OUR FIRST VERDICT IS IN: KEEPING AMERICA ON TOP: WHOM YOU KNOW CELEBRATES AMERICAN STYLE INTELLIGENCE and EXCELLENCE with Whom You Know's Inaugural Feature of the Great New American Brand: Judge Palmer by Palmer Emmitt & Michael Scorsone! 2012 Judge Palmer Malbec Bavarian Lion Vineyard Knights Valley, Sonoma County is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know.
Is there anything more exciting than news of a sippable subject that is new to us?
Drumroll please, and this is embellished by the fact that Judge Palmer is MADE IN THE USA! And, better yet, it is made by innovative, smart, independent pontificators, Palmer and Michael.
Just because something is made in America does not necessarily make it better; we pass on American-made brands that are not of high quality. However, in this case, Judge Palmer shows the world how much better American wines can be when they are painstakingly crafted with the utmost attention to care and detail, and Ms. I Prefer A Strong Italian Red liked Judge Palmer's reds even better than any Italian wine she's had this year.
So Europe and anything south or west of us (we do not think they make wine in Canada?), watch out, because Judge Palmer has arrived. They are of high quality and are perfect for celebrating your life, liberty and they embody happiness in every bottle.
Not only do they have a great product line, but also Judge Palmer has a great philosophy.
We're going to print it twice in this review because it is one of the best we've EVER seen. Ever ever ever. And you know by now that a brand's philosophy is being judged by us too.
We quote:
These guys are not sheep. And our resident Little Bo Peep of Whom You Know does not think for one second that any one of her Twitter followers are either so they and all our readers, whom we imagine must like the way we think, will appreciate each sip of excellence and independent thinking that has gone into this product with absolutely zero BS.
Not only do they have a great product line, but also Judge Palmer has a great philosophy.
We're going to print it twice in this review because it is one of the best we've EVER seen. Ever ever ever. And you know by now that a brand's philosophy is being judged by us too.
Judge Palmer Mission Statement:
We believe there's a lot of bullshit in the world of wine these days. Our approach is to be honest and straightforward in the way we make our wines and deal with all of our customers and partners – just the way my grandfather the small town judge would've done it.
So you won't find us name-dropping, boasting, embellishing or obfuscating. You might find us pontificating, because we are deeply passionate about our work and feel there is something special about artisan winemaking that can't be accurately described in only a few words.
Our Bordeaux varietal wines come from both sides of the Napa-Sonoma border, featuring vineyards with unique character owned by people that share our values. We try to let each wine be what it wants to be, expressing the virtues of each site without letting our own stylistic bias interfere.
We encourage you to break from the herd mentality, eschew the latest trends, and taste our wines with an open mind – you be the judge. We think the honesty and passion with which we make them will shine through and resonate.
Try a bottle with a jury of your peers.
Palmer Emmitt & Michael Scorsone
Owners - Winemakers - Cellar Rats
These guys are not sheep. And our resident Little Bo Peep of Whom You Know does not think for one second that any one of her Twitter followers are either so they and all our readers, whom we imagine must like the way we think, will appreciate each sip of excellence and independent thinking that has gone into this product with absolutely zero BS.
Rich, robust notes firework out of this bottle, awakening your entire olfactory system like any product of great artisan craftsmanship that you eat or drink should. The jewel tones are brilliant as Peachy's birthstone gem, a garnet. We tried it both standalone and with a nice steak and were impressed with its versatility. Its deep hues were set off by Belleek brilliance: Galway Crystal to be exact. (The only herds in Ireland are the sheep.)
Every burst of rich raspberry and brilliant blackberry that we tasted will delicately ripen on your palate, making you even prouder to be an American. With her cousin Andy, Peachy once was honored to attend World Malbec Day in New York by the Consulate General of Argentina, who was quite nice and had many wines to be proud of. However, if you compared those or any other Malbecs to Judge Palmer's, you would start crying for Argentina because the Bavarian Lion Vineyards of Judge Palmer are richer, more robust and overall a bigger winner.
All restaurant owners that are reading, especially if you are in our review lineup: you know what new brand you ought to start adding to your wine list! It is most disappointing when great food does not have wine that is its equal.
All restaurant owners that are reading, especially if you are in our review lineup: you know what new brand you ought to start adding to your wine list! It is most disappointing when great food does not have wine that is its equal.
Everyone knows that old saying “Never judge a book by its cover" and for me my friends the verdict is in. Judge Palmer wine is guilty. Guilty of being so damn delicious! For the first time, we tried Judge Palmer wines last night and I have to say I’m very impressed. This
Malbec puts everything I've had from South America of this variety to shame. Now living in the south with its very long hot summers, me and a group of my friends got together on my outside deck and the consensus was the
is a great tasting summertime or anytime enjoying wine. Beautiful aromas on the palate and a very rich and fruity taste with a little dry finish really made our night.
Called a “hidden gem” winery, with the warmest and best suited climate to the family of grapes that give us rich bodied Cabernets, Malbecs and soothing Roses, this winery thrives in part because of its perfect geographical advantage. At the foot of Mount Saint Helena, Bavarian Lion Vineyard produces Bordeaux varietal wines that provide distinct character to your table. Their 2012 Malbec offers the satisfaction of the results of a full growing season filled with perfect days and cool nights. The flavor development results in a fruitful, ripe blend that is left to rest for 14 months in oak barrels. Lending a hint of floral to its rich berry blend, this Malbec will carry summer over into an early autumn table. For those in love with a good red wine, this particular blend will be brilliant all year round, not limited to choice of menu. Decant well in advance to delight in this well behaved Malbec.
