2002 Woodenhead Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County (4 stars)
"The cool temperatures of California's great North give this cedary, smoky Pinot a diaphanous texture. Drink now - 12 years."

Our Pinots are Gold Medal winners!

Our wines have been featured in the November 2005 issue of Vinfolio. From Vinfolio:

"Woodenhead winemaker Nick Stez worked for 17 years at Williams Selyem before creating his own brand. Continuing to work wonders with Pinot Noir from old vine sources in the area, Stez also produces Zinfandel. Everything is very limited production.

2003 Woodenhead - Pinot Noir Buena Tierra Vineyard, Russian River Valley; Vinfolio rating: 93 points Buena Tierra is one of the oldest vineyards in Russian River at 26 years. Its fruit has gone into many great wines in the past, including Williams Selyem and the now defunct Seven Lions Winery.

The first intriguing quality about this wine is the nose; beautifully defined aromatics with shaved rose petal, cherry, vanilla and spicy pipe tobacco. Full-flavored cherry, wet stone, pie spice on the palate with finely formed acids. Very nice stuff--I tasted it over a period of 8 hours with consistent notes.

2002 Woodenhead - Pinot Noir Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley; Vinfolio rating: 94 points At the 2005 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition this beautiful Pinot Noir took home the Double Gold Medal. This is probably the first and last time I will ever mention a wine winning a major wine competition. So now that we covered that...onto my tasting notes.

Wiley displays a beautiful nose of soft vanilla and cherry blossom, with an exotic spiciness. Very delicate on mouth entry, with a pretty sense of elegance. Higher acidity holds together beautifully.

2003 Woodenhead - Pinot Noir Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley; Vinfolio rating: 95 points From another old vine source, 23 year-old Wiley Vineyard is made up of Pommard and Romanee Conti clones. Rich nose of blue plum, black cherry and dates with essences of wild strawberry and spice. The flavors are robust--smoky tea, meaty dark cherry supported by well balanced tannins."

We had a very good review of the 2003 Pinots at Family Winemakers by Alder Yarrow of Vinography.

Restaurant Wine - Issue 104 / "Pinot Noir - Expensive"

WOODENHEAD
2002 BUENA TIERRA VYD., RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ****+
2002 ELK PRAIRIE VYD., HUMBOLDT COUNTY ****

"These are very fine Pinots: the Buena Tierra is luscious and relatively refined in style; a full bodied, supple, complex wine (plum, rose petal, cocoa, toast, spicy oak), with a long finish. 120 cases. The Elk Prairie is very ripely flavored, full bodied, supple, and lightly toasty in style; a Pinot tasting of clove, apricot, toast, cocoa, and roasted nut. Medium long finish. Both are unfined, unfiltered, and 15% alcohol. 147 cases."

Restaurant Wine - Issue 105 / "Zinfandel - Expensive"

WOODENHEAD
2002 MARTINELLI ROAD VYD., OLD VINE, RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ****

"Late harvest Zin in style; rich and port-like in aroma, with moderate oakiness; fleshy, nearly dry, and complex in flavor (plum jam, clove, toast, black cherry). Long, persistent finish. Unfined, unfiltered. 16.5% alc. 122 cases."

Jeff Cox has written an article in the Decanter April 2005 issue entitled "Zin show pulls in record crowds". Under Jeff Cox's Pick of the Show, he lists Woodenhead, Martinelli Road Old Vine, Russian River Valley as Top 10 with 3 stars!

Please see our wines reviewed at Vinography. We're total rockstars!

Please see our wines reviewed in several issues of PinotFile. The December 5 issue includes a feature article. From Pinotfile:

"Winemaker/owner Nikolai Stez... lives to make and drink Pinot Noir, but hates to sell it. With a 17 year apprenticeship under Burt Williams at Williams Selyem, he knows what he is doing... His wines are truly handcrafted-- hand punched, basket pressed, aged in French oak in small and unique lots. Unfined and unfiltered... His style is full-bodied with fruit galore. He also is the only producer I know of who sources Pinot Noir from Humboldt County."

