Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2021
It is with great honor and excitement that we offer you the 2021 vintage of Amuse Bouche, featuring artwork by renowned French artist Marc Clauzade. His piece entitled "Casse Croute" (which roughly translates to "tasty snack") portrays the beautiful chaos of a kitchen scene ā its vibrant colors an apt illustration of Julia Childās famous quote. You may remember that Marc's portrayal of the lady in the red dress, "Le Bar a Vin," adorned our label more than a decade ago.
The 2021 harvest was excellent, but our overall production was down 35% (smaller berries but loaded with flavor) due to the persistent drought conditions of this growing season. Amuse Bouche 2021, crafted in the Pomerol-style, is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards in the east Rutherford Hills of Napa Valley.
Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2015
Napa Valleyās 2015 vintage was marked by grape yields historically smaller in quantity but exceptional in quality. Circumstances allowed winemaker, Heidi Barrett to create a masterpiece in a bottle ā and not just any bttle. Our Amuse Bouche 2015 label is graced with astonishing artwork entitled Le Pique-Nique by Jacques Pepin. A longtime friend of ours, Jacques is a world renowned chef whose impactful work in the culinary world spans more than 6 decades. His most recent awards include the inaugural Julia Chi;s Award and the American Public Televisionās Lifetime Achievement Award.
In our world, there is no trinity quire so holy as that of wine, food & art. These pleasures ā three of lifeās greatest ā come together harmoniously as we proudly offer your six-bottle allocation of Amuse Bouche 2015.
Made in the Pomerol style, this yearās blend is 88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc from our vineyard on Rutherfordās eastern hillside.
Orin Swift Mannequin 2021
A blinding white gold and a chartreuse shimmer in the glass, the 2021 Mannequin opens with opulent, beguiling aromatics. Ripe golden apple, concentrated jasmine, citrus notes and a touch of cream and fresh brioche emerge. The entry is bright yet with a bit of weight; similar aromatic notes come through on the palate supplemented by rich honeydew and green apple. Tempered by a prominent vein of acidity, the wine closes at length with a seamless silk-like quality, finishing with pleasing minerality.
BLEND: Chardonnay
MATURATION: Aged in French Oak sur lie for 8 months, 23% New
*Receive a complimentary pack of drop stoppers with any order of Orin Swift wines above $200. While stocks last.
Woodford Reserve Derby 147 2021 Edition
March 2, 2021 ā Louisville, KY ā Woodford ReserveĀ®, the Presenting Sponsor of the Kentucky DerbyĀ®ļø, is honoring āThe Greatest Two Minutes in Sportsā with the release of its 2021 commemorative Derby bottle.
It features the artwork of Louisville resident Richard Sullivan, a former professional baseball player. Sullivanās stunning watercolor is of thoroughbreds as they thunder down the stretch. It was designed as a complement to last yearās Derby bottle artwork, which Sullivan also created.
- Colour : Clean, brilliant honey amber.
- Nose : Heavy with rich dried fruit, hints of mint and oranges covered with a dusting of cocoa. Faint vanilla and tobacco spice.
- Palate: Rich, chewy, rounded and smooth, with complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa. Toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice notes abound.
- Finish : Silky smooth, almost creamy at first with a long, warm satisfying tail.
Coup de Foudre Les Bouquinistes 2020
Les Bouquinistes 2020 is a field blend composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc from our Calistoga, Napa Valley vineyards.
We produced just shy of 500 cases of this vintage.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc
"Aromas of currants, orange peel, dark plums and hints of vanilla. Some bark. Medium-bodied with juicy flavors and a light bark and stem undertone. 24% petite sirah, 20% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, 18% syrah, 10% malbec, and 8% cabernet sauvignon. Delicious for early drinking. Drink now." - James Sucking, 91 points
We are excited about this offer; and the amazing story told by our featured author will move you to your core. Our goal is to produce a stunning Napa Valley wine while promoting the missions of our esteemed authors and generating much-needed awareness and funding for worthy charities throughout the world. Each vintage celebrates an author who exemplifies unwavering commitment to social justice. Past vintages have featured a wide range of scribes, including Nicolas Kristoff of The New York Times, Pulitzer-prize winner Tracy Kidder, Jacqueline Novogratz and Patricia McCormick. These collaborations have raised more than $100,000 to benefit charities in Cambodia, Africa, Nepal and other developing countries.
