Altamura Sangiovese Napa Valley 2004

I cant believe it but the 2004 is better than the 2003.

August 2008

90 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Few people get Sangiovese right, but kudos go to proprietor Frank Altamura for putting out an attractive Sangiovese with plenty of sweet cherry fruit intermixed with some tobacco leaf and herbs. The wine is 100% Sangiovese, so this is as virginal an expression of this grape in California as one can find. The wine has medium ruby color and is impeccably well-made, with zesty acidity and loads of fruit. Drink it over the next several years. Altamura has been making wines for almost 20 years, and I certainly thought several of these wines were the best I ever had read more...from them. They are located in Wooden Valley, which is mostly volcanic soils about nine miles northeast of Napa. Tasting NotesImmediately evident in this wine is the rich ruby color, followed by the aromas of dried violets, dusty cocoa, and vanillin. Concentrated flavors of ripe dark fruit such as berry and plum are revealed and brightened by lively acidity and a hint of cinnamon all toned by long smooth tannins. The appealingly distinctive Wooden Valley ranch terroir connects Altamura's wines creating focus and perspective. Wooden Valley Wooden Valley was volcanically formed and is located nine miles northeast of the town of Napa within the Napa Valley appellation. Bordered by the Vaca Range to the east and Napa Mountain to the west, the warm summer days are cooled by fog which pours over the palisades and mid-afternoon breezes which can drop the temperature as much as 10 degrees from the Napa Valley average. The ranch sits at an altitude of 800-1000 feet and has been in the family since 1855. The Vineyard The 5 acre Sangiovese vineyard was planted in 1986 and is located on Frank and Karen Altamura's 400 acre ranch in Wooden Valley. Sangiovese is a naturally vigorous varietal requiring nutrient poor soils and a growth inhibiting rootstock. Sobrante Loam and Bressa-Dibble Complex soils provide the foundation for the Brunello and Sangiovese Grosso clones planted on 3309 and 420-A rootstock. The vines are partially dry-farmed and are vertically trellised. Additionally, up to 60% of the crop is thinned after berry set to ensure a wine with the intense, deep, fruit flavors that characterize Altamura Sangiovese.    (hide)

October 2008

90 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Few people get Sangiovese right, but kudos go to proprietor Frank Altamura for putting out an attractive Sangiovese with plenty of sweet cherry fruit intermixed with some tobacco leaf and herbs. The wine is 100% Sangiovese, so this is as virginal an expression of this grape in California as one can find. The wine has medium ruby color and is impeccably well-made, with zesty acidity and loads of fruit. Drink it over the next several years. Altamura has been making wines for almost 20 years, and I certainly thought several of these wines were the best I ever had read more...from them. They are located in Wooden Valley, which is mostly volcanic soils about nine miles northeast of Napa. Tasting NotesImmediately evident in this wine is the rich ruby color, followed by the aromas of dried violets, dusty cocoa, and vanillin. Concentrated flavors of ripe dark fruit such as berry and plum are revealed and brightened by lively acidity and a hint of cinnamon all toned by long smooth tannins. The appealingly distinctive Wooden Valley ranch terroir connects Altamuras wines creating focus and perspective. Wooden Valley Wooden Valley was volcanically formed and is located nine miles northeast of the town of Napa within the Napa Valley appellation. Bordered by the Vaca Range to the east and Napa Mountain to the west, the warm summer days are cooled by fog which pours over the palisades and mid-afternoon breezes which can drop the temperature as much as 10 degrees from the Napa Valley average. The ranch sits at an altitude of 800-1000 feet and has been in the family since 1855. The Vineyard The 5 acre Sangiovese vineyard was planted in 1986 and is located on Frank and Karen Altamuras 400 acre ranch in Wooden Valley. Sangiovese is a naturally vigorous varietal requiring nutrient poor soils and a growth inhibiting rootstock. Sobrante Loam and Bressa-Dibble Complex soils provide the foundation for the Brunello and Sangiovese Grosso clones planted on 3309 and 420-A rootstock. The vines are partially dry-farmed and are vertically trellised. Additionally, up to 60% of the crop is thinned after berry set to ensure a wine with the intense, deep, fruit flavors that characterize Altamura Sangiovese.    (hide)

August 2009

90 Points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Few people get Sangiovese right, but kudos go to proprietor Frank Altamura for putting out an attractive Sangiovese with plenty of sweet cherry fruit intermixed with some tobacco leaf and herbs. The wine is 100% Sangiovese, so this is as virginal an expression of this grape in California as one can find. The wine has medium ruby color and is impeccably well-made, with zesty acidity and loads of fruit. Drink it over the next several years. Altamura has been making wines for almost 20 years, and I certainly thought several of these wines were the best I ever had read more...from them. They are located in Wooden Valley, which is mostly volcanic soils about nine miles northeast of Napa. Tasting Notes
Immediately evident in this wine is the rich ruby color, followed by the aromas of dried violets, dusty cocoa, and vanillin. Concentrated flavors of ripe dark fruit such as berry and plum are revealed and brightened by lively acidity and a hint of cinnamon all toned by long smooth tannins. The appealingly distinctive Wooden Valley ranch terroir connects Altamuras wines creating focus and perspective.

Wooden Valley
Wooden Valley was volcanically formed and is located nine miles northeast of the town of Napa within the Napa Valley appellation. Bordered by the Vaca Range to the east and Napa Mountain to the west, the warm summer days are cooled by fog which pours over the palisades and mid-afternoon breezes which can drop the temperature as much as 10 degrees from the Napa Valley average. The ranch sits at an altitude of 800-1000 feet and has been in the family since 1855.

The Vineyard
The 5 acre Sangiovese vineyard was planted in 1986 and is located on Frank and Karen Altamuras 400 acre ranch in Wooden Valley. Sangiovese is a naturally vigorous varietal requiring nutrient poor soils and a growth inhibiting rootstock. Sobrante Loam and Bressa-Dibble Complex soils provide the foundation for the Brunello and Sangiovese Grosso clones planted on 3309 and 420-A rootstock. The vines are partially dry-farmed and are vertically trellised. Additionally, up to 60% of the crop is thinned after berry set to ensure a wine with the intense, deep, fruit flavors that characterize Altamura Sangiovese.    (hide)

November 2009