Collector's Series: The Vineyard House: Under-the-Radar Cult Wine from Oakville

The latest release from The Vineyard House

Have you ever stumbled upon something so amazing and special, that part of you wants to shout about it from the rooftops? But at the same time, you want to keep it close to you, and maybe just tell a select few? That is exactly how I feel about The Vineyard House (TVH). It all started when somehow I found my way onto the Lot18 Elite list and was offered this incredible wine. A few things about the bottle's description immediately peaked my interest...cult wine, extremely limited production, bordering some of Napa's finest estates (Bond, Far Niente...the list goes on), and an opportunity to try the next big thing before everyone knows about it.  I thought, "What the heck, I'm going to buy a bottle of this."

Welcome to The Vineyard House

 While I was waiting for my first TVH bottle to arrive, I began researching the winery and discovered that it was Gil Nickel's son Jeremy who started this amazing winery in memory of his father. If you are familiar with Far Niente or Nickel & Nickel, Gil Nickel is the Napa legend who founded these amazing wineries. I decided that I had to see this place for myself, so I contacted the winery and made an appointment for a tasting.

Gorgeous Tasting in the Vineyard

When we arrived at the property, we were warmly greeted by Todd Blum, a consultant for this growing winery. He was very knowledgeable, funny, and definitely the kind of guy that any wine collector could spend the entire day with. We hiked around the property, learning all about the history behind the property, the crafting of the wine, and plans for the winery's future. The tasting was incredible, two beautiful vintages (06' and 07') on a table in the vineyard with a cheese plate. The wines were so complex and delicious, easily ones that both of us would compare to the best that we had ever tasted. The single offering is a Cabernet Sauvignon with a touch of Petit Verdot and Malbec. I am excited to report that I enjoyed the 2008 vintage last Thursday at Gary Danko, and it was the best cabernet I've ever tasted. The food was amazing and this wine truly complemented the meal (and maybe even slightly stole the show during a few courses).

Enjoying the 2008 Vintage at Gary Danko

 One detail about our conversation at the winery that I found truly amazing, was about the two blind tastings that Jeremy Nickel conducts annually with his wine. The Vineyard House, along with some of the best wines in Napa Valley, including: Screaming Eagle, Araujo, Hundred Acre, Harlan Estate, and Bryant Family are all tasted blindly and ranked by a group of sommeliers, winemakers, wine critics, etc. I loved this because it shows the vineyards commitment to challenge itself and continue to work to improve against the best of the best. Year after year, TVH consistently is ranked in the top three. In short order, this will be the next Napa cult cabernet, and collectors will fight over each bottle in the 350 cases produced. The Vineyard House is a winery that I plan to follow over the years, because it has set the bar. If I ever find another wine (that I can afford), that would even come close to it, I may need to plan a blind tasting of my own!

Walking through the Vineyard

Tips - The Vineyard House:

• I would recommend planning a visit to the winery if you are a wine collector or if you are a wine enthusiast seeking very special wines that are completely under the radar
• TVH is by appointment only, please try to schedule far in advance for a private tasting and tour
• To schedule your appointment, fill out the form under "Contact Us" on their website
• Plan to spend approximately 2 hours for this experience
• For updates on the winery, like their Facebook page

Willamette Valley Series: Brick House Vineyards, The Biodynamic Hidden Gem

Porch at Brick House

Brick House Vineyards is an amazing hidden gem in the Willamette Valley that Alex and I had the pleasure of visiting during our trip. We arrived at the vineyard and enjoyed an amazing view from the laid-back winery. It was interesting (and very cool) that the full production facility and the tasting room were combined in this cozy little house. I loved that they had a wood burning fire to warm up the chilly wines on the cold winter's day. The charm alone, made this visit well worth the trip, and the amazing wines will bring us back. We were fortunate enough to enjoy our tasting with another young couple who both work in the wine industry in Paso Robles and Santa Barbara, which made for great conversation and recommendations for the rest of our trip.

