Caves - The 2021 Fall Shipment

Caves. There is something about a cave that draws you in: dark, damp, cool, anticipation, unknown. Pair that experience with a great winery and you know something great is about to occur. To find one just around the corner, well, that is just plain exciting.

Our first wine cave experience took place on our first trip to France a few years into our marriage. It was a trip where our eyes were opened to a wonderful culture where they appreciated food, wine, cheese & dessert unlike anything we had yet experienced in our young lives. Our travel agent booked us at the charming and historic Chateau de Chissay in the Loire Valley. Mary loves castles and this was a much-anticipated lodging choice. What we didn’t expect was how this experience would change our view of food, wine and travel. Dinners were dressed affairs with 5 course, wine paired meals - nothing like we had ever experienced before. The French staff took a shine to these two kids and walked us through our meals. Fromage cart? Sure! Which one? Uhhhh…Here sir, try these twenty! We were hooked on cheese for life! Would you like to visit the caves and see the wine? You bet! Natural limestone caves originally carved for safety, escape, cool food storage and wine. Lots of dusty bottles of wine! Not sure we could afford any of those bottles, but the idea was planted that something special was to be stored in the earth.

Jump forward a couple decades - a new life & business in wine country and remembrances of one thing that makes wine special - caves. We recently had the opportunity to partake in a special tasting at Star Lane Winery, located in the Eastern part of Santa Barbara wine country’s Happy Canyon AVA. It was a surprisingly storied piece of property that gained its name during prohibition when you could purchase a bottle of special “olive oil” which was code for booze or “hooch” as it was called. The winery is a magnificent multistory building that is a gateway to some wonderful, modern caves! When considering building their wine business, the owners, Jim and Mary Dierberg, set about a 250 year plan for their wines and that included proper cave storage. Diving deep into the San Rafael mountainside, these caves have only begun to store wonderful wines from the adjacent vineyards of Star Lane, some of which we will be including in your Fall shipment. The Dierberg tasting room and vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA are home to their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals.

We start with a beautifully bright, balanced Sauvignon Blanc. In a white Bordeaux style, Tyler added a bit of Semillon to give the wine added dimension. I think this also increases the variety of food you can pair with it. Fresh, palate-cleansing citrus combines synergistically with clean minerality. This is one of our favorite Sauvignon Blancs from the Santa Ynez Valley!

Next up is a classic Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir from the Drum Canyon vineyard which is at the Dierberg tasting room, right off the 246 on the way to Lompoc. Due to the warm weather, a bit of stem inclusion was used to balance out the dark red fruit notes. This is followed by some nice earthy spiciness, wrapping up with a smooth, elegant finish.

We think Star Lane is producing some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in Santa Barbara County – a thought echoed by our friends in the wine business. We really like how the Happy Canyon Cabs take a different approach to Napa Cabs, and let the grapes shine through without overwhelming oak notes. Tyler incorporated some minor quantities of Bordeaux varietals into the 2017 Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon to increase the complexity, including Cabernet Franc (5%), Petite Verdot (5%), Merlot (4%), and Malbec (1%). Like the Pinot Noir, this vintage is a bit more fruit-forward given the warm 2017 season, and showcases red and blueberry fruit with “cool coastal sage” notes of complexity as well as elements of cocoa and some earthiness. With 35% new French oak, tannins are present just enough for that balanced, lasting finish. Tasting beautifully now with the power to last 10-15 years or more.

Please enjoy these wonderful wines with our best wishes!

Cheers,

Mike and Mary

2020 Revisit Wine Co. Summer Shipment

Greetings members and subscribers!  Summer is here and times are strange…but we have another wonderful offering of amazing boutique wines from Santa Barbara for you.  As we know, this is a difficult time for small businesses, and we really appreciate your support, as do our mom-and-pop wineries up here!!  All of the tasting rooms are closed until further notice, which has been very difficult for them, and we are hoping that they’ll be able to stay afloat.

