{"title":"Golden Good Taste: Napa and Sonoma 2026","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"hudson-chardonnay-carneros-estate-napa-valley-california-2023","title":"Hudson, Chardonnay, Carneros Estate, Napa Valley, California, 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e(Consulting Winemaker - John Kongsgaard)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSituated deep in the heart of the rolling hills of Napa Valley’s Carneros District, Hudson Ranch and Vineyards is our agrarian dream. Producing world-class wine grapes for exceptional wines and Tuscan olives for verdant oil, raising heritage breed pigs, lamb and chickens, and growing a diverse array of seasonal fruits and vegetables for our grocery store, Hudson Greens \u0026amp; Goods, our farm encapsulates the true sense of wonder, possibility, and enthusiasm with which we start each day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHudson Vineyards produces grapes of distinction from uniquely situated sites on two hundred acres of vineyards. Over thirty years of meticulous winegrowing and winemaking experience goes into each bottle of Hudson Wine. Additionally, Hudson Vineyards’ premium grapes are sold to 27 wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties, some of which produce wines from specific vineyard sites identified as distinct and bear the ‘Hudson Vineyards’ designation on their labels.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eChardonnay\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eNapa\/Sonoma, California\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe fruit was picked by hand at night, whole cluster pressed, and barrel fermented utilizing native yeast in 70% new Francois Freres \u0026amp; Damy French-forest oak barrels. The wine is stirred regularly while being aged sur lie, and bottled unfiltered and unfined after an 22 month élevage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2023 Chardonnay showcases a combination of 3 distinct blocks from the Hudson Estate planted to Heritage Shot Wente clone. We hand select barrels from each site to create a Chardonnay that fully expresses the elegant and balanced style of Hudson Vineyards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHudson produces grapes of distinction from 200 acres of estate vineyards situated in the heart of the rolling hills of Napa Valley’s Carneros District. Forty years of meticulous winegrowing and winemaking experience goes into each bottle of Hudson wine. Our deep understanding of the intricate combinations of soil, climate, rootstock, clone, and scion, combined with our management of each vineyard block, allows us to produce premium wines with an intense varietal expression found only at Hudson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - The Wine Palate\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe 2023 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay prances out with showy notes of white peaches, beeswax, juicy pears, and allspice, plus hints of wet pebbles and coriander seed. The medium to full-bodied palate is satiny and savory, delivering lots of orchard fruit layers and a long mineral-laced finish.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - James Suckling\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eGenerous ripe fruit like pears and golden apples resting on a relaxed, rich texture. This wine is gentle, almost sweet tasting, with Bartlett pears, vanilla bean, creme brulee and white chocolate on the palate. Drink now.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KJS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51893399683377,"sku":null,"price":70.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/Hudson_Chardonnay_Carneros_Estate_Napa_Valley_California_2023.jpg?v=1759369091"},{"product_id":"hayfork-wine-co-field-select-cabernet-sauvignon-st-helena-california-2021","title":"Hayfork Wine Co., Cabernet Sauvignon, Lewelling Ranch, St. Helena, California, 2021","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOverview of the Wine\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eWe strongly believe that the hands of the farmer in the field lay the foundation necessary to produce a quality wine. And we are proud to be part of a family whose past is deeply rooted in the soils of our land and valley.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eOur farming heritage runs deep, as my great-great-great-grandfather, John Lewelling, a horticulturist by trade, settled the St. Helena family ranch in 1864. Whether growing walnuts, prunes, pears or grapes, we have been continuously farming our land for six generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cu\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSt. Helena, \u003c\/span\u003eNapa Valley, California\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinemaker's Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe 2021 Hayfork Lewelling Ranch Cabernet presents a marvelous brightness of fruit with notes of black cherry and rose petal. Sweet spice and leather provide depth together with an effortless textural balance. This wine is lovely now and will evolve gracefully with cellaring.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA rocking little gem of a wine from winemaker Haley Wight, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lewelling Ranch has an up-front, fruit-driven perfume of black raspberries, plums, cassis, dried flowers, and spicy oak. These all carry to a full-bodied, opulent wine offering velvety tannins as well as the inherent elegance and purity of this great vintage.\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct size: 750ml\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"KJS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54295899275569,"sku":null,"price":80.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0275\/0441\/0666\/files\/HayforkWineCo._CabernetSauvignon_LewellingRanch_St.Helena_California_2021_STAFFFAVORITE_8caca037-6db3-4558-a78d-943ec64ef509.jpg?v=1779854707"},{"product_id":"castiel-estate-sauvignon-blanc-napa-valley-2024","title":"Castiel Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout The Producer\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eInspired by Dave and Kathleen’s desire to capture time and place, Castiel Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a collaboration among nature, patient and caring human hands, and artistic excellence. It speaks clearly of its unique and extraordinary location upon Howell Mountain. It is masterfully brought to life by the talented and renowned winemaker, Celia Welch, whose deep knowledge and understanding of expressing terroir allows each vintage to showcase its unique qualities while maintaining the consistency of Howell Mountain characteristics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince the first vintage in 2014, attention to detail and exacting viticultural practices yield berries of ripe, delicious flavors. The grapes are harvested by hand in several passes resulting in many distinct vinifications from which to create the final blend. At the winery, clusters are gently destemmed and berries are chosen with intent by manual and sophisticated optical sorting methods. During fermentation, the wine is left on the skins until complete, and then pressed and transferred to French oak barrels to age for 18 to 22 months. Castiel Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine structured around the backbone of minerality, concentrated fruit, powerful richness and integrated tannins, the hallmark qualities of a Howell Mountain cabernet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach vintage begins life in the vineyard where attention to detail and exacting viticultural practices yield berries of ripe, delicious flavors. Grapes are harvested by hand in several passes, resulting in many distinct vinifications from which to create the final blend. Arriving at the winery in the cool morning hours, clusters are gently destemmed and berries are chosen, with intent, through optical and manual sorting processes. The wine is barrel aged in 100% French oak for 20-22 months then bottle aged 12-14 months prior to release.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSustainably Farmed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eWinemaker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eMaayan Koschitzky\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGrape \/ Blend\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSauvignon Blanc\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eSt. Helena, Napa Valley, California\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWinemaker's Tasting Notes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eMade in a fresh, vibrant Sancerre style, the 2024 Castiel Estate Sauvignon Blanc is complex and layered, with expressions of white flowers, lemon, citrus, melon, and a hint of passion fruit. On the palate, a medium bodied richness and an integrated acidity fold seamlessly into a clean, crisp, pleasant, and lingering finish. These Sauvignon Blanc Clone I vines were planted in the 1980s and are 100% organically farmed. The fruit was hand harvested on August 21st, whole cluster pressed, cold settled overnight, then barrel fermented in 20% new French oak at fifty-five degrees. Aged 10 months sur lees.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNow made by Maayan Koschitzky, the 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Castiel St. Helena is a bright, juicy white from Saint Helena that delivers ripe citrus, lemon curd, honeyed white flowers, and a touch of oyster shell. It's medium-bodied and ripe, with a round, textured mouthfeel, yet at the same time it stays incredibly juicy, clean, and pure. Based on Sauvignon Blanc and aged eight months in barrels, it has plenty of freshness as well as depth for the style. 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