Ramey Wine Cellars comes many years in the
making, with wineries claiming their stake
on the back of the talented David Ramey.
Places like Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill,
Dominus, and Rudd Estate have been made into
household names because of the dedication
and attention to detail that David has
delivered consistently over his time at
those locations. So it comes as no surprise,
and rather more of an inevitability that
Ramey Wine Cellars was created in order to
fully articulate what David knew to be his
ultimate expression.
Ramey has placed several wines in Wine
Spectator’s Top 100, and now, finally, David
Ramey has his name on the front label.
Robert Parker calls him “One of Northern
California’s most successful winemakers,
David Ramey’s personal winery continues to
go from strength to strength.” If you
haven’t yet tried them now is the time.
RAMEY
2006 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY CHARDONNAY $34.95
[#252750]
Sourced from Dutton Ranch and Rochioli
Vineyard this Chardonnay hits good hazelnut
notes, with buttered citrus flavors to
reveal a wine that is medium to full-bodied,
but still manages to end with a crisp and
mineral driven edge.
RAMEY
2005 “RITCHIE” RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
CHARDONNAY $64.95 [#252910]
“The
2005 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard shows
crushed rock, white currant, citrus oil,
pineapple, peach, and apricot
characteristics. Long, rich, and deep with
strong acidity, it should be consumed over
the next 4-5 years.” ROBERT PARKER 95
POINTS!
RAMEY
2005 “LARKMEAD” NAPA VALLEY CABERNET
SAUVIGNON $74.95 [#252850] “The
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Larkmead Vineyard
possesses abundant amounts of
crème de cassis,
graphite, cedar, roasted herbs, and spice.
This is an attractive Cabernet that should
drink well for 15-20 years.” ROBERT PARKER
91 points.
RAMEY
2005 “JERICHO CANYON” NAPA VALLEY
PROPRIETARY RED $99.95 [#253510]
“The
final vintage for this cuvee, the 2005
Cabernet Sauvignon Jericho Canyon offers a
Graves-like personality of scorched earth,
chocolate, charcoal, and black currants as
well as a sumptuous, full-bodied palate, and
a layered, multi-dimensional finish. Drink
this remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon over the
next two decades.” ROBERT PARKER 95 POINTS!
STEWART
CELLARS 2006 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR
$44.95 [#265470]
The Stewart family is dedicated to fine
artisan winemaking, that’s why they have
enlisted the talents of world renowned
winemaker Paul Hobbs, a man of meticulous
craftsmanship. The Stewart’s looked long and
hard for the perfect site, to produce the
perfect wine, so for their winemaker, Hobbs
was the perfect choice. This Pinot Noir is
entirely from the Gibson Vineyard; an
exciting spot that Hobbs felt had the ideal
soil, precise climate and maximum sun
exposure. This wine opens up with an immense
fruit rush of bing cherry and wild
strawberries, while an underlying element of
clove and baking spice flesh out the
mid-palette. The wine has a glorious finish
of dried cherries and smoky vanilla. Tasty
to say the least. We work hard at securing
rare items like this and, although Paul
Hobbs’ own Pinot Noir may be virtually
impossible to find, we know you demand
nothing short of perfection. These “mailing
list only” wines sell out quickly, so get it
before it’s gone!
BOGLE
2005 “PHANTOM” CALIFORNIA PROPRIETARY RED
$14.95 [#204680]
The black magic is back! Bogle Winery
consistently produces some of the best
bargain priced wines on the market, and we
at Hi Time have fully supported the brand
for years, considering it an everyday wine
of significance. Here in time for the
holidays, (although it missed Halloween)
from the dark recesses of the cellar is
“Phantom”, an old vine blend of Petit Sirah,
Zinfandel, and Mourvedre, that will help
digest some of the robust dishes we will
enjoy this Fall. This deep ruby hued monster
serves up dark mocha and blueberry notes,
all accented with a touch of pepper and
clove spice. On the nose, deep violet and
chocolate covered cherry notes linger as if
some unknown presence has taken over your
glass. With no shortage of fanfare, it is
hard to keep this wine in stock, snatch this
up before the Phantom vanishes.
NEAL FAMILY VINEYARDS
Here’s a chance to secure some of the last
2003 vintage wines; all of these are
drinking well now and will last for many
years to come. We also would like to feature
one of the 2004 single vineyard selections,
so you can put away something for later.
Neal Family Vineyards has been a staple here
at Hi-Time due to its consistency, superior
quality and loyal following.
