tasting with Lancaster Estate and Roth Estate with winemaker Jesse Katz at Wine Watch

"Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good."
~ William Makepeace Thackeray

I may have a light week this week but we are back to our normal schedule next week with four events on the calendar for next week.

These two properties are under the auspices of the Foley family of wineries and this is a wine group on the move, and they have some top level wineries now on all corners of the globe, some of the names in this group now include: Kuleto Estate, Altvs, Merus, Chalk hill Winery,Sebastiani Vineyards and Winery, Eos Estate Winery, Firestone Vineyards, Foley Estates, Lincourt Vineyards, Three Rivers Winery in Washington State and imports like Clifford Bay Estate Winery and Vavasour from New Zeland.

Join us as we welcome a few of the newest additions to the Foley family Lancaster and Roth Estate winemaker Jesse Katz to Wine Watch for a special tasting. Wine Watch Catering's Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.

The fee for this dinner is $45 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Wine Tasting with Lancaster Estate and Roth Estate with winemaker Jesse Katz at Wine Watch
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
7:00 PM

Tasting Line-Up:

Roth Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Price: $14.75 Sale $12.98 Case $151

Another year of extremes...the 2011 vintage began with early spring rains delaying budbreak in the vineyard by as much as two weeks. Cold, heavy rains persisted through the second week of June during the crucial flowering stage for the vines. As a result, the Sauvignon Blanc was hit hard by cluster shatter and crop yields in Alexander Valley were down an average of 60%. By harvest, the yields were very light but the fruit came in looking beautiful and exhibited great concentration and purity. Aromas of fresh cut flowers, lemon zest and tropical fruits are accented by bright, focused acidity and lingering minerality. Beautiful notes of grapefruit, pear and apple lead to a pure, crisp and juicy finish.

Lancaster Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011
List $30.00 Sale $26.40 Case $306

The 2011 vintage of Samantha’s Sauvignon Blanc has rich aromas of melon, citrus, and honeysuckle. The vibrant acidity is complemented with beautiful structure and layered texture. Ripe grapefruit, pear and spice notes linger on the palate with a mouthwatering bright finish of minerality and freshness.

Roth Estate Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2011
Price: $19.50 Sale $17.16 Case $199

A regional blend of Sonoma Coast fruit with the majority of the grapes coming from the Russian River Valley, California’s premier appellation for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The gravelly and well drained Gold Ridge soils combined with the cooling influence of the pacific ocean are ideal for bright, vibrant Chardonnay.

Aromas of honey, citrus zest and vanilla are complemented on the palate by concentrated flavors of honeydew melon, ripe pineapple and light tropical notes. The natural minerality in this wine matches the vibrant acidity and brings structure and balance to this beautifully crisp Chardonnay.

Roth Estate Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2011
Price: $26 Sale $22.88 Case $266

The 2010 Roth Estate Pinot Noir is an elegant and fruit-forward wine. Vibrant hints of rose petals and raspberries are seamlessly integrated with a fine minerality, bright acidity, and hints of sweet vanilla on the finish. This Pinot Noir is aged for eleven months in 100 percent French oak. The majority of the fruit for the 2010 Pinot Noir comes from the Russian River Valley, the state’s best-known appellation for Pinot Noir. With its gravelly, well-drained soil and cooling, Pacific climate, this region is ideal for growing Pinot Noir.

The 2010 vintage will go down as one of the most extreme, difficult and labor-intensive vintages in California’s history. A cold, rainy spring made way for a cooler summer defined by foggy mornings that persisted until late morning or early afternoon. A three-day heat wave struck in August, but our Pinot Noir fared well due to the cooling coastal influences in the Sonoma Coast region. The cooler year led to a longer hangtime for Pinot Noir, giving this release a vibrant acidity and complex and lingering flavors.

