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Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir 2017 Santa Barbara, California

100% Pinot Noir

$27.99

On Sale $24.99

92pts Robert Parker!

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Wine of the week.

Our wine of the week for November 25^th is Brian Loring’s 2017 Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir. While I highly recommend his single vineyard Pinots, I think he shines when he’s coaxing the very best out of his appellated wines. Brian has become a master of accentuating the sense of place from each of his offerings. He does this by putting his Pinots through the same barrel regimens and finishing the wines with the same level of alcohol. The resulting differences in the wines are expressions of the vintage, the soils and the vines. We chose the Santa Barbara County wine because it embodies the big style of Pinot that so many are looking for while still showing restraint and finesse. Grab a bottle or two and try for yourself, you’ll be glad you did.

 

Notes from the region:

Santa Barbara County-

Santa Barbara County is fortunate to enjoy a varied climate and great diversity in their soils. The Santa Maria Valley to the west is coastal with a maritime influence characterized by foggy mornings and sun during the day while areas like Santa Ynez and Happy Canyon are more inland and enjoy a continental climate characterized by warmer days and nights. As a result, Santa Barbara County is positioned to excel at both delicate varietals like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as more robust varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Grenache.

Santa Barbara County has a long growing season, allowing the grapes extended hang time to develop mature flavors and a much-valued balance of sugars and acids.

Santa Barbara County’s soils are just as diverse as its climate – from sandy, silt and clay loams, to patches of limestone. This unique blend of climate and soils creates ideal growing conditions for a range of grape varieties, with Santa Barbara County producing some of the most sought-after (and most expensive) wine grapes in California.

 

Notes from Loring Wine Company:

The Philosophy–

            My philosophy on making wine is that the fruit is EVERYTHING. What happens in the vineyard determines the quality of the wine – I can’t make it better – I can only screw it up! That’s why I’m extremely picky when choosing vineyards to buy grapes from. Not only am I looking for the right soil, micro-climate, and clones, I’m also looking for a grower with the same passion and dedication to producing great wine that I have. In other words, a total Pinot Freak! My part in the vineyard equation is to throw heaping piles of money at the vineyard owners (so that they can limit yields and still make a profit) and then stay out of the way! Since most, if not all of the growers keep some fruit to make their own wine, I tell them to farm my acre(s) the same way they do theirs – since they’ll obviously be doing whatever is necessary to get the best possible fruit. One of the most important decisions made in the vineyard is when to pick. Some people go by the numbers (brix, pH, TA, etc) and some go by taste. Once again, I trust the decision to the vineyard people. The day they pick the fruit for their wine is the day I’m there with a truck to pick mine. Given this approach, the wine that I produce is as much a reflection of the vineyard owner as it is of my winemaking skills. I figure that I’m extending the concept of terroir a bit to include the vineyard owner/manager… but it seems to make sense to me. The added benefit is that I’ll be producing a wide variety of Pinots. It’d be boring if everything I made tasted the same.

Rae’s Place Tasting Notes:

Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir 2017 Santa Barbara, California

Pinot Noir

One of the things we love about Brian Loring’s wines is that they all have the same alcohol (14.3%) and get aged for the same time (10 months in French Oak). The reason he does this is to showcase each wine growing area. We found the 2017 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir to have a mix or bright red fruit and darker, riper fruit. There’s good tannin and acidity but above all else, there’s balance. The fruit is on display as are the three different sites where the wines are grown. If you like big Pinots with good balance, Loring Santa Barbara Pinot Noir is for you.

Pair with grilled meats, roast pork or mushroom and shallot Bolognese.

 

 

 

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Westerly Wines Red 2012 Happy Canyon, California

76% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc

$28.99

On Sale $23.99

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Our wine of the week for the week of November 18^th is Westerly Wine’s Red Blend 2012 from Happy Canyon in Santa Barbara County. While this wine has a little age on it, there’s still a great amount of pep in its step. We love it because it’s lush and fruity while still showing great structure. Made of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from hillside fruit at an elevation between 500-3400 feet, this blend is pure and focused with a silky texture, dried fruit and cherry notes that all make for an immensely enjoyable, full bodied red wine.

