Filed under: Vineyards, Winemaking | Tags: 2017 harvest, 2017 vintage, Anderson Valley, anderson valley pinot noir, Mendocino wines, Pinot Noir, Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Wine Song
Our house is finally cooling down to the 70s after several weeks of hot September weather in San Francisco. It has been much the same up in Mendocino County, although there are already signs of fall, with a smattering of leaves starting to change color in the vineyards.
Leaves changing color at Oppenlander Vineyard on September 9, 2017. Photo: J. Waits/Waits-Mast Family Cellars
Filed under: New releases | Tags: 2016 harvest, Mariah Vineyards, Mendocino Ridge, Sauvignon Blanc, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
We’ve always said that Waits-Mast Family Cellars ONLY produces pinot noir, but that’s not entirely true. We love white wines and have been toying with the idea of expanding our repertoire for awhile, even dabbling in micro batches. Those non-pinot noir forays in 2009 and 2014 led to two interesting wines that were crafted for us by other talented winemakers.
Waits-Mast bottling, February 2017. Photo: J. Waits
Long-time followers may recall a limited run of a 2009 Waits-Mast sparkling wine from Split Rock vineyard in the Sonoma Coast. Comprised of 100% chardonnay, we only made 6 cases of the wine and released it back in 2011.
Filed under: Vineyards | Tags: 2014 harvest, Anderson Valley, Deer Meadows Vineyard, Mariah Vineyards, Mendocino Ridge, Nash Mill Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Wentzel Vineyard
It’s the calm before the storm, as harvest is imminently approaching for Waits-Mast Family Cellars. It’s looking like our first pick of the year will happen in just a few days, with other picks soon after. This will all be unusually early for Mendocino Pinot Noir. But because of the drought and a warm winter, budbreak was early. This, along with a moderate growing season is driving an earlier harvest.
A week ago we went up to Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge in order to check in on the vineyards from which we source our Pinot Noir grapes and things were looking and tasting great already. Here’s a quick glimpse of what’s happening at four (of our five) vineyard sources:
Wentzel Vineyard, Anderson Valley: Our first visit on the weekend of August 23, 2014 was to Wentzel Vineyard in Anderson Valley. We initially starting working with this vineyard in 2007 (the wine was our first commercial release) and after a short break, have been making wine from Wentzel every year since 2010. Pictured below is the section, dubbed Le Clos, from which we have primarily been getting our grapes. It features a field blend of Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and is located in a lovely, enclosed sloping section of the Wentzel property. It looks like this will be our first pick of 2014, with fruit coming in any day now.
Wentzel Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Filed under: Events | Tags: Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival 2013, Boonville Hotel, Pinot Noir, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
Invitation to the Waits-Mast Open House (photo: J. Waits)
We wrapped up the 16th Annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival weekend with perhaps our favorite event, the Sunday winery open houses on May 19. Every year wineries pull out special wines, prepare incredible food pairings, and open their doors to eager tasters. Many wineries that aren’t typically open will welcome customers to their properties for a rare opportunity to visit.
Soup Shooters at Boonville Hotel (photo: J. Waits)
Since Boonville Hotel now has a wine room/shop, we relished the opportunity to pour at our very own winery open house for the first time. Boonville Hotel’s wine buyer Mark Mendenhall graciously offered to host the event and even arranged for some delicious bites from their fabulous restaurant Table 128.
Brian Prepares for Waits-Mast Open House at Boonville Hotel Wine Room (photo: J. Waits)
At the open houses wineries can pour a variety of wines, so we decided to open up some selections that we couldn’t pour at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival the day before. We started with our 2012 Waits-Mast Family Cellars Rose of Pinot Noir from Mendocino County and then poured three Waits-Mast Pinot Noirs from 2010 (from Londer Vineyard, Wentzel Vineyard, and Oppenlander Vineyard).
Waits-Mast Rose on Ice at Boonville Hotel Open House (photo: J. Waits)
It was a festive late afternoon tasting (so that we could visit a few wineries ourselves in the morning) and we saw many friends and a few fellow winemakers. A number of hotel guests also made their way into the wine room in order to enjoy the event. It was gratifying to hear that tasters were enjoying our chilled rose on the warm May afternoon, with people describing it as “delicious” and “fantastic” with a “fresh strawberry” taste. A taster said that the 2010 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir from Londer Vineyard had “nice Anderson Valley black cherry” notes and another called the 2010 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir from Wentzel Vineyard “nice, dark, and beautiful.” The 2010 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir from Oppenlander Vineyard may have been the crowd favorite, with people calling it “over the top good,” “well-balanced,” and “fruit forward,” with a “tobacco nose.”
After the event drew to a close at 5pm, we packed up our remaining bottles and headed back to San Francisco. As another Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival concluded, we were left with some great memories of a tasty wine-filled weekend.
