SUMMER 2008 AT CROZE & SMITH WOOTON

Ah, summertime. Life is in full bloom and with this in mind, we at Croze are raising our glass – or in this case – our foot to you. May you too be enjoying the Croze Vin d’Une Nuit Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon and the Croze Sauvignon Blanc on your picnics.

While you have been out enjoying your summer we have been keeping quite busy at the Croze Nest with our own version of summer fun. I've come on board as the newest member of the Croze Nest team and have been plunged right into the thick of it. We have been bottling wine – the 2004 Cabernet is coming soon and it is DELICIOUS. We have been racking wine and keeping the future of each of these varietals at a clear vantage point on the horizon. We have been tasting the wines with friends old and new. We have been checking into the vineyards and things are looking good. We have been brainstorming and the future looks bright – especially when you are peering through your rose’ colored wine glass.

Gabrielle Shaffer - Sommelier, Wine Sales, Wine Marketing, Wine Maker in Training, Bottling Line Enthusiast, Wine Taster, Wine Drinker.

Our Summer Picks...

Croze Vin d’ Une Nuit – Rose' of Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Croze Sauvignon Blanc 2006

In the Vineyard                                                                                                                                                                            

How can it be August already?  The grapes have reached verasion and are beginning to change color.  Pictured left and right are  Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from deConinck vineyards .  The photo on the left was taken July 1st and the image on the right was August 1st.   What a difference a month makes!  Weather has been a major factor in this year's vintage.  The bad  news is the late frost and early heat cut the yield on early varieties.  On the bright side, the fruit quality promises to be GREAT! 

NEW RELEASE

SUMMER

2008

 2005 SMITH WOOTON SYRAH JUST RELEASED!

Tanner Vineyards in the Sierra Foothills grew these wonderful grapes. The exceptional terroir shines through in a bouquet of flavors that treat your palate! The wine opens with aromas of macerated black cherries, clove spice and a bit of prosciutto. The fully rounded mouth feel starts with candy coated fennel, anise and sesame seeds and moves into dense, concentrated blackberries and plum. The wine invokes images of a sultry northern Rhone wine wrapped in velvet, arm-in-arm with the brute force of a California Syrah strapped in new chaps.
Gabrielle Shaffer, Sommelier

 CURRENT CROZE & SMITH WOOTON RELEASES

2006 CROZE CABERNET SAUVIGNON PORT

2006 CROZE Cabernet Sauvignon Port began life at Tenbrink Vineyards in Suisun Valley. In this Port, the Winemaker chose to preserve the fruit's true varietal character and present it fresh on the palate. The Port balances the flavors of mature fruit, French oak and aged Brandy, thus achieving a satisfying medly of flavors. Rich, dense blackberry flavors and aromas fill the mouth and nose and linger on the tongue.  Enjoy 2006 Croze Port as an aperitif, with a savory roast duck or after dinner with a bit of dark chocolate and a friend.
IF YOU LOVE CROZE PORT, ORDER YOURS TODAY!  
Limited production of 200 cases.

2002 CROZE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

2002 CROZE Cabernet Sauvignon from DeConinck Vineyards, Longwood Ranch is our current Croze Cabernet release.  This is the final vintage from their oldest block of vines.  Each ancient vine yielded small amounts of tiny grapes with concentrated flavors and tannins. The result is a dark, garnet wine with loads of rich fruit.  The wine is intense, with dark, garnet color and concentrated fruit flavors. It's like velveT in the mouth and lingers long after it is swallowed. This is not a wine to gulp, but rather one to savor. Very drinkable now, this intriguing Cabernet Sauvignon has the ideal balance for a graceful and long lived wine. This CROZE will stand up to a thick steak or roasted meats and is perfect with anything Chocolate. When you sip this wine, you are tasting history!
Limited production of 618 cases.  ONLY A FEW CASES REMAIN

2005 SMITH WOOTON CABERNET FRANC

2005 SMITH WOOTON Cabernet Franc from Gallagher's Vineyard is unmitakably Cabernet Franc!  Once again the Napa Valley terroir and meticulous vineyard management by grower, Brian Gallagher work their magic to provide our winemaker, Gary Wooton with just the right grapes for this elegant and handsome wine.  Earthy aroma explodes from the glass long before your lips touch the wine.  The first sip fillls the mouth with dark, rich earthy flavors reminiscent of a fine Bordeaux.  Production of just 490 cases.

2006 CROZE SAUVIGNON BLANC

This is our premier "White Croze."  This Sauvignon Blanc is light, crisp and well balanced with bright fruit character. You'll find melon and pineapple flavors with a hint of citrus. Serve lightly chilled with fish, poultry and creamy pasta dishes. Celebrate anyday with this delightful wine! The grapes for the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc came from Monte Lago Vineyard in the hills overlooking Clearlake, California. This vineyard produces low yields of intense fruit with bright, crisp flavors and moderate tannins. The grapes were hand-picked, crushed and fermented in small lots to preserve fruit character and to avoid the extraction of harsh tannins. A long, cool fermentation in steel tank preserved the fresh aromas and flavors, creating an elegant wine with true California style. 406 cases produced.

2005 Croze' Vin d' Une Nuit

This is a light and lovely Rose' of Cabernet Sauvignon.  It finishes almost dry with the fresh taste of summer berries on the palate. Enjoy it rain or shine, with a fireside picnic or sip it while curled up with a good book. For a special treat, serve Croze' in a champagne glass with a frozen berry or add a cube of frozen Croze'!  Offer "Croze-A" to toast the day!  The 2005 Croze' grapes came from Suisun Valley, just across the Eastern Hills from Napa Valley. Here, the daylight hours are just a bit warmer, without the cooling marine influence of the San Francisco Bay. Soil and climate are similar to South Central France, where Rose' is Queen. 2005 was a long, cool growing season—perfect for making this delicate Rose' wine. Winemaker, Gary Wooton vinted the wine in the classic French “Vin d' Une Nuit” (Wine of One Night) style. Unlike many Rose' wines, where juice is separated from the skins immediately after pressing, grapes for Croze' are crushed and the juice is left on the skins overnight, before pressing. This gives the wine its rosy, watermelon hue and rich mouth feel. 323 cases produced.