Tasting Notes

Legendary Vineyard Cabernet by 100 point winemaker

Posted on by Frank Melis
Henry Pellet was one of the “engineers” of the Napa Valley. Planting one of the first vineyards in the 1850’s  He was hired in 1959 to make wine from his grapes by John Patchett, one year after Charles Krug started, becoming the second commercial winemaker in Napa!  The vineyard is situated next to the famous Dr. Crane and To-Kalon.  The label depicts the dawn of the age of electrification, the era when pioneer winemaker Henry Alphonse Pellet illuminated the path towards modern winemaking methodology and with it, high quality and age-worthy wines. This vineyard site has been producing grapes for over 150 years, essentially since the beginning of winemaking in Napa Valley.

Pellet 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena Napa Valley
Retail 100.00 – GGWC 94.99
FREE SHIPPING on 4 or more bottles
Use discount code PELLET upon checkout

Made by Nils Venge, Napa’s FIRST EVER 100 point winemaker, this 370 case production will wow you from start to finish!  The 2012 bottling is a blend of 91 Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from the historic Pellet Vineyard. The wine offers up a ruby dark color with astounding aromas of crème de cassis, chocolate and wild flowers. The wine is full in body, yet extremely elegant and gorgeously tailored. Lush, multi-dimensional and exciting wine! Black stone fruit, touches of dark chocolate and anise run across the broad palate. The wine finishes long with gorgeous integrated silky tannins.

VERY LIMITED!

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!

Tasting Notes

MUST HAVE 252 case Napa Cab , 94 Points

Posted on by Frank Melis
Situated mid-slope on Diamond Mountain, this 2.3 acre vineyard is a real gem-in-the-rough.  At more than ½ the price of its esteemed neighbor “Diamond Creek”, this wine will blow your mind and not your wallet.  In a recent “Mountain Cabernet” tasting, Dyer stood its own against some big-boys (and girls).Remember, only 252 cases of this 2012 Cabernet (76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19 Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot) were produced! The 2012 Dyer received 94 Points Anthony Galloni!

Dyer 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate 
Diamond Mountain Napa Valley
Retail 85.00 – GGWC 79.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6+
Use code DYER12 upon checkoutThe 2012 showcases an amazing color and aroma!  Intense aromas of huckleberry and cassis with a touch of cocoa dust and a whiff of spice jump out of the glass.  On the palate, this harmoniously made 2012 Cabernet is lush and full in body and shows an amazing balance of great fruit and acid.  Coated with powerful layers of black stone fruit, chocolate, spice and a touch of toasty vanilla.  This full-bodied wine finishes with silky and supple tannins.  This is a wine that will drink and cellar well for 15+ years!

Anthony Galloni 94 Points: “The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the more fascinating, nuanced wine of the vintage. Graphite, herbs, tobacco, cedar and incense are some of the many notes that add dimension in a firm, dark Cabernet Sauvignon full of complexity. The firm tannins need time to soften, but there is a lot to look forward to. Hints of iron, cedar and red stone fruits linger on the close.”

Tasting Notes

Astounding Summer Wine

Posted on by Frank Melis
When your uncle is Chuck Wagner (Caymus), you are expected to make wine – period. Derek and his brother Kurt Beitler did just that. They each created their own wineries and are making the wine at the Caymus facility. Both have day jobs managing the Caymus (and other) vineyards.  Bodega Rancho produces two Syrahs and one Viognier.

Bodega Rancho 2013 Viognier, Santa Lucia Highlands
Retail 30.00 – GGWC 27.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code BR13VIO upon checkout

This wine was fermented in cement tanks and stainless steel to preserve its clean fresh character and exotic aromas of peach, lily, citrus and ripe pear. The wine offers up flavors of white peach, citrus all packed in a medium body. The crisp acidity and bright finish lend well to pairing with a diversity of foods, from light pastas and seafood to spicy cuisine. Drink this dry white wine young and well chilled. Alcohol 13.6%

Click here or on the links above to order!
Tasting Notes

WINE ALERT Paul Hobbs’ under $40 Chardonnay

Posted on by Frank Melis



16×20 Chardonnay is just another wine venture that will add more accolades to Paul’s ever growing portfolio.   Sourced from two very small vineyards on the Sonoma Coast, this limited production bottling will wow you but on the palate as well as wallet!

