THIS WEEK'S NEW RELEASES

We are so excited to have some new wines just in.  Please visit us to enjoy them while they last.  Customers receive exclusive pricing.  Please call for details.

DUTTON ESTATE

In the Green Valley AVA in the Russian River Valley located near the small charming town of Sebastopol. Once a dominant apple-growing region, Sebastopol is now a destination hide-away and home to the winery's founders, Joe and Tracy Dutton.

2015 "Kyndall's Reserve" Dutton Ranch CHARDONNAY A leading bouquet of stone fruits, vanilla, citrus and cinnamon burst from the glass for this cool climate chardonnay. With the first sip, ripe fruit flavors of red and green apples, nectarine and orange zest, along with hints of buttercream and orange honey surge the palate.

2014 "Karmen Isabella" Dutton Ranch PINOT NOIR  Red cherry, raspberry and Santa Rosa plum are among the flavors that fill your mouth which is what you would expect from a Russian River Pinot Noir.

JONES FAMILY VINEYARDS

Jones Family's three estate vineyards are located in the northern Napa Valley at the base of Howell Mountain about 5 miles north St. Helena in the Calistoga AVA.  10 total acres of vineyards in 3 distinct blocks create unique lots with individual flavor profiles. In 1998 David Abreu designed and planted a 3 acre hillside vineyard of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and petit verdot.  With Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown, one of the most exciting young talents in Napa Valley, these wines are not to be missed. 

2012 "The Sisters" Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON This wine is a multi-layered chorus of aromas and flavor that displays a great sense of harmony.  After experiencing the aromatic profile of clove, jasmine, tanned leather, eucalyptus and spiced ripe plum what remains is the purity of the vintage.  On the palate deep red fruit and spice notes of black cherry, cassis and cocoa nibs.

2013 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON Tightly packed aromas of blackberry, cinnamon, dark chocolate and graphite swell out of the glass.  Over time the palate profile releases layers of crushed blueberries, cassis, and nutmeg.  The tannin that frames the rich, decadent notes contributes a strong mineral quality that begins in the middle of the palate and carries through to the long, nuanced finish. This wine has a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon profile and reflects the pinnacle of winemaking from the Jones Family Vineyards Estate.

MI SUENO

Rolando Herrera's story is the epitome of the American dream realized. Rolando left his home in El Llano, Mexico at age 15 to build a life in the Napa Valley. While enrolled in high school, Rolando spent his nights as a dishwasher at Auberge du Soleil. He got his start in the wine industry as a harvest laborer at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and, over the next 10 years, he worked his way up to cellar master and then, with the help of so many mentors in the Valley, started his own winery in 1997.  We are honored to sell Rolando's wines including his amazing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, currently in stock.

2013 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON Just recently we tried his CABERNET SAUVIGNON and were blown away by the depth and balance and can now offer the lowest price.

BENCH VINEYARDS Circa 64 Wines

Husband and wife team Sam Sharp and Allison Steltzner have partnered with her parents, Richard and Christine, to create Bench Vineyards. The brand is named after the unique topography of their 30-acre estate, a true benchland vineyard located on the eastern side of Napa Valley, directly below the Stags Leap District Palisades.

By partnering with Jim Barbour on the vineyard side and Winemaker Mike Smith, the goal of Bench Vineyards is to make modern, elegant wines that reflect their Stags Leap District vineyard location.

2015 Stag's Leap District RED BLEND An amazing blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petite Verdot & 25% Malbec that shows the versatility of famed winemaker Mike Smith from his first Stag's Leap District wine.  Never have we tasted such elegance & richness in the same glass.

HALCON VINEYARDS

Paul Gordon, founder of Halcon Vineyards, is a firm believer in cool climate wines.  His estate, located in the Yorkville Highlands, shares geologic, altitude, and oceanic exposure with the Northern Rhone.  The vineyards that provide the fruit for the Pinot Noir share these cool climate characteristics.  Winemaker Scott Shapely (ROAR Wines) has created spectacular, expressive, delicious wines from these exceptional parcels.