The Jack Neal and Sons Vineyard Management
Company have been tending vines for a
prestigious list of clients since 1968. Mark
Neal built a winery on Howell Mountain and
began making wines from the family vineyards
in 1998. Their great program of single
vineyard offerings is from a diverse range
of areas throughout the Napa Valley. The
program is akin to what “Nickel & Nickel” is
doing, but the wine from Neal Family is all
estate grown and certified organic. The
people behind these great wines are
winemaker Gove Celio and assistant Kelly
Wheat.
NEAL
2003 “HOWELL MOUNTAIN” ESTATE NAPA VALLEY
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$89.95 [#246770]
The Howell Mountain vineyard sits atop one
of the best winegrowing regions in the world
and the site yields fruit with intense but
balanced character. This wine’s fragrance
expresses cherry fruit, dark chocolate,
sandalwood spice and creamy oak. In the
mouth there are multiple layers of black
fruit, raspberries and spice. This is a big
wine with firm tannins, powerful fruit and a
long lingering finish.
NEAL
2003 “CHAFEN” NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$89.95 [#246760]
The “Chafen Vineyard” faces west at an
elevation of 1280 feet on Howell Mountain;
this is always one of the most likely of the
bunch to improve with cellaring. Having been
in bottle now 3 years, the tannin profile
has mellowed. We find cherry, cigar box,
cedar and chocolate notes in the nose while
the palate profile shows a very big wine
with earthy black fruit, cocoa powder and
black licorice flavors.
NEAL
2004 “ONE LANE BRIDGE” NAPA VALLEY CABERNET
SAUVIGNON $89.95 [#247960]
This vineyard is located on Mt. Veeder, and,
being cooler than the sites up the valley,
it tends to produce richly elegant wines
more reminiscent of a fine Bordeaux. A rich,
ripe, complex nose of fruit blends with
lovely vanilla toast, nutmeg, leather and
berry fruit olfactory highlights. This year
we found it to have a very big, broad mouth
with a rich, luxurious texture, velvety and
firm tannins. The mid-palate is full of very
dark cherry fruit flavors, cassis and violet
tones leading to well-integrated oak
inflections, big tannins and a
mouth-watering finish.
LEWIS
CELLARS 2006 “BARCAGLIA LANE” RUSSIAN RIVER
VALLEY CHARDONNAY
$64.95 [#237660]
This is a beauty of a wine and deserves it’s
place in your cellar, but more than that,
directly to your table. We tried this at a
recent tasting, and man did it turn some
heads, wow! This is the kind of Chardonnay
that, although rich and indulgent, is well
balanced and graceful on the palette. The
2006 vintage could be categorized as
irregular, but the best producers still
manage to put out wines of an extraordinary
caliber; here is the proof. Winery notes-
Tangerine, citrus and sandalwood spice
aromas are overlaid with a hint of honey.
The wine is anchored in fragrant citrus
fruits and framed nicely with toasty oak and
acidity that brings great balance,
integration and length to the palate. 400
cases produced!
VERAISON
2004 “STAGECOACH” NAPA VALLEY CABERNET
SAUVIGNON $49.95 [#270730]
Here is a last call for the end of the 2004
Veraison “Stagecoach” Cabernet Sauvignon.
This is a winery we have been big on for
quite some time, and this happens to be one
of their best wines to date. The source is
becoming legendary, as everyone from
Pahlmeyer, Viader, Vice Versa, and Paul
Hobbs source fruit from this site. The
vineyard is owned by Verasions’ proprietor’s
Dr. Jan & Bart Krupp, so they see to it that
the best fruit is held back for themselves.
Many of you already know how good this is,
with expansive blackberry and plum notes on
the nose, followed on the palette by ripe
blueberry and dark cherry notes, then ending
with a complex savory cigar and cedar box
finish. This is High Definition wine! Not
too much left of this brilliant effort, so
don’t hesitate.
Previously
Featured...
L’ANGEVIN WINES
Winemaker Robbie Meyer just had to get his
hands on Pinot Noir and it is to our benefit
because his wines show an incredible
attention to detail. The L’Angevin venture
comes after years of producing incredible
wines for Lewis, Peter Michael, Sage and
Versant. And that kind of pedigree certainly
made us take notice. Robbie is involved in
the meticulous management of the wine from
the vineyard to the bottle which ensures
quality, quality, quality. Here’s his notes
on the wines:
L’ANGEVIN 2006 RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT
NOIR $44.95 [#236570]
“This
selection from the Russian River Valley has
a more traditional and feminine character
when compared to our Sonoma Coast offering.
Fresh black cherry, bergamot, mint, and tea
leaves highlight the refined aroma profile.
