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 July

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Smithereens Red (by Skinner) 2014

(El Dorado, CA)

Smithereens Red (by Skinner) 2014

Winery Tasting Notes: Patterned after the Grenache & Mourvedre driven wines of Southern France. It is a true nod to the Cotes-du-Rhone Village wines made for everyday drinking.  Dominated by red fruit aromatics like dark cherry, pluot, and dried cranberry, this wine is enhanced with notes of dried herbs, orange peel, cinnamon, clove, and underbrush. The palate is medium bodied with a dose of minerality, slightly chewy tannins and fresh acidity on the finish.  Elevage: 18 Months: 80% Neutral French Oak, 20% New French Oak.

 Blend: 40% Grenache, 35% Mourvedre, 14% Counoise, 11% Syrah
Alcohol Level: 14.4%
Cases Produced: 394
Winemaker Name: Chris Pittenger
Maturity: Drink Now – 2022
Pairings: red meat and spicy braised dishes

Fun Facts: Scottish gold miner James Skinner, founded the J. Skinner Native Wine and Brandy in 1861 in Rescue, CA. In 2006, Mike & Carey Skinner bought property a mile or so from the original Skinner homestead. The Skinners immediately brought winemaker Chris Pittenger, formerly with Williams Selyem and Marcassin in Sonoma, on board the same year. They worked closely with Chris in planning the new Skinner Vineyards and Winery operation, creating a winemaking program that aims to honor their family history. Together, they mapped out a course for the wine program with the goal of creating world-class wines that respect their heritage and create a legacy for future generations. Skinner Vineyards fosters the resurrection of their family lineage through their two Estate properties they believe hold the future of California wines.

Field Recordings PETS (Petite Sirah) 2015

(Paso Robles, CA)

Field Recordings PETS (Petite Sirah) 2015

Winery Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, ripe cherry and black pepper. Full bodied, bright and ready for date night.   

Blend: 100% Petite Sirah
Alcohol Level: 13.9%
Cases Produced: 160
Winemaker Name: Andrew Jones
Maturity: Drink Now – 2023
Pairings: Braised short ribs, stewed vegetables, Chicken coq au vin

Fun Facts: The Field Recordings wines are a catalog of single vineyard sites that produces wines with a sense of place and personality.  Winemaker Andrew Jones has a keen eye for diamonds in the rough: sites that are unknown or under-appreciated but hold enormous untapped potential. He strives for unique wines loaded with personality and a one-of-a-kind experience.

Field Recordings PETS (Petite Sirah) 2015

(Paso Robles, CA)

Field Recordings PETS (Petite Sirah) 2015

Winery Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate, ripe cherry and black pepper. Full bodied, bright and ready for date night.   

Blend: 100% Petite Sirah
Alcohol Level: 13.9%
Cases Produced: 160
Winemaker Name: Andrew Jones
Maturity: Drink Now – 2023
Pairings: Braised short ribs, stewed vegetables, Chicken coq au vin

Fun Facts: The Field Recordings wines are a catalog of single vineyard sites that produces wines with a sense of place and personality.  Winemaker Andrew Jones has a keen eye for diamonds in the rough: sites that are unknown or under-appreciated but hold enormous untapped potential. He strives for unique wines loaded with personality and a one-of-a-kind experience.

Humanitas Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

((George’s Vineyard) Napa Valley)

Humanitas Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Winery Tasting Notes: Boasting rich blackberry, currant, and fig notes with the aromas of baking spices like clove, vanilla, and nutmeg bringing it all together.  The palate is equally appealing showcasing the black fruits you get on the nose complimented by a lingering finish and rich tannins.

Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot
Alcohol Level: 14.9%
Cases Produced: 240
Winemaker Name: Rob Lloyd
Maturity: Drink Now – 2025
Pairings: Osso Buco, Brazilian steak with chimichurri, marinated squash salad.

Fun Facts: The Humanitas ‘Good Earth’ series honors vineyards producing wines of uncommon distinction and character.  “Humanitas” Latin for philanthropy, character and human nature embraces all that is the winery – making honorable wines and giving back to the community.

