Winery Tasting Notes:  None Available

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol Level: 13.9%
Cases Produced: UNK
Winemaker Name: Andrew Jones
Maturity: Drink Now – 2020

Pairings:  No need to over think this wine…it pairs well with everything!

Staff Review:  JANA KOSMATA –“Andrew Jones’ Field Recordings label offers a great selection of wonderfully unique wines from select sub-vineyards in and around Paso Robles.  Jones is a nursery fieldsman by trade, however over the years; he’s cultivated many close relationships that have resulted in limited access to some of his clients’ finest parcels.  Wonderwall focuses on Pinot Noir from the extreme, coastal location of Edna Valley.  A bottle of Pinot Noir in the $20 range is a very competitive market and one I don’t usually explore often enough.  I was given this bottle and was a little overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task ahead.  Yes, this free bottle of wine had me sweating bullets…I don’t really enjoy or much less buy Pinot Noir very often so I was a little scared I wasn’t going to like it.  So, as I normally do, I invite friends over to help me weigh out the wine to insure I am not the only one who is actually enjoying it as much as I think I am.   The wine was a huge hit with the crowd and I really enjoyed my glass while I cooked dinner and I was quite surprised on just how plush and delightful it was on the palate.  Satisfying from the start to finish, ending with dusty, nutmeg tannins I would say you could enjoy this bottle of wine with pizza or pasta.  As for me, I got one glass and the bottle was empty before dinner ever made it to the table.  Guess we have another winner!

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Bright cherry, licorice, vanilla bean and dark plum erupt from this fruit forward Petite Sirah. Gentle handling during fermentation and aging help the aggressive tannins of the varietal round off into soft velvet and balanced structure. The splash of Merlot really adds to the lush aspect of this wine.”

Blend: 88% Petite Sirah, 12% Merlot
Alcohol Level: 14.8%
Cases Produced: 200
Winemaker Name: Kent Jarman
Maturity: Drink Now – 2020

Pairings:  Smoked/BBQ Red Meats or Pork.  BURGERS. Aged Gouda, melted Swiss cheese, Fresh Mozzarella, Camembert.  Funghi, roasted Veges.

Staff Review:  DREW MOFFAT – What a little diamond in the rough we found here!  Kenefick Ranch is an outstanding winery located in Napa Valley’s northernmost AVA – Calistoga.  Their small block vineyards sit completely on volcanic bedrock and produce some of the highest quality grapes with limited green growth, more concentration and flavor.  Kenefick Ranch has sold fruit to Napa powerhouse wineries such as Pride Mountain, Caymus and Shafer!  Much of their success can also be attributed to the talents of winemaker Kent Jarman, whom joined Kenefick Ranch back in 2007.  Jarman, a UC Davis graduate, has over 15 years of winemaking experience most noticeably with Atlas Peak and Duckhorn Vineyards.  With his experience and having total control of the farming practices, Kenefick Ranch is producing some of the finest wines in the Napa Valley.

Kenefick Ranch currently produces six wines, with Petite Sirah being one of the smallest produced wines…only 200cs.!  This particular vintage, 2011, was very tough to navigate through mostly because it was cold and wet.  Even though conditions weren’t ideal, Jarman still turned out an amazing wine only adding a touch of merlot for roundness and stability.  Packed with ripe, red fruit, you can also get the flavors of anise, cocoa, dark black fruits and toasty oak finish.  This wine is ready to be consumed now, so kick the tires and light the fires…pop that cork and tip some glasses at your earliest convenience!

Winery Tasting Notes: “As we release out last two 2011 vintage wines, we present in this corner – The Heavyweight. Deep ruby red in the glass, it offers aromas of spice, white flowers, cedar and licorice. Fine -grained tannins and balanced acidity are the structure for the red cherry, raspberry and dried plum flavors. The wine finishes beautifully with a savory and lingering juiciness.”

Blend:  83% Cabernet Sauvignon; 17% Petit Verdot Alcohol Level
Cases Produced:  299
Winemaker’s Name:  Les Behrens
Maturity:  With five years in glass, this wine is ready to drink today. . .or through the turn of the decade.
Pairings:  Whatya got?  Seriously. . .like many red blends, this wine is eminently versatile, one that can be enjoyed with whatever juicy red meat you are serving.

