Jan Holtermann's wines from his Alma Fria project are where he seeks to express an appreciation for relationships he has found at the intersection of family and place. Just outside of Annapolis on the extreme(ly cold) Sonoma Coast, the story of hand crafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah are played out with Jan and his team of Winemaker Carroll Kemp and Viticulturalist Greg Adams showing their dedication to a love of wine with each vintage. The Plural bottling of Pinot Noir selected for the Tasting Trio shows tart, vibrant, red fruit that wakes up the palate with strawberry, cherry, & pomegranate. A native yeast fermentation preserves the purity of fruit and 10% whole cluster lends a slight edge to characteristically silky tannins. Bring this wine into your tasting line-up as a calibration for your sense of acidity with a finish that joins tart red fruits with kumquat and tangerine.|325 cases produced.
Winemaker Trevor Sheehan brings out a secret weapon from "Vineyard 8 | Block N" of an unnamed Oakville site with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that shows a dusty character and approachable black raspberry in the entry with enough oak on this pretty fruit to bring firmness and exotic vanilla to the finish. There is a touch of Coombsville influence here that nicely supports the forward character of Oakville. |100 cases produced.
Fashioned in the lines of the great Right Bank estates of Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc and Merlot form a seamless blend that shows black currant, pencil shavings, and licorice. The finish is rich and full with a defined influence of oak and vanilla. If you are not going all the way to Pomerol, at least go all the way to the end of Chimney Rock Road and find winemaker Fred Holloway's interpretation of these classic Bordeaux varietals.