Spring release

Wineries and winemakers typically release new vintages and at times re-release "library" vintages in groups in the spring and again in the fall. While many less notable wineries gather little attention with the release of their wines, for the most sought after and hard to get bottlings these semi-annual releases are a big deal.

Back when Silver Oak was hard to get their spring release of the Napa Valley Cabernet in fact caused traffic jams along highway 29 in Napa and waiting lines around the winery building to garner a few bottles of the coveted juice. Now that they make so much of it and you can find it at Costco it seems less urgent, but for those wineries with really great wine produced in small quantities there is still much anticipation.

While fall is still important the spring release involves more wines and is even more eagerly anticipated. Here are some wines to watch for as the weather starts to break this time of year. Here in the Northwest the much revered and sought after Leonetti wines release in the spring and are in the shop now. While the winery produces more than they used to the wines are still very good and command attention and lofty prices when released. The increased production though makes them more readily available than previously and there is starting to be some price pressure from the additional supply.

Turley winery from California also releases in the spring and is known especially for their most sought after production, the Hayne Vineyard Petite Syrah. The smallest and by many standards best bottle Turley produces, is spectacular again this year. Turley actually purchases the Hayne Vineyard fruit from the Chase family which owns this highest quality set of vines so their production is limited by those purchase contracts, which does not allow for much price degradation.

Perhaps the most sought after Napa Valley Cabernet, Harlan Estate, will arrive here in Coeur d'Alene in April. Their main label Harlan and secondary label Bond, especially the Vecina bottles, command stratospheric pricing that most of us would never consider spending for a bottle of wine. They will however still sell out very quickly as they are gobbled up by collectors and investors.

Another California producer, Pride Mountain, will arrive in April including their most sought after and smallest production, the Cabernet Franc. Pride's Franc is one of the best in the world. Always blended with about 25 percent Merlot it is just a stunning wine that is made in infinitesimal quantities. While expensive by any standard it is not priced "over the top" like the aforementioned Harlan, and therefore sells out quickly. Pride predominantly releases their wines in the spring so their Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet and Merlot all arrive at the same time.

Tony Soter and his Soter Vineyards release much of his production this time of year also. Tony, who founded and was the winemaker for many years at Etude winery in Napa, has since moved to Oregon and opened Soter Vineyards after selling Etude. While in Napa he produced legendary Cabernet and Pinot Noir and a group of stellar white wines too. His wines from Oregon are just as good, and we are fortunate to be able to try them just as they are released this April when we host the winery for a tasting here at the shop and partner with Scratch Coeur d'Alene for a winemaker dinner the weekend of April 22.

Finally, the top notch Russian River Valley producer Rochioli releases their Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc next month. Their Sauvignon Blanc remains in our opinion the best one made in the states, and is loaded with crisp citrus notes, focused on pink grapefruit flavors. It has no "greenness" to it maintaining crispness that has a surprisingly lush quality to it. The release of the SB takes on even more importance this year as it will be our first opportunity to try one of our favorite wines produced from the troubled 2010 vintage.

For more information on any of these wines or others released in the spring ask your favorite wine professional or just give us a call here at the shop or stop by for a visit. Just like the arrival of better weather the availability of new vintages from favorite winemakers is cause for celebration and something we look forward to every spring.

If there is a topic you would like to read about or questions on wine you can e-mail George@thedinnerpartyshop.com or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party - a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George is also the managing judge of The North Idaho Wine Rodeo, and writes frequently for the on line version of Coeur d'Alene magazine at www.cdamagazine.com. His articles can also be found on the blog at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com.