For the wine snob:
100% Malbec, Lamadrid is the name of the family of the owner and founder, Guillermo García Lamadrid. An Agrelo terroir-driven Malbec that is complex with very concentrated fruit. Hand harvested, French oak barreled for 35 days.
For the rest of us:
Ripe, raisiny aromas include barrel-based notes of vanilla, cocoa and graphite. Hailing from a cool, rainy year like 2016, this is surprisingly full, extracted and traditional style. This a perfect summer red!
For the wine snob:
The unofficial name of the Owen family homestead, Lady Hill, is a tribute to the Patroness and strong women pioneers of the Zorn and Owen family. 2015 Found itself in the middle of a string of extremely hot vintages, with plenty of sun and heat to send this wine over the top. It took a careful hand from the grower to hang just enough fruit to maintain proper fruit balance and acidity, and knowledge from the winemaker to bridge ripeness with an acid-driven style.
For the rest of us:
Bright, refreshing flavors of Bosc pear and white peach. The fresh fruit is balanced by a classic floral hint of pear blossom and perfumed gardenias opening to subtle almond and a highlighted minerality. Drink with sweet and spicy Asian foods; Ceviche; arugula and tomato salad and friends!
For the wine snob:
2018 was a relatively cool and dry growing season in Edna Valley, receiving half the normal amount of rainfall. The lower temperatures delayed ripening throughout the year and led to a long bloom season with some shatter, causing lower yields. A warm September and October helped accelerate the grapes into ripeness and we harvested Pinot Noir between mid-September and mid-October.
For the rest of us:
100% Pinot Noir, The wines from Jespersen combine classic regional characteristics of delicate fruit and white pepper with hints of earth and consistently strong acid, characteristics unique to this property.
For the wine snob:
The grapes were hand-picked, whole-cluster pressed, and barrel fermented with native yeast in neutral Burgundian barrels. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation. Acid levels were brilliantly elevated, and the concentrated berries produced excellent fruit intensity and weight.
For the rest of us:
100% Sauvignon Blanc the 2017 opens with barely ripe Anjou pear and lemongrass notes. The palate is invigorating and fresh, with clean acidity that weaves in and out.
For the wine snob:
Our Bella Vigna Pinot Noir is curated from all of our estate vineyards in the Sonoma Coast appellation, we have created an approachable appellation blend that reflects the characteristics of our family’s vineyards and is still true to our Martinelli style.
For the rest of us:
The 2017 Bella Vigna Pinot Noir has a nose of dried cherry, licorice, and blueberry and ripe flavors of mouth-coating strawberry and dried cherry.
For the wine snob:
Grapes lightly crushed and allowed about 3 hours skin contact before gently pressing in a traditional basket press. 100% barrel fermentation with natural yeasts. The growing season was quite dry and mild with moderate to lower vigour and healthy growth, producing a slightly smaller crop than usual with small berries. We had ideal cooler weather during harvest time with cool nights and no substantial heatwaves. We picked some of our Chenin just before a heavy downpour at the end of January, but the balance enjoyed the moisture relief, which we picked over the following 3 weeks.
For the rest of us:
100% Chenin Blanc, Attractive pale yellow colour. Fresh dusty apricot and ripe melon on the nose at first with lemon, honey and floral notes. Soft though elegantly textured and complex palate with a moderately rich mid palate and a long, creamy finish.
For the wine snob:
100% destemming and crushing by hand directly into 2 ton open top fermentation tanks. Spontaneous natural yeast fermentation @ 30ºC with the cap of skins punched down 2 – 3 times a day for 15 days. Wine drained directly to barrels, together with single pressing from traditional basket press for malolactic fermentation.
For the rest of us:
Deep, dark red colour. Intense rich, ripe cassis and blackberry nose with lovely spicy, lead pencil and creamy fynbos aromas. Rich, ripe fruit on palate with layers of spice and creamy fynbos. Great intensity with prominent fine tannins that carry the wine to a long finish.
