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Winemaker Pam Starr will guide us through the following wines: 2015 Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $34), 2014 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc (SRP $80), 2014 Crocker & Starr Stone Place Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $120), and the 2014 Crocker & Starr Casali 6 (SRP $80). \r\n
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To learn more about Crocker & Starr, please visit www.crockerstarr.com and follow Crocker & Starr on Twitter at @CrockerStarr. We also welcome you to use the hashtag #CrockerStarrLive during the tasting. Feel free to tag @CharlesComm as well. \r\n
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A votre sante! \r\n
","summary":"Crocker & Starr handcrafts a small production of exquisite wines from select blocks within the estate's historic 100-acre vineyard in St. Helena, shepherded by co-owners Charlie Crocker (the grapes) and Pam Starr (the talent). The vines are cultivated following organic principles, and the clusters are hand harvested, transformed into wine through cutting edge winemaking techniques (like the winery's recent upgrade to the Burgstahler grape sorting machine), blending the best of Old World philosophy and New World fruit. Starr presides over the estate’s wines to capture the essence of the vineyard’s extraordinary terroir. \r\n
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\r\nWinemaking practices are gentle. During harvest, de-stemming and sorting are done by hand, but on a sorting table that avoids any excessive handling of the berries. The use of various extraction techniques depends on the vintage; sometimes Pam combines cold soaking and extended maceration for up to 45 days. After a gentle pressing, the new wine is matured in French oak barrels. There is no fining or filtration.\r\n
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\r\nThe result is complex and balanced, elegant wines that express the aromatic profile of the Crocker Vineyard. “There’s something incredibly special about experiencing what goes into a memorable and delicious bottle of wine that’s made from a single vineyard like this one,” Pam says. “When people come to Crocker & Starr they taste our wine, see the vineyard in a historic district, and they leave with a sense of being part of our history and of this beautiful place in St. Helena.\"\r\n \r\n\r\n
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Winemaker Pam Starr and CCA founder Kimberly Charles will taste us through the following wines: \t\r\n
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\r\n- 2015 Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $34)\r\n
\r\n- 2014 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc (SRP $80)\r\n
\r\n- 2014 Crocker & Starr Stone Place Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $120)\r\n
\r\n- 2014 Crocker & Starr \"Casali 6\" (SRP $80)\r\n
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\r\n\r\nPam's Philosophy: “Grapes express where they are grown and for me soil is everything. I work the soil so it will express itself in the wine when blended. In this way I ensure the wine captures the essence of our estate terroir. As a result we create complex, balanced, elegant wines that express the aromatic profile of the Crocker Vineyard.”\r\n\r\n
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\r\n","additional_description":"","related_file":false,"slideshow":false,"products":{"layout":"featured-grid","product_alternate_label":"","products":[{"product":8337793,"tab_title":"Crocker & Starr","product_title":"Crocker & Starr","description":"The Crocker & Starr name reflects the unique partnership between Charlie and Pam and the key components that each one brings to the table to achieve great wine: great grapes and great talent. In 1997, Charlie Crocker and Pam Starr established Crocker & Starr with a common goal of resurrecting the historic Crocker Vineyard Estate and creating world class wines from its extraordinary terroir. Having just celebrated their 20th harvest together, Charlie (the grapes) and Pam (the talent) are equal partners and co-owners of Crocker & Starr. The winery has been blessed with a strong heritage of credibility that represents a winemaking history of excellence from vine to bottle.","price":"","buy_now_link":"https://www.crockerstarr.com/","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/CS2-87.jpg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"More Info","product_rand":"pkdf4"},{"product":10439962,"tab_title":"C&S Sauvignon Blanc","product_title":"2015 Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc ","description":"Varietal Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc\r\n
Whole Cluster Press: 100%\r\n
Fermentation: Stainless Steel Tanks (68%), Used French Oak (20%), Concrete Egg (12%)\r\n
Suggested Retail Price: $34/750ml bottle\r\n
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Tasting Notes: The 2015 once again showcases Pam Starr’s Sauvignon Blanc as singularly ‘Napa Style’. The estate fruit evokes tropical aromas of guava and mango, as they mingle with fleshy pear in the glass. A twist of lemon peel, meringue coupled with vanilla and a touch of allspice. The mouthfeel has dreamy viscosity and refreshing acidity and finishes with a stony minerality for a long and mouthwatering finish. ","price":"34","buy_now_link":"","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/IMG_3302_nonvintage.jpg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"Buy Now","product_rand":"rr2wss"},{"product":10439963,"tab_title":"C&S Cabernet Franc","product_title":"2014 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc","description":"Varietal Blend: 99% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot\r\n
