Time to catch up on a shipment of special occasion samples. I chose the list featured here because they were worthy of a celebration, or they were wines I’d serve to the special people in my life. By design, I chose a balance of differently priced wines so more people could join in on the fun.
Sparkling
2019 Laetitia Brut Coquard Sparking Wine – Priced at an affordable $48, this wine had a great nose of berries and flowers. It is described by the winery as being pressed using traditional Coquard champagne presses making a “Cuvee” from estate vines.
Whites
2020 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay– a quintessential Napa Chardonnay has lots of depth and layers. I got notes of baked apple, tropical fruits, candied citrus, Asian spices, and stone fruit with a touch of vanilla.
2018 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay — this is made in an Older World style and you can taste that minerality, apple, cinnamon and lots of citrus.
2020 Flora Springs Soliloquy — a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Malvasia, this white blend has notes of citrus, mango, apple, hazelnut, stone fruit and flowers.
Reds
2018 Etude Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch — This estate Pinot Noir is a blend of the best grapes from individual rows. I tasted strawberry, spice, oolong tea, flowers, cedar, and earth.
2018 Stag’s Leap “The Leap” Cabernet Sauvignon – This seductive and elegant wine made from select estate blocks had notes of currant, licorice, expresso, flowers, and chocolate.
2018 Stag’s Leap Petite Sirah – lots of blue and black fruit, flowers, licorice, chocolate, and earth.
2011 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon – I had the chance to sit down with winemaker Kristy Melton to talk about her philosophy of making wine last May. Her wines are beautiful and this one was delicious, nuanced, and elegant. I tasted notes of dark berry, dark chocolate, cherry cordial, herbs, oak, cedar, and spice.
2016 Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley— I can’t write a piece on celebratory wines without including Jordan Winery Jordan Winery who is the consummate provider of celebrations. This wine had notes of red fruit, spice, herbs, and chocolate.
Stay tuned for more great celebratory samples you’ll want to try!
