A Cult Worthy Merlot
Rutherford, California
Wine Style: New World / Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 97 points
Article Written: August 2014
Article Updated: September 2019
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
Château or Vineyard Owner:
Cheryl Emmolo
Winemaker:
Jenny Wagner
Pronounced (m – oh – low), these wines are near or if not already considered cult status, part of the Wagner Family of Wines, Emmolo was my first introduction into finer “cult style” California wines, and it continues to impress. Therefore, I have no reservations by subjectively saying that they have the best damn Merlot in all of California if not the West coast.
Emmolo is named after Winemaker, Jenny Wagner’s Italian maternal family and was founded in 1994 by her mother, Cheryl Emmolo. The family immigrated to the US in 1923 from Palermo, Sicily and purchased property in Rutherford, Napa Valley. Her grandparents, Frank and Annie continue to live on the property planting Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot grapes. Emmolo wines are produced from grapes grown in four vineyards. The Sauvignon Blanc is an elegant and refined style that is subtle and balanced, with minerality and bright natural acidity and the Merlot is well-balanced with superbly rich fruit, soft tannins, and dark color.
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| Emmolo Winery / Merlot Tasting |
Emmolo Winery is also run by Chuck Wagner, famous for his Caymus brand of wines. I first heard about Emmolo wines, particularly the Merlot back in 2008 when I was working in a restaurant and a buddy of mine, the Sommelier for the Restaurant brought it onto the wine menu and told some stories about it. The funny thing is that some if not most of these stories are false, but they are told well, and it encourages people to remember the wine that they are drinking. As an example, the story that was told to us about Emmolo was that the husband and wife were fighting over the vineyard one day because sales were very low. The next day the husband vanished, and the wife took over all the operations of the vineyard. The following year they became the top-selling Merlot in California.
Again great stories to grab your attention. However, what really made me remember was the story ending as my Sommelier friend told it. He said that the wife got so mad at the husband that she killed him, chopped him up, and buried him in the vineyard, and it added to the fertilizer, which made the grapevines, grow like crazy, and thus produce a wonderful Merlot. Just like the movie, Bottle Shock got more people to try Château Montelena, and Gustavo Brambila wines again, maybe stories like mine and others can do the same for Emmolo.
Stories aside, my first tasting of this wine was like pure heaven. I was not a very big fan of Merlot back then and still am very meticulous about it to this day, but Emmolo helped me to bridge the gap and give me a finer appreciation of grape varietals. I am glad that I am here to share this story with you so that you can order your own case of Merlot either through their website or a distributor. Enjoy folks.
Wine and Grape:
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Nose (Bouquet):
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Palate Experience:
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Merlot 2011
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Winemaker Notes:
This first release exhibits aromas of mahogany smoke, leather and brown spice
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Winemaker Notes:
Well-balanced Merlot with superbly rich fruit, soft tannins, and dark color. Earthy flavors intertwine with caramelized plum and smooth tannins reminiscent of ground cocoa.
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Sauvignon Blanc 2012
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Winemaker Notes:
Light and soft-bodied offer a firm acidity balanced with a stark, steely flavor. Aromas are fresh and clean, evoking the scent of early morning after a first rain, with a hint of honeysuckle and underlying notes of tangerine and wet stone.
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Winemaker Notes:
The wine enters the palate with crisp yet soft quality, flowing into flavors of a flower blossom and ending with a mouthwatering finish of fresh-squeezed grapefruit. A long-lasting, zesty minerality leaves the sensation of both subtlety and brightness.
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Final notes, review basics, and observations:
*** NOTE TO THE READER ***
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about.
To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
I refer to myself as an oenophile though, oenophilia is defined as “a disciplined devotion to wine, accompanying strict traditions of consumption and appreciation.” In a general sense, oenophilia also refers to the enjoyment of wine, often by a layman — which I am, and not qualified as a professional. I just enjoy drinking it, so my rating is based on enjoyment and the overall experience, not the science of an expert, and thus subjective, not objective. See the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ on how I arrived at the rating percentage below:
Review basics:
Overall Star Rating For Emmolo Winery:
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97/100:
An Extraordinary Tasting Experience
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93/100 on the 2011 Merlot
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Wines Produced by Emmolo
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Red: Merlot, Syrah
White: Sauvignon Blanc
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Barrel Types and Aging:
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100% French oak barrels and stainless steal for 19 months.
