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Taste Napa Valley Canada 2009 - October 26 @ The Royal Ontario Museum

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:25:00 GMT

Napa Valley has a crush on Canada, and in celebration of our other crush, we're bringing more than 40 Napa Valley Vintners to Canada to introduce you to the fruits of our labor from harvests past. We invite you to meet and taste with the people behind some of Napa Valley's legendary wines, both longtime favorites and favorites-to-be.

With the gracious support of the United States Consul General

Please join us for Taste Napa Valley: Canada

Trade & Media Tastings
Monday, October 26, 2:30-5:00 pm
Royal Ontario Museum
Bronfman Hall
100 Queen's Park (Weston Entrance)
Toronto, ON

Wednesday, October 28, 2:00-4:00 pm,
The Bearfoot Bistro,
4121 Village Green
Whistler, BC

Thursday October 29, 2:30-5:00 pm,
The Fairmont Waterfront,
900 Canada Place Way
Vancouver, BC

Friday, October 30, 2:30-5:00 pm,
Olives Restaurant
1129 Olympic Way SE
Calgary, AB

Go to www.napavintners.com to register in advance and save time at the door— or register at the door by presenting your business card.

Ancien Wines (c) Barlow Vineyards Beaulieu Vineyard Beringer Vineyards Blackbird Vineyards Boeschen Vineyards Bourassa Vineyards (v) Cain Vineyard & Winery Chappellet Winery & Vineyard (t, v) Chimney Rock Winery (t) Cliff Lede Vineyards Clos Du Val Cuvaison Estate Wines Darioush Diamond Creek Vineyards (v, c) Diamond Terrace (v) Faust	Folie a Deux Frias Family Vineyard (t) Grgich Hills Estate Heitz Wine Cellars Hestan Vineyards John Anthony Laird Family Estate Miner Family Vineyards(w, v, c) Napa Cellars O'Shaughnessy Estate Winery (c) Oakville Ranch Vineyards Pahlmeyer PEJU Pine Ridge Vineyards Quintessa Robert Craig Winery Robert Mondavi Winery (t)	Rubicon Estate Rutherford Hill Winery (t) Schramsberg Vineyards Shafer Vineyards Signorello Vineyards Silverado Vineyards Spring Mountain Vineyard St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Stags' Leap Winery Sterling Vineyards Terlato Family Vineyards (t) Terra Valentine Trefethen Family Vineyards Tres Sabores (t) Truchard Vineyards(w, v, c) Ziata (w, v, c)
Pouring in all markets except as noted with: c - pouring in Calgary, t - Pouring in Toronto, v - pouring in Vancouver, w - pouring in Whistler

Sonoma Wine Show: September 21, 2009 @ Arcadian Court (401 Bay St, Toronto)

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:51:00 GMT

September 21, 2009

Arcadian Court
401 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4

Sonoma Special Event with Bruce Riezenman – 12:15pm-1:30pm, (TBC)

Great Cooks on Eight – Sonoma Lunch and Wine Pairing

Anticipated attendance: 50, Open to the public

Opportunity for up to 2 Vintners/Winemakers to participate

4 bottles total, 2 bottles of each varietal

Media/Trade Seminar – 1:15pm-2:30pm

Arcadian Court

Anticipated attendance: 20-25, Invitation Only

Opportunity for up to 3 Vintners/Winemakers to participate. Note: Winemaker OR Winery Principal must be present for the panel. The wines for the seminar will be determined once the panelists have been selected

Trade tasting – 2:30pm-5:00pm

Arcadian Court

Anticipated attendance: 200-250, Invitation Only

24 bottles, up to 4 varietals, to be shared between Trade & Consumer tasting

Consumer tasting – 7:00pm-9:30pm

Arcadian Court

Anticipated attendance: 150-200

Wine recommendation: see event details for Trade tasting

click here for complete list of wines from Sonoma currently available

Wine Spectator Magazine Blog: James Molesworth in Cornas

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:32:00 GMT

If you would like to try one of the fabulous wines of the Rhone's prized Cornas region, the 2007 Domaine Coulet No Wines Land @ $41.95 in a 12 bottle case is the perfect entry level Cornas at a fabulous price, and the 2006 vintage of the Domaine Coulet Billes Noires mentioned below, is available through Vintages Online Exclusives by the bottle @ $97.00.

To view our current selection of wines from Jean Luc Colombo, click here.

Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth: The Rhône, Day 8: Keeping Some Stubble for a Day in Cornas

Posted: 10:54 AM ET, March 11, 2009

Cornas is a fascinating appellation. Often misunderstand and/or overlooked, its Syrahs are thoroughly unique in profile thanks to the appellation's dramatically different terroir (as opposed to Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie). For background on the appellation in general, you can reference my feature story from March 2008, which included profiles on producers such as Thierry Allemand, Jean-Luc Colombo and others.

I never shave the morning I visit the domaines in Cornas. I need some rugged-looking stubble to not only get into the feel of the wines themselves, known for their chalky spine and overt olive notes, but also to fit in with the likes of Pierre-Marie Clape and Matthieu Barret, two of the appellation’s top vignerons.

First stop was with the dynamic Barret at Domaine du Coulet, located down a narrow winding road at the back end of town. Barret represents the future in Cornas. His domaine is, in my opinion, the single most exciting new domaine in the appellation today. With his nearly 14 hectares of vines (11 in Cornas), Barret is producing a quartet of wines that represent a new paradigm for Cornas—vivid, exceptionally bright, racy fruit flavors that at the same time harness the taut, sometimes severe minerality of the Syrah grown on the east- and southeast-facing granite slopes above the town.

Barret farms his vines biodynamically and uses as little sulfur as possible during the élevage, racking only once but keeping the barrel bungs so tight he has to use a corkscrew to get them out for tasting.

“I want the olive character that comes with a little reduction in Syrah,” he said. “But not the animal notes which come from too much.”

Though he ferments some cuvées in stainless steel, he does not use temperature control.

“We don’t use heat or cold—just our brains,” he said, laughing. “The idea is not to destroy the wine, but just to help it along. I’m not a god, so how can I know what exact temperature to use? And why would I want to use the same temperature every vintage, since every vintage is different? It’s the same with using yeasts [Barret ferments with natural yeasts]—when you use them, everything is the same.”

You never need to follow up with a "why" or "how" when talking to Barret. He’s effusive, verbose and opinionated, and talks constantly about searching for "the truth" in the wines he makes.

Cement eggs used for aging the Brise Cailloux cuvée at Coulet.
The Cornas Brise Cailloux 2007 is the only cuvée fermented in cement vat. It’s then aged in egg-shaped cement vessels and a few barrels (none new). Just bottled, it’s tight and stony up front, with brisk acidity carrying Damson plum, spice and pastis hints with a long, razorlike finish. The finish is just the style that Coulet said he’s looking for.

The remaining 2007 cuvées are still in their 400-liter barrels and are set to be blended and bottled in the coming months. The Cornas Les Terrasses du Serre 2007 is a blend of three parcels, including the Geynale and Guytoune lieux-dits. The Guytoune parcel, from a warm spot, provides electric aromas and flavors of briar and blackberry while the Geynale, a cooler spot, shows more violet and pastis hints.

