Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate Awards 90+ scores to ALL of Ancient Oak Cellars’ Wines!
- By mjms47
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- 10 Feb, 2019
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“That’s more 90+ scores than I have received at one time ever before!” exclaims winemaker Greg La Follette Here are the scores that Lisa Perrotti-Brown, of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, awarded Ancient Oak Cellars. If you have questions about release dates or allocations, please contact Melissa (melissa@ancientoakcellars.com) Appellation-series wines: 2016 Russian River Valley Chardonnay – 90 […]
“ That’s more 90+ scores than I have received at one time ever before! ” exclaims winemaker Greg La Follette
Here are the scores that Lisa Perrotti-Brown, of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, awarded Ancient Oak Cellars.
If you have questions about release dates or allocations, please contact Melissa (melissa@ancientoakcellars.com)
Appellation-series wines:
2016 Russian River Valley Chardonnay – 90 points
“opening slowly to reveal lemon tart, white peach and melon scents with wafts of grapefruit peel and marzipan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate comes through with good citrus and stone fruit, marked by racy acid and a silken texture, finishing long”
2015 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – 91 points
gives up notions of red currants, cranberry sauce and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of underbrush, wild thyme and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with bright red berry and earthy layers, framed by fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing on a perfumed note
Single-vineyard wines:
2016 Flyway Chardonnay – 92+ points
delivers a Chardonnay rock-star nose of gregarious apricots, spiced pears and pink grapefruit with touches of green guava, honeycomb, cashews and brioche. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of tropical, stone fruit and toasty layers, with a satiny texture and plenty of freshness to lift the long, savory finish
2015 Pagnano Zindfandel – 90 points
a textbook nose of baked raspberries, warm cherries and blueberry pie with suggestions of spice box, incense, dusty soil, potpourri and fungi. Full-bodied with a tart line lifting the dens”el”y packed berry preserves layers and a chewy frame, it gives a very long, spicy finish
2016 Pagnano Zinfandel – 93 points
a very spicy nose of Chinese five spice, hoisin and Sichuan pepper with a core of black raspberries, red currant jelly and cranberry sauce plus hints of plum preserves and dried lavender. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, it has a lively backbone with plush texture to support and a long, perfumed finish
2016 Siebert Ranch Pinot noir – 94 points
scented of warm black raspberries, red plums and kirsch with notions of faded roses, lavender and cloves plus a waft of cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate explodes with vibrant red berry and floral notes, framed by firm yet plush tannins and electric freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note
2014 Berger Cabernet sauvignon – 91 points
offers up notions of warm red currants, cassis and cigar box with touches of bay leaf, cloves and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate features fantastic freshness with a line of grainy tannins backing up the cassis and red berry layers, finishing long and earthy
2015 Berger Cabernet sauvignon – 93+ points
scented of black cherries, blackberries and warm plums with hints of violets, cedar chest, camphor and tapenade. The palate is full-bodied and decadently fruited with black berries and plums layers and a firm, grainy texture to frame, finishing long and lively with a mineral hint
Reserve wines:
2016 Alcman Pinot noir – 94+ points (consistently our highest-scoring wine)
opens with seductive black cherries, wild blueberries and pomegranate notes plus hints of baking spices, lilacs, black pepper, moss-covered bark and ceps. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs in the black and blue fruit flavors, accented by tons of earth and spice notes and framed with a solid structure of grainy tannins, finishing long and refreshing
2015 Alcaeus Cabernet franc – 92+ points
opens with compelling notes of wild blueberries, kirsch and blackberry pie with notions of menthol, rose hip tea and cigar box in the background. Full-bodied and laden with ripe red and black fruit layers, it has a solid frame of ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and layered
2015 Sappho Merlot – 90 points
gives fragrant stewed tea, eucalyptus and lavender scents over a core of black plums and baked blueberries plus a touch of bay leaves. Full-bodied with mouth-filling black fruit and a firm, chewy frame, it has oodles of freshness on offer and a long earthy/savory finish
2014 Tò Érgon Cabernet sauvignon – 90 points
delivers notes of chocolate mints and crème de cassis with nuances of dried lavender, cedar chest and dusty soil plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives a good amount of cassis and menthol-laced flavors with grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift
2015 Tò Érgon Cabernet sauvignon – 93+ points
slowly reveals youthful red and black currants notes with suggestions of tobacco, cedar, damp earth and truffles plus a waft of faded roses. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers bright, vivacious red and black fruits with a frame of very ripe, grainy tannins and well-played freshness, finishing very long
Ancient Oak Cellars, and Jon McDaniel with Second City Soil, gathered 60+ of the top sommeliers from around the country to taste four wines that Ancient Oak had sent to each -- and to enter into a discussion of the wines, farming and winemaking philosophies, and a wide-range of other related topics. We had a blast!
Re-live your experience, or take it in for the first time. Then be in touch to continue the discussions. Cheers!
A video introduction to the neighborhoods of the Russian River Valley.
watch a video of winemaker Greg La Follete talking about the importance of family-farmed wines and native yeast fermentation.
An occasional series in which we learn about wine professionals -- Somms, Wine Directors, Winemakers -- and whether they are really of another species, or whether we should view them as friends who know more about wine than we do, and can help us choose and learn more about wine!
We visited Novavine nursery, in Sonoma Valley, recently to see the progress of our newly-grafted grapevines, and to learn more about the process.
As you may know, Siebert Ranch -- the house, barns, and vineyards where owners Melissa and Ken Moholt-Siebert live -- was destroyed in the 2017 wildfires. We are on the long path to recovery and rebuilding. You can support us by buying our wine!
Melissa will be pouring Ancient Oak Cellars' wines at the Pomona College Alumni Vintner Tasting
A look at how oaks reproduce -- and a list of other interesting facts about oaks.
Our family's special Easter decoration, found inside the ruins of our barn following the 2017 wildfires, serves as a symbol of hope.
We continue to follow the long road to recovery following the Tubbs Fire, which destroyed the Siebert Ranch PInot Noir vineyard. In this installment, we explore the process of grafting the new vines that will make up the new vineyard.