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Wine regulatory’s for the tastings in this article:
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.” - David Auerbach
United States:
California:
Sub-Napa AVA’s:
Other California wines, wineries (Château’s), or food articles on Wine Dine and Play:
Napa - A Sip and Taste in Wine County A 3-day tour of wineries and fine dining restaurants in Napa County, California
Blackbird Vineyards Wine Tasting An ultra-premium terroir in Napa, California
Castello di Amorosa Tuscan inspired castle with wine — friends of the Baron - Calistoga, Napa, California
Chateau Montelena The famed Bottle Shock “Judgement of Paris” winner in Calistoga, California
Crocker and Star Wine Tasting Capturing the essence of Cabernet in St Helena, California
Flying Horse Wine Tasting A spirited winery with Arabian horses in Oakville, California
Gustavo Winery Artisan winemaker whose story is tied to “The Judgement of Paris” in Napa, California
Hoopes Winery Tasting Cult cabernet winemaker with Liparita and Hoopes labels in Oakville, California
Jonata Winery Tasting Screaming Eagles sister winery, El Desafio cab, in Santa Barbara, California
Kamen Estates Low yield, high quality + film writing in Sonoma, California
Ma(i)sonry Wine Tasting An aesthetic portfolio of wines in Yountville, California
Mirror Wine Tasting A beautiful Cabernet from a family of entrepreneurs in St Helena, California
Ottimino Winery Exclusive red Zinfandel producer partnered with William Knuttel in Sonoma, California
Row 11 Santa Maria Pinot An Old World style Pinot from Santa Maria, California
Row 11 Tasting Pinot grapes using Dijon clones in Santa Maria, California
Silver Oak Cellars Near the Silverado Trail, known for high-end Cabernet in Oakville, California
Twomey Wine Tasting Napa and Sonoma wines owned by Silver Oak, Calistoga, Napa California
Volker Eisele Wine Tasting An elegant family estate in the Chiles Valley district of St Helena, California
California cuisine is a style of cuisine marked by an interest in fusion cuisine (integrating disparate cooking styles and ingredients) and in the use of freshly prepared local ingredients. The food is typically prepared with strong attention to presentation. Foods low in saturated fats and high in fresh vegetables and fruits with lean meats and seafood from the California coast often define the style.
5A5 Steak Lounge Modern Japanese steakhouse with chic design in San Francisco, California
Alioto’s Restaurant Historic restaurant serving Sicilian-infused seafood in San Francisco, California
Casita Taqueria a fast-casual taqueria serving homemade artisan Mexican food specializing especially in tacos and burritos in St. Petersburg, Florida
Ciccio Cali inspired cuisine from California using antibiotic-free meats, organic and Non-GMO vegetables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Cowgirl Creamery Artisan Cheese Shop “aka” Cowgirl Cantina in Point Reyes Station, California
FarmTable Cucina organic, sustainable, and local with a focus on Italian and New American themes in St. Petersburg, Florida
FarmTable Kitchen Casual Cal-Italian cuisine and chef tables in St. Petersburg, Florida
Fleur de Lys Lavish French-Californian by Hubert Keller in San Francisco, California
Gaia Restaurant Organic and sustainable concept in American Canyon, California (Renamed Table 29 Bistro and Bar)
Greystone CIA Restaurant CIA School restaurant formally called Wine Spectator now Gate House in Calistoga, California
The French Laundry French-American fine dining restaurant in Yountville, California
Wipeout Bar and Grill Surf shack theme with California and Mexican cuisine in San Francisco, California
Wolfgang Puck Celebrity Chef’s California cuisine and fine dining chain; reviewed in Orlando, Florida
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
A Few New World Favorites:
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional wine-growing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, South Africa, United States (California, Florida, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State,Virginia),Thailand, and Uruguay.
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A tour of food and wine from a 2015 tour in Oregon wine country
Dundee, Willamette, Oregon
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Bespoke wines and panoramic views
Constantia, South Africa
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Victoria’s First Vineyard from 1838
Yarra Glen, Yarra Valley, Australia
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Some Old World Favorites:
Old World wine refers primarily to wine made in Europe but can also include other regions of the Mediterranean basin with long histories of winemaking such as North Africa and the Near East. These countries include Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey.
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A French Style Wine Bar at the Conrad Hotel
Dubai, UAE
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A Cru Bourgeois Supérieur
Cussac-Fort-Médoc, Bordeaux, France
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Sancerre wines
Loire Valley, France
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See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary by country”
Bottle Prices
(excluding taxes)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricey)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major wine countries and connoisseur’s**
Currency rates in the top wine-producing & wine purchasing countries:
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Price Chart :
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Merlot (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Australian Dollar (AUS)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
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$$
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South African Rand (ZAR)
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RRRR
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Sauvignon Blanc (750 ml)
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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£
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European Union (EUR)
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€
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Cost of Wine Tasting (p/p):
Signature Flight: $25.00
Emmolo Wines:
Caymus Tasting Room
8700 Conn Creek Rd
Rutherford, CA 94573
PO Box 7
Rutherford, CA 94573
Tasting Room Information:
Website:
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Tasting room:
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+1 707 967 3010
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Email:
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Tasting Room Hours:
Pacific Standard Time (GMT, Zulu, or UTC-8:00)
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Monday - Sunday:
09:30 am - 4:30 pm
Emmolo wines are tasted at the Caymus Vineyards winery, which pours and sells Caymus, Mer Soleil, Belle Glos, and Conundrum, also produced by the Wagner Family.
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Social Media
And
Accolades for
Emmolo:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Eclectic & innovative gastropub using molecular gastronomy
Tampa, Florida, USA
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Seasonally inspired continental European fare
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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High-end bistro with modern New Zealand cuisine
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Other Emmolo Pictures:
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| Emmolo Winery / White wines |
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| Emmolo Winery / Merlot Label |
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| Emmolo Winery / Labels |
“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is the strength, in the water there are bacteria.”
- David Auerbach
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
