theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America.

The Kathryn Kennedy estate vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines cover gentle slopes in Saratoga, California on the inland side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Eight acres of vines were planted on their own roots by Kathryn in 1973. Excellent soil, a climate possessing just the right amount of marine influence, and personal attention combine to yield outstanding grapes. Each vintage is grown by hand and vinified in small lots followed by gentle barrel aging with 90% French oak. The result is big, full-flavored wine with deep color and a decade or more of aging potential.

In a short period of time Charlie Maridon’s two acre hillside vineyard has achieved a reputation as being one of the very best sources of Syrah in California. In order to optimize depth and complexity, this wine was carefully fermented in small open top tanks and aged for two years in 100% French oak. The result is a Syrah that impresses with both elegance and power. This new vintage is tightly allocated, so don’t miss this opportunity to confirm your order.

Lateral is inspired by the famous wines of the St. Emilion district of Bordeaux. The blending of Cabernet Franc and Merlot is the cornerstone of this model. Another key to Lateral’s consistent quality is the use of multiple vineyards from more than one region. Select growers from the cooler coastal valleys are chosen with primary consideration for the flavor their grapes can add. Winemakers Marty Mathis and Chris Condos have been carefully assembling the Lateral blend for over 8 vintages.

Our tiny winery has become known for its hand-made Bordeaux style wines including estate Cabernet and Lateral. So it seems logical for our only white wine to be Sauvignon Blanc. Here is our new release arriving just in time for spring and summer. It was made by combining grapes grown in Napa, Sonoma & Mendicino Counties. Each vineyard was selected for its cool climate location and exceptional viticultural care. In order to achieve a clean “non oaked” style, we naturally chose to carry out the fermentation in stainless steel at cool temperatures. Minimal lees contact was used and the wine was bottled in early March 2007.

Warmer growing conditions on the inland side of the coast range have proven to yield superb Cabernet. Limited to 600 cases this wine was vinified using the same small scale techniques we employ for our other great wines. In the hands of a seasoned Cabernet specialist like Marty Mathis, the results are extraordinary.

Our Santa Cruz Mountains Syrah is the type of wine I really enjoy. It is flavorful and complex, and very stylish. It doesn’t have to beat you over the head to get its point across. Instead, it impresses with its balance, its sophistication and approachability. This is a “Go To” wine, one that you can confidently recommend for a variety of customers and occasions. - Eric Fountain, sales director.