Exclusive Lineage Virtual Tasting Experience, October 28, 2020
Livermore, California—October 5, 2020— October marks the release of the latest in the series of acclaimed “Lineage” wines created by Winemaker, Steven Kent Mirassou, and his team. These wines, produced under The Lineage Collection, are the result of Mirassou’s lifelong ambition to produce Bordeaux style blends that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the iconic red wines of the world.
Even before its official release, the 2017 vintage of Lineage was met with unprecedented critical acclaim. Renowned wine critic, Steve Heimoff, who wrote for many years for both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, awarded the 2017 Lineage an unprecedented100 points. Heimoff remarked that of the thousands of Cabernet blends he’d tasted over the course of his career, “None have been better. The precision, tailoring and esthetic impact of Lineage are remarkable.”
Mirassou, sixth-generation winemaker from America’s oldest winemaking family, his 7th generation assistant winemaker son, Aidan, and assistant winemaker, Beth Refsnider, together make wine for Lineage Wine Company and The Steven Kent Winery. These two wine brands are widely regarded as among the most prestigious in the Livermore appellation. Since founding The Steven Kent Winery in 1996, Steven Mirassou’s goal has been to make world-class Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux style blends from the Livermore Valley.
“I’m delighted to have made such an impression on one of the toughest wine critics out there,” said Mirassou. “Steve Heimoff underscores what I have always known about the Livermore Valley: it is capable of greatness, and deserves the attention and respect of anyone who considers themself a connoisseur of the world’s finest Cabernet Sauvignons.”
The 2017 Lineage is comprised of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon from five different vineyards (Sachau, Ghielmetti, Home Ranch, Lencioni and Smith), 20% Merlot from Ghielmetti Vineyard and 5% Cabernet Franc, also from Ghielmetti. Of the wine, Mirassou notes, “2017 marks our eleventh, and finest, release of Lineage thus far. All of the fruit from the six different vineyards we use was of the highest quality we have seen in 24 years of winemaking in Livermore.” He called the 2017 Merlot the finest with which they’ve ever worked, praising its structure and mid-palate.
Released to Lineage Collection Members this past weekend, a limited number of 2017 Lineage bottles and memberships are now available to serious wine connoisseurs. Interested parties can contact Nancy Castro for an invitation to a private online tasting session of the current release, along with the completed blend of the forthcoming 2018 Lineage, and components of the 2019 Lineage, which has yet to be assembled. Attendees will be able to pre-order a Lineage Tasting Kit in advance of the tasting, to be held on October 28.
Members of the Lineage winemaking team will be on hand for this Premiere Virtual Lineage tasting, providing insight into how they craft the blend each year and sharing their stories of how they go about selecting the best lots from the cellar to begin the lengthy trials process.
Of the 2018 Lineage blend, which is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, Mirassou says, “It’s a worthy successor to the 2017, with an amazing complexity of flavors, beautiful aromas and gorgeous volume. The Cabernet Franc gives it great pace, and the Merlot adds stunning black fruit.” Only two vineyard sources of Cabernet Sauvignon were considered of high-enough quality to be selected for the 2018 Lineage.
The 2019 components share more commonality with those of the 2017, observes Mirassou. Multiple Cabernet Sauvignon sources contribute complexity, and a heavier weighting will be given the Cabernet Franc, with perhaps a bit of Petit Verdot. He predicts the 2019 Lineage will exhibit more largesse than the 2018.
Mirassou plans to make several vintages of the winery’s library of Lineage bottlings available to Lineage members later this year. They will surely make for a proper send off to the year 2020.
To learn more about joining the Lineage allocation list or signing up for the Lineage Virtual Experience on October 28, contact Nancy Castro, Sales & Marketing Director at nancy@thelineagecollection.com or 408-637-1452 (mobile).
Further information on Lineage can be found at www.lineagewine.com
