Even better, the deep ruby/purple-tinged 2007 Sangiovese Penny Lane Vineyard exhibits notes of strawberries, black cherries, new saddle leather, bay leaf, and pepper. Ripe, with excellent fruit, medium body, and no hard edges, it, too should be consumed over the next 3-4 years. This is a two-tiered operation with the Saddleback Cellars wines generally made from blends of estate fruit from their 20 acres in Oakville as well as purchased lots. The Venge Family Reserve cuvees are made from nearly all estate grown fruit with small amounts of purchased fruit utilized as well. The Venge Family Reserve wines tend to be the more esteemed, and consequently, are higher priced. This is a fun estate to visit as there is no shortage of personality from the father and son team of Nils and Kirk Venge. The flagship offerings appear under the Venge Family Reserve label. Some enticing wines are produced, largely from estate vineyards in Oakville, but occasionally supplemented by purchased fruit.Tel. (707) 944-1305; Fax (707) 944-1325; Venge Family Reserve: Tel. (707) 942-9100; Fax (707) 942-9121

The red Venge Family Reserve wines include the 2006 Sangiovese Penny Lane Vineyard, a 100% Sangiovese that the Venges pass over Charbono pressings, giving it an Italian Ripasso style. This wine exhibits an attractive spicy, peppery, strawberry character, medium body, a hint of new saddle leather, and good freshness. There is surprising intensity and body for a Sangiovese, no doubt due to the Ripasso method. Drink it over the next 3-4 years. This is a two-tiered operation with the Saddleback Cellars wines generally made from blends of estate fruit from their 20 acres in Oakville as well as purchased lots. The Venge Family Reserve cuvees are made from nearly all estate grown fruit with small amounts of purchased fruit utilized as well. The Venge Family Reserve wines tend to be the more esteemed, and consequently, are higher priced. This is a fun estate to visit as there is no shortage of personality from the father and son team of Nils and Kirk Venge. The flagship offerings appear under the Venge Family Reserve label. Some enticing wines are produced, largely from estate vineyards in Oakville, but occasionally supplemented by purchased fruit.Tel. (707) 944-1305; Fax (707) 944-1325; Venge Family Reserve: Tel. (707) 942-9100; Fax (707) 942-9121

One of California’s finest Sangiovese-based offerings is the 2005 Venge Family Reserve Sangiovese Penny Lane Vineyard. Its medium ruby color is followed by plenty of strawberry, new saddle leather, roasted herb, and spice characteristics. Filled with fruit and character, it is a bistro-styled, spaghetti and meatball sort of wine that will have many friends. The two Venges, father Nils and son Kirk, look like two Vikings who somehow ended up in Napa Valley, with Nils taking the cowboy route and Kirk following a more conservative path. They own over twenty acres of estate vineyards, six of which are dedicated to the Venge Family Reserve operation in Oakville, and the balance to the Saddleback label. They supplement their estate production with some purchased fruit that forms the backbone of their white wine program, all light, non-malolactic whites that are meant to be drunk during their first several years of life.Tel. (707) 944-1305; Fax (707) 944-1325; Venge Winery tel. (707) 967-1008

An outstanding effort is the 2004 Venge Family Reserve Sangiovese Penny Lane Vineyard (along with Shafer’s Firebreak, one of the finest California Sangioveses made). To create this wine, the Sangiovese fruit is passed over the Charbono skins in an Amarone-like manner. The result is a wine exhibiting loads of black cherry, roasted nut, spice box, and forest floor characteristics. With excellent ripeness, medium body, tangy acidity, and loads of heady richness, it is best consumed over the next 2-3 years to take advantage of its exuberant youthfulness. Previously recommended: 2002 Venge Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (97), 2003 Venge Family Reserve Merlot (90).Saddleback Cellars tel. (707) 944-1305; fax (707) 944-1325; Venge Winery tel. (707) 967-1008

The more limited production, flagship cuvees are bottled under the Venge Family Reserve label. Venge is one of the survivors with Sangiovese as this grape continues to die out, at least in terms of name recognition on wine labels. His excellent 2003 Sangiovese Penny Lane Vineyard (which includes 10% Charbono) is meant to be drunk over the next 3-4 years. It is a classic bistro-styled red boasting loads of berry fruit, hints of strawberries, saddle leather, and cherries, crisp, tart acidity, and fine purity. Shortly before I wrote this report, I had my last bottle of one of Venge’s great Cabernet Sauvignons, the 1978 Villa Mt. Eden (a vineyard now owned by Plumpjack). Still spectacular at 27 years of age, this fabulously complex Cabernet Sauvignon is further proof that few people have as much experience and a resume as impressive as the ebullient Nils Venge.Saddleback Cellars tel. (707) 944-1305; fax (707) 944-1325; Venge Winery tel. (707) 967-1008