Wine Enthusiast Dec. 31 2011

Hot off the Press...

 

Roth 2010 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast:  Could be a Sauvignon Blanc, with Meyer lemon, green apple & tropical fruit flavors, accented with crisp acidity.  That's no disrespect.  It's a compliment, in this age of clumsy, overoaked Chardonnays.  Elegant and food-friendly, it's brightened with the acidity of a fresh lime.  Editors' Choice 91 Points

 

Silverado 2009 Miller Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley:  The 2009 vintage was a great one for this bottling, which was too sweet in 2008.  This one's more like the '05, only richer and better.  It feels nice and crisp and dry, with polished, complex citrus fruit, white flower, peach and mineral flavors. Editors' Choice 91 Points

 

Silverado 2009 Chardonnay, Carneros:  The coolness of the region and vintage shows in this Chard's acidic crispmess and minerality.  It comes down on the Chablis-style end of the spectrum, with hints of tropical fruits, apples and pears, as well as a welcome touch of sweet oak.  Easily Silverado's best Chardonnay in years.  90 Points

 

Morgan 2009 Double L Vineyards Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands:  Another dramatically layered Pinot Noir from this fine producer and vineyard, in the Central Coast.  A remarkably consistent bottling over the years, and now the '09 is perhaps the ripest and purest yet, showing deep flavors of berries, licorice, sandalwood and tangy Indian spices.  It's a big powerful wine, yet never loses graceful subtlety and elegance.  Should develop slowly over the nest six years, at least.  94 Points

 

ZD 2010 Pinot Noir, Carneros:  Earns extra credit for the sheer audacity of ripe cherry, raspberry and vanilla cream flavors.  Almost as sweet as a candy bar, but actually dry, and balanced with acidity and minerals.  A fine Pinot Noir that should develop bottle complexity over the next six years.  90

These wines can be found at any fine wine retail shop.....

Happy Holiday's

Happy Holiday's to everyone!!  Wanted to talk bubbles...

For most Champagne, Sparkling wines, Cava, Prosecco etc... are viewed as celebratory wines.  Something about that pop of the cork that brings that special occasion to the next level.  Unfortunately bubbles are perfect everyday and is a celebration just to open a bottle.  Not to mention awesome food wines.  Since we are in the holiday season, I thought that I would give some recommendation that might even make you fans year round.

First:  Rotari Brut Rose NV Trento DOC Itay:  First rule about sparkling wines from Italy....they are not all Prosecco!  This lovely Brut Rose is mostly Pinot Noir with some Chardonnay made in the classic Metodo Classico resting on the lees for 24 month.   Elegant, fruity, extreme subtlety and hints of wild strawberries, currant, and grape stems shows throughout.  Enjoy this wine as an aperitif and with all meals, goes well with fish appetizers.  Fantastic bottle of bubbles for around $12.  89 Points Best Buy Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

 


Click to check out Rotari Web Site



Second:  I would be doing an injustice by not mentioning the best Sparkling house in not just Cali but quite possibly on the planet(I'm a little bias)  Schramsberg.  The only American owned Sparkling house in California(all the others are French owned) rivals some of the best Champagne's.  The Blanc de Blancs(white from white) was first produced in 1965 and has been a staple on the tables at all function in the White House starting in 1972 when then President Nixon served the wine at the historic “Toast to Peace” in Beijing, China.  Made from Chardonnay this wine can be enjoyed by itself as an apéritif, it is also perfect with fresh oysters and other shellfish, crab cakes, ceviche and grilled sea bass. It is also delicious with lemon chicken and Thai curries. Serve with aged Gouda or other hard cheeses and as a counterpoint to soft triple creams.  You can find the 2008 vintage bottle for around $35.  94 Points Editor Choice Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Click to check out Schramsberg Web Site

Third:  The mother land, Champagne.  There is nothing better!  Since 1808, Champagne Henriot, one of the last independent and family-owned houses in Champagne, has pursued a tradition of excellence – a fragile balance between delicacy, intensity, and purity. For seven generations, the family has selected only the very best vineyards, concentrated on the purity of chardonnay and has upheld the utmost respect for time in order to ensure the cuvee has an opportunity to reach its full expression. The Brut NV Souverain is made up of a balanced proportion of Chardonnay, in the majority from the Côte des Blancs, and Pinot Noir, mostly from the Montagne de Reims. Pinot Meunier adds a delicate fruity note.  A lively, fresh and balanced attack, with pastry, spice (vanilla) and fruity (morello cherry, candied plum) notes. The full texture precedes a clean, refreshing finish marked by citrus fruit aromas.  Enjoy with Red tuna carpaccio marinated in dill, yogurt and capers, Fine monkfish escalope in saffron cream, Limousin milk-fed leg of lamb with sage, Hutch-raised rabbit in a cabbage hotpot.  This wine will set you back about $45 but is well worth it.  93 Points Wine Spectator Magazine.



Click to check out Henriot Web Site



Hopefully some of these might make it to your table this Holiday season.  Cheers and have a wonderful and safe Holiday.

It's Been to Long.....

Sorry for the hiatus but I'm back!  Wanted to talk about some upcoming events.

1.  Tonight October 20th there will be an Argentina Wine Tasting at Aromas Wine Bar.  $15 per person and we will be pouring 7 different wines and sampling some awesome food from Viva Argentine.

