Owners William and Letitia Jarvis
started out to buy a weekend home in the Napa Valley, planted a few grape vines
and - like many who have been in Napa before them - got the winemaking bug,
taking 10 years to plant and nurture their grapes and build a winery with just
the right cool, humid conditions for making great wines.
Jarvis
Winery Review
Wine Quality: Jarvis Winery's current releases in late 2009 had all earned
91 to 94 points from the experts, but I'll state it much more simply. In all
the wine-tasting visits I've made in over 10 years covering Napa Valley, I have
never had six wines poured for me and liked every single one. Jarvis is also
the only winery we've ever visited who will simply throw out any wine that
doesn't meet their standards, an impressive policy that typifies their
winemaking approach.
Tourist Experience: When you reach Jarvis Winery, you won't see much at first.
The only sign that humans have been here are the vineyards on the hillside and
the arch-shaped cave entrance in the hillside. Once you get inside, the
45,000-square-foot cave is "wow"-inducing in every aspect. It starts
with the artisan-created brass doors at the cave entrance, but no detail is
left unattended to. By the time you get to the big room in the back (which
could hold two NBA-sized basketball courts), your eyes may feel like they're
about to pop out of their sockets. Tour groups are small (10 people or less)
and taste their wine seated around a table. On our visit, we samples six wines,
learning to appreciate how an individual wine's flavor and aroma change from
the time it's poured until you take the last sip.
During the busy summer and harvest
time, reserve your tour as far ahead as you can to avoid disappointment by
calling 800-255-5280 ext. 150 or using their online form.
In odd-numbered years, Jarvis hosts
a themed, black-tie harvest ball. Even years feature a harvest tasting, when
for a little more than a regular tour and tasting you can enjoy music, hors
d'ouevres prepared to complement a special selection of Jarvis wines. Sign up
for their newsletter using the form at the top of any of their web pages to
keep up with the next upcoming event.
Types of Wines: Mostly reds: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot but
their Chardonnay is one of the best we've ever tasted
Charge for Tasting: Yes Winery Tours: Tour and tasting are done together. Wine Price: $80 and up, available only at the winery or by online order
Getting
to Jarvis Winery: 2970 Monticello Rd
Napa, CA 94515
800-255-5280 Jarvis
Winery Website
Jarvis is located on a mountainside
about a 15-minute drive out of the town of Napa.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided
with a complimentary tour for the purpose of reviewing Jarvis Winery. While it
has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all
potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics
policy.
Wine Enthusiast's "Our Favorite Things to do in Napa Valley" General News
The June 2007 issue of Wine Enthusiast includes the article "55 Napa Valley Favorites". The editors and writers recommend a visit to Jarvis in the article on page 25, we could not agree more! Visit Wine Enthusiast's website to find out more.
2009 World Wine Championships - Chardonnay General News
Jarvis takes top two honors!
Chardonnay Reserve 2007 94 pts. - Exceptional, Gold Medal Beverage Testing Institute. Pure golden color. Dense aromas of creme brulee, toasty buttery
praline, pear tart, and lush baking spice follow through on a rich
entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-full body with baked pineapple and red
delicious apple notes. Finishes with a long, voluptuous, delicate
peppery spice and tangy citrus accented fade. A round, delicious,
elegant chardonnay.
Chardonnay Finch Hollow 2007 93 pts. - Exceptional, Gold Medal Beverage Testing Institute. Bright golden color. Aromas of caramelized nuts, dried citrus, apple,
and soft spices follow through on a silky entry to a fruity-yet-dry
medium-to-full body with grilled pineapple and white chocolate notes.
Finishes in a long, apple and honeyed nut fade with a touch of earthy
minerality.
Chardonnay Estate 2007
91 pts. - Exceptional, Gold Medal Beverage Testing Institute. Bright golden color. Aromas of nougat, grilled apple and pineapple,
chalk and clay follow through on a supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity
medium-to-full body with with tangy fresh pineapple and spice notes.