2015 "Cerise Vineyard" PINOT NOIR This wine is incredibly fragrant & floral with brambly black cherries, blood orange and anise.  Mouthfeel is fresh, rich & pure.  Enticing flavors of bing cherries, plum, clove and fresh tea lead to a long, clean finish.  Wonderful balance of ripe fruit, acidity and tannic structure.  Only 120 cases produced.  SPECIAL PRICE $29.95

Please call (916)780-9030 for special pricing

WINEMAKER SERIES Continues with CAMERON and BAHANEH HOBEL

I am pleased to announce that Capitol Cellars customers will have the special opportunity to meet the proprietors of Hobel Winery this Saturday.  Hobel's story began in 1998 when Cameron and Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown met in Napa Valley.  After 11 years of a shared love of wine, they collaborated to produce Hobel Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, one of my favorite wines to share with customers.

On Saturday we will taste two designations, The Grain (only 96 cases produced) and The Figure (158 cases), along with some treasured library vintages.  These are beautiful, concentrated, rich wines with flavors of blueberry, blackberry compote and dark chocolate.

I hope you can join us for this opportunity to taste and purchase some truly rare and extraordinary wines.  Please call at your convenience to place your $15 reservation for this Saturday, September 30, 4 to 6pm.

Contact Marcus at (916)780-9030 for reservations!

NEW ARRIVALS and GREAT VALUES - July 20, 2017

KILLIAN  2015 “Adam & Eve Vineyard” Russian River Chardonnay

Thirty years making wines in some of California’s most prestigious wineries and finally Jean and Ed Killian decided to make their own wine.  These are exciting times!  Jean has always loved Ed’s Chardonnay.  It has been a favorite of many over the years, and has produced many a gold medal.  

Killian’s intention is to remain very small, and produce only distinctive, elegant wines from great appellations.  They will add a couple of red varietals when they can secure fruit sources that they believe will support their quality goals.

Attractive light-gold color with an open star jasmine, citrus blossom nose above red apple, stone fruit and hints of smoky oak.  Flavors are reminiscent of fresh apple and pear and are framed in a richly-bodied mouthfeel that finishes with balanced acidity and just a hint of fruit sweetness.  This will be one of the best aging of the Killian Chardonnays and should be optimally balanced about a year after release.

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING...$25.95

SEVENTY FIVE WINE COMPANY 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon 

The Seventy Five Wine Company revels in expressing California wine country’s sun, earth and abundance. The wines reveal a history of care and craftsmanship that begins in the vineyard.

Tuck Beckstoffer honed his skills around some of the most talented vineyard managers and winemakers in the world.  The Seventy Five Wine Company draws on a great foundation of inspiration, and was created as a conscious reflection of Beckstoffer's personal belief in and commitment to the production of high quality, reasonably priced wines from the Napa Valley - his home since 1975.

The Beckstoffer family has historic connections to the vineyards of northern California, and deep roots in the wine world. The Seventy Five Wine Company is dedicated to pioneering change by producing premium wines of great distinction at reasonable prices. In Tuck’s own words, “I personally promise to over-deliver on every one of your expectations: wine quality and pedigree.” 

This exceptionally rich yet balanced Cabernet Sauvignon expresses wonderful dense aromas of ripe burnt early season cherries and scorched earth. The palate showcases classic notes of sweet black cherry, cassis and black raspberry. Tannins are beautifully integrated into this multidimensional, full-bodied yet wonderfully balanced wine. Finish is exceptional and lingering. This wine can certainly be enjoyed now but will only get better with age.

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$19.95

OLEMA 2014 Sonoma County Chardonnay

#1 in "Best of 2016: Robert Parker, Top 3 Greatest Value Wines of the Year"...The 2014 Chardonnay from Sonoma is a heck of a bottle of wine, with honeysuckle, lemon blossom and a touch of white peach all present in this wine that offers clean, pure fruit, medium body and a distant hint of wood. This is a terrific value and sleeper selection. 

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$13.95

HUNGRY BLONDE 2014 Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay 

Hungry Blonde is the brainchild of Sandy and Mike Davis, successful Southern California IT entrepreneurs. As Mike tells it, “[Sandy and I] were talking one morning about where we were in life and where we wanted to be. Sandy wanted to continue her education - singing lessons, cooking lessons, exploring the world. She has a hunger for life, and at that defining moment I called her my ‘Hungry Blonde'.” 

