The winemaker with the ‘Gold Touch’ -Nick Goldschmidt

article originally featured in The Coast News Group Jun 9th 2020

If I could choose an ideal winemaker to make wine from a vineyard of some of the highest quality Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in the Sonoma/Napa Valley districts … First, this person would have to be known worldwide, then know about maximum flavor development through their own vineyards and, finally, have future generations of winemakers to step in on a moment’s notice. I know of only one such winemaker that fits those big shoes —Nick Goldschmidt.

Goldschmidt and his world-traveling family, including wife Yolyn, hail from New Zealand. “I knew early on that winemaking would become a passion and enrich our lives,” said Goldschmidt. “Even our five children have all become involved, either pitching in during harvest, to becoming a major part of their own bottle brand.” That’s what I meant with family winemakers who could step in. Daughters Chelsea, Hilary and Katherine have become winemakers under their father’s mentoring.

One such “daughter” wine, Katherine Cabernet, has been a shelf item in some of the most popular wine departments in many cities. This 2018 vintage Katherine Cabernet ($25) comes from the Alexander Valley and is considered a popular casual Cab. The vineyard, known as Stonemason Hill, came alive during its grape ripening harvest with a cooler than normal year but with large grape clusters. Flavor and concentration are excellent.

Goldschmidt points with pride to the two “Gold Touch” premium single estate wines he produces. His Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Yoeman ($75) comes from a small mountain vineyard just south of Geyserville. Eastern morning sun on loam soil extends grape maturation and longer hang time, with late hand-picking producing density and richness of flavor. The palate is filled with luscious black cherry and ripe plum. This wine is supple, long and rich with no edges —100% Cabernet, this wine was aged in small French Taransaud barrels for 30 months.

His other Gold Touch wine is the 2016 Napa Valley PLUS Oakville Game Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon ($90). The vineyard is a 3-acre old vine vineyard on the west side of the Silverado Trail with exceptionally good drainage from the volcanic red clay with gravelly brown loam producing wines with deep concentration. Classic Oakville wine character highlights the lush, elegant style with only the site’s best fruit. As in the 2016 Yoeman, this wine also ages for 30 months in small French barrels.

Goldschmidt continues his worldly pursuits. He closely supervises some 16 other vineyards in six countries. See more Here