All
Drew wines are produced in extremely small quanitites
and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Pinot
Noir, McDougall Ranch
Sonoma Coast, 2008
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$50 per bottle
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This Sonoma Coast vineyard is a small 7 acre vineyard
planted to two clones of Pinot Noir in 1998 with the
help of Dan Goldfield who also purchases fruit from
this vineyard. This vineyard is one which is considered
a pretty extreme site 935 feet high and 3.4 miles from
the Pacific Ocean. The last two vintages of this wine
has helped launch us in the top 100 from Wine and
Spirits magazine with the 2007 on the top of all Pinot Noirs
chosen.
This 2008 vintage is Drew’s fourth vintage
working with the fruit and with each passing vintage
the wines
character seems to get more and more complex and nuanced.
This particular vintage appears to give more spicy
aromatics on the nose but with a lovely floral profusion.
The texture of the wine is impressive with somewhat
rustic tannins that stand up on the palate with a cascading
flush of fruit on the backend as it pushes through
to the finish. There is no doubt that this is a unique
vineyard that warrants special attention. These special
qualities are a function of the wonderful combination
of not only soil and climate but also of the great
care, attention and passion that goes into caring for
the grapes.
Pinot
Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard,
Sta. Rita Hills, 2008
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$42 per bottle
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This special vineyard lies on the South East corner
of the Santa Rita Hills just north of Santa Barbara.
This is a hillside vineyard above the Santa Ynez River
that faces North . The dominate soil series present
are limestone, sedimentary soils and a marine layer
of sandy loam. Some might say that this dynamic and
complex Pinot Noir offers excitement, tension and energy.
When
one speaks of tension in a wine they often refer the
wine as being like a spring that uncoils as it
hits the palate and then prances around with boldness
and a certain untamed quality sort of akin to a woolly
and wild character. The energy comes from the brightness
and balanced acidity that co-mingles wonderfully with
the balanced red and blue fruits that have a freshness
of a spring rose garden. The finish to this wine has
a mouthwatering quality that begs for more with an
enticing floral sweetness that is seductively flavorful.
Since my first vintage from this vineyard in 2002 I
have to say that right now this is my favorite wine
from this site. I believe the grapes have really hit
their stride in terms of showing pedigree of site,
or as the French would say, ‘terroir’.
Pinot
Noir, Valenti Vineyard,
Mendocino Ridge, 2008
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$36
per bottle
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The Valenti Vineyard is one of my favorite sites in
the Mendocino Ridge AVA. This 2008 release marks its
debut as a single vineyard wine. The most remarkable
attribute to this vineyard, which no doubt is a tribute
to its soil and climate or ‘terroir’, is
its ability to create a wine of not only great depth
but one that has great finesse. This exceptional ridge
top vineyard overlooking Anderson Valley consistently
produces naturally low yields, no thinning needed here,
and coupled with deep marginal soils, produces a wine
with all the intensity, minerality and interest that
I seek.
The color has a dark cherry pit twinge with
aromas of dark cherries, pomegranates, earth, fig
and violets. The flavors are fresh and savory with
dark
red fruits, blackberry, plum and black cherry with
bright acidity culminating in a finish that is consistent
with the aroma, with a slight perfumed touch towards
the end. This is a vin de garde wine (cellaring will
reward) that has incredible intensity with the accompanying
backbone of structure. Decant when young or let breath
for at least one hour. Pairing: Roasted herb encrusted
game.
For a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes, please click here
Pinot
Noir, “Fog-Eater”,
Anderson Valley 2008
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The 2008 Fog- Eater is 60% Monument Tree Vineyard
and 40% Henneburg Vineyard. The Monument Tree Vineyard
is an organic and very near dry farmed vineyard on
a North East facing hillside. It produces extravagant
long lasting fruit not only on the vine, due to long
hang time and cool afternoon temperatures, but also
on the palate. The Henneburg is on an opposite facing
hillside vineyard with an aspect that is more south
west facing and produces wines with more heady fruit
tones and spicy earth.
On the nose, this wine has dark
wild raspberry fruits, blood red plums, fresh earth
and wild flowers. On the
palate, the wine oozes fresh fruit, earth, floral
tones and a mineral edge. A bit austere now, but one
that
will continue to shed some layers as the bouquet
unravels for years to come. Decant when young or let
breath
for at least one hour. Pairing: Roast duck or quail
with wild mushroom polenta, drizzled with Pinot Noir
reduction sauce.
