2008 Kokomo Winery Windsor Oaks Vineyard Pinot Noir

Mission Codename: The heart of the matter

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to our old friends at Kokomo wines, where rumors are swirling about a soon-to-be-released single vineyard Pinot Noir. Find a way to secure a limited number of cases for our Operatives – before the wine is released to the public

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Kokomo Wines

Wine Subject: 2008 Pinot Noir Windsor Oaks Vineyards – Russian River Valley

Winemaker: Erik Miller

Backgrounder:

The grapes for today’s wine comes from the famous Windsor Oaks Vineyards, in Sonoma County’s Chalk Hill appellation. The Chalk Hill AVA (American Viticultural Appellation) is technically a sup-appellation of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley AVA. Most of the vineyards in the Chalk Hill AVA are located on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, near the town of Windsor. Vineyards here, which are host to a wide range of grape varietals, are characterized by their volcanic soils that have a chalky appearance. Read Agent Red’s review of today’s wine, followed by his winemaker interview, below.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful Ruby red, with perfect clarity through the slightly darker heart of the wine. The edge of the wine shows a soft pink. After swirling, tears take forever to emerge, before running slowly down the glass.

Smell – Baked cherry tart, with vanilla and soft baking spice takes the lead. Red raspberry, young strawberry and a hint of cranberry follow easily behind. These fresh and fruity aromatics sit atop a soft earthiness, subtle fresh sage and just a hint of cedar.

Feel – Soft and light-weight at the tip of the tongue, then firm tannins add a mineral dryness that begins at the back of the palate and works it way forward, slowly drying the entire mouth and puckering the lips.

Taste – Led by sweet red cherry, this wine also shows off bright raspberry, tart young strawberry and sweet cranberry. Soft earth and a hint of fall leaves lead to soft a slate-mineral taste at the end.

Finish – This wine starts sweet and then goes slightly tart – which makes the mouth water, as flavors tail off slowly. At the very end, flavors of dried leaves and slate persist.

Conclusion – Finally, a 2008 Pinot Noir that tastes ready to drink! This bright wine does show some youthfulness, but the fruit really pops, delivering a delicious and mouthwatering experience. Certainly a fruit-driven Pinot Noir, this wine will please fans of brightly crafted wines that present plenty of authentic mixed red berry characteristic. The bright fruit is supported by softly earthen qualities that give the wine a more balanced feel. We paired our review bottles with a homemade spicy corn chowder soup. The pairing was perfect.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Erik Miller

WINE EDUCATION: See Bio (attached)

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: See Bio (attached)

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Keep my thumbprint off the wines as much as possible and let the vineyard show through. Terrior is what makes the wine unique and I believe it is the winemakers job to ensure it is not lost in the winemaking process.

WINEMAKER QUOTE:

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: (DATE) 2005

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Erik. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 Windsor Oaks Vineyard Pinot Noir today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

ERIK MILLER: We are excited to be second covert mission and thank you for your continued support.

RED: It is our pleasure. We really love your wines. Tell me, was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

ERIK: Working my first harvest and experiencing fermentation!

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

ERIK: My neighbors’ Pinots. Papapietro Perry definitely inspired me to embrace California Pinot. Delicious!

RED: Who do you make wine for?

ERIK: We make wine for food, but it is important that the wine can be enjoyed on its own.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

ERIK: It is a blend of four different clones of Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. A great food wine and a true expression of the Russian River Valley.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

ERIK: Pork tenderloin with a Pinot Noir sauce.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Chalk Hill AVA so special?

ERIK: The coastal influence. Cool nights, coastal fog, and soil with a distinct minerality. Truly one of the standout appellations in all of California.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

ERIK: Getting ready for harvest. Sampling vineyards and sanitizing, sanitizing, sanitizing.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

ERIK: As a beverage! I want people to take their time to find the subtleties and complexities, but not be pretentious about wine.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Windsor Oaks Vineyards and Winery in the Chalk Hill AVA can be seen in this satellite photo.

2007 Mounts Family Winery Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: Power and Glory in the DCV

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Infiltrate the Mounts Family winery, and procure their newest estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon for our demanding Operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished

Current Winery: Mounts Family Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: David Mounts

Backgrounder:

Today’s Cabernet Sauvignon comes to us from one of Sonoma County’s most experienced winemaking families. Grown in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, today’s wine is a delicious and complex Cabernet Sauvignon. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report, below, for the the complete details on today’s wine

Today’s Cabernet Sauvignon hails from the Mounts Vineyard is Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley. The Dry Creek Valley across the Russian River from Alexander Valley has a generally cooler and wetter climate which makes the growing season longer and more flexible than neighboring appellations.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Gorgeous Burgundy in color, with perfect clarity through its darkening core. When swirled, the wine appears soft and bouncy. When it settles, it leaves behind skinny, wine-hued legs that move slowly down the glass.

Smell – Bold intensity, complex with big berry flavors of blackberry, blueberry and dark raspberry. These are accompanied by earthy mixed blackfruit jam, candied red cherry, soft black spices, dark minerals and a hint of black pepper.

Feel – Soft and clean on entry, very light-weight. After a moment in the mouth, the wine becomes increasingly softly grippy. Eventually, plus tannins provide a lush overall feel, adding dryness into the long finish.

Taste – Very flavorful and very delicious, with ripe berry and stonefruit flavors from the nose. Add to these (mentioned, above, in ’Smell’), flavors of soft sweetwoods, plum compote, braised black figs, black pepper and a flinty mineral component.

Finish – Ultra long and very flavor-filled, with lingering berry, plum, soft anise, a hint of black pepper and flint.

