When you choose a bottle of wine, what attracts you first?
The bottle? The label?
Increasingly, I’m focusing on the “story” that accompanies the wine.
The importance of “story” was driven home by my tasting, food and wine pairing, and conversation today with Bill Nancarrow, winemaker at
Goosecross
Lunch with Goosecross
Story of Bill Nancarrow, Winemaker
Bill was born in New Zealand, but after hospitality school in S. Africa he landed in the Napa Valley.
He worked his way up to become winemaker at Duckhorn before his present position at Goosecross.
He believes the the very best wine is made in the vineyard.
Goosecross is the love child of husband and wife duo, Christi Coors Ficeli and Dave Ficeli. Both beverage industry veterans, they had long dreamed of owning their own winery in the Napa Valley. In 2012 they were fortunate to stumble upon Goosecross Cellars, a mid valley estate with a unique east Yountville terroir and history.
The diamond-in-the-rough property was badly in need of polishing. The Ficelis acquired the estate and resurrected it with a gleaming new tasting room and state-of-the-art cellar. They also signed on Nancarrow to replant the vineyards and reimagine the winemaking program –with exceptional results.
The lunch was a great opportunity to taste classic examples of delicious Napa Valley wines.
But more than that, the afternoon allowed me to “tune in” to the story behind the wine.
Takeaway Stories from Goosecross
Goosecross is a story of …
— a couple who fell in love with the Napa Valley and found a winery that suited their needs …
— a talented winemaker (yes, Bill Nancarrow) who found the small winery worthy of his talents
— Christi’s grandmother Holly who may have had no idea that her name and memory would grace the block of a vineyard producing some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the valley.
The Goosecross Wines
2019 State Lane Vineyard Merlot
Plush tannins and delicious blue fruit are hallmarks of this delicious wine.
2019 Goosecross State Lane Cabernet Franc
Fresh and crisp, the vibrant blue and red fruit in this wine are restrained by 16 months in French Oak, 50% new.
2019 Goosecross State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon
Very rich and complex, this wine offers delicious black fruit tempered with19 months in French oak, 65% new
2019 Goosecross Holly’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine comes from a block (part of vineyard) named for Holly, Christi’s grandmother, — one of the generations of strong, independent and successful women on Christ’s family tree.
Beyond the fruit, what makes this wine so special is that it spends 19 months in 100% new French oak.
2019 Goosecross State Lane Aeros
This wine is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% – a perfect blending of this classic Napa Valley red blend.
It spends 25 months in French Oak, 90% new, which gives it its elegant polish.
2018 C. Elizabeth Game Farm Vineyard
This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wine is made with fruit from the coveted Game Farm Vineyard in Oakville. The C, Elizabeth Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in water bent American oak barrels (as distinct from the Goosecross wines that are crafted exclusively with French oak).
Bill Nancarrow favors American oak for the bold flavors, structure and depth it can deliver to the finished wine.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Goosecross sells directly to the consumer. To find out more about the winery and the club visit https://www.goosecross.com
