California Wine Country 2019

Instead of The Drink of the Month, we have decided to do something different this month and focus on a Winery of the Month. For this issue we will focus on Thomas George Estates (TGE) located of Westside Rd. seven miles south of Healdsburg, California in the Russian River Valley. The Russian River is right across the street from the winery. My wife and I have had the pleasure of staying on this magical property several times and now feel like wine country would not be the same without a visit to TGE.

This year we had the pleasure of meeting Tom Baker, the owner of Thomas George Estates. Tom bought the property from Davis Bynum in 2008 with the belief that this was the best land to grow and produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In late 2008, TGE acquired Cresta Ridge and Starr Ridge, two vineyards owned by Gary Farrell, who was the winemaker for Davis Bynum. In 2010, an 8,000 square foot cave was completed for barrel aging, reserve tastings and private events. In late October of this year, we were lucky enough to sit down to a multi course wine paring dinner inside this cave. In 2012 TGE acquired a 50-acre vineyard in The Chalk Hill area, now called Sons and Daughters Ranch.

Tom was kind enough to share some of his great Chardonnays and Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs with us and our friends at our home in late summer. With my mom whipping up some wonderful food that paired with Tom’s wines, it made for a night we will not soon forget.
As I am writing this article the Kincaid fire has already burned 74,000 acres in this area. Please pray for the people and their families that live and work in these effected areas. If it was not for them, we would not be able to enjoy the great gift of California wine. If you ever get a chance to go to The Russian River Valley near Healdsburg, please stop by TGE. You will not be sorry!

Three highlighted produced by Thomas George Estates

Thomas George Estates Son’s & Daughters Ranch Chardonnay 2015

This wines is aged 10 months unoaked in 82% Stainless tanks and 18% in concrete egg vats. By not aging in oak, this Chardonnay really gives a crisp, clean acidity on the tongue that shows through bright green apple and pear flavors. 2,000 cases produced

Thomas George Estates Starr Ridge Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013
This 100% Pinot Noir is fermented for 11 months in French Oak Barrels (42% new). The aroma exhibits lots of strawberry and cherry with a hint on cranberry while on the palate, lots of red fruits, and soft mellow tannins. 400 cases produced.

Thomas George Estate Cresta Ridge Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013
This Pinot is aged the same as the Starr Ridge, but picked from vines grown in the Goldridge soils located in the Green Valley of Russian River. A wonderful wine by itself or pair it with grilled salmon.

Riedel Wine Glass Tasting at Oconee Food & Wine Festival

Join Matt Garofalo (of Oconee Cellars, in Greensboro) and Riedel Ambassadors on Saturday March 24th for a live demonstration on the effects that the shape of a wine glass has on each unique varietal and how stemware translates and delivers the bouquet, taste, balance, and finish of a wine to the senses.

Attendees will get to taste the wines from Wagner Family – Owners of Caymus Vineyards and wines from Silver Oak, the Festival’s Featured Vintner for 2018!

Tickets include a set of four Riedel Veritas wine glasses (MSRP $138).

Purchase your tickets soon as Event will sell out!

Click Here to buy tickets

Two 92 Rated Reds, One low Price!

Charles Smith CS Cabernet 2015

92 Rated by Robert Parker

One of the best values I’ve tasted in a long time, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the team at K Vintners was hand-harvested, natively fermented and aged all in French oak. Smoking good notes of cassis, black currants and hints of plum all emerge from this rich, beautifully textured, layered beauty that has solid tannic grip, a silky, elegant texture and a great finish. It has real elegance and finesse and is a dark fruited, unctuous beauty to drink over the coming 3-4 years.

Regular Price $19.99

Reward Card Price $14.99               Save $5 per bottle!