“The Geynale is more classic Cornas, which is good to blend with the structure of the Guytoune,” he said.

The Cornas Billes Noires 2007 comes primarily from the Arlettes parcel, the southern part of which delivers a very chalky entry with red currant and olive notes backed by firm structure. From the northern end of the same parcel offers stunning plum and blackberry fruit, with high-definition violet and mineral notes.

“Arlettes curves inward along the hill, so it’s generally cooler and delivers more minerality,” said Barret. “It’s the opposite of a parcel like Reynard that Clape and Allemand use, which curves outward, is warmer, and offers more fruit and power.”

The newest cuvée here is the Cornas Gore 2007, which will get a white label as opposed to the typical black label of the domaine. Gore refers to the local name for the very fine-pebbled, sandy granite soils in the appellation, and the wine delivers a gravelly feel with a core of plum and pastis backed by a grippy finish.

“You can really feel the gore in the wine,” said Barret, running his thumb and fingers together for emphasis.

***

Alain Voge is one of the deans of the appellation, and his domaine has been assured of continuing its quality by bringing in outside investors (in the form of Michel Chapoutier) as well as the expertise of Albéric Mazoyer, a former winemaker at M. Chapoutier. For background on the specific wines, click here for notes from a previous visit.

There are some minor changes taking place here. The weathered, blue wooden sign marking the cave, just off the main road through town, has been replaced with a clean, modern version. The white wines have received new labels that make them a little more identifiable as coming all from the same domaine. The wines themselves however, remain the same.

Voge himself remains his mild-mannered, amiable self. Turning 70 this year, he will mark his 50th vintage. He’s slowed down a little, following a liver transplant 10 years ago that still requires a regular hospital visit.

“I’m up, I’m down,” he said, with a half smile. “I really liked good wine and food though.”

“Liked?” asked Mazoyer quizzically. “You mean like, present tense!” drawing a wider smile from Voge.

Some importer troubles have made this a domaine whose wines can be hard to track down from time to time. But don’t let the inconsistent distribution stop you from searching.


The sign has changed, but the wines remain the same at chez Alain Voge.
The white wines are among the best bottlings from St.-Péray, a tiny (65 hectare) appellation that has rejuvenated itself in recent years. Now made from entirely Marsanne (what Roussanne the domaine has planted goes into a sparkling wine now), the trio of cuvées begins with the St.-Péray Harmonie 2007 (formerly just the straight St.-Péray bottling). It’s delivers fresh white peach and mineral notes with a long stony finish. The St.-Péray Terres Boissés 2007 (formerly labeled as the Cuvée Boisée) spends 12 months in barrel and delivers a creamier mouthfeel with deeper peach, lime and mineral notes. The St.-Péray Fleur de Crussol remains the top bottling, sourced from a single parcel of 70-year-old vines on limestone soils and fermented and then aged for 16 months in barrel. It’s very plump and ripe, almost showy, but stays restrained and focused with lots of melon and floral notes and an invigorating, long finish.

“2007 has more gras,” said Mazoyer. “2006 has more acid and is fresher. Our yields are also very low in 2007 as it is just the second vintage since we have converted to biodynamic farming.”

For the reds, the Côtes du Rhône Les Peyrouses 2007 is made from Syrah, sourced from vines around Cornas and St.-Péray. It’s bright purple in color, with a fresh, open demeanor that lets cherry and garrigue notes play out. The St.-Joseph Les Vinsonnes 2007 is a relatively new cuvée, now in its third vintage. Sourced from parcels around Mauves and Glun, it is aged for 14 months in barrel (none new) and delivers a mix of stylish red and blue fruits with elegant sanguine and garrigue hints on the finish.

The estate’s youngest vines (20 years old) go into the first of the three Cornas cuvées, the Cornas Les Chailles 2007, which has almost crunchy acidity, a briary edge and a mouthwatering iron note backing the cherry fruit. The Cornas Vieilles Vignes 2007 is a blend of seven or eight parcels, depending on the vintage, with vines ranging from 30 to 60 years of age. It receives 20 months of élevage and about 20 percent new oak, and has the appellation’s telltale chalk spine buried in a core of violet, mixed berry and tobacco notes.

“At first I thought the vintage would evolve quickly," said Mazoyer. “But it turned out not to be the case, so we extended the élevage a little.”

Quality did prevent a Vieilles Fontaines bottling from being made in 2007—the parcel will instead be blended into the Vieilles Vignes bottling. The Cornas Vieilles Fontaines 2006 has been bottled however, after a 24-month élevage. There are just 3,300 bottles of this single-parcel cuvée (80-year-old vines), which is usually among the best wines in Cornas. It provides a sappy, kirsch core woven with tobacco and olive notes, while a strident minerality defines the finish. It’s rather regal in feel for the typically rugged village of Cornas, with impressive length.

***

As with Alain Voge, A. Clape is also one of the most established names in the appellation. Following in his father's footsteps (and now joined in turn by his son) Pierre-Marie Clape has been producing reference point, ageworthy Cornas for a generation here—I just finished off the last of my '98 recently, and wish I had held it longer. The classic-scoring 2005 bottling is a monumental wine.

The 2007 will be hard pressed to reach those heights, but it’s looking to be a very successful vintage in Cornas nonetheless, an appellation that often bucks the general trend of the Northern Rhône—both 2001 and 2004 are examples.

Still in its various parts and aging in foudre, tasting at chez Clape is a lot like tasting at Clos des Papes or Jean-Louis Chave—some parcels may be singing more than others from day to day, but in the end, the final blend is always greater than the sum of its parts.


Yes, those are bottles of wine. The vieux millesimes at chez Clape.
The Cornas 2007 remains in pieces, and Clape leads me through a number of samples drawn from foudre. From 60-year-old vines at the bottom of the hill in the Mazards parcel, a sample shows rugged, dense texture and a heap of blackberry fruit. Various young vine parcels—one 15 years, another 18—show snappy acidity and bright fruit—lively but without the depth of the older vine parcels. From the Sabarotte lieu-dit, the sample shows super gutsy blackberry fruit with lots of sanguine grip. Clape will decide which parcels make the final wine—in a good year the younger vines can get into the main wine if quality merits—as it did in 2005. One parcel that always makes it into the main wine however is a selection of old vines in the Reynard lieu-dit, the likely grand cru of Cornas were there ever to be a classification. This warm spot in the southern portion of the appellation is all iron, currant paste and dense, grippy tannins backed by saliva-inducing salinity. Though only part of the final blend, this is the parcel that always takes the upper hand in defining the wine.

Those parcels that don’t make it into the main bottling go into the Cornas Renaissance 2007, which at this point is partially blended. It’s well-rounded already, with black cherry, currant and licorice root notes and a long, minerally finish that lingers with a perfumy hint.

“I like the Renaissance right away, up to about 12, maybe 15 years maximum in a good vintage,” said Clape about aging the younger vine bottling. “But for the Cornas, it needs 10 years minimum, and up to 20,” he said about the main bottling.

