DuMOL Pinot Noir Estate 2011 – One of America’s True Grand Crus

---

Christopher’s Wine Country Connection

---

DuMOL Pinot Noir Estate 2011
(93-95) points Wine Advocate

~ When it comes to reference point Pinot Noir, there are TWO estates on the planet which growers of this uber-luscious, ever-fickle varietal consider vanguards: Domaine de la Romanee Conti & Domaine Leroy.

~ So when DuMOL’s 2011 Estate recently recorded a potential 95 point ranking from The Wine Advocate, serious Pinot aficionados took note!

~ Why? For vintage 2011, The Wine Advocate bestowed a similar 95 points upon Domaine Leroy’s Grand Cru Richebourg.

~ The difference? Leroy’s 2011 Richebourg will set you back a cool $3000!

~ DuMOL’s 2011 Estate Pinot:

Retails at:  $100/btl
Your Price: $94.99/btl

From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:

“The flagship 2011 Pinot Noir Estate DuMol Estate is all about balance and harmony. Nothing in particular stands out, just the wine’s stunning balance and proportion. Deep, rich and voluptuous yet backed up by serious tannins, the 2011 is an infant today. It will be great fun to see where this goes. Today, the Dumol Estate is pure sexiness in the glass! Amazingly, these vines are just seven years old. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.” 
(93-95) points

---

DuMOL

---

From The Pinot File:

“Since its beginning in 1996, DuMOL has had a stellar lineup of wines which today includes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier. Partners Michael Verlander, Kerry Murphy and winemaker/partner Andy Smith tend to lead a low profile with very minimal public exposure and let their wines speak for themselves.

Verlander and Murphy met in 1990 when Murphy was dining in Verlander’s Walnut Creek restaurant. Murphy had been collecting wines from Burgundy since he sold his family tire business, Murphy’s Inc., to Goodyear in 1987. The two men decided to start DuMOL in 1996. The first year they produced 300 cases split evenly between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Dutton Ranch.

The winemaker and viticulturist since 2000 is talented Andy Smith who became a partner in the winery in 2005. Prior to coming to DuMOL, he studied under Neil McCallum (Dry River, Martinborough), Ted Lemon (Littorai) and Paul Hobbs.”

If your account is set up, hit reply and indicate your desired order.

Or contact our office to establish an account and place your order: (866) 620-4476

All the best in wine & life,

Christopher
Wine Country Connection

cepagenoir@gmail.com
https://cepagenoir.wordpress.com/

DuMol Single Vineyard Selections for 2011 ~ “One of the superstar sources” RP

---

Christopher’s Wine Country Connection

---

~ Robert Parker, when discussing the otherworldly, simply majestic Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from DuMol said it best:

~ “This is one of the superstar sources of tremendous Chardonnay and Pinot Noir…. Proprietor Kerry Murphy and his brilliant winemaker, Andy Smith, are huge fans of Burgundy and have searched out some of the coolest climate regions of the Russian River and Sonoma Coast to produce these wines, which all show impressive aging potential….DuMol continues to be one of the most reliable names in winedom for high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.” ~ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

~NOTE: The 2011’s are tightly allocated…Orders will be taken 1st come 1st serve… 3 bottles of each would make the perfect 15 pack!

2011 DuMOL Chloe Chardonnay
Retails at:  $68.00/btl
Your Price: $63.99/btl
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:”A big, broad-shouldered wine, the 2011 Chardonnay Chloe Ritchie Vineyard stands out for its pure structure, volume and richness, all buttressed by beams of acidity. The 2011 is all about balance and richness, but without excess heaviness. This is going to be another fascinating wine to follow. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2023.”
(93) Points

2011 DuMOL Clare Chardonnay
Retails at:  $68.00/btl
Your Price: $63.99/btl
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate: “DuMol’s 2011 Chardonnay Clare Hyde Vineyard is a classic expression of Carneros. Warm, rich and resonant (for the year), the 2011 saturates the palate with the essence of orange peel, mint, spices and a hint of French oak. The 2011 is laced with endless intensity of flavor and great overall balance. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2023.”
(94) WA

2011 DuMOL Ryan Pinot Noir
Retails at:   $95.00/btl
Your Price: $89.99/btl
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:“The 2011 Pinot Noir Ryan Widdoes Vineyard stands out for its deep, implosive personality. Juicy dark cherries, incense, hard candy and spices all flesh out in this large-scaled, voluptuous Pinot. This is a surprisingly structured powerful wine with a seemingly bright, bright future. Today, the smokiness from the medium-toast Remond barrels is a bit noticeable, but if that element subsides over time, I expect the 2011 Ryan will come at the high end of my rating. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2023.” (92) WA

