2008 Sausal Winery Private Reserve Zinfandel

Mission Codename: Ninety Plus

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Infiltrate Sausal Winery and secure a high-value Old Vine Zinfandel for our Operatives around the world

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Sausal Winery

Wine Subject: 2008 Private Reserve Old Vine Zinfandel, Alexander Valley

Winemaker: Dave Demostene

Backgrounder: Zinfandel is related to the ItalianPrimitivo grape, tracing its origin to the Croatian grapeCrljenak Kastelanski. Zinfandel is one of the most versatile varietals with the ability to make wines, both rich to fruity, dark to light, and dry to sweet. Alexander Valley Zinfandels, which are characterized by their big, extracted flavors, are gaining in popularity with our Operatives. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report below.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark ruby red with a brilliant, clear, glinting heart and edging. Both catch the light in a unique way, casting off sparkles of ruby red. At the edge of the glass, a medium width band of pink runs a circle around the wine. Tall, pencil-point fine legs run slowly down the glass after swirling.

Smell – Dusky and dark, with black cherry and brambly blackberry out in front. These are followed by dark raspberry, wild strawberry, dried meats, black pepper and a subtle dried herbal quality.

Feel – Initially cool, this wine quickly becomes plush and grippy, with a crushed Velvet feel that starts at the edges of the palate and works its way gradually inward. After a few moments, a mineral dryness spreads from the center of the palate, out to the lips and cheeks.

Taste – Bold and dark, with black cherry, blackberry, black plum and black currant. As the wine opens, wild strawberry, spiced cherry candy, bramble, crushed dried black flower petals, brown spice, flinty black pepper and a hint of subtle, smoky sweetwoods.

Finish – Very long and filled with red and black fruits which take a long time to fully diminish. As fruit fades, spice, minerals, black pepper and a lovely smoky quality slowly encroach. As the palate drys, spice and pepper remain, making the mouth water – in anticipation of another bold sip.

Conclusion – We’ve had the great fortune to showcase successive vintages of today’s wine. Each year, the wine is a little different. Each year it displays something very unique, as compared to prior vintages. This 2008 Sausal Private Reserve Old Vine Zinfandel, Alexander Valley shows off much more dark fruit than in previous years. That, and the fruit is more natural, more authentic. The wine really benefits from extended decanting and allowing thee wine to breathe for at least 30 minutes will reward you with even tastier fruit. Aromatically, this wine presents just like a classic Old Vine Zin, with plenty of dark fruit, but with a dusty, spicy character that only 90+ year old vines can convey. Pair with your favorite summertimeBBQ or enjoy it all on its own. Be sure to stock up, though. Enjoy some this summer, but cellar a few bottles for up to 10 more years. This flexible, evolving wine is built for enjoyment as well as for aging. Highly recommended, terrific price, limited supply – so be sure to act quickly.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Sausal winery can be seen in this satellite photo.

2011 LaZarre Wines Edna Valley Albarino

Mission Codename: The Great White

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Acquire a limited allocation of the legendary 2011 release of Adam LaZarre’s Edna Valley Albariño – a wine that in its early release, has already garnered wide attention and its first medal.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: LaZarre Wines

Wine Subject: 2011 Albariño – Edna Valley

Winemaker: Adam LaZarre

Backgrounder:

California’s Central Coast region, and specifically Santa Barbara and San Luis Obisbo County has become one of the state’s premier wine regions. The generally warmer climate, moderated by the coastal fog, its sandy and clay loam soil, and broad exposure results in grapes of exceptional purity.

Albariño is the primary grape used to make dry white wine in Northwestern Spains Rias Baixes (Lower Inlets) part of the Galicia region. Considered to be Spain’s premier quality white wine, Albariño is known in Portugal as Alvarinho, where it is often used as a component of Vinho Verde.

Adam LaZarre, while he is officially the winemaker for Villa San-Juliette Winery (and formerly from Hahn Estates and their affiliated labels) has been making super-premium, limited quantity wines for years and has elevated his skill to an art form. Always an operative favorite, this wine, as with all of Adam’s wines, is highly recommended.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Golden yellow with perfect clarity and even coloring, from core to edge. When you spin the wine, it looks dense and springy. It settles quickly, leaving behind tall,skinny tears that move swiftly down the glass.

Smell – Fresh and bright with plenty of zesty lemon, birch bark, lime, yellow apple and yellow grapefruit. As the wine warms and opens up a little, it reveals underripe pear, white peach, dried white flowers and a hint of minerally almond.

Feel – Soft and round on entry, then quickly zingy, bright, lively and drying. Bright acids transport a rush of crisp flavors to the far corners of the palate. A flinty dryness spreads quickly, drying tongue, lips then cheeks.

Taste – Bright and bold with lively flavors of lemon, lime, white peach, grapefruit and tart green apple. Allow the wine to warm a little and be rewarded with soft, follow-on flavors of white flower petals, pear, slate and subtle white pepper.

Finish – Very long and ever-changing, this wine starts off with tart citrus that gives way to peach and green apple which, in turn, yield to pear, slate minerals, white flowers – with a fine, zesty hint of white pepper at the very end. After flavors fade from the main parts of the palate, the white pepper zing persists on the lips – which is really fun.

Conclusion – Oh, Adam LaZarre, when we start our own winery, will you be our winemaker?! Adam always seems to just get it right when he makes his wines. This explains why he is one of the most sought-after winemakers on the Central Coast – and beyond. We even received a recent report (from one of our deep cover moles) that a prominent Napa Valley winery tried to recruit him.

