May 5, 2013
Cork Dork Etude: Inspired Wines of the Carneros the Gardener: Got Organic Grapes? Bravium: Relish the Acidity Rivers-Marie: 2010 & 2011 Reflect the Challenges of Farming on the Edge Dunstan Wines from Durell Vineyard Foursight Wines: Family Excels with Pinot COBB Wines: No Wine Before Its Time Sips of Pinot: Wines Tasted Recently Rosé and Chardonnay: Recently Sampled Wines Pinot Briefs
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SPELL Estate
| Owner(s) | Bill Spell, Tiki Spell |
| Web site | www.spellestate.com |
| Link to this site |
SPELL was launched by owners Bill and Tiki Spell in 2007 with Shane Finley, an assistant winemaker at Kosta Browne Winery in Sebastopol, CA, at the time, as the winemaker. Finley was replaced by Andrew Berge, a German ex-patriot who learned his winemaking with stints in New Zealand, California and Germany.
The Pinot Noirs are made from grapes sourced in Sonoma County and Yorkville Highlands. The wines are sold through a mailing list
Articles About SPELL Estate
Reviewed Wines
2011 SPELL Nichole’s Blend Sonoma County Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 245 cases, $39.
·
Moderate reddish-purple
color in the glass. Very shy, but pleasant nose offering primarily black cherry fruit. A cherry lovers
delight with complimentary hints of cola and spice. Smooth and balanced with soft tannins and some cherry driven
length on the finish. Good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 100 cases, $50.
·
Medium reddishpurple
color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, dark berry liquor, spice and an earthy-clay note typical of
this vineyard. Mid weight cherry, berry and plum flavors with firm, balanced tannins, and a mineral-driven note
of iron. Finishes with a zing of citrusy acidity. Very good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
13.4%
alc., 90 cases, $50.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Highly
fragrant in the glass with aromas of darker berries and cherries, rose
petals, and the inside of a well-perfumed woman's leather glove.
Ambrosial on the palate with layers of flavor including cherry,
raspberry and pomegranate. This wine has the most tannin in the
2011 lineup, but enough fruit to take it on. The good acidity gives the
wine vigor and the finish is ridiculously long. This is one of those wines
that makes you sit back in your chair, smile and exclaim, “Wow!” I have had
several great wines from this vineyard and this one joins the crew.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Marimar Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.4% alc.,
90 cases, $72.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Wild and exotic on
the nose with aromas of fresh-picked berries, grapes, spice and cut flowers. A
delightful wine that aims to please with appealing black raspberry and black
cherry flavors and a touch of spice. Seamless and polished with gentle tannins
and a cherry cola finish. Very good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 SPELL Nicole’s Blend Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 252 cases, $37. Winemaker Andrew
Berge. Sourced from Terra de Promissio Vineyard east of the town of Petaluma and Miron Vineyard in the
Sebastopol Hills.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of red pie cherries, baking
spices and sandalwood. Middleweight flavors of cherries with a hint of tobacco and herbs, displaying
admirable finesse and some finishing strength. Russian River Valley in character. Very good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 SPELL Guidici Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 150 cases, $39. Winemaker Shane
Finley. The vineyard is located just outside the small town of Occidental amidst towering redwoods.
·
Dark
reddish-purple color in the glass. Enticing aromas of fresh deep red cherries and strawberries with a hint of
spice. Rich and bold in character, with plentiful and attention-grabbing deep red and black fruits backed by
muscular tannins and bright acidity. Addictive flavor in this wine. Very good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 SPELL Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 175 cases, $39. Crafted by Shane
Finley.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Intensely aromatic featuring a perfume of dark
raspberries and blackberries with a lovely accent of spice. Infused with vivid flavors of black raspberry jam and
tea leaf, currently dominated by firm, dry tannins. Impressive length on the well-endowed finish. This is a
remarkable vineyard. Very good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2007 SPELL Barton Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc.,
45 cases, $47. The Barton Vineyard is located just outside the Green Valley
sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley on Vine Hill Road. Clones 115 and
Pommard. 25% whole cluster fermentation, aged 20 months in 50% new
French oak, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Enticing and penetrating aromas of
strawberries, raspberries, cola, baking spices and sandalwood. Very
“Russian Riveresque” and I loved it. Red fruit driven flavors which are leaner
than the Weir bottling but enough richness to satisfy. Very smoothly textured and
nicely balanced. Will get even better in another one to two years.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 SPELL Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 120 cases,
$47. The Weir vineyard is owned and farmed by Bill and Suki Weir and is located at
elevations of 850 to 1000 feet on south and southwest facing gentle slopes. Clones
2A, Rochioli and DRC suitcase. 20% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in
40% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered.