2011 DuMOL Estate Pinot Noir
Retails at:  $100/btl
Your Price: $94.99/btl
From Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate:“The flagship 2011 Pinot Noir Estate DuMol Estate is all about balance and harmony. Nothing in particular stands out, just the wine’s stunning balance and proportion. Deep, rich and voluptuous yet backed up by serious tannins, the 2011 is an infant today. It will be great fun to see where this goes. Today, the Dumol Estate is pure sexiness in the glass! Amazingly, these vines are just seven years old. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026.”  (95) Points

2011 DuMOL Eddies Patch SYRAH
Retails at:  $95.00/btl
Your Price: $89.99/btl
Wine Advocate Review on the 2010 Eddie’s Patch:“DuMol’s 2010 Syrah Eddie’s Patch Hoppe-Kelly Vineyard is beautifully centered. Savory herbs, licorice, graphite, menthol and blackberries all jump from the glass. Vibrant and totally alive, the 2010 stands out for its focus and sheer verve. Another year or two in bottle should only help the 2010 show even better. Layers of fruit build to the explosive, intense finish. Simply put, this is dazzling juice. Wow! Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
95 WA

If your account is already established, simply reply to this post to order.

OR call me at my office number (510.749.0325) to set up an account.
All the best in wine & life,

Christopher
Wine Country Connection

cepagenoir@gmail.com
https://cepagenoir.wordpress.com/

 

Walter Hansel “Cahill Lane” Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2010 ~ One of THIS Country’s Most Prominent!

---

Christopher’s Wine Country Connection

---

Walter Hansel “Cahill Lane”
Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2010
93 points, “Striking”
Wine Advocate

~ For as long as I have been following California Chardonnay (more than a decade), Walter Hansel Winery has been counted among the top half dozen when considering this country’s best producers of extremely high quality, consistently noteworthy bottlers of that varietal. When it comes to Chardonnay from America, few do it as well – as consistently – as Walter Hansel Winery.

~ Robert Parker echoed that sentiment when he reported: “For a winery founded only in 1996 (situated down the road from Dehlinger and Kistler), this estate is on fire, producing Burgundian-styled offerings that are the products of natural yeast fermentations, gentle handling in the cellars, with the Pinot Noirs kept on their lees, and no fining or filtration at bottling. If readers have not yet tasted the wines of Walter Hansel, they are missing some stunning wines.”

Walter Hansel “Cahill Lane” Chardonnay 2010

MSRP: $50
Your price: $39

---

~Walter Hansel Winery ~

---

From that inaugural review of Walter Hansel Winery’s Chardonnays, these single vineyard designated treasures have been increasingly difficult to acquire. Today, while my allocation remains, I offer you a shot at what the Wine Advocate dubbed “Striking”.

“One of the more overt wines in the lineup, the 2010 Chardonnay Cahill Lane blossoms from the glass with tropical fruit, honey, smoke, licorice and incense. Exotic in its aromas and flavors and oily in texture, the Cahill Lane captures a striking balance of depth and richness but without any excess heaviness. The personality of these Wente clones comes through loud and clear. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2015.”
93 points, Wine Advocate

If your account is already established, simply reply to this post to order, or call me at my office number below to set up an account.
All the best in wine & life,

Christopher
Wine Country Connection

510.749.0325

cepagenoir@gmail.com

Donatiello Pinot Noir Russian River 2010 ~ the Anthill Farms Connection

---

Christopher’s Wine Country Connection

---

DONATIELLO Pinot Noir 2010
Russian River Valley

* Winemaker Webster Marquez gained much of his experience working at highly respected Pinot producer Williams-Selyem…

* Marquez also co-owns the highly sought after Cult Pinot label called Anthill Farms…

Retails at:  $40.00/btl

Your Price: $33.99/btl

(That’s over 20% OFF) + Ground Shipping Included on Case Purchases

 “Powerful aromas of black cherry, cola, dried cranberries and plum; Deep, layered flavors of black raspberry, dark plum, chocolate, rhubarb, & cola. The big forward fruit, combined with ultra-fine tannins create a fabulous length, and very pleasurable velvety finish. This is a Pinot for those who enjoy delicious forward fruit, concentration and the classic silky finish that only great Pinot Noirs can deliver!“

~2010 Donatiello Russian River Pinot~

This tremendous Russian River Valley Pinot find has all the pedigree to become the Next Cult Pinot Producer. Winemaker Webster Marquez already has a cult like following for his Anthill Farms Pinots, and combined with his experience at highly respected Pinot producer Williams-Selyem, the new Donatiello Russian River Pinot is a wine to secure now! At a special price of less than $34/btl and with the added benefit of shipping included on case purchases, the new Donatiello Pinot is one of our best discoveries this year. I strongly recommend adding a 15 bottle case or two of this magnificent Russian River Pinot to your cellar. This reminds me of when we first discovered Pinot producers such as Ketcham Estate, Pey Lucia and Walter Hansel….