Foxtrot Chardonnay 2015

((Four Shadows) Okanagan Valley)

Foxtrot Chardonnay 2015

Winery Tasting Notes:  Aromas of stone and citrus fruit, rounded out by tropical fruit framed by light spicy notes from the barrel aging. These flavours continue on the palate with a complex minerality framed by a full round mid palate and a refreshing crisp finish.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 13.1%
Cases Produced: 650
Winemaker Name: Gustav Allander
Maturity: Drink Now – 2025
Pairings: Grilled Bockwurst with peppers and onions,sharp cheeses, Rosemary Chicken

Fun Facts: The Winemaker’s philosophy is to create the most natural and expressive wines California can offer. “I believe in allowing the fruit to fully reveal itself in the wines, encouraging the personality and terroir of the vineyards, while showcasing itself to the fullest extent. Thus, allowing the wines to be true to their nature and bringing harmony to the bottle.” The fruit was allowed to macerate on the skins for 24 hours to add body and elevate the aromatics and was fermented separately from the whole cluster pressed fruit. Fermentation took place in 25% new and 75% used Francois Freres oak barrels, including one 500L Puncheon and inoculated and fermented using cultured and native yeasts.

Ladoucette Pouilly Fume 2015

(France)

Ladoucette Pouilly Fume 2015

Winery Tasting Notes: Pale golden-green in color. The nose develops a natural range of subtle floral and earthy green plant aromas such as acacia, ferns, peppermint and white nettles. Notes of stony minerals and lemon give the wine a beautiful structure balanced by a fruity roundness, with a finish marked by hints of citrus fruits.

Blend: 100%Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol Level: 12.5%
Cases Produced:
Winemaker Name:
Maturity:
Drink Now – 20
Pairings:

Fun Facts: Purchased by the Comte Lafond, an ancestor of the current owner, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, Château du Nozet and its surrounding vineyards have a reputation for producing the finest Pouilly-Fumé. The vineyards are in Pouilly-Fumé Contrôlée, which includes Pouilly-Sur-Loire, Saint-Andelin and Tracy at the eastern end of the Loire Valley (including the vineyard of the Château du Nozet estate). Both clay and limestone (Kimmeridgian marnes on fossilized limestone) influence the delicate characteristics in Ladoucette Pouilly-Fume.

Smithereens Red (by Skinner) 2014

(El Dorado, CA)

Smithereens Red (by Skinner) 2014

Winery Tasting Notes: Patterned after the Grenache & Mourvedre driven wines of Southern France. It is a true nod to the Cotes-du-Rhone Village wines made for everyday drinking.  Dominated by red fruit aromatics like dark cherry, pluot, and dried cranberry, this wine is enhanced with notes of dried herbs, orange peel, cinnamon, clove, and underbrush. The palate is medium bodied with a dose of minerality, slightly chewy tannins and fresh acidity on the finish.  Elevage: 18 Months: 80% Neutral French Oak, 20% New French Oak.

 Blend: 40% Grenache, 35% Mourvedre, 14% Counoise, 11% Syrah
Alcohol Level: 14.4%
Cases Produced: 394
Winemaker Name: Chris Pittenger
Maturity: Drink Now – 2022
Pairings: red meat and spicy braised dishes

Fun Facts: Scottish gold miner James Skinner, founded the J. Skinner Native Wine and Brandy in 1861 in Rescue, CA. In 2006, Mike & Carey Skinner bought property a mile or so from the original Skinner homestead. The Skinners immediately brought winemaker Chris Pittenger, formerly with Williams Selyem and Marcassin in Sonoma, on board the same year. They worked closely with Chris in planning the new Skinner Vineyards and Winery operation, creating a winemaking program that aims to honor their family history. Together, they mapped out a course for the wine program with the goal of creating world-class wines that respect their heritage and create a legacy for future generations. Skinner Vineyards fosters the resurrection of their family lineage through their two Estate properties they believe hold the future of California wines.