2.  Tuesday October 25th we will be doing a 4 course plus reception wine at Etienne Brassiere.  We will be featuring wines from Bordeaux and wonderful food from EB.  $50 per person all inclusive.  Starts at 6:30.

3.  Thursday November 3rd we will be doing at Duckhorn Decoy dinner at Porterhouse Grill.  5 great wines & 4 course prepared by Chef Tim.  $50 per person all inclusive and the reception wine starts at 6:00.

I hope to see everyone there!

Terrabianca Campaccio

This weeks wine of the week comes from Tuscany.  The 2007 Terrabianca Campaccio Rosso.

[TER-RA-BEE-AN-KAH] Located in Radda in Chianti, Province of Siena, Tuscany, Italy. The first document to mention Terrabianca is dated 1085: two centuries before Dante. Located just over 35 miles from Florence towards Siena, in the heart of Chianti Classico, its gently rolling country is much the same as it was in the Middle Ages. Roberto and Maja Guldener, have ‘only’ been here since 1988; although in this relatively short period of time, they have propelled the estate to the highest quality levels, entirely restoring the seventeenth-century homestead, constructing a brand new winery, and restructuring the Terrabianca range. In the hands of Roberto, Maja, and daughters Maja Jr. and Annette, Terrabianca has become one of the world’s best loved Tuscan wineries, reaping countless praise and awards both for sheer quality and striking designer packaging. Could it be otherwise, given terroir, Guldener perfectionism, and star winemaker Vittorio Fiore? At Terrabianca, soil composition is calcareous (hence its “white” appearance), with strata of chalk, sand and clay from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras: ideal for top-quality grape growing. The vineyards are surrounded by olive groves and woodland, and lie at altitudes between 250 and 500 meters above sea level, with ideal exposures (south and southeast) on 307 acres. The range is diverse and stunningly good, providing singular consistency from vintage to vintage. In fact, success has been such that the original Terrabianca nucleus hardly sufficed to meet demand; thus, almost a decade after the Guldeners moved to Tuscany, they acquired a second property in 1997, “Il Tesoro”. This second estate consists of 262 acres in the mineral-rich Maremma, now increasingly fashionable in the wine world. Where Terrabianca is in the central area of Tuscany (province of Siena), Il Tesoro is 43 miles away in the southwest, close to the sea and the holiday resort of Massa Marittima. Beside growing superb Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (which are immediately transported “home” to Terrabianca to be vinified), the “new” (it’s actually almost as ancient as the Radda property) Maremma estate comprises 4,000 olive trees, many of which are 300-400 years old, yielding unbelievable extra virgin olive oil. A total of 129 acres are currently under vine. Note: With 42 different clones-20 sangiovese, 15 Cabernet and 7 merlot-there is no repetition of combinations in any wine.

The 2007 Campaccio is a blend of 70% Sangiovese & 30% Cabernet.  The fruit comes from the estate's in Maremma & Chianti Classico.  The wine spend 12 months in a combonation of French and American oak with an additional 12 months in bottle before release.  This wine has great concentration and freshness.  Dark berry fruit and a hint of cocoa and roasted almonds round out the flavor profile.  Year in and year out, this wine gets great reviews and is a staple amoung some of the best Italian dinner tables.

The 2007 Campaccio is beautifully ripe and succulent in its dark, extroverted fruit. In 2007, Campaccio veers on the edge of overripeness but there is just enough acidity to keep things in check. French oak, smokiness, new leather and licorice add depth to the rich, creamy finish. I am not sure how the 2007 will age, but it should provide highly pleasurable drinking for at least another decade. Campaccio is 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.

Terrabianca tends to bottle later than most estates in Tuscany. Consequently, most years I review the wines from barrel rather than bottle, an approach I now realize does not show these wines in the best possible light. Readers will find much to admire in these delicious, endowed reds.


Wine Advocate #191 October 2010; 92 Points Antonio Galloni

W.O.T.W

This weeks wine of the week always makes me laugh.  Not because of the juice inside but because of the name, Tait "The Ball Buster" Red 2009, Barossa Valley Australia.  Leave it up to the cooky Aussie's to come up with a name like that!  In all honesty, don't take this wine lightly(it might bust your balls).  This estate is making world class wines with the pub to follow.

Tait Winery is located at the southern end of the famous Barossa Valley, in a town called Lyndoch in South Australia, and overlooks the spectacular Barossa Ranges. The owners of the winery are brothers Michael and Bruno Tait, and Bruno's wife, Michelle. They purchased the property in 1994 with the purpose of continuing their family's involvement in the winemaking industry. Although fairly new to the winemaking aspect of the industry, the Tait family has long established roots in the South Australian wine industry.

Michael and Bruno's vision for Tait Wines was a traditional winery, using all the old winemaking methods to produce handcrafted wines that were full-flavored and tasty. The Barossa fruit they use is always very low-yielding and produces highly concentrated flavors and aromas. The grapes used to make Tait Wines are all grown in the Barossa Valley, either by Michael and Bruno or by partnering grape growers who have the same winemaking philosophy as they do. The obvious attention to detail along with strong relationships with his growers has allowed Bruno access to high quality fruit (the old vine fruit is from vines 50-80 years old) which he has then transformed into wines that are reflective of his personality - big, generous with loads of personality. A minimal spraying philosophy is used to ensure a chemical-free wine.

Tait Wines is truly the epitome of the boutique winery. Winemaker Bruno's winemaking philosophy is a simple one – source the highest quality grapes possible, preferably from old vines, and then produce limited quantities of full-bodied, rich flavored wines that are mouth-filling and soft-textured, expressing the generosity of the Barossa at its best.

