Henry Wine Group Industry Tasting, Beverly Hills Hotel, March 25, 2010
I tagged along with the Jaffurs crew for this tasting down in Los Angeles as a help to the winery, as a wine lover, and as a friend for Cellar Master, Matt Brady's birthday. We gathered at Jaffurs winery for a 9am departure and after collecting the necessary materials, we were on the road. Getting to Los Angeles was the typical thing, smooth sailing with some traffic upon arrival and a couple harrowing moments as Dave Yates maneuvered us along the 405. I helped the guys set things up and then it was time for Mike Trupiano and I to survey the plethora of wines being poured that day in the beautiful ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel. After some recon and a perusal of the 2 inch thick spiral bound "guide", I was ready to get this party started.
I decided that I needed to make a concerted effort to create and follow a good plan of attack for this tasting or things could get fairly confused and all blur together for me. After deciding on a focus of Champagne and Piedmont, I began "systematically" tasting through the wines. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to taste several of each wine in succession for my own thirst for knowledge and appreciation. Along with attempting to be disciplined in my wine tasting regional specificity, I (for the most part) followed the rules of decorum and swirled, smelled, sipped, slurped, and spat my wines. There isn't much doubt that if someone drinks that much wine you aren't leaving that room by the end of the day without being carried out. Though, there were a handful of people that apparently tried... By the state of the staff from Duke's Restaurant at the end of the event, they had themselves a "good" time at the tasting.
Below, I have listed the wines that were tasted in the general tasting portion of the event with a few specific tasting notes that I was able to scratch down on my note pad. I only tasted a small portion of all the wines that were being poured, but I think that I did a pretty good job. I was treated to a couple quality B-list celebrity sightings during the event that I can't help but share. First, I saw an animated discussion being had by Tom Arnold in the hotel lobby. Second, while tasting at the Hanzell table I was joined by a bright orange jacket clad Emilio Estevez. I restrained myself, but Night at the Roxbury was running through my head while he and I compared a few notes. The funny coincidence of the day was that at one point I found myself standing next to the young American, Weston Hoard, who hosted and poured wines for us at Paolo Scavino while at the winery, last May. It was a great happenstance and quite enjoyable to see him again. Onto the notes:
FRANCE
Champagne
Canard-Duchene Brut NV** (elegant and fruity)
Canard-Duchene Rose Brut NV** (more full bodied fruit profile)
Canard-Duchene Grande Cuvee Charles IV Brut NV** (more fresh and elegant)
Thienot Brut NV** (green apples and bright acidity)
Thienot Brut Rose NV** (long finish and very dry)
Thienot Brut Millesime 2002*** (lazer beam of acidity with very long finish)
Alain Thienot Grande Cuvee Brut 1999*** (nutty richness juxtaposed with bright citrus)
Henriot Brut Souverain NV** (slightly more complex due to 1/3 reserve wines added)
Henriot Blanc Souverain NV*** (100% Chardonnay and showing great verve)
Henriot Rose NV** (full but not flabby)
Henriot Enchanteleurs 1995*** (aromas of buttery almond brioche and a mouth filling creamy palate)
Burgundy
William Fevre Champs Royaux 2008**
William Fevre Domaine Chablis 2006**
Bouchard Pere & Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay 2007**
Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune du Chateau Blance 2005** (acid anyone?)
Bouchard Pere & Fils Pouilly Fuisee 2006**
Bouchard Pere & Fils Pinot Noir 2007**
Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune du Chateau Rouge 2006**
Alsace
Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Blanc d'Alsace 2007** (young, smokey, slightly simple)
RHONE
Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf-du-Pape Signature 2007** (fruit forward and modern)
ITALY
Piedmont
Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2008**
Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco 2006*** (soft, rose, elegant)
Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva 2005** (slightly more tannic and youthful)
Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco Moccagatta Riserva 2005*** (elegant and beautiful)
Produttori del Barbaresco, Barbaresco Pora Riserva 2005** (starting to hint towards menthol)
Damilano Barolo Lecinquevigne 2004** (most balanced of the Damilano's)
Damilano Barolo Liste 2004** (muscular)
Damilano Barolo Cannubi 2004** (pretty nose but tannins still a little harsh)
Aldo Conterno Dolcetto 2007** (easy and tasty)
Aldo Conterno Nebbiolo Il Favot 2005** (approchable and pretty)
Aldo Conterno Barolo 2004*** (great mouth feel, really nice to check in on this wine)
La Spinetta Nebbiolo 2007**
La Spinetta Barolo Campe 2004***
Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Riserva 1998*** (great, elegant, rich)
Giacomo Borgogno Barolo Riserva 1982*** (amazingly still a little tight, but really interesting, cool wine)
