Arizona Stronghold

Keenan splits with Arizona Stronhold

Keenan Arizona Stronghold split

Maynard James Keenan

Maynard James Keenan

Last week the Arizona Republic’s Richard Ruelas broke the news that Maynard James Keenan and Arizona Stronghold had officially parted ways.  According to Ruelas, Keenan will acquire Arizona Stronghold’s southern vineyard and co founder Eric Glomski will keep the Arizona Stronghold brand and Campe Verde winery.

 

Eric Glomski

Eric Glomski

As for the reasons for the split, neither side is saying much other than there are differences much like there are differences in a band when a band breaks up.  In case you don’t know who Keenan is he’s the lead singer for the Grammy award winning band Tool as well as A Perfect Circle and Puscifer.  Keenan operates two wine labels of his own; Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards.  Both have won multiple awards at the annual Arizona Wine Grower’s Association Awards Banquet.

Eric Glomski is a rock star of sorts in his own right winning 10 awards at the Jefferson Cup in 2011

Hopefully they can sort out their differences and remain friends, because as wine drinkers will attest “Life’s too short to drink crappy wine”

Read Richard Ruelas article HERE

 

Maynard James Keenan | wine maker interview

I had a chance to sit down with Arizona wine maker Maynard James Keenan at this year’s Arizona Wine Grower’s Association “Festival on the Farm”. Mr Keenan is the owner of Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus cellars.

Arizona Stronghold website
Caduceus cellars website
Arizona Wine Grower’s Association website

Video interview with Arizona wine maker Tim White

I got a chance to sit down with Arizona wine maker Tim White at this years Festival on the Farm.  Tim is the director of wine making at Arizona Stronghold Vineyards.  Arizona Stronghold took home multiple awards from this year’s Arizona Wine Grower’s Association competition including:

Arizona Grower’s Cup, Gold for red.  And a clean sweep in the white category, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze!

Video interview:

Arizona Stronghold website

Arizona Winemaker wins big in National Competition
Eric Glomski

Eric Glomski, Page Springs Cellars and Arizona Stronghold Cellars

The Jefferson Cup wine competition held this past November was a major achievement in Arizona Wine. The Jefferson Cup is an invitation only wine competition held in Kansas City. The wines were judged by some of the industries most well known Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine from across the country, 13 in all. There are no Gold or Silver medals awarded.
Over 630 wines from all of America’s wine regions were selected to compete with just under 300 being awarded “Medals of American Merit”
52 wines won “Medals of American Excellence” and only 22 wines won Jefferson Cups.

In an Amazing feat for Arizona wine and for any winemaker, Eric Glomski (winemaker for Page Springs Cellars and Arizona Stronghold) took home 3 Medals of Merit, 2 Medals of Excellence and 2 out of only 22 Jefferson Cups awarded.

Here is an interview with Eric Glomski just after the awards were announced:

A List of Eric Glomski’s award winning wines:

Page Springs Cellars:

El Serrano 2010, Red Blend, Cochise County | Jefferson Cup

Mourvedre Colibri Vineyards 2010, Cochise County|Jefferson Cup

La Serrana 2010, White Blend, Cochise County | Medal of Excellence

Landscape Page Springs Estate Vineyard 2010, Red Blend, Yavapai County ………Medal of Excellence

Petite Sirah “Page Springs Estate Vineyard” 2010 Yavapai County | Medal of Merit

Pinot Noir “Bonita Springs”, 2010, Graham County | Medal of Merit

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards: Cabernet Sauvignon “Dala” 2009, Cochise County, Arizona | Medal of Merit

For a complete list of Jefferson Cup Competition award winners click HERE

Wine Maker Interview|Eric Glomski

I had a chance to ask Arizona wine maker and Blood into Wine co-star Eric Glomski some questions while at the Arizona Wine Grower’s Festival at The Farm on Saturday November 6th, 2010.  We took a stroll through the pecan groves and chatted a while.

Part one:

Part two:

Arizona Stronghold fights for the Cure

Recently Arizona Stronghold’s business manager, Lisa Rhodes, was diagnosed with cancer. Arizona Stronghold breast cancer The news was especially sad because Lisa lost her husband to cancer just a few years ago.  Eric Glomski, master vintner and partner in Arizona Strongholds released a statement stating “…we felt a need to join hands with all the people fighting to prevent this disease while also lending support to those who are already affected by it.”

For the month of October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Arizona Stronghold will be donating a portion of the proceeds of their Dayden Rose to the Southern Arizona affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the cure.

You can help out by purchasing a bottle of Dayden Rose online at azstronghold.com or visiting the tasting room at 1023 North Main street in Cottonwood, Arizona.  You can also get involved with Susan G. Komen for the cure.

Wine review: Arizona Stronghold

I recently tasted these 4 wines from Arizona Stronghold at the famous Wrigley Mansion.  See my article on that event HERE.

“Tazi” 2008

The Blend: 52% Sauvignon Blanc, 21% Chardonnay, 19% Riesling and 8% Malvasia

Aging: Stainless steel and neutral oak

Production: 1,967 Cases

Alcohol: 13.7%

Price: $17.99

This was the first wine of the evening, and I think it is perfect for that purpose.  A good balance between the crispness of the Sauvignon Blanc and the sweetness of the Riesling.  It’s not to dry and not too sweet.

“Dayden” 2009

The Blend: Zinfandel, Grenache, Sangiovese, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc –no information on the exact percentages yet

Aging: Stainless Steel

Production: 872 Cases

Alcohol: 11.9%

Delicious!  That is my single tasting note.  Light, crisp and refreshing.  The fruit is predominantly Strawberry and Cherry with a hint of terroir vaguely French in nature.

“Mangus” 2008

The Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Sangiovese and 9% Merlot.

Aging: Neutral Oak

Production: 1,359 cases

Alcohol: 14.7%

Price: $19.99

Another interesting wine, I found it to be quite powerful.  If you like the bigger bolder reds this will be the wine for you.  The style is a lot more subtle than an Australian fruit bomb or a highly extracted Napa Cab.  A dry red wine, the fruit is predominantly cherry with earthy components and a strong backbone of acidity.

“Nachise” 2008

The Blend: 52% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 15% Petite Sirah and 6% Mourverdre

Aging: Neutral Oak

Production: 2,009 cases

Alcohol: 14.7%

Price: $19.99

This is a wine a could drink all night long, without having to switch to something else.  Why?  Great dark fruit, blackberry blue berry, very smooth fine tannins and a very interesting component that can only be described as Juniper and or pine.  The wine is French in nature, more specifically Rhone.  Once again, not a highly extracted fruit bomb, which is a welcome change for my palate.  Great supple mouthfeel and nice long lingering finish.  At 14.7% I would have expected more heat from the alcohol but I was pleasantly surprised, the heat is kept in check, and the alcohol provides plenty of lift for the aromatics.