This wine is delicately smooth in the mouth
and supplies plenty of beautiful fruit from
start to finish.”
L’ANGEVIN 2006 “SONOMA STAGE” SONOMA COAST
PINOT NOIR $59.95 [#236580]
“...from
the Hyde Family’s Sonoma Stage Vineyard, we
see the signature intense wild strawberry
and raspberry as well as floral hints, and
smoky notes of tar and earth. The palate has
ample weight balanced by a pleasing natural
acidity, and finishes with silky tannins and
smooth texture.”
KELLY
FLEMING 2004 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$84.95 [#234000]
We can’t get enough of Celia Masyczek
(Hollywood & Vine, Husic, Keever, Rocca,
Scarecrow, D.R. Stephens) winemaking, she
has become the “in demand” winemaker for
many of the Napa’s cream of the crop labels
and recently garnering “Winemaker of the
Year” from Food and Wine magazine. If that
wasn’t enough, she is also teamed up with
vineyard manager Jim Barbour whose legendary
client list includes among others Grace
Family, Hundred Acre and Revana. And
together they have produced some of the most
exciting wines in California. This wine
comes from a 12 acre parcel (organically
farmed) in Calistoga, that neighbors Araujo
Estate, and only produced 500 cases.
Celia describes this wine as “Deep red in
color, the wine presents predominant aromas
of spiced plum, berry syrup and vanilla,
offering an additional note of dark spice
and a hint of toasted almond. Rich and
concentrated at entry, the palate shows
ripeness balanced with a flavor profile of
fresh berries. Vibrant and expressive, this
wine is complex without heaviness.
Texturally, the wine is vibrant and
expressive with heaviness at the finish.”
ROSENBLUM 2006 “ROCKPILE ROAD” ROCKPILE
ZINFANDEL $34.95 [#255980]
The much anticipated 2006 release of the
Rockpile Road Zinfandel is upon us, now we
could rant and rave about this special
bottling, (2005 Wine Spectator #3 Wine of
the Year, 90+ points consistently since 2001
with the 2003 garnering an exotic 94 points)
however we will let Robert Parker act as the
cheerleader, “The ever reliable Kent
Rosenblum continues to turn out a portfolio
of delicious Zinfandels. Along with Napa’s
Biale family and a short list of other North
Coast producers, Rosenblum Cellars is as
good as it gets when it comes to Zinfandel.”
Rich and robust with flavors of blackberry,
black cherry and raspberry mingle with spice
and vanilla in the nose. True to its
acclaimed lineage, the 2006 Rockpile Road
Vineyard Zinfandel is a stunner. So for all
of the Zin fanatics out there that love big,
exotic, ripe, juicy, mouth-watering vino,
your ship has come in.
ARIETTA
2005 “H – BLOCK HUDSON” CARNEROS PROPRIETARY
RED
$150.00 [#201320]
Rare wine specialist and wine auctioneer
Fritz Hatton founded Arietta to produced
distinctive, singular wines. The highly
talented Andy Erickson (Dalla Valle, Dancing
Hares, Favia, Hartwell and Screaming Eagle)
was invited to become Arietta’s new
winemaker, and worked alongside former
partner and winemaker John Kongsgaard for a
year before taking the reins in the summer
of 2006.
Possessing the
complexity of a top
old world chateau allied with the
ripeness and richness of the
new world, the “H Block” is
California’s version of Bordeaux’s famed
Cheval Blanc, a blend of 80% Cabernet Franc
and 20% Merlot. The Franc is from the 2.3
acre Hudson Vineyards H Block and the Merlot
is grown in the Hudson Vineyards N Block,
about 100 yards away. The Franc provides the
cassis, blueberry, brown sugar character,
while the Merlot brings dark chocolate to
the aroma and a chewy richness to the
finish. Harvested near the extreme of
ripeness, the wines are co-fermented with
indigenous yeast and then aged for two years
in all new French oak barrels. The blend is
bottled without fining or filtration.
The critics have weighed in and Robert
Parker gave this wine 94 points! He writes,
“The 2005 H Block,
which is 100% from the Hudson Vineyard, is a
co-fermented blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and
20% Merlot. This is one of the finest I have
tasted from Fritz Hatton, and it has put on
considerable weight since I had it last
year. An exceptional nose of white
chocolate, espresso, tobacco leaf, and
raspberries, in addition to red currants and
even blacker fruits, are present in this
complex wine, which is fragrant, medium to
full-bodied, and seamlessly textured. It is
a beautiful, highly nuanced, strikingly
elegant wine to drink over the next 10-15
years.”
