2004 The Ojai Vineyard-Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir-To quote the winemaker, "This pinot noir is always exotic, and in 2004 it is smoky and herbal in a dramatic sort of way that I find captivating. The vintage gave us a very generous open-knit style that certainly gives pleasure right now-however, based on previous experience with the vineyard this wine will gain complexity with age." $45.00
2004 Fortitude-Frediani Field Blend Napa Valley-Produced and bottled by Etude Wines. This red field blend contains Charbono (66%), Zinfandel (14%) and Petite Sirah (5%). The grapes were grown, crushed and fermented together to produce a wine that expresses uncommon layers of flavor in a full-bodied but traditionally well-balanced table wine. $28.00
2005 Fortitude-Napa Valley Zinfandel-This is a blend of Zinfandel (95%) and Petite Sirah (5%) from very old vines. The wine has fresh-crushed wild berry and sour cherry aromas with black licorice notes, a touch of spice and mouthwatering fruit. $21.00
2004 Robert Craig Affinity-Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon-This is a rich, multi-layered Cabernet that balances power with finesse. Aromas of black cherry, currant and spice. On the palate, bright and abundant dark fruit and black currant liqueur lead to a long, opulent finish. $45.00
2003 Robert Craig-Mt. Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet-Widely praised by the wine press, this is a supple, beautifully balanced Cab with pure flavors and a fine tannin structure, exhibiting power and grace. On the nose, rich aromas of black fruit, mocha and bay leaf. On the palate, concentrated, deep layers of black cherry and wild berry lead to a very long, smooth finish. $75.00
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Recent Arrivals
2005 Paul Hobbs-Russian River Valley Pinot Noir- This is a sophisticated, richly-textured wine with a deep maroon hue and lots of cocoa and lavender on the nose. Layers of pure black fruit, anise and cedar permeate the palate, with firm, ripe tannins gracing a lengthy finish. $49.50
2004 Husic Vineyards-Napa Valley Cabernet-A big, ultra-ripe wine with plenty of dark chocolate and dark fruit tones. It boasts a wonderful mouth feel and texture. Simply a wonderful wine to experience. $125.00
2004 Three Saints-Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay-To quote the winery "Concentrated meyer lemon and mango aromas are accented by hints of fig and an intense minerality. This medium-full bodied wine displays rich, concentrated green apple, lemon and tropical fruit flavors on the palate accented by refreshing acidity, balanced oak notes and a lingering finish." $22.50
2006 Selene-Hyde Vineyards Carneros Sauvignon Blanc-This is the 15th anniversary bottling of the incomparable Mia Klein's Sauvignon Blanc. Her goal has always been to capture forward fruit flavors and vibrancy from the vineyard, and use minimalist winemaking techniques to frame the wines with extremely supple textures. A wonderful wine by a great winemaker. $30.00
2004 Husic Vineyards-Napa Valley Cabernet-A big, ultra-ripe wine with plenty of dark chocolate and dark fruit tones. It boasts a wonderful mouth feel and texture. Simply a wonderful wine to experience. $125.00
2004 Three Saints-Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay-To quote the winery "Concentrated meyer lemon and mango aromas are accented by hints of fig and an intense minerality. This medium-full bodied wine displays rich, concentrated green apple, lemon and tropical fruit flavors on the palate accented by refreshing acidity, balanced oak notes and a lingering finish." $22.50
2006 Selene-Hyde Vineyards Carneros Sauvignon Blanc-This is the 15th anniversary bottling of the incomparable Mia Klein's Sauvignon Blanc. Her goal has always been to capture forward fruit flavors and vibrancy from the vineyard, and use minimalist winemaking techniques to frame the wines with extremely supple textures. A wonderful wine by a great winemaker. $30.00
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Recent Arrivals