16 x 20 Chardonnay 2013, Sonoma Coast
Retail 43.00 – GGWC 39.99
FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code 16x20CHD upon checkout

The nose on the surface hints at green apples with a whiff of pineapple. With a little time in the glass, the spicy floral bouquet shows up carrying tingly lemon and tangerine aromas, supported by a core of peaches and cream. The allure of this cool climateChardonnay shows layered and subtle flavors revealing themselves with a little time and a little attention. Pure, clean, refreshing…and now I’m getting a soft and subtle sensation of fluffy lemon cream. Taking a sip, the first impression is of bright green apples, followed by hints of citrus peel, citrus deserts and a touch of tangerine. It’s compelling that the flavors are so bright and refreshing, light and delicate, yet the feel has substantial volume. Nuances come and go in the long, mouth-coating finish.

Click here or on the links above to order!

Tasting Notes

Frank’s Birthday Wine – My own 4 barrels production!

Posted on by Frank Melis
Milange is my own label, so I am of course very partial to the wine.  Milange is named after my two daughters, MIL(ayna) and ANGE(lina).  Our award winning winemaker sourced fruit from two of Napa Valley’s most famous vineyard sites and the resulting wine is amazing. We introduced the 2013 Milange Cabernet at our 10th Anniversary Tasting in New York last week and it was a big hit! We sold almost ½ of our inventory in one evening!Milange 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon “Frank-Perry Estate” Napa Valley
Retail 85.00 – GGWC 79.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more bottles
Use code MILANGE upon checkout

The wine was aged for 18 months in high quality French Oak barrels.  Striking aromas of black stone fruit, plums and espresso beans jump out of the glass. The wine is full in body, yet very elegant from start to finish. The 2013 Milange Cabernet offers up gobs of black currant, crème de cassis, chocolate and espresso bean flavors leading into a long complex but silky tannin finish. I suggest decanting this youngster  2 hours prior to imbibing.  I am very positive this wine will cellar nicely for a good 7-9 years. Only 100 cases produced, so this will go fast!

Tasting Notes

A Must Have Pinot Noir

Posted on by Frank Melis
At our Anniversary tasting last week in New York Masút Pinot Noir turned lots of heads! Masut is the venture of two brothers Ben & Jack Fetzer.  Their father Bobby had purchased the Masút property in 1994 and planted it with two great Pinot Noir clones hoping to make his own wine. Sadly in 2006 Bobby died in a wild water rafting accident.  More determined than ever, the two sons felt that they had to continue their father’s project.  They used the winemaking and vineyard experience they had gained from years working at various properties into their own project “Masút “They had  converted a barn into a winery and the rest as they say is history.

Masút 2013 “Estate” Pinot Noir 
Retail 42.00 – GGWC 39.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6 or more
Use code MASUT upon checkout

The wine offers up bright aromas of dark red fruits, rose petal, black tea and red licorice.  On the palate the medium to full-bodied 2013 Masút offers up great mouth feel that is silky smooth with bright concentrated wild berry, rich strawberry, and savory spices.  Very complex for a youngster, this wine crescendos Masút with a lingering plush finish.

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

300 case Napa White Gem

Posted on by Frank Melis
Steve Matthiasson is probably one of the most sought after vineyard managers in the Napa Valley. His current clients include Araujo Estate, Spottswoode, Chappellet, Hall, David Arthur, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and many others.

