The Sarah Jane English Newsletter: 97th Edition
July 18, 2009

TOP PICKS OF THE MONTH (prices vary store to store) $Best Buy

 

WINERY OF THE MONTH:  FESS PARKER Winery President Eli Parker, Fess' son, has directed the winery operations since 1996.  Eli and I first met when Fess invited me to visit his California property about 15 years ago.  Recently, Eli came to Austin and we tasted through an array of his delicious wines with lunch.  They are good--I mean really good wines.  Eli has been a hands-on student of wine from the beginning.   His special interest was in the land, believing that FESS PARKER wines can only be as good as the grapes that produce them.  His proof is in the wine products: All the wines are shining examples of fine vineyards.  I include some winery history from an article I wrote for THE PEAK, first-class in-flight magazine for Air France, Lufthansa and Cathay Pacific airlines.

FESS PARKER by Sarah Jane English

         Fess Parker is idolized by Americans.  The former star of movies and television has events and reruns that document his success.  He portrayed frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone and in the 1950s and 1960s respectively, making them and him the nation’s most beloved characters.  Disney Studio produced the Davy Crockett series and sales from Fess’ coonskin caps helped finance the opening of Disneyland 50 years ago.  It was quite a run and changed Parker’s life.   ¶   "There have been several turning points in my life, but the most important one came the day I stepped before the cameras as Davy Crockett,” he says.  “The way I look at things, a man's life story isn't his alone, but it belongs to a lot of people who have influenced him and done things for him that he can never repay."   ¶   Vintage Fess Parker, his unassuming grace and affability have merely been redirected to real estate and the wine business.  Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard is now 16 years old and things are going very well indeed.   ¶    After twenty years as an actor, Parker became a real estate developer in California.  He bought 714 acres in Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County--one of the most gorgeous pieces of geography on the globe.  I asked him what prompted him to plant grapes?     ¶   “I just asked myself that question yesterday,” he says.   “It’s amazing that you can be in a business for 16 years and not know that it takes 16 times to get it right.  Each vintage is distinctive with different circumstances learned from that one time.  Initially, I just wanted to work with my son, Eli, and my family.  Then it evolved and took off.”   ¶     Living in California is almost a mandate to grow grapes.  And some plots of land seem to beg to be a vineyard.  Father and son thought they would plant five and one-half acres of grapes to sell to wineries.  Now their cultivated 600 acres of vineyards are filled with Rhone varietals, pinot noir and chardonnay.   And how did they know what grapes to plant?    ¶    “We had some heads-up from grape grower Dale Hampton and our first winemaker Mark Shannon about what to plant,” he says.  “Mark saw opportunities for syrah.  And it’s been like Johnson grass.  There was a herd instinct and so everyone started planting it.  And now pinot noir is getting the attention.  But the grapes just have to be in the right place.  Eli supervised the planting of the estate vineyard and the construction of the winery.  We’ve acquired other vineyards too and now he is working on them.”   ¶   The right place for Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard involves a unique fact of nature. Unlike any other coastal mountain range on the West Coast of North America, the Santa Ynez Mountains run east-to-west.  This ‘transverse range’ lets valleys opening to the Pacific Ocean channel in the winds and fog that help moderate the climate.  Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys really benefit from this effect.  Early on Parker thought syrah would become the varietal of choice here.   ¶   The estate vineyard of 118 acres surrounds the winery and provides the foundation for the Rhone wine program.  The newest land acquisition, a 1,400-acre parcel in Santa Ynez Valley, was bought in 1999.  The warmer climates and loam soils produce fully ripened, mature Rhone varietals: syrah, viognier, grenache, roussane and mourvedre.   ¶   Ashley’s Vineyard, named for the Parker’s daughter, is a 620-acre ranch only 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean.  It is the western-most vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley.  By grape-growing standards, this site is very cold, and its gently sloping hillsides and sandy-loam soils produce lovely Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir wines.  ¶   “We’re always pleased when our wines win awards and praise,” Fess says.  “A number of publications rate them regularly in the 90s and its always nice to have your work appreciated.  Of course, I think we make the best Chardonnay you can afford to drink daily,” he smiles.  “ It’s the Parker Station, Santa Barbara County Chardonnay.  A friend, however, prefers the Frontier Red, which is a blend of syrah and other Rhone grapes, because I’m pictured on the label in buckskins, a coonskin cap and with a long rifle.”    ¶   Fess Parker was born August 16, 1924, in Fort Worth, Texas.  His parents moved to Comanche County where he grew up living in the country.   It was a simple life and one he credits for his admiration of agriculture and American values.   He still owns a hundred acres there and is a registered peanut farmer.    “My parents’ values were honed during the Depression when we lived with my grandparents in Comanche County to work on their farm,” he says.  “We worked hard and respected nature.  My values began there and I’ve always attached a lot of importance to symbolism—our flag, our country and presidents.  There should be a certain code of respect.  That’s why I enjoyed playing Americans like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett and admire what the Alamo stands for.”   ¶   He graduated from San Angelo High School and joined the Navy.  His intention was to become a pilot, but when World War II began, he was too tall to comply with Navy flight school standards, already 6’ 5” at age 18.   ¶   “After that I tried for aviation radio gunners school,” he says. “But they threw me out because I was too big to fit into the cockpit.  Nonetheless, my Morse code training got me shipped to the Marines where I trained for beach landings carrying a 50-pound field radio. We were just kids,” he recalls.   “And one day all the guys were called together and the commanders split us into two groups.  