Wine Wednesday Review: A Taste of Grgich Hills Estate Winery

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I had the pleasure of attending a special tasting at K&L Wine Merchants last month in honor of Hall of Fame Vintner Miljenko “Mike” Grgich’s 90th birthday on April 1st.

Mike_cheers

Image courtesy of K&L Wine Merchants

I came to know about Mike Grgich when I read “Judgment of Paris” a few years back.  It was a fascinating read.   My wife and I even headed up to Napa one weekend to do our own “Judgment of Paris” tasting when we visited Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and Chateau Montelena.

Mike’s most celebrated achievement came in 1976 when a Chardonnay he crafted for Chateau Montelena beat the very best wines in France in a now famous blind tasting in Paris. This event that stunned the wine world catapulted the Napa Valley into the front ranks of the leading wine-producing regions of the world.

Mr. Grgich was one of central characters in the book, and his story is a fascinating immigrant’s tale of very humble beginnings to fame and fortune (Check out his full bio here.)

I was keen to do the tasting because I’ve never visited Grgich Hills Estate.  In fact, I’d never tasted one of their wines until I tasted their Zinfandel at 22nd Annual ZAP Festival last January.  It was one of my favorite wines.

My tasting notes on the current releases of Grgich Hills’ Fume Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Plavac Mali a cross between ancestral Zinfandel (known locally in Croatian as Crljenak Kaštelanski) and Dobričić grapes follow:

grgich hill sb

  • 2010 Grgich Hills Fumé Blanc Dry Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley
    Very pale straw color with aromatic gooseberry, and lemon peel aromas. On the palate, it medium-bodied and dry with medium + acidity, and gooseberry, lemon, and pear flavor. Long finish (A-)

grgich hills chard

  • 2010 Grgich Hills Chardonnay Estate Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley
    Pale straw yellow color with guava, pineapple, and citrus aromas. On the palate, its medium-bodied, and dry with medium acidity, and guava, peach flavors with a kiss of spice. Medium finish. (B+)

grgich hills zin

  • 2009 Grgich Hills Zinfandel Estate Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley
    Dark ruby color with cherry, plum and vanilla aromas. On the palate, it’s light/medium-bodied, and balanced with medium acidity, and dark cherry, raspberry, and spiced vanilla flavors. Medium+ finish (A-)

grgich hills cab

  • 2009 Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley
    Dark ruby color with aromatic dark fruits, tobacco, and anise aromas. On the palate it’s medium-bodied, balanced and elegant with cassis, blackberry flavors. Medium-long finish. (A-)

grgich hill zin 2

  • 2008 Grgich Hills Zinfandel Plavac - Croatia, Coastal Croatia, Srednja i južna Dalmacija, Pelješac
    Garnet color with closed cherry, anise and a bit of tobacco aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and balanced with medium+ acidity and cherry, strawberry, licorice flavors. Medium-long finish. 15.4% alcohol, Aged 20 months in French oak. 896 cases produced. 100% Plavac Mali (B+)

It was a wonderful tasting that showcased Grgich Hill’s wines which are crafted in the Old World tradition. I heartily recommend you try these wines, which all showed impeccable balance. 

Ratings Key:
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff!  Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

Wine Pairing Recommendations For Low and Slow Food #SundaySupper

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This week’s SundaySupper theme is all about “low and slow” foods.  I adore foods prepared “low and slow” whether it’s a crock-pot, smoked meats, or on the stove top (gumbo anyone?).  The foods are so full of flavor, one can use less expensive cuts of meat, and perhaps most of all, I like that you can leave the food unattended for long stretches of time.  My favorite food prepared “low and slow”?  That’s a tough one, there are so many, but top of mind for me would be rib!  What about you?  What’s your favorite food prepared “low and slow”?

Low and Slow #SundaySupper

If you’re not familiar with the Sunday Supper Movement, it was founded by Isabel aka Family Foodie. Our mission is to bring back Sunday Supper around the family table in every home.

Check out this week’s lineup of great dishes from the #SundaySupper family of food bloggers, and my wine pairing recommendations. 

Low and Slow Breads:

Low and Slow Starters, Main Dishes and Sides:

Pair these dishes with Pinot Gris, an underappreciated grape variety that very good at the table.  Look for the 2010 Domaines Schlumberger Pinot Gris Les Princes Abbes from Alsace, France. It’s a dry-style with a rich honeyed tropical fruit and baked apple character. 

Pair these dishes with a Rosé.  Look for the 2012 Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare. It’s a a tasty blend of Grenache, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Cinsault and Mourvèdre that is chock full of strawberry, stone fruit, and citrus flavors.

Pair these starter, main, and side dishes with a Chianti, a wine from Tuscany region of Italy.  Look for the 2011 Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Chianti Castiglioni. It’s a blend of 90% Sangiovese, and 10% Merlot that’s between medium and full-bodied with soft tannins, great acidity that shows plum, raspberry and spice flavors.

Pair these main dishes with 2011 Ridge Vineyards “Three Valleys” Sonoma Zinfandel Blend. It’s a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache, Alicante Bouchet, and a significant dose of old-vine Carignane that adds depth and acidity to this tasty blend.  It’s well-balanced has a bright red berry fruit, herbal and spice character. 

