$25 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve got two selections this month from Tensley Wines in Los Olivos, and the reason why is simple:  Joe and Lea Tensley are one of the hardest working couples in the biz, with three brands and 19 different wines on offer. . .though total production is limited. . .around 4,000 cases annually.

Joe makes a ton of syrahs, focusing on small lots of single vineyard wines, and he’s been rewarded by the critics for his efforts.  Robert Parked, as noted below, described the 2010 vintage of the Tensley SBC Syrah as one of the finest values in syrah and he scored it 92 points.  Bet the 2011 vintage receives a like rating.  Plus, another of Joe’s wines has made into the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.  Pretty impressive for a one-man band who got his start in 1998.

The Tensley Blanc is another winner. . .very small production and it’s now sold out at the winery.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The grapes for the SBC syrah were sourced from the same five vineyards we used to make the 2010: Camp 4, Mormann, Tierra Alta, Thompson and Colson Canyon. Robert Parker called the 2010 SBC Ssyrah ‘one of the finest values in Syrah.’ The 2011 was made in exactly same way, and we believe it is equally as good as its predecessor. This wine is ripe and full-bodied with well-integrated acidity and tannins. Look for up-front notes of purple plum, blackberries and black cherries complemented by savory roasted meats and lavender. Drink this wine now or age it over the next three to five years.”

$19.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Lots of small wineries are famous for playing the “family card” (as are many small businesses. . .including a little wine shop and restaurant we all know and love).  You read about the grandparents coming to America with just $100 in their pockets and  a suitcase full of sangiovese cuttings. . .all you need to start a winemaking dynasty.  After a decade in this gig, I have to admit I start to nod off when the music comes up on the “About Us” page.  Not the case, however, with Hope Family Winery, located in Paso Robles and home to five brands, including this month’s Candor selection.  Check out this very slick web site, and the first video in the “Watch” section:  “Deep Roots,”  (http://www.hopefamilywines.com/watch/) narrated by Austin Hope, winemaker and president.  These folks have a sense of humor, too, as illustrated in other videos posted.  Makes me kinda wanna go down and hang out with these guys and pull some corks.

The thing I really like about the Candor Zinfandel is it meshes the best qualities of both Paso Robles and Lodi in a single bottle.  Nice fruit you expect from down south with the bracing spice, pepper and zip of Lodi.  This is a non-vintage wine, which means that juice from more than one year is represented in the bottle.

I’m sure you’ll be seeing more Hope Family Wines in Carpe Vino.  They represent exceptional value and quality. . .most wines are $20 or less.  Nice.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Exhibits aromatics of bright red fruit, vanilla and allspice.  The initial flavors of strawberry, cherry and licorice integrate well with smooth and silky tannins.  Lush and rich, yet not overpowering, Candor Zinfandel culminates with lasting notes of cedar and pepper and that signature zinfandel zing.”

$75 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

The heat on merlot following the release of the movie “Sideways,” nearly a decade ago still persists to this day, though most true wine fans have let go of Miles rant about “No effing Merlot!”  Fact is, thoughts beautiful merlots such as the one we’re featuring this month got straight from your palate to your brain, bypassing any lingering stereotypes.

From the winery: “While many wineries produce merlot to masquerade as cabernet sauvignon, we believe the core DNA of merlot from special sites delivers something remarkable that deserves to stand shoulder to shoulder with other great varietals, cab included. We are not out to make a “cab lovers merlot.” We are out to set the record straight on merlot itself!  Our 2011 is one more step on our quest to set merlot in its rightful place.”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Early ripening varietals such as merlot excelled in the cooler 2011 vintage. A truly exceptional terroir for merlot, the high mineral concentration and low organic carbon (clay) in the chalky, broken-down volcanic ash, cobble and river-washed sand of the merlot blocks helped ward off the intrusion of fog that challenged many parts of the Napa Valley in 2011. The vintage, site and vines produced a merlot with explosive dark sour cherry, toasted vanilla bean and Asian spice aromatics, hints of cedar and tea leaf, and flavors of red plum, blackberry puree, and cocoa powder. The tannins are ripe and silky, lending a rich mouth-coating texture and wonderful drinkability.”

$25 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve got two selections this month from Tensley Wines in Los Olivos, and the reason why is simple:  Joe and Lea Tensley are one of the hardest working couples in the biz, with three brands and 19 different wines on offer. . .though total production is limited. . .around 4,000 cases annually.

Joe makes a ton of syrahs, focusing on small lots of single vineyard wines, and he’s been rewarded by the critics for his efforts.  Robert Parked, as noted below, described the 2010 vintage of the Tensley SBC Syrah as one of the finest values in syrah and he scored it 92 points.  Bet the 2011 vintage receives a like rating.  Plus, another of Joe’s wines has made into the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.  Pretty impressive for a one-man band who got his start in 1998.