 

Notes from Westerly Wines:

Happy Canyon-

            Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara is the easternmost growing region in Santa Barbara County. First planted in 1996, the AVA is widely recognized for its unique micro-climate, serpentine-laced soils, and its ability to produce top quality Bordeaux varietals. Designated as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) by the Trade and Tax Bureau in November of 2009, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara is home to only eight vineyards and three brick-and-mortar wineries. 

The AVA lies north and west of Lake Cachuma, and the area descends in elevation from 3430’ in the northeast to 500’ in the southwest. It is the warmest micro-climate in the Santa Ynez Valley. The soils are made up of a mixture of loam and clay loam with red and yellow chert and serpentine cobbles. In general, the soils are low in nutrients and thus grow smaller vines that produce high quality wine grapes. 

During Prohibition, a “California Moonshine” was produced in the nearby foothills of the Los Padres mountains. Legend has it that folks would “take a trip up Happy Canyon” to purchase the infamous beverage and the name stuck.

The Philosophy–

            At Westerly, our purpose is simple: to craft wine for enjoyment while also giving back.  We strive to grow and produce esteemed wines that honor place while at the same time influence and contribute to our community, locally and globally, through our dedication to education and philanthropy. 

The winemaking process is lengthy and committed.  From farming to grape growing, harvest to cellar, bottle to table, it is a multi-year endeavor with every detail as critical as the next.  But our efforts do not stop here – they surpass the delight of the end result.  While producing wines with a sense of place is important, we also see value in providing for our community.  Through partnerships with organizations such as “Wine To Water” and the development of internship programs for local students, we hope to have an impact far beyond the palate with the beautiful wines that we produce.   

Rae’s Place Tasting Notes:

Westerly Wines Red 2012 Happy Canyon, California

Merlot, Cabernet Franc

 

The 2012 is showing beautiful fruit, both red and black. There’s silky texture from the Merlot and great structure and fruit from the Cabernet Franc.  The acidity and tannin are still quite present, giving this wine the stability to stay tasty for a while to come. This is a great find with a little age on it.

 

Pair this with grilled meats, Beef Bourgogne, or braised oxtail. Hearty vegetable dishes would also work, especially if you can add a mushroom and onion stock.

 

 

 

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Borgogno “No Name” Nebbiolo de Langhe 2014 Piedmont, Italy

100% Nebbiolo

$45.99

On Sale: $39.99

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This week’s wine is Borgogno “No Name” Nebbiolo 2014 from the Langhe region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. We chose this wine because of the juice in the bottle and the story behind it. Many consider Barolo to be the “King” of red wines in Italy and rightfully so. Depending on what vineyard(s) the Barolo comes from, it can be powerful, elegant, floral or a mix. Regardless, Barolo is an absolute pleasure for the senses and is truly a wine every wine lover should experience.

Technically, “No Name” isn’t a Barolo, it’s the younger brother Nebbiolo di Langhe, which is usually taken from younger vines, aged minimally or not at all and has very expressive floral and fruit notes. This however is a very special Nebbiolo, it comes from three of the best vineyards in Barolo: Cannubi, Liste and Fossati. The wine is aged for 3 years in oak and then two more in bottle before release (Required for making Barolo) but is labeled and priced like a Nebbiolo. They do that to bring focus on the Government’s involvement in agriculture and their dislike of it. This is for all intents and purposes a Barolo at Nebbiolo prices, it’s an absolute steal and not to be missed. This is also a perfect wine for all your holiday dinners.

 

Notes about the winery:

The estate of Giacomo Borgogno & Figli has been around since 1761 and has had the same ideology the entire time, they make the best wines they can and do as little as possible to alter the wine’s natural path. They’re also big fans of going slow in order to do things right the first time. These philosophies are what have kept these wines pure and beautiful for centuries.

“Being slow in one’s actions means having the time to understand things better and do them the right way. This is what we have been doing in our vineyards and with our wines since 1761.”

