Edible Marin and Wine Country, Issue Three, Winter 2009
Top California Wines To Give As Gifts
by Kerrin Laz
Chronicle Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006
"It's not everyday when you have such a talented, well-established vintner like Ted Lemon of Littorai agreeing to make another winery's wine. That is, until now. We think the debut vintage of Chronicle is one of the best new Pinots to appear on our Pinot radar in months. Sourcing true Sonoma Coast Pinot Nair from three distinctly different vineyard sites, this wine shows focused red fruit with a touch of spice to keep things interesting on the palate. Smooth as silk, this Pinot is the best way to show your friends who are into Pinot that you know what this great grape is all about."
From Winetonite.com, Dec. 13, 2009
http://www.winetonite.com/2009/12/13/chronicle-a-new-wine-venture/
"I received some samples from the folks representing a new venture started in 2006 called Chronicle Wines. To kick the venture off right, the owner, Mike Hengehold, sought out two of the best Pinot Noir and Old Vine Zin winemakers in the North Coast: Ted Lemon and Dan Cederquist. If I was to start a wine business, this is one great way to get started, though I am not sure how economical it is to hire two seasoned veterans like these. However, chances are in your favor that there is going to be some pretty good wine produced.
Most probably know Ted Lemon is owner and winemaker of Littorai Wines in the Sonoma Coast. I had the pleasure of recently tasting some Pinot Noirs from Littorai that were made from Mendocino and Anderson Valley fruit and they were phenomenal. Let's not overlook that Ted studied in Burgundy and was the first American to become a winemaker of a French winery. You know the Pinot is going to be good and be reflective of the vineyard. Dan Cederquist started at Stag's Leap and then moved on to DeLoach, becoming an expert of Old Vines Zinfandel, which is exactly what Chronicle was looking for as well.
Here's the order in which I drank these, somewhat driven by the price points, which were surprisingly high having received them as samples, but then when I got down and dirty with each, it all became clear.
2006 Bacigalupi Zinfandel ($36) - Now we're hitting on all cylinders. This Zin was the bizz-omb! This wine was much more fruit-forward with big black fruits, including black cherries, on the nose followed by a good amount of spice on the palate with a just a hint of vanilla.
2006 Chronicle Cerise Pinot Noir ($48) - Bringing on some funk (forest floor), cherries and maybe even some meaty notes on the nose while a little heat blew off early one. This had a good bit of tannin for such a delicate varietal and finished strong with some spice. This is not your velvety smooth Burgundy and was made from Anderson Valley fruit.
Good Luck to Mike and the folks at Chronicle!"
From the Corkdork - Wine and Food Musing, Dec. 5, 2009
Chronicle Wines: 2006 Pinots are Well Worth Seeking Out
"Two really delicious Pinots came my way as samples and they are both very special. Chronicle Pinot Noir 2006 Sonoma Coast, and Chronicle 2006 Cerise Pinot Noir. As one would expect the Sonoma Coast is bright and really pops and the Cerise is a tad bit more serious. When I first opened the Cerise, I thought I smelled a bit of brett, but after a few minutes in the glass, it was that same mysterious near-brett smell that is in a lot of Burgundies. It's the barnyard, forest floor, slightly mossy smell that most people perceive as herbaceousness. I had an excellent Charmes-Chambertin last week that had a very similar aroma from Nicolas Potel. It also has the delicate touch of Littorai's Ted Lemon behind it, so no wonder it's a serious, cellar-worthy wine.
The 2006 Sonoma Coast has a lovely freshness that reminds me of young Gap's Crown area Pinots, from Patz & Hall or Harrington, both wines I really like. It has a distinctive bing cherry aroma and it screams to be paired with food. It is ready to drink now in it's exuberant youth, but a few years in the cellar will make it less angular.
To accompany these wines, I made some roasted salmon with leek-mushroom hash and some wild rice blend. I love the way Pinot compliments simple salmon dishes.
Both these wines are highly recommended."
From TasteWine, Ray Johnson's Wine Blog, Nov 21, 2009
http://rjwine.com/blog/2009/11/21/chronicle-pinot-noirs-2006/
Chronicle, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir 2006
"The nose sports sweet cherry and raspberries, with vanilla and cinnamon. The mouth shows these fruits again in a sleek format, a texture that is silky and ripe – delicious. Think about this Pinot when you want one to drink straight away; the soft profile makes it immediately accessible. The grapes for this wine were sourced from McDougall Ranch, Castaldi Vineyard and DeMeo Vineyard. Cellared and bottled in Angwin 14.3% $35 retail, a media sample.
Chronicle, Anderson Valley, Cerise Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2006
Give this Pinot a good 30 minutes of air to blow off a bit of reductive character. Then you'll find the toasty oak coming through in the nose, with strawberries, rhubarb, caramel, a little forest floor and gaminess. In the mouth this is a dense Pinot, with plenty of acidity, ripe tannins and great length. Think about having that Thanksgiving Turkey with this wine, as the structure is there to foil the rich gravy you might be planning, as you leave the diet in the closet for a day."
Sonoma County Harvest Fair 2009
GOLD! - 2006 Chronicle Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
SILVER - 2006 Chronicle Old Vine Zinfandel, Russian River
BRONZE - 2006 Chronicle Hundred Year Zinfandel, Russian River
San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 25, 2009
2006 Chronicle Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir ($48)
"OK, I admit - we like the name. But this effort sourced from a south-facing site above Boonville has not only a great fruit pedigree but also the skilled hand of Littorai's Ted Lemon making the wine. The ripe cherry flavors have an invigorating tension, edged by complex aromas: pine cone, sweet cherry, fresh flowers and marmalade."