Smithereens White Blend (by Skinner) 2015

(El Dorado, CA)

Smithereens White Blend (by Skinner) 2015

Winery Tasting Notes:  This wine is patterned after the white wines from the Cotes du Rhone.  Very fresh and vibrant on the palate, there is a nice balance between weight and acidity, which lends itself to a variety of dishes. The wine shows aromas of tropical and citrus fruit coupled with white flowers and subtle notes of sweet spice and hazelnut. We ferment with native yeasts in a combination of stainless steel barrels and French oak (almost all neutral). The wine rests on its gross lees until being blended together at bottling after 8 months in barrel.

Blend: 54% Grenache Blanc, 13% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, 3% Marsanne
Alcohol Level: 13.3%
Cases Produced: 616
Winemaker Name: Chris Pittenger
Maturity: Drink Now – 2019
Pairings: Soft cheeses, Fruit compotes, White Fish

90 points ‘Wine Enthusiast’

Fun Facts: Scottish gold miner James Skinner, founded the J. Skinner Native Wine and Brandy in 1861 in Rescue, CA. In 2006, Mike & Carey Skinner bought property a mile or so from the original Skinner homestead. The Skinners immediately brought winemaker Chris Pittenger, formerly with Williams Selyem and Marcassin in Sonoma, on board the same year. They worked closely with Chris in planning the new Skinner Vineyards and Winery operation, creating a winemaking program that aims to honor their family history. Together, they mapped out a course for the wine program with the goal of creating world-class wines that respect their heritage and create a legacy for future generations. Skinner Vineyards fosters the resurrection of their family lineage through their two Estate properties they believe hold the future of California wines.

Smithereens White Blend (by Skinner) 2015

(El Dorado, CA)

Smithereens White Blend (by Skinner) 2015

Winery Tasting Notes:  This wine is patterned after the white wines from the Cotes du Rhone.  Very fresh and vibrant on the palate, there is a nice balance between weight and acidity, which lends itself to a variety of dishes. The wine shows aromas of tropical and citrus fruit coupled with white flowers and subtle notes of sweet spice and hazelnut. We ferment with native yeasts in a combination of stainless steel barrels and French oak (almost all neutral). The wine rests on its gross lees until being blended together at bottling after 8 months in barrel.

Blend: 54% Grenache Blanc, 13% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, 3% Marsanne
Alcohol Level: 13.3%
Cases Produced: 616
Winemaker Name: Chris Pittenger
Maturity: Drink Now – 2019
Pairings: Soft cheeses, Fruit compotes, White Fish

90 points ‘Wine Enthusiast’

Fun Facts: Scottish gold miner James Skinner, founded the J. Skinner Native Wine and Brandy in 1861 in Rescue, CA. In 2006, Mike & Carey Skinner bought property a mile or so from the original Skinner homestead. The Skinners immediately brought winemaker Chris Pittenger, formerly with Williams Selyem and Marcassin in Sonoma, on board the same year. They worked closely with Chris in planning the new Skinner Vineyards and Winery operation, creating a winemaking program that aims to honor their family history. Together, they mapped out a course for the wine program with the goal of creating world-class wines that respect their heritage and create a legacy for future generations. Skinner Vineyards fosters the resurrection of their family lineage through their two Estate properties they believe hold the future of California wines.

Humanitas Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

((George’s Vineyard) Napa Valley)

Humanitas Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Winery Tasting Notes: Boasting rich blackberry, currant, and fig notes with the aromas of baking spices like clove, vanilla, and nutmeg bringing it all together.  The palate is equally appealing showcasing the black fruits you get on the nose complimented by a lingering finish and rich tannins.

Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot
Alcohol Level: 14.9%
Cases Produced: 240
Winemaker Name: Rob Lloyd
Maturity: Drink Now – 2025
Pairings: Osso Buco, Brazilian steak with chimichurri, marinated squash salad.

Fun Facts: The Humanitas ‘Good Earth’ series honors vineyards producing wines of uncommon distinction and character.  “Humanitas” Latin for philanthropy, character and human nature embraces all that is the winery – making honorable wines and giving back to the community.