Report by Anri Nakamura Cohen (Strategy & Planning Manager)●④MAP ●②MAP ④②〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉③●●０〉〉〉〉〉〉①〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉〉●③MAP Wine is Agriculture! A harvest festival that expresses the grower’s spirit!●①MAP Samantha Mueller, 2nd generation producerRRP￥5,500Tractor picking up grapesNamed ‘Enigma’ for its complexity, it is a blend of three white Rhone varietals. Rich honey and pear flavours are balanced by acidity and a dry mineral finish. 90pts The Wine EnthusiastEven the egg-shaped concrete tanks are decorated for the Harvest Festival!Map showing harvest dates for each parcelRRP￥8,000San Francisco・・・・・・Anderson Valley, Mendocino Co.SacramentoGeorge Hendry and..Sierra Nevada［Russian River Valley, Sonoma Co.］［Napa Valley］100kmVillage Cellars Wine Catalogue 2024SpringFor wine information, please see www.village-cellars.co.jp.－9－ New Rhone style in the mountainsTerre Rouge and Easton Wines Cool, minerally Napa redsMcKenzie-MuellerVineyards & WineryGeorge Hendry is alive and well!In November 2023, I had the pleasure of visiting four esteemed wineries in California: Terre Rouge, McKenzie-Mueller, Radio-Coteau, and Hendry Ranch Wines.［Amador County］［Napa Valley］CODE12806 Nestled amidst the undulating Sierra Foothills lies Terre Rouge & Easton. Here, I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and winemaker, Bill Easton, whose wine expertise dates back to the 1970s. In Japan, Terre Rouge has been mainly associated with red Rhône wines, but during this visit, I also had the opportunity to taste their whites, such as Viognier and Roussanne. The purity of fruit, depth of flavour, and a subtle nostalgic gentleness and softness left a strong impression.Bill not only uses grapes from his own vineyards, but also purchases them. I was able to witness a transaction firsthand while driving on his tractor to collect grapes from growers with whom he has long-term contracts, when he was approached by another vineyard owner wanting to sell his grapes, prompting an impromptu quality check. It seemed that he carefully negotiated on the spot, aligning his winemaking plans with the available fruit from both within and outside his vineyards. It was an interesting experience watching him adapt what was a meticulously organized winery plan to accommodate the newly presented opportunity. Located at the southernmost tip of Napa Valley are the Oak Knoll AVA and the Los Carneros AVA. These AVAs are cooler than their Northern counterparts, allowing for a wide range of red grape varieties to thrive, from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon. Welcoming me at the winery was Samantha Mueller, the second-generation CEO, and her husband, Max Bonnick, who also manages the wine club. Max is also a professional jazz pianist and the inspiration for the beloved Napa Jazz label, even though the iconic label features a saxophone.McKenzie-Mueller has been cultivating vineyards with heritage clone stocks sourced from renowned locations in Napa since 1978. They’ve been growing various grape varieties for others as well as making their own in a winery they built in 1986. During my visit, I had the opportunity to taste many single-varietal red wines. While Cabernet Franc has been available in Japan for some time, it was my first experience tasting Petit Verdot and Merlot on their own. Each wine left a lasting impression with its richness and mineral character. It's been almost 20 years since the movie "Sideways" caused havoc to Merlot's popularity, but it seems that grape is now on the rebound in California, and rightly so. I can only hope for a similar trend in Japan, to be tested when we bring this cuvee in!Terre Rouge Enigma 2015 Region：Sierra Foothills, CaliforniaVariety：Marsanne62%/Viognier25%/Roussanne13%Alc.14.5％CODE12387 Located along the Pacific coastline in Sonoma County, Radio-Coteau embodies a spirit of sustainability and authenticity. Eric Sassman, the owner, grower, and winemaker, developed a passion for grape cultivation and the world of wine during his time studying agriculture at Cornell University. Renowned for expressing terroir beautifully in his wines, Eric practices organic and biodynamic farming methods, intervening as little as possible with the fruit from his certified vineyards. Despite its high reputation, the winery doesn't boast a luxurious cellar door or employ cutting-edge technology. A single rustic signpost marks the winery which otherwise would be taken for a mere shed.Although typically closed to the public, I had the privilege of attending a harvest festival event organized exclusively for club members during my visit. The event featured three tasting booths, offering Radio-Coteau’s partner label County Line wines, Radio-Coteau’s Riesling and Syrah which are hugely popular domestically, and the classic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir selections, including back vintages. In addition, a cider made from the winery’s own orchard proved to be quite delicious, and a perfect addition to this amazing, unpretentious festival celebrating the fruits of nature.The Hendry family purchased the winery estate located in the northwest of Napa, surrounded by Mount Veeder and the Mayacamas Mountains, in 1939. Until around 1960, they relied more on an income from prunes as Napa grape prices were low, something hardly imaginable today. However, by the mid-1970s, they had converted most of their ranch into vineyards, selling fruit to Robert Mondavi including some used in Opus One, establishing their reputation as reliable producers of high-quality fruit. Leading this reform was George W. Hendry, the eldest son of the Hendry Ranch founder, who had previously enjoyed success as a cyclotron engineer, and today in his mid-80s is still heavily involved in the winery operation. When I had the honour of meeting him, he shared delightful memories from his previous trips to Japan. All four properties I visited are small boutique Californian wineries with their main market in the United States. However, it was delightful to see their genuine joy at the acceptance of their wines in Japan, and they express a true appreciation for our market.Hendry Zinfandel Blocks 7&22 2019 Region：Napa Valley, CaliforniaVariety：Zinfandel100%Alc.15.9％Hendry’s flagship, along with the Cabernet, made from two parcels planted in 1975 and 1995. Full-bodied, aromatic and vibrant. Consistent acidity tightens the palate and lingers on the finish. 93pts James SucklingMy visit to 4 boutique Californian producersWinery VisitRadio-Coteau & County Line VineyardsHendry Ranch Wines
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