Lokoya

Monday, November 16, 2009
'95 and '98 Diamond Mountain

Monday, August 31, 2009
1995 Diamond Mountain Cabernet

Monday, August 31, 2009
2002 Lokoya

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
2001 Lokoya Howell

Thursday, March 19, 2009
Illinois to New York City

Monday, January 26, 2009
2002 Mount Veeder

Monday, January 26, 2009
Location

Monday, October 20, 2008
2008 Harvest

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Wine Allocations

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Sourcing

About Christopher: A Chicago native, Carpenter graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and the University of Illinois, Chicago with a Masters of Business Administration. He visited Napa Valley after graduation and realized his true passion was winemaking. He soon moved to the area and began an artistic winemaking career.

Wine Tastings

Monday, November 16, 2009
'95 and '98 Diamond Mountain

Dear Chris, I have had a bottle of the '95 and '98 Diamond Mt. in the cellar for some time, and finally found the right time and reason to open them up. We paired with a dinner of blue cheese stuffed filets and all I can say is.. WOW! I was worried that I had left both of these wines in the cellar too long, but I think the timing was just about perfect. I was more concerned about the '98 given the general feeling of that vintage, put it proved it's legs and the consensus of our party of 4 was that the '98 actually was the better of the two. Both wines still showed ample fruit and the full palette was still quite evident, but the '98 was supurb! Dave Fluegeman San Clemente, CA

Thanks Dave. I still contend that the 98 Lokoya Diamond, and I usually do not put our wines on so high of a pedestal, was the wine of the vintage. It shows how really great vineyards, and the mountainsides if approached the right way act completely different than the valley floor.

Monday, January 26, 2009
2002 Mount Veeder

Chris, I took my wife to L'Opera in Long Beach on Sept. 14, 2008 for her birthday. I had heard good things about your wine and tried a bottle of 02 Mt. Veeder. We love this wine. I took a friend back on Sept. 25, 2008 and tried the last bottle they had of same with the same experience. I need more of your wines...how do I accomplish this? I just registered on your list. Chip

The 2002 Veeder is one of my favorite wines that I have made at Lokoya. 2002 was an exceptional year and with this vineyard it was a breeze to create this wine. I am glad you enjoyed it. We have a mailing list that is managed by our hospitality staff. They love to hear of these kinds of experiences and will be glad to connect you with an opportunity to buy more Lokoya. Call 707-948-2655, and ask for Peter Yen.

Monday, April 14, 2008
95 Lokoya

Thanks for your notes. I'm in a small monthly wine group in Idaho. Our next tasting/dinner is on the 18th and we're bringing Cabs from '01 and before. I found a '95 Lokoya in the cellar so am taking it. I'll report the results. Shorty

Which 95 Lokoya is it?

Monday, March 12, 2007
95 Rutherford

Mr. Carpenter, We will be offering a bottle of 1995 Lokoya Cabernet Rutherford to our wine tasting group on Saturday, March 17. We are hoping for some additional information / assistance in presenting the wine. Could you please advise, more specifically, the origin of the grapes for this wine. The bottle only states "mountains and benchlands above Napa Valley". Could you recommend how long the wine should be decanted prior to presenting. Based on the age, in general, we were planning on about 1-1/2 hours. And, finally, if you have any recent tasting notes on this vintage, we would love to be able to pass them along. Thanking you in advance for your assistance. We look forward to enjoying what we anticipate to be a great bottle of wine! Grapefully Us Southwest Tucson, AZ

What a great way to celebrate St Patricks Day. The grapes from the Rutherford bottling, which were available from 1995-1998, came from Andy Beckstoffer's Gerorge III Vineyard in Rutherford, just south of Mumm on the Silverado Trail. We had 6 rows of this vineyard dedicated to Lokoya. I would say your evaluation of the time needed to decant is fine. This wine has never had a tremendous amount of tannins, and has probably aged enough, not to require more than the 1.5 hours you are suggesting. I have not tasted this wine for several years, thus I do not have tasting notes that would be appropriate. Your email reminds me that it might be time to revisit the wine. Please let me know your groups thoughts after the tasting. Schlante, Chris

Thursday, March 1, 2007
Lokoya tasting events

Recalling bygone years, I have fond memories of barrel tasting at Lokoya....any hope that the release of the 2004 vintage occasions another delightful affair for the 2005s? Cheers, Cabernetcounsel

Dear Cabernetcounsel, Currently there is nothing in the works for a Lokoya event, though I agree with you, it's been several years since we have done something like this. I'll forward your inquiry on to our hospitality folks with a strong suggestion to put something in the works for the future. Chris

Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Rutherford 95, part 2

Dear Chris, Thank you for the information on the 1995 Lokoya Rutherford Cab. Our wine group tasted the wine on March 17, 2007. Upon opening, the cork was dry and broke in the removal process but showed a lot of wine crystals and great color. We decanted the wine for approximately 45 minutes. We had 13 people experiencing the wine. Every one was very impressed by the bouquet of the wine but no one could adequately describe it. It was wonderful. Then it was time for the first taste. The wine was full of fruit and spice "and everything nice". The finish went on and on. We are not as eloquent as the professional wine reviewers, but we can tell you that we found the wine to be absolutely wonderful for a 12 year old cab! We found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable experience, from the aroma, through the tasting, to the lingering finish. We would tell anyone, that if you only have one bottle left, find a great occasion and open it and enjoy. It may hold longer, but why wait. If you have more than one, enjoy some now and then revisit it again, and again. Thank you, Grapefully Us, Southwest Chapter Danna & Al Cyr (Tucson, AZ)

Thanks for getting back to me Danna. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Tours and Tasting Part 2

next sunday ebab's house randolf street apartments second floor curtis' room, you bring the '95, i bring the cardinale.

Dear Mr Jaffe, Nice to hear from you. I will forward on my contact information. See you by the pool. Chris

Monday, April 14, 2008
Tours and Tastings

My wife and I will be in Napa Valley in late June. We were wondering if you have tours or tastings. Best regards. --Arnie Jaffee

Lokoya does not have a tasting room. We share a space with Cardinale Winery, and do a rare tasting with Lokoya for our mailing list members. The number to reach the folks in the tasting room is, 707-948-2647.

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