The Honest Pour with John Lenart

In Episode 12 of The Honest Pour I interviewed Marchese Lamberto Frescobaldi, owner of Frescobaldi. In this episode I interview a winemaker from one of his estates, Eleonora Marconi, winemaker at Frescobaldi’s Castello di Nipozzano Estate. Built in the year 1000 as a defensive fortress, today Castello di Nipozzano houses the wine cellars. I spoke with Marconi about her dedication to making wines for this historic estate her close working relationship with the Marchese.

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Eleonora Marconi, winemaker, Frescobaldi Castello di Nipozzano Estate

2013 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Riserva

Earthy nose with notes of red berries and leather. On the palate bright acidity is balanced by fresh red berry flavors accented with hints of cocoa, purple flowers  and silky tannin.

SRP: $20

2013 Frescobaldi Nipozanno Vecchie Viti

A restrained, elegant nose that slowly let’s you get to know it.  This ruby red wine starts with aromas of a bouquet of purple flowers and ripe berries. The texture is well balanced with flavors of luscious berries and coffee. A bit lean through the mid palate. Silky tannin and forward acid make this wine scream for food.

SPR: $27

2013 Frescobaldi Montesodi Chianti Rufina 

Extremely elegant nose. Gorgeous integration of fruit, earth and floral aromas. Velvety texture. Restrained flavors of red berries backed by subtle notes of cocoa, mushroom and earth with a fresh long finish. Pretty now, but will age fabulously for 5 to 10 years.

SRP: $42

When you think about drinks from Texas what first comes to mind might be Lone Star beer or Tito’s Vodka. But for the wine lover, look to Texas Hill Country. Here lies a burgeoning wine industry. The arid land and gently rolling hills there brings to mind the south of Spain. It’s in the hill country just outside of Austin that William Chris Vineyards is located. The Chris of William Chris, is Chris Brundrett, the native Texas winemaker winemaker who studied at Texas A&M. Brundrett is making some really delicious and  intriguing wines that express the terroir of the lone star state.

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  Chris Brundrett (Left, front) and  Bill Blackmon (Right front)

2016 William Chris Vineyards, Hye Estate Vineyard Malbec Rose

Pale peach in color. Nose of orange cream and wet stones. Bright on the palate with super-fun mandarin flavor combined with solid acidity and strong minerality.

SRP: $25

2015 William and Chris Vineyards, High Cross Vineyard Tempranillo

Super bright garnet color. Nose of red fruit, spices, and cola notes. On the palate flavors of red cherry and mixed red berries are backed up by silky tannin and medium acid all building to a long finish.

SRP: $40

2014 William Chris Vineyard, La Pradera Vineyard Petit Verdot

Deep, brooding color. Very floral nose of violets backed up with a good hit of limestone. Flavors of dried dark fruit, a bi candied but balanced by spiciness with bold tannins and complex acidity. Give 3 to 5 years for optimal drinking.

SRP:  $60

2014 William ChrisVineyards, Hye Estate Vineyard Tannat

An earthy nose of light purple flowers. Plum and cherry flavor predominate backed by hints of cocoa, cola and good minerality backed by bright acidity and grippy tannins.

SRP:  $60

Back in November I visited Jericho Canyon. I spent time with the winemaker Nicholas Bleecher who literally grew up beneath the vines of the vineyard his parent planted in Jericho Canyon, a secluded, steep sloped cut in the hills of Calistoga. Nick and I started our conversation atop the windy canyon, then went deep into the echo filled caves to taste some very special wine.

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Nicholas Bleecher, Winemaker, Jericho Canyon Vineyard

2011, Jericho Canyon Vineyard Merlot

Playful deep ruby color, Nose of violets, blueberry, black pepper and leather. Complex texture, with tannins are grippy. Flavors of blueberry, cassis, and darker fruits. Beautifully integrated with a long finish.

SRP: $75

2012 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Chimera

Deep rich ruby color. This Bordeaux blend shows aromas of black cherry, fig, and fresh herbs.  On the palate the tannins are youthful yet silky The flavor profile brings blackberry, dried fig, hints of vanilla and wood. Complex and long finish balanced by good acidity.

SRP:  $130

2013 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep serious color. Very elegant nose leads with dark ripe fruit balance by earthy notes. Velvety mouth feel on the attack bringing forward flavors of blackberry, cranberry, cassis, with hints of cocoa and baking spices. Mouthwatering acidity finishes off the lovely, complex, long lasting finish. This wine will age beautifully for 10 years or more.

SRP: $110

In Rutherford, just north of Oakville lies the Georges De Latour vineyards. While Mr. De Latour lacked creative naming for his vineyards, he found some of Napa’s greatest land for growing cabernet sauvignon. From these amazing properties the great André Tchelistcheff created some of the best wine available from Napa Valley. The weight of that history and sense of place is not lost on Jeffrey Stambor who today, as winemaker at BV, fosters that tradition of excellence. Stambor approaches winemaking at BV with the French sensibility of expressing what the land gives him rather than creating character in the winery.

