Lot 890 2021 Suisun Valley Viognier
Lot 890 2021 Suisun Valley Viognier comes to us from a high-end source winery in the Suisun Valley AVA which has been producing Viognier for over 4 decades – more so than almost any other winery in the state. Nestled between the Vaca and Coastal Mountain ranges, the picturesque Suisun Valley boasts a unique microclimate and diverse soils that contribute to the production of exceptional wines. Known for its cool maritime influences and warm, sunny days, its particularly well-suited for growing both Bordeaux and Rhône grape varieties like Viognier.
For those of you looking to diversify your whites selection for the Summer, look no further than this fantastically expressive varietal. The aromatics of Viognier are second to none thanks to naturally occurring high levels of terpenes (the compound that gives flowers their alluring scents). Additionally, when it goes through fermentation, that floral character is so stable that it doesn’t change, resulting in a wine that not only has a great fruit core, but a beautiful backbone of florality which keeps it fresh and lively on the nose and palate. We were only able to secure 100 cases of this gem, so grab a case or two quickly before it’s gone!
Lot 890 absolutely leaps out of the glass with beautiful aromatics of white flowers, mandarin oranges, and white blossoms underpinned by white peach and warm apricot. On the palate, that intoxicating florality is backed by stonefruit notes of peach, apricot, and lemon pith leading to a wonderfully fresh, mouthwatering finish. This is a wine to drink now and will pair exceptionally well with spicy Asian dishes, grilled or decadent seafood, or something light and playful like a summer salad with fresh-picked flowers.
Watch as Chris Lafleur, Sommeliers Creed for Cameron Hughes walks us through a tasting.
Lot 905 2020 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
You’d be hard-pressed to find another Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon with this level of pedigree and power at this price tag, so grab it while you can because it won’t last long!
Sonoma Valley continues to impress us with excellent Cabernets that are somehow still flying under the radar, and today’s release, Lot 905 2020 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon fits into that category like a mighty fist in a velvet glove.
Lot 905 was sourced from a well-known producer known for its Bordeaux-inspired, European-style reds. Nestled between the Sonoma Mountains to the west and the Mayacamas Mountains to the east, the source vineyards benefit from a diverse range of microclimates and fertile soils, producing wines that exhibit richness, ripe fruit flavors, and approachability. This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot from their two vineyards, and spent 18 months in French oak (40% new) which gives this wine a rich, well-rounded structure. With yields down in 2020, you’d be hard-pressed to find another Sonoma Cab with this level of pedigree and power at this price tag, so grab it while you can because it won’t last long!
In the glass, it pours a deep purple with concentrated notes of raspberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, and cassis on the nose. On the palate, that rich black fruit is backed by graphite, grippy tannins, and judicious oak. This wine is still finding its own so give it a nice decant if you want to sip it now, or throw a case or two in the cellar for a bit as it has the structure to easily last another 10+ years.
Watch as Chris Lafleur, Sommeliers Creed for Cameron Hughes walks us through a tasting.
Lot 887 2021 North Coast Petite Sirah
For some time now, Petite Sirah has gotten our vote as Northern California’s most overlooked, underrated red varietal. Even though it was first cultivated in the southeast of France (where it’s known as Durif, after the last name of its discoverer), it is rarely grown there. Instead, it prefers the drier climate of its adoptive home in sunny California—where most of the world’s Petite Sirah is now grown.
Today’s release, Lot 887 2021 North Coast Petite Sirah hails from a pedigreed source in the North Coast AVA in California – an area celebrated for its exceptional vineyards and distinctive wines. Stretching all the way from the San Francisco Bay to the Oregon border, North Coast is home to some of California’s most renowned wineries, encompassing several sub-regions including Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Mendocino County, and Lake County, among others. The grapes grown in this region benefit from its unique combination of coastal influences, cool maritime breezes, and diverse microclimates, creating ideal conditions to cultivate wines with fantastic structure and complexity, exemplified perfectly by Lot 887.
For those of you who may be new to the varietal, do not be misled by the “petite” in Petite Sirah for it refers only to the berry size, which is small and, when farmed in just the right way, produces a wine that combines intense fruit flavor, vivacious acidity, and dark color with big, smooth tannins. If you like concentrated, inky, dense reds, Lot 887 is right up your alley.
Lot 887 pours deep, dark purple in the glass with huge wafting notes of fresh-picked blueberries, bramble fruit, moist earth, and a kiss of leather. On the palate, intense dark fruit notes of blackberry and black raspberry are powerfully, but elegantly backed by rich, meaty tannins, leading into a long, mouth-staining finish with a beautiful acidity. Lot 887 will pair fantastically with any barbequed or smoked dishes or anything with those delicious umami qualities. A word of caution, however—If you’re having folks over and plan on serving 887, make sure you break open at least a few bottles as it is bound to go quickly!
Watch as Katy Long, Director of International Wines for VWE walks us through a tasting.
