Author Archives: Martin D. Redmond

Wine of the Week: 2012 Donkey and Goat Lily’s Cuvée Sparkling Chardonnay

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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 2012 Donkey and Goat Lily’s Cuvée Sparkling Chardonnay.

Winery

Donkey and Goat Winery is a family owned and operated urban winery located in Berkeley, California.  The winery is owned by Jared and Tracey Brandt.  Theirs is a story we’ve heard before, but with a “natural” twist.  They left tech careers to pursue their dreams of making wine. They got started making wines in the Rhône Valley, and returned to California to apply what they learned in France.

The “natural” twist is their focus –  no make that obsession, with making wines as naturally as possible.  While “natural” wine-making has become more and more en vogue  these days, the Brandts have been doing it since day one.  You can read their complete manifesto here, but suffice it to say they take minimal intervention to the next level.  This includes using native yeasts, fermenting their wines in used oak barrels or concrete (most wineries use plastic bins), using no machines for crushing the grapes, and not filtering or fining of their wines.

They also make it a point to mention their wines are made “for the table not the cocktail glass”  That means having their fruit picked sooner than most, with the decision on when to pick driven by flavor and structure rather than brix.  As a result their wine are lower in alcohol (also trending these days it seems – but my sense is that’s another thing the Brandts were doing long before the pendulum started to swing toward lower alcohol wines)

Donkey and Goat produces wines from white, and red Rhône varieties, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown in the Anderson Valley, Mendocino Ridge and the unappreciated El Dorado appellation in the Sierra Foothills.

Donkey and Goat owners Jared and Tracey Brandt were named one of 5 Winemakers To Watch by Jon Bonné of the SF Chronicle in 2011.  They produce about 3,000 cases of wine annually.

The Wine

This is a fascinating wine. No scratch that…this is a luscious and fascinating wine! The 2012 vintage is the second that Donkey and Goat has produced a Petillant Naturel (a.k.a. Pet’Nat) A Pet’Nat is an absolutely natural sparkling wine that is a  product of the grapes harvested and no more. Unlike most sparkling wines, Pet’Nats have no added yeast or sugar (click here for details on the complete process)

The wine is made from organic Chardonnay grapes that are whole cluster pressed to a stainless steel tank and allowed to ferment naturally until ~2 brix then bottled under crown cap, later disgorged and then again under crown cap.

The wine is evolved beautifully from when I tasted it in the tasting room a couple of months ago.

Donkey & Goat Sparkling Chard

2012 Donkey and Goat Lily’s Cuvée Sparkling Chardonnay – Before opening…

Since the wine is unfiltered and unfined, lees remain in the bottle.  After I opened the bottle, the lees we incorporated into the wine. Once the lees are incoporated the wine it looked cloudy….but that added a bit of body and flavor. It’s doesn’t take away anything from the wine.  Rather, it makes it better in my book!

Wine of the Week: 2012 Donkey and Goat Lily's Cuvee Sparkling Chardonnay

After opening – Cloudy goodness!

 My tasting notes follow:

Golden copper color with apple, citrus, honey, and a bit of funk aromas. On the palate, it’s fresh with a very creamy mousse, a ton of pin prick bubbles, and an intense, but pleasant off-dry fruitiness. It shows spiced mixed orchard fruit (sweet green apples, apricots, and nectarine) flavors with a kiss of minerality that adds a nice dimension to the mix.  11.7% alcohol. $28 SRP. Blend: 98% Chardonnay, 2% Roussanne.

Rating: A- : Will buy more!

Pair with:  Fantastic as aperitif, but it will also pair well with spicy fare. Thai, indo-Paki,  and Sushi come to mind!

>>Find this wine<<

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.

Drink Pink! Rosé of the Week; 2012 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas 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 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé.