We've been recently reviewed by our local Sonoma County radio KSRO's Wine Guy, Tom Simoneau:

(Week of Nov. 1, 2004)
"The Red Sox won the World Series, the moon turned the color of red wine, and we just change the clocks, now it is finally light early. Can it get any better than this? I'm Tom Simoneau with today's wine minute here to say yes. This Saturday is the Fall Open House of tiny cult winery Woodenhead. Located behind Topolos Winery in Forestville, Woodenhead produces some 1500 cases of Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. Winemaker, Nikolai Stez learned his trade working at Williams Selyem. Look for the Woodenhead 2002 Martinelli Road Old Vine Zinfandel, born to be wild, this Zin shows warm, wild blackberry fruit, rich to the rim, bursting with overflow flavors of blackberry and brown spice, a woo woo of a wine, 5 wine stains, $36. Come taste this and two other not to be missed Zin's this Saturday at Woodenhead from 11:00 - 4:00.

What do Russian River's Buena Tierra Vineyard, Anderson Valley's Wiley Vineyard, and Humboldt County's Elk Prairie Vineyard all have in common? I'm Tom Simoneau with todayis wine minute here to say they are all vineyard designates from Woodenhead Vineyards. Woodenhead is the brainchild of Nikolai Stez and Zina Bower. Nikolai, he says woodenhead's something to do with his stubborn personality, learned his trade making wine at Williams Selyem. His 2002 Pinots are not to be missed. As Nikolai says, "Vineyard designates, anyone?" Look for the 2002 Humboldt County Elk Prairie Pinot showing finesse, all cherry, cherry and more cherry, perfectly balanced, and wonderfully aromatic, 4 Ohm wine stains, $50. The 2002 Buena Tierra Russian River Pinot is a baked cherry pie of a wine, all apple pie spice and toast, 4 Ohm wine stains, $46. The Woodenhead Anderson Valley Wiley Pinot shows strawberry-rhubarb, leather and brown spice, 4 wine stains, $45. Woodenhead, 3 Pinots from 3 North Coast Counties, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Humboldt."

California Grapevine, Vol 30 No 3, July 2004

"2002 Woodenhead [Zinfandel], 'Braccialini Vineyards,' Alexander Valley ...
  "Medium to medium-dark ruby color, attractive, briary, toasty, very ripe, slightly pruney, raspberry fruit aroma with notes of dill and vanilla; full body; big, jammy, sweetish, late-picked style flavors with a full, rounded, slightly viscous mouth feel; full tannin with some alcoholic heat on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Stylistic. Drinkable now. Very highly recommended."

"2002 Woodenhead [Zinfandel], 'Pacini Vineyard,' Mendocino County ...
  "Medium light to light ruby; herbal, toasty, slightly candied, red cherry fruit aroma; full body; big, plummy, jammy, sweetish, red berry fruit flavors that verge to a port-like style; full tannin; alcoholic heat on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended."

"2002 Woodenhead [Zinfandel], 'Martinelli Road Vineyard, Old Vine,' Russian River Valley ...
  "Medium to medium-dark purplish ruby; attractive, intense, jammy, briary, very ripe blackberry fruit aroma with a hint of cola; full body; big, dense, highly extracted, jammy, almost port-like flavors; full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended."

California Grapevine, Vol 29 No 2, April 2003

"2001 Woodenhead [Zinfandel], 'Braccialini Vineyards,' Alexander Valley ...
  "Medium-dark ruby, attractive, rich intense, briary, very ripe berry fruit aroma with hints of chocolate and red licorice; full body; big, rich, intense, jammy, chocolatey, textured, red cherry and berry fruit flavors; medium-full to full tannin; some alcoholic heat on the finish; lingering aftertaste. Highly recommended."

"2001 Woodenhead [Zinfandel], 'Martinelli Road Vineyard, Old Vine,' Russian River Valley ...
  "Medium ruby; attractive, herbal, earthy, slightly chocolatey, sweet red berry fruit aroma; medium-full body; moderately rich, bright, ripe cherry and red berry fruit flavors; well balanced; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste... Very highly recommended."