The other group went to Iwo Jima and lost 5,000 young men on the beach. I guess someone thought I was too big for that group,” he reflects.   ¶   Following his service in World War II, Parker enrolled in the University of Texas where he received his degree in American history.  Afterwards, some friends encouraged him to pursue a career in acting.  They even steered him to a movie agent, who apparently was not very impressed.    ¶   “And I can tell you that the agent didn’t see much of a future for me,” Parker says.  “He told me that I had no experience, and I had a Texas accent.  He didn’t even like my name.  He said, ‘Fess Parker—what kind of a name is that?’  Actually, I was named Fess after my father.  His father had a long and difficult name and my parents weren’t going to do that to me either.  So, like my father, I was named for a noted educator of that day named Dr. Simeon Fess,” he says.   ¶   Parker didn’t find Hollywood very receptive to his efforts so he enrolled at USC to study theater history.  The following year (1951), he worked in the national company of Henry Fonda’s “Mister Roberts.”  In a short time he made his film debut in Untamed Frontier with Joseph Cotton and Shelly Winters.  The next year he had a role in Springfield Rifle and then in No Room for the Groom. It was a good start that was reinforced by a surprisingly important bonne chance.   ¶   “It was an unlikely role in a horror film—the 1954 cult classic movie titled Them! that turned out to be my lucky break,” he says.  “Walt Disney saw me in it, liked me and selected me for a character who changed my life.”   ¶   Parker was selected to play Davy Crockett (biggest hit of the mid-1950s) and his often-comedic portrayal of Crockett made youngsters fall in love with the show, turning him into an overnight sensation.    ¶   “Being a Texan helped me bring authenticity to the role,” he says.  “I went to the library regularly when I was 8 and 9 years old,” he says.  “I started reading about Indians, then all the Texas heroes, and I would act out those characters.   I think kids playing in the back yard and making believe they are somebody else is a good bit like acting.  That’s what I did.”   ¶   Fess Parker stopped being an actor more than 30 years ago to develop real estate and build a winery.  He is as pleased with the success of son Eli’s wines as with his success as Davy Crockett.   ¶   “Eli got his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management School and then he became a realtor selling real estate in this valley,” Fess says.  “I lured him into the wine business and his real estate background was very helpful in knowing different properties.  He was the one who wanted to plant grapes.  Eli worked with our first winemaker, Mark Shannon, who taught him a lot.  Then one day he decided that we needed someone in the family making the wine and he said ‘I’ll do it.’”   ¶    Eli also managed the construction of the winery.  The building is surrounded by the estate vineyards with a wide veranda along the south and north sides for impressive vistas.  ¶   “We hauled in stones from our home ranch to construct the winery,” Fess says.  “The design is a simple stone building with a dramatic roof structure that gives it character.  We’ve used our ranch stones inside too, intermingled with spaces of wood to make the place a warm and comfortable one for visitors to gather.”   ¶   Fess Parker wines specialize in Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier and White Riesling.   There are also a couple of festive and fun labels: Frontier Red and Parker Station.   ¶   “I enjoy trying different wines, and there are a lot of good ones in this area,” he says.  “However, on a day-to-day basis, there’s nothing like being proud of your son’s own product.  I like our wines.   And I love Syrah.  I like Pinot Noir too. I drink more red than white wine.  My favorite food is Mexican food—not the corporate kind that’s made in stainless steel containers, but food that is a family affair and indigenous to that family’s culture.  I drink Syrah with it.”  ¶     Parker is still in the real estate development business.  He and Marcy bought The Grand Hotel in Los Olivos a few miles from the winery.  They have turned the 21-room property into a Victorian-style inn and named it Fess Parker’s Wine Country Inn & Spa.  On Thursday nights you can join the couple, married for 47 years, to sing around the piano.  So, all his land may not be used exclusively for vineyards.   ¶     “Things change and so there are strategies we’re considering to bring about the best grapes,” Parker says.  “We make about 65,000 cases of Fess Parker wines. Tim Snider, our Sales Vice President, focuses on the national program and we’re thinking about how to supply our customers and how owning all our vineyards impacts us.  We’ve learned that we need a certain amount of grapes, but it’s better for us to use growers and spend our time in the markets—not planting vines.  There are a lot of good growers in our area and they need to sell their grapes and we can use them.  It’s a good way to be in the wine business.  We didn’t expect anything of Sideways, they filmed part of that movie here, you know.  But it has turned out to be a windfall.  Our sales were up 16% wholesale.  Now that will get your attention.  Our most popular Fess Parker wine is Chardonnay, then Pinot Noir, then Syrah, Viognier and then the Riesling.”    ¶   Fess will turn 81 in 2005.  Today his living legacy is constantly documented by the enormous numbers of fans who continually remind him how they looked up to him when they were growing up and how he helped shape their values--impressions of what a man should be.  His soothing, base-tone voice still reassures an adoring public that he stands for the same values he has expressed over the years.   What has it been like to be the assigned hero?    ¶   “A big responsibility,” he says.  “It’s made me self-aware and more selective about the way I behave.  It’s not that I have lived a picture-perfect life, but I’ve tried to keep in mind that I could disappoint a lot of people if I let them down.   I’m glad, really, I’ve benefited the most.  But I work at it continually because I want to show my appreciation and mutual respect.”   ¶   Fess will turn 81 in 2005, celebrate the 16th anniversary of Fess Parker Winery and commemorate the 50th anniversary of his opening of the Disneyland Park with Walt Disney. The years have given many lessons, but his philosophy of life has a fairly new twist, redefined a couple of months ago after a conversation with a friend.   ¶   “Actually, this is a recent revelation that I heard from a friend,” he says.  “’It only takes one day to die and all the rest are for living.’  I think I’ll do just that with a fine glass of Fess Parker Syrah in my hand.”    