I AM A GIRL FROM AFRICA
We are excited about this offer; and the amazing story told by our featured author will move you to your core. Our goal is to produce a stunning Napa Valley wine while promoting the missions of our esteemed authors and generating much-needed awareness and funding for worthy charities throughout the world. Each vintage celebrates an author who exemplifies unwavering commitment to social justice. Past vintages have featured a wide range of scribes, including Nicolas Kristoff of The New York Times, Pulitzer-prize winner Tracy Kidder, Jacqueline Novogratz and Patricia McCormick. These collaborations have raised more than $100,000 to benefit charities in Cambodia, Africa, Nepal and other developing countries.
Read more...
Les Bouquinistes 2020 Chapter Six features Elizabeth NyamayaroāsĀ I Am A Girl From Africa. It is a remarkable story of what is possible when girls are given an equal right to quality education. When Elizabeth was only eight years old a severe drought decimated the crops in her agricultural village in Zimbabwe. After months of hunger and malnourishment, she found herself alone, face down under a tree in a parched field, too weak to move. Incredibly, a UN aid worker found her, gave her food, and saved her life. This was a transformative moment for Elizabeth; it inspired her to dedicate her life to uplifting her community, her continent and now the world. As Elizabeth grew into a teenager and then a young adult, attending school intermittently when she wasnāt needed to help āfind money,ā she never lost sight of this goal. She was grounded by the African concept of Ubuntu: I am because we are. And because we are, you are! With the support of her community ā and exceptional drive and perseverance ā Elizabeth overcame crushing obstacles and eventually served as a senior advisor to the United Nations where she launched HeForShe, one of the worldās largest global solidarity movements for gender equality. She has chosen that the proceeds from the sale of this wine will benefitĀ globalgirlsglow.org. Global G.L.O.W. is an organization that mentors girls to advocate for themselves and make their communities stronger. Their after-school programs in 23 countries, including the United States, seek to ignite the power of girls as a force for global transformation. Your contributions will continue to deliver the important message of hope, community support and interdependence to girls and women all over the world.
Jayson by Pahlmeyer Chardonnay 2020
This silky-smooth wine offers an appealing lift of crisp tropical fruit and subtle touches of oak for a vibrant, layered Chardonnay.
Notes of lemon meringue, poached pear, crushed granite and fresh pineapple juice offer incredible structure to the palate. Deeper into this well-textured wine are richer hints of butterscotch, almond cream, salted caramel and crĆØme brĆ»lĆ©e, finishing bright and playful. Pair this inviting Chardonnay with a grilled pork chop in a mustard-thyme cream sauce with a side of rosemary-herb roasted potatoes, or with a cheese pairing of aged gouda with dried apricots.
Amuse Bouche PrĆŖt Ć Boire RosĆ© 2021
Made in the southern French style, the 2021 PrĆŖt Ć Boire RosĆ© is a Grenache and Syrah blend. Pale salmon pink in color, it offers beautiful aromas of potpourri, raspberry tart and fresh cherries, with hints of baking spices and cracked black pepper. It remains the only rosĆ© produced in the US that garners 90+ point ratings from all the top wine critics.
Some of you may not be aware that the world lost George Rodrigue on December 14, 2013. He was 69 years old. George, and his wife Wendy, have been dear friends of ours since 2005 when we initially commissioned George to paint a "blue dog" for our 2006 Amuse Bouche release. A native of Louisiana, George launched his painting career in the 1960s. He was not only a magnificent artist; George was a true community leader, philanthropist and advocate of arts education, inspiring a new generation of artists through the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.
"Cherry-colored rosƩ with aromas of plum stones, raspberries, watermelon, sweet spices and dried flowers. Medium-to full-bodied with bright acidity and just a hint of tannin texture. Dry. Grenache and syrah. Drink now."
- James Suckling, October 2021
Louis M. Martini Lot 1 2018
Winemaker Notes
Our concept of small-lot winemaking dates back to 1948 when Louis M. Martini began ranking his most exceptional Cabernet lots to use for a special selection blend. We honor this attention to detail with every vintage we make, fermenting Lot No. 1 in small open-top tanks, which allow for a high level of precision when extracting color and flavor. All lots were alternately punched down and pumped over up to four times daily to build the desired foundation for the wineās mouthfeel. Our barrel program for Lot No. 1 is also unique, with the primary component being 36-month air dried French oak. This longer drying time encourages rich tannin structure throughout the duration of the wineās 19 months in barrel (83% new).
Nose: The 2018 Lot No. 1 vintage showcases enticing aromas of wild blackberries, cocoa and toasted oak supported by notes of brown spice and humidor.
Palate: The rich, plush palate boasts flavors of shaved chocolate and reduced blackberry compote with hints of cinnamon. The long finish reveals classic oak character and plush tannins.