Adam’s 2011 LaZarre Albariño – Edna Valley is a bright, delicious, fun wine that is filled with life, flavor and complexity. Flavors are persistent and they change from one to another in even tempo, leading to a very long and exciting finish. At the very end, fruits fade away and a lovely flinty minerality is punctuated by a softly spicy white pepper feel on the lips. If you love Albariño, or great white wines for that matter, you’ll want to stock up on this delicious summertime sipper.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the verdant Edna Valley, perhaps the finest place in the Western Hemisphere for white wines (according to Adam LaZarre), can be seen in thissatellite photo.

2009 Mayo Family Winery The Gypsy 'Jessica's Cuvee' GSM Blend

Mission Codename: Prince Valiant

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Respond to reports that Mayo Family Winery has released a new GSM Blend; taste the wine and, if it meets our exacting standards, secure an allotment for our thirsty Operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Mayo Family Winery

Wine Subject: 2009 The Gypsy – Jessica’s Cuvee – Sonoma Valley

Winemaker: Michel Berthoud

Backgrounder: Our Operatives know, by now, of our fondness for Mayo Family wines. Over the course of the last four plus years, we have gotten to know Jeffrey Mayo, who runs the winery, and his entire crew. We love the people as much as we love the wines. Today’s blend combines Grenache from the Judge Vineyard in Sonoma Valley, as well as a little bit of Syrah and Mourvedre from winemaker Michel Berthoud’s own vineyard in the town of Sonoma.

The Southern Rhone Valley in France is famous for its Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre-based blends that dance on the palate with a range of flavors, richness and elegance. With the popularity and awareness of such wines, more and more California producers are trying their hand with proprietary Rhone style blends. While these blends do not have to adhere to the strictAOC restrictions, they do capture the style very well. They even, on occasion, excel. Today’s selection is 70% Grenache, 29% Syrah with just 1% Mourvedre.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful dark ruby hues, from core to glinting edge. When you spin the wine, the color takes on a lovely pale crimson hue. When the wine settles, tall, skinny, wine-stained legs form high up on the glass wall, before sauntering slowly downward.

Smell – Sweet candied cherry, red plum, sweet raspberry jam, strawberry and soft brown spice combine with soft, sweet oak, dusty cocoa, dried fig and soft minerals.

Feel – Medium-weight on entry, the wine glides onto the mid palate where it takes on a off-dry and softly plush feel. A gentle dryness gradually increases, eventually spreading to the lips and cheeks.

Taste – Cherry, underripe blackberry, black plum and dried cranberry take the lead. As the wine opens up, flavors of black cherry, dried brown tobacco leaf, dried violets, brown spice and black pepper follow on.

Finish – Initially rich and flavor-packed. Red fruits fade, first, and then black fruits sustain for a very long time. A tasty smokiness appears as the fruits fade. Moments later, a soft, mineral rich dryness spreads throughout the palate, eventually drying the lips and cheeks.

Conclusion – This wine is…. fantastic! Loaded with fruit this wine has a deep nose and a very delicious palate. Decant for at least an hour, and the wine really springs to life, delivering much more fruit character. A soft smokiness does something to really support the fruit, allowing it to shine in the mouth. The finish is dynamic and really very intriguing, with one flavor clearly giving way to another – and then on to spice, ryness and minerals – all in distinct stages. For their first effort at a GSM, I’d say that Mayo nailed it with their 2009 The Gypsy. I am extraordinarily choosy about GSM, which I almost always find to bee to astringent. This wine shows beautiful balance of flavors, aromatics and feel. If you love great blends, this wine is very highly recommended.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Mayo Family tasting room, at the gateway to beautiful Glen Ellen, California, can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 Renato Fenocchio Barbera d'Alba DOC "Elena"

Mission Codename: The Youngest Daughter

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an exclusive allocation of a classic Piedmont Barbera d’Alba for our operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Renato Fenocchio

Wine Subject: 2006 Barbera d’Alba DOC “Elena”

Winemaker: Renato Fenocchio

BackgrounderBarbera, the third most planted varietal (after Sangiovese and Montepulciano) in Italy finds its most classic expression in the Piedmont and specifically in Asti and the much smaller Alba region. The best of Barbera is, like this wine, the Barbera d’Alba which can match any Barolo or Barbaresco in terms of overall quality. Barbera d’Alba is characteristically rich and full of flavor and makes up just a small percentage of the total production of the region.The finest Barbera is grown in specific single vineyard crus surrounding those communes. Italian Barbera comes in two basic forms, the tradizione, a more rustic old-world style and newer more fruit forward styles similar to the Barbera that is grown in California. Sadly, Barbera is often passed up as a lesser varietal but when done well, these wines show their classic Italian heritage and character.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark garnet purple with a dense and core that’s clear but extra dark. Along the edges the color lightens only slightly to show garnet tints. When swirled, this wine leaves randomly spaced fat legs along the side of the glass that descend to the wine below at varying speeds.

Smell – Bold, rich and redolent with the ripe and tart red cherry along with other red berries leading the way and inviting you in. Upon further exploration the cherry becomes slightly more tart and is surrounded by soft earthy undertones with toasted vanilla oak and a subtle nuttiness along with anise, green herbs and mocha as well.

