Ashes and diamonds winery review

The winery is a very short drive from downtown Napa and often makes an ideal stop to either start or end your day.

But the mostly stark white buildings designed by architect Barbara Bestor , one with a zigzag roof and the other with porthole windows, signal one of the most intriguing wineries to open in Napa Valley of late. Just like the rather obscure film from which it draws its name, his winery is rooted in the unconventional—something Napa Valley could certainly use as it struggles to attract a younger crowd. Khaledi, 41, came across the film Ashes and Diamonds years ago, when he was hitting a creative wall at Capitol Records. Khaledi coordinated the winery and its impressive cast in the same way a hit album might come together. Petroski made some of the first vintages and has since left the project, but the talented Diana Snowden Seysses, also the winemaker at Snowden Vineyards, has now filled his shoes. In addition to growing fruit on his own estate in the Oak Knoll district, Khaledi is also working with some of the top winegrowers, like Bart and Daphne Araujo, for his wines. To helm the food program at the winery, Khaledi hired chef Emma Sears, formerly at Scribe.

Ashes and diamonds winery review

This project was founded by California native Kashy Khaledi, a media and advertising executive, in I had been aware of these wines for a while, but never wrapped my palate around one until recently. I receive and review a lot of California wines, many of which I appreciate and enjoy. Sipping these wines, I was shocked at their complexity, vibrancy, effortlessness. The wines are really special and delicious, and perfect for palates with a tendency toward old-school California and Old World styles. Wow, the aromas are stunning and invigorating. Quince, fig, lemon peel, papaya, the fruit is topped in yellow flowers, honey, candle wax, sea salt, mountain stream. Precise and focused on the palate, the light body Brisk, mineral, wild herb, honey and chalk notes add all sorts of complexity. Such a nervy, packed wine, this will improve for many years. Such an inviting and vibrant mix of aromas, from yellow pear, apricot and raspberry, to celery seed, mint, with notes of crushed shells, clover and chalk dust. Crisp and bright on the palate Apricot, melon rind, white peaches and lemons, the fruit is juicy and pure, accented with all sorts of floral, salty, flinty, mineral, herbal tones. Beautiful presence on the palate, opens up wonderfully with air.

Also, a nice selection of pickled vegetables. As an homage, the iconic zig-zag roof and portholes are a few of the iconic references to the heritage of California mid-century modern design, seamlessly integrated with a state-of-the-art wine production facility surrounded by light, ashes and diamonds winery review, airy landscapes and playful, rolling berms. This project was founded by California native Kashy Khaledi, a media and advertising executive, in

Part I After toiling for a couple of decades as a creative executive in the media and advertising landscape of Los Angeles, Kashy Khaledi finally landed what he had long romanticized would be the ideal job. Now, seated at his desk inside the Capitol Records tower in Hollywood, he instead felt creatively bereft. It was the autumn of and Khaledi was ready for a change. By the time Khaledi really sank his teeth into the music business, it had changed dramatically. Streaming music is pennies on the dollar.

Part I After toiling for a couple of decades as a creative executive in the media and advertising landscape of Los Angeles, Kashy Khaledi finally landed what he had long romanticized would be the ideal job. Now, seated at his desk inside the Capitol Records tower in Hollywood, he instead felt creatively bereft. It was the autumn of and Khaledi was ready for a change. By the time Khaledi really sank his teeth into the music business, it had changed dramatically. Streaming music is pennies on the dollar. That machine is a downsized workforce and artists suffer. I was lost in my own private myopia. While he grew increasingly disillusioned by the music business, he came across a film one night that would alter the course of his life. There was this haunting scene where the protagonist, who was an assassin in post-WWII Poland, had fallen in love with this girl and was going to get out of the murder business, so to speak.

Ashes and diamonds winery review

All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide context—vintage, variety or appellation—but never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted. View Video.

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Khaledi coordinated the winery and its impressive cast in the same way a hit album might come together. With my Sony Discman stuffed into my jacket pocket, I listen to Lucinda Williams fill the morning with her plaintive, rage-rage-against-the-dying-of-the-light-infused voice. So close to being complete in its youth, it shows great, great promise. Just like the rather obscure film from which it draws its name, his winery is rooted in the unconventional—something Napa Valley could certainly use as it struggles to attract a younger crowd. Vibrant currants, tangy plums, juicy blackberries, with inviting notes of warm clay, rocky earth, leather, cocoa and mint — needs time to open and show its full aromatic potential, but lots to unpack. The side-by-side differences in each of the wines are remarkable. Join Our Mailing List. It got ugly when we fell. Strawberry fields forever. Blanc on ice Photo: Courtesy of Emma K.

All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind.

Guests to the property will also get to see the production facilities and learn about wine making especially during harvest. Also, smaller blocks of other varieties which they sell to other area producers. Join Our Mailing List. Most of their items are prepared using the wood fired oven can reach 1, degrees Fahrenheit. Wow, the aromas are stunning and invigorating. Precise and focused on the palate, the light body A guided tasting of four wines from our portfolio, enjoyed amid the mid-century modern property where they were born. Cool black cherries, crunchy plums and wild blackberry fruit mix so well with mint, tilled soil, violets, clove. Rancho Pequeno vineyard was purchased, and subsequently revitalized a couple of years ago by the Araujo family and is already producing beautiful, distinctive fruit. Perhaps similar to the wines that Robert Mondavi, Inglenook and Martini among others, were making in those decades. Strawberry fields forever. And their primary hospitality center opened in October features both a wine bar and sit-down areas along with a kitchen.