At the time, the Davises were in the process of buying a set of historic Napa Valley vineyards; their original plan for the “Hungry Blonde” label was to make 25 cases of wine for personal consumption. But friends of the couple went nuts for the Chardonnay, which is sourced from a single vineyard in Napa’s cool Carneros subzone. With fourth-generation Napa winemaker Cary Gott, the Davises made 40 barrels’ worth of the 2012 vintage, which won a rare Double Gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition.

Give the glass a swirl to release vibrant, creamy scents of apples, lemon curd and vanilla.  The wine’s focused flavors suggest green apples, lemon zest and, thanks to pretty French oak, a slight graham cracker note.

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$25.95

EXCEPTIONAL VALUES CONTINUE!

GANDONA “Encosta” 2014 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON…The story of Gandona is rooted in tradition and a passion for transforming land into something extraordinary. It’s born from an estate that rests upon a sloping hillside high above the beauty of Napa Valley and Lake Hennessey (Pritchard Hill) – its vineyards, carved from the steep terrain and planted in four blocks, each possess their own distinct personality. 

In 2006 Manuel and Cristina Pires met Bob Long on Pritchard Hill and talked candidly as they toured the vineyards that Bob spoke of their life on Pritchard Hill. He had a fondness for grape growing, and the capability of the Hills’s legendary soil. So thin that it barely covers the rock underneath, the soil had indeed proven ideal for producing Cabernet Sauvignon by neighboring estates like Colgin Cellars, Bryant Family, David Arthur and Ovid.  

Encosta (“slope”) Cabernet Sauvignon originates from the steeply terraced hillsides of Gandona Estate and its terra cotta-colored, volcanic soil. The 2014 vintage is a wine celebrating the very soul of hillside fruit capturing the essence of the vine’s interaction with earth and sun.  97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, is an all estate wine made by Philippe Melka. This wine is on a fast evolutionary track, with complex notes of cedar wood, licorice, blackcurrants and tobacco leaf, all from a medium-bodied wine with light tannin, luscious fruit and a delicious, supple mouthfeel.  
REG. $90.  CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING $79.95.

CULT 2014 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON…CULT wine is SENSATIONAL and is made by long time winemaker Rich Salvestrin of Salvestrin Winery, who has had many Cabernets receive scores well above 90 points from Wine Advocate. The 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was developed exclusively for restaurants and select wine merchants to provide a phenomenal wine. The result was better than anyone expected.

Comprised of fruit sourced from three prestigious California growing regions of Napa Valley, Lake County, and Lodi the Cult Cabernet Sauvignon is beautifully balanced and layered. The elegant tannins & fruit explodes with ultra plush, rich, lush, and silky flavors full of ripe plums, dusty blackberries & black currants, and layers of spice. In a nutshell, the 2014 Cult Cabernet Sauvignon is just a BIG, BOLD, DRINIKING-AT-PEAK, HEAD-TURNER of a wine that can be enjoyed simply on its own.  Leading with a nose of blackberries and black currants, the palate sees layers of spice and berries with chewy tannins and a sophisticated, silky finish.  
REG. $30.  CAPITOL CELLARS UNBELIEVABLE PRICING $19.95.

AARON WINES began as a vision to create wines that were a detour from conventionality, an ideology that no doubt stemmed from their desire to create a new fingerprint on an otherwise well-established status quo. Winemaker Aaron Jackson has spent a combination of many years procuring oenology degrees at various institutions around the world, along with working alongside some of California's greatest winemakers. He launched Aaron with his first commercial vintage in 2002. Aequoria means “of the sea” and relates to how close the vineyards are to the ocean.



AEQUOREA 2016 "Spanish Springs Vineyard" San Luis Obispo VIOGNIER...This Viognier probably one of the best white wines I have tasted in many years….& I don’t even like Viogniers. This vineyard, only two miles from the ocean in Pismo Beach is at the extreme for any vineyard. Producing only ¼ ton per acre where other vineyards are getting 4 ton per acre, one can understand the passion but not the monetary loss. But it is this passion that allows Aaron to get the ripeness of fruit without sacrificing the acidity. 
CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING $29.95

AEQUOREA 2014 "Derby West Vineyard" San Luis Obispo PINOT NOIR...Derby West is one of the most extreme vineyards properties I've ever seen in California, sitting on a slope overlooking the Pacific Ocean just 1.5 miles away. Lying just south of the town of San Simeon, it is pounded by daily wind and fog, exemplifying a cool, coastal climate probably better than anywhere I can imagine. But arising from the struggle the vines face on a daily basis is a wine that is amazingly pure and focused. 