We’ve noticed that some of you are more in need of good wine than ever and we are here for you!  Feel free to send a message or call us if you need anything.  If you have any favorites from previous shipments and want to “revisit” them, just let us know – we still have a few in stock!

Reminder – if you are looking for a great thank-you gift for your business clients, we can put together a nice wine package for you, and we also have a referral program should you know of anyone who would be interested in our services.

Holus Bolus 2017 The Joy Fantastic Estate Pinot Noir

•                Owners and Winemakers: Amy Christine, MW, and Peter Hunken

•                Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Joy Fantastic Estate Vineyard

Please check out Amy’s video that she created just for you here where she takes you out in the vineyard and talks about the wine…she is a hoot!

F2 2017 Falconiere Cabernet Franc

•                Owner and Winemaker: Max Hoetzel

•                Los Olivos AVA, Great Oaks Vineyard

Crawford Family Wines 2017 Albariño

•                Owners: Mark (winemaker) and Wendy Horvath

•                Santa Ynez Valley AVA, Brickbarn Vineyard

F2 Wines 2018 Europeo Rosé (Optional Add On)

•                Owner and Winemaker: Max Hoetzel

•                Los Olivos AVA, Great Oaks Vineyard

Don’t miss this clip of Max playing the banjo to his grapes in the vineyard – perhaps that’s why they taste so good!

This wine club offering includes some great stories about the people who make the wine.  You’ll also note that all wines here are single-vineyard sourced and very small production – the quality of these wines is amazing, especially for the price!  We start with  husband-and-wife team Amy Christine and Peter Hunken.  We are lucky to have their tasting room just steps away from our house and frequent it often when it’s open just to say hello.  They are fulfilling their dream of making wine from their own Sta. Rita Hills Vineyard, The Joy Fantastic, a certified organic vineyard (CCOF).  It is completely organic to the point where they pull their own weeds – and these are giant weeds!  Amy is also a MW, or Master of Wine.  This is an extremely difficult degree to obtain, requiring many blind tastings and a dissertation like a PhD.  They both know their wine, and you’ll taste it in this special offering of only 200 cases.  This wine received 93 points from Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Critic, and 95 points and was Editor’s Choice from Wine Enthusiast’s Matt Kettman.   His tasting notes:  Rhubarb and black-raspberry flavors pair with thyme, roasting herbs and a touch of game on the palate, framed by plush acidity and subtle tannins.

Our second offering is from our friends Mark and Wendy Horvath at Crawford Family Wines.  If you’ve never had Albariño, you are in for a treat!  It’s now one of our favorite white wines.  Mark and Wendy are another husband-and-wife team and have a great new tasting room in Solvang.  This wine is fermented entirely in stainless steel to provide a light, bright wine with crisp acidity and lots of aromatics.  Only 274 cases produced.  Winemaker Tasting Notes: The color is a rich straw/light gold and shimmers in the glass. The nose is more mineral-driven this year thanks to a more punctuated core of acidity. Along with white flowers there are stone fruit aromas of peaches and apricots. The palate is led by vibrant, mouth-watering acidity, the cornerstone of well-made Albariño, as well as more of that fresh orchard peach flavor. The finish is clean and crisp and begs to be shared with food. Fresh seafood is the go-to for this wine, but I love it with spicy curry dishes and Thai food.

 Our last choice is from a man who is a Renaissance Man.  We recently met Max while he was playing the banjo in his tasting room (and he’s very good!)  Max Hoetzel is originally from Germany, and, like many of us, has fallen in love with the Santa Ynez Valley.  The name F2 stems from emperor Frederick II, a medieval Emperor, who has inspired Max's historical studies and his own life for many decades.  Cabernet Franc is a unique wine varietal that is growing in popularity.  Interestingly, it was hybridized with Sauvignon Blanc way back when to create Cabernet Sauvignon.  It has a bit of spice to it, and we think it’s perfect when you want something bigger than a Pinot Noir but not quite as big as a Cab.  We love it will any meat on the grill.  This wine is from one of the most beautiful properties here in the Valley, the Great Oaks Vineyard.  Google it!  The property is currently for sale if you have $16 million!  Tasting notes: Dark ruby in color.  On the nose cherries, blueberries, spices, light wood, earth, vegetables, licorice, cardamom, wildflowers and black pepper. Very aromatic. Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.

