2013 Nobelle Wines Syrah - Wine of the Day

2013 Nobelle Wines Syrah

$32

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Big and spicy are the two words that come to mind. Very different from the Parker style, this wine should age beautifully for at least a decade.

Kiler Canyon is a magical location for Syrah that is known for having some of the best Syrah vineyards around. The meticulous approach and high tech knowledge at the vineyard makes a big difference in the end product. The hand-picked harvest took place on a foggy morning in October and was then trucked to the winery in one-two ton bins. 100% Syrah.

Syrah and puncheons make a traditional combo that never fails. We moved the juice after a two-week fermentation, and our Syrah already had that inky characteristic proper to the varietal. The wine was aged 24 months in new 500-liter puncheons.  Only 98 cases produced

2013 Calstar Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

2013 Calstar Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

$24

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The Sonoma Coast, a world-renowned growing region southwest of the Russian River and just six miles from the Pacific Ocean is known worldwide for its cool-climate Pinot Noir and microclimates that contribute to slow grape maturation and optimum ripeness.  Small lots of fruit were sourced from eight exceptional Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley vineyards exclusively for Calstar Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.   The sites span the depth and width of the appellation – from the cool Green Valley knoll of Halleck to the Petaluma Gap site of Sangiacomo – bringing great complexity and cellaring potential to this bottling. 

Deeply scarlet ruby in color, the 2013 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir showcases the best of a spectacular vintage.  On the nose, quintessential aromas of dried cherry, raspberries and black tea are highlighted by spiced orange, cedar and red Santa Rosa plum.   The ripeness of the vintage is balanced by bright stone fruit acidity and refreshing minerality – an undertone of toasty oak and sweet spice brings the palate into focus.  Fine grained, yet coating, tannins and strawberry spice finish make this Pinot Noir an easy match for almost any food pairing.

Ascension Cellars 2013 Testament Bordeaux Blend - Wine of the Day

Ascension Cellars 2013 Testament Bordeaux Blend

$86

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Our bold, fathomless, Bordeaux-inspired blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec and Cab Franc is the collective soul of the vineyard. Barrel fermented and hand-racked for thirty months in French oak barrels. Testament has an inky dark hue and it’s intense nose heralds black and red currant, lavender, cola and black cherry followed by mocha-laced layered flavors of dark chocolate, cassis and baking spice in every glass.

Testament compliments medium to sharp cheddar cheeses, braised short ribs, grilled steaks, prime rib, filet mignon, beef bourguignon, lamb and hearty stews.

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills "Fiddlestix Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills "Fiddlestix Vineyard"

$43

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There’s a reason Ryan started with this vineyard when he made his very first wine. Fiddlestix just seems to deliver something special every single year. Welcome to this year’s installment! On the nose there’s just-ripe strawberry, wild cherries jubilee, anisette, dark roses, cigar box and just a touch of leather. On the palette, the strawberries and wild cherries remain, joined by ripe currant, candied raspberry, caramelized vanilla, and crushed flowers. This is a lighter-bodied wine than the past couple vintages, but is still quite rich with a round, smooth, full-bodied mouthfeel that envelopes your palette which yields to a cascade of sparkling acid. The finish just seems to...well...never finish.

2013 Calstar Sonoma Coast Chardonnay - Wine of the Day

2013 Calstar Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

$28.50

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Indinoli Vineyard is located on Vine Hill School Road in the Santa Rosa Laguna region, known for it's cooler temperatures, foggy mornings and sandy soils. It is planted to a mix of Old Wente, Robert Young, and #4, #8 and #809 Clones of Chardonnay.  This clonal variation takes advantage of the varied aspects of the vineyard and adds great complexity to the wines from this site.

Straw green yellow in the glass, this rich Chardonnay embodies what was a near-perfect vintage for coastal Sonoma Coast vineyard sites. The nose is focused and precise – green apple, Meyer lemon, kiwi and kefir lime. Supporting notes of toasted shortbread, vanilla and cut grass round out the aromas. On the palette, clean citrus zest acidity balances out the full body and rich fruitiness. The barrel fermentation lends to a creamy, luxurious texture and a hint of sweet baking spices. The finish lingers with wet rock, pineapple and key lime.

2013 Ascension Cellars Soul Shaker Bordeaux Blend - Wine of the Day

2013 Ascension Cellars Soul Shaker Bordeaux Blend

$66

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Incredibly inky hue with layers of perfumed plum, dark berries, cedar, mocha, coffee, and graphite aromas followed by hints of spice box. The texture on the palate is ultra-concentrated and silky with blackberry flavors and a touch of pepper, cocoa and Indian spice leading to the lush, lingering and focused finish that echoes on the palate. Enjoy now or be rewarded if allowed to cellar for 5 years or more.