The Prince of Pinot – writing in his Pinot File – defined Webster while discussing the Anthill Farms project,

 

“Webster Marquez grew up on the East Coast and attended college in Virginia. Here he began working as an assistant winemaker at Jefferson Vineyards. He then moved to Sonoma County where he joined Williams Selyem. Currently he is the winemaker at C. Donatiello Winery in Healdsburg. The trio’s goal is to craft Pinot Noirs that “express the growing site and the characteristics of the vintage, and above all else, taste good.” They disdain the riper style of Pinot Noir, looking more for freshness of flavor and acidity.”
~ The Pinot File

Fans of exceptionally high quality, Russian River Valley Pinot, I strongly recommend jumping on board with this up and coming Cult Pinot, before the rest of the world catches on….

To order, reply to this post, email at the address below or call my office…

All the best in wine & life,
Christopher
Wine Country Connection
510.749.0325

cepagenoir@gmail.com

Updates from The Greats – Donelan Family Wines

 

Donelan Family Wines

If you have plans for being in the Sonoma area in early August, add this event to your itinerary, NOW.

For ME, when it comes to selecting the top 5 or so greatest experiences my palate has enjoyed, considering wines from America, there will simply not be a better offer to come our way this year. For true Syrah aficionados, Grenache fanatics or lovers of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage, Donelan Family Wines (formerly known as Pax) bottles the most expressive, sublime, powerful and hedonistic single-vineyard-designated and blended wines of this generation.

I have been drinking and collecting these exquisite wines for many vintages now. I encourage you to do the same.

Donelan Summer 2010 Open House and current offers:

via Donelan Summer 2010 Open House.

DONELAN FAMILY WINES – CHATEAUNEUF AND HERMITAGE FROM AMERICAN LEGENDS

 

Donelan Family (PAX)

If price alone predicates your daily “quaffer” selections, vinously speaking, then perhaps this collection will fall somewhere outside your comfort zone. But for ME, when it comes to selecting the top 5 or so greatest experiences my palate has enjoyed, considering wines from America, there will simply not be a better offer to come our way this year. For true Syrah aficionados, Grenache fanatics or lovers of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage, Donelan Family Wines (formerly known as Pax) bottles the most expressive, sublime, powerful and hedonistic single-vineyard-designated and blended wines of this generation.

I have been drinking and collecting these exquisite wines for many vintages now. I encourage you to do the same.

A Very Special Offer of Pax & Donelan Verticals.

Lost Canyon, Widdoes, and the Dutton Ranch Connection

One taste, I was absolutely hooked!  Then I began to hear the story, the tale of the connection, the reason this wine stayed with me for so many hours.  Take a moment, if you can spare the time. Because the folks behind the label, the gentle farmers tending the grapes, they are the real story, and the reason you’ll never forget the flavors you’re about to experience.

There is something so graceful, so alluring about this farming family.  Their names are Warren and Gail Dutton and they first purchased land in California in 1964.  Most in these parts considered the area too cold to ripen wine grapes. But not the Duttons.  They planted this land, a parcel near the tiny town of Graton – a place they dubbed “Home Ranch” – to wine grapes, as well as apples, two of their favorite crops.  Today, what was once a humble little home ranch upstart is the most important vineyard in the Russian River Appellation of California.

If you’ve spent even a passing amount of time glancing over the labels of some of this country’s most sought after wines, you already know the name of Dutton Ranch.  Consider for just a moment the Dutton’s first 2 clients, the first wineries in California to purchase these grapes from this hard-working, down-to-earth farming couple; the chart-topping Martin Ray and the world-famous Kistler!  Today, these two winery’s wines routinely fetch prices that exceed $200.

Yes, the Dutton Ranch connection, from humble beginnings in the 1960s, is about as close to a mark of perfection as a winery may achieve in the Russian River today.  The list of clients, proudly displaying the Dutton Ranch name on their labels – indicating they have purchased grapes from one of the Dutton vineyards – includes more than 25 of America’s greatest wineries, to include the aforementioned Kistler (who first bottled a Dutton Ranch wine in 1979), Conn Valley Vineyards, Hartford Court, Lewis Cellars, Patz & Hall and so many others.  The list of clients purchasing fruit also includes such famous labels as Kosta Browne, L’Angevin, Ramey and Ferrari-Carrano, to name but a few. 