As a fun summer option that some of you have taken us up on, we’re offering a Provençal-style Rosé of Syrah from F2 as well.  Afterall, who doesn’t need some Rosé in the summer?  This one was only left on the skins for 30 minutes, giving it a beautiful salmon color.  Winemaker notes:  On the nose citrus, lemons, light raspberries, green apples, pears, light earth, minerals and white pepper. Crisp and refreshing. Dry on the palate with lemons, grapefruits, apples, earth, dried herbs and almonds on the smooth finish. 

Brick Barn Blog: Cellar Time!

Brick Barn is one of the newer wineries to the area, situated just west of Buellton.  We had tasted their wines a number of months ago and enjoyed their whites, which included a delicious Albarino.  At the time, we met their General Manager who reached out to us to come back and meet/taste with their new winemaker, Adrian Bolshoi.  Adrian is originally from Maldova and learned old world winemaking traditions from his grandfather, producing small lots of homemade wine each year. After earning his Bachelor's Degree in Enology, Adrian accepted an internship in the US and landed in the heart of Santa Barbara wine country just in time for the 2011 harvest.  He is now in the process of obtaining US Citizenship! 

He was an excellent host – very passionate about the wines he is making, and a lot of fun!  We tasted through a number of their wines, but Adrian’s wines are still in “development” in the cellar, so he took us back to do some tank/barrel tasting.  It is so interesting to taste wines before they have been completed.  His Syrah has amazing potential once it sees some oak and some time.  When tasting these young wines, you have the chance to get a “sneak peak” at what these wines will be like when released.  The winemaker will talk you through his thought process on making the wines, and you have the chance to ask questions.  For example, when you look at many of these wines, they appear cloudy.  We learned about the process of “cold-settling” - using very cold temperatures in the tanks to remove some of the biomaterial in the wine.  We also learned that there are tons of various yeasts you can choose from to get the fermentation process going!

We really enjoyed our time at Brick Barn yesterday and look forward to seeing the final product of Adrian’s wines sometime next year.  You may see them in a Club shipment!

2019 Fall Shipment - Rare Opportunity

Greetings members and subscribers! We hope that you have had a wonderful summer and enjoyed some delicious wines! We’ve been hard at work figuring out our Fall shipment and have some amazing selections for you. We’re working on some great info for you, including a “Locals’ Guide to Wine-Tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley” which you will all receive when it is complete. If there is any other wine-related topic you’re interested in, let us know – we are here as a resource for you!

Reminders – If you would like to buy a particular wine varietal from us outside of our club shipments, let us know and we’ll see if we can source a great wine at a value for you!

Grassini Family Sauvignon Blanc
• Owner: Grassini Family, Winemaker: Bradley Long
• Happy Canyon AVA
Grassini Family 2015 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
• Owner: Grassini Family, Winemaker: Bradley Long
• Happy Canyon AVA
Lumen Wines 2015 Pinot Noir – Santa Barbara County
• Owners: Lane Tanner/Will Henry; Winemaker: Lane Tanner
• Sierra Madre Vineyard (61%), Santa Maria Valley (39%)

We are honored that two renown families in Santa Barbara have partnered with us to bring you fabulous wines for the Fall Season. The first is the Grassini Family – and it is a true family business. The Grassini Vineyard and Winery is one of the most beautiful settings in the County, with acres of vineyards, a pond and a world-class wine facility. Although they are probably best known for their Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc, they generously offered to share their Reserve SB with Revisit Wine Club members. Happy Canyon is an up-and-coming AVA for Cab – it is one of the few places that gets hot enough to ripen Cabernet grapes – and the Grassinis were one of the first to realize the potential. Bradley Long, winemaker, came to Grassini after spending time at Nickel & Nickel and Fantesca in Napa Valley.

