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2018 Syrah

Vanessa Rizzolo — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 15:34:48 +0000

TRUCHARD VINEYARDS 2018 Syrah

Carneros, Napa Valley, California

VINEYARD
There are 12 acres of Syrah planted on the Truchard Estate Vineyard. Four acres are in the “Highlands” region to the north, and 8 acres are located at the southern end of the vineyard. These areas are dominated by austere hillsides composed of volcanic rock and ash. The vines range from 20 – 28 years old and benefit from the unique combination of soil, exposure, and cool Carneros temperatures. The result is a full-bodied wine, with flavors and structure reminiscent of the northern Rhône.

2018 Vintage Notes: The 2018 vintage will be remembered as nearly perfect. A cold winter with average rainfall made for a late bud-break. Ideal spring weather allowed for a heavy set. Mild conditions throughout summer and fall allowed the large crop to slowly ripen and develop maximum flavor. The wines of 2018 are powerful but elegant; with firm acidity and beautiful balance. This could be the vintage of the decade!

CELLAR
All of the fruit was gently destemmed and crushed into open top fermenters with approximately 20% whole berries. Individual lots were inoculated with Pasteur Red yeast. Fermentations were punched down twice daily, with the temperature peaking at 88º F. After 14 days of maceration, each lot was pressed and allowed to settle in tank before going to barrel. The wine was aged for 10 months in both French (90%) and American (10%) oak; 30% of these barrels were new. Rackings occurred every 4 months until bottling in August of 2019. This wine is drinkable upon release, but will reward careful cellaring for the next 10 – 15 years.

Truchard – Syrah – Label Image

Truchard – Syrah 2018 – Tech Sheet

Truchard – Syrah 2018 – POS

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2016 Merlot

Vanessa Rizzolo — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 15:34:14 +0000

TRUCHARD VINEYARDS 2016 Merlot

Carneros, Napa Valley, California

VINEYARD
Merlot is harvested from five separate hillside locations on the Truchard Estate Vineyard. The differences in soil, exposure, and temperature at each site combine to produce unique growing conditions for the grapes. As a result, the wines from these hillsides each have their own identity, and each contributes different characteristics to the final blend. The vines range from 20 – 42 years old. Cabernet Franc, grown in adjacent areas of the vineyard is added in to provide additional softness, structure, and complexity.

2016 Vintage Notes: The 2016 vintage was another early harvest, similar to 2015. A mild winter with average rainfall provided some drought relief; but bud-break still came 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. Warm spring weather allowed for good berry set and a slightly below average crop. Moderate summer temperatures easily brought the fruit to full maturity. The wines of 2016 have intense aromas and flavors; with nice structure and balance.

CELLAR
All of the fruit was gently destemmed and crushed, then inoculated with Pasteur Red yeast. Each fermentation was pumped-over twice daily, with the temperature peaking at 90º F. Maceration time varied from 12 to 28 days depending on wine lot. The wine was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels (35% new). Rackings occurred every 4 months until bottling in August of 2018. The final blend is 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. This wine is drinkable upon release, but will reward careful cellaring for the next 10 – 15 years.

Truchard – Merlot – Label Image

Truchard – Merlot 2016 – Tech Sheet

Truchard – Merlot 2016 – POS

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2019 Aligote

Vanessa Rizzolo — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 15:59:12 +0000

CLENDENEN FAMILY 2019 Aligoté

“Le Bon Climat Vineyard”
Santa Maria Valley, California

Aligoté is Burgundy’s ‘other white variety’. It is overshadowed by the much more popular Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. These more profitable varieties get the best vineyard sights and Aligoté is planted in the lesser areas and poorer vineyard sections. As a result the maturation of Aligote in Burgundy is inconsistent and slow, producing a wine that is tart and neutral. Mixing this wine with crème de cassis makes it palatable, and the “cocktail” has become a popular aperitif.

VINEYARD
This Aligoté is grown at the prime estate Le Bon Climat Vineyard located in the Santa Maria Valley. This location has ripening weather extending into early November. This extended growing season is eight weeks longer than the growing season in Burgundy. Consequently, Le Bon Climat Vineyard Aligoté bears little resemblance to Burgundian version.

CELLAR
Aligoté goes through the same “hands-on” process as all other white wines made at Au Bon Climat/Clendenen Family Vineyards. The grapes are handpicked and hand sorted in the vineyard, then wholecluster pressed and settled for two days. The longer term settling eliminates some of the more leesy characters in the finished wines by minimizing the solids in the barrels during the primary and malo-lactic fermentations. It is aged in neutral French oak barrels for 10 months and then bottled after a light fining and filtration.

