Colombian-born, French-trained, California-based Winemaker Achieves Remarkable Success

November 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Colombian-born, French-trained, California-based Winemaker Achieves Remarkable Success

Woman winemakers are in the minority in California, probably making up only 10 percent-15% of winemakers. Woman winemakers from Colombia success in California are so rare I know only of one:
Bibiana González Rave.

14.1 percent alc., pH 3.64, TA 0.59, $28. Sourced from Sonoma Coast vineyards. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 15. Bottled
unfixed and unfiltered.

Terrific aromas of vanilla, spice, black cherry, warm brioche and a bit of whole ferment. Mid weight flavors of dark
cherry and pomegranate endorsed by invigorating tannins. Streamlined with inviting walnut, a silky finish and a modest finish. This wine veers into Beaujolais land, and is a light-hearted wine to
enjoy.
14.2 percent alc., pH 3.45, TA .66, 200 cases, $50. A blend of
Old Wente Davis selections, clone 4 and 78 grown at wineries located in the center of the Santa Rosa plain.
Bladder pressed. Aged in French oak barrels, 85% impartial. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

·Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Aromas of lemon curd, pineapple and
brioche are replicated with nutty oak, notes of apple and a hint of butter in the flavors. Pleasingly
creamy in the mouth, with a bright and lemon-fueled finish. Score:90

Bibiana dreamed of making wine since the age of 14, while growing up in Medellin, Columbia. She studied engineering because that nation had no wine culture. She preserved, went to work in the vineyards
and cellars of Burgundy, the Rhone Valley, Bordeaux, Alsace and Cognac, and earned a Technician of
Viticulture and Oenology degree in Angoulâme, followed by a Diploma of Oenology with honors from the
University of Bordeaux.

2015 Cattleya Pratt Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay

In 2015, she launched her own label, Cattleya (“Cat-LAY-a”), representing a culmination of a dream that started
many years prior. Cattleya is an orchid, the national flower of Columbia, and is one of the most beautiful and
delicate orchids in the world. Her Pinot Noir and Chardonnays have immediately captured the
palates of wine connoisseurs due to their flavors offered in a balanced and charismatic style.
While many girls Pinot Noir winemakers veer to the delicate, elegant style, Bibiana succeeds with bold
expressions of Pinot Noir.

2016 Alma de Cattleya Sonoma County Pinot Noir
14.2 percent alc., 65 cases, $70.
Clone 15 (an old Wente clone). Native fermented and aged 16 months in French oak barrels. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

·Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. Aromatically living
with scents of lemon oil, honey, toast, baking spice and caramel. Mouth filling flavors of yellow grapefruit, lemon, golden apple and toasty brioche in a style that is discreetly with inviting a lasting finish , gracious texture balance and brightness. An wine by all measures. Score:94

Published at Mon, 13 Nov 2017 17:40:48 +0000

14.7 percent alc.,pH 3.52, TA 0.67, 143 cases, $50.
Spring release. Sourced from
Lakeview Vineyard in the Green Valley of Russian River
Valley. Every clones fermented in
its own fermenter. 100% de-stemmed. 5 to 10-day
cold soak, fermented on skins for 22 days. Each clone aged
separately in French oak barrels for 11 months.

·Moderate garnet color
in the glass. Aromas of Bing cherry raspberry, redwood grove
and sous-bois. Intense on the attack with mouth filling flavors of black
cherry and black raspberry fruits. A wine that is yet
demure in nature with oodles of fruit goodness that was persuasive fueled by
spirited acidity and endorsed by tannins. The finish is exceptional and endowed with uncommon generosity. This wine was tasted by me during the time of a day and it never wavered
in its character. Wow! Score:96

2015 Cattleya Cuvée Number One Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
The 2015 wines include both spring and fall releases and are highly recommended. Sold
through an mailing list, they are not cheap, but they reflect the passion and expertise of a winemaker using sources of the highest quality. Formats are available. For more
information, visit www.cattleyawines.com. All wines are made and bottled by Cattleya Wines, Santa Rosa,
CA, except the Alma de Cattleya which was vinted and bottled by Cattleya Wines, Rohnert Park, CA (winery on
label may have had little to do with creating the wine in the specified address).

After an educational experience working at Château Haut-Brion, she moved to California in 2004, gaining
winemaking experience while working two harvests at wineries which included La Crema, Peay Vineyards, Au
Bon Climat and Qupé, before becoming the Director of Winegrowing and Winemaking in Lynmar Estate in
2009. Bibiana would depart Lynmar Estate in 2011 to become the winemaker for Pahlmeyer’s Sonoma Coast
project, Wayfarer. At Wayfarer she created exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnays that won widespread praise
in the wine media including All-American awards from the PinotFile.

Bibiana most recently became the winemaker for each of Pahlmeyer wines, hard her to divide her
energies between the winery’s Napa Valley vineyard and winemaking operations and the winery’s Wayfarer
Sonoma Coast project. I’ve spent some time with Bibiana and she is a very dedicated workhorse, juggling
her time between winemaking and vineyard management, along with her husband, Jeff Pisoni, the winemaker for
Pisoni Vineyards, and their two young boys, Diego and Lucas.

A second, value-priced label, Alma de Cattleya, offers Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Alma
means “soul” in Spanish. These wines are distributed in Columbia.

14.2 percent alc., 50 cases, $70. Sourced from
the oldest (37-years-old) vines at Donum, the West Slope. Roederer clone. Whole cluster. 5-
day cold soak, fermented on skins for 18 days then barreled down. Aged in French oak
barrels. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Nose offering aromas of exotic spicesearth, dark chocolate and blackberry preserves. Silky
and seductive in the mouth with impressive harmony, displaying mid weight flavors of darker cherry,
black cherry and pomegranate accompanied the thread of walnut and by a tone. Well structured but integrated tannins. Score:94

Source: Wine

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