In this episode of IntoWineTV, host Lisa Kolenda and wine experts Bartholomew Broadbent, Loren Sonkin, and Edward Ruiz convene at one of San Francisco's finest restaurants, Incanto, to taste and discuss wines made by celebrities.
Theme: Celebrity Wines
Region: Napa Valley, California
Alcohol content: 14.1%
Varietals: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot
Producer Notes:
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Background:
Winemaker(s): Luke Donald and Bill Terlato worked with the Terlato winemaking team to craft the wines in extensive blending sessions.
Vineyard(s): The grapes used in crafting Luke Donald Claret are 100% Napa Valley fruit, sourced primarily from renowned vineyards in the Rutherford and Stags Leap District appellations.
The creation of Luke Donald Collection wines has its origins in a longstanding friendship between top-ranked pro golfer Luke Donald and fine wine professional Bill Terlato of the family-owned Terlato Wine Group. Whether on the golf course or in the vineyard, both men share a similar passion for excellence. The Terlato-Donald friendship has resulted in a new Napa Valley wine partnership, with the first release in April 2008, of a Claret-style red wine blend. A Carneros Chardonnay is to follow in spring 2009. The grapes used in crafting Luke Donald Claret are 100% Napa Valley fruit, sourced primarily from renowned vineyards in the Rutherford and Stags Leap District appellations, know for consistently delivering wines of exceptional quality year after year. Luke Donald plays an active role in crafting the wines that bear his name. His personal involvement in the blending makes the wines original and unique; wines that best reflect his own personality and style. Luke’s personal style is also reflected in the non-traditional, contemporary labels, which connect with today’s luxury wine consumers.
While he primarily plays on the PGA Tour, Donald is also a member of the European Tour. In 2006 he reached the top ten in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in his career. In January 2007, he reached a career high ranking of 7, and was briefly the highest ranked European golfer. He has spent more than 50 weeks in the top 10.
Wine Notes: Handcrafted in a traditional European style, Luke Donald Claret marries a rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Luke Donald Claret has its origins in a longstanding friendship between top-ranked pro golfer, Luke Donald, and fine wine professional, Bill Terlato, of the family-owned Terlato Wine Group. Whether on the golf course or in the vineyard, both men share a similar passion for excellence. Luke Donald Claret displays structured tannins, intertwined with vibrant flavors of black berries and subtle spice notes, producing a wine ripe with flavor and supple texture.
Experts:
Bartholomew Broadbent, CEO of Broadbent Selections. Bartholomew was named as one of the "fifty most influential people in the wine world" by Decanter Magazine. He is also widely considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on Port and Madeira. Learn more about Bartholomew Broadbent.
is an IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder/Winemaker at Sonkin Cellars.
Edward Ruiz, Wine Director at San Francisco's Incanto Restaurant.
Location: Incanto Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar, Situated in the heart of one of San Francisco's most charming residential neighborhoods, Incanto's rustic Italian setting, with its handcrafted stone, antique brick and woodwork, 16th century Latin parchments, and private dining room dedicated to poet Dante Alighieri, provides a uniquely warm and inviting dining environment.
Incanto's daily-changing menu honors old-world traditions including house-cured meats, unusual regional pastas, fresh local seafood and a commitment to sustainably grown and harvested produce. Incanto's award-winning wine program features one of the most diverse Italian wine lists in the United States and an ever-changing lineup of more than twenty wines by the glass, half-glass, half-liter, and flight.