SPLURGE WINE OF THE MONTH: 2006 DOMINUS Napa Valley $130

FAVORITE NEW-TO-ME WINERY: SOJOURN CELLARS, Boutique Artisan Winery in Sonoma www.sojourncellars.com   Please see SOJOURN CELLARS below (under NEW RELEASES).   The production is limited and worth the search.

NEWS

NAPA VALLEY WINE AUCTION: The crisis in the economy took a backseat to fundraising for charity at the Napa Valley Vintners' (NVV) 29th annual Auction Napa Valley held the weekend of June 4, raising more than $5.7 million for local healthcare, youth and housing non-profit programs.   "We are thrilled to be able to continue to support our local charities," said Janet Trefethen, whose family chaired the Auction. "The outpouring of generosity from our bidders, vintners and community was heartwarming. Every dollar raised this weekend is one more than we had before for these organizations that need help," she said. 

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WINE INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 75 YEARS: California winery members, press and invited guests gathered on June 8 at Silverado Resort to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Wine Institute and to trace the timeline of political, business and cultural developments contributing to the growth of California wines.   Wine Institute formed in 1934 to help rebuild the industry following the Repeal of Prohibition.   ¶   “Wine Institute’s primary role in educating government leaders on the benefits of a thriving California and U.S. wine industry and the impact of punitive taxes, legislation and regulation has never been more relevant than it is in today’s economic climate,” said Robert P. Koch, President and CEO of  Wine Institute. “We address today’s challenges as an organization more than 1000-strong, and an industry that generates 820,000 U.S. jobs and $15 billion in state and federal revenue, brings long-term investment, tourism and pride to our communities and accounts for $18 billion in retail sales or two-thirds of the U.S. wine market and over $1 billion in exports to 122 countries.”  ¶   To highlight important events in the California wine business and changes in wine styles, two well-respected industry veterans, consultant Jon Fredrikson of Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates and Master Sommelier and Educator Evan Goldstein of Full Circle Wine Solutions, Inc., presented “Milestones in California Wine” featuring rare archival images, footage and historical perspective.     Fredrikson referenced early Wine Institute advocacy efforts, including preserving the right to sell wine directly from wineries (1935) which boosted winery retail sales and tourism, and more later developments, such as passage by the U.S. Congress of the Wine Equity and Export Expansion Act to reduce trade barriers abroad (1984) that set the stage for a concerted effort by Wine Institute and member wineries to develop export markets. Today, California wineries attract more than 20 million visitors annually, while California/U.S. wine exports have increased more than five-fold in the past 15 years.    “The phenomenal growth of the industry in California - America’s wine heartland - has been fueled by steadily-increasing consumer interest and adoption of wine as part of an everyday lifestyle,” Fredrikson noted. “Wine Institute played a key role in the public’s acceptance of wine through its early work for The Wine Advisory Board, advertising wine as a beverage of moderation to be enjoyed with meals, and later by advocating for research on the health effects of moderate wine and alcohol consumption and not just the effects of abuse.”  To illustrate the evolution in California wine styles that paralleled a growing knowledge and fascination with wine and food by mainstream American consumers, Goldstein led the group through a tasting of three wines. Christian Brothers California Cream Sherry – a venerable name – represented the fortified wines that dominated the U.S. market post-Repeal until 1967 when table wine surpassed dessert wine in volume sales. The “fighting varietals” of the 1980s - cork-finished, varietally-labeled, affordable wines that gave Americans a common language for ordering a glass or bottle of wine - were represented by 2008 Fetzer Vineyards Valley Oaks California Chardonnay, a winery founded in 1968. 1998 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot Three Palms Vineyard was served as a symbol of the explosive growth of small, “boutique” wineries in the 1980s and 1990s throughout the state, usually focusing on wines from a single region and often specializing in one or two varietals.   