This special bottle is nothing short of
amazing. So look no
further for that extraordinary rarity and
luxury, with only a limited amount of this
wine available we suggest early holiday
shopping.
CADE
2007 NAPA VALLEY SAUVIGNON BLANC $26.95
[#208040]
This is a new venture from the famed
PlumpJack Winery. This project is called
CADE and more than just a second label or
after thought, this is an entire new winery
and vineyard estate. Perched on a 54 acre
hillside located in the heart of the Howell
Mountain appellation, CADE is a unique,
state-of-the-art, LEED certified facility
producing estate wines from 21 planted acres
of vines as well as wine from locally
sourced grapes.
Winemaker Tony Biagi (with years at Duckhorn,
Paraduxx, Neal and now PlumpJack) has
produced a truly distinctive Sauvignon
Blanc. The 2007 vintage has enticing aromas
of green melon, wet stones, cantaloupe, cut
grass and vanilla bean followed on the
palate with flavors of guava, gooseberry and
rose petals. The addition of 14% Semillion
fleshes out the mid palate and adds a nice
layer to the finish. This is a classic blend
that easily graces across the palette for
anytime consumption.
STUHLMULLER 2006 ALEXANDER VALLEY ESTATE
CHARDONNAY $21.95 [#276956] Congratulations
to Fritz Stuhlmuller and his entire team!
Kudos, first, for producing exceptional
handcrafted wines, year in and year out, at
truly affordable price points, and secondly,
on their 10th anniversary of doing so.
Delicately dancing across the palette, this
wine comes in with just the slightest touch
of oak and some crisp acidity to render it
the perfect cross between an elegant table
wine and a delicious sipping wine. The
aromatics of the wine summon up honeysuckle
and green apple notes into the air, while on
the palate, it has a light, creamy texture
with hints of candied pineapple.
The
often over over-the-top sea of Chardonnay
out there can easily leave us numb to subtle
beauty, so it comes as a breath of fresh air
when the Stuhmuller Vineyards put together a
simple yet gorgeous wine, minus all the
bells and whistles that hide the true
essence of the fruit. And for their efforts
Robert Parker has reviewed them in his
“Value Issue” of the Wine Advocate and given
them a 90-point rating!
Anthill
Farms 06 "Tina-Marie Vineyard" Pinot Noir
$44.95 [#201180]
While only their third vintage out, Anthill Farms is clearly “the
real deal.” Discovering small boutique
wineries like this is truly a pleasure and
we at Hi-Time Wine Cellars are always giddy
to pass along such finds. The Anthill Farms
Winery is made up of three founding members
that met while working at the prestigious
William Selyem Winery; they decided to pool
their passions to create wines with a
minimalist approach and expression of site
and, ultimately, wine that just tastes darn
good.
This vibrant and red berry-dominated wine comes to us from the
“Tina Marie Vineyard” in the heart of the
Green Valley AVA, which nuzzles up to the
Russian River Valley AVA, but keeps it’s
temperatures slightly cooler. The cooler
area helps extend hang time therefore
allowing riper flavors as well as a balanced
acidity that translates into bright red
raspberry lushness, with a hint of green tea
and a gloriously long finish on the palate.
The bright acid lifts the wine’s aromas and
flavors in harmony, leading the taster to
the conclusion we mentioned earlier: darn
good wine!
KENNETH-CRAWFORD 2005 “FOURPLAY” santa
barbara syrah $29.95 [# 234360]
An opulent Syrah from relatively cool climate areas, this wine
comes to us from four different vineyards: "Lafond"
in Santa Rita Hills, "Purisima" and "Larner"
vineyards in Ballard Canyon and "Verna’s" in
Los Alamos. These different micro-climates
really show how well the Santa Barbara
County is suited to Syrah; in fact, so well
that in a recent tasting of futures from the
area, James Laube of Wine Spectator remarked
that it dominated over Pinot Noir and
Grenache. That’s saying a lot since the
movie “Sideways” would have you believe that
Pinot Noir is the only noble varietal from
Santa Barbara.
This wine has a deep purple hue and a nose filled with incense,
dark berries, licorice and cherries. Medium-
to full-bodied, the wine has a core of
wonderfully ripe fruit surrounded by velvety
tannins and well-integrated acid, it should
bring you pleasure over the next 5-7 years.
We think you should enjoy lots of
“FourPlay”; you can never have too much of a
good thing!
LEVIATHAN 2006 PROPRIETARY RED $47.95
[#236840]
Leviathan is Andy Erickson, winemaker, and his wife Anie Favia,
viticulturist, who together work for
“Screaming Eagle;” for this project they
work out of their garage-- must be a big
garage considering how huge this wine is!
