June 16th, 2020

Thank you for supporting our West Coast Wine Club Summer Release! This is our 2nd ever Club Release, and I’m excited to keep moving the program forward and introducing you to some exciting new wines, but also some old favorites! We are in the midst of some of the darker days in American history, which has made it difcult to sample and source wines. But I’m proud to say that this 2nd release has exceeded the very high bar set by the 1st release! Let’s pop some corks!

Cheers, CW

SOCIAL CLUB

• Division-Villages, ‘Les Petits Fers,' 2019 Gamay Noir, Oregon. Absolutely beautiful Carbonic Gamay that has become an annual favorite of mine! Blend from five certified organic vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills and Southern Oregon. Aromas of white pepper, fresh herbs and dusty strawberry, with a chalky note. The palate is mineral focused with cranberry, thyme and a peppery note distinct to Gamay. I just love the interplay of the intense fruitiness balanced by the overt stemmy spices, making for such a flavorful experience! The wine has an extremely elegant mouthfeel, less funk than last vintage, and is incredibly refreshing overall. Pro tip… try drinking it slightly chilled! 550 cases produced.

• Kelley Fox, ‘Mirabai,’ 2018 Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, OR. Kelley Fox has a great story, and an interesting read on her website, if you find the time. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with dual degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State, but then caught the wine bug and learned farming & winemaking from the late-great David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards. She’s adamant about natural winemaking, using organic materials, biodynamic practices, and for the most part is a one-woman show. The 2018 Mirabai is 60% Weber Vineyard (own-rooted Pommard clone) and 40% Maresh Vineyard (biodynamic vineyard with vines dating back to 1970). A wine of exceptionally elegant texture. 1,288 cases made.

• Board Track Racer, ‘The Chief,’ 2018 Cab Blend, Columbia Valley. As most of you know, I have long been a huge fan of the wines from Mark Ryan Winery in WA. It started way back when I was working for Chateau Ste. Michelle in the early 2000’s and traveled to WA frequently, and Mark Ryan was my first introduction into the Red Mountain AVA, which is my favorite! Board Track Racer is their entry-level tier, but sources from excellent vineyards in the Red Mountain and Walla Walla AVA’s. So you have is a top-level producer, sourcing from outstanding vineyard sites and producing wines that way over-deliver for their price points! The Chief is their based blend which changes by the vintage, but always sticks to Bordeaux varietals. The 2018 is 80% Cab. Sauv., 18% , and 2% Cab. Franc. Medium-bodied, firm and focused. Rich blueberry compote, fresh blackberries, cocoa and eucalyptus. 10,000 cases. 92pts - James Suckling

@westcoastwinesf www.westcoastsf.com @westcoastwinemv CELLAR CLUB

• Relic, ‘The Archive,’ 2017 Carignane, Frediani Vnyd., Calistoga. Frediani Vineyard is a historic organic, dry farmed, head trained old-vine vineyard planted in 1901 in the northeast corner of Napa Valley. It includes some of the only known Carignane grown in Napa Valley. Relic made just 46 cases of this incredible juice! The wine opens with Blackberry preserves, baking spices, lavender and smoky tobacco notes. The wine quickly engages with a rich earthy tone, which is dense and meaty, especially for a Carignane. Rosemary and black pepper, with a bloody/meaty character that reminds of a good BBQ. On the mid-palate it flashes just enough acidity to show of some higher-toned, tart red fruits before getting engulfed by the rich savoriness of the wine. A unique and delicious wine, full of character! Only 46 cases made - 2 barrels.

• Kanzler, 2018 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley. It was 7 years ago when Lindsey & I went to a Lynmar Wine Club Dinner at the Westin St. Francis on Union Square. We were 2 kids running around telling people ‘we’re going to open a wine bar,’ but didn’t have a location, just a dream. As fate would have it, we were sat at a table with Lynda Kanzler - and the rest is history! Lynda and Steve Kanzler are the owners of the winery and their renowned 15-acre Kanzler Vineyard, which provides incredible fruit to the likes of Kosta Browne, Lynmar and Rivers-Marie. Their son Alex grew up in the vineyard and is now the winemaker, turning out a classic Russian River style of deep ripe cherry, cola and baking spice, with an elegant silky texture - it’s my benchmark for Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Made by some of the nicest people around! 1,152 cases made.

• Jolie-Laide, ‘GSMV Blend,’ 2017 Grenache--Mourvedre-, Shake Ridge Vnyd., Amador County. Winemaker Scott Schultz usually works with less-common varietals from old-vine sites, which is partly how he named his winery Jolie- Laide, which translates to ‘Beautiful-Ugly’ that is diferent but good. Scott’s wines are in very high demand and hard to get your hands on, so you are in for a treat! His style is focused on freshness and vibrancy, using low-tech ‘natural’ winemaking practices, and the results are impressive! This blend is all co-fermented from Ann Kramer’s highly-regarded Shake Ridge Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills. Red cherry, plum, tobacco are all assertive in Scott’s trademark energetic style. The purity of fruit is incredible, and that is exactly what Scott was intending.

• Mark Ryan, ‘The Dissident,' 2018 Red Wine, Columbia Valley. The Dissident comes from my favorite WA State producer, using fruit from some of the finest vineyards in WA, and ‘The Dissident’ name does come from the Pearl Jam song - Mark is a big fan and good friends with PJ! 70% Cabernet Sauvignon from Quintessence, Klipsun and Ciel de Cheval vineyards (all Red Mountain AVA), and 21% Merlot from Phinny Hill and Red Willow vineyards (Horse Heaven Hills and Yakima Valley AVA’s, respectively) make up the foundation of this outstanding blend, which also includes 7% Cab Franc and 2% . The 2018 was just released and would be the wine out of this bunch to stock away for a few months, but it’s still drinking great now! Expressive and multi- layered, with complexity, richness and supple tannins. 4,500 cases made.

@westcoastwinesf www.westcoastsf.com @westcoastwinemv