The Winery

Tablas Creek Vineyard (“TCV”) is probably the best-known of all Paso Robles wineries specializing in Rhone style wines.  It is a partnership between Robert Haas, and the Perrin Family of Chateau de Beaucastel in the Chateauneuf du Pape region in France. What I find interesting about TCV is that they specifically chose to establish themselves in Paso Robles because of the similarities of the soil conditions and climate of Paso Robles to Chateauneuf du Pape.  They went as far as to import vines from Chateauneuf du Pape.  The vines were propagated and grafted in their on-site nursery and used to plant their 120 acre organic vineyard.  Check the full story here.

 The Wine

Tablas Creek (“TCV”) is no newcomer to Rosé.  Unlike many relative newcomers who have hopped aboard the dry Rosé bandwagon as of late, TCV has been producing a Rosé since 1999. And that’s no surprise given their association with Chateau de Beaucastel in the Southern Rhone region in France.

Like most rosé wines from the Rhône Valley, it is based on the bright strawberry fruit and fresh acidity of Grenache, with additions of darker fruit, structure and spice from Mourvèdre and Counoise.

What is new for 2012 is that TCV decided to produce two Rosés.  This bottling was added to their excellent value-oriented Patelin de Tablas line, which also also includes the Patelin de Tablas Blanc, based on Grenache Blanc, and Patelin de Tablas, based on Syrah.

The other Rosé is 2012 Dianthus.  While this Rosé is dominated by Grenache, the Dianthus is dominated by Mourvedre.  I’m looking forward to giving that one a try too!

Drink Pink...2012 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé

2012 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé

My tasting notes follow:

Copper pink color with enticing strawberry, stone-fruit,and spice aromas. On the palate, it’s between light and medium-bodied, and fresh. It’s dry on entry, but closer to off-dry on the back palate with strawberry, watermelon, spice and mineral flavors. Medium + finish. Blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 5% Counoise. 14% Alcohol | $20 SRP| 1250 cases produced

Rating:  B+

This is a charming Rosé that is incredibly flexible partner at the table.  Unlike many Rosés, which are great with salads or lighter fare, this one can stand up to heartier fare. TCV recommends it with Crisp Crab Risotto.  Sounds like a winner to me!

Sample purchased for review 

Related posts:

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.

Wines of Chile Smackdown – 8 Chilean Reds Blind Tasted!

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The theme for the most recent gathering of the Pacific Point Wine Club (“PPWTC” was “Wines of Chile”.  The PPWTC is entering its third year, and going strong.  Initially we met every couple of months, but based on popular demand, we now meet every 6 weeks or so. It’s been so gratifying to see folks grow in their knowledge of wine while having fun, and making new friends.  We’ve even had  a few “field trips” , the most recent being a Bocce ball night.

So far this year we’ve focus on a geographic rather than varietal theme.  We’ve also changed how the wines for our blind-tasting were acquired.  Rather than folks bringing bottles, I’ve purchased all the bottles for the tasting. This advantage of doing it this way is that there is more consistent quality in the wines tasted, and there are no duplicates.

Wines of Chile Smackdown - 8 Chilean Reds Blind-Tasted

Chilean Wine Overview

Chile may seem like a relative newcomer to wine making, but they’ve been making wine for over 450 years!  Spanish conquistadors and missionaries brought European Vitis vinifera vines to Chile in the mid-16th century.  The vines were brought to Chile to produce wine for Catholic mass rituals.  The Spaniards found Chile to be ideal for planting grapes.  The climate allowed a perfect growing season and ripening of the fruit.  And just as important, there was no phylloxera (n the late 19th century (click here for more detailed history) Here’s more 411 on Chilean wine.

