2012 Coruce Chardonnay - Wine of the Day

2012 Coruce Chardonnay

$23.95

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2012 Coruce Chardonnay: This wine from the Antelope Valley is comprised of 95% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier. Whole cluster pressed and settled for 3 days and then racked off its solids. Cold fermented for 35 days in stainless steel tanks and pressed off its lees and aged for 9 months in 3 year old French Oak barrels.

This wine has a combination of flavors and aromas of hazelnut, pear and citrus ending with a lingering toasty green apple finish. Serve chilled.

2012 Coruce Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

 2012 Coruce Zinfandel

$24.99

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This wine is comprised of 90% Zinfandel, 5% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah.  The fruit was all hand harvested and table sorted followed by a 48-hour cold soak on the skins.  The fruit was fermented for 18 days and then pressed off the skins and racked off the solids into 3 and 4-year-old American oak barrels and aged for 18 months.

This wine has flavors and aromas of wild blackberry and brambly raspberry fruits, cherry, .cola and leather followed with a toasty finish.  Medium tannins.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars La Belle Endormie (Sleeping Beauty) Bordeaux Blend - Wine of the Day

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars La Belle Endormie' (Sleeping Beauty) Bordeaux Blend

$55

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This traditional Bordeaux-style red blend of Cabernet, Merlot, andCabernet Franc is still a young, but already complex wine: raspberry, cranberry, a little blackberry, minerals, pencil shavings, vanilla, coffee and toffee with great structure, full bodied, very long finish. But like most Bordeaux style wines, awaken it gently from its sleep and decant a little while before serving.

These classic Bordeaux grapes come from the Wild Diamond Vineyard in southern Lake County and have been co-fermented in making this premium wine. The Wild Diamond Vineyard is in southern Lake County (just north of Napa Valley) at an elevation of 2,200 ft., meaning warmer, longer growing days with cool Pacific breezes at night and an overall shorter growing season resulting in fully ripe fruit. The red, volcanic soil of this vineyard contributes both to the depth of color and rich flavor profile of grapes from the Wild Diamond Vineyard.

2012 Nobelle Wines Grenache Syrah - Wine of the Day

2012 Nobelle Wines Grenache Syrah

$28

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Impressive coffee bean scent when you open the bottle, follow by toasted bread and nutty aromas. The mouthfeel is soft and velvety, but the tannins are strong. Thanks to the syrah, a long acidity from the grenache makes the finish linger. A solid red with at least a 10 year aging potential.

Kiler Canyon is home to some of the best syrah in the county; it shares a fence line with Terry Hoag Cellars a well-established winery and a big syrah house as well. Conditions were ideal! A mild leaf thinning had to be done in August to get full sun exposure and good ventilation against potential mildew.

Sabina Pinot Noir Vertical - Wine of the Day

Sabina Pinot Noir Vertical

$195

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One of the ways that sommeliers learn to taste the differences between vintages is to taste them back to back.  When you have three or more, it is called a vertical tasting.  And that is what we at Qorkz are offering you! Three Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noirs from three separate vintages.

2011 Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir

The 2011 Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir nose is reminiscent of crushed cranberries, cherries and herbs, particularly  The acidity cleanses the palate following  while marrying the flavors picked up on the nose to create the ultimate experience producing a spectacular pinot noir for Sabina Vineyards.

2012 Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir

The 2012 Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir nose is reminiscent of freshly crushed cranberries, cherries and fresh herbs. Brilliant acidity cleanses the palate following the richest of gravies while marrying the flavors picked up on the nose to create the ultimate experience producing a spectacular pinot noir for Sabina Vineyards.

2013 Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir

The 2013 Sabina Vineyards Oregon Pinot Noir opens with hints of raspberry and rose petal aromas mixed with flavors of cranberry, leather and green tea in the mouth. The wine is smooth and concentrated on the palate. Spice and sweet oak round out the rich, velvety texture producing a spectacular pinot noir for Sabina Vineyards.

2012 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills "Fiddlestix Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

2012 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills "Fiddlestix Vineyard"

$43

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Sourced from the same incredible vineyard as my previous wines, the 2012 Fiddlestix Vineyard Pinot Noir is all Sta. Rita Hills. The nose features a rich combination of black cherries, fresh raspberries, wet forest, anisette and rose garden. The medium-bodied mouthfeel is firm, rich and round, reminding me of the texture of liquidized sour hard candy. On the palette, rich tones of sour dark cherries, red berries and plum mix with flourishes of sweet lemon rind, rhubarb pie, eastern spices and jasmine tea. The generous acid at the end carries a finish that goes on and on. This is a powerful wine that will improve with cellar age. If you just can't wait, decanting is recommended.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel - Wine of the Day

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Firebrick Zinfandel

$35

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Exhibiting exceptional clarity and brilliance in the glass, this wine is effusive with a seductive nose of strawberries and cinnamon followed by layers of strawberries, raspberries with peppery notes leading to a long finish.

