Ashes and Diamonds is the creation of Kashy Khaledi, his background is in the music business – Capitol Records, and is the son of Darioush Khaledi -Darioush Winery.
He brought together Dan Petroski -Larkmead (until the 2015 harvest) when Diana Snowden-Seysses- Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, and Snowden Vineyards took over, and Steve Matthiasson- Stag’s Leap and Winemaker of the Year from both Food & Wine and the San Francisco Chronicle. Their musical tastes are as diverse as their backgrounds ranging from Punk to 90’s Hip Hop.
Source: www.ashesdiamonds.com
“The common thread of Kashy’s work has been to bring brilliant personalities from eclectic backgrounds together to collaborate on new and exciting cultural experiences, be it in advertising, editorial, and now, wines”.
The Winery was designed by Barbara Bestor, an LA-based architect, and is both impressive and unconventional in every sense. Entering the tasting room is like arriving home at the end of a work day and you just want to sit and relax and have a glass of wine. It’s most definitely aimed at the younger crowd.
If you’re wondering where the name came from, it came from a Polish Cult Classic movie released in 1958 based on the 1948 novel by Polish writer Jerzy Andrzejewski.
I was lucky enough to visit and taste some wines in early October of 2019 and sat at a table on the back porch ‘under the eves’ overlooking the vineyards- an amazing experience. The photo of me on my blog was taken on that very visit.
Blanc No 4 2018- a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
This 50% / 50% blend is selected from three carefully chosen vineyards in Napa Valley’s Oak Knoll District and Yountville.
Interesting aromas of cooking (Olive) oil, herbs, and spices with a hint of lemon and pear.
The palate is fresh and lively with a mix of lemon pie, apple, and grapefruit, with a hint of herbs. Nice balance and restraint with a serving of depth and complexity.
Cellar time: still has a few years but drink now.
Pairing: This has a broad appeal so I would be tempted to throw out the rule book and suggest drinking it with your favorite dishes.
Cabernet Franc No 4 – 2017
The nose is all red raspberries, cherries, blueberries, violets, and a note of earthiness.
Six years in the bottle has softened the tannins and created a very appealing mouthfeel, packed with layers of red raspberries and cherries overshadowing layers of blueberries, tobacco, olives, and a subtle note of earthy, forest floor.
Tannins are evident, medium-bodied, with impressive balance on a nice lengthy finish.
Food Pairings should include Beef, Pork, Turkey, and Chicken
Cellar out to 2030.
Vine to Table 