Pair these main dishes with a red Rhône blend.  What’s great about blends is that the combination of grape varietals creates a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts.  Such is the case with my recommended wine the 2010 Bonny Doon Vineyard Contra Old Vine Field Blend.  It’s a rich blend of Carigane, Syrah, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah loaded with dark fruit, spice, and a bit of smoke aromas and flavors.

Pair these main dishes with a Rioja, the 2007 Bodegas Vina Eguia Reserva. It shows spice, leather and bright red fruit aromas followed by raspberry, sweet tobacco and vanilla spice on the palate.  I recommend letting the wine “breathe” for an hour or so and you’ll be amply rewarded.

Low and Slow Desserts:

Pair these dessert with a late harvest Riesling.  I love the 2011 Navarro Late Harvest Cluster Select Riesling. It has a great apricot, pear, pineapple, honey and baking spice character, with a long finish. And its crisp acidity keeps from being cloying.

Remember to join the #SundaySupper chat on Twitter Sunday to discuss cooking low and slow! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share our delicious recipes. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.

Wine of the Week; 2010 Stage Left Cellars Go Getter

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Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. For this week, my Wine Of The Week is the 2010 Stage Left Cellars Go Getter

The Winery

Stage Left Cellars is an urban winery located in Oakland, California not too far from Jack London Square. By urban winery I mean their winemaking facilities are located in an urban setting, rather than in a rural setting near the vineyard.

The winery is owned and operated by Melinda Doty and her husband, Rich Williams who is the winemaker.   Melinda and Rich both had corporate gigs before they decided to exit “Stage Left” and pursue their dream of opening a winery.  Like so many winemakers, they were making wine in their garage before taking the plunge into commercial winemaking.  Their first commercial effort was the 2004 “Day Job” a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Mourvèdre.

Stage Left is focused primarily on Rhone varietals and Rhone blends.  They source their grapes from throughout California and Oregon. Case production is about 1,200/year

Stage Left is open the first Saturday of each month, and by appointment.  The tasting fee is $5.  Stage Left was voted the “Best San Fransisco” area winery for 2011 on the ABC 7 “A” List.  I highly recommend visiting.  You’ll enjoy the wine and they’re great hosts!

The Wine

The fruit for this wine was sourced from vineyards throughout California. The Viognier is from Alder Springs (Mendocino), the Roussanne is from Catie’s Corner (Russian River Valley), and the Grenache Blanc hails from the Russell Family (Paso Robles). The grapes were fermented separately, and were even allowed to sit on skins for a short period of time,  That add a bit of tannins to the structure, which not only should enhance ageability.

sl go getter 2

My tasting notes follow:

Aromatic honeysuckle, tropical, pineapple citrus aromas. On the palate, it’s full-bodied with a great mouthfeel, and crisp acidity accompanied by white peach, honey, and citrus flavors. Long finish.

Rating: A-

This wine was great at the table thanks to its crisp acidity. We enjoyed it with a variety of tapas from Rumbo al Sur, including Shrimp and Scallop Enchiladas, Mussels Moqueca, and even Chile Rellenos, for Mothers Day.

The Wine Geek Stuff:

  • Alcohol: 14.1% alcohol.
  • Closure: Cork.
  • AVA: > California
  • Varietal(s): 57% Viognier, 29% Grenache Blanc, 14% Roussanne
  • Retail: $34 (It was on sale the day I purchased for $26)
  • Cases produced: 290
  • Ageability: Drink now, or hold for 3-5 years

Other Related Posts:

Wine purchased for review

Ratings Key:
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff! Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

Recap Of Passport To Dry Creek Valley 2013 – Day Two

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Note: If you’re just checking in, you might want to check out the first post in this two-part series of my experience at Passport To Dry Creek Valley. My wife and I and couple of friends attended the 24th Annual Passport To Dry Creek Valley held April 27th and 28th.

Dry Creek Valley Wineries - Image courtesy of Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Valley Wineries – Image courtesy of Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Valley is a premium wine region in Sonoma County, California. It’s renown for its Zinfandel, but Dry Creek Valley, which is only  sixteen miles long by two miles wide offers a diverse range of vineyards, and world-class wines. The theme for this year’s event was “A Modern Tradition with Century-Old Roots” I’ve been to beaucoup wine events, but what make this event special for me is the combination of wine, food, and entertainment. Check out the list of 52 participating wineries, and activities. With an event like this with wine, food pairing, and entertainment, I think it’s best to take one’s time, and enjoy it. It’s about quality rather than quality for me! As far as which wineries to visit, we have a list of perennial favorites (Bella, Mauritson, Quivira, Ridge, and Seghesio) to which we mix in some wineries that are new to us, and leave some room for “audibles” – on the fly changes to the itinerary based on a whim and/or the feedback we get from other attendees.

