Thumbprint Cellars Winemaker's Reserve Climax Dry Creek Valley Red Blend 2009


Our thumbprints on each bottle represent the handcrafted quality you expect from this artisan winery. Along with our wildly popular three some and four play blends, we offer yet another provocative potion. The deep garnet hue creates visual stimulation. Arousing aromas of extracted spiced berry build to deliver layers of flavors: soaking wet dark berry, exotic spice, succulent cocoa, bursting cherry and sensual oak penetrate in and out of the tasting experience. Satin sheet like tannins induce the warm finish like blackberries dipped in melted dark chocolate. Pair with a classic pornographic video & raw or naked foods.
325 cases crafted~Vegan


By Jonathan H. Newman*
Thumbprint Cellars Winemaker's Reserve Dry Creek Valley 2009 CLIMAX‏
UNIT SIZE: 750.00 ml
VARIETAL: Red blend
VINTAGE: 2009
GRAPE: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Viognier
COUNTRY: United States
REGION: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
ALCOHOL CONTENT: 14.70%
POINTS: 91-92
Winemaker Scott Lindstrom-Dake has a great sense of humor and the name of the wine and the provocative language on the back label says it all. And by the way, this red blend is indeed quite a precocious Reserve wine with loads of generous seductive fruit. A dark purple hue. An enticing nose filled with aromas of dark cherries, plum and cinnamon. The palate has layers of dense fruit including dark raspberries, dark cherries, cassis and vanillin wood spice. Velvety textured with a nice long finish. Aerate and enjoy now or hold for several more years. Pair with rib eye or delmonico steaks, prime rib, spicy beef dishes, homemade chili and smoked pork chops.

From the winery: This Climax red wine blend is a culmination of creativity and amazing wine grape growing. I am fortunate to work so closely with top quality growers in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley. The result is this opulent red wine! Easy enough to pair with a wide array of cuisine but rewarding on it's own, this Climax is made to satisfy. Dark cherry, mocha, cranberry and nutmeg aromas and flavors build to an insatiable finish. Enjoy now and for many years with proper cellaring.
2009 Climax, Dry Creek Valley red wine blend, Winemaker's Reserve.
45% Syrah Candy Shop Vineyard - DCV, 20% Zinfandel Shippey Vineyard - DCV, 15% Cabernet Franc Pedroni Vineyard - DCV, 10% merlot Schneider Vineyard - DCV, 6% petite sirah Candy shop vineyard -DCV, 4% viognier DCV.
40% new French and American, oak barrel aged.
A well balanced wine that shows enormous fruit and spice integration into a richly textured mouthfeel with a soft tannin finish.
14.70% Alcohol
pH 3.69
TA 0.66*
 

 

 

“Being raised in the wine country and watching the seasonal climate differences has allowed me to better understand the subtleties between these valleys. Each appellation’s microclimate is best suited for the development of their respective varietal. Taste for yourself the balance and ripeness allowed in my wines. Enjoy with fine food and share these treasures with your friends.”
~ Scott Lindstrom-Dake, Proprietor/Winemaker

Thumbprint’s Story
thumbprint cellars’ winemaker, Scott Lindstrom-Dake, has been making wine since 1995. “I developed a palate for fine wine, but as a college student I couldn’t afford to buy it. My mom and step-dad have been growing premium wine grapes for years and the light bulb just kind of went on- I can make my own wine.” So it began, a hobby in college to supplement the ‘cellar’ of he and his wife.
The first vintage was a great success. The wines were enjoyed by friends and family alike (all 4 cases of it), and demand began to grow. As requests for more wine grew, Scott decided to move away from ‘shiners’ (unlabeled bottles), and add a little flair to his wine packaging. Using a gold pen, he would write personal messages on each bottle he gave away or sold. During one such episode, Scott inadvertently grabbed the bottle where the gold ink was still wet – leaving a large gold thumbprint. He loved the look, and so thumbprint cellars was born.
Erica and Scott Lindstrom-Dake, proprietors of thumbprint cellars, are always in awe of the beauty and bounty that Sonoma County offers thumbprint cellars. They look forward to seeing thumbprint cellars take its place alongside the many fantastic wine producers of Sonoma County (and the world!). Cheers! [thumbprintcellars.com]

*Jonathan Newman served for years as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (“PLCB”), the largest buyer of wine and spirits in the U.S., and the largest purchaser of California wines in the world. He was awarded the Guild of Sommeliers highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award in 2005. Mr. Newman's reviews have been published and quoted extensively online and in print. He travels extensively to all the major wine growing regions and evaluates many of the wines we source from smaller and boutique wineries. We interact closely with him and the result is a rejection rate of over 96% of the wines submitted.