·
Dark reddish-violet color. Needs time to
open. Brooding dark cherry and berry fruit aromas and flavors with a touch of citric
peel on the back end. Flamboyant tannins coat the mouth and need time to be shed.
The succulent fruit became more accessible in the opened bottle as I sampled it later
in the day. If you open it now, drink it with a big ribeye steak.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Nichole’s Blend Sonoma County Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 245 cases, $39. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Very shy, but pleasant nose offering primarily black cherry fruit. A cherry lovers delight with complimentary hints of cola and spice. Smooth and balanced with soft tannins and some cherry driven length on the finish. Good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 100 cases, $50. · Medium reddishpurple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, dark berry liquor, spice and an earthy-clay note typical of this vineyard. Mid weight cherry, berry and plum flavors with firm, balanced tannins, and a mineral-driven note of iron. Finishes with a zing of citrusy acidity. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 90 cases, $50. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Highly fragrant in the glass with aromas of darker berries and cherries, rose petals, and the inside of a well-perfumed woman's leather glove. Ambrosial on the palate with layers of flavor including cherry, raspberry and pomegranate. This wine has the most tannin in the 2011 lineup, but enough fruit to take it on. The good acidity gives the wine vigor and the finish is ridiculously long. This is one of those wines that makes you sit back in your chair, smile and exclaim, “Wow!” I have had several great wines from this vineyard and this one joins the crew. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 SPELL Marimar Estate Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 90 cases, $72. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Wild and exotic on the nose with aromas of fresh-picked berries, grapes, spice and cut flowers. A delightful wine that aims to please with appealing black raspberry and black cherry flavors and a touch of spice. Seamless and polished with gentle tannins and a cherry cola finish. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 SPELL Nicole’s Blend Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 252 cases, $37. Winemaker Andrew Berge. Sourced from Terra de Promissio Vineyard east of the town of Petaluma and Miron Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of red pie cherries, baking spices and sandalwood. Middleweight flavors of cherries with a hint of tobacco and herbs, displaying admirable finesse and some finishing strength. Russian River Valley in character. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 SPELL Guidici Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 150 cases, $39. Winemaker Shane Finley. The vineyard is located just outside the small town of Occidental amidst towering redwoods. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Enticing aromas of fresh deep red cherries and strawberries with a hint of spice. Rich and bold in character, with plentiful and attention-grabbing deep red and black fruits backed by muscular tannins and bright acidity. Addictive flavor in this wine. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 SPELL Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 175 cases, $39. Crafted by Shane Finley. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Intensely aromatic featuring a perfume of dark raspberries and blackberries with a lovely accent of spice. Infused with vivid flavors of black raspberry jam and tea leaf, currently dominated by firm, dry tannins. Impressive length on the well-endowed finish. This is a remarkable vineyard. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2007 SPELL Barton Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
13.8% alc., 45 cases, $47. The Barton Vineyard is located just outside the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley on Vine Hill Road. Clones 115 and Pommard. 25% whole cluster fermentation, aged 20 months in 50% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered. · Enticing and penetrating aromas of strawberries, raspberries, cola, baking spices and sandalwood. Very “Russian Riveresque” and I loved it. Red fruit driven flavors which are leaner than the Weir bottling but enough richness to satisfy. Very smoothly textured and nicely balanced. Will get even better in another one to two years. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 SPELL Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 120 cases, $47. The Weir vineyard is owned and farmed by Bill and Suki Weir and is located at elevations of 850 to 1000 feet on south and southwest facing gentle slopes. Clones 2A, Rochioli and DRC suitcase. 20% whole cluster fermentation, aged 10 months in 40% new French oak, unfined and unfiltered. · Dark reddish-violet color. Needs time to open. Brooding dark cherry and berry fruit aromas and flavors with a touch of citric peel on the back end. Flamboyant tannins coat the mouth and need time to be shed. The succulent fruit became more accessible in the opened bottle as I sampled it later in the day. If you open it now, drink it with a big ribeye steak. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
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