The 2009 Ball Buster is a blend of 73% Shiraz, 16% Merlot and 11% Cabernet.  The wine spends 12 months in American oak and shows a great depth of intense aromas.  The 2009 represents the 8th straight year of 90+ Points from Robert Parker.

"Deep garnet color and aromas of blackberry preserves, prunes, mulberries and dried leaves with nuances of Indian spices and dusty earth. Full bodied and rich in the mouth, it has a high level of acid providing freshness to the generous fruit and a medium-firm level of grainy tannins, finish long with lingering notes of anise.  Australia's best value wine under $20." 90 Points-Wine Advocate.

Now you might still be wondering why this awesome Aussie blend is called The Ball Buster?  Origanally named "Michelle's Block" after Bruno's wife.  After endless bottles and stories with friends, Bruno felt that with his wife being broad shouldered and built like a stallion that packs a punch of endless intensity, and this bottle of wine that punches you in the mouth with rich aromas and flavors, that his nickname better suited the wine - The Ball Buster!  This bottle is a lot of wine for under 20 bucks and for you fans of Australian wines a must try. 

Trip to Langtry Estae

Yep, just got back from California.  In particular Langtry Estate(Guenoc Winery) in Lake County.  As you cruse through the green lushness of Napa you can not only smell the grapes but you can smell the money.  Full of expensive restaurants, B&B's, and the most famous wineries in California is exactly where I was not!  And I loved it!!  Just over Howell Mountain and through the Pope Valley you come to the Guenoc Valley.  Green and lush is precisely what it is not.  The area reminded me of the Sierra Foothills.  Desert like terrain with small shrubs and rocky soils.  And no one in site.....I think that's why I liked it so much. 

The picturesque estate consists of 23,000 acres and straddles both Lake and Napa Counties where cougar, bear and wild boar still roam the remote hills. Despite the vastness, Langtry's vineyards are limited to 400 prime acres, ensuring the highest quality of wines. 

The winery's namesake, Lillie Langtry, flamboyant British Theatre star, purchased the property sight unseen in 1888. On her first visit, she arrived in St. Helena in her lavish private railroad car, then embarked with a small fleet of stagecoaches carrying her entourage and paramour, Freddie Gebhard. Raised as a tomboy, she apparently was quite a horsewoman. She also made wine, which she proclaimed the “greatest claret in the country.” With the help of her winemaker Henri Descelles, she had 51 tons crushed her first vintage and bottled wine in unique vessels portraying her likeness on the glass. By 1900 Lake County wines were winning awards in international competition, and the region was earning a reputation for producing some of the world's greatest wines. Lillie Langtry sold the property in 1906 and the years of prohibition and vineyard destruction soon followed.

It was a miracle that any vineyard area was left when the property was acquired by 1962. A syrah, petit verdot and white grape vines of mysterious origin were found on the hillside vineyard site after at least half a century of neglect. In 1963, Malulani Investments acquired the 23,000 acre Langtry Estate & Vineyards with a focus of producing top-tier wines from the Guenoc Valley. The Winery planted extensive vineyard acreage and was one of the first in California to plant the five major red Bordeaux grape varieties. The Langtry Red Wine is a supreme example of Langtry's artistry in blending the red Bordeaux varietals.

In 1981, Guenoc Valleywas approved as an AVA (American Viticultural Area), with the distinction of being the first single-proprietor AVA in the country.

Since then, under the new Langtry Estate & Vineyards name, the winery continues to produce award winning Bordeaux style wines as well as their signature Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and Pinot Grigio.

My highlight of the trip was the Tephra Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon which is on top of Howell Mountain.  Unbelievable bottle of wine for a fraction of what those folks in the Napa Zip Code want.  Unfortunately its hard to find.  Great news is the Guenoc Lake County Cabernet is easy to find.  Most of the fruit comes from Tephra Ridge and can be found in fine wine retail for around $15.  The Sauvignon Blanc is rather tasty as well. 

W.O.T.W

After a week off, I am back and better than ever.  This weeks wine is an old one but great one.  The world of wine has gotten so big that we often over look some old favs.  Now don't get me wrong, I love trying new wines from new places just as much as the next person.  But there is something about that oldie that reminds you why you got into the wine world after all.  For me it was Cousino~Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley Chile.

Cousino~Macul now in its 7th generation of family winemaking, is no dumby to making top notch Cabernet.  Located in the Macul district of Santiago, the Cousino family's sole purpose is to produce the ultimate Chilean wine.  In the late 1800's, Luis Cousino traveled to Bordeaux with his wife in an effort to study the world's best winemaking techniques.  When the couple returned, they not only brought with them some of Bordeaux's best Cabernet plantings, but several of the regions top experts.  These old Bordeaux plantings are throughout the estate in the Macul and Buin properties.  These centuries-old vines yield powerful wines rich in concentration and serious in structure. 

The Antiguas Reservas 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon has been crafted from estate vineyards with the philosophy of blending Old World elegance with New World style and flavor.  Since this wines debut in 1927, it has been well-structured with rich flavor and finesse.  These wines have a classic framework that will age gracefully.  Elegant, approachable and sustainably farmed, Antiguas Reservas is widely viewed as the benchmark for Chilean Cabernet.