  • In 1830, Frenchman Claude Gay convinced the Chilean government to establish a state agricultural station to be called Quinta Normal Agriculture. Grape vines from Italy and France were imported to Chile.  By 1850 there were 40,000 vines, and 70 varieties of grapes.  And with the arrival of Bordeaux varieties, Chile enters the modern era of winemaking.
  • Chile has been hugely influenced by French winemaking especially Bordeaux. Prior to the outbreak of phylloxera in France, wealthy Chileans imported winemakers and vines from Bordeaux.
  • World War II marked the beginning of a decline in the Chilean wine industry  which lasted until the 1980s.
  • Chile has invested heavily said the 1980s and modernize its wine industry.  Chile has attracted many foreign collaborators and investors including Robert Mondavi of California (Caliterra), The Rothschilds of Bordeaux’s Château Lafite (Los Vacos) and Miguel Torres of Spain (Torres). These estates have either set up operations in Chile, or have formed partnerships with the best Chilean houses.
  • Chile has been the benchmark of South American quality wine although Argentina has been in the spotlight recently because of the popularity of Malbec
  • Chilean wines tend to be mostly focused on varietal wines rather than blends
  • Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship, plus Chile produces Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc that offer great value.
  • Chile’s unique combination of geography and climate make it ideal for grape growing, including lots of organic and biodynamic vineyards.
  • Chile is the only large-scale producer of wine that has never had an outbreak of phylloxera- the deadly root louse that wiped out vineyards in Europe (most notably France).
  • In 1994 Carmenere, which was thought to be Merlot, was discovered in Chile. Carmenere, an ancient Bordeaux grape variety was thought to be extinct at the time.
  • In 2010 Chile was the first South American country to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. This will undoubtedly have a positive influence on the wine industry in Chile.
Map of Chilean Wine Regions

Map of Chilean Wine Regions

The five major controlled viticultural areas of Chile, know as Denomination of Origin (“D.O.”) are:

  • Aconcagua Valley- Northerly region primarily suited to red wine production.
  • Casablanca Valley- Casablanca is a relatively cool and largely coastal region producing classy Chardonnay and world-class Sauvignon Blanc. Pinot Noir is also being experimented with in this region.
  • Maipó Valley- Part of the Central Valley, Maipó, just south of Santiago, is one of Chile’s best-known and longest established quality wine regions. Some of the biggest names of the Chilean industry such as the giant Concha y Toro and Santa Rita are here. Cabernet Sauvignon is the mainstay of the region and quality is high.
  • Rapel Valley – Part of the Central Valley, Rapel is the largest of the five wine areas. It features a range of climatic conditions and soil types and grape varieties.  You will see the name Colchagua valley on Rapel bottlings, a small high-quality sub-region towards the coast.  Well known producers from this region include Carmen, Mont Gras and Cono Sur.
  • Curicó and Maule Valleys - Part of the Central Valley, the Maule Valley is separated in the northern Curicó region, and the southerly Maule. Big names here include Miguel Torres (one of the first movers and investors to see the potential in Chilean wine), San Pedro, and Montes.

The Wine Tasting

Prior to the main tasting we always have a bite to eat, and catch up.  Since it was a Wines of Chile theme I picked up some other wines to try including a Riesling, Sauvignon Blancs, and a Rosé, which I tasted prior to grabbing a bite to eat, joining the fun. My tasting notes from those wines follow:

  • 2011 Meli Riesling - Chile, Maule Valley - Very pale straw yellow-green color with faint petrol, citrus, and stone fruit aromas. On the palate, it’s light-bodied and dry with crisp acidity. It shows lemon, lime, and stone fruit flavors. Medium finish. Nice value at $13 (86 pts.)
  • 2011 Carmen Sauvignon Blanc Gran Reserva - Chile, San Antonio Valley, Leyda Valley - Light yellow color with citrus, gooseberry and a slight grassy aroma. On the palate, it’s light-bodied, and fresh with citrus and gooseberry flavors. Medium-long finish. (87 pts.) Sample provided for review
  • 2011 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc La Gloria - Chile, Casablanca Valley - Very pale straw yellow-green color with grapefruit,and hints herbs and spice aromas. On the palate, it’s light-bodied, between dry and off-dry and is fresh and lively. It shows grapefruit, green apple, and a kiss spice flavors. Medium finish. Nice value at $10. (87 pts.)
  • 2011 Apaltagua Carménère - Chile, Central Valley - Pale pink color with aromatic red fruit, spice and orange blossom aromas. On the palate, it’s medium bodied, with crisp acidity and raspberry, red cherry, and spice flavors. Medium + finish. Nice value at $12 (87 pts.)

