Vinum Wine Importing and Distributing, LLC

Johann Maximillian Lang (known as Hans) has been a winemaker at his family's Hans Lang Wine estate since 1972. Hattenheim is located in the unique wine-growing area of the Rheingau. Nestled between the rolling green Taunus hills and the Rhine River, its grapes ripen in optimal conditions.
"The terroir of the Rheingau is very special; nowhere else on earth are the climatic, geolocical and geographical features better suited to the traditional Rheingau varieties, suh as Riesling and pinot Noir. I strive for to craft the highest quality wines, which I believe to be the ultimate expression of this terroir. I feel that while a winemaker can possess many skills, good wine is essentially created in the vineyard. Organic methods are employed in our vineyards, the grapes are always harvested by hand and undergo strict selection to ensure only the healthiest fruit is used for our wines. Optimum ripeness is the "holy grail" for me and so the harvest often takes place as late as November. To promote ripeness we also deliberately restrict yields. It is quality, not quantity, for which we strive."
Hans is a member of the Charta Association and makes an astonishing Charta Riesling, a VDP member, has achieved "Grand Cru" status and is a member of the Barrique Forum. His methods and passion exemplify what top quality German wines were meant to be.
For tasting & technical notes, winery & vineyard information, please see: www.weingut-hans-lang.de/.

Family-produced, Award-winning Pinots for any Cuisine

Established in 2001 by owners Ken and Akiko Freeman in the Russian River Valley near Sebastopol, Freeman Vineyard & Winery crafts elegant cool climate California Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a Burgundian style. Given their American, European and Asian experience, the Freemans strive to make wines that will pair well with the abundance of exotic flavors encountered with international cuisine.

Ken and Akiko, together with Freeman’s celebrated winemaker Ed Kurtzman, oversee every step of winemaking from the hand sorting of fruit to final blending, with Akiko adding her talents and refined palate as assistant winemaker. Freeman sources fruit from a select portfolio of California vineyards, including Klopp Ranch, Keefer Ranch, Heintz Ranch and Black Emerald Vineyard. Freeman is a small California producer (< 5,000 cases/annually), comprised mostly of Pinot Noir, and a little Russian River Chardonnay. Freeman is focused on a more understated style of Pinot that is food-friendly, and has been decreasing the exposure to oak.

Freeman understands that there is a great need to offer European style wines that combine well with sometimes challenging foods, such as Asian cuisine. This approach has been paying off with an abundance of awards and accolades from NY Times, Tanzer, Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine, The Pinot Report, The San Francisco Chronicle and Burghound.com, as well as recognition as one of the “Magnificent 30” by Wine Spectator! Now that’s Alternative Napa!

SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY
For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information please see:

www.freemanwinery.com

Pioneering Anderson Valley’s Refreshing Wines with Great Acidity to Pair with Food!

Celebrating more than 25 years since her first vintage at Handley Cellars, Milla Handley has emerged as a champion of Anderson Valley wine production. Milla began Handley Cellars in 1982 in this valley after serving as assistant winemaker at Chateau St. Jean because it was removed from the entrenched winemaking culture. Handley has been committed to producing Pinot Noir, Gewurztramier, Pinot Gris and Riesling. Her passion and dedication has resulted in her selection as one of the featured “Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine” by Deborah Brenner.

Handley has two primary vineyards. The Anderson Valley estate vineyard has Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Gewurztraminer. The Dry Creek Valley vineyard near the Russian River in Sonoma County is planted with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Viognier. Handley produces approximately two to three thousand cases each of Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Milla has received accolades for many different wines over decades, including Tanzer, Wine Review Online, the LA Times, and Wine & Spirits Magazine, which named Handley Cellars the Best Mendocino Producer in 2007. In particular, Handley balances the acidity of her whites very well for a fresh and mouthwatering flavor that is consistently at the top of their class.

SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY
For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information please see:

www.handleycellars.com

Highly rated, Small Productions of Intense “Garagiste” Cabernets

Kevin Carriker began Kobalt Wines as a natural extension of an extensive and untraditional wine making experience, which left him with both juice-stained hands and an appreciation for quality wine making and the impact of “terroir”. From San Francisco wine shops, to family-owned wineries of Napa, to harvesting at Bordeaux chateaux, to even a brief attempt at producing wine in a St Helena garage, Kevin has focused his skills on making the finest Cabernet Sauvignon from fruit of a small vineyard in Coombsville (SE Napa). In 2001, he produced Kobalt’s first vintage with the help of friend, Mark Herold, winemaker at Merus, with an emphasis on nearly all Cabernet juice and ageing for nearly two years in new French oak. Since that time, the 2002, 2003 and 2004 vintages have all provided very limited, “micro-productions” (less than 400 cases each) of concentrated and intense Cabernets that have received high acclaim from Wine Spectator, Parker, Tanzer and others. Kobalt seems to live by the adage, that they do one thing, and do it very well. Perhaps untraditional training should be the new tradition in Napa! Carriker has produced a fantastic string of California Cabernet with excellent ratings from Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate and Tanzer.

SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON ONLY
For winery and award information, and tasting & technical notes, please see:

www.kobaltwines.com

There is a long history at the Schloss Vollrads estates making beautiful wines. A document in the Maines City Archives shows that on November 18, 1211, wines were sold to the St. Victor monastery in Mainz. Even in the Middle Ages Vollrads wines were a valuable commodity exported to towns along the Lower Rhine and in northern Germany.
The vines are still cultivated on the south-facing slopes that still fan out in a semi-circle around the palace. This long tradition is enhanced by the most modern technical equipment and meticulous care in the cellars. The estate's 55 hectares of vineyards are planted exclusively with Riesling grapes, the finest white wine grape grown in Germany. In order to achieve the highest quality of wine possible, Schloss Volllrads cultivates Riesling grapes; controls yields through stringent pruning; practices ecologically-oriented vineyard maintenance; harvests its grapes late and selectively, by hand; and allows its wines to develop with as little interference as possible. The cellarmaster strives to produce fruity Riesling wines that reflect their varietal character and to retain all the grapes' natural aromas.
The Schloss Vollrads team has received the Hessian State Award of Honor in 1998, 2000, and 2001

For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information please see:

www.schlossvollrads.de/

Bordeaux-style Wines to Complement Good Food, Friendship and One’s Life’s Work

Rubissow-Sargent produces handmade, elegant, single vineyard artisan-style red wines from the Mt Veeder AVA. Since 1983, this winery has been focused exclusively on producing Bordeaux style wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, including some vintages of Trompettes, a proprietary blend, that is predominantly Cabernet Franc. The vineyard and winery are a true partnership of the families of George Rubissow and Tony Sargent. For example, the fruit is produced in the Napa Valley, while winemaking takes place at their facilities in Berkeley, and Rubissow-Sargent uses night-harvesting to preserve the quality of their fruit. George’s children Ariel and Peter are also active partners in the grape growing and winemaking, and represent the passion of this winery’s next generation of wine producers!

Rubissow-Sargent is producing quality Bordeaux-style wines in the tradition of Bordeaux; small productions of classic varietals aged in oak with finesse. The wines produced are “…on the same plane as the best of Bordeaux”, according to the Fine Wine Review. Their wines have received acclaim at wine competitions, but most importantly these are highly regarded and cellared by many of the finest restaurants in the US, including Chicago’s Charlie Trotter’s, Berkeley’s Chez Panisse, New York’s Gramercy Tavern and DB Bistro Moderne, and Aspen’s Ajax Tavern, among others. Ronn Wiegand, Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and Publisher of Restaurant Wine has regularly reviewed these wines and commented that recent vintages are “Excellent!”

SOLD BY VINUM IN OREGON & WASHINGTON
For winery and vineyard information and tasting & technical notes, please see:

www.rubissowsargent.com

The Thanisch & Son winery is situated on the steep banks of the Mosel in the idyllic village of Lieser across the river from Bernkastel. The family-owned vinyard has produced wine since 1648 and has been operated by Jorg Thanisch since 2001, when he took over the estate from his father Ludwig.
The estate grows grapes on 5.5 hectares, yielding approximately 60,000 bottles a year. Most commonly planted is Riesling (75%), followed by Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. Jorg Thanisch's zeal is a high quality, limited production harvest that produces a great classic Mosel-Riesling. The wines are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks using natural yeast and are filtered only once before bottling. The estate also produces champagnes following traditional French methods.
Jorg Thanisch has already won many awards in both state and federal competitions and is considered at the forefront of a group of up-and-coming young Mosel vinters.

