Joseph Phelps Insignia
Beau Rivage Chenin Blanc
William Kelley is better known as the Wine Advocate's mould-breaking wine critic. Yet he is also a very gifted winemaker and now, winegrower. Kelley’s micro-Burgundy project released its first wines from the 2019 vintage, and the ambitious pricing has not dampened the fervour—the wines are as remarkable as they are rare. Yet Kelley’s first foray into winemaking did not start in Beaune, Pommard or Gevrey-Chambertin but in the quiet, pastoral AVA of Clarksburg on the outskirts of Sacramento. Rolling back to 2016, Kelley recalls that he and friend-slash-business partner Frank Ingriselli were looking for organically farmed old vines in Californian sub-regions where variety aligned with climate, which led them to Chenin in Clarksburg. “We then applied artisanal French winemaking techniques and sort of waited to see what happened,” he recalls. What happened is that Beau Rivage promptly reset the conversation around the potential to craft world-class Chenin Blanc from Californian soils. Made in Calistoga, this increasingly impressive Chenin Blanc is drawn from some of Clarksburg’s oldest vines, planted in the 1960s and sourced from a long-term organic grower. The grapes are picked in two lots: those from the sunny side of the vine were crushed to release extract, while fruit from the shadier side was pressed as whole clusters using a very long, firm cycle. The musts are fermented with indigenous yeasts and were raised in eight-year-old, low-toast Burgundy barrels. William Kelley uses more and more solids each year, with the wine building texture and drive from its time on lees. Expect a tension-filled and chalky white marrying the engaging texture of well-ripened Chenin Blanc with lovely clarity, fine-boned texture and impressive length. It doesn’t seem too early to call this out as a new Californian benchmark for the variety.
Creamery Chardonnay
100% barrel fermented to create a rich Chardonnay exhibiting a classic profile of tropical fruit and Bosc pear alongside warm oak aromatics. The luscious palate suggests crème brulee and buttered toast, and finishes with fresh acidity
Spitfire Kentish Ale
Since 1698, (that's over 310years!) Shepherd Neame have been crafting fine ales of Britain. This ale, named after the fighter plane that fought and won The Battle of Britain, has a dark amber appearance, with toffee and dried fruit aromatics. A full and textual mouth-feel leave a lasting spicy bitter after taste.
Stone's Alcoholic Ginger Beer
Stones Ginger Beer is a fantastic thirst quencher. It has a punchy ginger bite and a refreshing taste that is sure to go down perfectly after a hard day in the garden when water just won't do.
Cambria Julia's Pinot Noir
Cambria was originally part of the Tepusquet Vineyard. Planted between 1970 and 1971, this ambitious venture helped establish Santa Barbara County as a world-class wine producing region. The Cambria portion of property was purchased in 1986 by Barbara Banke. Today, Cambria is still 100% family owned and the wines are 100% estate-grown.Ripe blackberry and blueberry flavors are followed by notes of cranberry, cherry and pomegranate. With a balance of earth and baking spice, this wine offers firm tannins and a long finish.
Murphy Goode California Pinot Noir
Murphy-Goode Pinot Noir comes from vineyards up and down the coast of California, including Arroyo Seco, Santa Maria Valley, and Monterey. Cool conditions in these prime growing spots keep grapes at a perfect balance between vibrant dark fruit character and bright acidity. Notes of vanilla from aging in French and American oak add complexity to the intense black cherry aromas and flavours.
The Hilt Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Rum Barrel Merlot
This Merlot blends the craftsmanship of California winemaking with the exotic tradition of dark rum barrel aging, resulting in an incredibly bold sensory expression. Dark ruby red in color, it opens with rich, sweet aromas of blackstrap molasses, sweet vanilla, mocha, cocoa powder, maple, tobacco leaf, spiced rum cake, anise, black cherry, and dark plum. Ripe, concentrated flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, spiced rum cake, molasses, caramel, brown sugar, baking spices, sweet oak, vanilla, and dark chocolate carry through to a long, lush, and sweet finish. A superb accompaniment to Caribbean rum cake, pasta Bolognese, Korean short ribs, Jamaican jerk chicken, spicy coconut curry, dark chocolate, brie with fig jam, and a white sandy beach at sunset.