2016 BARBOUR VINEYARDS Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Look no further for a heavenly 2016!

Jim Barbour, master grape grower, teamed up with Celia Welch, winemaking extraordinaire, to create a world-class Cabernet.  If we had to choose a current favorite, we’d put this one right up at the top.  Unbelievable juice, dedication to quality, and pure specialness is what comes wrapped in this gorgeous bottle of Barbour.

Jim and Celia’s 2016 is a show-stopper.  From Jim’s vineyard in St. Helena, this is one of the best Cabs they’ve ever produced.  The vineyard always seems to yield spectacular fruit with a very lifted, slightly perfumed flair to the purple boysenberry and blackberry notes.  This vintage seems to emphasize those aromatic qualities even more intensely.  Notes of plum, cinnamon, nutmeg and sweet earth add complexity.  The mouthfeel is full, fruit-forward and elegant with approachable tannins and just enough grip to lend weight to the core.  The finish echoes the aromas, with forward, juicy fruit notes.  Less than 300 cases produced.  Reg. $149.95, call for exclusive pricing.

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2017 CATERWAUL Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Caterwaul is a new collaboration between superstar winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and Matt Hardin from Barbour Vineyard Management.  Started in 2014, they produce a Cabernet from Matt’s estate vineyard in Pope Valley and a Regusci Vineyard release from Stags Leap District.

Brown is the winemaker for some of Napa’s and Sonoma’s most iconic labels – Schrader, Outpost and his own Rivers-Marie – and has more than 20 100-point wines to his resume.  Hardin is a 6th generation Napan and partner in one of the most renowned vineyard management companies, bar none.

All from Pope Valley, the 2017 is a fabulous wine in its peer group.  Rich, boisterous and flamboyantly ripe, the 2017 offers tons of immediacy.  Super-ripe dark cherry and red plum fruit are pushed forward in this opulent, inviting Napa Cab.  Chocolate, new leather and spice punctuate the finish.  It’s a rocking mouthful!  Reg. $50, call for exclusive pricing.

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2016 LE PICH Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Winemaker Julien Fayard defined his core winemaking style at the exalted first growth Chateau Lafite-Rothschild where he says he learned how not to excessively intervene with the winery.  He says, “If you put in the hard work in the vineyard, you have to trust and have patientce.  Then, on its own, the wine will become all that it is capable of.”

Now in Napa Valley, Julien has produced highly ranked wines for Lail, Gemstone and Dalla Valle while nurturing strong relationships with many passionate, quality-dedicated growers.

This wine offers aromas of black plum, blackberries, black cherry, lilacs and graphite.  This full-bodied 100% Cabernet is rich and beautifully balanced with flavors of fully ripened black fruit, floral notes and melted chocolate that lead to an explosive long finish.  This is everything you would expect from the winemaking team of Julien Fayard and Steve Matthiasson.  Reg. $65, call for exclusive pricing.

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2016 PERFECT SEASON Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Estate Grown.  Hand-Farmed.  Hand-Made.

Vintner Norma Hunt started this project with her now-late husband Lamar – inventor of the Super Bowl.  In 2000, Norma purchased land in Knights Valley, right down the hill from Joe Montana’s property, no less.  She brought on the incredible duo of Jim Barbour of Barbour Vineyard Management and winemaker Philippe Melka to plant a vineyard.

The grapes for Perfect Season are meticulously grown and cultivated to the exacting standards of their winemaking and viticultural teams.  In essence, each berry used to create this wine has been personally selected.

The 2016 is opaque purple-black and sings of creme de cassis, blueberry compote, mulberries and plum pudding with touches of baking spices, mocha, black soil, sichuan pepper and hoisin plus a hint of cedar chest.  Full-bodied, rich, plush and seductive in the mouth, the palate is packed with black and blue fruit layers, finishing very long.

This might be one of the very best Cabernets to come from Knights Valley.  Only 250 cases were produced, so it won’t last long.  Reg. $149.95, call for exclusive pricing.

