WOW: How do you define "Syn3rgy?"

WOW: Wine of the Week

How do you define "Syn3rgy?"

The definition of "Synergy" is as varied as the number of people asked to define it.  But for the purposes of this WOW and truly excellent wine, this week ShopUncorked.com favors the definition by the two founders of B Cellars!

Product Description

"The two passionate wine collectors-turned-vintners Jim Borsack and Duffy Keys, who founded B Cellars, made a great choice when they hired young phenom Kirk Venge to be their winemaker. The son of Napa winemaker Nils Venge, Kirk is considered one of the area’s rising stars and has all the advantages one might expect of an insider scion-connections to great growers and access to fruit and information that might elude someone new to the valley. B Cellars is the kind of project that might entice any young winemaker looking to burnish his résumé, though. It’s focused entirely on handcrafted, no-expense-spared Napa Valley wines. A blend of three single-vineyard Cabs, Syn3rgy is a new wine for B Cellars. While the team loves the expression of single vineyards, in this case they believe the whole surpasses the sum of its parts. Hours and hours of blending were required to get just the perfect wine, which only amounted to 200 cases." - Winery Notes

b Cellars "Syn3rgy" Cabernet 2010 Tasting Notes

"The dark, brooding nose suggests red currant, black currant, licorice and mocha.  Expressive ripe-fruit flavors and exquisitely etched fine, silky tannins characterize this Napa Cab." - Winery Notes

b Cellars "Syn3rgy" Cabernet 2010 Pairings

The B Cellars Syn3rgy’s intensity requires an entrée with ample substance and fat as a counterbalance. Look to simply flavored beef, lamb and game dishes, particularly those that are grilled or roasted. Accent ingredients like lentils, mushrooms and root vegetables will play up the wine’s earthy notes, while fresh herbs and leafy green vegetables will harmonize with its minty, herbaceous character. Outside of meat, look to meaty vegetables like eggplant and mushrooms to stand up to the wine.

WOW: A Place Called Kokomo...

WOW: Wine of the Week

A Place Called Kokomo...

No, contrary to popular belief, this winery name was NOT inspired by The Beach Boys song.  This winery derives its name from the founder's hometown of Kokomo, Indiana!

"Perched on 120 acres of prime Dry Creek Valley east benchland vineyards known as Timber Crest Farms, Kokomo Winery concentrates on small production, single-vineyard wines. Started in 2004 with the production of a single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Kokomo Winery focuses their terroir-driven philosophy on Sonoma County and its distinct appellations. Owner and Winemaker Erik Miller named the winery after his hometown of Kokomo, IN, and decided on a Coastal Cypress Tree for the logo to signify his move out west. Joined by his best friend from Purdue, Josh Bartels, as Kokomo's assistant winemaker, Erik partnered with legendary grower Randy Peters, who has nearly forty years of wine grape growing experience under his belt. The three have formed quite the successful alliance, as Kokomo Winery has now joined the elite boutique wineries of Sonoma County, gaining more 90+ ratings and Gold Medals with each anticipated release." - Winery Notes

Taste true inspiration from the Miller family and enjoy these two new wines to ShopUncorked.com for around $20 per bottle.

Kokomo Chardonnay 2012 Tasting Notes

"This Chardonnay has pineapple, green apple, and honeysuckle aromas.  The bright and fruit-forward mouth feel is followed by apple pie and vanilla with a clean finish." - Winery Notes

Kokomo Zinfandel 2012 Tasting Notes

"Our 2012 Zinfandel gives a ravishing display of ruby red color that leads into a pleasant bouquet of blackberry fruit, coco, and holiday spice.  While sipping, your palate will be delighted by blackberries and plum, refineds tannins, a full body and a finish that lingers." - Winery Notes

WOW: What is a Claret?

WOW: Wine of the Week

New Additions: What is a Claret?

In the spirit of Bordeaux, this Napa Claret is sure to please even the most discerning of palates.  New flowers, new buds on trees and new additions to ShopUncorked.com...'tis the season!

ShopUncorked.com particularly likes this explanation from Dr. Vinny of Wine Spectator:
"Before 'claret' was the nickname for Bordeaux wines, it meant 'clear,' 'pale' or 'light-colored' wine ('claret' being derived from the Latin word for “clear”). This is back in the 14th and 15th centuries, when wines from Bordeaux were actually paler, almost like rosés. In the late Middle Ages, 'claret' also referred to a heated wine poured over a bag of spices.
The first known references to 'claret' as dark red Bordeaux wines were in the 1700s by the British trade. History buffs will recall that France and England were at war during this period, and it was right around then that the English started seeking out Portuguese wines to satisfy their thirst.
These days 'claret' is used as a generic way to refer to Bordeaux wines (or wines styled after Bordeaux) and the associated dark red color that’s also used to describe anything from nail polish to yarn."

