2010 Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Merlot - Wine of the Day

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2010 Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Merlot

 2010 Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Merlot

$99

Anthem's inaugural vintage of Merlot is a Cab-lover's Merlot, and is an incredibly deep, intense wine. The 2010 Merlot's aromatics are dominated by plumbs, black berries, charcoal and dark chocolate. On the palate, there are red fruits (raspberries, red cherries) as well as melted fudge, roasted meats and licorice that tail off into a smooth and amazingly long finish. Although it is hard to imagine a better Merlot, this wine will age and improve beautifully for at least another 5-7 years and pairs well with any pasta or meat dish. Grown on Mount Veeder. Drink now through 2019. 

Oakville - Wine Region of the Day

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Oakville was designated as an AVA in 1993 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 5,700 acres centered on the town of Oakville, it is probably Napa Valley's most famous appellation. The soil in Oakville is well-drained gravel soil deposits from the nearby Vaca and Mayacamas Mountains. The region goes from sea level in the valley to 600 feet in elevation at the base of the Vaca Mountains. Oakville has a warmer climate than much of the Napa Valley, with mild amounts of wind and fog from San Pablo Bay. The conditions in the region are ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, and many of America's greatest producers of Cabernet Sauvignon have vineyards in the AVA. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot are also grown here.

2011 Sabina Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

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 2011 Sabina Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

$125

This Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and concentrated with well-defined acidity and lush tannins. Dark cherry, currant, and blackberry abound in the aroma, followed by a chocolate, herbal flavor profile wrapped in cassis and black cherry. The blend of vibrant fruit and earthy notes are made complete with a long finish and smooth, lingering tannins. This wine is amazingly approachable now and will age gracefully for a solid 10+ years.

Just like other growers in the Napa Valley during the 2011 harvest season, Sabina Vineyards also had to wait out the rains and time out the grape picking dates just right. The Estate Vineyard was harvested on 2 separate days allowing both lots to have slightly different flavor profiles which was an advantage when making the final blend.

2012 Chateau Lane Petit Verdot - Wine of the Day

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2012 Chateau Lane Petit Verdot

$90

Explosions of dark chocolate, currant liqueur and blackberries on the nose with giant dark fruit on the pallet, this sleek stealth bomber will make you grin with purple teeth at each round and voluptuous mouthful of supremely rich freshly ground espresso bean and chicory.  Watch out Cab. Sauv., make way for Petit Verdot.  

2012 Humanitas Cabernet Franc Willy's Vineyard - Wine of the Day

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2012 Humanitas Cabernet Franc Willy's Vineyard

$60

Oft overlooked, occasionally maligned, but ever adored around here, the Cabernet Franc variety is shown off in its full glory when grown in Willy's Vineyard. There's something seductive about this wine, from its aromas of cinnamon, clove and worn leather to its soft, full mouthfeel and imposing structure. We love the way dusty tannins can melt into tantalizing flavors of cherry cola wiping our sorrows away. Charles Mingus is playing in the background, the aromas of a beautiful meal are wafting in from the kitchen, I'm on my second glass, and I'm pretty sure life doesn't get much better than this.

2014 Oak Cliff Cellars Napa Pinot Noir

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2014 Oak Cliff Cellars Napa Pinot Noir

$45

This Pinot Noir is still very young, will cellar for years to come and needs some decanting, if only in the glass, for the full bouquet to evolve. Brilliant garnet in color, the flavor profile starts out with cherry/black cherry and cedar, and as the wine opens up with flavors of orange zest, fig, butterscotch, cardamom and black tea, with a long, silky finish. Pair this wine with turkey, ham, salmon and savory vegetarian dishes like stuffed mushrooms or ratatouille.

This old vines vineyard of Pinot Noir was planted nearly 50 years ago (1966) by Pat and Duncan Haynes in what is now the Coombsville AVA, east of the city of Napa. Proximity to San Pablo Bay contributes to the temperate climate of Coombsville, with cooling effects of marine air and fog occur almost daily during the growing season Located in the wide alluvial deposits created by the wearing down of the hillsides, the Coombsville soils contain abundant rock, gravel and, in some areas, are layered with volcanic ash deposits from Mount George.