Feel – Rich and warm, this dry and full-bodied wine initially glides over the palate with its well developed but sturdy tannins. Amble acidity and a touch of minerality sharpens the feel along the edge of the tongue and frames the rich, ripe fruit long into the finish.

Taste – Ripe and tart red cherry flavors are framed by toasted vanilla oak and wild anise. Soft earthiness, cedar cigar box, green herbs and toasted nuts also emerge along with a little exotic spice and dark cocoa.

Finish – Long and rich, the ripe and tart cherry lingers long providing a warm expansive feel as the other complex flavors of green herbs, its earthy and toasted notes and spice lasting and lasting.

Conclusion – The 2006 Renato Fenocchio Barbera d’Alba DOC “Elena” is a delicious a classic Barbera that has truly benefited by its time in the bottle. Well developed and rich flavors along with a warm and generous mouthfeel makes this wine great for richer pasta and roasted meat dishes. Enjoy this wine tonight after decanting or cellar for three to five years.

Mission Report:



WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Renato Fenocchio

WINE EDUCATION: The history of our wines begins early in the XIX century, when the family Fenocchio moved from Monforte d’Alba to Barbaresco. Here, my great-grandparents worked in a dairy-farm, attending to the growing and cultivation of numerous products, such as vines, hazelnuts and cereals.

I soon began helping my parents at home and in their vineyard, and, then, I started working in one of the most important cellars in Barbaresco, Marchesi di Gresy.

These are the first steps towards a lifetime spent making wine.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: As a farmer, year after year I obtain my harvest directly from Nature itself, by adding care, constancy and all my passion. The wines and the extra virgin olive oil I produce are the result of careful and steady handwork, coming from traditional wisdom with the help of modern technologies for caring the environment.



WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Renato. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Barbera d’Alba “Elena” today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

RENATO: Ciao. I’m pleased to share my wine with you.

WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

RENATO: I was about 5 years old when I started accompanying my Nonno (grandfather) to his vineyards. I literally grew up with grape-growing and winemaking.

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

RENATO: My father and my uncle.

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

RENATO: I am lucky since I do “the nicest work in the World” in a wonderful place and my aim is to do all my best for leaving it the most undamaged I can to my daughters.

WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

RENATO: Today’s wine is Barbera d’ Alba “Elena.” It is named for my youngest daughter. The vineyard of Barbera is in the borough of Neive, on the hill named “Starderi,” exposed to South-West. This is a big and rich Barbera with luscious berry fruit and hints of mocca and leather. Beautifully balanced, it shows vibrant acid and and ripe round tannin.

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

RENATO: Friends. And to eat, my wife’s Ravioli al Plin.

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Piedmont (and the Langhe Hills in particular) so special?

RENATO: The vineyards are found in the hills of Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso, and have excellent exposure on the gentle hills of “Langhe” at varying altitudes -from 240 to 350 meters above the sea level. The extremely diverse soils give each vineyard a distinct character. They range from calcarious-clayey soils with sandy emergences in Barbaresco and Treiso to argillous-calcarious sedimentary ground with grey-blue sandstones in Neive.

As a result of the various soil types and growing conditions the grapes produced in our vineyards are extremely different. The vines of each microclimate produces a fruit with a perfume, colour and flavour so unique and distinguishable that wine produced from each vineyard is perfectly recognizable. Our vines are a confirmation of the importance of “Terroir” when choosing a quality wine.

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

RENATO: It is springtime here in Barbaresco, so there is so much work to do in the vineyards. From shoot and cane thinning to leaf plucking and trellising, it is one of the busiest times of the year for us. Between now and the harvest, every single one of our 50,000 vines will be touched by our hands a dozen times.

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

RENATO: With pleasure. Wine is meant to be shared around a table with family, old friends and soon-to-be friends.

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

RENATO: We are proud of our work as farmers and try and capture that effort in the bottle. Sometimes we succeed. The special feature of Fenocchio’s work is the complete dedication to nature that comes through on the purity of flavour and the finesse of a long palate. ~ Graham Chidgey

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of Renato Fenocchio can be seen in this satellite photo.

2009 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: Satisfaction

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Faust Winery, the unique ultra-premium label from esteemed vintner, Agustin Huneeus. Procure an ample allocation of their brillian 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for our demanding Operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Faust – Napa Valley

Wine Subject: 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Charles Thomas

Backgrounder:

The fruit from this wine hails from select vineyards in both Rutherford AVA and the Coombsville AVA. Rutherford, just south of Saint Helena is of course perhaps the most famous AVA in Napa and the lesser known Coombsville region is just east of Napa City proper. Both regions are world-renowned for producing exquisite Napa Valley Cabernets.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Pure dark garnet hues with a deepening core. At the edge of the wine, a fine ring of light ruby catches the light. Spin the wine and it leaves behind tall columns of skinny legs that cling to the glass for a long time.

Smell – Right out of the bottle, the wine delivers a striking cracked black pepper aroma. This unique note is intriguing and not at all out of place as is it soon joined by lush blackberry, plum, braised black mission fig and soft brown spice. Swirl the wine and you’ll coax out additional aromas of anise, brown spice and dusty blackberry bramble.

Feel – Initially grippy, the wine softens after a little bit of swirling, taking on a more plush and supple feel. Medium firm tannins give the wine great structure, without being overpowering. At the back palate, a hint of black pepper gives the wine a bit of liveliness.

