Current Releases
Blueshift Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2017
Price: $50.00
The Terroir
This 2017 Pinot Noir is a stunning and dynamic wine crafted from several "hidden gem" vineyards in the renowned Russian River Valley appellation. One of the most distinct appellations in Sonoma County, it is crisscrossed by winding rural roads that ramble by wind-swept cow pastures, through redwood forests and alongside the cool waters of the Russian River. Winemaker Barrett Marsalek has driven along many of these roads seeking out smaller, family-owned vineyards to produce a Pinot that truly speaks to a unique appellation that offers astounding terroir.
Appellation
The Russian River Valley appellation enjoys pronounced maritime influences and is often blanketed in fog late into the day during the summer growing season. Warm summer afternoons also cool quickly as coastal breezes pick up as the sun begins to set. This fluctuation between warm and cool helps ripen the grapes slowly to create a full spectrum of flavors while preserving the grapes' natural acidity.
Production Notes
The grapes for this cool-climate Pinot Noir all come from family-owned vineyards. Most of the vineyard acreage is dry-farmed, meaning the vines receive little to no irrigation, resulting in low yields of grapes with intense concentration. The small clusters are meticulously tended during the ripening season to ensure only grapes of the highest quality are harvested in the fall. After being gently harvested by hand in the cool, pre-dawn hours, the grapes are thoroughly sorted at the winery by skilled workers who remove any unripe berries or clusters that don't meet stringent quality standards. The grapes then receive a gentle destemming before being collected in open-top tanks where they undergo a cold soak for a few days. The tanks are then warmed to initiate fermentation that is managed by regular punch downs. After the wine ferments to dryness, the pomace receives a gentle pressing to extract any remaining wine. The wine then ages in a mix of new and neutral French oak for 12 months before release.
Moonset Dry Creek Valley Red 2016 Sonoma County
Price: $45.00
Dry Creek Valley AVA
Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley AVA is home to all of the major red grape varieties, and they all do pretty well in the appellation's climate and diverse mix of terrain and soil types. The diversity of high-quality fruit offers such an appealing number of options for winemakers. It's not surprising that many choose to produce a blend, and some of these have proved to be the very best wines from the AVA.
Vineyard
Winemaker Barrett Marsalek picked several vineyards to source the grapes for this blend. These vineyards are surrounded by some well-known neighbors such as Unti and Reeve Wines.
Wine Characteristics
Comprised of 37% Malbec, 23% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petite Sirah, 13% Merlot, and 10% Syrah, the wine is dark garnet in color with a luxurious mouthfeel that is supported by prickly tannins on the back end. The ripe and opulent Malbec is complemented by the firmer structure of Cab Franc and Petite Sirah, while a generous dollop of Syrah adds a distinctive and appetizing element of bacon and a hint of garrigue.
2016 Moonset Red
Aged in French and American oak barrels (50% new), the 2016 Moonset red blend is a diverse and complex wine that can age for several years or demonstrate its unique and inviting profile soon after release.
A Moveable Feast Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Price: $60.00
Napa Valley’s reputation as an excellent place for good living, great wines, and feasting is known around the world. The 2016 A Moveable Feast is a Napa Cabernet that has the structure and flavors to be a perfect partner for any type of feast.
Winemaker's Notes
Crafted by Barrett Marsalek - who earned his bachelor's from Cal Poly and complemented that with a winemaking certificate from U.C. Davis - the wine is made with grapes from throughout Napa Valley. Marsalek previously worked at wineries in Napa and Sonoma counties as well as in Australia and New Zealand. When Marsalek isn't in the cellar, he can usually be found in the vineyard checking on the vines throughout the year.
His experience and time in the vineyard enable Marsalek to work closely with growers to manage grape yields and quality before harvest. Such meticulous care ensures a balanced and enjoyable wine. After picking and sorting, the grapes are transferred to concrete and stainless steel tanks, and fermentation is managed by twice daily pump-overs. Marsalek tastes the wine almost hourly near the end of fermentation to pick just the right moment for pressing.
Sensory Notes
Dark ruby in color, the wine offers intense aromas of black fruit, violets, olives, and hints of mocha. On the palate, the wine's full structure helps provide for a lasting finish, which is further supported by an elegant framework of tannins. It's the abundant tannin and acidity, thanks to a cooler than normal August in 2016, that helps this wine stand out and pair well with any kind of cuisine or occasion.
Aging
The wine aged in French oak barrels of which about 25% were new and which has integrated seamlessly into the wine that has entered its window of peak drinking pleasure and will remain there for several years. This is a wine that further solidifies Napa's reputation for excellent wines and will enhance any feast wherever it may take place.
Open Cluster Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016
Price: $40.00
Tasting Notes
The 2016 Open Cluster Russian River Chardonnay is light gold and delivers a rich mouthful of tropical fruit, citrus, white peach, and subtle notes of brioche and toast. Wet stone, slate, melon, and stone fruit aromas create a hedonistic experience that culminates with a mineral and clean finish.
Winemaker Notes
Extracting impressive flavors while also retaining elements of classic beauty and style is something winemaker Barrett Marsalek has worked on throughout his more than ten years making wine. Education in California's finest viticulture programs was followed by professional experience in Napa, Sonoma, Australia, and New Zealand where Marsalek further refined his style that emphasizes the purity of fruit, place, and texture.
Viticulture
Drawing on vineyards throughout one of the best appellations for Chardonnay, Marsalek works with independent growers who share his respect for quality. Every aspect of farming is tailored to produce Chardonnay that respects and expresses the terroir of the appellation. Yields, vigor, and cluster position are all carefully adjusted to meet that goal.
Vinification
The harvested clusters are pressed in a modern press that protects the juice from oxidation while also employing gentle and efficient press cycles to avoid harsh flavor compounds from being extracted. The clarified juice is transferred into oak barrels and large 500-liter oak puncheons for fermentation with occasional stirring during nearly a year in barrel.
Library
Moonset Sonoma County Red 2014
Price: $35.00
Moonset is a blend of Zinfandel with Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet from three distinct vineyards in Sonoma County.
Vineyards
Red Rock Ranch in Knights Valley is the backbone of the blend. Sitting at 2300 feet elevation with steep slopes, the Zinfandel shows mountain fruit typicity with bright red fruit character, lively acid, and firm tannins. Tzabaco Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley is the source for the Petite Sirah. This valley floor vineyard has full sun exposure ripening the fruit to perfection with brilliant flavors and dark spices. Viszlay Vineyard in Russian River Valley rounds out the blend with slow ripening, structured, complex Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet from this cool, fog-influenced microclimate.
Tasting Notes
Bursting with aromas of wild cherry, vanilla, blueberry, and boysenberry. Lively on the palate with ripe dark fruit, cola, exotic spices and violets with a juicy, plush finish.
Technical Details
Blend: 80% Zinfandel, 17% Petite Sirah, 3% Alicante Bouschet
AVA: Sonoma County
Alcohol: 14.70%
Price: $35.00
Moonset Knights Valley Zinfandel 2016 Sonoma County
Price: $45.00
Knights Valley
Situated just over the Napa and Sonoma county line past Calistoga, Knights Valley offers high elevations, red volcanic soils and long warm days followed by cold nights; the perfect home for Zinfandel. Knights Valley is actually a good home for many grape varieties, and so the Malbec (5%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Petite Sirah (2%) and Merlot (2%) that round out this wine benefited from the same ideal growing conditions that produced such an exceptional Zin. The Knights Valley AVA is home to some incredible producers such as Peter Michael, Moran Manor, and Ledson Winery. Marsalek sourced this Zinfandel from a small vineyard that sits on the slopes of this unique appellation. The lively acidity and firm tannins reflect the mountainous terroir the grapes were sourced from.
Winemaker's Notes
Winemaker Barrett Marsalek has made wine for more than a decade and throughout his career has worked in Sonoma and Napa counties as well as Australia and New Zealand. Marsalek continues to be inspired by wines that take full advantage of the bold flavors produced in the more forgiving growing climates of New World regions.
2016 Zinfandel
This 2016 Zinfandel is light garnet in color, and the wine has dark, brambly aromas that mingle with strawberry and raspberry notes and which are followed by flavors of ripe blackberry, mocha, and a dash of white pepper.
Production
The Zinfandel and other lots are fermented separately with regular pump-overs for about 10 to 12 days at relatively warm temperatures to ensure complete and thorough extraction of all flavor and color compounds. After getting pressed in a basket press, the wine aged in oak barrels for 16 months.
Food Pairing
A balanced, flavorful, and zesty Zinfandel like this can pair with numerous options, but because of its abundant and fine tannins, it likely would be best with heartier fare such as red meat like barbecue ribs or roast beef.