| Country: | United States |
| Regions: | California California (Napa) |
| Winery: | Ca'Momi |
| Grape Type: | Pinot Noir |
| Vintage: | 2012 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Quails Gate Pinot Noir Okanagan Valley is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
As pioneers of Pinot Noir in the Okanagan Valley, the winemaking team continues to raise the bar with this annual release. Sourced from several premium vineyards and a variety of clones, the 2020 vintage saw warm summer temperatures contributing to exceptional ripe, opulent flavours and smooth tannins resulting in an exceptional Pinot Noir.
Tasting notes:
Aromas of cherry, cocoa, raspberry, wild strawberry, lavender, dried cranberry with savory notes of sage leaf and earthy, blackberry, leather tones. A medium bodied silk feel on the palate with balanced flavors of juicy red fruit. Best enjoyed in Burgundy stemware to enhance aromatics.
An ideal match for late-season mushroom or squash risotto, seared game meats or roasted pork with wild rice and root vegetables.
While the wine has sufficient tannins and structure for long-term bottle aging, Caymus Cabernet is dark and concentrated, with ripe, luxurious, fruit-driven softness that shows from the day of release.
Ancien Pinot Noir Carmel Valley River Ranch is made from 100% Pinot Noir.
River Ranch Vineyard from suitcase clone of famous vineyard, mother block to the Pisoni clone as well.
Spice, tea, and plum and blackberry aromas dance atop currants and boysenberry pie. The opulence continues with secondary notes of chocolate and black tea that lead to satisfying elegant finish revealing jasmine. The finish is mouthwatering and long with presenting umami, soy, and Asian spice. Planted to the same special cuttings as our block at the Toyon Farm in Carneros, they are a joy tasting side by side, illustrating the profound influence of terroir.
Pair with Asian, pork with hoisin sauce, savory foods.
Review:
"Sourced from a vineyard of imported Burgundian cuttings planted back in 1982, this is a complex Pinot Noir, offering concentrated aromas of blueberry, palo santo and warm vanilla on the nose. The palate is joyous in cherry and baking-spice flavors, then picks up an herbaceous eucalyptus leaf kick before dropping into a spicy, Sichuan peppercorn-laced finish. - M.K."
- Wine Enthusiast (February/March 2024), 95 points + Editor's Choice
J. Christopher Appassionata Fortissimo Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Inspired by the three movements of Beethoven’s “Appassionata” Piano Sonata, there are three Appassionata Pinot Noirs, released at different tempos.
The finale of the Appassionata Pinot Sonata is Fortissimo (dynamically forceful). Selected for ultimate expressivity and longevity, it is not released until 10 years after the vintage. This is the epitome of expressive excellence that we are seeking in Willamette Valley Pinot Noir – a wine that combines brooding intensity with lilting grace and can stand alongside the classic wines of the world. The 2012 Fortissimo is muscular and full-bodied, with a deep color and seamless structure. In this phase of maturation, tertiary aromas begin to show a profound complexity and subtle earthiness that only develops with bottle age and cannot be accelerated
Review:
Loosen Bros. and J. Christopher Wines just released the Fortissimo and it is showing great acidity and fine-grained tannins. Its aromas and flavors of sweet red cherries, roasted pork shoulder and orange-pekoe tea are alive and kicking. Enjoy 2023–2032.
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
More intense than you might expect from an 11 year old Pinot Noir, certainly one that has been held back at the estate for 10 years before release. Grilled raspberry leaf and reductive smoky notes greet you on the nose here, with sweet black fruits softening the tangy red cherry and cranberry of Oregon Pinot, all wrapped up with waves of leather, sage and tobacco. This has power and succulence, and even at 10 years old it feels pretty young, just at the beginning of its development with a good decade ahead of it. Late release is an unusual approach in Oregon, but not so unusual if you follow Loosen’s winemaking in the Mosel, where he has been known to keep Riesling between 20 and 30 years in barrel. In this case the barrel ageing is for around two years, with the rest taking place in the bottle. Old fashioned winemaking, delicious results. 20% new oak. Fermented with natural yeast, unfiltered and unfined. Tim Malone winemaker. First time on the Place from this wine, from a vineyard in the foothills of the Chehalem Mountains in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Heavy bottle.
- Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux 97 Points
The Rubus Project was created by Fran Kysela as a way to source & sell incredible wines at value prices. All wines in this international project are hand-selected by Fran Kysela. Rubus wines are fruit driven, true-to-type values that over deliver - a true representation of quality for the consumer at an excellent price.
Rubus Reserve Pinot Noir is sourced from Carneros, Napa Valley. It shows complexity with raspberry and cherry notes that dance on the tongue.
Cardinale Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot.