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NEW RELEASES: Mending Wall

And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
from Robert Frost’s Mending Wall
The boundary that separates neighbors is the boundary that brings them together…the namesake of Mending Wall.  This beautiful new winery on Silverado Trail is a collaboration between Frank and Kathy Dotzler of Outpost and Mark Pulido and Donna Walker of Pulido Walker.  With Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown at the helm, this winery is truly a ‘who’s who’ of Napa Valley.
Now at Capitol Cellars is the massive 2015 ‘Palisades Vineyard’ Petite Sirah (Reg. $55, now $44.95).  It shows great fruit, soft tannins and plenty of blackberry, incense and white flowers.
“Inky, deep and plush, it packs a serious punch.  Much of the wildness of Petite, especially in the tannin profile, has been tamed.  It is a gorgeous wine in every way.” 94 points, Antonio Galloni
“It should drink well for at least 24-25 years.”  94 points, Wine Advocate
Also available is 2015 ‘Mortar & Stone’ Red, a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah.  An intriguing wine with lots of complexity and structure, it is sourced from fruit grown in Aida Vineyard, high atop Atlas Peak.  According to Brown, the vineyard produces some of the most impressive berries, nicely structured and spicy rather than ‘super jammy’.  That spice component pairs beautifully with the tannin backbone and deep, black color of Mending Wall’s estate Syrah grapes.  It has a seductive appeal with good balance between earthy inputs and luscious fruit.
Reg. $50, now $39.95.
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LARRY HYDE CHARDONNAY: Everything you could want in a white wine

The grapes from Hyde Vineyard have long been sought after for some of California’s top-rated Chardonnays such as Aubert and Kistler.  Founded in 1979 by Larry Hyde, it is a grand cru-caliber site primarily known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fruit.

In 2009, Larry decided to debut his own small lot production project and today the Hyde Estate Winery overlooks the acclaimed Carneros vineyards.

This new wine under the Larry Hyde brand, this 100% Chardonnay from the near-perfect growing season of 2016 is elegant and weighty with ripe citrus aromas and a deep core of rich pear and honeydew melon that brings fantastic complexity.  The finish is filled with a touch of butter, a hint of toasted hazelnut and refreshing acidity.

This bottling has everything you could want in a white wine:  it will pair wonderfully with food and has the most vibrant, fresh – dare I say caressing – flavors.

Reg. $60, now $52.95

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Wines by J Gregory, menu by Hawks, experience by Capitol Cellars

Mark Jessup, along with his wife Kandice, is the owner of J Gregory, a line of ultra premium wines produced from superior grapes grown in select appellations throughout Napa Valley.
He understands that love of family, good friends and good wine should be celebrated and shared – which is why we are honored to partner with him on our next winemaker dinner at Hawks.
Mark works closely with a small handful of respected growers throughout Napa Valley, long term mutual relationships fostered over 30 years of winemaking. These grower relationships allow him to pick and choose from a variety of appellation personalities. The resulting wines are at once classic – and contemporary.
His winemaking philosophy reflects his early training and experience producing exemplary Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve wines at Opus One. As a result, his approach is a combination of old and new world winemaking, uniting new technology with old world methods to create distinctive wines with great character and long life.
We hope you can join us on Thursday, March 5. The wines have been selected and will be the inspiration for a delightful menu from Chef/Owner Michael Fagnoni.  Don’t delay in reserving your spot for what is sure to be a delightful spring evening.
2016 Chardonnay Napa Valley Carneros
2014 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2013 Extol Red Wine Napa Valley
2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Dessert Wine
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NEW RELEASE: 2017 Kanzler Russian River Pinot Noir

Steve and Lynda Kanzler, along with their son and winemaker Alex, make less than 500 cases of Pinot Noir from their famed estate vineyard in the Sebastopol hills.  Planted in 1996 upon rolling hills that were previously an apple orchard, their vineyard quickly developed a reputation for producing world-class Pinot Noir fruit.  Raised among the vines, Alex took over full time winemaking in 2011 after stints at Domaine Serene, Kosta Browne and Lynmar Estate.

Usually only available via an exclusive mailing list, this 2017 Russian River Pinot Noir is complex, multi-layered and sure to be a crowd pleaser. It showcases classic Russian River Valley depth, texture and lushness, while also being taut, elegant and almost weightless on the mid-palate. The wine glides across the palate leaving bursts of fruit, spice, earth and oak that echo into a sustained finish. This wine is a wonderful sipper but during tasting the mind immediately goes to grilled meats cooked on open fire, ideally on the gamey side like leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic or pork belly with black soy.

Reg. $65, call for exclusive pricing.

 

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