admin – AHD Vintners

Tenuta Gracciano della Seta, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano

admin — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:54:30 +0000

One of the oldest wineries in the Montepulciano denomination producing Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tenuta di Gracciano della Seta has been producing high quality, traditional wines in the historical cru of Montepulciano for centuries. Belonging to the Della Seta Ferrari Corbelli family since the mid 1900’s, the third generation made up of Marco, Vannozza, and Galdina is now at the helm. The family has always produced the highest quality level of wine from Montepulciano, though for most of its history it was for family consumption and a handful of key customers. Giorgio, the father of Marco, Vannozza, and Galdina, decided to invest in the winery for commercial purposes, shrinking the property from 400 hectares of mixed agriculture to just 70 hectares of the highest quality vineyards. The vision of the family has remained fixed on producing wines of elegance that authentically communicate the beauty and tradition of the territory of Montepulciano. Our team recently met with Marco to taste the wines and learn more about the history of his family’s business.

The vineyards are located upon loamy and clayey soil on the Gracciano hills. The grape varieties are the classical ones of Vino Nobile: Prugnolo Gentile (a clone of Sangiovese) and a small quantity of Canaiolo, Mammolo and Merlot. Through a drastic reduction of their yields (now only 35-40 hl/ ha), they have continued to improve quality each year. Over the last years the estate has changed all the vessels for wine ageing by utilizing new French and Slovenian oak casks and French tonneaux. Marco explained that the exclusive use of large format barrel is not only traditional to the region but assures that the wine can reflect its true character both varietally and geographically.

The winery is certified organic since 2018, something that Marco and feels is compulsory. This belief was passed down from his father’s side of the family who were pioneers in large scale biodynamic farming on their rice farm near Milan in the 1970s. Marco sits on the Demeter Board for biodynamic agriculture in the EU.

Rosso di Montepulciano
The youngest wine of the estate, made in a style to highlight the fruit, natural acidity, and freshness of the native Sangiovese. Rosso is released the year after harvest for the purpose of youthful and fresh drinking. Because it is released so quickly, it is able to be priced low and enjoyed regularly. This is a popular wine by the glass in restaurants due to its flexible flavor profile that allows it to be enjoyed throughout the whole meal with a wide variety of foods. Depending on the year, less than 5% of Merlot is blended in.

Fermentation: Stainless steel vats
Color: Bright ruby red
Nose: Hints of red fruits, particularly cherry and raspberry
Palate: Dry, fresh, with persistent but silky tannin
Learn more

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Compared to the Rosso, this wine is a completely different animal. It undergoes a long ageing process: 18 months in botti before bottling. Big barrels and long ageing are traditional to Montepulciano and aim to highlight the grape instead of the oak treatment. Delicious to drink upon release but is intended to age with grace, offering decades of surprise and delight for drinkers.

Fermentation: Stainless steel vats
Ageing: 18 months in 5hl used French oak tonneaux (40%) and in 25hl French and Slavonian oak casks (60%)
Color: Bright ruby red
Nose: Intense and complex with delicately layered hints of cherry, morello, plum, violet and slightly spicy
Palate: Dry, with pleasant acid, integrated tannins, sapid, balanced, persistent, with an elegant fruity finish
Learn more

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva
An extremely limited, single vineyard, old vine wine composed of 100% Sangiovese. Only a few thousand bottles are produced per year. ‘Maramai’ is the name of the nearly 50-year-old vineyard that produces this special bottling

Fermentation: Stainless steel vats
Ageing: 24 months; the first 12 months in 5hl French oak tonneaux and the remaining months in 25hl French and Slavonian oak casks. At least 6 months in bottle.
Color: Ruby red tending toward garnet
Nose:Intense, complex, delicate, with hints of
violet, morello cherry, ripe plum, red
berries, leather, spices
Palate: Dry, with velvety tannins, sapid, balanced,
elegant, with a persistent and vibrant finish
Learn more

Gracciano is one of the few producers in Montepulciano to keep the traditional label of the consortium. Now, since many have abandoned this design, it is unique to them and they think it reflects what they do and the product they make: traditional, elegant, clean.

Looking forward…

Next year, Gracciano della Seta will release a new wine: Vino Nobile Pieve. A new designation created by the consortium to highlight the specificities of 12 different sub-areas within Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. The first vintage will be 2020.

Great press on 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano from Decanter magazine (via @decanter on instagram).

Illahe Vineyards

admin — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:11:27 +0000

Nestled in the Mt Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon AVA is Illahe Vineyards, a family owned and operated winery where historical, minimal intervention winemaking thrives. The estate’s main vineyard is on an 80-acre, south-facing slope that was first planted in 2000 with 22 acres of Pinot Noir. The vineyard now has 60 acres planted with seven varieties, though Pinot Noir accounts for 52 acres.

The Ford Family has a long history of stewardship and grape growing in Oregon dating back to the late 19th century. Illahe was founded by Lowell and Pauline Ford in 1983 with an inaugural planting of Muller-Thurgau on his family’s farm near Dallas, Oregon.

