News & Reviews
Robert Parker Reviews Atelier's 2005 Alexander Valley Syrah
Sunday, July 06 2008, 09:06PM PST
Copyright © 2012 Atelier Winery. All Rights Reserved.
Piedmont Post review Atelier's 2006 Alexander Valley Zin
Sunday, July 06 2008, 08:56PM PST
2005 Atelier Syrah
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from Alexander Valley, Sonoma, North Coast, California, USA
Review by Robert Parker
Wine Advocate # 177 (Jun 2008)
Rating: 89
Drink 2008 - 2012
Cost: $28
A deep plum/ruby color is accompanied by aromas of smoked meats, camphor, black cherries, and currants. This medium-bodied, sexy, delicious Northern California Syrah possesses good purity and length as well as a broad, expansive, velvety-textured mouthfeel. Enjoy it over the next 2-4 years. Tel. and Fax (707) 473-9341
For Zin lovers there is a Mecca and a haj. The Mecca is the giant pavilion at Fort Mason in San Francisco and the haj happens the last Saturday in January every year...as usual the Piedmont Post attended ... The following wines were the best we tasted from a huge field of contenders. They are truly outstanding examples of what Zinfandel is all about.
Atelier's 2006 Alexander Valley Zinfandel: $29
Dense ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of black currants, licorice, incense, and blueberries. It is a medium to full-bodied surprisingly powerful 2006 that should drink nicely for 3 to 4 years.
Atelier's Cover Shot for Dean & Deluca
Friday, June 29 2007, 03:46PM PST
Dean & Deluca, known as the icon of American epicurean experience, featured Atelier's 2004 Rockpile Zinfandel on the cover of their Spring 2007 wine catalog. As Dean & Deluca states on the cover, this truly is one of the "rare wines from California's greatest vineyards" !
Red-Wine Braised Lamb Shanks with Atelier Syrah
Saturday, January 20 2007, 04:46PM PST
From the February 2007 issue of Food and Wine Magazine
"He likes to serve the lamb shanks with creamy polenta made from local cornmeal and a local cheese: Thistle Hill Farm’s complex, nutty Tarentaise. ...
WINE: The peppery spice of good California Syrah is a classic match for meaty lamb dishes like these wine-braised shanks. Two terrific possibilities are the dark berry-rich 2004 Atelier Alexander Valley ..."
For the complete recipe go to http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/red-wine-braised-lamb-shanks
Robert Parker Reviews 2003 Syrah
Saturday, September 02 2006, 10:20PM PST
Atelier 2003 Alexander Valley Syrah - 88 points
A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by a gamy nose of damp earth, spice box, sweet cherries and casses, and a hint of tar. Consume this attractive, medium-bodied, well-made Syrah over the next 3-4 years.
Source: www.wineadvocate.com
Robert Parker reviews Atelier Zins
Friday, July 21 2006, 10:23PM PST
Atelier 2004 Contra Costa Zinfandel - 90 points
This is a big Zin, possessing 15% alcohol. The deep fruited (raspberries, blueberries, and cherries), dark ruby/purple-colored 2004 Zinfandel Contra Costa is an attractive, full-bodied, fleshy, seductive offering with lively acidity. It should be drunk over the next 2-4 years.
Atelier 2004 Rockpile Zinfandel - 88 points
This is a big Zin, possessing 15% alcohol. The elegant 2004 Zinfandel Rockpile reveals crisp strawberry and cherry fruit, medium body, tart sweet and sour cherry, earth, and spice-like flavors, its elegant, light style is reminiscent of a moderate Pinot Noir. It should be drunk over the next 2-4 years.
Source: www.wineadvocate.com
Colorado Wine News: April - June 2006
Wednesday, May 03 2006, 09:21PM PST
In their April - June 2006 issue, the Colorado Wine News provides some nice comments on our 2002 Contra Costa Zinfandel. Note: I think they meant to say the 2004 Contra Costa Zinfandel since we presented samples of that wine at ZAP in January. Colorado wine news writes:
"Atelier is a small winery located in the Dry Creek Valley. It sources its grapes from both the Dry Creek and Contra Costa AVAs. The 2002 Zinfandel, Contra Costa County, $22, shows nicely clean raspberry, cherry, and light oak on the nose before bright flavors of the same plus light tannin and good acidity. The medium-broad, medium-long finish adds a significant amount of pepper. Well put together. Tasty."
