CLASSIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2016 Campi Valerio ‘Sannazzaro’ Rosso del Molise DOC, Italy
100% Montepulciano which Campi Valerio grows in the town of Isernia in the region of Molise on 25 acres of deep, stony, porous marl, which imbues the red grapes with a beautiful mineral character. The late-ripening variety thrives in the confluence of conditions created in this part of the country—the warm sun, rolling foothills, and proximity to the Adriatic Sea.
Aged in stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation in barriques. This wine has an intense bouquet with hints of blackcurrant, black cherry, plum and ripe red fruits. Delicate hints of vanilla and herbal nuances. Mouth feel is smooth and rounded with firm yet softy tannins in well-structured body. Wine critic James Suckling gave this vintage 92 Points.
Food pairing: A very versatile food partner. Try beef, veal, poultry and always... pasta!
Red 2 – Bodega Pago Aylés ‘Y de Aylés’ Vino de Pago, Spain
Pago Aylés was founded by Federico Ramón, who in 2003 began his dream of classifying this unique land as the first Vino de Pago in the Aragon region. In 2010, Aylés became the 10th Vino de Pago in Spain. Today his three children continue to produce special wines from this special land.
This wine is a blend of 34% Garnacha, 27% Tempranillo, 23% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has complex spicy aromas of freshly cracked black pepper, red berries and boysenberries, warm oak, and just a hint of dark cocoa and mineral notes. In the mouth there is an excellent creamy texture with refined tannins. Persistent, elegant and well balanced, full bodied leading to a rich mouth-filling finish.
Food Pairing: Roast pork, chorizo and aged cheeses
White 1 – J. A. Jofre ‘Vinos Fríos del Año’ Blanco, Valle de Curicó, Chile
Juan Alejandro Jofré, one of Chile’s most promising winemakers, signature line is Vinos Fríos del Año. This white is a blend of 85% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon Vert. Semillon is best known for partnering with Sauvignon Blanc in White Bordeaux. Once mistaken for Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Vert is a different grape entirely. Brought to Chile by Italian immigrants it is most closely related to Friulano.
This unusual blend is earthly with low acidity and medium bodied. Yellow orange in the glass it has aromas and flavors of citrus, orange blossoms, grapefruit, chestnuts, beeswax and bitter almond.
Food Pairing: Seared scallops, steamed mussels, curries, vegetable dishes and quiches.
White 2 – 2019 Ettore Germano Langhe DOC Chardonnay, Piedmont, Italy
The Germano family has owned 6 hectares of land near Serralunga d’Alba, in the heart of the Barolo area, since 1856. Ettore Germano founded his eponymous winery in the 1960s as the first of his family to begin producing and bottling estate wines. His son, Sergio, has made his mark in the famed hills of Barolo, Alba, and Langhe, with his pioneering interest in growing Chardonnay and Riesling as well as Pinot Noir for traditional method sparkling wines.
This Chardonnay is fermented in stainless steel, goes thru malolactic fermentation and is aged for 6 months on the lees, also in stainless steel. This wine has fruit aromas of green apple and pear with nuances of croissant. Crisp acidity aided by some time on lees offering a creamy palate texture.
Food Pairing: Great on it’s own as an aperitif, with fish dishes or pastas in cream sauce.
COLLECTORS CLUB
Red 1 – 2016 ONX Wines ‘Mad Crush’ Red, Templeton Gap District, Paso Robles
At Onx in Paso Robles they believe that a combination of time-honored winemaking traditions and a penchant for adventure result in unique blends that are as pleasing to the palate as they are intriguing to the intellect.
With its beloved style and grace, the 2016 Mad Crush leaps from the glass with a mix of fresh fruits and dry, earthy tones. A blend of 36% Grenache, 32% Tempranillo and 32% Mourvèdre is a powerful wine with soft edges. Bold notes of fresh red cherries, cranberries, and candied watermelon with a savory undertone of cola, lightly toasted cedar, and anise. Matt Kettmann of Wine Enthusiast gave this wine 93 Points adding, “aromas of tart red plum, pomegranate and sagebrush show on the nose… there is strong energy to the palate, where dark fruit flavors are spiced by cinnamon and sumac, making for a hearty wine that's balanced by strong acidity.”
Food Pairing: Santa Maria Tri-tip sandwiches or burgers of all kinds… even the veggie ones.
Red 2 – 2019 Mastro Scheidt Dolcetto, Lake County
Something new from Mastro Scheidt, a small lot Dolcetto from grapes grown in the small Rosa D’oro Vineyard in the Kelsey Bench area of Lake County. 100% neutral oak, crisp acidity and a core of red fruit.
Food pairing: Charcuterie, mushroom risotto or pasta dishes with meat sauces.
White – 2018 I Capitani ‘Faius’ Bianco, Irpinia, Campania, Italy
The Faius de I Capitani is a project that aims at excellence. The maximum expression of the of indigenous white grapes from the volcanic soils of ancient Mt Vesuvius, this wine is 50% Fiano, 25% Falanghina and 25% Greco. A wine with great power, structure, typicality, minerality and freshness, capable of evolving over time. The aging in small oak barrels for 6-8 months adds balance and personality. A unique wine.
Food pairing: Ideal with soups and grilled fish, white meats, soft cheeses and vegetarian dishes
PINOT CLUB
Pinot 1 – 2015 La Voix Winery ‘Reflektor’ Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita HIlls
The 2015 “Reflektor” is from the John Sebastiano Vineyard located on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. This wine is 100% Mount Eden clone Pinot Noir. Mount Eden is one of several “heritage clones” that are seeing a resurgence in popularity. Partial whole cluster. Open-top fermenters with extended maceration of 30 days. Ages in French oak (10% new) for 22 months.