Staff Review:  GARY MOFFAT – You have to love Les Behrens’ sense of humor—one of his signature wines bears his name and a pun:  The Road Les Traveled featuring the image of a vintage trailer on the label. This is just one of many fanciful illustrations an imaginative themes and names.  Our selection this month is the “Heavyweight,” adorned with a magnificent label depicting a heavyweight boxer slumped in his corner on a stool in obvious defeat.  In contrast, this wine is a contender for unifying the red wine world title belts.

Les and his wife, Lisa Drinkward, started out in the hospitality biz by opening a restaurant in 1991, reforming their errant way by segueing into winemaking after producing their first vintage from 3 ½ tons of grapes in 1993.  The couple formed a partnership with Bob and Lily Hitchcock to get started, but bought out their interest in 2005.

We’ve featured many Behrens Family wines over the last decade, and in the year of the death of the ultimate heavyweight—Muhammed Ali—we’re delighted to present such a powerful wine this month.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Bright cherry, licorice, vanilla bean and dark plum erupt from this fruit forward Petite Sirah. Gentle handling during fermentation and aging help the aggressive tannins of the varietal round off into soft velvet and balanced structure. The splash of Merlot really adds to the lush aspect of this wine.”

Blend: 88% Petite Sirah, 12% Merlot
Alcohol Level: 14.8%
Cases Produced: 200
Winemaker Name: Kent Jarman
Maturity: Drink Now – 2020

Pairings:  Smoked/BBQ Red Meats or Pork.  BURGERS. Aged Gouda, melted Swiss cheese, Fresh Mozzarella, Camembert.  Funghi, roasted Veges.

Staff Review:  DREW MOFFAT – What a little diamond in the rough we found here!  Kenefick Ranch is an outstanding winery located in Napa Valley’s northernmost AVA – Calistoga.  Their small block vineyards sit completely on volcanic bedrock and produce some of the highest quality grapes with limited green growth, more concentration and flavor.  Kenefick Ranch has sold fruit to Napa powerhouse wineries such as Pride Mountain, Caymus and Shafer!  Much of their success can also be attributed to the talents of winemaker Kent Jarman, whom joined Kenefick Ranch back in 2007.  Jarman, a UC Davis graduate, has over 15 years of winemaking experience most noticeably with Atlas Peak and Duckhorn Vineyards.  With his experience and having total control of the farming practices, Kenefick Ranch is producing some of the finest wines in the Napa Valley.

Kenefick Ranch currently produces six wines, with Petite Sirah being one of the smallest produced wines…only 200cs.!  This particular vintage, 2011, was very tough to navigate through mostly because it was cold and wet.  Even though conditions weren’t ideal, Jarman still turned out an amazing wine only adding a touch of merlot for roundness and stability.  Packed with ripe, red fruit, you can also get the flavors of anise, cocoa, dark black fruits and toasty oak finish.  This wine is ready to be consumed now, so kick the tires and light the fires…pop that cork and tip some glasses at your earliest convenience!

Winemakers Notes – “Bright straw color with aromas of tropical fruit, honey, marzipan, wet stone and some yeasty undertones. The wine has flavors of fresh cut pineapple, with a distinctive sea-floor minerality, and a touch of acidity to keep it fresh in the mouth. The viscosity and smooth, full mouthfeel offers nutmeg and cinnamon spice, in a slightly-toasted finish that lingers gracefully.”

Wine Advocate: N/A
Wine Spectator: N/A
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 14.2%
Cases Produced: 2629
Winemaker Name: Blake Kuhn
Maturity: Drink Now – 2019

Pairings: Perfect with roasted chicken, grilled halibut, and seafood dishes like lobster, crab, and pan seared wild salmon.

Staff Review: Jay Johnstone – The 2014 Inconceivable Chardonnay is part of a long lineage of wines from the Middleton Family that include Clayhouse and Cadaretta wines.  The reference of “Queen of Tides” refers to where the ocean’s tides that once deposited soil, and where the tidal sea winds now flow across the vineyards.  The average temperature in the vineyard is about 64 degrees making this a true cool climate chardonnay.  We liked this wine because it is one of those one-in-a-million chardonnays that is totally off the radar.  It is racy, focused, yet complex and packs all the star studded qualities that we love in a great chardonnay.  Bright aromas of vanilla bean and honeysuckle entice your senses as luscious flavors of ripe peach and pineapple are comingled effortlessly with the perfect amount of acidity giving it a classic distinctive character.  It’s just a flat-out great wine!