2005 Sea Smoke Botella-Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir-The Wine Spectator gave the 2004 vintage 93 points and called it "lush". A taste of the 2005 will tell you why. It features lovely, elevated fruit tones with well balanced acidity and tannins. Lively on the palate, it has a long, crisp finish. $42.00
2005 Far Niente- Napa Valley Chardonnay-A classically structured wine which is lush and round on the palate, while displaying intense fruit and spicy oak aromas. While the finish is long and clean, the flavors will become increasingly complex with time. $51.00
2005 El Molino-Rutherford Chardonnay-Only 910 cases made. To quote the winery, "Lifted aromas of lemon oil, kaffir lime leaf, pear, ... and honeysuckle underscored by wet stones and ginger. Taught crisp entry to a dense viscous mid-palate that is harmoniously framed by crisp acids that highlight lemon verbena and white flower flavors that carry through to a tight concentrated and long finish."$48.00
2006 T-Vine Cellars Psychedelic Rooster Napa Valley Rose-Concentrated, intense flavors of raspberry, cranberry and strawberry with a nice soft mouthfeel and the characteristic T-Vine profile. Greg Brown proves that he can do pink as well as red. $18.00
2005 Far Niente- Napa Valley Chardonnay-A classically structured wine which is lush and round on the palate, while displaying intense fruit and spicy oak aromas. While the finish is long and clean, the flavors will become increasingly complex with time. $51.00
2005 El Molino-Rutherford Chardonnay-Only 910 cases made. To quote the winery, "Lifted aromas of lemon oil, kaffir lime leaf, pear, ... and honeysuckle underscored by wet stones and ginger. Taught crisp entry to a dense viscous mid-palate that is harmoniously framed by crisp acids that highlight lemon verbena and white flower flavors that carry through to a tight concentrated and long finish."$48.00
2006 T-Vine Cellars Psychedelic Rooster Napa Valley Rose-Concentrated, intense flavors of raspberry, cranberry and strawberry with a nice soft mouthfeel and the characteristic T-Vine profile. Greg Brown proves that he can do pink as well as red. $18.00
Newsletter
Ah, summer—here in San Francisco, a time for big reds and warmer clothing while the rest of the country opts for a lighter note on both fronts. We are pleased to present some suggestions for both types of summer consumption.
We are also pleased to present another way of staying in touch with all of you. At castrovillagewine.com, we hope to keep you aware of recent arrivals in a more timely fashion that this newsletter allows. We will also be posting our current tasting schedule.
And now to our latest suggestions:
Chardonnay
2005 Fritz-Russian River Valley-A classic golden straw-colored Chardonnay, showing a full body with the elegance of a crisp finish influenced by coastal fogs. It features a beautiful balance of tropical fruits, mineral notes, oak and bright acidity. $19.50
2005 Hanna-Russian River Valley-Richly built with aromas of tropical fruit and citrus and lots of ripe fruit with an accent of sweet oak and buttery creaminess on the palate. $22.00
2005 Melville-Santa Rita Hills-Floral aromatics with hints of lavender lead to flavors of pear and candied lemon. Texturally, it is crisp and fresh with a great mouth feel. $23.50
2005 Hess-Su’skol Vineyard Napa Valley- Aromas of cantaloupe, guava and pineapple followed by a concentrated and rich palate of Asian pear, with a citrus finish. Bright acidity and a creamy mouth feel are well balanced in the mid-palate with a hint of vanilla in the background. $26.00
2005 Patz & Hall-Napa Valley-Aromas of orange blossom and toasted brioche carry over on the palate with tones of white nectarine, ripe pear and touches of vanilla. It is crisp and well balanced with a lingering finish. $36.00
2005 Paul Hobbs-Russian River Valley-Quoting the winery, “The 2005 is opalescent, pale gold in color and fragrant with citrus blossom and lime rind. Abundant, full-bodied flavors of pear juice, ripe apple and toasted almond coat the mouth and frame a wine of considerable finesse that finishes with pleasing minerality.” $49.50