Conclusion – This wine is fantastic, and it shows so much promise for aging, as well. We’ll be enjoying a few bottles this year, but also saving a few bottles for the next several years. We are always impressed with Mounts’ wines, and this wine delivers everything we have come to expect from our friends, David and Lana Mounts, whose family has been farming in the Dry Creek Valley almost longer than any other. We are not the only ones that are crazy about their farming prowess; Numerous other prominent wineries source their fruit from the family’s vineyards. Today’s wine is a deep and delicious wine that is packed full of flavor and deep aromatics, delivering an exceptional experience for the senses. Pair this flexible wine with heartier fare, like items from your late summer BBQ. Just be sure to save a few bottles for the Holiday’s – and beyond – as this wine has real aging potential.

Mission Report:

What follows is a recap of our initial mission to Mounts Family Winery, wherein we refer to a Mounts Zinfandel, featured last year. While that was an excellent wine, we like today’s 91-point Cabernet Sauvignon even better

It was a warm and beautiful morning. The temperature was close to 70 degrees and the sky was a perfect clear blue. It was a typical spring morning in the Dry Creek Valley. If only it was Spring! It was, in fact, the beginning of January where, even here in California, we should be experiencing cooler temps – and our share of vine-sustaining rains!

Agent Syrah was with me on another training mission. For this one, he led the mission to Mounts Family Winery. I had given Agent Syrah the directive of locating a superb California Zinfandel. I gave him free reign, allowing him to choose the region and winery.

Almost immediately, he came up with a winery.

“What do you have,” I asked.

“Mounts. 06. Estate Zin. DCV. Intel suggests a classic DCV, ripe, lush, balanced. 400 cases.”

“Very good. Next steps?”

“I would suggest a direct infiltration. No extended surveillance. Proceed immediately.”

With that, we made our way to mounts.

After a drive through the beautiful Dry Creek Valley, we found ourselves at the bottom of a long uphill driveway. the drive led through pristine hillside vineyards, eventually leading us to the winery at the crest of the hill.

As we parked, a woman approached. Agent Syrah said, “Lana Mounts. General Manager and wife of David Mounts, the winemaker.”

If I was not already impressed, I was now. Agent Syrah was shaping up to be a fine Wine Spy.

Agent Syrah took command, introducing Lana to me as though he already knew her, and I was someone she needed to know. He cut right to the chase, explaining that we had been investigating her winery – and that we were here to evaluate and – if we loved their wines – appropriate Mounts Family wines for our Operatives.

Lana took us to here wine cave and we were soon joined by her husband, David Mounts. We tasted through their wines and we were very impressed. I gave Agent Syrah the signal and he quickly negotiated for a quantity of today’s excellent Mounts Family Estate Zinfandel.

If you ever find yourself in the Dry Creek Valley, stop in to Mounts for a tasting. The vineyards are beautiful, the people a pleasure to hang out with – and the wines are really wonderful.

Finally, be sure to keep an eye out for Agent Syrah’s future missions. I have a feeling that this young spy is destined for greatness.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Mounts Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley can be seen in this satellite photo.

2007 Domaine Corinne & Thierry Drouin “La Roche” Macon-Vergisson AOC

Mission Codename: The Poet of St-Emilion

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Acquire a delicious and value oriented white Burgundy for our operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Domaine Corinne & Thierry Drouin

Wine Subject: 2007 “La Roche” Mâcon-Vergisson AOC

Backgrounder:

Located in the broader Burgundy region of the Mâconnais (about half way between Lyon and Beaune, Mâcon-Vergisson is one of the five communes located in and making up the Pouilly-Fuissé. The region’s wine-making history dates back about 1600 years. It is often grouped with Beaujolais (just south of the region) since its red grape is predominantly Gamay. The whites which make up most of the production (88%) in the region, like the rest of Burgundy, are Chardonnay. The wines of the Mâcon-Vergisson are known to be richer than its neighboring vineyard’s wines and have more aging potential.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Bright and clear golden with straw yellow hues that pales slightly along the edges. When swirled, this slightly more springy wine leaves slow clusters of medium thick legs hang before deliberately descending to the wine below.

Smell – Medium in intensity, this wine initially greats you with an enticing blend of orchard and citrus fruit blended with white floral notes. Layered underneath are balanced notes of spice, toasted oak, minerality, creamy vanilla, butter and a hint of nuttiness.

Feel – Smooth and dry with good weight, this medium bodied wine balances its lively acidity with its creamy texture and leaves a touch of spice on the tip of the tongue.

Taste – Rich but also clean with balanced stone and citrus fruit that is integrated with tasted vanilla creme and a touch of butter. The white floral, nuttiness, spice and minerality form the nose find there way onto the palate in a balanced way.

Finish – Clean with its lingering flavors supported by a touch of bright acidity that begs for another sip.

Conclusion – The 2007 Corinne & Thierry Drouin “La Roche” Mâcon-Vergisson AOC is a delicious and lush Chardonnay with a soft and elegant mouth feel, great aromas and flavors that are supported by its balanced structure that has both a good weighty creamy quality and lively character too. This is a lovely wine to enjoy sipping on its own or paired with nutty alpine style or richer triple créme cheeses.

Mission Report:

ALERT: Agent White has goe A.W.O.L – Ops has issued an APB any sightings should be immediately reported. Assume suspect is armed with a wine key and is dangerously thirsty.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Domaine Corinne & Thierry Drouin can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 St. Helena Road Winery Maier Family Meritage

Mission Codename: My wine has a first name…

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Send Agent Red to St. Helena Road Winery, in order to investigate reports of a fantastic Meritage. If the rumors are true, secure an ample cache of their 2006 Maier Family Meritage for our Bordeaux blend-loving Operatives

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: St. Helena Road Winery

Wine Subject: 2006 Maier Faamily Meritage

Winemaker: pending

Backgrounder: Meritage (pronounce like ‘heritage’, no French style accent) wine, blends made in the tradition of the great wines of Bordeaux can only carry the name if the winery is a member of The Meritage Association based in Sonoma County. Most wines made in the US are varietal wines, comprised of over 75% of a single varietal. Unfortunately, this labeling requirement is believed to impair many winemakers from making exceptional blends, since they are often labeled as simply Red Table Wine with the noble grapes of Bordeaux. Thus in 1988 Meritage was born as a way to highlight the winemaker’s art of careful blending and crafting of wines in the tradition of some of Europe’s finest wines.

