| Country: | United States |
| Regions: | California California (Paso Robles) |
| Winery: | Jada Vineyard and Winery |
| Grape Type: | Merlot |
| Organic: | Yes |
| Vintage: | 2017 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Appasionata Andante Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Inspired by the historical winemaking techniques of Erni Loosen’s great-grandfather, the Appassionata Riesling GG is made in the same way as the Dr. Loosen Grosses Gewächs (“Great Growth”) Rieslings he produces in Germany. The GG designation indicates a dry-style wine from a vineyard of special distinction — in this case, the old-vine Medici vineyard, planted in 1976. We farm this exceptional site, which is just a few miles east on the Chehalem Mountain ridge.
The fruit for this wine was harvested from old Rieslng vines (planted in 1976) in the Medici Vineyard, which is also in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, just a few miles from the winery. We lease this vineyard and have been farming it organically since 2015. The wine was fermented in a 3,000-liter German oak cask, and rests on the full lees for 12 months before bottling. The extended lees contact allows the wine to clarify and find its own harmonious balance naturally.
Production notes:
Whole-cluster pressing; natural fermentation in a neutral 3,000-liter oak cask; matured on the full lees for 12 months; no bâtonnage.
Review:
If you prefer a thinking person's wine you'll run out of superlatives to describe this Riesling from Dr Loosen's Oregon project with J Christopher Wines. From a personal favourite, the old vines of the Medici Vineyard, the winemaking shows serious patience and determination. Fermented in a 3,000-liter, neutral oak German Fuder cask. It rests on the full lees for two years and is then held in bottle for three to five years before release. Aged, savoury and delicious. Aromas are savoury and saline. Lanolin, dandelion, seafoam, and beeswax with hints of fresh herbs and dried lemon peel. The palate is brilliant, savoury and bright and complex. Energetic flavours of wet slate, savoury bee pollen, white tea and lanolin notes. The finish offers crushed stone vibrancy.
-Decanter 93 Points
"This energetic and fully dry Riesling is made in the same way as the Dr. Loosen Grosses Gewächs (“Great Growth”) Rieslings are produced in Germany and was raised in a 3000-liter oak cask. The 2017 Riesling GG Chehalem Mountains offers a pale straw hue and is forward and expressive with aromas of flint, ripe apricot, petrol, and wild herbs. Medium-bodied, it offers a fantastic, rich core of concentration along with a mineral, soft, stony texture and a long finish. If opening now, it will do well to decant this serious style of white. It’s certainly another age-worthy wine from Ernst Loosen. Drink 2025-2045."
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
Named after the French word for Crow, or Raven, this Syrah is certainly as dark as the name implies. Hailing from Discovery Vineyard, perched high above the Columbia River in the heart of the Horse Heaven Hills, these grapes were grown in a very unique terroir. Avennia's approach of old-world style, minimalist winemaking allows for full expression of the fruit, showcasing the elegant and savory side of Syrah.
"Leads with a nice balance of dark fruits—blackberry and blueberry—with more savory elements, including blackberry leaf, olive, charcuterie, and a hint of shiitake. The palate features snappy fresh black fruits, a hint of smoked meat, and a lively finish with plenty of savory elements that make this wine quite interesting. Give it a year in the cellar and enjoy over the next eight years or so." - Chris Peterson, Winemaker
Review:
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
-Wine Enthusiast 92 Points
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 91 Points
Avennia Sestina Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc.
The story of this wine - The Sestina is an ancient form of poetry from Medieval France. Just as a modern poet can fill this form with new expressions, Avennia uses the traditional Bordeaux blend to express Washington. Sestina is their vision for an old vine, complex blend where all of the components complement each other. This wine is designed for the cellar, so the emphasis is on structure, balance, and complexity.
Winemaker Tasting Notes - “Good deep ruby/garnet color, with aromas of black cherry, fresh black currant, dark mocha, cigar box, and graphite. The palate is lively and dense with mountain berries, mocha, vanilla honey, damp earth, and wildflowers. The finish shows a distinct chalky minerality and beautiful tension. This is a classically balanced and ageworthy Sestina. Drink 2025-2040.” - Chris Peterson, Winemaker
Review:
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 94 Points
-Stephen Tanzer (Vinous) 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.
Cavalier Dario Barbaresco Riserva 2017 is made from Nebbiolo.
Barbaresco is Nebbiolo grown in the hills around its namesake village, and the Riserva is its longer-aged expression — held in cellar well beyond the standard bottling so the grape's firm tannins have time to settle into something more supple and savory. Expect the classic Nebbiolo signature: dried rose and red fruit, an earthy, spiced undertone, and the fine-grained grip that makes these wines such natural partners for roasted and braised meats, mushrooms, truffle and aged cheese.
