Sheltering in Place
2016 Blue Farm Chardonnay Leveroni Vineyard, Russian River Valley
NVWE Notes: This is a terrific Chardonnay: aromatic, sophisticated, texturally appealing and food-worthy…More: The nose offers creamy-rich aromas of sweet baked apple, white peach tart, lemon curd, white rose, baking-spice, hazelnut nougat and a hint of toasted coconut. There is a lovely textural contrast in the mouth, where lively fruit acidity brings elegance to very opulent, lingering fruit. The finishing flavors are a medley of spiced apple, lemon tart, hazelnut butter cream and white pepper above a hint of chalky minerality. If already well-evolved and food-worthy, it is certain to be more so in another year or two. 250 cases made.
2017 Prime Cabernet Sauvignon Coombsville, Napa Valley*
NVWE Notes: One of the bright lights of its vintage, this Cab is forthcoming and attractive in all respects…More: The aromas are a melange of dark cherry compote, black currant, coffee bean, sweet dark pipe tobacco, bitter chocolate and dried herbal scents. Polished tannins bring structure and balance on the palate, yet in no way blunt the wine’s creamy wave of dark cherry, mulberry, black currant, bitter chocolate, tobacco and dried herb flavors. The gutsy finish is focused and lingering, and a note of zest brings this delicious bottling into food-worthy balance and sets it up ideally for service with grilled or roasted meats. Expect two or more years of steady growth. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 251 cases produced.
2016 Grimm’s Bluff Cabernet Sauvignon “Estate”, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
NVWE Notes: If easily imagined as coming from a fine Napa Valley vineyard, the grapes for this beauty grow just northwest of Santa Barbara’s Lake Cachuma….More: Its bright, high energy nose poises red currant jelly, sour red cherry, Italian Maraschino cherry, pomegranate syrup, cedar, mace and baking-spice scents above “crushed rock” minerality. It proves deeper if just as bright on the palate, where density, grip, zest and focus align to bring food-worthiness to fruit and spice elements that closely mirror the aromas. The juicy finish lingers with a rush of red currant, red cherry, baking-spice and sweet tobacco, balanced by tannins and a firming mineral note. Delicious now, it should grow more so for several years. 800 cases made.