As we discuss previous vintages, I compare 2005 to 1990 and Clape corrects me—2005 should be compared to 1978 in his estimation. And in retrospect, many vignerons are now expressing a clear preference for 2005 among recent vintages, thanks to its classic, long-term aging potential.

As for the Cornas 2008, the vintage wasn’t easy. With its varying concave and convex hillsides offering a range of exposures and both cool and warm spots, dealing with rot in 2008 wasn’t easy.

“It really just exploded in some parts [of Cornas],” said Clape.

The same top parcel from the Reynard lieu-dit in 2008 shows its gutsy fig and coffee profile, and there’s admirable quality up and down the range of parcels we taste through with the vintage’s snappy acidity running throughout. It will be interesting to see how much flesh develops to surround the bones of the vintage.

While known for the Cornas bottlings, the domaine also produces small amounts of other wines as well. Made from 100 percent Syrah, whole-bunch pressed and aged three months in foudre, the Côtes du Rhône 2008 offers black cherry fruit, firm minerality and a dusty finish. The Vin de Table Français Le Vin des Amis 2008 is also made from Syrah parcels below the town along the river. It’s firm and chalky in style with snappy red cherry fruit. Both are a step behind their 2007 counterparts (already reviewed).

“2008 is complicated,” said Clape. “Lots of tartaric and malic acidity. The wines crashed early in the élevage, but they’re coming back now. It’s not a catastrophe.”


Things can get heated in Cornas when the locals play pétanque.
After the 2007 vintage, there will be no Côtes du Rhône White bottling for a while as Clape is replanting the vineyards. The domaine’s white wine now is a delightful St.-Péray 2007, made from Marsanne and offering very pure, nicely rounded white peach and mineral notes. The St.-Péray 2008 has finished its malolactic already, and shows bracing peach pit and stone notes.

To finish the tasting, Clape generously opens a couple of older vintages, both the Cornas 1999 and Cornas 1998. The ’99 is “just starting to open,” he said, as it shows cedar, roasted vanilla, currant, beef and mineral notes with a long, bittersweet cocoa-tinged finish. The ’98 in comparison shows a touch more acidity, with dried currant, rose petal, incense and roasted vanilla notes with a tauter, more mineral-driven finish that is just starting to hits its stride but remains a touch more closed than the ‘99. I’d rate both just shy of classic quality. It's a stinging lesson to learn, as I think of that last bottle of '98 sitting in my recycling bin back home.

***

With his consulting business and use of new oak during the élevage on his reds, Jean-Luc Colombo on the surface is the unabashed modernist of the appellation. When you stand in the middle of a steep, recently cleared slope in Cornas that he's going to plant this year, you realize Colombo is more terroir-obsessed romantic.

"One hectare, maybe," he said of the site, which when I visited last time was still covered in juniper-laced brush. "And we'll get 25 hectoliters if we're lucky, so 4,000 bottles maybe? That's a lot of work for 4,000 bottles," he said. Check out the accompanying video for more on this as-yet-unplanted parcel, which Colombo likens to finding and restoring an old boat.

Colombo's travel schedule is demanding, so kudos also go to his wife Anne (an enologist by training) and capable staff of Julien Revillon and Cyril Courvoisier who all work to keep things humming along when he isn't around. You can reference background on the domaine via my Cellar Notes on the 2003 and 2005 vintages.

Colombo is among those vignerons who is feeling the effects of the current economic situation (or isn't afraid to admit that he is feeling them). While some domaines with small production are still able to sell what they have in the cellar, others aren’t so lucky. One importer recently folded up, leaving three top domaines in the lurch to the tune of a few hundred thousand euros of unpaid bills—likely not to be recouped. Colombo himself, who usually offers a presale on the upcoming vintage at the end of each year, saw orders crawl to a halt at the end of 2008 for his 2007s and has seen no signs of life so far in the first parts of this year.

“Like this,” he said motioning with his hand on a downward diagonal. “Domaines can maybe survive for a few months like that, but a whole year? 2009 is going to be a tough,” he said.

Colombo prefers the ’07 vintage to his 2006s, for their more enjoyable fruit and richness. Bottling will begin in April for most of the top wines, which cover both the estate Cornas bottlings and his négociant lineup.

Among the négociant wines is a St.-Joseph Les Lauves 2007, with floral, incense and red cherry notes on an elegant frame, as well as a Côte-Rôtie La Divine 2007, which offers plump, forward mixed berry fruit, a hint of incense and a velvety finish; both are potentially outstanding.

The heart of the red lineup however is the Cornas range, and the Cornas Les Méjeans 2007 resurrects an old label last used in the 2001 vintage. It’s a combination of declassified estate juice as well as rented vineyards (Colombo is no longer buying juice). It receives a shorter élevage, just 13 or 14 months, and sees just 25 percent new oak, all aimed at producing a more accessible wine meant to be released sooner. The aim is to bridge the gap between vintages of the single vineyard wines while also providing an entry point for consumers to try Cornas. There are 12,000 bottles of the wines, which should retail for under $40 when and if it hits shelves here, and it delivers the textbook black cherry, olive, briar and tangy mineral finish the appellation is known for. The Cornas Terres Brûlées 2007 is still in barrel and it shows denser currant, briar and tobacco notes with a fresh, lively finish. The Cornas Les Ruchets 2007 (13,000 bottles produced) has a very pebbly feel, with a bright mineral streak holding sway over cherry fruit, with a long, focused finish. The Cornas La Louvée 2007 (8,000 bottles produced) is typically the ripest of the bunch, and it doesn’t disappoint in 2007, with layers of ripe plum and cassis notes layered with minerality and a long, blueberry- and mulberry-tinged finish. From a small, single parcel at the top of the hill, Colombo bottles his Cornas Force One 2007 (which he first produced in 2005, but not in ’06). It’s very grippy, with a mix of blueberry fruit, chalky spine and long, olive-filled finish. The top four bottlings are all potentially outstanding, with the La Louvée leading the way.

Don’t overlook Colombo’s whites either, some of which offer great value. The Côtes du Rhône White La Redonne 2007 is a new label, but not a new wine. Formerly the Côtes du Rhône White Les Figuières bottling, Colombo lost the label as he forgot to trademark it, leaving it to be scooped up by a co-op in the south.

“A mistake I won’t make again,” he said with a tinge of resentment. The two-thirds Roussanne, one-third Viognier blend offers plump melon and peach notes on a very round frame. The Viognier portion comes from vineyards around Chavanay, “basically declassified Condrieu,” noted Colombo. There’s an ample 30,000 bottles produced and it should retail in the neighborhood of $12. The Côtes du Rhône White Les Abeilles 2007 should hit shelves in the $9 range. The 60/30/10 blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne sees only 10 percent oak, and it’s brighter and fresher in style, with green almond, nectarine and floral notes backed by an easy finish. The St.-Péray La Belle de Mai 2007 is 98 percent Roussanne, and a drop of Marsanne—reversing the typical blend of the appellation. Entirely barrel fermented (one-third new) it offers creamy, forward notes of almond, lime, lemon verbena and melon. The Condrieu Amour de Dieu 2007 offers showy pear, fig, almond and fennel notes with a long, green plum-tinged finish.

