Our Wines

2003 George's Vineyard Zinfandel | George's Vineyard is the term I gave to the fruit from George Moskowite's vineyards that lie in Capell Valley, located in the Napa valley hills directly east of Oakville. The soil in the 900 foot elevation vineyard is well drained loam with all sorts of small rocks and obsidian throughout which results in low yielding fruit. The cooler mountain elevation climate provides for a longer growing season, this extended hang time gives the grape sugars plenty of time to develop slowly, resulting in a more complex fruit character.

The fruit was picked in late October, fermented for 9 days and placed in 50% new Demptos American Oak barrels for 16 months before bottling.

The wine was blended with Petite Sirah from George's Vineyard as well as Charbono from the 40 year old Fredianni Vineyard in Calistoga. These vines are head trained and dry farmed to enhance color and complexity.

Sadly, all of the 2003 George's Zin was lost in the big Wines Central Warehouse fire back in October 2004.

2003 Cork Tree Merlot | Cork Tree Vineyard in located just South of the famous Stag's Leap District and right below the Atlas Peak District. The vineyard faces west on a sloping hillside that is well drained loam soil.

The fruit was picked in early October, fermented for 10 days and placed in 60% new French oak barrels for 18 months before bottling.

2004 George's Vineyard Zinfandel  | This is the 2004 vintage of George's Vineyard. The fruit was more robust than the '03 with nicer ripening and much greater color. 2004 was a very warm and ripe vintage. The heat came on and never let off. This produced very ripe flavored wines with bigger alcohol and body.

2004 Big Dave's Vineyard Zinfandel  |  Wow! Finally got the Big Dave's into bottle. Fruit from the Brown Ranch in Chiles Valley.

Consulting Winemaker, Kirk Venge's notes, "Ripe, bright cherry fills the nose. The aromas then carry to cherry pie and hints of dough. On the palate the ripe red flavors continue and meld with a hint of barrel vanillin. There is a subtle tannin feeling on the end. This Zin is composed. It is more of a feminine show horse than a raging bull. Not for the light of heart however, there is a broad spectrum of red stone fruit and mouth filling bing cherry. Feminine by nature, this Zin. will serve as a wonderful compliment to the JR line of wines. Cellar for 5 years."

Wine Recommendation by Appellationamerica.com's Alan Goldfarb

2004 Honey's Syrah | Here's a Syrah that is big, velvety and oh so satisfying!

Consulting Winemaker, Kirk Venge's notes, "Honey must have muscles for miles! Bold, black cherry and vanilla cream soda aromas waft from the glass. From the initial deep red color and dense aromatic attack, you know this wine has strength in color. The palate this Syrah is exactly what you would expect from that mindset. Large but balanced structure is derived from proper weight of both the firm acidity and rustic tannins. Flavors of crushed rock mineral, black cherry, vanillin overtones all give way to a very long finish. This wine is a "bad-boy," hungry for a juicy steak! Should age well 6 to 10 years."

2005 George's Vineyard Zinfandel | Unlike the over-ripe prunish zins which have become popular of late, the George’s pairs great with food, especially BBQ!

Fruit is sourced from the Moskowite Ranch in the Chiles Valley east of the Napa Valley. We use both zinfandel (95%) and petite sirah (5%) all from George’s ranch. Aromas of red raspberry, ripe red cherry and a touch of white pepper. Aromatic oak carries the finish with a lift of strawberry.

Aged 16 months in 50% new Demptos American Oak barrels 170 cases

2005 Big Dave's Vineyard Zinfandel  |  Another blockbuster with fruit from the Brown Ranch in Chiles Valley.

From Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine:

"2 Stars, 91 pts. Although keenly varietal in its unwavering fix on ripe berries and briar, this deep, optimally ripened Zin takes on an idiosyncratic note as it shows unconventional suggestions of meaty, Syrah-like spice. It is nicely stuffed on the palate with a long line of concentrated fruit to buffer its ample alcohol, and, while tannic enough to develop for several years, it is a wine with plenty of appeal for near-term drinking."

2005 Boschetti Vineyard Zinfandel | Old Vine Zinfandel from the Russian River

Boschetti Vineyard is on River Road just east of the Martinelli Winery. It captures the lush juicy fruit of the Russian River Appellation. Zinfandel grown in the Russian River Valley is distinctive due to this regions cool maritime influence. Bright, natural acidity and vibrant fruit aromas and flavors are a result of typically cool fog-laden nights and warm days. These dry-farmed vineyards planted on low-fertility soils consistently produce wines of exceptional density, and legendary extract. The 2005 Boschetti - our first from this vineyard - is a wine with beautiful depth of flavor and intensity.
Aged 16 months in 50% new Demptos American Oak barrels 175 cases

2005 Honey's Syrah | Deep ruby, inky purple hue with velvety balance and mouthfeel. Loaded with ripe black fruit flavors and light smoky spice. Aromatic oak frames the long finish with firm tannins carrying through. Terrific intensity and body. Try this with steaks right off the grill.

Aged 18 months in new French Oak 120 cases

2005 Cork Tree Merlot | Our last vintage of this blockbuster Merlot (Duckhorn bought the vineyard). This is the Merlot for those who, “don’t do Merlot”. Blackberry and dark cherry skin aromas, rich and juicy fruit flavors of black currants, chocolate, cola and toasty oak. Drinking well now but with the structure to last for years.

Aged 18 months in new French Oak 120 cases

2005 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon | Our first Cabernet! As luck would have it, we were able to procure an allocation from a famed Rutherford vineyard when the former winemaker was hired away by a large conglomerate <wink, wink...>. This is serious fruit and what a splendid wine!

Jam packed fruit intensely concentrated with layers of currants, black cherry, cedary spice, warm dark cocoa and that unmistakable ‘Rutherford Dust’. Elegant structure with a beautiful finish that lasts and lasts. Aged 2 years in 70% new French Oak.

Aged 20 months in new French Oak 116 cases