Winery Info: Cavalier Dario is the Piedmont family winery founded in 1968 by Dario Bersano and his wife Giuseppina, in San Marzano Oliveto in the province of Asti. Known by the emblem of the Lion Rampant, the estate passed to Dario's son Roberto, who joined in 1992 and runs it today; in 1998 the family expanded by acquiring Selectvini, uniting two historic houses — Casa Vinicola Cortese (Canelli, 1875) and Casa Vinicola Pistone Luigi (Asti, 1860). Nebbiolo-based Barolo and Barbaresco sit at the top of their range. Barbaresco DOCG is made entirely from Nebbiolo in the Langhe, and the Riserva is aged longer than a standard Barbaresco before release.
Jada Strayts is made from Paso Robles 51% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petite Sirah, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec.
One of the most challenging yet rewarding grapes to grow on the Jada Estate Vineyard, Merlot still dominates this blend at 51% of the volume. Bright cherry and plum with balanced barrel spice, black pepper, clove and dried tea leaves. Creamy, milk chocolate mouthfeel and refreshing acidity on the finish.
Strayts refers to the Straits of Messina, a body of water that separates Italy from the Sicily and the city from which they get their family name. For those literary scholars amongst you, it may have been the inspiration for the legend of Scylla and Charybdis, described by Homer in the Odyssey. No sea monsters or whirlpools here.
The Strayts is a Merlot-focused blend, using Merlot from one block in the Jada Estate Vineyard. The block encompasses elevation changes over 75 feet, as well as soil types ranging from calcareous to deep, clay loam. The 2017 vintage demanded multiple picks on this block, starting 9/14/2017 and ending 10/6/2017, to see proper maturity throughout. Fermentations in this blend ranged from 14 to 19 days using a combination of pump-overs and hand punch-downs. The blend is aged in mostly medium toast barrels to preserve delicate aromatics, while supporting the richness and spice of the Merlot. Aging for 15 months (31% 500L barrels, 69% 225L barrels) in 53% New French Oak, 47% Neutral Oak.
Review:
-Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points
Jada Vineyard lies in a incredible pocket of the Templeton Gap/Willow Creek District, blessed with cooling coastal air and abundant sunshine throughout the growing season. With sustainability and minimizing their environmental footprint a focus of their winegrowing program, Jada has embraced organic and biodynamic farming techniques and last year, received a SWEEP grant from the CDFA for their commitment to sustainability.
To their winemaker, Josh Harp, the beauty of the land here is found beneath the surface and it's the reason the Messina Family, back in 1999, purchased this 95 acre hillside estate on the West-side of Paso Robles. Under a shallow topsoil of clay loam lie massive deposits of calcareous shale and pockets of limestone. This challenging environment contributes to reduced vigor in the vines and decreased berry size, which plays a huge part in the intensity of their fruit and imparts a complex underlying minerality to their wines. Harvest at Jada generally begins near the end of September and the beginning of October allowing for a long maturation process that results in superb development of color & intensity in character while maintaining acidity.
Jada's approach has always been one of "sustainable excellence" - avoiding short-cuts and focusing on those improvements that would increase wine quality year after year. They are proud today to celebrate their 13th vintage making estate wines, their 95th "90/+" wine rating, and their 11th anniversary, since opening the Tasting Room doors in 2008.
Currently, the ranch is planted to 48 acres of Rhone and Bordeaux varietals, making under 5,000 cases to support the Wine Club and Tasting Room. All you have to do to be a part of this amazing effort is sit back, relax, sip, and enjoy!
Quintessa Red 2022 is made from 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot.
The 2022 Quintessa is a charming wine, opening with intense aromas of black cherry and cassis that are complemented by notes of tobacco, bay laurel, cedar, and dark chocolate. Plush and inviting on entry, this wine’s flavors align with its aromas. The palate reveals dark fruits and an undertone of crushed rocks, tar, and graphite. On the finish, this vintage displays the signature fine-grained tannin of their Quintessa terroir, backed by voluminous texture and fruit.
Review:
-Decanter 99 Points
Fefinanes Albarino de III Anos is made from 100% Albarino.
The III Ano shows all the expressiveness of the Albarino grape, with a full nose of ripe fruit and a mineral character. Complex and meaty with firm structure on the palate, it promises a splendid evolution and a long life for this elegant, characterful wine.
Aged 3 years on the lees. First, four months in French and American oak barriques (no new oak; only 1-, 2- and 3-year-old barrels), with frequent batonnage to draw the most expressive notes from the Albarino; then transferred to stainless steel so the oak aromas integrate.
Excellent with shellfish, grilled or stewed fish, white meats and poultry.