It was this increasing number of California wineries and the concurrent consolidation of distributors that led Wine Institute to initiate the first direct-to-consumer wine shipping legislation in California in 1985, setting a path to the 2005 Supreme Court ruling that struck down discriminatory state laws and contributed to wineries now having access to over 80 percent of U.S. consumers in 35 states where Wine Institute has helped advocate change.  “Just as cooking and fine dining in this country have dramatically evolved from the hobby of a few to the passion of many, indeed aided by cable television devoted to 24-hour coverage of chefs and recipes, so has wine achieved mainstream acceptance by our current generations,” said Goldstein.  ¶  A timeline of important industry and Wine Institute developments over the past 75 years and a publication chronicling the previous and current work of the organization were also shared at the commemoration event. Both documents cover social, environmental and promotional initiatives that demonstrate the organization’s leadership including Wine Institute’s Code of Advertising Standards (1949/last updated 2005),  introduction of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program created with the California Association of Winegrape Growers (2002) and the partnership with the California Travel and Tourism Commission  (2007) on a national consumer campaign to promote California’s wine, food and travel offerings and attract visitors to the state.  ¶   Koch recognized the Wine Institute members who serve as officers of its Board of Directors as well as the past chairmen in attendance and his predecessor, John DeLuca, who served as President and CEO for 28 years.   “Our winery members, especially our Board, officers and chairmen, many in the room today, deserve acknowledgement for their vision and support of an organization that serves the collective and long-term interests of California wine,” said Koch.  “We salute them for their contributions to Wine Institute and draw inspiration from their accomplishments.” 

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IDAHO WINE MONTH: Idaho’s Governor Butch Otter recognized the state's grape and wine industry contributions to Idaho’s economy in a special proclamation naming June as “Idaho Wine Month.”  There are now almost 40 wineries in Idaho; seven new operations have been established in just the last six months.  The state’s wine industry is enjoying a 17 percent growth rate and now ranks 22 in the country for wine production.  The Idaho wine industry had a $73 million dollar impact on the state of Idaho in 2008 and employs more than 600 people, a figure projected to grow to more than $100 million and more than 900 jobs by 2015. The wine industry is one of the most rapidly expanding agricultural industries in Idaho.
“I am pleased to recognize the tremendous contributions our grape growers are making by not only employing Idahoan’s but also by producing  Idaho wines of quality, variety and distinction.  They are establishing themselves as one of the fastest growing wine industries in the country. I salute their recent achievements and awards and lift my glass to toast the many accomplishments that are awaiting them in the not too distant future,” Governor Otter said at the proclamation ceremony held May 27th.  

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FASCINATING FACTS about CALIFORNIA WINE from WINE INSTITUTE: A Google search of “California wine” shows between 23 and 46 million results at any given time.  For example, owls, falcons, bats, chickens and sheep are among the animals used to help control pests and cultivate vineyards.  For all aspects of the Golden State’s wine and grapes program, see the informative web site, www.discovercaliforniawine.com.   As a sampling, Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers offer the following facts with corresponding links to the site:

How much wine does California produce? California is the leading wine producing state in the U.S. — making about 90 percent of all American wine — and there are wineries now in all 50 states.  http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/fun-wine-facts

Why does so much great wine and food come from California?  The size of the state and the diversity of its soils and climates mean that a vast array of fresh, seasonal crops thrive there. Winegrapes are one of 400 agricultural products produced in California, and more than 110 varieties of winegrapes are grown in the state. http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/wines.

