La Pelle Wines: Quality Being Made and Expressed
What I believe is most important to the wine aficionado is the quality in the bottle. Does what is in my glass represent the varietal, and is it well-crafted to enjoy slowly with thoughtfulness and great pleasure? The label is La Pelle; and the winemaker is Maayan Koschitsky; and the answer is “yes” on all counts.
DuMOL’s 2021 MacIntyre Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir: Wine of the Year
In a follow up to my previous post about DuMOL, you will see the newest accolade for them. Their 2021 MacIntyre Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir was named "Wine of the Year" by wine critic Antonio Galloni. This is a prestigious acknowledgement of the quality that DuMOL crafts and delivers. Find yourself a bottle from this vintage and enjoy!
DuMOL: The Evolution of Outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
DuMOL is a Sonoma County winery that has evolved since its inception in 1996. And that is truly a progression that rewards you and me as enjoyers of wine. The original owners named the winery using an amalgamation of the names of their children (Duncan and Molly). The wines at that time were made from grapes bought from Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol, CA. In 1999, Andy Smith joined DuMOL as their winemaker/viticulturist. In 2005, Andy became part owner of the winery; and, in 2015, he and an associate bought full ownership of the winery. The results today are remarkable.
Price of a Bottle of Wine
I have a dear friend who holds value in great regard. He spent years working in finance, so what a dollar will buy is very important to him. Recently, he reached out with a question about his purchase of a $10 bottle of Pinot Noir. He thoroughly enjoyed it and bought a few more. His question to me was is it really good or was he just kidding himself?
His purchase was a bottle of 2021 Pinot Noir. I let him know that the vintage was an outrageously successful growing season for beautiful, expressive grapes. This may have been the exception, yet it was very possible that it was a pleasurable bottle. It also may be that the vintner had an excess of grapes in this vintage and sold off some fruit that another winery took and made this very nice Pinot Noir for such a low price.
The word I emphasize is “exception.” Ten dollar bottles of wine from California are few and far between. Why is that? Well, consider what costs go into making a bottle of wine:
Kale Wines: The Next Chapter
I first met winemaker Kale Anderson at a wonderful wine experience hosted by Pahlmeyer Winery, where each participant was charged with crafting their own red blends out of Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It was challenging; yet Kale, who was the Director of Winemaking for Pahlmeyer, was there as a resource and guide. His knowledge was very apparent, and his willingness to share with us was a gift. Pahlmeyer was the next step in his journey and expression of the vine.
Why Is Wine Important?
Wine, in itself, is not important. What it contributes and what it allows for are more relevant. Wine is meant for sharing; it allows for and encourages being together to make memories. Every bottle represents the caring and love we have for friends and relatives. Each occasion calls for a type of wine and helps create a setting for mutual experiences and expression of emotions. Wine is an entrée to moments and pleasure to be with one another, and the beauty of wine is an integral part.
What it takes to create that bottle of wine is vastly important. The caring and effort to bring to fruition the magic inside are immense. The people who dedicate their time and energy to each step of the process are very important. The fields that need to be furrowed, the vines that need to be planted, the grafting of each one, and the tender care it takes to have it all flourish are remarkable. The care each plant is given throughout the season requires diligence and competence. The leaf management to ensure that each cluster receives just the right amount of sun and warmth is amazing. What it takes to bring those luscious berries to their fullest expression is a work of art. Then, there is harvest! This is where the challenge takes on a greater relevance as the winemaker begins the journey from grape to bottle.
Robert Biale Vineyards: History in a Bottle
Recently I needed to work with a physical therapist after a knee surgery. (Getting older isn’t easy on a body.) At that time, I had a great therapist in Calistoga, CA; and we started talking about wine (imagine that). She stated that her preference was Zinfandel. I got excited to share and asked. “Have you ever tried Biale?” She looked at me calmly and said, “Yes, that is my last name. My father is Robert Biale.” Embarrassed, I realized I had never looked at her last name. I quickly recovered and shared about my wine blog, my love of Black Chicken, and how I had written about it on the blog. More importantly, though, I told her how I had shared the wine with many, many friends over the years and bought more.
This “small world” experience encouraged me to put a return visit to Biale on my to-do list.
Mayacamas Winery: Beauty Inside and Out
I will admit it, I first visited the Mayacamas Tasting Room in downtown Napa, CA because of the ratings the Cabernet Sauvignon received from credible reviewers. The wine is also a collaborative effort with one of my favorite winemakers, Andy Erickson. Of course, I had to see for myself. That day, what I found was a great Cabernet with wonderful texture and rich flavors. The wise thing to do was to capitalize on the great find and just buy!
Just recently during a visit to Napa Valley, it was time to visit the winery itself, high up on Mt. Veeder. To say the least, the setting was impressive as well as the wine. Our tasting started off with a ride to the top of the mountain via four-wheeler where we could look out over the valley and vineyards. To the south, the San Pablo Bay was quite visible. This body of water provides cool breezes that allow for longer hang times and retention of acidity. All this nurtures the grapes on the vine. It was a gorgeous setting in which to enjoy a taste of the winery’s luscious 2021 Chardonnay. It was a wonderfully crafted wine with flavors of lemon and nuts, refined and bright.
Gallica: A Gem To Discover
Gallica is a small winery located in St. Helena, California (part of the Napa Valley). It is a gem worth revealing to your palate. The owner and winemaker is Rosemary Cakebread, who has produced beautiful wines that are truly worth discovering.
Just recently I had the pleasure to visit for a tasting and be hosted by Rosemary herself – quite the honor given my appreciation for her artistry in developing remarkable flavors in the bottle. Historically she was the winemaker for Spottswoode from 1997 to 2005. Her craftsmanship brought 100 point scores to the winery for their luscious Cabernet. To gain a greater appreciation for her journey, you can find my interview with her on this blog, published in 2015. Rosemary established the Gallica label with her first vintage being in 2007. The name Gallica is inspired by a variety of rose native to southern Europe, and it fits beautifully given the refined Cabernet Rosemary crafts with wonderful aromatics. I am certain she has never looked back given the success that she has had.
Limerick Lane Cellars: A Healdsburg Gem
Just recently, I had the opportunity to visit Healdsburg; and, of course, tasting wine was a priority. Our first stop that day was Limerick Lane Cellars. This winery is located just 5 minutes outside of downtown Healdsburg (which is also a growing culinary town). Limerick Lane is a 53-acre estate located in the northeast corner of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. It’s in a rustic setting that harkens back to earlier times. The tasting room is quaint and relaxed, and they also offer outdoor seating among the vines. Tastings are by appointment only. On this day, we were in the winery itself as the rain had been falling.
Our host, who l enjoyed greatly, is an experienced wine veteran who loves sharing the wine with his guests. Andy has been at Limerick Lane for over five years and fully appreciates the opportunity to share the fine wines produced at the winery. This is a journey themed by Zinfandel. The vines here are almost 100 years old, and that is a great treat that Andy enjoys sharing with visitors. Zinfandel is a varietal that does well in Sonoma. There are many excellent wineries that produce lovely wines from this grape, and Limerick Lane is one of them.