 

Tradition is key to the success of the winery and the wines they produce so there have been only a few changed during the winery’s history. In 2008, some 240+ years after it’s inception, the winery was acquired by the Farinetti family, a few years later, they decided to go back to using concrete tanks for fermentation and in 2015 they began converting the winery and its vineyards to organic. The 2019 harvest will be the first certified organic vintage for Borgogno. Other than that, this winery has been running on tradition and letting the grapes, the vineyards and the vintages speak for themselves for almost two hundred and sixty years.

 

“To be stubborn means not easily abandoning one’s ideas. Even today, after 250 years, wines are made in full respect of tradition: without the use of chemical additives in the vineyards and with spontaneous fermentations in concrete tanks and aging in large Slavonian oak casks in the cellar.”

Tasting Notes:

Borgogno “No Name” Nebbiolo de Langhe 2014 Piedmont, Italy

Nebbiolo

This wine quickly gained a cult following due to the reputation of the house and the nature of the label. This is truly a Barolo, the Nebbiolo comes from three of the greatest vineyards in the Barolo region of Piedmont (Cannubi, Liste, and Fossati) and the wine is aged for five years before release. The label is as much a badge for this cult wine as the juice inside. “No Name” hits you like a ton a bricks when you see it but if you look at the bottom of the label you’ll fine “Etichetta di Protesta” or “Labeled in Protest” They do this to bring recognition to how the bureaucracy affects Italian agriculture. It’s also priced like a Nebbiolo rather than a Barolo. If you love Barolo and haven’t tried this, or are looking for something new, this is the bottle for you. You’ll find all the characteristics of a great Barolo inside this wine; Earth and wood notes balanced by cherry and spice. Great tannin and acidity provide balance and structure all while dazzling your senses with what is quintessentially Italian Nebbiolo.

Pair with roast wild boar, venison and lamb or pastas with wild mushrooms and red sauce.

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Chateau Petit Freylon “Cuvee Leah” Bordeaux Superior 2015 Bordeaux, France

100% Merlot

$14.99

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So, you already know we love this wine. We are, not so quietly, supporting the charge to bring Merlot back to its rightful place as one of the kings of the noble red grapes.

With the new tariffs hitting, French wine will be going up steeply as containers land from Europe. Thankfully we have access to this beauty stateside, so the price is still quite fantastic. We hope you’ll pick up a bottle or two and give this wonderful grape another try. Or, maybe you’re one of us and you already love Merlot too! We like you a lot for that. If you’re already a fan but haven’t tried a merlot from Bordeaux recently, this will make you very happy.

 

Notes from the winery:

The Winery

Château Petit-Freylon is located in the small Aquitaine village of Saint-Genis-du-Bois, a tiny village boasting less than 100 inhabitants. The estate belonged to the Lagrange family for generations until 2011, when it was purchased by La Société PESA. Since that time, the new owners have invested heavily in the château’s wine-making facilities and have installed much needed improvements such as new tanks, barrels, and thermo-vinification systems. This attention to detail has earned the wines several medals at prestigious competitions, such as the Concours Agricolein Paris and the Concours de Bordeaux.

The Terroir

The vineyard at Château Petit-Freylon covers 30 hectares (75 acres) of rich potential, 20 of which are within the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. The clay and limestone soils are well lined, giving way to high caliber wines. Growing on 30-year-old vines, the Château produces a grand assortment of grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with average yields of 50 hectoliters per hectare.

The Environment

Since 2016, Château Petit-Freylon has been a part of the Bordeaux Environmental Management System Association, in an effort to reduce our impact on the environment.

The estate is heavily invested in numerous conservational initiatives such as recycling waste, improving biodiversity, reworking vineyard management, efficient use of resources and counteracting all forms of pollution. Everyone in our team is notably involved in each step of this process; from the pruning of the vine to the final bottling of each vintage.

All our attempts to conserve the environment have allowed us to be certified at the highest level of the High Environmental Value (HVE Level 3), in addition to the ISO 14001 certification.

 

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