The grapes are looking great – small and intense although the yield is sinfully low. The growing season started with more frost days* then we have seen in years – 18, I think! We also had a few serious heat waves that gave us some raisons, unfortunately. Put these two occurrences together along with a third-year drought and we’re down about 25% from what we’d hoped to pick. Here are a few pictures – Isn’t it amazing how relaxed we all look….and why is Gene so clean??
Happy Farmer, Gene Kirkham with son Martin Kirkham, Happy Farmer II
*“Frost Days” are when old man winter is reluctant to leave after the vines have awakened from their dormant period. On the nights frost is predicted, one of us has to sleep here at the winery and turn on our overhead sprinkler system to encase the buds in an icy shell when the temperature alarm sounds.
2006 Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley, St. Helena Estate
$38 bottle / $456 case
We’ve been producing Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyards since 1986, probably one of North America’s earliest Cabernet Franc programs. This vintage is 100% Cabernet Franc and offers a full-bodied structure with bright fruit, hints of spice and mint followed by a pleasing finish. It will pair well with a variety of meats and sauces. This wine can be cellared for four to 12 years. We produced 300 cases.
2006 Meritage, Napa Valley, St. Helena Estate
$45 bottle / $540 case
We’ve been producing Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyards since 1986, probably one of North America’s earliest Cabernet Franc programs. This vintage is 100% Cabernet Franc and offers a full-bodied structure with bright fruit, hints of spice and mint followed by a pleasing finish. It will pair well with a variety of meats and sauces. This wine can be cellared for four to 12 years. We produced 300 cases.
NOVEMBER 2008
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, St. Helena Estate
$55 bottle / six bottle limit
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on the western-facing hillside of our St. Helena Estate. This small block yielded enough juice to fill six small French Oak barrels, in which we aged the wine for eighteen months. The result is beautiful: A bright and silky wine with complex flavors of black cherry and blueberry along with hints of vanilla with a creamy finish. 146 cases were produced
2006 Petite Sirah, Old Vines, Solano County
$34 bottle / two bottle limit CLUB CASA MEMBERS ONLY
This Petite Sirah is Casa Nuestra’s third bottling. The grapes are from a friend’s vineyard in neighboring Solano County. It is a beautiful vineyard: all Roman style, head-pruned and planted nearly fifty years ago We aged traditionally, in small oak barrels. The result is a big and vibrant wine with dark, ripe raspberry and Bing cherries with a pleasingly long finish. The special label honors Bubba, one of our three winery dogs. 154 cases produced. MAY 2009 Club Casa Shipment
2006 Charbono, Napa Valley, Old Vines Calistoga
$29 bottle / two bottle limit CLUB CASA MEMBERS ONLY
This Charbono is a first in Casa Nuestra’s near thirty-year existence. The grapes are grown in sixty-year-old, head pruned vineyard just north of us in Calistoga, California’s Charbono headquarters. This is a medium–bodied wine that offers layers of red fruit with allspice and a creamy finish. 142 cases produced.
CASA NUESTRA WINE CLUB SHIPMENTS* ~
**Quarterly CLUB CASA:
Three bottles at 20% off, will be sent mid November 2008
2006 Two Goats Red, A Napa Valley Red Wine! $20
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena Estate $55
2005 Charbono, Old Vines $29
Three Pack Total: $83.20 reflects 20% discount
(add applicable taxes and shipping)
** Club Casa GRANDE: doubles the above & you save a bit on shipping!
** “RED WINE ONLY” CLUB: next shipment March 2009
One bottle 2007 Tinto Classico, Old Vines $42
One bottle 2006 Two Goats Red, A Napa Valley Red Wine! $20
One bottle 2006 Meritage, St. Helena Estate $45
One bottle 2006 Tinto St. Helena Estate $30
Two bottles 2006 Cabernet Franc, St. Helena Estate $40 ea.
Six Pack Total: $170.60, reflects 20% discount (add applicable taxes and shipping)
** “White Wine and Okay One Rose” CLUB: next shipment March 2009
Three bottles 2008 Chenin Blanc, Old Vines St. Helena Estate, $24
Three bottles 2008 dry Riesling, Old Vines, St. Helena Estate, and $23
Six Pack Total: $112.80 reflects 20% discount (add applicable taxes and shipping)
Please note: All wines listed for shipment are subject to change without notice.
**Club Casa is at capacity - all new member applications will be added to our “Wait List” and are expected to receive their first automatic shipment with the May 2009 selections.
B.T.W.
Our wine clubs are free to join & worth every penny!
They are also worry-free as you can cancel any time.
“From our house to yours’!”
Let us make gift-giving easy this year. All you need to do is tell us what to write on the card! Here are some ideas… and keep in mind all Club Member discounts apply to the whole order, no matter how many recipients!
Four bottle collections –you choose the four and we can put them in a wood box, with a rope handle – boxes are made by adults with disabilities gaining self-reliance
OR use that same wood box for two bottles and two logo glasses
We also have the oh-so-soft bamboo ladies embroidered tee shirts and sturdy men’s tees made with hemp
Have you seen Winespeak, Ronald Searle's Wicked World of Winetasting!?? This is great for even the most sophisticated connisseur.
ORDERS SHOULD BE PLACED BEFORE MID-NOVEMBER TO ENSURE PRE-HOLIDAY DELIVERY. WE CAN SHIP ANYWHERE.
October 1: 2006 Cabernet Franc and 2006 Meritage Released October 23: Steph will be pouring at St. Helena’s Wine Country Inn November 1: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon release to the public November 1: 2006 Charbono and Petite Sirah released to Club Members Only November 4: Club Casa & Club Casa Grande shipment November – We’ll be closed Thanksgiving Day December 4 & 5 Celebrate the success of the Women’s Suffrage Movement in AND the repeal of prohibition in 1933 - Any connection?? Humm, you decide! We’ll be dressed in period costumes and offering 2007 Chenin Blanc for 19.32 a bottle and 2006 Two Goats Red 19.33 a bottle! December 24 – January 1st- We’ll be open for Club Members Only, by appointment until after the new year.
Here at Casa Nuestra, we are an all hands on deck type of business – check out what our hospitality department has to do .. skirts and all!! Rosalie and Delina are now forklift certified.
3451
Silverado Trail North, St. Helena, California 94574 Napa
Valley USA Toll
free PH: 866/844-WINEFX:
866/FAX-4-WINE
info@casanuestra.com
