Between The Wines Between The Wines
Hidden Hidden Treasures Treasures
Rudd Oakville Estate sits in the middle of some of the finest Cabernet vineyards in Napa Valley. Those lucky enough to have tasted Rudd would not be surprised to find out the property is surrounded by vineyards such as Screaming Eagle, Plumpjack, Dalle Valle, Turnbull Fortuna, and Phelps ‘Backus’. Rudd’s top wine is very much the equal of anything those properties produce---at a much more attractive price than most of them.
Leslie Rudd purchased the old Girard Winery in 1996 and proceeded to invest heavily in the winery & the vineyards it is stunning. From a Kansas family that owned that state’s largest wine distributor, Mr. Rudd branched out as a young man and ended up owning several wineries/wine companies, as well as the highly esteemed gourmet retailer Dean & Deluca.
He was very aware of what top quality wines from around the world were like, so he set off and succeeded to do the same at Rudd.
In addition to the flagship Rudd Estate red, they also make another cuvee from the Oakville property called Samantha’s (named after daughter and current CEO). Equally delicious, but a bit more forward upon release. They also own a beautiful property on Mt Veeder where they make a beautiful red Bordeaux-style blend, as well as two Sauvignon Blancs, including the other worldly ‘Susan’s Blanc’ And last but not least, they produce their Crossroads line from declassified juice a Mt Veeder Sauvignon Blanc and a red blend from the Oakville Estate; killer stuff that beats the ‘first wine’ from many of their Napa neighbors. These are world-class wines that belong in any collector’s cellar and on any good-to-great wine list!
hidden Treasures
Thoughts & observations
What's New
quotation of the Month:
"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance " -
Benjamin Franklin
august august 2023 2023
Thoughts & Thoughts & Observations Observations
The wise quote above is from one of our favorite authors Dr. Seuss. Few would argue that knowledge is a very useful tool for enhancing one’s life, and particularly to aid in developing expertise in virtually any subject there is. Wine is no different. As a wine drinker, knowing details about grape varietals, production methods, climate and the people making the wine can really enhance the enjoyment for many. As a wine seller, knowing all of the above is necessary to correctly present wines to the right accounts and to educate the trade so that they can share with consumers when appropriate. And since many elements of the wine business are in a constant state of flux, its incumbent on we in the trade to constantly read, read, read the numerous sources easily available to us and stay up to date if we want to run with the best.
The book that lit the fuse for this writer was Hugh Johnson’s ‘World Atlas of Wine’ (the 1st Edition believe it or not), which we think is still one of the greatest wine books ever. That led to an unending dive into the world of wine, including many more wine books (about 200) and travel to the classic wine zones of the world.
August August 22023 023
Not all wine books are wonderful/of value of course Indeed, we were once told when debating a point with a winery owner and declaring ‘I read it in a wine book’ that the only requirement to write a wine book is to find someone to publish it.
This all comes up since we recently stated reading a newly published book that is the talk of the trade: The New French Wine by Jon Bonne. It is a seminal work on what is going on in the French wine industry today, and one can infer what is also taking place in Europe’s other wine-producing counties. A fairly expensive ($135), two-volume set (weighing in at 8 pounds!) it is Bonne’s magnum opus and extraordinarily well researched, well written, and downright inspiring.
European wine’s share of the total US wine business has slowly but surely been increasing the last several years, and for a multitude of reasons will likely continue to take share, it would be a wise wine professional that keeps up to date on these wines, and for France, you can’t find a better resource
quotation of the Month:
"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance " -
Between The Wines Between The Wines
‘The more that you read, the more things you will know.
The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.’
Benjamin Franklin
Between The Wines Between The Wines
August August 22023 023
What's What's New New
Harvey & Harriet
When Constellation Corp purchased the very cool Booker Winery along with their even cooler negociant brand My Favorite Neighbor we were very excited to bring them on board. Based in Paso Robles and focusing on Rhone varietals, the wines rock and are fairly priced.
Enter their newest brand: Harvey & Harriet. Named after Booker founder Eric Jensen’s parents, the wines are meant to honor their no-nonsense, practical approach to life and especially to offer a value; since Eric’s parents were of modest means, they couldn’t really afford great wine. Hence these two bottlings attempt to offer great quality at a modest price.
Harvey & Harriet red is a beautiful, balanced Bordeaux blend, showing the richness & texture Paso reds are known for.
H & H white--predominantly from neighboring San Luis Obispo is a delicious blend of Chardonnay, Albarino, Viognier, and Pinot Gris; bright & fresh & much more serious than the price implies.
Give these new wines a go!
quotation of the Month:
"Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance " -
Benjamin Franklin