Enjoying the Tasting

 All of the wines were very delicious and bio-dynamic (think organic but to a whole new level, for more info click here). We tasted a beautiful Chardonnay, Gamay Noir (my first!), and several amazing Pinot Noirs. The wine that we tasted at Brick House had a very unique style to them that was completely different from anything else that we tasted during our Oregon stay. The wines are elegant, reserved, and extremely complex; a fun treat for any wine collector or pinot lover looking for something interesting. This was the first winery in Oregon that we purchased wine at and we enjoyed one bottle recently with a close friend and fellow pinot lover. We unanimously agreed that the Evelyn Pinot Noir was a wonderful, elegant, and very special pinot that we will have to purchase again. If you have not been to this gorgeous winery, it is one that you will not want to miss on your next Willamette Valley trip!

Tips - Brick House Vineyards:

• The winery is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday by appointment. To book your tasting, call (503) 538-5136.
• Give yourself an extra 15 minutes to get here, it is off the beaten path.
• Plan to spend approximately 1 hour to enjoy your tasting.
• If you would like to make a day trip in this area, plan a tour or tasting at neighbor Archery Summit and stop in Bergstrom Wines tasting room, all three are completely different and are within a 10 minute drive.

The Perfect Case Project: Megan Henderson, Everyday Sommelier

Megan Henderson is one of my dear friends and she has been a huge part of my wine journey. She actually poured my first taste of Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir, the wine that sparked my passion. Below is her amazing perfect case project feature. Enjoy!

"I guess why I am "WineTastic" would be the desire that I have to share my passion and interest for wine with others. I have had a great many wonderful wine experiences through work, schooling and on my own, and I want the opportunity to share it. Wine, the industry and the culture that surrounds it is such an awesome thing that shouldn't intimidate people but allow people to explore and, in so doing, make people more aware of their community and a more conscientious consumer.

My company, Everyday Sommelier, tries to do just that! I host private, educational tastings, small events and wine consultations for groups interested in learning more about wine. People shouldn't be limited to a certain price point, expectation or level of understanding to order a glass of wine at a restaurant. The ultimate point of it all is to be enjoyed and have fun and whatever that means to you is great! This would also describe how I enjoy wine. There is no such thing as bad wine as long as someone makes a connection with it. I have a vast many friends with many different preferences and they are all right and good. That is the fun of wine and to me, the point!

The first bottle that made be fall in love with wine was a Salamandre Menage a Trois. It is a small producer from the Santa Cruz Mountains, my home town, and I tried it while in culinary school. It was so well balanced, smooth and elegant that I was immediately hooked! It definitely opened me up to a whole different world that I didn't ever think about until then. Still love it to this day!

Although there are many wine moments shared with friends or otherwise, I would say the most memorable wine moment was while working for Treasury Wine Estates. In their portfolio, they carry the Penfolds line from Australia. We would host different events for their luxury wines during times of releases. About five years ago, we were hosting a trade tasting called "The Rewards of Patience". There were about 12 wines being tasted from their world renowned Grange to a one time release of their Bin 60A from 1962! Once the tasting began, our manager noticed an entire table of guests didn't not arrive, and immediately sat all of his employees to participate! They had to have been some of the most dynamic and interesting wines I have been able to taste to date, and many things I will never taste again! It was a great opportunity that I will never forget.

My perfect case:

Penfolds Bin 707, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
Equinox Blanc de Blanc, Vintage Champagne, 1997
Santa Cruz Mountain Winery Durif, 2007
Etude Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
Penfolds Great Grandfather Tawny Port, NV
Stags' Leap Ne Cede Malis, Petite Sirah, 1999
Beringer Private Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001
Pelican Ranch Babcock Vineyards, Pinot Noir, 2007
Veuve Cliquot Le Grande Dame Champagne Vintage, 2004
Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos, Garnacha, 2009
St. Clement Oroppas, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003
Bonny Doon Le Cigare Blanc, Rhone Style White Wine, 2007

I would love to have the opportunity to share all these wines! I think though, the one I would share the most would be the Etude Cabernet. I believe it can make a wine lover out of anyone and definitely has the power to make people want to explore wine more. I think the wine I would save for my last would be a toss up between the Penfolds Bin 707 and the Equinox Champagne. I have had many wonderful dinners surrounding the 707 and hope to have my next bottle the same way! At the same time, I am a sucker for Champagne, and LOVE this Champagne made in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It has a special place in my heart and I would probably hold on to those bottles for a long time.

