Double Diamond (Midsummer Cellars) Diamond Mtn Meritage 2000 - Thurston Geologist Premium Red 2012
Just returned from a week in Florida and the Magic Kingdom, son Ryan and Michelle invited me over to dinner. Ryan grilled bbq ribs on his new incredible Spectrum Series Webber Grill. He served a Thomas Thurston "The Geologist" Premium Red. I brought a Double Diamond Diamond Mtn Meritage.
Thomas Thurston "The Geologist" Premium Red 2012
According to the producer, "The Geologist was inspired by the dramatic volcanic and fluvial geology of eastern Washington’s viticulture regions. The front label shows a key component, the Snipes Mountain growing area, with its unique ancestral Columbia River conglomerate soils directly overlying ancient weathered basalt. The Geologist captures in the bottle this viticultural legacy as well as recognizing the professional inspiration of one of our family members; geoscientist, Michael Yeaman. This is the fifth vintage of this blend and was aged 22 months in French oak and three years in the bottle before release. Limited production of 104 cases with release October 2016."
This is a blend of:
Just returned from a week in Florida and the Magic Kingdom, son Ryan and Michelle invited me over to dinner. Ryan grilled bbq ribs on his new incredible Spectrum Series Webber Grill. He served a Thomas Thurston "The Geologist" Premium Red. I brought a Double Diamond Diamond Mtn Meritage.
Thomas Thurston "The Geologist" Premium Red 2012
According to the producer, "The Geologist was inspired by the dramatic volcanic and fluvial geology of eastern Washington’s viticulture regions. The front label shows a key component, the Snipes Mountain growing area, with its unique ancestral Columbia River conglomerate soils directly overlying ancient weathered basalt. The Geologist captures in the bottle this viticultural legacy as well as recognizing the professional inspiration of one of our family members; geoscientist, Michael Yeaman. This is the fifth vintage of this blend and was aged 22 months in French oak and three years in the bottle before release. Limited production of 104 cases with release October 2016."
This is a blend of:
- CABERNET SAUVIGNON (49%) – Upland Vineyard
- MERLOT (27%) – Crawford Vineyard
- CABERNET FRANC (15%) – Burgess Vineyard
- PETITE SIRAH (9%) – Zephyr Ridge Vineyard
RM 88 points.
Double Diamond Diamond Mountain (Midsummer Cellars) Meritage 2000
Since Ryan married a Diamond, I have fun collecting 'Diamond' labels and sharing them with him and wife Michelle. The Double Diamond Brand was marketed by Schrader Vineyards for several vintage releases from 2002 onward to this day. We hold a half dozen releases of Shrader Double Diamond during this period. This particular release in 2000 was 295 cases produced by Midsummer Cellars of Sebastapol, CA. The blend was 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 25% Petit Verdot.
Midsummer Cellars is Rollie and Sally Heitz
who started Midsummer Cellars that year, 2000 with the goal of making small lot
handcrafted wines of distinction that reflect the terroir of and
individuality of their vineyard sources.
Today, Midsummer Cellars
produces only vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from three
vineyards -- their own CaƱon Creek Vineyard, as well as the Tomasson, and
Clark-Claudon Vineyards; all of which show their distinct characteristics in
the wines created from them.
Rollie Heitz has a lifetime of winemaking experience having grown up in the business at his family’s Napa Valley winery. He learned how to make fine wines while working alongside his father, Joe Heitz, for several years before deciding to leave the family business and establish his own winery in 2000.
Today, Midsummer Cellars is located at the base of the foothills north of Saint Helena, just off the Silverado Trail. The winery is small -- with beautiful vistas to the east -- and within this small space we are able to produce true wines of distinction that we hope you will enjoy.
Rollie Heitz has a lifetime of winemaking experience having grown up in the business at his family’s Napa Valley winery. He learned how to make fine wines while working alongside his father, Joe Heitz, for several years before deciding to leave the family business and establish his own winery in 2000.
Today, Midsummer Cellars is located at the base of the foothills north of Saint Helena, just off the Silverado Trail. The winery is small -- with beautiful vistas to the east -- and within this small space we are able to produce true wines of distinction that we hope you will enjoy.
So this was the inaugural vintage release of Rollie Heitz with grapes sourced from this Diamond Mountain vineyard. I picked this up at auction from a lot of only three bottles so its not likely you'll see or find this soon.
This was dark garnet colored, medium full bodied with bright expressive black berry and black cherry fruits with a layer of tar, leather, smoke and tobacco leaf with moderate tannins on the finish.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=442292
http://midsummercellars.com/
P.S. I wrote to Rollie Heitz to see if we could meet during our upcoming trip to Napa. He promptly responded with the following note:
Good Morning Rick,
We actually just closed down Midsummer Cellars
last month and have opened a new venture "Tenuta Montorsolo.
We have purchased a small vineyard, winery and
home just outside of the small town of Todi in Umbria and we will begin making
wine there beginning with the 2018 harvest.
I'm sorry that we missed you. If you find
yourself heading to Umbria please look us up.
Thank you,
Rollie
In a message dated 7/6/2018 5:06:47 PM Pacific Standard
Time
We wish Rollie and company the best in their new venture in Umbria!