Deep, intense aromatics of Damson plum, smoked meat, black rose, and white pepper. High toned and pure on the palate, it has loads of black fruit, minerals and smoke, with a backbone of dashing acidity. ONLY 74 cases produced!!  
CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING $39.95

WINERY OF THE WEEK...Neal Family Vineyards

For nearly four decades, it has been the Neal Family's mission to grow the highest quality wine grapes, which produce the ultra-premium wines world renowned to the Napa Valley. Mark Neal has diligently worked to complete the family dream of building a winery. He built Neal Family Vineyards with the intention of producing wines that exemplify the quality of the winegrapes grown by his family for many years. 

Wines produced by the winery are a tribute to his father, who taught Mark the importance of family and friends, a true appreciation of the vineyards and the winegrowing process, and a love of great food paired with exceptional wine.  

CAPITOL CELLARS IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FEW RETAILERS IN CALIFORNIA TO REPRESENT THESE FANTASTIC WINES…

NEAL FAMILY VINEYARDS 2013 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Growing conditions during 2013 allowed fully ripe flavors to develop along with great chemistry in all of Neal’s Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards. This is a blend of Howell Mountain, Rutherford and St. Helena estate property grapes, allowing a mix of various classic Cabernet flavors from valley and mountain conditions. The differences from each site's soil and climate, as well as a range of harvest dates from early September to early October, create a rich and complex wine without having to blend in other varieties.

Coming from a warm and therefore ripe vintage, this year's Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of cocoa, cassis and dark berry fruit plus hints of incense, earth and cedar notes from new French oak. As is their tradition, this is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with very dark color and a nice concentration of tannin that carries with it a firm, complex mouthful of flavors.

REG. $60…Special Pricing $46.95

SUMMER WINEMAKER SERIES CONTINUES!

As summer continues, we are pleased to host the following winemakers that are making the trip to Granite Bay to share their knowledge and lead tastings.  Reservations are recommended.  Call (916)780-9030 today!

TRIONE VINEYARDS, Henry Trione
Saturday, July 22, 4 to 6pm...Three generations of the Trione family has farmed five ranches in Sonoma County over four decades and is deeply rooted in the Sonoma wine industry. Dedicated farmers for 40 years, brothers Mark and Vic Trione own and cultivate close to 700 vineyard acres in three prime Sonoma County appellations: Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Sonoma Coast. 

In 2005 they established Trione Winery, designed specifically for crafting small lots of wine from estate grapes grown in these appellations.

HOBEL WINES, Cameron and Bahaneh Hobel, Thomas Rivers Brown
Coming soon

PASO ROBLES VINTNERS TASTING...Similar to our Napa Valley Vintners Tasting events, Capitol Cellars will be doing another first for the Sacramento Region - hosting the best of Paso Robles with the top vintners of that region. More info to follow.

NEW ARRIVALS and GREAT VALUES - July 11, 2017

Triple digits are in full swing with little relief in sight.  The best wine these days?  Rose, of course!  And Capitol Cellars is pleased to stock a collection of some of today's best and most exclusive from California's premier winemakers.  But they are limited, so be sure to make a visit to our very cool cellar soon!

TURTLE ROCK 2016  “Willow’s Tickled Pink” Paso Robles GRENACHE ROSÉ

This is a small, family-owned winery located in Paso Robles. Don and Claudia Burns’ winemaking philosophy is simple: you can’t make great wine without great fruit. They source their fruit from some of the finest vineyards in the Templeton Gap area of Paso Robles. Through sustainable farming practices, low yields, and harvesting at optimal ripeness, they are able to make wines with both intensity and balance.

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$18.95

EPOCH 2016 “Willow Creek” Paso Robles GRENACHE GSM ROSÉ

This wine is made by talented winemaker Jordan Fiorentini and consulting winemaker Justin Smith (of Saxum fame). Justin was also intrumental in the development of the vineyards, which are planted on the west side of Paso Robles. 

