Going Yard with Chateau Montelena's Potter Valley Riesling

The Potter Valley AVA is located in the northern section of California's Mendocino County and centered naturally on the town of Potter Valley. The appellation is elevated 200 feet higher than surrounding areas so is conducive to colder climate grapes such as our current topic Riesling. Calistoga's Chateau Montelena sources fruit from this region to produce their 2017 Potter Valley Riesling ($27) as "growing the right grape in the right place" has long been the guiding principle behind the wines from this storied winery. Thus decades ago the winery entered into a long term contract with an organic vineyard whose location provides the abundant sunshine and cool nights to ripen fruit and retain acidity. In fact, the grapes are harvested fully ripe just before botrytis sets in and this ripeness provides both tropical and stone fruit notes minus the petrol often associated with ripeness and high sun exposure. The wine also maintains its dryness and creamy texture throughout, elicits subtle spices and minerals, and finishes with abundant acids. Following the record-setting MLB All-Star game, Chateau Montelena hit a dinger with this tasty Riesling. Cheers.

A Summer Red: Chateau Montelena Winery 2014 Calistoga Zinfandel?

I suspect, like me, most of you associate Napa's Chateau Montelena Winery with their Judgment of Paris Chardonnay or their Cabernet Sauvignon. And rightfully so since these are consistently excellent wines. But even with a visit to the winery many years ago, Chateau Montelena's other wine varietals never became ingrained in memory. That changed when I received a sample of their 2014 Calistoga Zinfandel ($29). The marketing sheet exclaimed that this was "the wine you should be drinking on the beach this summer" and my initial reaction was right, I bet. Lodi and Paso perhaps, but from Napa - nah.

According to winemaker Matt Crafton, the Chateau Montelena Zinfandel is "re-invented" each year and the noticeable aspect is that the fermented Zinfandel was aged in a combination of French, American, and Irish oak casks - the first time this later oak treatment has been used in California in over a century. Also noticeable is that the grapes used were a combination of old-vine Zinfandel from the Tofanelli Ranch and new plantings of estate Primitivo. And the wine is made in the rustic Italian style, lighter in color and fruit, but complex with notes of earthy dirt, tobacco, cinnamon, and cherries. The finish is very smooth with approachable tannins and light pepper and chocolate.  Thus, this wine is ready for a summer BBQ or an evening sip on the deck. The Chateau Montelena Zinfandel deserves respect alongside their more accomplished Chardonnay and Cabernet. Cheers.