Leviathan is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon,
Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Merlot that is
accessible early and delicious young. Andy
says, “It’s just an everyday, open-it-now
kind of wine.” We think he’s just being
modest; Andy doesn’t make everyday wine!
Broodingly dark with blackberry and beefy
flavors, full of spice and a structure to
seduce that next sip, we can understand why
you would want it everyday. This is garage
cult wine that appeals to the hedonistic
side, so don’t sit on this-- it is meant to
be consumed in the present.
OJAI
2007 santa ynez valley "MCGINLEY vineyard"
sauvignon blanc $29.95 [#247740]
The former “Westerly Vineyard” and now “McGinley Vineyard” is
situated in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa
Barbara County and has been a constant
source of excellent Sauvignon Blanc. Adam
Tolmach, owner and winemaker, has this to
say “we are farming to keep the crop in our
areas to about half that of the rest of the
vineyard. This gives us a wine that is
minerally and more intensely flavored. We
continue to be the first to pick this
vineyard each fall, as we prefer to harvest
when the grapes’ acidity is still high, and
the fruit still filled with personality.” He
still uses some neutral oak to soften and
give the wine a rounder mouth feel, but
maintains a bright and flavorful style.
You’ll find gorgeous aromas of orange
blossom, honeysuckle, and lemon custard...
mmm! Robert Parker thinks this is one of the
finest Sauvignon Blancs produced in
California and we agree.
ROESSLER
2006 "red label" sonoma pinot noir $24.95
[#255480]
Pay attention! Here’s your steal of the month. We get asked for our
recommendations on good Pinots under $30:
here’s a great Pinot at $24.95. The folks
over at Roessler make a rather large
portfolio full of single vineyard bottlings
that are at $40 and above, but their
appellation wines are the real bargain.
Here, the Red Label focuses on the Russian
River Valley, again another common request
from all you. What is not common is the
particularly lush palate weight and
generosity of fruit, not usually seen at
this price point. The winery notes follow:
"The wine opens up nicely, and the finish
really lengthens over time. Chocolate
shavings join the fruit and earth on the
nose, as the fruit on the palate drifts
further toward black cherry. We give this
wine two thumbs up, and we know you will
too. This is a no-brainer! Don’t over think
this; you’ll be sorry if you miss it."
WHITE
ROCK 2006 napa valley CHARDONNAY $24.95
[#272160]
Yes, at times the Chardonnay world does seem homogenized. It seems
that every Chardonnay wants to emulate some
other Chardonnay and we can get bored with
it as well. However, this noble varietal
deserves better and so we present White
Rock. The wine opens with scents of lime,
quince and linden flower. Fresh white peach
and pear complement the creaminess lent
through sur-lie aging. The length of the
finish and crisp acidity provide for an
unusually refreshing Chardonnay. Hidden
behind the hills in southeastern Napa
Valley, the White Rock Winery produces wines
that are elegant and immediate classics. Let
us come together and embrace a new and
exciting chapter in the life of Chardonnay.
Whitehall Lane 2005 napa valley cabernet
sauvignon $34.95 [#272330]
The 2005 vintage just continues to impress; wines like this
Whitehall Lane Cabernet are balanced and
ready to drink yet will probably age like
the 2001 vintage. These are the wines you
want to add to your cellar; they are below
the $50.00 mark and will only get better in
time. “It’s hard to believe that you could
get both large yields and extraordinary
quality in the same vintage, but that’s what
happened in 1997,” said Dean Sylvester,
winemaker at Whitehall Lane; same thing
happened this vintage!
Winery notes: "It’s a blend of lush fruit with aromas of deep
blackberry, currant and toasted oak. The
wine has rich texture and flavors of cherry,
plum and toasty vanilla. With ample fruit,
good weight in the mid-palate and velvety
tannins, this beautifully balanced wine is
ready to enjoy now, but with aging potential
to 2014." Whitehall Lane has always made
solid wine, and they have attained Top Ten
Wine Spectator status on more than one
occasion, it’s time for you to see why.
GEODE
2006 SANTA BARBARA CHARDONNAY $13.95
[#275203]
This inaugural release from Geode is crafted from stellar vineyards
located in the rolling hills of Santa
Barbara County. The name originates from the
Greek word “geoides” which means
“earthlike.” Geodes occur in certain
sedimentary and volcanic rock formations and
are essentially rocks with beautiful
internal crystal formations. You crack one
open, and “discover the treasure inside.”