To unwind at the end of the long day, I dropped in at Le Mangevins, the 20-seat bar á vin in Tain l'Hermitage that has become the local spot for the wine savvy. Owner Vincent Dollat continues to beef up the wine list, while his wife turns out modestly priced plates of fresh, modern French cuisine from a closet-sized kitchen. A plate of perfectly pink lamb chops and a bottle of Bernard Faurie St.-Joseph 2005 hit the spot. And you never know who you might bump into—Jean Gonon, Gilles Robin and Franck Faugier were all in attendance. (You can read about Robin's and Faugier's respective domaines here. I'll be visiting Gonon tomorrow, so stay tuned for that.)

Wine Spectator Magazine Article: Bob Foley's Magic Touch

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:45:00 GMT

It just came to my attention a great article in Wine Spectator Magazine about legendary winemaker Robert Foley. With the fabulous 2006 Robert Foley Wines Pepperland Petite Syrah now available @ $88.95 in 12 bottle cases, as well as the recently released 2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon @ $95.00 in a 12 bottle case, I thought I'd bring it to everyone's attention.

Bob Foley's Magic Touch

From Wine Spectator magazine, November 15, 2005 issue

Barrel by barrel, Bob Foley uses a wine thief to siphon samples of his new wines from the 2003 and 2004 vintages, the first he's made at his new, rented winery on Howell Mountain. They display uncommon traits. Uncommon for most California wines, that is. Not Foley's.

Uniformly inky dark and saturated in color, his hearty reds offer profound richness, polished textures and dense, concentrated flavors that coat the palate. They are hedonistic treasures that reflect the style Foley has refined over a quarter-century of winemaking in Napa Valley.

"Pretty good, huh?" he asks rhetorically, knowing that the wine is awesome, a classic Foley rendition that serves up layers of plush, complex flavors. "I am so happy with these wines," he says, displaying the boyish enthusiasm of a man who has just made his first great wine.

Yet Foley already has a cellar full of stunning wines to his credit, running the gamut from Napa's most famous wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, to wines from the lowly Charbono grape. He is also enamored with Syrah and its underappreciated cousin Petite Sirah.

Foley is best known for his work at Pride Mountain Vineyard, nestled along the crest of Napa Valley's Spring Mountain appellation, west of St. Helena. He has also made wine under his own Robert Foley label (no relation to Foley Estate in Santa Barbara) for several years, featuring a Cabernet blend he calls Claret, a terrific Charbono and a gutsy Petite Sirah. But his influence now extends to a group of emerging wines in Napa Valley that are accumulating high ratings.

In the early 1990s, Foley was instrumental in developing Paloma Vineyard, a neighbor of Pride's on Spring Mountain. "He taught us everything we know," says Barbara Richards, who owns Paloma along with her winemaker husband, Jim. In 2003, the Paloma Merlot 2001 was named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year.

To put Foley's success in perspective, since the early 1990s, when the first Pride wines were released, Wine Spectator has reviewed 100 Foley-made wines, and an astonishing 75 have earned outstanding scores of 90 points or higher.

That puts him in the elite company of such renowned winemakers as Helen Turley. She is one of the most influential California winemakers of the past 20 years through her work at wineries such as her own Marcassin (specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), Bryant Family Vineyard and Peter Michael.

Foley has had the same impact with Pride and Paloma and his own brand, and his initial wines for Switchback Ridge and Hourglass, two vineyard-driven labels, show great promise.

The Peterson family, which owns Switchback Ridge, northeast of St. Helena, has owned its land since 1900, but only began farming wine grapes 15 years ago. Once Foley saw the quality of their vines, he agreed to make their wines, all of which have been fascinating.

The Smith family owns Hourglass, a 4-acre Cabernet vineyard on Lodi Lane, also north of St. Helena. They too approached Foley about making their wines, which are perhaps Foley's most elegant to date, showing that his repertoire is not limited to dense and opulent bottlings.

Foley also deserves credit for rejuvenating the School House label. It was one of the early pioneers of Spring Mountain Pinot Noir, with clones said to be from Burgundy's famous Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vineyard. After years of nonproduction, the label and vineyard were revived, with new Pinot Noirs appearing in the mid-1990s. The 2001 School House (88, $75) is elegant and stylish, a more restrained version of Pinot Noir amid the current trend of riper, richer bottlings.

Foley is also working on two new projects. One is a Cabernet called Engle, named after owner Ron Engle, who intends to use the wine to raise funds for recreational and athletic activities at St. Helena schools. Foley is also planning to make wine with David Abreu, an old friend and one of Napa's viticultural gurus, who owns a vineyard on Howell Mountain.

Foley has been around wine since childhood. His parents cultivated Cabernet and Merlot (then an obscure grape in California), and operated a small winery in the backyard of their home in San Ramon Valley, in Contra Costa County east of San Francisco.

"It was more than a hobby," Foley says of his parents' homemade wine. His father took winemaking seriously, reading books and enrolling in courses at the University of California, Davis. He even went to the trouble (and expense) of buying French oak barrels—and this was in 1964, long before French oak became as popular at California wineries as it is today.

Growing up with wine and working summer jobs in Napa Valley further piqued Foley's interest. In 1968 he tasted a barrel sample of the Inglenook Charbono. "That affected me deeply," he recalls. "That rocked my world. Right then I wanted to make something that good."

Foley decided he'd try his hand at enology and went on to attend the UC, Davis, the state's top winemaking school. "I was astounded that you could major in winemaking," he says. At Davis, he learned the language of chemistry, essential to understanding the basics of winemaking.

One summer before graduation, Foley worked for Joe Heitz, the feisty owner of Heitz Cellar, further fueling his interest in Napa wines, Cabernet Sauvignon in particular.

After graduation, Foley went to work for Markham, a newly opened winery in St. Helena, where he made his first Merlot. Two were vintage blends—1976-1977 and 1978-1979—made under Markham's Vinmark label.

In 1980, Markham bought Merlot grapes from Nathan Fay's vineyard in the Stags Leap District. That wine, a far superior effort, was bottled under the Markham label. It was a big hit.

Markham had discovered that Merlot, typically softer and fleshier than Cabernet, had cachet. Foley enjoyed the challenge of working with Merlot. For the next decade, through 1991, Foley directed winemaking at Markham, an era in which he made consistently excellent Cabernet, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Petite Sirah.

In the back of his mind, though, Foley could remember the gauntlet thrown down by his mentor Heitz: "Bob, you're full of crazy ideas—like bottling Merlot as a varietal wine," Foley recalls Heitz telling him in a teasing way. "It's just a blending grape."

But that characterization doesn't apply to the rich, flamboyant, densely flavored Merlots Foley makes. Under the Pride, Paloma and Switchback Ridge labels, for instance, Foley's Merlots have been enormously concentrated, the kind of ripe, expressive wines that so many California wine drinkers prize. Foley's affinity for the grape led to a remarkable mastery.