Castano Solanera Old Vine Monastrell 2015

92 Rated Robert Parker

The 2015 Solanera used to wear the ultimate Spanglish label, which said “Viñas Viejas of Monastrell” even if it was always a blend (in this vintage, the blend includes 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Garnacha Tintorera). The revamped 2015 has a completely different label that only keeps the “viñas viejas” moniker. In this wine, from the joint venture with U.S. importer Eric Solomon that started in 1999, they used part of full clusters and sourced the grapes from Casa Marta, a nine-hectare, head-pruned, dry-farmed plot on very stony soils in the north of Yecla at the foot of the Mount Arabí. It fermented in concrete vats and open-top barrels and matured in barrique, each variety separately, for some ten months, after which it was blended and bottled. This is the vintage of the big change in this wine, where, as with the majority of its siblings, there is better balance and more integrated oak, more freshness and better balance. The nose is quite captivating, especially after some time in the glass, when it starts developing some floral aromas, perfect ripeness, no warmth or alcohol and a powerful, yet terribly balanced palate with concentration and elegance, fine-grained tannins and clean, focused flavors. This is my favorite Solanera to date. 60,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.

Regular Price $18.99

Reward Card $14.99   Save $5.00 per bottle!

94 Rated French Red On Sale for $14.99!!!!

The best valued Red Wine in the World

On Sale w/ Rewards Card $14.99!

Save $2.00 per bottle

$13.50 by the Case!

Hurry! Hurry!  Before it’s all gone!

94 points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

 This wine is almost too good to be true. A blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache that was brought up in concrete tanks (Grenache) and demi-muids (Syrah), the 2015 Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes reminded me of a mini Syrah from California’s Manfred Krankl (yes I just compared a $14 Syrah to Sine Qua Non). It’s a ripe, sexy, heady beauty that exhibits a deep, purple color as well as killer notes of smoked meats, chocolate, blackberry and black raspberries. Deep, unctuous, open knit and layered, it continues to change in the glass, has a seamless and silky profile, and not a hard edge to be found. It’s a sensational value that needs to be tasted to be believed. Drink it anytime over the coming 2-4 years. (JD)  (4/2017)

Aged Bordeaux Pre-Sale

Aged Bordeaux Pre-Sale

Below is a list of aged Bordeaux that we will have in stock around November 1st.  I chose these wines from an extensive list of aged Bordeaux.  I based my selection on winery reputation, score, vintage, and price.  These types of wines need a minimum of 10-15 years of bottle aging before they are ready to drink.  Lucky for you, most of the aging has been done for you!  Most of these wines are from the 2005 and 2009 vintages, which are the best two vintages in the past 20 years for the Bordeaux region of France.  Are these wines expensive?  Absolutely, what finer things in life aren’t?  Are they worth the price?  There is only one way to find out.  If you are interested in getting any of these wines, please give us a call or stop by the store for more information.  They are first come, first get so hurry before they are gone!

Vintage     Winery                                                                  # btls        Size         Cases        Scores                    Price

2009 CH BRANAIRE DUCRU ST JULIEN 09 12 750ml 1 96RP, 95 JS $127.99
2005 CH LA CROIX BEAUCAILLOU ST JULIEN 6PK 05 6 750 ML 1 93JS, 91RP, 91WS $86.99
2006 CH SAINT PIERRE ST JULIEN 06 12 750ml 1 93RP $84.99
2005 LA DAME DE MONTROSE ST ESTEPHE 05 12 750ml 1 90RP $82.99
2009 CH LA COUSPAUDE ST EMILION 09 12 750ml 3 94WS, 93RP $75.99
2009 CH LA DOMINIQUE ST EMILION 09 12 750ml 3 93WE, 93RP, 93SWE $89.99
2009 CH LA CROIX DU CASSE POMEROL 09 12 750ml 3 93WE $45.99
2005 CH HAUT BERGEY PESSAC LEOGNAN 05 12 750ml 2 91WS, 90RP, 90ST $50.99
2005 CH BATAILLEY PAUILLAC 05 12 750 ML 1 93RP, 91JS $123.99
2005 CH D ARMAILHAC PAUILLAC 05 12 750ml 1 92ST, 92W&S $108.99
2009 CH DAUZAC MARGAUX 09 12 750ml 1 92RP, 91WS $74.99

RP- Robert Parker

W&S- Wine & Spirits Magazine

JS – James Suckling

ST- Steven Tanzer

WE – Wine Enthusiast

WS – Wine Spectator

96 Rated Cabernet from Argentina less than $20!

Critical Acclaim

 96 Rating!

James Suckling

A wine with lots of depth and fruit now with dark berry and dark chocolate character. Full body, velvety tannins and a long and flavorful finish. So much here. Give it four to five years bottle age. Great wine.