Barrel Program: 20 months in 80% new French oak\r\n
Suggested Retail Price: $80/750ml bottle\r\n
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Tasting Notes: Yet another star in a string of excellent vintages, the 2014 Cabernet Franc has a youthful, deep ruby color. The aromas showcase perfectly ripe and concentrated fruits, in particular black cherry, cassis, sweet black plum, boysenberry, complemented by roasted coffee, anise, violets, dark earth and fresh ground black pepper. The palate is full bodied and expresses similar boysenberry, black cherry, anise and sweet black plum notes, along with a savory character and overall balance that makes it very approachable now. It’s the structure, purity, composure and long finish of this wine, however, that insures a very bright future for the 2014 Cabernet Franc over the next twenty years. ","price":"80","buy_now_link":"","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/IMG_3318_nonvintage.jpg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"Buy Now","product_rand":"fj5kgk"},{"product":10439964,"tab_title":"C&S Cabernet Sauvignon","product_title":"2014 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Sauvignon \"Stone Place\"","description":"Varietal Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon\r\n
Barrel Program: 20+ months in 90% new French oak\r\n
Suggested Retail Price: $120/750ml bottle\r\n
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Tasting Notes: The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Stone Place’ blends power, balance and elegance, what we recognize as the legacy of the Crocker Estate. Using 100% Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from Block 3, the oldest plantings on the property, the small clustered and concentrated grapes create a wine with richness and finesse. The Stone Place Cabernet offers a smooth and seamless transition from the first sip to the lingering finish. With layers of vanilla, rosemary and blackberry pie, the complexity and tannins of this wine qualify cellar aging although currently approachable and inviting. ","price":"120","buy_now_link":"","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/Crocker-starr-162.jpg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"Buy Now","product_rand":"d7i6ne"},{"product":10439965,"tab_title":"C&S Casali","product_title":"2014 Crocker & Starr \"The Casali 7\" Malbec","description":"Varietal Blend: 92% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot\r\n
Barrel Program: 17 months in 55% new French oak\r\n
Suggested Retail Price: $80/750ml bottle\r\n
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Tasting Notes: Pam Starr has knocked it out of the park yet again with the seventh vintage of our estate Malbec blend called ‘The Casali’ 7th Edition. The dark inky color with a florescent purple rim draws you in. Big aromas of Madagascar vanilla, exotic spice, and serious black plum hit you on first approach. Sweet tobacco, dark berry compote, and a surprise element of beef jerky are savory and delicious on the lips. Substantial and silky tannins through the mid-palate build with each subsequent taste while still maintaining finesse. A beautiful dark chocolate and sweet licorice finish. Seamless transition from the first moment the wine hits your lips through the finish and beyond. Drink now with decanting, cellar worthy 10-20 years! ","price":"80","buy_now_link":"","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/Malbac.png"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"Buy Now","product_rand":"3lum8"},{"product":10440082,"tab_title":"Pam Starr","product_title":"Winemaker Pam Starr","description":"Pam Starr has been the co-owner, manager and winemaker of Crocker & Starr since its inception in 1997 when she helped resurrect the vineyards on the Crocker Estate in St. Helena and established a winery to create world-class wines. After toiling as a winery employee for 18 years, Pam’s transformation at a relatively young age into owner, manager, and winemaker was both rare and remarkable. It required a special mix of skill, passion, and dedication. All of which describe Pam Starr.\r\n
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Pam, the daughter of an orthopedic surgeon, was planning to go to dental school, but quickly switched gears while in college at the University of California at Davis. While in school, she worked part time as a flavor technician for a mom & pop spice company in Sacramento, where she honed and perfected her innate proclivity for sensory nuance. She graduated from Davis in 1984 with a degree in Fermentation Science.\r\n
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Pam has worked for Sonoma Cutrer in Sonoma, Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo, and was hired as an enologist and assistant winemaker for Carmenet Winery in Sonoma, a job that taught her how to run a winery from cellar to bottle. In 1991, she became the winemaker for Spottswoode Vineyard & Winery in Napa Valley where she worked until 1997, when she left to build the foundation of Crocker & Starr. At the same time Crocker & Starr opened its doors, Pam began consulting for Adastra Vineyard in the Carneros, Gemstone Vineyard in Yountville, and Garric Cellars of Calistoga, among others.\r\n