Finishes with a crisp, mineral and praline fade. A supple, elegant
chardonnay.
JARVIS Winery Announces a New Winemaking Program called ASSOCIATE VINTNERS General News
NEWS – For Immediate Release September 2009
JARVIS Winery Announces a New Winemaking Program called ASSOCIATE VINTNERS
A Prestigious and Personalized Program where Customers Create Their Own Barrels of Wine for Futures Bottling
(Napa, Calif.) – JARVIS, producers of cave fermented, luxury premium Napa Valley wines, has launched the first Associate Vintners Program, a rare chance for serious wine aficionados to be involved in the creation of their very own personalized-for-your-palate JARVIS wine. “The JARVIS Associate Vintners Program is a unique, hands-on futures program that will be attractive for individuals and members of the trade who would like to be personally involved in the creation of a truly great individualized, customized wine,” said William Jarvis, President of JARVIS who announced the program this week. The customer who wishes to participate in this Associate Vintners Program will likely start with a visit to the Jarvis Vineyards to become familiar with the different zones and micro-climates. Then with this background knowledge, will do a tasting with the JARVIS Winemaker, Ted Henry, to select one or more barrels of wine in the Jarvis cave. These barrels will be labeled with the customer's, now Associate Vintner's name, and placed in the secure Associate Vintners Chamber deep in the Jarvis cave. From then until bottling, the Associate Vintner shepherds his wine through a series of wine making procedures, including as options, if desired, wine blending and different size bottles with personalized labels. Full barrel pricing begins at $25,000. William and Leticia Jarvis acquired their Napa Valley home in the mid 1980s. With the assistance of world-renown winemaker Dimitri Tchelistcheff, who continues as the JARVIS consulting winemaker today, they spent a decade carefully developing the estate vineyards and followed by building the cave winery which opened in 1995. Unlike other wineries, JARVIS is totally underground in a 45,000 square foot cave, an eco-friendly facility that houses fully operational wine production and cooperage as well as the winery offices and hospitality space.The focus on quality commenced in the vineyards when they cherry-picked just four zones totaling 37 acres from the total 1,320 acre JARVIS Estate. Limited-production, luxury wines that total fewer than 9,000 cases annually are the result of this commitment to quality. “Leticia and I invite people interested in JARVIS Associate Vintners Program to do exclusive barrel tasting in the winery,” added Jarvis. “Once they taste the wines and select their barrel, they will enjoy working with our winemaking team and then watch the development of their wine as the vintage matures.” For more information about the JARVIS Associate Vintners Program call 800-255-5280 ext. 109 or go to www.jarviswines.com.
###
Journalists: To schedule an interview, or a visit to JARVIS, contact List Adams Walter at 707-255-0300 or lisa@adamswalter.com.
How to become an Associate Vintner
Those who wish to participate in the Associate Vintners Program will start with a visit to the Jarvis Vineyards to become familiar with the different zones, vineyard sites and micro-climates.
With the background knowledge learned in the vineyard, the Associate Vintner will barrel taste wines from individual zones from several of the Jarvis Estate vineyards. Finished wines from previous years will be tasted as a reference to get an idea of how the barrels will taste after bottling. All this will be done in the private Associate Vintner’s Chamber with the Jarvis Winemaker, Ted Henry or the Director of Sales and Marketing, John Schulz. The Associate Vintner will then select one or more barrels of wine as their personal barrel.
When a selection has been made, these barrels will be labeled with the customer's, now Associate Vintner's name, and placed in the secure Associate Vintners’ Chamber deep in the Jarvis cave. From then until bottling, the Associate Vintner shepherds his wine through a series of wine making procedures including, as options if desired, wine blending, large format bottles and personalized labels.
Benefits of being an Associate Vintner
Access to the finest grapes the Napa Valley has to offer.
Ability to choose your barrel from single vineyard wines before they are blended into Jarvis Estate wines.