In some Napa circles, Foley's success with the underdog grape earned him the title of Mr. Merlot. Some might consider that a snide compliment given the grape's reputation for mediocrity. As Merlot's popularity grew, it was overplanted and mass-produced, often making bland, innocuous wines.

Talking wine with Foley, one is struck by his supreme confidence and ability to articulate what he hopes to achieve with his wines. He's not cocky, just self-assured. That confidence began to blossom after leaving Markham. His career shifted gears in 1991 when Jim and Barbara Pride hired him as winemaker for their new vineyard and winery after the harvest.

The Prides had acquired a planted vineyard in 1989, which they later expanded, and sold their grapes elsewhere. But they decided in 1991 to make wine, and that required Foley to create blends from Pride's wine, which had been made at Rombauer winery and was already aging in barrel.

Working backward from the barrel, Foley says he tried to conceptualize what Pride might do with the three key Bordeaux grapes—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. One huge plus, he says, is that Pride bought Paloma's Merlot, and that gave the Pride Merlot an added measure of complexity. Eventually, all three of the varietals were made separately (usually with small portions of the other grapes), along with a Reserve bottling that utilized all three grapes.

"I thought that if [the Richards] did diligent farming [at Paloma], they could grow the best Merlot on the planet," Foley explains. In 1994, Paloma started making its first wines, with Foley coaching Jim Richards on winemaking. Eventually, as Paloma used more of its own grapes, Pride relied more on its own vineyards.

Ironically, Foley explains, the Prides hadn't thought much about Merlot as a wine because of Cabernet's popularity and Merlot's status as an unknown. But they agreed to give the grape a try. Foley's Pride Merlots were hugely successful.

Working with the grapes at Pride and Paloma also influenced Foley's concept of winemaking. "Before I started working with Pride ranch, my job had mainly been as a winemaker," he says. "My main input started once we started crushing grapes.

"But I realized how irregularly the vineyard and grapes ripened on the hillsides. I had to work with the vineyard guys, to balance the vineyard."

That meant spending more time among the vines throughout the year, from pruning during the winter months to leaf-pulling and green harvesting. The decision as to when to pick comes down to tasting the grapes—Foley harvests at optimum ripeness.

Once he began to appreciate the importance of ripening patterns, Foley focused on harvesting individual blocks of grapes at their peak of flavor. Foley says he doesn't think about a winemaking style per se. "That's something someone else describes when analyzing the wine," he says. What he does try to do is maximize the vineyard's potential.

While Foley's wines typically display exotic spice and oak flavors, he sees those characteristics as seasoning elements. For example, after his wines are fermented, he puts them into neutral barrels. "That way I can evaluate the wine, understand the structure and understand the vineyard," he says. Once he's studied the wines, they go into mostly new oak barrels for a year to 15 months.

The goal for all the wines is straightforward. "I want them to be enjoyable when they're young and hopefully they can age very well. But vintages vary. There are vintages that start out with a lot of pizzazz and then fizzle out. Others start out slowly and develop into a swan."

Proof of that evolution came earlier this year in Wine Spectator's 1995 Cabernet retrospective. The top-rated wine in my recent blind tasting of more than 50 of the vintage's top Cabernets was the Pride Reserve (97 points), a truly phenomenal wine brimming with rich layers of flavor. (For more on this retrospective see Collecting, page 208, and the Buying Guide, page 254.)

Foley takes the success in stride. "I love what I'm doing, even when it gets a little crazy," he says. The old abandoned winery on Howell Mountain he and his wife cleaned up is cutting into his time at Pride, which itself is going through a transition following the death last year of owner Jim Pride. That was when Foley decided to look for a winery of his own.

The property is called Candlestick Ridge and it has a small vineyard planted to Bordeaux and Rhône varieties that overlooks Pope Valley to the northeast. It's an off-the-beaten-path location that suits the side of Foley that likes to live on the fringe.

One can hardly wait to see what's next in line for this gifted winemaker.

Harvey Steiman's "Great Australian Reds" in October 15th Wine Spectator Magazine

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:18:00 GMT

Australia Turns Towards Elegance

Aided by a series of balanced vintages, winemakers are aiming for more refined reds

Australia's best red wines continue to evolve toward elegance, not only with the expressive, harmonious wines that earned my top ratings, but also with affordable and widely available bottlings.

This style is due, in part, to the ripe but not over-the-top 2004, 2005 and 2006 vintages, which produced the majority of the wines reviewed for this report. But it's not so much a matter of alcohol levels. Shiraz, which produces the country's top reds, gets big and ripe in South Australia; alcohol levels are seldom shy of 14.5 percent, and some can reach as high as 16 percent. Somehow, good winemakers make them dance like a running back rather than crash into you like a lineman.

I reviewed more than 500 Australian red wines in blind tastings in our San Francisco office over the past 12 months. Fourteen of them, more than ever before, reached "classic" status (95 points or higher on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale). As usual, Shiraz and Rhône-style blends dominate the ranks of the top wines. But recent warm vintages have produced some outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons, and even Pinot Noir is showing promise.

Clarendon Hills exemplifies this emerging trend. Though known for its single-vineyard Grenache bottlings, in recent years its Syrahs have become even stronger. Owner-winemaker Roman Bratasiuk strives for a European style to his wines, by hand-pruning and hand-picking the vineyards, fermenting warm with native yeasts and using extended maceration. He even calls them Syrah instead of Shiraz, the name that Aussies usually apply to the grape. The 2006 vintage seems to have played right into his hands.

The Astralis Clarendon 2006, Bratasiuk's flagship wine, is the top-scoring wine in this report (98, $325). A better value is Syrah Clarendon Liandra 2006 (97, $78). Velvety in texture and terrifically focused, this single-vineyard red sends out a laser beam of complex fruit and spice flavors that mingle effortlessly with fine-grained tannins through a long finish.

Joining these at the top of the heap is Henschke Hill of Grace Eden Valley 2004 (97, $625), but good luck finding this gloriously seamless, heady, single-vineyard Shiraz. Only 45 cases of that wine—and only 33 bottles of the 2003 (99, $625)—were imported into the United States. These are extreme examples of the biggest problem with the best Australian wines: limited quantity.

Of the 88 wines that scored 92 points or higher, only eight were imported into the United States in quantities exceeding 1,000 cases. We received a whopping 2,466 cases of Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Carnival of Love 2007 (95, $90), which has elegance to go along with its power. Mollydooker's smooth and generous Shiraz South Australia Blue Eyed Boy 2007 (92, $55) and Two Hands' vibrant Shiraz Barossa Valley Bella's Garden 2006 (93, $60) are the only ones that topped 5,000 cases.

But a significant number of more widely available wines are following the big boys' lead on style, and they deliver plenty of quality for the investment. The sweet spot for Australian reds falls around $15 to $25; of 158 reviewed wines in that price range, 43 scored 90 points or higher, and 60 more each scored 88 or 89 points. This range seems to produce wine after wine of substance and depth in a balanced, seductive style.