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Known for her ability to translate terroir into wine, Pam ardently believes that great wine must taste of the sun, of the earth it comes from and of the place it grows.\r\n
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Pam is a member of the Napa Valley Vintners, Appellation St. Helena, Concierge Alliance Napa Valley and Wine Entre Femme, an international consortium of women winemakers. She lives in Napa with her husband Norm, and together they embrace mountain biking, scuba diving, water skiing, sailing, gardening and motorcycling wine roads. It comes as no surprise that Pam loves to work with her hands: you can almost always find her dreaming up new projects and either blending them or building them. She is currently fulfilling a life aspiration to design and build her own home, and is living on her ideal property in an Airstream while she builds her dream house. Pam’s dog Griffin, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, is her loyal vineyard companion.","price":"","buy_now_link":"","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/PamLowRes2.jpg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"More info","product_rand":"puz2cu"},{"product":10440083,"tab_title":"Charlie Crocker","product_title":"Proprietor Charlie Crocker","description":"Charles “Charlie” Crocker, co-owner of Crocker & Starr and owner of the Crocker Estate, descends from one of California’s founding families. His great grandfather, also Charlie Crocker, spearheaded construction of the Central Pacific railroad, completed in 1868, which began the extraordinary growth that transformed California into an economic powerhouse.\r\n
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A San Francisco businessman, Charlie has had a life-long love affair with the Napa Valley as well as an enduring interest in wine. In 1971, Charlie and his wife Lucinda acquired the historic Dowdell property in St. Helena that included both vineyards and old stone buildings from the 1870s, and decided to bring it back to life. Charlie began by replanting and selling grapes, making wine for family, and developing vineyards he sold to other wineries. Desiring to complete the resurrection of the old wine estate, in 1997 Charlie established Crocker & Starr with Pam Starr, whose Bordeaux-style wine he greatly admired.\r\n
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During his many years in business, Charlie founded, managed, and grew two public technology companies. The first, BEI Technologies, specialized in high tech electronic sensors, including those developed to provide electronic stability control in automobiles. Today electronic stability control is required in every car sold in the United States. The second, BEI Medical Systems, developed sensor-based proprietary medical devices for women’s health care. A few years ago, Charlie sold both companies and today he serves as director of a number of public and private companies and charitable organizations in the Bay Area.\r\n
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Charlie was born in San Francisco and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Stanford and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley. He divides his time between his home in San Francisco and the Crocker Estate in St. Helena. In wine country one will find him walking the vineyard, driving his 1966 Ford truck, running a tractor, or enjoying a glass of Crocker & Starr wine with his family.","price":"","buy_now_link":"","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/12/CharlieLoRes.jpg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"More Info","product_rand":"dmqqrr"},{"product":8339471,"tab_title":"Kimberly Charles","product_title":"Kimberly Charles DWS, Charles Communications President & Founder","description":"Kimberly Noelle Charles, DWS W.S.E.T. \r\n
Kimberly Charles’ name is synonymous with wine marketing at its best level. Over her 30+ year career she has, through her creative marketing efforts helped brands such as Taittinger Champagne, Square One Organic Vodka, Cakebread Cellars, Wente Vineyards, the region of Lodi, E. & J. Gallo among many others attain a level of recognition and draw in the marketplace. She possesses a natural gift of storytelling and helps her clients develop highly tailored messages and audiences to stand out among their peers. Additionally, her holistic approach in marketing from packaging to messaging coupled with strategic communications planning has helped her company Charles Communications Associates excel in its field. Charles Communications Associates was started 13 years ago and specializes in strategic branding, and corporate social responsibility with a focus on launching, reinvigorating and repositioning of brands. Learn more at www.charlescomm.com follow on Twitter @CharlesComm and Instagram #AlltheSwirl","price":"","buy_now_link":"http://www.charlescomm.com/","images":["https://cdn.brnd.live/assets/products/5649/KC_headshot.jpeg"],"sale_price":"","button_text":"More Info","product_rand":"xrfb0g"}]},"survey":false,"quiz":false,"documents":false,"breakoutRooms":[],"secure_wait":false}