In Issue #186 of Wine Advocate, Robert Parker said of Relic’s Artefact:
I enjoyed the 2007 Artifact [sic], which includes Petit Verdot and Syrah in the blend. Deep black currant, licorice, white chocolate, earthy, smoky notes are accompanied by full-bodied flavors, sweet tannins, and good freshness as well as precision. Dense and chewy, consumers can enjoy this impressively- endowed 2007 over the next 10-15 years.
But perhaps the most inspiring words came at the end:
This tiny estate has a small production, but the quality of its wines is very high. - Robert Parker - 93 points
James Laube of the Wine Spectator reviewed Relic’s 2008 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir as part of a focus on California Pinot. Here’s what he had to say:
The parade of California Pinot Noirs keeps on coming. This sampling is mostly from Sta. Rita Hills in Santa Barbara, and you’ll notice a few 2008s are beginning to creep into the market, including one of our top-rated wines, the 2008 Relic Sonoma Coast.
If you’re a WS subscriber, read on via the Wine Spectator:
July 14
Big news! We’ve purchased a 10-acre plot of land in Napa Valley that will become the future home of Relic Wine Cellars.
June 16
“ Wine lovers are lucky that devotees like these are taking risks and expending energy to carry on ancient traditions of making hand-crafted wines.
“Bright ruby-red. Black raspberry and cassis aromas complicated by smoke, pepper, cedar and herbs. Fat, supple and sweet but with very good aromatic lift to the velvety, slightly liqueur-like dark berry flavors. Licorice and pepper notes lift the finish. Not especially complex but very smooth.” - 90 points
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 2009
Looking forward to Fall, just last week, we bottled the first wine to be included in our next release – the 2007 Artefact – our best yet. That release, the Fall 2009 offering, will go out in late July or early August (with shipping in October).
Mike was honored as one of 12 Consulting Winemakers chosen to be part of Acme Fine Wines’ Atelier tasting, pouring ’07 Relic Ritual and his clients’ wines alongside some of the most talented winemakers in Napa Valley. He’s featured on image 5 and a few more.
Relic was chosen to pour at the 2008 California Wine Experience: Rising Stars Tasting where West Coast winemakers show off new projects and bottlings, giving audience a chance to taste exciting, small-production wines.
