Wine Club Tasting Notes Online. . . Exclusively

Welcome to Carpe Vino’s Wine Club Tasting Notes Online, where each month you’ll find information about all of our current selections. After wines have been billed and are ready to be picked up or shipped, Wine Club members will receive an email notification. Simply select the club in which you are enrolled below. You can view the tasting notes online, download a PDF and view notes for other clubs. The best part is all notes are archived, so if you cellar your wines, you can come back and locate any tasting notes.

Wine pricing shown with the notes is full retail; wine club pricing is shown on your receipt when you pick up your wine. We hope you find this process helpful and easy to use. And for your privacy, your membership information will be kept confidential. Carpe Vino does not share our information with any outside companies or other organizations.

Enjoy!

Wine Club Tasting Notes for February

No Respite for Wine Road Warriors

Though I’m out in California wine country seeking new wines for our beloved customers, I don’t get a pass on fulfilling my monthly obligation of preparing tasting notes for Wine Club members. So, I am sitting in the lone Starbucks in Lompoc, California, trying to make a Grande Late last three hours. Cell service and Internet access are typically at a premium when you are bunking at a winery like I am. . .spending two nights at Clos Pepe before moving on to Paso Robles where I’ll conclude my tour at Opolo Vineyards.

Drew has assembled another stellar line-up for your enjoyment, no matter if your preference is red or white. I opened a bottle of the Van Ruiten OVZ in the trailer last night and the blissful flavors lingered on my tongue as I slumbered off, Moose cuddled under the covers at my feet. Check out my blog at www.vintagehighway.com for details about our tour. I’ll be posting soon!

Select Wine Club Category

2010 Groundwork Grenache

(Santa Barbara)

2010 Groundwork Grenache

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This wine is from the Sans Liege Winery in Santa Barbara where winemaker Curt Schalchlin scours the Central Coast for his fruit. He makes some great juice with very odd names and unique labels, the ideas for which he derives from diverse sources, including the German Expressionist movement, New York artist Gene Ploss and illustrations from Dante’s Inferno.

You can visit his tasting room in Pismo Beach, or watch this space for more interesting entries such as The Offering, The Adversary and Transcendentalist.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“The most focused and expressive Groundwork Grenache to date. A dense nose rich with raspberry liquor, crushed rose petal, ground clove and sage. On the palate the wine shows classic cool climate flavors of fresh-tilled earth, sea breeze, black licorice and blueberry with lasting dusty tannins. Think Northern Rhone Syrah meets Central Coast Grenache.”

Blend:
This wine is made from 100% Santa Barbara fruit: 16% Watch Hill Grenache, 62% Santa Barbara Highlands Grenache, 13% Alamo Creek Grenache and 9% Rancho Arroyo Grande Syrah.

Alcohol Level: 14.9%

Cases Produced:

Winemaker Name: Curt Schalchlin

2010 Van Ruiten “Old Vine” Zinfandel

(Lodi)

2010 Van Ruiten “Old Vine” Zinfandel

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Once again it has been confirmed. . .there is no new idea or new graphic design for that matter. This month we’re featuring the Van Ruiten 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel and I was stunned to see the VR logo is very similar to the new Carpe Vino design that we unveiled last year.

But this is about the wine, is it. If you’re looking for giant zins—big fruit, massive finish, concentrated flavors and tons of spice—your search is an easy one, beginning and ending in Lodi. And this month’s offering is a fabulous example.

This family, three generations thus far, have been farming in the Valley since the early 50’s when John Van Ruiten, Sr. emigrated from the Netherlands. He segued from cultivating table grapes to focusing on wine grapes, and today the winery has 1,000 acres in production. It wasn’t until 2000 that a winery was built and then a tasting room.

In a very short time, the Van Ruitens have gained a reputation for being competitive with their zins. In 2009, the Wall Street Journal named the 2007 Van Ruiten OVZ the best zinfandel in America. Taste the 2010 and you’ll no doubt agree that the quality continues. . .and at a great price.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“After years of playing second fiddle to the so called “King” Cabernet, Zinfandel has finally become trendy, and this Lodi wine is Lodi Zinfandels undisputed champion. This Zinfandel fruit was hand selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruiten planted over 50 years ago and is among the families most prized grapes. Our 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel is packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam with barrel flavors contributing aromas of coffee, cedar, and finishing with anise.”

