W.O.T.W

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