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Sonoma-Loeb
| Owner(s) | Chappellet Winery |
| Web site | www.sonomaloeb.com |
| Link to this site |
Owner John L. Loeb, Jr., was the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark from 1981 to 1983 and later served as a US Delegate to the United Nations. He is a member of the Loeb and Lehman families (Loeb, Rhoades & Co, and Lehman Brothers).
Loeb has been growing grapes in the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley since 1973. The winery's winemaker is Phillip Titus who crafts wines in the "Burgundian" mold. Titus has been the winemaker at both Chappellet Winery and Sonoma-Loeb for over 20 years and makes wine under his own label, Titus Vineyards.
The Sonoma-Loeb 2007 Chardonnay was the first wine in the US to be carbon neutral.
Sonoma-Loeb was sold to Chappellet Winery in 2011.
The Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are sold through a mailing list with limited retail and restaurant distribution.
Articles About Sonoma-Loeb
Reviewed Wines
2010 Sonoma-Loeb Carneros Private Reserve Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.62, $23. Sourced
from one small block of Sangiacomo’s famed “Home” Ranch. Fermented in French oak barrels, aged on the
lees for 8 months, and underwent full malolactic fermentation during the aging process. 75% new French oak
barrels.
·
Light straw color and clear in the glass. Fresh fruity aromas of pears and peach cobbler along with
scents of pastry cream and buttered brioche. Creamy and soft on the palate without perceptible tannin,
featuring flavors of crème brûlée, honeyed pear, and gentle toasty oak. Discreet richness with well-integrated
acidity, finishing with some persistence. Very good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Sonoma-Loeb Envoy Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.5%
alc., pH 3.66, TA 0.56, $40. Sourced from plantings of Rued clone and
Robert Young clone at Dutton Ranch. 80% malolactic fermentation, aged
in 50% new French oak barrels.
·
Light straw color and clear. Demure but
very pleasant aromas of lemon curd, Asian pear, and citrus peel leading
to flavors of baked pear, pineapple, brioche, toast and baking spice.
Slightly creamy on the palate and impeccably balanced. A little richer than the
Carneros bottling with slightly more length on the finish. Like this wine for its
polish and exuberance.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Sonoma-Loeb Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., pH 3.83, TA 0.50,, $45. Clones 667 and
777 from one of the Dutton family’s most prized blocks. Long cold soak, indigenous yeasts, unfined and
unfiltered. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels.
·
Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Richly perfumed
with brandied black cherries, spice, and oak-driven aromas of herbs and vanilla. Full-bodied, husky style, with
a big heart of black cherry and blackberry fruit and a staccato of cola, and chocolate. Well oaked, with nicely
managed tannins. This wine makes a statement. A little too close to Syrah for my comfort, but very well made
in its style. Very good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Sonoma-Loeb Russian River Valley Loeb Family Selection Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $40.
·
Darkly colored in the glass. Shy and
muted fruit aromas which emerge slowly with swirling. Full-bodied essence of
black cherries and boysenberries with a hint of oak spice. Soft in the mouth with
dry, youthful tannins. A little more expressive the following day from a previously
opened and re-corked bottle. Big bottle, big fruit, big tannin but doesn’t deliver
much interesting flavor or nuance. Decent.
Reviewed May 15, 2011
ARTICLE »
2010 Sonoma-Loeb Carneros Private Reserve Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.60, TA 0.62, $23. Sourced from one small block of Sangiacomo’s famed “Home” Ranch. Fermented in French oak barrels, aged on the lees for 8 months, and underwent full malolactic fermentation during the aging process. 75% new French oak barrels. · Light straw color and clear in the glass. Fresh fruity aromas of pears and peach cobbler along with scents of pastry cream and buttered brioche. Creamy and soft on the palate without perceptible tannin, featuring flavors of crème brûlée, honeyed pear, and gentle toasty oak. Discreet richness with well-integrated acidity, finishing with some persistence. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Sonoma-Loeb Envoy Russian River Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.66, TA 0.56, $40. Sourced from plantings of Rued clone and Robert Young clone at Dutton Ranch. 80% malolactic fermentation, aged in 50% new French oak barrels. · Light straw color and clear. Demure but very pleasant aromas of lemon curd, Asian pear, and citrus peel leading to flavors of baked pear, pineapple, brioche, toast and baking spice. Slightly creamy on the palate and impeccably balanced. A little richer than the Carneros bottling with slightly more length on the finish. Like this wine for its polish and exuberance. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Sonoma-Loeb Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., pH 3.83, TA 0.50,, $45. Clones 667 and 777 from one of the Dutton family’s most prized blocks. Long cold soak, indigenous yeasts, unfined and unfiltered. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels. · Dark reddish-purple color in the glass. Richly perfumed with brandied black cherries, spice, and oak-driven aromas of herbs and vanilla. Full-bodied, husky style, with a big heart of black cherry and blackberry fruit and a staccato of cola, and chocolate. Well oaked, with nicely managed tannins. This wine makes a statement. A little too close to Syrah for my comfort, but very well made in its style. Very good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Sonoma-Loeb Russian River Valley Loeb Family Selection Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $40. · Darkly colored in the glass. Shy and muted fruit aromas which emerge slowly with swirling. Full-bodied essence of black cherries and boysenberries with a hint of oak spice. Soft in the mouth with dry, youthful tannins. A little more expressive the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Big bottle, big fruit, big tannin but doesn’t deliver much interesting flavor or nuance. Decent. Reviewed May 15, 2011 ARTICLE »
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