Kale Anderson: A Winemaker to Watch
It has been said that the quality of a wine is mostly a function of the quality of the grapes. Others simply say that the wine is made in the vineyard. While all that is true, that last 20% of what makes a wine great is the winemaker. They are the ones who say when it is time to pick; they watch over the development of the flavors of the grapes; and it is their final touch that brings all the components together to the finished product’s expression.
One of those winemakers to take note of and watch is Kale Anderson. Better yet, drink his wine. He has learned his craft well from some of the best in the business. I first met Kale at a blending seminar put on by Pahlmeyer. This was a great event where we were given different varietals to make our own Rhone-like blend. He had just become Pahlmeyer’s new winemaker, and he was engaging and readily shared his knowledge. His first full vintage for Pahlmeyer was the 2012, and their Red Blend received 94 points from Parker. What was intriguing to me was that prior to joining Pahlmeyer he was assistant and then winemaker at Cliff Lede. This is another winery that I send folks to frequently based on wines I have tasted and bought there. Kale was the winemaker on a case of wine I bought at auction – Cliff Lede’s 2008 Poetry. His success has not gone unnoticed in the valley, and Wine Spectator included him as one of the “Four to Watch” in an article in their March 31, 2014 issue.
With all this evidence I had personally, I diligently bid for an e-lot at Auction Napa Valley, which included lunch with Kale accompanied by his wines under the Kale Wines label, which he started in 2008. This was a delightful event and a great opportunity to chat with Kale and his wife Ranko. Kale is very knowledgeable and readily shares his knowledge and insights as a winemaker. He attended UC Davis and originally was going into medicine, but then found his passion for winemaking by accident through an elective course. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Viticulture and Enology.
On the day of our lunch, we started with a bright and refreshing 2014 Rosé that was 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. I personally do not drink a lot of Rosé; yet this was a killer, and I kept going back for more. Kale has a passion for Rhone inspired wine. He specializes in small production, handcrafted wines. We tasted through his rich red wines that are dominated by Syrah. 2008 was a deep multi-layered Syrah that I found myself going back to time and time again in the tasting. Each successive year of his wine offered nuances and depth of flavor that we all fully appreciated and enjoyed. The 2012 was my other favorite of the day – 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache. The grapes came from the Stagecoach Vineyard which is the largest, single vineyard in the valley. This was a luscious, big, rich, balanced wine with layers of flavor. It had a great finish that beckoned me back for more.
I invite you to find his wine and explore the flavors and balance for yourself. You can purchase his wine on-line at Kale Wines or by visiting The Wine Thief in downtown Napa. Stop in and taste the next time you are in Napa Valley.
Enjoy!
