Taft Street Winery

The Taft Street winery started in the 1970's, in a garage in Berkeley California. The concept was simple, make good wine, sell it at affordable prices, and have fun in the process. Owners Mike Tierney and Mike Martini continue to practice their "Garragiste" ideals, and have built a great wine team with the adittion of Evelyn White as winemaker. They source superb fruit through long term contracts with select growers in Sonoma, the Russian River and Dry Creek Valley. Tierney also grows the finest heirloom tomatoes in the US!

Russian River Valley Chardonnay

80% of the Chardonnay was barrel fermented in Damy French oak barrels. The wine was aged nine months Sur Lie and 30% of the barrel fermented wine underwent malolactic fermentation.

We sourced local, well known Russian River Valley vineyards for this wine: Clone 17 from Saralee Kundee’s Catie’s Corner; Clone 4 & 809 from Hopkins Vineyards; and Clone 4 & 17 from Vino Farms’ Airport Vineyard and Art Ibleto’s Bella Sonoma vineyard.

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Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc

This Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc has aromas of kiwi and tropical fruit. On the palate, a fine mineral edge frames notes of grapefruit and limezest, while lively acidity provides a polished mouth feel on the finish.

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Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 18 months in a combination of American and French Oak. 15% of the American Oak was new, the remaining 80% a combination of one and two year old barrels.

The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on Chuck McCoy’s Sonoma County vineyard which is located at a high elevation overlooking the Sonoma Valley

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Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Following a five day cold soak, the grapes were yeasted and tank fermented at cool temperatures. Multiple daily pump overs allowed for color and flavor extraction. The must was then pressed to barrel for ageing in primarily Damy French oak.

Multiple clones of Pinot Noir come from two well known Russian River Valley vineyards: Art Ibleto’s vineyard in the southern portion of the Russian River Valley and the Skikos Vineyard on Piner Road

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Sonoma County Pinot Noir

Light to medium-bodied with a vibrant core of bing cherry and mulberry that pairs nicely with allspice and black tea leaves. The palate bursts with juicy berry fruits, perfumed and fresh, with an addictingly satisfying finish. Fine tannins and balanced acidity lend to the food friendly nature of this Pinot Noir.

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Price: Fl $160, $144 3cs, $132 5cs
 
Alexander Valley Merlot

The grapes were cold soaked for 3 days at 50°F. Fermentation time was 10 days; maceration time was 5 days. The wine was then drained, pressed, racked, and inoculated for malolactic fermentation in barrel. There were multiple rack and returns during the 19 months of barrel aging.

The Merlot was grown on the Hanson Vineyard Ranch at the foot of the mountains in the heart of Alexander Valley.

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