Jordan has an undergraduate degree in engineering from Dartmouth College and a masters degree in viticulture from UC Davis.  Jordan earned her spurs working at her family's winery in Georgia (yes, they really do make wine in Georgia!), at Araujo Estate in Napa Valley, Antinori Winery in Italy (where she met her husband), and, most recently, as head winemaker at Chalk Hill in Sonoma.

48% Mourvèdre | 36% Grenache | 16% Syrah…offers a wonderful nose of strawberries and citrus that is beautifully balanced and refreshing!

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$26.95

AZUR 2015  Napa Valley ROSÉ

Julien Fayard gained his knowledge and defined his core winemaking style while working at grand chateaux in France such as Lafite Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte. In Napa Valley, he's worked alongside renowned winemaker Philippe Melka. He has come to be a Napa Valley veteran after many years of working with some of the most highly-acclaimed and sought after wines from the Napa Valley. 

This Rosé is made from 100% Syrah grapes. Call it a mix of California sunshine and some good ol' fashion know-how from Provence.  Hand picked from just a few select, expertly managed vineyards within Napa Valley and the Sierra Foothills, Azur Rosé can be enjoyed by just about anyone, any day and anytime.   The pale salmon color belies the deliciously refreshing strawberry and watermelon fruit layered with intriguing mineral notes that glide over the palate like silk.

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$26.95

PLUS…

ALPHA OMEGA 2016  Napa Valley ROSÉ

BOOKER 2015 “Pink” Paso Robles ROSÉ

GREAT VALUES CONTINUE!

GANDONA “Encosta” 2014 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON…The story of Gandona is rooted in tradition and a passion for transforming land into something extraordinary. It’s born from an estate that rests upon a sloping hillside high above the beauty of Napa Valley and Lake Hennessey (Pritchard Hill) – its vineyards, carved from the steep terrain and planted in four blocks, each possess their own distinct personality. 

In 2006 Manuel and Cristina Pires met Bob Long on Pritchard Hill and talked candidly as they toured the vineyards that Bob spoke of their life on Pritchard Hill. He had a fondness for grape growing, and the capability of the Hills’s legendary soil. So thin that it barely covers the rock underneath, the soil had indeed proven ideal for producing Cabernet Sauvignon by neighboring estates like Colgin Cellars, Bryant Family, David Arthur and Ovid.

Encosta (“slope”) Cabernet Sauvignon originates from the steeply terraced hillsides of Gandona Estate and its terra cotta-colored, volcanic soil. The 2014 vintage is a wine celebrating the very soul of hillside fruit capturing the essence of the vine’s interaction with earth and sun.  97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, is an all estate wine made by Philippe Melka. This wine is on a fast evolutionary track, with complex notes of cedar wood, licorice, blackcurrants and tobacco leaf, all from a medium-bodied wine with light tannin, luscious fruit and a delicious, supple mouthfeel.  
REG. $90,  CAPITOL CELLARS PRICING…$79.95


ROMBAUER 2015 Carneros CHARDONNAY...We have the only magnums left of this great vintage. Only 24 left…call to reserve yours!!  

CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$64.95


OLEMA 2014 Sonoma County CHARDONNAY…#1 in "Best of 2016: Robert Parker, Top 3 Greatest Value Wines of the Year"...The 2014 Chardonnay Olema from Sonoma is a heck of a bottle of wine, with honeysuckle,

lemon blossom and a touch of white peach all present in this wine that offers clean, pure fruit, medium body and a distant hint of wood. This is a terrific value and sleeper selection.   
CAPITOL CELLARS SPECIAL PRICING…$13.95


CULT 2014 Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON…CULT wine is SENSATIONAL and is made by long time winemaker Rich Salvestrin of Salvestrin Winery, who has had many Cabernets receive scores well above 90 points from Wine Advocate. The 2014 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was developed exclusively for restaurants and select wine merchants to provide a phenomenal wine. The result was better than anyone expected.

Comprised of fruit sourced from three prestigious California growing regions of Napa Valley, Lake County, and Lodi the Cult Cabernet Sauvignon is beautifully balanced and layered. The elegant tannins & fruit explodes with ultra plush, rich, lush, and silky flavors full of ripe plums, dusty blackberries & black currants, and layers of spice. In a nutshell, the 2014 Cult Cabernet Sauvignon is just a BIG, BOLD, DRINIKING-AT-PEAK, HEAD-TURNER of a wine that can be enjoyed simply on its own.

