$18 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

I met Four Fields Winemaker Chuck Mansfield at the Rhone Rangers tasting at Fort Mason (San Francisco) in late March.  He was working a table with his father, Ron, who grows the grapes for his awarding winning grenache—it took gold at the 2013 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.  Pretty impressive when you learn that this is the first vintage of a wine he has made under his own label:  Four fields in El Dorado County where Chuck was raised.

His full-time gig is with HKG Estates (formerly Hop Kiln in Sonoma), where is the winemaker.  Again, pretty impressive for a young man who graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in wine and viticulture in 2006.  He spent a semester in Australia and six months as an intern at E&J Gallo Winery before scoring the top winemaking job at HKG.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “As the wine opens in the glass, aromas of cherry liqueur slowly reveal themselves from behind the upfront cinnamon and licorice bouquet. Flavors of rhubarb fill the mouth, as the wines acidity and spice become apparent. The wine finishes with subtle tannin. Perfect for pairing with bright tomato based pasta sauces or cured red meats.”

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It was an easy matter for us to seek out the wines of Trent Moffett.  Though I doubt if we are related, it almost feels that way because our last name is so similar.  We do share the brotherhood of wine, and we’re both Scots, so how much more of a bond do you need?

We’ve presented other wines to you that Trent has produced. . .from other C&T Vineyards offerings to his Moffett Cabernet Sauvignon to a fun little inexpensive cab called 12 Gauge (some of you may remember our video when the label was launched).  He has been making wine since 1993, and he has labored at the side of such notables as Rany Dunn, John Kongsgaard and one of our favorites, Gregory Graham.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The  cabernet sauvignon comes off my Howell Mountain vineyard that adds some nice wild berry fruit and mountain tannins. Aromas of oak, cedar and bright berry fruit climb out of the glass; on the palate the wine offers load of red cherry, strawberry, hints of spice and toasted oak.”

Blend: 94% merlot; 6% cabernet sauvignon

$40 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This 30-acre winery on a dead-end street in St. Helena was founded by Doug and Jane Wolf in St. Helena.  Doug, an investment banker, bought the property—which features a Victorian house built in 1885—as a birthday gift.  Today, Jane manages the vineyard and Karen Culler, who earned a masters in viticulture and enology from U.C. Davis, handles the winemaking.  Vines on the estate were planted in 2000.

The name of this month’s selection—Phaedrus—alludes to an important figure in the dialogue of Plato, the Greek philosopher.  It also means “wolf” in Greek, so I guess you could say this is the 2010 Wolf Wolf Cabernet.  Very confusing.

This wine was aged in 30% new French oak barrels for 18 months, and it was just released in mid-February.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The 2010 wines from Napa Valley are a bit leaner than usual and have a great balance of all the dark berry fruits that are characteristic of Napa cabs but also the restrained palate that is reminiscent of Old World wines. The 2010 Phaedrus Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys all the benefits of the blend. Malbec offers spice and black cherry aromatics. Petite Verdot plumps the wine with a lush, juicy mid palate. Cabernet Franc is loaded with floral and fruit aromatics, along with a luscious mouthfeel. All of which are supported by the richly textured foundation of Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2010 will be slow to age and should offer 10 years or more of enjoyment.”

$35 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This wine is from two young wine entrepreneurs, Trevor Sheehan and Chris Buddress, who make and source wines from the Napa Valley.  They produced their first cab in 2007 and have made a couple of red blends, chardonnay, sauvignon blancs from Rutherford and Napa.

This month’s selection is not made by the duo, according to their broker:  “Unfortunately we can’t divulge who the winemaker was for this cabernet.  This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the acclaimed Vineyard George III in Rutherford, an exclusive vineyard that is the source of the high scoring Schrader Cellars GIII cabernet and several other Cabernets which receive big scores from the Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate.  An excellent value and only 56 cases for California.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Shows a dark ruby color with garnet, almost purple, reflections in the glass. On the nose, dusty clay, rose petal and grilled herbs blend harmoniously with licorice, dark raspberry jam and fig cake aromas. The palate boasts an intense combination of dark red and blue berries, spices, sweet tobacco and black pepper. The oak is integrated seamlessly, and the perfectly balanced components come together in a finish that seems to go on for minutes.  Enjoy with grilled mustard-encrusted rack of lamb, cauliflower casserole and caramelized Brussels sprouts with pancetta. Drink this wine now or hold it in your cellar for another 5 to 7 years!”

Note to Chardonnay fans:  We also have the 2009 Balius Chardonnay in stock, just $11.95 per bottle, $9.99 when you purchase six or more.  Check it out in our online wine store.

$55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Jason Kesner began his career firmly in the vineyard, but as he says on his web site:  “Growing fruit for many of the top winemakers in the country and then sorrowfully seeing my year’s work leave on other people’s trucks drove me to stay up all night and hand press a single barrel of chardonnay.  The light bulb went off.”

At the time he launched Kesner Wines in 2002, he was general manager of Hudson Vineyards in the Napa Valley, with heavyweight clients such as Cakebread, Darioush, Duckhorn, Kongsgaard and chardonnay heavyweight, Kistler.

After ramping up winemaking to three barrels of chardonnay, Kesner focused on selling his chard to restaurants, and he struck gold when his brand was featured on the wine list at the French Laundry.  In 2008 he signed on at Kistler where he is assistant winemaker, splitting his time between the winery and the vineyard.