Winery Tasting Notes: “Patience is rewarded with our 2014 Soberanes Chardonnay. Shy, restrained fruit notes and a viscous minerality mingle on the nose and palate, blossoming over time with tropical fruit and floral aromatics. On the palate cream pineapple and lychee mix with melon and are lifted by lemon zest, straw, and crisp shale giving way to lovely perfumed jasmine on the finish.”

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 14.7%
Cases Produced: 195
Winemaker Name: Scott Shapley
Maturity: Drink Now – 2022

Pairings: Sautéed or Grilled Poultry/Turkey, Poached Lobster/Shellfish.  Soft Cheeses, Mushroom Risotto

Staff Review:  DREW MOFFAT – Hands down this is one of the greatest California Chardonnay’s under $50 on the market today.  ROAR, owned by Gary Franscioni is a family owned/operated vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands that has been growing grapes since 1996.  Along with his private operation, Franscioni partnered with the other famous Santa Lucia GARY…Gary Pisoni and planted “Garys’ Vineyard” back in 1997.  It wasn’t until 2001 that the ROAR label made its debut producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah.  The cool thing is they generally don’t make any wines over 500 cases…hence the Soberanes Chard only came in at 195 cases.  We received ONE and only ONE and made sure to get it in the hands of our WC members ASAP!

ROAR wines do very well with all the acclaimed wine critics consistently receiving mid-to-high 90 point scores.  You are receiving this wine before their submission for review but I guarantee you will be happy there is a bottle in your cellar/cabinet/fridge when those scores are released.  Do not overthink this wine!  Keep it chilled down to around 48-50 degrees farenheit and open it for that special occasion with someone you love OR an upcoming holiday like Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner!  This wine is rich but not over oaked, has great acidity but doesn’t burn the fruit, solid alc level but not too hot…it’s just beautiful.  Or as they say in Italy (where Gary and I just visited) BELLISSIMO!

Winemakers Notes – “Bright straw color with aromas of tropical fruit, honey, marzipan, wet stone and some yeasty undertones. The wine has flavors of fresh cut pineapple, with a distinctive sea-floor minerality, and a touch of acidity to keep it fresh in the mouth. The viscosity and smooth, full mouthfeel offers nutmeg and cinnamon spice, in a slightly-toasted finish that lingers gracefully.”

Wine Advocate: N/A
Wine Spectator: N/A
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 14.2%
Cases Produced: 2629
Winemaker Name: Blake Kuhn
Maturity: Drink Now – 2019

Pairings: Perfect with roasted chicken, grilled halibut, and seafood dishes like lobster, crab, and pan seared wild salmon.

Staff Review: Jay Johnstone – The 2014 Inconceivable Chardonnay is part of a long lineage of wines from the Middleton Family that include Clayhouse and Cadaretta wines.  The reference of “Queen of Tides” refers to where the ocean’s tides that once deposited soil, and where the tidal sea winds now flow across the vineyards.  The average temperature in the vineyard is about 64 degrees making this a true cool climate chardonnay.  We liked this wine because it is one of those one-in-a-million chardonnays that is totally off the radar.  It is racy, focused, yet complex and packs all the star studded qualities that we love in a great chardonnay.  Bright aromas of vanilla bean and honeysuckle entice your senses as luscious flavors of ripe peach and pineapple are comingled effortlessly with the perfect amount of acidity giving it a classic distinctive character.  It’s just a flat-out great wine!

Winery Tasting Notes:  None Available

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol Level: 13.9%
Cases Produced: UNK
Winemaker Name: Andrew Jones
Maturity: Drink Now – 2020

Pairings:  No need to over think this wine…it pairs well with everything!