Super structured and with minerality to spare, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers a real presence on the palate from start to finish. Generous notes of dark chocolate balance beautifully with a blue and black fruit flavor explosion, finishing with a subtle whisper of rose petal.
Reviews:
- James Suckling 98 Points
Notes of cherry, plum, and strawberry lead into aromas of jasmine and tangerine. On the palate, this pinot noir has a medium full body that mingles with spicy cherry. A long silky finish with a hint of french oak in the back plays in to its lush flavors, bright acidity and fine, perfectly balanced tannins.
Aged 12 months in Oak Barrels
Acidity: 0.51
PH: 4.16
Alcohol: 13.9%
The Ca'Momi Estate
When Dario de Conti, Valentina Guolo-Migotto and Stefano Migotto came to America, they wanted to make wine in Napa Valley, while capturing the spirit of their Italian heritage. They take great pride in selecting premium sources of their wine grapes with the majority of the fruit coming from Napa Valley and the rest from other carefully selected areas of California.
Napa Valley is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon, and also applauded for producing elegant Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc. In addition to Ca’ Momi’s wide variety of red and white still wines, they produce Ca’ Secco, the first ever Prosecco-style sparkling wine made in California.
The house in the watercolor painting on our label (see image at right) really is Ca' Momi, our house in Veneto Italy.
We named the house in honor of Momi dea Bionda, a local character who was famous for his obsession with the house, his grapes and his wine. We liked the idea of keeping the memory of him alive. Momi was a memorable character. In his later years, he would ride around the property on an old Moto Guzzi motorcycle withthat had a sidecar attached. Across his lap he carried a rifle, to scare away those hoping to steal a taste of his grapes, and in the sidecar rode his best friend Lidia, a faithful dog who continued to ride in the sidecar even after she went blind. Some of the locals say that he haunts our home. We prefer to think that his ghost is just keeping an eye on things. His dog, too. We love the idea that Momi still watches over our home and its vineyard. In fact, we think we have seen him quite a few times.
J Lohr Signature Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon 6% Cabernet Franc 6% Saint Macaire 4% Petit Verdot 4% Malbec.
J. Lohr Signature Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced to honor the 80th birthday of founder Jerry Lohr. This limited release was specially selected and blended from the exceptional 2016 vintage in Paso Robles. It is both a tribute to Jerry's pioneering efforts in the region and our red wine portfolio's ultimate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. VINEYARDS & CELLAR Beck Vineyard, in the Creston District of Paso Robles, is a unique, high elevation site that sits at 1,700 feet above the early morning fog line. Its calcareous soils and cooling afternoon winds are perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet from this vineyard ripens early with excellent color, purity of fruit, and phenolic maturity. Incorporation of Cabernet Franc brings freshness to the blend, while the rare Bordeaux variety, Saint Macaire, brings density and a savory character. Petit Verdot and Malbec add structure, color, and a component of bright fruit. The hand-harvested grapes were held separate at harvest and berry-sorted into six-ton open top tanks for fermentation. Maceration took place on the skins for five days, before early pressing to achieve ideal tannin extraction. Aged 19 months in 100% new French oak from coopers Nadalie and Sylvain.
Review:
The nose on this luxury-level bottling is pure and refreshing, offering aromas of black cherry, loamy soil, dried mint and caramel-laced coffee. The palate is framed by upright tannins, yet is soft enough to enjoy now, showing deep flavors of black currant, dried herb, milk chocolate and toffee. Drink 2020–2040.
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
Argot Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Powerful aromas of key-lime, white flowers, orange blossoms and a fierce, flinty, sauvage note define a wildly complex nose. Once in the mouth, gracefully pronounced textures coat the palate delivering an exotic interpretation of cool-climate Chardonnay character — lime peel, orange blossom, ginger and clove —lingerings deep into a vibrant finish.
Planted 1978. Shallow volcanic soils on the gently-sloped, south-facing foothills of Bennett Peak on Bennett Valley’s floor. One of California’s coolest Chardonnay vineyards. In the final year of 3-year draught cycle, Simpatico Ranch saw its earliest ever harvest and smallest crop, exposing a reserve of exoticism and minerality previously untapped. A watershed vintage for both the vineyard, and appellation. Night harvested by hand on 9/16, whole-cluster pressed direct to barrel; no settling to ensure maximum lees contact. Barrel fermented on heavy lees. Malolactic fermentation. 16 months in French oak, 50% new. Finished 2 months in steel tank, low Sulphur during barrel elevage.
Review:
The 2022 Chardonnay Simpatico Ranch comes bounding out with exuberant notes of juicy peaches, ripe yellow apples, and persimmons, followed by hints of fresh ginger and toasted almonds. The medium to full-bodied palate is soft spoken and savory with a creaminess to the texture and lovely freshness defining the long whispery finish.
-Wine Palate 96 Points