Kind Readers: Please forgive the delayed publishing of this Newsletter.  I was on a photographic safari in Kenya and Tanzania with Conservation Corporation of Africa.  The incredibly posh CC Africa properties and knowledgeable staff make a uniquely rewarding safari experience--especially the food!  My article to come.  See www.ccafrica.com  Jambo! Kwa heri ya kuonana. (email me if you want to know what this Swahili expression means).

TOP PICKS FOR THE MONTH --(prices vary store to store)

 MIXED WINES: some new and unique wines filled with deliciousness


 

APPLAUSE

ZD

ZD has released its 30th consecutive vintage of Chardonnay with the 2001 Chardonnay release.  The important statistics that make this wine a delight follow.  It remains one of my favorites.
* Cold Barrel Fermentation - ZD Chardonnay is barrel fermented at approximately 48 degrees in order to extend the fermentation for 6-8 weeks. At this cool temperature the wine has a creamy characteristic from the yeast that swirl through the wine during primary fermentation.
* 0% Malolactic Fermentation - by inhibiting malolactic fermentation the wine maintains its natural fruit characteristics and acidity, while avoiding the common buttery/caramel characteristic found in younger Chardonnays.
* 100% American Oak Barrel Fermentation - ZD Wines began using American Oak barrels in 1971. Realizing that seasoning the staves removes the harsh characteristics sometimes associated with American Oak, ZD Chardonnay acquires smooth vanillin and toasty oak uniqueness from American Oak aging. The 2001 Chardonnay was aged for 10 months, while Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley is aged for 18 months.
* ZD's Grapes - The vineyards are selected and farmed for their ability to produce ZD's unique style of Chardonnay. The key is the capacity to produce intense varietal character through full maturation, while maintaining a crisp acidity to balance the richness of our wine.

IRON HORSE

IRON HORSE deserves a hats off for continuing dedication to experimentation to discover, improve and provide the best and new styles of wines.  Joy Sterling says she is most proud of the fact that winemaker/ husband Forrest Tancer's IRON HORSE wines continue to get better and better.  The proof among many is in the IRON HORSE 2000 Cabernet Blend 1(one).  A simple name for a simply sophisticated, layered and lovely wine.  This luscious blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc and 26% Merlot is a dream wine, filled with delightful fragrances and tastes that the mind's eye imagines upon first encountering it.  BLEND 1 is limited so don't delay looking for it.  Joy tells me that they have been on a steep evolutionary track in the vineyard for the past five years, investing in more rigorous crop management programs--all aimed at heightening the distinctive tastes we are able to pull out of the ground.   Add to that the exceptional 2002 vintage,  perfectly healthy vineyards--no bugs, mildew or unwanted stress and especially to her the fact that the grapes arrived exactly chilled at 50 degrees, locking the flavor.   Importantly, the wines show these little perfections.

FESS PARKER

FESS PARKER visited Austin to receive an award for his lifetime achievements of acting.  The Texan stayed to share his FESS PARKER wines with a community that admires his products and a people who adore him as a person--a group whose love affair remains strong as ever for this remarkable man, remarkable for his wholesome, reliable and worthwhile life.  His down-home style endears and here are some of his comments.    "I received an e-mail last week that made me chuckle. It contained a number of quotes attributed to Will Rogers, probably the greatest political sage this country has ever known. I thought I’d take this opportunity to share a few of my favorites with you."
~ Never slap a man who’s chewing tobacco
~ Never miss a good chance to shut up
~ If you find yourself in a hole…stop digging
~ The quickest way to double your money is to fold it and put
it back on your wallet
~ Good judgment comes from experience and a lot of that
comes from bad judgment
~ If you’re riding ahead of the herd, take a look back every now
and then to make sure it’s still there.
Fess also reminded me that I had visited his family and the winery ten years ago in Santa Barbara when the facility was under construction.  I could hardly believe that all that time had passed.  But ten years worth of experience shows well in Eli's wines (Fess' son).  Of course they have improved--what wine wouldn't improve from its first efforts to ten years of experience.  But Eli's wines have really improved, and I was delighted to get to taste them.  (please see mentions below).