As much as the rich tradition, location, and commitment to quality from the family is attributed, we must also tip our hat to Winemaker Pascal Marty.  He has held several esteemed positions at renowned wineries around the world(Baron Philippe de Rothschild, d'Armialhas & Clerc Milon to name a few).  The last project that he over saw was the joint collaboration in Chile between Rothschild & Mondavi by producing a wine called Almaviva.  Since Marty joined Cousino~Macul in 2003 his track record for the Antiguas Reservas Cabernet speaks for itself.  4 straight vintages of 90+ from Robert Parker.  The current vintage is awesome and for under $20 bucks it's hard to beat....

"This Antiguas Reservas vintage shows an intense red color with hints of violet and burgundy.  It has an expressive nose, with aromas of red berries and black cherries.  In mouth, it is nice and fruity, with notes of ripe plum. Its rich acidity and soft tannins makes it a well structured and elegant wine."  Pascal Marty

It is an ideal wine to accompany red meats like steak with mushrooms, stewed lamb, doves, partridges and kidneys in sherry.

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This weeks wine of the week is a wine that I recently had at a dinner at Reynolds Plantation, Willakenzie Pinot Blanc.  This Pinot Blanc from the Willamette Valley shows a great depth of character and complexity. 

"The 2009 Pinot Blanc opens with aromas of exotic fruits, including grapefruit, gooseberry, guava and pineapple, along with perfumed honeysuckle, jasmine and orange blossom, with a hint of lemongrass. On the palate, this wine has flavors of honeydew, juicy grapefruit, green apple and stone fruits, marked with an initial richness and a hint of sweetness that evolves into a bright, fresh acidity".

WillaKenzie Estate is a small family-owned winery dedicated to the highest expression of terroir, making great wines from the Pinot family of grapes: Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir, as well as Gamay Noir made in the Beaujolais crus style. Owner Bernard Lacroute developed a passion for Pinot Noir in his native province of Burgundy.

The sedimentary Willakenzie soil on which the vineyards are planted and for which the winery is named, displays subtle variations throughout the estate. Differences in elevation, from 300 to 750 feet, inclination, from gently rounded hilltops to 40 degree slopes, top soil depth, restrictive sandstone layer depth, drainage, exposure, row orientation and microclimate all contribute to create specific terroirs, which are expressed in the distinctive character of each WillaKenzie Estate wine. A further level of diversity and complexity is provided by the selection of more than 10 different clones of Pinot Noir planted across the estate. Creating estate wines that explore and express the specific qualities and combinations of clones and terroir is at the heart of WillaKenzie Estate’s philosophy.

WillaKenzie Estate - 2009 Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley

"Lively, silky and refreshing for its pear, citrus and green almond flavors, dancing brightly through the finish." - Harvey Steiman

October 15, 2010-Wine Spectator 90 Points

W.O.T.W

Happy 4th.  I hope everyone is in front of a grill with a cold one in their hand.  Or maybe a glass of vino? 

This weeks wine of the week is Decoy Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Napa Valley California.  This is a winery that is part of the Duckhorn Wine Company.  This winery is truly a unique propriety in the fact that it benefits from talent, expertise, & experience from all of Duckhorns winemakers.  Bill Nancarrow, of Duckhorn Vineyards,  oversees the crafting of Decoy’s Bordeaux varietal wines. Paraduxx Winemaker David Marchesi oversees Decoy Zinfandel. Migration Winemaker Neil Bernardi produces the Decoy Chardonnay and collaborates with Goldeneye Winemaker Zach Rasmuson on Decoy’s Pinot Noir.  An unbelievable track record of winemakers to produce what they call "The everyday wine for the well-informed". 

Duckhorn Vineyards has been crafting Sauvignon Blanc since 1982 and has expanded on this tradition with the Decoy Sauvignon Blanc.  The 2010 Decoy Sauvignon Blanc was fermented exclusively in stainless steel to achieve the lively expression of Sauvignon Blanc, highlighting grapefruit, kiwi, kaffir lime, lemon zest and fresh-cut grass aromas. The palate is bright and balanced, and the flavors echo the aromas, with additional notes of pineapple, gooseberry and minerals leading to a full, refreshing finish.  Serve this as an aperitif with a seafood terrine.

This wine can be found easily around town and for about $20.

W.O.T.W

This weeks wine of the week is definitely a thirst quencher, especially in this heat.....William Fevre "Champs Royaux" Chablis 2009.  No, I am not talking about that box stuff that your grandma drank from Cali.  Chablis, you know the place.  The place known for its fossil infused limestone soils(called Kimmeridgian).  That place that produces crisp, citrus, minerallity driven chardonnay.  That place that real chardonnay drinkers go to drink chardonnay.  Yep I said it!  If your into butter bombs churned with an oak 2x4 this is not the region for you.  For the rest of you fans, read on....



Click on me to check out the website



William Fevre(aka Billy Fever) has been in the region of Chablis for over 250 years.  1998 the great Champagne House of Henriot purchased the estate with one priority in mind, to make the best Chablis from all cru levels that represented the terrior of Chablis.  Leaving no rock unturned(or limestone), Joseph Henriot has meticulously hand harvest, hand sorted, and with a new state of the art gravity flow winery has put Domaine Fevre back of the map as the premier Chablis producer.  

The 2009 "Champs Royaux" (a proprietary name that Fevre makes exclusively in the region) is a blend of 50% estate fruit and 50% contracted fruit.  Made in all stainless steal tanks to preserve the purity of the fruit & terrior, this wine is a delicious aperitif or with a big plate of raw oysters. 