California Grapevine, Vol 28 No 6, December 2002

"2000 Woodenhead [Zinfandel], 'Braccialini Vineyards,' Alexander Valley ...
  "Medium-light to medium-ruby; pleasant, fragrant, herbal, briary, red currant and berry fruit aroma with woody overtones; medium-full body; fleshy, supple, stemmy, herbal, very rich, vanilla-laced, sweet strawberry fruit flavors in a late-picked style; lingering aftertaste. Very appealing to drink now. Highly recommended."

"2000 Woodenhead [Pinot Noir], 'Elk Prairie Vineyard,' Humboldt County ...
  "Meduim-light to medium ruby; attractive, spicy, sweet black cherry fruit, aroma showing distinct varietal character that developed with airing in the glass; medium-full to full body; forward, moderately rich, spicy, elegant, sweet cherry and raspberry fruit flavors; well balanced and structured; medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended."

Listed on the "Grapevine Recommendations" page as one of the top California wines.

The Insiders' Wine Line, Vol 4 No 4, October 17 2001, by Joe Sullivan

"The 1999 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County has a lush perfumed bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, ripe strawberry, dry citrus zest, brown sugar and subtle spicy notes. The flavors of berries, cassis, cinnamon, licorice, and Asian spices are complex with fabulous depth followed by a fruity, spicy finish."

"The 1999 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley has a perfumed bouquet of of briary berries, black pepper, sage, cassis, red plum and Asian spices. The flavors of berries, currants, plums, pepper and toasty vanilla are well balanced with good depth followed by a long, fruity, peppery finish."

"The 1999 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley has a bouquet of apple, citrus, pear, floral notes and faint butterscotch. The flavors of apples, pineapple, lemon, mineral and spicy oak are balanced with very good depth followed by crisp, fruity finish."

Awards

2006 California State Fair
Gold Medal, 2003 Martinelli Road Old Vine Zinfandel

2006 Savor Wine Magazine "North of the Gate" Wine Competition
Gold Medal, 2003 Martinelli Road Old Vine Zinfandel

2006 SF International Wine Competiton
Gold Medal, 2003 Martinelli Road Old Vine Zinfandel

2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards
Gold Medal, 2003 Pinot Noir, Buena Tierra Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Gold Medal, 2003 Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Bronze Medal, 2003 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2005 SAVOR Wine Magazine "North of the Gate" Wine Competition
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Buena Tierra Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Bronze Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2005 West Coast Wine Competition
Gold Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Buena Tierra Vineyard, Russian River Valley

2005 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards
Double Gold Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Gold Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Buena Tierra Vineyard, Russian River Valley
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Bronze Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County

Gold Best of Class, 2002 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley
Silver Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Vineyard, Old Vine, Russian River Valley

2004 California State Fair
Gold Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley

2004 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Silver Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley
Silver Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Vineyard, Old Vine, Russian River Valley

2004 Orange County Fair
Bronze Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley
Bronze Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Pacini Vineyard, Mendocino County
Bronze Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Vineyard, Old Vine, Russian River Valley
Bronze Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County

2004 Los Angeles County Fair
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County
Silver Medal, 2002 Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard, Anderson Valley
Bronze Medal, 2002 Zinfandel, Martinelli Road Old Vine, Russian River Valley

2004 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards
Gold Medal, 2001 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County
Gold Medal, 2001 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley

2003 Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Silver Medal, 2001 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley

2003 Los Angeles County Fair
Bronze Medal, 2001 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2003 Orange County Fair
Gold Medal, 2001 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley
Bronze Medal, 2001 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

2003 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Awards
Silver Medal, 2000 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County
Silver Medal, 2001 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Bronze Medal, 2000 Zinfandel, Braccialini Vineyards, Alexander Valley

2002 Orange County Fair
Silver Medal, 2000 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County

2002 Los Angeles County Fair
Silver Medal, 2000 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County

2002 San Francisco Wine Competition
Silver Medal, 2000 Pinot Noir, Elk Prairie Vineyard, Humboldt County

Testimonials

Artwork by Mary Moore on display at Woodenhead's November 2003 open house.