For the main event, we blind tasted eight red wines.  Six of the wines were purchased from K&L Wine Merchants, which has a good selection of Chilean wines.  The two other wines were samples provided by Wines of Chile.  The wines ranges in price from $9.99 to $18.99. Wines from all five major controlled viticultural areas were tasted.

There were 16 tasters.  Wines are scored on a scale of 1-5 for aroma, body, taste, and finish.  Thus, the minimum score is 4 points and the maximum is 20 points.

Wines of Chile Smackdown Hidden

The eight wines blind-tasted (listed in the order tasted) and my Cellar Tracker tasting notes follow:

  • 2010 Calcu Cabernet Franc - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
    Garnet color with red fruit and green pepper aromas. On the palate, it’s between light and medium-bodied with medium-acidity with ripe cherry, red currant, plum and vanilla flavors. (87 pts.) Sample provided for review.
  • 2010 Laura Hartwig Carménère Reserva - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
    Violet color with candied mixed black and red fruit, spice and green pepper aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with dusty tannins and medium+ acidity with blackberry, cassis, plum and vanilla flavors. Medium-long finish (89 pts.)
  • 2009 Errazuriz Carménère Single Vineyard - Chile, Aconcagua Valley
    Inky violet color with cherry, cassis, eucalyptus, and cedarwood aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, and smooth with medium acidity and sweet tannins. It shows concentrated cassis, cherry, bittersweet chocolate flavors . Medium-long finish. (90 pts.)
  • 2011 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Classic Series - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
    Dark garnet color with restrained cassis, green pepper, and a bit of earthy aromas. On the palate its’ medium-bodied with cassis, vanilla and a bit of mocha flavors Medium finish. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Merlot (85 pts.)
  • 2010 La Playa Claret Block Selection Reserve - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
    Violet color with brambly, mixed black and red fruit, and spice aromas. On the palate, its medium-bodied with medium-acid and slightly tannic. It shows black cherry, raspberry, and cassis flavors. Blend of 41% Petit Verdot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Carmenere aged for 12 months in French and American oak. (86 pts.)
  • 2010 Viña von Siebenthal Parcela #7 - Chile, Aconcagua Valley, Panquehue
    Violet color with earthy, plum and black cherry aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and smooth with well-integrated tannins and medium+ acidity. It shows plum, cherry, cassis, and vanilla flavors. Medium long finish. The blend consists roughly of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot and 15% Cabernet Franc. (89 pts.)
  • 2009 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marqués de Casa Concha - Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
    Violet color with eucalyptus, red berry, green pepper and cedarwood aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, balanced with medium acidity and dusty tannins. It shows cherry, raspberry, cassis, and vanilla flavors. Medium long finish. (90 pts.)

 

The envelope please…

The winner was the 2009 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Marqués de Casa Concha!

Wines of Chile

The order of finish for the runners-up were as follows:

Wines of Chile Reveal

  1.  2009 Errazuriz Carménère Single Vineyard 
  2. 2010 Viña von Siebenthal Parcela #7 
  3. 2009 Vina Falernia Fundacion Carménère Syrah Reserva
  4. 2010 Laura Hartwig Carménère Reserva 
  5. 2011 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Classic Series
  6. 2010 La Playa Claret Block Selection Reserve
  7. 2010 Calcu Cabernet Franc

f there’s one thing I’ve learned about blind tastings is there is always a surprise or two. The  surprise for me in this tasting was that the three most expensive wines finished in 1-2-3.  That was a first for the PPWTC. I had two other take-aways. The first was no surprise, the Chilean wines, across the board offer very good value.  The second was the distinct green pepper aromas of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc.

Conclusion

Our Wines of Chile night was a great success with great food, fun, fellowship and of course wine!

I’ve not had much Chilean Wine, but based on this tasting, I’m going to look for it more often. The wines offer very good value.  And there were at least three wines that would be repeat purchases for me.  If you haven’t yet discovered the wines of Chile, I encourage you to give them a try!  If you have discovered the wines of Chile…leave me a comment and let me know our favorite(s)!

