$16.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Here’s another wine family with a long and winding road, the Giguieres, owners of Crew Wine Company, comprised of four labels:  Matchbook, Mossback, Chasing Venus and Sawbuck (all of which have been on the shelves at Carpe Vino).  This is the second venture for the family, which launched R.H. Phillips in 1984 before being listed on NASDAQ in 1995.  In 1997, the Toasted Head label was born, and that really changed everything.  In 2001, the business was sold to the wine conglomerate, Vincor International.  Crew Wine Company was formed in 2005, and here we go again!

The Matchbook label is a reference to two of the Giguiere brothers’ fascination with matches, fire and burning stuff.  There are eight wines in the series, and the Tinto Rey is arguably the tastiest. . .made from fruit in Dunnigan Hills, not far from Woodland of all places.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Tinto Rey means Red King. Tempranillo is the king of Spanish red wines and one of the most important red varietals in our Matchbook vineyard in the Dunnigan Hills. The Spanish varietals Tempranillo and graciano contribute spicy red berry fruit flavors; ayrah adds rich flavors of black cherry and blueberry; the spicy cedar and tobacco notes are from the cool-weather cabernet sauvignon.”

Wine Advocate Review (91 points):  It reveals a rich, full mouthfeel in addition to abundant black and blue fruits intermixed with graphite, spice box, forest floor and roasted herbs. Cotes du Rhone-like, with a lot of finesse and a richer, more fruit-driven mouthfeel, it should be drunk over the next several years.

Matchbook Wines, which is part of the Crew Wine Co., has produced some thrilling value-priced wines under the capable hands of winemaker Dan Cederquist. I was knocked out by two of the red wines (Tinto Rey & Tempranillo).”

$27.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is about as boutique as it gets: a five-acre vineyard of cabernet sauvignon producing an average of 200 cases of wine per year.  That’s it.

Chelsea Vineyards is owned by Napa Vacation Homes, and ultra-upmarket collection of wine country properties where the well heeled chill.  They make their own wine and serve at their facilities as well as restaurants all over California.  It is remarkably mellow wine and it’s priced right for a Sonoma cab.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The deep, ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of black cherries, black currants, tobacco leaf and coffee, medium to full bodied, generous and silky texture.”

$70 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The back story behind this winery is a case history in the portability of ownership.  Owners Richard and Alis Arrowood acquired 100 acres on the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains of Sonoma County and launched Amapola Creek, their second venture in winemaking, but this time they were unable to put their own name on the bottle.

In 1985, the pair launched Arrowood Winery and then, as the economy was peaking near 2000, they sold out to Robert Mondavi for a very substantial sum, staying on to help maintain the operation.  But when Mondavi decided to cash out a few years later, the business went through a rapid succession of new owners:  first to Constellation Brands, which in 2005 decided to unload two of its prestige (yet less profitable) brands, Arrowood and Byron.  These brands were acquired by a new winery collective called the Legacy Estates Group, formed in a poorly timed moved that was crushed into bankruptcy eight months later, a victim of the economy’s collapse.  Finally, the winery was picked up by Jess Jackson and it is still part of Jackson Family Wines.

With 45 years in the industry, Richard Arrowood toughed it out as Arrowood winemaker until 2010 when he segued into full-time management of his own label.  Now he continues to make beautiful wines, and we’re happily showcasing his ’09 cabernet this month.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Like most great cabernet sauvignon, this wine starts quietly on the nose. You will first perceive notes of cedar and anise that open up onto concentrated black fruit after a moment in the glass. On the palate, this wine shows a subtle mixture of rich, dark flavors: blackberry, cassis, and juicy red plum vying for attention against a backdrop of lush tannins. Every character hinted at before develops with a startling intensity.  Huge black fruit integrated with elegantly spicy oak, gentle notes of bitter chocolate, and juicy red berries are all woven together with bracing tannins that will allow this wine to age gracefully for decades to come. The finish is long and deep, bursting with luscious candied fruit characters, lasting a full minute or more. This is a true winemaking achievement. Enjoy this wine, but don’t forget to cellar some for the future as well!”

Wine Advocate Review (91 points):  “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon flows across the palate with layers of deeply expressive dark fruit. Sophisticated and impeccably balanced from start to finish, the 2009 shows a polished side of Sonoma Valley cabernet that is quite rare. Readers who enjoy more tertiary notes may want to hold the 2009 for another year or more, but it is already quite tasty and expressive. Hints of savory herbs and pencil shavings add complexity on the juicy, resonant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.” —Antonio Galloni

$27.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is about as boutique as it gets: a five-acre vineyard of cabernet sauvignon producing an average of 200 cases of wine per year.  That’s it.

