WEEKLY FLIGHT 4/29 through 4/30/2022 - CALSTAR Cellars, Sonoma + SHOP MOTHER'S DAY!

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  • By Mark Meissner
WEEKLY FLIGHT 4/29 through 4/30/2022 - CALSTAR Cellars, Sonoma + SHOP MOTHER'S DAY!

 
 
 
Join us this week for a flight of wines from CALSTAR Cellars! Tiny production, boutique wines made by a true artisan of Sonoma.
 
Read on for the details and see you this week. The Calstar Flight of four kicks off this evening at 5pm, and continues through Saturday.
 
The tasting room traffic is back, so drop in and enjoy the flight, it's a $21 tasting. You can also pickup the 4-pack, just email us and we'll have your wines ready for pickup - just $131 this week.
 
Please note our upcoming calendar of events:
 
  • CERETTO Barolo Dinner, @ Aqua et Vino, Thursday, May 5th - 4 seats left!!
  • CALL for info and tickets and menu. $125++
 
  • R O S É F E S T 2022 ! (Sat, May 14th) - Email us for pre-reservations
 
  • Papapietro-Perry Winery, @ Dressler's Metropolitan, Thursday, May 26th
 
More details revealed as events are released, but please mark your calendars! Email us for more information and let's plan your next wine moment.
 
Be well, drink well and have a great weekend.
 
Prosit!
Mark
 
 
SHOP MOTHER'S DAY!
 
Mother's Day is next weekend! Shop our 2022 Collection or drop by the South End store or Petit Philippe, Myers Park.
 
 
 
 
CALSTAR WINERY, Primer:
 
Meet Rick Davis!
 
A life-long interest in fine food and artisan craft led, Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis to the wine industry. With graduate work in soil sciences and his first experience as a cellar-hand for Rivendell Winery, a small winery in New Paltz, NY, he quickly learned the trade and excelled to Winemaker. In order to pursue this newfound passion, his move to Sonoma County, CA left him in the perfect place to master winemaking and focus on Pinot Noir. Rick has spent 20 years improving his process through experiences with Flowers Winery under Winemaker, Greg LaFollette, and as Consulting Winemaker with Londer Vineyards (2005-2011), Halleck Vineyards, La Czar Vineyards, and Alcina Cellars and developed Calstar Cellars, his own label, as an extension of these relationships. He specializes in cool climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and has worked with many of the top producers on the Sonoma Coast. Rick’s passion is to produce high quality, food-friendly wines that can be shared at every table knowing the bounty of the vine.In honor of the 50th celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd, the wines showcased this week demonstrate Germany’s dedication to sustainable viticulture and winemaking.
 
What about the name “Calstar”? No, Rick is not a Cal (UC Berkeley) grad, nor is the brand named after the State of California. Calstar Cellars is named after Callie and Star, two of Rick's wife’s studio cats (Lynn is a ceramics artist) who were around when the label was launched in 1999. That year, after bottling wine, Rick and Lynn pondered a name for their winery. As they sat in the sunshine, watching their two cats (Cal and Star), they came up with the alliterative (and memorable) name of Calstar Cellars. Their relationship to animals is wondrous thing and hope the wines speak to you as much as the personal experience they've created with these very comforting, small-production, hand-crafted wines.
 
 
Join us this weekend, for 4 wines from Rick and CALSTAR Cellars:
 
Calstar Cellars
Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021
$25 bottle
 
Calstar Cellars
"Cuvée Ann" Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Chardonnay 2017
$44 bottle
 
Calstar Cellars
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2017
$36 bottle
 
Calstar Cellars
"Alta Zin" Cardinini Estate El Dorado County Zinfandel 2018
$26 bottle
 
 
Flight of 4 - $21/person (2.5 oz. pours)
 
Friday 5-7:30pm and Saturday 1-7:30pm
 
Or take home the 4-pack! - $131 retail for all 4 bottles
Call to place an order at 704-332-9910 or email [email protected]
 
 
 
Calstar Cellars
Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2021
$25 bottle
 
Vineyard Profile
The Russian River Valley is the premiere growing region for new-world Pinot Noir. Nearly 15 miles wide and tall, this appellation spans much of the Russian River watershed from the Mendocino County border to the Pacific Ocean. Much of the region experiences daily coastal fog which cools the vineyards and slows ripening – perfect for growing Pinot Noir. Many vineyard sites are more protected from wind than those in the Petaluma Gap and share characteristics with the rich Santa Rosa plum orchards which used to be grown on many vineyard sites years ago.
 
