2012 Stepping Stone By Cornerstone Corallina Rose Napa Valley

Single Vineyard Syrah from the Crane Ranch Vineyard Oak Knoll District, provided today's Rose` sample from Stepping Stone By Cornerstone. The single block for the 2012 was carefully selected and nurtured until harvest, with one goal in mind to "produce the very best rose`". These folks are serious about producing Corallina, harvesting the grapes when the complexity of the fruit is at it's peak. Unlike many rose` productions where saignee or bleeding juice out of the red wine fermenter tends make a wine with less acid and sweeter, you will find the Corallina Rose dry with a nice mix of fruit and spice. Harvested in October 2012 the wine spent 5 months in mature french oak.

On the nose the rush of wild strawberries and vanilla cream treat your senses. Fresh cut wild flowers with hints of dried herbs and cinnamon on each swirl. Just as the label is entitled "Wine Dance", I picture myself celebrating in the vineyard with each little sniff.

Really nice in the mouth with the strawberry, peach and vanilla surrounded by a nice warm cinnamon spice. Crisp yet complex with ripe fruit and spice combine to make this one of my favorite Rose` wines. Jeff and Craig well done! Great price point as well.

Cornerstone Cellars with tasting rooms in Yountville CA and Gaston OR, provide a wide selection of varietals pleasing to any wine lovers palate. Stop in for a visit next time you're in the area and taste some wonderful wines.

Cheers
Dan

Holman Ranch Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Carmel Valley

Spent the past couple evenings tasting Holman Ranch Wines and jotting some notes down about a couple of varietal favorites...Mrs Chardonnay and Mr. Pinot.

Holman Ranch winery completed their current winery within The Caves which is completely underground and utilizes the natural cooling effects of being in the earth. A total of 3000 square feet maintains a constant temp of 58 with all winery operations taking place inside with the exception of bottling.

I started off with the 2010 Estate Grown Chardonnay. Loads of pear, green apple, pineapple with hints of melon, toasted oak, vanilla and a honey baking spice on the nose. In the mouth green apple and pear with a little splash of vanilla. Sweeter than many chardonnays which I taste.

Next the 2010 Estate Grown Pinot Noir Carmel Valley. On the nose wet earthy hints with tobacco and cherry. In the mouth a cranberry/cherry flavor with hints of earthy spice which to me never really flowed. When I pulled the cork there was no "pop" so I am wondering if the wine was breaking down and headed south toward "corked". I'll try another bottle in the future and review it on it's own.

My final sample was the 2011 Heathers Hill Pinot Noir Carmel Valley. I really enjoyed this bottle. Cherry, boysenberry dominate the nose with cola, sage a hint of forest and cloves. The mouth is full of ripe dark cherry with strawberry notes and juicy through the long finish. Little hint of cloves and cinnamon round the wine out nicely. Well done.

Be it a wedding, wine tasting or admiring the beauty, a stop at Holman Ranch is a great experience. Spoil yourself today!

Cheers
Dan

2009 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

When visiting the Napa Valley a must drive is one up Highway 29 to soak in the beauty of the vineyards. Either side of the road offers multiple tasting rooms with so many varietals to please your palate. Towns stretching along this route include Napa, Yountville, St Helena, and Calistoga. Whether a farmers market, top rated restaurants, award winning hotels or beautiful art galleries, there is something to please everyone. Today we focus on a cute tasting room that invites you to taste wines and share conversation. Yes I'm talking about Cornerstone Cellars on Washington Street and their 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet is my tonight's tasting (sample received).

Since crushing their first 5 ton of Howell Mountain Cabernet in 1991, the goal has remained the same..."make compelling, exciting wines that speak clearly of the vineyard, variety and vintage from which they are born". Howell Mountain is located in the Vaca Mountains on the northeast side of the Napa Valley overlooking St Helena. Vineyards are planted between 1400 and 2200 feet above sea level. The climate is much cooler than the valley floor with breezes from the Pacific Ocean. The 2009 grapes came from the Ink Grade Vineyard located 1800 feet above sea level. The soil is volcanic tufa which is excellent for drainage. Grapes tend to be small berries with intense flavors.

Beautiful intense fruit on the nose. Blackberry, plum, black raspberry with a bold cinnamon spice and hints of cocoa powder. As the wine opens, toasted oak, dried herbs with dark cherry notes. Love the rich ripe fruit and each swirl enhances the layers treating my nose.

Blackberry with juicy raspberry and plum followed by a splash of blueberry. The spice of cinnamon combined with a little touch of oak and chocolate impresses me. A ton going on in the mouth but when paired with fresh grilled burgers, the wine softened. More raspberry came to the front. I agree this will age nicely and in 5 years this will be even better! Great job Craig and friends.

Visit Yountville for it's great art, restaurants and the tasting room of Cornerstone Cellars. Open 7 days per week 11am to 7pm the staff will wecome you with open arms and wine glasses. Relax, taste and enjoy.

Cheers
Dan

2010 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

Spring in the air today with temps hitting 60 so it was time to fire the grill up and perfect my skills on a few steaks. Cabernet is my favorite with Amana Beef and tonight I paired it with a sample from Rodney Strong, their 2010. Regardless of vintage or varietal, when you taste their wine you will drink quality juice at affordable prices.

On the nose raspberry, cherry and blackberry with a touch of smokey oak. Swirl more and cloves with fresh vanilla bean treat the senses.

Nice juicy cherry and blackberry with hints of clove and oak. When paired with the steak, a nice ripe raspberry comes to the front. This could be your everyday Cabernet.....mine too.

Next time your in Healdsburg stop by Rodney Strong Vineyards for a visit and taste. It's well worth the stop!

Cheers
Dan

2010 Jeff Runquist Wines Amador Barbera

I missed Jeff's visit to my friend Traci's tasting at First Avenue Wine House (make sure you check out her great selection of wines) due to a last minute fiasco but naturally I stopped the next day to get a report and to purchase some wine. The turn out was awesome and folks really like these wines. He has a huge following with the locals here and he just got another fan! I'm sad I missed him.

18 years of producing wines for others encouraged Jeff to launch his own label with the 1995 vintage "Z" Zinfandel from Mission Ranch in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley. Having stops at Montevina Wines in Amador County, Napa Valley Cooperative in St Helena, J Lohr in San Jose and Paso Robles and now at McManis Family Winery which by the way he helped design and construct. The fall of 2006 He purchased a 5 acre parcel in Amador County's Shenandoah Valley and constructed a small winery and tasting room in 2008.

What you will find in Jeff's wines are fresh vibrant flavors with each varietal. He meticulously selects grapes that provide rich full flavors without loads of tannins and are well balanced. He was honored last year with the prestigious Andre` Tchelistchef Winemaker Of The Year Award from the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Well done Jeff!

Really great nose on the Barbera with loads of rich red ripe fruit. Cherry and raspberry treat the senses with allspice, nutmeg and hints of vanilla. I close my eyes and picture cherry and raspberry turnovers.

I am now a huge fan of Barbera. The cherry and raspberry (my 2 favorite red berries) are so juicy from start to finish. Touch of oak and vanilla nutmeg in the middle with a soft berry finish. Smooth and silky....Jeff you have a gift for making great Barbera.

Sorry I missed all the fun but I do have a few other bottles to taste. I hope there is a return visit by Jeff Runquist Wines because I won't miss that tasting. Stop by their tasting room open Friday-Sunday 11-5 located at 10776 Shenandoah Road Plymouth California for a taste and to pick up a few bottles. Exceptional juice with a winelover price tag.

Cheers
Dan