For the second week in a row, we're celebrating California Wine Month highlighting two more of our favorite producers: Rickshaw and Miro Cellars. Stop into our stores this weekend and taste a selection of this week's picks and take advantage of special sale pricing. Sale prices end September 30th.
Check out last week's features: Schug and Scott Harvey Winery
Artisan & Affordable...Meet Rickshaw Wines!
By day, wine industry veterans Baron Ziegler, Noah Dorrance and Steve Graf are crafting high-end, boutique wines for their better known operation, Banshee, and by night, creating an entirely new label with a people-powered a mission: Rickshaw Wines. Still largely undiscovered in the world of wine, Rickshaw Wines are exactly what the average customer is looking for when it comes to a California "value." Taking full advantage of their industry knowledge, connections and resources, these three men are putting good use to excess barrels from highly touted vineyards across the California coast. Their results are what many wineries promise but rarely deliver and that is to provide wines of elegance, purity, and sophistication at prices that rarely reflect these characteristics.
Rickshaw Chardonnay, California, 2014
SALE $14.99 > Reg. Price $16.99 > Mixed Case $12.74
Rich notes of creme brulee topped with ripe tropical fruits are set on a linear backbone - the perfect balance of zip and lusciousness. Fermentation in both stainless steel and barrel, most of the plots underwent malolactic and was then moved to French barrels for 6 months to add a toasty complexity. This style was achieved by acquiring grapes from both Northern and Southern California (Santa Barbara, Mendicino, and Sonoma Coast).
Rickshaw Pinot Noir, California, 2013
SALE $14.99 > Reg. Price $16.99 > Mixed Case $12.74
The 2013 Rickshaw Pinot leaps out of the glass with bright notes of dried cherry and pine. It is followed by a truly silky palate of wild strawberry, red plum and pomegranate. The wine is bolstered with its usual energetic spine and a slightly salty finish. Sourced from vineyards across Sonoma Coast, Freestone, Anderson Valley, and Central Coast, aged 10 months in neutral and French oak.
Rickshaw Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2013
SALE $14.99 > Reg. Price $16.99 > Mixed Case $12.74
The 2013 vintage was another phenomenal year for Cabernet Sauvignon throughout California. In this rendition of Rickshaw Cabernet, a large percentage of Cabernet was sourced from areas of Napa as well as Sonoma and Paso Robles, all which give this wine ballast and a sense of class. In particular, the 2013 Merlot really stood apart from previous vintages providing a soft, velvety companion to the more structured Cabernet components. Even though only 4% of the blend the Cabernet Franc really flashes the nose noticeably.
Dry Creek, Winemaking Titan...Meet Miro!
Born and raised in northern Bulgaria, a region with many millennia of winemaking history, Miro Tcholakov was exposed to wine and winemaking at a very early age. Given the opportunity to take part in a competitive selection process with The Future Famer's of America, Miro was able to build his reputation in one of California's most respected wine regions: Dry Creek Valley. In 1998 Miro went to work as Winemaker for Trentadue Winery in Sonoma's Dry Creek Valley. Trentadue continues to be his "day job," bringing more acclaim to the winery, creating world class award-winning wines. As is a familiar story of many passionate winemakers, Miro's industry connections have given him the means to create his own label of which he makes in very small batches.
Miro Cellars Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2013
SALE $29.99 > Reg. Price $32.99 > Mixed Case $25.49
The first impression is of cherry compote, hint of cranberry, ripe strawberry & pronounced rose petals aromas. With further aeration the wine shows slight nuances of new oak barrels-vanilla, toast & a hint of forest floor & earthiness. The mouth feel starts out freshly fruity and finishes with balanced acidity & soft tannin. 400 cases.
Miro Cellars Cuvee Sasha, North Coast, 2012
SALE $19.99 > Reg. Price $22.99 > Mixed Case $16.99
"From the Monte Lago Vineyard in Lake County's High Valley AVA, this blend of 68% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 12% Syrah is dark and brooding, offering dusty tannins around roasted plum and strawberry notes. Soft and intense, with bright acidity, a taste of licorice lurks up to the leathery, espresso-laden finish."
Miro Cellars Reserve Cabernet, Alexander Valley, 2012 (90pts Wine Advocate)
SALE $32.99 > Reg. Price $37.99 > Mixed Case $28.04
"This limited production (300 cases) 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve comes from a lofty elevation of 2,200 feet. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by lots of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit notes intermixed with hints of white chocolate, earth and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied with sweet tannins and abundant character as well as craftsmanship, it should drink well for 10-15 years."
Miro Cellars Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley, 2012 (478 case production)
SALE $27.99 > Reg. Price $30.99 > Mixed Case $23.79
"The shortest way to describe the wine would be "dark and delicious." Undoubtedly Petite Sirah in its core, but with refinned and balanced tannin and-surprising for Petite Sirah-softness. Loads of blueberry and blackberry on the nose followed by toasty oak, cinnamon, brown sugar and dark molasses. The mouth feel is big and juicy, extracted but not heavy, finishing with fresh acidity and sense of balance."
