Q1 2025 – Daily Drinker Club

Patent Wines

• Winery borders St. Helena and Calistoga on Hwy 29 in the Napa Valley
• Vineyards located Miller Ranch, Yountville
• No tasting room.  Tastings occasionally by appointment. 
• Produce ~2,000 cases annually amongst Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rose

2023 Sauvignon Blanc

• 870 Cases Produced
• 96% Sauvignon Blanc, with about 4% Muscat & Semillion
• Yountville AVA, Napa Valley
• Fermented in 30% new French Oak, 30% neutral French Oak, 40% Stainless steel, with battonage for approximately 6 months.

Tasting Notes:
A slight straw/yellow color. Brilliant. Clean lemon/lime aromatics amongst vanilla, custard, floral aromas. Mouth-coating, creamy, yet tangy palate. Long memorable finish that invites yet another taste. A true reflection of the marvelous vintage in the Napa Valley.

Not your typical Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc – think more like Sancerre meets White Bordeaux. Beautiful nose, no searing acidity, no grapefruit “spritz”, no green/grass/hay notes. A bit richer and fuller bodied due to battonage – the stirring of the lees in barrel after fermentation to give it some body and a nice mouthfeel.

---

Westerly Wines

• Based in Buelton, CA. No public tasting room. 
• Produce ~3,000 cases per year across 5-6 different wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Franc

Westerly Wines is a small family owned winery that uses no machines.  Hand Harvest, Hand Sorting and No Additives. 

2019 Fletcher’s Reserve Merlot

• 200 cases produced
• 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
• 18 months on used French oak

Tasting Notes
Happy Canyon enjoys generous sunshine and sheltering mountains giving it Napa-like warmth that produces incredible, age-worthy red varietals. Fletcher’s Reserve Merlot pairs perfectly with grilled steaks and smoked meats.

---

Hunter Glenn

• Located on Darms Lane in Napa with tastings by appointment only
• Produces 1,200 cases per year across 8 wines: Chardonnay, Red Blend, Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Rosé and Brut Rosé of Pinot Noir

Hunter Glenn Estate is the label of Caroline and Jeffrey Shifflett, a brother/sister team and 4th generation of a Napa-Valley grape growing family.  Jeffrey is responsible for production; after many harvests in the cellar, he pivoted to focus on farming.  He now manages the family’s 120 acre property at the end of Darms Lane in the Oak Knoll district of Napa Valley and makes Hunter Glenn wines on the side.  Caroline is responsible for building relationships throughout the United States and managing the daily sales efforts on property.  They are dedicated to small production wines, made with minimal intervention both in the vineyard and the winery that showcase true varietal characteristics and a strong sense of place.    

2022 Napa Valley Red Wine

• 425 cases produced
• 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 11% Petit Verdot
• 21 months on 25% new French oak

Tasting notes
The 2022 HG Red Blend brilliantly demonstrates the art of assemblage, delivering Mozart like harmony that captivates from first glance to final sip. Deep garnet in the glass with ruby highlights demands attention, while layers of blackberry preserves, toasted vanilla bean, and wild sage leap from the glass. The palate exceeds expectations, showcasing impressive depth beyond its price point. Black cherry, dark plum, and espresso beans lead the charge, while sweet tobacco leaf and star anise provide sophisticated nuance. The polished tannins feel like warm cashmere on the palate, suggesting excellent aging potential. 

---

Idell Family Vineyards

• Idell Family Vineyards (IFV) is located on Carriger Road, approximately 2.5 miles West of the town of Sonoma. Approximately seven acres of beautiful vineyards are surrounded by Sonoma hills and other vineyards.
• There is no public tasting room
• Produces 400-500 cases annually, including a Chardonnay, Syrah, and a Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre blend.
• Idell Family Vineyards is a family owned grape growing and wine production business. The award winning wines have been recognized as exceptional by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, James Suckling and others.  

2019 Syrah

• 100% Syrah
• 49 cases produced
• 18 months in 50% new French oak
• 100% Estate fruit

Tasting Notes
This Syrah is a rich, complex wine; smooth, and jammy.  It is a medium to full-bodied wine, fruit-forward with lots of blackberry, current and  spicy flavors, with a long and peppery finish.. This delightful Syrah has received rave reviews year after year. Delightful to drink now or to hold onto for that special occasion in years to come.

---

Pine Mountain Vineyards

• Based in Cloverdate, CA.  Private tastings and tours by appointment only. 
• Produce under 2,000 cases per year 
• Pine Mountain Vineyards is focused on Bordeaux varietals, producing Sauvignon Blanc, Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, a Bordeaux Red Blend, Cabernet Franc and a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Built in 2008, Pine Mountain Vineyards is in a newer AVA called Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak. The AVA straddles the Mendocino and Sonoma County boarder and starts at 1,600’ elevation. The winery sits at 2,400′ with the highest vineyard elevation of 2,800′.  They have 45 acres planted on rough hillside terrain, which produces amazing mountain fruit. 

2019 Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

• 280 cases produced
• 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 22 months on 20% new French oak

Tasting Notes
From their highest-elevation vineyards, this wine is a true expression of its rugged terroir. The small, concentrated berries deliver exceptional depth, intensity, and rich color, resulting in a premier wine that balances power with elegance. Every sip reflects the unique character of its lofty origins, offering a bold yet refined experience.  This rich, full-bodied wine delivers velvety tannins and layers of blackberry, cassis, and ripe plum. Black pepper, violet, and graphite add complexity, while hints of tobacco, espresso, and toasted oak linger on the finish. Bold yet refined, it showcases its high-altitude terroir with depth and age-worthy potential.

---

Muscardini Cellars

• Small, family-owned winery in Kenwood, CA (Sonoma) that produces ~5,000 cases per year
• Public tasting room is located in Kenwood, where you can sample their other productions: Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Rosato, Red Blends and Vermouth.
• Muscardini Cellars is a small winery focused on catering to their customers and providing a first class experience. Their grapes are sourced from premium vineyards and personally selected by Muscardini’s winemaker, which lends itself to their luxury wine selections.

2019 Cassata Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

• Produced 434 cases
• 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot
• 22 months in 25% new French oak barrels

Tasting Notes:
This magnificent release is crafted with fruit grown at Cassata Vineyards in Sonoma Valley. The wine opens with lofty scents of ripe red berries, cured meats, dried herbs, nutmeg, leather, and cigar box. In the glass, these aromas are complemented with deep flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry, cassis, black plums, fresh thyme, lavender and baking spices. On the palate, these full-bodied flavors are further enhanced with vibrant acidity, supple tannins, and an elegant dry finish.