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Brian Pasch Expert Wine Reviews

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Culler Cellars - A Stunning New Wine in My Cellar

Before I start talking about the wine, here is the summary from winemaker Karen Culler:

96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot

The 2003 Culler La Palette was grown entirely on the Alexander Ranch, northeast of the town of Napa near the mouth of Soda Canyon. Jerry Alexander and his father "Alex" planted Cabernet on the family ranch where Jerry grew up, and where his parents have lived for the past 50 years. This two acre vineyard was planted in 1998 with clones 337 and 7 on 1103P rootstock, along with Petite Verdot. The temperatures at the vineyard are moderate, and the soils are light sandy loam with excellent drainage.

The grapes were soaked on the skins for 6 days and then fermented traditionally with native yeasts. The wine was pressed at dryness and put to barrels within 2 days. It was barrel aged 20 months in 62% new French oak barrels. 222 cases were bottled in May 2005.

The 2003 vintage was a cool year in Napa Valley. The spring was wet, with below normal heat and the mild temperatures continued throughout the growing season and into harvest. It was a difficult year for grapes grown in cooler areas, but the Alexander Ranch faired well because of its moderate temperatures and the well drained soils, which allowed the soil to warm up quickly in the spring.

The longer and later growing season imparted more elegant and approachable tannins on the palate, while the cool weather preserved the dark berry aromas. Cabernet Sauvignon provides the varietal character, depth, and structure of the wine, while Petite Verdot contributes the deep color and thick mid-palate. Blended together, the wine has the rich balance of fruit with black cherry and cassis, subtle hints of vanilla and continues with a long and lush finish. It should age well for 10 years or longer.

My thoughts:

This wine is amazingly rich and the fruit is concentrated with a style and elegance that reminds me of Colgin Herb Lamb Cabernet. This wine was recommended to me by Dean & DeLuca in St. Helena California. After tasting this wine tonight with some friends, I made sure I secured a full case for my cellar. This is a great wine and NOT a wine you should neglect. This is a very well made Cabernet and it should age gracefully for many years to come.

As always I recommend you BUY 1 or 2 bottles and TASTE THE WINE before buying any quantity of wine. I am confident that after tasting this wine you will stock up because this is the style of wine that your friends will universally enjoy. There are no hard edges on this young wine but it has everything it needs to stand the test of time for collectors.

You can get on the mailing list via e-mail or phone, from the information listed in the top right corner of this page. I rate the wine 97 pts and it sells for around $47 retail. If you would like to learn more about Karen Culler, here is her bio:

Karen Culler started her winemaking career as a child, making homemade wine with her father and grandfather in Ohio. Her job was to destem the clusters by hand. Many vintages later, after completing her Bachelors degree in Botany and Agronomy (i.e. plants and dirt) from Ohio State University, she moved to Seattle. Bored with her job in a marine biology lab, she decided to use her extensive Ohio winemaking experience and went to work for Columbia Winery in Seattle. Imagine her surprise when she found out there were machines to destem the grapes from the clusters! Imagine her Ohio parent’s surprise when they heard of her new career choice (“They pay people to make wine?!?”).

After a year at Columbia Cellars, she left to go to UC Davis to get her Master’s Degree in Viticulture and Enology (i.e. grapes and wine). Again she heard from Ohio, “They teach that at a university?!?” Graduating from UC Davis in 1984, she started a 6 month internship at Robert Mondavi Winery in their Research Department. Six months turned into two years and when Robert Mondavi purchased Vichon Winery, Karen decided to move up the Oakville Grade to Vichon as Assistant Winemaker in 1986. In 1989, she became Winemaker. All went well making Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon until 1996 when it was decided to disband the Vichon Napa Valley brand, in favor of wines imported from the south of France for the Vichon Mediterranean brand. Karen decided to keep her roots in Napa Valley and she started her own label, Culler Wines, with the harvest of 1997. She also consults as winemaker to various other wineries in Napa Valley, such as Wolf Family Vineyards, Ladera, Renteria and Rivera.

For Culler Wines, Karen seeks out vineyards, primarily in Napa Valley and a few select areas in Sonoma, for grapes that can best express the characteristics of the variety, terroir, and grower’s quirks in the resulting wine. She produces Syrah, and a Meritage blend, called La Palette, using the “Cabernet family grapes”. Starting with the 2002 vintage, she began making vineyard designated wines which not only showcase the vineyard’s qualities, but also honor the grower’s efforts in the winemaking process.

  Brian Pasch - June 14, 2006

2003 Culler La Palette

cullerwines@aol.com
707.257.0567