Finca Sobreno Ildefonso Toro is made from 100% Tinta de Toro
Very Old Vines (Minimum 80 years of age)
Aged in 100% new French Oak Barrels for 18 months + 12 months in the bottle
The wine is produced in very limited quantity from the estate's oldest vineyards (80 years old vines) and is fermented in 2,000-liter open-top fermentation vats. Our winemaker punches down the cap by hand three times a day using the traditional pigeage method to ensure optimal extraction.
The name of the wine is the surname of the San Ildefonso family, father Roberto and daughter Paloma, and represents the apex of their winemaking tradition.
Tasting notes
Deep cherry color.
Very expressive, elegant and complex with ripe fruit, mineral notes, sweet spices, chocolate aromas and intense toasts.
Powerful, tasty, round and very smooth. We find again black berries, mineral notes, chocolates with roasted aromas. Very long after taste.
Soil types:
The soil is formed by sediments of sand, clay and limestone, which produce a dark lime-bearing topsoil, with fine and coarse sands.
This year we had low rain falls getting very healthy bunches. Besides, cool nights and not very hot days at the end of the cycle were excellent for a complete ripening of the grapes, full of nuances.
Winemaking and aging
The fruit is manually selected and picked in small cases. After destemming the grapes are stored in 2.000 liter open fermenter tanks and cold maceration at 8ºC during 8 days. Three times a day the cap of the skins is submerged manually (pigeage) and after the alcoholic fermentation is finished at a controlled temperature, the wine is macerated until the wine maker determines the appropriate extraction polyphenols. The malolactic fermentation is carried out in new French oak barrels. The wine was aged in new French oak barrels for 16 months, followed by another 12 months minimum in the bottle.
Ideal for red meats, lamb, roasted meat and strong cheeses
Review:
Black fruit and power from lots of new flashy oak. Coconut, coffee and mocha flavours; ripe and soft palate with an earthy texture. Long finish.
-Decanter 93 Points
Finca Sobreno Ildefonso Toro is made from 100% Tinta de Toro
Very Old Vines (Minimum 80 years of age)
Aged in 100% new French Oak Barrels for 18 months + 12 months in the bottle
The wine is produced in very limited quantity from the estate's oldest vineyards (80 years old vines) and is fermented in 2,000-liter open-top fermentation vats. Our winemaker punches down the cap by hand three times a day using the traditional pigeage method to ensure optimal extraction.
The name of the wine is the surname of the San Ildefonso family, father Roberto and daughter Paloma, and represents the apex of their winemaking tradition.
Tasting notes
Deep cherry color.
Very expressive, elegant and complex with ripe fruit, mineral notes, sweet spices, chocolate aromas and intense toasts.
Powerful, tasty, round and very smooth. We find again black berries, mineral notes, chocolates with roasted aromas. Very long after taste.
Soil types:
The soil is formed by sediments of sand, clay and limestone, which produce a dark lime-bearing topsoil, with fine and coarse sands.
This year we had low rain falls getting very healthy bunches. Besides, cool nights and not very hot days at the end of the cycle were excellent for a complete ripening of the grapes, full of nuances.
Winemaking and aging
The fruit is manually selected and picked in small cases. After destemming the grapes are stored in 2.000 liter open fermenter tanks and cold maceration at 8ºC during 8 days. Three times a day the cap of the skins is submerged manually (pigeage) and after the alcoholic fermentation is finished at a controlled temperature, the wine is macerated until the wine maker determines the appropriate extraction polyphenols. The malolactic fermentation is carried out in new French oak barrels. The wine was aged in new French oak barrels for 16 months, followed by another 12 months minimum in the bottle.
Ideal for red meats, lamb, roasted meat and strong cheeses
Review:
The deep purple-hued 2017 Ildefonso Toro offers up classic aromatics of spicy red and black fruits, vanilla bean, graphite, cheese rind, and scorched earth, which carry to a medium to full-bodied red that has nicely integrated tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. Aged 18 months in 70% French and 30% American oak, it should evolve gracefully over the coming decade.
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Finca Sobreno Seleccion Especial Toro is now called Finca Sobreno Tempranillo Reserva Toro.
Finca Sobreno Tempranillo Reserva Toro 100% Tinta de Toro from selected old-vines plots and aged during 14 months in American oak.
Production: 8,500 cases/year.
Deep dark cherry red color with dark purple tones. Powerful yet elegant nose, refined and stylish with ripe berry fruit, spicy complexity with scents of clove, sandalwood, vanilla, chocolate. Muscular, elegant yet silky smooth taste shows fruit preserves/jam blackberry and chocolate truffle. Concentrated and rich but not sweet with superb length. A good match for venison or wild boar with a fruit-based sauce.
Soil types
The wine is 100% Tinta de Toro from selected old-vines plots (over 40 years old)
The soil is formed by sediments of sand, clay and lime-stone, which produce a dark lime-bearing topsoil, with fine and coarse sands.
