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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Waxwing Wine Cellars
| Owner(s) | Scott Sisemore |
| Web site | www.waxwingwines.com |
| Link to this site |
Scott Sisemore is the only stay-at-home dad and winemaker that I know of. Scott has an impressive winemaking background that followed his graduation from Oregon State University with a BS degree in microbiology. From 1993 to 2000, he worked at a custom crush facility in Mendocino County and was involved with the Mark West label. He spent time making wine abroad in both India and Chile. After stints at Rosenblum and Ravenswood learning red wine making techniques, he returned to school obtaining an MS degree from University California Davis. He then became the assistant winemaker at Pellegrini Family Vineyards where I met up with him originally. Scott left Pellegrini in 2006 to stay at home with his newborn son. His wife had a well-paying job for a biotechnology company with good benefits so it made more sense for Scott to take over the daily household duties. To keep his professional drive alive, he founded a small winery, Waxwing Wine Cellars, to enable him to create ultra-small lot, handcrafted, cool climate Pinot Noir and Syrah. I visited with Scott at his leased space at Domenico Wines in San Carlos, California. We talked a little Pinot but mainly about his hobby ultimate Frisbee and the origin of the name Waxwing. The waxwing is a migratory bird named for beads of shiny red material (“sealing wax”) on the tips of the secondary wing feathers, the function of which is open to much speculation. The bird has a propensity for over eating (they have been known to be so gluttonous as to be unable to fly) and constant chatter.
The inaugural Waxwing wine, the 2007 Toboni Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, was released early in 2009. Scott met Joe Toboni while working at Pellegrini and the friendship allowed him to source grapes from this excellent vineyard. Production is less than 100 cases per year.
The Waxwing Pinot Noir and Syrah are sold on the website. Tasting is by appointment (415-902-3468).
Articles About Waxwing Wine Cellars
Reviewed Wines
2012 Waxwing Spring Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Rosé
12.9% alc., 26 cases, $23. Released
April 20, 2013. From a cool and windy vineyard situated in the center of the Petaluma Gap. Grapes picked a
week earlier that for regular Pinot Noir. A dedicated rosé, not a saignée meant to concentrate a Pinot Noir
wine. Clone 777. The fruit was stomped in the bins to release a touch of color into the juice and whole cluster
pressed an hour later. The juice was racked after 24 hours and fermented in stainless steel. Aged 5 months in
stainless steel.
·
Pale pink color in the glass. Delicate aromas of red strawberries, cranberries and honeydew.
Light, dry and refreshing, with elegant flavors of red berries and cherries, finishing with bright acidity. Good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Waxwing Spring Hill Ranch & Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
12.1% alc., 97 cases, $33.
Released early 2013. 15% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in 30% new French oak barrels. From a very cool
site in the Petaluma Gap. Pommard, 115, Swan and Calera clones.
·
Light reddish color in the glass.
Restrained aromas of spiced cherry, smoky oak and rose petals. Lean flavors of red cranberries and cherries
with a grip of green tea, leaf and tar. Light on its feet with nervy acidity, leaving a little deep cherry flavor
behind on the finish. The fruit in this wine appears to have struggled to get ripe, and although the winemaker
did admirably with the hand he was dealt, this is an austere wine. Decent.
Reviewed February 27, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 Waxwing Spring Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.8% alc.,
75 cases, $33. Clones are Pommard, 115 and 777. Aged 12 months in onceused
French oak barrels. A heat spike just before picking drove the sugar levels
up. The wine is crafted in a shared boutique winery space in San Carlos,
California.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Extroverted nose
displaying aromas of fresh dark red berries with a hint of sandalwood and spice.
Tasty core of mixed berries with noticeable oak spice and vanilla. Elegant in
style, but packed with flavor which lingers on the long finish. A charming wine
that needs more time in the cellar to integrate its oak. Very good. Source:
www.waxwingwines.com.
Reviewed February 22, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Waxwing Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 82
cases, $30. Released April 2011. A blend of two Sonoma Coast
vineyards: Toboni and Flocchini. Clones are Pommard, 115 and
Swan. Aged 14 months in once-used French oak barrels.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely composed
array of aromas including black cherries, baking spices and
sandalwood. Mouth watering cherry and raspberry fruits accented with the
slightest oak spice and vanillin finishing bright and crisp with a mineral note.