The same goes when you open a bottle of
Geode Chardonnay. It’s a delicious rendition
and we agree wholeheartedly with veteran
winemaker Melissa Bates’ tasting notes: “Our
debut vintage of Geode Chardonnay perfectly
captures the marvelous terroir of Santa
Barbara County. It offers bright tropical
fruit aromas complemented by enticing honey,
toasted oak and baked bread scents. On the
rich, full-bodied palate, Geode delivers
lush, creamy, tropical fruit flavors
balanced by crisp acidity and a refreshing,
mineral-tinged finish.” Incidentally, with
all these earth references, it’s nice to
know that the vineyards contributing to this
wine are farmed using environmentally
friendly sustainable agriculture practices.
Delicious “earth-friendly” Chardonnay at a
“wallet friendly” price!
FREEMARK
ABBEY 2004 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$27.95 [#223480]
Before we talk about the historical significance of Freemark Abbey,
lets let Robert
Parker describe our featured
wine: “The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon is an
outstanding value in Napa Cabernet. With
prices on almost every Napa Cabernet now
well in excess of $50.00, a $35.00 wine that
merits 90 points is big news. Deep ruby
purple in color with loads of licorice,
black currant, cedar, and spice, this wine
has beautiful texture, medium to full body,
and a heady finish. The velvety texture and
opulence of the wine speak to drinking it
over the next 10-15 years.” The history of
Freemark Abbey began in 1886, when Josephine
Tychson became the first woman to build and
operate a winery in California. The rustic
stone building that is still used for
production and barrel storage was built in
1899. Winemaker Ted Edwards has been in
charge since 1985 and continues to produce
outstanding Cabernets from some of the best
vineyards in the Napa Valley. Vineyard
sources for the 2004 Cabernet include
Sycamore, located next to Bella Oaks and
BV’s Georges de Latour sites; Red Barn,
across the street from Caymus Vineyards;
Bosche, which was one of California’s first
vineyard-designated wines; as well as half a
dozen other respected properties in the
Rutherford appellation. This is a delicious
Cabernet that harkens back to the classic
wines of yesteryear before “cult status”
wines with ridiculously high prices reared
their egocentric heads. Great Napa Cabernet
at a user-friendly price!
PINE
RIDGE 2007 CHENIN BLANC / VIOGNIER $10.99
[#251310]
This is the perfect summer wine,
invigorating and floral, this should be
enjoyed on a relaxing day off. The flavors
are inspiringly fruity, with things like
lychee and kiwi, pear and melon to help you
forget all the weeks’ high stress. The wine
is crisp in that it leaves you with a
refreshing flavor of grapefruits and pear.
The Chenin Blanc plays to the people that
enjoy good fruity off dry styles and the
Viognier plays to wine aficionados needing
that extra dimension of bouquet that says
this is a wine to be taken serious. Time to
plan ahead, as those summer barbeques are
the perfect opportunity to toast this
wonderful elixir with all your friends the
rolling on and it should continue to bring
us warm weather. In fact this may be the
global warming repellant.
JUSTIN
2005 “SAVANT” PASO ROBLES PROPRIETARY RED
BLEND $39.99 [#233460]
The Justin winery is a producer of fantastic
sell-out bottlings like their Justification
and Isosceles, well here is another stellar
bottling, this time they have managed to
diversify their portfolio with a Cabernet
Sauvignon and Syrah blend that is serious
wine for a serious connoisseur. Inky and
dark, the Savant is named so because of its
complex aromas of black fruit, bing cherry,
cassis and soft oak notes. The dual
personalities intermingle in harmony, and
follow through on the palette as
blackberries and pepper, a little ying and
yang if you will. This Paso Robles winery
has almost single handedly put the AVA on
the wine map, and with successful wines of
this caliber it is no wonder. The Savant has
recently received a Gold Medal at the Orange
County Fair, making it an instant Orange
County celebrity. Be a part of the wise, and
judge this one for yourself.
BONACCORSI 2006 “CARAGASACCHI VINEYARD”
PINOT NOIR $59.95 [#204915]
The Bonaccorsi Wine Company has been putting
out some of the best Pinot Noir in the
Central Coast since 1999. In fact most of
the ratings for their wine out score many of
the hard to find more well known names (Sea
Smoke, Kosta Browne, Pisoni), which also
happen to cost double the amount that this
one does. Robert Parker has urged his
readers to hurry up and get on this mailing
list because they are a small producer, and
tiny allocations get sent out, lucky for
you, we here at Hi Times already secured you
some. This lusciously structured Pinot Noir
with mixed berry and brioche aromas, that
drip strawberry sweetness on your palette is
enjoyable now. But if you must wait, some
firm vanilla & toasted oak help it to
withstand the test of time. Just don’t wait
to buy it; we’re sure this one is set to
move out.