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 Broc Cellars Santa Ynez Valley 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 Broc Cellars Santa Ynez Valley Rosé.

Broc Cellars is an urban winery located in Berkeley, California.  The proprietor is Chris Brockway, who grew up on Omaha and attended the University of Nebraska where he majored in Philosophy.  After college, he worked in restaurants back home before moving to Seattle, Washington. That’s where he began to take an interest in wine. He decided to move to California to pursue a career in winemaking.  He took classes at UC Davis,  but transitioned to  Cal State Fresno where he  studied both winemaking and viticulture and earned his second degree in oenology in 2002.  Brockway was named the SF Chronicle’s Winemaker to Watch in 2012.

We are a ‘low wattage’ winery in the sense that we have very little modern equipment. Grapes are pitchforked whole-cluster into the fermenters, fermentation is allowed to happen spontaneously, all wines are basket pressed, with little/no sulphur used in our wines until bottling. True asphalt winemaking, in an urban winery.

Broc Cellars is a small operation (~2,000 cases/yr) located in a small “hole in the wall” facility west Berkeley.  Brockway is focused on using minimal-intervention techniques for his wines.  The wines are low-alcohol, high acid, low/integrated oak fermented on native yeasts.

I had the pleasure of visiting the winery a couple of months ago, and came away impressed by the wines.  I picked up this bottle of wine, and a few others including another Rosé of Zinfandel that I’ll be featuring in the coming weeks.

Broc Cellars Santa Ynez Valley Rose

My tasting notes follow:

Pale salmon color with wild strawberry, peach and a kiss of spice. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, dry and fresh with an appealing supple mouthfeel. It shows strawberry, watermelon, white peach, spice and mineral flavors. Medium-long finish. Great rose! 50% Counoise/50% Cinsault 12% alcohol

 

Rating:  A-

This is an excellent Rosé.  And at $18, the price right.  Highly recommended!  

Sample 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 And Great QPR!; 2011 Herencia Altes Garnatxa Negra

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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 Herencia Altes Garnatxa Negra. 

About Herencia Altes 

Herencia Altès is a project a long time in the making. For generations Nuria Altes and his family have been grape growers, with vineyards dispersed around the village of Batea. Now, Nuria have decided to give these grapes their own personality in the form of these handcrafted wines. While Terra Alta is not yet a well-known region – tucked away in the southeastern corner of Catalonia it borders Aragón and Valencia – it is one of the largest areas in Catalonia under vine. Built upon Roman and Moorish foundations it preserves a beautiful historical center and its grand church is testament to its past glories. In terms of viticulture, it is the most important village in Terra Alta accounting for over 50% of its entire grape production. Most of the grapes are sold to cooperatives or large companies outside the region. Herencia Altes is Nuria Altes’ dream to put Terra Alta on the map and show the true quality of these wonderful old vines.

[Overview of  Spanish Wines]

This wine is a custom cuvee made for wine importer Eric Solomon by proprietor Nuria Altes. It is 100% garnaxta negra (grenache) raised on its lees in concrete vats.  The fruit is mix of very old garnaxta bush vines, which is balanced by the youthful intensity of younger vine fruit. .

Herencia Altes

My tasting notes follow:

Crimson color with black cherry and spice aromas. On the palate, it’s intense, medium-bodied with medium acidity and soft tannins. It shows cherry, pomegranate, mineral and spice flavors and a lengthy finish. 

>>Find this wine<<

Rating: A-

This wine is a great example of why Spain is unbeatable for wines that offer incredible value!  It drinks like many wines I’ve had in the $30-40 range. Sometimes the best thing you can say about a wine is “I’ll buy again”  And I have! Pair with grilled meat, lamb or goat

The Wine Geek Stuff:

  • Alcohol: 13.8% alcohol.
  • Closure: Cork.
  • AVA: Spain> Catalunya> Tarragona> Terra Alta
  • Varietal(s): 100% Garnaxta Negro (Grenache)
  • SRP: $8.99
  • Ageability: Drink now, or hold for 2-3 years

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.