Opportunity to make 100% varietal wines from five different grape variety choices, all coming from the Jarvis Estate Vineyards.
Access to the Jarvis Winemaker, Ted Henry, and the Jarvis winemaking team.
Exclusive barrel housing in the Associate Vintners’ Chamber with a bronze nameplate engraved with your name. Up to six names can be engraved on the nameplate.
Regular inspection and servicing of your barrel to include topping to limit oxygen exposure, racking and analyzing laboratory test results which will be mailed to each Associate Vintner explaining basic chemical results.
Associate Vintners, along with their friends, will be encouraged to regularly visit the winery during the aging process to inspect and taste their barrel.
Option to blend other varietals to experience the art of wine blending. Associate Vintners can choose to make a proprietary red blend rather than a varietal wine.
Personalized labels can be made using a template provided by Jarvis or a design done entirely by the Associate Vintner can be accommodated.
Costs Each varietal has a different cost based on that varietal’s current winery retail price. Once an Associate Vintner buys their barrel, this price is protected against price increases that may occur during the aging of the wine. Like futures, price increases can sometimes be due to exceptional vintage quality and or availability. A full barrel is equivalent to 25 twelve bottle cases. All wines are available in half barrels with Petit Verdot and Tempranillo exclusive to this format.
Cabernet Sauvignon – Full barrel - $28,500.00 / Half barrel - $16,250.00 Merlot – Full barrel - $27,000.00 / Half barrel - $15,500.00 Cabernet Franc – Full barrel - $24,000.00 / Half barrel - $14,000 Petit Verdot (very limited) – Half barrel only - $18,500.00 Tempranillo (very limited) - Half barrel only - $12,500.00
Additional Options Blending – All varietal wines from Jarvis showcase the varietal to its optimal potential. With any of our varietals you can have a great wine with no blending required. However, for those who want to experience the art of blending, we offer a blending option for an additional $3,000. There is no limit to the number of varietals that can be blended; but, the blend cannot be less than 75% of one varietal to be classified as a varietal wine. Jarvis’ winemaker Ted Henry will walk you through the entire winemaking and blending process. The deadline for blending is August 1st of the bottling year.
Bottle Sizes – Barrel purchases are based on furnishing standard size bottles (750ml). Changing a portion of the bottles to other sizes is possible but does require special re-calibration of the bottling line as well as special labels. There is a one-time charge of $1,500 for each additional bottle size. Any number of bottles can be changed to your desired bottle sizes. Magnums (1.5 liter), double magnums (3.0 liter) and imperial (6.0 liter) bottles are available. The deadline for ordering additional bottle sizes is June 1st of the bottling year.
Delivery - After your wine is bottled it can be stored for you for up to six months at no charge in the Jarvis Pantheon.
For more information about this program, or if you would like to participate, please call our Director of Sales and Marketing, John Schulz at 800-255-5280 x109.
We hope to see you in Napa Valley very soon.
Enjoy Jarvis Wines at The Capital Grille General News
Jarvis is pleased to announce that all 39 locations of The Capital Grille offer Jarvis Cabernet Sauvignon and Jarvis Cabernet Franc for your enjoyment.
Locations include: Arizona: Phoenix 602-952-8900 2502 E Camelback, Suite 199, Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale 480-348-1700 16489 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ
Colorado: Denver 303-539-2500 1450 Larimer Street, Denver, CO
Connecticut: Stamford 203-967-0000 230 Tresser Blvd., Suite H-001, Stamford, CT
District of Columbia: 202-737-6200 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington D.C.
There’s nothing quite like uncorking a wine in a cave, a colossal wine cellar.The hot new book – “Into The Earth: A Wine Cave Renaissance” – gives you a peek at some of the most striking caves in Napa Valley, some of which are not open to the public.
The 240-page book is written and photographed by Daniel D’Agostini with Molly Chappellet and it’s chronologically organized by cave construction date. It includes stories and images of Napa Valley wineries including Jarvis, Sloan Estate, Far Niente, Schramsberg, BOND and Beringer.
