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About the Wine
Pax Mahle landed in Napa Valley in 1997. Following a stint as a wine buyer at Dean & Deluca, he started producing wines. He particularly focused on cool climate Syrah. With the launch of Wind Gap in Petaluma, he began to focus on lower alcohol Pinot Noir sourced from organic and low-intervention vineyards.
Woodruff Vineyard is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vines are 30+ years-old, deeply rooted, dry farmed Pinot Noir on sandy soils. The personality and intensity of the site and the warm, dry vintage is on full display. Bright, tangy purple fruit and florals combine with wild herbs, bright acidity, and warm, spicy earth in this poised, structured, deeply flavorful and invigorating wine.
Reviews
The 2013 Pinot Noir Woodruff Vineyard is intensely floral, savory and punchy, with tons of bright red fruit supported by veins of underlying acidity and minerality. Lifted, floral and precise, with plenty of character from this sandy, terraced site, the 2013 is another stand out from Wind Gap and Pax Mahle. The 100% whole clusters seem quite well-suited to the perfumed style here. ~94VM
Piedra Creek Winery is owned by a WWII veteran, Romo Zuech, Italian by nationality, American by heart. Romeo was a successful and passionate aerospace engineer who made great contributions to NASA. Later, he transferred that passion to the wine business.
In 1983, Piedra Creek Winery began as a small winery in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo, California. Little by little, its small productions started gaining popularity thanks to its demanding work philosophy: Only the best fruit to make the best wines.
After 30 years of experience in the wine industry, years and years of hard work as a winemaker and vine grower, Romeo has achieved the growth and recognition of this estate. "Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make a great wine… but it certainly doesn’t hurt." Romeo says. He is passionate and obsessive about wine production starting in the vineyard with a controlled fermentation and under a watchful eye until the wine is bottled.
In 1999 the San Floriano vineyard was planted. It is a meticulously worked and cared vineyard, where quality is the priority. The combination of the climate, soil and location have made it a paradise for the vine. Situated in one of the coolest parts of Edna Valley AVA, this vineyard has become a great terroir for the varieties that they planted: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Lagrein.
In addition to their special care regarding the quality of the vine, Romeo uses sustainable practices that are sustainable and with careful attention to the environment.
San Floriano Vineyard Pinot Noir is made in Burgundian classic style and it is a limited production, typically only available from the winery direct.
Tasting notes: Layered aromas of Bing cherries and ripe, spiced strawberries are supported by focused tannins and a full, balanced body. This is an Estate wine with superb balance of forward fruit, oak, and a sense of place amongst the typical Burgundian style characteristics.
About the Wine
Are you a Zin lover? Wrap your palate around this delicious wine from one of the oldest Zinfandel vineyards in California.
Piedra Creek Winery is owned by a WWII veteran, Romeo Zuech, Italian by nationality, American by heart. Romeo was a successful and passionate aerospace engineer who made great contributions to NASA. Later, he transferred that passion to the wine business.
In 1983, Piedra Creek Winery began as a small winery in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo, California. Little by little, its small productions started gaining popularity thanks to a demanding work philosophy: Only the best fruit to make the best wines.
After 30 years of experience in the wine industry, years and years of hard work as a winemaker and vine grower, Romeo has achieved the growth and recognition of this estate. "Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make a great wine… but it certainly doesn’t hurt." Romeo says. He is passionate and obsessive about wine production starting in the vineyard followed by clean fermentations under a watchful until the wine is bottled.
San Floriano is the 2.5 acre Pinot Noir vineyard owned by Piedra Creek Winery in Edna Valley. And, given their long-term relationships, they're one of only two commercial wine producers to have access to the Benito Dusi ancient vines.
Benito Dusi is one of the most famous vineyards in Paso Robles. Here, the Zinfandel thrives with 90-year old vines. Actually, it is one of the oldest and most exclusive Zinfandel vineyards!
Tasting notes: Red Wine. 100% Zinfandel. Elegant layers of wild berry and raspberry make up this fruit-forward Zinfandel. Just the right hint of white pepper rounds out the experience, a balance that can only be provided from the famous Benito Dusi 90-year-old dry-farmed, head-pruned, ancient Zinfandel vines.
Reviews
This is balanced Zinfandel. It is not high alcohol, overly extracted, or syrupy sweet. There is core fruit that is pure joy, bing cherry, dried plum, fig, and a deft touch of oak and vanilla. The wine is perfect for BBQ or drinking on its own. This Zinfandel is the envy of many Zinfandel producers in CA.
