$29.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

NxNw is the second label of King Estates, one of the largest wineries in the Willamette Valley.  This project represents a interesting blend of fruit from length of the Columbia River Valley, creating some very flavorful wines (and they are nutritious, too!).   Here’s what the winery says:

“North by Northwest represents wines made from inland grape growing appellations of the Columbia River Basin of Oregon and Washington. The NxNW winemakers have developed strong relationships with growers and fellow winemakers in the Columbia River Appellation and throughout the northwest viticultural region. NxNW is a unique lens for capturing the essence of terroir, the character of the people, and the quality of the wines from this great emerging winegrowing region.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Appearance: deep red.  Aroma: cherry, vanilla, sweet smoke, forest floor, dried leaf, tobacco, mint, spice, cherry cola.  Flavor: cherry liquor, dark chocolate, blackberry, toast, black currant, raspberry juice, eucalyptus, leather, umami.  Mouthfeel: full-bodied, firm, thick tannins and viscosity, long finish.

$15.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Seems like these days the trend is to be cute to sell wine.  If that’s the case, The F Bomb from “The Dirty Pure Project” fits the mold, as does its sister wine, The G Spot White Wine Field Blend.  What’s next, the Erogenous Zone Zinfandel?  Let me get to work on the label right now.

Gimmicks aside, Drew doesn’t jump on a wine unless it is tasty, and this one certainly is. . .and different, to boot.  You don’t see Santa Barbara Grenache/Mourvedre blends often, but this one is a unique expression of the region’s microclimates.

This wine is bottled sans capsule. . .just a naked neck with a bare cork.  The winemakers says this is an ecologically sound practice because no plastic or metal capsules go into landfills, nor do they have the opportunity to help foul corks and wine.  Nice.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The 2012 vintage has notes of fresh cracked black pepper, white flowers and cigar box followed by a deep and brooding core of blackberry jam, ripe strawberry and velvety textures with purity, concentration and a long, seamless finish.”

 $55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We often hear/read about very wealthy people who have become so enchanted with the notion of living the dream in wine country that—without much experience—they buy an expensive chunk of Napa or Sonoma and launch their own brand.  That was my reaction after reading what Mitchell Ming had to say in “Our Story” on Korbin Kameron Winery’s website:

“On a drive through the Sonoma Valley, we—Jenny and myself along with our children Kristin, Korbin and Kameron—came upon a homestead hovering high above the valley floor, so high that the land lived above the clouds. The house looked over acres and acres of rolling hills, wild with nature. And in that idyllic scene, we saw our dream of working together and creating quality wines from our estate grown grapes coming to life.”

So right away I assume Mr. Ming is an erstwhile high-tech mogul or a venture capitalist of some sort, but I couldn’t find much about him online (his Linkedin page has just one connection).

His wife, Jenny, on the other hand, absolutely lit up Google.  She was president of Gap/Old Navy for seven years and is now CEO & President of Charlotte Russe, a huge fashion retailer.  She is a board member of Kaiser Permanente, and in 2012, she gave the commencement address at her alma mater, San Jose State University.

Ah, another stereotype blown to bits.

The winery is truly family run, with Mr. Ming heading up the program.  His son is general manager and his two daughters handle marketing and wine club management.  Heavy lifting is handed-off to two pros:  winemaking is the purview of Bob Pepi; Phil Coturri is viticulturist.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The deep purple hues exhibited upon pouring this wine in the glass are very vibrant and appealing.  On the nose there is wonderful intensity and complexity with plums, dark cherries and hints of cigar box, toasty oak and dark chocolate.  On the palate, this well-balanced wine has a heavy structure and weight with a soft silky feel.  The flavors mimic the aromas with added hints of spice and star anise that linger nicely leading to an enjoyable finish.

$22.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Our specialty at Carpe Vino is sourcing obscure wines that are new to the market.  Folkway fits that niche perfectly, launched in 2009.  The problem is, like many small wineries, the Folkway folks aren’t deeply into marketing.  Other than the fact the wines are a treat, here’s what we know of them. . .direct from their one-page website:

“Folkway Wine Company is the beloved project of Lino and Anthony Bozzano. Discarding the prevailing wisdom of the day in favor of observation and experience, they seek to capture the character of each site in its unique expression of Bordeaux varietals with honesty and integrity.  Born to Italian immigrant walnut and cherry farmers in California’s Central Valley, Lino and Anthony are true sons of the land.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “A beautiful royal purple color, the Revelator emits a decadent nose of pomegranate, molten chocolate cake, mint, tobacco, kirsch and bacon fat.  With excellent balance and a long finish, the palate deftly layers complex flavors of brown sugar, black olives, black pepper and cherries.  Drink now or cellar until 2015.”

$22.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The night is darkening around me
The wild winds blow cold
But a tyrant spell has bound me
To this path I walk alone

This is the dark message that greets visitors to Winemaker Curt Schalchlin’s San Liege web site.  I have to admit I am often consumed by the same ominous cloud when I sit down at my computer each month to prepare these wine tasting notes. . .but somehow both Curt and I manage to power through.

Thankfully, San Liege wines—featured previously in our various clubs—are always uplifting, especially if you’ve had a hard day at the office.

Winery Tasting Notes:  These notes have been slimmed down to just the essential info:  “Wafts of ancient spice, boughs of cloved oranges and dried thyme hanging quietly overhead. . .frothed cream, cinnamon flan, orange marmalade, moss-covered roofs and poached apples. . .freshness of lime zest, grated fennel and pressed cilantro leaf.”  (Lotta shit goin’ on in there, for sure—gary)

$37.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Heard of Butter Chardonnay?  If you drink chard and are a Carpe Vino fan, of course you have.  It is our best-selling chard since we sold over a thousand cases of Bouchon (which, will be back in stock soon).  Butter is made by John Anthony Vineyards. . . which also produces JAM, one of our top-selling red blends.  Consulting winemaker for John Anthony—and Serene Cellars and Jessup Cellars, among others—is none other than Robert Lloyd, namesake of Lloyd Cellars.