Steve dreamt of farming his entire life. He became an obsessed gardener and cook while studying philosophy in college. In the early 1990s, while back in grad school studying  horticulture he found a vineyard job working for a small sustainable agriculture consulting firm. In 1999 he co-authored the California manual on sustainable vineyard practices. In 2002 he started consulting on vineyard practices in Napa. He still loves the challenge of solving vineyard problems for others, but since 2003 the primary focus has been on his own family farming and winemaking. Steve is a life-long student of the craft of viticulture. Steve  Matthiasson was named “Winemaker of the Year” in 2014, and that is an honor not given to everyone!  Steve meticulously farms his own vineyard at night and even on Sundays!  One of the nicest guys in the Valley, a quiet “rock star” of sort.  He is not noticed, but the wineries noticed him!

Matthiasson 2013 White Blend Napa Valley 
Retail 45.00 – GGWC 41.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code MAT13W upon checkout

The 2013 Matthiasson White Blend consists out of 55% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Ribolla Gialla, 15% Semillon & 5% Tocai Friulano. The Sauvignon blanc brings a clean fresh citrusy acidity and some tropical character. The Ribolla gialla brings seashell minerality, nuttiness, and structure to the blend. The Semillon contributes viscosity and waxiness that adds gravity and weight. The Tocai friulano adds spicy aromatic notes. The acidity and fruit expression is balanced by a rich lees character and a faint backdrop of creamy oak. There is interplay in the wine between lightness and richness, and focus and complexity.  Only 300 cases produced!

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

99 Point Winemaker’s hot new Cabernet

Posted on by Frank Melis
Mark Herold’s fascination with wine started in his childhood home in Panama City. On his twelfth birthday he “liberated” a bottle of Port from his father’s cellar. Undeterred from the horrendous hangover that followed the next morning, he set about to learn as much as he could about wine. After completing his academic career at the University of Davis with a Ph.D. in Ecology with an emphasis in nutritional biochemistry, he started his first foray into the wine world at Joseph Phelps Vineyards as the Research Enologist. Here Mark was able to bridge the scientific method with winemaking to determine the best approach to making the best expression of wine quality and seamless oak integration.

Merus was a labor of love that Mark started in 1998—a Cult Cabernet Sauvignon that he made in his garage in downtown Napa. His first vintage was extremely challenging weather wise as well as having limited access to equipment. Aside from all the challenges the 1998 Merus still received 93 points from Robert Parker. Most wineries received low 80s for the 98 vintage! Merus “died” after Mark’s divorce, and he started his wine consulting business soon after with a client list that has includes: Hestan, Kamen (96 Points 2012 vintage), Harris, Buccella, Kobalt (96 Points 2012 vintage), Celani, Maze (95 Points 2012 vintage) & Vineyardist (96 Points 2012 vintage).

Mark Herold 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 
Retail $100 – GGWC 94.99
FREE SHIPPING with the purchase of 4 or more
Use code MH12CS upon checkout

Dramatic, dark and penetrating immediately describe this wine. The color is a deeply saturated blue/black hue. Brooding from the glass is a landscape of layered scents: huge aromas of blackberries, black cherries, currants intermixed with espresso, crème de cassis, wet brick with nuances of dried flowers, black olives, and sage brush. A powerful mouth presence reveals extracted flavors of roasted black fruits showcased within a supple tannin framework is evidence of this wines fine sense of balance. Concentration, resolved fine-toothed tannins, and lingering rich flavors are hallmarks of this wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy the 2012 Herold Cabernetover the next 15 to 20 years.

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

Surprise Blind Tasting Winner

Posted on by Frank Melis
In a recent blind Syrah tasting the Melville “Estate” surprised many. The lineup included:
  • Beckman Clone #1 (94 Parker)
  • Avennia (96 Parker)
  • Two Hands “Bella” (93+ Parker)
  • Pax “Griffin’s Lair (95 Parker)
  • Herman Story “Nuts & Bolts (95 Parker)
  • Bedrock Alder Springs (95 Parker)
  • Rhys “Horseshoe” (94 Parker)
  • Roar Garys’ (94 Parker)
  • Lucia Garys’ (95 Parker)
  • Melville “Estate”
The winner: MELVILLE! 