• Winemaker Notes: The Grassini 2016 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc matured for in a combination of new and neutral French Oak. The bright acid helps showcase flavors of pineapple and stone fruit, which are varietally "Sauvignon Blanc," while the barrel aging adds complexities of caramel and toasted coconut. The finish is soft and round, yet clean and refreshing, inviting another sip. While the oak influence is subtler in this 2016 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc than in previous vintages, the signature notes of crème brûlée will still shine through. 406 cases produced.

• Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker Notes: Bold, balanced and refined, this wine opens with aromas of dark fruit, cinnamon, and green tea, followed by a touch of smoke and espresso. Notes of blackberry and black currant greet the palate, along with a hint of cocoa. Flavors of rich dark chocolate, caramel, and vanilla are prominent in the smooth, lingering finish. 690 cases produced. 93 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

We also have the great pleasure of meeting and working with Lane Tanner, aka the “Czarina” of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir. Lane started making wine in SBC in and has worked with a number of wineries before focusing on her own label, Lumen Wines. She co-owns the label with Will Henry, who is also well know in the wine business with his restaurant “Pico” in Los Alamos, and his wine business, “Henry Wine Group”. Lane specializes in handcrafted Pinot Noir and carefully selects her grapes from the best certified sustainably-farmed and biodynamic vineyards in the area, using the minimal amount of sulfites possible. They also pick their grapes earlier in the harvest season, resulting in wine that is livelier on the palate, deeper in complexity, and lower in alcohol. We have so enjoyed getting to know Lane and her husband Riki (winemaker, Labyrinth Wines). Note: 1% of Lumen Wine sales are donated to environmental causes.

Winemaker Tasting Notes: Wonderfully vibrant and energetic, with penetrating raspberry and rose petal on the nose, followed by undulating flavors of strawberry, thyme and sandalwood on the palate – all wrapped in a firm yet velvety texture. Long, vibrant finish with lingering fruit and minerality, accented by cardamom and anise notes. Well-matched with any wild game, salmon or bird dish, with power enough to cut through any hot curry or Szechuan fare. 1300 cases produced.

Cheers!
Mike and Mary

Revisit Wine Co Spring 2019 Shipment

Storm Wines 2015 Pinot Noir – Duvarita Vineyards

· Sta. Rita Hills AVA

· Owner and Winemaker: Ernst Storm

Notary Public 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon

· Happy Canyon AVA

· Winemaker: Ernst Storm

J. Wilkes 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon

· Paso Robles Highlands AVA

· Winemaker/Brand Ambassador: Wes Hagen

A special note to our members: "I am Wes Hagen, Winemaker for J Wilkes Wines (and the Cabernet in your current shipment). To me, wine is about keeping friends at table so we can have a great, live conversation with our eyes and mouths--not our thumbs and phones. When I met the owners of the Revisit Wine Club last year, I was excited that our local culture was starting to create small businesses that support our local products in Santa Barbara County, and really wanted J. Wilkes Wines to be part of that. I hope you enjoy the Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles Highlands District, and you will send me your thoughts at whagen@jwilkes.com. I love hearing from those who enjoy my wine, and I hope the wine takes you to the time and place it was grown. Wine is a 'visit' in a glass, and with every sip you can 'Revisit'. Thanks to the Nash family and to you for supporting J. Wilkes!"

Wes Hagen, WSET 2, SWE, AWS, J. Wilkes Winemaker, Brand Ambassador, Raconteur

(805) 450-2324 Voice/Text @weshagen (social media) whagen@jwilkes.com, http://millerfamilywinecompany.com

Greetings members!

We hope you’ve been enjoying your Winter Shipment! Thanks for all the positive comments about the wines. That is why we started this business…to bring you wines that you love, that will be fun to share with friends and family, creating memorable experiences.