Chelsea Vineyards is owned by Napa Vacation Homes, and ultra-upmarket collection of wine country properties where the well heeled chill.  They make their own wine and serve at their facilities as well as restaurants all over California.  It is remarkably mellow wine and it’s priced right for a Sonoma cab.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The deep, ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of black cherries, black currants, tobacco leaf and coffee, medium to full bodied, generous and silky texture.”

$45 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Every time I prepare tasting notes for Wine Club, it’s a chance to go to school.  Writing every description is a learning experience, especially when it comes to people and wineries with which I “think” I am already familiar.  This Shared Notes wine is an excellent example.

I didn’t know. . .

1.  That this is yet another wine made by Jeff Pisoni, a young man I may be seeing tomorrow (May 10), when we take a group of 40 people to Pisoni-Land near Salinas for a day of tasting with the clan—Gary, Jeff and Mark.

2.  That Jeff Pisoni was married.  For the longest time, I perceived him to be the most eligible bachelor in wine country. . .handsome, smart and one of the most talented winemakers in California.  Now, I know that he married in 2011 to Bibiana González Rave (also beautiful, smart and a talented winemaker), a native of Columbia who has 20 harvests under her belt and operates her own consultancy as well as makes her own wine (Cattleya).  She has partnered with Jeff in producing Shared Notes.

I checked out Bibiana’s web site, and she has garnered so much press during her career it makes me wonder if she has a full-time publicist.  It’s all glowing and leads me to believe that Bibiana and Jeff are destined to be a power couple in west coast winemaking.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The wine is very light in color with straw golden/green reflections. Initially reserved with white floral notes, the wine reveals hints of Meyer lemon zest with fresh essence of elderflower, watermelon rind, passion fruit and cantaloupe. Orange peel aromas emit from the glass creating a symphony of changing smells throughout the experience with the wine.
Delicate and subtle at first, the Semillon component gives a velvety texture that envelops the palate with an encompassing mouth feel that continues with gracious length. Finally, hints of passion fruit and white flowers rise at the finish—evoking the smell of a fresh morning’s ocean breeze. Drink now through 2025.”

$15 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It’s not often that we offer French wines at Carpe Vino—other than Champagnes—but this month we have a unique and affordable sauvignon blanc from the Loire Valley.  Information below is edited from text provided to us by our importer.

“François Chidaine is one of the Loire Valley’s great success stories. After finishing viticulture school in the mid-1980s, François went to work alongside his father, Yves, who had only four hectares of rented vineyard land in the appellation of Montlouis, in the Touraine. When Yves retired in 1989, he passed the torch to François.

“While François is a darling of the organic and biodynamic movements, he is by no means interested in indicating as much on the labels. Instead, he focuses on keeping his 40- to 80-year-old vines healthy and yields low. He follows the almanac developed by biodynamic legend, Maria Thun, which looks at both the solar and lunar calendars to establish the best timing for specific vine treatments. He and his team harvest the entire crop by hand.”

“The grapes are pressed gently and vinified on wild yeasts in both barrels and demi-muids (a large barrel with a capacity of 159 gallons). François seeks slow alcoholic fermentations that last all winter long, and avoids malolactic fermentations when possible. The cold limestone cellars allow the wines to develop more layers of complexity, which are simply unattainable when the process is rushed.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Classique-styled Loire valley sauvignon from the master of Montlouis and Vouvray. Produced entirely from Chidaine’s biodynamically farmed vineyards.  Minerals and citrus are packed into this beauty that shows surprising length and complexity for the appellation. This is a great lower-priced alternative to the popular sauvignons produced in the eastern Loire valley.”

$26 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve featured the wines of Curt Schalchlin several times in recent years.  A prolific winemaker, Curt has two brands and a confusing—to me, at least—line-up of individual wines with helter-skelter names and label designs.  I suppose that’s because it appears to me that this young man is as much aspiring artist and romantic as he is a winemaker.

Using fruit sourced from Santa Barbara, Central Coast and Paso Robles, Curt has, at least, zeroed in on the region from whence his wines are born.  He’s a talented crafter of affordable, approachable, drink-right-now juice, so expect to see more from him in the future.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “When the wind picks up and the storm clouds roll in and the sky turns orange, even though it is only 1:30 on an August afternoon, do not be surprised to find the scents of cinnamon bough, magnolia, lilac and orange blossom carried on the gale. There will come a time before the clouds break where the thickened air will collapse around you and you’ll find bees, broken terra cotta, sloughed off pear skin, and a subtle waft of white pepper. And that’s when it is time to leave the beach.”  (Lyrical to be sure, but great tasting notes, probably not. . .gary)

$16.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Here’s another wine family with a long and winding road, the Giguieres, owners of Crew Wine Company, comprised of four labels:  Matchbook, Mossback, Chasing Venus and Sawbuck (all of which have been on the shelves at Carpe Vino).  This is the second venture for the family, which launched R.H. Phillips in 1984 before being listed on NASDAQ in 1995.  In 1997, the Toasted Head label was born, and that really changed everything.  In 2001, the business was sold to the wine conglomerate, Vincor International.  Crew Wine Company was formed in 2005, and here we go again!

