$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.

$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.”

$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

$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.”

$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.”

$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.”

$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.”

$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.”

$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