March 4th - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Frederick I Barbarossa was elected King of Germany in 1152.  He died during the third Crusade and his soldiers tried to preserve his body in a cask of vinegar.  It didn’t work.
  • Charles Dibdin, a British composer, musician, writer and actor was born in 1745.  He is famous for the song and pantomine, The vineyard revels.
  • The V. Sattui Winery in Napa Valley was opened to the public in 1976.

Napa Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Napa Valley received its designation as an AVA in 1981. Situated on 43,000 acres, Napa Valley is home to sub-appellations Los Carneros, Howell Mountain, Wild Horse Valley, Stags Leap District, Mt. Veeder, Atlas Peak, Spring Mountain District, Oakville, Rutherford, St. Helena, Chiles Valley, Yountville, Diamond Mountain District, Coombsville, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, and Calistoga. The Napa Valley floor is flanked by the Mayacamas Mountain Range on the western and northern sides the Vaca Mountains on the eastern side. The floor of the main valley gradually rises from sea level at the southern end to 362 feet above sea level at the northern end in Calistoga at the foot of Mount Saint Helena. The Oakville and Rutherford AVAs lie within a geographical area known as the Rutherford Bench in the center of the valley floor. The soil at the southern end of the valley consists mainly of sediments deposited by earlier advances and retreats of San Pablo Bay while the soil at the northern end of the valley contains a large volume of volcanic lava and ash. Several microclimates exist within the area due to various weather and geographical influences in the different sub-appellations. The open southern end of the valley floor is cooler during the growing season due to the proximity of San Pablo Bay while the sheltered, closed northern end is often much warmer. The eastern side of the valley tends to be arid because winter storms tend to drop much more precipitation on the western mountains and hills. Napa Valley is known for its world-class production of Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

2012 Humanitas 'Signum' Napa Valley - Wine of the Day

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 2012 Humanitas 'Signum' Napa Valley

$100

Signum: Latin for something that marks or identifies. We're more than comfortable making the 2012 Signum our identifying wine with its succulent, harmonious cacophony of blackberry, ripe wild strawberry, candied current and tobacco leaf. This is the elixir that seems to call out the stars on a cloudy night, and hasten our conversations to new existential depths. It's unfiltered, smooth, smudged with graphite, ready to chill out in your cellar for the next decade or emerge tonight paired with Coltrane's A Love Supreme, and maybe your love supreme?

February 25th - This Date in Wine History

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Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Rudolf Steiner, father of biodynamic wine making was born in 1861.
  • The Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA was designated in 2004.

2011 Humanitas 'Good Earth' Zinfandel Willy's Vineyard - Wine of the Day

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2011 Humanitas 'Good Earth' Zinfandel Willy's Vineyard

$45

Willy’s Zinfandel has a nose on it that is a cauldron of smells. Try mixing up a cinnamon apple with toasted coconut, raspberry compote and a little cola and that might come close. And as the wine sits in the glass, it continues to morph into more & more hints of things like orange zest, leather, white pepper…all really delightful scents.

On the palate, the wine is…intense! It is like essence of Zinfandel – thick, rich, full-bodied…it is really a striking wine one can’t help but remember. Spices & raspberries; tobacco & leather; earth & toast…all things we love about this varietal. This is BBQ ribs wine…or a good hearty tri-tip marinated & cooked over mesquite. Nothing shy about this wine – grab some of your more outgoing friends, grill up the ribs, blare some good old Southern Rock (how ‘bout the Allman Bros or some vintage Marshall Tucker?) and settle in for the ride. Willy will deliver a wine experience you will cherish!

2012 Chateau Lane Merlot

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2012 Chateau Lane Merlot

$50

This unique and sophisticated European style Merlot has a big nose of bay leaf and mint that carries over red cherry cola and dark cassis. Beautiful hints of black licorice and leather on the back end. Its mouth feel is round and voluptuous, full of red fruits and soft, firm tannins. 