CHATEAU ST. JEAN

CHATEAU ST. JEAN Winemaker Steve Reeder finishes 25th harvest. Winemaker Steve Reeder says, "Many years ago I worked for well-known winemaker John Parducci.  In an interview John gave an unforgettable answer when asked about his many years of experience. 'Forty years of experience?,' he questioned.  'Ha! I have only done this 40 times.  Harvest is only once a year and you only get one chance to get it right."  I've never forgotten this statement.  Having just completed my 25th harvest, I've had another challenge to get it right.  We were thrilled to re-introduce our Sonoma County Cabernet last year after too long a hiatus, and I'm quite pleased with this one from the 2000 harvest--a vintage for elegant wines.  Vineyards, Sonoma County's coastal climate, soils and complex terrain of small valleys, bench lands and hillsides interact to create prime conditions for growing grapes. This diversity of growing conditions enables several grape varieties to excel in the region, including Cabernet Sauvignon.  For this bottling, CHATEAU ST. JEAN 2000 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, we selected Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes from vineyards in the Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek appellations of Sonoma County to craft this superior Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has black cherries, chocolate, ripe plums, violets and sweet vanilla oak notes on the nose, and the palate has layers of ripe blackberries, roasty tobac, cedar, mint and spice, richly textured with supple tannins with a coffee and smoky finish."

NEWS

DOMAINE HENRI BOURGEOIS Newsletter reported that the 2002 harvest was very good yet "unusual in terms of pollination and millerandage due to effects on flowering caused by a sudden heat wave.  While total number of berries dropped, the excellent health of the vineyard protected the grapes in becoming ever more concentrated with sugars and good structure."

WINE INSTITUTE has commended the Treasury Department's decision to lift the moratorium on health-related directional statements.  Please see: www.wineinstitute.org

WINE INSTITUTE announced that the California wine industry veterans have commemorated the 70th anniversary year of the repeal of Prohibition.

JACKSON WINE ESTATES appointed wine industry veteran GEORGE ROSE vice president of public relations to head its public relations efforts on all wineries under the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates and Jackson Family Farms banners. Previously, Rose was director of corporate communications for Allied Domecq Wines USA, and prior to that, public relations director for Fetzer Vineyards.    
    Rose will head a team to build and maintain trade and consumer media attention on all Kendall-Jackson wines.  A strong focus will be on the Jackson Family Farms high-end, luxury estate wineries: Hartford Court, Cardinale, Lokoya, Vérité and Stonestreet. (Complete portfolio listed below.)
    Jackson Wine Estates is a private company headed by Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke.  Jackson Wine Estates is the administrative, sales, public relations and marketing umbrella for the Jackson's 20 premium and ultra-premium wineries.  The portfolio includes four international wine brands: Chile's Calina; Australia's Yangarra;  Italy's Villa Arceno, and  Tapiz from Argentina.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VINTNERS’ FESTIVAL HELD THIS SPRING AT FIRESTONE MEADOW
The 21st annual Vintners’ Festival, hosted by the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, was held on April 12 and 13th this year at the Firestone Meadow, near the town of Los Olivos, California.  Festival attendees sampled local Santa Barbara County wines, as well as gourmet foods provided by local restaurants.
    Sao Anash, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association, comments, “ This is our opportunity, as a community, to bring the wines and food of Santa Barbara County to the foreground of California’s culinary and winegrowing landscape. Our agricultural diversity is unparalleled here; we can grow so many different varietals so well.  Our mountain ranges run North and South here, as well as East and West. As a result, we have such diversity in our county, that any wine lover can address the needs of their cellar with one visit to Santa Barbara County. If you love wine, you should attend our festival.  Visitors are enchanted with our landscape, our wines and our food.” For next year's event, please contact Sao Anash at 805.688.0881 or by email: sao@sbcountywines.com

SONOMA COUNTY'S RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY 8th ANNUAL GRAPE TO GLASS WEEKEND, August 15-17, 2003.  Contact 707/521-2534, www.rrvw.org

BERINGER's long-time executive (and my good friend) TOR KENWARD is stepping into a consulting role for BERINGER BLASS after 26 years as the public relations executive.  "Tor was an integral part of the management team that brought Beringer Vineyards into the spotlight of critical acclaim," said Jim Watkins, Beringer Blass The Americas president.  "We're very happy that Tor will continue working on the Master Series and other projects and pleased he'll pursue his passion--his new TOR Wines."