Today, Brad Ford is the President, Owner, Winemaker, and Vineyard Manager at Illahe. He describes that his job is simply to make delicious wines that have unique character. We think he does this quite spectacularly. Clearly detail oriented, Brad is always reaching back into the history of wine for hints and ideas on how to improve his craft. So far, his experiments have included working with horses, trying ferments in oak, acacia, and clay, and spending hours on the pedal-powered pump moving the 1899 wine from the fermenter to barrels. Brad’s wife, Bethany, manages sales and is responsible for growing their brand from regional to international recognition. Together they raise two young children, Beckett and Miette.

We take great pride in acting as a conduit between the Ford Family’s soulful Oregon wines and the dedicated families behind our restaurant and retail partners in Michigan.

Producer Spotlight: BonAnno & Matthew Fritz Wines

admin — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 22:18:46 +0000

It seems fate is to blame for Matt Bonanno ending up in the fine wine business as his last name is Italian for “good year”. An Ohio native, he grew up in a food and wine focused family and took every opportunity to learn all aspects of the wine business early on. Eventually, he realized his dream to produce wine in California with the goal of reaching a younger, sophisticated wine drinker with fruit forward, clean, and affordable wines. His initial goal led him to partner with winemaker Jim Milone, a 4th generation winegrower and native of the North Coast. Jim connected BonAnno with an established network of growers in Sonoma County, whom with over the years they have forged deeply symbiotic relationships, establishing the cornerstone of BonAnno & Matthew Fritz’s winemaking philosophy.

Current Offerings:

BonAnno Chardonnay, Los Carneros 2023
Medium straw in color and bursting with white flowers, fresh peach and green apple on the nose. The palate is layered with ripe lemon, crisp apples, and white peaches. The finish is clean yet long with the slightest hints of vanilla and fresh brioche.

Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: French oak light/medium toast
Alcohol: 14%
Production: 2400 cases

BonAnno Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2022

Deep ruby color, fresh with layered dark fruits, blackberry, black raspberry, cedar, allspice, cinnamon and hints of vanilla. The palate is elegant with many layers that lead to a long finish with fresh fruit and lively acidity. Crafted to be enjoyed upon release, this wine will also stand the test of time for those who can wait.

Composition: 98% Cabernet Sauvignon 2% Merlot
Ageing: 10 months French Oak, 25% new
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 5200 cases

BonAnno Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2022

A red fruit driven wine with underlying ripe cherry, raspberry and currants with a medium weight mid palate bursting with berry fruit flavors and asking for a savory dinner companion. The texture is smooth and elegant on the palate with balanced acidity. The palate is l fresh berries, plum, and hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Crafted to be enjoyed upon release, this wine will also stand the test of time for those who can wait!

Composition: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.5% Malbec and 3.5% Petit Verdot
Aging: 14 months in French oak
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 4000 cases

Matthew Fritz Sauvignon Blanc, Lake County 2023

The wine is a pale straw color. Tropical fruit aromas lead to citrus zest, crisp granny smith apples and faint floral notes. The palate is bright with a crisp and refreshing finish.

Composition: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Aging: Stainless Steel
Alcohol: 12.5%
Production: 4,000 cases

Matthew Fritz Chardonnay, Monterey County 2022

The wine is lively and fresh with aromas of apple blossom, fresh citrus and peaches. The palate is textured with ripe peaches, pineapple and faint hints of vanilla.

Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Aging: French oak light/medium toast
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 4,000 cases

Matthew Fritz Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands 2022

The wine is a medium ruby with aromas of violets, clove, and fresh dark cherries. The palate elegant, textured and filled with ripe raspberry and cherry flavors with hints of mushroom and black tea. The finish has mouthwatering acidity and medium tannin.

Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Aging: 6 months in French oak
Alcohol: 13.5%
Production: 6,500 cases

Matthew Fritz Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast 2021

The 2021 is fresh with dark cherry, black raspberry, blackberry, bell pepper, and cedar. The palate is lively with mouth-watering acidity from the layered dark fruit, and firm tannins add a long textured finish.

Composition: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Ageing: 12 months in French oak
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 4,500 cases

“Bon Anno means “good year” in Italian and over three generations in the wine business, our family has had many good times.” – Matt Bonanno

Visit bonannowine.com to learn more.

San Francisco Chronicle 2018 Winemaker of the Year, Ian Brand

admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 17:12:54 +0000

As California wine grows increasingly bifurcated, winemaker Ian Brand shows it’s still possible to make distinctive wines of place for under $25

Photo: Nic Coury

https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/2018-Winemaker-of-the-Year-Ian-Brand-13475931.php

Hello World… of Wine!

admin — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 03:48:21 +0000

This is our first of many posts. The world of wine is vast. There is a lot going on, and our plan is to cover at least some of the activity here. We will continue updating this feed with current events and happenings. Stick with us for all the latest!