ACCOLADES
91 points – Wine Enthusiast

CFV – Aligote – Label Image

CFV – Aligote 2019 – Tech Sheet

CFV – Aligote 2019 – POS

CFV – Aligote 2018 – POS

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2021 “Bien Nacido Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Vanessa Rizzolo — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 17:16:36 +0000

AU BON CLIMAT 2021 “Bien Nacido Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Santa Maria Valley, California

*Santa Barbara Historic Vineyard Collection*
Au Bon Climat continues its homage to the many outstanding vineyards in Santa Barbara County with limited editions of its special designation Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in their “Santa Barbara County Historic Vineyards Collection”. Since its founding in 1982, Au Bon Climat has sourced grapes from some of the most celebrated vineyards on the Central Coast. Some might say that Clendenen himself has contributed significantly to the reputation of these sites.

VINEYARD
This bottling is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Bien Nacido Vineyard, which is home to the Au Bon Climat winery. The Pinot Noir fruit from Bien Nacido for this wine is clone 66 from block 11.

Bien Nacido Vineyard is the benchmark and crown jewel of the Santa Maria Valley AVA. One of the oldest, cool-climate vineyards in California, Bien Nacido Vineyard (Spanish for “Well Born”) has been an acclaimed source of world-glass grapes since its founding in 1973 by brothers Stephen and Bob Miller. It is now acknowledged as among the elite vineyards of the world. Au Bon Climat has a special relationship with the vineyard. In addition to having our winery located on the property, we have custom blocks of fruit with long-term acreage contracts for quality hillside vines dating back to the early 1990s. Today, much of what Au Bon Climat sources from Bien Nacido is fruit that has been planted “exclusively” for us. For being instrumental in elevating Burgundian varietals on the Central Coast, Bien Nacido is part of our “Historic Vineyards Collection” as designated on the label.

Located on the receiving end of the east-west transverse mountain range, Bien Nacido Vineyard is a maritime-influenced desert. The morning fog cover and the cool afternoon breezes from the Pacific Ocean make this a Region 1 climate on the Winkler Scale. The rainfall averages 12 – 14 inches a year. The terrain is sand, chalk and marine loam that provides good drainage. The whole package results in cool, slow ripening grapes, with longer hang-time on the vines.

CELLAR
The fruit was hand harvested, then fermented in 5 ton open top fermenters using 60% whole clusters. punched down twice a day. Manually punched down twice daily, which breaks up the cap of skins that rise to the surface so the fermentation process extracts the best part of the Pinot grapes. The wine is pressed to complete dryness and is transferred to barrel with moderate lees. It was aged for 20 months in 75% new Francois Freres French oak barrels.

ACCOLADES
97 points – Wine Enthusiast
94 points - Vinous Media
92 points - Wine Advocate

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir – Label Image

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2021 – Tech Sheet

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2021 – POS

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2018 – Tech Sheet

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2018 – POS

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2016 – POS

ABC – Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2015 – POS

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2023 Pinot Noir

Vanessa Rizzolo — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 22:25:17 +0000

BLUE QUAIL 2023 Pinot Noir

Potter Valley, Mendocino County, California
*CCOF Certified Organic Grapes

VINEYARD
This wine is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from Blue Quail’s certified organic estate vineyards located in Potter Valley in Mendocino County, California. The estate is on 500 acres, 160 acres under vine, that straddles the Russian River, neighbors the Mendocino National Forest and sits up at 1,200 feet in altitude. Temperatures regularly plummet 40-45 degrees each night, allowing a longer maturation period and the grapes to develop a fullness of flavor that is balanced by a crisp acidity.

CELLAR
Fermented in stainless steel with extended maceration, then transferred for aging in 55% neutral French oak barrels and the balance in upright oak tanks.

Blue Quail – Pinot Noir – Bottle Shot

BQ – Pinot Noir NV – Tech Sheet

Blue Quail – Pinot Noir NV – POS

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2023 Chardonnay

Vanessa Rizzolo — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 22:08:32 +0000

BLUE QUAIL 2023 Chardonnay

Potter Valley, Mendocino County, California
*CCOF Certified Organic Grapes

VINEYARD
This wine is 100% Chardonnay sourced from Blue Quail’s certified organic estate vineyards located in Potter Valley in Mendocino County, California. The estate is on 500 acres, 160 acres under vine, that straddles the Russian River, neighbors the Mendocino National Forest and sits up at 1,200 feet in altitude. Temperatures regularly plummet 40-45 degrees each night, allowing a longer maturation period and the grapes to develop a fullness of flavor that is balanced by a crisp acidity.

CELLAR
Whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel.