Overall, I chose these wines because they all have a certain sentimental quality attached to them. Whether it be the Pelican Ranch Pinot, my first job in the wine industry, the St. Clement Oroppas, which I had one of my favorite meals with one my of best friends, or the Penfolds Great Grandfather, something I will never have again, unless I get to Australia! Putting these wines together have made me take a step back and not only think about how much wine is apart of my life, but also how fortunate I am to have had these experiences and how lucky I am to have shared them with some amazing people."

The Perfect Case Project

Would I Find These in Your Perfect Case?

 I recently went on a week long road trip...and we all know that the drive back home from a week away (especially over 600 miles) can feel like an eternity. However, the opportunity to spend so much time with Alex gave us both plenty of time to talk about everything...and nothing. About an hour shy of San Francisco we started talking about the perfect case of wine. What if your entire collection of wine vanished? Where would you start? What would be the 12 bottles that you would have to buy first? This was fun! Really fun!

We both had different opinions and it created an awesome conversation, that made the last 60 miles fly by. I wanted to post my perfect case, to tell you a little about my wine style and get you thinking about yours. After discussing our perfect cases, we started to think about who we would want to ask that question to, and developed a massive list of "perfect cases" that we need to discover! I plan to feature different people who have made an impact in my "wine life" including some of my followers in future posts as a side project to my winery experiences. This should give you many great ideas of new wines to try and maybe even a few wineries to visit. So to kick things off, click here to view my perfect case!

The Perfect Case Project: Michelle Nishikubo

Sipping Around Wine Country

 My love for wine began after my first taste of Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir four years ago. I quickly found myself searching all over Napa for other wines that gave me the same excitement as that first taste. Today I am an avid wine adventurer, documenting my experiences and helping others to find the unforgettable memories and wines that they are searching for. Here is my perfect case:

1. 2007 Etude, Heirloom Pinot Noir
2. 2008 Fantesca, Chardonnay
3. 2009 Nickel & Nickel, Reguchi Block 4 Cabernet Sauvignon
4. 2008 Tres Sabores, Zinfandel
5. 2005 Kenzo Estate, Rindo
6. 2008 Palmaz, Gaston Cabernet Sauvignon
7. 2009 Soter, Mineral Springs White Label Pinot Noir 
8. 2007 Schramsberg, Brut Rose
9. 2007 The Vineyard House, Cabernet Sauvignon
10. 2007 Merryvale, Profile
11. 2009 Cakebread, Rubiyat
12. 2008 Swanson Estate, Merlot

The wine that I would love to share with my friends is the 2009 Cakebread Rubiyat, there is just something about this amazing wine that made this vintage so special and unique. Each year the blend is very different, no two Rubiyats taste alike. This vintage featured a Pinot Noir/Syrah blend. I discovered it at an event at the winery and purchased every bottle that I could get my hands on...I am sadly down to my final bottle!

The wine that I would save as my very last bottle would be the 2007 Merryvale Profile. This wine was a beautiful, well balanced work of art. On my 25th birthday I tasted it for the first time, and I will never forget how delicious it was and how I immediately felt that I had found the perfect blend. This is a treasure that I would save for a very special occasion.

Each wine that I chose has a special memory, distinct taste, and will have a lasting experience as I enjoy them either today, or in years to come.

Cheers,
Michelle

Willamette Valley Series: Alexana Winery, A Behind The Scenes Look at a Great Oregon Winery

Alexana's Associate Winemaker - Bryan Weil

Alex and I met Bryan Weil, the Associate Winemaker of Alexana Winery, while wrapping up our evening at Soter Vineyards. He was very nice, humble, and extremely approachable from the get-go. He offered to give us a tour and tasting at his winery the next day…and of course, we jumped at the opportunity!

Alexana Winery

Honestly, we had no idea what was going to be in store for us at the winery, but by the end of the day we both felt that this experience truly blew us away. We arrived at Alexana on New Year's Eve, and began with a tour of this high tech new winery. One thing that immediately caught my eye was the soil display in the tasting room which showed off the vineyard's profile. It reminded me of a similar display at Nickel & Nickel Winery's (one of my Napa favorites), which gives a visual perspective as to why all of their wine taste so different, although they are essentially made the same. Alexana's 31 microblocks covering the 55 acre vineyard, provide many different soil profiles to pair with their ideal varietals.

