For March 29th, we decided to focus the tasting on FOUR of our “New Looks” from California. As you will see, they are not readily recognizable labels / names. Our goal when selecting wines (foods & drinks) is quality first, with a focus on smaller and / or family owned wines. So, we are proud to present four of our latest additions:
$39 PP + Tax & Tip
2019 Obsidian Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon “Estate”
In terms of happening and most lauded, the Napa Valley is still kingpin, even though people are questioning its viability as ongoing weather pattern changes encroaches and is affecting growing conditions more and more. One of the measures being looked at & considered globally is moving & growing vines in cooler spots and at higher elevation. If you then look at the Mayacamas Range (that separates Napa & Sonoma valleys) & follow it north up to Red Hills Lake County, one will find Obsidian Ridge, whose vineyards lie somewhere between 2300 to 2650 feet in elevation & planted in red, iron rich, volcanic soils with black obsidian glass / rock scattered throughout. This small, very environmentally savvy / friendly Cabernet house (from the brothers Molnar) has made this their mission since 1999. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% each of Petite Verdot & Malbec AND 1% each of Petite Sirah & Syrah, this is a very classy, elegant, suave “mountain grown” Cabernet based thoroughbred… which is much more about style, polish & class intentionally rather than opulence & decadence.
2019 Band of Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon “Napa Valley”
We would like to introduce all of you to this Napa Valley Cabernet based (2019--76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot & 5% Cabernet Franc) discovery. It came up on our radar screen a few years back, as one of the “Band of 7” used to work with us at VINO in Honolulu. In short, this 7 member (of who’s who) collaboration is a very insightful, insider’s privy wine which is a consortium, a symphony of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at a price that is music to everyone’s ear. What a fabulous discovery this has been!
…a little side slant on the winemaker / owner Fred Scherrer.
Fred is without a doubt one of our favorite winemakers in the world! Intentional and from the heart! He is essentially a “one man show” operation who masterfully crafts the most amazing, remarkable wines—from rosé to Chardonnay to Zinfandel to Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon… Understanding wine is a very subjective topic, let us add that his wines will typically and intentionally be about divine elegance, seductive texture, loveliness and balance.
2016 Scherrer Pinot Noir “Sonoma Valley”
Fred Scherrer is very down to earth, a man who is so humble of his mastery. This wine is like that—down to earth rather than showy or flamboyant—therefore very different from the much blacker, more obvious, thick Pinots that are getting the headlines today. For me, Pinot Noir should be alluring, lovely, sheer, lighter in color, enchanting and seductively textured.
2017 Scherrer Chardonnay “Helfer Vineyard—Russian River Valley”
In 2019 right before the start of the pandemic, I was fortunate to taste a 2001 Scherrer that was so revelatory. It was a wine which will be forever etched in my mind. Four years earlier, I was fortunate to taste a 2002 Scherrer Chardonnay from a different vineyard. It was one of the very finest Chardonnays I have ever had out of California. So, here we are today, trying his 2017 Helfer single vineyard Chardonnay. Yes, it took us a while to get this shining star, so let’s enjoy it. There were only 10 to 25 cases produced.