Product Description

"Steltzner Vineyard is located in the Stags Leap District where we farm 30 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, along with small amounts of Sangiovese, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  Our family has owned this property since 1965.  We currently make our wine at Folio Custom Crush and source only grapes from throughout Napa Valley to create our Claret blend." - Winery Notes

Steltzner Claret 2011 Tasting Notes

Beautiful full fruit balanced with dark toasted oak notes.  Classic Bordeaux blend with just enough Merlot and Cabernet Franc to give the underlying Cabernet finesse and grace.  Dark berry fruits with hints of cedar box on the finish.

WOW: New Additions - Ernesto Catena Selections

WOW: Wine of the Week

New Additions: Ernesto Catena Selections










New flowers, new buds on trees and new additions to ShopUncorked.com...'tis the season!

ShopUncorked.com is THRILLED to bring two new wines from Ernesto Catena to our clients.  These two red wines are perfectly priced at just $12 each!

Ernesto Catena, the owner of Ernesto Catena Vineyards in Argentina, is the eldest son of Nicolás Catena of Catena Zapata. A 4th generation winemaker, Ernesto has traveled and lived around the world, and along the way has earned a Bachelors degree in Computer Science and Economy, a Master’s in Design in Milan and a degree in history in London. Defined by many as the "bohemian" side of the Catena family, Ernesto is a tireless and avid reader, painter, art collector, horseman, polo player and archer.

Product Description

"Ernesto Catena Selections are an expression of Ernesto Catena's intense passion for wine, Argentina, art, and life. A Mendoza native, Ernesto personally selects the fruit from the prestigious sites of Tupungato, La Consulta, Vistalflores, Altamira, Tunuyan in the Valle de Uco that is carefully crafted into wines of distinct character and typicity. Tahuan wines highlight Argentina's premier grape varieties, expressing seamless varietal character, enhanced by the microclimate of Mendoza. Structured and intense, Siesta wines capture the depth and complexity produced by the distinct combination of altitude, climate, and soil that define this exciting region which has been a great inspiration to international winemaking." - Winery Notes

Ernesto Catena Selections Tahuan Cabernet 2010 Reviews and Tasting Notes

"Good dark red.  Expressive aromas and flavors of redcurrant, plum, tobacco, licorice, chocolate and herbs.  Sweet and fresh on entry, then juicy and firmly built, showing excellent energy and lift (and a bit of unabsorbed CO2) and conveying an impression of solid extract.  Nicely balanced, honest cabernet with a firm spine of sweet tannins and noteworthy length." - 90, International Wine Cellar
A much softer, gentler, fruitier wine that can be enjoyed when only a year or two old, a blackcurrant juice feel, a vague whiff of milk chocolate, followed up by something ever so slightly salty on the palate.

Ernesto Catena Selections Tahuan Malbec 2011 Reviews and Tasting Notes

"A dense red, with terrific depth to the jammy blackberry, plum skin and fig paste notes, tightly woven with fine tannins and layers of mesquite, cocoa and spice. Drink now through 2017." - 90, Wine Spectator
The Tahuan Malbec opens to not quite a full purple color. On the nose the wine offers lots of toasty aromas, but then, after only a few minutes, the aromas of fresh and juicy red fruits -such as strawberry and cherry- take center stage. There are also intriguing hints of wild flowers and violets. It is a very well balanced wine in the mouth, delivering sweet, yet firm tannins, and with a soft and pleasant taste where all kinds of fruits freely express themselves.

WOW: Evolution Sparkling!

WOW: Wine of the Week

Evolution Sparkling Wine!

Spring is in the air and ShopUncorked.com wants to celebrate!  What better way than to feature a bottle of bubbles for this week's WOW?!  Well under $20 per bottle, this Oregon beauty is sure to delight!  Grab a bottle of these bubbles and let them uplift your spirit into Spring and the warmer weather to come!

