2018 Honig Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

2018 Honig Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

Found this 2018 Honig Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley wine at a local store and it was great with bold flavors from the Semillon/Muscat that I wish I found more often in other Sauvignon Blanc. I’ve been a Honig fan for a long time and this wine is going in the cellar for summer grill outs. Please note that this is the ‘reserve’ version of their Sauvignon Blanc.

About Honig Vineyard & Winery

Honig is family-owned, certified sustainable and solar-powered. The Honig family settled in Rutherford in 1964 and started winemaking in 1980. The popular Napa Valley winery focuses on producing two varietals – Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.

The Honig family name translates to the German word for honey, so bees have a huge presence on the estate, one of the many benefits of sustainable farming practices. The family fully believes that healthy bees are a sign of a thriving eco-system. The bee is prominently-featured on wine labels and throughout the winery.

For those wanting to visit, I can personally say it’s a fabulous place. Not only are the wines excellent, the tasting room staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the setting is gorgeous.

Looks: Medium yellow in the glass

Smell: Intense green apple, citrus and floral notes

Taste: Meyer lemon, ripe peach/pear/plum with floral notes on the palate. Oak flavors, but not over-bearing

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, creamy texture with nice acidity with a dry finish

Pairings: Seafood, grilled fish/chicken, dinner salad

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 89% Sauvignon blanc, 9% Semillon, 2% Muscat

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Suggested Price: $35 (found for $27 locally)

Cheers,

Veronique

Jean Edwards Cellars Tasting Room Experience

Jean Edwards Cellars Tasting Room Experience

 

About Jean Edwards Cellars

Tasting Room Sitting Area

Jean Edwards Cellars has been producing wine from some of the most well-regarded vineyards in Northern California since 2014. The Jean Edwards Cellars label focused on Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The Cooper’s Cuvee label is reserved for the Rhone wines, Petite Sirah, Syrah and cuvee blends.

About the Jean Edwards Cellars Team

Karen and John Troisi are the proprietors and visionaries of Jean Edwards Cellars. After falling in love with the beauty of Sonoma and Napa, the Troisis founded the winery in 2004 while still working their corporate jobs in New Jersey. Their first wine, Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet from the Pritchard Hill Region, was lauded as “one of twenty new cabernet producers to watch…” by Wine Spectator Magazine    in its annual cabernet issue, and that incredible endorsement catapulted the entrepreuneurs in the trajectory that has been paved with accolades and awards.

Jessica Saldana

Jessica Saldana

Kian Tavakoli has been the winemaker at Jean Edwards Cellars since its inception. Kian has nearly 30 years of winemaking experience and began his career with Opus One then went on to Clos du Val in 1996 and was there until joining Jean Edwards Cellars in 2004. In 2017, Kian opened a new winery with his business partner in St. Helena, and that’s where the Jean Edwards Cellars wine are now produced.

 

About the Tasting Room

Tasting Room Private Table

On a recent visit to Sonoma, I was fortunate enough to visit the new Jean Edwards Cellars tasting room located on Vine Alley in the Sonoma Court Shops at the historic Sonoma Plaza. The space is modern, intimate, inviting and beautiful. Sonoma-native, Jessica Saldana, is the Tasting Room Manager and conducted our very informative tasting. I’ve been enjoying these limited production wines for several years and are familiar with them, but Jessica was able to offer insight and new learnings we’re grateful for.

Walk-ins at the tasting room are welcomed but for parties of six or more, a reservation is required to allow the team to prepare for the visit. 

A tasting typically consists of four wines for $25, but that fee is waived with a $65 purchase or if one is a Wine Club Member, which I am. We were fortunate enough to be able to sample a few additional wines during our visit.

About the Wines

2016 Dalla Gasperina Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – Rutherford

Loved the 2014 and 2015 vintage and the 2016 is no different. I’m not typically a Sauv Blanc fan, BUT, this wine has changed my narrow-mindedness. Golden yellow with hints of green in the glass, there is an amazing combination of Meyer lemon aromas and floral notes. The palate isn’t typical of what I consider boring Sauv Blanc – this is rich, complex with big flavors of tropical fruit and citrus that ends with great acidity and minerality. The addition of 5% Semillon to the 95% Sauvignon Blanc is very smart indeed…so is the stainless steel fermentation and barrel age in neutral French Oak. Small quantity of this lovely wine is made and the 2016 vintage is sold out. $28.

