IntoWine Founder Brad Prescott's weekly wine recommendations.

Wine of The Week - 2014 Sea Smoke Chardonnay – 91 Points

Sea Smoke (so named for the clouds that hug and blanket the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara) began Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 1999, and has since established itself as one of the premier producers in this region. Dijon and Wente clones of Chardonnay are planted in loamy, clay shallow but well-drained soils on their estate vineyard.

Wine of The Week - 2014 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon, Hirondelle Vineyard – 92 Points

One of the smallest AVAs in Napa, Stags Leap District is also one of the coolest for growing Cabernet in the Napa Valley, however the fruit attains full ripeness, without getting overripe, and Clos Du Val shows this well. Since it’s founding in 1972 Clos Du Val has had an insatiable desire to produce beautiful Cabernet’s and their Hirondelle Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from the Clos Estate.

Wine of The Week – Mother’s Day Edition - Taittinger 2006 Comtes de Champagne Rose’ – 94 Points

Mom deserves the very best and the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is certainly one of the very best. You may not recall, but 2006 in Montagne de Reims was a hot year, helping to produce stellar fruit. This Rose’ comprised of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay is aged about eight years on the lees, helping to create more complexity and creaminess.

Wine of The Week - 2016 Vietti Roero Arneis – 91 Points

Wine geeks love oddball wines and whereas many people seek out the wines they are not familiar with, still many more stick with the traditional. Fortunately, Vietti is not only well known even though their Arneis is not, meaning you can try this wine knowing that this fifth generation producer will deliver. In fact, 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of this wine.

Wine of The Week - 2014 Emeritus, Hallberg Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir – 93 Points

Pinot Noir is one of those wines that truly encapsulates its place of origin better than other red wines. Russian River Valley as a whole reflects this, as does the Hallberg Ranch in Sebastopol. Hallberg, formerly an apple orchard, is entirely dry farmed Pinot Noir grapes, which offers a balance between lush fruit and an earthy darkness given its sandy loam, clay soils and cooler temperatures.

Wine To Go Buy This Week - 2014 Byron Monument Pinot Noir – 93 Points

Santa Barbara’s Byron Winery started in 1984 located on the Santa Maria Valley Bench above the erratic Santa Maria River. Using diverse clones, this “cellar blend” as winemaker Jonathan Nagy calls it, utilizes clones 2A, Swan, Pommard, and Benedict Selection to create a vibrant expression of a multi-layered Pinot Noir. All the fruit comes from the Santa Maria Valley and in fact all Byron Pinot Noirs are now single Vineyard designates. This wine introduces plum, black cherry, boysenberry, blackberry and an intriguing rusticity with a subtle but present acidity.

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