Harvest: In Toro summer temperatures were lower than usual and only rose over 40°C on a few days, which compensated for the dry conditions. Fresher nights from mid August also helped vines to reach optimum ripeness in the six weeks leading up to harvest –which was carried out between September 19 and October 10- and tamed alcohol levels. Tempranillo (Tinta de Toro) grapes ripened well – bunches were small and clusters were loose and healthy. Yields were low but the wines show intense color, good fruit profile and ripe tannins, which will be help to achieve roundness and good mouth feel in the finished wines. The fresher summer also resulted in slightly lower alcohol levels and a slightly higher acidity and this bodes well for quality in wines destined for ageing.
Winemaking and aging: Following a careful selection, the grapes were destemmed, crushed and the must underwent cold maceration at 7º C for five days prior to fermentation, which took place at a constant 28º C. The total maceration period lasted approximately 20 days. This wine was aged in new and one year old American and French oak barrels for 14 months, followed by another 24 months minimum in the bottle.
Winemaker: Oscar Martin
Technical specification:
TA: 4.88 grams / liter
pH: 3.62
SO2 free: 76 mg/l
RS: 2.23 grams / liter
A good match for venison or wild boar with a fruit-based sauce.
Flanagan Beauty of Three Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot.
Flanagan Beauty of Three Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir.
The Flanagan "Beauty of Three" Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast has a pretty nose with crushed Black Plum skin, Citrus Blossom, and Hazelnut. On the palate, the wine shows Red and Black Plum, rich turned earth, and a fascinating Nutella note on the finish. It is a complex wine and one I really enjoy.
Our wine making is always focused on balance, and on allowing the site and the vintage to express themselves. This wine is made for top Restaurants and Country Clubs to feature as a “by the glass” pour and is a fantastic introduction to the quality of our vineyard sites and wine making.
Just south of the winery, Bacigalupi Vineyard straddles Westside Road in the upper reach of Russian River Valley. The 125 acre vineyard encompasses a range of terroir, from heavier valley floor soil along the Russian River to alluvial clay loam on the rolling hillsides. The fruit is sourced from a superb block of 25 year-old Wente Clone vines located on the western slope of the site. Bacigalupi was the source of the Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that, famously, beat the French wines at the "Judgement of Paris" in 1976.
Bacigalupi Chardonnay has a nose of lemon zest and vanilla bean. The palate opens with red pear and Meyer lemon, and brioche toast and honey comb notes on the finish. Like well-made Chardonnay from great vineyards around the world this wine benefits from getting some air, will age for years, and is best when served chilled around 50 degrees. This wine will evolve in the bottle for many years to come. A terrific wine from one of Sonoma County's top sites for Chardonnay.
Review:
Precise and focused aromas of lemon peel, flint, grapefruit pith, fresh pineapple and milled oats. The palate is tense, with a rounded, mid-weight mouthfeel and energetic acidity. A lovely wine made from a prestigious vineyard that captures freshness and minerality in the cool 2023 vintage. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 94 Points
Flanagan Russian River Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Grapes for this wine are sourced from several top Russian River Chardonnay sites including Platt Vineyard, Ritchie Vineyard and Bacigalupi Vineyard.
A typical day in Russian River begins with cool fog that fades by mid-morning as the warm sun transforms the vineyard into a warm, welcoming place buzzing with bees. In the late afternoon the ocean air sweeps in from the west cooling the vineyard down. Soils of clay and volcanic rock, carved into rolling hills by the Russian River, are the bass line to the melody played by the sun, wind and fog.
Flanagan Chardonnay RRV has an expressive nose that is typical of the Wente Clone of Chardonnay. The palate has an elegant mélange of stone fruit and ripe citrus flavors supported by understated barrel notes. The key to the wine is the bright acidity that ties everything together. This is a great example of what top Russian River Chardonnay sites can produce when wine making is focused on balance.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is becoming known as the top source for cool climate Pinot Noir. Flanagan Pinot Noir is founded in letting each site and each vintage express itself. They do not have a dogmatic approach to wine-making. Pinot Noir, more than any other grape variety, is made in the vineyard.
The nose is reminiscent of Chambord with rich raspberry notes. The palate has great depth of fruit and notes of Christmas spices like clove and nutmeg. The wine displays vibrant acidity and has a very clean finish. Our Flanagan Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast pairs beautifully with duck, salmon, pork and game; like pheasant, venison, and elk.
Florence Cholet Auxey-Duresses Rouge is made from 100 Pinot Noir 60 year old vines.
Auxey-Duresses exhibits intense and juicy aromas of cherries, raspberries, and spices. This is a charming wine that has harmonious and delicate tannins, and a fine texture in the mouth. Medium-bodied, elegant and complex with great concentration and structure.
Florence Cholet Auxey-Duresses Rouge is made from 100% Pinot Noir.
Auxey-Duresses exhibits intense and juicy aromas of cherries, raspberries, and spices. This is a charming wine that has harmonious and delicate tannins, and a fine texture in the mouth. Medium-bodied, elegant and complex with great concentration and structure.
Florence Cholet Auxey-Duresses Rouge Premier Cru Les Ecussaux is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
The nose expresses a nice bouquet of black fruits, cherry and violet. The mouth provides a rich and supple wine with a good tannin structure.