And now, as I’ve discovered, we have another.  A quiet winery.  Yet a winery that was established as far back as 1978 – but at that time just a couple of guys were making a few cases near Oakland.  It was a quiet affair, not much excitement in the air back then for wines from a little place called Stag’s Leap Vineyard…not many folks out there looking around for Pinots from a place called Carneros….

And then, these two guys became three.  And then, as lucky guys always do, these three guys met the Duttons!  The rest, as they say, is history.  I have been lucky enough to be the first guy in town to taste the first release – from one of California’s best Pinot vintages in a long time – from one of the Dutton’s finest vineyards – called the Widdoes Vineyard – bottled by a winery called Lost Canyon.  A wine that I can still taste as I write to you this afternoon.  A wine that deserves all the praise bestowed upon it.  A wine truly deserving of the Dutton connection.

A wine deserving of a place in the collections of those with a taste for this country’s very greatest Pinot Noirs.

Interested in availability?  Contact me at the shop…

All the best in wine and life,

Christopher Massie
Diplome D’Honneur de Sommelier
713-524-9144
2439 Times BLVD
Houston, TX 77005

Enkidu – Russian River Meets Ampuis

So I found myself at the conclusion of a highly satisfying wine tasting last week, the final wine at which was a staggering St.-Joseph from the estate of Cuilleron in the Northern Rhone. The guests at my event and I had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves during our intimate gathering together at Bistro des Amis and I had excused myself to assist a new client with a wine purchase. Inviting my guests to finish off any wines remaining in the half-full bottles while I was other-wise occupied resulted – quite naturally – in the IMMEDIATE draining of the juice left in the Cuilleron bottle. “What ever am I to drink as I pull orders and do paper-work tonight”, I happily thought upon my return.

Then I remembered the wine I had recently ear-marked for this week’s Wine-of-the-Week!

I gathered up my things, headed back to the wine shop and immediately plunged my trusty wine key into another bottle of this staggering (or at the very least stunning) bottle of Russian River Valley Syrah. YES, it absolutely holds its ground after drinking a $90 bottle of 95 point rated Northern Rhone Syrah! Doubt me? Don’t buy it, please! Leave it for me – this is my latest daily drinker. I’ve already drank 3 bottles and it’s only been here a week.

OK, so perhaps you’d like a bit of background…

The “old fella” behind the project known as Enkidu is Philip Staehle. I affectionately refer to him as I do because he’s been around this business longer than I have. In fact, he’s made Sonoma his professional hang-out since I was just a lad in this business. So deeply rooted in the vineyards of the Russian River is ol’ Staehle that it’s no wonder that another “old man” of the business, Parker, immediately announced to the world that the wines of Enkidu are not to be missed:

Robert Parker reviewed Enkidu’s wines in 2007 and 2008. He was extremely complimentary both years:

“This impressive new producer has turned out some attractive reds that merit serious attention.”­

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (Aug 2007)

“These wines continue to impress me as elegant examples of Rhone Ranger blends.” ­

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (Aug 2008)

And so it is with great pleasure that I offer to you (before I drink it all) my allocation of the great Enkidu 2005:

2005 Enkidu Syrah Odyssey Vineyard Russian River Valley
Enkidu Wine
Syrah Dry Red Table Wine
Russian River Valley, Sonoma, North Coast, California, USA

Review by Cepage Noir
E*Newsletter Winter 2008
Rating: 92
“An Outstanding wine worth your serious attention that will impress and offer memorable drinking experiences.”
Drink: 2008 – 2018

“An absolutely opaque, black, ruby purple robe sets the taster up for one of the most memorable and deeply complex Syrahs of the entire vintage, certainly of the Russian River appellation. Mirroring the aromatics of Northern Rhone super Syrahs from Cote Rotie, this 2005 Odyssey offers nuances of roasted meats, captivating charcoal / graphite, black berry pie, toasted bread / pain grille’ and buckets of decadent fruits allied to deeply complex French Oak. The flavors are captivating to echo the aromas and caress the palate to include the deep black berry and smoky French Oak flavors. Tasted after a near-triple digit Northern Rhone, this was that wine’s equal. Stunning, just stunning.”
– Cepage Noir

for details regarding availability and pricing, contact me at the shop…

All the best in wine and life,

Christopher Massie
Diplome D’Honneur de Sommelier
713-524-9144
2439 Times BLVD
Houston, TX 77005

Scherrer Vineyards – Mr. Massie Goes to California

(taken from my first report on these wines; a report that introduced these fantastic wines to our portfolio…these Pinots remain a part of our selections to this day…)

        While my recent discoveries had nothing to do with politics or a 1939 movie, I take some solace in the fact that not every voyage yields the anticipated results.  Hence the comparison of my ‘journey’ to the one taken by Mr. Smith in 1939.  In other words, my eyes were opened wide by the events as they unfolded before me.  Or more specifically, before my palate. 