The fruit in the Martellotto Chardonnay is from the Spear Vineyard, located a few miles west of the winery in Buellton, off Highway 246 in the Sta. Rita Hills. This area is famous for the best the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes and we are pleased to be sourcing such high quality fruit. Spear Vineyard is farmed organically and located very near Seasmoke, which charges $100-200/btl of their wines!
Baked apples and pears in the nose follow through on the palate. The wine 2018 is 30% new French oak with the balance in older barrels. The wine was bottled in August 2019 after 11 months in oak with limited sulfur additions. The wine was barrel fermented and has a lovely natural acidity and a light zip in the mouth from the sandy loam vineyard that was covered by the Pacific Ocean millennia ago. A broad mouthfeel and yummy vivacity combine with layers of vanilla, toasted hazelnuts, and nutmeg singing into the finish. If you love Chablis and dry, nuanced Chardonnay with layers of depth and a crunchy deliciousness, then you will love this wine.
Consider this with any food that is prepared with butter.
This is a chard lover's chard.
The old world informs Greg Martellotto's motivation to make wines that speak of a unique vineyard in California. Greg loves wines that have a vibrant acidity combined with bright fruit and that intangible, hard to pinpoint X factor. Mass produced wines that are squeaky clean and uniform are less interesting. Starting with healthful and sustainably farmed grapes, Greg combines creative fermentation techniques with an artistic blending prior to bottling to produce wines that are distinctive and delicious. Greg’s intention is to make remarkable wines of consequence, consistency, value, and varietal expression. Several of the wines are sourced from organic vineyards and produced with native yeast fermentations. Martellotto wines are allocated, bottle numbered, vineyard designate wines and a pleasure to share.
About the Wine Name
The fanciful name "Melodeon" has two meanings. Melodeon is the name given to the type of foot-pumped organs used in the 19th century. If you can imagine an old west saloon with gunslingers and whisky, there is likely melodeon organ music in the background. Later, the melodeon is referred to a more common accordion that is played while draped over the musician's thigh. You may not know in 1990 San Francisco declared the piano accordion the official instrument of the city. The first such instrument in American was (allegedly) produced there in 1908. As such, the music of the time, playing in the saloons of the Barbary Coast was referred to as "melodeon". The other tie in here, is that the winemaker dances tango. Tango music is famous for the unique sound of the bandoneon, also a type of accordion. There is something smooth, genuine, and lyrical about tango and melodeon music in this wine.
Reviews
Golden-apple, lemon-extract and toasted marshmallow aromas immediately reveal that this is a California Chardonnay, but one held in balance. The palate is clean and crisp with lemon and Asian pear flesh flavors, woven by a firm grip and strong acidity. ~91 pts, WE (2017 vintage)
About the Wine
Loosely translated from Cajun French, the name of Greg Martellotto’s latest Pinot phenom means “Let the Good Times Roll.” It’s an appropriate phrase; this elegant limited-production expression of some of California’s most sought-after Pinot grapes brings the party, at a price that won’t crush a wine lover’s wallet. Sensual notes of oak, lavender and raspberry seamlessly transition from the nose to the palate, where they’re accompanied by a voluptuous structure and sublime balance.
The 2017 vintage is sourced from the exciting new project at Spear Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. The grapes are farmed organically. Located just over a hill from the Seasmoke vineyard and south of Highway 246, these are some very lovingly and attentively farmed vines.
The wine aged in 100% French oak, 10% new. It was bottled after 11 months to maintain a freshness and vivacity. Like all great Pinots, this wine is a bit of a seductress. It allures with notes of spice, light cedar, and a bright raspberry. Slowly, it reveals itself with aeration.
Reviews
Awarded Double Gold Medal at New Orleans International Blind Wine Competition 2019
Awarded 94 pts & Double Gold Medal at Las Vegas Global Wine Competition 2019
Awarded 92 pts from Dr. Rusty Gaffney at PinotFile
Awarded Silver Medal by TheFiftyBest.com
Martellotto's "Evening Red' Bordeaux blend Steals the Spotlight. One of the best value and high quality red blends from the Happy Canyon in Santa Barbara.
Greg Martellotto believes blends are better and this wine highlights the symphonic harmony of three Bordeaux varietals: 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cab. Franc.
Aromas of luxardo cherry, cedar, and fresh Med. herbs entice. Flavors of ripe plum, blueberry, and oak dance on the tongue.
Reviews
Already bottled, the 2017 Rosso di Sera is a plump, rounded, sexy wine that has loads of ripe cherries, blackberries, toasted spices, and earth. With medium to full-bodied richness and ample fruit, it's a delicious, fun wine to drink over the coming 4-5 years. The blend is 40% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 25% Cabernet Franc, all aged 10 months in 20% new oak. ~90 points, Jeb Dunnuck
