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2004 VINTAGE WINES
2004 Cuvée Maggie Claret
Alder Springs Vineyard
Exuberant dark raspberry fruit swirls with vanilla, deepening to black cherry and currant on the finish. Baking spices and flowers lend complexity to the mix. Balanced by ripe tannins, this rich and lively beauty rewards today and will for years to come. Created to commemorate a 5-week visit to the winery in 2004 by a female Magnificent Hummingbird (2nd-ever sighted in California), this wine is dedicated to spring’s special miracles. 70% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc. 65 cases produced.
$36 750 ml $76 1.5 L
2004 UltraViolet (Claret)
Alder Springs Vineyard
Exotic perfumes of sandalwood and star anise introduce a palate of dark plum spicecake flavors, currants, and charcoal. Youthful tannins give way to dark fruits that gain in depth and intensity with time in the glass. Like the 2003 UV, this is a great barbecue wine! 80% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc. 212 cases produced.
$36 750 ml $76 1.5 L
2004 Cabernet Franc
Alder Springs Vineyard
A muscular ballerina, this dark beauty shows subtle oak influences of incense, charcoal, cedar, and toast. A core of intense dark fruit on the middle palate, with fragrances of rose petal, violets, and lavender, only hint at the complexity that will emerge with time. Decant in its youth and enjoy for years to come. 100% Cabernet Franc. 125 cases produced.
$39 750 ml $82 1.5 L
2004 Syrah
Alder Springs Vineyard
Alder Springs Vineyard
This classic, intense wine is the essence of Syrah. Violets in the nose with a dark ruby color, the palate oozes deep, dark licorice, blackberry-blueberry jam concentrate with tar and eucalyptus. A creamy middle palate and a lengthy meaty finish make this Syrah a fine match for rich, spicy meat dishes such as pork, lamb, and bison. 100% Syrah. 150 cases produced.
$47 750 ml $100 1.5 L
MIXED CASE SPECIALS
*Nest of Swallows (12) 3 Syrah, 3 Cabernet Franc, 4 UltraViolet, 2 Cuvée Maggie
*Nest of Swallows (6) 1 Syrah, 2 Cabernet Franc, 2 UltraViolet, 1 Cuvée Maggie
*Special Limited Pre-Release Sampler Pricing for our Mailing List
Dear Friends,
Spring returns to the redwoods on a cool breeze bright with the joyful chatter of Violet-green swallows. At the winery we are pleased to celebrate their return with the release of our 2004 vintage wines.
This release sports a new label and a fresh look for Violet-Green. Our beloved mascot now flies high against a landscape of pure white with a dazzle of iridescent color in a brush-and-ink portrayal created and conceptualized by artist/designer M. Wayne Knight. What has not changed is what is inside the lovely new package: rich and delicious wine. We continue to source exquisite fruit from the Alder Springs Vineyard with its hillside vines, French clone selection and low yields, allowing us to produce wines with pure expression of its noble varietals. The 2004 vintage yielded wines that are concentrated and well-structured with the promise to be long-lived.
The 2004 Syrah is primitive in the most civilized way, oozing intense dark licorice and blackberry-blueberry jam concentrate. This is a compelling follow up to the 2003. The 2004 Cabernet Franc exhibits all the nobility and depth of Cabernet Sauvignon’s parent grape. A deep and serious wine, this year’s Franc is as intriguing an expression of the varietal as its 2003 sibling. Both wines are 100% varietal and 100% Alder Springs fruit.
Our proprietary claret, the 2004 UltraViolet, combines Bordeaux varietals to create a seamless dark fruit experience that is the perfect accompaniment to grilled foods. Mixmaster Don blended just 65 cases of a new claret, the inaugural 2004 Cuvée Maggie, to commemorate a 5-week visit to the winery in April 2004 by a very special female Magnificent Hummingbird (2nd-ever sighted in California). A raspberry-vanilla swirl laced with a liberal dose of Cabernet Franc, this wine—like “Maggie” herself-- is large, elegant, and lithe.
All the wines may be enjoyed now but will continue to develop beautifully for years to come. Should you wish to try them soon, we recommend decanting or pre-opening. Please read our winemaker tasting notes to learn more about them.
In spite of rising prices at every step, we have held the line on wine prices even if we cannot control the cost of shipping. In order to protect your wine, shipments will be made only during wine-friendly weather periods.
Thank you for including our wines in your cellar and at your table again this year. May you enjoy them at your happiest occasions.
Don Wattenbarger & Lina Carro
Owner-Winemakers
2003 VINTAGE WINES
2003 Merlot
Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino - $30
Cinnamon spice-cake aromas yield to mouthfilling blackberry-vanilla cream flavors and a velvety texture.
A wine of impressive intensity and purity. Aged 18 months in French oak.
195 cases produced.
$342/case of 12 750 ml
2003 UltraViolet (Claret)
Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino - $36
Dense, rich, husky black fruit and crème de cassis make our proprietary Claret a powerhouse! Firm tannin structure promises excellent aging potential. Aged 19 months in French oak. 150 cases produced.
$411 /case of 12 750 ml
2003 Cabernet Franc
Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino - $39
Thick blackberry-blueberry fruit introduces the seamless, complex flavor experience of this low-cropping varietal. Purity, concentration and deep aromatics combine to make this extraordinary wine our sweetheart of the vintage. Aged 19 months in French oak. 75 cases produced.
$468 /case of 12 750 ml
2003 Syrah
$47 (750 ml) $105 (1.5 L)
Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino
Indigenous yeast fermentation contributes to an ideal balance of concentrated wild black fruit flavors laced with licorice and firm structure. A real big boy. Aged 19 months in French oak. 150 half-cases produced.
$282 /half-case 750 ml
MIXED CASE SPECIALS
2003 Violet-Green Sampler Nest of Swallows (6) $210 (750 ml)
2003 Merlot 2 bottles
2003 UltraViolet Claret 2 bottles
2003 Cabernet Franc 1 bottle
2003 Syrah 1 bottle
2003 Violet-Green Sampler Nest of Swallows (12) $399 (750 ml)
2003 Merlot 4 bottles
2003 UltraViolet Claret 4 bottles
2003 Cabernet Franc 2 bottles
2003 Syrah 2 bottles
2002 VINTAGE WINES
SOLD OUT
2002 Merlot
Alder Springs Vineyard, Mendocino - $26
A bold, spicy Merlot blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, this wine displays a strong middle palate, long finish, and plush mouthfeel. Its complex spicy red and black fruit flavors pair well with a broad range of foods, especially grilled foods. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. 180 cases produced.
$297/case of 12 750 ml
Violet-Green Winery
PO Box 165 Bayside, CA 95524 | Tel/Fax: 707.445.8679 | Email: wine@violetgreenwinery.com