8Featuring an evening with Winemaker/Donald Patz
Maritana Vineyards, Terminim & Secret Door Winery
Thursday, June 9, 2022 • 6:30 p.m.
We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Donald Patz to Chez Francois On June 9th, 2020 as he helps us kick off the 2022 season in Vermilion. If I have one friend in Napa Valley, California it’s Donald Patz. I first met “The Donald” when he was the National Sales manager at Flora Springs Winery. My wife Maria and I visited Napa Valley for the first time in 1995 and got a chance to tour the valley with “The Donald”. Over the years when we visited Napa Valley “The Donald” was the first person we visited. Maria would cook Paella at his house for his family and friends, it was always a special moment for both of us.
From National Sales Manager at Flora Springs to Girard Winery to eventually starting Patz & Hall with winemaker James Hall “The Donald” wines have always been apart of Chez François. A few years ago Patz & Hall Winery was sold and “The Donald” was suppose to retire. Retirement did not sit well with him and he decided to contact the vineyard owners where Patz & Hall sourced their incredible Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from and see if he could purchase some of their premium grapes, but from vineyard sights that were not Patz & Hall sights. Maritana Vineyards was founded.
Of course if you are living in Napa Valley you should make Cabernet Sauvignon. Making great Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir is challenging because they are made with different approaches, but one thing in common with both is you have to find the right vineyard sight that produces great fruit. A few years ago “The Donald” found a vineyard to purchase grapes from in The Stag’s Leap District and Secret Door Winery was founded.
While at Patz & Hall, “The Donald” and winemaker James Hall met Stuart Bewley. Stuart was a truly unique character, when he was in college in California he and his friends would go to the beach and surf. It is hot in the summer months so they would fill a Coleman Cooler full of wine, citrus juice and fresh fruit and head to the beach. It was also a good way to meet girls. They became very popular at the beach and people would ask “where are the California Cooler guys?” That’s right Stu and his friends founded and later sold California Coolers. Stu purchased a beautiful vineyard sight in Mendocino County, California with the proceeds of from the sale of California Coolers. Anderson Valley is cooler than Napa Valley so Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Rhone Varietals.
Collaborateurs Donald Patz and François Villard visited Alder Springs Vineyard in early August 2017 to meet with owner, Stuart Bewley and work out a beginning of a new wine project that became TERMINIM.Stuart agreed to sell the two winemakers 2 tons of Marsanne and 1 ton of Roussanne grapes for a white Rhône-styled blend. “Cépages d’Or” or Golden Grapes is a reference to the color of both Marsanne and Roussanne upon arrival at the winery. The grapes were harvested on September 13th (Marsanne) at 21° Brix and October 2nd (Roussanne) at 23.5° Brix.
In both cases, the grapes were whole cluster pressed and moved to barrel for a native yeast fermentation. The two white wines were initially kept separate but were blended and returned to barrel early in April 2018. The cuvée included 1 new French Oak barrel out of a total production of 6 barrels. It is a fresh and lively white wine with pretty peach and pineapple aromas and no significant barrel overtones.
Fruit Wood Smoked Salmon & Peekytoe Crab Timbale, Tropical Fruits
Smoked salmon timbale filled with Peekytoe crab, garnished with tropical fruits, citrus vinaigrette.
Chardonnay “Dutton Shop Block”, Maritana Vineyards, Russian River, California, 2018
Chardonnay “La Riviere”, Maritana Vineyards, Russian River, California, 2018
Maine Lobster Zucchini Blossom, Traditional Hollandaise Sauce
Sautéed Erie County zucchini blossom filled with a Maine Lobster stuffing topped with hollandaise sauce.
Cepages d’Or “Adler Springs Vnyd”, Terminim, Anderson Valley, California, 2018
Pekin Duck Cassoulet, Duck & Cherry Consommé
Roast Pekin duck Breast served over a Napa cabbage timbale filled with white beans and duck confit, duck and cherry viande, cherry crackling, with a splash of duck consommé.
