ZETO WINES SELECTIONS
Oregon
Jay Somers (owner/winemaker) makes only about 2,000 cases of wine a year (between 8 different wines that he makes)! He's hands-on, dedicated to quality, not quantity. One of the most respected young winemakers in Oregon, Jay's a winemaker to watch -- buy his wines now. Click on J. Christopher winery at left for more information.
J. Christopher Willamette Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $19.99
Bright flavors of lemon peel, drops of grapefruit, and nice minerality balanced with refreshing acidity. Lovely for sipping and to enjoy with seafood and salads.
Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2009 $21.99
No oak, no malo, just pure Chardonnay! Refreshingly bright and mountain-stream-clean style white and yellow fruit flavors.
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007 $24.99
J. Somers, Owner/Winemaker: "A bright. lush and forward wine that shows excellent structure and balance. Drinks great now and will continue to improve over the next few years."
Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2007 $29.99 Blended from Charlie's, Abbey Ridge, Le Pavillon and La Colina Vineyards. This is classic Dundee Hills
Pinot Noir. As my friend Erni Loosen says, "Super Pinot"! (Jay Somers)
Pinot Noir Charlie's Vineyard 2006 $36.99
One of the great sites of the Dundee Hills this 3 acre vineyard has produced great wine for us since 1996. Aromas of dark fruits, leather and earth with an expansive palate of even more dark fruit balanced by a harmonious structure of tannin and acidity. Super excellent.
Pinot Noir Le Pavillon 2006 $39.99
Jay Somers: "Power and grace personified. A highly concentrated wine with aromas of dark raspberries and violets. Big rich flavors of spicy black cherries and freshly-turned earth. Great acidity and tannin structure ensures this wine's ability to age."
California
OLABISI -- Husband-wife team Kim Wedlake and Ted Osborne started Olabisi Wines in 2002. Kim brought them to the Napa Valley (California) about 13 years ago--she to design wine labels and he to pursue winemaking. Possessing only his English degree and no formal training Ted set out to gain his winemaking knowledge as an apprentice first.
From 1995 to 2002, Ted worked for Cakebread Cellars in Napa, Passing Clouds in Australia, Rupert & Rothschild in South Africa, Chateau du Seuil in Bordeaux, and Storybook Mountain Winery in Napa. By now it seemed time to focus that experience on their own wines. Since then, they've dedicated themselves to making small- production expressive wines from diamond-in-the-rough vineyards. Ted and Kim currently live in Calistoga with their two young children. Olabisi means "joy multiplied" in Nigerian.
Olabisi Mendocino Chardonnay Double Top Secret Vineyard 2007 28.99 Production: 296 cases
Winemaker's tasting notes: Luxurious and hedonistic with aromas of lemon, lime, candy apple, honey, butterscotch and toffee. The flavors are rich, ripe and silky, with notes of ripe citrus, mango, and white peach that linger long on the palate. Drink now through 2016.
Olabisi Carneros Chardonnay Ceja Vineyard 2007 37.99 Production: 285 cases (12 mo. in barrel)
91 Wine Spectator! "Rich and creamy, with complex apple, fig and tangerine flavors that are pure and focused, gaining depth on the finish. Drink now through 2013.
Winemaker's tasting notes: Complex and intoxicating aromas of tangerine, tropical honey, lemon, toast, lychee, apricot, and marzipan. The decadent palate bursts with sweet Meyer lemon, creme fraiche, pineapple and fig, based on a zesty acidity with a long, thought-provoking finish.
Wirth Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel Solano County/Green Valley 2006 33.99 Production: only 125 cases
Winemaker's tasting notes: Quintessential old vine Zin, zesty and dark, spicy and fresh with meaty plum, dusty strawberry, sweet rhubarb, chaparral spice, smoky tropicality, and a lovely strip of chewy tannins running right down the center.
King Vineyard Petite Sirah Suisun Valley 2006 42.99 Production: just 234 cases
Winemaker's tasting notes: Ripe black cherries, violets, blackberries, black tar, Framboise, white pepper, vanilla, black walnuts and a hint of dark brown sugar. Bursts onto the palate in wave after wave of mouth-coating intensity. Flavors of pomegranate, black cherry, black tar, black olives, cedar, baking chocolate, spice and toasty oak. An altogether mind-altering wine.
Surh Luchtel
Surh Luchtel wines are the result of collaboration between two long time friends Don Surh and Gary Luchtel. . . .Our production is extremely limited, usually each batch consisting of no more than a few hundred cases. Our wines are truly handcrafted and we hope that our passion shows through in our wines. Click Surh Luchtel tab at left for more information.
Mosaique Red Wine 2006 Napa Valley/CA $29.99 1000 cases made. 44% Cabernet Franc, 38% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon
"As usual this elegant Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon was created with earlier accessability in mind. The '05 Mosaique's charming, fruit-forward aromas are apparent right out of the bottle, with rich cassis, Provencal herbs, blackberry, cherry fruit. Initially, Cabernet Franc is dominant and with aeration, the soft cherry flavors from Merlot emerge. The tannins are ripe and soft. Enjoy it with everything from portobello to porterhouse."
Cabernet Sauvignon Sacrashe VIneyard 2005 $59.99 160 cases made.
"Plush toasty oak on the nose masks the deep complex aromas of blackberry, bacon fat, rhubarb and orange peel. Currently, it shows its youthful intensity with its ripe but young tannins. With aeration, layers of flavors are revealed by velvety oak. It shows black cherry, black currant, kirsch notes. It's so easy to drink this now but it will only get better with time."
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 $39.99 375 mL $19.99
"Within this supple framework, the Calistoga portion of cabernet lends an abundance of juicy, intricate fruit flavors, including cassis, black cherries, plums, and blackberries. Carried through the finish by its balancing acidity, it shows intriguing secondary flavors of chocolate, orange peel, and grilled meat."
Pinot Noir Umino Vineyard 2007 $35.99
"Aromas of sweet bing cherry, blackberry and cola are well integrated with hints of vanilla and toast. In the mouth the wine is generous, lush, delicate and yet and full. Flavors of cherry, cassis and spice are wrapped around well oaked, long, lingering finish."
Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2007 $31.99
"The nose is very pretty with dark cherry, wild mushrooms and spice. Flavors run from raspberry, cherry, plum and show balance and focus from beginning to the finish. With time in the glass the wine softens and shows more earthiness and spice. This beauty is drinkable now, however if you lay it down for a couple of years, you will be very happy with the result."
Walter Hansel
Walter Hansel was a lifelong wine enthusiast who had the vision to plant his estate's original 250 vines in 1978. Today, Stephen, Walter's son, has taken up where his father left off, pursuing his vision of producing world-class Burgundian-styled Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from the Russian River Valley. The emphasis is on low yields for greater complexity.
All of Hansel's grapes are grown on the Hansel property. All of the fruit is hand-harvested, and it is re-examined again at the winery. Hansel makes an average of 9 total passes through each vineyard including one pass just to pull the second crop. (And while many wineries produce wine from the second crop, Stephen believes the primary crop can be more concentrated if he drops the second crop instead of using it.) Each pass is time consuming and expensive but Stephen feels the vine rewards him with more concentrated flavors.
Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $16.99
"Pale gold. Pungent grapefruit rind, green papaya and white pepper on the nose. Juicy and spicy in the mouth, with a subtle sweetness and excellent cut and precision to the citrus and exotic fruit flavors. Assertive, citrus-dominated finish "
Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2009 $31.99
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Call for pricing. 336.574.2850
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