Wine of the Week, Press Democrat
Friday, April 21 2006, 06:58PM PST
On Wednesday, April 19th, our 2004 Contra Costa Zinfandel was featured as the Wine of the Week in the Press Democrat, the regional newspaper for Napa and Sonoma counties. Michelle Anna Jordan begins her article by saying, "How many ways can you say a zinfandel is beautiful and varietally correct? You can take them all and use them to
describe our Wine of the Week, Atelier 2004 Contra Costa County Zinfandel ($22), a classic, classy and engaging example of why zinfandel is such a well-loved wine." Check out the Press Democrat online for both features:
Food & Wine Magazine, April 2006
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:20PM PST
Ondine Chattan works full-time as an associate winemaker at Geyser Peak Winery in Sonoma when she isn't producing wines under her own label, Atelier. She notes, "If you've been making thousands and thousands of cases of Sauvignon Blanc with a clearly defined house style that it's your duty to maintain, you're confined in what you can do. With Atelier, if I want to make 25 cases of Mourvèdre, I can. It's a creative outlet."
Wine & Spirits Magazine, December 2005
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:18PM PST
Regarding Atelier's 2003 Alexander Valley Syrah:
A gentle range of red fruit flavors fills the substantial extract and weight of this wine, the tannin so soft it adds bitter chocolate flavor rather than structure. Clean and spicy, for chopped sirloin off the grill.
Beverages and More, December 2005
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:16PM PST
Regarding Atelier’s 2003 Alexander Valley Syrah:
93 Points...Impressive all the way around, the full-flavored '03 Atelier Syrah derives its energy from Rhone-inspired flavors; rich boysenberry, white pepper notes abound; long and fine.
Wilfred Wong www.bevmo.com
Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wines, November 2005
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:14PM PST
Regarding Atelier’s 2003 Alexander Valley Syrah:
90 Points and 1 Star...From its inky color to its ripe, fully extracted nose, this wine has boldness and concentration on its side.
Colorado Wine News Review, April–June 2005, Vol.15, No.2
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:12PM PST
The 2001 Syrah, Alexander Valley, $28, has smooth, round, almost creamy aromas of black cherry, caramel, vanilla, and black raspberry. the palate adds pepper, oak underneath, and very fine tannin and everything carries through the broad, medium-long finish. Light to medium bodied and nicely balanced, structured, and integrated. Tasty. Atelier is a new producer which bears watching and whose first releases are well worth the effort to find. If you can't locate the wines, contact the winery...www.atelierwinery.com
Harold J. Baer
Piedmont Post, April 2005
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:11PM PST
Syrah's original home is the northern Rhone valley in France...it is revered for making huge, long-lived wines...Of the 126 wineries pouring Syrah at the recent Rhone Ranger tasting, the following were the cream of the crop - the most memorable wines of the day…2003 Atelier Syrah, Alexander Valley...This tiny new winery is doing an impressive job. The wine's opulent aromatics jumped out of the glass (blackberry liquer, honeysuckle, truffles, and a bit of bacon). Full bodied on the palate with great intensity and purity. This is a winery to watch.
Colorado Wine News Review, April–June 2005, Vol.15, No.2
Friday, April 14 2006, 05:06PM PST
The 2002 Zinfandel, Contra Costa County, $18, has a big, rich nose of dark fruit with boysenberry, blackberry and caramel most prominent now. Flavors of pepper, cherry, cranberry, and raspberry are laced with bright acidity and a significant amount of somewhat rough tannin. The finish is medium-broad, medium-long, and nicely persistent with just a touch of alcohol at the end. Light to medium bodied now, it is well balanced, integrated, and structured and should gain in weight and depth and become smoother if you give it another year or so in the bottle.