Jarvis is a standout because the entire winery is underground and it has a waterfall in its cave. Surprising? That’s what the construction crew said when it discovered a spring as it was unearthing rock, but the winery owners ultimately decided to play up Mother Nature.
Check out the book and we’ll keep you posted on some upcoming opportunities to sip wine in a cave as they pop up this holiday season. There will be plenty.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Colorado Wine News 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
The Colorado Wine News April - June 2007 Volume 17, No. 1 The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, $85, spent 20 months in new French oak and opens with cedar, rhubarb, bell pepper, currant, and plum. All repeat as juicy, lively flavors laced with very fine tannin and nice tannin rather than finish it just sits on and clings to the palate and has good, persistent presence. Well put together. Very tasty.
McMillin's Picks 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rated 1st place in Red wine group with Price range "Unlimited". Also rated "Best Wine".
Takes Silver at Finger Lakes International Wine Competition 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver Medal Winner
Takes Silver at Dallas Morning News Competition 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Silver Medal Winner
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points "Exceptional"
Deep garnet black color. Dill pickle, green pepper, white clay, and currant aromas. A supple entry leads to a rich, smooth, dry-yet fruity full body of ripe currant and dried cassis fruit, delicate, spice, and a touch of smoky minerality. Finishes with a long, completely balanced fruit, nut, and tannin fade.
Rated by WineReviewOnline.com 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
A delicious rendering of Cabernet from a great vintage, this shows plenty of depth and length. However, it is frankly not all that tough to achieve deep, persistent flavors from Cabernet in Napa in a good growing season. What is most impressive about this wine is that it shows real intricacy and delicacy. The fruit notes show tinges of blackberries, black cherries, and red currants, with lovely little accents of tobacco leaf, woodsmoke and spices. The tannins are equal to the job of structuring the fruit, but don't do so at the cost of any hardness or dryness in the finish, which is fresh and pure thanks to plenty of bright acidity. Simply put: A thoroughbred. 92 Michael Franz
Award recieved at Critics Challange 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winner of "Critcs Award"
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Rated by WineReviewOnline.com 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
I had lost touch with the Jarvis wines for several vintages before recently tasting this bottling and the straight 2002 Cabernet, and both made me regret the lapse. This shows exceptional aromatic complexity and very impressive dimension on the palate, with lots of toasty, smoky, spicy notes working very nicely with a core of fruit recalling blackberries and black currants. Although this hardly lacks for fruit intensity, there's a certain (welcome) restraint to the character of the fruit that makes this tougher to peg as a Napa Cab than most wines from the region. 92 Michael Franz
Chardonnay Reserve Finch Hollow
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2005 Chardonnay Reserve Finch Hollow
94 points "Exceptional" - Highest rated Chardonnay of the year.
Deep golden-straw hue. Rich, buttery baked apple aromas have an expensive oak accent. A generous entry leads a lush, full-bodied palate with opulent, intense flavors. Acidity lends some balance to the hefty frame. Extremely flavorful and lengthy finish. An exotic show wine to drink in youth.
Award recieved at Critics Challenge 2005 Chardonnay Reserve Finch Hollow
Winner of "Critics Award"
Chardonnay Reserve - Unfined/Unfiltered
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2007 Chardonnay Reserve
94 points "Exceptional" - Highest rated Chardonnay of the year.
Pure golden color. Dense aromas of creme brulee, toasty buttery
praline, pear tart, and lush baking spice follow through on a rich
entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium-full body with baked pineapple and red
delicious apple notes. Finishes with a long, voluptuous, delicate
peppery spice and tangy citrus accented fade. A round, delicious,
elegant chardonnay.
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2005 Chardonnay Reserve
89 points "Highly Recommended"
Brilliant golden-straw hue. Ripe pear and sweet citrus aromas have a rich, toasted vanilla accent. A rich entry leads a weighty, full-bodied palate with a viscous quality. A very big wine with prominent alcohol that covers up the ripe varietal fruit. Lengthy, warming finish. Drink now.
