Greetings!

 

If you're reading this, you are officially "in the know" with Davies Family Selections. Every eight weeks or so you will receive this newsletter, updating you on the latest and greatest news around each brand within my portfolio.

 

Davies Family Selections has recently grown to include two exciting brands: Renteria Wines and Vermont Spirits. Read below for details, I'm thrilled to have them join the ranks of the other brands we know and love including Amisfield, Bacio Divino, B Cellars, Eagle Glen, Ehret Family Winery, Lobster Reef and of course, Venge Vineyards.

 

Stay tuned for news on all of our brands as 2015 continues!

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

Amisfield

After making headlines last April for hosting the royal family for a tour and tasting of their signature Pinot Noir, the Amisfield winery wasted no time in taking advantage of the New Zealand winter (our summer) to expand its Pinot Noir development. Planting vines, installing irrigation, and plotting posts during winter has paid off, giving reason to celebrate the arrival of summer as the newest plantings begin to flourish. 

 

The soil used in planting the new vines is a free-draining Waenga silt loam, a mix of river silt and deposits from the giant glaciers that once carved their way down the valley. Although the silt, sand, gravel and stone-laden Waenga soil can be challenging terrain for machinery, it is perfect for Pinot Noir! 

 

Stay tuned for more developments on this endeavor throughout the year! 


Bacio Divino

As the first vintage in several years to be enjoyed at such a young age, the 2012 Bacio Divino Janzen wines are immensely pleasurable right out of the crate. The early maturity of these wines is due in part to the near-perfect growing season with warm weather, sunshine and no heat spikes in Napa during its production.

 

Robert Parker has lauded the new vintages from both Cloudy's Vineyard and Beckstoffer Vineyard as "exuberant, boisterous, gloriously ostentatious," and "overwhelmingly great."

 

New varietals in the Bacio Divino portfolio include: 2012 Janzen Napa Cabernet, 2012 Janzen Cloudy's Vineyard Cabernet (91-93 points, R.P.), 2012 Janzen Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Cabernet (91-93 points, R.P.), and 2012 Janzen Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet (92-94 points, R.P.).



B Cellars

The highly anticipated B Cellars' Oakville Winery opened its doors in late August 2014, the first opening on Oakville Cross Road in 18 years. You might've heard some buzz around the winery's amenities and accommodations already - and with good reason!

 

Upon entering the estate, guests are greeted by concierge and escorted into the newly built Hospitality House - the perfect setting to explore B Cellars' artisanal wines paired with foods from the in-house kitchen. The winery tour then leads guests through a personalized winery trek, highlighting the culinary gardens, caves, and estate vineyards, topped with a myriad of tasting experiences to choose from, including an introductory Oakville Winery trek, a Heritage Wine Excursion in the cave, and a Chef's Culinary Garden airing at the communal garden table. 

 

Visiting B Cellars offers guests an unparalleled wine and hospitality experience, definitely a must see!

 


Eagle Glen

After a successful first run, the second vintage of Ian Davies' Eagle Glen Cabernet Sauvignon has been bottled, and will soon be offering wine fans an updated version of the Napa Valley signature wine.

 

Boasting black cherry and cassis aromas, distinct floral and dark fruits slowly rise from the glass. The flavors on the palate echo these aromas, accented by red cherry flavors, focused acids and well-structured tannins. Notes of savory spices and dark chocolate play a supporting role as the wine's initial flavors move across the palate and linger with remarkable length and complex finish. The 2013 Eagle Glen will be available starting in late March. 

 


Ehret Family Winery

Located in the highly esteemed Knights Valley in Northern Sonoma County, Ehret Family Winery handcrafts small lots of award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and a red meritage blend from the winery's estate Bavarian Lion Vineyard. 

 

The Bavarian Lion Vineyard is located in the Knights Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is protected from the marine influence of the Pacific Ocean, making it the warmest AVA in Sonoma County. Because of this, Ehret's two varietals available in the Davies Family Selections portfolio reap the benefits of the warm climate. The 2010 Bellarina Meritage Red is a blend of syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot which creates an accessible, rich, full-flavored red wine, and the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon exudes the aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, sweet spices, and mocha.

 

Stay tuned for more releases from the Ehret Family Winery!  

 


Renteria Wines

As the newest wine addition to the Davies Family Selections portfolio, Renteria joins the family with a rich and storied history of winemaking, producing 89-94 point, Gold Medal award-winning wines for more than 50 years.

 

Salvador Renteria began the legacy in 1962 upon arriving from Mexico to be a field laborer in Napa's Sterling Vineyards and quickly moved up the ranks to vineyard overseer. In 1987, Salvador pursued his dream of opening Renteria Vineyard Management, the first Mexican-owned vineyard management company in Napa Valley, now valued among the top three. In 1993, Salvador was joined by his son, Oscar, who now helps to implement new approaches in vineyard technology. 

 

By combining practical, generational field knowledge with innovative trials and experimentation, the Renteria family has found a balance that allows them to grow the finest grapes possible. Welcome, Renteria! 

 


Vermont Spirits

The latest spirits company to join the Davies family, Vermont Spirits is an award-winning craft distiller with a portfolio of artisanal spirits that uses local agricultural products found in Vermont. For its flagship vodka, Vermont Spirits pays homage to its roots by using the sap from Vermont maple trees as sugar, while refraining from the use of additives or preservatives which are typically found in spirits.

 

Founded in 2004, Vermont Spirits produces eight outstanding spirits in hand-made stills, including Vermont Gold Vodka, Vermont White Vodka, Crimson Vodka, No.14 Bourbon, No.14 Maple Spirit, No. 14 Apple Brandy, Black Snake Whiskey, and Coppers Gin.

 

Welcome, Vermont Spirits!

 


Venge Vineyards

The 2013 Scout's Honor line continuation hails from another spectacular vintage and honors the late and beloved in-house winery Labrador retriever, Scout. After modifying the vineyards with more "old-vine" plantings and combining the state-of-the-art sorting, the 2013 Scout's Honor shines in the newest addition to its portfolio.

 

This vintage is a gorgeous, concentrated assemblage of black fruits, crushed blue herbs, violets, cherry, licorice and anise scents. On the palate is pure richness from the old-vine Zinfandel with loads of black cherry, pepper spice, and enveloping masculinity of char and tannins from the Syrah, Charbono and Petite Sirah. A seamless balance and mouth coating deliciousness are found throughout the palate, with an extra-long finish and a touch of barrel tannin at the end. 71% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 10% Charbono, 4% Syrah. 

 


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