Spring 2016 Newsletter

2012 Vineyard {511} scores…

94 points from Tastings.com

Tastings.com provides wine ratings and reviews based on blind tastings by panels of highly experienced, professional tasters and tastemakers. Our 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded 94 points with tasting notes as follows:

“Deep purple color. Fruity, attractive aromas and flavors of dried and baked berries, bananas foster, vanilla frosted cake, and earth with a satiny, vibrant, fruity medium-to-full body and a delightful, medium-length berry yogurt, pencil shavings, sweet and peppery spices, and chalk finish with well-integrated, fine tannins and moderate oak. A supple, elegant cabernet with great balance and pleasing warmth.” – Tastings.com

93 points from Critics Challenge

Critics Challenge features a panel of renowned wine and spirits journalists as judges. Some of this year’s judges included Paul Lukacs, author of “American Vintage, the Rise of American Wine,” which was nominated for a prestigious James Beard award, and wine guru Wilfred Wong, the "Chief Storyteller" for Wine.com. The panel awarded our 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon 93 points at this year’s competition, which took place in March, in San Diego.

Save 15 - 20% by joining

the Encounter {511} wine club!

Our Vineyard Pet -- A Peacock -- Not a Vineyard Dog

The latest addition to Vineyard {511} is a stunning blue and chartreuse peacock, which royally struts around our vineyard estate as if he's been here forever--even though he just showed up one day and called our place home. The real scoop we've heard from our Diamond Mountain neighbors is that, sadly, his female mate was killed recently by an unknown predator from the surrounding woodsy environment. Now he pals around with other fine-feathered (though not as fine) wild turkeys who also call our place home.

We've named our peacock Cabernet as he loves to sit on the railing of the fence on our deck and watch over our vineyard of cabernet grapes just beyond. Cabernet has a beautiful long, feathery tail, which he fully opens and twirls around in a 360 degree circle to flirt with us and capture our attention. And captivating it is! We could watch this forever.

Probably The Earliest Bud Break Ever

The vines are sprouting leaves like crazy here in Napa Valley. Because of the really warm weather we had for the first three months 2016, bud break in Napa Valley was probably the earliest on record. Vineyard {511}'s bud break occurred on March 22, shortly after our pruning on March 2. Normally, bud break occurs in mid-April. Even though an early bud break leads to early delicate blooms, which may be damaged by night time frost, heavy rain or high winds, none of that as yet seems to have harmed the fruit potential. If historical averages prove correct, harvest should occur six months after bud break--in September--after another great growing season at Vineyard {511}!

Bud Break on Vineyard {511}