Today’s selection is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 3% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petite Verdot.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark and inky purple with plum-skin hues that reflect a rainbow when swirled. At the edge of the glass, a rim of pure garnet plays with the light. After swirling, chubby, wine-stained legs crawl down the inside of the glass.

Smell – Deeply aromatic, with giant dusky blackberry and blackest cherry up front. These are closely followed by red plum, black plum and exotic spiced chocolate, Asian spice and mocha espresso.

Feel – Big and ultra-ripe, with lush, chewy tannins. This wine utterly fills the mouth – while maintaining a very clean feel.

Taste – Bold and deep, with an explosion of pronounced black cherry and an intriguing slightly-burnt blackberry pastry. These sit atop black plum, red plum, boysenberry, bramble, and spice, with black anise, espresso grounds and soft white pepper.

Finish – Long, dark, dusky and complex, with bold blackfruit that goes on and on, long after the wine leaves your mouth

Conclusion – This is one delightfully giant and boldly delicious Meritage! The bold aromatics had me smelling the wine for several minutes before I ever took a taste. When I did taste the wine, I was blown away by the big, ripe flavors and feel of it. There is noting timid about this wine, but you should note that it it not so big that it overpowers your senses. Rather, everything works together to deliver a wine of great balance. There is elegance with the boldness. I would certainly recommend that you pair with heartier fare, such as BBQ beef rips, or a grilled steak with blue cheese. If you love big wines with big personality, this wine is guaranteed to excite your senses.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Richard Maier

WINE EDUCATION: Richard has learned by doing, just like his Grandfather, learning about making wine since before President Regan’s first term in office. He has tasted through the world’s wine regions, learning from winemakers and viticulturists and then coming back to Sonoma County to apply their tips and tricks to our special piece of heaven on the West side of Spring Mountain.

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Owner & Winemaker of Saint Helena Road Vineyards & Winery from May 1999 to present. Head of agricultural research and development of Roy J Maier Corp. cane plantations in North and South America and France from 1980-1996.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: To allow our grapes to express the characteristics of our unique mountain location with the least possible human interference. In the same way we practiced minimal intervention with musical reeds, we have put the same philosophy and strategies into our wine-growing and -making.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: When we tasted our first bottle of wine, our 2003 Roy J Maier, we believed then and we believe now that we have created a great bottle of wine at a reasonable price.

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: August 2005

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Richard. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Maier Family Winery Meritage today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

RICHARD MAIER: Thank you, we appreciate your efforts

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

RICHARD: I had tried lots of wine from around the world, but sampling my first bottle of 1985 Jordan Cabernet launched my enthusiasm for soft and smooth red wines. Everything we have done since that first taste has been trying to create a similar experience for others from our own Spring Mountain property.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

RICHARD: The style of our wines is mostly dictated by the growing season and its end result on our crop for that season. As a wine-maker my job is to put that year in a bottle.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

RICHARD: We hope we find a middle ground that appeals across the generations, demonstrating how exceptional Bordeaux blends can be from Sonoma County without breaking the bank!

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

RICHARD: Our Meritage is a mind blowing blend of our mountain fruit, its dark, deep aromas of Chocolate, Asian spice, black cherry, and coffee mirrored on the full rich palate. The big, ripe tannins are chewy and rich, enveloping the mid-palate and giving the sense that this wine will age well for a long time.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

RICHARD: My wife Patty’s Barbequed Meat loaf; the recipe is on our website.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Spring Mountain region so special?

RICHARD: Our Spring Mountain Vineyards are a world of Sonoma County micro climates, letting us explore the variety of styles and wines our property can produce. There is no better feeling than driving through the forest along the pristine Mark West Creek and being unable to see the lights of any other settled property; that makes us feel like we are on top of the world surrounded by our vines.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

RICHARD: All of the various tasks of a hands on grower and winemaker: keeping up with a cool growing season, making sure supplies are in and ready for crush, and hoping that harvest is done before Thanksgiving!

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

RICHARD: Just sitting around the dining room table with food, friends, and family and enjoying our wine.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

RICHARD: Please keep in mind what drives us—these vines, this fruit, are simply our life and our passion. In short: “A PASSION THAT IS PALATABLE.”

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Region Check:

The location of the Spring Mountain region, which sits between Sonoma County and the Napa Valley, can be seen in this satellite photo.

2008 Souverain Carneros Pinot Noir

Mission Codename: Sixty years and counting

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to Souverain and secure a cache of their 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir – before they run out.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Souverain

Wine Subject: 2008 Pinot Noir Carneros

Winemaker: Ed Killian

Backgrounder:

Some of our favorite California Pinot Noir comes from the independent Carneros viticultural area, a wine growing region which straddles the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. Originally designated in 1983, the region’s distinct Terroir and cool climate make it one of the best regions for the Burgundian varietals of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The first grapes were planted here in the early 1800s by missionaries. The cool Carneros region provides ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir and Pinot thrives here.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful dark Burgundy, with a darkening but still clear core. Color remains concentrated right out to the edge of the glass, where the finest line of lilac can be seen. Hold the glass up to the light, viewing the wine from the outside of the glass, and this fine line glints and sparkles. After swirling, skinny, wine-stained tears march slowly down the glass.

