click to print this page2007 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
San Francisco Chronicle 7/11/10
Recommended -- Winemaker Mike Januik blended multiple lots, including the Alberg family's estate parcel, to craft this outperforming effort. A darker profile, with black olive pit, cassis, leather and stony accents. The texture's chewy but refined, with lots of freshness to balance the black fruit.
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Recommended
Chardonnay, Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Offers toasty pear and apple aromas with some tropical fruits in the background. This leads to a focused, balanced Chardonnay with ripe flavors, a smooth texture, and excellent length.
Roussanne, Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Reveals aromas of candle wax and melon. This leads to a wine with ripe midpalate, concentrated flavors, excellent balance, and a crisp finish.
Sauvignon Blanc, Stillwater Creek Vineyard
It features crisp lemon-line aromas and flavors. The wine is well balanced with lively acidity and a refreshing finish.
Syrah
A top-notch effort featuring aromas of game, bacon, black currant, and blueberry. Firm and structured on the palate, the wine has ample ripe, spicy black and blue fruit flavors and an elegant personality.
Viognier, Stillwater Creek Vineyard
Features peach and apricot aromas followed by a moderately intense, crisp wine. . . a solid example of Washington Viognier.
2006 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2009 -- Our first Columbia Valley Cabernet debuted in 2001. Since that time, not only has this wine earned 90+ ratings every vintage but it has also been named to Wine Spectator's prestigious Top 100 list twice, first for the 2003 vintage and now again for the 2006 (rated 92 pts). While the 2006 sold out last summer, the 2007 is every bit as lovely.
2007 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Viognier
93 pts. Wine Enthusiast 12/1/09
Editors’ Choice -- This is clearly one of the finest Viogniers in the state, succulent and creamy, taking the varietal flavors of peach and pear and adding streaks of vanilla and caramel—not overdone, just hints that add richness to the flavors and roundness in the mouth.
2007 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
92 pts. Wine Enthusiast 12/1/09
Editors’ Choice -- Here is another outstanding Sauvignon Blanc from Novelty Hill — ripe and juicy, showing citrus, mango and pear, laced with cinnamon highlights. Winemaker Mike Januik manages to get the most from these young vines, crafting white wines that are both rich and elegant, retain varietal character, and seduce you with hedonistic detail.
2007 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Chardonnay
91 pts. Wine Advocate 10/31/09
The 2007 Chardonnay Stillwater Creek Vineyard went through full malalolactic fermentation. It is light gold-colored with attractive aromas of slate/mineral, apple, pear, and white peach. Crisp and restrained on the palate, this lengthy effort will offer pleasure over the next 3-4 years.
2006 Novelty Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
90+ pts. Wine Advocate 10/31/09
Ripe, spicy, and flavorful on the palate . . . The Novelty Hill wines are made by the talented Mike Januik. This portfolio over-delivers in a very big way.
2006 Novelty Hill Syrah, Columbia Valley
90 pts. Wine Advocate 10/31/09
The 2006 Syrah Columbia Valley emits aromas of smoke, bacon, grilled meat, and blueberry. Full-bodied and round on the palate, it manages to retain a sense of elegance with its tasty fruit and excellent balance. The Novelty Hills wines are made by the talented Mike Januik. This portfolio over-delivers in a very big way.
2005 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
92 pts. Wine Enthusiast 12/01/08
Powerful yet restrained, this wine beautifully expresses the delicate and nuanced aspects of Cabernet Sauvignon with the herbal side of the grape in full force. Everything is tied together in a neat and tidy bundle, with sweet blackberry fruit surrounded by leaf and earth, leading into ripe but stiff tannins and just the right elements of mocha toast. Will it age? Undoubtedly; but hard not to drink it right now.
2005 Novelty Hill Stillwater Creek Vineyard Merlot
90 pts. Wine Enthusiast 12/01/08
The estate vineyard Merlot includes a splash of Cabernet and Petit Verdot; it’s beefed up considerably from the regular Columbia Valley Merlot. More muscle and weight translates more to a stylistic choice than a better wine; both Merlots are substantial and satisfying, with much more flesh to the red fruit flavors, and the tannic backbone to carry the wine through a smooth finish.