Pinot Noir “Jenkins Ranch”, Maritana Vineyards, Russian River, California, 2018
Pinot Noir “Le Russe”, Maritana Vineyards, Russian River, California, 2018
Pinot Noir “Moonshine Ranch” Maritana Vineyards, Russian River, California, 2018
Roast Tenderloin of Beef, Smoked Woodland Mushroom
Roast tenderloin of beef, served with herb risotto, topped with smoked woodland wild mushrooms, garnished with baby long carrots with a Pomeroy mustard glace de viande
Cabernet Sauvignon “Hirondelle”, Secret Door Winery, Napa Valley, California, 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon “Sage Ridge”, Secret Door Winery, Napa Valley, California, 2017
Cabernet Sauvignon “JML”, Secret Door Winery, Napa Valley, California, 2018
House Cured Kurobuta Pork Belly, Pork Pinot Noir Reduction & Cherry Preserve
Seared Black Berkshire pork belly simmered in its natural juices, served over roasted spring vegetable brunoise, with a Syrah reduction glace de viande and sun-dried mountain huckleberries.
Syrah “Alder Springs” Terminim, Anderson Valley, California, 2018
Cherries François White Chocolate Mousse Parfait
White Chocolate mousse parfait with marinated seasonal cherries in a port wine sauce topped with Chantilly cream, mint and a chocolate straw.
$185/Per Guest Tax & Gratuity not included.
Maritana Vineyards
A new (2017) and exciting producer of Russian River Valley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the direction of longtime vintner Donald Patz. His three-decade association with Sonoma and Russian River Valley grape growers has given him access to some of the top vineyard sites in the valley. Utilizing these vineyard sites he and his team are crafting compelling Chardonnays and delicately perfumed Pinot Noirs.
Mr. Patz decided to focus entirely on the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County as the source for his new winery. He’s got friends there. He immediately contacted Steve and Joe at Dutton Ranch as well as Charlie at Chenoweth Vineyards (among others) to see what might be available in 2017. The grapes he came up with for this first vintage surprised even him! (see Vineyard Sources) The focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are Mr. Patz’s favorite varietals from the Russian River Valley.
All Russian River Valley; Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Donald Patz’s personal flair; fantastic vineyard sources; top winemaking facility – this is Mr. Patz’s new dream. We look forward to showing you the new wines.
Secret Door Winery
A company founded by Donald Patz and Jung Min Lee. It is a love story. When Donald met Jung Min and their love blossomed; Jung Min told Donald that while his wines from Patz & Hall were “nice” her preference was Bordeaux and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Jung Min Lee was a real supporter of Donald Patz’s time at Patz & Hall eventually learning to love Pinot Noir, too. Donald had promised Jung Min that if she would move to California from Virginia to be with him he would – someday – make a Cabernet Sauvignon wine for her. Promise kept.
Secret Door Winery has searched out our favorite parts of the Napa Valley with an eye to work with dedicated grape-growers prepared to produce Cabernet Sauvignon grapes of the highest quality. We don’t own these vineyards.
We have the full cooperation of the farming teams to follow our growing protocols and produce the grapes that can make the style of wine that is our vision. Purchasing grapes is not an uncommon practice for wineries in California. With a careful selection of the vineyard site and close cooperation between the grower and the winery there is no difference in quality between purchased grapes and estate grown grapes.
Terminim Wines
Collaborateurs Donald Patz and François Villard visited Alder Springs Vineyard in early August 2017 to meet with owner, Stuart Bewley and work out a beginning of a new wine project that became TERMINIM.
Stuart agreed to sell the two winemakers 2 tons of Marsanne and 1 ton of Roussanne grapes for a white Rhône-styled blend. “Cépages d’Or” or Golden Grapes is a reference to the color of both Marsanne and Roussanne upon arrival at the winery. The grapes were harvested on September 13th (Marsanne) at 21° Brix and October 2nd (Roussanne) at 23.5° Brix.
In both cases, the grapes were whole cluster pressed and moved to barrel for a native yeast fermentation. The two white wines were initially kept separate but were blended and returned to barrel early in April 2018. The cuvée included 1 new French Oak barrel out of a total production of 6 barrels. It is a fresh and lively white wine with pretty peach and pineapple aromas and no significant barrel overtones
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