Felton Road 2010 Pinot Noir, Central Otago



Felton Road, located in Bannockburn in the Central Otago region of New Zealand, is a wholly biodynamic estate producing highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. The most-southern wine-growing region in the world, Bannockburn has a distinctive, semi-continental climate found nowhere else in New Zealand. Located the furthest inland one can be in New Zealand, it is one of the hottest, coldest and driest regions in the country. These extreme conditions impart a unique flavor profile on the grapes grown in the region. To emphasize that profile, Felton Road takes a “hands-off” approach in the winery, resulting in wines that demonstrate depth and complexity, with considerable personality and elegance. 

Founded in 1991, Stewart Elms researching the most warmest blocks in the Central Otago.  He purchased 12 hectares(30 acres) and planted Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir.  In 1996 Elms hires his buddy Blair Walter as winemaker & the rest is history.



Vineyards at Felton Road



Their first vintage release in 1997, the winery was named "Best New Winery" & "Pinot Noir of the Year" by the international critics.  Over the years, Felton Road has grown to have 18 different Pinot Noir clone types & rootstocks.  In 2006 they became Certified Bio-Dynamic(vineyards have been organically grown since 2002). 

Central Otago is the most southerly wine-growing region in the world. Its climate is comparable to Oregon’s, which means they share some of the same viticultural challenges, including late frost in the spring and early frost in the fall; yet the climates of both are surprisingly similar to Burgundy’s Côte d’Or — hot in the summer and cold in the winter.
Central Otago is New Zealand’s only wine region with a continental — rather than maritime — climate, which results in greater daily and seasonal shifts in temperature.

Bannockburn



Central Otago

 Bannockburn, one of five distinct sub-regions in Central Otago, is the fastest growing viticulturally. Plantings in the region date only from 1980, and have been limited to cool climate grapes, such as Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Vines are planted on hillsides to provide better sun exposure and to reduce the risk of frost.



Gravity-Flow Winery



Felton Road built a three-level, gravity-flow winery into the hillside in time for the 1997 harvest. Winemaker Blair Walter designed the production areas to ensure the gentlest possible handling of grapes. Inspired by various wineries in California, Oregon and Burgundy, Blair integrated modern techniques with the rustic simplicities of traditional Burgundian cellars and cuveries.

2010 Pinot Noir, Bannockburn Central Otago

A blend of 13 vineyard blocks throughout the Elms Vineyard on the Estate is the Winery's best reprensentation of what a great Pinot Noir from New Zealand can be!  



2010 Pinot Noir Label



The gravity-flow winery enabled the grapes to be gently destemmed directly into open-top fermenters without pumping, with approximately 20 percent kept as whole clusters. Traditional fermentation with a moderately long maceration on skins extracted good color and tannin with considerable depth of flavor. This wine was aged for 11 months in French oak barrels. This wine was fermented with indigenous yeast and was not fined or filtered. 

A nose of dusty floral aromas of predominantly pink roses and violets integrates seamlessly with Asian spices of cinnamon and clove. The palate opens softly, expressing similar floral character and adds fresh berries and a pleasing seam of minerality. Mouth-coating, but never cloying, it is subtle and caressing; a wine of harmony, restraint and sophistication that insinuates rather than shouts its breeding. It finishes with enough tannin to frame the wine neatly.

For those of you interested in hunting this wine down, ask you local retailer for information.  The production is very small.  The wine is shipped in 6 pack cases and would retail in the mid $50's.  A real Pinot lover's wine!

Wine Enthusiast Dec. 31 2011

Hot off the Press...

 

Roth 2010 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast:  Could be a Sauvignon Blanc, with Meyer lemon, green apple & tropical fruit flavors, accented with crisp acidity.  That's no disrespect.  It's a compliment, in this age of clumsy, overoaked Chardonnays.  Elegant and food-friendly, it's brightened with the acidity of a fresh lime.  Editors' Choice 91 Points

 

Silverado 2009 Miller Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley:  The 2009 vintage was a great one for this bottling, which was too sweet in 2008.  This one's more like the '05, only richer and better.  It feels nice and crisp and dry, with polished, complex citrus fruit, white flower, peach and mineral flavors. Editors' Choice 91 Points

 

Silverado 2009 Chardonnay, Carneros:  The coolness of the region and vintage shows in this Chard's acidic crispmess and minerality.  It comes down on the Chablis-style end of the spectrum, with hints of tropical fruits, apples and pears, as well as a welcome touch of sweet oak.  Easily Silverado's best Chardonnay in years.  90 Points

 