Filed under: Events | Tags: Pinot Days Chicago, Pinot Noir, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
2009 Pinot Days Chicago
It’s hard to believe that our first public wine tasting happened 4 years ago at Pinot Days Chicago.
I vividly remember setting up our table and anxiously awaiting customers. As one of the newest labels at the event in 2008, we weren’t sure that people would even stop by the Waits-Mast table. Our fears were unfounded, as plenty of people sampled our 2007 vintage at that event and we ended up making quite a few friends who we look forward to seeing at Pinot Days Chicago every year.
We’ll be pouring for the 4th time at the Pinot Days Chicago Grand Festival this Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 1pm to 5pm. At the tasting you’ll get a chance to sample a selection of our 2009 releases. If you are planning to attend, you can use the discount code WAITSCH11 to get 10% off your ticket. We hope to see you there.
Filed under: News | Tags: La Encantada Vineyard, Pinot Noir, sonoma coast, sparkling wine, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
Waits-Mast Pinot Noir
Just a quick note that Waits-Mast Family Cellars will be closing up our webstore on June 30 for the summer and will re-open in the early fall.
Because the warmer weather in the summer is not conducive to shipping wine, and because we’ll be doing some work on our webstore in the next couple of months, our online store will be on summer hiatus. That means the current releases below will be available until June 30 and no longer available online after that.
Most are in limited quantity and will sell out soon, so if you have some favorites below, get ’em while you can at our online shop.
- 2007 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills: 6 bottles left
- 2008 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, Hein Vineyard, Anderson Valley: 7 bottles left
- 2008 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills: 58 bottles left
- 2009 Waits-Mast Blanc de Blancs, Split Rock Vineyard, Sonoma Coast: 36 bottles left
After this brief hiatus, we will re-launch the webstore in the fall with our new 2009 pinot noirs – almost 200 cases of pinot from five different vineyards. Because we are transitioning our license and seller’s permit, we will no longer be able to sell the older vintages listed above. We’ll do a blog post or two about the whole arduous process, but, we’ll save that for another day!
And of course, if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can find our wines at local retailers SF Wine Trading Company, Canyon Market and Draeger’s Markets in Blackhawk and Los Altos.
Filed under: New releases | Tags: sparkling wine, split rock vineyard, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
Dig it. Back in 2009, in addition to the five different vineyard-designate pinot noirs we made, we participated in a small project to make sparkling wine from the Split Rock vineyard in the Sonoma Coast AVA. At long last, the 2009 Waits-Mast Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine, Split Rock Vineyard (Sonoma Coast) is now available in our webstore for a limited time only.
2009 Waits-Mast Blanc de Blancs
We only made 6 cases, so there will also be limited availability – we have a feeling they could go fast. Alas, we are excited to finally pop this bubbly and try it and to share it with you. It is a rockin’ good wine.
Sourced from the Split Rock Vineyard located in the Sonoma Coast growing region, the grapes selected for this sparkling wine enjoyed rocky soils combined with winds from the Petaluma Gap which consistently produces great fruit. Here are the tasting notes:
The 2009 Blanc de Blancs exhibits an abundance of soft, bright aromatics with fresh-baked brioche, Anjou pear and citrus flowers. The palate is lush with Pink Lady apple, melon and Clover honey. Long and elegant on the back end lifted by lively tones of Meyer lemon and Nashi pear. There is a creaminess on the mid-palate and a crispness on the finish of this sparkler, where the acidity and the apple and pear flavors really come through.
Details:
2009 Blanc de Blancs, Split Rock Vineyard
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.0%
Aging: 20 months on the yeast
Disgorgement: May, 2011
Price: $40/bottle (750ml)
When we’re not drinking pinot noir, we’re drinking sparkling wine (or maybe both in one night!). We are also firm believers that sparkling wine is not just a special occasion wine – it goes well with so many foods and tastes great any time of the year. So, treat yourself for the summer and grab a sparkler.
Filed under: Promotions | Tags: Pinot Noir, valentine's day, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
It’s February and the time is nigh
To think about your honey, your love,
That special someone who makes you sigh.
It’s time to get creative
As the fourteenth will come soon
To think about an expression of your love
Something to make him or her swoon.
The best things in life are shared.
Love and wine are the most fun,
To savor together, a perfect match, a wonderful pair.
So spread the love with a certain treat
A bottle of something red and lush,
A glass of nectar that can make the heart beat
And in turn, a Valentine blush.
Pinot noir is the perfect greeting
To make this Valentine’s Day exceptional
And to ensure your next romantic meeting
Is both heartfelt and memorable.
