Cheers to 2021 4-Pack

Jawbreaker Cabernet Sauvignon

TASTING NOTES:
The aromas hit your nose with scents that are reminiscent of cedar, cinnamon and sweet woods mixed with silky, black currants. The flavors are earthy and vibrant with nuances of deep, ripe blackberry and juicy, mouth-watering cranberry. Blended with a touch of Napa Syrah that nicely mellows out the tannin structure. A well- balanced Cabernet Sauvignon with an excellent mouth-feel and texture.

Food Pairings: Slow-cooked beef stew, garlic prime rib or a hearty, gourmet burger.

SCALE NAPA VALLEY RED BLEND 2017

Scaling heights-just like making wine-is a microcosm of life. Reaching the summit may be the goal but the journey is just as important. Reaching the peak is the purpose and the rewarding view at the top symbolize’s beauty of success. Persistence takes us to the peak and upon reaching the summit of our journey we realize the view from the top is totally different than that from the bottom.

Scaling of the wine world literally has brought you to what is exactly in this bottle. This delicious red blend of several different wine grapes sourced from some of the most coveted vineyards in Napa Valley. With a seductive and alluring mix of Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, and Counoise that is aged in a combination of both new & used French oak. It captivates you with aromas of briar fruits and dried cherry which is accented by slight hints of vanilla. On the palate, layers of blueberry, mulberry, and boysenberry give way to an edge of espresso, cracked pepper, and a sprinkling of fall spice. These dense aromas and flavors bring you to a lingering finish framed by refined tannins and balanced acidity that will leave you dreaming of another glass long after the bottle is gone.

So grab ahold of this bottle and join us on our journey, and with the first sip, you will know exactly what we mean… SCALE!

Longboard Vineyards Russian River Syrah 2016

I began to make a cool region Syrah way back in 1998, driven by a love for Northern Rhone wines. As a wine "newbie", traveling to surf destinations on the Atlantic shores of Europe, I found that these were the wines that could deliver quality on a very consistent level while I was on a surf-bum budget. Later, as a pro with more than 34 harvests under my belt, I still like a good Syrah - regardless of price... I now understand even better why this variety fits my palate then - and continues to do so now. It all has to do with balance and layering; Syrah is less tannic than Cabernet and a bit more layered than Pinot Noir. These traits, and the slight earthy spiciness we get in this region make Syrah a natural companion to a wide range of foods - and thus wins the vote in my heart (and palate). This Syrah is a blend of Dakine, Goosechase, and Ledbetter (old Preston Ranch) vineyard blocks. At release, the 2016 shows a lot of blue-fruit nuances and some dry herb notes, all directly arising from a very even growing season. A bit of floral character and some bacon ­fat add complexity and marry well with the wild-fennel note I always get from Russian River Valley Syrah.

Cheers,
Oded Shakked - Owner & Winemaker of Longboard Vineyards

Wine Dogma: This blend comes from sites of different soil composition, and quite different individual terroirs. Accordingly, I treat the lots individually, opting for open-top fermentation for the Dakine and traditional closed-top for the Ledbetter and Goosechase lots. I use a blend of Burgundy and Bordeaux barrels to age the wines on the fine lees for about 9 months, then rack them off the lees and age them an additional year in the same barrels. Wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. 

Composition: Syrah 99 %, (Grenache, Carignan, Malbec, Petit Sirah) 1%
Appellation: 100% Russian River Valley
Production: 258 Cases
Alcohol: 14.5 %
TA: 6.65g/L
pH: 3.76

Edouard Labeye is a wine consultant based in the south of France but is well-known throughout the world. This Viognier is classically French; clean and crisp with a gentle minerality that ensures it pairs well with broiled fish or roasted chicken. White wine lovers rejoice- this sublimely elegant Viognier will delight as only a Rhone varietal can.