Morgan 2009 Double L Vineyards Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands:  Another dramatically layered Pinot Noir from this fine producer and vineyard, in the Central Coast.  A remarkably consistent bottling over the years, and now the '09 is perhaps the ripest and purest yet, showing deep flavors of berries, licorice, sandalwood and tangy Indian spices.  It's a big powerful wine, yet never loses graceful subtlety and elegance.  Should develop slowly over the nest six years, at least.  94 Points

 

ZD 2010 Pinot Noir, Carneros:  Earns extra credit for the sheer audacity of ripe cherry, raspberry and vanilla cream flavors.  Almost as sweet as a candy bar, but actually dry, and balanced with acidity and minerals.  A fine Pinot Noir that should develop bottle complexity over the next six years.  90

These wines can be found at any fine wine retail shop.....

Happy Holiday's

Happy Holiday's to everyone!!  Wanted to talk bubbles...

For most Champagne, Sparkling wines, Cava, Prosecco etc... are viewed as celebratory wines.  Something about that pop of the cork that brings that special occasion to the next level.  Unfortunately bubbles are perfect everyday and is a celebration just to open a bottle.  Not to mention awesome food wines.  Since we are in the holiday season, I thought that I would give some recommendation that might even make you fans year round.

First:  Rotari Brut Rose NV Trento DOC Itay:  First rule about sparkling wines from Italy....they are not all Prosecco!  This lovely Brut Rose is mostly Pinot Noir with some Chardonnay made in the classic Metodo Classico resting on the lees for 24 month.   Elegant, fruity, extreme subtlety and hints of wild strawberries, currant, and grape stems shows throughout.  Enjoy this wine as an aperitif and with all meals, goes well with fish appetizers.  Fantastic bottle of bubbles for around $12.  89 Points Best Buy Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

 


Click to check out Rotari Web Site



Second:  I would be doing an injustice by not mentioning the best Sparkling house in not just Cali but quite possibly on the planet(I'm a little bias)  Schramsberg.  The only American owned Sparkling house in California(all the others are French owned) rivals some of the best Champagne's.  The Blanc de Blancs(white from white) was first produced in 1965 and has been a staple on the tables at all function in the White House starting in 1972 when then President Nixon served the wine at the historic “Toast to Peace” in Beijing, China.  Made from Chardonnay this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an apéritif, it is also perfect with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams.  You can find the 2008 vintage bottle for around $35.  94 Points Editor Choice Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Click to check out Schramsberg Web Site

Third:  The mother land, Champagne.  There is nothing better!  Since 1808, Champagne Henriot, one of the last independent and family-owned houses in Champagne, has pursued a tradition of excellence – a fragile balance between delicacy, intensity, and purity. For seven generations, the family has selected only the very best vineyards, concentrated on the purity of chardonnay and has upheld the utmost respect for time in order to ensure the cuvee has an opportunity to reach its full expression. The Brut NV Souverain is made up of a balanced proportion of Chardonnay, in the majority from the Côte des Blancs, and Pinot Noir, mostly from the Montagne de Reims. Pinot Meunier adds a delicate fruity note.  A lively, fresh and balanced attack, with pastry, spice (vanilla) and fruity (morello cherry, candied plum) notes. The full texture precedes a clean, refreshing finish marked by citrus fruit aromas.  Enjoy with Red tuna carpaccio marinated in dill, yogurt and capers, Fine monkfish escalope in saffron cream, Limousin milk-fed leg of lamb with sage, Hutch-raised rabbit in a cabbage hotpot.  This wine will set you back about $45 but is well worth it.  93 Points Wine Spectator Magazine.



Click to check out Henriot Web Site



Hopefully some of these might make it to your table this Holiday season.  Cheers and have a wonderful and safe Holiday.

It's Been to Long.....

Sorry for the hiatus but I'm back!  Wanted to talk about some upcoming events.

1.  Tonight October 20th there will be an Argentina Wine Tasting at Aromas Wine Bar.  $15 per person and we will be pouring 7 different wines and sampling some awesome food from Viva Argentine.

2.  Tuesday October 25th we will be doing a 4 course plus reception wine at Etienne Brassiere.  We will be featuring wines from Bordeaux and wonderful food from EB.  $50 per person all inclusive.  Starts at 6:30.

3.  Thursday November 3rd we will be doing at Duckhorn Decoy dinner at Porterhouse Grill.  5 great wines & 4 course prepared by Chef Tim.  $50 per person all inclusive and the reception wine starts at 6:00.

I hope to see everyone there!