Smell – Lush blackberry and dark cherry leap from the glass. These are soon accompanied by raspberry, dried violets and spiced bramble fruit. Soft oak and a hint of subtle pepper round out the fragrant nose.

Feel – Velvety and round on entry. After a swallow, a small quantity of the wine coats the mouth, adding a soft dryness as fine-grained tannins are gradually introduced.

Taste – Led by a delightful black cherry, the wine evolves in your mouth, gradually revealing additional flavors of blackberry, softly spiced plum, rose petal, subtle mushroom and hints of cedar and black tea.

Finish – Very long, with dark fruit flavors that begin tart – and then evolve to dark mixed berry, soft spiced fig and just a hint of earthy, mineral-driven black pepper.

Conclusion – This is a delicious, fruit-forward Pinot Noir that delivers brilliant Carneros character and beautiful Carneros fruit. Bright and lush, both on nose and palate, this is a wine for fans of balanced Pinot fruit. With enough structure to make the wine an interesting solo-sipper, and enough bright acidity to make it a food-friendly companion, this is a flexible wine. Pair this wonderful wine with an assortment of hard cheeses, poultry or pork.

Mission Report:

Authentic and Attainable is how Souverain describes their great wines. While we agree with the first part of that declaration, we found the second part to be somewhat, well, relative.

You see, many wineries hold back their more precious wines for their tasting room customers or for their wine club members. Today’s wine is just such a wine and unless you are a club member or can get yourself into their tasting room in picturesque downtown Healdsburg, this wine is unattainable to most of our Operatives. However, as an Operative, you know that this exclusivity has never kept us from getting you a wine once we have our sights set on it.

I wish that I could tell you that today’s mission toobtain the unobtainable was fraught with intrigue and peril. Rather, we simply relied on our network of assetsin the field.

One such asset, industry insider Codename: Malbec, pulled a few strings and made a few key introductions and viola! I was in, landing a temp spot in the tasting room. Once inside, I was able to learn everything that I could about Souverains great wines. Because our Operatives have been keen for a great Pinot Noir for under $25, I zeroed in on the Carneros Pinot. With a few days at the tasting room, I was able to sample the wine freshly opened and well-decanted. Both were great, but a few hours of decant on this wine and it sings!

While I worked there, I got to learn a lot about the Souverain way of making wine. Their 120 year-old estate vineyards sits within Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley, where I happen to think some of the finest California wines come from. Winemaker Ed Killian has been making wines in this region for more than a quarter century and his desire to create wines that express the harmony between place and varietal shows in each of the wines that he stewards at Souverain.

When my temp gig was up, Malbec quietly revealed my true identity to the tasting room manager – who was happy to have had a bonafide Wine Spy in the house. The manager pumped my hand and asked me which wine I loved most, and how many cases I would be needing.

I just love this job!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of Souverain’s estate vineyards is Top secret, but their tasting room can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 Grgich Hills Estate Carneros Selection Chardonnay

Mission Codename: Move Over Montrachet

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Return to Operative favorite, Grgich Hills Estate. This time secure an allocation of their fantastic Carneros Selection Chardonnay.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Grgich Hills Estate

Wine Subject: 2006 Carneros Selection Chardonnay

Winemaker: Miljenko “Mike” Grgich

Backgrounder:Chardonnay is arguably the greatest of all white grape varietals, showing its influence in the legendary sparkling wines of Champagne, the great whites of Burgundy and of course its expression as’the’ white wine of California. Chardonnay represents over 50% of the planted white grapes in California with nearly 100,000 acres planted. With such a great number of wines made from this grape, it stands to reason that finding wines of immense quality would be hard, but look no further. In this wine, we have found perhaps the ideal expression of the California Chardonnay.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful crystal clear deep golden-yellow, with edges that are slightly more pale showing straw hues. The wine has slightly more viscous texture and leaves behind random clusters of medium thick legs that hang on the side of the glass.

Smell – Bright aromas of citrus oil and specially lemon creme along with green apple meld with a distinctive slate minerality and subtle smokey and toasted notes. Add some spice and honey for additional depth.

Feel – Smooth and dry, this full-bodied white has an exceptional weighty texture that is expansive on the palate along with a lively acidity that is in perfect balance.

Taste – Both rich and bright with lemon creme and other citrus flavors and tart green apple blend with soft smokey oak, slate minerality and a touch of honey and beeswax that is also felt on the palate.

Finish – Long and clean with its creamy lemon citrus leading off then fading leaving bright and tart citrus and green apple behind. A subtle hint of honey and petrol also lingers on the palate adding depth and complexity.

Conclusion – The 2006 Grgich Hills Estate Carneros Selection Chardonnay is a exceptionally delicious wine that shows great depth, complexity and finesse. Bright and fresh citrus and tree fruit that lingers from the nose into the finish and enough weight on the palate to remind you of its presence, this wine’s complexity shines through as it evolves in the glass (take the time to let this wine shine) with notes of minerality, spice and toast, not of which dominates, but rather compliment each other.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Mike Grgich

WINE EDUCATION: I studied winemaking and viticulture at the University of Zagreb in the former Yugoslavia (now Croatia) and then I had to leave to escape communism. In 1995, 41 years after I left Croatia, I returned to the University of Zagreb, at 77 years old, and received my degree.