Tapiz is one of the most renowned and awarded Argentine wineries, made even more famous by the addition of winemaker Jean Claude Berrouet in 2012, recently retired from Petrus after 44 vintages at the revered Bordeaux chateau. To celebrate his addition to the team, Tapiz created a new “Alta Collection” line of wines using fruit that comes solely from Tapiz’s sustainably farmed San Pablo vineyard in the Uco Valley. San Pablo is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Mendoza (4,600 feet above sea level). This extreme altitude provides for warm days which impart concentration to the grapes, and cold nights which give natural acidity.

Only $19.99 per bottle!

$17.99 by the case!

Stop by The Oconee Cellar and grab a bottle or a case before it’s all gone!

January 2017 Wine Club Selections

The Oconee Wine Club

Winery founder Bruce Cohn was introduced to the music industry at an early age. Prior to moving west from Chicago, Illinois, his father sang Italian Arias and his mother was known to have sung with Frank Sinatra in the Chicago nightclub scene. In 1956, the family relocated to the Bay Area and settled in Sonoma County. While at college, studying broadcasting and communications, Bruce became intimately involved with the San Francisco music scene, running a music rehearsal studio by day and serving as a television engineer at night. It was around this time, in 1970, that Bruce met and became the manager of the Doobie Brothers, which he managed for 45 years as they climbed the charts into Rock-n-Roll stardom.

B.R. Cohn Cabernet 2014 Retail $19.99
A bold, rich Cabernet with aromas of cassis, black cherry, mint and violet combine with a bouquet of pungent oak, anise, and warm vanilla. On the palate, lush cherry, caramel, and clove are wrapped in smooth tannin and a long juicy finish.

Excellent with corned beef and cabbage, bacon wrapped fillet mignon, or old fashion spaghetti and meat balls in marinara. Also serve with strong cheese and flat bread on your next vineyard outing or pair with your favorite dark chocolate.

Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot
B.R. Cohn Chardonnay 2015 Retail $15.99
This Chardonnay is sourced from select vineyards in the acclaimed Russian River Valley region of Sonoma County, where the cool climate allows the grapes to develop ripe, rich flavors, while maintaining a bright and refreshing acidity.

Connoisseur’s Club

The Martinelli family has been growing grapes in the Russian River Valley since the 1880’s. At the ages of 19 and 16, Giuseppe Martinelli and Luisa Vellutini eloped from their small village in the Tuscany region of Italy, making their way to California looking for land to farm and start a winery. Giuseppe had been a winemaker in Italy and with his viticulture knowledge he was hired to plant a vineyard for a farmer in Forestville. Within two years he earned enough money, and borrowed some from a local wood cutter, to purchase land of his own. Working side by side on a 60 degree slope, Giuseppe and Luisa planted a small area of Zinfandel and Muscat Alexandria vines, which later became known as the Jackass Hill vineyard. Over 100 years later, this south easterly exposure remains the steepest non-terraced vineyard in Sonoma County.

To this day, the Martinellis still sell more grapes then are used to make their own wines; about 90% of the grapes they farm are sold to other Sonoma County wineries. Lee Sr. and his two sons, Lee Jr. and George, continue the proud legacy of care-taking the land, and you may meet one of the Martinelli daughters, Julianna or Regina, on the road at various events or at the winery.

Martinelli Bella Vigna Russian River Pinot Noir 2013  $ 39.99

The 2014 Bella Vigna Pinot Noir is sure to become your go-to wine. This approachable wine is bright and fresh, with wonderful aromas of plum, red apple and hibiscus tea. Flavors include juicy cherry pie, currants and hints of cinnamon and vanilla.

