2021 Meritage "Benchland" From Dry Creek Vineyard/ 2019 Meritage "Alluvial Gap"/ 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon "Iron Slopes" From Dry Creek Vineyard

This delicious blend features fruit from specific vineyard sites in Dry Creek Valley that highlight the unique soils, microclimate and terroir of our home appellation.There are three wines we will open today.This first one is the Meritage Benchland 2021. Winemaker Notes: Since our founding in 1972, we have advocated for the artful blending of the Bordeaux varieties to achieve balance, finesse, and character in our red wines. Meritage is the name given to an American Bordeaux-style blend, combining the “merit” of the grape with the “heritage” of the blending tradition. This 2021 vintage is a rich and complex wine that’s an absolute pleasure to drink. Aromas of black cherry, plum and blackberry waft from the glass. As the wine opens up, it reveals aromas of vanilla, mocha and cedar. On the palate, the wine is structured with chewy tannins and full of spicy nuances of white pepper, nutmeg and cardamom. The finish is seamless and well-integrated. This wine will age beautifully and develop in the bottle for years to come. We will also open2019 Meritage "Alluvial Gap"!! Winemaker Notes: This exquisite Meritage was inspired by our decades of working with Bordeaux varietals planted in the different districts and vineyards of Dry Creek Valley. Five decades of experience have provided the knowledge of which properties can provide the best fruit our region can offer. This delicious blend features fruit from specific vineyard sites within the Lytton Springs district of Dry Creek Valley, including our iconic Endeavour Vineyard. The blend is led by Cabernet Sauvignon, with three additional Bordeaux varietals for complexity and depth. At first swirl, the wine displays powerful aromas of black currant, plum and blueberry. Several more minutes reveal hints of black and white pepper, fennel and rose petal. The palate is full and rich with flavors of black cherry and blackberry, with notes of coriander, thyme and fine leather. The tannins are fine yet firm, with a round, plush texture and a rich, lingering finish. This 2019 wine is very special and will age for many years! But we are not done yet! Let's open 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon "Iron Slopes"!! Winemaker Notes: This high-elevation Cabernet Sauvignon was inspired by our decades of working with Bordeaux varietals planted in the different districts and vineyards within Dry Creek Valley. This exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon showcases some of the more extreme growing sites that lie on the western hillsides of Dry Creek Valley. The undulating nature of the terrain provides grapes that are beautifully ripened and lead to a wine that is silky, textured and complex. Juicy aromas of plum and blueberry come forward initially. Additional airing reveals notes of cedar, cinnamon, thyme and coriander. The palate is bold and luxurious with luscious yet earthy flavors of black cherry, fine leather, mocha and white truffle. The finish lingers with notes of white pepper, caramel and oregano. Chewy tannins frame this full-bodied and rich expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. We should order a few dishes and find out which of these great wines is our favorite....TODAY! Enjoy and make a point of visiting Healdsburg and Dry Creek Vineyard! Cheers!

Dry Creek Vineyard/ Great Wines from Sonoma County/Endeavour 2020

We will Driven by our vision to produce world-class wines, this Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the luxurious and nuanced qualities of the diverse soil conditions in our Endeavour Vineyard. 2020 Endeavour Cabernet Sauvignon! Winemaker Notes: Located in the Lytton Springs district of Dry Creek Valley, our estate Endeavour Vineyard is the vision of the second generation to craft unique, world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. It is strategically planted to take advantage of diverse soil conditions and contains its own sustainable ecosystem. At first swirl, notes of black currant, black berry and cranberry come forward, followed by deeper aromatics of clove and orange zest. Additional airing reveals nuances of cardamom and mocha. On the palate, elegant flavors of boysenberry and plum mingle with complex notes of cinnamon, toasty cedar and bay leaf. The refined tannins are well-integrated, providing a luxurious mouthfeel with a long, lingering finish. In recent times Dry creek has become a region known for more than Zinfandel. Dry Creek Vineyard has led the way with With Meritage wines that are world class and have great aging ability. This wine speakd loudly and will be a wine that you will put down for a number of years and discover perfection.