Terrabianca Campaccio

This weeks wine of the week comes from Tuscany.  The 2007 Terrabianca Campaccio Rosso.

[TER-RA-BEE-AN-KAH] Located in Radda in Chianti, Province of Siena, Tuscany, Italy. The first document to mention Terrabianca is dated 1085: two centuries before Dante. Located just over 35 miles from Florence towards Siena, in the heart of Chianti Classico, its gently rolling country is much the same as it was in the Middle Ages. Roberto and Maja Guldener, have ‘only’ been here since 1988; although in this relatively short period of time, they have propelled the estate to the highest quality levels, entirely restoring the seventeenth-century homestead, constructing a brand new winery, and restructuring the Terrabianca range. In the hands of Roberto, Maja, and daughters Maja Jr. and Annette, Terrabianca has become one of the world’s best loved Tuscan wineries, reaping countless praise and awards both for sheer quality and striking designer packaging. Could it be otherwise, given terroir, Guldener perfectionism, and star winemaker Vittorio Fiore? At Terrabianca, soil composition is calcareous (hence its “white” appearance), with strata of chalk, sand and clay from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras: ideal for top-quality grape growing. The vineyards are surrounded by olive groves and woodland, and lie at altitudes between 250 and 500 meters above sea level, with ideal exposures (south and southeast) on 307 acres. The range is diverse and stunningly good, providing singular consistency from vintage to vintage. In fact, success has been such that the original Terrabianca nucleus hardly sufficed to meet demand; thus, almost a decade after the Guldeners moved to Tuscany, they acquired a second property in 1997, “Il Tesoro”. This second estate consists of 262 acres in the mineral-rich Maremma, now increasingly fashionable in the wine world. Where Terrabianca is in the central area of Tuscany (province of Siena), Il Tesoro is 43 miles away in the southwest, close to the sea and the holiday resort of Massa Marittima. Beside growing superb Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (which are immediately transported “home” to Terrabianca to be vinified), the “new” (it’s actually almost as ancient as the Radda property) Maremma estate comprises 4,000 olive trees, many of which are 300-400 years old, yielding unbelievable extra virgin olive oil. A total of 129 acres are currently under vine. Note: With 42 different clones-20 sangiovese, 15 Cabernet and 7 merlot-there is no repetition of combinations in any wine.

The 2007 Campaccio is a blend of 70% Sangiovese & 30% Cabernet.  The fruit comes from the estate's in Maremma & Chianti Classico.  The wine spend 12 months in a combonation of French and American oak with an additional 12 months in bottle before release.  This wine has great concentration and freshness.  Dark berry fruit and a hint of cocoa and roasted almonds round out the flavor profile.  Year in and year out, this wine gets great reviews and is a staple amoung some of the best Italian dinner tables.

The 2007 Campaccio is beautifully ripe and succulent in its dark, extroverted fruit. In 2007, Campaccio veers on the edge of overripeness but there is just enough acidity to keep things in check. French oak, smokiness, new leather and licorice add depth to the rich, creamy finish. I am not sure how the 2007 will age, but it should provide highly pleasurable drinking for at least another decade. Campaccio is 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.

Terrabianca tends to bottle later than most estates in Tuscany. Consequently, most years I review the wines from barrel rather than bottle, an approach I now realize does not show these wines in the best possible light. Readers will find much to admire in these delicious, endowed reds.


Wine Advocate #191 October 2010; 92 Points Antonio Galloni

W.O.T.W

This weeks wine of the week always makes me laugh.  Not because of the juice inside but because of the name, Tait "The Ball Buster" Red 2009, Barossa Valley Australia.  Leave it up to the cooky Aussie's to come up with a name like that!  In all honesty, don't take this wine lightly(it might bust your balls).  This estate is making world class wines with the pub to follow.

Tait Winery is located at the southern end of the famous Barossa Valley, in a town called Lyndoch in South Australia, and overlooks the spectacular Barossa Ranges. The owners of the winery are brothers Michael and Bruno Tait, and Bruno's wife, Michelle. They purchased the property in 1994 with the purpose of continuing their family's involvement in the winemaking industry. Although fairly new to the winemaking aspect of the industry, the Tait family has long established roots in the South Australian wine industry.

Michael and Bruno's vision for Tait Wines was a traditional winery, using all the old winemaking methods to produce handcrafted wines that were full-flavored and tasty. The Barossa fruit they use is always very low-yielding and produces highly concentrated flavors and aromas. The grapes used to make Tait Wines are all grown in the Barossa Valley, either by Michael and Bruno or by partnering grape growers who have the same winemaking philosophy as they do. The obvious attention to detail along with strong relationships with his growers has allowed Bruno access to high quality fruit (the old vine fruit is from vines 50-80 years old) which he has then transformed into wines that are reflective of his personality - big, generous with loads of personality. A minimal spraying philosophy is used to ensure a chemical-free wine.