ALLEN SHOUP, former Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest CEO has put together a "dream team" of vintners who will bring their expertise to Washington state.  SHOUP has formed LONG SHADOWS VINTNERS, a consortium of ultra-premium wineries that will bring world-renowned vintners to partner individually with Shoup on a separate winery and oversee a distinct winemaking program with Washington grapes.  The partners include Quintessa's Agustin Huneeus and Dunn Vineyard's Randy Dunn and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux.  vintners@long-shadows.com

KENDALL-JACKSON has a number of events scheduled: August 2 is "International Fencing Tournament," September 6 is "K-J Heirloom Tomato Festival," for more see: www.kj.com 707/569-0105

KCBX CENTRAL COAST WINE CLASSIC, JULY 8-13, 2003, a fundraiser for Public Radio KCBX FM serving San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties.   www.wineclassic.org (805) 781-3026.  I love this event.  It has everything worthwhile--Dinners, Vertical Tasting, Pinot Noir Terroir Tasting, Cooking Demonstrations, Italian Wine Tasting, Luncheons, Vineyard Symposium, Heirloom Tomato Symposium, Chocolate Symposium, Barrel Symposium, Barrel Tasting, Winery Dinners, Classic Cuvee Auction, Vintage Dinner Dance, Grand Wine Tasting and more.  If you can only attend one such event--this is the one.

***


 

NEW RELEASES (quotes are winemakers' comments)

SILVERADO VINEYARDS Winemaster Jack Stuart says his new releases display the "unique and refined varietal characteristics for which they are known.  Silverado's winemaking philosophy is rooted in the vineyards.  From harvest to bottle, each step in the winemaking process is dedicated to expressing the character of grapes grown on each of the winery's fine properties in the Napa Valley, whether Carneros Chardonnay  or Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon. When our fruit comes to the winery,  passionate winemakers  work with it through only the finest equipment.  Our  wines are determined by the vineyards they come from. Ultimately, it is the quality of these vineyards that has set us apart."
Biography:  Winemaker Jack Stuart joined Silverado in 1980, even before construction began on the winery, and immediately took charge of technical design and vineyard development. He is a fifth-generation Californian who grew up in Santa Clara Valley and received a literature degree from Stanford. After teaching English, first in Japan and later at a Bay Area middle school, his interest in literature led to editing books for a small San Francisco publisher. In the mid-seventies, his growing passion for wine took him to the University of California at Davis for graduate study in viticulture and oenology. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Napa Valley and Silverado. Today, Jack Stuart is acknowledged to be one of the best winemakers in the valley, and has received accolades from The International Wine & Spirit Competition in London, the Wine Spectator, and the Los Angeles Times.

