2012 Castello di Amorosa La Castellana – “between medium and full-bodied and fresh with an elegant, harmonious character” The inspiration for La Castellana comes from Italian Super Tuscans like Sassicaia, Ornellaia, and Tignanello. It is a “Super Tuscan” blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, 9% Merlot aged 20 months in large French oak barrels. Dark…
Tag: Castello di Amorosa
2013 Castello Di Amorosa Chardonnay: An Exploration of Terroir and Technique
My friends who know I’m a wine writer often ask me if I’d like to be a winemaker. My answer is always the same…Are you nuts? Let me explain. Though winemaking is often perceived as glamorous, I think it’s anything but. It’s hard work that requires long hours, being a slave to Mother Nature, and a…
Wine of the Week; 2012 Castello di Amorosa Pinot Bianco
Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. My Wine Of The Week is the 2012 Castello di Amorosa Pinot Bianco The Winery Castello di Amorosa is Napa Valley’s own slice of Tuscany. It’s a winery with its own authentic Tuscan castle (Approximately 121,000 sq….
A Taste of Castello di Amorosa
Castello di Amorosa is one of Napa Valley’s top “destination” wineries. What makes it unique is that it’s both an authentic 13th Century castle and a winery. The Castello (Castle in Italian) was the brainchild of Dario Sattui, a fourth generation winemaker. Armed with his vault of medieval architectural renderings and another passionate dream, Sattui purchased…
DIY Super Tuscan
I recently received an interesting wine sample from Castello di Amorosa. The sample included their flagship Super Tuscan – La Castellana, along with three 2012 barrel samples, and a pipette. I featured the prior 2008 vintage of La Castellan as my Wine of the Week last year, so I’m pretty stoked about trying the 2009! In the…
Wine of the Week; 2008 Castello di Amorosa La Castellana
Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. For this week, my Wine Of The Week is the 2008 Castello di Amorosa La Castellana. Winery Castello di Amorosa is Napa Valley’s own slice of Tuscany. It’s a winery with…
Wine of the Week: 2009 Castello di Amorosa Sangiovese
Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. For this week, my Wine Of The Week is the 2009 Castello di Amorosa Sangiovese Winery Castello di Amorosa is Napa Valley’s own slice of Tuscany. It’s a winery with its…
Castello di Amorosa Gewürztraminer – A Winning Trio
When I received media samples that included a trio of 2011 Castello di Amorosa Gewürztraminer, I was intrigued. First, Gewürztraminer, it isn’t a well-known, or for that matter appreciated grape varietal ( I enjoy it ). I like what Karen MacNeil says about Gewürztraminer in the Wine Bible… Like Lucille Ball or Goldie Hawn, Gewürztraminer is a…
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition announces 2012 Top Wines
The 2012 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (“SFCWC”) has announced their top wines for 2012 in the Sparkling, White, Blush, Red, and Dessert categories. Gloria Ferrer and Barnard Griffin were back to back winners in the Sparkling Wine and Blush (Rosé) categories respectively. Sparkling – Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards 2006 Carneros Blanc de Blancs Sparkling…
Can “Better” and “Best” wines be found at “Destination” Wineries?
Can great wine be found at a “destination” winery?