What else can visitors to California’s wineries do besides tasting wine?  More than 100 wineries offer art displays or fine art museums; 65 wineries feature restaurants; over 50 present music and theater performances, and 118 offer wine and food pairings. Other amenities include gardens, tours, wine classes and seminars, unique architecture and much more.  To search these and other amenities, go to:  http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/wineries

When and where were winegrapes first planted in California?  In 1769, by Franciscan missionary Father Junipero Serra at Mission San Diego de Alcala. He planted a variety known as the Mission grape to make wines for the church. http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/history-of-california-wine

What is California sustainable winegrowing?  Sustainable winegrowing is set of best practices that guide California’s growers and vintners in producing wine in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner that benefits families, employees, communities and wildlife, and the soils, air and water that make great wines possible.  The California wine community has the most widely adopted green winemaking and winegrowing program in the world and one of the few that measures and reports statewide performance. The program has earned the state’s top environmental award. http://www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/stewards-of-the-land  

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CALIFORNIA WINE FACTS at a Glance

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THE NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS (NVV),  comprised of nearly 350 member wineries,  has an online calendar of events. Listings give details of events in Napa Valley and around the world on the homepage at www.napavintners.com.   The site includes a page that reviews all events by month and type; such as,  wine education, wine and food pairing, live entertainment, vineyard tours and more.  Each lists the date, time location, event description, how to register and cost, plus a map to the location. 

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TRENZA: The latest wine project of the Niven Family is Trenza--a line of New World blends made with Spanish varietals that showcase the diverse climates of San Luis Obispo County.  "Trenza is the Spanish word for 'braid,' and our blend represents a 'braid' of sorts," says John H. Niven. "The Old World Iberian varietals grow in Ribera del Duoro, the Priorat, and the Rías Baixas in Galicia, Spain, but we changed the Old World rules and made Trenza in the spirit of the New World with an avant-garde approach to blending these Spanish varietals."   The three Trenza wines are named simply by color; Blanco (White), Rosado (Rosé), and Tinto (Red).   San Luis Obispo County has it all when it comes to climate diversity.  The Edna and Arroyo Grande valleys in the south are cool and windy, making wines with higher acidity and concentrated fruit characteristics.  In the north, Paso Robles is much warmer, resulting in bolder, riper wines. "Wines from any part of the county are great stand-alones," says Michael Niven Blaney, "but Christian's blends astound us!"  Trenza is 100% owned by Niven Family Wine Estates, where the second-and-third-wine-industry generations currently manage the business. They believe in sustainability, quality, community, tradition when warranted, and keeping themselves (and the consumer) interested in the ever-changing world of wine.


 

NEW RELEASES (quotes are winemakers' comments)

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KENDALL-JACKSON: Winemaster Randy Ullom says, "One of the truths we live by here at the winery is that outstanding wines can only be made from exceptional fruit. Our Kendall-Jackson Estate Vineyards are found atop cool coastal mountains, rocky ridge tops and rolling hillsides - places where the climate, soil and vine come together to create remarkable grapes.  In each glass, you will taste our family's commitment to crafting extraordinary wines from California's best vineyards.   There are a handful of vineyard blocks that we look to year after year to make Grand Reserve wines.  As the vines mature, we experience the changing expression of the vineyard from vintage to vintage.  In the winery, artisan winemaking techniques prevail, and aging takes place in small French oak barrels.  Grand Reserve is a masterful blend of our mountain, hillside, ridge and benchland grapes grown along California's cool coastal appellations." Additionally, the concept "Jackson Estates Grown" is the heart of the winemaking.   "Every grape for the Vintner's Reserve wines also is grown in cool coastal vineyards that are managed by the Kendall-Jackson viticultural team. In the winery, this gives our Winemaster a broad palette of aromas and flavors to work with when layering together the final blend. We can taste this commitment to quality in every glass...and we know you can, too."

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VALLEY OF THE MOON WINERY 2006 CUVÉE DE LA LUNA, Sonoma County  ($35) illustrates the influence of vintage.  As the saying goes, “Every year is a vintage year in California” and because California wine grapes achieve maturity every year, that saying is true.  However, another truth is that every vintage year is different in California; in every region, a unique series of weather events subtly influences the character of each grape variety. For Valley of the Moon Winery, Cuvée de la Luna – its proprietary Cabernet Sauvignon-based, Bordeaux-inspired wine – is an opportunity to create a 'best of the vintage' red   without the constraints of varietal labeling (which requires at least 75% of the named grape variety). This Cuvée de la Luna shows vintage shapes the finished wine.   The Sonoma County 2006 growing season had a wet winter, a cold spring, a July heat wave, a cool late summer/early autumn and a long harvest. The results were a small crop of very concentrated, structured Cabernet Sauvignon and a fine crop of opulent, deeply fruited Merlot. To gain a measure of expansiveness and polish in the 2006 Cuvée de la Luna, Valley of the Moon’s winemaker included an unusually large percentage of Merlot in the Cabernet blend, as well as small but significant amounts of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  A total of 24 months in small French, Hungarian and American oak barrels enhanced the cuvée with delicate wood notes.    This wine displays classic restrained and ever-evolving aromas of cassis, black cherry, sage, rosemary and sweet vanilla lead to racy flavors of black cherry, cassis and cocoa.  Medium-bodied yet structured with tannic underpinning that promises additional development with cellaring, this youthful wine concludes with a finely balanced, lingering finish. 

