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The Henry Wine Group
Toll-free Order Desk: 800.669.9428
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September–December 2017
Current Vintage Tasting Notes:
2016 Sauvignon Blanc Rutherford District:
dry farmed, organically grown, fermented and aged
in stainless. Aromas of just-picked grapefruit, peach
blossom and lemon grass. Fresh and vibrant on the
palate with a nice steak of mineral/wet stone on the
finish. This is a crisp, pure Sauvignon that I could quaff
all day long.
2015 Chardonnay Napa Valley:
dry farmed, organically grown, whole cluster pressed.
Fermented in new oak barrels and then transferred to
concrete. Has a wonderful palate feel with a fresh fruit
character that is, well, darn refreshing. Apple, pear,
and hint of nectarine. Just a hint of oak vanillin on the
nose, super clean finish. Bravo.
2014 Merlot Rutherford District:
dry farmed, organically grown, the vines’ roots go
super deep into the soil bringing about intense, pure
flavors and aromas of plummy fruit with silky texture.
Older vintages of this wine bear out the fact that this is
serious stuff with terrific aging potential.
2015 Zinfandel Napa Valley:
dry farmed, organically grown, with 20% Petite Sirah
and 2% Carignan. Fashioned in the style of the classic
Napa Zins of the 1940s, this is not your typical high
alcohol (this is only 13.6%) version of the varietal. I
learned that, when dry farmed, a zinfandel vine is in
harmony with itself and ripens its berries evenly. Who
knew this about such a notoriously uneven ripener?
This has classic brambly fruit with wild raspberry and
cherry and a fresh, ripe palate with incredible finesse
and balance.
2014 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
Napa Valley:
dry farmed, organically grown, with grapes from the
Red Barn vineyard on the valley floor of the Rutherford
District and the Rossi Vineyard in the Rutherford
Bench, with 11% Cabernet Franc. This tastes of the
famous “Rutherford Dust” in its purest form, with
blackcurrant and blackberry framing a toasty, coffee
bean quality. This is a beautiful expression of Cabernet
at its purest with just enough oak but not too much.
Older versions of this wine show very, very well.