small lot, BIG Quality

For the first time, we have been able to figure out our release schedule so that 10 new, small-lot wines will be available to taste at one time...with your own Riedel glass...and lunch!

Our first Spring Open House will take place on May 17th from Noon to 4pm, the Steven Kent/La Rochelle site will be world-class wine Central. We will be pouring the 2006 Steven Kent Cabernet Sauvignon - Home Ranch (120 cases), 2006 Cabernet Franc (19 cases), 2006 Merlot (19 cases); 2006 La Rochelle Pinot Noir - Garys' Vineyard (120 cases), 2007 Pinot Noir - Mission Ranch, Pommard Clone in French oak (20 cases) and in American oak (20 cases) among others.

Join us for this spectacular event. $20 per person if you are a Steven Kent or La Rochelle club member and $30 per person if you are not. Only a small number of tickets are available. We look forward to seeing you.

It's Soy Good...

Soy. Not a descriptor I would normally attach to a wine. Sushi maybe, wine no. I've seen this word used before to describe wine and as a matter of fact I have heard Steven refer to it several times with some of our pinots in La Rochelle. I never could quite get the soy. I just chalked it up to my amateur palate. Then I opened a bottle of the 2003 Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir which was created especially for the Steven Kent Future Release Program. One sip and I was hit with a soy bomb. Yes, a soy bomb! It was unbelievable. Not only was the flavor amazing, but the mouthfeel was silky and coated my tongue like a cashmere jacket in autumn. It was perfect. How could I have missed this?

I thought back and remembered when we released this wine in 2005. We had never done a pinot before and I was not familiar with the grape. Sure, I had pinot noir prior to this but it was a casual acquaintance, not a varietal I could appreciate. I remember tasting the 2003 and enjoying it, but thinking I enjoyed cabernet more. Since its release I have had the honor of tasting many more pinots, whether our own at La Rochelle or those we bring in for tasting to compare and contrast with our own. While I still enjoy my cabernet, I have come to appreciate what pinot noir has to offer. I enjoy opening each bottle, wondering what flavor awaits me…will it be earthy…dark fruit…perhaps cardamom - a favorite of mine, or another spice??? Or maybe this time it's soy.

Grab a bottle of pinot and open it up…what do you taste???