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MILLSREEF Mills Reef Winery was established in 1989 in Tauranga, New Zealand, by the Preston family.  The wines have received ongoing significant critical acclaim--winning over 200 medals in national and international competitions, -proving that through commitment and a dedication to excellence, even a relatively new brand from the bottom of the world can quickly become established as one of the premium labels in New World wines.
MILLSREEF has quite a story. The family wanted a name both unique and with meaning to tell a story.   Paddy Preston's (founder/winemaker) birth name is Warren Mills Preston--Mills referring to Paddys' great grandfather, Charles Mills, a  sea captain who was also involved in mining pursuits in early New Zealand prior to becoming a prominent Member of Parliament from 1890 - 1908, latterly as the Minister of Trade and Customs.   Mills Reef refers to Charles Mills exploits watching for reefs at sea and mining for reefs of gold. Whether or not Charles Mills ever found his "Reef" we can't say for sure, but we do know the Preston family has certainly found theirs, in the pleasure and enjoyment of making Mills Reef wines.
Mills Reef purchased the Mere Road Vineyard in 1992. At the time it was planted in Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir. We knew this vineyard was in a very special area of Hawkes Bay so decided to replant in the traditional Bordeaux varieties, and Syrah. The first crop came off Mere Road in 1997 and from it was produced Mills Reef Elspeth Cabernet Merlot. Winemaker Paddy was convinced these were special wines, so labelled them under the Mills Reef premium range "Elspeth". These wines are produced only when the winemaker feels the vintage and particular fruit picked are of
exceptional quality. The wines are named after Paddy's mother Elspeth Preston, a gracious lady who is 93! and lives in Wellington - would you believe Elspeth still drives a car!  From the first vintage in 1995, Mills Reef Elspeth wines have proven quality status.  Winners of 21 gold medals and five trophies over five vintages, the wines continue to show their quality.  Other grape varieties used by Mills Reef are grown throughout the Hawkes Bay and come from various contract growers. Mills Reef have developed long term relationships with these growers and are involved in the viticulture of each vineyard.

CASTORO CELLARS' Winemaker Tom Myers was voted “2002 Winemaker of the Year” by the California Mid-State Fair on July 17, 2002. The nominees were selected by members of the Mid-State Fair Grape Posse, a committee comprised of industry leaders from throughout San Luis Obispo County.   Almost 200 ballots were received for the final vote from members of the county’s three viticulture associations: the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers’ Association (PRVGA), San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers’ Association (SLOVGA), and the Central Coast Wine Growers’ Association (CCWGA).    Castoro Cellars was founded by the husband and wife team of Niels and Bimmer Udsen in the early 1980s with a warm and welcoming style. The winery was named after the Italian translation of Niels’ long-time nickname, “Beaver,” prompting the motto “Dam Fine Wines.”  From the wine cellar to the tasting room, all who contribute to Castoro wines hold strongly to the belief that high quality wines should be accessible to all consumers.  Located within the Paso Robles AVA, Castoro Cellars welcomes all wine palates.  For Tasting Room directions, please contact: (888) 326-3463, or via web at: www.castorocellars.com.   Castoro Cellars' 2000 Vineyard Tribute Zinfandel won a "Double Gold" at the Pittsburg Seafood Festival's 6th Annual California Zinfandel Championship. 
The Zinfandel is a marriage of the best lots of  the vintage,  producing a unique wine that showcases Paso Robles Zinfandel. It's a Zin lovers dream! -- big wine with ripe and jammy fruit aromas and flavors.

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ZD has released its 30th consecutive vintage of Chardonnay with the 2001 Chardonnay release.  The important statistics that make this wine a delight follow.  It remains one of my favorites.
* Cold Barrel Fermentation - ZD Chardonnay is barrel fermented at approximately 48 degrees in order to extend the fermentation for 6-8 weeks. At this cool temperature the wine has a creamy characteristic from the yeast that swirl through the wine during primary fermentation.
* 0% Malolactic Fermentation - by inhibiting malolactic fermentation the wine maintains its natural fruit characteristics and acidity, while avoiding the common buttery/caramel characteristic found in younger Chardonnays.
* 100% American Oak Barrel Fermentation - ZD Wines began using American Oak barrels in 1971. Realizing that seasoning the staves removes the harsh characteristics sometimes associated with American Oak, ZD Chardonnay acquires smooth vanillin and toasty oak uniqueness from American Oak aging. The 2001 Chardonnay was aged for 10 months, while Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley is aged for 18 months.
* ZD's Grapes - The vineyards are selected and farmed for their ability to produce ZD's unique style of Chardonnay. The key is the capacity to produce intense varietal character through full maturation, while maintaining a crisp acidity to balance the richness of our wine.

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PENFOLDS has introduced its THOMAS HYLAND WINES.   "In 1861, Thomas Hyland married Georgina, daughter of Penfolds founders Mary and Christopher Pinfolds.  Under Hyland's stewardship until 1914, the company developed to become Australia's most famous name in wine."  These new, single varietal eponymous wines are positioned between the Koonunga Hill and Bin range of  wines.  They offer contemporary wine in the PENFOLDS style--focused on varietal flavor and structure supported by subtle use of oak.  They're all-year-round wines to complement any meal.