2014 Seventy Four – Forty One Cabernet Sauvignon

“74-41” represents the coordinates of the Troisis New Jersey residence – fun fact! 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Baconbrook Vineyard (Spring Mountain), Stagecoach Vineyard (Pritchard Hill) and Broken Rock Vineyard (foothills of Atlas Peak). In the glass, this Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is inky purple and exudes aromas of dark, ripe berries. The dark fruit continues on the palate on this opulent wine with a finish that lingers. Grilled NY strip steaks or wagyu burgers comes to mind to pair with this beauty. A 2015 “74-41” Cab wasn’t produced due to fruit shortfalls, so be on the lookout for the 2014 (or 93-point Wine Enthusiast rated 2013). $68. ​​

2014 Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

This is the wine that started it all for this winery. Dark ruby in the glass with a red fruit nose with mocha/vanilla notes. Rich, mouth-coating with a long finish on this wine made of Cabernet Sauvignon from Pritchard Hill, Malbec from Beckstoffer Melrose Vineyard and Petit Verdot from Stagecoach Vineyard – an amazing trifecta (James Suckling agreed and awarded this wine 93 points). $68.

2014 Yates Cabernet Sauvignon

I was thrilled to get a taste of the first vintage of this Mount Veeder Cab. Darkest purpley red in the glass, one whiff of the dark ripe cherry with a bit of spice and I was in love. Dark fruit with oaky and chocolatey notes on the long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. $75.

2014 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon

This was my favorite in the lineup and the one that had me craving a juicy ribeye. Darkest of reds in the glass with dark fruit aromas with some smoky, mocha notes. Layers of juicy cherry and stone fruit with some toasted oak. When one thinks of the ideal Napa Cab, this is what one thinks of. Can only imagine what it’ll be like in 5-7 years of cellaring. Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of cabernet franc from Yates Family Vineyard on Mount Veeder and a bit of Malbec from Rutherford. James Suckling 93 points. $90.

2015 Malbec – Rutherford

Dark purple red in the glass, the 2015 vintage is 97% Malbec with 3% Petit Verdot. This was my first time tasting this wine and the nose sold me with one sniff of dark everything – berry, chocolate, anise, plum – wow. Bit less full-bodied than I anticipated from the nose, this was still a mouthful with ripe red berry flavors ending with a bit of spice. Wine Advocate 91+ points. $65.

2015 Merlot – Oak Knoll District

Darkest brick red in the glass, this was also my first taste of this wine. Ripe red fruit and cassis aromas leading to dark wood strawberry and blackberry on the palate with the roundness one hopes for in a well-made Merlot. Long, eye-closing, lingering finish. Making a mental note to order some of this. 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc​. $58.

All of these reds will only improve with cellaring or at least decanting if, like me, one finds it hard to resist opening them while they’re young.

Tasting Room Spring/Summer Hours: Sunday-Thursday: 12pm to 6pm; Friday-Saturday: 12pm to 7pm.

Address: 29 East Napa Street (Ste. C), Sonoma, CA  95476.

Cheers,

Veronique

Unexpected Napa Valley Wine Tasting

Unexpected Napa Valley Wine Tasting

Unexpected NapaThis week, I was invited to explore unexpected wines from Napa Valley via a virtual tasting. I’ve explained the idea of virtual wine tastings in previous posts but for those who are new to the concept, here’s how they go:

  • Get wine in the varietal or brand being sampled.
  • Invite some friends to try the wine(s) and experience with you (or do as I typically do – put some yoga pants on and enjoy from the couch with iPad, iPhone and laptop handy).
  • Drink and share your thoughts about the wine(s) with other wine fans from around the world using the established hashtag on Twitter and/or Facebook (in this case #SipWithKaren).

In this case, the Karen mentioned in the hashtag was wine expert, Karen MacNeil. The virtual tasting was of six unexpected Napa Valley wines, including unoaked Chardonnay, Albariño from Carneros, an affordable Cabernet Sauvignon, and more.

Here are the wines sampled:

2013 Cornerstone Cellars Napa Valley Chenin Blanc ($25)

Varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc

Pale yellow in appearance. Offers an Asian pear nose with a bit of sweetness. Offers tropical fruit flavors with citrus notes on the palate. Would be great served as an aperitif but also with shellfish on a warm summer evening. Only 187 cases produced – get your hands on this wine quickly.

