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Our fearless winebuyer on a recent visit to Ehlers Estate in Napa Valley. Pictured with Ben is Ripley, the official dog-wonder for Ehlers Estate and winemaker Rudy Zuidema.
Varieties/Regions:
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Spring 2008 Wine Preview:
Napa Valley Enjoys a string of successes with the likes of Ehlers Estate, White Cottage and Arns Winery
Ingersoll Wine & Spirits is pleased to offer unique and limited wines from California. From the Howell Mountain to the Rutherford Bench the Napa Valley has proved that in both good vintages and not so good years quality wines can still be made by dedicated vintners that have a passion for what they do. In February 2008 our winebuyer toured Napa and made stops at four wineries to taste and visit with winegrowers about what is still in barrel and yet to come. In the meantime, we invite you to check out these outstanding selections below that are not waiting in barrel but only waiting to be taken home and enjoyed hopefully the very near future!
Note: Online orderers - as much as we strive to have the best
information on our Web site, vintage and price are subject to change. If you
are looking for a specific year of wine or appellation/designation of single
vineyard then please follow-up to our automated e-mail confirming that we have
received your order. Each category has a date of last update. This is your best
indicator as to how current our wine list is for that specific category, i.e.,
chardonnay, merlot, Italy, France, Australia, etc.
Notice to Iowa Customers and those shopping locally for our wines:
the majority of the wines featured on this website are referenced to the inventory
of our West Des Moines store located at 1300 50th Street in West Des Moines,
IA. Both Ingersoll Wine & Spirits store locations have access to wines found
on our website, however if your aim is to shop by stopping into one of our locations
please call ahead of your visit or contact our West Des Moines store so that
we may be better prepared to accomodate your shopping needs.
 2004
Ehlers Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
At $37.99, this wine is a steal. The flavor is similar to its top-shelf
brother, the 1886 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon. The '04 vintage is a blend
of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The luscious core
of fruit is intense, elegant, and finely balanced. Plum, mocha, and spice
burst upon the mid-palate, while velvety flavors of cocoa, dark currant
and maple make up the finish. |
 2003/04
Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Robert Parker said this estate grown Cabernet is "possibly the most elegant
and French-oriented of the Cabernets produced between 2002 and 2004." He
scored this vintage a 93. "It exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color along
with a sweet, spicy nose of black currants, licorice, herbs, and damp earth.
This top-notch effort should be cellared for 2-3 years, and consumed over
the following 20-25 years." |
 2004/05
Calix Cellars Masked Man Vineyard Syrah
The Calix label is owned by Rudy Zuidema, the winemaker at Ehlers Estate
and one of Napa Valley's rising stars. There's a touch of Petite Sirah in
the blend. This offering, held at 524 cases, has deep raspberry, cedar and
floral aromas. The palate has notes of blueberry and sweet leather. The
balance between spice, fine tannin and rich black fruit carry this Syrah
to a graceful finish. |
 2004
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Fruit for this classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from
Calistoga. Robert Parker said this wine is "a good value for a high-class
Napa Cabernet. The 2004 has supple tannins, the vintage's very fruit-forward
character, a dark ruby/purple color, and notes of damp earth intermixed
with black currant and spice box in a medium to full-bodied, lush style
to drink now and over the next 10-12 years." |
 2002/03/04
Arns Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Arns owners John Arns and Sandi Belcher specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon
and Syrah. This November 2007 release was limited to 230 cases and was crafted
using grapes from the Melanson Vineyard on Pritchard Hill, which is east
of Rutherford, Calif. The palate is rich and supple with plump and generous
fruit yielding flavors of blackcurrants, dry spices, rose petals touched
by an explosion of currant sweetness.
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 2005
Grgich Hills Estate Grown Chardonnay Napa Valley
For a true Burgundian Chardonnay, try Mike Grgich's offering. Grgich, while serving as Chateau Montelena's winemaker, made the Chardonnay that won the 1976 Paris tasting. The tasting victory solidified California's status as a serious wine-producing region. Quality control is important to Grgich, so he organically grows all the fruit in this wines in his cool American Canyon and Carneros vineyards. This Chardonnay is crisp with luscious aromas of baked pear, lychee nuts and wild honey.
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 2005
Markham Chardonnay Napa Valley
Another great value out of Napa Valley, this balanced Chardonnay is only
$16.99. It appears the winemaker used some steel fermentation to control
the oaky flavor. Instead look for apple pie spice and butter pecan ice cream
aromas. Flavors are clean and bright showing lemon curd and toasty, baked
apple notes. |
 2003
Grgich Hills Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
This vintage is Grgich Hill's first estate grown offering. It was crafted
by blending wine from its Yountville vineyard with small amounts from its
Rutherford and Calistoga vineyards, which are all farmed organically. This
is a complex Cabernet Sauvignon with a distinctive personality. The result
is a dark, muscular wine with intriguing aromas of licorice, cedar and blackberries
with a hint of earthy truffles. |
 2004
Markham Merlot Napa Valley
This offering is a Cabernet Sauvignon lover's Merlot. The long, cool harvest
of 2003 produced varietally focused, densely structured wines. Aromas of
violets and blackberry briars are reminiscent of Cabernet Sauvignon while
the fleshy texture alludes to Merlot. The attractive sweet espresso and
black raspberry flavors add to the mystery. A bit of bottle age should allow
the spicy, cherry fruit and vanilla oak to shine. |
 2003/04
White Cottage Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
While winemaker Dennis Johns' philosophy is wine is meant to be enjoyed
now, not saved, this offering will gain more complexity as it ages. White
Cottage's flagship bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon comes from its estate
vineyards up on top of Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. The color is a deep,
black garnet hue with wild black fruit aromas in the nose. The signature
Howell Mountain hints of mineral are apparent on the palate, with forward
fruit flavors of wild blackberry and cassis. |
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