Taste – Dark black fruit of blackberry, black cherry and baked, yeasty pie crust. Brown spice, dark chocolate, cigar box and a hint of dusty earth.

Finish – Long and lush with lingering black fruit, spice and earthy notes. At the tail end, a lovely hit of freshly cracked pepper adds an exotic zing.

Conclusion – We are very lucky today, dear Operative, to be able to bring you another vintage of one of our favorite wines. Today’s 2009 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a really fantastic wine. It is drinking beautifully, for such a young wine, but it also holds so much promise. This is a wine that will continue to progress for another decade or longer, with proper care. Bold, delicious and well-structured, this wine delivers everything that you would expect from an ultra-premium Napa Valley Cabernet, but at a fraction of the price. We enjoyed our review bottles with a thin-crust, wood-fired pizza with Italian sausage and spicy red peppers.

Mission Report:

We were unable to secure an interview with winemaker, Charles Thomas, so today The Wine Spies go Old School by recapping our original mission to Faust, back in 2009:

Every once in a while, Ops asks one of us to ‘investigate’ our fellow operatives and while none of us enjoy being second guessed or having someone look over our shoulders, its a part of the job. We need to ensure that the wines that are selected are indeed of exceptional quality and character. Thus, when I was asked to verify Agent Red and Sparkles love of the wines from Agustin Huneeus and his classic tribute to Napa’s noble grape , I knew I had to tread carefully.

Red has an impeccable palate although every once in a while he goes overboard for a wine, I trusted him and as such, having a wine with such a tremendous reputation, my report on his tastings and missions would be easy. Great wines justifies great reviews…

The mission, codenamed ”Elemental Force” was supposed to be simple. Acquire a wine sample, taste it, compare with previous tastings and indicate through our W.I.N.E. (Wine Internet Nexus Engine) our calibrated taste profile. Well that’s when things went south, and fast. Red must have gotten word that he was being investigated. I tried to be discrete in my travel planning as to avoid even crossing paths, but no such luck. As soon as I arrived at the top secret tasting site I noticed Red sitting there with my bottle, open, a glass poured for himself and an evil grin on his face…

”Nice spy craft,” he said, as he beaconed me over and poured me a glass. ”Hopefully, you do a better job on your overseas missions!” he cackled

”Don’t worry, this one is easy, its that good,” he continued.

I just smiled as I lifted the glass to my nose and then took a sip. There was no point in trying to hid it. The2005 Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was great and my report to Ops will reflect that.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the approximate Faust in Rutherford can be seen in this satellite photo.

2010 Ty Caton Mendocino George's Riesling

Mission Codename: Pleasure Principal

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: For our Elite Operatives, return to Ty Caton Vineyards, and retrieve Ty’s best-selling, stupendously fantastic, uber-delicious, 2010 Riesling

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Ty Caton Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2010 George’s Riesling

Winemaker: Ty Caton

Backgrounder: Riesling is a white grape variety which originated in the Rhine region of Germany. Riesling is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas. The varietals high acidity makes it a wonderful food companion.

Riesling is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines. Riesling wines are usually varietally pure and are seldom oaked. As of 2004, Riesling was estimated to be the world’s 20th most grown variety at 48,700 hectares (120,000 acres) but in terms of importance for quality wines, it is usually included in the top three white wine varieties together with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Riesling is a variety which is highly terroir-expressive, meaning that the character of Riesling wines is clearly influenced by the wine’s place of origin. Today’s Mendocino Riesling is a refreshing, sweet, crisp and well-balanced wine that deserves your attention.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Perfect clarity through the pale yellow heart of the wine. After swirling, tall legs form high up on the glass wall before moving very slowly downward.

Smell – Aromatic with a fresh, clean and sweet initial nose of fresh cut green apple, soft citrus and lemon curd. As the wine warms and opens up, fresh white flowers, lime and grapefruit emerge.

Feel – Tender and soft on entry, the wine quickly presents itself as softly dry, with bright acids and a hint of flinty minerality giving the wine a balanced feel.

Taste – On first sip, the wine shows a lovely sweetness, with white honey and sweet lemon. With each successive sit, this sweetness abates and the wine takes on more classic Riesling characteristics with fresh green apple, lime, lemon and mineral flavors.

Finish – Clean and crisp, with lingering fruit and white flower flavors. After a few moments, minerals and a hint of white pepper offer a lovely punctuation at the tail end.

Conclusion – This is a fantastic Riesling, from a winery that has produced some of ouf favorite Red varietals. Today’s 2010 Ty Caton George’s Riesling is a great summertime wine that we’ll be stocking up on for our covert gatherings. With great balance, this wine really delivers something for everyone. Not too dry and not too sweet, this wine is so approachable and so fun to drink. Riesling is widely recognized conveying a sense of place, or terroir, better than any other grape, and today’s Mendocino Riesling is unique among any of the examples that we have ever featured. Pair with a summer day, a front porch, a bucket of ice and good friends! This wine gets our heartiest recommendation.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Ty Caton

WINE EDUCATION: Various classes at UC Davis, most importantly on the job training.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Minimal intervention – our goal is to let the grapes tell their own story without intervening

WINEMAKER QUOTE: Actively Seeking Excellence

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: December, 2002



WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Ty. We are thrilled to be showing your 2010 George’s Riesling today. We always really love your wines, Ty, and today’s is really pretty spectacular.

TY: Thanks, Agent Red! Always a pleasure to share my wines with your Operatives.

