New Arrivals

Located 2 hours east of San Francisco in the San Joaquin Valley, Lodi does not exactly spring to mind as a California wine region. Yet Lodi has had vineyards since the 1850s and currently accounts for 25% of all wine grapes produced in California and 40% of California Zinfandel. Of course, Lodi produces a lot of bargain-priced supermarket wine. But as Lodi’s many old vine vineyards are being shifted away from producing bulk wine, the region’s reputation for bold, full-bodied, and delicious Zinfandel has been growing ever higher. According to the winery, the Old Vine Zinfandel “has aromas of ripe bing cherry, anise and boysenberry jam. On the palate it has rounded tannins, carries a note of raspberry, and finishes with a hint of caramel. It provides an excellent accompaniment to grilled chicken, steak or lamb and most pasta dishes.”

We all need to be drinking more sparkling wine. Fine bubbly can accompany any dish, brighten any day, and liven up any conversation. Domaine St. Vincent Rosé will add joie de vivre to your routine at no greater expense than any other everyday wine. It may be Gruet of New Mexico’s second label, but it’s made by the same classic method as all their vintage and non-vintage sparklers. Crisp and zesty, this 100% Pinot Noir offers mouth-watering wild strawberry, bing cherry, lavender and floral notes along with a lovely, effervescent mousse that maintains vivacious acidity throughout a long and refreshing finish. Pair with the end (or start?) of any day!

Shannon Ridge is a line of modestly-priced wines that are sourced from estate-owned vineyards in three Lake County appellations: High Valley, Red Hills, and Big Valley. Warm summer days and cool nights as well as the volcanic soils in mountain vineyards make for excellent terroir for Sauvignon blanc. The winery characterizes the wine as “brimming with lemongrass, mango, tangerine, and gooseberry flavors. Steely crispness is perfectly balanced by a lush tropical fullness and complex, lingering finish.” It would pair well with sashimi or a lazy spring afternoon under the cherry blossoms.

Shannon Ridge Chardonnay is sourced from mountain vineyards in the High Valley, Red Hills, and Big Valley appellations in Lake County. High Valley fruit adds lively citrus flavors and bright acidity, while grapes from Red Hills contribute a generous, ripe fruit character. Big Valley adds more balance with grassiness and mineral tones. As noted by the winery, “The balanced fruit and oak aromas of this Chardonnay blends seamlessly with flavors of ripe peaches, pineapple, vanilla, butter, and caramel for a silky-smooth lingering finish.”

In the early 20th century, Petite Sirah was one of the most widely planted grapes in Lake County. Shannon Ridge Petite Sirah reminds us that these high-elevation appellations comprise excellent terroir for this varietal. Pour a glass and take in the inky purple/black in color, aromas of dusty ripe plums, and rich flavors of blueberry jam, blackberries, chocolate, earth and spice. It’s a fruit-forward, full-bodied wine with a nice structure of acidity and tannin. Restrained ABV of 13.9% ensures it will harmonize with rather than overwhelm your meal.

Shannon Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from three appellations in Lake County. This is a juicy, fruit-forward wine that will liven up casual dining on weekdays or weekends. Moderate alcohol (13.8%), refreshing acidity, and lively tannins will make an excellent match with burgers or pizza. According to the winery, this Cab “offers blackberry and dried cranberry characters with notes of pepper and allspice. The lengthy finish shows hints of cedar along with ripe fruit and toasted oak.”

Situated in the heart of the Monterrey Wine Country, Poppy was founded by the Silva Family in 2003 with an eye toward producing excellent Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon in several Central Coast appellations, such as Santa Lucia Highlands, Arroyo Seco, Monterey and Paso Robles. This Chardonnay was sourced exclusively from a hillside vineyard in the cool Santa Lucia Highlands. Whereas past vintages drew from several coastal vineyards, the focus this year was on showcasing the unique qualities of this single site. The resulting wine is beautifully balanced and luscious with a clean, inviting nose that showcases tropical fruit, floral notes (especially orange blossom), citrus, and subtle spice. The generous palate offers flavors of tropical and stone fruit enhanced by well-balanced acidity. This is a wine to savor and enjoy, a true testament to the quality of grapes grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Fans of Blacksmith Cellars should be pleased with this new addition to our list: yet another great value in the form of a fabulously well-crafted wine from a beautiful vineyard in a top AVA. Like the Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this Merlot comes from a single vineyard on the eastern side of the valley, where soils are thin and rocky. The winery’s notes on this wine say, “More suggestive of red currants than black in both scent and taste with a mannerly bit of grip, this Merlot is blended with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon which escorts it to a point where the blend is a balanced, nicely contained offering of medium weight. It is not a huge and intimidating wine, but it stays in focus with a clean fruit profile that is layered with a modest amount of supporting sweet oak that helps it on its way to a lingering, gently tannic finish, and it will competently turn the trick as an affordable partner to steaks and chops now and for the coming three or four years.”

The Clay Shannon Sauvignon Blanc is sourced primarily from a single vineyard in the High Valley AVA. This high-elevation area features a unique east-west orientation that funnels in cool air off the lake as well as gravelly volcanic soils. Harvesting grapes at low brix gives the wine minerality and structure. The wine includes a small amount of riper fruit from Red Hills, which added body,  and Big Valley, which added high-toned, grassy notes to the aromatics. The winery says, “In the nose, you find lime, apricot, passion fruit, and flowery peach as well as some herbaceous notes like bell pepper and grass. On the palate: bright acidity combined with a viscous mouthfeel and a long finish.”

Clay Shannon Chardonnay is mainly sourced from cool sites in the Red Hills AVA (43%) with the rest from vineyards around Lake County. The wine was made to emphasize the fresh flavors of pure Chardonnay with little influence of oak or malolactic fermentation. The winery’s notes describe “aromas of pear, nutmeg, honeydew, lemon zest with just a hint of butter. On the palate: Meyer lemon, Fuji apple, vanilla & baking spices. Bright, clean with a creamy texture.”

“State Street” is the winery’s new label for an appellation Central Coast blend. Bright purple in color, it offers fresh aromas of blueberries, blackberries, violets, and hints of black pepper. The palate is refreshing and polished with a firm tannic grip framing the flavors of black fruits, cloves, and cinnamon. Should be great with burgers, spare ribs, grilled veggies, or Mexican dishes. 

Clay Shannon Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from vineyards in two Lake County AVAs: High Valley (56%) and Red Hills (44%). These high-elevation mountain vineyards benefit from well-drained soils, cooling breezes and winds, clean air, and high UV light, conditions that produce wine with texture, tannin, and intensity. Blending High Valley’s dark, deep, and rich flavors with the brighter notes of Red Hills ensured this wine is complex, layered, and deeply satisfying. While the wine is young, decanting is recommended - or cellaring for six months or a year or more.