2024 “A Rare Affair” Event with the Ward’s Foundation

The scent of cedar and dried mushrooms blends harmoniously with the sweet fragrance of mountain strawberries and raspberries. On the palate, an elegant experience of dried red fruit and apricot is perfectly balanced with spice box and anise. The subtle tannins are soft and gentle, leaving you thirsting for more.

Deep, dark, and fully ripened berries, redolent with compote and spice, whiffs of cola, tobacco, and espresso bean with the tell tale aroma of black olive.  The body is unmistakeable, dominating the palate and finishing with mouth-coating, long, lingering tannins with just enough bitter to sustain the beauty of the fruit.

We’ve made Blend 23 over the last 17 years. Each year, the goal has been to create an intriguing white blend that pairs with a glass as well as food. Though the percentages vary from vintage to vintage, Blend 23 always offers the refreshing crispness of Sauvignon Blanc, the layered richness of Chardonnay, and the inviting viscosity of Viognier.

Calesa Vineyard is located in Petaluma Gap, California’s newest AVA and a region steeped in history. The vineyard name pays homage to that history when the property served as a resting stop for horse-drawn calesas, Spanish for buggy or stagecoach. Planted in extremely rocky soil on a steep hillside, these vines struggle to find water, making a concentrated yet elegant wine.

Blend 24 finds its inspiration from the “Super-Tuscan” wines of Italy, where non-traditional grapes are blended together to produce new expressions of classic terroir. In our case, we blend Sangiovese, a rare grape in our parts, with the Napa Valley classic Cabernet Sauvignon. Additionally, Cabernet Franc is added for its herbaceous qualities, while a touch of Petite Sirah contributes color and depth.

The 2021 Blend 26 is a blend of four Bordeaux-style varietals; Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. Hours upon hours of assemblage take place prior to determining the composition of this special wine. Carefully integrated, this is a bold and sumptuous“left bank” Bordeaux-style red blend.

The Ehrlich Vineyard is located a couple miles west of the winery, just off of Money Road in the heart of the Oakville AVA; Ehrlich Vineyard is owned and operated by Clifford and Patricia Ehrlich, and farmed by Garvey Vineyard Management. We work very closely with the Ehrlich and Garvey Families, striving to produce the best wine this vineyard has to offer.

When Andy purchased this vineyard from Beaulieu, it was named simply “Beaulieu No. 3.”  Andy rechristened it after the legendary vintner and founder of BV, Georges de la Tour.  Sitting atop a sprawling array of different soils, bounded by the Silverado Trail, and bisected by Conn Creek, this vineyard is a winemaker’s dreamland of terroir.  We pick from several blocks (“A1a,” “B1b,” “B2c,” and “E”) with soils ranging from clays to cobbles.