BERGSTROM 2006 “CUMBERLAND VINEYARD”
WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR
$44.95 [#275444]
Coming off a tremendous vintage, the 2006
Bergstrom “Cumberland Reserve” Pinot Noir is
that exciting wine that you all come looking
for when you need that special bottle, for
that special night, person, or just because
your feeling special. The Wine Spectator had
this to say about it: “Smooth and ripe, with
a meaty edge to the blackberry and cherry
flavors, turning toward dark chocolate as
the finish lingers generously.” WS 91
points! A winery definitely on the fast
track to success, with Josh Bergstrom
pulling double duty as vineyard manager and
winemaker; he has achieved 90+ point wines
in every vintage since 1999. If you don’t
already know of them, this is your chance.
The winery is a quality leader in Oregon
Pinot Noir, and belongs in every serious
cellar.
ARROWOOD 2006 RUSSIAN RIVER "SARALEE’S"
“COTE DE LUNE BLANC” $19.95 [#201430]
Richard Arrowood has more than 40 years
experience fashioning wines from selected
Sonoma County vineyards. His vineyard
expertise and winemaking skills have led to
enviable accolades from the WINE SPECTATOR :
“…if Arrowood has a hand in the wine, buy
it…”; and ROBERT PARKER: “…everything he
touches is noteworthy…”.
This Rhône style blend of Viognier,
Roussanne, Marsanne and Grenache Blanc is a
fantastic upper echelon Summer wine to enjoy
as an aperitif or with a wide variety of
dishes. The generous nose offers flowers,
honey, pears, white peachs, apricots and
mixed citrus aromas. The exotic mixture of
fruit flavors explode on the palate with a
core of stone fruit, tropical fruit, and
sweet citrus components. Aging in French Oak
has added texture and subtle hints of brown
spices. The crisp finish is long and sassy
and invites another glass. Robert Parker
gave this wine a score of 91 and stated:
“…sensational…a terrific wine…loads of
personality and fruit…”. Limited
availability so move fast.
REVANA 2005 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON
$125.00 [#254480]
Revana’s fith vintage affirms this winery’s commitment to being one
of the best Cabernet producers in the
valley. After Dr. Revana purchased the
property in St. Helena he hired two
exemplary Napa personalities, veteran
vineyard manager Jim Barbour and winemaker
Heidi Peterson Barrett (Paradigm, ex-Dalla
Valle, ex-Screaming Eagle). Robert Parker noted that this winery seems to be hitting its stride
with delicious Cabernet Sauvignon. Every
vintage has received critical acclaim and
sold out quickly. And the 2005 vintage is
arguably their finest yet! It exudes
elegance. The aromas are beautifully
perfumed and the palate shows layers of
flavor, silky texture and explosive yet
refined fruit. It is truly an exceptional
wine. Heidi’s tasting notes are right on the
money, “Dark ruby in color with deep aromas
of black cherry, coca powder, toast, and
spice. On the palate it is very elegant and
silky with bright purity of fruit and medium
body. The cherry flavors echo the aromas.
Nice mid-palate texture without a trace of
raw tannins. Good length at this tasting
which will only get better with time in the
bottle. Oak is used only as an accent here
and adds to the layering of flavor
components and complexity. Great potential.”
Hi-Time
Exclusive Only 60 bottles made-- this lot was
chosen by winemaker Sean Foster from his
favorite barrel!
Merryvale is
pure class. Across the board, from the
Starmont Series through the single-vineyard
bottlings to the prestige cuvees (Portfolio
and Silhouette) and the decadent Antigua
dessert wine, the wines are expertly crafted
and vineyards managed with microscopic
scrutiny. This is the first vintage of their
estate grown Syrah co-fermented with Viogner.
It is extremely limited and tastes fabulous
– a classic example of Old World finesse and
New World richness, characterized by
exceptional poise and balance all the way
through. Subtle aromas of raspberry,
boysenberry, violets and peppermint are
followed by a panoply of bright red fruit
flavors including red currant and cherries.
There is a slight vanillan quality and the
tannins are modest. The long, delightful
finish is slightly tinged with trademark
Syrah notes of leather and roasted meats. A
succinct summation? This is just one fine
bottle of red wine!
SEGHESIO family:
ZINFANDEL AND BEYOND!
