2009 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyards, unoaked Very Limited
The color is pale yellow-gold, and the aroma has hints of apples and pears along with the classic Chardonnay aromas. The taste is fresh and clean with superb acid balance and considerable multi-level complexity unaffected by the flavor of oak. This wine showcases the Chardonnay grape in its purest expression, clearly showing that it is one of the great wine grapes of the world. $30
2009 Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyards
This Chardonnay comes from the same juice as the unoaked version above, but was aged in oak barrels. The result is a medium gold color with intense aromas of Chardonnay with subtle oak overtones in the background. The taste is dominated by the rich flavors of Chardonnay, again with a subtle oak component. This aromatic, fully-flavored wine shows how appealing California Chardonnay can be when it is allowed it express itself without excessive oak and buttery flavors. It is best served only lightly chilled, so that its complex character can be fully appreciated. $30
2008 Dolcetto, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyards Very Limited
The Dolcetto grape come from the Piedmont region of Italy. This wine has a very dark, ruby color with purple overtones. The acid level in both Italian and California Dolcettos tends to be a bit higher than most other red wines, making them an ideal accompaniment to many Italian dishes and hearty food. The fresh fruit flavors and aromas in this wine become more prominent with air exposure. Overall, this Dolcetto is a very distinctive wine very similar to a fine Italian wine made from this grape. $18
2009 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyards
2009 was a very fine year for Pinot Noir in the Regan Vineyards. The grapes ripened slowly and steadily and achieved full maturity in excellent condition. The resulting wine is very dark for a Pinot. It has a full and and intense Pinot Noir varietal aroma with notable complexity. The taste is rich, multi-layered, and very full-bodied with a fine “silky” texture in the mouth, something that is characteristic of top French Burgundies. There is no question that this is a big wine, but it is superbly balanced. It can be drunk with pleasure now, especially if it is exposed to air for 30-60 minutes before consuming. $38
2009 Merlot, Santa Cruz Mountains
From the same vineyard as our 2008 Merlot below, 2009 was a cooler year that resulted in a less concentrated, intense wine, but is otherwise similar to the 2008. It has the distinct aromas and flavors of a fine Merlot. It is drinking well now and pairs with a variety of foods. $22
2008 Merlot, Santa Cruz Mountains, Regan Vineyards
An extremely dark ruby color with purple overtones make this wine almost opaque. With complex and powerful aromas of cedar and other scents and a very full and intense taste, it is reminiscent of a top-rate Pomerol or Saint Emilion from the Bordeaux region of France. The wine simply must be tasted to appreciate its special qualities, as words cannot do it justice. At its superb, benchmark level of excellence, our 2008 Merlot reaffirms that Merlot is one of the great wine grapes of the world. $42