Melville 2013 Syrah “Estate” Santa Rita Hills
Retail 38.00 – 35.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code MEL13SYR upon checkout

Boasting a deep crimson hue, fresh and ripe aromatics of red delicious apples, black cherries and blueberry compote are immediately apparent. In the background, denser notes of salt caramel, beef carpaccio and balsa wood intermingle with high toned components of rose water, orange oil, toasted nori and lavender. The palate impression is tender and polished with a firm presence finishing with significant weight and focus.

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

100 Point Winemaker’s next Hot Cabernet

Posted on by Frank Melis
Eric Yuan purchased 116 acres on Atlas Peak next door to Pahlmeyer, Au Sommet, Stagecoach and other great vineyards. Like their neighbors on Pritchard Hill and in Oakville, the vines are planted in the prized red and iron-rich volcanic soils that have become the benchmark for Napa Valley’s finest wines.  Add 100 Point Winemaker Denis Malbec (Kapcsandy, Blankiet, Latour, etc) and Top Viticulturist Steve Matthiasson to the fold and you have another winning team!

Acumen 2010 Cabernet Estate 
Retail 65.00 – GGWC 59.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code ACU10CS upon checkout

Deep aromas of violets and lilacs, with flavors of cassis and licorice, spiced with a soupçon of hay, candied orange peels and hint of nutmeg. With a magnificent frame of ripe, mouth-coating tannins, a great level of energy, firm body and textural elegance this terroir specific, very food-friendly, and well-balanced Cabernet Sauvignon will reward cellaring and be long-lived. 430 cases produced.

Winemaker Denis Malbec Notes: “In 2010 wines produced from our estate are wines of precision and purity, full of character, well-balanced, reflecting the vintage’s long and cool growing season with moderate temperatures and extended ripening during the fall. 2010 was one of the coolest growing seasons I experienced in Napa, but remembering my years of winemaking at Chateau Latour, our vineyard crews did not excessively de-leaf during the summer, preventing crop damage due to sunburn and dehydration during the heat waves of August and September. As a result, we crafted very expressive and harmonious wines with a high level of refinement and ripe tannins.”

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

Thomas Rivers Brown’s Amazing 4 Barrel Chardonnay

Posted on by Frank Melis
Senses is the dream of three childhood friends – Chris, Max and Myles – who reunited after various journeys with the vision to produce small-batch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from their family-owned vineyards. Max Thieriot grew up on the “infamous” Thieriot vineyard. Senses produces high quality wines from the West Sonoma Coast in northern California, specifically in their hometown of Occidental. The West, or ‘True’ Sonoma Coast, is known for delicate, nuanced wines that exhibit balance and depth on the palate.  Add winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and do I need to say more….

Senses 2013 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 
Retail $40.00 – GGWC 37.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6, use code SENSES upon checkout

Bright, laser focused and delicious. This wine is our best example of why it’s hard to beat Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Wet stones and lemon curd dominate the nose. The palate is greeted by intense minerality but balanced by vanilla, green apple and butterscotch notes. The wine continues with integrated oak flavors, racy acidity and a lingering finish thanks to barrel fermentation and minimal lees stirring. This a perfect pairing wine.

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

2 Acre Vineyard Killer Cabernet

Posted on by Frank Melis
Adler Deutsch Vineyard is located on the edge of the acclaimed Rutherford Bench. This 2.17 acre site was planted in 2004 to Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard is meticulously farmed by Ace viticulturist Jim Barbour.  Add Star Winemaker Aaron Pott to the mix and you have a tandem-winning winemaking team!

