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 September

Select Wine Club Category

2013 Clayhouse Malbec $18

(Paso Robles)

2013 Clayhouse Malbec $18

Winery Tasting Notes: “Bright magenta-purple color. Aromas of fresh anise, violets, orange zest, cinnamon-stick and plum. The wine has a plush mouthfeel with spiced plum and fresh blueberry fruit flavors. The finish is toasty with sweet tobacco, moderate tannins and an acidic back bone that will bring you back for more. The wine pairs well with lean meats and traditional rustic fare.”
 
Blend: 91% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Sirah
Alcohol Level: 14.8%
Cases Produced: 101
Winemaker Name: Blake Kuhn
Maturity: Drink Now – 2026
Pairings:  Basically…BBQ MEATS!  Hard Cheeses, starches, anything on the richer-side of the flavor wheel

Drew_july2012_2501Staff Review:  DREW MOFFAT – When you think Malbec, I feel most people find it to be synonymous with South America or more directly Chile or Argentina…AND you would be right.  Malbec is one of six Bordeaux varieties: a thin-skinned grape and needs more sun and heat than either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to mature.  Traditionally, Malbec is used for blending and can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends.  Again, traditionally (in Bordeaux) this has been the case but now with the introduction to new-world growing regions such as Argentina/Chile, you are seeing this wine produced as a stand-alone variety.

The success in Argentina has spread across the globe with other wine growing regions planting more Malbec.  The United States grew in acres planted from 1000-7000 from 1995 to 2003.  Which is why I was absolutely stoked when I came across the 2013 Clayhouse Estate Malbec.  This wine is just absolutely beautiful, with blueberry flavors, zesty spice and finish that lingers on-and-on.  Knowing that there were only 101 cases (4 barrels) of this wine produced also suggests a lot of TLC went into the final product.  This is one you have to try because it’s a rarity and definitely a special item for our wonderful club member!

2012 Seghesio Barbera $38

(California)

2012 Seghesio Barbera $38

Winery Tasting Notes:  Nose exhibits freshly opened cherry blossoms in spring, light and delicately lifted by oak-imparted vanilla aromas.  Bright acidity highlights the entry and finish.  Soft tannins in the mid-palate.

Wine Spectator: Score 90 “ Trim and zesty, this shows good balance and focus, with appealing notes of cranberry, smoked pepper and anise.”

Blend: 100% Barbera
Alcohol Level: 14.8%
Cases Produced: Very 2572
Winemaker Name: Ted Seghesio
Maturity: Drink Now – 2020
Pairings:  Lamb, game, stews – Hard Cheese – Pizza & Pasta
 
JANA-KOSMATA-Staff Review:  JANA KOSMATA – The Seghesio Barbera is not a wine to be taken lightly it will knock your socks off with its boldness and silky finesse.  It pours out of your glass onto your tongue with hints of vanilla, cherry and dark fruit. I enjoyed the hints of pepper and it paired well with my lamb stew as well as appetizers of hard cheese and cherry jam.  Don’t rush to drink this bottle as it will age nicely in the next year but if you can’t wait…you will only be disappointed when the bottle is empty!

2013 Clayhouse Petit Verdot $40

(Paso Robles)

2013 Clayhouse Petit Verdot $40

Winery Tasting Notes: “Deep dark purple (near black) color. Aromas of violets and lavender, lead pencil, sweet cigar-leaf, balsamic, soy and black cherry. This Petit Verdot is full-bodied with concentrated black fruit flavors, black fig, and cracked black-pepper undertones. The wine has big but polished sweet tannins and finishes with notes of dark-roasted espresso coffee beans.”
 
Blend: 80% Petit Verdot & 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol Level: 14.8%
Cases Produced: 62
Winemaker Name: Blake Kuhn
Maturity: Drink Now – 2026
Pairings:  Roasted/Smoked Meats, Pork, Chicken.  Spaghetti Bolognese, Hard Cheeses, Mushrooms.

Drew_july2012_2501Staff Review:  DREW MOFFAT –  We usually don’t select two wines from the same winery in a given month…but when you have an opportunity like this you have to take it!  I love Petit Verdot (a Bordeaux variety) that is generally used for blending because of its intense color and deep structure/tannins.  Like Malbec, it is a wine that you don’t generally see as a stand-alone variety.   If you do see it, buy it, because if the winemaker/winery is willing to take the risk to bottle it…they believe it’s truly that good!