The polished Gemtree Shiraz McLaren Vale Uncut 2006 (92, $24) is a good example, a fleshy wine that still has some restraint. Rosemount GSM Show Reserve McLaren Vale 2005 (91, $25), a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, is generous with its plum and exotic spice aromas and flavors, lingering effortlessly on the open-textured finish. And the graceful 3 Rings Shiraz Barossa Valley 2006 (91, $20) has a purity and focus that's beguiling. Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa 2005 (91, $15) is round and generous; its lively cherry, tobacco and earthy spice flavors linger impressively on the focused finish. More than 20,000 cases were imported into the United States.

Rolf Binder, who makes seductive, expressive reds under his own name, also makes Fetish, a mid-priced brand worth seeking out. Fetish Playmates Barossa Valley 2006 (91, $22) blends Shiraz, Mataro (Mourvèdre) and Grenache into a smooth and decadent red. A 100 percent Shiraz from Fetish called The Watcher Barossa Valley 2006 (91, $22) is supple, generous and deftly balanced to show restraint. Under his eponymous label, Rolf Binder made the Heinrich Barossa Valley 2006 (91, $25), a black pepper-scented blend of Shiraz, Mataro and Grenache, with black cherry, blackberry and nutmeg flavors.

Other excellent values among Shirazes and Rhône-style blends include the Yalumba Shiraz-Viognier Barossa 2006 (91, $18), which shows a purity and clarity to the blueberry, plum and white pepper. Razor's Edge Shiraz-Grenache McLaren Vale 2006 (91, $13) is a gorgeous mouthful of ripe blackberry, plum, cherry and exotic spices, with hints of leather and brown sugar nibbling at the edge. And the Heath Wines Shiraz Barossa Valley Southern Sisters Reserve 2004 (91, $19) plays out its coffee- and cinnamon-scented fruit with surprising restraint.

The recent warm vintages have done wonders for Cabernet-based wines. A record 29 wines earned 90-plus ratings, showing more fruit and less vegetal character than in the past. Yalumba The Reserve Barossa 2002 (94, $125) and Jim Barry The Benbournie South Australia 2002 (92, $100) show a savory edge and more open texture than Aussie Shiraz.

Limited quantities are a problem here too, however, with only two of those outstanding Cabernets available in more than 1,500 cases. They are great values, though: Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa 2005 (90, $15) focuses on a nice beam of cherry and savory flavors, and Green Point Cabernet-Shiraz Victoria 2005 (90, $18) shades its juicy currant and blackberry fruit with hints of roasted meat and cedar.

Among notable new wineries to appear in the United States, First Drop and The Old Faithful made strong impressions in this report. Instead of New World or Old World styles, Matt Gant, former winemaker at St. Hallett, aims for what he calls "Next World" wines under his First Drop label: heady, complex and showing some grace. His Shiraz Barossa Valley The Cream 2005 (95, $100) explodes with cherry, plum and cream flavors. His lithe, easygoing and generous Shiraz Barossa Two Percent 2005 (91, $35), so called because it is 2 percent Viognier, shows agility and polish.

The Old Faithful, from John Larchet of The Australian Premium Wine Collection, bottles single-vineyard Shiraz and Grenache from some of McLaren Vale's oldest vines. The soft, supple Old Faithful Grenache McLaren Vale Northern Exposure 2005 (90, $40), made by Larchet's partner Nick Haselgrove, hangs a pretty range of blueberry and currant over polished tannins.

More familiar wineries have been introducing some new wines or changing the focus to other wines they make. Yalumba's new wines include some high-end single-vineyard Shiraz, but the head-turners are its Hand Picked MGS Barossa 2006 (92, $30), which delivers a plush mouthful of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Shiraz, and The Scribbler Barossa 2006 (90, $19), which blends Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz into an expressive wine with distinctive tobacco and black olive overtones.

Henschke responded to worldwide demand for its flagship but limited-quantity Hill of Grace by upping availability of wines such as Mount Edelstone Eden Valley 2005 (92, $110), a polished Shiraz with a velvety feel and gorgeous red cherry, pomegranate and mint flavors, and Henry's Seven Barossa 2006 (90, $38), a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier, with distinctly peppery character carrying through from first whiff to final sip.

Penfolds' top three Shiraz bottlings are from different vintages. The current vintage of the most familiar Australian icon, Penfolds Grange, is from the 2003 vintage, which was extremely hot and made some over-the-top wines. Grange 2003 (94, $250) managed to play against that tendency, with freshness to its blueberry, plum and mocha flavors in a beautifully balanced package. The Shiraz Barossa Valley RWT 2005 (93, $82) is only a step back, with a lovely purity to the blackberry, dark plum and sweet spice flavors. Finally, the Shiraz South Australia St. Henri 2004 (90, $42) is a real bargain for the cellar: medium-bodied and distinctive for its coffee-accented blackberry and black olive flavors.

Also arriving are some of the first reds from 2007, severely limited by frost and drought in South Australia and Victoria. Some '07s fall short of previous vintages because they lack vitality, but deft winemakers found a way to make outstanding wines. Besides Mollydooker, Two Hands got some 2007s out early, such as its Shiraz McLaren Vale Angels Share 2007 (92, $35), a big, bold wine. Also look for Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir Australia 2007 (90, $20), which has the juicy blackberry and currant flavors balanced with lively acidity and fine-grained tannins to show what Australia can do with Pinot Noir.

Australia has edged out France to become America's No. 2 source of imported wine. Its currency has gotten stronger against the U.S. dollar, reaching near-parity, and that will put upward pressure on prices, but not as severely as the euro has affected European wine prices. The bottom line, however, is that so many Australian wines have so much value built in, they may still look like bargains.

Editor at large Harvey Steiman is Wine Spectator's lead taster of wines from Australia.

Harvey Steiman’s Recommended Australian Reds (in PDF Format)

September 2008 Classics Catalogue Now Available - Order Deadline September 10th

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:34:00 GMT

Vintages’ Newest Classics Collection Now On-Line!

The September Classics Collection is a veritable wine lover’s paradise. Of particular note are the dazzling white wines of Burgundy’s 2006 harvest, plus a selection of Grand Crus from the landmark 2005 vintage including several top names. Bordeaux is well represented by celebrated wines from vintages spanning more than a decade, many of which are hitting their plateau for optimum drinking. Hungary’s legendary Tokaji Asz from rvay and Kir?udvar are also not to be overlooked.Australian wine lovers can peruse an impressive selection from renowned producers such as Penfolds, Torbreck, and Clarendon Hills. Scotch aficionados have their choice of two formidable Single Malts from Glenrothes, and for the Port fan, a trio of mature Vintage Ports from Warre’s dating back to 1985. All this and much more await you.

For VINTAGES September 2008 CLASSICS Collection product listing plus order form and

full ordering details Click here.