Leading with a nose of blackberries and black currants, the palate sees layers of spice and berries with chewy tannins and a sophisticated, silky finish.  
REG. $30 CAPITOL CELLARS unbelievable PRICING…$19.95


AARON WINES begas as a vision to create wines that were a detour from conventionality, an ideology that no doubt stemmed from their desire to create a new fingerprint on an otherwise well-established status quo. Winemaker Aaron Jackson has spent a combination of many years procuring oenology degrees at various institutions around the world, along with working alongside some of California's greatest winemakers. He launched Aaron with his first commercial vintage in 2002. Aequoria means “of the sea” and relates to how close the vineyards are to the ocean.

AEQUOREA 2016 "Spanish Springs Vineyard" San Luis Obispo VIOGNIER...This Viognier probably one of the best white wines I have tasted in many years….& I don’t even like Viogniers. This vineyard, only two miles from the ocean in Pismo Beach is at the extreme for any vineyard. Producing only ¼ ton per acre where other vineyards are getting 4 ton per acre, one can understand the passion but not the monetary loss. But it is this passion that allows Aaron to get the ripeness of fruit without sacrificing the acidity. 
CAPITOL CELLARS Price $29.95

AEQUOREA 2014 "Derby West Vineyard" San Luis Obispo PINOT NOIR...Derby West is one of the most extreme vineyards properties I've ever seen in California, sitting on a slope overlooking the Pacific Ocean just 1.5 miles away. Lying just south of the town of San Simeon, it is pounded by daily wind and fog, exemplifying a cool, coastal climate probably better than anywhere I can imagine. But arising from the struggle the vines face on a daily basis is a wine that is amazingly pure and focused. Deep, intense aromatics of Damson plum, smoked meat, black rose, and white pepper. High toned and pure on the palate, it has loads of black fruit, minerals and smoke, with a backbone of dashing acidity. ONLY 74 cases produced!!  
CAPITOL CELLARS Price $39.95

WINERY OF THE WEEK...Skipstone

Skipstone Ranch is tucked between two stunning hillsides in the mountains above Alexander Valley. Uncompromising in their standards of sustainability and their treatment of the land, Skipstone is committed to nurturing the precious resource that is their 200-acre estate. Blessed by nature, they listen intently to the terroir of their vineyards, and in turn, their wines speak eloquently of their origin.

The Slipstone Vineyard encompasses 30 organically-farmed acres forming an amphitheater surrounded by steep mountain slopes.  Upon discovery of the site, an ambitious redevelopment of the vineyard was undertaken and new viticultural practices were implemented.

Famed winemaker Philippe Melka was the one key element that brought this dream together.  Philippe spent much of his early life in Bordeaux, receiving his geology degree in 1989 from the University of Bordeaux. In his final year of study, he took a wine course out of sheer curiosity, and from that moment on realized his passion and future lay with wine.  Just recently Philippe was named as one of the Top 9 Winemakers in the World by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. 

In 2003, the owners of Skipstone recruited highly-regarded organic farming consultant Amigo Bob Cantisano to help develop standards specifically tailored to the diverse geography and terroir of Skipstone. A specialist in organic farming since 1972, Amigo Bob has worked closely with many of Napa and Sonoma’s most prestigious vineyards and wineries. Today, Skipstone is a thriving organic and sustainable estate, uncompromising in its farming standards and its stewardship of the land. In return, its vineyards and orchards yield nature’s finest quality fruit.

CAPITOL CELLARS IS PROUD TO BE ONE OF THE FEW CALIFORNIA RETAILERS

TO REPRESENT THESE FANTASTIC WINES!

