Over the Top and Under the Radar - Cassata Vineyards in Sonoma Valley Gets Amazing Scores

I am updating the Biodynamic wine apps and  just noticed - and want to acknowledge with a quick shoutout - the folks at Cassata Vineyards must be doing something amazing.

This 23 acre Biodynamic vineyard in Sonoma Valley has racked up two impressive achievements:

• A 2014 Sonoma Harvest Fair win for Muscardini Cellars' 2012 Cabernet from Cassata vines

• A 95 Point score from Robert Parker, Jr. for the Jeff Cohn Cellars Zinfandel from Cassata vines, saying the Zin was "as good as this varietal can be."

A random search on YouTube brought up this video review from Wine Weirdos...who comment on the freshness of the fruit.

I am planning a visit to see the vineyards and meet the Cassata family (who are starting to release their own wines under their Utopium label).

Partly one has to wonder what Biodynamic farming does for wine. I have been preparing for the upcoming Demeter Short Course on Biodynamics, which will be held March 23 at Maysara Winery in McMinnville, Oregon and where I will be moderating two panels (one with growers and one with winemakers) during the day long event. In doing some research about Pinot Noirs, I found that 82% of the 60 Pinots made from Biodynamic vines in the U.S. were rated 90+ pts. 

(And I'm not even counting Wine Enthusiast scores - just Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine, Parker, Vinous, Bonné, Asimov and a few others). 82%.