Top 10 Wines For Picnic #SundaySupper

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When I saw this week’s Picnic #SundaySupper theme I was pretty stoked. I love to picnic! Especially in wine country. Nothing says spring or summer to me more than sitting in a vineyard with a basket full of goodies and a glass of wine, taking in the bucolic landscape.  Often, when I have found myself suggesting a visit to wine country to friends, who reply “I don’t drink wine”,  I suggest they go anyway because where there are vineyards you’ll find beautiful tranquil scenery. Check out the view below!  Wine or no wine it’s stunning!

Top 10 Wines For Picnic #SundaySupper

View from the picnic area at Gustafson Family Winery overlooking Lake Sonoma in Geyserville, CA

And speaking of wine, I think it’s important to know that picnic wines are different from BBQ wines. BBQ is all about bold and spicy flavors, whereas picnic foods compose a broader range of lighter foods like salads of all kinds, cold fried chicken, charcuterie, cheeses, ripe fruits etc., mostly served cold. Great picnic wines should be light and refreshing, a good match for a variety of foods, and inexpensive (>$20).

My top 10 wines for picnics are:

  1. Sparkling Wine
  2. Rosé
  3. Sparkling Rosé
  4. Chardonnay (preferably unoaked or lightly oaked)
  5. Sauvignon Blanc
  6. Riesling
  7. Vinho Verde
  8. Moscato
  9. Grüner Veltliner
  10. Beaujolais

Check out the this week’s fantastic lineup of creative and inspired picnic food put together by the #SundaySupper family of foodies, and my specific wine pairing recommendations.

Pair these dishes with a sparkling wine. Sparkling Wines are probably the most under rated food friendly wine there is.  That’s because its crisp acidity and effervescence, which cleanses the palate and gets it ready for the next bite (think “scrubbing bubbles”). One of my favorites for under $20 is Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley.  It has a creamy, fresh-cut green apple, pear, and hazelnut with a kiss of vanilla character.   Here’s another advantage of sparkling wines — Forget the corkscrew? — No problem with sparklers!! 

Pair these dishes with a Rosé.  Look for the 2012 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Napa Valley Syrah Rosé It’s a 100% Syrah with a medium-bodied, fresh strawberry, raspberry, citrus, and mineral character.

One of my favorite picnic wines is sparkling Rosé.  It’s the ultimate in vinous synergy – combining the acidity, effervescence of bubbly with the overall food friendliness of Rosé.  If I had to choose a bottle of wine for a picnic and didn’t know what was being served it would be a sparkling Rosé for me.  Try the Jean-Louis Denois Pinot Noir Brut Rosé, which is made from 100% Pinot Noir!

Pair these dishes with a Chablis, which is made from Chardonnay. Most Chablis are un-oaked which allows the purity of Chardonnay’s aromas and flavors to shine. They also posses a unique minerality that add to its appeal for many.  Look for the 2010 Chateau de Maligny Chablis “Vielles Vignes”.  It dense, crisp, and refreshing with stone-fruit, citrus, green plum and mineral character. 

Pair these dishes with Sauvignon Blanc, I recommend the 2011 Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc. It has a stone fruit, citrus and fresh tropical fruit aromas and flavors. 

Pair these dishes with Riesling.  I love the 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle & Dr. Loosen Eroica Riesling. It’s just slightly off-dry  with vibrant acidity and a beautiful white peach, grapefruit and mineral character.

Pair these dishes with Vinho Verde, a wine from Portugal. Vinho Verde isn’t a grape variety.  It literally translates into “green wine”, but means “young wine” – as in its meant to be consumed within a year of two of bottling.  Vinho Verde is made in white, red, and rose styles.  They are typically low alcohol, and have a bit of effervescence which further enhance its refreshing qualities.  Look for 2012 Quinta da Aveleda.

