Many of our long-time list members know that the best values in our cellar are the appellation wines — wines made from a blend of proximate vineyard sites in one viticultural area. Our goal for these wines is to capture the nuance of that area. Does Russian River Valley mean something on a label? We think it should.
These wines are available on our website year round, but the FREE shipping deal on 6+ bottles is temporary! This is offer #1 in a 3-part series. Offers #2 (featuring Pinot Noir) and #3 (featuring Carignan) will go out to the list on Feb. 9th and Feb. 16th, respectively. All of the wines are currently for sale – click here to purchase.
2018 Estero, Russian River Valley
If you visit the Michelin-starred establishments in our area — Singlethread Farms and The Farmhouse Inn — you will find this wine featured as the house pour (a source of LIOCO pride considering the number of local wineries that covet those spots!). The anchor vineyard source for this wine has long been the Teac Mor Vineyard, which our bohemian friend Steven Moore farms Regeneratively (a system that increases biodiversity, enriches soils, improves watersheds, and enhances ecosystems). There is a palpable hum out there in his vineyard — a cacophony of bees and birds and frogs, and the bleating of pygmy goats. The vines are rooted in some very old, complex soils of volcanic ash, river stones, loam, and clay. To hear Steven speak of the geological drama that played out in this valley millions of years ago is to better understand why the wines from his ranch are so characterful. This 2018 Estero is crystalline and razor sharp. There is a nervy weave of salinity tucked into its preserved lemon and fennel bulb core. The flavors are at once opulent and energetic, making for a long, clean, citrusy finish.
2018 Las Arenas, Santa Cruz Mountains
*first time offered to our mailing list*
Our success in Santa Cruz is largely allied to our partnership with local legend, Prudy Foxx. Known as the vine whisperer, Prudy manages our vineyards in the Aptos-Corralitos zone, and she does so in a mysterious, witchy way. Every vine is regarded uniquely and we’ve seen her pitching crushed up oyster shells from her pocket into the rows. Las Arenas, which means “the sands” in Spanish, refers to the deep sandy soils found in this pocket beside the cold Monterey Bay. A blend of three Vineyard Designates—La Marisma, Howard Family, and Bruzzone—this Chardonnay captures the essence of the heavily forested, fog-choked, maritime zone and yields a wine with the electric sap found solely in state’s most extreme growing zones. Leads with a slatey, wet stone note, some exotics like golden kiwi & starfruit, and finishes with just-ripe green pears and brioche. Sara and I pair this wine with panko-crusted ling cod finished with flaky sea salt and a squeeze of Eureka lemon. Salivating yet?