Adler Deutsch 2012 Cabernet “Estate” St. Helena, Napa
Retail 120.00 – GGWC 109.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 4+ or more
Use discount code ADV12CS upon checkout

The 2012 Adler Deutsch is a classically-styled Cabernet crafted from estate-grown fruit. A blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2012 offers a dense ruby color, verging on purple. On the nose, the wine reveals fresh, lush red and stone black fruits ~  Bing cherry, black cassis, and blackberry a touch of licorice, violet and whiff of lavender.  These flavors follow through on the lush and full-bodied palate to combine with chocolate, vanilla and espresso.  The mid-palate is juicy and the finish is a blend of lingering dark fruits and espresso wrapped up in supple and seductive tannins. Only 150 cases produced.

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

96 Point Chardonnay 300 cases produced, 5 cases allocated!

Posted on by Frank Melis

In the early 1930’s Garret Bowlus’ grandfather William Hawley Bowlus began launching his one of a kind “Albatross” sailplanes off the ridges of Carmel Valley. Today his family carries on his avant-garde legacy farming Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on a steep Carmel Valley ridge rising over 1250 feet. The vines are rooted in a rocky diatomaceous clay loam soil overlooking Carmel Bay and the Pacific Ocean only seven miles in the distance. They handcraft the wines from soil to bottle with the utmost care and consideration to unearth the unique terroir and reveal the elegance and complexity of the distinct coastal location.

Albatross Ridge 2012 “Estate” Chardonnay, Carmel Valley 
Retail 58.00 – GGWC 54.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on SIX or more
Use code ALBATROSS upon checkout
OK to mix & match with Albatross Pinot Noir

This might be one of the biggest surprises of the 2015 Spring wine tasting season! This tiny production Chardonnay offers a bright display of stone fruit and white flowers that jump out of the glass on impact.  This full-bodied wine offers up amazing flavors of apple, pear, and a hint of apricot that are framed by lively acidity and minerality that leads to a layered richness that lingers on the finish. 

Pairs well with: Oysters, Foie Gras, wild King Salmon and Smoked King Salmon, Sushi and Sashimi, Steak Tartare and Roasted Chicken.

Also check out the very limited production ALBATROSS RIDGE 2012 PINOT NOIR RESERVE “BOWLUS ESTATE” CARMEL VALLEY. Only 200 cases were produced!

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!

Tasting Notes

HOT WINE! PAUL HOBBS’ 95 POINT RATED CAB

Posted on by Frank Melis

Black Cordon Vineyards approaches winemaking with the intention of making wine that is intense and complex with a distinct character that faithfully represents where the grapes have been grown. Attention to detail and hands-on attention to every barrel of wine is what it takes to pull this off. With Paul Hobbs as your Winemaker, the wines show the pedigree, character, quality and complexity associated with all of Paul’s projects.

Black Cordon 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 
Retail 84.00 – GGWC 79.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 6+
Use code BC12CS upon checkout

The nose at first is subtle and closed, but in the glass it begins to show its hidden layers. The overall impression of high extraction and serious structure carries aromas of deep, black, brooding plum, black cherry, black currant and dried blueberry. The dark nose is accentuated by slightly vanilla-laced cool menthol. Looking deeper you find cedar-tinged accents and a slight fennel earth aroma that melds into dark mocha. Ethereal wisps of lavender and sage are found as the wine begins to open. The first sip gets your attention with its thick, fat, round, generous and dense mouthful of black fruits encapsulated in accents of anise. These flavors then crescendo to a plateau of full, structured, ripe, silty tannins that are wonderfully balanced and packed with layers of spicy black cherry and blackcurrant that have a stimulating interplay with creamy, dark licorice. The acidity and sweet dark chocolate oak nuances that are noticeable in the ever-expanding middle are so beautifully balanced that they almost go unnoticed. The finish is long; very, very long. Velvety plushness that is so expansive, lingering and haunting makes not having any wine in your mouth almost preferable. There is a lot going on here now, and there will be even more showing up every few months… I see this well-endowed wine as a young temptress in a corset, giving glimpses of beauty now, but nothing compared to what will later be revealed.