Pair these dishes with Grüner Veltliner, a refreshing, medium-bodied, peppery white wine with stone fruit flavors.  Grüner Veltliner goes with everything from green salads to cold poached salmon to fried chicken. Look for 2011 Stadlmann Gruner Veltliner.  It has a green apple, tropical fruit, lime, white pepper character with a great mouthfeel and an mineral undertone. 

I haven’t forgotten about red wine for picnics and you shouldn’t either!  I know a red wine isn’t top of mind for most. But, hey it’s summer, it’s hot, you love red wine! Find one that is low in tannins, and bright fruit.  Beaujolais, Pinot Noir, and Grenache (especially from Spain) come to mind. Pair these dishes with a Beaujolais,an outstanding red picnic wine   Look for the  2010 Potel-Aviron Côte de Brouilly “Vieilles Vignes” Cru Beaujolais.  It has a black raspberry, floral, and asian spice character. Can’t find a Beaujolais?  Then go with your favorite Pinot Noir – a similar style of wine. 

If your taste in wine leans toward the sweeter side, try Moscato. It’s like summertime in a glass with its fruity orange blossom, tropical, citrus, or melon aromas and a touch of effervescence. And if you’ve got something spicy in your picnic basket, the sweetness will tame the heat. The best are from Italy. Pair these desserts with the 2011 Ecco Domani Moscato.

Here are the rest of this week’s desserts and drinks (be sure to check out the Sangria -  another great picnic wine!):

Desserts:

Drinks:

Check back on Sunday for all the recipes! You can join in the chat on Twitter too: we’ll tweet throughout the day and share all of our picnic recipes. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. To join in, just follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets. You can also check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and photos.

Drink Pink….Rosé of the Week: 2012 Cornerstone Cellars Stepping Stone Corallina 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 Cornerstone Cellars Stepping Stone Corallina Rosé.

Cornerstone Cellars was founded in 1991 by Drs. Michael Dragutsky and David Sloas. Their first crush was five tons of Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. Today the founders of Cornerstone Cellars and have been joined by Managing Partner Craig Camp, Winemaker Jeff Keene, in the Napa Valley, and a group of Memphis based partners led by Hal Lewis and John Carrier. In addition to the Cornerstone label, their second label is Stepping Stone.  The Stepping Stone wines are intended to be accessible sooner.

All the wines share one goal: to make compelling, exciting wines that speak clearly of the vineyard, variety and vintage from which they are born.

This rosé from Stepping Stone by Cornerstone was conceived as a Rosé from the beginning. It is made entirely from a single block of Syrah vines sourced from the West side of the Oak Knoll  District AVA in Napa Valley.  The fruit was whole-cluster pressed to maintain the fruit’s aroma and flavor profile.  It was aged for 5 months in mature French oak.

“We confess to being rosé snobs. Corallina Syrah Rosé is a real rosé. That means it’s not the leftovers of someone trying to beef up their red wine….Single vineyard Napa Valley syrah, fermented bone-dry and aged in oak for almost six months is a statement. We’re serious about rosé.”

Cornerstone has tasting rooms in Yountville in Napa Valley and in Gaston, Oregon.  I must confess I’ve not had the pleasure of stopping by to do some tasting, but after tasting this wine, I’m looking forward to visiting next time I’m in Napa!

Drink Pink....Rosé of the Week: 2012 Cornerstone Cellars Stepping Stone Corallina Rosé

2012 Cornerstone Cellars Stepping Stone Corallina Rosé

My tasting notes follow:

Copper color with aromatic with creamy strawberry, citrus and a hint of floral aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, with medium acidity, a great mouthfeel, with wild strawberry, citrus rind, and a kiss of cranberry and mineral flavors. Medium-long finish. 14.1% alcohol.

Rating:  A-

I really enjoyed this wine.  I especially appreciate the fact that it’s medium-bodied. That, along with it’s acidity make it very versatile at the table.  Unlike many Rosés, which are great with salads or lighter fare, this one can stand up to heartier fare.  It’s currently on sale for $16 through May 31 (SRP-$20), which is a great deal. Highly recommended!  

Sample provided for review by Cornerstone Cellars

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 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.