Kimmeridgian Soils



Domaine William Fevre was a good estate and with the help of Joseph Henriot it is now a great estate.  The Champs Royaux is the entry level Chablis and is around $20.  I would start there and move through the ranks(Premier Cru & Grand Cru).  A very cool estate to explore the range of wines.

W.O.T.W

This weeks wine of the week is a fairly new wine to the market and is already making a splash; Route Stock Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley Oregon 2009.

"Route Stock Cellars crafts wines from the signature varietals grown along the wine routes one travels when visiting the world’s most celebrated wine regions. These are classic grape varieties, best suited to each different wine-growing region and sourced from family-owned vineyards. We invite you to enjoy these wines inspired by the beautiful vineyards and the families that tend them along these historic wine routes." WDL

The Route Stock Cellars Pinot Noir is Route 99W which is the main drag that will twist and turn you through the famed Willamette Valley in Oregon.  This Pinot Noir is made for Wilson Daniels Ltd. by there friends at Ponzi Vineyards.  Ponzi is one of the premier wineries in the Willamette and is using there younger vines from there own estate to make this awesome Pinot Noir. 

This Pinot Noir is a fresh, pleasing wine that captures the character of the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The color is a light, translucent ruby hue characteristic of Pinot Noir. The bouquet reveals notes of raspberry, baked cherries, violets and orange zest with a hint of herbs. On the palate, look for notes of raspberry, cranberry and spice enveloped in a light, food-friendly acidity. This wine is made exclusively for Wilson Daniels Ltd one of the country's leading wine brokers and the total case production is only about 8,000 cases.  Even though production is low this wine can be found around town.  Want to try a glass, head down the Porterhouse Grill!

Wine & Spirits

91 points, Best Buy

RouteStock Cellars - 2009 Pinot Noir "Route 99W", Willamette Valley

"Made for the Wilson Daniels group by the Ponzi family, this affordable red has a high-toned kirschwasser scent with a touch of raspberry, reminiscent of Beaujolais. Hints of smoke and root spice tug at the generous fruit. A simple pinot for a picnic." - Patrick J. Comiskey: April 2011

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This week’s wine of the week is an old favorite: Champalou Vouvray, Loire France 2009. 

The Loire is a fascinating region due to the diversity and the many different styles of wine that are made in the region.  Even though there are many different white and red varietals grown throughout the region we are going to focus on Chenin Blanc or locally known as Pineau de la Loire.  Just like the Loire itself, Chenin Blanc is a varietal of great diversity.  Chenin Blanc can be dry to sweet and still to sparkling.  There are four levels of sweetness: Sec, Demi-Sec, Moelleux, & Doux(listed from driest to sweetest). 

Vouvray is an appellation in the Loire known for producing not just Chenin Blanc but some of the world’s best!  Chenin's from this area can be richly flavored with stone fruits like apricots and honeyed and spice notes (even when they are dry).  Surprisingly, these wines can be long lived.  Most white wines lose there vibrancy over the years but that's not the case from some of the top producers in the region.  Fortunately for me, Champalou remains as one of the best if not the best producers of Chenin Blanc.

Catherine and Didier Champalou started the domaine in 1983, and have since made their estate one of the most highly acclaimed in the region.  The Champalou family farms twenty-one hectares of vineyards on clay, limestone, and siliceous soils. They embrace sustainable farming while also integrating the use of the lunar calendar more traditionally associated with organic viticulture. The Champalou house style produces wines of great elegance and tenderness, highly aromatic with impeccable balance. No one comes close to copying their distinct style.  The 2009 Champalou Vouvray is a sec which is the driest wine the estate produces.  This is a wine that has great freshness and a delicate aroma of the wine that makes it a perfect partner with grilled fish and white meats, shell-fish, roasted vegetables and oriental food. When young, this is also a first-rate aperitif wine.

W.O.T.W

Wine of the Week....David Bruce Santa Lucia Highlands 2009 Chardonnay:

David Bruce Winery founded in the early 1960's in the Santa Cruz Mountains has continued it's tradition as a new world winery that lives and breaths the old world mentality of making wines; through sustainable farming, healthy vineyards, & a minimalist approach in making some of the worlds best Pinot Noir's and Chardonnay's.  What some people fail to remember is that David Bruce Winery was one of the 12 California Wineries that participated in the 1976 Paris Tasting that put California on the map!  Even though today it might be an after thought, but David Bruce was one of the first California winemakers to put Chardonnay through malolactic fermentation, implement whole berry fermentation with Pinot Noir, and import French barrels for aging.  Today, David still makes award wining Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a total case production of only 60,000 cases.  He also still believes in producing California's best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir every year.

The 2009 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay shows how beautiful mountain fruit Chardonnay really is.  If I were to use one word to describe this wine it would be balanced.  Wonderful tropical fruit with polished light oak toast and mid palate weight that has a back bone of acidity makes this wine not only food friendly but extremely enjoyable by itself. 

Here is what Mr. Bruce had to say:

"Aromas of mangos, white peaches, apricot, and and pineapple caress the mind into believing it was a summer day on the ocean beach. Follow that with flavours of toasted walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, apricots, peaches, caramel, and toasted bread. This wine is clean and as crisp as a sauvignon blanc, enjoy with a variety of foods from asian cuisine, salads, soups, and even creamy dishes."