An Italian Family Tradition in Dry Creek Valley

Our first stop, A.Rafanelli Winery, wasn’t on our list.  It was an “audible” based on feedback from other #DCVPassporters we met at our hotel.  They told us we “had” to check it out because, it’s not usually open to the public, the food and wines were great, as was the entertainment, a trio singing traditional Italian songs. It sounded good, and we’d never been to Rafanelli before. ARafanelli Sign We arrived 15 minutes early and saw “The Line”…Apparently Rafanelli is a popular destination!  I had my doubts whether it would be worth the wait… ARafanelli Line To Rafanelli’s credit, there were a couple of gentlemen who came out and were pouring their estate 2011 Zinfandel and 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon for the folks in line… Then there was this beautiful ’47 Packard to check out, and there was a trio singing Italian songs, so the wait (about 45 minutes) was bearable… ARafanelli Packard Once we did get inside though…let’s just say the menu was extensive.. ARafanelli menu No way you leave Rafanelli hungry, unless you choose too!  And of course, there was plenty more of their Zinfandel and Cab to be had (the Cabernet, though young was my favorite). Yeah…it was worth the wait!  And Rafanelli just might make the perennial list too!

Time to hit some perennial favorites!

A True Vineyard Farm

Our next stop was Quivira Vineyards and Winery, just up the road from Rafanelli.  It’s on our perennial list, in part, because they make one of my favorite Rosés, and it’s  a chance to pick up a few bottles, But we also look forward to their other wines, they serve great food, and we like the vibe of the place. quivira sign There’s always some cool stuff to check out. You can stroll in the gardens… Quivira garden …or check out the chickens when you’re there.  And for this year’s Passport, there was a Provençal Market theme with artisan goods for sale (we picked up some honey). We tasted five wines.  My favorite was the 2010 Mourvédre, which was excellently paired with a Porcini Mushroom Royale! Quirvira Mouvedr Pairing

 140 Years of Farming In Dry Creek Valley, and Nom, Noms Galore

Next up was Mauritson Family Winery. Great wine and food provided by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen in Healdsburg. Full stop. Mauritson Passport DCV sign Hmmm…where do we begin this leg of our journey? mauritson diver scallops sign With a white of course! Main Lobster and Diver Scallop?…yes, please!

Smoked Duck Tacos. They were paired with 2011 Charlie Clay Pinot Noir

Smoked Duck Tacos. They were paired with 2011 Charlie Clay Pinot Noir

Smoked duck tacos and Pinot…you had me at Smoked Duck… Mauritson RockpileAnd yes, you also had me at “Rockpile”!  My favorite wine was the 2011 Mauritson Rockpile Zinfandel!

Iconic Vines and Wines

Last, but certainly not least, of the perennial favorites for the day was Ridge Vineyards. Since it was our fourth winery, we decided to slow it down, and relax a bit.  Ridge was the perfect place to do it!   We sat on the shaded patio, and sipped their superb wines, and took in the view. The wines, the view..it was one of those all too rare moments when… Ridge patio view to vineyards Oh, did I mention the Sonoma Duck Mole with Corn Spoon Bread, and Spring Onion Pico? Ridge smoked duck moleWe tasted five wines at Ridge.  It came down to either the 2011 Geyersville or the 2008 Lytton Estate Syrah as my favorite.  So, was the Geyserville or the Lytton Estate Syrah my favorite?  Yes!

“One-Stop Shopping”

Buoyed after our break at Ridge, we decided to visit four wineries located in the Timber Crest Collective adjacent to the Family Wineries Dry Creek Co-op Tasting Room - Amphora, Peterson, Kokomo, and Papaprieto-Perry.

Amphora Winery

For owner and winemaker Rick Hutchinson art, wine, and life are inextricably interwoven. He’s worked in the wine business in Sonoma for 20+ years.  The winery is named after clay jars used by ancient Greeks and Romans to store.

Amphora was tasting four paired with food from Saltwater, plus four additional wines.  Since I was the driver, I tasted four of the wines. My favorite was the 2007 Sangiovese Dry Creek Valley, and it was a great pairing was with Chicken Live Pate on a toasted baguette.

Peterson Winery

Father/son team of Fred and Jamie Peterson are the proprietors this eponymous winery, which is housed in the “Big Red Barn”. The winery celebrated 25 years in business last year!

They had a nice line up of six wines, including a very nice and refreshing Rosé. And there was plenty of Mexican food on hand! My favorite wine was their 2010 Bradford Mountain Zinfandel.  It paired so well with the Mexican food!

Kokomo Winery

Kokomo Wines is proudly named after Owner/winemaker’s Erik’s Miller’s hometown of Kokomo, Indiana.  When we arrived…

kokomo winery

The band had it goin’ on!…

Band at Kokomo

Rovetti & Meatballs featuring Hilary Williams

They were pouring their great Rosé, and five other wines on the Patio, in the Cellar and at the Bar.  It was a nice mix of wines too, the aforementioned Rosé, a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Four of the wines were wonderfully paired with a likewise diverse sample of foods from K. King Catering.

Kokomo got my prize for “most unusual food pairing that worked”…Mini corn dog muffins with Chardonnay Mustard…

Mini Corn Dog Muffins with Chardonnay mustard

Mini Corn Dog Muffins with Chardonnay mustard

They were paired with their 2010 Primitivo, Timber Crest Vineyard. It was a toss-up between their excellent 2012 Grenache Rosé, and the Primitivo as my favorite.

Papapietro-Perry Winery

Founded in 1998, Papapietro-Perry (“P-P”) is a boutique winery focused on Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Ben Papapietro and Bruce Perry met in the newspaper business, made premium garage wine for some time before going commercial starting with 75 cases of wine.