Lake William
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2002 Lake William
92 points "Exceptional"
Brilliant ruby red hue. Cigar, black currant, cherry and sage aromas. Medium-full with very good to excellent concentration, this has layers of rich, ripe black currant and cherry fruit, ample oak and a lengthy, complex finish with excellent persistence of fruit, lively acidity and youthful tannins. Quite elegant, time will bring out greater complexities.
Award recieved at Critics Challenge 2002 Lake William
Winner of "Critics Award"
Takes Gold at Finger Lakes International Wine Competition 2002 Lake William
Gold Medal Winner
Takes Gold at Dallas Morning News Competition 2002 Lake William
Gold Medal Winner
Cabernet Franc
Will Jarvis' Science Project - WineSpectator.com 2007 Will Jarvis' Science Project
California Cabernet Sauvignon - WIneSpectator.com These 13 California Cabernets include wines from the exciting 2007 vintage in Napa Valley, along with some exceptional values James Laube Posted: November 9, 2009
It’s not just your imagination: More wines—even sturdy Napa Valley Cabernets that were once held back for bottle age—are being released earlier and earlier. So the 2007 vintage dates you see in this report are not typos. The 2007s are moving to the market even as we’ve just tasted the lion’s share of the 2006s. 2007 is a great vintage for Cabernet, which means it will be easy to find exciting wines, starting with this sampling. Bialla, grown on Atlas Peak, has been fine-tuning its Cabernet, with the 2007 a worthy successor to the outstanding 2006. Cade and Erna Schein made outstanding wines in 2007, while Lindstrom, Selene, Cornerstone and Adobe Road have outstanding 2006s. Selene, Adobe Road and Jarvis’ “Will Jarvis’ Science Project” are at least partly anchored by Cabernet Franc, and considering how important this grape is in so many wines (it is also the most expensive grape in Napa), it’s no wonder it’s making gains, often with a dash of Merlot. You won’t find many $20 Napa Cabernets as good as the Roots Run Deep and its Educated Guess. It stood up with the much higher-priced competition. Truchard is a reliable Cabernet name, too, unique in that it’s from Carneros, so the body and weight are a little more elegant and less weighty than those from up-valley. And once again Bogle ends up with a tremendous wine, a chewy, concentrated 2007 Cabernet for $11. That’s not a typo either.
BIALLA Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2007 Score: 92 | $93 Intense and well-structured, if a bit rustic, this offers a mix of rich currant, mineral, iodine, cedar and tobacco. Once this gets some air, it keeps getting better. Full-bodied, ending with firm tannins, yet the flavors flow through. Best from 2011 through 2019. 260 cases made. —J.L. CADE Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Napa Cuvée 2007 Score: 92 | $60 Intense and focused on a rich core of black cherry, currant, plum and cedary oak flavors. Full-bodied and expansive, yet retains a tight focus and a measure of restraint. The flavors pour through on the finish. Drink now through 2018. 4,329 cases made. —J.L. ERNA SCHEIN Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Cemetery 2007 Score: 92 | $80 Rich, intense and full-bodied, with a rustic earthy edge to the loamy currant and dried berry flavors that give this a touch of character. Firm and concentrated, gaining depth and richness, with a long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2017. 225 cases made. —J.L. JARVIS Cabernet Franc Napa Valley Will Jarvis' Science Project 2007 Score: 92 | $105 Sleek and elegant, offering a core of ripe, fleshy plum and black cherry fruit, with shades of tobacco and mineral that turn supple and refined. Full-bodied, gaining depth and amplitude on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 391 cases made. —J.L. LINDSTROM Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2006 Score: 92 | $95 An understated style that wows you with finesse, offering complex aromas of herb, loam, currant, cedar, black olive and sage. Full-bodied, supple, elegant and delicate. Drink now through 2018. 