For the “Spring” Shipment, it’s more like a second Winter shipment because it’s still cold in most places, so we’ve chose to send you a shipment of all red wines. One of the fun things about a wine club should be to explore new wine regions and new wines. For this shipment, we’re featuring two Cabernet Sauvignons: one is from the Happy Canyon area of the Santa Ynez Valley, a small up-and-coming AVA, and the other is from grapes sourced from Paso Robles, which is more established for bolder wines but still in the process of becoming a globally-recognized region. We have several members who like Cabs and bold wines. Remember for the optimal experience, open bigger wines at least an hour before you will drink them – it will smooth out any rough edges, especially with younger wines. Finally, we’re including a beautiful Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir which truly typifies the area.

Two of the wines, one Pinot Noir and one Cab, are made by winemaker Ernst Storm. We are so lucky to have met Ernst and his family as he has such a great attitude about life, and about making wine. He is featured in one of our first blogs. His philosophy is to source from the best vineyards the area has to offer, and to guide the wine-making process to produce wines that truly reflect the area. His roots are in South Africa where he and his brother still make wine under a different label. Now he’s enjoying the unique climate of California’s Central Coast. You may see his Sauvignon Blanc on some restaurant menus as it’s become very popular. His other wines are very small production, so you are one of the few that get to enjoy them!

Our third wine is made by the same winemaker, Wes Hagen, who wrote the note to you above. He also made the Clos Pepe wines that many of you have really liked in our first shipment. Note: we still have those limited-edition wines available if you’d like to order them while they last! He is now working for J. Wilkes as Winemaker and Brand Ambassador, working his magic with those wines. Wes is truly dedicated to the wine industry and spends most of his time traveling around the country educating people about this special wine region. He knows more about wine that anyone else I’ve met!

As always, we appreciate your membership, and would truly appreciate any referrals to other wine-lovers who would enjoy the Club! And if you have any questions, suggestions, or need any information, please don’t hesitate to ask!

Cheers!

Mike and Mary

THE DETAILS

2015 Storm Wines Pinot Noir – Duvarita Vineyard:

Ernst Storm produces a few Pinot Noirs from different vineyards, all great, but this is our favorite. Duvarita Vineyard is six miles from the Pacific Ocean, in the renown Sta Rita Hills AVA, making it one of the closest to the ocean in Santa Barbara County. Biodynamically grown grapes, meticulous winemaking and a combination of three Dijon clones create a wine that captures both vintage and site. When a vineyard is biodynamic, it is free of pesticides and other chemicals and the focus is creating a self-sustaining ecosystem to produce the best organic fruit possible. It takes a very hands-on approach to make it work. The evidence is in the wonderful aromas of dark fruit, forest floor and spice, with delicate dark fruit and fine tannin filling out the rich palate.

2012 Notary Public Cabernet Sauvignon – Star Lane Vineyard:

Ernst is also a partner and winemaker in another venture, Notary Public Wines. Notary Public was created with a desire to explore the diversity and potential within Santa Barbara County as a wine growing region. Santa Barbara County is blessed with various climates and soil diversity due to the unique East-West Mountain Ranges that open to the Pacific Ocean. The focus at Notary Public is Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc, grown in areas where they can craft wines with personality of both vintage and site, with the goal of making wines that are approachable, elegant and yet structured. This Cab is more balanced than some of the big Cabs you might associate with Paso Robles or Napa Valley, offering delicious ripe flavors, textured tannins and fresh acidity. You’ll have more pairing options with this Cab since it is not overly oaked, so you can drink it with lighter meats as well as the traditional beef pairings. No fining or filtration was used to make the wine.

