Harvest in Sonoma County/J.Pedroncelli Winery

In a few days September will be with us,and crush2016 will soon be here.We will enjoy the wines of J.Pedroncelli Vineyards today,and have 4 wines to open and share with you.Let's start with the Sauvignon Blanc.We will check out the tasting notes and look back at the great history of this fabled winery. Since 1927, when John Pedroncelli, Sr. purchased vineyard and a small winery in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, two elements remain unchanged: the exceptional place the Pedroncelli family farms vineyards, and the family's dedication to making fine wines. From selling grapes to home winemakers during prohibition in order to keep the vineyards going, to growing a small base of business during the 1930s and 1940s, to the second generation joining their father: son John becoming winemaker in 1948 followed by Jim in 1955 as sales director, to 1963 when the winery was officially purchased by John and Jim from their father, to growing the line of wines in the 1960s with vineyard expansion and diversification, to the boom time of the 1970s and 1980s along with many changes and additions to our sales base including national sales and export, the third generation coming on board and vineyard replanting in the 1990s to the 21st century refining our focus to restaurants and casual dining/meet-up wine bars and independent wine shops across the nation. to the transfer of ownership of the company to the third generation (now a 70% woman owned company with a woman winemaker!) to the second decade in the new millennium where the fourth generation is coming up the ranks... Nine decades strong, we are still family owned and operated. The SB is the 2015 vintage,and a crisp wine filled with beautiful fruit. Aromatic with lemongrass and a touch of green apple. The fresh flavors are layered with lime, tropical fruit, and honey. Our Sauvignon Blanc is quite refreshing and tangy with bright acidity and a silky mouth feel. Please enjoy upon release or within a year or two as no aging is required.This is perfect to star a meal and will be great with many seafood dishes.Now the next wine is one of my favorites.Every time you open a bottle of the 2014 Bench Vineyard Merlot, you enter Sonoma County Merlot paradise.I have often told folks that this wine is an amazing value and consistently the same vintage after vintage. Pedroncelli Merlot presents aromas of black plum and spice. Red cherry and deep plum flavors are showcased along with cinnamon notes and, in the background, a touch of vanilla and smoky oak. Medium bodied with smooth tannins follow through to a velvety finish. I always request meat with this wine as well as the next two wines.First we will open the Dry Creek Valley Three Vineyards Cabernet. Rich aromas of red plum, sage and toasted oak introduce our Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe cherry fruit, black olive and black pepper spice follow on the palate. The wine showcases the fruit with a bit of jammy blackberry and a spicy finish. From a richer vintage showing firm tannins and good acidity. Enjoy upon release or cellar up to eight more years.All of these wines will be a great addition to your family feast.But let's also include the wisdom Cabernet from J.Pedroncelli Vineyards. This wine will impress you with it's complex finish and incredible up front fruit. A full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon with aromas of black plum, warm spice and currants. The rich flavors of ripe plum, berry and black pepper are woven with mellow tannins and great acidity. With it’s reserve-style complexity and depth, this is a wine to enjoy now or age 5–8 more years.These wines will be a perfect fit with steaks,and chops.I'm thinking a New York strip steak with a large amount of pepper sauce.AND I think we should get started NOW!!Please join us!We will follow this feature with some features from the past with the great folks at J.Pedroncelli Vineyards.Please plan on visiting Sonoma county and J.Pedroncelli soon,as we enjoy the crush of 2016.Cheers!