What Do St Peter's, Rockpile, & Valdez Have In Common?
October 10, 2007
Behind the ivy covered St. Peter's Catholic Church in
Cloverdale is a two acre Zinfandel vineyard managed by Ulises
Valdez. In the best vintages Rosenblum releases this
rare "Reserve" Zinfandel, produced from 100+ year old vines, to only
its "Premier Club" membership with a restrictive two bottle limit. My
records show the last time I was able to obtain any "St.
Peter's" was the 1999 vintage for $45 a
bottle. In my experience, St. Peter's has always
represented the pinnacle in California Zinfandel. Follow along now -
In 1985, what can only be described as a true American
Dream "rags-to-riches" story, the then 16 year old Mexican migrant farm
worker Ulises Valdez (forced to lie about his age in
fear he would not be hired), partnered with Dry Creek Valley grower
Jack Florence Jr. to manage the latter's family's vineyard
holdings. Eventually, in 1994 Valdez cloned the St. Peter's Church
Zinfandel budwood, and then grafted it on to the rootstock planted at the now
famous Rockpile Road Vineyard in Sonoma owned
by Florence. Rosenblum's Rockpile Road Zin has been
cult followed since it received the # 3 ranking with 94 points in the Wine
Spectator's annual 2005 "Top 100 Wines of the Year". Today,
Ulises Valdez is only 38 years old, but his vineyard management company,
with more than 70 employees, oversees 900 plus acres of
Sonoma vines sourced by a who's who of winemakers including: Paul Hobbs, Marc Aubert, Kent
Rosenblum, Jeff Cohn and Jayson Pahlmeyer. Keep following
-
In 2002 Ulises Valdez planted a Pinot
Noir vineyard, owned by Gloria and Andre Frere, on the rolling hills of
Occidental in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma. Along the very top ridge
of the vineyard, there was a two acre site of reddish soil, with a warmer
southern exposure that beckoned Zinfandel. A mountain ridge to the southwest also
protected the vineyard from the brunt of the onshore wind and fog.
Again, like the Rockpile Road Vineyard, Ulises decided to plant
the St. Peters' Church clone Zinfandel here, in what is now
named Lancel Creek Vineyard. His first vintage was made
by former Rosenblum winemaker Jeff Cohn in 2004 and
produced a meager 100 cases. Wine Spectator reviewed it at 92
points.
JUST released,
again produced by Jeff Cohn, is the 2005 vintage of Valdez Zinfandel -
Lancel Creek Reserve. Again, only a mere 100 cases were produced
of this amazing wine. I recently included it in the Saturday's
tasting bar lineup and sold over 5 cases. Do not fear, I have more on
the way.... BUT, this is more of a race against time, as it should only be a
matter of days before this wine's release is on the radar of cutting edge
restaurants and savvy merchants.
My
notes - Intense, heady aromas and bright flavors of exotic
blackberry, spice and hints of vanillin gain your immediate
attention. The cooler growing region extends
hangtime to increases flavor development and enliven the palate
with fresh acidity that helps to balance the weighty alcohol. A scary
16.9%, and I know it does not seem possible, but honestly, not a trace
of residual sugar or heat sensations. Just be
aware, this deceptive wine is a heavyweight that floats like a
butterfly, and stings like a big bumble bee! Highly
recommended.
ORDER NOW AT $35.95 A
BOTTLE, OR $32.95 FOR ONLY 3 OR MORE
BOTTLES.
For more about Ulises Valdez's life, read Linda Murphy's
article as it appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on September 29th, 2006
>
Every year Gambero
Rosso's (Slow Food
Editore) tasting panels spend 8 months blind tasting over
16,000 Italian wines from about 2,000 producers to determine which wine will be
awarded with Italy's most coveted wine distinction; the Tre Bicchiere (or Three Glass)
Award. After the final
elimination process, this honor is bestowed
to about 250 wines representing the best from growing
regions throughout Italy. And of course, once the results are announced,
the wines become more difficult to find if they are even imported into the
US market. So, this Saturday, October
13th at the Tasting Bar, I will offer a line up
that includes some of the best and most limited Tre Bicchiere
wines currently available. Expanded
hours from 11am to 4pm. No reservations are
necessary. Casual, informal and friendly.
The full roster is posted at www.thewineconsultant.com/tastingbar.
Click on each link for more information on a particular wine. You may pre-order if you prefer, or are unable to
attend. "Best Discount Pricing" is given
on any combination of six or more bottles.
GO
BEARS!!! That would be CAL.....not Chicago -
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