This wine is gorgeous with a dark red, almost black hue in the glass!  It’s so dark you might need a little bleach water for the bottom of your glass if you let it sit out overnight!  Don’t be fooled though, this isn’t a tannic monster, it’s absolutely quite lovely with bundles of black fruits on the nose/palate.  The concentration/full-body flavors of this wine come from the winemaking techniques.

“Grape clusters were destemmed, berry sorted, and sent directly to tank without crushing. The “must” (combo of seeds/skins/juice) was cold-soaked for 3 days at 50F before inoculation with yeast to begin fermentation. Fermentation was in 1/2 ton bins, with manual punchdowns 3 times per day.” (Winemaker Blake Kuhn)

Aged for 20 months, this wine was bottled in August of 2015 and has ample time to mature in the bottle.  This wine will definitely continue to improve with some cellar time, but after recently having it with some friends, it’s showing absolutely fantastic.  Last thing, there were 29 cases left at the winery and we purchased all of them only needing 15 for wine club!  So…plenty more available for some lucky wine club members!

2013 Gamble Vineyards Cab Sauvignon $55

(Napa Valley)

2013 Gamble Vineyards Cab Sauvignon $55

Winery Tasting Notes: “Inviting aromas of toasted walnut, cedar, black cherry, blackberry, ripe fig and warm notes of nutmeg. A medium to full bodied wine full of robust flavor and balance. Bright fruit flavors of blackberries, damson plum, chocolate ganache and blackcurrant are layered with notes of molasses, date, coffee, cocoa and tobacco. Enjoy now and over the next 5-8 years.”

Wine Advocate Review: N/A
Wine Spectator Review: N/A

 Blend: 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% merlot
Alcohol Level: 13.9%
Cases Produced: 1,790
Winemaker Name: Jim Close
Maturity: Drink Now – 2021

Pairings:  mushroom pizza, marinated ribeye steak, braised short ribs, charred gruyere burger

CV_shoot_jayb1Staff Review:  Jay Johnstone – The 2013 Gamble Cabernet Sauvignon was one of those awesome finds that just happened to land in our lap.  Having been familiar with the wines several years ago, I knew that this would be an ideal fit for the CV WC.  Gamble’s Family Home Vineyard is located in Oakville which is ideally suited and best-known for producing some of Napa Valley’s top cabernet sauvignon’s.  With the moderate temperatures of the 2013 vintage this wine exhibits intense flavors and soft tannins giving it elegance as well as balance.  It is ready to consume now on its own or perhaps its best paired with any of your favorite meat dishes. I took a bottle home over the weekend to a dinner party and it was real crowd pleaser!  Cheers!

 

2012 Dumol “ISOBEL” Chardonnay $79.95

(RRV)

2012 Dumol “ISOBEL” Chardonnay $79.95

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Great cool climate intensity, bright, sharp aromas, grapefruit, white nectarine, mixed botanicals, sea spray and minerals. Subtle floral/blossom note and faint match stick complexity. Vibrant fruit entry – green apple, citrus oil then chamomile and lemongrass. Clean river-pebble edge, livewire intensity. Mid-palate relaxes and layered honeyed texture develops. Lots of lemons and limes on the penetrating saline finish. Decant for an hour and drink between 2015 and 2021.”

Wine Advocate Review (93 pts):  “Absolutely sensational, the 2013 Chardonnay Isobel comes exclusively from the 32-year-old vines of the Charles Heintz Vineyard. Barrel-fermented and aged 13 months on its lees, then four months in tank, this wine offers up quintessential Chardonnay notes such as white peach, wet stones and hazelnut. It exhibits great acidity, a full-bodied, honeyed texture, superb purity, and a tightly coiled, crisp, zesty finish. It should be even better with another 6-12 months of cellaring and keep for a decade or more.” –Robert M. Parker, Jr.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol Level: 14.1%
Cases Produced: 1,213
Winemaker Name: Andy Smith
Maturity: Drink Now – 2021
Pairings: Great with herb roasted chicken, pork loin, salmon, lobster, crab, or halibut…A soft cow’s milk cheese or goat cheese would be excellent too!

CV_shoot_jayb1Staff Review:  JAY JOHNSTONE –  The 2013 DuMOL “isobel” Chardonnay is absolutely fantastic!  All the chardonnay lovers out there are really going to enjoy this delicious wine.  DuMOL is a small production winery that specializes in chardonnay and pinot noir with the occasional syrah and viognier.  The winemaker Andy Smith joined DuMOL first in 1999 after being the understudy to Paul Hobbs, who is considered one of the top winemakers in the world today.  The “isobel” Chardonnay was grown in the old-vine Charles Heintz Vineyard located on the top of Occidental Ridge in the western part of Sonoma Coast.  But how does it taste you ask?  I’m not a chardonnay drinker but when I got a chance to try one this good, I was thrilled!  Great flavors of crème brulee, vanilla, and white peach really shine through.  It has the perfect amount of richness and its lingering finish make best served with heavier foods like the ones mentioned above.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I do, so Cheers!