So by extension, my guess is chard fans are really going to appreciate Lloyd Chardonnay.

Robert has an interesting background:  He has a degree in economics from UC Irvine, but upon graduation headed off to Napa and starting working in the wine biz as a cellar rat.  Then he moved on to working in tasting rooms at Cakebread and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars before going back to class at U.C. Davis where he earned a masters in enology in 1999.  Have both degrees probably positions him for success in a business that often brings people down because of finances.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromatics of pineapple, vanilla, and tropical fruit jump out of the glass. A rich mouth-feel balanced with just enough acidity allow the wine to disappear quickly, leaving you waiting for the next taste… enjoy!”

$15 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The wines of Andrew Jones have been featured at Carpe Vino in the past because he makes great wines at affordable prices.  His latest rendition of Fiction White is another great example.

Interesting dude:  Jones’ day job is has a “vine nursery employee,” giving him access to growers around the state.  He’s able to source small batches of terrific fruit and then produce limited runs of very interesting wines.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromatic but crisp, Fiction White is like white peaches, green mango, served with Greek yogurt.  And sort of like gooseberry salt taffy, or limeade.  Think of camphor candies.”

$22.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The night is darkening around me
The wild winds blow cold
But a tyrant spell has bound me
To this path I walk alone

This is the dark message that greets visitors to Winemaker Curt Schalchlin’s San Liege web site.  I have to admit I am often consumed by the same ominous cloud when I sit down at my computer each month to prepare these wine tasting notes. . .but somehow both Curt and I manage to power through.

Thankfully, San Liege wines—featured previously in our various clubs—are always uplifting, especially if you’ve had a hard day at the office.

Winery Tasting Notes:  These notes have been slimmed down to just the essential info:  “Wafts of ancient spice, boughs of cloved oranges and dried thyme hanging quietly overhead. . .frothed cream, cinnamon flan, orange marmalade, moss-covered roofs and poached apples. . .freshness of lime zest, grated fennel and pressed cilantro leaf.”  (Lotta shit goin’ on in there, for sure—gary)

$16.50 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Damselfly is the second brand to Odonata Wines, a 1,000-case label developed by Denis Hoey, a native of Sacramento who now calls Santa Cruz home.  A 2004 business major graduate from U.C. Santa Cruz, Hoey did a left-hand turn into the wine business after hooking up with Jeff Emery, owner and winemaker for Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard.  After apprenticing under Emery—combined with cellar experience at Bison Organic Brewery in Oakland—Hoey is now fully committed to the wine biz.

And he is pretty busy fellow to boot.  His full-time gig these days is production manager for Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard.  He made is first wine in 2005, and now he’s developing two private labels.

Check it out. . .just 70 cased produced.  You won’t find this juice at Raley’s!

$22.95 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The night is darkening around me
The wild winds blow cold
But a tyrant spell has bound me
To this path I walk alone

This is the dark message that greets visitors to Winemaker Curt Schalchlin’s San Liege web site.  I have to admit I am often consumed by the same ominous cloud when I sit down at my computer each month to prepare these wine tasting notes. . .but somehow both Curt and I manage to power through.

Thankfully, San Liege wines—featured previously in our various clubs—are always uplifting, especially if you’ve had a hard day at the office.

Winery Tasting Notes:  These notes have been slimmed down to just the essential info:  “Wafts of ancient spice, boughs of cloved oranges and dried thyme hanging quietly overhead. . .frothed cream, cinnamon flan, orange marmalade, moss-covered roofs and poached apples. . .freshness of lime zest, grated fennel and pressed cilantro leaf.”  (Lotta shit goin’ on in there, for sure—gary)

 $55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We often hear/read about very wealthy people who have become so enchanted with the notion of living the dream in wine country that—without much experience—they buy an expensive chunk of Napa or Sonoma and launch their own brand.  That was my reaction after reading what Mitchell Ming had to say in “Our Story” on Korbin Kameron Winery’s website:

“On a drive through the Sonoma Valley, we—Jenny and myself along with our children Kristin, Korbin and Kameron—came upon a homestead hovering high above the valley floor, so high that the land lived above the clouds. The house looked over acres and acres of rolling hills, wild with nature. And in that idyllic scene, we saw our dream of working together and creating quality wines from our estate grown grapes coming to life.”

So right away I assume Mr. Ming is an erstwhile high-tech mogul or a venture capitalist of some sort, but I couldn’t find much about him online (his Linkedin page has just one connection).

His wife, Jenny, on the other hand, absolutely lit up Google.  She was president of Gap/Old Navy for seven years and is now CEO & President of Charlotte Russe, a huge fashion retailer.  She is a board member of Kaiser Permanente, and in 2012, she gave the commencement address at her alma mater, San Jose State University.

Ah, another stereotype blown to bits.

The winery is truly family run, with Mr. Ming heading up the program.  His son is general manager and his two daughters handle marketing and wine club management.  Heavy lifting is handed-off to two pros:  winemaking is the purview of Bob Pepi; Phil Coturri is viticulturist.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The deep purple hues exhibited upon pouring this wine in the glass are very vibrant and appealing.  On the nose there is wonderful intensity and complexity with plums, dark cherries and hints of cigar box, toasty oak and dark chocolate.  On the palate, this well-balanced wine has a heavy structure and weight with a soft silky feel.  The flavors mimic the aromas with added hints of spice and star anise that linger nicely leading to an enjoyable finish.