Roth Estate Merlot Alexander Valley 2010
Price: $19.50 Sale $17.16 Case $199

The 2009 Roth Estate Merlot is a Cabernet Sauvignon lover's Merlot. Toasty mocha aromas complimented by dark fruit. Beautifully structured with layered, rich tannins and flavors of blueberry and black cherry. This wine has a long, lush finish with hints of vanilla and espresso beans. Aged 18 months Sur Lie in 100% French oak barrels.

Roth Estate Heritage
Price $30.00 Sale $26.40 Case $306

Introducing a bold, new red wine. Heritage is a celebration of family and is produced from some of winemaker, Jesse Katz' favorite vineyard sites and microclimates in Sonoma County. Alexander Valley Merlot provides power and structure to form the foundation of the 2010 vintage of Heritage. A high elevation hillside vineyard site well above the fog line in Knights Valley provides Petite Sirah while the Sonoma Coast Appellation with its cool and wind swept maritime climate is home to the Syrah in this delicious blend. Aromas of blackberries and caramel are followed by a rich expression of blueberries, cherries and vanilla bean on the palate in this beautifully balanced and approachable proprietary red blend.

Roth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2009
Price: $26 Sale $22.88 Case $266

Roth Estate is committed to making wines with the truest and best expression of the diverse and idyllic growing conditions in Sonoma County. The young vines woke up to spring rains in late March of 2009 supporting vigorous growth prior to bloom. An even fruit set led to a balanced crop with mild summer conditions and a warm August encouraging ripening and flavor development. Despite early October rains, an early harvest allowed the grapes to arrive in pristine condition packed with classic varietal character.

The 2009 vintage of Roth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has beautiful aromas of nutmeg, sweet oak and red cherries that carry through to the palate. This bright Cabernet Sauvignon has soft, balanced tannins that are complemented by notes of black currant and red berries with an elegant finish of sweet vanilla. Aged 18 months sur lie in 100% French oak barrels, it benefits from decanting and is drinking bright and beautiful right now. It will gain even greater complexity with two to six years in the cellar.

Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
List $78 Sale $68.64 Case $796

The 2008 Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon had very low yields which resulted in dense concentration, layered tannins, and remarkable structure. This blend of all five classic Bordeaux varietals, fully represents the diverse character of the Estate’s hillside vineyards. Rich and focused tannins, followed with an artful balance of dark cherries, cassis, and vanilla. The long, layered finish has hints of dark Chocolate/Mocha, elegantly complimented with aromas of currant, nutmeg ,blackberry and earthen minerality. To maintain authenticity of expression, the 2008 Lancaster Estate Cabernet was gently fined and bottled unfiltered.

The 2008 vintage was characterized by low winter rain followed by a dry and frosty spring. In anticipation of spring frost, we delayed our final pruning until late March. This encouraged the soft and tender buds to push later in the season, avoiding much of the damaging late spring frosts. In spite of our efforts, yields were 30% below normal. As we have learned in our fourteen year stewardship, our vineyards are subject to more moderate growing conditions than the warmer and highly regarded Oakville or Rutherford regions. Vintage 2008 was no exception. This cooler, longer growing season resulted in grapes with excellent phenolic maturity and impeccably well balanced sugars and acids. The 2008 Lancaster Estate wines demonstrate, velvety structure, great concentration of fruit and vibrant, bright acidity.

Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
List $78 Sale $68.64 Case $796

A true representation of the unique terroir of our 53 acres of hillside vineyards. Layered and finely grained tannins create a dense, tightly knit structure and backbone that provides remarkable depth, concentration and purity. Aromas of black cherry, clove, nutmeg, and blackberry are followed by subtle notes of red plum, cassis and vanilla on the palate. The persistent and elegant finish exhibits hints of cocoa, dark fruit and a lingering minerality.