Winter in Wine Country/ Dry Creek Vineyard/Healdsburg/ 2022 Pinot Noir/ 2020 Farmhouse Zinfandel

the 2022 Pinot Noir from Dry Creek Vineyard is a very small lot wine,and stands out as one of your next favorite wines from this great winery. Earthy and nuanced, this beautiful Pinot Noir is made in limited quantities from hand-selected fruit in one of our estate vineyards. The Russian River Valley is perhaps the finest region for growing world-class Pinot Noir in all of California. The coastal climate is ideal with daily heating and cooling cycles that create the perfect conditions to cultivate this delicate grape. We produce just a small amount of Pinot Noir, hand selecting the most optimal fruit from our vineyard. Aged in small French oak barrels, this beautiful wine displays pure varietal characteristics and earthy nuances, true to the terroir of the Russian River Valley appellation. This 2022 vintage displays wonderful aromatics of bright cherry, rhubarb and strawberry. Several more minutes of airing reveal notes of cedar, cardamom and mushroom. On the palate, flavors of blueberry and cranberry integrate with hints of clove, orange peel and fine leather. The tannins are fine with a delicate mouthfeel and beautiful complexity. This delicious Pinot Noir is an elegant wine with naturally high acidity and brightness. There are many wines on their website and the winemaker notes will confirm the many wines that will excite your wine passions,and lead to your next wine country excursion to the great wine hub known as Healdsburg,and the Dry Creek Valley. Our next wine will be the 2020 Farmhouse Zinfandel. Let's vist the website and take a look at the winemaker's notes. Reminiscent of turn of the century heirloom vines, this elegant wine is fruit-forward with deep complexity and silky tannins. Winemaker Notes: This delicious bottling is the sixth vintage of Zinfandel produced from our Farmhouse Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The vines in our Farmhouse Vineyard were among the first to be planted using the Heritage budwood concept to preserve the heritage of iconic old vine Zinfandel vineyards! Cuttings from a pre-Prohibition era vineyard were grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock to create a “young vine” wine with “old vine” Zinfandel characteristics. Initially, the aromas show fruit-forward tones of black and red cherries, cranberry and blackberry. Subtle notes of mocha, rose and earthy nuances come forward after several minutes of airing. On the palate, flavors of plum and strawberry mix with soft undertones of coriander, toffee, toasty cedar and roasted almonds. The wine is supple with tremendous complexity and silky tannins. The finish is pure with a slight spiciness and refined elegance. We will be adding great new food and wine pairings in the very near future. Using these wines and local menu idems

2021 The Mariner/Dry Creek Vineyard/2021 Cabernet Franc/ Great New Wines for dinner and every dish

Crafted from several vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, The Mariner represents our vision to produce the finest Meritage wine from using the five noble Bordeaux varieties. 2021 The Mariner!! The Mariner is a powerful, yet elegant Meritage made in the tradition of some of the world’s greatest Bordeaux blends. This wine is the culmination of years spent working with different vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, including our own Endeavour property. The Mariner represents our vision to produce the finest Meritage wine from the Dry Creek Valley using the five noble Bordeaux varieties. The grapes for this delicious Bordeaux-inspired blend come from several of our most prized estate and hillside vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley. At first swirl, the wine displays aromas of black currant, plum, black cherry and blackberry. Several more minutes reveal hints of tobacco, toffee and cinnamon. The palate has dark berry flavors along with earthy complexity and savory tones. It finishes with notes of mocha, herbes de Provence and violet. Good acidity will help this wine to age beautifully for years to come. I think the blends are extremely special,and lets' open this wine and one more to pair with our dinner tonight! Often used in our blends, this varietal's intriguing and indulgent character makes a wonderfully unique and aromatic wine. 2021 Cabernet Franc Winemaker Notes: Cabernet Franc may have origins entrenched in Bordeaux, but it has a home here in California's Dry Creek Valley as well. We find that this delicious varietal adds a layer of finesse and a peppery perfume as a blending component for our Bordeaux-inspired red wines, but is also outstanding all on its own. The Cabernet Franc we grow on our estate Bullock House vineyard stands out vintage after vintage, so we set aside a few barrels as a special wine available exclusively at our family winery. This voluptuous estate Cabernet Franc displays intriguing aromatics of black currant, spiced plum and blueberry. Additional airing reveals nuances of cocoa power, espresso and fine leather. The palate is medium-bodied and rich with luscious flavors of black and red cherries and black tea complimented by savory notes of cardamom, caramel, cedar and cinnamon. A finish of fine tannins rounds out each indulgent sip. this wine is one of my favorites and I wait for each new vintage to be released! Cheers!