The Seghesio
Story begins in 1886 when Edoardo Seghesio
departed his family’s vineyards in Piedmonte,
Italy for a new life in America. Like so
many immigrants, he was drawn to Northern
Sonoma County and the Italian Swiss Colony,
to follow his passion for winemaking. These
days it seems that most articles about
California zinfandel rightfully pay tribute
to Ted Seghesio. (See what we mean!) Here’s
an Italian colony of other varietals made by
Ted which you must try!
SEGHESIO 2007 “KEYHOLE RANCH” RUSSIAN RIVER
VALLEY ARNEIS $14.99 [#258980]
Arneis is a rare grape. It originates from
the hills of Roero, northwest of Alba in the
Piedmonte region of Italy from which Edoardo
Seghesio emigrated in 1886. First noted in
Italian records as far back as 1478, Arneis’
production grew as it was often planted
among rows of Nebbiolo to lure hungry birds
away from the more prized red grapes.
Although considered difficult to cultivate,
(the English translation for Arneis is
“little rascal”) the Keyhole Ranch in the
Russian River Valley is the perfect home for
this varietal. These 8 acres, where cool but
dry conditions prevail, provide a great
opportunity to grow Arneis. Warm-to-hot days
with cool, fog-influenced nights help this
variety retain acidity and delicate fruit
aromas and flavors.Pears, melons and almonds
on the palate supplement an anise and
mineral nose. The process of leaving the
wine on its lees - sur lie - until
bottling helps add complexity and texture to
this wine.
SEGHESIO 2005 “OMAGGIO” SONOMA VALLEY RED
$44.99 [#259220]
This rare wine was initially released in
celebration of the 2005 Centennial harvest.
An all-estate wine, the foundation for
Omaggio is Seghesio’s best vineyard block of
Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Sangiovese
grown on the steep terraces of Rattlesnake
Hill. Here, the shallow volcanic soils
challenge the vines to produce naturally
lower yields. Extensive thinning is
performed to ensure even ripening and in
some vintages this procedure may be
performed as often as three times. The
20-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard
contributes distinctive black currant cassis
flavors while providing richness and
Sangiovese’s black cherry/violet essence and
acidity add structure and complexity to this
wine. With it’s long, silky tannins derived
from optimally ripened fruit, Omaggio will
drink well for years to come.
BIALE 2006 “BLACK CHICKEN” NAPA VALLEY
ZINFANDEL $44.95 [#205210]
The Biale family, immigrants from Northern
Italy, began growing grapes in Napa in the
1930’s - Zinfandel only. All poultry quips
aside, this bottling’s moniker originates
from the waning years of Prohibition, when
local residents would visit and ask for a
“black chicken.” This was the code word for
a jug of Zinfandel. Well, discretion is not
necessary today. Come in and ask for Black
Chicken as boldly as you like. We won’t
mind! Frankly, this is an epic, Homeric
Zinfandel. Big, BUT NOT OVER-THE-TOP. To us
(with all due respect) this an essential
coda because some Zins are just plain muddy
and pass themselves off as complex. This one
simply delivers from start to finish. Only
experienced Zin producers know its secrets.
RED CAR 2006 “AMOUR FOU” SONOMA COAST PINOT
NOIR $54.95 [#253610]
We are loving the wines from Red Car Wine
Company and love bringing them to you! In
their search for cooler vineyard sites,
Amour Fou is now 100% Sonoma Coast. The
rather sexy 1940s romance label is a
captivating harbinger of what’s to come when
you uncork the bottle. A blend of
vineyards from La Boheme (60%), Zio Tony
(24%), and Bartolomei (16%), the Amour Fou
is sinfully good. It seduces the palate with
decadent notes of framboise, fig, and crème
de cassis. Aromas of truffle, cherry
blossom, vanilla wafer and a hint of cedar
arouse the nose. Superb concentration and
elegant balance offer a sumptuous mouthful.
Refined and graceful, this pinot noir drinks
exceptionally well with food, or whenever
you’re in the mood.
LUCIA 2007 “LUCY” SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS ROSE
OF PINOT NOIR $14.95 [#238740]
Gary Pisoni, one of the lords of California
Pinot Noir, has brought us this terrific
little flower of a rose just in time for
summer! Lucy has aromatics that make your
mouth water with a fireworks display of wild
strawberries, watermelon, pomegranate, and
crushed rose petals. Her delicate flavors
dance across the palate, and its bright
acidity proves very refreshing. Ah…..the
babes of summer!
LULI 2007 santa lucia highlands CHARDONNAY
$18.95 [#238870]
It’s a real hoot finding delicious,
modestly-priced wines to please our
customers! ‘Tis the season for white wine,
more or less, and we guarantee that Luli
will become a household word once you sample
