Goldschmidt Vineyard, Stonemason Hill
Katherine Cabernet 2019
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I often get asked how we pick a particular wine to focus on with our weekly email focus. The criteria have always been the same. The wine needs to taste great, be an outstanding value, and have a good story behind it. Although this may sound obvious, most times, it is not. Not all wines taste great. Good values are generally driven out of necessity, end of vintage or fiscal cycles. And modern wines seem more to do with cute labels or niche marketing, and stories about winemakers or history are deemed unimportant. So getting back to the original question on what we look for in a wine to focus on, it needs to be real wine. This is probably why the wines of Nick Goldschmidt have always been a favorite wine of ours. |
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Listening to Nick speak, you quickly realize he is not from around here. Originally from New Zealand, he began his career with a research position in Horticulture and viticulture. Soon a traveling winemaker in Australia, New Zealand, California, Chile, and Argentina, he settled in Healdsburg, CA, becoming the Vice President and Chief Winemaker at Simi, a position he held for 19 years with a particular love for Alexander Valley wines. When Simi sold to Constellation Brands, Nick assumed the role of VP and Executive Winemaker overseeing Buena Vista, Clos Du Bois, Gary Farrell, William Hill, Mumm Napa, and others covering eight countries.
In an effort to settle down, in 1998, Nick and his wife Yolyn established their family winey, Goldschmidt Vineyards, with a concentration of single vineyard, small production wines that express the unique site of origin. Although Goldschmidt does not own vineyards, he does oversee the farming of 59 acres in Sonoma's Alexander and Dry Creek valleys, 38 acres in New Zealand, and 130 acres in Chile for his Goldschmidt wines. He also consults for 26 wineries in seven countries--15 of them in Chile.
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Goldschmidt Vineyards is truly a family business. His partner and wife is his corporate lawyer and runs the business aspect of the endeavor. Daughters Chelsea, Hilary, and Katherine have become winemakers under their father's mentoring. One such "daughter" wine, Katherine Cabernet from Alexander Valley, has become one of Yankee spirits' go-to Cabernets for around the $20 price point. Katherine was involved at an early age as an assistant winemaker. To this day oversees the production of this wine. Nick's decision to have his kids engaged in what he is doing, starting so young, is probably the most satisfying aspect of what he does. |
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Stonemason is a vineyard that Nick had worked on for the past 32 years going back to when he was head winemaker at Simi. Juice from this vineyard went into Simi's reserve Cabernet, and it earned 95 points from Robert Parker. Stonemason is an aptly-named site with large rocks leading up to a stone-walled terrace. These vineyards are gavel loam soil with over thirty-year-old, dry-farmed vines. The vineyard is located just north of Geyserville on a hillside that is North, Northeast facing, which is unique in Alexander Valley. This is important to Nick because it gives the grapes early morning and afternoon sun, which provides less heat intensity than you get with late afternoon sun. The vines are older and produce loose small bunches with tiny berry sizes. This provides a high skin to juice ratio, building structure, intensity, rich color, and flavor to the wines. Now, 29 years later, Nick has made possibly his finest rendition of Katherine Cabernet. The best recurrent praise for the wine from wine critics is that the wine is worth twice what it costs. |
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The color is bright and deep. Purple edges with deep red middle. The nose is immediately fruit-driven. Ripe raspberries, black cherry, and plum. In other words it smells just like a Cabernet grape. In the mouth complexity is the key. Lush ripe cherries and ripe blueberries on the front of the tongue. The mid-mouth is all about power and richness. Comprised of dark plum and chocolate. The finish has supple round tannins with a long, elegant finish.
Intense purple and reds in color. The aromatics are opulent and very floral. Black fruits of black cherry and plum were a common theme. The mouth follows with rich dark fruits of blackberry, plum, and some licorice texture. Lush ripe tannins, full body and the nice creamy velvet tongue-wrapping flavor. Drink now or over the next 10 years⦠if you can wait that long!
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Aromas of ripe dark and blue fruit, vanilla, licorice, pinewood, and wet earth. Full-bodied with soft tannins, yet firm, sweetish-fruit character. Rich and long finish. Drink now or hold. James Suckling 91 pts.
It shows aromas of black cherry and black plum. On the palate are rich, dark fruit flavors of blackberry, plum, and licorice with a smooth texture and full body. Gold Medal, North Coast Wine Challenge 93 pts.
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Goldschmidt Vineyard, Stonemason Hill Katherine Cabernet 2019
It just so happened that I brought this wine down to the kitchen while the staff was tasting another well-known Alexander Cabernet that cost twice as much. The truth is that the other Alexander Valley Cabernet had more complexities and was more aimed at wine geeks. Goldschmidt's Katherine Stonemason Cabernet 2019 was richer, more fruit-forward with softer complexities. As it opened up, the complexities evolved to mind-blowing heights. Adam, Dena, and I agreed that this was the more friendly wine and an absolute steal at half the price. Imagine great tasting, highly rated, single vineyards wine costing well under $20 named after Nick Goldschmidt's favorite daughter. I may have made that last part up; no offense, Hilary and Chelsea.
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*Sale price is on 6 or more bottles, wine is packed in a 12 bottle case. |
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Orders must be done by replying to this email. The reason is that I need to keep control of the inventory in one central spot. Emailing or calling your favorite wine geek at one of our four stores may not get your orders in on time to be counted or processed and creates a helter-skelter for us to get you the wine. For the same reason, ordering on our online Web Store is linked to our regular price, and this sale price is only offered on the email platform. It is also why it takes me some time to respond due to the deluge of orders that I sometimes get. We haven't reached the efficiency or volume of Amazon yet, and in this pandemic environment, simply operations sometimes prove difficult. Thank you in advance for your patience. |
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Let me know your preferred store for pickup: Attleboro, Norwood, Sturbridge, or Swansea. If you don't state the store, I will assume you are picking up in Sturbridge.
Place your order now while you've got everything in front of you. Reply to this email along with your name and which store you want to pick it up.
I will confirm your order via email when it is ready for pickup. Please give us at least 48 hours to respond. Stay well, cheers!
βJohn Hannum, Fine & Rare Wine Specialist
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We reserve the right to limit quantities. You must be at least 21 years of age to purchase/consume alcohol. Please drink responsibly. Not responsible for typographical errors. Rebate quantities are subject to limitation by the manufacturer. These alcoholic beverages may be subject to payment of Connecticut or Rhode Island Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Connecticut Use Tax, and may be subject to seizure as contraband. |
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