2014 “Oliver's Blend” Alexander Valley...The 2014 Oliver’s Blend is the tenth vintage released from Skipstone. Consistent with Skipstone’s approach for the past decade, the Oliver’s Blend is assembled by first blending up to 20 small lots of Cabernet Sauvignon from their rocky hillside vineyard blocks – each contributing its unique profile developed throughout the vintage from the varied soils, exposures, and clonal selections. In 2014, the Cabernet Sauvignon was the complete package – offering exceptional richness and power, balanced by minerality and nerve – requiring only a 2% splash of Merlot to round out the pallet. Powerful and intense with dark tonalities of fruit, mocha, bittersweet chocolate.
REG. $125…Special Pricing $109.95

2014 “Faultline Vineyard” Alexander Valley...Skipstone estate lies directly atop the Mayacamas Faultline, which means earthquakes on occasion. The blessing, however, is an incredible upheaval of land and thus a myriad of soil types that in turn give diverse flavor profiles from each block. While the Oliver’s Blend is about structured Cabernet Sauvignon on rocky hillsides, the Faultline Vineyard is sourced from the loamy, sandy clay in the basin of Skipstone. The ultimate wine has an incredible texture and a harmony of flavors. Faultline Vineyard is an interpretation of a Right-Bank Bordeaux blend. The awesome power and grace of Pommerol and St. Emillion have inspired them to build a cuvée around their oldest plantings of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In particular, Cabernet Franc is annually the biggest voice in the blend; this gives this wine its incredible texture and complexity.
REG. $125…Special Pricing $109.95

2015 Alexander Valley Viognier...Five rows of Viognier span the northern peaks of Skipstone’s amphitheater shaped vineyard. Situated on steep mountain terraces, the thin rocky soils force the vines to struggle which in turn brings out intensity and complexity in the fruit. Steady sun exposure during the day followed by afternoon shade blesses this vineyard with the ability to achieve both ripeness and long hang time. This in turn adds depth and complexity to the fruit. To balance the weight and intensity of this voluptuous grape, they limit the exposure to oak and avoid malolactic fermentation. Thus the final wine is full but bright and absolutely delicious. One of my favorite white wines for the summer!! FEWER THAN 100 CASES PRODUCED.

REG. $60…Special Pricing $49.95

WINERY OF THE WEEK...Gandona

The story of Gandona is rooted in tradition and a passion for transforming land into something extraordinary. It’s born from an estate that rests upon a sloping hillside high above the beauty of Napa Valley and Lake Hennessey (Pritchard Hill) – its vineyards, carved from the steep terrain and planted in four blocks, each possess their own distinct personality. 

In 2006 Manuel and Cristina Pires met Bob Long on Pritchard Hill and talked candidly as they toured the vineyards that Bob spoke of their life on Pritchard Hill.  He had a fondness for grape growing, and the capability of the Hills’s legendary soil.  So thin that it barely covers the rock underneath, the soil had indeed proven ideal for producing Cabernet Sauvignon by neighboring estates like Colgin Cellars, Bryant Family, David Arthur and Ovid.  Add famed winemaker Philippe Melka and you know there is nothing better!!

2013 “Estate” Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON

This is Gandona’s fifth vintage of their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon and it shows the high quality of terroir, farming and winemaking technique. Made by Philippe Melka, this is pure Pritchard Hill Cab, with great structure and power but will benefit greatly with time in the bottle. The fruit is rich, black and full-bodied yet the tannins on this Cab are firm but not overwhelming. 100% Cabernet, this bottling is sourced entirely from what they call "The Old Block", which comprises 1.6 acres under vine that Jim Barbour planted as vineyard manager for the property.

REG. $225…Special Pricing $199.95

2014 “ENCOSTA” Napa Valley CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Encosta (“slope”) Cabernet Sauvignon originates from the steeply terraced hillsides of Gandona Estate and its terra cotta-colored, volcanic soil.  The 2013 vintage is a wine celebrating the very soul of hillside fruit capturing the essence of the vine’s interaction with earth and sun.

REG. $90…Special Pricing $79.95

2014 “MEIA” Napa Valley CABERNET FRANC

Situated in the heart of the estate—Meia, Portuguese for “middle”, encompasses the best of both the steep slope of the terraces Gandona is known for, and the perpendicular row orientation of the less extreme avenue blocks — characteristics that are directly reflected in the style of the wine produced from the block. Historically used to add complexity and depth to Encosta, the exceptional success of the Cabernet Franc in the “meia” of the estate in 2014 compelled them to bottle a limited quantity of it, an event only to be repeated when the vintage allows it.  ONLY 60 CASES MADE

REG. $120…Special Pricing $104.95