The Tensley Blanc is another winner. . .very small production and it’s now sold out at the winery.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The grapes for the SBC syrah were sourced from the same five vineyards we used to make the 2010: Camp 4, Mormann, Tierra Alta, Thompson and Colson Canyon. Robert Parker called the 2010 SBC Ssyrah ‘one of the finest values in Syrah.’ The 2011 was made in exactly same way, and we believe it is equally as good as its predecessor. This wine is ripe and full-bodied with well-integrated acidity and tannins. Look for up-front notes of purple plum, blackberries and black cherries complemented by savory roasted meats and lavender. Drink this wine now or age it over the next three to five years.”

$42 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Here’s something unusual and for me, refreshing:  Grieve Family Winery makes one wine and one wine only:  of all the varietals in the world, they make sauvignon blanc.  That makes a lot of sense to me. . .do one thing and do it well.  But sauvignon blanc?

Just so happens that winery owner and commercial real estate mogul, David Grieve, moved from San Francisco to a house on 10 acres in Sonoma, and it was adjacent to a 60-acre sauvignon blanc vineyard.  He warmed up to the varietal, explored examples of the varietal and ended up expanding his estate to 70 acres.

So just how good is this juice?  Well, if you’re in NYC, it’s on the wine lists of Per Se and Tribeca Grill.  If you’re in Palm Beach, enjoy a bottle at The Breakers; in Napa, pick up a bottle at The French Laundry.

And, oh yeah, you can get it at Carpe Vino, too!

Winery Tasting Notes:  “We were fortunate to have all of both lots make it into the final blend that is a bit reminiscent of our 2008 vintage. The nose jumps out of the glass with aromas of grapefruit, lemongrass, fresh spring hay, honeydew melon, toasted pine nuts and hyacinth. The mouthfeel of the wine is very bright and quite crisp, featuring beautiful acidity in the wine. That crispiness drives flavors of spring flowers, hyacinth, grapefruit, kaffir lime and cardamom. The beauty of this wine is the amazing mouth-watering freshness mixed with exotic flavors and a truly astonishingly long finish that lingers and lingers!”

$30 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve got two selections this month from Tensley Wines in Los Olivos, and the reason why is simple:  Joe and Lea Tensley are one of the hardest working couples in the biz, with three brands and 19 different wines on offer. . .though total production is limited. . .around 4,000 cases annually.

Joe makes a ton of syrahs, focusing on small lots of single vineyard wines, and he’s been rewarded by the critics for his efforts.  Robert Parked, as noted below, described the 2010 vintage of the Tensley SBC Syrah as one of the finest values in syrah and he scored it 92 points.  Bet the 2011 vintage receives a like rating.  Plus, another of Joe’s wines has made into the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.  Pretty impressive for a one-man band who got his start in 1998.

The Tensley Blanc is another winner. . .very small production and it’s now sold out at the winery.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “We like to say that these two varietals complement each other as well and Jennifer and Joey do. The grenache blanc and roussanne for this unique blend come from continuous blocks in the Camp 4 Vineyard and were pressed together to neutral French oak barrels. The wine was then aged on the lees and bottled early (in January) to retain freshness and crisp acidity.  2012 was a great vintage for us, similar to 2010 in the fact that it is fruit-driven and round, but different in that it has a slightly higher acidity. This lends a crispness and brightness to the wine. The grenache blanc brims with steely minerality and fresh notes of green apple that balance beautifully with the rich, tropical fruits and lush mouth feel of the roussanne. Pair this Blanc with spicy Thai dishes, fish dishes, or chilled shellfish. This complex wine is enjoyable now but should age well over the next three to four years. “

$13.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It’s not often we feature a wine with a production level of 15,000 cases, but the La Merika Chardonnay is a worthy exception.  It just won a double gold at the California State Fair (96 points) and was named Best of Region.  Not bad for a wine priced under $14 and at about one-tenth the production of Rombauer Chardonnay (and we’re not making any other comparison!).

Winemaking Notes:  “The 2011 growing season was a late starting one.  The grapes were picked on the early side to promote the citrus and tropical flavors and retain the natural acids.  The juice was cold settled and racked to stainless steel tanks for fermentation, a portion of which was fermented and aged in French and American oak”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “This wonderfully balanced chardonnay opens with citrus aromas, followed by flavors of green apple and vanilla.  Aromas:  citrus, honey spice/vanilla.  Flavors:  apple, lemon/lime, brioche.  Structure:  medium body; light tannins balanced by good acidity; juicy, full finish.”

$35 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It doesn’t take fluency in Spanish to figure out that “Carne Humana” means something kind of creepy.  Literally, it translates to “human flesh,” and it’s not a brand name that one would expect to engender wide appeal.

Wrong.  This has been an immensely popular wine in Carpe Vino since we introduced the 2010 vintage last year.  We sold through 80 cases, which is a substantial amount for a wine that costs $35 per bottle (though I think we had a 6x deal.

Well, it’s back as a Wine Club selection with the 2011 edition, and it’s still a complex blend of big, hearty components as you’ll not in the stats below.  Not a concoction for the faint of heart, but if you get past the name, no problem.

Interesting factoid:  The name of this wine isn’t just provocative; it is based on the historic name of a nearly 13,000-acre land grant in what is now the Napa Valley presented by the Mexican governor to Edward Turner Bale in 1841.