Check out this beauty…Papaprieto Car

Papapietro had a “Celebration of New Orleans” theme.  The offered four different Pinot Noirs paired with “Big Easy Bread Pudding with Andouille Sausage and Gravy” from Park Avenue Catering.  But my favorite wine was their 2009 Pinot Noir ~ Pommard Clones ~ Russian River Valley, an off-list wine, but all their Pinots were fabulous! If Pinot Noir is your wine of choice, P-P is a must visit!

Adventurer, Cyclist, Educator

Our final stop for the day was Dutcher Crossing Vineyards and Winery.  It’s a small winery owned by Debra Mathy.  She was an educator by training, but had dreamed of owning a winery since she went on a trip to Europe in high school.  In 2007, motivated by her father, and after a long search, she instantly fell for Dutcher Crossingin Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley.

The food and wine pairing menu for Passport included Sauvignon Blanc (paired with Meyer Lemon Marmalade with Chévre – Killer!), their excellent Stuhlmuller Chardonnay, a Zinfandel, Proprietor’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and a couple of barrel samples (2012 Mabaroshi Vineyard Pinot, and 2012 Maple Vineyard “Bills Block” Zinfandel”) They also had a Port-style dessert wine.

Dutcher Crossing winemaker

Dutcher Crossing Winemaker – Kerry Damskey

Since it was our last visit of the day, and it’s such a beautiful property we took some time to take in the gorgeous serenity of the place while we savored their wine and food pairings. Dutcher Crossing View 2 My favorites were the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2010 Proprietors’s Reserve Cab, which was excellently paired with Shredded Lamb Tacos!

Conclusion

We visited sixteen wineries over the two days.  There was plenty of outstanding wine, food and entertainment!  As I reminisce about our experience was strikes me most is the diversity of wines that was my favorite. While Dry Creek Valley has seemingly built its reputation on Zinfandel, the wineries of Dry Creek Valley offer so much more for wine lovers!  

Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, I’ll be back again next year!

Related posts you might enjoy:

For more information about the Passport to Dry Creek Valley check out the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley 

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff!  Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

Drink Pink! – Wine Of The Week; 2012 Skouras Zoë Rosé

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It’s that time of year… Yes, it’s rosé season!. With that in mind, I’ve embarked upon a   series of weekly “Drink Pink!” rosé tastings.  This week’s rosé is the 2012 Skouras Zoë Rosé.

I picked up this wine on a whim from my favorite wine store K&L Wine Merchants. The wine is produced by Domaine Skouras in Greece. Skouras Winery was established in 1986 in Greece by Dijon-trained oenologist George Skouras. In 1988 Skouras was the first winemaker to blend Saint George, a Greek grape (aka Aghiorghitiko), with Cabernet Sauvignon and with illustrious results. Today, Domaine Skouras is on the forefront of the burgeoning Greek wine movement.

The wine is a blend of 70% Agiorgitiko (pronounced eye-your-YEE-tih-koh), a black-skinned grape native to Southern Greece, and 30% Moscofilero, a pink skinned grape native to Peloponnese, Greece.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel vats.

Drink PInk! Rose of the Week; Skouras Zoe Rose

Drink PInk! Rose of the Week; 2012 Skouras Zoe Rose

My tasting notes follow:

Strawberry red with a pink tinge color with lively wild strawberry, rose petal and spice aromas. On the palate, it’s medium/full-bodied, fresh and dry with strawberry, cherry, spice and mineral flavors. Medium finish.  12.5 % alcohol. 

Rating:  B+

I really enjoyed this wine, and at $10 is offers great value for the money.  I especially liked that it shows more body that most rosés.  It’s a rosé that one would enjoy with a wide variety of foods including more substantial fare.  This wine will be a repeat purchase for me!

Wine purchased for review

Ratings Key:
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff!  Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

 

Wine of the Week: 2011 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Les Enfants Terribles, Heart Arrow Ranch

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Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out. For this week, my Wine Of The Week is the 2011 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Les Enfants Terribles, Heart Arrow Ranch

The Winery

Dashe Cellars, founded by Michael and Ann Dashe in 1996, is an urban winery located near Jack London Square in Oakland, CA. Michael Dashe is the Winemaker, and Anne Dashe is the General Manager. Between the two, they have 40-plus years experience in the wine business, including experience at some big-time wineries such as Ridge Vineyards, Far Niente, Chappellet, Schramsberg Wine Cellars in California; Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château La Dominique in France,and Cloudy Bay in New Zealand. The winery produces about 10,000 cases annually.

The Wine

This is the other wine in Dashe Cellars Les Enfants Terribles (the “Wild Children”) series (click here to see my review of the Les Enfants Grenache), which are wines made more in the Old World Style – lower alcohol, minimal intervention, and minimal oak influence.

This wine is made with 100% Zinfandel sourced from biodynamic farms (yep cows, chicken, fruits and veggies..the whole nine) in Mendocino County.  It was fermented on native yeasts, and aged in older French oak barrels, unfined and bottled with low SO2 levels.

