 The Friday before Fourth of July, a few industry folk got together with the crew at Feast it Forward to experience the wines of Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines. This was not just any ordinary wine tasting though, because the premise of the tasting was to test out the new Feast it Forward Stolzle glassware line, as well as experience these beautiful Napa Valley wines through the Coravin—an innovative product that allows you to enjoy wine without pulling the cork.
Enjoy wine without pulling the cork—that sounds crazy, right? Fact of the matter is, this ingenious technology is incredibly simple to use. Anyone can easily use the Coravin to enjoy a taste or glass of wine without compromising the entire bottle. This amazing new product is taking wine lovers and industry folk by storm, and with a second Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines tasting scheduled in four months from the original tasting date, we will all get to see how the quality of the wine holds up once it has been accessed with the Coravin. Be sure to check back in November for an update on how the wines show! Our very own Katie Shaffer, Founder and President of Feast it Forward, lead us through 2010-2012 wines from Sullivan Vineyards and 2007-2009 wines from Miner Family Wines, in the iconic outdoor setting of Sullivan Vineyards. Check out the detailed tasting notes below for the first tasting of Napa Valley wines from Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines using the Coravin. Sullivan Vineyards Located in the heart of Napa Valley in Rutherford, Sullivan Vineyards is well known for their Coeur de Vigne—a classic Bordeaux-style Napa Valley red wine with beautiful structure and finesse. This wine is balanced with restrained fruit, and incredibly pleasing on both the nose and palate. Tasting through the 2010-2012 vintages was indeed a treat, and really spoke to the dedication of the viticulturist and passion of the winemaker. 2010 Coeur de Vigne A savory nose with aromas of red cherry and cocoa give way to a well structured palate with desirable tannin level, maintained acidity and beautiful finesse. On the palate, a medium body envelops fruit flavors of ripe red cherry, dark raspberry and black currant, with notes of dark chocolate in the background. 2011 Coeur de Vigne The aromatics of this 2011 vintage are more earthy than the 2010, with aromas of floral characteristics, anise and rocky minerality. The palate is a little brighter, with red fruit flavors of cherry, raspberry and blueberry; subtle chocolate and baking spice make for nice balance. There is also a rocky minerality component to this wine which gives the wine added depth and complexity. The tannins, again, are incredibly pleasurable and smooth with excellent body and a dry finish. 2012 Coeur de Vigne The youngest vintage of the three, this wine shows more fruit on both the nose and palate. Dark red cherry, blueberry and subtle peppery aromas abound, while the palate brings darker flavors of blueberry, black cherry and blackberry. Nice acid and a luscious body makes this wine approachable, even in its youth. As our Official Sommelier, Christopher Sawyer says, “the 2012 is drinking great for being a youngster.” Miner Family Wines Sourcing fruit from the Stagecoach Vineyard, located in the eastern hills of Napa Valley, Miner Family Wines manages to produce one of the most elegant Bordeaux-style red wines in the valley. The 2007-2009 vintages of The Oracle, an iconic, well balanced and beautifully structured wines, are showing beautifully right now. 2007 The Oracle Anise, currant and black cherry fill the aromatics of this eight-year-old wine; a medium body brings notes of tart cherry, raspberry, currant, granite, a touch of roasted coffee beans and restrained oak. Excellent structure and brilliantly retained acidity make this 2007 a prime candidate for continued aging. 2008 The Oracle Earthy aromas of clay and granite mingle with aromas of cherry on the nose. The palate brings anise, leather, a touch of clay, plum, and dried black currants and cherries. A medium body balances the subtle oak components, finessed structure and dry finish. 2009 The Oracle The aromatics of this 2009 vintage are bursting with blackberry, cocoa and pepper; a little younger than the first two, this bottling brings a leaner, more angular body together with notes of black cherry and baking spice. For more on Sullivan Vineyards and Miner Family Wines, check out our “SHOW” page to see some of the great videos featuring these two incredible Napa Valley wineries! *Originally published on Feast it Forward.
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