626 cases made. —J.L. SELENE Chesler Napa Valley 2005 Score: 92 | $50 Spice, tobacco leaf, dried currant, sage and berry notes are firm and structured, intense and focused, gaining depth and complexity on the finish, where the minerality comes through with the tannins. Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Better than previously reviewed. Drink now through 2015. 293 cases made. —J.L. CORNERSTONE Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 2006 Score: 91 | $100 A subtle, delicate style, especially for Howell Mountain, showcasing the loamy earth, mineral, dried currant, tobacco and herbal sage notes. Full-bodied and well-balanced, ending with firmer tannins and a dash of anise. Drink now through 2018. 600 cases made. —J.L. ADOBE ROAD Cabernet Franc Knights Valley Bavarian Lion Vineyard 2006 Score: 90 | $38 Tight, firm and concentrated, this full-bodied red offers a complex mix of black cherry, anise, currant, sage and savory flavors that fan out nicely on the finish, turning elegant and supple. Drink now through 2016. 250 cases made. —J.L. ROOTS RUN DEEP Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Educated Guess 2007 Score: 88 | $20 This is intense and firm, with a wild edge to the berry, herb, sage and cedar notes, but it works. Full-bodied, at times elegant, balanced and complex. Drink now through 2015. 25,000 cases made. —J.L. TRUCHARD Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Carneros 2006 Score: 88 | $35 An elegant, understated style that succeeds with its delicate earthy currant, mineral and herbal flavors, picking up tar and pebble notes and gaining depth on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 3,609 cases made. —J.L. BOGLE Cabernet Sauvignon California 2007 Score: 87 | $11 Tight and intense, built around a core of cedary oak, dried currant, herb, mineral and tobacco that are chewy and rustic, with gutsy tannins. Drink now through 2017. 100,000 cases made. —J.L. GOLDSCHMIDT Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley Katherine Goldschmidt Crazy Creek Vineyard 2007 Score: 86 | $20 Tight, firm and intense, with concentrated dried currant, loamy earth, sage, herb and cedary tobacco notes, filling out a complex flavor profile. Best from 2011 through 2016. 595 cases made. —J.L. 75 WINE CO. The Sum California 2007 Score: 85 | $22 Intense and spicy, with a mix of dried currant, herb, cola, pepper and spice. Full-bodied, firm and complex, this has a pleasant rustic appeal. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Syrah. Drink now through 2015 10,000 cases made. —J.L.
All-American Turket Day - Will Jarvis' Science Project 2007 Will Jarvis' Science Project
Epicurious.com
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All-American Turkey Day
When it
comes to wine for the turkey table why not toast America? California,
Oregon, Washington, New York, Georgia, and Virginia, are on my
recommended roster, but wine is made in all 50 states. This month,
explore what's available in your own wine backyard.
Whites
The
key to pairing whites with the cacophony of holiday flavors is to find
aromatic wines packed with fruit and freshness. Save oaky, buttery
Chardonnays for another day.
Riesling: A classic grape responsible for dry to dessert wines,
Riesling in all forms is ideal for bridging the spicy, sweet mix of
dishes on the turkey table.
2008 Columbia
Crest "Two Vines," Washington $8 - A bright,
slightly- sweet sipper worth twice the price.
2007 Gainey,
Santa Ynez Valley, California $11 - Deliciously
dry-styled Riesling delivering value.
Evolution #9
American White $17 - From Oregon's Sokol Blosser Winery
this sassy, off-dry blend of Riesling and myriad other varieties rates
thumbs up.
Viognier (pronounced Vee-OHN-yeah): Known for its fleshy texture
and spicy aromas, Viognier can handle the bird and beyond.
2008 Horton
Viognier, Orange County, Virginia $20 - Virginia is the
rising-star region for Viognier and this well-known producer crafts a
delicate, floral-scented version.
2008 Tarara
Viognier, Virgina $30 - For lovers of lush and lovely,
a full-bodied beauty to seek out.