ORDERING DEADLINE: 5:00 pm, Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

Two Hands Wine Featured in Sex in the City Movie

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:09:00 GMT

A South Australian shiraz has graced the lips of two of Hollywood’s hottest movie stars in the world’s most anticipated movie of the year.
The Sex and the City movie features a cameo appearance by Australian shiraz producer Two Hands Wines.
Harry and Edward’s Garden Langhorne Creek Shiraz, from Two Hands Wines’ Garden Series, appears in a restaurant scene with Carrie and Miranda (played by Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon) about three quarters through the movie.
Carrie and Miranda order a bottle of shiraz and the waitress brings them a bottle of the Two Hands wine. When the wine is placed on the table, the Two Hands Wines logo can be seen. “We had heard a whisper that our wine might make an appearance, but it wasn’t until the movie premiered in the United States that our distributors spotted the Two Hands Wines logo,” coproprietor of Two Hands Wines, Richard Mintz, said.
“It’s our understanding the film producer had tasted our wines previously and requested a bottle from our United States distributors to appear in the movie. “Our distributors first sent bottles of our Angel’s Share McLaren Vale Shiraz and Gnarly Dudes Barossa Valley Shiraz, thinking the names and labels might provide a point of interest. “However, they requested a cork-sealed wine in case the shoot required the pulling or showing of a cork, so our distributors sent them our Two Hands Harry & Edward’s Garden Shiraz as an alternative.
“They couldn’t have picked a more appropriate wine.”
Harry and Edward’s Langhorne Creek shiraz is named after Richard’s twin sons and the boys are thrilled that their wine has made it to the big screen.
Two Hands prides itself on producing luxury, iconic wines and has developed something of a following in the United States and globally with its range of super premium wines.

Vintages July 5th Argentinean Release

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:53:00 GMT

With Argentinean wines the highlight of the July 5th Vintages release, including four wines from the B & W portfolio, now is the perfect time to talk about Argentina.

Once considered the “sleeping giant” of the wine industry, Argentina has for a long time been the fifth largest wine producing country in the world exporting a proportionately small amount of wine to the North American market. Over the last decade, there has been a gradual shift in focus towards quality.

With the introduction of modern wine making techniques, including the investment in temperature controlled steel tanks and new-oak barrels, the Argentinean wine industry has reinvented itself, creating a new pedigree of higher quality Argentinean wines that resulted in an almost immediate jump in North American wine sales.

At the centre of this rapid growth is Argentina’s largest and most important wine region Mendoza. Located directly east of Buenos Aires, Mendoza represents over 70 % of the total production of wine in Argentina with over 360,000 acres of grapes planted - considerably larger in size to Bordeaux.

The most popular grape from this region, Malbec, is a varietal from Bordeaux that has found its form in the rich soils and high altitudes of Argentina. Known for its velvety tannins, fruit forward taste profile, and its capacity for great depth and varietal variation, Malbec has become Argentina’s leading grape. The recent meteoric rise in popularity of Malbec is often paralleled to the success of Australia’s Shiraz. This has been due to the accessibility of Malbec wines and to their often excellent value. Argentina has also had success over the last few years with other popular varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, and to a lesser degree Merlot and Syrah.

For an introduction to the wines of Argentina, Bodegas Weinert, voted Winery of the Year in 2007 by Wine & Spirits, and in the words of Robert Parker, the maker of “South America’s greatest red wines - the qualitative equals of the finest reds in the world!” is an excellent place to start. Founded in 1975 by Don Bernardo C. Weinert, Bodega y Cavas de Weinert is located in Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina´s craddle for top quality wines.

The 2000 Bodega Weinert Cavas de Weinert (Available in Vintages | LCBO#: 61226 | $23.95 /btl) is Bodega Weinert's flagship wine. Under its deep ruby tone is an enormously complex wine with mesmerizing sweet, voluptuous blackberry fruit flavours permeated by vanilla, cigar box, and saddle leather aromas.

Also available, the 2003 Bodega Weinert Malbec (Available in Consignment | 12 bottle case | $18.95 /btl) 92 Points, Wine & Spirits is one of Argentina's top Malbecs: traditional with a claret-like structure not often achieved in the New World. Deep colour with a hint of liquorice and big, jammy, peppery fruit. Great length, full-bored and generous.

Another highly regarded winery from Mendoza, Finca Sophenia is owned and operated by Roberto Luka, formerly President of Wines of Argentina. The prestigious Winemaker Michel Rolland, who is internationally recognized, collaborates as consultant of Finca Sophenia since the first vinification took place. The estate’s vineyard is located in the Tupungato district at an elevation of 4000 feet.

The 2005 Sophenia Synthesis Malbec (Available in Vintages | LCBO#: 63339 | $33.95 /btl) is part of Finca Sophenia's premium "Synthesis label". 90 Points, Robert Parker: "The 2005 Synthesis Malbec spent 12 month in new French oak. Purple coloured, it has an excellent bouquet of cedar, wood smoke, violets, black cherry and blackberry. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine made elegant style. Smooth-textured, ripe, and silky, it offers generous spicy flavours nicely concealing enough tannin to carry the wine for several years of further evolution. It should drink well through 2015."

The 2006 Finca Sophenia Malbec (Available in Vintages | LCBO#: 66837 | $16.95 /btl)is an excellent value wine from the Finca Sophenia label. The wine has intense deep red colour with violet hues. Complex aromas of plums and ripe cherries and violets. It is enhanced by the presence of dry fruits and mint hints. A wine of great concentration and complexity showing sweet and voluminous tannins.

The 2006 Finca Sophenia Merlot (Available in Vintages | LCBO#: 63412 | $17.95) has intense red colour. Great elegant aromas of ripe red fruits combined with herbs and mineral hints. It is a voluminous wine of wide sweet tannins. Vanilla and toast flavours appear in the aftertaste, conferring greater elegance.

By the case you can also buy the 2006 Finca Sophenia Cabernet Sauvignon (Available in Consignment | 12 bottle case | $23.00 /btl). It's an excellent example of the great things that Argentina has done with this varietal. Deep red colour. Intense aromas of red and black fruits, spicy and mineral hints melt with smoke and vanilla scents. A wine with complexity, structure and great elegance.

Winery Spotlight: Darioush Wines of Napa Valley

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:24:00 GMT

Recently we sampled the outstanding new vintage of Darioush Wines on a visit from our supplier and all we can say is "wow". Hearing the remarkable account of how this Napa Valley Winery was born only added to its appeal.

Darioush Khaledi, who was raised in the Iranian Region of Shiraz, first developed his passion for wine as a 6-year old boy, sneaking sips from the barrel in his father’s wine cellar, by wringing a wine-soaked towel into his mouth.

Today, that childhood memory is enshrined by a waterfall at the centre of Darioush’s lavish 22,000 square foot winery and visitor centre on the Silverado trail of eastern Napa Valley. Modelled after the Persian city of Persepolis, and built using travertine stones imported from Iran that were cut and polished in Italy, Darioush Khaledi has built the ultimate monument both to his love of wine and to his Persian heritage.

Since immigrating to the United States in 1976, Khaledi developed as successful business opening a chain of supermarkets across California. During that time his passion for Bordeaux wine was shaped into the dream of opening a winery.

