For the wines of the month for April, we are California dreaming and heading over the Pond.
Another month flies by, for Wines of the Month April 2024 we are going over the pond to see the sunshine of California and the fantastic wines from Napa Valley and beyond. As always, your guide will be our wine expert, Sherry Rose Stolar, from Hedonism Wines in Mayfair (of course).
So, over to you, Sherry
Thanks, Martin
As Martin mentioned this month, we take you across the pond and the vast American continent to the state of California in the lead-up to our May Hedonism Wine School Event, California Dreaming. California, particularly Napa Valley, has become synonymous with quality American wines. However, not all Californian wines are created equal. From Napa and Sonoma north of San Francisco to Santa Barbara north of Los Angeles, there’s a fair amount of diversity across the state regarding grape varieties, styles and more.
Ashes & Diamonds Blanc No. 5 2019
Ashes & Diamonds was launched by Kashy Khaledi started Ashes as an attempt to emulate the great wines made during the heyday of Napa winemaking, in the 1960s and 1970s. Recruiting a star roster of winemakers , including Steve Matthiasson, Dan Petroski and Diana Snowden Seysses, and using the simple technologies used to make those iconic wines, Kashy has succeeded in establishing one of the most exciting Napa wine projects in recent years. Blanc No.5 2019 was produced by Napa winemaking legend Steve Matthiasson, and is a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc from Ryan’s vineyard and 50% Semillon from ancient unirrigated, bushvines at Kendall Hoxsey’s Yount Mill Vineyard in Yountville. The wine was barrel-fermented and aged for one year in 15% new oak.
Ceritas Bailhache Sauvignon Blanc 2020
White wine from California, £70.00
Ceritas is a relatively new wine producer in California, founded in 2005 by John Raytek and his wife, Martha Stoumen. Raytek is a former software engineer who turned to winemaking after a career change. Stoumen is a chef and sommelier who brings her culinary expertise to the winemaking process. This single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc hails the Bailhache Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA. The vineyard is located on a steep slope with well-drained soils, which allows the grapes to ripen fully and develop complex flavours.
Chanin Los Alamos Chardonnay 2020
White Wine, California £57.10
Chanin Los Alamos is a barrel-fermented Chardonnay from an elevated section of the Los Alamos vineyard in Santa Barbara County. This vineyard, which grades from sand into more alluvial, shale soils, is known for producing intensely mineral and citrus-driven Chardonnays. Made in limited quantities and aged for 18 months in fine French oak barrels, Los Alamos Chardonnay 2020 is medium-bodied with rich orchard fruit and honeysuckle notes tempered by brisk lemony acidity and a saline minerality. Focused and long, this is a wine that will cellar well for up to a decade.
Kistler Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021
Red Wine, California £105.00
Kistler Vineyards is a family-owned winery based in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Established in 1978 by Steve Kistler and Mark Bixler, they focus on Burgundy varieties, making 10 vineyard-designated Chardonnay wines and four designated Pinot Noir wines. This beautifully scented Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir exudes notes of red and dark berries, toasted oak and mineral undertones, all complemented by soft tannins and a long finish.
Ridge Lytton Springs 2021
Red Wine, California £60.00
The 2021 Lytton Springs is a blend of 72% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane, and 2% Alicante Bouschet. These grapes, farmed organically and harvested by hand, undergo destemming, crushing, and fermentation with native yeasts. The nose entices with scents of red and black raspberry, white pepper, fennel, sage, dark chocolate, and sarsaparilla. On the palate, this full-bodied wine unfolds with flavours of blackberry and ripe plum, accompanied by juicy acidity, superb midpalate weight, and a lingering finish.
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Red Wine, California £81.10
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a full-bodied red wine from the Napa Valley of California. One of the most storied wine estates in Napa, Duckhorn Vineyards has been producing benchmark Cabernets for more than 40 years. The estate is located in Rutherford, an appellation synonymous with top-quality Napa cab.
Well, that’s it for another month, and I think you will agree with Sherry’s exciting selection of wines. Don’t forget to join Sherry at one of the many wine events they run at Hedonism.