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DOMINUS is the proprietary Red Wine produced in the heart of Napa Valley by Christian Moueix and his team.  Since 1983, the goal has been to express the unique terroir found at the historic Napanook Vineyard.  Dominus has become known since its first release for its complexity and earthy character, which pay tribute to the Napanook terroir. Christian Moueix truly believes that producing a wine begins in the vineyard.  For that reason, each vintage is unique with different varietal blends reflecting the vineyard and climate conditions of that particular year.   In the early years of Dominus (1983-1990), recognizing that the wine was in its infancy and did not yet have its own identity, a series of artists' portraits of Christian Moueix was commissioned for the labels.  By 1991, the wine had become well established and a classic Bordeaux-style label replaced the artist series. The 2006 vintage epitomizes the best qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon in a great terroir of Napa Valley.  This wine harmoniously integrates tremendous power, purity of fruit and lingering finesse.  It clearly possesses an exceptional potential for aging.   The blend is 91% cab/6% CF/3% PV.  No Merlot used in the blend this year.   Decant prior to serving."

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FAVORITE NEW-TO-ME WINERY: SOJOURN CELLARS is a partnership between Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley, two friends who met on the tennis courts of Sonoma, and who share a desire to create delicious, handcrafted artisan wines. Erich describes his winemaking as New World style complemented by Old World sensibilities, and he employs artisan techniques to produce superior and distinctive wines.   "We are red wine makers with a New World winemaking style; our wines are bold and expressive, artisan, handcrafted and made in small lots to ensure the highest quality.  Some of our guiding principles include: meticulous vineyard management, sovereignty on the vine, with no two clusters touching, to insure even ripening; field cluster sorting, both before and after fruit is harvested; cluster and berry sorting in the winery; three to five day cold soaking of the fruit; whole berry, native fermentations in open-top fermenters; punch downs by hand; gentle basket pressing; unfined and unfiltered finished wines; our wines have a strong value component.  They are not cheap, but we price them within many wine buyers’ reach; we believe in 100 percent customer satisfaction, backed up by a Money Back Guarantee, regardless of reason."

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WHITEHALL LANE: "Founded in 1979, we are a small, family-owned Napa Valley winery in Rutherford. We own approximately 110 acres of prime vineyards and are committed to making the finest Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Reserve wines.  We continue to receive accolades and awards for producing some of the greatest wines in the world.  In Wine Spectator Magazine's year-end ranking of wines, Whitehall Lane rated an unprecedented three times in five years for producing wines among the top five in the world. The winery has also been voted 'Winery of the Year' from the Quarterly Review of Wines and Wine and Spirits Magazine.  Napa settlers planted grapes on our eponymous site, Whitehall Lane, in the mid 1800s.  We still use the early 1900 barn for storage.  In 1993, the Leonardini Family of San Francisco took control of the Whitehall Lane estate.  They updated the winemaking, instituted a new barrel-aging program and continued sourcing the finest vineyards.  We now own prime vineyards--the cornerstone of our wines.  They include the Whitehall Lane Estate Vineyard, Rutherford West Vineyard and Bommarito Vineyard in the Rutherford Appellation, the Leonardini Vineyard and Fawn Park Vineyard in St. Helena and the Oak Glen Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District. The 25-acre Estate Vineyard of "Rutherford Dust" offers beautiful merlot and sauvignon blanc grapes. The Rutherford West Vineyard offers outstanding cabernet sauvignon fruit while the Bommarito Vineyard is planted to cabernet sauvignon, merlot, sauvignon blanc and semillon. The 14-acre gravelly soils of Leonardini Vineyard yield powerful cabernet sauvignon fruit and elegant yet intense merlot grapes for our vineyard-designated wine. In our short history, Whitehall Lane has developed into a world-class winery.

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FESS PARKER has released four beauties for your wine drinking pleasure.   I tasted these over luncheon with Eli Parker, president of Fess Parker Winery, and they showed beautifully!

