The Iliad, our white Rhône-style blend, begins with a bright perfume of honeysuckle and acacia flowers and continues its tale with undertones of sandalwood and herbs. With elegance and harmony, this succulent beauty flaunts good acidity, concentration and balance while serving up flavors of apricots and a hint of citrus. The long, clean finish offers a structured minerality with a hint of tannin and cream. An epic poem if we’ve ever tasted one.
2020 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
Specs
Blend: 52% Marsanne, 39% Roussanne, 9% Viognier
Appellation: California
Harvest: September 9th - 10th, 2020
Picked at 25 Brix
Vineyard: Naggiar & Steinbeck
Fermentation: 95% Barrel Fermented, aged 6 months, 30% New French Oak, 5% Stainless Fermented
Fermentation: 95% Barrel Fermented, aged 6 months, 30% New French Oak 5%, Stainless Fermented
Alcohol: 14.8%
pH: 3.45
TA: .52
Production: 358 cases
Bottled: July 10th, 2020
Release Date: Fall 2021
What’s Included
6-bottles:
3x - 2020 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
3x - 2019 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
Case:
6x - 2020 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
6x - 2019 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $450/case MSRP
About The Winery
Winery: Miner Family Winery
Owners: Dave & Emily Miner
Founded: 1998
Location: Napa Valley
Miner is a dynamic family-owned winery tucked along the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by Dave and Emily Miner, Miner Family Winery crafts reserve-style wines by sourcing fruit from Napa Valley and other specially selected California vineyards.
Our winemaking team uses a combination of old world winemaking techniques and modern technology to make wines that reflect the unique characteristics of individual vineyards or “terroir” where specific varietals grow best. This fusion of superb vineyard sites and thoughtful winemaking allows Miner to deliver elegant, expressive wines.
We have sought and secured a number of vineyard sites, but only those allowing complete farming control. It is this level of detail and control, from vine to wine, that ensures a wine’s consistency and quality. Our relationships with these owners and farmers are paramount to all we do. Each wine is crafted in a style to encapsulate the distinctive elements and the indelible fingerprints of their respective vineyards. This combination of excellent vineyard sites along with passionate and thoughtful winemaking provides the necessary components for creating profoundly joyful wines.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Miner The Iliad White Wine - $40 = 26.66%
A pleasant surprise sprang up from my Inbox – the dual notification that I had incoming wine – from Terry and UPS! A little on the short notice spectrum – Tuesday for a Thursday midnight Rat report, trying to find a UPS shipping point as I would not be at home during delivery window, monitoring delivery status, etc., but hey, it’s for a good cause!
I opened the box as soon as I got back in the car – DW was driving. The surprise expands! The box reveals
Miner Vineyards – 2019 The Iliad, California white wine blend
I was fortunate enough to visit Miner Family Winery many years ago, and they are a significant representative of the Napa Valley portfolio of suppliers. And for a good reason – they make good wine! (I mean, what else is there??).
The label reveals no information on blend, only tasting notes (which are on point!). Website reveals a 14.6% ACV, which was evident. Blend: for the 2020 year: 52% Marsanne, 39% Roussanne, 9% Viognier. Nice combo!!
I put it into the refrigerator as soon as we arrived home, anticipating a cheese and charcuterie tray pairing with this, kind of a no-brainer stab at a decent pairing with no knowledge of the wine’s flavors and nuances. As with all good white wines, temperature can make all the difference, so I geared my review with different temperature points.
After 2 hours, the food demand won, and I poured a small glass –
I would call it a straw color – definitely stronger than a Sauvignon Blanc, but not the heavy yellow of an oaky Chardonnay.
It registered at 59 degrees. For my preference, that was a bit warm – but not off-putting. DW declared that it was definitely too warm, and declined any comment at this temperature. Back to the fridge!
Thursday night’s menu presented no adequate menu options, so it was stand-alone evaluation for the review.
Pulled from the fridge at 39 degrees, it’s definitely too cold. Nose and flavors are muted, acidic qualities are forward, mineral components are predominant. Need to wait….
44 degrees – it’s starting to shine! Soft floral notes present themselves front and center, with a slight flavor of apricots, and a hint of citrus. Slightly oaky. The acidic nature is more balanced, allowing for some bolder food pairings of Asian, sushi, chili bean sauce, fresh green salads, al fredo, etc.
50 degrees is the sweet spot – it’s turning into a quite elegant glass of wine, to complement a range of pairings, or sipping on its own. Acidic qualities are now muted, minerality is subtle but….there! – making for some awesome mouth feel not normally described for a white wine, and an interesting symphony of taste and structure.
It’s much too elegant for a porch pounder – it demands a food accompaniment.