Mountain fruit and how this wine is made would make you think that this wine is expensive but it is not.  You can find it at fine wine retail stores for around $15 which makes this wine worth every penny.  Enjoy!

W.O.T.W

Cline Ancient Vine Zinfandel, California 2008

Cline Winery located in Sonoma County has been making wines since 1982.  Continuing to think ahead of it's peers, in 2000 Cline Cellars started Green String farming - naturally and sustainably and avoid chemical pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers that are generally used in everyday farming. Fred Cline believes the most efficient methods towards retaining healthy vineyards is by employing the use of organic cover crops, compost teas, crushed volcanic rock and oyster shell, natural mined sulfur and sheep grazing.

Once each year Cline reduces the vineyard cultivation and degradation by providing their soil with organic matter to help retain soil structure, water infiltration, and microbial activity. Composting throughout our vineyards with nourishment derived from natural products such as grape pumice, vine prunings, and other mature organic material that we mix and nurture all year, helps to improve the texture and depth of the soil and also provides needed sustenance to the vine. "Compost Tea" is added to the vines via drip irrigation and also applied directly to the leaves. This tea contains molasses, fish emulsion to increase nitrogen content, rock dust, microbes and other nutrients.

Cline, known for it's amazing Zinfandels, is puttings all it's resources to good use in this 2008 Ancient Vines Zinfandel.  Cline’s 2008 Ancient Vines Zinfandel draws primarily from Lodi and Oakley.  Thirty-five percent of this Zin comes from our oldest, most historic and shyestbearing Zinfandel blocks in Oakley, Contra Costa County. Grapes were planted by Italian and Portuguese immigrants in the sandy, phylloxera-resistant soils more than 100 years ago. These ancient, dry-farmed vineyards consistently produce fruit of stunning concentration. The lots that we hand-selected are the result of sensitive farming practices, the singular Oakley terroir and aunique cooling band of air that fl ows from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. Zinfandel from Lodi (63% of blend) was acquired from historic vineyards along the delta waterways. The remainder of the blend is selected from prized vineyards in Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake County.

Next time you light the grill or slather up that rack of ribs grab a bottle of the AV Zin!  Cheers!

W.O.T.W

Wine of the Week...inspired by the warm days, the smell of the charcoal, and long evenings; Jermann Pinot Grigio.  No, I'm not talking about that cheap sweet stuff from Cali.  I'm talking about an amazing depth of flavor, richness, minerality, elegance, balance, & longevity of the most well made Pinot Grigio from Fruili Italy.  Located in the Northeastern portion of Italy, Fruili is know for it's sophisticated whites and dynamic reds.  Jermann Winery is situated in the Province of Gorizia and dates back 1881 and is now run by Silvio Jermann.  Silvio meticulously monitors all the tiny vineyards throughout the area and currently makes 3 different red wines and 9 different white wines. Vintage Tunina a Sauvignon and Chardonnay blend as well as Red Angel a 100% Pinot Noir are two of Silivio's flagship wines. Pinot Grigio however seems to be the most popular(at least in my house).  Respectful of the terrain and natural slopes, Silvio shows the true characteristics of Pinot Grigio and the land it grows on.  Predominantly marlstone and sandstone soils, this Pinot Grigio is rich and round with a backbone of minerality.  This is a Pinot Grigio for that consumer that likes a good Chablis or dry Alsacian wine.  Maybe not your style if you drink Pinot Grigio by the gallon!  Jermann Pinot Grigio might cost a couple bucks more than what you expect to pay for a PG but trust me, its worth the extra!

What are you drinking with your Mom?

There are many Holidays and many occasions worth celebrating but none more important than the one occasion in which we celebrate the group of people who hold us all together. Mothers!  No matter how frustrated, angry, or separated we can get with our moms over the course of the year, Mothers Day is the one day we can put all of this behind us. For some we celebrate this wonderful occasion over brunch.

What makes brunch so fun?  Is it the poached egg smothered in a buttery creamy goodness?  Is it maple glazed ham with cheese grits and home fries?  Or is it the endless selections of libations?  All of the above!  Champagne, mimoa's(the blood orange ones at resort are awesome) bellini's, screwdrivers, bloody's, or one of my favorites a glass of rosé will be spread across tables this Sunday.  So matter what your drink of choice is this Mother's Day, make sure mom's glass is full because it's a 24/7 responsibility to make sure the world goes round.  Cheers to you mom!

W.O.T.W

Wine of the Week comes from Rioja and Bodegas Ramon Bilbao.  Founded in 1924 in the famed Rioja region, Ramon Bilbao has been committed to following the family standards and viticulture practices of the region.  Showcasing Tempranillo, its environment, and aging requirements Bilbao wines are one of the purest expressions of Rioja. 

Even though they make a handful of different wines, I am going to focus on the 2007 Limited Edition Tempranillo.  The wine comes from the best region within the Rioja, the Alta region.  With only 963 barrels produced, the wine spends 15 months in a combination of French and American oak with an additional 12 months in bottle before released.  Ripe black fruit with an exotic wood spice makes me think of the wonderful spice rubbed flank steak fajitas I had the other night.  Not a ton of wine made, but can be found around town.  Oh, and by the way you can find it under $20!  Typically a wine of this quality with such a small amount produced at that price can be a challenge to find.

Here is what the experts think:

"A good value that will offer pleasure for another 6 years..."  Wine Advocate

"This lively red offers bright flavors of cherry, vanilla, smoke and spices, with a plump texture and just enough tannin for grip. Balanced and expressive..."  Wine Spectator

Gun Bun...

