an·cil·lar·y -ˈansəˌlerē/
adjective: ancillary
Subsidiary, supplementary. Providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system.
We would like to announce the debut of our exciting new Pinot Noir project Ancillary Cellars. Ancillary Cellars is a joint venture between Mike Smith and Mark Carter focusing on cool climate Pinot Noir crafted in a Burgundian style.
Our initial 2012 vintage will feature two single vineyard Pinot Noirs from the Sonoma Coast. The first is crafted from fruit out of the prestigious Sun Chase Vineyard in the hills just above Sonoma Valley. This site benefits from the cool ocean breezes of the Petaluma gap. The second Pinot heralds from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyard located at the western base of the Sonoma Hills. Here cool air and fog from the Pacific Ocean gets trapped throughout the summer and fall; resulting in balanced ripe fruit with ideal acidity and signature Mike Smith style and finish.
Ancillary Sun Chase Vineyard Pinot Noir $45
195 cases produced
Ancillary Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir $45
96 cases produced
We will be releasing the Ancillary wines via email on October 29th at 10am. As a customer of Myriad Cellars, Quivet Cellars and Carter Cellars you will automatically receive an offer on this date. You may also sign up for the Ancillary Cellars mailing list on the website www.ancillarycellars.com
The wines will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and quantities are limited.
Can’t wait until I get the email, having forgotten what this project is and what it’s about, and why I signed up, and then I come back to berskerkers and search “ancillary” to reverse-engineer what happened, then I’ll see this post, and remember why I’m dumb. HELLO FUTURE ME!
Pre-release look at the newly bottled Ancillary lineup with Mike Smith.
2012 Ancillary Cellars Pinot Noir Sun Chase Vineyard- USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/26/2013)
Stopped by to see Mike Smith today and he opened a newly bottled Pinot Noir from the Sun Chase Vineyard, pre-release. The vineyard is in the Petaluma Wind Gap at 1400ft on the west slope of Sonoma Mountain above Gaps Crown. 200 cases produced.
Medium red raspberry color, aromas of truffles, strawberry and cherry jump from the glass. Strawberry preserves on the palate, medium bodied, full round texture, good balance of acidity and nice soft tannins. Pinot ala Mike, well done.
2012 Ancillary Cellars Pinot Noir Sangiacomo- USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/26/2013)
This one comes from the Sangiacomo Vineyard in the Petaluma Wind Gap just east of Sonoma State University. 100 cases produced. Dark cherry/ruby color. Nose of tart red berries and a great funky note. Ripe red and black cherry on the palate, great full round texture, spice and black cherry on the mid and back end along with some dusty tannins. Great to see Mike branching out.
But seriously, Sangiacomo is just too warm for restrained pinot, and (I had thought) that’s common knowledge. I’m not saying you cant make nice Pinot there, but it’s big, Cola pinot, not “Burgundan”. Heck, you can make great Merlot from Sangiacomo.
It’s amazing how much the world has changed such that wineries need to shill Burgundian in order to move product. Don’t think that would’ve been true even a couple of years ago.
I’ll see Mike tomorrow, I’ll ask him what the production was. Agree on the Gaps Crown, tasted it a couple weeks ago.
2012 Patiné Cellars Pinot Noir Gaps Crown
From a shiner. Was chilled re-corked in fridge for 5 days after initial taste. The time did it well. Dark color, ripe blackberry, strawberry, dried cherries. Bold expressive flavors of blackberry, strawberry, black cherry and a dash of citrus zest. Big mouthful of juice, but not cloying, balanced out nicely with zingy acid and some dusty green tannin. AFWE need not apply. Damn good!
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