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: I left Yugoslavia to make wine in California and eventually arrived in Napa Valley in August 1958, with no money, just in time for crush to begin. I worked for some of the legends of Napa Valley: Lee Stewart, of the original Souverain Cellars; Brother Timothy at Christian Brothers; for almost nine years for André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards; with for Robert Mondavi and then Chateau Montelena, where the chardonnay I crafted won the famed 1976 Paris Tasting On Independence Day 1977, Austin Hills and I broke ground in Rutherford to build Grgich Hills Cellar.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Our goal remains the same as when I started the winery more than 30 years ago—to craft a wine that is harmonized. To me, that means not too much oak, not too much alcohol, not too much of any one attribute. In other words, we craft a whole wine that is a pleasure to drink.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: ”The less you process the wine, the more people will like it. Sometimes we are led astray by figures and numbers and percentages, but it is always the taste that is important.”
Wine is like a long chain, from the vine to the glass. Every link—every step—is important. If one or two links are missed or don’t hold together, the whole chain falls apart. That means paying close attention to every link, from pruning and trellising to applying compost and disking in the vineyards to smelling and tasting every barrel to monitor the progress of the wine.

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: Our first release was the 1977 Johannisburg Riesling, in November 1977.

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Mister Grgich. It is an honor to speak with you, today. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Carneros Selection Chardonnay today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

MIKE GRGICH: Thank you for the opportunity to talk with you.

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

MIKE GRGICH: I was the youngest of eleven children and during harvest my parents would put me a open barrel with some harvested grapes. So, I was safe and could wander off and I could eat the grapes if I were hungry or stomp the grapes and drink the juice. So, ever since I was two or three years, I’ve stomped grapes every harvest.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style? MIKE GRGICH: When I came to America, André Tchelistcheff at Beaulieu Vineyards was the best known winemaker. He was called the maestro. I wanted to learn from the best so I applied to Beaulieu. I worked there for nine years, from 1959 until 1968. I was the first quality control person in the Napa Valley.
While I was there I worked at improving the white wines, which in the early days would oxidize and become worthless. I was part of developing the use of Millipore sterile filtration, which was important to prevent bacteria from going into the bottle. Beaulieu was the first in California to induce malolactic fermentation in all of the red wines.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

MIKE GRGICH: You have to make the wine that you like.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

MIKE GRGICH: For this special selection Chardonnay we handpicked our best lots, aging them in 70% new French barrels and the remainder in neutral barrels for a year. We then reevaluated the lots, keeping only the best for this bottling. As part of our natural winemaking we relied on wild yeasts for fermentation. We prevented malolactic fermentation in order to preserve the pleasing acidity and fresh flavors we worked so hard to achieve in the vineyard.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

MIKE GRGICH: This is an elegant Chardonnay with pure flavors of mineral, citrus flower, honey, and lightly roasted almonds on the finish. I enjoy it with a rich seafood bisque.

RED: In your opinion, what makes Napa Carneros so special?

MIKE GRGICH: Our estate vineyard in the cool Carneros region of Napa Valley, which is chilled by the San Francisco Bay, is the ideal location for Chardonnay. The grapes were grown on the Wente clone obtained from our well-known neighbor, Larry Hyde.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

MIKE GRGICH: We’re preparing for harvest, which appears to be around two weeks later than average. The grapes are undergoing veraison right now, where the acid in the grapes decreases and the sugar starts accumulating in each grape. This is signaled by color changing. It’s exciting to be enjoying my 52nd vintage in the Napa Valley.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

MIKE GRGICH: My father taught me, “Every day do something a little better,” and that’s not only good advice for winemaking but for living.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

MIKE GRGICH: We hope you enjoy the wine and we invite you to visit us at the winery in Rutherford.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Grgich Hills Estate can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 Hauck Cellars Tableau Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Codename: Picture of greatness

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Investigate Hauck Cellars and their delicious Tableau Bordeaux style Cabernet Sauvignon

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Hauck Cellars

Wine Subject: 2006 Tableau Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Mike Loykasek and Randall Watkins

Backgrounder:

Sonoma County is well known for producing some of the best wines in California, however, not long ago, Sonoma was better know as a provider of grapes for blending despite some of the best vineyards in the region having been planted in the 1800s. In the 1960s that all changed when Simi Winery in Alexander Valley changed hands. With a tremendous diversity of soil, climates and aspect, Sonoma County is now home to over 200 wineries spread across several diverse valleys such as Dry Creek, Russian River and Alexander Valley as well as hillside vineyards with the distinct mountain Terroir to the Mayacama range.

Today’s selection is a blend of 80% Caberent Sauvignon as well as 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from a the Redwood Hill Vineyard which is located 1500 feet above the valley floor.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dense and deep purple with its intense color expanding to the very edge of the glass. With its dense and barely clear core, when swirled, this wine leaves tightly spaced thick legs race down to the wine below.

Smell – Rich and bold aromas of black and red fruit are well integrated with fresh and toasted oak, spice and cocoa.

Feel – Rich and plush, this expansive full-bodied wine is smooth and dry with supple but firm drying tannins and balanced acidity. Chewy and mouth coating, hints of dark minerality also linger on the palate log into the finish.

Taste – Generous red and black fruit including rich black and red cherry and blackberry meld with exotic and hot spice, fresh and toasted oak notes, soft herbal hints and cocoa and mocha flavors.

Finish – This wine finishes long with its firm and finely grained tannins and minerality lingering on as the red and black fruit fades leaving hints of cocoa and spice behind.

Conclusion – The 2006 Hauck Cellars Tableau Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich and delicious Cabernet that shows great balance in its component varietals. Plush and generous fruit on both the nose and palate. Well structured but smooth and supple with staying power that lingers into the finish. Perfectly paired with a simple grilled steak and good friends.

Mission Report:

WINERY OWNERS INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Greg and Jennifer Hauck

WINE EDUCATION: Full-time Tasters

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Delamontanya, Everett Ridge, Hauck Cellars

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Don’t cut corners – the best grapes and barrels with careful winemaking

WINEMAKER QUOTE: ”The best time to have white wine, is when there is no red wine.”

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 2005

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Greg and Jennifer. We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Tableau Cabernet Sauvignon today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

JENNIFER: We’re excited to be featuring our wine with you, today!

WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

GREG: I didn’t drink much wine when I was younger. My first trip to the wine country in the early 90s was an eye opener. We bought a couple of special bottles at Stag’s Leap and paired them with Christmas dinner. From that time on I’ve never really enjoyed a meal that did not involve wine on the table.

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

GREG: Our personal cellar has changed dramatically over the years, but I think earlier I was most influenced by Pride and Shafer. I think our style is ever evolving, but we do have one constant philosophy on our wines: make a wine that is fun to sip on its own, but gets serious when the food arrives. We are now more Sonoma-centric, with favorites like Lancaster Estate.

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

JENNIFER: As our label says, “We make small quantities of the wines we love to drink.” Jennifer and I make the varietals that we love most in the style that we want. I insist on dry wines with plenty of oak – sometimes my winemakers think I am heavy handed on the oak, but I say there is no such thing as too much oak.

WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

GREG: The 2006 Redwood Hill Cabernet is known as “Tableau”, which in French means “painting.” Jennifer was a French teacher for years and wanted to give our proprietary red a French name, and since we consider this our masterpiece Bordeaux blend, it was named Tableau. The fruit comes from a great little six acre vineyard that sits 1,500 feet above Sonoma County. While it is technically a Cabernet Sauvignon, we did blend 10% each Merlot and Cab Franc from the Redwood Hill Vineyard this vintage. We love how this wine is evolving in bottle. Each passing month the wine seems to become deeper and more complex, with the lingering cherry and chocolate notes really starting to express themselves now. The wine aged in 65% new French oak for 22 months and has now been in bottle for two years. While we love the way it is drinking now, I think the 2006 Tableau has its best years ahead.

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

JENNIFER: Tableau begs for a prime cut filet with a red wine reduction. We also love it in the winter time with braised beef dishes – one bottle in the sauce, the other in the glass.

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes Sonoma County so special?

GREG: Jennifer and I love Sonoma County. We were lucky enough to be in a position to live anywhere in the world when we chose to leave Atlanta to make wine in Sonoma County. This area is the perfect blend of a true agricultural community mixed with relaxed, but sophisticated living. And we are lucky to have such a great selection of restaurants to go with all the great wines produced here.

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

GREG: Jennifer and I run the tasting room full time. The daily winemaking duties fall to Randall Watkins, our lead winemaker (Mike Loykasek made the 2006 Tableau and continues with us as a consultant). I also do all the outside sales, which mostly consists of local restaurants. Right now I am working on the barrel program for the 2010 harvest and getting ready to hit the vineyards (if the weather ever gets warm and we can harvest). We’ve just finished blending and bottling the 2008 cabs and meritages, so all our concentration is on harvest.

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

BOTH: Approach them often!

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

JENNIFER: We’re a true boutique family winery. We only make 1,500 cases each year, so it is very unusual for us to feature our wines outside of the tasting room. We’re glad the Wine Spies found us and hope to see your clients in our tasting room in downtown Healdsburg. Visit our website!

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Hauck Cellars tasting room in Healdsburg, CA can be seen in this satellite photo.

2008 Armida Winery PoiZin

Mission Codename: Remedium ante PoiZin non valet

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Infiltrate Armida winery and secure a limited allocation of their coveted PoiZin Sonoma County Zinfandel

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Armida Winery

Wine Subject: 2008 PoiZin Zinfandel

Winemaker: Brandon Lapides

Backgrounder:

Zinfandel is related to the Italian Primitivo grape, tracing its origin to the Croatian grape Crljenak Kastelanski. Zinfandel is one of the most versatile varietals with the ability to make wines, both rich to fruity, dark to light, and dry to sweet.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep black cherry juice hued, with beautiful a fine rim of ruby red at the edge of the glass. The wine shows off a speedy surface when swirled. When the wine settles, multiple rounds of chubby, wine-stained legs move slowly down the glass.

Smell – Leading with a bold rush of spiced black cherry, and followed by tart strawberry, dark raspberry, and ripe plum. These mingle with soft oak, black pepper and soft spice, with a hint pencil shavings.

Feel – This full-bodied Zinfandel is bright and big in the mouth, soft at the very tip of the tongue, then quickly grippy. As tannins take hold, adding dryness and soft grip, peppery spice appears at the back of the mouth, and spreads forward.

Taste – Vibrant, dark and bold, with pronounced black cherry and red plum at first. As the wine settles on the tongue, additional flavors of blackberry, chocolate dust and black plum skin and black pepper appear.

Finish – Very focused, with with lingering black cherry, spice and minerality that coats the palate. Dark plum, bramble fruit, white pepper and black pepper linger, fading slowly.

Conclusion – The 2008 Armida PoiZin delivers great big character for surprisingly low price. The secret? Armida grabs a barrel from each of their single vineyard Zinfandels, and creates with them a blend that becomes PoiZin each year. The result is exciting and always delicious, with each vintage expressing its own unique character. Today’s wine is a bold and flavor-packed wine that offers up big aromatics and a wallop of big Zin flavors.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Brandon Lapides

WINE EDUCATION: BS. Fermentation Science University of California at Davis

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Internships: Testarossa Vineyards, RH Phillips, Brancott Cellars; Assistant Winemaker: Peachy Canyon Winery, Dutton Goldfield Winery

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Lets bring back the old school philosophies, using as little new technology as possible.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: “Fill up my cup, Mazeltov.” – Black Eyed Peas.

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Brandon. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 PoiZin today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

BRANDON LAPIDES: No problem, you caught me at a good time before things start getting crazy with harvest.