$13.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

It’s not often we feature a wine with a production level of 15,000 cases, but the La Merika Chardonnay is a worthy exception.  It just won a double gold at the California State Fair (96 points) and was named Best of Region.  Not bad for a wine priced under $14 and at about one-tenth the production of Rombauer Chardonnay (and we’re not making any other comparison!).

Winemaking Notes:  “The 2011 growing season was a late starting one.  The grapes were picked on the early side to promote the citrus and tropical flavors and retain the natural acids.  The juice was cold settled and racked to stainless steel tanks for fermentation, a portion of which was fermented and aged in French and American oak”

Winery Tasting Notes:  “This wonderfully balanced chardonnay opens with citrus aromas, followed by flavors of green apple and vanilla.  Aromas:  citrus, honey spice/vanilla.  Flavors:  apple, lemon/lime, brioche.  Structure:  medium body; light tannins balanced by good acidity; juicy, full finish.”

$42 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Here’s something unusual and for me, refreshing:  Grieve Family Winery makes one wine and one wine only:  of all the varietals in the world, they make sauvignon blanc.  That makes a lot of sense to me. . .do one thing and do it well.  But sauvignon blanc?

Just so happens that winery owner and commercial real estate mogul, David Grieve, moved from San Francisco to a house on 10 acres in Sonoma, and it was adjacent to a 60-acre sauvignon blanc vineyard.  He warmed up to the varietal, explored examples of the varietal and ended up expanding his estate to 70 acres.

So just how good is this juice?  Well, if you’re in NYC, it’s on the wine lists of Per Se and Tribeca Grill.  If you’re in Palm Beach, enjoy a bottle at The Breakers; in Napa, pick up a bottle at The French Laundry.

And, oh yeah, you can get it at Carpe Vino, too!

Winery Tasting Notes:  “We were fortunate to have all of both lots make it into the final blend that is a bit reminiscent of our 2008 vintage. The nose jumps out of the glass with aromas of grapefruit, lemongrass, fresh spring hay, honeydew melon, toasted pine nuts and hyacinth. The mouthfeel of the wine is very bright and quite crisp, featuring beautiful acidity in the wine. That crispiness drives flavors of spring flowers, hyacinth, grapefruit, kaffir lime and cardamom. The beauty of this wine is the amazing mouth-watering freshness mixed with exotic flavors and a truly astonishingly long finish that lingers and lingers!”

$25 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve got two selections this month from Tensley Wines in Los Olivos, and the reason why is simple:  Joe and Lea Tensley are one of the hardest working couples in the biz, with three brands and 19 different wines on offer. . .though total production is limited. . .around 4,000 cases annually.

Joe makes a ton of syrahs, focusing on small lots of single vineyard wines, and he’s been rewarded by the critics for his efforts.  Robert Parked, as noted below, described the 2010 vintage of the Tensley SBC Syrah as one of the finest values in syrah and he scored it 92 points.  Bet the 2011 vintage receives a like rating.  Plus, another of Joe’s wines has made into the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.  Pretty impressive for a one-man band who got his start in 1998.

The Tensley Blanc is another winner. . .very small production and it’s now sold out at the winery.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “The grapes for the SBC syrah were sourced from the same five vineyards we used to make the 2010: Camp 4, Mormann, Tierra Alta, Thompson and Colson Canyon. Robert Parker called the 2010 SBC Ssyrah ‘one of the finest values in Syrah.’ The 2011 was made in exactly same way, and we believe it is equally as good as its predecessor. This wine is ripe and full-bodied with well-integrated acidity and tannins. Look for up-front notes of purple plum, blackberries and black cherries complemented by savory roasted meats and lavender. Drink this wine now or age it over the next three to five years.”

$19.99 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

Lots of small wineries are famous for playing the “family card” (as are many small businesses. . .including a little wine shop and restaurant we all know and love).  You read about the grandparents coming to America with just $100 in their pockets and  a suitcase full of sangiovese cuttings. . .all you need to start a winemaking dynasty.  After a decade in this gig, I have to admit I start to nod off when the music comes up on the “About Us” page.  Not the case, however, with Hope Family Winery, located in Paso Robles and home to five brands, including this month’s Candor selection.  Check out this very slick web site, and the first video in the “Watch” section:  “Deep Roots,”  (http://www.hopefamilywines.com/watch/) narrated by Austin Hope, winemaker and president.  These folks have a sense of humor, too, as illustrated in other videos posted.  Makes me kinda wanna go down and hang out with these guys and pull some corks.

The thing I really like about the Candor Zinfandel is it meshes the best qualities of both Paso Robles and Lodi in a single bottle.  Nice fruit you expect from down south with the bracing spice, pepper and zip of Lodi.  This is a non-vintage wine, which means that juice from more than one year is represented in the bottle.

I’m sure you’ll be seeing more Hope Family Wines in Carpe Vino.  They represent exceptional value and quality. . .most wines are $20 or less.  Nice.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “Exhibits aromatics of bright red fruit, vanilla and allspice.  The initial flavors of strawberry, cherry and licorice integrate well with smooth and silky tannins.  Lush and rich, yet not overpowering, Candor Zinfandel culminates with lasting notes of cedar and pepper and that signature zinfandel zing.”