Blue Quail – Chardonnay – Bottle Shot

Blue Quail – Chardonnay NV – Tech Sheet

Blue Quail – Chardonnay NV – POS

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2024 Sauvignon Blanc

Vanessa Rizzolo — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 21:33:35 +0000

BLUE QUAIL 2024 Sauvignon Blanc

Potter Valley, Mendocino County, California
*CCOF Certified Organic Grapes

VINEYARD
This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from Blue Quail’s certified organic estate vineyards located in Potter Valley in Mendocino County, California. The estate is on 500 acres, 160 acres under vine, that straddles the Russian River, neighbors the Mendocino National Forest and sits up at 1,200 feet in altitude. Temperatures regularly plummet 40-45 degrees each night, allowing a longer maturation period and the grapes to develop a fullness of flavor that is balanced by a crisp acidity.

CELLAR
Whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel.

Blue Quail – Sauvignon Blanc – Bottle Shot

Blue Quail – Sauvignon Blanc NV – Tech Sheet

BQ – Sauvignon Blanc 2021 – POS

Blue Quail – Sauvignon Blanc 2020 – POS

Blue Quail – Sauvignon Blanc NV – POS

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LADIES Shiraz

Vanessa Rizzolo — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:16:52 +0000

LADIES WHO SHOOT THEIR LUNCH 2020 Shiraz

Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria, Australia

Fowles Wine vineyards and winery are located in the dramatic granite landscape of Strathbogie Ranges region of Victoria, Australia. The Strathbogie Ranges is characterized by massive granite boulders – the very boulders that have given rise, over millions of years, to the sandy loam soils in which the vines grow.

VINEYARD

Vintage Notes: 2020 was a warm vintage with low yields providing excellent fruit quality. The fruit was higher in sugar than previous years and had good concentration of varietal fruit characteristics, showing Strathbogie spice and perfume in the wine.

CELLAR
This wine was fermented using wild yeast, with its slightly unpredictable nature, this builds more complexity in the wine. Matured in various ways over 12 months, there are many components in the blend. Most parcels were matured in older oak using 150-year-old English oak casks, the rest were maintained as fresh fruity parcels in stainless steel

ACCOLADES
95 points – Halliday
92 points – Vinous Media
92 points - James Suckling

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz – Label Image

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2020 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2020 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2018 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2018 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2015 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2015 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2012 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch – Shiraz 2012 – POS

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LADIES Chardonnay

Vanessa Rizzolo — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:06:20 +0000

LADIES WHO SHOOT THEIR LUNCH 2021 “Wild Ferment” Chardonnay

Victoria, Australia

VINEYARD
The fruit from the Greenstone vineyard is grown on vines over 35 years old and provide the lovely mid palate peachy fruits in our wild fermented Chardonnay. The Strathbogie component is from our Upton Run block 16 and provides a rich mineral complexity.

Vintage Comments: 2021 was one of those rare vintages with both a plentiful harvest and one of incredible quality and flavor. The Chardonnay enjoyed the cooler conditions at various times throughout the season. Gradual ripening allowing fruit to span the full spectrum of flavors from citrus through to tropical.

CELLAR
All fruit was picked in the cool of the early morning and processed immediately so to protect the subtle varietal flavors, then left to wild ferment in oak barrels

ACCOLADES
90 points – Wine Spectator

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay – Bottle Shot

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2021 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2021 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2020 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2020 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2019 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2019 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2018 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2018 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2016 – Tech Sheet

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2016 – POS

Ladies Who Shoot – Chardonnay 2014 – POS

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2013 “Punta Exclamitiva” Nebbiolo

Vanessa Rizzolo — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 15:58:38 +0000

CLENDENEN FAMILY 2013 “Punta Exclamitiva” Nebbiolo

“Bien Nacido Vineyard”
Santa Maria Valley, California

Jim began the “Punta Exclamitiva” project in 2004, once the Nebbiolo vines he planted at Bien Nacido Vineyard had reached 10 years of maturity. It is produced in minuscule quantities only when the vintage calls for it.

VINEYARD
In 1994 Jim planted two acres of Nebbiolo at Bien Nacido Vineyard on a windswept hillside. The planting faces southwest, which gives this block maximum sun exposure to help these slow ripening grapes to mature. Jim chose to plant the two best clones of Nebbiolo, Lampia and Michet. In this “Riserva-style” bottling Jim uses exclusively the lower yielding Michet clone, which is the virus free Gaja clone.

CELLAR
All of the fruit is carefully hand picked and sorted in the vineyard. The grapes are destemmed and fermented in 5 ton, open top fermenters. The must is punched down at least twice a day and pressed at dryness. The wine is aged in 100% new 500L Hungarian oak puncheons for 6 years.

ACCOLADES
93 points – Wine Enthusiast

CFV – “Punta Exclamitiva” Nebbiolo – Label Image

CFV – “Punta Exclamitiva” Nebbiolo – Tech Sheet

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