Kistler Vineyards - Fall 2010 Release

The Fall 2010 Kistler release hit the mailbox today, and as always it is one to look forward to.  We absoluely love their chardonnay, and especially their pinot noir, as they are true pleasures to drink, with awesome nuances of Burgundy!

As always, we were allocated more than we can take, so if any of he locals are interested, drop me a line and let me know.  We'll probably take a few eachof the chardonnay, and a couple of each pinot noir.  Pricing per bottle statyed the same this year, and the chardonnay's have been allocated at $75 per bottle, and there are 5 different chards on this release.  They are all 2008's, and they are postd below along with Robert Parker's notes.

There are also 2 pinot noir this release, the 2008 Sonoma Coast at $80, as well as the Silver Belt Vineyard Cuvee Natalie Sonoma Coast at $90 per.  Notes on those listed below as well, along with the number of bottles we were allocated:

Robert Parker’s reviews for Fall 2010

2008 McCrea Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Mountain – 93-95  (16 bottle allocation)  Minerality is present in the tighter knit, but full-bodied, stunningly rich 2008 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard. This Chablis-like offering reveals abundant orange and citrus blossom characteristics intermixed with a crushed rock/wet stone note, super texture and density, and a strong, powerful finish with both elegance and substance.

2008 Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 91-93  (6 bottle allocation)  The 2008 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch offers aromas of nectarines, hazelnuts, and honeyed pineapple, a ripe, medium to full-bodied style, good acidity, a subtle smoky oak note in the background, terrific fruit, and serious levels of concentration.

2008 Durell Vineyard Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 92-94  (16 bottle allocation)  Another Chablis-like effort (and a grand cru one at that) is the 2008 Chardonnay Durell Vineyard. An intense minerality is accompanied by copious aromas of lemon oil, white peach, quince, and white currant offered in a full-bodied, fresh style.

2008 Parmelee-Hill Vineyard Stone Flat Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – 93-95  (6 bottle allocation)  The elegant, fresh, medium to full-bodied, intense 2008 Chardonnay Parmelee Hill Stone Flat Vineyard possesses notes of white currants, orange blossoms, nectarines, and white peaches with subtle hints of smoke and oak in the background. It reveals good acidity, abundant richness, and impressive purity as well as texture. It should drink well for 7-8 years.

2008 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay Carneros – 92-94  (6 bottle allocation)  The more open-knit, All American 2008 Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard exhibits tropical fruit and smoky hazelnuts in its distinctively California personality.

2008 Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 91-93  (12 bottle allocation)  The 2008 Pinot Noir Kistler Vineyard (made from a Calera clone) exhibits a dark ruby hue as well as notes of plums, blueberries, brioche, flowers, raspberries, and pomegranate. Medium-bodied, fresh, and lively, it should drink nicely for a decade.

2008 Silver Belt Vineyard Cuvée Natalie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – 91-94  (6 bottle allocation)  Made primarily from the Swan clone, the 2008 Pinot Noir Cuvée Natalie Silver Belt reveals copious raspberry, cherry, spice box, earth, tobacco leaf, and forest floor characteristics in its seductive, velvety-textured, full-bodied personality . It possesses a feminine quality reminiscent of a Chambolle-Musigny from Burgundy. It, too, should drink well for a decade.

This will be another great release that we look forward to, and to our local friends, if you are interested in a few bottles, drop me an e-mail and let me know!  We're more than happy to share a few of the bottles we were allocated, as there is plenty of wine to go around!  Cheers!

Quilceda Creek - Fall 2010 Release

Today I received an e-mail from Quilceda Creek regarding their Fall 2010 release.  For me, the ordering opens on August 11th, and I am sure that we'll be picking up a few bottles of each just based on the vintage for the region.

Check out the information below about the upcoming release, and get your credit cards ready!   As always, Quilceda Creek is not a release to be missed!  Cheers!  -F. Scott

We are proud to release the Quilceda Creek 2007 Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Red Mountain A.V.A. The Galitzine Vineyard is a partnership between our family and the Holmes family of the highly acclaimed Ciel du Cheval Vineyard. This high-density vineyard (2074 plants/acre) was planted in 2001 and 2002 with Clone 8 Cabernet Sauvignon on windblown Hezel over Warden soils. These deep, consistent, sandy loam soils are ideal for root development, vine health and vineyard uniformity. The 2007 offers intense aromas and flavors of Wild Mountain blackberries muddled with chocolate truffles, violet pastille, pencil lead, sage and minerals. Due to increasing vine age coupled with a wonderful growing season, this is the finest example of the Galitzine terroir yet. Aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months, it is a blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. All of our 2007's will have large drinking windows because of their lush textures and sensual, liqueur like personalities. Drink Now – 2040.   $98 per bottle.