Sauvignon Blanc
2006 J. Lohr-Carol’s Vineyard Napa Valley-Fresh aromas of grapefruit, dried flowers and passion fruit lead to a palate with bright acidity and clean flavors reminiscent of the aromas. $13.50
2005 Alpha Omega-Napa Valley—Aromatics of tropical fruit are reflected on the palate by notes of white peaches and apricot balanced with fresh acidity. $24.00
2005 Cakebread Cellars-Napa Valley-A fresh, rich wine with bright grapefruit, lime, melon and hay aromas and concentrated kiwi, citrus and green apple flavors and a refreshingly flinty finish. $28.00
Other Whites
2006 Solo Rosa Rose--A Rose with a wonderful orange-pink color and a nice balance between fruit and tannins. Made from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. Delicious. $14.25
2005 Graff Family Vineyards-Chalone Pinot Blanc-Shows aromas of ripe melons and peaches that are complemented by flavors of toasted hazelnuts and minerals from limestone soils. $19.50
2005 Graff Family Vineyards-Chalone Viognier--A rich and opulent wine with aromas of apricots and tangerines combined with sweet vanilla from extended aging in French oak barrels. A perfect wine with quiche, pasta or grilled fish. $19.50
2006 Robert Sinskey-Los Carneros Vin Gris of Pinot Noir--Always a great favorite of staff and customers alike, this is one of the great Roses. It surprises both in appearance (a lovely light salmon color) and taste (in technical terms, yum!) Wonderful aromas, refreshing acidity, great with almost anything, food-wise. $22.50
2006 La Sirena- Napa Valley Moscato Azul--Famed winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett has produced a crisp, dry-style Muscat with aromas and flavors of spring flowers and tropical fruits. Even the bottle is beautiful. Wonderful! $30.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Joel Gott-California- Blend No. 815-To quote the folks at Gott, "The color is purple, ruby red, with aromas of blueberry, cassis and mocha. The entry on the palette is rich and fruit forward, with jammy flavors, good structure, acidity and sweet tannins that leave an elegant finish". $17.00
2004 Nelson Family Vineyards-Mendocino-A rich and supple Cabernet with aromas of cedar and a long, lingering finish. Dark fruit flavors are predominate with background notes of earth and wood. $23.00
2003 Woodward Graff-Chalone A-Frame Vineyard—Black cherry and anise predominate in this delicious cab, a portion of the proceeds of which is dedicated toward scholarships through the Woodward/Graff Wine Foundation—delicious wine and a good cause. $25.00
2004 Eden Canyon-Paso Robles-Only 600 cases were produced of this delicious Cabernet with black cherry , plum, fig, cassis and chocolate characteristics. $26.00
2004 Shafer One Point Five-Napa Valley-An elegant, silky Cabernet which is approachable now, but capable of aging as well. Aromas of dark fruit, cedar and chocolate, followed by rich flavors of blackberry, smoke and dark chocolate with a nice long finish. $66.00
Merlot
2003 Keenan-Napa Valley -a big, ageworthy Merlot with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and cassis and complex nuances of cocoa and coffee bean. $32.00
2003 Shafer-Napa Valley-Robert Parker called this a”sexy, seductive effort”. It offers lush, focused flavors and aromas of bright cherries, strawberry and plums. The blend is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. $45.00
2005 Selene-Frediani Veneyard Napa Valley-Mia Klein returns Merlot to her Selene line up with this release. To quote the Selene website, “This wine offers aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, blueberry and black currant fruits, leading to earthy dark chocolate, rose petal floral, exotic sweet spice. The fruit comes through with immediate impact and intensity in the mouth; the texture is fine and chewy with soft tannins…” Wonderful now; even better in a few years. $45.50
Zinfandel