Tait Wines is truly the epitome of the boutique winery. Winemaker Bruno's winemaking philosophy is a simple one – source the highest quality grapes possible, preferably from old vines, and then produce limited quantities of full-bodied, rich flavored wines that are mouth-filling and soft-textured, expressing the generosity of the Barossa at its best.

The 2009 Ball Buster is a blend of 73% Shiraz, 16% Merlot and 11% Cabernet.  The wine spends 12 months in American oak and shows a great depth of intense aromas.  The 2009 represents the 8th straight year of 90+ Points from Robert Parker.

"Deep garnet color and aromas of blackberry preserves, prunes, mulberries and dried leaves with nuances of Indian spices and dusty earth. Full bodied and rich in the mouth, it has a high level of acid providing freshness to the generous fruit and a medium-firm level of grainy tannins, finish long with lingering notes of anise.  Australia's best value wine under $20." 90 Points-Wine Advocate.

Now you might still be wondering why this awesome Aussie blend is called The Ball Buster?  Origanally named "Michelle's Block" after Bruno's wife.  After endless bottles and stories with friends, Bruno felt that with his wife being broad shouldered and built like a stallion that packs a punch of endless intensity, and this bottle of wine that punches you in the mouth with rich aromas and flavors, that his nickname better suited the wine - The Ball Buster!  This bottle is a lot of wine for under 20 bucks and for you fans of Australian wines a must try. 

Trip to Langtry Estae

Yep, just got back from California.  In particular Langtry Estate(Guenoc Winery) in Lake County.  As you cruse through the green lushness of Napa you can not only smell the grapes but you can smell the money.  Full of expensive restaurants, B&B's, and the most famous wineries in California is exactly where I was not!  And I loved it!!  Just over Howell Mountain and through the Pope Valley you come to the Guenoc Valley.  Green and lush is precisely what it is not.  The area reminded me of the Sierra Foothills.  Desert like terrain with small shrubs and rocky soils.  And no one in site.....I think that's why I liked it so much. 

The picturesque estate consists of 23,000 acres and straddles both Lake and Napa Counties where cougar, bear and wild boar still roam the remote hills. Despite the vastness, Langtry's vineyards are limited to 400 prime acres, ensuring the highest quality of wines. 

The winery's namesake, Lillie Langtry, flamboyant British Theatre star, purchased the property sight unseen in 1888. On her first visit, she arrived in St. Helena in her lavish private railroad car, then embarked with a small fleet of stagecoaches carrying her entourage and paramour, Freddie Gebhard. Raised as a tomboy, she apparently was quite a horsewoman. She also made wine, which she proclaimed the “greatest claret in the country.” With the help of her winemaker Henri Descelles, she had 51 tons crushed her first vintage and bottled wine in unique vessels portraying her likeness on the glass. By 1900 Lake County wines were winning awards in international competition, and the region was earning a reputation for producing some of the world's greatest wines. Lillie Langtry sold the property in 1906 and the years of prohibition and vineyard destruction soon followed.

It was a miracle that any vineyard area was left when the property was acquired by 1962. A syrah, petit verdot and white grape vines of mysterious origin were found on the hillside vineyard site after at least half a century of neglect. In 1963, Malulani Investments acquired the 23,000 acre Langtry Estate & Vineyards with a focus of producing top-tier wines from the Guenoc Valley. The Winery planted extensive vineyard acreage and was one of the first in California to plant the five major red Bordeaux grape varieties. The Langtry Red Wine is a supreme example of Langtry's artistry in blending the red Bordeaux varietals.

In 1981, Guenoc Valleywas approved as an AVA (American Viticultural Area), with the distinction of being the first single-proprietor AVA in the country.

Since then, under the new Langtry Estate & Vineyards name, the winery continues to produce award winning Bordeaux style wines as well as their signature Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Pinot Grigio.

My highlight of the trip was the Tephra Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon which is on top of Howell Mountain.  Unbelievable bottle of wine for a fraction of what those folks in the Napa Zip Code want.  Unfortunately its hard to find.  Great news is the Guenoc Lake County Cabernet is easy to find.  Most of the fruit comes from Tephra Ridge and can be found in fine wine retail for around $15.  The Sauvignon Blanc is rather tasty as well.