Winery Tasting Notes:  From the sand driven soils of western Sonoma County deposited by the Pacific tens of thousands of years ago and those still ocean influenced hills. Sourced from two sites along the ridge of sandy hilltops outside Sebastopol. Beautiful notes of golden stone fruit and a defining sense of minerality, with a hint of whey. A medium-full and very lively wine. Laced with a vibrant acidity and a liquid stone like earthen chord that we have come to expect from these sites, which resonates through its very long lasting finish. Native fermentation in barrel. Aged in same barrels, 30% newer French Oak, 16 months sur lie.

$16 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is the quintessential “family-owned and –operated winery in the Napa Valley.  Cheryl Emmolo launched the winery with its first vintage in 1994, but her father, Frank, farmed the family estate/ranch that his father created in 1923.  Salvatore Emmolo established a rootstock nursery in St. Helena and suffered unfortunate timing when he built a Prohibition-era winery.  Though the structure still stands on Galleron Rd., it never produced a drop of juice.

Cheryl’s sons, Charlie and Joey Wagner, assist with the winemaking, and she sources all of her grapes from the family vineyards, that have also been sold to some of the region’s top wineries, such as Robert Mondavi, Hess Collection and Camyus.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “If you could bottle freshness – this would be it. The personality of our River Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford is prominent in our 2011 Sauvignon Blanc. It’s true to the varietal with well-integrated citrus, lemongrass, hints of passion fruit, melon, apricot and nicely woven minerality throughout. Crisp and clean; yet nicely textured.”

$16 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is the quintessential “family-owned and –operated winery in the Napa Valley.  Cheryl Emmolo launched the winery with its first vintage in 1994, but her father, Frank, farmed the family estate/ranch that his father created in 1923.  Salvatore Emmolo established a rootstock nursery in St. Helena and suffered unfortunate timing when he built a Prohibition-era winery.  Though the structure still stands on Galleron Rd., it never produced a drop of juice.

Cheryl’s sons, Charlie and Joey Wagner, assist with the winemaking, and she sources all of her grapes from the family vineyards, that have also been sold to some of the region’s top wineries, such as Robert Mondavi, Hess Collection and Camyus.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “If you could bottle freshness – this would be it. The personality of our River Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford is prominent in our 2011 Sauvignon Blanc. It’s true to the varietal with well-integrated citrus, lemongrass, hints of passion fruit, melon, apricot and nicely woven minerality throughout. Crisp and clean; yet nicely textured.”

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It was an easy matter for us to seek out the wines of Trent Moffett.  Though I doubt if we are related, it almost feels that way because our last name is so similar.  We do share the brotherhood of wine, and we’re both Scots, so how much more of a bond do you need?

We’ve presented other wines to you that Trent has produced. . .from other C&T Vineyards offerings to his Moffett Cabernet Sauvignon to a fun little inexpensive cab called 12 Gauge (some of you may remember our video when the label was launched).  He has been making wine since 1993, and he has labored at the side of such notables as Rany Dunn, John Kongsgaard and one of our favorites, Gregory Graham.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The  cabernet sauvignon comes off my Howell Mountain vineyard that adds some nice wild berry fruit and mountain tannins. Aromas of oak, cedar and bright berry fruit climb out of the glass; on the palate the wine offers load of red cherry, strawberry, hints of spice and toasted oak.”

Blend: 94% merlot; 6% cabernet sauvignon

$55 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Jason Kesner began his career firmly in the vineyard, but as he says on his web site:  “Growing fruit for many of the top winemakers in the country and then sorrowfully seeing my year’s work leave on other people’s trucks drove me to stay up all night and hand press a single barrel of chardonnay.  The light bulb went off.”

At the time he launched Kesner Wines in 2002, he was general manager of Hudson Vineyards in the Napa Valley, with heavyweight clients such as Cakebread, Darioush, Duckhorn, Kongsgaard and chardonnay heavyweight, Kistler.

After ramping up winemaking to three barrels of chardonnay, Kesner focused on selling his chard to restaurants, and he struck gold when his brand was featured on the wine list at the French Laundry.  In 2008 he signed on at Kistler where he is assistant winemaker, splitting his time between the winery and the vineyard.

Winery Tasting Notes:  From the sand driven soils of western Sonoma County deposited by the Pacific tens of thousands of years ago and those still ocean influenced hills. Sourced from two sites along the ridge of sandy hilltops outside Sebastopol. Beautiful notes of golden stone fruit and a defining sense of minerality, with a hint of whey. A medium-full and very lively wine. Laced with a vibrant acidity and a liquid stone like earthen chord that we have come to expect from these sites, which resonates through its very long lasting finish. Native fermentation in barrel. Aged in same barrels, 30% newer French Oak, 16 months sur lie.

$22 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It was an easy matter for us to seek out the wines of Trent Moffett.  Though I doubt if we are related, it almost feels that way because our last name is so similar.  We do share the brotherhood of wine, and we’re both Scots, so how much more of a bond do you need?

We’ve presented other wines to you that Trent has produced. . .from other C&T Vineyards offerings to his Moffett Cabernet Sauvignon to a fun little inexpensive cab called 12 Gauge (some of you may remember our video when the label was launched).  He has been making wine since 1993, and he has labored at the side of such notables as Rany Dunn, John Kongsgaard and one of our favorites, Gregory Graham.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The  cabernet sauvignon comes off my Howell Mountain vineyard that adds some nice wild berry fruit and mountain tannins. Aromas of oak, cedar and bright berry fruit climb out of the glass; on the palate the wine offers load of red cherry, strawberry, hints of spice and toasted oak.”

Blend: 94% merlot; 6% cabernet sauvignon