Firebrick Hill Vineyard sits 1000 - 1200’ above sea level in northeastern Mendocino County just north of Lake Mendocino, on the Ricetti bench, an alluvial terrace. Vineyards in the Redwood Valley AVA sit about 200 feet higher in elevation than those along the Russian River, further downstream in Ukiah and Hopland . The climate of this upland valley is slightly cooler than vineyards to the south, furthered by a gap in the coastal ridge which allows cool Pacific air currents to penetrate. These conditions result in a longer growing season and a gradual ripening of fruit that makes Redwood Valley wines refined, with more acidity and deeper color. The notable red soil of the area also provides depth of color and flavor to the wines. The result is layered, nuanced wines with great structure and bright fruit, like the peppery, spicy Zinfandels for which the Redwood Valley is known.

2012 Nobelle Wines Cuvée Noël - Wine of the Day

 2012 Nobelle Wines Cuvée Noël

$25

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Typical Bordeaux style elegant and plummy with a twist of spice, the merlot brings a traditional velvety texture to the blend and cab the tannins.

2012 was amazing by any standard. All of this fruit came to full maturity with good color and acids, the natural hot springs underneath Julie’s Vineyard provided all the water and nutrients that the grapes needed to survive.

Aged for 18 months – 1/3 in brand new barrels, 1/3 in 2 to 5 year old barrels, 1/3 neutral barrels. Varietals comprise Cabernet Sauvignon from Starr Ranch, Malbec from Lockwood Valley Vineyards, dry farm Merlot from Julie’s Vineyard and Syrah from Hearthstone Vineyard.

2012 Coruce Syrah - Wine of the Day

2012 Coruce Syrah

$23.95

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This wine is comprised of 93% Syrah and 4% Petite Sirah and 3% Viognier.  The fruit was hand harvested and table sorted and then cold soaked on the skins for 48 hours and then co-fermented for 16 days and pressed off the skinsand racked off the solids into 3 and 4 year old French oak barrels and aged for 18 months.  Left on the lees and stirred monthly.

This wine has flavors and aromas of dark cherries, plum, lavender, blueberries followed by a toasty bacon finish.  Medium tannins 

2012 Ascension Cellars Evangelist Late Harvest Viognier - Wine of the Day

 2012 Ascension Cellars Evangelist Late Harvest Viognier

$36

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Our Ascension Cellars Viognier dessert wine is a whimsical wine that will gladden your heart with rich hints of peaches, caramelized pear, and honey combined with a delightful, hazelnut finish.

The Evangelist is the perfect finish or the start of something new. This wine pairs beautifully with cream blue and goat cheeses, light desserts with toasted pecans, Crème brûlée and sugar cookies.

V. Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

V. Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

$85

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The V. Vineyards 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep dark ruby with mashed strawberries and Ferrari red on the rim.  It has the aroma of strong fruit like cassis, cranberries, strawberries and cherries with touches of clay, rosemary, paprika lingering on chocolate, lavender and tobacco.  Excited yet?  When you sip this wine you will enjoy the soft entrance evolving on present silky tannins with some ripe red fruit like red currant, red cherries and touches of coriander and juniper berries. Wow.

The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. 100% barrel fermented and barrel aged for 22 months on 80% new French Oak. 

Every once in awhile an unparalleled vineyard site is quite literally stumbled upon. Gina and Steve Viets purchased their Sonoma home designed to give their children more room to roam and to escape foggy San Francisco. Little did they know, but their passion for seeking the perfect bottle of Cabernet, along with their interest in farming, was about to converge. While exploring the property and it’s history the Family discovered that the land was once a vineyard in the late 1800’s, they began seeing their hillside in a whole new light, inspiring them to establish V. Vineyards dedicated to single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Zipline Red - Wine of the Day

 2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Zipline Red

$26

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This proprietary blend marries the blue-black fruit of Petite Sirah with the brightness and elegance of Zinfandel. Petite Sirah provides big fruit and tannins, while the Zin provides the brightness and finesse of a lighter, more refined raspberry-strawberry notes and a lingering silky finish. The cab/merlot/cab franc provide more structure and depth. This wine is surprisingly quaffable and easily paired with a variety of foods.

The grapes in this wine represent a marriage of the best from three vineyards in two counties – all at higher elevations and all benefiting from cool Pacific breezes at night. Petite Sirah grapes are from Amber View Vineyard in northern Lake County, while the Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc come from Wild Diamond Vineyard in the southern part of the County. The Petite Sirah has bigger tannins and dark, dense fruit while the Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc have softer tannins than many Napa Cab blends to the south. Both enjoy shorter than normal harvest periods but fully ripe fruit because of their vineyard elevations of over 2,000 feet. The Zinfandel from Firebrick Hill Vineyard to the west, however, enjoys a cooler climate and longer growing season, resulting in a more refined, layered fruit as evident in this wine’s long, silky finish.

