Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/68310
THE MESSAGE Man About Townsend "E very time Piero Antinori comes out to Napa Valley, he has a greater appreciation for the land," says Glenn Salva, referring to their Antinori Family wine estate: Antica. Salva is Estate Manager for the 600 acres of vineyard on the stunning 1200- acre property in the Atlas Peak appellation, located in the highest elevation of Napa's eastern hills. He just completed a $6 million vineyard re-development program that spanned a four-year period (Antica's fi rst vintage was in 2004). "It's an incredible investment, especially in this economy. But, on the other hand, the demand for grapes is incredibly strong right now." Only utilizing 15 percent of the grapes grown on the estate, Salva claims that 85 percent are sold to other wine brands. "We want to grow, but Piero likes to say, 'Let's make one less bottle than the market wants." Glenn Salva is Estate Manager for Antica Napa Valley. Photo taken at THE TASTING PANEL offi ces. Three hundred acres of Cabernet Sauvignon are grown on the property, but a very special 40-acre vineyard, called Townsend, develops some of the most precious fruit. "This is our crème de la crème," Salva claims as he pours me a glass of the just-released fi rst vin- tage of Antica 2008 Townsend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $95). With only 400 cases produced, only the best grapes are used for this small bottling. "The Antinori's are people of great "The Antinoris are people of great curiousity and patience," Salva notes. "To understand Townsend, we'll just have to see how it evolves." —M. M. Silver in the Summer W Antica 2008 Townsend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon has an aro- matically inviting nose of blackberry cream. On the palate, bittersweet chocolate mingles with teeth grab- bing tannins that magically become rounder with each sip. ith a rich family heritage providing 300 years of quality spirit-making, the Nolet family, masterminds behind Bill Eldien, President of Nolet Spirits USA, and Carl Nolet Jr., 11th-generation Nolet family member. the ever-popular Ketel One line of vodkas, has changed the face of gin with their Nolet's Silver Dry Gin and Nolet's Reserve Dry Gin. Bursting with pretty fl oral notes (the loveli- est Turkish rose) and delicate fruitiness (peach-raspberry abound), Nolet's Silver is a modern take on the classic, born out of the collaborative efforts of the 10th- and 11th-genera- tion Nolets. "Nolet's Silver is different than any other gin on the marketplace," says Carl Nolet Jr., 11th generation. "It is the future of gin, and it offers something for everybody." With Nolet's Silver reaching a broad audience, the stun- ning Nolet's Reserve is small-batch produced with fewer than 800 bottles available worldwide. THE TASTING PANEL was lucky enough to taste the verbena-saffron quaff (the rest of the botanicals in this recipe are top-secret!): enticing with bright citrus and black-pepper and savory saffron, warming with spice and a lingering, dry fi nish. —Rachel Burkons 18 / the tasting panel / june 2012 PHOTO: HOWARD WISE PHOTOS: MERIDITH MAY