 

2014 Buglioni Il Disperato Bianco delle Venezie IGT $18

(Italy)

2014 Buglioni Il Disperato Bianco delle Venezie IGT $18

Winery Tasting Notes:   “A still white wine from pure garganega grape, fine, elegant and lonely in a land of red wines … a Desperate because it couldn’t find its name, and finally we really called it so!  Straw yellow color with a golden shimmer.  Intense aroma, rich with notes of flowers and tropical fruit, especially mango and pineapple. Good structure and acidity. Round in the mouth, savory and balanced.”

Blend:  100% garganega
Alcohol Level:  12.5%
Cases Produced:  NA but it is likely a big number
Winemaker:  Diego Bertoni, a graduate of the Oenology Institute of San Michel all’Adige , winemaker since 2000.
Maturity:  Quaff now.  Don’t hold.

Pairings:  From the winery:  “Besides being a pleasant aperitif, its full flavor pairs well with refined meat and fish appetizers, crudités, aromatic pasta or rice dishes, grilled white meat or fish.”

Gary1Staff Review:  GARY MOFFAT – Since I’m headed to Tuscany in a few weeks leading Carpe Vino’s annual wine tour, I’m game to taste anything from Italy.  So, of course, Drew slides me a bianco curve ball instead of a tasty, friendly little rosso.

No matter, this is a simple, unpretentious wine that is Wine-Club priced for you to enjoy any time you need a refreshing and economical glass of vino.  Before the brand was launched as a commercial venture in 2000, small quantities were produced for family and friends.  Now the estate, located between Milan and Venice, produces 10 wines, including an Amarone Riserva.

The bianco we’re featuring is perfect as a social lubricant/aperitif to present at your next soirée or pool party.  At just 12.5% alcohol, it’s the prudent choice.  Brisk acidity makes this a wine to consider with Thai dishes or anything spicy to help smother the burn.

2014 Buglioni Il Disperato Bianco delle Venezie IGT $18

(Italy)

2014 Buglioni Il Disperato Bianco delle Venezie IGT $18

Winery Tasting Notes:   “A still white wine from pure garganega grape, fine, elegant and lonely in a land of red wines … a Desperate because it couldn’t find its name, and finally we really called it so!  Straw yellow color with a golden shimmer.  Intense aroma, rich with notes of flowers and tropical fruit, especially mango and pineapple. Good structure and acidity. Round in the mouth, savory and balanced.”

Blend:  100% garganega
Alcohol Level:  12.5%
Cases Produced:  NA but it is likely a big number
Winemaker:  Diego Bertoni, a graduate of the Oenology Institute of San Michel all’Adige , winemaker since 2000.
Maturity:  Quaff now.  Don’t hold.

Pairings:  From the winery:  “Besides being a pleasant aperitif, its full flavor pairs well with refined meat and fish appetizers, crudités, aromatic pasta or rice dishes, grilled white meat or fish.”

Gary1Staff Review:  GARY MOFFAT – Since I’m headed to Tuscany in a few weeks leading Carpe Vino’s annual wine tour, I’m game to taste anything from Italy.  So, of course, Drew slides me a bianco curve ball instead of a tasty, friendly little rosso.

No matter, this is a simple, unpretentious wine that is Wine-Club priced for you to enjoy any time you need a refreshing and economical glass of vino.  Before the brand was launched as a commercial venture in 2000, small quantities were produced for family and friends.  Now the estate, located between Milan and Venice, produces 10 wines, including an Amarone Riserva.

The bianco we’re featuring is perfect as a social lubricant/aperitif to present at your next soirée or pool party.  At just 12.5% alcohol, it’s the prudent choice.  Brisk acidity makes this a wine to consider with Thai dishes or anything spicy to help smother the burn.

2012 Seghesio Barbera $38

(California)

2012 Seghesio Barbera $38

Winery Tasting Notes:  Nose exhibits freshly opened cherry blossoms in spring, light and delicately lifted by oak-imparted vanilla aromas.  Bright acidity highlights the entry and finish.  Soft tannins in the mid-palate.

Wine Spectator: Score 90 “ Trim and zesty, this shows good balance and focus, with appealing notes of cranberry, smoked pepper and anise.”