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

BRANDON: Growing up I was mystified that when our whole family would get together, there would be many lengthy discussions about different wines. My curiosity then led to my eventual love of wine.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

BRANDON: ’61 Latour. My grandfather had enough foresight to start buying Bordeaux wines in the late 60’s. I have been fortunate enough to have a few bottles over a span of 10 years. The wine has been the only wine that I have tasted that has ever lived up to its hype. The balance and complexities in the ’61 Latour after 40+ years of aging influenced my winemaking to try to have as much longevity in my own wines.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

BRANDON: Our 2008 Poizin Zinfandel is a great representation of Zinfandel grown throughout Sonoma County. We purchase fruit from Dry Creek Valley, Chalk Hill, and Sonoma Valley Appellations. These different growing areas give us a great “spice rack” to work with, when constructing this zinfandel blend. Rich fruit, balanced acidity and hints of oak are the hallmarks of this zinfandel.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

BRANDON: I love pairing with hard cheeses as an appetizer or accompanying any summer barbecue with my personal favorite being grilled rack of lamb with a mint and rosemary rub.

RED: In your opinion, what makes Sonoma County so special?

BRANDON: Sonoma County can grow the best zinfandel in the world. Many different microclimates, plus the old age of most of the vines, lends to rich, complex Zinfandels.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

BRANDON: Most of my time is being split between vineyards and the cellar. In the vineyards it is a crucial time to make sure that any final changes be made. Crop level, canopy and leaf management and watering amounts are the decisions in the front of my mind right now. In the cellar we are working to make sure that all of the wines from the 2009 vintage are stable and won’t give us any surprises during the 2010 crush.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

BRANDON: I always recommend that consumers accompany our wines with food. Our wines pair well with a variety of foods and should be consumed with family and friends.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

BRANDON: I would love to invite any of your readers to come visit our vineyards, winery and tasting room right outside of Healdsburg. We have a beautiful patio with an incredible view overlooking our vineyards and manicured gardens. There is also a bocce ball court to test your skills after a glass of wine.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Armida Winery can be seen in this satellite photo.

2008 Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate ‘Surfrider’ Edna Valley Pinot Noir

Mission Codename: Saving the bay… one bottle at a time

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Revisit our good friends at Rosenthal to bring you their inaugural release of the delicious Surfrider Pinot Noir

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate

Wine Subject: 2008 Surfrider Edna Valley Pinot Noir

Winemaker: Christian Roguenant

Backgrounder:

Boasting one of the longest growing seasons in California, the cool climate Edna Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) in San Luis Obisbo County is well known for producing superior Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Today’s selection from Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate is from their Surfrider label with proceeds from each sale benefiting the Surfrider Foundation. So pop open a bottle of this delicious wine (with a very cool label) and do some good at the same time – its Win-Win-Wine!

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Deep burgundy in color with ruby red streaks that shine through its glistening clear core. Along the edges the color lightens slightly to ruby red and when swirled, tight thin legs streak down the side of the glass.

Smell – Bright red fruit aromas layer over complex notes of earth, hot spice and smokey oak. Hints of soft herbs and other classic Pinot aromas also emerge as this wine opens and evolves in the glass.

Feel – Silky smooth and dry, this medium-bodied wine ahas lively acidity and supple but present tannins with touch of minerality that grasps the fruit into the finish.

Taste – Fresh and bright aromas of ripe red fruit including red cherry, strawberry and a touch of tart raspberry blend with earthy and baking spice. Add a hint of cola and balanced smokey and toasted oak round out the palate.

Finish – Clean and refreshing with lingering red fruit and other notes fading gently and begging for another sip.

Conclusion – The 2008 Surfrider Edna Valley Pinot Noir is lighthearted but delicious wine that has everything you’d expect from more expensive Pinot packed into a light bodied and approachable package. With the surfboards on the label, this wine is perfect for enjoying a lingering summer sunset on the beach.

Mission Report:

We were unable to secure an interview with Rosenthal’s winemaker, today. For your education and entertainment, what follows is a re-transmission of an earlier mission to Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate:

Summer in Southern California, does it get any better? The last couple days remind us of why I love running to SoCal operations center.

Having wrapped up our recent intel projects on some great Italian wines, I had some free time. I decided to take a trip up the coast. Along the way, it occurred to me that I should check in with one of our inside agents at Rosenthal to see how their progress of the 2004 Cabernet is coming.

It was strange, I hadn’t heard much about the 2004 vintage yet – no doubt after the tough 2003 vintage, but we had no reports from the field. Upon arriving at the prescribed meet point, Agent Blanc (don’t blow her cover, but you may know her if you’re a member of the wine club) handed me bottle of their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon.

“I can make some of this available to your operatives,” Agent Blanc said, “but tell no-one.” Trying to hide my excitement and thinking to myself ”another Wine Spies exclusive”, Agent Blanc continued “this wine is only available on a limited basis, but I know you’ll love the wine.”

Love the wine we did; we love all the wines from Rosenthal that are expertly crafted by winemaker Christian Roguenant and this one is exceptional. Once you try this wine, we know you’ll agree.

It’s nice to be a Wine Spy!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.

2006 Raina Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Mission Codename: Celebrazione Classica

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure an allocation of the elusive and delicious Sagrantino di Montefalco for our operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Raina – Francesco Mariani

Wine Subject: 2006 Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG

Winemaker: Francis Mariani

Backgrounder:

Sagrantino di Montefalco, a very small DOCG south of Perugia in the Umbria region of West Central Italy, is famous for producing one of the most unique and distinctive wines of Italy. The wines of this region are made exclusively from the Sagrantino grape, often thought to be the grandfather of the Sangiovese grape. Wines from this region come in two varieties, the sweeter passito style and those, like this wine, which are dry.