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

TY: Wine tasting in Napa with my cousins.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

TY: Peter Mathis of Ravenswood

RED: Who do you make wine for?

TY: I’m a pleaser by nature – I enjoy entertaining people and wine is intricate part of the socialization process, which I love!

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

TY: This wine is a German style dry Riesling. It is less than 1% RS. These grapes are organic, certified CCOF. It’s one of my favorite wines to drink.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

TY: It’s a porch pounder! A great summer wine. I like it with barbeque or even spicy Nepalese food

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Mendocino such a special place for Riesling?

TY: The climate!

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

TY: I’m actually spending a lot of time in the vineyard right now getting the irrigation working properly and working on shoot positioning.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

TY: These wines are somewhat of a cross over – they can be sipped by themselves or enjoyed with a meal.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

TY: Our vineyard grapes are grown certified sustainable through Farming For Flavors grape growing program.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

TY: Thanks Red, for the opportunity!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Ty Caton Vineyards & winery can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 Deerfield Ranch Winery Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: Journey to the Center of the Grape

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Wine Spies’ Operative favorite, Deerfield Ranch Winery, and procure an exclusive Cabernet Sauvignon for our demanding Operatives..

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Deerfield Ranch Winery

Wine Subject: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon – Sonoma County

Winemaker: Robert Rex

Backgrounder: Located in Kenwood, California, Deerfield Ranch Winery is a Wine Spies Operative favorite. The winery has proved elusive in recent times, but Agent Red was able to secure a limited allotment of today’s 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, a balanced, boldly delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, for our demanding Operatives.

Sonoma County’s first vines were planed way back in 1825 by Spanish missionaries. This unique micro-climate region receives less rain and is less influenced by the fog making this warmer AVA ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep garnet hues, with a darker, slightly opaque core. At the edge of the glass, a ruby ring encircles the wine. After swirling, tall, skinny rears form high up on the glass wall, before they inch slowly down the glass.

Smell – Leads with primary notes of boldly spiced cherry, strawberry, overripe blackberry, black cherry and dark brown spice. As the wine opens up, it reveals fresh berry bramble, supple leather, cedar, plum skin and a hint of black pepper.

Feel – Soft and cool on entry, the wine quickly gains weight and dimension at the mid-palate. Gradually, a soft, flinty minerality spreads around the palate, drying as it moves.

Taste – Focused and flavor-filled, the wine starts with black cherry, dried blackberry, bramble, dried leather, spice and cocoa dust. After some swirling, the wine opens up and delivers notes of tobacco, blueberry and cracked pepper.

Finish – Very long and filled with flavor, this wine starts with red fruit that gradually fades, giving way to more subtle earthen favors. At the very end, cracked pepper is ushered in by a drying, flinty minerality.

Conclusion – Today’s wonderful 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon comes to us from our dear friends atDeerfield Ranch Winery. This wine is a classic Sonoma County Cabernet, with a delicious balance between bright, authentic fruit, and more earthy, rustic characteristics. Where some wineries are releasing 2009 Cabs (some of them way before they are even ready), Deerfield only just released this wine. Held in the winery’s labyrinthine wine cave, the wine was held until it was ready. Major kudos to Deerfield for this sort of attention to the wine and the care of us wine drinkers. Pair this delicious wine with your favorite grilled meat dish, or enjoy it all on its own. Decant for best results and be sure to buy enough bottles to lay a few down for the next several years. We think that this wine will continue to develop beautifully. This wine gets a very big Wine Spies recommendation.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Robert Rex

WINE EDUCATION: 38 years of wine making experience

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Robert Rex is a “renaissance man” possessing a great palate and an exceptional talent for winemaking. He is a chemist, graphic designer and accomplished gourmet cook. He has the ability to fix almost anything. The harvest of 2010 will be Robert’s 38th consecutive year of winemaking. Robert and PJ, his wife and business partner, have lived in Kenwood, Sonoma Valley, for 28 years at their beautiful hilltop retreat, Deerfield Ranch, where the Deerfield Ranch Winery was founded. The view out their back door of Sonoma Mountain is the inspiration for the winery logo.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Making wine is like gourmet cooking. We start with the finest ingredients, grapes farmed by growers who put as much attention into the vines as we do into the wines. Great wine begins in the vineyard. We have worked with the same growers year after year to perfect a partnership to produce the best wine. By drawing from many vineyards, we get grapes from appellations where varietals grow the best. We allow the grapes to fully vine ripen, hand pick and sort the grapes, and use the most gentle production techniques. We produce wines using organic methods and are on of only three certified organic producing wineries in Sonoma.
We make wine by hand in small lots and taste them constantly to manage their constant change. We experiment with the latest techniques while operating from a foundation of tradition. We mold and nudge the wines in one direction or another to make them lovely, fruity and delicious to drink. Our reds receive extended barrel aging, which makes them mellow. Attention to cleanliness and balance makes them age worthy.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: Taste the passion

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 1982



WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Robert. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

ROBERT: Thank you for having me. It’s always a pleasure to share my passion with your Operatives.