Alcohol Level: 14.9%

Cases Produced:

Winemaker Name: Matt Ridge

2010 Bodegas El Nido “El Clio” Red Wine

(Jumallia, Spain)

2010 Bodegas El Nido “El Clio” Red Wine

$55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve developed an affection for wines from Spain, and one of our favorite producers is Gil Family Estates, which owns Bodegas Ed Nido, home of El Nido and Clio branded wines (kinda confusing, yes?). The winery is located in the Valle de La Aragona, inside the Mucria district of Jumilla (here’s a challenge: find this place on the map. Hint: it’s in the southeast corner of Spain). The vineyards consist of 64 acres of old monastrell vines and 45 acres of cab planted a quarter century ago.

This is a wonderful blend, partly due to the fact that it spent two years in the barrel. The winery makes 15,000 cases total per year, 90% of which is exported.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“Cherry covered. Notes of leather, toasted bread and ripe fruit mixed with a touch of spices. The result is intensity, concentration and complexity—a bit sophisticated, with resources to meditate its extraordinary richness.”

Blend:
70% cabernet sauvignon, 30% old vine monastrell

Alcohol Level: 15.5%

Cases Produced: 516

Winemaker Name: Chris Ringland

2010 Van Ruiten “Old Vine” Zinfandel

(Lodi)

2010 Van Ruiten “Old Vine” Zinfandel

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Once again it has been confirmed. . .there is no new idea or new graphic design for that matter. This month we’re featuring the Van Ruiten 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel and I was stunned to see the VR logo is very similar to the new Carpe Vino design that we unveiled last year.

But this is about the wine, is it. If you’re looking for giant zins—big fruit, massive finish, concentrated flavors and tons of spice—your search is an easy one, beginning and ending in Lodi. And this month’s offering is a fabulous example.

This family, three generations thus far, have been farming in the Valley since the early 50’s when John Van Ruiten, Sr. emigrated from the Netherlands. He segued from cultivating table grapes to focusing on wine grapes, and today the winery has 1,000 acres in production. It wasn’t until 2000 that a winery was built and then a tasting room.

In a very short time, the Van Ruitens have gained a reputation for being competitive with their zins. In 2009, the Wall Street Journal named the 2007 Van Ruiten OVZ the best zinfandel in America. Taste the 2010 and you’ll no doubt agree that the quality continues. . .and at a great price.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“After years of playing second fiddle to the so called “King” Cabernet, Zinfandel has finally become trendy, and this Lodi wine is Lodi Zinfandels undisputed champion. This Zinfandel fruit was hand selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruiten planted over 50 years ago and is among the families most prized grapes. Our 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel is packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam with barrel flavors contributing aromas of coffee, cedar, and finishing with anise.”

Alcohol Level: 14.9%

Cases Produced:

Winemaker Name: Matt Ridge

2011 Field Recordings “Jurassic Park” Chenin Blanc

(Santa Ynez)

2011 Field Recordings “Jurassic Park” Chenin Blanc

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is our first entry from Andrew Jones, a young winemaker who works as a nursery employee during the day, a pursuit that enables him to source great fruit from around the Central Coast. He is able to find small quantities of grapes and great prices, enabling him to offer very affordable wines.

This month’s selection is a great example. Just 350 cases were produced from a vineyard with very low yield. Says Andrew: “These vines are old and barely surviving. They are naturally stressed by age and the infertile sandy soil.”

Winery Tasting Notes:
“Pours the color of wild honey. Vibrant aromas of crème brulee, key lime pie, almonds and chamomile, with a stripe of acidity through the unfiltered/unfunded/unadulterated flavor of lemon curd. Incredible food-pairing flexibility. Drink now.”

Alcohol Level: 13.1%

Cases Produced: 350

Winemaker Name: Andrew Jones

2010 Three Sticks “Durrel Vineyard” Chardonnay

(Sonoma Coast)

2010 Three Sticks “Durrel Vineyard” Chardonnay

$60 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

When you think of world-class chardonnays, Three Sticks is probably not a winery that comes to mind immediately. In fact, you may have never heard of it before. That’s because it’s a relatively new brand, launched in 2002, though the owner and the winemaker both have deep experience in the industry.

Proprietor Bill Price has a history of investing in very successful wineries including Chateau St. Jean, Kistler Vineyards, Kosta Browne and Gary Farrell. Winemaker Don Van Staaveren shares experience at Chateau St. Jean, capped by helping create that wineries1996 Cinq Cépages, Wine Spectator Magazine’s #1 wine in its vaunted “Top 100 List” for 1999.

