February 20th - This Date in Wine History

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Kane_Selfportrait.jpg

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.

  • Andreas Hofer of St. Leonhard in Passeier died in 1810.  He was a Tyrolean Innkeeper, and wine and horse tradesman who was a leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon.  He was eventually captured and executed.

  • Paul Kane, Irish-Canadian painter died in 1871.  His family emigrated to Upper Canada where his father operated a wine shop in York (later Toronto).

  • Pope Leo the XIII was born in 1878. He appeared in advertisements for Vin Mariani, a wine made with Coca leaves.

  • California's Mt. Veeder AVA was designated in 1990.

February 20th - This Date in Wine History

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Andreas_Hofers_Gefangennahme_(Karl_v_Blaas).jpg

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. 

  • Andreas Hofer of St. Leonhard in Passeier died in 1810.  He was a Tyrolean Innkeeper, and wine and horse tradesman who was a leader of the Tyrolean Rebellion against Napoleon.  He was eventually captured and executed.
  • Pope Leo the XIII was born in 1878. He appeared in advertisements for Vin Mariani, a wine made with Coca leaves.
  • California's Mt. Veeder AVA was designated in 1990.

Moon Mountain District Sonoma County - Wine Region of the Day

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The Moon Mountain District Sonoma County is located on 17,000 acres in Sonoma, California and was designated as an AVA in 2013. Sitting in the high elevations above Los Carneros, the mountain has hills building upon themselves from 400 ft in elevation all the way to 2,200 feet above sea level. Being one of the most eastern points in the Sonoma Valley AVA, Moon Mountain shares a borderline with Napa Valley's Mt. Veeder AVA. The soil on Moon Mountain is volcanic in its origin and is well draining. The varying elevations mean the different pockets of terroir on the mountain vary from cool fog and winds off the San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Ocean to prolonged sun exposure in the higher elevations. The signature wines of the region are Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

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. 

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.

2011 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Mt. Veeder - Wine of the Day

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 2011 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Mt. Veeder

$95

The 2011 Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet is a special and unique 2011 Napa Cabernet. In addition to being the first Cabernet produced from Anthem’s incredible estate, this wine shows the exquisite structure, richness and depth that only came from mountain fruit in 2011.

The nose on our 2011 Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet is incredibly complex with sage, mint, gunpowder, blackberries and black cherries. On the palate, it has tremendous density and richness as well as firm tannins, and is packed with roasted meats, graphite, tobacco and earth. Truly a monument to mountain Cabernet. Will benefit from decanting, and drink between 2015 and 2025.

 

2010 Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Merlot

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 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. 

2011 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Mt. Veeder - Wine of the Day

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2011 Anthem Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Mt. Veeder

$95

The 2011 Anthem Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet is a special and unique 2011 Napa Cabernet. In addition to being the first Cabernet produced from Anthem’s incredible estate, this wine shows the exquisite structure, richness and depth that only came from mountain fruit in 2011.

The nose on our 2011 Mt. Veeder Estate Cabernet is incredibly complex with sage, mint, gunpowder, blackberries and black cherries. On the palate, it has tremendous density and richness as well as firm tannins, and is packed with roasted meats, graphite, tobacco and earth. Truly a monument to mountain Cabernet. Will benefit from decanting, and drink between 2015 and 2025.