It’s midnight, and I’m just now able to see pricing. This is a steal!! Website shows a suggested retail at $40. For a non-traditional, nicely nuanced white blend, it’s a no-brainer to jump on this!
Delinquent rat here. I’m so sorry, didn’t think this was going live til tonight so I haven’t even tasted it yet. I’ll post this afternoon after work but I know this is a friday only thing so it wont be worth much. Deepest apologies, guys, it’s my bad.
Oh yes he is…and he had a sip of the 2020:
The 2020 Miner Family The Illiad Rhone White Blend is 52% Marsanne, 39% Roussanne and 9% Viognier; fermentation was 95% in barrel and then aged for 6 months including in 30% new French oak barrels. This wine is medium to deep gold in color; for reference we needled this bottling 5 years post vintage. Honey I’m home, this wine offers an immediate honeyed character to the bouquet including of warm honey and honeysuckle and remains very much noticeable as the wine evolves over time. Its ripe and sweet fruited scents show some bottle maturation with additional smell similar to canned peaches, apricot jelly, bruised apples, butterscotch, caramelized sugars including creme Brule and vanilla custard. Nosing this, we almost thought it might be a dessert wine. Immediately perceived on the palate is the interplay of both flavor and texture. This wine features an oily and creamy mouth feel supported by a balanced acidity. Richly flavored, this wine tastes like baked pineapple, apricot at the peak of ripeness, Alphonso mango, golden delicious apples and a finishing note of vanilla. This wine offers plenty of crowd friendly appeal. Dave, The Napa Wine Project (date not sure but '24 SB was also tasted so somewhat recent)
The 2019, from Vinum Wine Magazine:
Light straw yellow. Dense, intense fragrance with notes of yellow apple, some wood spice, white pepper, mango, persimmon, kumquat. Juicy and dense on the palate, ripe mango, apricot, fig, the wood spice stands out, then also creamy notes, roasted hazelnuts, some ripe banana, then again a lot of wood spice, cloves and garrigue herb. Multi-layered, the finish could be a little longer. Drink 2025 - 2030 12/25
Looks like there’s still some 6 packs left. I bought this on a previous offer a few years ago and enjoyed it then. It’s a lovely golden color, soft floral on the nose. First sip is bright with citrus, but nice mouthfeel and more mineral than anything else. There’s a little tannin on the finish. Not enough to go up the back of your throat, just enough to make your tongue feel a little dry. The acidity is very well balanced, nice tingling on the sides of your tongue, but no burning at all. The previous version was great with food, so no worries there. I know the cases are all gone, but this is still a really good price at the 6 pack as well, so if you like Marsanne/Roussane this is a great blend.
I apologize again for being so late with this, I honestly thought this was going live tonight. I hope everyone who likes whites gets a chance to give this a try!
Miner The Iliad White Wine
Tasting Notes
2020 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
Specs
2019 Miner The Iliad White Wine, California
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $450/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Mar 30 - Tuesday, Mar 31
Miner The Iliad White Wine
6 bottles for $74.99 $12.50/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $109.99 $9.17/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2019 Miner The Iliad White Wine
2020 Miner The Iliad White Wine
Previous offer:
1/10/25
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
Miner The Iliad White Wine - $40 = 26.66%
A pleasant surprise sprang up from my Inbox – the dual notification that I had incoming wine – from Terry and UPS! A little on the short notice spectrum – Tuesday for a Thursday midnight Rat report, trying to find a UPS shipping point as I would not be at home during delivery window, monitoring delivery status, etc., but hey, it’s for a good cause!
I opened the box as soon as I got back in the car – DW was driving. The surprise expands! The box reveals
Miner Vineyards – 2019 The Iliad, California white wine blend
I was fortunate enough to visit Miner Family Winery many years ago, and they are a significant representative of the Napa Valley portfolio of suppliers. And for a good reason – they make good wine! (I mean, what else is there??).
The label reveals no information on blend, only tasting notes (which are on point!). Website reveals a 14.6% ACV, which was evident. Blend: for the 2020 year: 52% Marsanne, 39% Roussanne, 9% Viognier. Nice combo!!
I put it into the refrigerator as soon as we arrived home, anticipating a cheese and charcuterie tray pairing with this, kind of a no-brainer stab at a decent pairing with no knowledge of the wine’s flavors and nuances. As with all good white wines, temperature can make all the difference, so I geared my review with different temperature points.
After 2 hours, the food demand won, and I poured a small glass –
I would call it a straw color – definitely stronger than a Sauvignon Blanc, but not the heavy yellow of an oaky Chardonnay.
It registered at 59 degrees. For my preference, that was a bit warm – but not off-putting. DW declared that it was definitely too warm, and declined any comment at this temperature. Back to the fridge!