Winemaker’s Notes
Rick's first vintage to date, clean and bright with medium weight for Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley. Great citrus notes with stone fruit and tropical/sweet limes aromas. Love! This is probably our best Russian River Sauvignon blanc we've seen in years. Just 3 barrels made.
 
Production: ~75 Cases
 
 
 
Calstar Cellars
"Cuvée Ann" Manchester Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Chardonnay 2017
$44 bottle
 
Vineyard Profile
Located in the remote Mendocino Ridge Appellation near the Sonoma County/Mendocino County line near Point Area. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, this south-facing site is extremely cool and produces tiny yields of incredibly concentrated and expressive Chardonnay. This vineyard is accessible only by timber-flanked logging roads that climb to over 2,000 feet elevation. Situated above the fog line, afternoon sun allows for gradual ripening that would be near impossible to achieve at lower altitudes. The Chardonnay blocks are planted to classic Dijon clones along with heritage selections like Old Wente.
 
Winemaker’s Notes
This bottling is dedicated Rick's mother Ann Davis, who passed away in February 2012 from complications with Alzheimer’s.
Pale golden straw in color with green glints. Lush, round ripeness balanced by the ocean-infused terroir of the Manchester Ridge site. Gravenstein apple, shortbread, Meyer lemon blossom and Key lime on the nose, followed by notes of warm spice and vanilla from time in barrel. In the mouth, it is round and expressive. The fullness and ripeness of the fruit is balanced by a delightful acidity that washes over the palate, much like a wave on the shore, bringing with it the power, salinity and minerality of this oceanfront vineyard.
 
Production: 120 Cases
 
 
 
Calstar Cellars
Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2017
$36 bottle
 
Vineyard Profile
The Russian River Valley is the premiere growing region for new-world Pinot Noir. Nearly 15 miles wide and tall, this appellation spans much of the Russian River watershed from the Mendocino County border to the Pacific Ocean. Much of the region experiences daily coastal fog which cools the vineyards and slows ripening – perfect for growing Pinot Noir. Many vineyard sites are more protected from wind than those in the Petaluma Gap and share characteristics with the rich Santa Rosa plum orchards which used to be grown on many vineyard sites years ago.
 
Winemaker’s Notes
Medium ruby violet in color, the 2016 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is the first “non draught” vintage after nearly five low precipitation years. The fruit is delightfully plump and juicy, redolent of cranberries, dried cherry, strawberry compote and cola. Smooth, yet firm tannins coat the mouth and bring the fruitfulness into focus. Secondary notes of dried mushroom, wet forest floor and sweet cigar tobacco add fantastic nuance and give a hint of what is to come for those who are patient enough to cellar this bottling another 4-6 years. The finish is long and fresh with an emphasis on sour cherries and sweet vanilla.
 
Production: 150 Cases
 
 
 
Calstar Cellars
"Alta Zin" Cardinini Estate El Dorado County Zinfandel 2018
$26 bottle
 
Vineyard Profile
As a true Zinfandel lover, Proprietor and Winemaker, Rick Davis, wanted a vineyard that balanced the big, Jammy notes of classic Zin with the minerality, lean tannins and age-ability of a cooler climate. In the hills of El Dorado County, vineyards range from 1,200 to 3,500 feet in elevation, exposing Zinfandel to hot, sultry days and very chilly nights during the summer season. In addition, the growing season is longer than most appellations, with slow, gradual ripening creating balanced, food-friendly Zinfandels worthy of cellar time.
 
Tasting Notes
Clear, deep ruby crimson color with violet glints. The 2018 vintage was one of great energy and vibrance – ample precipitation and even, gradual ripening allowed the vines to produce an excellent crop! This wine captures the vintage perfectly, especially in its youth. There is a kinetic excitement that seems to leap from the glass. Bright, lifting aromas of dark cherry, cranberry and cola are immediately joined by secondary notes of thyme, white pepper and dark chocolate. The palate mirrors the nose, but brings a touch of complexity and harmony. Savory mushroom, loam and bay leaf anchor the lovely fruit notes while the soft (but coating) tannins dry the fruit and leave you begging for another sip.
 
Production: 100 cases