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!

Tasting Notes

$$ VALUE – 94 Point Rated under 25 Syrah

Posted on by Frank Melis
It all began in Oklahoma’s prohibition heartland where Alex Singer shared a love of French wines.  His son Stephen left at age 15 to attend boarding school in Connecticut, from there he wind up in San Francisco, where he earned Art and Critical Theory degrees from UC Berkeley.  He moonlighted in wine stores and restaurant and eventually met his wife, culinary master Alice Waters, who set the standards very high.  She pushed him to open up a wine store while working as the Wine Director at Chez Panise for 15 years, which eventually led to the creation of Baker Lane.

Baker Lane 2012 Sonoma Coast Cuvee Syrah 
Retail 28.00- GGWC 23.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code BL12SCS upon checkout

This all estate grown Value Syrah will wow you but in the quality as $ Value department.  But hurry, as they only produced 495 cases of this little gem!!

WS 94 Points: ”From the producer’s estate vineyard, this savory, sultry wine is sublime in peppery, wild game. Its textures are alive and bright in acidity, with piquant black and red berry providing inviting juiciness. Made in small quantities, it’s an incredible value for the quality, a wine that will sing on the table, and become more complex in the glass.”

Click here or on the links above or call 415-337-4083 to order!
Tasting Notes

“The” Value under $25 Napa Cab Blend

Posted on by Frank Melis
 
The Maldonado family has been farming the Napa Valley for decades, also producing some real gems along the way. The 2012 “Farm Worker” Grapes are sourced from the Lyon’s Vineyard, a hillside vineyard in the south-eastern part of the Napa valley, above Coombsville and from the Los Olivos vineyard in Napa.

Maldonado 2012 The Farm Worker Proprietary Red Blend, Napa Valley
Retail 28.00 – GGWC 24.99 FREE SHIPPING on 12+
Use code FARM12R upon checkout

The 2012 Maldonado “Farm Worker” is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, with a splash of Syrah.  This very approachable Napa Red Blend is a real crowd-pleaser.  It entices the palate with lush and bright flavors of ripe black cherries, black currants and chocolate with a touch of underlying Mission figs and a whiff of anise.  The wine is medium full in body and easy drinking, leading into an elegant finish with soft, silky tannins.

Click here or on the links above or call me at 415-337-4083 to order

Tasting Notes

96 Point under $60 Napa Cab. A real “Crowd Pleaser”

Posted on by Frank Melis
Beau Vigne was founded 15 years ago, but the Napa roots go back 100 years when Ed’s grandfather Martin Grazoli arrived in the valley. He came from an Italian winemaking family.  During the daytime he’d work the hayfields of Napa and Sonoma and made wine in an old barn at night. The Beau Vigne vineyards are located in the Eastern edge of Napa overlooking the Pritchard Hill, Haystack and Stagecoach vineyards. Only 10 acres were planted on this beautiful estate.  .

Beau Vigne 2012 “Old Rutherford” Cabernet 
Retail 60.00 – GGWC 56.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 6+
Use code BV12ORCS upon checkout

The 2012 Beau Vigne O.R. Cabernet is a stunning wine with terrific aromas jolting out of the glass on impact.  This is full-blown Napa Cab!  Rich, dense, dark purple color and a bright and bold aroma of black currant intertwined with hints of toasty oak, a touch of leather and a whiff of anise.  On the palate this youngster does not disappoint at all with lush, voluptuous black fruit that flows well into a long, lingering finish.

Click here or on the links above or call me at 415-337-4083 to order

Tasting Notes

6 Barrel Pinot Noir Special

Posted on by Frank Melis

Furthermore 2012 Pinot Noir “Gloria” Russian River Valley
Retail $45.00 – GGWC $42.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 6+
Use code FURTH12PNG upon checkout

Only 6 barrels or 164 cases of this single vineyard were produced.  The wine has amazing color and aromas.  From the get go you’ll encounter fragrant notes of red and black fruit, fresh cut flowers, anise and spice jumping out of the glass.  The wine is layered from start to finish with well-balanced with the right touch of acidity laced between gorgeous red and black cherry fruit, sweet raspberries and a touch of roasted meats and spices. Great flavors courtesy of the multi-clonal selection in the vineyard of Pommard, Calera and Swan.  This is beautifully made wine that will please both palate as well as wallet!