PENFOLDS also released its 2002 super premium Australian vintage 2000 Bin wines.  The Bin range got its name from an 1800s tradition of storing each wine in the cellar in a particular "Bin" or rack.  The name remains today. 

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 IRON HORSE 's Joy Sterling says she is most proud of the fact that winemaker/ husband Forrest Tancer's IRON HORSE wines continue to get better and better.  The proof among many is in the IRON HORSE 2000 Cabernet Blend 1(one).  A simple name for a simply sophisticated, layered and lovely wine.  This luscious blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc and 26% Merlot is a dream wine, filled with delightful fragrances and tastes that the mind's eye imagines upon first encountering it.  BLEND 1 is limited so don't delay looking for it.  Joy tells me that they have been on a steep evolutionary track in the vineyard for the past five years, investing in more rigorous crop management programs--all aimed at heightening the distinctive tastes we are able to pull out of the ground.   Add to that the exceptional 2002 vintage,  perfectly healthy vineyards--no bugs, mildew or unwanted stress and especially to her the fact that the grapes arrived exactly chilled at 50 degrees, locking the flavor.   Importantly, the wines show these little perfections.

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WILLIAM HILL WINERY  "Since our beginning in 1978, William Hill Winery has developed a reputation for producing rich, intense Napa Valley wines with a distinctive elegance. Focusing on Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, we produce three tiers of  wine: Napa Valley, Napa Valley Reserve and Aura Cabernet Sauvignon.  Each showcases our outstanding grape sources and offers the signature elegance of William Hill Winery."

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KING ESTATE doors opened a decade ago  with a focus on Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.  Now Chardonnay happily rounds out the fine KING ESTATE reputation. 

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CHATEAU ST. JEAN has released two wines from the Robert Young Vineyard.  Winemaker Steve Reeder describes this vineyard as having Charisma.  "The magnetic charm of this vineyard seduced me the first time I walked the rows with Robert Young.  It reminded of studying vineyard designated wines at U.C. Davis--and specifically pioneering Young in the 1970s.  Now, 28 years later, I'm making this wine and continuing the legacy.  The two wines released--CHATEAU ST. JEAN 2001 Pinot Noir $18 (tasting room only) and CHATEAU ST. JEAN 2000 Chardonnay $25--illustrate the beauty, charisma and consistency of this vineyard." 

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STUHLMULLER VINEYARDS owners Roger and Carmen say that old maps show their property was planted with grapes before the turn of the century; however, Prohibition took care of that the land was planted to walnuts and plums.  Afterwards, the property was left alone, for the most part, until the 1970s when some acres were planted to vineyard.   The Stuhlmullers acquired the land in 1982 after searching for a weekend place in Sonoma--a short drive form their San Francisco home.  Roger revered the land immediately, added more vineyard and replanted existing plots.  "The old walnuts are still there," he says," and we knew this place was special as soon as we saw it.  We sold our fruit until son Fritz decided to bottle our own wine in the 1990s."  The first wines appeared in 1996, a new winery was built within the old red barn in 2000.  "It's a vest pocket gem for our small amount of selected fruit from special blocks"  The limited case productions of the preciously selected grapes for the STUHLMULLER 2000 ALEXANDER VALLEY CHARDONNAY $23 and the  STUHLMULLER 1999 ALEXANDER VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON $36 that comprise them are a real treat!   I hope you can find them for they are well worth the search.