2004 Limerick Lane-Collins Vineyard Russian River Valley-Aromas of raspberry and blackberry along with a touch of cinnamon. Flavors of raspberry and other red fruits with a nicely balanced acidity followed by a long juicy finish. $23.50
2003 Ottimino-Russian River Valley Rancho Bello Vineyard-Aromas of blackberry and black cherry. The flavors add hints of blueberry, raspberry and cassis. Bold fruit at entry leads to a broad middle, and the finish is firm and persistent. $24.00
2005 Rombauer Vineyards-California-Full bodied, fruit forward, and juicy, this one offers aromas of black cherry and plum. Layers of cranberries, plums and dark fruit make for a rich, full flavor. $25.00
2004 T-Vine Cellars-Brown Vineyard Napa Valley-To quote the irrepressible Greg Brown (or at least his website), “Think back to your “coming of age” experience. Stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new territory, you’ve got the world by a string. That’s this wine. A lovely balancing act of bright, beautiful red fruits and spices like clove, cinnamon and black tea.” Once you’ve tasted this wine, the description makes good sense! $32.00
2005 Ridge Lytton Springs-This is an elegant, full-bodied wine with firm tannins and intense, complex fruit. It shows potent tones of ripe boysenberry and blackberry with notes of leaf and briar, firm tannins and lots of fruit. $33.00
Pinot Noir
2005 Mossback-Russian River Valley-An elegant Pinot with loads of black cherry flavors and a long, soft finish. $25.50
2005 Etude-Carneros-Another website quote “With a rich and vivid hue, the 2005…offers inviting and expressive aromas of fruit spice, red fruits, minerality and a soft, earthy note. Beautifully structured, the palate bursts with lifted flavors of black cherry, black plum and perfume. The lush fruit combined with the baking spice notes…broadens the mouthfeel and gives this full and rich wine definition and length.” A great wine. $40.00
2005 Mi Sueno-Russian River Valley Ulysses Valdez Vineyards-Ripe plums, blue berries and black cherries with hints of spice and earth. Rich, complex and full bodied, it strikes a nice balance between fruit, tannins, acidity and oak. $42.50
2004 El Molino Rutherford Pinot Noir--Rich and intense, with deep red currant, raspberry and wild berry flavors woven together with spice, mushroom and clean forest floor scents which give it great complexity and depth. $57.00
Other Reds
2002 Spann Vineyards-Sonoma County-Full flavored, rich and complex without being heavy, this small production (950 cases) Syrah has luscious red and black cherry flavors. $19.00
2004 Spann Vineyards-Sonoma County -"Mo Zin" Red Wine-A Rhone-inspired blend of 60% Zinfandel, 27% Mourvedre and 13% Petite Sirah. This is a versatile food wine with hints of raspberry and leather on a base of blackberry flavors. $19.00
Spann Vineyards-Mayacamas Range-"Betsy's Backacher"-Another food-friendly red blend, this one contains 34% Syrah, 22% each Grenache and Cabernet Franc and 11% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Everything but the kitchen sink and yet it is tasty and fun. Only 290 cases produced and worth trying at $15.00
2004 La Sirena Santa Ynez Syrah--Robert Parker says "Barrett does a superb job with Syrah" and calls this "an impeccably, well-made, finesse-styled wine". Who are we to argue? $45.00
2003 Miner Family Vineyards The Oracle-Napa Valley-A Bordeaux style blend deep in color with aromas of mocha, cassis and vanilla that give way to a palate full of intense flavors of black cherry, leather and spice that merge into a long, lush finish. $65.00
Thank you from the staff of Castro Village Wine Co.
Boyd, Joseph, and Keith
4121 19th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 864-4411 CastroWine@aol.com
Case discounts: 10% off any 12 bottles, 15% discount off any 36 bottles.
Not responsible for typographic errors. All prices are subject to change without notice.
We are also pleased to present another way of staying in touch with all of you. At castrovillagewine.com, we hope to keep you aware of recent arrivals in a more timely fashion that this newsletter allows. We will also be posting our current tasting schedule.
