Solely from the aromatics, one can tell there is excellent purity of fruit about to unfold from its broad nose to ripe palate. Rich in overall volume, this wine begins with aromatics of ripe raspberry, cola, and hints of tactile barrel vanillin, each in their own volley, lifting harmoniously from the glass. The fruit on the mouth is firm and full, but not intrusive. The palate begins with a cacophony of finesse-driven flavors typical in premium Francs that include hard cherry candy, cinnamon, sweet black fruit, and hints of Christmas spice. The acid tannin relationship is a pure marriage of velvet and silk. Cellared correctly, this wine will thrive and continue to improve for 8 to 12 years or longer.
This Sauvignon Blanc opens with a captivating bouquet of mineral and stone, evoking a sense of place and terroir. On the palate, it offers a delightful interplay of flavors, prominently featuring refreshing notes of grapefruit and sliced pineapple. There is a mineral character that lends a crispness and clarity to the wine. The grapefruit note adds a zesty brightness, while the sliced pineapple introduces a subtle tropical sweetness that balances the overall profile beautifully. This wine cries out for warm, sunshine days, filled with time by the pool or time by the water. Its vibrant acidity provides a lively structure that enhances the fruitiness and prolongs the finish, leaving a lingering impression of citrus and minerals. Mirror Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect embodiment of its varietal characteristics, offering a refreshing and complex experience that is both versatile and enjoyable.
The Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap is always a pleasure to work with and even more to savor and enjoy! Delightful aromas of sweet vanillin gently emerge, mingling with the enticing scent of freshly baked creme brule’. Notes of toasted oak and caramelized sugar dance gracefully, inviting you deeper into the sensory journey. Tropical sensations of ripe pineapples delicately weave through, adding layers of complexity and clever allure. Further on the palate, the wine unveils its greater depth of character. Bright yet creamy textures caress the senses, reminiscent of luxurious white Burgundy while hints of toasted oak provide a subtle backbone. There is a freshness of acidity in this wine that carries for over 2 minutes of an outstanding long finish.
Pour on the intensity! This marvelously extracted Cabernet is full of wow factor. It begins dark and brooding in the glass, typical of the ’21 vintage throughout Napa Valley. 2021 will be long remembered for the intense drought that naturally thinned vineyards by way of smaller berry size and smaller clusters thus reducing yields in many vineyards by 40 to 70%. The result was profound color and extraction and this ’21 is no exception.
Beginning with a dark, brooding notes of kirsch, cassis, blackberry jelly jar, French barrel vanillin and rose potpourri each dance to fill the glass. As this wine opens, more surreal notes of black fruit, dried cherry, hints of tar and barrel toast come through on the palate. The acid lightly bounces from wall to wall in the mouth to allow a 2-minute glide on the finish. This is the making of a wonderful 15-to-20-year wine.
Whew, the ’21 packs a flavorful punch! A knockout, massive wine, focused nose of plum, currant…give it some time and it’s the entire black fruit spectrum. It is incredibly intoxicating. Crushed herbs, dried cherry, savory spice and kirsch. Catching right up at the start is a robust mouthfeel, elixir-like presence. Mountain fruit from the rare 337 cone at 1400 feet. Chocolate dipped cherry, accurately fine, dusty tannins. Flavors are consistent and abound, and persist well over 4 minutes. Elevage of 22 months, 100% New French Oak. Unfiltered and Unfined. Enjoy to 2038 and beyond in optimal conditions. Easily a 20-year wine! The blend arrives at 97% Stagecoach C5 Block Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Destin Vineyard Malbec.
A breezy and bright rosé reflective of its origins on those sunny windswept slopes of the vineyard. Wafts of cherry skin, strawberry purée, and red hard candy pique the nose, while layers of lavender oil and sea salt slip over the tongue. Some wines have grip, this one has charge… it’s almost electric.