Rutherford - Wine Region of the Day

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Rutherford gained AVA status in 1993, and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Sitting on 6,650 acres and centered on the town of Rutherford, the region is one of the most famous Cabernet Sauvignon growing regions in California. The well-drained soil of this area is composition of gravel, loam and sand with volcanic deposits. Warm summer days give way to cool evenings. An average day has a diurnal cycle of as much as 12 degrees. This fluctuation allows the fruit to ripen at a steady pace and develop good balance. The vast majority of the grapes grown here are Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are also productions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Oak Knoll District of  Napa Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

The Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley received its designation as an AVA in 2004 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. Located on 8,300 acres at the most southern end of Napa Valley, its proximity to San Pablo Bay and low elevation results in a climate that is moderate and cool. The soils of the region are an alluvial mix of sand and clay and drain very well. The colder climate gives this region an extended growing season that allow the grapes to develop a balanced acidity. Given the moderate climate and relatively consistent elevation, Oak Knoll has more vines planted to it than any other region in Napa Valley. A wide variety of wine grapes do well in this climate; however, the most common are Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

2013 Stella Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

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 2013 Stella Sauvignon Blanc

$28

This voluptuous wine proudly presents itself with a tropical aromatic nose full of passion fruit and crisp green apple. The palate follows the nose offering pineapple-guava over a round mouthfeel with a unique acidity that only stainless steel fermentation and aging can provide. This un-oaked Sauvignon Blanc went through 50% Malolactic fermentation in order to help retain its distinct acid profile.

January 28th - This Date in Wine History

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The Bal des Ardents from Froissart's Chronicles

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Charles VI of France almost dies during the Bal des Ardents in 1393.  During the celebration the King and five other nobles performed a charivari dance dressed as wild animals.  They were set ablaze accidentally by the King’s brother, the Duke of Orleans.  The only other noble to survive (besides the King) jumped into a vat of wine to save himself.
  • English writer and critic, George Saintsbury, author of Notes on a Cellar-Book died in 1933.
  • The Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC was created in 1972.
  • California's Napa Valley AVA was designated in 1981.

Chiles Valley - Wine Region of the Day

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Photo of Chiles Valley by David Toomey for Qorkz.

The Chiles Valley received its AVA status in 1999 is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA. The Chiles Valley is located on 6,000 acres in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of Napa Valley. The vines in the Chiles Valley grow around 1,700 feet above sea level, and the area has a warmer climate, free from the fog and coastal winds that are prevalent in other portions of Napa Valley. The region is known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc.

2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc - Wine of the Day

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2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc

$35

The fruit for the 2014 Essere Franco Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in Napa Valley's Yountville viticultural area.  Aged 12 months in 80% new French Oak, this wine maintains a crisp acidic edge with a medium body. With fruit flavors of green apple and passion fruit, and a flowery peach nose, our Sauvignon Blanc is perfect for your afternoon picnic. Best served with grilled fish or white meats especially if prepared with a creamy sauce with spring vegetables.  2014

2013 Essere Franco Malbec - Wine of the Day

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2013 Essere Franco Malbec

$95

The fruit for this delicious wine was sourced from the Las Cerezas Vineyard in the Yountville AVA of Napa Valley.  Aged 18 months in 80% new French Oak, this medium to full bodied wine has flavors of dark berry and chocolate, with a touch of black pepper. It carries a crisp acidity with ripe plum aromas on the nose. It pairs incredible with Italian foods, and has quickly become our favorite wine to make since we bottled our first stand alone Malbec in 2007.

Calistoga - Wine Region of the Day

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Calistoga by David Toomey for Qorkz.

Calistoga received its AVA status in 2010 and is a sub-appellation of the Napa Valley AVA located on in the northern portion of the Napa Valley. Calistoga's soil is almost exclusively volcanic, providing a consistency throughout the region. The daily high temperatures up to 100 degrees and cool nightly breezes from the Russian River cause the highest diurnal temperature variation in the Napa Valley. This temperature fluctuation along with the volcanic soil creates wines with big bright flavors and deep complexity and well-balanced acid. The region is known for its Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Zinfandel.