Product Description

"The great sparkling wines of the world are blends or as the French would say, 'Assemblage,' of multiple grape varietals, from multiple vintages, with different oak treatments and differing levels of malolactic fermentation.  These wines are blended to make a complex sparkling wine that matches the taste profile desired by the winemaking team.  With this in mind, we have thought for many years that Evolution (a blend of nine white wines) would make an amazing base wine for the productions of a true, method champenoise, sparkling wine.  So here it is!" - Winery Notes

Sokol Blosser Evolution Sparkling N/V Tasting Notes

"Although it is made with Evolution White wine as its base, Evolution Sparkling takes on a new dimension. Designated as Brut, Evolution Sparkling comes across as drier than Evolution White even though it has the same amount of residual sugar. This happens because the bubbles and acidity make for a much more vibrant wine that dances on the palate. The aromatics are that of apricot, green apple, Bosc  pear, with hints of white peach and citrus.  The mouthfeel is slightly creamy from the secondary fermentation in the bottle with a light flintiness.  Dry on the pallet, it finishes crisp and clean."  - Winery Notes

WOW: Three is not ALWAYS a crowd...

WOW: Wine of the Week

Ridge "Three Valleys" Zinfandel: Three is not ALWAYS a crowd!

Uncorked is taking this week to reintroduce a household favorite and recognized name: Ridge Winery!  Well known for their outstanding single vineyard Zinfandels, they too have a blended Zinfandel stemming from more than just one flagship vineyard.  As you will see below, this particular blend has come from seven (7) vineyards in all, proving that three (or seven!) is not ALWAYS a crowd!

Product Description

"The history of the Ridge Sonoma County Three Valleys began with the release of the 2001. The wine contains grapes from a number of Sonoma vineyards - this year, seven. We take great care in selecting the fruit, which is hand-harvested, then crushed and fermented at both Monte Bello and Lytton Springs. Unlike our single-vineyard wines, which reflect the distinctive character of each site, Three Valleys represents the blending of vineyards - winemaking - at it's finest. Zinfandel determines the wine's varietal character; old-vine carignane contributes bright fruit and acidity; petite sirah spice, depth of color, and firm tannins; grenache brings briary fruit and lively tannins. " - Winery Notes

Ridge "Three Valleys" Zinfandel 2011 Reviews

"Editor's Choice:  Ridge hews to a leaner, lower alcohol style than most California wineries these days, resulting in wines that aren’t blockbusters, but are complex and food-friendly. This bottling defines such a style. It’s dry and lithe in the mouth yet gently tannic, with suggestions of berry jam, bacon, grilled mushrooms and hints of balsamic and soy sauce." - 91, Wine Enthusiast

Ridge "Three Valleys" Zinfandel 2011 Tasting Notes

"Aromas of briar fruit, dried herbs, clay earth, and sweet oak. Fresh raspberry and cherry flavors together with savory oak spice. Medium bodied with moderate acidity, round tannins, and a lively finish." - Winery Notes
65% Zinfandel, 20% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane, 3% Mataro, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Grenache.

WOW: Sonoma Origin with Rhone Roots?

WOW: Wine of the Week

Sonoma Origin with Rhone Roots?  It's More Complicated...

Trentadue is far more complicated than what initially meets the eye.

This wine has been perfected by an Italian family, imparting a Rhone feel from Sonoma County, CA.  Whew...now THAT is a complex family tree!

This wine benefits from three very distinct influences and shows the best of all three!

Product Description

"The Trentadue family arrived in Sonoma County long before their region gained a reputation as the Wine Country. Life-long, hands-on agriculturists, Evelyn and Leo Trentadue contributed significantly to the advancement of their region over the years. In 1959, the Trentadues decided to flee the developers encroaching on their apricot and cherry orchards in Sunnyvale, the area known today around the world as Silicon Valley. To preserve their way of life, these hard-working Italian ranchers purchased 208 acres of land in Sonoma County's then remote Alexander Valley." - Winery Notes

Trentadue Winery Old Patch Red "Lot 36" 2011 Tasting Notes

"The 2011 Old Patch Red blend#36 is predominately a Zin blended with Petite Sirah resulting in a very fruity and Rhone like wine. The wine has a dark red color with intense dark cherry aromas, blueberries and cherry cola as an immediate impression. With aeration nuances of vanilla, maple and cocoa are showing with slight dose of oak and toast. On the mouth the wine is fresh and juicy with youthful brightness, finishing long and fruity. Our 2011 OPR Lot# 36 is delicious now but it will reward your patience with 2-3 years of aging." - Winery Notes