Taft Street

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Country of Origin: USA
Location: Sebastopol - Russian River Valley
People: Mike Martini & Mike Tierney, Owners | Jeff McBride Consulting Winemaker

Items

Taft Street (20 L) 2022 Chardonnay, Sonoma County KEG Login — In Stock
Taft Street 2022 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley Login JD 87 In Stock
Taft Street (20 L) 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley KEG Login — In Stock
Taft Street 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley Login JD 88 In Stock
Taft Street 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Login JD 92 In Stock

The term "garagistes" originated in Bordeaux in the 1980's and referred to a group of innovative winemakers who produced exceptional wines in their garages rather than in grand chateaux. Like the renegade French Garagistes, Taft Street began in a garage in 1979, stressing quality without pretense. Mike Tierney with his brother John and Mike Martini turned the Tierney family garage into a winery: barrels, stainless tanks, a basket press and hand corker. With a little quality control and an ever growing following who loved the wine, the house and garage on Taft Street gained a reputation of its own.

In the early 80's, they moved the operation to Forestville in the Russian River Valley. Mike Tierney during this time was still working as a teacher by day and selling wine via his pickup at night. During the 1990's they moved to their current location in Sebastopol, Ca and their distribution grew nationally with awards for their wines popping up in Wine Spectator and other magazines. However, the focus never derailed from producing wines from grapes sourced by nearby vineyards in the Russian River Valley. Read more about the Taft Street Story as told by Mike Tierney.

Since 1982, Taft Street has been partnering with incredible growers in the Russian River Valley. Currently, the wines are crafted under the guidance of Jeff McBride who has served as winemaker for small, medium and large wine producers. He is intimately aware of the qualities of the Russian River Valley fruit and how those qualities manifest themselves in the finished wine.

Taft Street continues in the Garagistes traditions to this day, producing limited production, handcrafted wines from select Sonoma County vineyards.



Media Links:
Taft Street Blog: State of the Street

Social Media
Twitter: @TaftStreetWine
Taft Street Facebook
Taft Street Flickr
Taft Street Instagram

Reviews

  • Taft Street 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
    Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 92 (7/1/2021)
    The 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers lots of up-front darker cherry and black raspberry fruits to go with medium-bodied richness and depth on the palate. It has some oak to integrate, yet the purity of fruit is spot on, and it has ripe tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and textbook Pinot Noir spice and underbrush nuances.
  • Taft Street 2022 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
    Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 87 (7/21/2023)
    The medium straw-colored 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley reveals soft notes of yellow flowers, hay, and golden apple. This medium-bodied and straightforward Chardonnay is ripe on the palate, with notes of ripe pear and melon, and a modest finish. Drink now.
  • Taft Street 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley
    Jeb Dunnuck
    Rating: 88 (6/7/2024)
    Pale green silver color, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley is bottled under screwcap and is bright and herbaceous in the glass, with notes of chive, grapefruit zest, tropical flowers, and white peach. Refreshing and zesty, it has a light effervescence on opening, with a clean and crisp finish. It is a springy wine perfect for enjoying this summer.