Wine Tasting Jan 20 – 21 2023
Stefano Massone Gavi Masera 2021
Stefano Massone is devoted solely to white winemaking, with vineyards located in the warmer southeastern part of the region in Gavi, where the Cortese grape achieves maximum ripeness. As this varietal tends to be very productive, rigorous vineyard management and low yields are vital to producing Cortese of high quality, as practiced at Massone, but at few other estates.
This organically farmed varietal Cortese from Gavi is one of our top go-to picks for crisp Italian whites.
Taste – The wine is entirely steel-vinified brilliant yellow-color, shows flavors of crisp pear, green apple skin, white flowers, and fresh cut herbs. Pair with fresh fish, salads, or cheese board. It’s also ideal for starters, seafood, and crustaceans. Cooper’s Price $16.99 or Mix and Match 3btls $15.29/btl
Adorn California Chardonnay 2020
Kevin – We continue to search and find very affordable Chardonnays for the palate that loves a note of pear and oak while being all natural without artificial flavoring (yes, some wineries do this). This is one of our findings. It’s from Precision Wine Co. “Each wine is made with meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to quality as, every step of the winemaking process is handled with precision.
Our wines are made to showcase the complexity of flavor, diversity of terroir, and distinct characteristics of California’s appellations and wine regions.” Proprietor and Vintner Trevor Sheehan
Taste – Aromas of green apples, citrus, Asian pear and a hint of vanilla bean with fresh mineral notes. The palate echoes the nose with flavors of apple and pear. A subtle use of oak lead to a refreshing, medium length finish. Cooper’s Price $12.99 or Mix and Match 3btls 11.69/btl
Yves Cuilleron Crozes-Hermitage Laya 2019
Yves Cuilleron applies just one principle to vinification: “Keep things as simple as possible.” He is also deeply attached to local traditions. His grapes are invariably hand picked and meticulously sorted; for the alcoholic fermentation, natural yeasts only and no other oenological products, just temperature control.
Winemaker Notes
“The Crozes Hermitage Laya comes from two hectares of vines from the “Malfondière” plot situated just south of Tain l’Hermitage. Laya is an old name district of Tain l’Hermitage. This is obviously all Syrah from deep, stony, sandy, loamy soils. The grapes are handpicked; and then sorted, crushed and partially destemmed in the cellar. Fermented in open top, temperature-controlled vats for about 3 weeks, with regular cap-punching and pumping-over. Alcoholic fermentation in vats with native yeasts and malolactic fermentation in barrels. The wine is then left to age for 16 months before bottling.
This is a rich, full-bodied version of Crozes with deep black-fruit notes. This is substantial wine with plenty of ripeness and acidity.”Regular Price $29.99 ….. Cooper’s Price $24.99 or Mix and Match 3btls $22.49/btl
White Rock Vineyards Napa Valley Estate Cabernet
The Producer: Originally a land grant to Salvador Vallejo, the original parcel was purchased by Dr. Pettingill in 1870. Dr. Pettingill was a globetrotter and bon vivant but he is also known to have been a dentist, brewer, winemaker, and horse breeder; a character bigger than life, impassioned by science and the land.
The vineyard he planted was one of the earliest plantings in Napa Valley. In 1871, using only a hand saw to cut the white rock he quarried from the property, he constructed a winery in which he would process 7,000 gallons of wine per year. Dr. Pettingill also designed two cellars, where he began the tradition of bottle ageing his wine for 4 years before release- a method we still proudly practice at White Rock.
Henri and Claire purchased the property in 1977 and set to work restoring the winery to its original glory. All wine is made and stored in underground caves.
Vineyard: Estate grown, produced, and bottled one mile off Silverado Trail, east of Yountville on thesouth end of the Stag’s Leap Range. East and west facing hilltops with white volcanic ash soils in a microclimate a few degrees cooler than the valley floor. The lower slopes make our Claret. Hand harvested, sorted and aged for 22 months in French Oak, 35% new oak. 100% Cabernet ORGANIC/BIODYNAMIC
Kevin’s Notes – You don’t need Silver Oak, Jordan, or Caymus when you can buy this wine. Sharon and I visited this winery 5 years ago and it remains as one of the most dynamic wineries I’ve ever visited!
Cooper’s Price $64.99 or Mix and Match 3btls $58.49/btl
