Reynolds Family Winery ~ February 2010 Winery of the Month
I have had the pleasure of meeting Steve Reynolds with Reynolds Family Winery at several of the Triangle Wine Experience functions in Raleigh NC throughout the years, but I have not truly had the opportunity to sit down and sample his wines and hear his story.
Taylor’s Wine Shop in Raleigh NC organizes monthly wine dinners at Margaux’s featuring top winemakers from all over. This particular one was very special since Steve not only made a special trip to come host this dinner but he will be back in Raleigh the first of February for the Triangle Wine Experience.
Steve’s approach to wine, friendship, family and well….life is simply one we can all learn from and admire. He took chances in his life when friends thought he was an insane kook but really, when you follow your heart and put it all out there, is that really insane? His driving force was his wife and family giving him the courage and support to move forward.
Steve grew up with a Dad who loved wine, and being the only son that was a bond that they shared. They would make homemade wines growing up and while in the 6th grade they moved to Germany where they lived for 8 years and traveled for family vacations to wineries all over Europe. As a kid bored out of his mind while his Dad tasted wine, little did he know that that was really the beginning of his own dream, and now reality.
Steve went on with an undergrad in Chemistry but out of college became a commercial diver in Alaska for three years. As he humorly tells the story with a big grin on his face, he soon came to realize that being stuck on a boat with a bunch of stinky men wasn’t his ideal way to spend his days. At that time he was dating a dental assistant so decided to go to dental school and practiced for a few years. Still in the back of his mind something was tugging at him and when he met his wife, Suzie, he would talk to her about his desire to be a winemaker. She influenced him to throw caution to the wind and go for it, so in 1994 he sold his dental practice and moved to Napa, buying an old chicken farm with 14 acres off the Silverado Trail. He’s a humble guy with allot of experience behind him. When he tells us he feels fortunate to have had three careers, you can see his sincerity and love of life behind those words.
You could say it’s just like a good friend of mine who sees on old beat up run-down house that has been ignored and mistreated yet he buys it and transforms it into this beautiful creation anyone would be proud to live in. Steve had that vision when he bought this chicken ranch. He saw lots of potential and knew it would take a ton of labor and love to turn it into what it is today. I am sure he can still remember that year of aches and pains from cleaning the property, driving the tractors, building everything himself from the fences to the tasting room as they lived in a friend’s garage during these renovations.
Now Steve can look back at all his accomplishments and tell his story while toasting a shot of tequila! Yep, you heard right guys, tequila. He is not only a wonderful winemaker but Steve will show you the proper way to do a tequila shot, and he insists you take those training wheels off so no sugar and no lime folks! He recalls his first wine dinner and his nerves were getting the best of him, so the staff told him to take a shot of tequila to relax. This is now a tradition during the start of each wine dinner he hosts, we all get a shot as he explains that 1 shot is wonderful, 2 is ok, 3 he doesn’t recommend and 4 for him only! So as we all raise our glass he gives thanks to the people in the kitchen who makes this happen and his customers who support him. He also gives us our trivia for the evening explaining that tequila is the only alcohol that is a stimulate, not a depressant, as it increases the serotonin production.
Steve’s philosophy is one that I agree with ~ if you don’t grow wonderful grapes, you won’t get wonderful juice. It’s allot like a chef, if your suppliers don’t supply you with the best grade in beef no matter what you season it with or how you prepare it, it won’t be that good. Although he lives in Napa he never forgets where these vines came from. His spin is different than others, as he wants to keep the fruit alive in your glass. He doesn’t deliver the A1, he delivers the steak.
Reynolds Family winery is Tuscan style, one of Steve’s father’s favorite winegrowing regions. Ten acres of Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1996 with their first release in 1999. They produce seven wines, including a Chardonnay, two Pinot Noirs (from the Russian River Valley and Los Carneros), a Merlot, the Estate Cabernet, a Reserve Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon and a red wine blend appropriately called “Persistence”. This particular evening we sampled six of them. Here are my top three favorites:
2006 Carneros Chardonnay:
White, like the Pinot, is a very finicky grape since they are so thin skinned. This particular wine they use stainless steel and ferment only the juice, removing all the skins. This allows the juice to be crisper and brighter with more lively acidity as well as allowing the fruit to really show through. As Steve explains, the vessel in which the juice is fermented in really does contribute to how the wine tastes. I am not usually a fan of white but his Chardonnay I certainly enjoyed. Bright, fresh crisp nose and very clean palate, with allot of fruit on the mid-palate. I can picture sitting on a boat or front porch with the first on-set of warm weather enjoying friend’s laughter and sipping this Chardonnay, one I believe that all wine drinkers will enjoy. It isn’t the buttery, vanilla oaky chard but more mineral flavor which I enjoy in this varietal Priced at $33.
2006 Stags Leap Merlot:
This is their smallest production wine with only 600 cases priced at $40. OK, so you may not think of Merlot in Stags Leap but they have 4 acres planted there. Their first Merlots went into blends and thankfully they are bottling this varietal now. They leave the skins on for 2 to 3 months in new oak barrels which softens the juice. Very true to the Merlot grape and really shows the fruit (blueberry I would say) with a hint of vanilla and mint and a bit of white pepper on the nose. Tasting notes say chocolate but I didn’t get to that, damn this cold, must go get another bottle. Smooth velvety finish. If you typically don’t care for Merlots, this one may very well turn you into a fan.
2004 “Persistence”
The Persistence is their first blended wine of Cab/Franc/Merlot/Petit Verdot/Syrah (yep, Syrah) for $50. Steve was right on the money with this rich, jammy flavor and most definitely a food wine. I also think this wine will cellar quite well and just get better in time.I would like to see how this shows in another year or two. I think the balance of the fruit works extremely well.
Now I didn’t get an opportunity to try any of Pinot’s yet but that is my next stop, and this post will follow up with one on his Pinot’s. You can visit online to order your wines or join their wine club to drink great wine anytime you want! Their wine club is called “Your Life Well Lived” which offers exclusive benefits. Their unique Wine Club not only presents delicious opportunities to acquire Reynolds Family wines at a great *20% discount, but you are always welcome to FREE tastings at the winery for you and a guest, you will be the first to receive new releases and limited production wines, as well as email updates and insider information on other projects like Fourteen and Naughty™. What’s more, each year your winter Club shipment will include an exclusive and rare Reynolds Family wine that is set aside just for Wine Club members only. As a member, you will receive personal invitations to(very fun) private events throughout the year, including the annual TTC Party (Tacos, Tequila, and Cabernet) open to Wine Club members only.
You can find Reynolds Family Winery right off the Silverado Trail in Napa. The winery is open from 10:00 to 4:30 daily and most Holidays, simply call 707-258-2558 to make an appointment.