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Jeffrey Stambor, Winemaker, Beaulieu Vineyard

2012 BV Reserve Clone IV Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford

This medium to full bodied wine offers aromas of dark cherry, earth, cocoa, graphite and leather. The lush texture shows flavors of blackberry, plum, cocoa, coffee, leather, balanced acidity and grippy tannin. This wine will age beautifully for the next 10 to 15 years.

SRP: $165

2012 BV Reserve Clone VI Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford

A touch darker and heavier than the Clone IV.  Complex aromas of blackberry, currant, earthiness, and sweet spices. Wonderfully balanced on the palate. Deep fruit flavors intermingle with mouthwatering acidity and luscious tannin. Long, long finish. You’ll love this wine now but will be much happier with it in 10  to 12 years.

SRP: $165

BV 2013 Georges De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine screams NAPA CAB! Very pretty and complex nose, loaded with flowers, cocoa, classic Rutherford dustiness, mint, and black olives. Velvety mouth feel leads to dark and complex fruit flavors with a distinct earthiness. Great acidity and youthful tannins show through the long intriguing finish. This wine is a classic. Wait at least five years before opening, but this wine will age gracefully for decades.

SRP: $145

BV 2013 Rarity

A special project by BV. Only 10 barrels produced available only in magnums. This special bottling was a blend originally intended to go into the Georges de la Tour Private Reserve but winemaker Jeffrey Stambor was so intrigued by this blend he decided to make a special bottling.

An elegant shy nose hints at luxurious dark fruit, pencil lead, vanilla and baking spices. A very rich, bold mouth-feel shows dark fruits and extraction one finds in cult cabs. Let this big boy rest.

SPR: $1250/ 1.5L

Without the influence of Robert Mondavi Napa Valley would still be a world-class wine region, but it wouldn’t be the same as it is today.  While his eponymous winery sold to a large corporation more than a decade ago, the wine making team there strives to assure that Mr. Mondavi’s influence and philosophy live on today.  Joe Harden is responsible for making the Bordeaux wine varieties for Robert Mondavi Winery. A former pro basketball player, Harden grew up in Lodi, the son of wine grape growers, who sold grapes to Mondavi. Upon leaving the hard court he returned to the world of wine and landed an internship, which turned into a job as winemaker, at Robert Mondavi. Even though he’s a young man, the responsibility of maintaining the tradition of Robert Mondavi does not escape Harden, and he’s making some fabulous wines from Mondavi’s To Kalon and other great vineyards.

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2014 Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve To Kalon Vineyard Fumé Blanc

Aromas of white flowers, green apple and light citrus, with a touch of passion fruit, cream fraiche.  The medium textured wine has a restrained elegant complexity with flavors of lemon, tangerine, with a supportive salinity and a touch of spice on the long finish.

SRP: $52

2014 Robert Mondavi Winery Maestro, Red Blend, Napa Valley

This Bright garnet wine is named as a tribute to Robert Mondavi. It presents  forward aromas of jammy red fruit, spice box, oak and eucalyptus. Although the nose is forward the flavors are elegant showing fresh red berries, plum, and violet, bright orangey acidity, cola notes, silky tannins and a long lingering finish.

SRP:  $50

2014 Robert Mondavi Winery The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, To Kalon, Oakville, Napa Valley

(Pre-release tasting) From the historic To Kalon Vineyard, this wine has a restrained and elegant nose leading with an earthy aroma combined with cocoa, coffee and a pronounce minerality. In the mouth this super young wine has a grippy, in your face, tannin structure made for aging that’s balance out by bright acidity. Delicious dark fruits hides behind the big structure waiting to time to reveal itself in time. This wine needs five to ten years, but  is sure to become harmonious, balanced, and for those with patience to wait, a true Napa Valley classic from a dream vintage.

SRP: $172.50

A lot of marketing efforts are being made to convince consumers that Champagne is not just for special occasions. While that’s true, some bottles are meant for times of celebration and opulence. Just by looking at the unique metalicized bottle of Armand de Brignac one can tell these cuvees are for special times. Produced by the Cattier family, who have been making fine Champagnes for 11 generations, Armand de Brignac produces five multi-vintage cuvees. Hip hop star and mogul Jay-Z loved the wine so much he bought the brand in 2014. Winemaker at Armand de Brignac, Emilien Boutillat is a native of Champagne who is committed to creating wines that express the best of Champagne.  While talking with Boutillat and tasting his wines, one can tell his efforts are succeeding.

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Armand de Brignac, Brut Gold MV

A  blend of 40% chardonnay, 40% pinot noir and 20% pinot meunier, from the 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Classic Champagne nose of citrus, green apple, toasted brioche and sweet spices. Silky elegant texture. Bight linear acidity brings on flavors of stone fruit, hints of red berries, white flowers and hints of vanilla.

