Ashes and diamonds winery review

Part I After toiling for a couple of decades as a creative executive in the media and advertising landscape of Los Angeles, Kashy Khaledi finally landed what he had long romanticized would be the ideal job. Now, seated at his desk inside the Capitol Records tower in Hollywood, he instead felt creatively bereft.

This project was founded by California native Kashy Khaledi, a media and advertising executive, in I had been aware of these wines for a while, but never wrapped my palate around one until recently. I receive and review a lot of California wines, many of which I appreciate and enjoy. Sipping these wines, I was shocked at their complexity, vibrancy, effortlessness. The wines are really special and delicious, and perfect for palates with a tendency toward old-school California and Old World styles.

Ashes and diamonds winery review

As an homage, the iconic zig-zag roof and portholes are a few of the iconic references to the heritage of California mid-century modern design, seamlessly integrated with a state-of-the-art wine production facility surrounded by light, airy landscapes and playful, rolling berms. We are open Monday-Sunday from am to pm. Final reservation at pm. Please e-mail concierge ashesdiamonds. A guided tasting of four wines from our portfolio, enjoyed amid the mid-century modern property where they were born. Experience our light-handed winemaking approach: a commitment to producing minimal-intervention wines with a unique sense of place. This experience is 60—75 minutes long and does not feature accompaniments. A portfolio tasting of five wines, paired with local cheeses and accoutrements including our sourdough focaccia, cultured butter and seasonal house-made preserves. This experience is 60—75 minutes. A tasting of our wines with a California Nouvelle-inspired luncheon of seasonal, family-style dishes prepared in-house by our resident chefs.

As the sun becomes more prominent, the soil beneath my feet becomes increasingly fragrant. Nearby neighbors within walking distance, include long time restaurant Bistro Don Giovanni a favorite stop for both locals and tourists and the Craig and Katherine Hall owned Senza Hotel. The side-by-side differences in each of the wines are remarkable.

But the mostly stark white buildings designed by architect Barbara Bestor , one with a zigzag roof and the other with porthole windows, signal one of the most intriguing wineries to open in Napa Valley of late. Just like the rather obscure film from which it draws its name, his winery is rooted in the unconventional—something Napa Valley could certainly use as it struggles to attract a younger crowd. Khaledi, 41, came across the film Ashes and Diamonds years ago, when he was hitting a creative wall at Capitol Records. Khaledi coordinated the winery and its impressive cast in the same way a hit album might come together. Petroski made some of the first vintages and has since left the project, but the talented Diana Snowden Seysses, also the winemaker at Snowden Vineyards, has now filled his shoes. In addition to growing fruit on his own estate in the Oak Knoll district, Khaledi is also working with some of the top winegrowers, like Bart and Daphne Araujo, for his wines.

My palate tends toward those earthy, olive-laden, spicy and brisk iterations out of the Loire Valley, especially a well-aged one with some dusty tannins. California Cabernet Francs for me have been pretty hit-or-miss over the years. The wines have old-school Napa vibes, the kind of wines that leave freshness on the finish and beg for a big spread of food and a group of friends. This project was founded by California native Kashy Khaledi, a media and advertising executive, in Using fruit from Carneros, Oak Knoll and Yountville districts, winemaker Steve Matthiasson has made something really special with these three wines. They will reward the patient in the cellar, and would be a delightful addition to any wine dinner with your Loire nerd friends. I received these were as trade samples and tasted them single-blind.

Ashes and diamonds winery review

All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection.

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This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. To helm the food program at the winery, Khaledi hired chef Emma Sears, formerly at Scribe. As the sun becomes more prominent, the soil beneath my feet becomes increasingly fragrant. Somewhat savory. Medium-bodied with precise acidity throughout, the tannins show structure but refinement. Steve Matthiasson proved to be a crucial contact early on. Both young and earnest, Maraden and Lauritsen proceed to walk the vineyard rows, with Matthiasson and Snowden-Seysses providing feedback. By turns guarded and unguarded, Cripe shows me briefly around the small brick home where he receives customers, before we hop in his car and take off to visit a few of the vineyards from which he sources fruit. So close to being complete in its youth, it shows great, great promise. The property is 40 acres of which 55 acres are planted — primarily to Merlot the vines towards the front of their driveway and Cabernet Franc behind the winery. Quince, fig, lemon peel, papaya, the fruit is topped in yellow flowers, honey, candle wax, sea salt, mountain stream. This is beautiful but needs several years at least to show its best. Groups with underage guests will be seated outside. Just north of the town of Napa, off of its now well-known Hwy. Should be another long-lasting wine.

All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from samples.

Their current annual production is around 3, cases but they will continue to ramp up production until they are around 10, cases. Both young and earnest, Maraden and Lauritsen proceed to walk the vineyard rows, with Matthiasson and Snowden-Seysses providing feedback. Such a nervy, packed wine, this will improve for many years. Steve Matthiasson proved to be a crucial contact early on. When the winery is completed, it will be an homage to mid-century architecture and to the theme of collaboration. Select Wines And to oversee their initial wine making, founding winemaker Dan Petroswki was hired formerly of Larkmead Winery — his own label is Massican. When Khaledi first acquired this property, he was advised by many to graft it over, from Cabernet Franc and Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon. Guests to the property will also get to see the production facilities and learn about wine making especially during harvest. The vibe here is young and hip with culturally and racially diverse employees often from urban backgrounds, yet the wine making style clashes dramatically with the young feel on premise and the style of wines that much of the Napa Valley is making today. Such an inviting and vibrant mix of aromas, from yellow pear, apricot and raspberry, to celery seed, mint, with notes of crushed shells, clover and chalk dust. Vibrant currants, tangy plums, juicy blackberries, with inviting notes of warm clay, rocky earth, leather, cocoa and mint — needs time to open and show its full aromatic potential, but lots to unpack. Khaledi, 41, came across the film Ashes and Diamonds years ago, when he was hitting a creative wall at Capitol Records. Well integrated fine-grained tannins linger softly. Veeder district of the Napa Valley there exists a special little vineyard site called the Saffron Vineyard.