Dashe Les Enfant Zinfandel 2011

My tasting notes follow:

Garnet color with earthy red fruits aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, fresh, silky smooth and balanced with cherry, raspberry, spice and mineral flavors.  Medium+ finish  

Rating: A-

This wine really shines at the table. I enjoyed it with Filipino Tapa (Bisteksilog – beef steak, fried rice and egg) and Filipino Barbecue Chicken with Java Rice. It was great with both dishes.

The Wine Geek Stuff:

  • Alcohol: 13.5% alcohol.
  • Closure: Cork.
  • AVA: > California> Mendocino
  • Varietal(s): 100% Zinfandel
  • Cooperage: 5 months in 100% older French Oak 500 Liter barrels
  • Retail: $24
  • Cases produced: 225
  • Ageability: Drink now, or hold for 5-7 years

Other Related Posts:

Wine purchased for review

Ratings Key:
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff! Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

Recap Of Passport To Dry Creek Valley 2013 – Day One

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My wife and I and a couple of friends attended the 24th Annual Passport To Dry Creek Valley held April 27th and 28th.  Dry Creek Valley is a premium wine region in Sonoma County, California. It’s renown for its Zinfandel, but Dry Creek Valley, which is only  sixteen miles long by two miles wide offers a diverse range of vineyards, and world-class wines. The theme for this year’s event was “A Modern Tradition with Century-Old Roots” According to the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley..

Passport to Dry Creek Valley was introduced in 1990, by the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, as a time every year when the winegrowing community could come together to celebrate the generations of farmers, vintners and families that are the roots of the Dry Creek Valley wine region. Over the 24 years since, the event has become a beloved tradition among wine lovers who enjoy a world-class tasting experience with a festive twist, all within the idyllic Dry Creek Valley.  Over one weekend, Passport guests are welcomed into 50+ wineries throughout Dry Creek Valley, each offering a unique pairing of premium wine, gourmet food and entertainment.

I’ve been to beaucoup wine events, but what make this event special for me is the combination of wine, food, and entertainment. Check out the list of 52 participating wineries, and activities. The event was held from 11 am to 4:30 pm daily, so it would be virtually impossible to go to all the wineries over a two-day period (unless you decided to sprint from winery to winery and stayed at each winery for less than 15 minutes)  With an event like this with wine, food pairing, and entertainment, I think it’s best to take one’s time, and enjoy it. It’s about quality rather than quality for me!

As far as which wineries to visit, we have a list of perennial favorites (Bella, Mauritson, Quivira, Ridge, and Seghesio) to which we mix in some wineries that are new to us, and leave some room for “audibles” – on the fly changes to the itinerary based on a whim and/or the feedback we get from other attendees.

We started the day with  a vineyard tour of Gustafson Family Vineyards which boasts a spectacular vineyard located 1800 feet above sea level.  The tour was hosted by owner Dan Gustafson and Winemaker & Vineyard Manager Emmet Reed.  The property which used to a sheep ranch. Today it’s both home to the Gustafson family and a winery.  It’s also home to the “Sonoma County Heritage Tree”, a 300-year-old madrone tree that graces the property. It’s the oldest of its kind in Sonoma, and possibly all of California.

The vineyard was planted in 2004. The vineyard at 20 acres is planted to Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling.  Gustafson wines are all produced from estate fruit.

Dan Gustafson and Emmet Reed

Owner Dan Gustafson and Winemaker & Vineyard Manager Emmet Reed

It was a very informative tour.  The passion and pride that Dan and Emmet have for the property was quite evident, and rightfully so.

DCVPassport Gustafson Picnic View

View from the picnic area at Gustafson Family Winery overlooking Lake Sonoma

After the tour, which lasted about 30 minutes, we received a pleasant surprise when Dan informed us wed have the opportunity to taste their wines. I wasn’t expecting that because the event didn’t start until 11 and Gustafson wasn’t our assigned starting winery.

I tasted 4 of the 5 wine offered (I skipped the dessert wine).  My favorite was the 2009 Estate Cabernet.  It was perfectly paired with Flank Steak sliders.

We had a great experience at Gustafson. Aside from the tour, and the very good to excellent wines, the winery itself is beautiful.  And the winery has, hands down IMO, the best picnic area in Sonoma County with stunning views of Lake Sonoma and Mt. St. Helena.

Dry Creek Valley Cal-Italian Style

Our check-in winery was Seghesio Family Vineyards, a perennial favorite. Picnic table was set up in the tree-shaded Grove. The primary tasting was held the spacious, idyllic, tree-shaded area called “The Grove” in front of the winery. There was some Live music by Frobeck

Gamberi and Fregola

Gamberi and Fregola; You could pair with your choice of 2010 Sangiovese, 2011 Barbera, or 2009 Quindici

The theme as “Spring celebration of wine and food ― Italian style!”  They had plenty of food including Old world dishes like  Risi e Bisi, Gamberi e Fregola, Penne Bolognese, plus their family Sausage!  Each dish was superbly paired with Seghesio’s great line-up of wines that included Zinfandels, Barbera, Sangiovese, and Arneis (a lovely crisp refreshing white), plus a real treat, the 2009 Quindici, the first wine by Seghesio Family Vineyards to be produced and bottled in Italy. It’s a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot, and 10% Alicante Bouschet primarily sourced from Montalcino,

After tasting in The Grove, we headed down to the century-old barrel cellar for more tasting including Seghesio’s Old-Vine Zinfandel (great with brownies!), and a library selection the 2003 Omaggio - their Super Tuscan blend. My favorites (it’s impossible for me to pick one) were the 2009 Quindici, and the 2010 Cortina Zinfandel

Brother to Brother

After pulling ourselves away from Seghesio, we called an audible, and decided to check out Manzanita Creek Winery since it pretty close to Seghesio, and we’ve not been there before.

