Whispering Dove Vineyards Flies again

Los Angeles based wine industry veteran, Mark Newman, CEO of Accolade Brands, Inc.**, re-introduces Whispering Dove 2012 from Napa Valley, with three exciting entries set for a July 1 release

Rumors about the source of Whispering Dove’s inaugural 2001 vintage abounded. The winery is still tight lipped about the wine’s details, but the wine was very quickly a success. There were 2 successive releases and then the winery’s primary vineyard source was lost.

2012 brought us good fortune and we were able to get back into the game. Working closely with a few critically acclaimed vineyards, winemakers and consultants, we were able to make three amazing wines with the overall objective to making great wine at a “Cult” level with some sense of relative value.  Grape prices have increased two and one half times since our first production, so these current releases are definitely more expensive than our initial wines, but we believe that these wines trump our first releases.

2012 Whispering Dove Oakville Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petite Verdot, 2% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec.  The grapes were grown just off of Oakville Cross Road and the wine was aged in 50% new French Oak for 16 months with the balance in one and two year old oak, and was bottled in early May.  650 cases were produced and the suggested retail is $55.99

2012 Whispering Dove Napa Valley Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in 3 different Napa AVA’s, thus the Napa Valley appellation.  Aged in 40% new French Oak, with the balance in one and two year old oak for 16 months. This is a deeply flavored Napa Cabernet with beautiful dark fruit and kisses of sweet toasty oak on the nose, followed by a mouth filling bowl of ripe fruit. The wine was bottled last week and is already showing great promise. 800 cases were produced and the suggested retail is $63.00.

And finally…

2012 Whispering Dove Napa Valley Stagecoach Block Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.  Just east and north of Oakville is the legendary Stagecoach Vineyard on Pritchard Hill where this wine hails from.  This wine was destined to be a blockbuster from the beginning. The wine went to 100% new French Oak where it rested for 18 months. This wine is choc-a-bloc with everything that you expect from this elevation. The aromas on this wine grab you from the beginning with lots of dark fruit and finish that won’t quit. 680 cases were produced and the suggested retail is $69.99

About Mark Newman

Mark A. Newman of Studio City, California has been Chairman and CEO of three wine & spirits industry companies, and has spent a lifetime in the industry. Mark is currently CEO of Accolade Brands, Inc.**, an importer, producer and consultant for wineries in the south of France, Bordeaux, Italy, Spain and California. In his over 35 years in the wine industry he has owned the largest per unit wine & spirits retail chain in Arizona (Newman’s Liquor Barn) and was selected as a Market Watch Magazine Industry Leader in 1989. He has held key California winery positions as well as senior level executive positions in the wine distributing business (Young’s Market Company). Mark has also produced wine in both California and France and was a founding partner and now sole owner of Whispering Dove. He has been a judge at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition for the last 19 years. Mr. Newman received his education at the University of Southern California in Business (Marketing & Finance) and is a member of several wine industry trade groups including the Society of Wine Educators. Mark was inducted into the prestigious Commanderie de Bontemps du Medoc et Graves recognizing his years of dedication to the wine industry, and is Maitre Consiels of Gastronomy, an honor bestowed by the French Minister of Agriculture, and he has previously had his palate insured for one million dollars.

**Accolade Brands, Inc., founded in 2004, is not affiliated with Accolade Wines.