And now to our latest suggestions:
Chardonnay
2005 Fritz-Russian River Valley-A classic golden straw-colored Chardonnay, showing a full body with the elegance of a crisp finish influenced by coastal fogs. It features a beautiful balance of tropical fruits, mineral notes, oak and bright acidity. $19.50
2005 Hanna-Russian River Valley-Richly built with aromas of tropical fruit and citrus and lots of ripe fruit with an accent of sweet oak and buttery creaminess on the palate. $22.00
2005 Melville-Santa Rita Hills-Floral aromatics with hints of lavender lead to flavors of pear and candied lemon. Texturally, it is crisp and fresh with a great mouth feel. $23.50
2005 Hess-Su’skol Vineyard Napa Valley- Aromas of cantaloupe, guava and pineapple followed by a concentrated and rich palate of Asian pear, with a citrus finish. Bright acidity and a creamy mouth feel are well balanced in the mid-palate with a hint of vanilla in the background. $26.00
2005 Patz & Hall-Napa Valley-Aromas of orange blossom and toasted brioche carry over on the palate with tones of white nectarine, ripe pear and touches of vanilla. It is crisp and well balanced with a lingering finish. $36.00
2005 Paul Hobbs-Russian River Valley-Quoting the winery, “The 2005 is opalescent, pale gold in color and fragrant with citrus blossom and lime rind. Abundant, full-bodied flavors of pear juice, ripe apple and toasted almond coat the mouth and frame a wine of considerable finesse that finishes with pleasing minerality.” $49.50
Sauvignon Blanc
2006 J. Lohr-Carol’s Vineyard Napa Valley-Fresh aromas of grapefruit, dried flowers and passion fruit lead to a palate with bright acidity and clean flavors reminiscent of the aromas. $13.50
2005 Alpha Omega-Napa Valley—Aromatics of tropical fruit are reflected on the palate by notes of white peaches and apricot balanced with fresh acidity. $24.00
2005 Cakebread Cellars-Napa Valley-A fresh, rich wine with bright grapefruit, lime, melon and hay aromas and concentrated kiwi, citrus and green apple flavors and a refreshingly flinty finish. $28.00
Other Whites
2006 Solo Rosa Rose--A Rose with a wonderful orange-pink color and a nice balance between fruit and tannins. Made from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes. Delicious. $14.25
2005 Graff Family Vineyards-Chalone Pinot Blanc-Shows aromas of ripe melons and peaches that are complemented by flavors of toasted hazelnuts and minerals from limestone soils. $19.50
2005 Graff Family Vineyards-Chalone Viognier--A rich and opulent wine with aromas of apricots and tangerines combined with sweet vanilla from extended aging in French oak barrels. A perfect wine with quiche, pasta or grilled fish. $19.50
2006 Robert Sinskey-Los Carneros Vin Gris of Pinot Noir--Always a great favorite of staff and customers alike, this is one of the great Roses. It surprises both in appearance (a lovely light salmon color) and taste (in technical terms, yum!) Wonderful aromas, refreshing acidity, great with almost anything, food-wise. $22.50
2006 La Sirena- Napa Valley Moscato Azul--Famed winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett has produced a crisp, dry-style Muscat with aromas and flavors of spring flowers and tropical fruits. Even the bottle is beautiful. Wonderful! $30.00
Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Joel Gott-California- Blend No. 815-To quote the folks at Gott, "The color is purple, ruby red, with aromas of blueberry, cassis and mocha. The entry on the palette is rich and fruit forward, with jammy flavors, good structure, acidity and sweet tannins that leave an elegant finish". $17.00
2004 Nelson Family Vineyards-Mendocino-A rich and supple Cabernet with aromas of cedar and a long, lingering finish. Dark fruit flavors are predominate with background notes of earth and wood. $23.00
2003 Woodward Graff-Chalone A-Frame Vineyard—Black cherry and anise predominate in this delicious cab, a portion of the proceeds of which is dedicated toward scholarships through the Woodward/Graff Wine Foundation—delicious wine and a good cause. $25.00
2004 Eden Canyon-Paso Robles-Only 600 cases were produced of this delicious Cabernet with black cherry , plum, fig, cassis and chocolate characteristics. $26.00
2004 Shafer One Point Five-Napa Valley-An elegant, silky Cabernet which is approachable now, but capable of aging as well. Aromas of dark fruit, cedar and chocolate, followed by rich flavors of blackberry, smoke and dark chocolate with a nice long finish. $66.00
Merlot
2003 Keenan-Napa Valley -a big, ageworthy Merlot with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and cassis and complex nuances of cocoa and coffee bean. $32.00
