Featured Producer & Wine (s) on Rick's WineSite Journal


 
Producer: Fantesca Estate Winery
Owners: Duane & Susan Hoff
Address: 2920 Spring Mountain Road
St. Helena, CA 94574
Phone: 707.968.9229
Appellation: Spring Mountain, Napa Valley
Featured
Wine:
Fantesca Estate Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Winemaker (s): Kirk and Nils Venge
Website: http://www.fantesca.com/
Rick and Linda with Duane Hoff - owner of Fantesca Estate Winery on Spring Mountain and producer with his Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002.
Journal entries: Date, Wine, Rating, Price, Comments
Duane and Susan Hoff from Minneapolis purchased the Spring Mountain property Fantesca Estate Winery. They have 9 acres under vine and produce 800 cases of quality cabernet sauvignon. Their property located at about 700 feet above the valley floor reflects the best of the Spring Mountain appellation. Their winemakers are Kirk and Nils Venge and their vineyard management is done by the Maldanado's. This is a delicious wine. Watch for great things to come from this team.
A visit to Fantesca Estate Winery
Fantesca Estate & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 bottle Fantesca Estate & Winery Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 bottle - rear Fantesca Winery production building. Fantesca Winery Estate vineyard. Tasting - Andy, Duane, Rick, & John.
Clockwise from left: stylish etched bottles, production building, lower vineyard, tasting - AJ, Duane, Rick & John, upper vineyard, John & Duane Fantesca Estate Winery vineyard - top Associate Winemaker, John (left) and Duane Hoff, Proprietor
Fantesca Estate & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 bottle July 5, 2008 - Fantesca Estate and Winery Napa Valley Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - RM 92 $65 - First tasted at the winery from the barrel a few weeks before bottlling during our 2007 Napa Wine Experience. Smooth and polished with cherry, black fruit, hint of currant, dark chocolate, cassis and spice with a refined tannin finish. Tasted at home w/ L in a delightful evening on the deck with fine cheeses, chocolate and fruit. We first met the producer when he came to visit on his launch tour -  An Evening with Duane Hoff of Fantesca Estate Winery, That 2003 release is eclipsed by the elegant and more refined 2004.
   
Label - Fanesca Estate Chardonnay 2005 February 13, 2008 - Fantesca Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay 2005 - RM 90; Simi Sonoma Valley Chardonnay 2005 - Tasted at Larry & Kelly's with JK & Monica K.
 Sea Smoke TEN Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2005 label
Chateau Pontet Canet 2000 label on McNees.org/winesite
 
January 12, 2008 - Varied selection of diverse wines to accompany a festive dinner. 
Fantesca Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay 2005 - RM 90
Sea Smoke 'TEN' Central Coast Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2005 -
RM 92 - Winemaker notes - The 2005 Sea Smoke Ten Pinot Noir shows deep extraction and intensity of flavor, maintains good balance across the palate, and culminates in a firm, but velvety finish. Aromas of dark plum, black cherry, currants, as well as cedar and a hint of earthiness are characteristic of this wine. Ten Clones, from which the wine takes its name.
Darioush Napa Valley Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - RM 91 -
Dark, complex with full forward black berry, black cherry and currant fruit, well balanced and polished with nicely integrated tannin finish.
Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac Bordeaux 2000 - RM 92 - Elegant floral, earthy leather, cassis, smoky black berry - long firm silky smooth tannins.
Kracher
Welschriesling Trockenbeerenauslese Neusiedlersee Zwischen den Seen No. 6 1998 - RM 92
RP 92 - RP Review - "Reveals loads of sweet white and yellow fruits. It is crammed with overripe fruit flavors, as well as the distinctive effects of spicy botrytis. This superbly focused wine has bountiful levels of acidity to cope with its lush, opulently thick character. Drink this refined, liquid botrytis, over the next 20+ years."  (92 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #149).
Tasted w/ L, Linda A. and Dr Dan at his place w/ fabulous beef tenderloin & stuffed pork chops. 
Fantesca Estate & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 bottle November 15, 2007 - Benchmark tasting - calibrating Fantesca Estate Winery wines against some of the world's finest ... Araujo Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1995, Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon 1993, Fantesca Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, 2004, 2005 (from barrel), Fantesca Spring Mountain Petit Verdot 2005 (from barrel), Plumpjack Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1995, Chateau Marqaux 1983, Chateau Domaine Romanee Conti La Tache 1993.  Tasting conducted at the winery with Andy M,, Duane Hoff, Fantesca proprietor, and John, Fantesca associate winemaker during 2007 Napa Wine Experience.
Label - Fanesca Estate Chardonnay 2005
May 7, 2007 - Fantesca Estate & Winery Napa Valley Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - RM 93 - Full bodied, firm structured, polished, well balanced harmonious flavors of red currant, raspberry, blackberry, spice, and a hint of cassis on a long firm tannin finish.
Fantesca Estate & Winery Los Carneros Chardonnay 2005 -
RM 91- Well balanced, full bodied - essence of citrus, buttery, subtle oak and nut fruits on a long full puckering finish. Limited production releases available at the winery on-line and at some finest restaurants(www.fantesca.com) - get some while you can!
The second release for of this 'dream team' of the new owners Duane & Susan Huff and winemakers Kirk and Nils Venge. Tasted compliments of the producers, these are a real treat, worthy of a special occasion such as our gala family steak and king crableg dinner w/ L, Alec, Erin & Johnny.
 
May 2, 2007 - Fantesca Estate & Winery Napa Valley Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - RM 92 RP 90 - Dark ink colour, firm tannins and concentrated, black currant, licorice with a finish of black raspberry and hint of dark chocolate. Tasted with Chris S., Michael S., Gene G., and KD at Smith & Wollensky in Chicago - DoDIIS dinner.
Oct 15, 2006 - Fantesca Estate Winery Spring Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - RM 94 W&S 94, WS 91, WA 90 - Wonderful full aromas of fruit, floral, vanilla, and a hint of smoke and eucalyptus. Burst of flavor of black currant, ripe black raspberry, plum, spice, a hint of caramel, vanilla, smoke - all accented by silky, velvety full and firm yet very approachable tannins that are seamlessly integrated and long on the finish.  Tasted at Del Frisco's Steakhouse in NYC w/ Eric W, Kirk D and NY friends.
Sept 20, 2006 - Fantesca Spring Mountain Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 - RM 94 WA 90, WS 91 WE 94 - Fabulous first release from this new label and producers - Duane and Susan Hoff and their Spring Mountain property Fantesca Estate Winery. Wonderful full aromas of fruit, floral, vanilla, and a hint of smoke and eucalyptus. Burst of flavor of black currant, ripe raspberry, plum, spice, a hint of caramel, vanilla, smoke - all accented by silky, velvety full and firm yet approachable tannins that are seamlessly integrated and long on the finish. Aged in moderate toast 70-80 new French Oak. Delicious wine. Tasted with producer Duane Hoff on his inaugural launch release marketing tour stop in Chicago. Only 800 cases produced. Get it while you can at www.fantesca.com
 
Back to WineSite Journal Back to California Producer Index Back to DineSite
 
CarsChicago

DineSite

FaithFLWLibraryLinksMcNeesNapervillePhotographySports

TechSite

TravelWineSite
Click for Naperville, Illinois Forecast www.unwindwine.com
www.McNees.org
www.McNees.net 

R & L McNees Family Website - Naperville, Illinois USA © 1999-2014 All Rights Reserved. Last updated 07/01/2014 Best viewed Get Firefox - the broswer you can trust