The Quilceda Creek 2007 Palengat Proprietary Red Wine displays the wonderful aromatic perfume of the Horse Heaven Hills A.V.A. In order to create the best wine we can from this site, we decided to drop the previous Cabernet Sauvignon and vineyard designation , allowing us greater flexibility with the wines composition without restrictions. This vineyard was planted in 1997-2002 on deep, consistent, Sagehill series soil. It is located on an ideal south facing slope on Phinney Hill, right next to Champoux Vineyard, which is the source of most of the Cabernet Sauvignon for our flagship wine. This vineyard is managed by Paul Champoux and is 8.5 acres in size with 59% of the vines being high-density (2270 vines/acre). Having this many plants per acre fills in the mid- palate often missing from varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This source allows us to make wines with these varietals that are dense, rich, full bodied and complex. The wine showcases floral violet, plum, cassis and sun dried cherry fruit with complex layers of asphalt, smoked meat, Asian spices and vanilla bean. Aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months, it is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink now – 2035.   $83 per bottle.

The Quilceda Creek 2007 Columbia Valley Red Wine is a blend of declassified lots, which reflect the richness and complexity of this fabulous vintage. As with all of our wines, it represents a great quality to price ratio. This medium-bodied wine displays black cherry fruit, roasted herbs, marzipan, cocoa, smoke and minerals. Approachable now, this blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec will be best enjoyed over the next 15 years.   $35 per bottle.

RELEASE ALERT - Kistler Vineyards Fall 2008 Release

It's with much eager anticipation that the Fall 2008 Kistler Release is announced, and they are taking orders. The Fall releases for 2008 include: 2006 McCrea Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay - “The 2006 Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard exhibits a light gold/green hue along with aromas of stone fruits, honey, orange zest (or is it tangerine?), and subtle wood spices. Full-bodied with beautiful texture as well as purity, and a long finish, it should drink well for 5-7 years. Green-tinged pale yellow. Classic Chablis nose featuring minerals, roasted grain, and a faint suggestion of tangerine skin. Richer than normal with loads of extract, but with a distinctly mineral spine that maintains the wine’s shape and stony precision. Delicious now.” 93-94 points. $75 Allocated 24 2006 Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Chardonnay - “The 2006 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch is structured and tannic, with more acidity, and a leaner, more backward personality with a chalky character. White currant, hazelnut, and wood spice notes are present in this medium to full-bodied white. Green-tinged pale yellow. Pungent, leesy bouquet combines toasted grains, marzipan, brown spices, and minerals. Deeply concentrated but precise. Finishes with mouthfilling pit fruit flavors energized by a firm mineralilty and complex sulfides. Delicious now.” 92-94 points $75 Allocated 24 2006 Durell Vineyard Sonoma Coast Chardonnay - “Always dominated by crushed rock and a liquid minerality component, it also possesses notes of lemon oil, brioche, white currants, white peaches, and a lemon custard-like character. Full-bodied with beautiful subtlety, zesty acidity, and a long finish, it can be enjoyed over the next 5-7 years. Green-tinged yellow. Distinctly pungent, soil-inflected chardonnay. A vibrant, tightly-wound wine densely packed and powerfully mineral on the palate. Brisk acids frame long, stony finish. Delicious now.” 94-96 points $75 Allocated 8 2006 Kistler Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Inky purple. Vividly perfumed, primary aromas featuring cassis, blueberry, violet, and graphite. Deeply concentrated and precise with terrific innermouth energy and freshness. Finishes with a captivating wildness and considerable soil character. Delicious now. $80 Allocated 8 If anyone is interested, we're not going to take them all. We're in for 1 each of the chards, and 3 pinot, so that leaves a bunch of wine up for the taking. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail if you're interested. These wines will ship in November 2008. Cheers!