        This journey began as I sat at my desk reading the one wine journal I wish I had the time and financial vigor to author, ALLEN MEADOWS’ BURGHOUND.  There it was, intriguing and at the same time unbelievable.  Meadows was reporting the results of a marathon tasting event.  Organized by one of his long-time friends, Kevin Harvey, it appeared the goal was to sample as many of the so-called top-flight “mailing-list-only” California Pinot Noirs they could get their hands on.  Without question, simply because I am constantly looking forward, I envied their task.

        While my palate was trained on French Red Burgundy as the reference point for Pinot Noir, I have over the years experimented greatly with the American versions.  Let me say this much first and without doubt: California Pinot Noir is not Burgundy, nor is it supposed to be.  Simply take into account the weather, as I have so often overlooked when tasting the West Coast Pinots.  While the average temperature in Napa during June is in the low 80s, Burgundy, by contrast reports average temperatures in the high 60s as normal for the same time of year.  Yes, there are peaks and valleys in temperature, but these are the averages. 

        But weather alone does not explain the differences between Pinots from these two viticultural areas.  That can only be explained through tasting the results.  And that is exactly what I set out to do after Meadows’ revealing report.  That too was a journey, more frustrating than the tasting itself.

        Wine people, as I know personally, are weird.  We love to share the joy, the excitement, the unending mental stimulation of the fruit of the vine.  But we only share, it seems, when we are among like-minded comrades.  Proof?  I sent 18 requests to wine makers/vineyard owners.  Requests for samples, more information, visiting times to their properties, you name it.  “I want to buy your wines”, I stated, very clearly.  Guess how many have responded so far.  ONE, ONLY ONE.  The vineyards I am attempting to begin relations with are routinely regarded as the best of their types in California.  Until they know me personally, they are reluctant to share.  “…Oh I’m sure he’s only trying to cherry-pick us off some review he just read…”, seems to be the feeling among these great Pinot producers.

        But that hasn’t stopped me.  It has, quite to the contrary, encouraged me further.  Like I said, we’re weird that way.  If these so named superstars jumped sky high the moment I called, I might wonder if they were as good as people say.  Heck, if commercialism is their only goal, they’d be at every liquor store in town by now, right?  And that’s certainly not where my head is.  I guess that makes us comrades.  And I’m patient.  We comrades WILL be face to face, very soon.

        But I digress.  Let’s talk again about the man who did, after 4 phone calls and 5 emails, contact me.  His name is Fred Scherrer.  And his resume’ is another of those envied things for me with this new journey.  For one, BURGHOUND tells us, “I have greatly admired and followed the wines of Fred Scherrer…”  in the report that started this for me.  Add to that his time at one of my old favorites Dehlinger Vineyards, as wine maker, and you know why I was so flattered to receive his sample bottles.  This is going to be exciting, I thought.  A chance to compare Scherrer to Magnien.  I am so lucky!

        SCHERRER VINEYARDS  

        Just as a comparison, not to see who was better, but how they differed, I opened a bottle of Fred Magnien’s similarly priced red Burgundy to taste with Scherrer’s Pinots.  When I finished my review and phoned him with the results, Scherrer seemed tickled.  It appears that Fred Scherrer is a fan of Fred Magnien.  Comrades, we are complete comrades…
 
          Describing California Pinot Noir is quite different.  That is to say Burgundy is more about the soil, while California Pinots seem to be about fruit nuances.  And my notes confirmed this, as fruit was at the fore with Scherrer’s wines.  But the balance was impressive, too.

        We now have, in stock, as a result of my eye and palate opening tasting, several selections from the Scherrer Vineyard:

For more detailed tastings notes and availability sign up for my weekly emails at:

http://cepagenoir.com/?a=contact.

 Follow my blog at:

http://cepagenoir.blogspot.com/

 

All the best!
Christopher Massie
Diplome D’Honneur de Sommeliere