Manzanita Creek winery was founded by brothers Jack and William Salerno in 2001.  The brothers worked in construction and painting, which is unusual for winemakers.     Unlike so many wineries in Dry Creek Valley which are located among the vineyards, Manzanita Creek is located in a light industrial center, hence their tag line, “Great Wines…No Scenery…Never Boring”.  I recognized the label as a brand being sold at Costco, so they’re definitely enjoying some success. When we arrived they were pouring two Zinfandels and a Chardonnay, and serving up steak (and a tasty chimichurri), sausage and pasta salad.  Alas, the schedule live entertainment wasn’t performing while we were there.  My favorite wine tasted was the 2008 Zinfandel Carreras Old Vine. 

Oysters and wines galore

Next up was Stephen & Walker Trust Winery, just up the street from Manzanita Creek. It’s another winery we’d never before visited. 

They easily won the prize for most wines poured on Day 1. They were pouring 11 wines…

Stephen and Walker Wine-up

and serving up all you could eat oysters from Hog Island Oyster Co.!

OysterPalooza

Folks, we love raw oysters (an excellent pairing with their 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Green Valley of Russian River Valley). We parked ourselves in front of the oysters, and slurped ourselves onto the Stephen Walker/Hog Island Oyster Co watch list.  I’m pretty sure there is a picture of my wife and her buddy on a wall somewhere at both places with a warning of some sort;-)

Aside from the oysters, they also served up handmade pizzas from a wood-fired oven, sausage sliders and cinnamon rolls (fantastic with their 2010 Chardonnay, Botrytis).  The Stephen and Walker staff was a friendly and fun bunch.

I can guaran-damn-tee you, if they’re serving oysters next year…we’ll be baaaaack!

I tried 7 of the 11 wines offered including tasting through all their Pinot Noirs, and Howell Mountain Cabs.  My favorite wine was the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain.

Zin Alley

Dry Creek Valley is absolutely beautiful this time of year. The weather was great, the vines are gorgeous.  So after visiting the wineries in town, we were keen to get back out in beautiful vineyards. Our next stop was Talty Vineyards and Winery.

talty

Talty is all about Zinfandel, the grape for which Dry Creek Valley is most well known.   Their estate Zinfandels are sourced from their six-acre vineyard.  They were tasting 4 Zinfandels, which were paired with “Famous TBO Lamb Tacos” (Marinated Rosen lamb with cherry chipotle Zinfandel sauce, Cabot White Cheddar, and Salsa de Cabo). Score!

Lamb Tacos

Live entertainment was provided by “The Aces” band

Great pairing and Zins!  My favorites were the 2010 Dwight Family Vineyard and 2010 William Talty Estate Zinfandel.

The Wine Country Experience

Next up was Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, which is one of the most beautiful wineries in Dry Creek Valley.  Ferrari-Carano (“F-C”) is best know for its breathtaking Ferrari-Carano Gardens which includes waterfalls, bridges and an amazing array of flowers. 

It’s a great place to visit if you want the “Wine County Experience”.  In addition to the beautiful Italianate-style Vila Fiore, and the Gardens, you’ll find a great gift shop with plenty of wine country gifts, specialty food products, and housewares.

ferrari carano

Ferrari-Carano’s Villa Fiore

F-C was pouring five wines. The wines were poured in their tank room and cellars, so we got a chance to look around the winery a bit  My favorite was the Barrel Room. It was literally and figuratively cool.

FC Barrel Room

The Barrel Room at Ferrari-Carano

Of the five wines tasted, my favorite was the 2010 Siena, a Sangiovese/Malbec blend.  I must also mention the 2010 Baci, a Zinfandel infused with Natural Dark Chocolate.  It was a heavenly pairing with a Cherry Chocolate Biscotti!. Then again all the wines were expertly paired with food at F-C!

Sonoma Love

Our final stop of the day was Bella Vineyards and Wine Caves. Bella is a small winery run by Scott and Lynn Adams who got married in wine country, fell in love with it, and decided their life goal would be pursue their passions for outdoor living and fine wine.  The couple lives with their daughters on a 10-acre vineyard in the Russian River Valley.  Commencing with the 2008 vintage, they established a  independent winery focused on tiny lots of pinot noir and chardonnay from the fabled Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast winegrowing regions. Taking inspiration from their home property, the brand is called “Ten Acre”

I love going to their Wine Caves, which tucked into a steep hillside under their prized Lily Hill vineyard.  The caves were excavated and completed almost 10 year ago, and include 5,200 square feet of barrel storage and working space and an additional 1,500 square feet of entertainment space.

Bella Caves

The theme  brought to mind Alice in Wonderland, and the live entertainment was magical. The food, prepared by Bella’s Michelin Star Chef, Bruce Frieseke was fabulous!