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STONE CREEK 1999 Chairman's Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $17: "fruit-forward balance, full-bodied, earthy notes, blackberry and cassis, barrel aged for complexity, dry and lingering finish"

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KENWOOD has two new merlot releases and they tell a tale of two vineyards.  Grown just a few miles apart in the Sonoma Valley and carefully handcrafted, each wine shows the influence of place.   KENWOOD MASSARA Vineyard in warm upper reaches of Sonoma Valley catches the afternoon sun, yielding super-concentrated merlot grapes.  KENWOOD 1999 Reserve-Massara Merlot $25 was warm fermented in small French oak to smooth tannins and add complexity to give aromas of black cherry and plum, notes of herbal and smoke.  It's bold yet supple.  The JACK LONDON Vineyard is in a southeast-facing bowl in the western hills of Sonoma Valley, where cool afternoon breezes and oblique sunshine keep temperatures comfortable.   A cool vintage, KENWOOD 2000 Jack London Merlot $30 has generous fruit and "sublime elegance."  Red cherry, blueberry and herb aromas with vanilla and cedar, made in French and American oak, lush and smooth. 

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GRGICH HILLS has announced its first estate grown wine, the 2001 Fume Blanc $18.   With a total of 418 acres of vineyards in five regions, by the 2003 harvest, all Grgich Hills' wines (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fume Blanc, Zinfandel, Merlot, Violetta Late Harvest) will be estate grown, produced and bottled.

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WOLF BLASS Winemaker Chris Hatcher likes to paint a pictorial view of Australia's wine growing areas to explain the tradition for multi-regional blending to create the best tasting wines.  He hopes you'll applaud the habit in these five bottles.

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RODNEY STRONG wines have a lot to like about them, not least of which is that Winemaker Rick Sayre has been honing his skills for a considerable amount of wine. 

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ANNIE'S LANE Clare Valley, Australia wines have released its inaugural wines.  A young English explorer, John Horrocks, was one of the first to establish vines in Clare Valley in 1840.  Initially planted to wheat, by 1860 the land was changing to vineyards.  Today there are 34 wineries in Clare Valley.  It is recognized as a premium wine-growing region and tourist destination.

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VALLEY OF THE MOON 2000 Zinfandel $15 blends grapes from two appellations--Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley.  After separate fermentations, the young wines are oak aged for 20 months--80% French and 20% American. "The wine has intense aromas of raspberry, strawberry, mint accents with ripe fresh berry flavors, delicate vanilla complexity, full yet smooth and bright fruit character persists"

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ROSEMOUNT ESTATE has released its latest vintage of SHOW RESERVE wines, a range originally created for the Australian competition circuit, designed as classic varietals from the classic Australian regions.

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LAKE SONOMA WINERY in Dry Creek Valley rests on a 20-acre hillside estate and has an observation deck with a panoramic view of the entire Valley.  With the purchase of Lake Sonoma Winery in May 1996, KORBEL champagne producer Gary Heck found a hidden treasure in the Dry Creek Valley.  Named for the nearby lake, the winery was founded in 1977 by Robert and Mary Lou Polson.  The winery specializes in Zinfandels from various Sonoma appellations, as well as Cabernet from the Alexander Valley and Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. Limited case production guarantees the highest
quality standards.   Construction on a new facility and was completed in December 1999 so the winery now has a tasting room and state-of-the-art wine production facility.

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KENDALL-JACKSON reports that its winemaking philosophy "has always been about quality.  By searching for the perfect match between climate, soil and grape variety, our Flavor Domaine® philosophy allows our winemakers to blend wines to achieve a complex layering of rich flavors and elegant balance."

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GALLO of Sonoma Family of Wines has released several wines.

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FOREST GLEN has celebrated a decade of making consistently delicious wines that are widely available at an exceptional price. 

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SHAFER VINEYARDS  has several new releases for your pleasure, including one of my favorite Chardonnays.  I watched Doug Shafer start making wine as a "pup" about 18 years ago.  He has been good since the very  beginning.   With the SHAFER 2001 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, Doug remarked that "sometimes the planets align--that's what happened to winemakers in Napa Valley during the 2001 vintage.  Weather, fruit, know-how and good fortune all combined to create what many expect to be a vintage to remember.  We could tell that something special had happened out in the vineyards because we were getting phenomenal flavors at the crush pad," he said.   Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez agrees--"This first release of the 2001 vintage is simply a peek behind the curtain for the show to come."  The way 2001 started signaled nothing auspicious.  The year began in the middle of a dry winter, which built up far less moisture in the soil than is typical.  Spring delivered a late frost, but the growing season that followed was one that grapes love--uneventful to the point of being thoroughly forgettable.  "I can barely remember 2001," Doug adds.  "That's always a good sin."