Full, well-balanced, mineral, with a hint of flint aromas. Lemon and lime flavors.
The parcels are located in Puligny Montrachet and Pommard.
Florence Cholet Bourgogne Blanc Cote d'Or is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Full, well-balanced and round. Persistent, with beautiful minerality due to the wine terroir.
Filet of Sole as well as chicken with crawfish is creamy sauce (Poularde aux Ecrevisses).
Vineyards are located in the commune of Puligny Montrachet and Meursault.
The nose expresses small red and black fruits, blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry and violet. The mouth provides a rich, supple and elegant wine with a good structure.
Pork Filet Mignon, Pike Perch, Tomme de Morvan Cheese
Florence Cholet Hautes Cotes de Beaune Rouge is 100% Pinot Noir.
The nose expresses small red and black fruits, blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry and violet. The mouth provides a rich, supple and elegant wine with a good structure.
Pairs well with Pork, Filet Mignon, Pike Perch, Tomme de Morvan Cheese
Florence Cholet Meursault Blanc is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
This classic Meursault offers expressive and complex aromas of white flower, white fruit, and herbal aromas. Bright acidity and minerality emerge on the palate from this beautifully balanced and structured white, followed by subtle hints of vanilla and toasted brioche nuances in a refreshing finish.
Pair with fresh Truffle Pasta, Beaufort Cheese, Pike Quennelles.
Florence Cholet Meursault Blanc is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
This classic Meursault offers expressive and complex aromas of white flower, white fruit, and herbal aromas. Bright acidity and minerality emerge on the palate from this beautifully balanced and structured white, followed by subtle hints of vanilla and toasted brioche nuances in a refreshing finish.
Pair with fresh Truffle Pasta, Beaufort Cheese, Pike Quennelles.
Florence Cholet Meursault Blanc is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
This classic Meursault offers expressive and complex aromas of white flower, white fruit, and herbal aromas. Bright acidity and minerality emerge on the palate from this beautifully balanced and structured white, followed by subtle hints of vanilla and toasted brioche nuances in a refreshing finish.
Pair with fresh Truffle Pasta, Beaufort Cheese, Pike Quennelles.
Florence Cholet Puligny Montrachet Les Enseigneres is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
"Les Enseigneres" is a famous lieu-dit in Puligngy, located next to the Grand Cru Bâtard-Montrachet. Produced from old vines Chardonnay, this fantastic wine is round and well-balanced with good depth, tension and concentration from the prestigious terroir. Persistent aromas and flavors of peach, citrus fruit and tropical fruit, buttery notes and beautiful minerality.
"Sous la Velle" takes its name from its location 'under the village' of Saint Romain. The vineyards enjoy a steep and south facing exposure, planted on marl scree with the vines taking root in the limestone and offering a beautiful minerality to the wine. The nose expresses small red and black fruits, blackcurrant, cherry, raspberry and violet. The mouth provides a rich, supple and elegant wine with a good structure, pure fruit and vibrant acidity.
After destalking the grapes, the juice, skin and pulp are put into the vat for cold maceration. It lasts from 15 to 18 days. The alcoholic fermentation will follow, lasting from 5 to 6 days. These steps may be punctuated by push-downs. Aging in oak for 12 months.
Pork Filet Mignon, Pike Perch, Tomme de Morvan Cheese.
Fombrauge Saint Emilion is made from 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc.
Château Fombrauge 2020 has a dark red hue, intense fruit aromas and elegant tannins that offer a generous mouthfeel rarely seen in wine so young.
The nose reveals aromas of cherries, blackberries and raspberries, along with spicy notes.
On the palate, the wine i round, soft and silky. Its deep richness, matched with a nice freshness and a long and mellow finish, make it already a great Château Fombrauge, with a long ageing potential.
Chateau Fombrauge Saint-Emilion Grand Cru's food pairing
Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec.
A classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with inviting violet, dark fruit, tobacco, subtle baking spice and earthy dried herb aromatics. The palate is filled with expressive black cherry, blackberry and dark plum, hints of spice box and sweet vanilla bean. A focused, concentrated wine with youthful energy and freshness nimbly balanced by supple tannin structure and finesse.
Review:
This wine is lovely in juicy red fruit, dried herb and hints of allspice, the tannin structure firm and giving. Offering refinement and structure, it shows nuances of black currant, cherry and toasted oak. This will do well in the cellar.
Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection 94 Points
Freemark Abbey Bosche Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot.
Nestled in the heart of the Rutherford Bench, the Bosché Vineyard has the ideal terroir for growing elegant and balanced Cabernet. The 2019 vintage opens with aromas of chocolate covered cherry, blueberry, graphite, and forest floor. The palate is rich and supple with notes of forest fruit compote, cigar box, mocha, and carob. The tannins are already silky and integrated which means it drinks wonderfully now and will age gracefully for decades. .
Review:
From a valley floor site and a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche offers a great bouquet of both red and black fruits as well as notes of herbes de Provence, loamy earth, and spicy oak. Brought up in two-thirds new French oak, it’s medium to full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, and beautiful overall balance. A brilliant 2019, it will evolve for 20+ year
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points