There is a boldness to the wine, which is the voice of the vineyard and also the clone. Aromas of Bing and black cherry, dried plum, brine like sea breeze and earth dry autumn leaves. Finish of black plum skin. It’s brooding and pensive with a heavy structure. It engages you on a completely different level – it makes you pause. A Gold Medal Winner at the San Francisco Chronical Wine Competition.
Food pairing: Big enough for beef dishes, smoked duck and smoked pork.
Pinot 2 – 2014 Frostwatch Pinot Noir, Bennett Valley
This is the sixth vintage of Frostwatch Pinot Noir. The entire two and one-half acres of Pinot Noir are planted to a selection of the Swan Clone. Three weeks after harvest, the primary fermentation was done and the must was drained and gently pressed with a hydraulic basket press. The wine was moved to a 30% new, 30% once used and 40% neutral French oak barrels.
The 2014 vintage was another fine vintage in Bennett Valley. The wine has power yet exhibits the delicacy one expects in excellent Pinot. It exhibits dense red cherry and plum flavors and shows good structure that promises additional development. Indeed, this wine has improved with additional time in the bottle and is in it’s prime!
Food pairings: Grilled sockeye salmon or pork tenderloin with mustard sauce.
ORGANIC CLUB
Red 1 – 2017 Braschi ‘Il Costone’ Sangiovese Superiore, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Tucked away in the Romagna hills not far from the seaside, Braschi has a beautiful and rich history that shines a light on native grape varietals such as Sangiovese, a red grape which adapts to its terrior, producing different types of wine depending on where it was cultivated. This wine has been obtained from a single “cru” vineyard Il Costone in the heart of Bertinoro, one of the premiere wine growing areas of the Emilia-Romagna region. Fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged 12-14 months in large traditional Slavonian oak casks.
A classic Sangiovese with Mediterranean tones, of deep fruit and great consistency. This wine is a deep ruby red, with notes of forest fruit jam, smooth and tannic structure, and long finish, people love this wine!
Food pairing: Good with all the traditional Italian dishes like Pasta e Fagioli and Chicken Cacciatore.
White – 2017 Quercia Scarlatta ‘Marchese Japo’ Bianco
In 2011 Quercia Scarlatta grower-makers, Stefano Pintossi and Claudia Pagliotti, left the ‘business world’ and their life in northern Italy and moved the family to the Macerata area in the Marche region in central eastern Italy. They renovated an old colonial house with beautiful hill-dominated land where turned their dream into reality by starting a sustainable, organic farm to create organic wine, olive oil and natural cosmetics. They cultivate native grapes local to the area, olives, saffron, herbs, flowers and fruits.
This delicious fruit-forward organic white is a blend of 3 indigenous grapes, 70% Maceratino, 20% Incrocio Bruni and 10% Trebbiano. With its complexity of aromas, ranging from melon to saffron, and intensity of flavors you’d be surprised to find out that it is unoaked!
Food pairing: Excellent with seafood, soft cheeses, and vegetables.
NP SOMM CLUB
Red 1 – Kukeri Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
The unique terroir of the Howell Mountain produces wines that are typically very powerful and intense in structure. The mountain’s well-drained and rocky volcanic soils and moderate climate is perfect for growing full-bodied and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon. A touch of Malbec, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc balance the rich dark fruit and massive tannins, adding a vibrancy to its lush mouth feel and lingering dry finish and balanced acidity.
Aged on fine lees for 18 months in 100% French oak barrels to preserve the delicate notes and mouth feel. Big, bold, and ultra-ripe on the attack, packed with small black fruit preserves and boysenberries, doused with crème de cassis. A hint of mountain forest, cedar and rich vanilla French oak flavors also combine these aromatics to create this massively rich full-bodied mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine it is a superb candidate for cellaring and should mature well over the next 10 years.
Food pairing: Rib-eye steak or lamb
Red 2 – 2019 Kukeri “Cuvée Ivonne’ Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is renowned for producing some of the world’s best Pinot Noirs. The fruit for this wine is sourced from two different vineyards, one is located on the western edge of Green Valley also known as one of the coolest and foggiest region, and the other is a hillside vineyard, west of Windsor. The wine is produced from tree different clones, the clone 667, which bring vivid fruit, 777 which add some chewy tannins and 115 which bring some brightness, cherry, and floral aromatics. The result is intense and rich Pinot Noir with good tannin structure suitable for aging.
Aged on light less for 12 months into 100% French barrels with 30% new oak. Silky in texture and complex in flavor, with black cherries, rose petal and wild raspberry fusing perfectly with an exotic undertone of licorice and light vanilla oak. In the glass, bright red hues, darker to the edge, medium weight on the palate balanced with bright mouth-watering acidity. Long and luscious finish.
Food pairing: Salmon, tuna, duck, pork and mushroom dishes.
White – Kukeri ‘Taylor’s Crown’ Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
The 2019 Kukeri Sonoma Coast Chardonnay comes from the Taylor’s Crown vineyard, located off the southern slopes of Taylor Mountain. The cool winds which blows in from the Petaluma Gap delay ripening and make for a long growing season.
Fermented in 100% French oak barrels with 40% new oak and aged on fine lees for 6 months. This wine is lush and delicious, well balanced with great structure and texture. On the nose orange peel zest flavors leads into a brilliant menagerie of shaved almonds, toasted brioche and caramel, and lightly vanilla oak. In the glass, bright yellow straw with golden hues, medium weight on the palate with balanced silky mouthfeel and bright acidity. Long and lingering finish.
Food pairing: Lobster, Dungeness crab, roast chicken and creamy cheeses like Mt. Tam andr Humbolt Fog
.