Prendas Vermentino di Sardegna Dolianova 2014

Poggio Nardone Rosso di Montalcino 2014 is 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso.

Intense ruby red color with garnet tints.
Intense and delicate aromas of fresh fruits with notes of cherry.
Dry red wine with a good strength and freshness, along with a nice aromatic persistence.

The 5 hectares of specialized vineyards in Montalcino are at an altitude of 350 meters above sea level and are surrounded by woodlands of ilex, oak and arbutus which are characteristic of Montalcino’s hillside habitat. The soil is predominantly composed of marl and limestone which renders this terrain particularly rich in mineral salts.

Pairs well with pasta prepared with meat sauces, mushrooms or truffles; complex rice, main courses of pork or veal with sauces.

Uvaggio Vermentino Lodi is made from 100 percent Vermentino.

Herbaceous aromas and bright citrus flavors give an almost-electric charge to this light-bodied, crisp and appetizing wine. Aromas of snap peas, parsley and fresh-cut grass lead to lemon and grapefruit flavors and a tingly mouthfeel. It's a perfect summer-to-fall drink.

Review:

"Herbaceous aromas and bright citrus flavors give an almost-electric charge to this light-bodied, crisp and appetizing wine. Aromas of snap peas, parsley and fresh-cut grass lead to lemon and grapefruit flavors and a tingly mouthfeel. It's a perfect summer-to-fall drink." — Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast 

Lyrarakis Mandilari Plakoura Cretian Red  is made from 100% Mandilari

Description: The rare low-yield Plakoura vineyard is the equivalent to a Premier Cru slope at 500m. Altitude, with sandy, stony soil. The head-trained pruning in combination with the north-east exposure of the vineyard and plenty of sunshine, ensures that the grapes reach optimum ripeness at the time of harvest. Very thorough cultivation helps us achieve extremely low yields, succeeding in vinificating a very concentrated wine with a deep red color and an excellent structure, which will age for a long time.

Tasting Notes: Deep, intense red color. In the nose, complex aromas of juicy plums, toffee and licorice are superbly balanced by the chocolate and vanilla notes provided by its ageing process in oak. In the mouth it is well concentrated with a lively lingering finish. This wine has an excellent bottle ageing potential that can overpass 10 years.

Alcohol: 13% ABV
Acidity: 5.62 g/L
pH: 3.5
RS: 2.11 g/L

Region: Plakoura vineyard, Karkadiotisa area - central Crete
Soil: Sandy-loam with a good amount of stones
Sun Exposure: North East
Pruning Technique: Head trained, spur pruned
Altitude: 500m above sea level
Irrigation: Not irrigated
Yield: 5tn/ha
Varieties: 100% Mandilari

Winemaking: Green-harvested in August. Harvested by hand during the second week of September, defined by berry sensory assessment to obtain a proper fruit and aromatic balance. Fermentation with selected yeasts at temperature between 25°C and 28°C. The wine was aged for 12 months in both new and used oak barrels and then stored in bottles for 9 months before being launched commercially.

Food pairing: Grilled red meat, game and piquant cheese.

Poggio Nardone Brunello di Montalcino is made from 100 percent Sangiovese Grosso.

The rich nose displays scents of spices combined with aromas of small red ripe fruits, blackberry and blueberry.
Well structured, determined and elegant, with round and silky tannins. Very nice finish.

Alcoholic fermentation was done in tank, maloactic fermentation in oak barrels. Wine was then aged for 3 years in French oak barrels. 

Review:

"Aromas of cedar and dried fruit with hints of burnt orange. Medium body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. A little rustic but flavorful and interesting. Drink now."

- James Suckling (November 2019), 90 points

Uvaggio Barbera Lodi is made from 100% Barbera - 50 years old

An oft misunderstood and vastly underappreciated grape variety, Barbera posseses charms just awaiting discovery. Consigned to life in Piedmont as the second banana to the more glamorous, special-occasion Nebbiolo that goes into Barolo and Barbaresco, Barbera is what the locals drink daily. Its low tannins and higher acidity amplify its fruit while supporting the grape’s savory nature. While here in California it should be so lucky to have this level of prominence, ours is full, flavorful and firm. It has aromas of vanilla, toasty oak and heady dark fruits, all becoming more evident on the palate with a small burst of flavor. Its inherent complexity allows it to pair with just about anything you’re cooking, Mediterranean or not.

This remnant vineyard is one of four 'test blocks' that was planted for Gallo many decades ago, to evalute Barbera in Lodi for a contribution in elevating the quality and style of their Hearty Burgundy.
Uvaggio Barbera is full, rich and structured with aromas of toasty oak and ripe berries, plus flavors of stone fruit like cherry and plum; it possesses a complex finish.

Our mature vines are grafted to an old clone which has been cultivated in California since around the 1880’s.

We used a yeast strain isolated in Barolo and immediately following the alcoholic fermentation and pressing, we filled the wine to barrels for a malo-lactic conversion in wood. It was minimally handled and racked just once during winter. Total aging in cooperage was eight months and it consisted of 24% new French oak, 30% once used French oak, with the balance in fairly neutral French oak.

Bottled in Jul 2015; 14.2% alcohol, pH 3.39 & TA 7.1 g/l

95% Barbera - Leventini Vineyard 
3% Barbera - Firefall Vineyard
2% Charbono - Arrastra Vineyard
95% Lodi AVA

Its inherent complexity allows it to pair with just about anything you’re cooking, Mediterranean or not.

Review:

Superfresh raspberry aromas, rich cherry flavors and a texture that helps all that fruit cling to the palate make this medium-bodied wine compelling. It feels firm and structured due to good acidity, which supports the surprisingly bright and layered fruit flavors very well. Wine Enthusiast 90 Points

This one-hundred-percent Merlot has really nice, bright red fruit, rose petals, and a richness on the nose. Flavors of plum, mountain strawberry and mocha come together with a balanced mouth feel and a long finish. Though it was a cooler vintage, I feel we have still captured the powerfully elegant style for which we are known.

Review:

"The 2014 Columbia Valley Merlot (100% Merlot) is a ripe, black fruit, plum, leafy herbs and mineral-scented effort that has medium to full-bodied richness, moderate mid-palate depth and tons of upfront charm. It's going to drink nicely through 2024."
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #231, June 2017), 90 pts

"The aromas bring notes of dried herb, vanilla bean, wood spice and black cherry. The flavors are rich and luscious, supported by plump ripe tannins. The finish lingers."
- Wine Enthusiast (June 2017), 91 pts