Staff Review:  JANA KOSMATA –“Andrew Jones’ Field Recordings label offers a great selection of wonderfully unique wines from select sub-vineyards in and around Paso Robles.  Jones is a nursery fieldsman by trade, however over the years; he’s cultivated many close relationships that have resulted in limited access to some of his clients’ finest parcels.  Wonderwall focuses on Pinot Noir from the extreme, coastal location of Edna Valley.  A bottle of Pinot Noir in the $20 range is a very competitive market and one I don’t usually explore often enough.  I was given this bottle and was a little overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task ahead.  Yes, this free bottle of wine had me sweating bullets…I don’t really enjoy or much less buy Pinot Noir very often so I was a little scared I wasn’t going to like it.  So, as I normally do, I invite friends over to help me weigh out the wine to insure I am not the only one who is actually enjoying it as much as I think I am.   The wine was a huge hit with the crowd and I really enjoyed my glass while I cooked dinner and I was quite surprised on just how plush and delightful it was on the palate.  Satisfying from the start to finish, ending with dusty, nutmeg tannins I would say you could enjoy this bottle of wine with pizza or pasta.  As for me, I got one glass and the bottle was empty before dinner ever made it to the table.  Guess we have another winner!

Winemakers Notes – “Bright straw color with aromas of tropical fruit, honey, marzipan, wet stone and some yeasty undertones. The wine has flavors of fresh cut pineapple, with a distinctive sea-floor minerality, and a touch of acidity to keep it fresh in the mouth. The viscosity and smooth, full mouthfeel offers nutmeg and cinnamon spice, in a slightly-toasted finish that lingers gracefully.”

Wine Advocate: N/A
Wine Spectator: N/A
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 14.2%
Cases Produced: 2629
Winemaker Name: Blake Kuhn
Maturity: Drink Now – 2019

Pairings: Perfect with roasted chicken, grilled halibut, and seafood dishes like lobster, crab, and pan seared wild salmon.

Staff Review: Jay Johnstone – The 2014 Inconceivable Chardonnay is part of a long lineage of wines from the Middleton Family that include Clayhouse and Cadaretta wines.  The reference of “Queen of Tides” refers to where the ocean’s tides that once deposited soil, and where the tidal sea winds now flow across the vineyards.  The average temperature in the vineyard is about 64 degrees making this a true cool climate chardonnay.  We liked this wine because it is one of those one-in-a-million chardonnays that is totally off the radar.  It is racy, focused, yet complex and packs all the star studded qualities that we love in a great chardonnay.  Bright aromas of vanilla bean and honeysuckle entice your senses as luscious flavors of ripe peach and pineapple are comingled effortlessly with the perfect amount of acidity giving it a classic distinctive character.  It’s just a flat-out great wine!

Winery Tasting Notes: “As we release out last two 2011 vintage wines, we present in this corner – The Heavyweight. Deep ruby red in the glass, it offers aromas of spice, white flowers, cedar and licorice. Fine -grained tannins and balanced acidity are the structure for the red cherry, raspberry and dried plum flavors. The wine finishes beautifully with a savory and lingering juiciness.”

Blend:  83% Cabernet Sauvignon; 17% Petit Verdot Alcohol Level
Cases Produced:  299
Winemaker’s Name:  Les Behrens
Maturity:  With five years in glass, this wine is ready to drink today. . .or through the turn of the decade.
Pairings:  Whatya got?  Seriously. . .like many red blends, this wine is eminently versatile, one that can be enjoyed with whatever juicy red meat you are serving.

Staff Review:  GARY MOFFAT – You have to love Les Behrens’ sense of humor—one of his signature wines bears his name and a pun:  The Road Les Traveled featuring the image of a vintage trailer on the label. This is just one of many fanciful illustrations an imaginative themes and names.  Our selection this month is the “Heavyweight,” adorned with a magnificent label depicting a heavyweight boxer slumped in his corner on a stool in obvious defeat.  In contrast, this wine is a contender for unifying the red wine world title belts.

Les and his wife, Lisa Drinkward, started out in the hospitality biz by opening a restaurant in 1991, reforming their errant way by segueing into winemaking after producing their first vintage from 3 ½ tons of grapes in 1993.  The couple formed a partnership with Bob and Lily Hitchcock to get started, but bought out their interest in 2005.

We’ve featured many Behrens Family wines over the last decade, and in the year of the death of the ultimate heavyweight—Muhammed Ali—we’re delighted to present such a powerful wine this month.