Martinelli Bella Vigna Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2012 $39.99

90 Points Wine Spectator!

The Chardonnay grapes are picked between 24 and 26 degrees brix to ensure mature ripe fruit flavors. The wine is 100% barrel fermented with wild yeast, resting in 50% new French oak for 10 months before bottling. The wine is neither heat nor cold stabilized, and is un-fined and un-filtered, clarified only by racking before bottling.

Case Production: 495

The 2012 Bella Vigna Chardonnay has aromas of wet slate, lemon oil, lychee and vanilla. The palate is nicely balanced with flavors of green apple, creamy lemon, and touch of minerality.

 

November 2016 Wine Club Selections

november-2016-wine-club-selections

November Wine Club   Selections

Oconee Wine Club

This month we chose two wines from Chateau Clinet, one of the best Chateaus in all of Bordeaux.  Their Ronan line is meant for everyday drinking.  Ronan by Clinet is an approachable wine that reflects the style and savoir-faire of a prestigious Pomerol winery. It is a fresh, fruit-forward and delicately spiced wine, ready to drink now or age for several years.  It also comes in these great wooden boxes!

The red is a 100% Merlot from Bordeaux France.  The nose, very aromatic, has aromas of cherries, raspberries and black currants, decorated with pepper. Of great fruity freshness, bouquet also complemented by floral notes (blueberry flowers).  Retail $13.99ronan-by-clinet

The white is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon.  This is a friendly wine with a pale golden color and bright reflections. On the nose, fresh scents, elderflower, lemon and white fruit are delicately coated.  Its delicious texture reveals flavors of ripe pears and citrus, embellished with spices such as cardamom and saffron. Retail $13.99
The Connoisuer Club
We chose two Italian wines for this month.  The red wine is called Il Bruciato from Tenuta Guado al Tasso.  This blend of 65% Cabernet, 20% Merlot, and 15% Syrah comes from the village of Bolgheri near the Tuscan coastline.   The Guado al Tasso estate, owned by Antinori,  is located approximately 50 miles (80 kilometers) to the southwest of Florence near the medieval hamlet of Bolgheri. The property, approximately 2500 acres (1000 hectares) in size, extends from the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the inland hills and includes, in addition to 750 acres (300 hectares) of vineyards, wheat, barley, and oat fields and olive groves in addition to woods which are utilized to raise Cinta Senese pigs, a prized local breed.  A rich and pleasurable wine on the nose with notes of sweet spices, toasted coffee, and ripe red berry fruit. The wine is elegant and balanced on the palate with good length and a highly  pleasurable fruity finish and aftertaste. Retail $31.99
The white is a Pinot Grigio made by Terlato in the famous Friuli region of Northern Italy.  This delicious white is a light gold color with aromas of ripe peach, apricot, citrus fruits and honeysuckle. The palate is lively and fresh with flavors of granny smith apple, stone fruits, and a core of minerality. It displays a mouthfilling texture and a mouthwatering crisp, clean finish.  This is our newest favorite Pinot Grigio and is the house PG for the Augusta National!  Retail $19.99

May 2016 Wine Club Selections

Oconee Wine Club May 2016

Two of Italy’s most acclaimed winemakers, brothers Riccardo and Renzo Cotarella, founded Falesco in 1979. Their philosophy is focused on balancing the uniqueness and tradition of native varietals with the versatility of international grapes. The result is a complete portfolio of wines that consumers and critics alike have recognized as exhibiting extreme value and Best of Class offerings.
falesco
Falesco Tellus Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $13.99
90 Rated by Robert Parker

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Tellus is an amazing value wine and to my palate, it is by far the best of the three wines in the Tellus series. The wine offers true varietal notes of blackberry and dried cherry. It is aged in neutral oak for up to six months. You can taste some of those toasted notes, but they are not invasive.

