Shop Wines of the Week
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Palmaz 2022 Louise Riesling
Notes: Primarily a Cabernet producer over in Coombsville, Palmaz is one of only five vineyards in Napa to make Riesling. Palmaz is known for their unique wine making techniques (i.e., use of gravity) and front-footed use of AI in monitoring the fermentation process (seriously). This bottle offers an amazing and rare expression of Riesling in California. It's exceedingly drinkable and dry. Riesling is having a moment, we just didn't know it was having one in CA. Swap your summer rosé for this.
D'Arcy 2020 Nebbiolo, Langhe
Notes: This is a really awesome expression of Nebbiolo. This is drinking well now and is made by the talented winemaker (also a friend of 'Wine of the Week') Tom Nicholson-Myers. Having spent time in vineyards around the world, Tom chose Piedmont as his main squeeze and struck out on his own a few years back. If you like Nebbiolo, you should also check out his Barolo (where he got access to a prestige vineyard).
Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits Saint George 1985 1er Cru Les Vaucrains
Notes: The Chevillon family have a reputation for producing some of the very best wines in Nuits-St-Georges in Burgundy. They are a five generation+ generation family and have access to several 1er cru vineyards. This forty year old wine still demonstrated freshness and acidity after a short decant. We noted a mulberry bouquet and impeccable finish. Wonderful definition with age, though probably wouldn't age it much more from here.
Gevrey Chambertin 2020 Domaine Castagnier
Notes: This was the perfect New Year's Eve wine. It's a beautiful wine with tantalizing cherries. We enjoyed it and think it could age longer given the powerful nature of wines from Gevery Chambertin. The finish was long and refined and a classic kind of charm.
Corison 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon
Notes: A never-go-wrong wine from Napa (St Helena). Cathy Corison is well known wine maker who has been in the Valley forever. Rumor is that she was denied her first wine making job because the winery thought she was too short to work in the cellar. Wow did she prove them wrong. She was initially denied and now she has her own winery which she started in 1987. Despite 2017 being a mixed year in Napa, this wine was lovely and opened up well.
Kenzo Estate 2018 Rindo (half bottle)
Notes: Made by the famed Heidi Barrett over at Kenzo Estate, the largest contiguous property in Napa. Fairly high alcohol, but beautiful blend of all five Bordeaux red varietals. Long finish, luscious dark fruits, vanilla. Pretty hard to get high quality half bottles and we appreciate that they do it. Tip: do your own vertical (i.e., try a few years over the course of an evening in half bottle form).
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe 2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Notes: It means 'old telegraph' and is an iconic producer in the Rhone region known as CDP (Chateauneuf du Pape). Combination of up to 13 varietals. Imported by Kermit Lynch. 2020 relatively young vintage. Beautiful color, medium body, fairly long legs. High alcohol content. Cherries, Graphite and other mineral flavors. Very smooth finish and a long finish. Pair with steak, duck - it was perfect with the pasta we had.
Hundred Acre 2016 Wraith
Notes: This is a grail wine. If you get a chance to try it, you must do so. Oakville Grocery in Napa offers this by the 1oz pour (which is where we first got a taste). 2016 is drinking incredibly well, highly complex, balanced fruit, a transcendental experience.