Press

"Resurrection of winery unveils St. Helena's first homicide and first woman vintner"
St. Helena Star
Thursday, May 24, 2007

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Claire
96 POINTS! - Vinfolio

"Bill Ballentine has resurrected the oldest Ghost Winery in Napa Valley built in 1876, originally the JC Weinberger Winery. He produced his first wine there in the 2005 vintage. The William Cole wines are regarded highly among collectors in the know. Vinfolio is honored to have a small allocation of these exquisite wines. Something to consider at the 2007 barrel event for Auction Napa Valley, William Cole knocked down the eighth highest bid at $2200 per case average.

Ruby garnet in color, showing smooth cigar box aromas with nicely focused blackberry tart notes and hints of dusty mint. The flavors show nicely formed fruit and supple acidity, full of coffee and chocolate and dark cherry. The finish has a lingering feel with plenty of lush roundness. In blind tastings it has bested the top cult wines available. A very serious wine."

Drink 2007 - 2018

- Doug Wilder, Vinfolio Issue 108

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Claire
The Colorado Wine News
BEST WINE
"This is a small producer of more traditionally styled Cabernet Sauvignon. It is restrained, lean, and firmly structured and needs time in the bottle to develop and show at its best. It is wine which will reward your patience. If you can't locate it locally, contact the winery: www.williamcolevineyards.com.

The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvee Claire, Napa Valley, $125, 315 cases, has restrained aromas of raspberry, cherry, sweet cranberry, smoke, coffee, licorice, and cedar. All repeat as juicy, ripe, intense flavors with the addition of creamy dark chocolate and very fine tannin. It finishes long and medium-broad. It has very good structure and balance and is well integrated and ripe without being popularly sweet. Give it another five years or so in the bottle to open. Very good to Excellent. BEST WINE."

July-September 2007 Issue

2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Claire
Dave Ginocchio, Russian River Wine Co

"This is THE Cabernet producer that wowed me(and, well, everybody else) at this years' Napa Wine Auction. And after putting on my well worn pair of Russian River Wine Co. kneepads and begging, I was able to get a TINY BIT of this killer juice for you.

Small production, mailing list wines of this caliber are why you "signed on with us" in the first place. Don't miss out on this one.

William Cole winery is a prime Napa property originally built in 1876 as the J.C. Weinberger Winery. It is the oldest standing stone winery in the Napa Valley.

After Prohibition the top two stories of this ghost winery were converted into a residence, and in 2002 the cellar of the historic stone winery began its winemaking renaissance as William Cole Vineyards.

Owner/3rd generation Napa winemaker Bill Ballentine only makes one wine - a 300 case production Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. Bill is a classic one man operation - he tends the vineyards, drops fruit, decides when to harvest, and makes the wine in its entirety. Bill knows a thing or two about Cabernet - he was St. Clement's winemaker in their "heyday" - blending their now legendary 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon (Wine Spectator Top 100)

At the aforementioned Auction Napa Valley, William Cole's barrel received the 8th highest bid out of 107 wines. Not too shabby for a first time participant.

One whiff will take you to Cabernet Heaven: Black Cherry, tobacco, red cherry, black strap molasses, charcoal, freshly tilled loamy earth, vanillin oak, roses, and to top it all off, just a hint of tar...and that's just what it smells like.

On the palate, it is super smooth; big and bold yet balanced with everything integrated into a plush package of powerful Cabernet goodness. Red cherry, mocha, cocoa powder, exotic spices, black currant and blackberry make up the intense core. Hints of tar, earth, smoke, tobacco follow and lead into the third act of Bing cherry and kid leather; with soft but age worthy tannins and and a long, long finish. This wine is as elegant as it is powerful; drink one now and be amazed, then put some down to enjoy over the next decade or so."