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

ROBERT: When I was 9, I had piece of angel food cake and begged my mother to teach me how to make it. I’ve been in love with cooking ever since and winemaking, especially blending, draws from the same fundamentals. I often say I am a product of my environment in that way, if I had grown up in New York I’d have a restaurant, I grew up in California so I have a winery.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

ROBERT: My early mentor was Andre Tchelistcheff who taught me about blending and of course my wife PJ for sure. PJ is very sensitive to histamines and sulfites in wine so all our wines are clean, meaning we triple hand sort the grapes removing anything you wouldn’t feed your baby. As a result our wines have extremely low levels of histamines and sulfites, so anybody can drink them without experiencing headaches or allergic reactions.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

ROBERT: For everyone who enjoys wine. I appreciate the reviewers and bloggers who spend time creating tasting notes and reviews but the best compliment I can get about one of my wines is delicious!

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

ROBERT: Our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, is my favorite Cabernet right now. It is singing, as we say… it’s a the top of its taste profile. It is simply delicious, with nice round fruit in the middle and a perfect balance of soft tannins and low acid. It has perfect Cabernet flavor without being in your face. It fills every corner of your palate without taking the enamel off your teeth. This Cab is actually a Meritage style blend, which is what I like to do best. It has a big hit (13%) of Cabernet Franc, which gives it a chocolate overtone. A bit of Merlot (10%) for more frontal aromatic character and a touch of Malbec (2%) to enhance the berry flavor in the back of the palate. Extended barrel aging, over three years and longer than any other California winery, softened the wine and married the flavors better than can any bottle aging. It should be selling for at least $50 per bottle in my opinion.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

ROBERT: The nice thing about this Cab is that it will pair with a much wider variety of foods than will those overly extracted huge tannic Cabs. You can actually enjoy this wine with your food instead of by itself. The other day we had it with a hearty Paella, which we whipped up one evening with what we had in the refer. A few frozen shrimp the only fish. We used dried Porcini mushrooms, which gave a richness that matched the Cab perfectly. You don’t need a big red meat meal with this wine. Try it with a ham and cheese Panini, you’ll be amazed. Of course it goes great with grilled lamb chops but that’s too easy.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Sonoma County region so special for Cabernet Sauvignon?

ROBERT: Sonoma is a bit cooler on average than its neighbor, Napa. The cooler summer produces thinner skins on the grapes. The thinner skins make for a more elegant wine. This is what makes Sonoma so special for all its wines, including Cabernet. We Sonoma winemakers respond to what Mother Nature gives us so our focus is on elegance and balance. The nights are very cool and we have very low humidity, all these the perfect combination to produce world class grapes. Sonoma is beautiful and the best grapes in the world grow in beautiful places. How could the wine be any less.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

ROBERT: We’re bottling wine this week, our Estate organic Syrah and organic Merlot, a Sonoma Valley Zinfandel and a couple of Cabernets. It’s the last time we can touch and taste the wine before we present it to the world and that makes it quite stressful. There is a lot of logistics involved and it takes a big effort from the team. At weeks end we’ll have another 4,000 cases in the cellar and we’ll open a bottle of this 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, to celebrate.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

ROBERT: Passionately. Winemaking is more than a profession, it’s my passion. The long hours and hard work wouldn’t be worth it if I didn’t absolutely love it, and that’s what I want everyone to taste – the passion. Wine is such a delicate art and one that is meant to be enjoyed.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

ROBERT: If you make it to Kenwood please stop by the winery and taste wines in the Grand Room of our wine cave. We always love to take the time to share Deerfield wines with guests. Sante!

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Deerfield Ranch Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.

2011 Swanson Vineyards Rosato

Mission Codename: Worth the wait

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Swanson Vineyards and secure the latest vintage of a Wine Spies’ Operative favorite, their stunning 2011 Rosato.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Swanson Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2011 Salon Rosato

Winemaker: Chris Phelps

Backgrounder:

The Wine Spies are always on the hunt for the best wines that we can find. When it comes to Rosé , we are exceedingly difficult to please. Today’s wine comes to us from a Wine Spies favorite, Swanson Vineyards, whose delicious Rosato Rosé offers freshness and beautiful balance – making it an exciting summertime sipper.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful dark pink, with dark salmon-colored edges that glint when they catch the light. After swirling, tall, thick legs form high up on the glass wall, before sauntering slowly downward.

Smell – Sweet and savory and lush, with strawberry, raspberry and watermelon rind, up front. As the wine warms, even slightly, additional notes are released, including dried pink flower petals, white peach and soft mineral notes.

Feel – Soft on entry, then the wine takes on a medium bodied, crisp and lively feel. The wine gradually takes on a softly dry feel, with a slight slate minerality. The soft dryness spreads from the center of the palate, out to the lips and cheeks.

Taste – Bright and focused, with young strawberry, underripe raspberry, white peach and red flower petals providing the predominant notes. Allow the wine to warm and additional subtle flavors are released, including Rainier cherry, soft white spice, bramble, white pear and slate.

Finish – Ultra clean and very refreshing, this wine starts with sweet and tart flavors that fade very slowly. As fruit dwindles, faint white spice and a crisp minerality are left behind.

Conclusion – We have now had the great fortune to sample several of the last vintages of today’s extraordinary wine. Today’s brilliant 2011 Swanson Rosato is a delicious, balanced, flavorful wine that is the best Swanson Roasto that we have ever tasted. If you love a delicious, perfect for summertime Rose that has plenty of character, then we really encourage you to sample today’s very special wine. Sip it all on its own, or enjoy with a pepperoni pizza, hard cheeses or a wide variety of foods. This wine is as flexible as it is delicious. Don’t miss out!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of Swanson Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.