Great New Vintages from Dry Creek Vineyard/ Four Clones Vineyard Zinfandel and The 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel

Since 1972, our winemaking style has been to produce classic varietals that define their varietal category. From our signature offerings to our single vineyard and limited release wines, each bottling personifies our family’s passion to produce elegant, balanced and food-friendly wines. our first wine is 2020 Four Clones Vineyard Zinfandel.I love this wine,and each vintage seems better. This delicious Zinfandel comes from our Four Clones Vineyard, just in front of our family winery. The incredible 4.4-acre property honors the bygone era of grape growing and represents the heritage of old vine vineyards for generations to come. Planted in 2009, this traditional head-pruned, dry-farmed Zinfandel vineyard incorporates four distinct clones: Bradford Mountain, St. Peter’s Church, Primitivo and DuPratt on St. George rootstock. This vintage includes a touch of Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet, planted adjacent to the Zinfandel. At first swirl, fragrant aromas of coriander, cinnamon and cocoa powder come forward. A few minutes of airing reveal notes of blackberry, boysenberry and cranberry. On the palate are characters of blackberry and blueberry, with lingering white pepper, mocha and cumin. The tannins are silky and smooth to lend a round, rich mouthfeel. Full-bodied and complex, this estate Zinfandel is impeccably balanced with a mouthwatering finish. We will open 2 wines today Our second wine is the 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel. First coined by Dry Creek Vineyard in 1987, the term “Old Vine” has special meaning to our family winery. Its vineyards remain the most prized and historic of all plantings in the Dry Creek Valley. Although there is no legal definition, we define an old vine vineyard as having vines that average more than 50 years in age. For this bottling of our Old Vine Zinfandel, the vines average more than 100 years in age! This vintage presents alluring aromatics of boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry with notes of white pepper, cardamom, toffee and marzipan. On the palate, layers of black cherry and plum come forward with nuances of coriander, mocha, allspice and violet. The wine is complex, with vibrancy and impeccable balance. The tannins are fine, lending to an elegant texture and mouthfeel.We have a few more great wines from Dry Creek vineyard. Please join us....we saved you a seat! Cheers!

Dry Creek Vineyard/ Don Wallace/Agave Mexican Cuisine

Recently Don Wallace and I met at agave In Healdsburg for some great food to pair with his wines. This is a feature with one of the great wines from Dry Creek vineyard! we will also feature the amazing family behind this great Mexican restaurant In healdsburg. Our wine? 2021 Heritage Vines Zinfandel. Winemaker Notes: To preserve the tradition and “heritage” of old Zinfandel vineyards, cuttings from a pre-Prohibition era vineyard were grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. Then, for several years we worked diligently to screen and propagate virus-free vines that would ultimately produce a crop. The 2021 Heritage Vines Zinfandel is delicious and wonderfully balanced. This vintage presents alluring aromatics of black cherry, boysenberry and plum with nuances of warm spices, mocha and white pepper. On the palate, brambly flavors of dark berries come forward. The wine is complex, with bright acidity complimented by deeper notes of cedar, fine leather and dark brown sugar. From start to finish, this remarkable wine offers refreshing acidity paired with excellent structure. At Agave Healdsburg, they draw from the artisanal customs and deepest cultures of Oaxaca. It’s more than just food and drinks; it’s a family tradition passed down through generations. Our Mole Negro, an exotic and incredibly fragrant creation made from over 20 secret ingredients, is a testament to this heritage. Executive Chef Octavio Diaz has mastered this recipe with the guidance and culinary expertise of his parents, ensuring the authenticity and depth of flavor in every bite. Mezcal, the smoky spirit of Oaxaca, is another thread woven into the fabric of our family history. Here at Agave Healdsburg, we craft a diverse range of premium cocktails that celebrate this ancestral beverage. Agriculture is a natural way of life for Don Wallace, the product of four generations of a hard-working California farming family. Don’s interest in machinery took him away from the farm for fifteen years while he pursued a career in international construction. While he was on a project in Sonoma County in 1980, Don met Dry Creek Vineyard founder David Stare’s daughter, Kim Stare, whom he married in 1982. With his father-in-law and wife in the wine business, Don’s next move was a stint among the vines at Murphy-Goode Estate Winery to “test drive” his new family’s industry. After one year, Don accepted his father-in-law’s offer to manage ranch operations at Dry Creek Vineyard in 1990. Don’s sphere of influence gradually grew to encompass every aspect of the business, including winery operations and sales, as well as vineyard development and acquisitions. Don took on the role of General Manager in 1999 and in April 2006, he was appointed President of Dry Creek Vineyard. In 2012, Don decided to take a well deserved sabbatical to pursue some outside interests as well as an extended list of honey do’s at home! We have two great features first with Don Wallace and I discussing our feature wine.Then on to our food and wine feature!Please Click on the 2 links below to listen to our audio features1 Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine . Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine .

Daryl Groom/One of The Best Winemakers on The Planet/Zinfandel feature

Wehave another great audio feature for you all today!daryl Groom Will join me as we open his great Zinfandel.First we look at his website and fill you in on his great career in the winemaking industry. Daryl Groom has been involved in the wine industry in both the USA and Australia for more than 30 years. Currently he is engaged in a number of wine- related projects in both countries. He is the Owner/ Winemaker for Groom Wines in Australia, a very successful ultra premium brand focusing on Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. His other great joy is his newest brand Colby Red Wine, a wine initiated and inspired by his son Colby Groom who underwent back to back open heart surgeries. Proceeds from this wine go to charities across the USA that promote heart health (www.colbyred.com). The Groom Family has raised over $900,000 for heart charities including the American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundation. Prior to his current ventures, Daryl was Senior Winemaker for Penfolds in Australia where he oversaw the making of Penfolds famed red wine, Grange. He was the Executive Winemaker for Peak Wines International that owned both Geyser Peak and Wildhorse Wineries (1990-2005) and then Senior VP of Operations and Winemaking for Beam Wine Estates (2006/2007). Daryl's passion for wine sees him judging at 8 international wine shows annually. He has also been a repeat guest on E television and also appeared on the NBC Today Show. He also partners and is Chief Judge at the North Coast Wine Challenge Wine Competetion and is partner with well known Chef Charlie Palmer in the prestigious and highly successful Charlie Palmers Pigs and Pinot. Pigs and Pinot is an annual 2 day event that raises over $150,000 for local and national charities. Zinfandel is a grape variety whose origins are believed to be from Europe, possibly Croatia, where it was traded to Italy and referred to as Primativo. Zinfandel’s success is primarily related to California where it has been grown for 150 years. It is produced by many wineries and receives cult status among wine lovers. Many believe this variety is to California what shiraz is to Australia. Zinfandel is a hearty variety. It produces its best wines in areas where the grapevine needs to work hard. Our Kalimna shiraz vineyard has just the micro-climate to experiment with this variety to endeavour to produce wines that match California’s best. It is no secret that the best California Zinfandels are from old vines, grown head-trained (aka bush vines). With this principle in mind we decided to plant and train our vines to this method. More time consuming, less yield but hopefully high quality. Our 8 acres of bush vines have been designated the “Bush Block”. This first release is a solid wine displaying very typical zinfandel hallmarks. Brick red in colour, a very spicy, raisiny aroma and a rich medium weighted palate with some apparent sweetness, although the wine is dry. This sweetness in taste comes from the higher alcohol and raisining of some of the grapes. This wine can be very much enjoyed with pasta or red meat, and will be fantastic with cheese to end a meal. Please join us by clicking on the link below,and enjoy our great audio feature with Daryl Groom1 Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines and food.