2008 Pine Ridge
Chenin Blanc-Viognier, California $13 - A racy yet rich
combination that can both foil sausage stuffing and embrace sweet
potatoes.
Bubbles and others:
2005 Kluge Blanc
de Blanc Brut SP, Albemarle County, Virginia $28 -
Classy, complex sparkler made from Chardonnay.
2008 Persimmon
Creek Vineyards, Seyval Blanc, Georgia $23 - This
beautifully packaged white from Georgia's top boutique winery shows off
its unique clove and citrus notes.
2008 Wolffer
Estate Rose, The Hamptons Long Island, New York $15 - A
stylish pink drink from one of New York's famous wine names, Wolffer.
Reds Look for
medium-bodied wines with smooth tannins and juicy fruit flavors. Avoid high
alcohol wines that can overwhelm the meal.
Pinot Noir: With signature softness, vibrancy and brightness, Pinot
shines in California, Oregon, and increasingly in New York and Ohio.
2008 Saintsbury "Garnet,"
Carneros, California $20 - Over-delivering quality at an
affordable price, the Garnet is a gem.
2007 King Estate
Domaine Pinot Noir, Oregon $25 - A winery known for their
supple Pinots with classic cherry flavors.
2007 Merry Edwards,
Olivet Lane, Russian River Valley, California $60 - Queen
of California Pinot, Merry's wines are simply stupendous.
Cabernet Franc: This Bordeaux grape variety makes elegantly-styled
reds. Virginia, California, and New York are hot spots for top bottles.
2007 Millbrook
Cabernet Franc, New York $18 - Earthy aromas marry with red
berry fruit in this pretty wine.
2007 Barboursville
"Reserve" Cabernet Franc, Virginia $23 - With a
rich history, this respected winery is crafting sleek and succulent
Cabernet Franc.
2006 White Hall
"Monticello Cuvee des Champs," Virginia $30 -
Seamless blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and
Cabernet Franc.
2007 Jarvis
"The Science Project" Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, California
$105 - Pricey, but nearly perfect wine. With layers of
complexity, you can drink this limited-production bottle now or cellar.
Leslie
Sbrocco is an award-winning author of Wine
for Women and The
Simple & Savvy Wine Guide (HarperCollins), and a
nationally-recognized speaker, and wine consultant. She is host of PBS
television's Check
Please! which has garnered both a James Beard Award and three
Emmy awards. She's also a key judge on the new reality TV series, The Wine
Makers, coming to PBS in September 2009.
Takes Bronze at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition 2002 Cabernet Franc
Bronze Medal Winner
High honors at Vino Challenge 2002 Cabernet Franc
Awarded "Best of Show"
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2002 Cabernet Franc
93 points "Exceptional"
Brilliant ruby red hue. Black currant, peppercorn, maple and vanilla aromas. Medium-full with very good concentration, this is an exquisite offering with ripe fruit that coats the palate and a lengthy, beautifully structured finish with lively acidity, refined tannins and stylish oak. Quite impressive, this is another grand success with this varietal from this first-rate estate.
Merlot
Takes Bronze at Finger Lakes International Wine Competition 2003 Merlot
Bronze Medal Winner
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2003 Merlot
91 points "Exceptional"
Garnet purple black color. Rich aromas of roasted nuts, toffee, vanilla cream, and berry pastry with frosting. A plush, supple entry leads to a vibrant fruity medium-full body with gobs of sweet plum and blackberry fruit, caramel, vanilla, smoky oak, black peppercorns, and delicate spices. Finishes with a long sweet jammy berry and vanilla fade. Great balance and delicious flavor.
Rated by Beverage Testing Institute 2003 Merlot
90 points "Exceptional"
Deep, saturated blackish-ruby hue. High toned black cherry and dill aromas show a lavish American oak accent. A lean entry leads a robust, full-bodied palate with grippy tannins and prominent acidity. A youthful, flashy "show-Merlot," with a lengthy finish. Drinking very well now.