ABV: 13.0%

HOOK & LADDER RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ESTATE “OLIVET RANCH” SAUVIGNON BlANC 2019

THE VINEYARDS:

Sauvignon Blanc demands a cooler climate allowing the distinctive flavors of the grape to mature and develop. The southern reaches of the Russian River Valley produce just such conditions. These 20-year old vines stretch along the front 5 acres of the Hook & Ladder Estate Winery on Olivet Road.

THE GROWING SEASON: Coming off one of the coolest and wettest winters in recent memory, bud break arrived about two weeks later than normal. Beyond this slow start to the growing season, we saw multiple heat spikes throughout the summer that brought the maturation of the vines more in line with seasons past.

THE WINEMAKING: Our Sauvignon Blanc is crushed and de-stemmed immediately to press, then the juice is fermented in a combination of neutral French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.

THE WINE:

Our 2019 Sauvignon Blanc shines with a pale lemon chiffon color and aromas of citrus and muskmelon. The palate offers full flavors of lime zest, passion fruit heightened by its lingering lychee, trace green apple finish.

HARVESTED: September 25, 2019
ALCOHOL: 13.8%
TA: .64
pH: 3.23
CASES PRODUCED: 1,784
AGING: 5 months in neutral French Oak and stainless steel
ESTATE BOTTLED: February 25, 2020
WINEMAKER: Jason De Loach

Even though apartheid ended decades ago, the effects are still felt through the local communities. As part of his commitment to his employees and the community, Alex Dale (of Radford Dale wines) created a trust called The Land of Hope, which provides scholarships to the children and dependents of his employees. Alex states, “From the start, we decided to focus on education. Why? Because you can’t build a new society without giving its young people the intellectual capacity to take themselves – let alone their community – to the next level. We think that giving a first-rate education to every child or dependent of our Previously Disadvantaged Individual employees is the ideal way to reward our team members for their loyalty, beyond-the-call-of-duty work ethic, and dedication over the past two decades”. 

Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted grape in South Africa, yet when apartheid ended, little respect was shown to this truly delicious varietal because it had really only been used to distill cheap brandy and jug wine. 

Instead of focusing solely on grapes labeled “premium” by the wine industry (think Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, etc), Alex Dale decided to create a wine that elevated the humble and mistreated Chenin Blanc. Handpicked and aged in Burgundian French oak barrels, Land of Hope Chenin Blanc is just rich enough to satisfy the most discerning palate and just acidic enough to be refreshing; the perfect balance. 

With ripe stone fruits and tropical fruits on the nose, a nutty richness on the palate, and a balancing fresh acidity, we recommend enjoying with roasted white meats and Asian-spiced dishes (particularly fish). 

2018 BOUGETZ CELLARS PARCHED. SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY

WINEMAKERS NOTES:
The 2018 parched. Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine originating from the Gold Coast Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA. With San Pablo Bay in view from the vineyard, the fruit for this wine is protected with a blanket of fog throughout the summer mornings, retaining the freshness in this wine. Having gone through full malolactic fermentation in barrel, the bright apple aromatics still jump out of the glass. Retaining some mid-palate bodyweight from barrel fermentation, it is surprising how clean this wine is on the palate. Great with food and will hold up to medium term cellaring. 

HARVEST NOTES:
The 2018 growing season began with a relatively dry spring and just a bit below normal rainfall over the winter. Budbreak was close to normal, leading to flowering in late May. The summer didn’t see too many heat spikes, but we were treated to cooler than normal mornings, which slowed down the maturation process leading to a night pick on October 14th. 

Harvest date:  October 14th, 2018 
Appellation: Sonoma Coast
Vineyard: Gold Coast Vineyard
Brix at harvest: 25.5
Fermentation: 50% new French Oak, 50% used French Oak
Aging: Aged 10 monthly in French oak, on the lees, stirred monthly
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.46
TA: 6.40 g/L
Bottled: July 2019
Case production: 155 cases
Winemaker: Thomas Bougetz