2011Nicali Proprietary Blend

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$45 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

This is why you belong to the Carpe Vino Wine Club and a good reason to step up to the $75 club.  The 2011 Nicali Proprietary Blend was made by one of California’s most talented, highly regarded winemakers, Celia Welch (named Food & Wine magazine’s 2008 Winemaker of the year), who is also responsible for the incredibly popular cult wine, Scarecrow (which we obtain just a couple of six packs each year).  Celia made just 45 cases of Nicali Proprietary Red in 2011, and Drew scooped up 42. . .most of which will be consumed by Wine Club members.

This wine is a gutsy, 50-50 blend of Nicali Vineyard cabernet sauvignon and California-sourced zinfandel and a great example of Celia’s of how Celia’s risking-taking pays off big time.

Nicali is part of the Napa Valley’s Lindstrom Wines, where Celia Welch has been winemaker since 2005.  Her Lindstrom Cab is made from Nicali Vineyard fruit, grown in the heart of the Stags Leap District.

Gary’s Tasting Notes:  This is one of those wines that with the first sip, you have no choice but to totally relax and say “wow.”  No bullshit.  The nose is the first warning that this wine is something special. . .a shotgun blast of black cherry that perforates the palate, too.  Though I can’t confirm this, I’d bet my Vespa that Celia sourced the zin from her husband’s Lodi vineyard, because the dense fruit flavors, upfront spiciness and a hint of chocolate are obvious telltales.  What’s impressive about this blend is its balance of massive zin flavors juxtaposed against the refined smoothness of the Napa cab.  It is a simple matter to characterize this wine as the best of two worlds.  Enjoy with whatever you are serving tonight, because this wine will make your reality a better place.  Smart money won’t wait for the Moffats to blink.  No deals on this, so purchase whatever you can before what’s left of the 42 cases is history.  I’ve already got my six-pack.

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