A hand-numbered bottle, just for you
With February 14th just around the corner, Waits-Mast Family Cellars wanted to inspire your Valentine’s Day gift-giving with our little poem and a special limited discount. Now through February 5th we are offering 14% off of any wine in our webstore (no two- or three-pack bundles). Just enter the discount code “SWOON” when you’re checking out and hit “apply” to see the discount.
Keep in mind that if you want to ship your wine via ground shipping in time for Valentine’s Day, you’ll need to put your order in by this Friday, February 4th (if you’re on the West coast, Monday or Tuesday of next week may still work). There are three-day, two-day and overnight options as well.
Happy Valentine’s Day from everyone here at Waits-Mast Family Cellars!
Filed under: Promotions | Tags: free shipping, holiday gift guide, holiday special, La Encantada Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
We’re wrapping up another great vintage at Waits-Mast Family Cellars as you get ready to wrap up your holiday presents during this festive season. To help you out, we have a few holiday specials on our award-winning wines. These specials are available exclusively at our webstore:
Small-lot pinot noir, hand-numbered bottles
2010 Holiday Specials
Savings on Shipping through 12/31/10
To lighten the load on your holiday expenses, we’re offering two different specials on shipping:
50% off ground shipping: Order up to 11 bottles of any wine and get 50% off ground shipping. Just go to the purchase page, choose your wines and enter the code HALF in the coupon code box and hit “apply.”
Free ground shipping: Order a case (12 bottles) or more and get free ground shipping. This is in addition to our standard 10% discount on the price of a case or more. Just enter the code CASE in the coupon code box and hit “apply.”
• Both specials apply to any products in our store including the La Encantada Double-Vintage Pack (see below). The shipping special runs from November 29, 2010 through December 31, 2010.
La Encantada Double-Vintage Pack
Sample both vintages of our La Encantada Vineyard Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills at a special two-pack price of $89. Sourced from Richard Sanford’s certified organically-grown vineyard in Santa Barbara County, each of these pinot noirs has its own personality, reflective of the vintage and variations in winemaking style. The 2007 is smoky, spicy with lush dark cherry, blackberry and a hint of cola. The 2008 is bright and vibrant, with cranberry, cherry, plum and an ever-so-slightly toasty nose. Both wines are food-friendly wines with lots of complexity and structure. There are only a few bottles of the 2007 left, so this is a very limited offering.
Gift Guide
Not sure which wine to get for your friends, family or co-workers? Check out our gift guide – designed to match each personality in your life.
We are down to a just a few cases each for our current releases, so visit our webstore today to take advantage of these specials while the wines are available.
Happy Holidays from Waits-Mast Family Cellars!
Filed under: Tasting notes | Tags: holiday gifts, Pinot Noir, Waits-Mast Family Cellars
2008 Waits-Mast Family Cellars Amber Ridge Pinot Noir
Not sure what to get for that special someone? Here’s the insider’s guide to our current releases for every personality on your shopping list:
SPICY: 2008 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills (released in September; approximately 10 cases left): well-balanced and integrated with lots of layers and that develop over time; wonderful fruity/slightly earthy aroma and spices on the mid-palate – a very well-rounded wine. Slightly tart, but smooths out over time; excellent with food and perfect for the holiday meal and all of its spices. 92 pts. Wine Enthusiast and silver medal, 2010 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
SASSY: 2008 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, Amber Ridge Vineyard, Russian River Valley (5 cases left): A lush, yet balanced pinot noir with blueberry pastry on the nose; it definitely shows a little leg with its raspberry and sweet cherry flavors. And just to keep your attention a little longer, it has a nice hint of nutmeg on the finish. A great sipper on its own, but also pairs well with dishes with Asian spices. Silver medal, 2010 San Francisco International Wine Competition.
EARTHY: 2008 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, Hein Vineyard, Anderson Valley (3 cases left): very earthy/mushroomy nose; if you like da funk, this wine has da funk – more so than when we first released it; the fruit and spice flavors are perfect for this season with its holiday spices: clove, cinnamon, cherry & cranberry. Gold medal, 2010 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
BOOKISH: 2007 Waits-Mast Pinot Noir, La Encantada Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills (less than 3 cases left): brooding and complex, this one has taken time to pull its nose out of the books with a toasty aroma, and integrated red and dark berry flavors; a hint of eucalyptus on the nose, too; smoothing out and drinking well now; this was awesome with the bacon-cornbread stuffing we made last year for Thanksgiving
FICKLE: La Encantada Vineyard Double-Vintage Pack: can’t decide on just one of these wines from Sta. Rita Hills? Get the two pack, one from the 2007 and 2008 vintages of our La Encantada pinot noir. Open them at the same time with your friends to compare and contrast vintages and flavors from an incredible vineyard, organically farmed by Richard Sanford.
You can find these all at our webstore here. Or if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area or Chicago, go to the News tab of our website for availability of our wines at a fine wine merchant near you.
Happy shopping!
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