Dec 30, 2022
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Press Cellars
| Owner(s) | Patrick Campbell |
| Web site | www.presscellars.com |
| Link to this site |
Wine buyer and retailer Patrick Campbell became interested in winemaking as a way to learn more about wines that he was discovering for his customers. He made his first wine in 2008, a Sonoma County Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, with the assistance of winemaker Sal Galvan.
The next project was a Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Most recently, Campbell has crafted a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The wines are distributed in San Diego and Orange Counties.
Articles About Press Cellars
Recent Pinot Noir Wines I Have Enjoyed (12.6 5/25/2020)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir (9.50 11/21/2014)
Sips of Recently Tasted California Wines (11.3 5/6/2017)
Sips of Recently Tasted White Wines (10.3 1/22/2015)
Reviewed Wines
2015 Press Cellars Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 300 cases, $25. (Just being
released currently). Wine buyer and retailer Patrick Campbell crafts a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
and an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir from Helluva Vineyard, 5.5 acres located near Boonville. I scored this wine
93 and it is now sold out. The winery is owned by three families from San Diego: Campbells, McDonalds and
Giboneys. Smith Story Wine Cellars, Betwixt Wines and Handley Cellars have bottled vineyard-designated
wines from this vineyard. Pommard 5 clone. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. www.presscellars.com.
·
Dark garnet
color in the glass. This wine offers the typical black cherry fruit aromas and flavors of the Pommard clone.
Bombastic in style, with well incorporated oak seasoning and agreeable tannins, finishing with a satisfying
black cherry cordial finish. This beauty reminds me of a typical Russian River Valley Pommard-based, wellripened
Pinot Noir such as those produced at J. Rochioli. The price is not a misprint!
Score: 92.
Reviewed May 25, 2020
ARTICLE »
2014 Press Cellars Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $N/A (2013
vintage was $30 and a Double Gold Winner at 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition).
Pommard clone. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 60% new.
·
Moderate garnet color in the
glass. Inviting aromas of black cherry, raspberry, dark red rose and toasty oak. Impressive attack of
cherry fruit that is expansive in the mid palate and finishes with length. A bit of baking spice, brown
sugar and dark chocolate add interest. Ideal balance, with a glorious finish that goes on and on. A
real find.
Score: 93.
Reviewed May 7, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Press Cellars Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $40. New release. From a 5.5-acre vineyard managed by
Sal Galvan who is also the winemaker along with proprietor Patrick
Campbell. Inaugural Pinot Noir release from this winery. 100% destemmed.
Aged 10 months in 60% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderate
reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, bacon fat
and nutty oak. Mid weight plus flavors of black cherry, black raspberries,
brown spice and a touch of smoke, anise-laced oak. Nicely balanced
with modest tannin and acidity. The mid palate attack is robust and the
finish is filled with darker fruit goodness. Better the following day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle with better oak integration and
more soaring aromatics. A solid wine that will find appeal.
Score: 90.
Reviewed November 19, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Press Cellars Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
15.3% alc., 100
cases, $38. Partial whole cluster with native yeast fermentation. Aged 10 months in 50% new
American oak and 50% neutral French oak.
·
Light golden straw color and clear in the glass. Bold
aromas of lemon-lime and toasted oak. A bit unusual in flavor, with notes of cut apple, poached pear,
grilled pineapple, toast and burnt toffee. Creamy in the mouth, with noticeable fruit ripeness and
fullness, made for the California palate.
Score: 86.
Reviewed January 23, 2015
ARTICLE »
2015 Press Cellars Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 300 cases, $25. (Just being released currently). Wine buyer and retailer Patrick Campbell crafts a Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir from Helluva Vineyard, 5.5 acres located near Boonville. I scored this wine 93 and it is now sold out. The winery is owned by three families from San Diego: Campbells, McDonalds and Giboneys. Smith Story Wine Cellars, Betwixt Wines and Handley Cellars have bottled vineyard-designated wines from this vineyard. Pommard 5 clone. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. www.presscellars.com. · Dark garnet color in the glass. This wine offers the typical black cherry fruit aromas and flavors of the Pommard clone. Bombastic in style, with well incorporated oak seasoning and agreeable tannins, finishing with a satisfying black cherry cordial finish. This beauty reminds me of a typical Russian River Valley Pommard-based, wellripened Pinot Noir such as those produced at J. Rochioli. The price is not a misprint! Score: 92. Reviewed May 25, 2020 ARTICLE »
2014 Press Cellars Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $N/A (2013 vintage was $30 and a Double Gold Winner at 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition). Pommard clone. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Inviting aromas of black cherry, raspberry, dark red rose and toasty oak. Impressive attack of cherry fruit that is expansive in the mid palate and finishes with length. A bit of baking spice, brown sugar and dark chocolate add interest. Ideal balance, with a glorious finish that goes on and on. A real find. Score: 93. Reviewed May 7, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Press Cellars Helluva Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $40. New release. From a 5.5-acre vineyard managed by Sal Galvan who is also the winemaker along with proprietor Patrick Campbell. Inaugural Pinot Noir release from this winery. 100% destemmed. Aged 10 months in 60% new French oak barrels. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherries, bacon fat and nutty oak. Mid weight plus flavors of black cherry, black raspberries, brown spice and a touch of smoke, anise-laced oak. Nicely balanced with modest tannin and acidity. The mid palate attack is robust and the finish is filled with darker fruit goodness. Better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle with better oak integration and more soaring aromatics. A solid wine that will find appeal. Score: 90. Reviewed November 19, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Press Cellars Bacigalupi Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay
15.3% alc., 100 cases, $38. Partial whole cluster with native yeast fermentation. Aged 10 months in 50% new American oak and 50% neutral French oak. · Light golden straw color and clear in the glass. Bold aromas of lemon-lime and toasted oak. A bit unusual in flavor, with notes of cut apple, poached pear, grilled pineapple, toast and burnt toffee. Creamy in the mouth, with noticeable fruit ripeness and fullness, made for the California palate. Score: 86. Reviewed January 23, 2015 ARTICLE »