Some of the wines we're excited about this month...
these are not generally available by the glass, but we really want you to try them.
Now you don't have to commit to the entire bottle-but we certainly won't discourage that!
TASTING NOTES
2013 was a classic vintage. On the cool side, the 2013 Vendemia produced bright wines with a racy, edgy acidity. Sangiovese harvest began the first week in October ensuring plenty of time on the vine for a good acid, tannin balance.
The nose has floral tones of cut roses and notes of tart Cherry. These give way to dominating aromas of spice, cedar and mint. In years like 2013, earth tones dominate fruit. On the palate you feel quickly the tingling acids and beautiful tannin structure. Flavors are of fresh raspberries and white chocolate. In the finish you feel some smoky tones (cigar box) which subside revealing our trademark uplifting orange peel finish. 2013 is a vintage that is straight to the point and will age elegantly.
WINE STATISTICS
Composition: 100% Sangiovese
Alcohol: 14.5%
Aging: 1 year old oak
Total Acidity: 5.8 g/l
pH: 3.40 g/l
Bottle Production: 9,492
$18 glass | $64 bottle
2015 CALIFORNIA, RED WINE
In 2009, the decision was made to create a new blend that featured the varietal most known for its tannins and inky color and least known for its ability to be delicate and complex. With only about 10,000 acres of Petite Sirah planted in California, we have been fortunate to literally taste through the state and discover the best regions for Petite Sirah. Coming off the success of the 2014 vintage, we were lucky to find even more vineyards whose wines met our strict standards for Machete. Resulting is a complex mélange of quality Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache from specific AVAs in California—such as the Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino, the Alexander, Knights and Santa Ynez Valleys, Sonoma Mountain and Atlas Peak, just to name a few.
WINEMAKER’S NOTES
A brooding hue and viscous consistency, powerful aromas of crème de cassis, boysenberry, and ripe cherries are complemented by a soft minerality and hints of dark chocolate. The entry is smooth with dark plums and a charred meatiness that floods to create a velvety texture that lingers.
BLEND
Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Grenache
MATURATION
Aged for 10 months in French Oak, 40% new
ALC/VOL
15.2%
$20 glass | $80 Bottle
2016 The Setting Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
This is a stunning example of Alexander Valley Cabernet, with a beautifully rich, silk-like texture. The 2016 vintage shows a gorgeous nose of ripe raspberries, cassis and delicate florals while evoking notes of red cherries, plums and black currants supported with refreshing acidity on the palate. The lingering finish gives way to graceful tannins giving this vintage an elegantly structured balance. This wine will be showing beautifully when released with a recommended decant, and for 15+ years in cellar.
WINEMAKER: JESSE KATZ
In 2010, Katz was the youngest-hired head winemaker in the US at Lancaster Estate, where he brought to bear his handcrafted style of terroir driven winemaking and established their Roth Estate brand. During his five-year tenure, he orchestrated the building of the new Roth winery, production facility, and tasting room on Chalk Hill Road, grew the Roth line over 800% and received 90+ scores on every wine scored by Robert Parker, Jr and his wine was designated as Top 100 Wines by Wine Spectator. During this time, he also pivoted farming and winery practices, making both certified sustainable. His experience spans 15 harvests at wineries like Pétrus and includes time on the winemaking teams at Screaming Eagle Winery, Robert Foley Winery, and Viña Cobos and Bodega Noemia in Argentina.
Jesse has been named 40 Under 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast and was the first winemaker on the Forbes 30 Under 30. Aperture Cellars was recently selected as a Rising Star by Wine Spectator and a bottle of his 2015 The Setting Wines just became the most expensive single bottle of wine ever sold, earning $350,000 at Emeril Lagasse’s annual charity wine auction. Jesse puts his abilities to work raising funds for good causes, such as Becoming Independent, Navy Seals Foundation, United Way and Roots of Peace whose “Mines to Vines” program works to restore economic stability to war stricken areas of the world through agriculture. He also produces custom wines for athletes and celebrities like Tony Hawk, Superbowl MVP Von Miller, Shep Gordon, as well as Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel’s wedding wine. He has also been featured by multiple media outlets, including: Wine and Spirts, Food and Wine, Drinks Business, Wine Advocate, Worth, Bloomberg, Huffington Post, ABC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, People, ESPN, Forbes, People, AOL, Esquire, Channel News Asia, and other national and international publications.
Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2015 – 94 Points, Wine Enthusiast | 94 Points, Wine Spectator | 94 Points, James Suckling
$28 glass | $112 bottle