These wines date back to the 15th century, where the the name ‘sagra’ means festival, causing many to believe that these wines were used for celebratory occasions and special feasts. These wines universally have superbly balanced and have the dominate flavor of of ripe and fresh blackberries.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark and deep purple with garnet and ruby highlights that barely shine through its dense and barely clear and nearly inky core. When swirled, tightly spaced thin legs appear on the side of the glass almost immediately before descending to the wine below.

Smell – Medium in intensity with classic rich black and red fruit including blackberry and a distinctive Italian candied red cherry layered over well balanced and complex aromas of soft brambly herbs, sandalwood, earthy notes, exotic spice and hints of dried flowers.

Feel – Smooth and dry, this full-bodied wine has finely etched firm tannins and lively but balanced acidity, both being expansive on the palate and lingering and grasping the fruit long into the finish.

Taste – Old world with restrained blackberry, Italian red cherry and other dark fruit buttressed with a touch of hot spice and pepper. Add to this all of the complex flavors found on the nose along with hints of cocoa and cigar tobacco.

Finish – Medium long in length with the textured tannins leading the way and lingering on after the dark fruit gently fades.

Conclusion – The 2006 Raina Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG is a delicious example of one of the most underrated wines of Italy, Albeit, Sagrantino may be a geeky varietal, but once tasted, almost universally people love this classic and rustic example of a wine with a heritage that dates back centuries. This wine has classic aromas and flavors and a texture that will immediately transport you to your own private Italian festival.

Mission Report:

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WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Francis Mariani

WINE EDUCATION: For the first two years we have collaborated with Tiziano Vistali, from whom I certainly learned a lot. Currently we have no enologist. Me and my cellarmaster, Andrea Mattioli, personally follow the cultivation of the vine and all stages of winemaking products. Then individually decide about the processing techniques, aging and assembly, as we are clear on the kind of product we want to achieve.

WINE JOB BRIEF: Personally, besides the experience gained working together with Tiziano Vistalli in 2003 I followed the courses of innovative techniques for the cultivation of vines. Also in 2006 I attended a course in oenology, lasting five months, in Parma, near Alma International School of Italian Cuisine “by Gualtiero Marchesi.
Andrea Mattioli, after graduating and receiving a degree as an agricultural expert, he attended courses related to the cultivation of the vine. Also 3 years experience at the winery “Colsanto” group “Livon, besides the three years of work completed in my company.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: We firmly believe that a wine should be a full expression of Terroir: First, the wine is made in the vineyard. We take care of yourself so all stages of cultivation, from pruning to Suckering from thinning to harvest. All these operations take place manually. Then try to limit the use of chemicals in the vineyard and do not use herbicides. The aim is to always get a product that, upon collection, be healthy, intact and has reached an appropriate degree of ripeness.

In the cellar, we are convinced that the product should not be chemically altered in any way: we do not use aromas or additives to change the typical characteristics of wines. The use of sulfur is minimal and we do not filter which we believe diminishes the wine. As for the aging in wood barrels we use strictly French oak barrels.

To further ensure quality, we use Technological systems for pumping next generation fermentation tanks with temperature control, soft pressing …

These tools, in addition to preserving the quality of products, help us to always work in a clean way: that is, in our opinion, fundamental.
This leads to wines of living, distinctive and interesting, full expression of the territory, with a strong personality and at the same time, very drinkable (we are not interested in produce wines for tastings and competitions).

WINEMAKER QUOTE: Life is too short to drink bad wine.

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT WHITE: Greetings, Francis, We are thrilled to be showing your 2006 Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

FRANCIS: My pleasure, it is great to be featured on The Wine Spies!

WHITE: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

FRANCIS: There is no specific experience. My passion for wine comes from that for food and cooking and, more generally, for the love land where I live. The idea of producing wine is then the need to create something personal, traditional yet innovative time.

WHITE: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

FRANCIS: There is no wine in particular, I believe that every quality wine should reflect the personality of who produces it and should have something that distinguishes it from all others. Currently, in my opinion, the biggest problem with regard to wine approval. It always goes more towards products that are similar. About my tastes personally, I admire some producers of bio-dynamic wines (Radikon, Movia chaplain and all).

WHITE: Who do you make wine for?

FRANCIS: First for myself, then for all those who love wine, trying to get through my products, interest and emotions. Finally, even for someone who is passionate about, trying to educate people drinking well.

WHITE: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

FRANCIS: Sagrantino is the flagship product of my company. It ‘a wine very distinctive, with a strong tannic, structured but also elegant, with its typical aromas of blackberry and balsamic and roasted. It is definitely not a sipping wine, is a product Drinking in certain situations, combined with special dishes and structured.

WHITE: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

FRANCIS: I love to drink a glass of Sagrantino during Winter in front of a beautiful crackling fire, perhaps with friends. In combination with a Sagrantino beef stew with potatoes stir, or a roast caggiagione.

WHITE: In your opinion, what makes the Umbria region so special?

FRANCIS: Umbria is a beautiful land. With its forests, lakes, mountains and rivers. It ‘also called the green heart of Italy. What makes it special is the fact that there is still tovano products wonderful and authentic. There are small producers that keep well balance the line with tradition. They must, in addition to wine tasting cheese, meat, oil and pulses that characterize us. Also earth gives us exceptional products spontaneous wild herbs, truffles, mushrooms, wild asparagus …

WHITE: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

FRANCIS: These days we are wrapping all the equipment in the new cellar, which we recently completed. The next step will be opened a small tavern in the company where I will personally of the cuisine, offering, in addition to my wine, products grown by me or small local producers.

WHITE: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

FRANCIS: With an open mind from schemes, with tranquility, passion and above with humility, seeking to understand that behind a glass of wine is a work hard and long ..

WHITE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

FRANCIS: I invite readers to triovare time to come in Umbria, is a pleasure to host you in my winery.

WHITE: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The approximate location of the Raina in Sagrantino can be seen in this satellite photo.