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KENWOOD 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County, $13 and Pinot Gris Sonoma County, $16 are fresh, crisp and ready for summer.  These wines typically offer generous fresh fruit character, pleasing texture and a crisp, dry finish that shows particularly well when chilled.  Both primarily come from vineyards in the coolest corners of Sonoma County, where these grapes develop full fruit at maturity while retaining natural acidity for balance. Kenwood Vineyards takes special care to preserve this intrinsic fruit and balance in the finished wines; gently pressing whole clusters, fermenting at cold temperatures in stainless steel tanks, foregoing any time in oak and bottling relatively soon after the vintage. Of course, these versatile wines – great on their own or with fish, shellfish, chicken, a range of salads and even barbecue – may be enjoyed any time of the year.  ¶  Kenwood Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc clearly is a year-round favorite; it has been the winery’s most popular wine for more than 25 years. Alluring aromas of lemon, lime, guava and new mown hay give the 2008 Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc immediate appeal. Vibrant lemon, lime and herb flavors are accented by a hint of mineral. This Sauvignon Blanc is mouthfilling yet smooth and leads to a long, crisp, balanced finish, fresh and beguiling both as an aperitif and paired with casual fare.    ¶  The 2008 Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Pinot Gris is delightfully lithe, with fresh, forward cantaloupe, tropical fruit, honeysuckle and hazelnut aromas and flavors. Generous in character and light in weight, this charmer finishes with pleasing crispness and elegance. Only 1,550 cases of the 2008 Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Pinot Gris were produced, and availability is limited to selected markets and the Kenwood Vineyards tasting room in the Sonoma Valley."

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KENDALL-JACKSON: The concept "Jackson Estates Grown" is the heart of our winemaking. Every grape for the Vintner's Reserve wines is grown in cool coastal vineyards that are managed by the Kendall-Jackson viticultural team. In the winery, this gives our Winemaster a broad palette of aromas and flavors to work with when layering together the final blend. We can taste this commitment to quality in every glass...and we know you can, too.

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GLORIA FERRER released its first still wines almost 20 years ago, introducing a stunning union of complexity and balance.   These new releases-- the GLORIA FERRER 2006 Carneros Pinot Noir; the GLORIA FERRER 2007 Carneros Chardonnay; the GLORIA FERRER 2006 Carneros Merlot--are a culmination of the diversity of the winery's expansive estate.  The wines illustrate a passion for new and site-specific clones and the Ferrer family's rich history of sparkling wines made in the méthode champenoise style.  “Gloria Ferrer reliably produces some of California best sparkling wines, from the fruit-forward blanc de noirs to the richly structured Carneros Cuvée. On a warm day, step out onto the terrace of the visitors center as you sip your bubbly or one of the winery's Pinot Noirs or Chardonnays…” Wine Spectator, Travel to California Wine Country, June 15, 2008.   ¶   "For more than 20 years, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards—the first sparkling wine house in the Sonoma Carneros region—has invited visitors to discover cool-climate wines served with warm Spanish hospitality.  Owned by the Ferrer family, whose wine experience is rooted in 19th century Spain, our winery is a vibrant blend of Catalan and California mission design.   We cultivate fruit for our premium quality sparkling and still wines in our 335 acres of estate vineyards distinguished by warm days, cool nights, summer fog and a long growing season that coaxes grapes to maturity slowly and consistently, with balanced sugar and acidity. Our Vineyard Manager Mike Crumly and Winemaker Bob Iantosca, both of whom have worked for Gloria Ferrer from its inception, have devoted more than two decades to identifying the diverse soil types, microclimates and specific needs of every vine in their care."

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BELLE GLOS: Chuck Wagner, owner and winemaker for CAYMUS Cabernet, has always been interested in Pinot Noir and at one time grew the grape in Rutherford. Over a twenty-year period, he bought acreage along the Sonoma Coast and near Santa Barbara, a more likely place for pinot noir grapes. In 2001 he started the Belle Glos label, named for his mother. Joseph Wagner, Chuck's son, has been the winemaker and general proprietor of the Belle Glos label since 2002.

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CAYMUS: "Every vintage of CAYMUS Vineyards Cabernet naturally depends on success in the vineyard, and is always dependent on the weather.  2006 began with a New Year's flooding that led to a late spring start, and we saw a memorable heat wave in mid-July.   August through October was nearly rain-free with moderate temperatures, ultimately yielding colorful and ripe cabernet sauvignon grapes.  Intensely-flavored berries were the norm in 2006 with higher than normal tannins and color and full, uniform ripeness. CAYMUS 2006 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $160: Winemaker's notes: "One of the most allocated and collectible Cabernets in the world, Caymus Vineyards Special Selection is crafted from the outstanding barrels of the vintage.  Special Selection is produced only in vintages that proprietor Chuck Wagner feels are suitable for this designation.  We are proud to offer limited amounts of the new release of Caymus Special Selection – dark and intense with deep, rich flavors of black currant, cherry, mocha and spice. A collectible masterpiece!"  Winemaker Chuck Wagner