Click here or on the links above or call me at 415-337-4083 to order

Tasting Notes

4 Barrel Chardonnay blind tasting winner

Posted on by Frank Melis
In our latest Chardonnay challenge, we had some “big guns” battling it out.  The lineup for this tasting consisted of:
THE WINNER: PEIRSON-MEYER!  When reviewing the scores, Peirson Meyer received an average of 97.3 from our group!Always among the most expressive of Peirson Meyer’s Chardonnays, this Chardonnay blend, Untitled #7 offers concentrated aromas of orange oil, citrus zest, and heady floral notes of Jasmine, wildflowers, and honeysuckle. A distinctive gun barrel minerality clearly contributed from the Charles Heintz Vineyard, interplays with light spice and hazelnut notes. The mouthfeel is broad and lengthy and maintains an extended presence on the palate.

Peirson-Meyer 2012 Chardonnay “Untitled #7” Sonoma Coast 
Retail 80.00 – GGWC 74.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 6+
Use code PM12CHD7 upon checkout

Robert Parker 94 Points: “The 2012 Chardonnay Untitled No. 7 is a small cuvée. Similar to the Charles Heintz single-vineyard offering, it is an exotic white displaying notes of orange blossoms, honeysuckle, mango, crème brûlée and a wet stone-like minerality. Medium to full-bodied and pure, it spent 14 months in 45% new French oak and went through full malolactic. Drink now-2020.”

Anthony Galloni 94 Points: “”Another intense, racy wine, the 2012 Chardonnay Untitled #7, is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar. The textures are rich, oily and viscous in this large-scaled, creamy Chardonnay. Warm, nutty overtones add weight and nuance on the super-expressive finish. The Untitled Chardonnay is made to represent the style of the vintage. There is certainly plenty of vintage character here, although I don’t think the barrel selection is markedly superior in quality to the vineyard designates.”

Click here or on the links above or call me at 415-337-4083 to order

Tasting Notes

Posted on by Frank Melis

Skylark is a joined venture of two longtime friends, John Lancaster and Rob Perkins, both  co-managers and sommeliers of Boulevard Restaurant in San Francisco.  John and I go back 20 years after spending many long weekends as lead judges tasting 100s of wines during many International Wine Competitions.  Both friends wanted to create a winery that offered both great quality and great price point – which they did!

Skylark “Red Belly” SGC
Retail 26.00 – GGWC 23.99 ~ FREE SHIPPING on 12
Use code SKYRB13 upon checkout

This is a great California version of a “Cotes du Rhone” – a swell blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignane, sourced from three well-established vineyards (Niemi, Lawer and Sawyer).  The 60 year-old vine Carignane provides the singularity to Red Belly, Skylark’s ode to the sun-drenched South of France. The Lawer vineyard’s Syrah in the Knight’s Valley (think Peter Michael, Linked, Morlet), is planted on volcanic rock to the Rhone 887 Syrah clone.  This is a masculine site, providing fruit with black as night color and powerful, dark flavor characters. The Grenache vineyard sits at 1000 feet elevation, creating concentrated mountain fruit with silky and satin characters. These three varietals together are a-marriage-made-in-heaven for the palate and wallet!  The wine offers a deep garnet color. High-toned florals of lavender and violet intermixed with the earthy components of sous bois and garrigue. Black cherry, red raspberry and plum lend aromatic complexity. The 2013 is all about suppleness and balance on the palate, with lush and bright fruit and a long silky finish.

Click here or on the links above or call me at 415-337-4083 to order