Yesterday I had the privilege to meet Jeff Bundschu of Gundlach Bundschu winery in Sonoma.  Not only are they the flagship winery of Sonoma but they are the oldest family owned winery in California(they just celebrated their 153 harvest & Jeff is the 6th generation).  Meeting with Jeff & having the opportunity to taste all of there 100% estate wines was extremely refreshing to know that no matter how corporate Cali gets there are still people who continue to do it the right way.

After a few minutes you could feel the passion that this family winery has and tries to portray through their wines.  Winemaker Keith Emerson also shares in the family's passion.  Having started his career at Gun Bun as assistant winemaker, he followed the path that lead him to time at Cakebread, Vineyard 29, & Robert Craig Winery.  In 2008 he jumped at the opportunity to work with the best fruit in Sonoma & to be with the Bundschu family.  

Since Jeff took over in 2000 he made the commitment to get back to his family roots.  Jeff cut production from 75k cases to 25k.  Sustainability, solar operated, & part of the Bay Area Green Business shortly followed.  Today the winery thrives.  As Jeff said, "Our goal year in and year out is to produce the best wines in Sonoma".  Having tasted everything....mission accomplished!  All of this passion is represented perfectly in the wines.  All the passion with still some to spare with Jeff's side project...the Huichica Music Festival.  The only Indie Rock Festival held at a winery.  Great wine and great music...sounds pretty sweet.

All in all, cool wines, cool dude, cool family and cool purpose.  Below are the tasting notes for their wines.  I am definetly a fan, so is Svet at 5 Points Bottle Shop.  Not only is the old school bearitage painted on the building but they carry all the wines.  Jump on the Gun Bun train!  The wines are worth visiting.

Follow Gundlach Bundschu @: Blogschu, on Twitter, & Facebook.

2009 Chardonnay:  Bursting with aromas and flavors of fresh meyer lemon, key lime, asian pear and granny smith apples. Round and lush with good weight, yet refreshing acidity and minerality. Long, mouthwatering finish of citrus with a touch of toffee and cream.  An ideal pairing for fish prepared
with citrus butter, oysters and all shellfish. 

2009 Gewürztraminer:  Fragrant orange blossom, sweet orange zest and white flower aromas with wisps of clove and coriander. Crisp yet creamy flavors of blood orange, white pear, lychee and kiwi fruit with a drop of meyer lemon.  Lush fruit flavors lead to a dry, vibrant finish that lasts for a long time. 
Wonderfully bright and fresh in its youth, this classic, dry Gewürztraminer will continue to develop richness up to fifteen years from vintage.

2007 Pinot Noir:  Layered aromas redolent of fresh strawberry and dried rose petal, with a touch of sandalwood. Silky palate of red and blue berries, white
pepper and a touch of licorice are wrapped in round tannins and linger on a long lively finish. Will continue to improve with three to seven
years cellaring from vintage date.

2006 Mountain Cuvee, 70% Merlot 29% Cabernet Sauvignon 1% Petit Verdot:  Fragrant aromas of anise, coriander and warm cherry compote. Dense flavors of raspberry and cherry laced with notes of orange pekoe and ultra dark chocolate lead to a long, chewy finish. A lush, fruit-forward wine intended to be enjoyed within five years of vintage. 

2006 Merlot:  A layered, brooding, complex wine with aromas of deep red cherry, strawberry, dried tobacco leaf and lavender. Enters soft, with black plum flavors that deepen into dark coffee, cocoa, smoke and earth and a smooth, velvet texture. Notes of minerality, dried sage and bright cherry
return at the finish. Delicious upon release, this Merlot will benefit from five years of cellaring from vintage and continue to age gracefully
for 10 to 12 years.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon:  Dark purple color, aromas of violet, anise and lifted red and black currant. The lush, smooth entry leads to dark berry, cassis, shaved chocolate and espresso bean flavors. Big, smooth tannins give weight and roundness to the mouthfeel. The long finish is smooth with balancing notes of red fruit. Delicious upon release; optimal cellaring time four to 15 years from vintage.

Caaaannonbaaaalll.....

With all the sun and fun on the horizon, I thought I would have a little wine fun with Cannonball wines.  Cannonball Cabernet & Merlot take that free feeling of the "peoples dive" and apply that philosophy to winemaking.  Now you may think that a wine company called Cannonball is not very serious.  For the most part that is true.  The guys at Cannonball Winery view life like a cannonball, free spirited and doing everything they can to make a splash!  As far as wine goes, this is something they take very serious.  Passion, honesty, and quality is what makes there Cabernet & Merlot so delicious.  "We want every wine you taste from us to be a WOW wine.  If you're going to pay $12-60 for a bottle of wine, it better hold some WOW."

Cannonball Caberent Sauvignon 2007, California: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 3% Merlot - Aromas of fresh berries, spice, and pepper with a faint background of vanilla oak are very much reflected in the mouth. Full and rich with bright acidity, the berry and spice flavors are boldly presented along with racy, red fruit and vanilla-cherry on a layer of cocoa.

(66% Sonoma,19% Mendocino, 15% Napa, 3% other)

You can't go wrong with enjoying Cannonball with a big piece of quality red meat, a great burger, shortribs, barbeque.