2013 Soul Shaker compliments medium to sharp cheddar cheeses, roasted pork, braised short ribs, grilled steaks, prime rib, filet mignon, lamb, hearty stews and the company of dear friends.

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.

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard"

$43

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Ryan Cochrane has really fallen in love with this vineyard. There’s this unmistakeable characteristic about wines made from this site that is uniquely Solomon Hills. In 2013, he added an extra clone to the mix which really gave this wine an extra level of complexity and balance. And it also made it a little addictive too. As always, the nose explodes right out of the glass, unleashing aromas of rich red berries, black licorice, sandalwood, fresh flowers, black tea with lemon and mushroomy earth. On the palette, I’m getting garden strawberries, bing cherries, spice cake, orange marmalade, tea and underlying wet forest floor. The wine has a beautiful light garnet color, which alludes to its medium-light bodied character and perfect balance. The wine starts off with a bright and showy mouthfeel, but morphs into something much more complex as an effervescent acidity takes over with a nice snap at the end. This wine lingers on the tongue 4 evah!

2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère - Wine of the Day

 2013 Nobelle Wines Carmenère

$39.00

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Colbert in San Miguel is one of the only vineyards to carry the varietal in the region. Carmenère always ripens late; mid-October to mid-November is the usual picking time. The leaves turn black in fall, which is very surprising and rare! 100% Carmenère.

Ahhh Carmenère! I never worked with it in France and always liked the Argentinian/Chilean style that was easy to achieve here, thanks to the growing conditions in 2013. The fruit came cleanly to the winery and right after crushing (less than 24 hours later) we inoculated the batch with classic Bordeaux yeast. After press we moved the wine to a Le Roi pungeon where it aged for 24 months. 76 cases produced.

This varietal has a light and delicate perfume. The density of the wine is very interesting, a lot of weight, followed by long and smooth spice. It will go perfectly with a rack of lamb with rosemary or similar, the simpler the better!

2013 Coruce Semillon - Wine of the Day

2013 Coruce Semillon

$20.97

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The wine is comprised of 94% Semillon, 4% Chardonnay and 2% Viognier.  Whole cluster pressed and settled for 3 days then racked off the solids.  Cold fermented for 24 days in stainless steel tanks and then racked off the lees.  The wine was then aged for 6 months in 4 year old French barrels.

This wine has a combination of flavors and aromas of apple, pear, lemon grass and a touch of saffron spice on the finish.  Crisp and clean with nice acidity.

2013 Oak Cliff Cellars Wild Diamond Syrah - Wine of the Day

2013 Oak Cliff Cellars Wild Diamond Syrah

$45

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The grapes in this wine all come from the Wild Diamond Vineyard in southern Lake County. At an elevation of 2,200 ft., this vineyard sits high above the fog line, with 5 – 6 hours of direct sunlight daily and then cooled by Pacific breezes at night coming across the Mendocino wind gap. Its red loamy soil is the result of ancient pre-civilization floods and contains rich nutrients that contribute to the density, acidity and color of these grapes.

Syrah is known as the king of Rhone: single varietal for northern Rhone red wines and one of three primary grapes for the blends from southern Rhone. As a softer alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah still is known for its thick skin and big tannins, resulting in wines that are age-worthy and stand up to heartier dishes. This Syrah is elegance in the glass, with predominant notes of blackberry and black pepper and hints of anise, earth and leather.

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard" - Wine of the Day

2013 Ryan Cochrane Wines Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley "Solomon Hills Vineyard"

$34

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The very first Chardonnay from Ryan Cochrane Wines and he made it about as simply as you can. That said, there’s nothing simple about this wine! Pressed directly into barrels, it went through both primary and secondary fermentation on its own. All in all, this was fermenting for 8-9 months non-stop. The lees were stirred every two weeks and that was about it! It’s a total olfactory wine. The powerful nose contains hints of crisp pineapple, melty banana, green apple, vanilla bean, creme brulee and that classic marine-influenced Santa Maria je ne sais qois that is synonymous with the region. On the palette, the wine pays off the nose perfectly with an added twist of Meyer lemon and peach juice to boot. Full malolactic fermentation added a plushness up front, but there’s great acid on this wine that carries it through and builds to a nice crisp snap on the finish, which just goes on and on and on. Thine lips shalt smack!

2013 Nobelle Wines Belle Rivière - Wine of the Day

 2013 Nobelle Wines Belle Rivière

$36

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Marsanne, the most underestimated Rhone white varietal, expresses its full potential here, with a traditional rhone yeast and a classic batonnage twice daily for six weeks. It can take as much aging in oak as a chardonnay, up to 36 months in big vats! Some of the most exclusive marsannes in the world are made this way.