The Matchbook label is a reference to two of the Giguiere brothers’ fascination with matches, fire and burning stuff.  There are eight wines in the series, and the Tinto Rey is arguably the tastiest. . .made from fruit in Dunnigan Hills, not far from Woodland of all places.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Tinto Rey means Red King. Tempranillo is the king of Spanish red wines and one of the most important red varietals in our Matchbook vineyard in the Dunnigan Hills. The Spanish varietals Tempranillo and graciano contribute spicy red berry fruit flavors; ayrah adds rich flavors of black cherry and blueberry; the spicy cedar and tobacco notes are from the cool-weather cabernet sauvignon.”

Wine Advocate Review (91 points):  It reveals a rich, full mouthfeel in addition to abundant black and blue fruits intermixed with graphite, spice box, forest floor and roasted herbs. Cotes du Rhone-like, with a lot of finesse and a richer, more fruit-driven mouthfeel, it should be drunk over the next several years.

Matchbook Wines, which is part of the Crew Wine Co., has produced some thrilling value-priced wines under the capable hands of winemaker Dan Cederquist. I was knocked out by two of the red wines (Tinto Rey & Tempranillo).”

$26 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve featured the wines of Curt Schalchlin several times in recent years.  A prolific winemaker, Curt has two brands and a confusing—to me, at least—line-up of individual wines with helter-skelter names and label designs.  I suppose that’s because it appears to me that this young man is as much aspiring artist and romantic as he is a winemaker.

Using fruit sourced from Santa Barbara, Central Coast and Paso Robles, Curt has, at least, zeroed in on the region from whence his wines are born.  He’s a talented crafter of affordable, approachable, drink-right-now juice, so expect to see more from him in the future.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “When the wind picks up and the storm clouds roll in and the sky turns orange, even though it is only 1:30 on an August afternoon, do not be surprised to find the scents of cinnamon bough, magnolia, lilac and orange blossom carried on the gale. There will come a time before the clouds break where the thickened air will collapse around you and you’ll find bees, broken terra cotta, sloughed off pear skin, and a subtle waft of white pepper. And that’s when it is time to leave the beach.”  (Lyrical to be sure, but great tasting notes, probably not. . .gary)

$70 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The back story behind this winery is a case history in the portability of ownership.  Owners Richard and Alis Arrowood acquired 100 acres on the western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains of Sonoma County and launched Amapola Creek, their second venture in winemaking, but this time they were unable to put their own name on the bottle.

In 1985, the pair launched Arrowood Winery and then, as the economy was peaking near 2000, they sold out to Robert Mondavi for a very substantial sum, staying on to help maintain the operation.  But when Mondavi decided to cash out a few years later, the business went through a rapid succession of new owners:  first to Constellation Brands, which in 2005 decided to unload two of its prestige (yet less profitable) brands, Arrowood and Byron.  These brands were acquired by a new winery collective called the Legacy Estates Group, formed in a poorly timed moved that was crushed into bankruptcy eight months later, a victim of the economy’s collapse.  Finally, the winery was picked up by Jess Jackson and it is still part of Jackson Family Wines.

With 45 years in the industry, Richard Arrowood toughed it out as Arrowood winemaker until 2010 when he segued into full-time management of his own label.  Now he continues to make beautiful wines, and we’re happily showcasing his ’09 cabernet this month.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Like most great cabernet sauvignon, this wine starts quietly on the nose. You will first perceive notes of cedar and anise that open up onto concentrated black fruit after a moment in the glass. On the palate, this wine shows a subtle mixture of rich, dark flavors: blackberry, cassis, and juicy red plum vying for attention against a backdrop of lush tannins. Every character hinted at before develops with a startling intensity.  Huge black fruit integrated with elegantly spicy oak, gentle notes of bitter chocolate, and juicy red berries are all woven together with bracing tannins that will allow this wine to age gracefully for decades to come. The finish is long and deep, bursting with luscious candied fruit characters, lasting a full minute or more. This is a true winemaking achievement. Enjoy this wine, but don’t forget to cellar some for the future as well!”

Wine Advocate Review (91 points):  “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon flows across the palate with layers of deeply expressive dark fruit. Sophisticated and impeccably balanced from start to finish, the 2009 shows a polished side of Sonoma Valley cabernet that is quite rare. Readers who enjoy more tertiary notes may want to hold the 2009 for another year or more, but it is already quite tasty and expressive. Hints of savory herbs and pencil shavings add complexity on the juicy, resonant finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.” —Antonio Galloni