Exploring
the Wines of the Livermore Valley Part 3 -
The Steven Kent Winery & La Rochelle
By FBWorld Team
In
1996, alongside his father, Steven Kent Mirassou
set out to establish a new Livermore Valley winery. There were
only a handful of other producers at the time, but Steven believed
in the potential for success in the region. Now, over 15 years
later, The Steven Kent Winery and its companion
La Rochelle Winery have become two of the most
acclaimed brands from the San Francisco Bay Area.
Here's
what our tasting panel thought about a handful of their current
offerings:
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Steven
Kent "Sorride" Red Blend
Winery:
Steven Kent
Grape(s): 50% Barbera, 25% Merlot, 15%
Cabernet Franc & 10% Pinot Meunier
Region: Livermore Valley
Year:
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: 25-30
Review:
bouquet of cherries, boysenberries, all-spice, and white
pepper greets the senses. The palate delivers flavors
of bing cherry, raspberry, and blueberry that flow into
suggestions of pepper, cedar, and sweet spice. A lively
red with bright fruit and spicy highlights, it will complement
your favorite gourmet pizza beautifully. Plus, a portion
of the proceeds go towards breast cancer research. 96
cases produced.
Rating: 91 |
 |
Steven
Kent "Merrillie" Chardonnay
Winery:
Steven Kent
Grape(s): 100% Chardonnay
Region: Livermore Valley
Year:
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: 30-35
Review:
Aromas of Golden Delicious apples and baked pears meld
with hints of lemon meringue and creamy oak on the nose.
Flavors of apple and pear come together with notes of
custard and lemon zest on the palate. A rich, lush, layered
wine, fans of Chardonnay will enjoy this bottle very much.
504 cases produced.
Rating: 91 |
 |
Steven
Kent "Home Ranch" Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Steven Kent
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Livermore Valley
Year:
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: 60-65
Review:
Aromatics of currants, blackberries, and black cherries
open up into hints of dark chocolate and peppermint on
the nose. A sip reveals flavors of cassis and blackberry
along with nuances of anise, cocoa, and mint. A rich wine
with supple tannins, enjoy a bottle with your favorite
cut of red meat now or give it five years in your cellar.
Under 100 cases were made.
Rating: 90 |
 |
La
Rochelle 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Winery:
La Rochelle
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Sonoma County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: 40-45
Review:
A bouquet of black cherry, bramble fruit, cedar, and orange
zest rises up from a glass. The palate delivers flavors
of cherries and pomegranate along with accents of vanilla
and orange spice. A lush yet lively wine with nice balance
and depth, Pinot lovers will savory this bottle. 326 cases
were made.
Rating: 92 |
 |
La
Rochelle 2012 Pinot Meunier
Winery:
La Rochelle
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Meunier
Region: Sonoma County
Year: 2009
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
(n/a)
Price: 35-40
Review:
This cousin of Pinot Noir offers aromas of cherries and
plums mingled with leafy and peppery suggestions on the
nose. A sip delivers flavors of black cherry, blueberry,
and plum that unfold into herbaceous, floral, and white
pepper notes. It's a fairly lively, lighter red that promises
to be a unique wine experience. 866 cases produced.
Rating: 88 |
By
Jason Barlow
| 96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
| 92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
| 85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
|
|