In the early 1990’s he began his search for the quintessential winery property, culminating in the purchase of the vacated Altamura Winery site in 1997. Since that time, the 39 acres vineyard site has expanded to over 90 acres that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Viognier.

With the leadership of Darioush winemaker Steve Devitt, Khaledi has employed an old-world style of wine making, allowing the full expression of the grapes on the vines with minimal intervention. The result are wines that blend the elegance of Bordeaux with a rich California ripeness.

The first vintage of the Darioush Signature Cabernet Sauvignon – their flagship wine, earned Darioush a score of 92 in Wine Spectator, and their Chardonnay has consistently earned Wine Spectator scores over 90.

If you would like to experience the wines, here is summary of current availability:

2005 Signature Series Cabernet Sauvignon (6 bottle case | $99.95 /btl). Score: 93 Points "Once again, Darioush races to the top of the listings with a big, rich, hedonistically overachieving Cabernet, but unlike last year’s 3 star winner, this one is somewhat tighter and age-demanding than its predecessor. It is in the nature of the 2005 vintage that it seems to produce somewhat less lush, plush wines, and there are those who will applaud and those who will miss the genuine juiciness of Darioush’s 2004. Because this wine seems to have a foot in two camps, we see more to like in the 2004, but there is no reason not to like this one as well." Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
2005 Signature Series Cabernet Franc (6 bottle case | $ 75.00 /btl). As a classic Bordeaux varietal, Cabernet Franc imparts such intensity of fruit and dark earthy components when blended into our Signature Cabernet Sauvignon. On its own, it possesses power with great poise. Introduced by vibrant aromas of blackberry, cherry and bittersweet chocolate, the 2005 vintage is focused and intense. A saturated palate showcases flavours of loganberry and kirsch liqueur, while firm tannins suggest oolong tea, cedar and tobacco.
2005 Signature Series Shiraz (6 bottle case | approx $ 90.00 /btl ). Crafted to balance the fruit complexity, structure and age-worthiness of this ancient varietal, the 2005 Signature Shiraz accomplishes this feat. Grown on vines cloned from 50% old-vine Australian Shiraz and 50% Northern Rhone Syrah, the finished wine stays true to its inherently spicy and seductive spirit. Introduced by alluring fragrances of dried orange peel, rose hips and white pepper, the 2005 Signature Shiraz is plush, yet focused. Layered flavours of spicy licorice, ripe blackberry and bittersweet chocolate support a balanced and delineated mouth feel. Subdued oak and well-integrated tannins are revealed on a finish, accented by hints of vanilla bean, cedar and star anise.
2005 Estate Caravan Cabernet Sauvignon (12 bottle case | $47.95 /btl). Juicy flavours of ripe berries, cherries and plum mingle with hints of cola, chocolate and coffee. Abundant Petit Verdot lends a violet floral note while Malbec adds a juicy blueberry finish. This Cabernet is youthful but approachable with a soft palate and lingering finish.

New Release: Antigua Distillery English Harbour Five Year Aged Rum

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:37:00 GMT

"There’s nought no doubt so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion" – Lord Byron

It may be interesting to learn that Rum, which is made through the distillation of molasses - itself the by-product of the sugar-making process is very much like wine in that its flavour profile and quality are directly related to its craft, tradition and terroir.

Depending on how the rum is distilled (pot still or column), if it is oak aged or carbon filtered, the length of aging, as well as the inherent qualities of the sugar cane used in the making of the rum, it can result in a rum of varying complexity, flavour and regional characteristics.

To experience how complex and flavourful this noble spirit is capable of being, the Antigua Distillery English Harbour Five Year Rum (LCBO# 58792 | $29.95 /btl), which will be released to Vintages on May 10th, is the perfect opportunity. Awarded the gold medal for two consecutive years at the prestigious San Francisco Spirits Competition, and voted one of “Top 10 Most Remarkable Rums” by Forbes Magazine, only confirms that the English Harbour Rum is one of the finest in the world.

Originally produced in Antigua by a conglomerate of estate owners dating back to the early 19th century, the Antigua Distillery was officially formed from this partnership back in 1934. Their rum is produced with a skilful combination of premium ingredients, traditional distillation in copper sills, modern technology, and fine, charred American oak casts.

Among its major accolades, Wine Enthusiast recently awarded the English Harbour Five Year Rum its highest score (96-100 points). “The bouquet sparkles with notes of bark, oak, brown sugar, bacon fat, sauteed banana and maple. The palate entry is creamy, toffee-like and silky; the mid palate offers flavours of pastry, chocolate fudge, nougat, chestnut and honey. Finishes harmoniously with the sweet flavour gracefully melded to the texture. A perfect oak-aged molasses rum.”

Its flavours are so remarkable you can drink it neat, with a little ice, with water, or with any of the world’s most popular mixers, especially coconut water or ginger ale.

For more information about the history of rum, reviews or rum recipes, you can visit The Ministry of Rum, a website dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of this noble spirit. You can also visit the Antigua Distillery Website, or click here for tasting note.

Latest News

Taste Napa Valley Canada 2009 - October 26 @ The Royal Ontario Museum

Trade & Media Tastings Monday, October 26, 2:30-5:00 pm Royal Ontario Museum Bronfman Hall 100 Queen's Park (Weston Entrance) Toronto, ON

Wednesday, October 28, 2:00-4:00 pm, The Bearfoot Bistro, 4121 Village Green Whistler, BC

Thursday October 29, 2:30-5:00 pm, The Fairmont Waterfront, 900 Canada Place Way Vancouver, BC

Friday, October 30, 2:30-5:00 pm, Olives Restaurant 1129 Olympic Way SE Calgary, AB

Sonoma Wine Show: September 21, 2009 @ Arcadian Court (401 Bay St, Toronto)

Trade tasting – 2:30pm-5:00pm

Arcadian Court

Anticipated attendance: 200-250, Invitation Only

Wine Spectator Magazine Blog: James Molesworth in Cornas

Stirring the Lees with James Molesworth: The Rhône, Day 8: Keeping Some Stubble for a Day in Cornas

Wine Spectator Magazine Article: Bob Foley's Magic Touch

Bob Foley's Magic Touch

Harvey Steiman's "Great Australian Reds" in October 15th Wine Spectator Magazine

September 2008 Classics Catalogue Now Available - Order Deadline September 10th

Two Hands Wine Featured in Sex in the City Movie

Vintages July 5th Argentinean Release

Winery Spotlight: Darioush Wines of Napa Valley

New Release: Antigua Distillery English Harbour Five Year Aged Rum

Trade & Media Tastings
Monday, October 26, 2:30-5:00 pm
Royal Ontario Museum
Bronfman Hall
100 Queen's Park (Weston Entrance)
Toronto, ON

Wednesday, October 28, 2:00-4:00 pm,
The Bearfoot Bistro,
4121 Village Green
Whistler, BC

Thursday October 29, 2:30-5:00 pm,
The Fairmont Waterfront,
900 Canada Place Way
Vancouver, BC

Friday, October 30, 2:30-5:00 pm,
Olives Restaurant
1129 Olympic Way SE
Calgary, AB