2012 Calstar Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

2012 Calstar Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir

$40

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Bright ruby violet color carried by lovely aromas of rich, ripe blackberry, cassis liqueur, black licorice, fine leather and rhubarb.  A hint of gamey roasted meats give the wine immediate complexity and interest.  On the palate, the wine follows the nose with dark marionberry and black plummy flavors. Juicy acidity provides balance for the round, soft tannins and lingering finish of cola, coffee and sweet oak.

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Zipline Red - Wine of the Day

2012 Oak Cliff Cellars Zipline Red

$26

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This proprietary blend marries the blue-black fruit of Petite Sirah with the brightness and elegance of Zinfandel. Petite Sirah provides big fruit and tannins, while the Zin provides the brightness and finesse of a lighter, more refined raspberry-strawberry notes and a lingering silky finish. The cab/merlot/cab franc provide more structure and depth. This wine is surprisingly quaffable and easily paired with a variety of foods.

The grapes in this wine represent a marriage of the best from three vineyards in two counties – all at higher elevations and all benefiting from cool Pacific breezes at night. Petite Sirah grapes are from Amber View Vineyard in northern Lake County, while the Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc come from Wild Diamond Vineyard in the southern part of the County. The Petite Sirah has bigger tannins and dark, dense fruit while the Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc have softer tannins than many Napa Cab blends to the south. Both enjoy shorter than normal harvest periods but fully ripe fruit because of their vineyard elevations of over 2,000 feet. The Zinfandel from Firebrick Hill Vineyard to the west, however, enjoys a cooler climate and longer growing season, resulting in a more refined, layered fruit as evident in this wine’s long, silky finish.

2012 Coruce Semillon - Wine of the Day

 2012 Coruce Semillon

$20

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2012 Coruce Semillon: This Antelope Valley wine is comprised of 90% Semillon and 5% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier. Whole cluster pressed and settled for 3 days and then racked off its solids. Cold fermented for 30 days in stainless steel tanks and then racked off its lees. The wine was then aged for 9 months in 4 year old French oak barrels.

This wine has a combination of aromas and flavors of apple, pear and fig with a touch of saffron spice and grass. Slightly round in style yet finishes with hints of tart lemongrass. Serve cold.

2012 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

 2012 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard"

$43

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Solomon Hills Vineyard is located about seven miles from the ocean just outside the city of Orcutt in Santa Barbara County. The maritime influence combined with ocean floor sandy loam soil results in wines with bright fruit, good balance, crisp acidity and what is known as "Santa Maria spice". The lively nose jumps out of the glass, revealing a tightly-knit profile of fresh cherries, strawberries, hazelnuts, spice cake, violet and rose petal. The smooth, silky, light-bodied mouthfeel delivers notes of firm red strawberry, raspberry and cherry mixed with dashes of currant, caramelized orange peel, saddle leather, vanilla and gingerbread cookies. Delicate tannins transition to a sparkle of acidity on the finish. Beware...this wine goes down a little too easy.

2012 Oak Cliff Amber View Petite Sirah - Wine of the Day

2012 Oak Cliff Amber View Petite Sirah

$38

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A new release of the Petite Sirah varietal - this one from Northern Lake County. Deep purple in color with big nose of lavender, bacon and chocolate, this blockbuster offers a mouthful of boysenberries, blueberries and blackberries.  Stands up well to pork, game or beef, but soft enough to pair with chocolate or mixed berries.  This is a beautiful wine with lamb, wild boar, venison or virtually any savory game, Moroccan lamb tagine, chicken mole', strong cheese like stilton or camembert and even dark chocolates. 

2012 Coruce Chardonnay - Wine of the Day

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 2012 Coruce Chardonnay

$23.95

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2012 Coruce Chardonnay: This wine from the Antelope Valley is comprised of 95% Chardonnay and 5% Viognier. Whole cluster pressed and settled for 3 days and then racked off its solids. Cold fermented for 35 days in stainless steel tanks and pressed off its lees and aged for 9 months in 3 year old French Oak barrels.  This wine has a combination of flavors and aromas of hazelnut, pear and citrus ending with a lingering toasty green apple finish. Serve chilled.

2012 Humanitas 'Good Earth' Pinot Noir Truchard Vineyard

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 2012 Humanitas 'Good Earth' Pinot Noir Truchard Vineyard

$55

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Our Humanitas 2012 ‘Truchard Vineyard’ Pinot Noir begins with leather & smoke, and opens to ripe cranberry & raspberry fruit with a hint of smoked meats. ‘Earth’ comes to mind…followed by black cherry juice, maybe some ripe tomato, mushrooms & cinnamon. Lots happening in the glass! 

On the palate, the wine is so inviting, with strawberry jam, vanilla, rhubarb, truffle & cinnamon all wrapped around a hint of a caramel apple. It is at once complex yet so easy to sip. I’m thinking that either a big, thick salmon steak grilled with some hickory chips or a tasty rib-eye grilled just past rare would do the trick. Throw in a little acoustic guitar, some good friends & some heady conversation and you’ve got a pretty nice setting to enjoy this truly stunning wine. 

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

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2012 Humanitas Cabernet Franc Willy's Vineyard

$60

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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.