Elegant with silky fine-grain tannins. This is a very easy drinking, food-friendly
wine that I could drink all night long. Best yet from owner and proprietor Scott
Sisemore who is shifting his focus from Russian River Valley to Sonoma Coast fruit. Source: website.
Reviewed July 1, 2011
ARTICLE »
2007 Waxwing Wine Cellars Toboni Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 55 cases, $30. Aged in 1 year-old French oak barrels.
·
Alluring aromas
of Bing cherries, baking spice and sandalwood. Soft in the mouth with appealing
elegant cherry pie flavors kissed gently by oak displaying a refreshing tang on the
finish. A lighter-bodied wine that is almost ethereal and very easy to drink. The
admirable acidity makes this wine a good food companion.
Reviewed April 18, 2009
ARTICLE »
2012 Waxwing Spring Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Rosé
12.9% alc., 26 cases, $23. Released April 20, 2013. From a cool and windy vineyard situated in the center of the Petaluma Gap. Grapes picked a week earlier that for regular Pinot Noir. A dedicated rosé, not a saignée meant to concentrate a Pinot Noir wine. Clone 777. The fruit was stomped in the bins to release a touch of color into the juice and whole cluster pressed an hour later. The juice was racked after 24 hours and fermented in stainless steel. Aged 5 months in stainless steel. · Pale pink color in the glass. Delicate aromas of red strawberries, cranberries and honeydew. Light, dry and refreshing, with elegant flavors of red berries and cherries, finishing with bright acidity. Good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Waxwing Spring Hill Ranch & Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
12.1% alc., 97 cases, $33. Released early 2013. 15% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in 30% new French oak barrels. From a very cool site in the Petaluma Gap. Pommard, 115, Swan and Calera clones. · Light reddish color in the glass. Restrained aromas of spiced cherry, smoky oak and rose petals. Lean flavors of red cranberries and cherries with a grip of green tea, leaf and tar. Light on its feet with nervy acidity, leaving a little deep cherry flavor behind on the finish. The fruit in this wine appears to have struggled to get ripe, and although the winemaker did admirably with the hand he was dealt, this is an austere wine. Decent. Reviewed February 27, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 Waxwing Spring Hill Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.8% alc., 75 cases, $33. Clones are Pommard, 115 and 777. Aged 12 months in onceused French oak barrels. A heat spike just before picking drove the sugar levels up. The wine is crafted in a shared boutique winery space in San Carlos, California. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Extroverted nose displaying aromas of fresh dark red berries with a hint of sandalwood and spice. Tasty core of mixed berries with noticeable oak spice and vanilla. Elegant in style, but packed with flavor which lingers on the long finish. A charming wine that needs more time in the cellar to integrate its oak. Very good. Source: www.waxwingwines.com. Reviewed February 22, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Waxwing Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 82 cases, $30. Released April 2011. A blend of two Sonoma Coast vineyards: Toboni and Flocchini. Clones are Pommard, 115 and Swan. Aged 14 months in once-used French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely composed array of aromas including black cherries, baking spices and sandalwood. Mouth watering cherry and raspberry fruits accented with the slightest oak spice and vanillin finishing bright and crisp with a mineral note. Elegant with silky fine-grain tannins. This is a very easy drinking, food-friendly wine that I could drink all night long. Best yet from owner and proprietor Scott Sisemore who is shifting his focus from Russian River Valley to Sonoma Coast fruit. Source: website. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »
2007 Waxwing Wine Cellars Toboni Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 55 cases, $30. Aged in 1 year-old French oak barrels. · Alluring aromas of Bing cherries, baking spice and sandalwood. Soft in the mouth with appealing elegant cherry pie flavors kissed gently by oak displaying a refreshing tang on the finish. A lighter-bodied wine that is almost ethereal and very easy to drink. The admirable acidity makes this wine a good food companion. Reviewed April 18, 2009 ARTICLE »
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