SRP:  $300

Armand de Brignac, Rosé

A blend of 50% pinot noir, 40% pinot meunier and 10% chardonnay,  from the 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Very pretty salmon color. Delicate dark fruit nose with hints of strawberry jam. Fresh cherries lead the flavor but balanced by floral and even nutty notes with great acid and a long finish.

SRP: $450

Armand de Brignac, Blanc de Noirs, Assemblage Two

100% pinot noir from the 2008, 2009, and 2010 vintages. Less than 3000 bottles produces, each individually numbered.

Very bright silvery color. Aromas of stone fruit, apple, citrus and mint dominate this complex bouquet. Flavors of silky peach, and fresh apricot lead to a flinty minerality and mouthwatering acidity. Long complex finish begs you to drink more. Will cellar beautifully for years to come.

SRP: $850

Austin Hope was destined for the vineyard since he was in the fourth grade. Preferring to work in the dusty vineyard under the blazing sun of the Paso Robles summer, handed out by his father as punishment for poor behavior to school work, Austin Hope began his career in wine from an early age. Today, Austin handles the wine making for the numerous labels of the Hope Family Wines portfolio.  He approaches wine making with a sensibility and understanding of balance like only a select few winemakers of his generation do.  It’s this understanding that makes his Treana Blanc, a white Rhone blend, one of the most intriguing wines I’ve tasted this year.

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Austin Hope, Winemaker, Hope Family Wines (Photo Credit Celeste Hope)

2015 Love and Hope Rosé

A collaboration with celebrity chef Tim Love. This pale salmon rosé shows delicate aromas of under ripe strawberry, white flowers,  and good minerality. The fruit is balanced beautifully on the palate by bright acidity with a complex, slightly herbal finish.

SRP: $20

2014, Treana Blanc

Golden hues to a slightly green rim. This white Rhone blend presents a demure nose of melon which gives way to a flinty minerality.  Restrained flavors of tropical fruit are enhanced by well integrated floral notes, bold minerality and balanced acidity. Amazing structure and weight. I loved this wine.

SRP: $30

2014, Treana Red

Deep and intense inky color leads to a ruby rim. Bold dark fruit aromas of cassis, blueberry and blackberry with a touch of mint let you know this is a big wine. Lush berry flavors are balanced by good acidity and velvety fine tannin. Alcohol seems to be a bit hot.

SRP: $45

Bottle images courtesy of Hope Family Wines

It seems that every year China gobbles up a bigger share of the world’s best wines. Yet when it comes to producing great wine, China makes none. Until now. It would seem in a country so vast that a great wine growing region must exist. The minds at Moet Hennessy thought so too and sought it out. After years of research they settled on the foothills of the Himalaya, high in the Yunnan province, and charged Maxence Dulou, with creating a world class Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards exceeding 8500 feet in elevation.

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              Maxence Dulou, Estate Manager, Ao Yun

2013, Ao Yun, Cabernet Sauvignon

An impressive first vintage. Dark plum aromas combined with complex earthy notes of mushroom, green pepper, spices, and dried violets. The texture is super velvety, suggesting a wine of much more maturity. Dark berries and plum compote flavors combine with a unique earthiness that is neither like Bordeaux or California cabernet. Decent, yet not bold acidity backs up a super long finish of velvety tannins.

                           SRP: $300

When it comes to Burgundy the name of the producer on the bottle might just be the most important piece of information. Some producers make a scant barrel or two per vintage fro a single vineyard. Others, like Maison Louis Jadot make wines from across Burgundy, ranging from Chablis to the Mâconnais. The challenge is to maintain the terroir from each bottling. Frederic Barnier, winemaker at Maison Louis Jadot, tells me how he embraces this challenge and others while we sample wines from the upcoming release of the 2015 vintage.

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Frederic Barnier, Winemaker, Maison Louis Jadot

2015,  Louis Jadot Domaine Duc de Magenta Morgeot Clos de la Chapelle Monopole Rouge, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru

Very floral nose highlighting good minerality and a bit of perfume.While round and rich this wine shows more earth than fruit on the palate. The fruit notes are stone fruit backed up by citrusy acidity.

SRP: $120

2015 Louis Jadot Domaine des Heritiers Boucherottes, Beaune Premier Cru

Rich and bright almost magenta in color. An explosion of berry and violet on the nose. Very Pommard in style. A tannic attack reveals earthiness and mixed fresh red berries, leather, cola, and nice acidity.

SRP: $50

2015 Louis Jadot Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits

An absolutely stunning nose that screams “YES!” This is what Grand Cru Burgundy is all about. Elegant all around. On the palate this wine has all of the hallmarks of a classic in it’s infancy. Great fruit, silky tannin, and bold acid are all present yet still not integrated. The flavor of this wine should become more harmonious with a few years of age. Worth the wait.

SRP: $250

2015 Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent Clos de Rochegres, Beaujolais

Super fun and fruity nose. Still super young and showing a bit more earth up front but slowly reveals flavors of luscious red berries. Bold tanning and forward acidity. Super long finish.

SRP: $35