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
"This has a frankly toasty note overlaying rich cassis, plum and boysenberry compote flavors, while licorice root, loam and roasted mesquite notes fill in on the finish. Not shy in the muscular approach. For fans of the style. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 2,149 cases made." - 94 points, James Molesworth, Senior Editor and Special Projects Director at Wine Spectator
Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2019
For the 2019 vintage of Amuse Bouche, it features the artwork by one the most prominent artists of our time. FranƧoise Gilot, born in 1921, is a decorated French painter perhaps best known for her long, stormy relationship with Pablo Picasso, with whom she had two children, Claude and Paloma. Gilot is highly regarded as an international artist of the second half of the twentieth century. She has exhibited her work for more than 50 years in the major art centers of Europe, Asia, and North America. She was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters with rank of Commander in 1988, the French Legion of Honor with rank of Chevalier in 1990, and the rank of Officer in the National Order of Merit by the president of France in 1996.
Amuse Bouche 2019 is crafted in the Pomerol-style, is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards in the east Rutherford Hills of Napa Valley.
"The 2019 Amuse Bouche, a Right Bank-inspired Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is superb. Expansive, sweet aromatics are immediately seductive. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plum fruit, sweet tobacco, chocolate, spice and leather. This wonderfully expressive, elegant Napa Valley red hits all the right notes in a mid-weight, nuanced style that is all class." - Antonio Galloni, January 2022
"This is a beautiful, juicy, merlot-based red with melted-chocolate and berry aromas and flavors. Itās full and creamy with lovely balance and attractive character, showing freshness and layers of fruit. Violets and berries at the end. Merlot and cabernet franc. Gorgeous. Drink or hold." - 95 points, James Suckling
Woodford ReserveĀ® Baccarat
THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY & FINEST FRENCH COGNAC
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition is crafted by uniquely finishing the most complex and balanced Kentucky Bourbon in select XO Cognac barrels.
Sourced by our Master Distiller Chris Morris, each barrel has seen three seasons of cognac before being filled with Woodford Reserve.The result is the best of both spirits ā a balance of crisp American and French oak notes, complex fruit character, subtle spiciness and a creamy confectionary finish.
- Process : Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in the finest XO Cognac barrels, bottled in handmade decanters from the artists at Baccarat ā the only American whiskey currently available in the precious crystal.
- Proof : 90.4
- Color : Deep Brown
- Aroma : Rich toasted oak dusted with chocolate and cocoa notes, creamy vanilla bean, and hints of clove and cinnamon spice cover a deep layer of dried fruit and citrus peel.
- Taste : Elegant vanilla, dark chocolate, dried fruit and creamy caramel top layers of rich malt and oak.
- Finish : Velvety with a long delicately spiced caramel mocha note.
Old Forester Rye
In 1870, our founder George Garvin Brown revolutionized the industry by sealing Bourbon in a glass bottle for the first time. Five generations and nearly 150 years later, we are proud to introduce the first Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky from The First Bottled Bourbonā¢.
A historic recipe, acquired in 1940 by Owsley Brown I, Old Forester Rye features a mash bill of 65% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, and 15% Corn. Such a high proportion of barley allows for a fully natural fermentation process, forgoing the need for artificial enzymes commonly found in high rye mash bills. Additionally, a generous percentage of malt yields a unique floral character, balancing the sharp, brisk spice of the rye grain. Continuing our legacy of quality and consistency, Old Forester uses its own proprietary yeast strain, produces every barrel, and distills every drop.
At 100 proof, Old Forester Rye plays beautifully in a cocktail but also stands up boldly on its own.
Nose : Rich brown sugar and magnolia blossom, with hints of soft sassafras and candied lemon.
Taste : Spice awakens immediately leading with sharp black pepper and cinnamon stick, rounding out with notes of dried dill and baked apple.
Finish : Allspice and peppercorn introduce a loyal and dry finish which ignites with pine, anise, and bright lemon zest.
Richard G Peterson Pinot Noir 2019
As history and legend purport, the Wrotham clone was discovered near Wrotham Village in southeast England; the cuttings were introduced there by the Romans some 2,000 years ago. The Wrotham clone produces a uniquely rich colour and a spicy character not often found in other Pinot Noir wines.
In 1980, Dick Peterson brought the first and only Wrotham cuttings back to California and planted them in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA just south of Monterey Bay. This region boasts a cool climate and one of the longest growing seasons in California.
Dick Peterson has been an innovator in the California wine industry since the 1960s. As a young man, he produced novel products such as the first wine cooler for Seagrams and Galloās Hearty Burgundy. He was pivotal to the success of a portfolio of wineries, including Beaulieu Vineyards with Andre Tchelistcheff, the Monterey Vineyard, Atlas Peak Vineyards and Folie Ć Deux Winery.
Aged 14 months in burgundy oak barrels.