We literally kicked out shoes off, planted ourselves under a shade tree, and sipped their wines (Ten Acre Rosé for me…) while enjoying the entertainers. Perfect end to a great day!  My favorite wine was the 2010 Lily Hill Estate Zinfandel.

Look for my recap of Day 2 soon! 

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For more information about the Passport to Dry Creek Valley check out the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff!  Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

Drink Pink…Rosé of the Week! 2012 Bedrock Ode to Lulu Rosé

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It’s that time of year… Yes, it’s rosé season!. With that in mind, I’m starting a weekly series of  I rosé tastings.  My first wine in my “Drink Pink” series is the 2012 Bedrock Wine Company Ode to Lulu Rosé.

I adore rosé wines, at least the type of dry rosés that undergoing a resurgence these days.  Why? Rosés (in particular dry rosé) combine the best of white and red wines, while maintaining their own unique charm. They possess the crisp acidity, delicacy and freshness of white wines, and the flavors, and often the body of red wines.

Rosés are diverse bunch, produced from a wide range of grapes, in various styles ranging from simple quaffable wines to complex gems in a wide palette of colors. And they’re among the best wines at the table.  They,of course, pair well with warm weather fare like salads, and light dishes. But they’re also great picnic wines and barbecue wines. In fact, I  rosé don’t relegate these babies to warm weather months. Because of their versatility they’re wonderful year-round!

There’s never been a better time to be a fan of dry rosé.  There are a multitude of choices in the market place.  I’ll share with you my experiences as I search for the best rosés, and the best values.

Bedrock Wine Co. is an “itsy-bitsy winery making wine in a converted chicken coop”. Though recently Morgan Twain-Peterson, the winemaker/owner of Bedrock Wine Co. announced some big changes including building a new winery, and hiring of close friend, Chris Cottrell to work with him.  Sounds like Bedrock will be moving from the “itsy-bitsy” level to a higher level production-wise.  The wines are already major quality-wise!

 “I probably work harder on my rose’ then any other wine I make”- Morgan Peterson

2012 is the fifth vintage for Bedrock’s Ode To Lulu Rosé.  The usual base of the wine is centered around the Mourvedre planted at Bedrock Vineyard in 1888, along with an additional 10% from Mourvedre planted in 1922 at Pagani Ranch.  This year’s version also includes old-vine Carignane, from Contra Costa instead of Grenache.  The grapes are whole-cluster pressed, and fermented with native yeasts.

2012 Bedrock Ode To Lulu Rose

My tasting note follows:

Light copper/salmon color with stone-fruit, strawberry, and a hint of floral aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, dry, and crisp with medium acidity, and peach, wild strawberry, sweet orange rind, and mineral flavors. Long spicy finish. 12.3% alcohol; SRP – $20

Rating:  A-

Wine purchased for review

Ratings Key:
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff!  Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

 

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Wine of the Week: 2010 Carol Shelton Wines Pinot Noir Larson Vineyard Carneros

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Every Thursday I feature a wine I particularly enjoy, whether it’s something new and different, is a great value, or from a producer worth checking out.  For this week, my Wine Of The Week is the 2010 Carol Shelton Wines Pinot Noir Larson Vineyard Carneros.

The wine is produced by Carol Shelton’s eponymous winery – a self-described “Zin Specialist” located in Santa Rosa, CA.

Carol Shelton is widely cited as the most awarded winemaker in the United States. She has won countless medals for her wines and has been honored as Winemaker of the Year numerous times. 

Carol studied at University of California at Davis. She’s worked with greats like Robert Mondavi and Andre Tchelistcheff before taking the winemaker position at Windsor Vineyards where she worked for 19 years. She and her husband founded Carol Shelton Wines in 2000.

I’ve enjoyed more than a few Carol Shelton Zins,  and I gladly vouch for them.  In addition to Zinfandel,  Carol Shelton Wines produces a white Rhone blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, a Rosé and dessert wines.

The 2010 vintage was the first year the winery produced Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir grapes were sourced from the Larson Vineyard in Carneros in Sonoma County.

2010 Carol Shelton

2010 Carol Shelton Wines Pinot Noir Larson Vineyard Carneros

My tasting notes follow:

Dark ruby color with elegant with cherry, earth and pepper aromas. On the palate, it’s medium bodied with wonderful acidity, silky mouth feel and ripe cherry cranberry, and spice flavors. Medium-Long finish. 14.5% alcohol.

The wine is a blend of 96.5% Pinot Noir, and Petite Sirah.  It’s aged 10 months in French oak barrels (50% new and 50% 2-year-old )14.5% alcohol. 218 cases produced.  Suggested retail SRP – $38

It’s definitely as Carol Shelton puts it, a “Zin-lover’s Pinot!”, so while Pinot-purists might balk, I like to mix it up a bit, depending on my mood and the food, and this one hit the spot for me!

Rating:  A-

Wine purchased for review

Ratings Key:
(A+) – 98-100/Extraordinary
(A) – 94-97/Outstanding
(A-) – 90-93/Excellent
(B+) – 86-89/Very good
(B) – 80-85/Good
(C) – 70-79/Bleh
(D) – 50-69/#Fail

Follow me on Twitter @martindredmond for all things wine, and since I’m a wino, with latent foodie tendencies, you’ll also find food and wine pairings, and food related stuff!  Become a fan and join ENOFYLZ Wine Blog on Facebook. Cheers! This article is original to ENOFYLZ Wine Blog.com. Copyright 2013 ENOFYLZ Wine Blog. All rights reserved.