For a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes, please click here
| Pinot
Noir, Weir Vineyard, Yorkville Highlands, 2007 |
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This vineyard is situated on the southeastern border
of Anderson Valley in a cool pocket amongst the redwoods.
This stunning vineyard is located on a steep southeastern
slope at an elevation of approximately 850 feet. The
soils consist of a relatively light orange like shale
and clay. The Weir Vineyard is approximately 15 acres
of vineyard planted to some of the more rare Pinot Noir
clone selections seen today in California. The grapes
used from this vineyard in 2007 were carefully chosen.
Four ‘heirloom’ clones were combined; A
Swiss clone (2A), Pommard clone #4, a Domain Romanee
Conti selection and one from the Rochioli River Block
selection that was planted for Burt Williams from Williams-Seylem
in 1992.
Bill Weir, the owner is known as somewhat of a Burgundy
fanatic and has strived to produce old world character
in his north coast vineyard. This site brings forth
an elevated fruit quality that is an absolute pleasure
to work with. We look forward to many vintages to come
from this pedigreed site.
Dark, cherry red color. Medium full bodied. Scents
of spice, sweet black cherries and exotic plums with
concentrated floral notes and a nice integration of
oak. The palate is complex and round with delicious
mouth watering cherry fruits and a wonderful acidity
on the finish with varietal undertones of rose petals
with a hint of minerality.
92 points Wine Spectator,
90 points Stephen Tanzer’s IWC,
92 points Wine & Spirits
For a printable version of the full winemaking and
tasting notes, please click here.
Pinot
Noir, Savoy Vineyard,
Anderson Valley 2007
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During the spring of 2007, Rich Savoy asked if I’d
like to purchase some fruit from his vineyard. After
meeting with him and walking through his vineyard,
it quickly became evident to me that he was extremely
passionate about his vineyard that he began farming
some twenty plus years ago. After agreeing together
which exact rows from three different blocks I would
have, we struck up a deal and the rest became Mother
Nature’s game. This vineyard is located in the
cooler reaches of Anderson Valley near the small town
of Philo. The strengths of this site are its location
in the appellation, its clonal selection and the intensity
of the farming commitment. All these elements become
key to being able to achieve the high level of quality
we all look for.
Cherry red color. Earthy
and complex on the nose with wild currant, sweet cherries,
blueberry spice and fresh herbs with a hint of citrus
peel. On the palate, the wine is soft and round at
first which then escalates toward firmer structure
due to the whole-cluster fermentation and location
which bodes well for ageing. The acidity is also in
line which refreshes the palate towards the end especially
after a well prepared savory dish!
92 points Wine & Spirits,
90 points Wine Spectator
225 cases produced.
For a printable version of the full winemaking and tasting notes, please click here.
Pinot
Noir, Monument Tree Vineyard, Anderson Valley
2007 |
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This is the newest vineyard to our lineup and is situated
on the north-west side of Anderson Valley in an area
known as the ‘deep end’ of Philo. This cool-climate
vineyard is located on a north slope at an elevation
of approximately 400 feet. The terroir consists of a
dark shale and clay-like soil. The Monument Tree Vineyard
is approximately 15 acres and is planted to the finest
Dijon clones of Pinot Noir selections seen today in
California.
Charles McBride, the owner of this esteemed north coast
vineyard, takes pride in caring for his vineyard in
a world-class fashion. The yields are naturally low
which suits our house style, giving us the pedigree
and intensity that Anderson Valley shows so well. We
look forward to many vintages to come from this sought-after
site.
Dark cherry red color. Medium full bodied. Aromas of
white pepper, sweet black cherries, fresh toast and
spicy floral notes. The flavors include exotic plums,
blueberries, cherry and kola. The wine is complex and
round with delicious mouth watering cherry fruits and
a wonderful acidity on the finish with varietal undertones
of rose petals.
91 points Stephen Tanzer’s IWC,
94 points Wine & Spirits,
Gold Medal San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
For a printable version of the full
winemaking and tasting notes, please click here.
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