2008 Galante Vineyards Red Rose Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: High Horse

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Galante Vineyards in California’s beautiful Carmel Valley and procure an ample allotment their newest Red Rose Hill Cab for our Operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Galante Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2008 Red Rose Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Greg Vita

Backgrounder: Our loyal Operatives know that we arehuge fans of Galante wines. Whenever we can get our hands on their limited-production wines, we jump at the chance to feature them here. Today, we are proud to bring you Jack Galante’s exceptional new 2007 Red Rose Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. This bright young wine is delicious and ready to enjoy now. Just be certain to buy a few bottles to lay down, and you’ll be rewarded! Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report below to learn more about this superior Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Brilliant magenta hues, from the core of the wine, right out to its brilliant, glinting edge. When spun and held to the light, the magenta coloring takes on an iridescent quality. After the wine settles, tall, skinny, wine-stained legs move swiftly down the glass.

Smell – Lush and alive, this wine exudes black cherry, blackberry, leather, spice and fresh salad herbs. As the wine opens, dried meats, dark sweetwoods, strawberry and black pepper emerge.

Feel – Taught and medium-bodied if sampled right after opening. As the wine breathes, it really softens up, taking on a much more rounded feel. Grippy tannins and a balanced acidity provide the perfect framework from the fruit. A slow, spreading dryness moves from the center of the palate, radiating outward.

Taste – Dark fruit and red fruit of overripe blackberry, plum, black cherry, strawberry, red currant and Bing cherry are balanced against savory herbs, dark cocoa, espresso bean, dried violets, dusty spice and cracked pepper.

Finish – Long, juicy and flavor-filled with dark fruits giving way to red fruits. As the fruits fade, cocoa, espresso bean and spice persist for a long time.

Conclusion – This is the fourth time that The Wine Spies have featured a successive vintage of today’s special wine. We have to say, winemaker, Greg Vita, gets it so right – once again. Today’s 2008 Galante Vaneyards Red Rose Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, from Jack Galante’s own Red Rose Hill vineyard, is a juicy, balanced, flavor-packed treat that will delight Galante fans and fans of big, juicy Cabs, in general. This is a vibrant, delicious wine with just the right amount of intrigue and complexity as to make it exciting and approachable. Pair with a spicy carne asada, fresh off the grill. Be sure to stock up. This wine is drinking beautifully now, but it will only continue to improve over the next several years.

Mission Report

WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: As always, Jack, thank you so much for allowing us to showcase your wines for these last four-plus years. It has been a pleasure and an honor to get to know you and to have enjoyed your wines.

JACK: Thank you, Agent Red. We love that your Operatives love our wines so much! Tell me, though, when will I finally get my own Agent name?

RED: You have one, already! It’s [REDACTED], but be careful who you reveal this to… Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

JACK: Our 2008 Red Rose Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 76% Cabernet and 8% each of Malbec, Merlot and Petite Sirah. This wine has a lovely aroma of toasted oak and bright flavors of raspberry and currant. age worthy and would easily do well in your cellar for the next 5 to 10 years.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

JACK: I really enjoy this wine with lamb shanks or braised short ribs.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Carmel Valley so special?

JACK: Our Carmel Valley Appellation in Monterey County is well known for its fabulous cabernet sauvignons. The region is marked with a big temperature variation in the growing season. Cold crisp nights and warm days make it extremely suitable as a wine growing region as harvest normally occurs in October and November.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

JACK: We have been incredibly busy lately. We just finished bottling Dawn’s Dream wines (Dawn Galante started her own brand recently) as well as some of the wines of our custom crush customers. We are also going through the vineyards weeding and suckering. Lots of fun events at the winery are planned for the coming months as well.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. The Wine Spies remain loyal fans.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of Galante Vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 Estancia Estates Reserve Chardonnay

Mission Codename: The Essence of Soledad

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Estancia Estates and secure an allocation of their Reserve Chardonnay – before they run out.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Estancia Estates

Wine Subject: 2006 Reserve Chardonnay

Winemaker: Scott Kelley

Backgrounder: Monterey County is home to some of the finest Chardonnay in the country. The Wine Spies have featured several Monterey County Chardonnays and, every time, our Operatives have scooped them up enthusiastically. Today we mark our return to Estancia – and return, with the final cases of their stellar 2006 Reserve Chardonnay, a wine that is in perfect form and still approaching its peak.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Light golden yellow, with perfect clarity ad perfectly even coloration, from core to edge. Swirl the wine wine and marvel at round after round of tall, skinny tears that fall slowly down the glass.

Smell – Bold and full on the nose, lush fruit and dried flowers jump from the glass. Bright, zesty lemon, pineapple and Anjou pear take the lead. As it warms a little, dried white flower petals, flinty minerals and toasted oak round out the nose.

Feel – Soft, smooth and velvety on the tip of the tongue. As it settles onto the palate, this wine takes on a more medium-bodied feel. Soft minerals and a bright acidity add complexity.

Taste – Bright and zesty, with fresh lemon, acacia flowers, flint, toasty oak and a hint of Asian pear. As the wine opens up (allow it to warm slightly), it reveals darker citrus flavors and hints of softest spice, toasted vanilla bean and a subtle earthiness.

Finish – Long and complex, but clean and refreshing, with fruit and soft spice that last a very long time.