Cannonball Merlot 2007, California:  The aromas reveal slowly and I find layers of cherries, floral, and vanilla-creme with a hint of red spice and walnut. In the mouth, the wine announces itself with an enthusiastic entry of cherry, pomegranate, dark berries, and toasty flavors.

Sourced 100% from Napa Valley, the majority of our Napa Valley fruit came from Oak Knoll District.

Merlot is making a comeback and we have some of the best sources in Napa. We hope you find this wine as impressive as we did. Dennis' notes are below, but the rest of us a t Cannonball are describing it as presenting generous amounts of “wow” and rich notes of blow-your-mind-away goodness ,with a strong hint of why-did-I-stop-drinking merlot? Special thanks to the movie,"Sideways", for making this moment possible.

Share a Splash!!

Bodega Goulart

Marshall Gastao Goulart, the leader of Brazil’s Constitutional Revolution in1932, while spending time in Mendoza purchased two separate 15 hectare properties and planted them with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Some many years later his granddaughter Erika while looking through her Grandfathers things, came across the deed to this abandon vineyard.  After many years and countless hours, money, and sweat Erika and her husband relaunched Bodega Goulart.  Erika currently is producing 4 different wines that are meticulously made through sustainably farmed vineyards, hand harvest and sorted grapes, and help from Luis Barraud(consulting winemaker and partner with Paul Hobbs in Cobos) to produce some of the best wines from Mendoza.  With total production less than 5000 cases, the wines are not easily found but definitely worth the hunt! 

Erika's Notes:

• Torrontes 2009, Mendoza Argentina:  Torrontés is Argentina’s signature white wine varietal. It flourishes in the province of Salta and in the plains of Mendoza. There are several clones of Torrontés. We decided to plant the Medocino clone which is best suited for our climate and soils. The grapes are fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve its lively fruit acidity and floral bouquet.

• Malbec 2010, Mendoza Argentina:  Goulart’s entry level Malbec offers some initial savory spice, leather and earth notes with an ever so slight floral lift lying over the top of a combo of red and darker red to almost black fruit on the nose. Think of dark raspberry, currant and darker blackberry fruit as the aromatic foundation of the wine which becomes more pronounced with aeration. The palate shows good concentration on its medium fuller to fuller bodied frame, with a suppleness to the texture that is accentuated by the wines softer, ripe tannins. Offering a fleshy mid palate and juicy, sweet dark red berry fruit flavors this has good structure and surprising persistence on the finish. Just now starting to hit its stride this should drink impressively over the next couple of years. A very good value for the money this will have a lot of fans for its engaging juicy fruit, fuller frame and structure.

• Reserva Malbec~Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Mendoza Argentina:  The Reserva is made from old vines planted in two original vineyards and represents the best barrels from the cellar. Its bright blackberry aromatics and flavors combine well with an elegant and complex,aided by aging in French barrels for 12 months.  It is a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet. 

90 pts Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:  Aromas of blackberry, licorice, violet pastille and espresso. Sweet, spicy and intensely flavored with a creamy quality to the fruit but also excellent energy. Finishes with broad, serious tannins and excellent length. This offers terrific value.

• The Marshall Malbec 2007, Mendoza Argentina:  The Marshall pays tribute to the founder. These grapes are selected from the oldest vineyard rows on the Lunlunta vineyard in the Lujan de Cuyo. The Intensity of low yielding old vines produces some of the best Malbecs in the world. Its deep ruby red color and brooding flavors of blackberry and wild cherry yield a complex, yet elegant wine. Further dimension comes from aging in French Barrels for 18 months.

91 pts Robert Parker Jr.'s The Wine Advocate (JM):  The 2007 The Marshall “M” is 100% Malbec aged for 18 months in 40% new French oak. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up a nose of toasty new oak, cinnamon, allspice, violets, black cherry, and blackberry. On the palate it is rich, savory, and plush bordering on opulent. With excellent depth and grip, this substantial effort will evolve for another 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2011 to 2029.

Fooooouuuuurrrrr

     With lush green fairways, beautiful azalea's & the roar of the galleries just around the corner it has me thinking of wine.  Yes boys and girls Augusta National and the Masters is here.  Not only do I look forward to the competitive golf & beautiful scenery, but I am extremely excited about the pimento cheese sandwiches.  That might sound silly to some but a ice cold Budweiser and a pimento cheese sandwich is what I look forward to the most.

     Why does this make me think about wine?  If cold bud wasn't an option...what wine would I drink with a pimento cheese sandwich?  Pimento cheese, that southern staple of cheese, mayo, & pimento's.  Often served with crunchy bread and veggies.  Something so simple yet so fantastic(5&10, The National, George's Low Country Table, & Lindsey's are some of my favorites).  If white is your choice, maybe a Pinot Gris from Alsace.  Trimbach Reserve Pinot Gris offers the right amount of weight but crisp acidity on the back end to cut through the mayo.  Let's not forget Riesling!  How many of you wash your pimento cheese down with a glass of sweet tea?  Dr Loosen "Dr L" might not be to bad with its balance of sweet fruit flavors.

     Now what about red?  I personally would look for a Grenache or little Cote du Rhone.  E. Guigal CDR with its fresh red fruit and light body sure would be tasty.  Crumble a light bit of bacon(we all love bacon) on top and watch the smokey spice of a grenache shine through. 

     All in all, a few option to try the next time you whip up a batch of pimento cheese but I would be lying if I didn't tell you that the ice cold bud taste pretty damn good as well!

Enjoy,