2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Fumé Blanc ($17)

Varieties: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon

Fragrant ripe cantaloupe and juicy mandarin aromas. Lightly grassy, lime flavors with more cantaloupe on the palate. Long finish with the 10% Semillon making this wine interesting and complex.

2014 Artesa Napa Valley Albariño ($28)

Varieties: 100% Albariño

Less “in your face” with minerality than its Spanish kin. Lovely bright peach and Meyer lemon aromas with some floral notes. Peach and a bit of plum on the palate. Light oaky notes on a long finish.

2013 Alpha Omega Unoaked Napa Valley Chardonnay ($33)

Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Wish they’d make more than 500 cases! Clean, crisp, not your daddy’s Cali Chard (in a good way). Slightly creamy mouthfeel. I need to remember this wine when I host this year’s lobsterfest.

2012 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($29)

Varieties: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec

Truly a classic Cali Cab and the stuff that made Robert Mondavi famous in the wine world. Enticing dark berry nose. Rich ripe berry flavors with a long, chocolate-kissed finish. 30% is from historic To Kalon vineyard in and 14% comes from Wappo Hill Vineyard in the Stag’s Leap district.

2010 St. Supéry Estate Vineyard & Winery Dollarhide Ranch Napa Valley

Petit Verdot ($50)

Varieties: 97% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark purple-red in the glass. Slightly tart berries and stone fruit nose. Big blackberry flavors with peppery notes. Get the grill out, this is what steaks are made to be paired with. 590 cases made.

For those of you who have stereotyped California wines as fruit bombs and butter in a glass (silly people), these are great examples of the unexpected, vibrant and delicious wines California has to offer.

Cheers,

Veronique

2012 Matthiasson Napa Valley White Wine

2012 Matthiasson Napa Valley White Wine

Matthiasson_WhiteThis outstanding wine by Matthiasson is light straw color in the glass. While it’s a blend, there is a lot of Sauvignon Blanc personality on the nose: citrus and grassy aromas with some tropical notes.

In the mouth, this wine literally mad me smile, it’s simply delicious. Juicy Meyer lemon, pineapple and ripe tropical fruit flavors with great acidity.

A very balanced and elegant wine in a lovely Bordeaux way. Ends in a medium length finish with amazing minerality.

Pairings: Fish, seafood and perfect as an aperitif

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 59% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Ribolla Gialla, 16% Semillon and 5% Tocai Friulano.

Alcohol Level: 12.7%

Cases Made: 1,092

Region: Napa, California, USA

Price: $40

Cheers,

Veronique

2012 Dirty & Rowdy Semillon

2012 Dirty & Rowdy Semillon

2012 Dirty & Rowdy SemillonBright yellow and cloudy in the glass, this wine rocks. I could sit here and describe the 2012 Dirty & Rowdy Semillon in so many different ways: funky and fleshy, bold and intense, well-structure with great acidity, herbaceous and a little spicy, pink grapefruit and nutty? Yes, it’s all that and more.

Hardy Wallace, winemaker at Dirty & Rowdy Family Winery, uses concrete egg-shaped vats to ferment 20% of the fruit while 80% is fermented on its skins in an open-top tank. The result is a bright, vibrant, refreshing wine.

By the way, this stuff sells out fast. Get on the mailing list to be informed of new releases.

Pairings: Cheese with a bit of funk on them, poultry, fish.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Semillon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $30

2009 Marquis de Chasse Sauternes

2009 Marquis de Chasse Sauternes

SauternesGolden in the glass, the 2009 Marquis de Chasse Sauternes offers typical aromas of honey and dry apricot. In the mouth, it’s rich with ripe pear and honey flavors with a little nutmeg notes on the finish. Sweet yet well-balanced – very pleasant for such a young Sauternes.

Pairings: Cheese course, foie gras, most desserts

Style: White wine

Grape Type(s): Semillon,  Sauvignon Blanc,  Muscadelle

Region: Bordeaux, France

Price: $24 (500ml)

2006 St Supery Virtu Napa Valley White Meritage

2006 St Supery Virtu Napa Valley White Meritage

2006 St Supery Virtu

2006 St Supery Virtu

Virtu is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (52%) and Semillon (48%). This wine offered a juicy mouthful of peach with an enjoyable mineral finish.  This rich, medium-bodied wine would be great with grilled scallops and a slightly oily grilled fish.

Pairings: Fish, seafood, especially seared scallops

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): 52% Sauvignon Blancm 48% Semillon

Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA

Price: $27