2003 Shafer-Napa Valley-Robert Parker called this a”sexy, seductive effort”. It offers lush, focused flavors and aromas of bright cherries, strawberry and plums. The blend is 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. $45.00
2005 Selene-Frediani Veneyard Napa Valley-Mia Klein returns Merlot to her Selene line up with this release. To quote the Selene website, “This wine offers aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, blueberry and black currant fruits, leading to earthy dark chocolate, rose petal floral, exotic sweet spice. The fruit comes through with immediate impact and intensity in the mouth; the texture is fine and chewy with soft tannins…” Wonderful now; even better in a few years. $45.50
Zinfandel
2004 Limerick Lane-Collins Vineyard Russian River Valley-Aromas of raspberry and blackberry along with a touch of cinnamon. Flavors of raspberry and other red fruits with a nicely balanced acidity followed by a long juicy finish. $23.50
2003 Ottimino-Russian River Valley Rancho Bello Vineyard-Aromas of blackberry and black cherry. The flavors add hints of blueberry, raspberry and cassis. Bold fruit at entry leads to a broad middle, and the finish is firm and persistent. $24.00
2005 Rombauer Vineyards-California-Full bodied, fruit forward, and juicy, this one offers aromas of black cherry and plum. Layers of cranberries, plums and dark fruit make for a rich, full flavor. $25.00
2004 T-Vine Cellars-Brown Vineyard Napa Valley-To quote the irrepressible Greg Brown (or at least his website), “Think back to your “coming of age” experience. Stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring new territory, you’ve got the world by a string. That’s this wine. A lovely balancing act of bright, beautiful red fruits and spices like clove, cinnamon and black tea.” Once you’ve tasted this wine, the description makes good sense! $32.00
2005 Ridge Lytton Springs-This is an elegant, full-bodied wine with firm tannins and intense, complex fruit. It shows potent tones of ripe boysenberry and blackberry with notes of leaf and briar, firm tannins and lots of fruit. $33.00
Pinot Noir
2005 Mossback-Russian River Valley-An elegant Pinot with loads of black cherry flavors and a long, soft finish. $25.50
2005 Etude-Carneros-Another website quote “With a rich and vivid hue, the 2005…offers inviting and expressive aromas of fruit spice, red fruits, minerality and a soft, earthy note. Beautifully structured, the palate bursts with lifted flavors of black cherry, black plum and perfume. The lush fruit combined with the baking spice notes…broadens the mouthfeel and gives this full and rich wine definition and length.” A great wine. $40.00
2005 Mi Sueno-Russian River Valley Ulysses Valdez Vineyards-Ripe plums, blue berries and black cherries with hints of spice and earth. Rich, complex and full bodied, it strikes a nice balance between fruit, tannins, acidity and oak. $42.50
2004 El Molino Rutherford Pinot Noir--Rich and intense, with deep red currant, raspberry and wild berry flavors woven together with spice, mushroom and clean forest floor scents which give it great complexity and depth. $57.00
Other Reds
2002 Spann Vineyards-Sonoma County-Full flavored, rich and complex without being heavy, this small production (950 cases) Syrah has luscious red and black cherry flavors. $19.00
2004 Spann Vineyards-Sonoma County -"Mo Zin" Red Wine-A Rhone-inspired blend of 60% Zinfandel, 27% Mourvedre and 13% Petite Sirah. This is a versatile food wine with hints of raspberry and leather on a base of blackberry flavors. $19.00
Spann Vineyards-Mayacamas Range-"Betsy's Backacher"-Another food-friendly red blend, this one contains 34% Syrah, 22% each Grenache and Cabernet Franc and 11% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Everything but the kitchen sink and yet it is tasty and fun. Only 290 cases produced and worth trying at $15.00
2004 La Sirena Santa Ynez Syrah--Robert Parker says "Barrett does a superb job with Syrah" and calls this "an impeccably, well-made, finesse-styled wine". Who are we to argue? $45.00
2003 Miner Family Vineyards The Oracle-Napa Valley-A Bordeaux style blend deep in color with aromas of mocha, cassis and vanilla that give way to a palate full of intense flavors of black cherry, leather and spice that merge into a long, lush finish. $65.00
Thank you from the staff of Castro Village Wine Co.
Boyd, Joseph, and Keith
4121 19th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 864-4411 CastroWine@aol.com
Case discounts: 10% off any 12 bottles, 15% discount off any 36 bottles.
Not responsible for typographic errors. All prices are subject to change without notice.
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