For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information please see:

www.dr-thanisch.de/

Roshambo Winery is the brainchild of Naomi Brilliant, a conceptual artist and granddaughter of renowned Sonoma County grape grower Frank Johnson. It was born of the simple idea that fine wine was too stuffy and needed to be slapped off its pedestal. Named after the West Coast slang for the ancient children's game, "Rock, Paper, Scissors," Roshambo is infused with a keen and playful sensibility. "Fighting for Fun in a Winey World" is their mantra and they try to live up to the billing. It's no surprise that with this strikingly original approach, Roshambo Winery has amassed an enthusiastic and loyal following. While their creative branding and grass roots marketing is eye-catching, their dedication to the art and craft of winemaking is what really drives Roshambo's popularity, and over the years their wines have garnered critical praise and armfuls of awards.

SOLD by VINUM IN OREGON ONLY
For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information and their blog please see:

www.roshambowinery.com

Selene Wines is a tiny producer of hand-crafted Napa Valley wines. Selene's wines are the personal winemaking expression of Mia Klein, a consulting winemaker. Selene's output is exclusively focused on the Bordeaux varietals that thrive in great Napa Valley vineyards. Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc have been produced since 1991. Cabernet Sauvignon and a Proprietary Red (Chesler) have been produced since 2002.?? With each release, Selene's goal has been to capture forward fruit flavors and vibrancy from the vineyard, and use minimalist winemaking techniques to frame the wines with extremely supple textures. The resulting wines are food-friendly. Open and accessible upon release, their wines have the necessary balance and complexity to enhance either home cooking or haute cuisine.

SOLD by VINUM IN OREGON ONLY
For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information and their blog please see:

www.selenewines.com

Linne Calodo Winery is a family-owned and operated winery, focused on the production of unique and exceptional, hand-crafted wines. The name derives from the distinctive limestone soils of the west side of Paso Robles where our vineyards are located. Linne Calodo focuses on creating unfined and unfiltered wines balanced through the blending of Rhone and Zinfandel varietals.
SOLD by VINUM IN OREGON ONLY
For winery and tasting notes information please see

www.linnecalodo.com

The Blees-Ferber estate is located on a hill above Leiwen in the Bernkastel area, showcasing a beautiful view of the Mosel and the surrounding vineyards.
Since winemaker Stefan Blees has taken over production of this family-owned estate in the mid-nineties, he has successfully increased the quality of the estate's wines year over year.
In short, quality not quantity matters to Stefan Blees. Through selective harvesting of the grapes, limited yields, tender care of the vines and environmentally friendly fertilization, he practices viticulture that is close to nature. The fermentation is temperature-controlled in relatively small steel and wood barrels to achieve elegant wines with distinct fruit notes.
The estate's vineyards stretch over a total territory of 7.8 hectares, producing an annual average of 50,000 bottles. Like most Mosel vineyards, the winery produces mainly Riesling, which makes up 86% of it's portfolio, followed by Rivaner, Pinoit Noir, and Pinot Blanc. 75% of the wine is dry or semi-dry and 25% is sweet or dessert wine.

For tasting & technical notes, winery & vineyard information, please see: www.blees-ferber.de.

Four Vines Wines are bold, eclectic wines that stay true to their nature. Christian Tietje has a passion for monster reds and his travels have led him far and wide in the pursuit of the red beast Zinfandel.
The vision of Four Vines is to create powerful and stylish wines from the finest Zinfandel regions anywhere: Paso Robles, Sonoma, Napa, and Amador. Christian sought out eclectic old vine vineyards and began to craft wines which express the unique characteristics of each appellation's soil, water and skyÉthe very flavor that terroir imparts to a glass of wine.
With his two partners, Susan A. Mahler and Bill grant, Four Vines is taking the wine world by storm.
For tasting & technical notes, winery & vineyard information, please see: www.fourvines.com.

Beckmen Vineyards has emerged as one of North America’s premier producers of Rhône varietal wines, while also helping to establish Santa Barbara County as one of California’s most highly regarded winegrowing regions. Founded in 1994 by Tom and Steve Beckmen, this is a family-run, estate winery located in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. Beckmen Vineyards produces a full line of exceptional estate-grown Rhône varietals including Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rosé, Marsanne, and the Cuvée Le Bec blend. It also produces small quantities of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Hailed for the excellence of its portfolio, Beckmen Vineyards was named Food & Wine’s “Most Promising Winery” in the magazine’s 2000 American Wine Awards. Beckmen Vineyards has lived up to that promise, and was selected as one of the “Top 100 Wineries” in the world by Wine & Spirits magazine.

SOLD BY VINUM IN WASHINGTON
For winery, tasting & technical notes, vineyard and award information please see:

www.beckmenvineyards.com