Falesco Chardonnay 2014 $ 13.99
88 Rating by Robert Parker

Here’s a new wine from Falesco. The 2014 Chardonnay Tellus is made for an international palate and follows in the great success of the Syrah-based red wine Tellus that was first made some eight years ago. This Chardonnay is born from limestone rich soils and is fermented in oak. The wine opens to fragrant tones of yellow flower, stone fruit and Golden Delicious apple.

Connoisseur’s Club

Crossbarn Paul Hobbs Chardonnay 2014 $ 21.99
92 Rating Robert Parker
paul hobbs crossbarn
The less expensive label for Paul Hobbs is his Crossbarn label. He has done a magnificent job of elevating the quality of these wines, which are all made from purchased fruit. Take, for example, the Crossbarn 2014 Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast. There are over 16,000 cases of this wine, which is bone-dry. Ten percent is barrel-fermented, and the rest aged in steel, so it is essentially a naked style of Chardonnay, and the 2014 is just a beauty, with crisp acidity, notes of apple blossom, tangerine oil and honeyed lemons in an extroverted, beautifully pure and natural style. This is delicious, and a terrific value in Chardonnay to drink over the next few years.

rombauer

When founders Koerner and Joan Rombauer moved their two children, two horses and five dogs to Napa Valley in 1972, they arrived armed with an appreciation for the intimate relationship between food and wine. Their appreciation stemmed from Koerner’’s great aunt Irma Rombauer having authored internationally renowned cookbook the Joy of Cooking and his ancestors originating from the winegrowing region of Rheingau, Germany, where wine is considered an essential complement to a meal.

Appreciation bred passion, and Rombauer Vineyards was established in 1980. Thirty-five years later, the winery remains owned and operated by first-, second- and third-generation members of the family.

Rombauer Zinfandel 2013 $ 32.99

The 2013 vintage in California was a friendly one for Zinfandel, with a long, warm, even-keeled ripening season. From the winemaker: “Our classic California Zinfandel is deep purple-red, with a bright, youthful red hue. Lifted aromas of raspberry and cranberry waft from the glass, followed by a wave of licorice and spice. On the palate, the wine is lush and concentrated. Flavors of ripe cherry and vanilla converge toward blackberry and spice. Very fine tannins and great length make for a satisfying finish.”

April Wine Club 2016

Oconee Wine Club Selections

alamos

Both wines this month come from the Alamos winery located in the Mendoza region of Argentina.  The renowned Catena family began making Alamos in 1993. Its name is derived from the poplar trees that line the high altitude vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina (Alamos means “poplar” in Spanish) and protect the vineyards from the mountain winds. Alamos notes that it is among “The Wines of Catena.” This is significant, because the Catena family is considered the “first family” of vintners in Argentina. The vineyards of Mendoza, where this wine comes from, are among the highest elevations in the world planted with vines, as they stretch up the foothills of the Andes Mountains and enjoy the temperate climate that comes along with this location.

There are many levels of vineyards in the vast Mendoza region, which happens to be the world’s largest wine region. This wine comes from some of the highest planted vineyards, above 3,000 feet, giving the wine a dry, exotic touch, whereas malbec from the valley floor can be more fruity and less complex.

This is an interesting wine that, based on its concentration and flavor profile, is an excellent alternative to more traditional cabernets and merlots normally found in the area. It might need about an hour out of the bottle before consumption, but should then provide immense drinking pleasure and will be good for the next five years or so.

Alamos Torrontes 2015   $10.99    90 Rated by Robert Parker!

A delightful expression of the high elevation Salta region, our Alamos Torrontés has bright floral aromas of orange and jasmine blossom. On the palate, this wine offers citrus and peach flavors that lead to a crisp finish.

Although Malbec and Mendoza are the best known names in Argentine winemaking, Torrontés is taking center stage a few hundred miles to the northwest, in the Cafayate region of Salta. It is believed that Argentina’s flagship white varietal was brought to the country by Spanish Jesuits in the 18th century. Torrontés is found in the world’s highest vineyards, resting at 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level in Argentina. The high altitude growing conditions translate beautifully to bright floral aromas and delightfully crisp acidity in our Alamos Torrontés wine.

