News
"2007 Saracina Pinot Noir: The 2007 Pinot Noir Anderson Valley exhibits the cool raspberry, blueberry and floral characteristics that routinely emerge from this northern appellation. Soft, silky tannins and a round personality make for a delicious Pinot to drink over the near term. 89."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, February 2010
“We went to Solbar (the restaurant connected to Solage Resort in Calistoga) on a warm, late-summer day with a slight threat of sprinkles….Lucky Pig (a slow-roast duroc pork shoulder served with black sesame crepes and butter lettuce leaves along with oodles of groovy condiments like roast Mongolian peanuts, gingered pineapples, cilantro, and rice noodles…) was as good as we remembered from last Christmas Eve. And, knowing the dish, I found the right wine to go with it, ATREA “The Choir”….What a great pairing with comparable flavors in food & wine that all got along in the mouth. Honey/floral nose & gingered pineapple. Spicy nose & the cilantro & peanuts. “The Choir” is weighty enough to match the flavorful pork…You gotta try it.”
Daniel Dawson, Back Room Wines Newsletter, September 23, 2009
"2007 Saracina Vineyards Atrea The Choir Mendocino County: Pale gold. Fresh tangerine and lime on the nose, with a strong spicy undercurrent. Vibrant citrus and orchard fruit flavors are given depth by juicy pear and peach nuances, with dusty minerals adding grip and focus. Impressively pure blend with excellent finishing lift and precision. This is livelier than the impressive 2006 version. 91."
Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009
"2007 Saracina Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino County: Light yellow. Lemon thyme, anise and green apple on the nose. Light in body and sharply focused, offering tangy citrus and deeper melon flavors, along with a subtle leesy note and good mineral cut. Becomes juicier with air and finishes with a strong echo of citrus and herbs. This is carrying 14.1% alcohol but there's no heat. 90."
Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2009
"And Fetzer...said he found multiple benefits to going green...'this [organic farming] approach just brings your vineyard alive...and the big plus is the safety of our employees. Not using herbicides or pesticides, you have a lot more footprints in your vineyard. You can pay a lot more attention to what's going on there.'"
Bill Ward, Liquid Assets - Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 26, 2009
"Atrea The Choir 2007: I really loved their 2007 Atrea The Choir, a blend of 76% Roussanne and 24% Viognier, fermented in a combination of stainless steel barrels and neutral French oak. This is a beauty, with notes of honeysuckle, marmalade, and lemon oil, tremendous exuberance and fragrance, medium- to full-bodied, but great freshness and liveliness. This is a terrific and very fairly priced Mendocino dry white wine to drink over the next 1-2 years. 90."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, December 31, 2008
"Atrea Old Soul Red 2005: The 2005 Atrea Old Soul Red is sensational. This is a bistro wine on steroids. Deep ruby/plum-colored with sweet kirsch notes intermixed with licorice, pepper and background toast. The wine is medium- to full-bodied, fleshy and displays vibrant, juicy, even succulent fruit, a nicely layered texture and a crisp finish with light tannins. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. 91."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, December 31, 2008
"Saracina Syrah Mendocino County 2005: Tight and structured, with full-blown spice, beef, blueberry and blackberry flavors that are firm, intense and sharply focused and also long and persistent on the finish. Ends with an espresso edge. Drink now through 2015. 92."
James Laube, Wine Spectator, February 2009
"Saracina Syrah Mendocino County 2005: Inky purple. Ripe kirsch and black currant aromas are complicated by smoky bacon, licorice, minerals and dried flowers. Deep and sweet, with impressively concentrated black and blue fruit flavors, solid but not hard tannins and good mineral lift. The tannins build through the finish but don't detract from the deep, pure berry and candied licorice flavors. I suspect this will benefit from a few years in the cellar. 91+."
Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
"Saracina Petite Sirah Mendocino County 2005: Opaque ruby color. Strongly perfumed aromas of ripe, spicy blackberry, blackcurrant and Asian spice aromas. Supple red and darky berry flavors show a liqueur-like concentration and very good clarity. Medium in weight, with surprising elegance for such a flavor impact. Smooth tannins add gentle grip to the long, juicy finish. A very impressive, almost civilized rendition of petite sirah, with the concentration to repay cellaring. 91."
Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
"Saracina 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino County: Light yellow. Intensely floral, spicy bouquet of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, smoky lees and white flowers. Juicy, sharply focused citrus and pear on the palate with a bracing jolt of tangy minerality adding energy. Impressively focused, lively sauvignon with excellent finishing lift and grip. This is all about zesty fruit, with no herbaceous character causing distraction. 90."
Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
"Atrea 2006 The Choir Mendocino County: Bright yellow. Hugely aromatic nose offers spicy pear, apricot and white raspberry, along with a dusty mineral undertone. Fresh pit fruit flavors deliver solid punch with no excess weight, taking on a spicy quality with air. Turns richer on the finish, with no loss of energy or cut. I'd serve this vibrant wine with unadorned seafood, especially delicate Japanese preparations. 90."
Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008
"Atrea 2006 The Choir, Mendocino County: The roussanne (76 percent) and viognier in this blend were organically farmed at Lakeview Vineyards in Sanel Valley. Alex MacGregor fermented them in barrel (half in stainless-steel barrels, half in neutral oak) with native yeast, then left it on the lees for eight months. The result is a bright, zesty wine with exotic flavors of kumquat and Asian pear. It has the subtle smokiness of the lees and a silken, natural feel to the acidity. With a day of air, the wine is still cool and lively. For roast chicken stuffed with lemon and rosemary. 93."
Wine & Spirits Magazine, June 2008
"Saracina Winery 2004 Atrea Old Soul Red: An excellent blend -- ripely flavored, supple, full bodied, and very well balanced, with a long, smooth finish, tasting cedar, blueberry, toast, blackberry, and aniseed. Four Stars."
Ronn Wiegland, Restaurant Wine, Issue #123
"Atrea 2004 Old Soul Red Mendocino County: Bright ruby. Zesty cherry and dark berry aromas are pure and unmarked by herbs or earth. Juicy and fresh, with vibrant boysenberry flavors, supple texture and lively acidity. Supple and easy to drink, finishing on a sexy note of blackberry preserves. 90."
Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2007
"Saracina Vineyards 2004 Syrah Mendocino County: Inky ruby. Intense, pure syrah on the nose: vibrant blackberry, licorice, flowers and graphite. Lush and creamy on the palate, with ripe dark berry flavors ("it's not always that cool up there," says consultant David Ramey) and powerful smoky/spicy accents. Finishes lush, supple and sweet, with fully absorbed tannins and excellent persistence. 91."
Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2007
"Saracina Vineyards 2004 Petite Sirah Mendocino County: Inky ruby. Highly expressive nose features lush blackberry and cassis aromas with an overlay of pepper and cured tobacco. Supple, polished and sweet, with deep dark fruit flavors. The tannins are suave and round, providing support but not detracting from the pure fruit tones. This got sweeter and denser with air and drinks well now. 90."
Stephen Tanzer, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2007
"Saracina makes an incredibly aromatic, almost haunting style of Sauvignon Blanc marked by white peach, green clover and something distinctly saline...and it's an absolute steal at the price."
Bonnie Graves, Wine Consultant and Sommelier, Los Angeles
