June 2022Wines of the Month

For the wine snob: Founded in 2010, Aviary Vineyards launched with the 2009 vintage of our Napa Valley Red Blend. That first vintage took advantage of tiny lots of different varieties from 13 different vineyards throughout Napa Valley. Much like an aviary, the blend of different grapes interacted and harmonized to create a wine that was beautiful, enjoyable, and captivating. Each component is wonderful, but together, they combined into a truly great experience.  Our Birds of Prey Red Blend is inspired by the guardians of our vineyards. Owls by night and raptors throughout the day.  Birds of prey hunt in our vines allowing us to naturally manage the vineyards without pesticides.  Enjoy this wine with food, or on its own, curled up by a fire with loved ones. This “Bird” tastes fantastic now and will continue to develop and age beautifully over the next ten-plus years.

For the rest of us: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon 36% Merlot 11% Cabernet Franc 2%  As homage, this wine is big, bold, and balanced. It is dark garnet in color with aromas of brambleberries, cassis, cigar box, spice, almonds, and chocolate. The round palate offers a memorable profile of red fruits, dark chocolate, and a subtle tea leaf that lingers.  Enjoy this wine with food, or on its own, curled up by a fire with loved ones. This “Bird” tastes fantastic now and will continue to develop and age beautifully over the next ten-plus years.

For the wine snob: Epiphany was founded by Eli Parker in 2000 as a way for him to expand on his passion for and fascination with wine making. The winemaking torch was passed to Blair Fox in 2007, but crafting interesting wines of exquisite quality is still the sole reason for the label’s existence.  Epiphany’s lineup features a selection of Rhône-based wines sourced primarily from Rodney’s vineyard on the family’s Home Ranch.  The grapes for ‘Inspiration’ were sourced from 77% Rodney’s Vineyard and 23% Camp Four Vineyard  both located in the Santa Ynez Valley

For the rest of us: 51% Grenache Blanc, 23% Roussanne, 21% Viognier, 5% Marsanne, With Inspiration we strive for a Châteauneuf-du-Pape style white Rhône blend, with tropical aromas of white flowers, jasmine and honeydew melon that marry well with vanilla, nectarine and orange marmalade.  Tangerine, vanilla and almond flavors flood the palate followed by hints of honeysuckle and lemon cream.  Pair with shellfish, chicken, pork and vegetable dishes prepared with savory butter or cream sauces.

For the wine snob: Provence, Languedoc, the Southern Rhône, Gascony, Burgundy, Beaujolais: these intriguing and diverse winemaking regions in the beautiful south of France have been the inspiration for Boutinot’s success since the company was founded in 1980.  In the last three decades we have formed lasting relationships with growers in these regions, put down roots in Cairanne, the home of Domaine Boutinot, and launched innovative wines such as “Le Petit Chat Malin” and “Long Little Dog”.  Les Six is all about the elegance and the expression of six different grape varieties (in an appellation often dominated by just two) blended together in the tradition of yesteryear.  This 2018, is the seventh vintage of “Les Six”.  Released as a Cairanne A.O.C.; the southern Rhône’s newest Cru.

For the rest of us: Boutinot ‘Les Six’ is a blend of Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Mourvedre, Shiraz/Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  The 2018 vintage is full-flavored and complex with the typical freshness and elegance coming from our hillside vineyards.  Layers of fruit are interwoven and underpinned by a plush texture and supple tannins which propel the scents and flavors of peppery red and black fruits to a vibrant, expressive finish.  This wine has a natural affinity with herby lamb but would be superb with most grilled meats and roasted vegetables.

For the wine snob: The Trimbach’s have a purist vision. For three centuries and across 13 generations, the family has produced wines that are structured, longlived, fruity, elegant and balanced: the celebrated Trimbach style.  The viticultural origin of the Trimbach family dates back to 1626, when Jean Trimbach, was recognized as a citizen of Riquewihr. From then on, the Trimbach’s were renowned for their wine-growing. Maison Trimbach’s vineyards are all situated around Ribeauville (Ribeauville, Hunawihr, Bergheim, Rorschwihr, Riquewihr and Mittlewihr).

For  the rest of us: 70% Pinot Auxerrois 30% Pinot Blanc, This wine has nice fruitiness and a powerfull freshness. Ideal when poured by the glass, it is fresh and clean, smooth in the aftertaste, medium-bodied with good fruit acidity. Enjoy it with light meals, salads, poultry, chicken, veal, roasted pork, seafood or pasta. Also great when paired with shell fish, tapas or a few small plates shared family-style.

For the wine snob: The Martinelli Family has been farming land and growing grapes in Sonoma County for over 135 years, consistently providing our winemaking team with exceptional fruit.  70% of the grapes sourced for this wine are from our Russian River Valley estate vineyards, and 30% from our vineyards in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA.  Our Bella Vigna label is curated from our Estate Pinot Noir vineyards primarily grown in the Sonoma Coast appellation.

For the rest of us: 100% Pinot Noir, The 2019 ‘Bella Vigna’ Pinot Noir is alluring in the nose with aromas of Bing cherry and raspberry. The palate is full of flavor including ripe cherries and cinnamon that linger in the finish.

For the wine snob: The Martinelli Family has been farming land and growing grapes in Sonoma County for over 135 years, consistently providing our winemaking team with exceptional fruit.  This wine was created using the saignée method with juice from our Sonoma Coast Single Vineyard Pinot Noir estate grapes. We wanted to create an enjoyable rose that reflects the characteristics of our Sonoma Coast vineyards and is still true to our Martinelli style. This wine best denotes the flavor profiles of our vineyards, showcasing how beautiful the fruit from the Sonoma Coast can be.

For the rest of us:100% Pinot Noir, Crisp and aromatic on the nose with aromas of ripe strawberry, white flowers, and powdered sugar. A refreshingly juicy entry with flavors of pomegranate and candied red grapefruit on the palate.  The finish is long and bright with a lingering clean, wet stone flavor.

For the wine snob: While traveling to Northern California in the mid-eighteen hundreds with his entire life savings, John Weinberger’s stagecoach was attacked by robbers.  Passengers were told to “shell out”.  Weinberger, without hesitation, shot the robbers with his Colt Navy he had hidden under his seat. John, a visionary, then became one of the first pioneers in Napa Valley winemaking when he built the first stone winery in St. Helena in 1873.

For the rest of us: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon 9% Merlot, The 2016 lures you in with bright and rich ripe raspberries, cherries and milk chocolate and ribbons of caramel. The palate is full and rich with juicy fruit that coats your mouth. Subtle white pepper and toasty finish round out the wine into a long finish.

For the wine Snob: Fess Parker’s portrayal of frontiersman Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone during the 1950s and 60s garnered him a legion of adoring fans spanning many generations.  Our single vineyard and small lot releases enable us to deliver some of our finest expressions of Chardonnay by concentrating on specific vineyards, clonal selections or techniques. We have been fortunate enough to secure several tons of Chardonnay from one of the most historically significant vineyards in all of California, the iconic Sanford & Benedict.

For the Rest of us: 100% Chardonnay, Originally planted in 1971, this mature vineyard yields a wine that is beautifully structured with plenty of fresh acidity and verve. The palate offers lovely citrus and tropical fruit flavors backed by enticing minerality and a hint of toast.