August 2, 2010 – 12:05 pm
Dear Tara,
I thought you would like hearing that Kathi and I just finished a wonderful meal. It was one of those days in Rancho Santa Fe. I had a good run around the lake this morning and when I finished I went to Chino Farm to pick up a few things just picked from the field.
A rather show woman was rummaging through the basil and the aroma just about knocked me over. So I bought several bunches (along with the fresh strawberries and the best white corn in the world) and announced to my wife upon my return that we were having pasta pesto this evening.
“Would you like some wine with it?”, said I.
“How about a rich bordeaux?” said she.
“How about a sprightly little white?’ said I.
“Like what?” said she.
“Like Capture sauvignon blanc.” said I.
“Perfect”, said she.
And it was.
I must tell you. The 2008 is really just coming into its own. The little edge of youth is fading and the richness and sweetness of nose, with the vanilla highlights are drifting through.
What could be better? The best pasta pesto ever known and Capture 2008.
I am eternally grateful to you for this terrific wine. Thank God we have another six bottles left.
We will get up there at some point. But if you are ever down this way, please let us know.
Best.
JWH
PS. Next Sunday, Tom G and his wife are coming over for scallops Sancerre and Capture.
We are honored that Anthony Dias Blue has selected our 2009 Tradition Sauvingon Blanc as his “Wine of the Week”. He has more than 6,000 wines to choose from each week - we’re glad he enjoyed our wine enough to make the top of the list!
Congratulations to Denis Malbec and May-Britt Malbec, our talented winemakers:
2009 Capture Wines Sauvignon Blanc Tradition California 92 points
($30) Pale color. Aromas of Meyer lemon, fresh sage and minerals, with a sweaty nuance that reminded me of Loire sauvignon. Dense and ripe, but with firm minerality accentuating the piercing quality of the grapefruit and lemon zest flavors. Finishes brisk and long, still a bit youthfully tight. Classy and energetic wine.
2009 Capture Wines Sauvignon Blanc Les Pionniers Sonoma Coast 92 points
($36) Pale color. Subdued aromas of soft citrus fruits, lemon drop, minerals and spearmint, plus a whiff of goat cheese. Softer, lusher and fruitier than the Tradition but with firm acids framing the flavors of jasmine, honeysuckle, tarragon and licorice. This is even more Loire-like than the Tradition, but deeper and more pliant.
Some buildings are more than buildings—anyone who has visited Tin Cross Vineyards can tell you that. The Old Vic is a stunning residence on our property, which sits upon one of the most scenic spots offered by Tin Cross Vineyards, overlooking the whole of the Alexander Valley. Its foundation was laid down in the mid-1800s by and for the very pioneers who first harnessed our rugged land atop Pine Mountain. And, as it is with the land, this building is another piece of inheritance we treasure and intend to preserve.
Over 150 years of wear and use have left their mark on this proud symbol from the pioneer era of California. The structure has reached a crossroads where we must restore the Old Vic, or be prepared for its rapid decline. You can guess which way we chose. Everything on this land is a gift, be it the soil, or the buildings on top of it, and we have begun the restoration process for this remnant from the mountain’s original settlers. It is our hope that the Old Vic will carry on for another 150 years, providing a place of welcoming where our guests can truly understand our sense of place.
The canine mind is an interesting one. Though gifted with a heightened sense of smell, this creature is more than content to waste away its olfactory talents—perhaps most clearly proven by the nose’s role in an unsavory version of our “Hello.” But not Lucca. Casting away these prescribed notions of his lineage, this scrappy champion of aroma has pledged his nostrils to a higher path.
Earlier this week, Linda Viviani was kind enough to bring Lucca along to Tin Cross Vineyards. Could you imagine his excitement? Finally, a place where he could trade in the uninspired scent of dog food for rolling hills of volcanic soil and opened bottles of Capture’s Tradition Sauvignon Blanc.
Lucca wasted no time. As soon as the closure was popped, he seized the opportunity from under his nose. The cork—still wet with notes of pink grapefruit, gooseberry and pear—quickly reminded Lucca why his Master is so fond of what she does.
However, he was not quick in giving up this inspiring find, running around this and that way to lengthen the experience. By the time he finally settled down, “this is the life” could be the only thought conveyed by his swinging tail. Cheers to Lucca—the connoisseur among canines.
Balance is the key to any vineyard’s success. We want to pull the best from our soil every year, adding a complexity to our harvest that only older vineyards can provide, but periodically, we also must replenish the nutrition we take, ensuring a long-lasting life for the land and continued quality for the product. It’s a balancing act, one that has brought us to the replenishment phase of O’Keefe’s Block.
For Cabernet, vineyards generally have a half-life of around 20 years, while the long end can go up to 30. With each passing year that the soil produces fruit, it parts ways with the ingredients that maintain its own vitality. So how long must the land go on hiatus before grapes can pull from the soil for yet another 30 years? Unbelievably, it takes only a single year. Replenishment involves laying down a cover crop and compost for the vineyard in need. Doing so allows the recovering soil protection from potential erosion caused by wind and precipitation.
O’Keefe’s block is a particularly interesting case because it used to be planted to Zinfandel, but, when we replant in 2011, we will be planting to Cabernet. In the two years we’ve worked with O’Keefe’s soil, we’ve recognized that it has the exact components essential to producing world class Bordeaux varietals. For 2010, O’Keefe’s block can gather back its strength, but we look forward to the day our Cabernet first greets its soil.
On Monday, Linda Viviani and Tara spent the day touring Tin Cross Vineyards. It was a warm 72 degrees, the sun was shining and all was right in the world. Linda and Tara were brainstorming ways to support our charities, including The Selamta Family Project. Stay tuned for exciting events and details from us!
Ben is in Los Angeles for the Sonoma in the City events! He’ll be pouring our wines at The Wine House and Cicconi’s. If you would like more details please email us at info@capturewines.com.
April 30, 2010 – 12:00 pm
This darling little guy (or girl?) might be next year’s Derby Winner!
Ben is in Kentucky for the Wine Auction which took place last night.
April 30, 2010 – 11:48 am
Check out this fun video of Captûre Wines proprietor Mike Foster with President Obama last night: http://s1019.photobucket.com/albums/af320/heinrich_miki/?action=view¤t=MVI_1275.flv