Thursday night’s menu presented no adequate menu options, so it was stand-alone evaluation for the review.
Pulled from the fridge at 39 degrees, it’s definitely too cold. Nose and flavors are muted, acidic qualities are forward, mineral components are predominant. Need to wait….
44 degrees – it’s starting to shine! Soft floral notes present themselves front and center, with a slight flavor of apricots, and a hint of citrus. Slightly oaky. The acidic nature is more balanced, allowing for some bolder food pairings of Asian, sushi, chili bean sauce, fresh green salads, al fredo, etc.
50 degrees is the sweet spot – it’s turning into a quite elegant glass of wine, to complement a range of pairings, or sipping on its own. Acidic qualities are now muted, minerality is subtle but….there! – making for some awesome mouth feel not normally described for a white wine, and an interesting symphony of taste and structure.
It’s much too elegant for a porch pounder – it demands a food accompaniment.
It’s midnight, and I’m just now able to see pricing. This is a steal!! Website shows a suggested retail at $40. For a non-traditional, nicely nuanced white blend, it’s a no-brainer to jump on this!
PANS! GLANDS! CRAYONS! AWESOME!
Anyone want to share a case? Boston/Southern NH area.
Delinquent rat here. I’m so sorry, didn’t think this was going live til tonight so I haven’t even tasted it yet. I’ll post this afternoon after work but I know this is a friday only thing so it wont be worth much. Deepest apologies, guys, it’s my bad.
Oh yes he is…and he had a sip of the 2020:
The 2020 Miner Family The Illiad Rhone White Blend is 52% Marsanne, 39% Roussanne and 9% Viognier; fermentation was 95% in barrel and then aged for 6 months including in 30% new French oak barrels. This wine is medium to deep gold in color; for reference we needled this bottling 5 years post vintage. Honey I’m home, this wine offers an immediate honeyed character to the bouquet including of warm honey and honeysuckle and remains very much noticeable as the wine evolves over time. Its ripe and sweet fruited scents show some bottle maturation with additional smell similar to canned peaches, apricot jelly, bruised apples, butterscotch, caramelized sugars including creme Brule and vanilla custard. Nosing this, we almost thought it might be a dessert wine. Immediately perceived on the palate is the interplay of both flavor and texture. This wine features an oily and creamy mouth feel supported by a balanced acidity. Richly flavored, this wine tastes like baked pineapple, apricot at the peak of ripeness, Alphonso mango, golden delicious apples and a finishing note of vanilla. This wine offers plenty of crowd friendly appeal. Dave, The Napa Wine Project (date not sure but '24 SB was also tasted so somewhat recent)
The 2019, from Vinum Wine Magazine:
Light straw yellow. Dense, intense fragrance with notes of yellow apple, some wood spice, white pepper, mango, persimmon, kumquat. Juicy and dense on the palate, ripe mango, apricot, fig, the wood spice stands out, then also creamy notes, roasted hazelnuts, some ripe banana, then again a lot of wood spice, cloves and garrigue herb. Multi-layered, the finish could be a little longer. Drink 2025 - 2030 12/25
fwiw
Looks like cases are already sold out.
Dang, it’s only 9:20am on the East Coast - any chance more cases will be available?
FFS, it’s 9:29 am - and cases are sold out !!!
Aw come on. Cases are really gone?
No cases, but I’m still in for 6! I don’t really have room for the 6, much less a full case.
/giphy slimy-knitted-leg
Yay! Cases are back!! Thank you!
Cheers!
Thanks for adding cases!
/giphy befuddled-authentic-gum
Darn! Cases are out again!
good lord. cases or no cases? some of us gots some work to do here !!
@tastebud In my quite-long experience here, when cases run out WineDavid re-balances once. At this point there’s probably just a half-case or so left.
@wardad nothing left now so oh well!
@tastebud @wardad 6 packs still available
Looks like there’s still some 6 packs left. I bought this on a previous offer a few years ago and enjoyed it then. It’s a lovely golden color, soft floral on the nose. First sip is bright with citrus, but nice mouthfeel and more mineral than anything else. There’s a little tannin on the finish. Not enough to go up the back of your throat, just enough to make your tongue feel a little dry. The acidity is very well balanced, nice tingling on the sides of your tongue, but no burning at all. The previous version was great with food, so no worries there. I know the cases are all gone, but this is still a really good price at the 6 pack as well, so if you like Marsanne/Roussane this is a great blend.
I apologize again for being so late with this, I honestly thought this was going live tonight. I hope everyone who likes whites gets a chance to give this a try!
@mtb002 this is for the 20?
@rjquillin yes, but looks like it just sold out.
This looks to have been more an Odyssey than an Iliad. Congratulations to those who grabbed the cases before I managed.