This vintage reminds me of white fruit: peach, pear and especially quince which is my favorite fruit. As you taste it, a fresh zest apple comes up front, followed by a dense mouth feel with a lot of weight. Served chilled at 45F, this 2013 Marsanne can age beautifully for the next 10 years.

2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Walala Vineyard - Wine of the Day

2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Walala Vineyard

$70

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The 2013 Walala Pinot Noir is our 1st release from our own estate vineyard. The exceptional site, Walala is comprised of 17 acres of vineyard surrounded by 1900 acres of forestland. A unique site for Pinot Noir in the “True Sonoma Coast”. This wine has a great violate color with amazing depth and clarity. The nose shows notes of cassis, blackberry, and cloves associated with hints of pomelo and honeydew. Bright forest fruit flavors hits the palate. The finish is of lively fruit with lengthy spice and concentration.

2013 Playground Cellars Playground Proprietary Red - Wine of the Day

 2013 Playground Cellars Playground Proprietary Red

$48

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Only 25 cases available!!! This has been the find of the year.  85% St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Oak Knoll Merlot.  We keep hearing the same reaction from people when tasting this amazing wine from the barrel “I want to drink all of this now”.

Blackberry all the way with leather and violets living in harmony. A faint hint of orange blossom points to the fresh fruit while the tannins showcase the French Oak.

2013 Nobelle Wines Rive Gauche Cabernet Sauvignon - Wine of the Day

 2013 Rive Gauche Cabernet Sauvignon

$29

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After an early hand-pick in mid-October, the grape came to the winery in perfect condition. We used the tightest settings on the crusher/destemmer to extract all the tannins and color from these tiny berries, inoculated the must with D254 yeast and punched it down two to three times a day. After pressing 21 days later with a bladder press we let the wine rest overnight, then moved it to three-five year old barrels, including François et Frère, Demptos and Taransaud, where it was aged for 18 months.

An initial whiff of violets makes for a pleasant nose, followed by mild spiciness. This soft cabernet with a long finish is typical of the west side of Paso Robles.

GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley - Wine of the Day

GV Cellars 2013 Sangiovese Solano County Green Valley

$21.40

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Two clones of Sangiovese, from two separate blocks on the GV Cellars Estate, come together to form this harmonious, food-friendly wine. Red fruits, mineralogy and balanced acidity make this wine the perfect compliment to pizza and other tomato sauce based foods.

2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - Wine of the Day

 2013 Calstar Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

$30

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Bright ruby violet, the wine leads with juicy fruit on the nose: cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate.  Notes of dark, unsweetened chocolate, bay leaf and sweet baking spices round out the profile.  In the mouth, the light body is carried by ripe, big red fruit notes that follow the aromas.  There is an impression of sweetness from the cola and vanilla notes but the wine is totally dry.  A long, juicy finish of strawberry, coffee and cherry rounds out the wine and brings the fruit into balance.

2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard - Wine of the Day

 2013 Agnitio Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard

$60

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The 2013 growing season was early, even and all-around excellent. A warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and berry size, and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With the exception of one heat spike in late June and early July, temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and began to ripen. This vintage gave us the extraordinary gift to pick what we wanted, when we wanted.

The 2013 Sun Chase Pinot Noir is our inaugural release of Pinot Noir. An incredibly vibrant wine, the aromas are complex and rich. Plums, black cherries, blackberries and flowers all jump from the glass, finishing with notes of cloves and sweet tobacco. This Pinot Noir has great structure and a strong backbone, with balanced mouthwatering acidity, soft tannins, and a long finish. This is definitely a wine to hold on to for a few years.

2013 Oak Cliff Cellars Wild Diamond Mourvedre - Wine of the Day

 2013 Oak Cliff Cellars Wild Diamond Mourvedre

$32

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Mourvedre is a grape native to Southern Rhone and typically found in Rhone blends, but rarely bottled as a single varietal. Our distinctive single varietal Mourvedre is a soft red perfumed wine with subtle flavors of blackberries and violets, a hint of clove and a dusty finish. Although this wine is a lighter style red, the fruit is bright with a surprisingly substantial mid-palate of fruit, making it a very versatile wine for a wide spectrum of foods – fish, pork, poultry and even desserts with berries.

The grapes in this wine all come from the Wild Diamond Vineyard in southern Lake County. At an elevation of 2,200 ft., this vineyard sits high above the fog line, with 5 – 6 hours of direct sunlight daily and then cooled by Pacific breezes at night coming across the Mendocino wind gap. Its red loamy soil is the result of ancient pre-civilization floods and contains rich nutrients that contribute to the density, acidity and color of these grapes.