Rut-Busting Wines For New Cooking Adventures #SundaySupper

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Admit it. You’re in a wine rut.  Regardless of whether you enjoy wine with a meal, as a cocktail, or both, you don’t stray too far off the beaten path.  You cling to your handful of favorites like Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel or Moscato.

Do you know there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes!

The true figure will never be known because number of grape varieties is a moving target.  New varieties are constantly evolving or being produced, and some obscure varieties become extinct.

Below is the Wine Grape Varietal Table put together by grape variety expert Steve de Long. It’s lists 184 varieties of grapes.

DeLong Wine Varietal Chart

DeLong Wine Varietal Chart

With so many varieties of grapes in the world, you’re sure to find wines other than your “usual suspects” that will suit your personal tastes, and moods.

So, if you’re ready for bit of vinous adventure, I’m offering some rut-busting wines to pair with the #SundaySupper team’s culinary adventures this week. Check out this week’s #SundaySupper menu and my wine pairing recommendations!

Pair these dishes with a sparkling wine – from South Africa!  South African sparkling wine is made in the traditional Champagne style is known as Methode Cap Classique, or MCC. Look for the Graham Beck Brut Sparkling Wine Western Cape. It’s blend of Pinot and Chardonnay grapes with creamy apple blossom, tangerine, and exotic fruit character

Pair these dishes with a wine made from the Torrontés grape variety. Torrontés is Argentina’s only truly indigenous grape.  It produces a juicy fragrant wine with citrus pineapple and spice flavors.  It’s a pretty food friendly wine too.  It pairs wonderfully with seafood, or try it with a pasta primavera or spicy Asian noodle, or curry dishes. Look for the 2011 Bodegas Colomé “Estate” Torrontés Valle Calchaquí Salta.

Pair these dishes with wine made from the Marsanne grape variety. This is probably the finest grape variety you’ve never heard of. It makes a full-bodied, sometimes rustic wine with amazing complexity, and honey, peach, and sweet spice flavors. If you like Chardonnay, give this wine a try.  Look for the 2011 Qupé Santa Ynez Valley Marsanne.  It’s a blend of 70% Marsanne and 21% Roussanne with floral, green apple, peach and ginger aromas, followed by energetic apple, peach,and citrus flavors on the palate.

Pair these dishes with wine made from the Pinotage grape variety. It is the signature red variety of South Africa.  It’s a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, two French grapes.  It shows the soft fruitiness of Pinot Noir, and the rustic characteristics of Cinsault. It produces a fruity, lively wine with soft tannins, and black fruit, spicy and many tasters report, banana flavors.  Look for the 2010 Southern Right Pinotage Walker Bay.

Pair these dishes with wine made from the Mencia (a.k.a. as Jaen in Portugal) grape variety. It’s a grape that’s indigenous to Spain that is gaining in popularity. Typical flavors are of earth, herbs (think mint, rosemary, thyme), dark fruits (raspberry, black cherry, blackberry). Look for the 2010 Amizade Mencia Monterrei.  It shows a spicy redcurrant and cherry aromas complemented by notes of Asian spices and minerals. On the palate it has lively acidity, and spice-accented dark fruit flavors with a hint of sassafras. 

Pair these dishes with wine made from the Aglianico grape variety. It’s a grape that is native to Italy  which makes great full-bodied, intense, tannic wine with berry, cherries, plums and spice flavors. Its high acidity makes it food friendly. Pair with hearty meats, tomato-based pasta dishes like lasagna, or lamb. Look for the 2009 Musto Carmelitano “Serra Del Prete” Aglianico Del Vulture.

Pair these with a Cadillac – um…the little known village just south of Bordeaux known for its sweet botrytized white wines. It’s never reached the lofty status of Sauternes, just across the river.  The wines are typically made from Semillion, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes. Look for the 2009 Chateau Suau, Cadillac.  It a blend of 40% Sauvignon – 60% Semillon with a fruity, complex, and sweet peach and honey character with good acidity. 

Pair these desserts with a sparkling red wine - Brachetto d’Acqui, from Italy. It is a produced from the Brachetto grape.  Look for Banfi Rosa Regale. It has a delicate aromas of  rose petals and offers luscious flavors of fresh raspberries and strawberries.

Pair these desserts with Madeira, one of the world’s great fortified dessert wines produced exclusively on the Portuguese archipelago of the same name that is actually closer to Africa than Portugal.  One of the things I appreciate about Madeira is that it’s relatively indestructible.  Once opened, it will keep for years. Look for the Broadbent 10 year Malmsey Madeira.  It’s a great match for rich desserts made with cream or chocolate. Or it can be the dessert in and of itself (If you have a sweet tooth, Madeira can satisfy it, and it has few calories too most other dessert choices!;-) 

And last, but not least, enjoy Bircher Muesli from Peanut Butter and Peppers with your favorite type of milk!

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter on Sunday, March 31st to talk all about citrus recipes! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.

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