Conclusion – The 22006 Estancia Reserve Chardonnay is a delicious wine that is fresh, intriguing and just a little complex. Bold aromatics greet the nose before you even lift your glass for a sniff. Flavors are of authentic fruit, minerals, soft oak, white flowers, complex darker toasty vanilla and subtle spice. While this wine is a 2006, it was built for a little bit of aging. The wine is approaching its peak, and it probably has another year or two left in it, for optimal enjoyment. Quantities are very limited, as we got out hands on every last case that the winery had. Act quickly, as this wine will certainly sell out!

Mission Report:

Below is a recap of Agent Red’s recent interview with winemaker Scott Kelly when we featured another of his fantastic wines:

SUBJECT: Scott Kelley, Estancia

PLACE OF BIRTH: Salinas, CA

WINE EDUCATIONUC Davis

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: General Manager and Director of Wine Making-Estancia

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Estancia’s winemaking philosophy continues to be firmly rooted in terroir, with the goal of producing wines that reflect the unique vineyards and appellations in which they are cultivated.

SIGNATURE VARIETAL: Pinot Noir

CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Becoming GM and Director of Winemaking at Estancia.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: “It begins and ends in the Vineyard.”

WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Scott. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Estancia Reserve Meritage today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

SCOTT: Thank you very much. Always happy to chat with the Wine Spies!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

SCOTT: I knew I wanted to do this since I was seventeen. I grew up in agriculture family and had an early interest in chemistry while in high school. I really found winemaking to be the perfect blend of agriculture and chemistry. My older brother was into viticulture as well, so that probably influenced my career direction a bit.

RED: And where did you learn the most about winemaking?

SCOTT: Growing up I had a lot of varied interests, not just in oenology but also in food science, so I pursued studies in Fermentation Science at the University of California at Davis. In addition to winemaking, I also explored the principles and science behind distillation, food engineering and even a little cheese-making. Since my brother and I were experimenting with home brewing during the summers, I took the opportunity to study at Davis’ Institute of Brewing Studies, eventually earning a Master Brewers Certificate. After Davis, I joined the Carmel Brewing Company, and eventually assembled a brewpub in Monterey from the ground up, formulating the recipes and brewing all the beer that we would serve on tap. I had always enjoyed the engineering side of things such as fluid dynamics and heat transfer, and working in a small brewpub allowed me to be hands-on throughout the brewing process and use some of the mechanical skills I learned growing up.
Ultimately though, I found that brewing didn’t really fulfill my creative side, and I found myself gravitating back toward winemaking. In 2000, I joined the Robert Mondavi family of wines working on a variety of brands that took me from Australia to Italy. These experiences abroad really shaped my philosophy about wine and winemaking, my travels to Italy clarified the synergy between wine and food, while making wine in Australia introduced me to a new approach with a focus on the details and the idea that you only get one chance to make a wine great.

RED: What is your winemaking style or philosophy?

SCOTT: Winemaking fulfills my artistic side without giving up the innovative hands-on experience that keeps me in touch with my family’s roots in agriculture. I enjoy all of the challenges that each vintage presents in order to shape the style of wines we make at Estancia.. Our winemaking style is one that fully embraces the coastal terroir.

RED: Tell me, what makes the Monterey and the Central Coast region so special?

SCOTT: Born and raised in Monterey County, I have tremendous respect for the climate – the wind and fog and the impact it has on the fruit and wine. Whether it is using less oak in the Chardonnay to protect the tropical characters or fermenting Pinot Noir only in open-top fermenters to respect the silky tannins, I am really passionate about making estate-based wines that have truly have a reason for being.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today

SCOTT: Estancia Meritage is a sophisticated, rich, complex and luscious wine harvested from the distinctive terroir of our Keyes Canyon Ranch and the Paso Robles AVA.. The 2006 Meritage was a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 8% Petite Verdot. This wine has vibrant, dark black cherries with hints of anise, rosemary and sage. Accents of chocolate powder and soft oak. Intense flavors of chocolate dipped black fruit, accompanied by notes of sweet oak. Wonderfully structured ripe tannins lead to a nice long, fruit driven finish.

In 1999, Estancia planted its Keyes Canyon Ranch, covering nearly 700 acres of vineyards in appellation of Paso Robles. This unique appellation is home to more extreme temperature swings than any other wine-growing region in California. During the day, the vines bask in the warm sunshine and at night they are soothed by a cool marine layer from the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the infertile soils and rugged terrain of Keyes Canyon, encourages the vines to yield small fruit clusters with tiny berries packed full of rich berry tones.

The 2006 harvest was compact due to a wet spring, cooler than average summer, and then a record blast of heat at veraison. September 26th marked the beginning of harvest which continued through October 26th.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

SCOTT: I think this wine is very versatile, but it would marry particularly well with steak or nicely grilled rack of lamb.

RED: Please share one thing about yourself that few people know

SCOTT: When I am not making wine, my fiancée Dena and I try to find time to pursue one of our many hobbies. We golf, cook, hunt, scuba diving and we go fly fishing for Steelhead in Oregon.

RED: What is your favorite ‘everyday’ or table wine?

SCOTT: It’s tough to pick a “favorite” as it really depends on what time of year it is or what we might be enjoying for dinner. Pinot Noir is always a favorite, and I have to say that that the more we play around with the Grenache fruit that we have on some of our Estate properties the more excited I am getting about that varietal.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and about your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

SCOTT: Thanks, this has been a lot of fun. I hope everyone enjoys the Meritage…it’s one of my favorite wines to make each year.

Wine Spies Winery Check:
The location of the Estancia Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.