Soils from the Vineyard

After poking around the amazing Gold LEED Certified tasting room, we made our way into the winery and learned about Alexana's gravity flow processes. Alexana’s facility is truly a winemaker’s dream with seemingly endless equipment representing the latest technology in pristine condition, and this was no mistake. The talented winemakers (Lynn Penner-Ash, with associate Bryan Weil) and passionate founder (Dr. Madiah Revana) built an amazing place from concept to the dream winery it is today. Once we were able to taste the finished product, we both agreed that the wines here were some of the best that we had tasted in Oregon.

Gravity Flow Winery

 Getting to know Bryan and being able to experience a “behind the scenes” look into the wine making process was incredible. He is very organized and meticulous, and it was great to discuss how much patience and diligence is required to develop these beautiful wines. The Revana Vineyard Pinot Noir ($42) and the Riesling ($30) were both very delicious, and all of the wines had price points between $26-$75 per bottle. It was great to see such a gorgeous facility and imagine all of the endless possibilities for this winery’s events in the future: maybe an outdoor barbeque or live music and wine pairings? Either way I know that we will be back, and we would love to attend another tasting or event at Alexana soon!

Enjoying the Views of the Vineyard with Bryan

Tips - Alexana Winery:

• The winery is open Monday-Sunday 11-5, and you can drop by for a tasting during that time.
•  Check out their Facebook Page for upcoming events.
• Make sure to try their Riesling, even if you're not a white wine lover - it is AMAZING!
• Plan to spend 30 minutes to an hour to enjoy your tasting.
• Looking for a special cabernet sauvignon? Ask about "Revana". 

The Amazing Reds

 

Willamette Valley Series: Soter Vineyards, Following My Heirloom Obsession

The Winery

After hearing that the owner of Soter Vineyards (Tony Soter) was the founder of one of my favorite Napa wineries, Etude, it automatically rose to number one on my list of places to visit during our Willamette Valley trip. They have limited group appointments to keep their tastings intimate, but (after a little begging) we were able to join their wine club member tasting on an afternoon during our trip. We arrived at the tasting room and were immediately greeted with a delicious taste of rose and a friendly smile from Mari, our tasting hostess. As soon as I walked into the winery, I immediately noticed the similarities in architecture with Ram's Gate and Kenzo Estate wineries, low and behold, it was the same builder. The inviting structure and assimilation to something familiar in my home (Napa), made me feel immediately relaxed and excited for the afternoon to come.

Tasting with the Wine Club

We sat down at a long community table and began meeting with all of the awesome wine club members. Some of which were originally from the Bay Area. After tasting several of the wines, I could easily tell how Bay Area transplants to Oregon would find themselves at Soter Vineyards. The taste and quality were exactly what you would expect from an amazing winemaker who has made some of the best pinots I have ever tasted. I was in search for my 2007 Etude Heirloom Pinot comparison, and Soter's 2009 Mineral Springs White Label Pinot was its match.

Soter's Current Releases

The relaxing atmosphere, amazing people, and delicious wines made for a great wine tasting experience. Every wine was incredible, and each was one that I would be happy to buy for myself and/or share with others. The winery featured bottles at every price point from $20 to $100+, which made it very approachable to wine lovers at every budget. I loved everything so much that Alex convinced me to join the wine club (just so we wouldn't end up buying all of the wines in one shot). One wine that I couldn't leave behind was the 2009 Brut Rose, Mari offered me a taste and I was hooked! It was by far the best sparkling that I had tasted in Oregon, and definitely one that I needed for a special occasion with my girl friends. We connected with Rob Ortiz, the Trade and Hospitality Specialist, and became fast friends with this fun and extremely welcoming team. We left the winery that evening with new friends, great memories, and a delicious bottle of bubbly! Also, a date for another amazing experience with Associate Winemaker Bryan Weil at Alexana Winery the following day, which will be featured in my next post. I highly recommend planning a reservation at Soter Vineyards during your next Willamette Valley trip. The wines and the experience were equally outstanding, and any wine lover will enjoy their experience here. I can't wait to come back to visit this special place.

Tips - Soter Vineyards:

• The winery offers three tasting experience daily at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm for $20/person by reservation only, call the winery at 503-662-5600 during the week to book your appointment. 
•  Your tasting fee will be waived if you purchase a bottle of wine.
• Finding Soter can be difficult, it is unmarked, so definitely use the winery's directions.
• Expect to spend approximately 1.5 hours at the winery for your tasting.