Valley of the Moon Winery and Vineyards Sonoma Valley

In the early 1840s, the 380 acres of the Valley of the Moon Winery and Vineyards was part of the 48000 acres Agua Caliente Land Grant owned by General Mariano Vallejo. By the late 19th century Senator George Hearst, father of Randolph Hearst, obtained the property which had been renamed Madrone vineyards some years earlier. The Madrone Vineyards sat neglected until January 1941 when two San Franciscans, Enrico Parducci and Peter Domenici bought the property. From 1941 to 1956, Parducci and Domenici ran the winery and vineyards, renaming it "Valley of the Moon" Winery the historical name for the Sonoma Valley. They sold their wines in the San Francisco area and their grapes to various local wineries including Sebastiani, Round Hill, and the Christian Brothers. The Parducci family continued to run Valley of the Moon Winery from the mid- 1950s until March 1997 when the owners of neighboring Kenwood Vineyards purchased the business and property. This led to the rebirth of one of the most historically rich sites in the Sonoma wine industry.

Pinot Blanc 2007 This traditional Alsatian-style wine is a blend of grapes from vineyards that are located in the Russian River Valley and the Southern Sonoma Valley. Both viticultural areas have deep alluvial soil and a cool climate due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay. These cool microclimates are responsible for preserving the crisp acidity and fresh fruit character of the wine. Vibrant yet elegant aromas of pear, lime and honeysuckle in the 2007 Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc gain complexity from a subtle note of hazelnut. Racy flavours of fresh tropical fruit and citrus are light and lithe on the palate, and lead to a bright, lingering finish reminiscent of a Newtown Pippin apple. A total of 8,400 cases of 2007 Valley of the Moon Sonoma County Pinot Blanc were produced.

Cuvée de la Luna 2005 The 2005 vintage of Cuvée de la Luna is a blend of the best lots of wine from Sonoma Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Alexander Valley and the Mayacamus Range aged in a combination of French and American oak for 24 months. Cabernet Sauvignon provides the black fruit and structure, Merlot adds red fruit, herbaceousness and smoothness, Cabernet Franc enhances aromas, softness, and balance, and Petit verdot contributes colour, tannins, and spice. "The goal with this wine for Valley of the Moon," says winemaker Greg Winter, "is to make the most complex and best tasting red wine possible. Its non-varietal label gives us the ultimate flexibility to adjust the blend from year to year."

There are currently no reviews available for the 2005, but the 2004 received the following: "Valley of the Moon hasn't raised the price on this Bordeaux blend for years, which makes it a value for the complexity that you get. This isn't one of those soft, mushy wines that's all flavour and no structure. Acids and tannins provide the architecture for polished blackberry, black olive and smoky oak flavours that are so appealing." 92 points, Wine Enthusiast, Feb 2008 "Beautifully integrated aromas of blueberry, freshly turned earth and milk chocolate. Minerally, focused flavours of blackberry, orange peel and espresso. Tooth-coating, yet quite inviting close." 91 points, The Wine News, June/July 2007

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All wines are available by the unmixed case to Licensees and Private Consumers, subject to availability.

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