Van Staavern’s experience in making wine from Durrel Vineyard goes back 25 years. No doubt that’s why his vintages from 2006 through 2009 all scored 93 points or more from Wine Spectator; the magazine also made James Laube’s list of “Top 30 California Chardonnay” producers in 2012.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“On the nose this wine is expansive and mouth watering. Intensely tropical, it shows creamy butterscotch and stone fruit plus a hint of wet stones. Lush on the palate and loaded with layers of complex fruit, this luxurious chardonnay has a full and vibrant finish.”

Alcohol Level: 14.6%

Cases Produced: 493

Winemaker Name: Don Van Staaveren

2011 Field Recordings “Jurassic Park” Chenin Blanc

(Santa Ynez)

2011 Field Recordings “Jurassic Park” Chenin Blanc

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is our first entry from Andrew Jones, a young winemaker who works as a nursery employee during the day, a pursuit that enables him to source great fruit from around the Central Coast. He is able to find small quantities of grapes and great prices, enabling him to offer very affordable wines.

This month’s selection is a great example. Just 350 cases were produced from a vineyard with very low yield. Says Andrew: “These vines are old and barely surviving. They are naturally stressed by age and the infertile sandy soil.”

Winery Tasting Notes:
“Pours the color of wild honey. Vibrant aromas of crème brulee, key lime pie, almonds and chamomile, with a stripe of acidity through the unfiltered/unfunded/unadulterated flavor of lemon curd. Incredible food-pairing flexibility. Drink now.”

Alcohol Level: 13.1%

Cases Produced: 350

Winemaker Name: Andrew Jones

2010 Van Ruiten “Old Vine” Zinfandel

(Lodi)

2010 Van Ruiten “Old Vine” Zinfandel

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Once again it has been confirmed. . .there is no new idea or new graphic design for that matter. This month we’re featuring the Van Ruiten 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel and I was stunned to see the VR logo is very similar to the new Carpe Vino design that we unveiled last year.

But this is about the wine, is it. If you’re looking for giant zins—big fruit, massive finish, concentrated flavors and tons of spice—your search is an easy one, beginning and ending in Lodi. And this month’s offering is a fabulous example.

This family, three generations thus far, have been farming in the Valley since the early 50’s when John Van Ruiten, Sr. emigrated from the Netherlands. He segued from cultivating table grapes to focusing on wine grapes, and today the winery has 1,000 acres in production. It wasn’t until 2000 that a winery was built and then a tasting room.

In a very short time, the Van Ruitens have gained a reputation for being competitive with their zins. In 2009, the Wall Street Journal named the 2007 Van Ruiten OVZ the best zinfandel in America. Taste the 2010 and you’ll no doubt agree that the quality continues. . .and at a great price.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“After years of playing second fiddle to the so called “King” Cabernet, Zinfandel has finally become trendy, and this Lodi wine is Lodi Zinfandels undisputed champion. This Zinfandel fruit was hand selected from the first vineyard John Van Ruiten planted over 50 years ago and is among the families most prized grapes. Our 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel is packed full of blackberry, cherry and blueberry jam with barrel flavors contributing aromas of coffee, cedar, and finishing with anise.”

Alcohol Level: 14.9%

Cases Produced:

Winemaker Name: Matt Ridge

2010 Bodegas El Nido “El Clio” Red Wine

(Jumallia, Spain)

2010 Bodegas El Nido “El Clio” Red Wine

$55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve developed an affection for wines from Spain, and one of our favorite producers is Gil Family Estates, which owns Bodegas Ed Nido, home of El Nido and Clio branded wines (kinda confusing, yes?). The winery is located in the Valle de La Aragona, inside the Mucria district of Jumilla (here’s a challenge: find this place on the map. Hint: it’s in the southeast corner of Spain). The vineyards consist of 64 acres of old monastrell vines and 45 acres of cab planted a quarter century ago.

This is a wonderful blend, partly due to the fact that it spent two years in the barrel. The winery makes 15,000 cases total per year, 90% of which is exported.

Winery Tasting Notes:
“Cherry covered. Notes of leather, toasted bread and ripe fruit mixed with a touch of spices. The result is intensity, concentration and complexity—a bit sophisticated, with resources to meditate its extraordinary richness.”

Blend:
70% cabernet sauvignon, 30% old vine monastrell

Alcohol Level: 15.5%

Cases Produced: 516

Winemaker Name: Chris Ringland