
There are more than 427,000 acres of grape vines planted in California, covering over 700 miles from Riverside County to Mendocino County. The wine regions in California are divided into four different regions. California would be the fourth largest wine producer on the planet if it were a country.
The 107 American Viticulture Areas include the Sonoma Valley Napa, Rutherford, Russian River Valley, and AVAs. California’s Central Valley is the largest wine region and stretches for more than 300 miles from the northern Sacramento Valley to the southern San Joaquin Valley. Almost 75% of all California wine grapes are produced here including California's bulk, box and jug wine producers like Franzia, Gallo, and the Bronco Wine Company.
California is divided into four regions that include the North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, and the Central Valley. The North Coast includes Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Mendocino, and Lake County. The Central Coast covers the Santa Clara Valley, San Lucas, Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, San Lucas, The Santa Ynez Valley, Livermore Valley, and Santa Barbara County. The South Coast includes Temecula Valley, Leona/Antelope Valley, Ramona Valley, and San Pasqual Valley. California’s Central Valley includes the Sierra Foothills and the most notable being Lodi.
Brown Estate Chaos Theory is made from 37% Cabernet Franc 21% Cabernet Sauvignon 21% Zinfandel, 13% Merlot 8% Barbera
Dark garnet core, ruby rim. Maraschino cherry, red licorice, effervescent citrus, rose garden, chamomile blossom, Italian leather, and creme de cassis followed by cardamom, clove, cinnamon, churned cream, fresh vanilla, and a touch of graphite. Full body with juicy, creamy mouthfeel and supple tannins.
Reviews:
Mulberry, heather, and sarsaparilla are uniquely joined in this plush blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. Notes of cardamom, cinnamon stick, chocolate-raspberry cake are dreamy. Vivid acid structure is within a frame of spiced, dried spring flowers and plum liqueur.
-Tasting Panel 93 Points
This concentrated Merlot-Zinfandel-Petite Sirah blend brings waves of cherry gastrique, raspberry liqueur, violets and caramel on the nose, while the palate leans into ripe blueberries, dark chocolate and raspberry coulis with expansive texture and velvety tannins.
-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
Buccella Cuvee Katrina Eileen Napa Valley is made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Named after our first-born daughter, Cuvée Katrina Eileen is primarily composed of fruit from a vineyard in the Western Hills of Yountville, where yields are miniscule. The extremely rocky soil of the vineyard produces concentrated clusters of perfectly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon. In German, the name “Katrina” represents purity and fittingly, this wine is made entirely from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, providing a pure expression of this decadent varietal. It also reflects our daughter’s personality with flavors that are complex, unreserved and expressive.
Always a 100% Cabernet blend, our 2017 Cuvée Katrina Eileen is an opulent and mouth-enriching wine. Captivated by the inky-black color, luscious scents of dark espresso and cinnamon stick leap out, along with powerful elements of graphite and cassis. Remarkably rich and seamless, while boasting flavors of blueberry compote, dark chocolate and black raspberries, this is a compelling and luxurious wine focused upon velvety texture, silky tannins and incredible length. An intentional breadth on the palate and length in the finish are hallmarks of this wine.
Bydand Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is made from 100% Chardonnay
Aged for 16 months in 30% new French oak, 70% neutral French oak
Farmed by one of California’s most respected and longest operating grape-growing families, the Roberts Road Vineyard is located in the Petaluma Gap. Sitting on well draining gravel soils, coastal winds allow for a long, slow and even growing season. Planted in 1998 these Dijon 95 grapes provide minerality and vibrancy to a full-bodied wine with impressive purity of flavor and mouth-feel. French oak barrels add subtle toast to aromas of pear, stone fruits and white citrus.
Bydand Pinot Noir Umino Vineyard is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
This small, sustainably farmed vineyard perches on a south-facing ridge in the Sebastopol Hills area of the esteemed Russian River Valley AVA, and has produced exceptional Pinot Noir for Bydand since their first vintage. Third-generation farmer David Umino rejected early assessments that the site was too cool for viticulture, and planted Pinot Noir there in 1996. The cold maritime winds in fact help to modulate ripening, and protect the grape’s natural purity and balance - resulting in fruit-driven wines with expressive red fruit and dark berry flavors, balanced with crushed rock and mouth-watering freshness. Velvety tannins coat the palate, providing an alluring and persistent finish.
This site combines the best of the earthy west Sonoma Coast and well-fruited Russian River.
Bydand Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is made from 100% Chardonnay
This Chardonnay is sourced from one of the crown jewels of the esteemed Sangiacomo winegrowing family: Roberts Road Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Marked by coastal winds, foggy mornings, and well-draining gravel soils, this site enjoys a long, slow, and even growing season. Dijon clone 95 Chardonnay vines planted in 1998 impart minerality and vibrancy to a full-bodied wine with impressive purity of flavor. Silky, expressive, and seamless.
Vineyard: Sangiacomo - Roberts Road Vineyard
Aged for 16 months in 20% new French oak
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
Bertrand Bachelet Maranges Blanc 1er Cru La Fussiere is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
The Maranges appellation is the youngest of the Côte de Beaune family, making its debut in May 1989. It spans three villages, namely Dezize-lès-Maranges, Cheilly-les-Maranges and Sampigny-les-Maranges. Several hills and slopes make up this appellation, all south/south-east-facing, at an altitude of between 200 and 400 metres. The Maranges 1ers Crus are spread over seven distinct villages.
'La Fussière' is the main village of the Maranges appellation and is located in the Cheilly and Dezize-les-Maranges areas.
This wine has a pale gold robe, with plenty of sparkle. At first, the nose evokes notes of white flowers, like acacias, then the second nose delivers a flinty, slightly buttery aspect. Plenty of versatility and subtlety on the palate, with floral notes.
A good accompaniment to a cold starter or fish. Try with a slightly sharp hard cheese, such as Cantal or Gouda, to draw out its natural vivacity.
Intense, fresh and fruity bouquet, reminiscent of a tangy red fruit tart (wild strawberry, blueberry), slightly sweet yet underpinned by more concentrated, jammy and citrus notes. The aromatic complexity comes through after a few swirls in the glass giving us a medley of spice, warm cinnamon and peppers. Fleshy attack dominated by ripe, crunchy, plump red fruit that brings depth and creaminess. The fruity structure is gradually elongated by a chalky, mineral freshness that creates a lingering sensation of lightness and harmony on the finish.
Review:
Roederer's 2014 Brut Vintage is beautiful, offering up aromas of pear, mirabelle plum, red berries, warm biscuits and smoke. Full-bodied, layered and elegantly muscular, it's seamless and complete, with terrific mid-palate depth and amplitude. Framed by bright acids and enlivened by a pinpoint mousse, it concludes with a penetrating finish. The blend is 70% Pinot Noir, emphasizing Verzy, and pressure is a touch higher than in its more ethereal Blanc de Blancs counterpart. As I wrote of its 2013 predecessor, this is a wine that puts many prestige cuvées to shame.
95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate