Gold Medals
- Orange County Fair
- S.F. Int'l Wine Competition
- Tasters Guild Competition
- Best in Glass Wine Challenge
- National Orange Show-Pacific Rim
As we develop deeper relationships with high quality producers on California who are turning out great wines at great prices, certain wineries jump out as consistently delivering incredible value across a range of wines. One of these is certainly Schug Estate, where Walter Schug and Michael Cox continue to turn out stellar wines across a range of prices. We have offered multiple vintages of their reserve wines, which are deep, complex wines (at a correspondingly higher price). Today instead we are offering Schug's Carneros Pinot Noir, which is sourced from chardonnay blocks on their own estate, as well of from nearby quality growers like the Sangiacomo and Iund. The result is a wonderfully vibrant, and layered Pinot Noir priced for everyday drinking. A perfect wine to buy a case of and enjoy over the coming holidays!
The 2008 vintage was a little unusual in California, in that it began with two rather hard frosts in the spring, which reduced the crop substantially. The advantage of this reduction in crop is that the fruit that remains tends to be more concentrated and flavorful. The summer was fairly average, but heat spikes in the fall caused problems for producers that were looking for extra hang-time. However, for wineries like Schug, this was no problem as they tend to pick earlier anyway, preferring an elegant, refined style.
The 2008 Schug Carneros Pinot Noir is a wonderfully alluring pale garnet color. The nose shows classic Pinot aromas of black cherry, cranberry and briar, along with surprising notes of kirsch and vanilla. The palate shows more red fruit, joined by an underlying earthy character distinct to Carneros. The wine finishes clean in texture, but with intriguingly rustic flavors of graphite and damp earth. A beautifully balanced wine that is showing no signs of premature aging at 5 years, this will pair wonderfully with a wide range of foods, and should keep in the cellar for several years to come.
VINEYARDS: 30% Iund; 27% Sangiacomo; 16% Ricci; 8% Schug Estate; 6% Vineburg; 6% Cornerstones; 4% Brown; 3% Parmalee-Hill
APPELLATION: Carneros
HARVEST DATES: September 1st through September 29th, 2008
SUGAR AT HARVEST: 24.4 degrees Brix, average
FERMENTATION: 6 to 8 days in stainless steel punch-down and rotary fermenters, with cap immersion 3 times daily AGING / COOPERAGE: 2 months in 800 gallon oak casks (during malo-lactic fermentation) 9 months in 60 gallon French oak, medium toast barrels (30% new)
ALCOHOL: 14.0% by volume
ACIDITY: TA = 0.59g/100ml; pH = 3.56
PRODUCTION: 7,808 cases (12 x 750ml); 1,186 cases (12 x 375ml); 40 cases (6 x 1.5-Liter); 32 x 3-Liter bottles; 6 x 5-Liter bottles
RELEASE DATE: April 1st, 2010
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
Inky, plush, cellar-worthy
The nose is an aromatic riot—a decadent mashup of blackberry, black cherry, and plum swirled with whimsical notes of red licorice, vanilla, and cocoa. A savory dust of spice, cedar, and a gentle kiss of oak adds a sophisticated edge to this fruit-forward powerhouse.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
96 Points
Bold and luxurious with inviting aromas of blackberry, black cherry, tobacco, notes of cedar and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
98 Points
Deep purple hue and an alluring aromatic profile of fresh blue fruits and delicate violets. On the palate, it delivers a seamless and layered texture, framed by supple, polished tannins and a refined sense of balance. Elegantly structured, it offers remarkable purity and finesse, finishing with graceful length and poise.
95 Points
Aromas of wild berries, black fig and ripe dark fruits are intertwined with hints of fresh mountain herbs, mineral, leather, savory spices, and cigar box. On the palate, the rich fruit flavors of dark cherry, ripe plum, blackberry, red currants and cassis are layered with notes of wild sage, dark chocolate truffle, cinnamon, clove, and a kiss of oak.
97 Points
Lush and fleshy, with cassis, boysenberry, and blackberry notes guided by hints of alder and mesquite. Stays open but defined through the finish, with a buried hint of sweet tobacco. A rich, layered beast, this has a nose rife with currants, blackberries, vanilla, and light toast with flavors of mocha, plum, and Bing cherry that mingle harmoniously on the tongue.
95 Points
A powerful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, it's enticing and fragrant, bursting with fresh blueberries, blackberry tart, cedar, black olives, and hints of spicebox. Its palate provides big, round chewy tannins, sweet ripe black cherries, blackberry cordial, Bourbon-soaked maraschino cherries, maple roasted walnuts, and a touch of vanilla.
92 Points
Lofty aromas of ripe red fruits layered with notes of crushed violets, berry cobbler, cherry and creme brulee leading into crushed blackberry with cassis, mocha, leather, mineral, and baking spice. Its all encompassing and bold mouthfeel are outstanding, as deep tannins dance around the palate, finishing with flavors of blackberry, fig, and pipe tobacco.
Chewy & Ripe
Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, bacon, blackberry jam, and black tea. Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight. Rich, structured, and complex, with a long evolving finish.
94 Points, Wine Enthusiast
This opulent wine opens with aromas of blackberry, black plum, violets and spice on the nose. Flavors on the palate of dark cherry, sarsaparilla and orange zest wrap around dried tobacco leaf, malt chocolate and toasted vanilla, with a long, supple finish.
92 Points
Inviting aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate. The palate unfolds with layered flavors of black cherry, raspberry cordial, vanilla bean and spice, where focused tannins envelop, leading to a rich red fruit finish with blue fruit undertones.
93 Points
Depth, balance and big flavors. The nose evokes black cherry pie, licorice, plums, vanilla, and notes of chocolate. On the palate, it bursts with cassis, red currants, toasted walnuts, and chocolate. This wine has great texture that ultimately finishes with round, silky smooth tannins.
