Autumn 2021 Tasting Notes

2015 Aglianico Gold | Platinum

2015 Gold Platinum

2014 Gold | Platinum

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Concierge

2014 Carignane Platinum

2014 Gold Concierge

2015 Concierge

2015 Petite Sirah Gold | Platinum

2017 Concierge

The busy season is here...

As autumn approaches, we’re keeping an eye on the ripening while preparing to bottle the remainder of the 2019 , and thus make room in the cellar for the new to come. The general buzz on the grapevine (pun intended!) is that this vintage will be a bit ear- lier than usual, and that yields will be less than average. So much comes down to the last month or so of ripening in the vineyard, and we’re just entering that time as this goes to print. Fingers crossed, for an excellent, and “uneventful” ! With gratitude and appreciation for our club friends, all of us at Amphora wish you a wonderful autumn, and CHEERS! Our 2015 Aglianico (pronounced ah-YAH-nee-koh) was our second vintage to spend time aging in our terracotta amphorae, and the influence of the clay lends an old-world profile to this wine: bracing yet gentle tannins, a clean minerality, and subtle red fruit notes. The character of this works well with the clay influence, and makes for a food-friendly wine. This one will age elegantly for years, and if you plan to enjoy it in the short-term, be sure to decant it. Delightful pairings include cacio e pepe, and grill roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic.

True consistency is a hallmark of this vineyard, and this 2014 confirms our experience. The tightly-wound dark fruit notes unreel to a delicious blackberry-black currant concentrate with a lush mouthfeel. This wine is immediately approachable, and the first sip invites the second… and a third. Just like the 2013 vintage, we suggest a food-pairing paying homage to Malbec’s New World second-home . Perhaps chimichurri-grilled flank steak, or a wintry braise of lamb shanks seasoned with rosemary and lavender.

This wine is an excellent example of just how well Cabernet can perform in Dry Creek Valley: appealing aromatics of blackcurrant with a touch of cedar, and a juicy combination of both dark and red fruit flavors, all wrapped up in a “just-right” framework. This block of Cabernet Sauvignon is on the bench- lands immediately east of the winery, and the grapes arrive at the crusher so fresh and beautiful that fermenters of de-stemmed grapes look like they’re filled with just-picked blueberries. For a great autumnal pairing, consider squash/pumpkin ravioli with brown butter and sage!

Our Barbera consistently shows a delicious combination of savory notes and dark fruit character, and our 2015 is true to form. This one is a bit deeper and darker than some of its predecessors, and has a very appealing dark berry fruit on top of that typical vineyard clean loamy earthiness . Its lively mouth- feel carries a nice brightness and moderate tannins round out the profile. This wine would stand up well to garlicky tomato sauces, eggplant parm...and you get the idea!

As the soul of many a blend, Petite Sirah’s deep midnight-blue color, sturdy tannins, and ripe plum/blackberry fruit character can satisfy one’s craving for a big, . But it’s a that requires a deft touch in , in order to avoid over-extraction, and a subsequent loss of balance in the finished wine. Rick has honed just such a touch over 25 years of crafting iconic Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, and now with some thirteen from the Bevill/Wolcott Vineyard This 2015 rendition is true to form, with deep-noted dark plum that finishes with a just a touch of anise. The ideal pairing just might be a grilled rib-eye steak, but don’t rule out grilled eggplant and zucchini!

You might think that it has small berries-NOT particularly. You’d think it was Syrah- NOPE! Here’s the timeline of perhaps the most confusing grape name in winemaking: 1880: Dr. , a nurseryman in the south of , releases a new variety that he bred. Oddly enough, it is called “Durif. ~ 1884: The Durif grape is introduced into California, and some winegrowers call it “Petite Sirah”, a name commonly used for Durif in some regions of France. ~ 1885-1930’s: Petite Sirah grows in popularity in California, and arrives in Dry Creek Valley. Local vintners find it to be a natural field -blend partner for Zinfandel. During Prohibition, it is shipped east by the boxcar- load to home to make their “medicine”. ~ 1940s: The first varietal bottlings in California of “Durif” and “Petite Sirah”. ~ 1976: Petite Sirah acreage in California peaks at 14,000, and it is one of the predominant grapes in Napa Valley. 1995: Petite Sirah plantings fall to a record low of 1,400 acres. ~ 1997: Rick Hutchinson is inspired by the intense character of Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah fruit, and launches Amphora Winery. ~ 1998: At UC Davis, Dr. Carole Meredith uses DNA fingerprinting to determine the parentage of Petite Sirah/Durif. It turns out to be the love-child of Syrah (!) and . ~ 2018: Petite Sirah is back: about 12,000 acres thrive in California, with more than 300 producers worldwide. That means it is still a relative rarity, alongside about 90,000 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon… We’re pleased to welcome Syrah back to our lineup after a hiatus of several vintages. Our first stand-alone Syrah since the 2014 vintage, our 2017 is true to the spirit of this Rhône varietal: it is blue-black in color, with deep-noted aromas of blackberry, menthol and sweet spices embraced in a substantial core of black fruit flavors and firm tannins. This wine definitely has the heft and depth to age beautifully for years. For more immediate enjoyment, de- cant or aerate a bottle, and have it with smoked sausages, Duck Confit, Cas- soulet, or braised shortribs. We invite you to dive deeply into our latest rendi- tion of this noble Rhône varietal, and renew your enchantment with this most enigmatic of wines.

A consistent aromatic complexity characterizes this vineyard (which is directly across Dry Creek Road from the winery). In 2015, the wine is redolent of raspberry, sandalwood, and a note which reminds us of a dusty hay field in late summer. The mouthfeel is solid, and the flavors of raspberry and dark cocoa are held nicely in a frame of medium-weight tannins. The finish lingers with a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. Try this one with a roast pork tenderloin with a cherry glaze, or a chickpea and cauliflower tagine.

This special vineyard block is just north of the winery, and has 70-80 year- old Carignane vines that produce concentrated, flavorful grapes. Our 2014 may be Rick’s best vintage of this varietal: its rich aromas of blackberry and creamy introduce the full-bodied, dark-fruit-highlighted wine spiced with hints of and licorice. The finish is sustained for a long while. This one is wonderful to sip on its own, but even better with a good meal. A recently-opened bottle tasted even better on the second and third day.

The Timber Crest Vineyard is our go-to for Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the complex character of the varietal, while also showing the easygoing and approachable qualities so common in Dry Creek Valley red wines. Our 2016 greets you with a ripe Bing cherry and black currant nose that seamlessly lead through to the finish. You might sense a hint of red licorice and mint alongside the dark fruit. This vintage is a little bigger in structure, and will benefit from another couple of years in bottle. Consider popping the cork on this one when you have the time and inclination to sit and ponder a glass (or three). Winning food pairings for this wine lean towards grilled red meats and braised greens. Retail Concierge Platinum Gold

2015 Aglianico 38 28.50 30.40 32.30

2015 Barbera 35 26.25 28.00 29.75

2014 Cabernet Sauvignon 65 48.75 52 55.25

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon 65 48.75 52 55.25

2014 Carignane 40 30 32 34

2014 Malbec 40 30 32 34

2015 Merlot 55 41.25 44 46.75

2015 Petite Sirah 42 31.50 33.60 35.70

2017 Syrah 45 33.75 36 38.25

To re-order, please call us at 707.431.7767 or email us at [email protected] as many of these wines are exclusive to our club members and do not appear on our website. Remember, Concierge and Platinum members receive shipping discounts of 50% and 25% respectively.