In 2013, the Salta region had an excellent vintage. Cooler temperatures allowed for steady ripening and maturation, creating a great balance between acidity and sugar with great aromatic complexity. These conditions enhanced the fruity and floral aromas in our Torrontes, offering an ideal complement to the crisp acidity.

2014 was a good vintage for Torrontés in Salta, and the 2014 Torrontés from Alamos feels a little like a dry Riesling from Germany as it offers that mixture of lime and white flowers with subtle minerality and pungent, fresh flavors plus spiciness in the palate (curry). This would be ideal for Asian food that is not too hot. It would be interesting to see how this wine behaves with a couple of years in bottle as this has very good stuffing and acidity. Very good value for this quality Torrontés. Some 250,000 bottles produced.–Robert Parker 90 Rating!

 

Alamos Seleccion Malbec 2014

The pinnacle of our portfolio, the Alamos Selección Malbec has enticing ripe black fruit characteristics of plum and blackberry. Intense aromas of violet and dark berry jump right out of the glass and extend to the palate, where they are complemented by hints of brown spice and pepper from oak aging. This full-bodied Malbec culminates in a deep, luscious finish.

Tucked under the massive shoulders of the Andes Mountains in west central Argentina, the province of Mendoza is renowned for housing some of the best winegrowing regions of Argentina. The character of Mendoza wines is forged in high altitude desert vineyards irrigated by mineral-rich snowmelt from glaciers and snowfields. Altitudes range from 1,000 feet to around 5,000 feet, where the foothills rise steeply toward the Andes’ peaks. High altitude means cool temperatures and clear air, and clear air means more sunlight for building flavor in the grapes, helping to make Mendoza the source of Argentina’s well-earned reputation for top quality, unique wines.

Connoisseur Club

With encyclopedic knowledge of the wines and terroirs of the Rhône as well as his native Costieres de Nîmes, Michel Gassier is a restless and innovative vigneron. Usually inquisitive personalities like Michel start as outsiders. Such is not the case with Michel, whose family has been growing grapes and making wine in the Costieres de Nîmes for four generations. Together with his wife Tina, they are helping to establish a new level of quality for Costieres de Nîmes without forsaking the uniqueness of their terroir.

They have achieved this through nurturing their land, farming organically, promoting biodiversity, and respecting their employees as much as their vines. They are proponents of indigenous varieties and taking advantage of the diversity of climates to make wines that are dense and pure but elegantly balanced. Cercius is made in partnership with Eric Solomon and Philippe Cambie from several sites throughout the Rhône valley. Nostre Païs is the epitome of the terroir of the Costieres de Nîmes while Lou Coucardié represents the aspirations of Michel and Tina through conversation with the land and its history.

Mostre Pais 2013 $ 32.99

nostre pais
A blend of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Bourboulenc planted in red clay, gravel, & sand.  The vines are hand harvested organically and the wine is aged in 50% stainless steel tanks and 50% French Oak barrels for 6 months before released.  The past two vintages have been rated 92 and 93 respectively by Robert Parker.

 

 

Lou Coucardie 2011  $21.99

It’s dark color, almost black, announces a wine of great concentration. Powerful and extremely complex, the nose displays a wide array of aromas such as dark berries, spices, eucalyptus and vanilla welded in great harmony. Rich and velvety, without being heavy, this wine pulls its finish in a aerial display of fresh fruits and ripe tannins.

Blend: 48% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and 22% Syrah

The Wine Advocate – “The richest and most concentrated cuvee, the 2011 Costieres De Nimes Lou Coucardie, which was bottled earlier in the year, offers up aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits, chocolate, graphite, licorice and hints of smoked herbs. A blend of 48% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and 22% Syrah that spent 12-18 months in French oak, it is a serious, layered and textured effort that was hard to spit. While hard to resist now, it should have a broad drink window as well. “