The fee for this dinner is $45 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Menu:

Selection of Cheeses:  Beemster Gouda, Reggiano Parmesan and St. Andre

BBQ Chicken Spring Rolls with a sweet Chili Dipping Sauce

Sliced New York Sirloin with Cabernet natural Sauce and Root Vegetable shoestring fries

Winemaker - Jesse Katz

As a boy traveling with his well known wine country photographer father, Andy, winemaker Jesse Katz was exposed at an early age to the most famous wine regions on earth. While his father was taking photographs and creating books in Burgundy or Tuscany, the seed was being planted. Later, as a young man working summers in the vineyards and winery lab while attending Fresno State University in California it wasn't long before Jesse had his Enology Degree with a minor in chemistry. After honing his craft in Napa and Argentina, Jesse was recruited from cult producer Screaming Eagle in 2010 and quickly established that he understood how to build on the tradition of excellence that has defined Lancaster Estate from the very first vintage. Working with legendary winemakers like Andy Ericson, Paul Hobbs, Hans Vinding-Diers and Robert Foley shortcuts the process of absorbing a lifetime of winemaking insights.  Working in an array of climates and countries brings added depth.  With dust on his boots, Jesse has quickly learned what the estate vineyards promise.

The Roth Estate Winery

Roth Estate is a family-owned winery dedicated to crafting full-flavored wines grown in exemplary Sonoma County vineyards. Beginning in 2001, Roth committed to producing classic Bordeaux varietals in Alexander Valley. A decade later the winery expanded its winemaking to include cool-climate varietals from the Sonoma Coast.

Nestled in the southern reaches of Alexander Valley, Roth’s home vineyard is comprised of gentle rolling hills. The low-vigor, volcanic-based soil shapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines of intensity, depth and concentration.

Nearby lowland sites adjacent to the Russian River provide zesty, citrus flavors and rich, elegant textures for Sauvignon Blanc. Heading west to the heart of the Petaluma Gap, cool-climate Sonoma Coast sites produce rich, ripe Chardonnay and elegant Pinot Noir with vibrant acidity.

Lancaster Estate

Honor the land.  Allow our wines to reveal the unique character of our hillside estate.  Embrace the experience artfully crafted by our winegrowing stewards.  Lancaster Estate wines speak clearly, telling their own story with each vintage.

Here in the southernmost tip of Alexander Valley, where Knights Valley and Chalk Hill are nearby companions, growing conditions excel as a result of cooler marine influences slipping through the Valley, extending the growing season and allowing traditional Bordeaux varieties to develop elegant structure, age-worthy tannins and vibrant, rich flavors with both balance and power.

In 1995, Lancaster Estate debuted following the acquisition of Maacama Creek Winery and its estate vineyards.  Over the next two decades, with great dedication and an unswerving commitment dedicated to limited release Bordeaux styled wines that are grown, produced and bottled from our 53 estate acres, micro-farmed in small vineyard blocks, each with its own expression.

 Architect Eugene Silva was asked, in 2001, to bring ideas into action, combining the artisan needs of our winemakers with a respect for our environment, developing a state of the art winery that seamlessly flows into the Alexander Valley landscape, using natural building materials with a color palate that highlights, rather than competes, with nature.

As a duty, not a virtue, great care was taken with every detail to assure the highest standards of energy efficiency and minimal production impacts, including a 100kW solar array that makes Lancaster Estate a full partner with the Sun, powering our entire estate.  While Silva achieved the charge to leave a minimal footprint, he also balanced practicality with beauty, a fitting tribute to the overarching vision.

On their journey to greatness, Lancaster Estate Wines must rest and reflect.  Carved deep into the heart of No Name Hill, a labyrinth of 9,000 square feet of natural cooling caves dug into volcanic ash soils offer quiet respite for wines that age for up to three years before release.

Using the wisdom of nature, the caves offer an ideal combination of temperature and humidity for the wines in repose. The experience is shared with members of our Lancaster Estate Wine Guild who may enjoy our tasting library deep inside the wine caves. A place of honor...for the wines and our Guild members.