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Chardonnay "Carneros" 08
This is a new wine for us—is the sister of the 07 Pinot Noir Carneros. Why the interest in Carneros? Because it’s COOL there. And all that coolness in growing, translates to brightness in wine. Who doesn’t love vibrant chardonnay? This wine is from the four best blocks in Dale Ricci’s fog-drenched vineyard. It shows the character of the vintage: low alcohol (13.4%) & high acidity. Lots of mineral, pineapple core, miso paste, and lemon curd. At this price, it should go fast.
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Price: $30.00
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Chardonnay “Demuth” 07
A wine our sommelier friends seem to buy without fail. It is also for those who are not shocked by the thought of chewing on stones. Incredibly compelling plant material here: stressed out, old-vine Wente clone chardonnay on original rootstock growing out of very rocky mountainous soil. The wine smells of pressed white flowers, citrus oil and rock dust. The attack finds poached pears, orange sherbet, and minerals galore. A low-alcohol, age-worthy wine.
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Price: $35.00
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Chardonnay "Michaud" 07
Kevin O’Connor says this wine reminds him of “licking a rock.” Tanzer says “it’s wild ride from citrus to pit fruit and orange marmalade on the palate, with dusty minerals adding grip.” Our sommelier friends compare it to Chablis. What do we like about the wine? That it has a distinct identity tied to the place it grows. When chardonnay grows in these Chalone limestone soils, exciting things happen. Crab season is upon us. Crack and swirl!
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Price: $45.00
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Chardonnay “Charles Heintz” 07
The 07 Heintz is a distant relative of the 06. It was born of a classic Sonoma Coast vintage: dry, cool, and consistent. Where the 06 was heavy on amplitude, this 07 is diamond cut. It hints at the exotica, but is held taught by ripe, cleansing acidity. Like a kernel of sun, enveloped by a cold mountain stream. Prepare for a bouquet of orange blossoms, kettle corn, and wet sand. The flavors include lemon oil, jasmine, and a chalky minerality. Needs time to reveal its true potential.
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Price: $45.00
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Chardonnay “Charles Heintz” Late Harvest (.375 ml) 06
This is a wine for hedonists. It boasts exotica usually reserved for forbidden Asian kingdoms—jasmine flowers, candied ginger, and mandarin peel. One swirl of the glass reveals other layers too---apple skin, freshly crushed cinnamon sticks, and a beguiling mineral character. The wine’s flavors are delivered with a surprising amount restraint. The warm lemon honey, baked apples, and toasted nuts coat your palate with limpid style. *LOW*
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Price: $30.00
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Rose 08
An eminently gulpable rose made from 100% Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir grown in the cool, windy Petaluma Gap. The wine is a saignee, or bleed off of our soon-to-be released 08 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast. It was fermented in stainless steel using a native yeast. Darker in hue than our 2007 Rose, and intensely varietal--this wine really smells and tasted like Pinot Noir. Aromas of sour red cherries, watermelon rind, and quince spin out of the glass. Tastes like rhubarb, wild strawberries, and blood oranges. Enjoy with a bowl of summer Gazpacho and ample sunshine. *LOW*
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Price: $14.00
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Indica 07
The 07 Indica has less tannin and more satin. The additions of some cold-climate Grenache and Mourvedre produced unexpected high tones in the wine. Now the entire orchestra is playing. Bouquet of morello cherries, red plums, and rhubarb, accented with hints of baking spice. Tastes of sour cherries, dried blueberries, and something wonderfully herbaceous. The wine will transport you to southern France. And the 07 is rocking a screw cap! Twist and bliss.
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Price: $20.00
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Pinot Noir "Klindt" 07
Bob and Claudia’s vineyard sits in a “marginal area” bordering Roederer’s sparkling wine vineyards. This fact gives some insight into just how cool their microclimate is. All of this coolness translates to longer hang times for the fruit. And that means more complexity. This wine is concentrated without being heavy. There are the signature flavors/aromas of the Anderson Valley which we love: red raspberries & rose petals. Needs time or a serious decanting.
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Price: $45.00
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Pinot Noir "Michaud" 07
A reasonable parent would never admit to a favorite child. But who can be reasonable when presented with such utter brilliance? Tasting the wine from barrel, super-star sommelier Jason Alexander called it Ambroise Corton Grand Cru. Many esteemed colleagues, upon tasting the wine last summer at Oregon’s International Pinot Noir Celebration, used the word “revelation.” Tanzer’s words: “potent, exotic, mineral-driven.” Extremely cellar-worthy.
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Price: $48.00
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Pinot Noir "Hennis" 07
A little gem of a vineyard tucked away the Green Valley portion of the Russian River Valley--the known repository for the cold, ocean-born fog that creeps up river. 2007 was the "Virgin Vintage" at Henni's, or the first year fruit was harvested from these vines. It is believed that a vineyard's truest expression of place is revealed in the inaugural year. Prepare for pomegranate, sour red cherries, and something haunting best described as “sea-shore decay.” Only a scant 41 cases produced. **FOR PURCHASE VIA WEBSITE ONLY**
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Price: $45.00
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