CAYMUS 2006 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $160: Wine Spectator-- 92-94 points: "Ripe, spicy, fleshy and intense, with a rich mix of earthy, loamy currant, herb and black cherry fruit that's focused and persistent."   Established in 1972 Caymus Vineyards is one of the benchmark cabernet sauvignon producers in Napa Valley, with an enviable track record of producing some of Napa's finest reds.  Always a favorite among wine critics, Robert Parker rated the 2005 92-94 points and the 2004 scored 95 points and the 2006 is sure to achieve the same level of acclaim.

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SPRING MOUNTAIN Vineyard is an 850 acre estate on the eastern slopes of Spring Mountain. Over 225 acres of the estate are planted to vine, representing 135 distinct hillside vineyard blocks with many soil types, exposures, and microclimates. Originally four individual 19th century Napa Valley vineyards, Miravalle, Alba, Chevalier and La Perla are now one vineyard producing exclusively estate grown wines. A substantial portion of the vineyard is planted in densities of over 4,000 vines per acre. Because of the diverse and challenging terrain, the vines are trained to the ancient gobelet form, a vertical trellising method invented in an earlier millennium by the Romans. Growing primarily Bordeaux grape varieties, the vineyard yields distinctive mountain wines that consistently display concentration, elegance and longevity. The quintessential wine from the estate is Elivette.

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DRY CREEK VINEYARDS 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley $16: "We have released an exciting new Sauvignon Blanc from the Dry Creek Valley appellation. For those people familiar with our wines, since 1972 we have made Sauvignon Blanc, choosing instead to call the wine Fumé Blanc.  Our Fumé, modeled after the dry white wines of the Loire Valley region in France, put our family winery on the world wine map.  To the credit of founder David Stare, we were also the first winery to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley all of those years ago.  This new wine is the last great step taken by the second generation affirming our passion to produce Dry Creek Valley appellation wines.  Food friendly and immediately approachable this delicious summertime quaffer appeals to both new wine drinkers as well as the traditional Fumé Blanc customer.   The 2008 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc is refreshing, crisp, and expressive of the unique terroir of each of the individual vineyards that comprise this wine.   We blended in 6% Sauvignon Musqué (a unique clone of Sauvignon Blanc) to give the wine additional depth and complexity without using oak or other winemaking techniques.  Effusive aromas of guava, white peach, and melon abound.   On the palate, intensely flavored stone fruit characters repeat the tropical fruit theme of this delicious wine."

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COASTAL RIDGE 2007 Riesling, CA $7.50 and COASTAL RIDGE 2007 Chardonnay, CA $7.50 are a Napa Ridge Winery brand that encourages wine drinkers to enjoy a "Stay-cation"--an at-home vacation.  These reasonably priced wines allow guilt-free wine imbibers to drink refreshingly well-priced wines.  And, they are good.

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MARTIN CODAX 2008 Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain $15 is a "refreshing food friendly wine, showcasing a pale yellowish color with touches of bright gold.  It is an aromatic and complex wine that is rich, elegant, dry and crisp. It is full-bodied, with flavors of bright pear, passion fruit and pineapple.  The striking balance of acidity, body and aromas allows the wine to adapt to the palate exhibiting its versatility of fresh and bright characteristics to a rounder mouth-feel as the meal evolves.  Albariño is an ideal complement to any seafood dish such as blackened scallops over angel hair pasta, grilled oysters and salmon with pear, apple and lime chutney. It will also complement a variety of dishes such as summer salads, pasta and grilled pheasant with a pineapple, orange marmalade."

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ALAMOS comes from high-altitude vineyards in the Mendoza wine region of western Argentina.  "It represents the highest levels of the art of blending, using grapes from many distinct micorclimates, to create flavorful, drinkable wines that preserve varietal flavors, aromas and textures."

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next is "A look forward from the people at KING ESTATE WINERY."  According to winery notes, the wine description includes a "pale straw color; a nose of citrus blossom, orange with a hint of lime, pear, and apricot; flavors of orange, white peach, pineapple, and guava; a fruity, vibrant mouthfeel entry, nice balance between acidity and residual sugar allowing for a crisp and clean yet round and full wine. Recommended pairings: A cleansing and refreshing accompaniment for sushi, this Riesling would also pair beautifully with flatfish (sole, flounder, etc.) in a butter/cream sauce.  It would also be an ideal candidate to pair with just fruit and mild, creamy white cheeses or cold chicken on a picnic." 


 

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