Today we’ve got two wines from Waterstone Winery in Carneros, an area much celebrated for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This cool and windy area actually lies partially in Napa Valley and partially in Sonoma right at the foothills of the Mayacamas and Sonoma mountain ranges.
First up is the 2011 Waterstone Carneros Pinot Noir which is 100% Pinot Noir from Carneros, Napa Valley, California. The wine spent 16 months in French oak (35% new) and 868 cases were produced. It has an SRP of $22 and is available for as low as $17. Sample submitted for review.
From the bottle:
“Complex layers of plum, cherry, cola and cocoa provide a solid base to this elegant Pinot Noir. Nicely integrated oak lends vanilla and spice notes to the wine’s long finish.
13.7% Alcohol”
The 2011 Waterstone Carneros Pinot Noir begins with pleasant aromas of black cherry, cola, oak and plum. Those same flavors continue when tasting this medium-bodied wine. Add to that great balance and a smooth and soft mouthfeel and you’ve got one very tasty wine that hits all the right Pinot Noir notes. A bit of vanilla, leather and oak lead into the dry finish which also features hints of smoky tobacco.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.0
Recommended Buy
Next is the 2012 Waterstone Carneros Chardonnay which is 100% Chardonnay from Carneros, Napa Valley, California. The wine spent 6 months in 50% new French oak and 30% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. 2,342 cases were produced. It has an SRP of $18 and is available for as low as $16. Sample submitted for review.
From the bottle:
“This richly composes Chardonnay has bright citrus, pear and pineapple fruit in perfect balance. Nicely integrated oak lends sweet vanilla notes to this wine’s long finish.
14% Alcohol”
Smelling the 2012 Waterstone Carneros Chardonnay reveals excellent notes of citrus and tangerine tinged with vanilla. Tasting shows lots of delicious fruit (primarily citrus, green apple, pear and a touch of tropical fruit) wrapped up in a bright, lively acidity. Some oaky notes come out mid-palate but they never detract or overwhelm. The very long finish features a bit of toasty oak along with hints of butter and vanilla under the continuing fruit. Overall this is a very solid, well-balanced Chardonnay with just a hint of butter that adds a bit of complexity but still let’s the fruit shine through.
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.3
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