Cattleya by Bibiana Gonzalez Rave, Vintner and Winemaker
Bibiana Gonzalez Rave
The story here is intriguing and interesting to say the least. Yet, what is more important to you, the reader, is the wine itself. Right now, I am nursing a beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir made by this terrific winemaker. The nose is bright and fruity with boysenberry; the attack is rich and svelte with bright red raspberry and a finish that goes on and on. Quite frankly, I have been waiting all day to enjoy the wine again. That is important. It is a wine that calls me back to enjoy more! Those are some of the best bottles of wine; those that speak to you.
The Pinot Noir is a 2021 Cattleya made by Bibiana Gonzalez Rave. The title of the bottle is the Goddess, and it is a wonderful expression of Pinot Noir. This is not my first experience with the deft touch of Bibiana, as I have enjoyed her wine in the past. Her winery is located in Rohnert Park, CA; and the chance to taste through the portfolio is a worth the drive from Napa Valley. (For those who aren’t familiar, Rohnert Park is not far south of Santa Rosa on Hwy 101.) I first was impressed with Bibiana’s skilled hand when she was working for Pahlmeyer and Wayfarer. I was impressed from the beginning with the talent and skill she brought to making wonderful, expressive wine.
What is fascinating is her background. She can easily be called a women of self-determination. She was born in and raised in Columbia – Medellin, to be specific. Wine was not a big part of the culture, yet she knew by the age of fourteen that she would be a winemaker. She would get sips from her father’s wine glass. She later studied chemical engineering in Columbia and then moved to France to study viticulture and enology. She earned her degree at the University of Bordeaux. She has worked at such famed estates as Chateau Haut-Brion. Bibiana worked in California, South Africa, and France before declaring California her home. She named her label Cattleya to pay homage to her native country. Cattleya is an orchid and has been the national flower of Columbia since 1936. This, to me, is a remarkable journey to the West Coast of California.
Our tasting consisted of five wines. We started out bright with a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, followed by two Chardonnays and three Pinot Noirs. The Chardonnays were smooth and luscious with bright notes. One standout Chardonnay was Beyond The Threshold. Below are reviews from Jeb Dunnick, an independent wine critic.
“2021 Cattleya Chardonnay Beyond The Threshold: A light golden hue, the 2021 Chardonnay Beyond The Threshold is layered with honeyed citrus and delicate smoke and flush with floral perfume that expands in the glass. This has another gear on the palate, with more fresh acidity and notes of candied lime, green apple, and warming spices that last on the finish. It’s very attractive and will be great over the next 10 years.”
Beyond the Threshold was given a rating of 96 points. We then tasted through three Pinot Noirs, all which were plush and bright on the palate. The standout here was the Belly Of The Whale, which was reviewed by Jeb Dunnick with a rating of 95 points.
“2021 Cattleya Pinot Noir Belly Of The Whale: Pouring a deep ruby with purple highlights, the 2021 Pinot Noir Belly Of The Whale is pure with black raspberry liqueur, pepper spice, and lifted menthol and pine. Full-bodied and ripe with notes of blackberry preserve, crushed purple flowers, blue fruit, and tea leaf, it’s generous, rounded, and fleshy with ripe fruit.”
These wines are worth seeking out from your local store. They are well-crafted and a pure pleasure to drink and savor. To find the wines on-line, check out Cattleya’s website. The wines mentioned above are available at the site.
Enjoy!
