PATZ & HALL SINGLE VINEYARD WINE TASTING

PATZ & HALL was established in 1988, as a shared vision of four friends: Donald Patz; James Hall; Anne Moses and Heather Patz. Together, over twenty years later, their vision has turned into some of California's most celebrated artisan wines.
Thanks to Philip Rizzolo's prizzolo@dreammerchantwine.com hospitality, I had the opportunity to sample seventeen handcrafted, small-lot and single-vineyard wines from PATZ & HALL.
Donld Patz, a visionary with a complete understanding of his wines, was on hand to lead me around.

Note++ All of the wines tasted were 14.2% alcohol++

Needless to say, after tasting the 2006 Napa Valley Chardonnay (93 points WS), I was hooked.
The wine was fantastic, crisp and creamy with hints of vanilla, pear and nectarine. The nose was like spiced lemon zest.

Following the Napa Valley Chardonnay, I tasted a Hyde Vineyard 2006 Carneros Chardonnay (92 points RP) that stole my heart. The wine was rich, dense, mineral and toasty with hints of lemon cream and creme brulee with restrained oak that had a hazelnut quality. This wine was unbelieveable and still a baby.

My favorite and unfortunately not rated chardonnay was a Zio Tony Ranch 2007 Russian River Valley Chardonnay. New French oak was used to make this vibrant, mineral, acidic wine with hints of honeydew melon, spicy pear and green apple flavor. The wine was ready to drink, but Donald Patz suggested that this vintage may be the longest lived vintage Patz & Hall has ever produced.

Patz & Hall are equally known for their Pinot Noir. My favorite was the 2007 Sonoma Coast. 2007 was a near perfect growing season in Somoma and this Somona Coast Pinot Noir represents the best of ripe red fruit flavors layered with butter and cinnamon spice.

A Chenoweth Ranch 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was a close second in flavor. This
93 point WS powerhouse wine has sweet tannins, intense red fruit flavors topped with wood smoke.

Patz & Hall wines get better year after year.
Treat yourself to the world of Patz & Hall wines and won't go wrong. The few extra dollars you spend on a bottle is a wonderful investment for the future that will keep paying dividends.....

Philip S. Kampe

philip.kampe@thewinehub.com