Yorkville Cellars is located in Mendocino County, 100 miles north of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge. The tasting room is just off Highway 128, a picturesque road that winds past vineyards, sheep ranches and apple and peach orchards before plunging through the Redwood forest to emerge at the Mendocino coastline.
The vineyard is 1,000 feet above sea level, where sun-filled days and cool nights, tempered by coastal fogs, combine to produce premium quality grapes.
It was in the mid-eighties when after reading a Sunset magazine article about Mendocino County that we discovered this special place: a highland valley where the waters of the Russian and Navarro Rivers start and part, and where the giant coastal redwoods and valley oaks come together.
Intuitively convinced that such a place would foster complex and interesting grapes, we bought a 110 acre ranch in the town of Yorkville. There were already a few acres of neglected Sauvignon Blanc but the quality of the small amount of fruit that these vines yielded was encouraging. It is trully due to the dedication of our vineyard manager, Steve Williams, whose knowledge and interpretation of the latest organic practices has restored those vines to fine, healthy plants. The vineyard has been expanded to 30 acres and the first estate wines were bottled in 1994.
The demand for our wines continues to grow. And given that we typically handcraft less than 1,000 cases of each of the nine wines we make, demand will again exceed supply. We are sincerely flattered by the confidence you, our customers, have consistently shown in our wines.
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Sauvignon Blanc
Barrel fermented and opulently textured this is our flagship wine.
Extended time in the barrel has produced one of the most aromatic
offerings we have bottled. Fresh flavors of nectarine and apricot plus a
hint of lemon grass in the finish. This is definitely not one of those
thin, watery S.B.'s.
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2004 Sauvignon Blanc
Barrel fermented and opulently textured this is our flagship wine. Extended time in the barrel has produced one of the most aromatic offerings we have bottled. Fresh flavors of nectarine and apricot plus a hint of lemon grass in the finish. This is definitely not one of those thin, watery S.B.'s.
This latest wine in our series of award winning releases is from our oldest vineyard - planted in 1982. A refreshing first glass in the evening and a wonderful complement to seafood.
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2002 Semillon
With limited plantings in California, it is becoming difficult to find Semillon bottled separately. However this is our twelveth consecutive vintage release.
Almond and orange blossoms on the nose with rich, creamy pear and vanilla flavors. Apricot skin and lime to finish. At Fort Bragg's Annual Mendocino Crab & Wine Festival the judges gave our 2002 Semillon the trophy for "The Best Mendocino wine to drink with crab." We hope to win it again with this vintage, however our Semillon will go well a wide range of main courses as well as cheese. Don't delay if you like this wine as very few grapes were left after the wild boar left with full tummies.
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2001 Eleanor of Aquitaine
A proprietor’s blend made after doing many blending trials and hand choosing our very best barrels of Semillon (50%) and Sauvignon Blanc (50%). It is a classic wine made in the tradition of the Graves style Bordeaux Blanc. Our special Queen of white wine is 100% barrel fermented and was aged 9 months before bottling to add great complexity. Some people say this is "the white wine for red wine drinkers."
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2001 Cabernet Franc
A perennial favorite of our wine club - this is a delicious example of that "other" Cabernet, which is actually a much older grape variety than Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the most aromatic offerings of a very aromatic wine we have made here at Yorkville Cellars. Floral notes with oriental spice and sandalwood to compliment. Red currant and tart cherry fruit that is a crisp, vibrant wine with clean acidity and a light note of wood in the finish.
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2000 Merlot
A very fine, well-balanced wine with a great aromatic quality up-front. Light, dusty aromas with a note of cherry and spice, followed by violet pastille and blueberry/cherry fruit flavors. Lovely, lingering touch of sweet oak in the finish. This is a relatively light Merlot. We think this is an extremely versatile wine that will go very nicely with a wide range of foods.
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2001 Malbec
We’re seeing more and more Malbec on the shelves in fine wine shops – mostly from Argentina, where they have 40,466 acres planted. In Bordeaux in southwestern France where it originated, Malbec is a traditional blending grape. Regretably, there are only 970 bearing Malbec acres (compared to 71,536 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon) out of a total of 440,296 acres of vineyard in California. We're certainly happy that we have some!
As usual, a mouthful of yummy fruit favors star here, featuring plum, bueberry and currant. Notes of violet pastille and candied fruits on the nose. Full bodied, with a texture so thick it should be put on a diet. But a cranberry tang and dusty tannins give it a firnedly finish.
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2001 Petit Verdot
Never tasted a Petit Verdot? You’re not alone. It is unique and seldom seen. There are only 895 bearing acres (compared to 71,536 of Cabernet Sauvignon) of it out of a total vineyard acreage of 440,296 in California.
It is a late ripening grape, usually our last to be picked. A complex offering, needing a bit of time to find its peak. Mid-palate has raspberry and red cherry fruit. Almost Chianti-bright structure with a light, tannin touch in the finish. Pairs well with grilled meats but try it with lasagna or baked ziti as well.
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1999 Cabernet Sauvignon
A very elegant wine that few would mistake for a super-extracted offering like those that have become somewhat popular in some circles recently. But all the easier to enjoy with fine food and to enjoy!
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1999 Richard the Lionheart
Our Richard the Lion-Heart is very carefully blended, using the very best barrels of our certified organic estate grown grapes including five varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. This is one of less than a dozen California wines that actually has all five of the classic Bordeaux red varietals in the blend.
This is an amazing wine. How could it not be? The five separate component wines in the blend have won 23 medals, including 2 Double-Golds and 2 Gold Medals. Elegance and balance are the heart of this blend. Aromas of chocolate cherries with a hint of mint, baking spice and vanilla. Rich black cherry fruit mid palate finishes with smooth, firm tannins. An exceptional wine from an extraordinary vintage. Wine critics typically compare it favorably to wines at twice the price and even more, so it represents great Mendocino "bang for the buck."
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