The brilliant straightforward facts on:
2012 Judge Palmer Malbec
Bavarian Lion Vineyard
Knights Valley, Sonoma County
Vineyard: Bavarian Lion Vineyard is a hidden gem in Knights Valley, situated in the saddle of the Vacas Mountain range between northern Napa Valley and Alexander Valley. Protected from Pacific Ocean influences more than other Sonoma County growing regions, its warmer climate, slightly higher elevation, and volcanic soils all combine to create a fertile hunting ground for Bordeaux varietal wines that are savory, mineral-driven, and full of character.
Vintage: From the beginning 2012 was destined to be an epic vintage, as textbook spring conditions produced steady flowering and an ideal fruit set. Clear warm days and cool nights continued on an uninterrupted stretch throughout the summer and early fall, allowing for optimal ripeness and flavor development. We were able to harvest the Malbec just before the light rains that finally crashed the party towards the end of October.
Winemaking: The grapes were destemmed into one open top tanquito for a long cold soak to encourage development of color before fermentation began spontaneously with wild yeast. The must was treated gently and sparingly, with only occasional manual punch downs, occurring at most once per day. After pressing, the wine went into two neutral and one new lightly toasted French oak barrel, and was left completely alone for 14 months until being racked for bottling.
Judge Palmer Wine Co. was founded by friends and winemakers Palmer Emmitt and Michael Scorsone. About twelve years ago, Palmer and Michael were introduced through a mutual friend. At this time Michael had been making wine in Napa Valley for several years – after initially graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and working as a chef, he fell in love with wine and moved to Napa Valley to pursue winemaking. Palmer was a wine lover who was working in the film industry in Los Angeles, and meeting Michael and learning more about the winemaking process from him spurred his interest in wine from hobby to obsession and later profession. Palmer took classes at night to become certified as a sommelier and then a few years later moved to wine country to earn his MBA in Wine Business from Sonoma State University.
Upon moving to wine country, Palmer reconnected with Michael and the two began collaborating on the project that would become Judge Palmer. Through Michael’s industry contacts they were able to purchase Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the premier grape grower in Napa Valley – Andy Beckstoffer – and one of his most prestigious sites, the Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard, for their first vintage in 2011. In subsequent years, additional vineyard sites in Alexander Valley and Knights Valley, both in Sonoma County, were added so that they could produce Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec wines equaling the quality of the Napa Cabernet.
When it came time to bottle the first wines and name the brand, Michael and Palmer mulled over many possible names but settled on one that combined their deep connection with family and their philosophy on winemaking. Palmer’s grandfather James Palmer had for many years served as a judge in Placerville, California (aka Hangtown, a historic gold rush site), and when Palmer said the words “Judge Palmer” out loud, they looked at each other and knew they had found the name. In addition to the familial inspiration, the brand name and imagery evoke the parallel between the judge’s role in a courtroom and how Michael and Palmer approach winemaking – natural, authentic, transparent and with minimal intervention.
After the first few years of toiling away in the cellar and waiting for the first barrels to mature, the business officially launched in 2015 with the opening of their winery in Healdsburg, California and the release of their first wines. In the short period of time since then, they have grown their wine club substantially and secured distribution in Texas, Florida and Tennessee, with several more states to be added in the coming months. Their current annual production is about 1500 cases, up from just 200 in their first vintage 2011, and they hope to grow to 3000 or so in the coming years – staying small enough to remain true to their vision of small-lot artisan winemaking from uniquely distinct single vineyard sites and maintaining a personal connection to each bottle of wine and each customer.
Palmer and Michael now also produce wine under a second label called “Domenica Amato” named for Michael’s grandmother who was born in Sicily and emigrated to the US from Italy in 1966 along with Michael’s father and grandfather. The Domenica Amato wines are made in extremely small quantities and are sold only to members of the Emmitt-Scorsone Wine Club. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool climate Sonoma Coast are the main focus for these wines, but the label also allows Michael and Palmer room to experiment with varieties and styles that are apart from the norm. They are meant to be enjoyed with your loved ones around the Sunday dinner table.
Judge Palmer brand motto from back label:
The duty of a judge is to maintain order and ensure that justice is done while remaining fair and impartial. We feel that the role of the winemaker should be the same – an expert yet unbiased observer who allows the vineyard, varietal, and vintage to testify for themselves in the finished wine. Try a bottle with a jury of your peers.
Judge Palmer Mission Statement:
We believe there's a lot of bullshit in the world of wine these days. Our approach is to be honest and straightforward in the way we make our wines and deal with all of our customers and partners – just the way my grandfather the small town judge would've done it.
So you won't find us name-dropping, boasting, embellishing or obfuscating. You might find us pontificating, because we are deeply passionate about our work and feel there is something special about artisan winemaking that can't be accurately described in only a few words.
Our Bordeaux varietal wines come from both sides of the Napa-Sonoma border, featuring vineyards with unique character owned by people that share our values. We try to let each wine be what it wants to be, expressing the virtues of each site without letting our own stylistic bias interfere.
We encourage you to break from the herd mentality, eschew the latest trends, and taste our wines with an open mind – you be the judge. We think the honesty and passion with which we make them will shine through and resonate.
Try a bottle with a jury of your peers.
Palmer Emmitt & Michael Scorsone
Owners - Winemakers - Cellar Rats
