Relic Journal

"Hedonistic Bomb"

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:13:31 -0700

We love Hawaii, and we love it even more when great people like Master Sommelier Roberto Viernes have such nice things to say about Relic. He recently recommended Artefact in Oahu’s MidWeek Magazine in a piece called “Seeking Signs of Maturity in Wine.”

2007 Relic “Artefact” ($89) This wine has a “volcanic” nose that explodes in your face with sweet black fruit. It oozes blackberry and jam with a note of blueberry and anise on the soaring finish. This is a hedonist bomb!

Thanks Roberto!

Reeling over Relic

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:06:01 -0700

Christina Julian, AKA Ms. Wack Sense, had some mighty nice things to say about Relic, including:

… the word Relic can conjure images of craggy old cobwebs and dirt, and stinky old people, the name now conjures something so much sexier ever since I got the chance to slurp some of Relic’s wine.

You can read more of her post, including a tasting of Artefact, on her Wacky WineSense blog.

Robert Parker gives 2007 Artefact 93 points

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:01:21 -0800

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

We are both humbled and inspired by these words!

- Mike & Schatzi

Ritual Among Wine Country Minute's Faves of '09!

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

Wine Country Minute included Relic’s Ritual among it’s favorite wines of 2009. Here’s what they had to say:

Exotically spicy, full of clove and dark berries, ultra smooth tannins.
Pair with a juicy steak.

Thanks WCM!

Relic Takes Top California Pinot Honors

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:39:00 -0700

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:

Big news! We’ve purchased a 10-acre plot of land in Napa...

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 07:25:00 -0700

Big news! We’ve purchased a 10-acre plot of land in Napa Valley that will become the future home of Relic Wine Cellars.

"Wine lovers are lucky that devotees like these are taking risks and expending energy to carry on..."

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:26:00 -0700

“Wine lovers are lucky that devotees like these are taking risks and expending energy to carry on ancient traditions of making hand-crafted wines.”

- From “Meet the Winemaker” in Wine Country Minute

Tanzer's Review of 2006 Artefact

Fri, 29 May 2009 15:07:00 -0700

“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

Artefact 2007 in the Bottle!

Fri, 29 May 2009 15:06:08 -0700

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 Pours at Atelier Tasting

Fri, 29 May 2009 14:51:00 -0700

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.

ACME Atelier 2009 - Images by Jorgen Gulliksen

Mike was recently featured in a Wine Spectator video about the...

Thu, 28 May 2009 20:20:34 -0700

Mike was recently featured in a Wine Spectator video about the famous To Kalon Vineyard, and we thought you might like to see it. Cheers!

Relic Rising

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

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.