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: Napa Valley
2012 Rombauer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stice Lane Vineyard
Fruit for this wine was sourced from the Rombauer Vineyards‘s estate Stice Lane Vineyard in the St. Helena AVA . A former river bed, the site’s gravel deposits provide ideal soils for growing concentrated full-bodied Cab. Sustainable farming practices were utilized throughout the growing season. The vineyard is Napa Green/Fish Friendly Farming certified….
2014 Franciscan Estate Equilibrium
Franciscan Estate’s Equilibrium is crafted from a base of Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc for a crisp citrusy core. Napa Valley Chardonnay is added to enhance the body and the mouthfeel of the wine, with Muscat added for floral aromatics. The final blend is 72% Sauvignon Blanc, 17% Chardonnay, and 11% Muscat – 83% fermented in stainless…
S.R.Tonella Cellars 2014 Sauvignon Blanc
S.R. Tonella Cellars is a Napa Valley artisanal producer focused exclusively on the Rutherford appellation. Steve Tonella (read his bio here) is the proprietor. The winery is the culmination of over 100 continuous years in the wine business in Rutherford, Napa Valley. It all started with an earthquake. In 1906 after the great San Francisco earthquake, a…
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…
#WineWednesday Review; A Taste of Silver Trident Winery
From time to time, I receive wines samples from wineries or their public relations agencies for review. I feature such samples on here on #WineWednesday Review. This week I’m featuring two distinctive wines from Silver Trident Winery. The Winery Silver Trident Winery is a Napa Valley based winery located in Yountville that offers a completely different and singular…
WINEAPAWLOOZA 2015- A Napa Valley Cause For Paws
I attended, as a media guest, the 2nd annual WINEAPAWLOOZA on July 18th at Gamble Family Vineyards in Oakville. WINEAPAWLOOZA is a fundraiser for Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch (“JARR”). The Cause Founded in 2014 by Monica and David Stevens, JARR is a non-profit no-kill rescue and refuge for companion and farm animals in the Napa Valley. They provide…
No Reservations Wine Tasting – Heitz Wine Cellars
My wife and I do more than our fair share of wine tasting. We’ve hit all the major wine regions in California (and a few minor ones too;-), along with some tasting in Oregon, Spain and Champagne. From time to time we have a wine tasting experience that stands above the rest, and is everything…
A Taste of @DateNightWine with Phifer Pavitt
I recently received a couple of wine samples from Napa Valley based Phifer Pavitt Winery. It’s a winery that’s completely new to me. I don’t know why, but coming across new to me wineries is always a bit of a surprise. That’s because…well…I’m a promiscuous wine lover that “gets around” so to speak. Between…
Wine of the Week: 2011 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon
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 2011 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. The Winery Faust Winery is the creation of Augustin Huneeus and it continues to satisfy his long-held desire to produce a wine that…