and mild tannins.

The late Tim Murphy was the architect of our Zinfandel program in a plan conceived over 20 years of breakfasts and “liar's dice” games at Mickey's Café in Geyserville. Tim's circle of friends at these early morning meetings are some of the finest Zin growers in Sonoma County and now are the fruit source for Liar's Dice Zinfandel. Dense black cherry, raspberry jam, and currant notes are brought together in layers with sweet vanilla oak.

This fun Zinfandel brings back the inspiration in California Zins. It has a sturdy structure and full body that will pair well with foods and always offers great layers of fruit and earth to please cocktail wine drinkers too. Rich nuances of earth and oak alongside jammy fruit, vanilla, spice, and chocolate notes. The finish goes on a lot longer revealing incredible layers of wild berries and cocoa.