2016 J. Wilkes Cabernet Sauvignon – Paso Robles Highlands

Many of you may be familiar with Paso Robles as a rapidly growing and recognized wine region. It has had a surge of growth of Cabernet Sauvignon wines as the climate works well for the varietal. We will be researching additional Paso Robles wines so that we can share the wines of this special region. It’s also a fantastic place to visit! This J. Wilkes Cab sources grapes from Paso Robles Highlands, where it is quite hot, and the vines must struggle to survive. This is actually good for the grapes because the roots must create a broad infrastructure, and the vines do not have so much water that it dilutes the fruit (think table grapes). I’ll talk more about this another time.

Winemaker Notes: Classic Cab aromas of blackberry, cherry, currant, clean earth, hint of toasted oak - enticing and complex. Fruity, dense and luscious with vicious and ripe berry flavors; shows great depth of flavor and admirable structure. Plenty of baby fat to make Paso and Napa Cab fans very happy. This wine will pair with traditional Cab pairing foods. Wes suggests Ribeye or New York Steak grilled over red oak or pecan wood, highly flavored/aged cheeses such as Gouda, Tomme or Cheddar, or polenta with lamb or pork shoulder ragout. Yum! In terms of when to drink, it is delicious now, and will shed some baby fat over the next 5-7 years, showing more earthy and complex notes. What, you may ask, is “baby fat” in a wine? The term “baby fat” is a metaphor sometimes used to describe characteristics that a wine will outgrow as it matures. These will vary from wine to wine, typically the juicy qualities and fresh fruit flavors. Depending on the context, a wine’s “baby fat” might also refer to a lush or rich texture, or a showy quality. These notes will fade as a wine ages, and with a good wine, secondary characteristics will emerge, such as toast, baking spices, forest floor, earth, etc.

Revisiting Wine Tasting - Shokrian Vineyard & Winery

At Revisit Wine Co., part of our mission is to share wine-related experiences with you as we explore wine country. We’re even going to attempt some video! Stay tuned!

About a year ago, we were driving around and saw a small sign on Cat Canyon Road (a very isolated road near Los Alamos) which said, “Shokrian” and looked to be a vineyard. We made a note to check it out later. We discovered that part of it used to be Melville’s “Verna’s” vineyard, an excellent Syrah we enjoyed as members of Melville’s wine club. We also found that there were some renown area winemakers involved with the project, including Drake Whitcraft (Whitcraft Wines, Santa Barbara) and Morgan Clendenen (Cold Heaven Wine).

On a beautiful January day, we decided to venture back out to explore Shokrian. The gate was closed and the sign said, “Appointment Only.” Not to be deterred, we called the number to see if we could stop by. After some effort, we were able to get in touch with Babak Shokrian, the owner, who happened to be there with his estate winemaker, Alice, and his beautiful dog, Cocoa. The tasting room is tiny, funky, and cool - The property is spectacular. Babak has been working on the project since 2013. We tasted a number of wines, including Viognier (Clendenen’s specialty), a young, dry Rose’ of Grenache, Pinot Noir, a Syrah, and a GSM (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre) blend. While tasting, we had a wonderful chat with Babak and Alice about the vineyard and the wines. Babak has a house on the property with a few goats, sheep, and chickens (and maybe 1 cow) that we saw grazing from a distance. We explained our project and agreed it would be a perfect winery to feature in one of our shipments.

We enjoyed every wine, and walked away with a Pinot Noir and a Syrah. The Pinot is described by Matt Kettman of Wine Enthusiast (92 pts) as “lush and think with boysenberry paste, clove, star anise, and vanilla” – yes, it is one of those fuller-body richer Pinots that are sometimes found in this area.

The 2015 Syrah was somewhat known to us as Melville Verna’s which we always enjoyed. It is described by Clendenen as having velvety tannins with hints of blueberry, pepper, tobacco, spiced meat, and plum. We definitely tasted the complexity of the wine, but it was also very smooth.

What most impressed us was the feeling of ease about the entire place. From the welcoming of the team for an unplanned tasting visit, to the casual talk about our mutual love of the area and of future collaboration, we thoroughly enjoyed the visit and look forward to featuring these wines in our Club shipment and in our soon-to-launch online store!