Blend: 100% Barbera
Alcohol Level: 14.8%
Cases Produced: Very 2572
Winemaker Name: Ted Seghesio
Maturity: Drink Now – 2020
Pairings:  Lamb, game, stews – Hard Cheese – Pizza & Pasta
 
JANA-KOSMATA-Staff Review:  JANA KOSMATA – The Seghesio Barbera is not a wine to be taken lightly it will knock your socks off with its boldness and silky finesse.  It pours out of your glass onto your tongue with hints of vanilla, cherry and dark fruit. I enjoyed the hints of pepper and it paired well with my lamb stew as well as appetizers of hard cheese and cherry jam.  Don’t rush to drink this bottle as it will age nicely in the next year but if you can’t wait…you will only be disappointed when the bottle is empty!

2014 Fisher Vineyards Unity Chardonnay $42

(Sonoma Valley)

2014 Fisher Vineyards Unity Chardonnay $42

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Aromas of lemongrass, almond brioche and green apple give way to flavors of rich lemon custard, honeydew melon and hints of vanilla bean on the palate. Bright acid and subtle minerality lead to a lengthy, mouthwatering finish. 2014 may just be our finest UNITY Chardonnay yet!”

Blend:  100% chardonnay
Alcohol Level:  14.1
Cases Produced:  1,733
Winemaker:  Whitney Fisher
Maturity:  This wine is ready to drink this very moment, though no doubt it will maintain its heft and authority for the foreseeable future. . .but no point in deferring opening this beautiful wine.

Pairings:  Perhaps the best solution is to pair this with a few of your closest friends who understand and appreciate wine.  Huddle around the bottle in deep conversation about anything except politics.  It would also go nicely with a selection of artisan cheeses before dinner.

Gary1Staff Review:  GARY MOFFAT – If we’ve ever had a Wine Club selection from Fisher Vineyards, I missed it. . .but I’m glad Drew located this gem.  The winery is a family operation from stem to stern, owned by Fred and Juelle Fisher with three children in key positions:  Whitney, winemaker; Rob, GM; Cameron, sales and marketing.

There are no sheepskins from U.C. Davis hanging anywhere on the estate. . .just Harvard, Princeton and Duke.  I’m sure the team is making do!  As a bonus, Rob is a Wall Street refugee where he worked on M&A deals, presenting a nice edge in handling finances. . .or in preparing for when one of the mega-companies comes knocking.

I was called off the bench to review this one and though I’m not a recognized chard expert, the 2014 Unity Chardonnay is killer.  It exhibits explosive fruit–precisely as annotated in the winery tasting notes at the top of this column.  What hooked me was the blast of intense fruit chased by a toasty almond pop. . .and the fact that though the wine is aged in 30% new French oak barrels, another 10% is aged in 500-liter puncheons–more than double the size of the ubiquitous barrel–kayoing the typical butter/wood combination punch.

 

 

 

 

2013 Gamble Vineyards Cab Sauvignon $55

(Napa Valley)

2013 Gamble Vineyards Cab Sauvignon $55

Winery Tasting Notes: “Inviting aromas of toasted walnut, cedar, black cherry, blackberry, ripe fig and warm notes of nutmeg. A medium to full bodied wine full of robust flavor and balance. Bright fruit flavors of blackberries, damson plum, chocolate ganache and blackcurrant are layered with notes of molasses, date, coffee, cocoa and tobacco. Enjoy now and over the next 5-8 years.”

Wine Advocate Review: N/A
Wine Spectator Review: N/A

 Blend: 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% merlot
Alcohol Level: 13.9%
Cases Produced: 1,790
Winemaker Name: Jim Close
Maturity: Drink Now – 2021

Pairings:  mushroom pizza, marinated ribeye steak, braised short ribs, charred gruyere burger

CV_shoot_jayb1Staff Review:  Jay Johnstone – The 2013 Gamble Cabernet Sauvignon was one of those awesome finds that just happened to land in our lap.  Having been familiar with the wines several years ago, I knew that this would be an ideal fit for the CV WC.  Gamble’s Family Home Vineyard is located in Oakville which is ideally suited and best-known for producing some of Napa Valley’s top cabernet sauvignon’s.  With the moderate temperatures of the 2013 vintage this wine exhibits intense flavors and soft tannins giving it elegance as well as balance.  It is ready to consume now on its own or perhaps its best paired with any of your favorite meat dishes. I took a bottle home over the weekend to a dinner party and it was real crowd pleaser!  Cheers!