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       IRON HORSE's Joy Sterling says she is most proud of the fact that winemaker/ husband Forrest Tancer's IRON HORSE wines continue to get better and better.  The proof among many is in the IRON HORSE 2000 Cabernet Blend 1(one).  A simple name for a simply sophisticated, layered and lovely wine.  This luscious blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc and 26% Merlot is a dream wine, filled with delightful fragrances and tastes that the mind's eye imagines upon first encountering it.  BLEND 1 is limited so don't delay looking for it.  Joy tells me that they have been on a steep evolutionary track in the vineyard for the past five years, investing in more rigorous crop management programs--all aimed at heightening the distinctive tastes we are able to pull out of the ground.   Add to that the exceptional 2002 vintage,  perfectly healthy vineyards--no bugs, mildew or unwanted stress and especially to her the fact that the grapes arrived exactly chilled at 50 degrees, locking the flavor.   Importantly, the wines show these little perfections.

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BELVEDERE VINEYARDS and WINERY  Despite distinct differences among microclimates in which Belvedere grows grapes, all of our vineyards are located within a few miles of the winery, an important asset to the Belvedere philosophy. We believe there is something soulful about fruit grown in our own backyard, and proximity to the vineyards means we can watch the vines daily, picking the grapes at peak flavor. Since our winery is situated near the joining point of three renowned Sonoma appellations, our winemaker can produce wines reflecting several distinct terroirs.

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CLOS DU BOIS owners recognized in the late 1970s that several vineyard blocks were producing truly exceptional fruit year after year.  The wines from these grapes were bottled separately, and Clos du Bois' award winning Vineyard Designates program was born.  These limited release production wines are created from specially selected Estate blocks in the Alexander Valley expressing the unique personality of the vineyard and the vintage.

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AMIZETTA is a 40-acre hillside estate in Napa Valley owned by Houston, Texas, natives Spencer and Amizetta Clark (a 15th generation direct descendent of Pocahontas) developed in 1979.   They planted selected cuttings from heralded vineyards.   By 1985 a small winery had been built.  Their first release of Cabernet Sauvignon followed and featured a long aging period--2½ years in barrel and another two years bottle to produce a heft, age worthy wine.  "Now, 20 years later, " Spencer says, "this area is still a secluded, undiscovered part of Napa Valley--8miles east of Silverado Trail.  We have plenty of challenges in this isolated growing region, like turkeys that feast on our ripe grapes."  Nonetheless, production is planned to reach 2000 cases with  ⅔ Cabernet Sauvignon and ⅓ Merlot.   "At that piont," Spencer continues, "I  hope to have more help from my sons Spencer Jr., Perry and Eddie and daughter Amizetta--who are already participating in the day-to-day operations."

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RICHARD LONGORIA WINES of Santa Barbara County showcase the lovely wines this region is capable of producing.  I've enjoyed my friendship with  Rick and Diana and their wines for almost a decade and watched the evolution with pride and pleasure.  They are a family-run winery that produces small amounts of ultra-premium, hand-crafted wines from the finest vineyards in Santa Barbara County.  Rick is one of the pioneers in the region, having established their winery in 1982; however, he has been involved with local wine producers since 1976.  The LONGORIA wines are small treasures, worth the search, and with every family wine project, Diana adds enormously to every aspect of the wine business.  To my great admiration, their daughter Sarah is a ballerina.

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VIETTI WINERY owns 79 acres of land that is prized at $200,000 an acre.  Luca Currado, oenologist of the winery that has been in his family for five generations, says, "We believe in terroir and that each glass of wine should be a unique experience.  As winemaker, it is my job to let the grape speak and to educate the consumer to appreciate its expression rather than try to change the grape to please the drinker. "   Apparently, there's a global trend towards "fashions in wine styles" that cause some winemakers to make wines just because they sell--not because they are true expressions of their terroir.   Vietti wines prefer to express the land where the wine grows.

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