Paolo Scavino Langhe Bianco DOC 2008** (bright acidity as the Sauvignon Blanc in the blend really shines through)
Paolo Scavino Rosso Vino da Tavola 2007** (kind of their take on a “Super-Piedmontese”)
Paolo Scavino Dolcetto d’Alba DOC 2008** (nice fruit)
Paolo Scavino Barolo DOCG 2005*** (purity and length in the palate)
Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric 2005****(wow, this is going to be special wine)
UMBRIA
Colpetrone Sagrantino Montefalco 2004** (nose of roasted wild boar, supple tannins with black fruits)
CALIFORNIA
Calera Mt. Harlan Chardonnay 2008**
Calera Vin Gris of Pinot Noir 2009** (rich up front but a nice dry finish)
Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir 2007**
Calera Ryan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006*** (I am glad that I got a couple bottles of this wine when visiting the winery. Dark aromas and flavors that beg for some age to unwind)
Calera Mt. Harlan Reed Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006**
Calera Mt. Harlan Mills Vineyard Pinot Noir 2001*** (showing beautifully)
Hanzell Estate Chardonnay 2007***(layered, complex, begs for age but easy to like now)
Hanzell Estate Pinot Noir 2006** (the fruit is there but the spice and meaty undertones give this one it’s interest)
SPAIN
Muga Reserva 2005*
NEW ZEALAND
Seresin Sauvignon Blanc Estate 2008** (vibrant, gooseberry, explosive palate)
Seresin Momo Sauvignon Blanc 2008** (more subtle)
Seresin Momo Pinot Noir 2008**
PIEDMONT COMMUNES PRODUCERS PANEL
This was truly a special event for me to be able to attend. If my love for this region of the world has not been made clear yet, it will very soon and quite often. After my most recent visit to this area back in May of 2009 (I will be posting my travel journal as part of my "turn back the clock" portion of this blog) the Langhe was vaulted to the top of my list of favorite destinations anywhere in the world. Traveling through this remarkably scenic region of Northwestern Italy one is struck with beauty coming from the food, wine, topographic and geographic conditions, and the wonderful people that call this place home.
This particular tasting, notes included below, was a great opportunity to both listen to multiple producers expound on their passion for place and particular creations and the enjoyment of these wines all side by side. I especially enjoyed hearing the words spoken by the enthusiastic Giorgio Rivetti of La Spinetta. Just listening to him talk about Piedmont and his wines took me right back to my time there and how special that trip really was. The other panelist that I very much enjoyed listening to was Elisa Scavino, the grand-daughter of Paolo. She spoke of family and purity of flavor as it pertained to the wines made by her family's winery.
La Spinetta Barbera d'Asti "Ca di Pian" 2006** - black raspberries and easy to like. I want some grilled meat to eat with this one.
La Spinetta Barolo Campe 2004*** - from the town of Grinzane Cavour. Soft plums, rich and elegant.
Produttori Del Barbaresco, Barbaresco Pora 2004** - bigger than the 2005 and darker
Produttori Del Barbaresco, Barbaresco Pora 2005** - cherry and brighter than 2004
Paolo Scavino Barolo 2005*** - easy to like with plum on the palate
Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc 2005*** - anise, powerful but with finesse, menthol.
After the event, we collected our things and got back on the road to head home. Due to the lack of any food of substance, we made a quick pit stop for burgers at In & Out. Getting back into Santa Barbara we decided to go out for Matt's birthday at Petit Valentien for a nice dinner celebration. The foursome was joined by Matt's girlfriend and Dave's family. I kept it fairly light with two small plates. I started with a simple yet delicious bowl full of steamed New Zealand Green Lipped mussels in a garlic and herb broth, that I couldn't get enough bread to soak up. Second I had the crostini with fresh mushrooms that was savory and earthy. But, we did have several nice bottles of wine to enjoy:
Champagne Agrapart NV* (a touch too much dosage for my taste)
Jaffurs Roussanne 2000** (nice initially but faded away quickly)
Vietti Barbera d'Alba Tre Vigne 2005*** (nice fruit with wonderful acidity that helped make this wine an amazing match to every dish on the table, amazing)
Jaffurs Stolpman Vineyard Syrah 2001** (powerful and extracted, still)
Sami-Odi Shiraz 2006** (huge but not out of balance, luscious mouth of fruit)
Food for thought:
-Bric del Fiasc means "heal of the flask" named because of the flask of wine that was necessary to take along to work the vineyard, due to it's difficulty of terrain.
-Bric/Bricco means the peak of the hill.
-Sori means the sunny side of the Bricco
-With changing weather patterns, the peak of the white truffle season in Piedmont has shifted from early October to November through early December.
-Just one more note on the Vietti Barbera d'Alba from dinner. I am repeatedly impressed and surprised by the Barbera grape, it truly can go with just about any type of food. It was equally good with my steamed mussels at it was with Mike's steak.
Cheers!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
ABC - 123
June 25, 2009
What has become one of the most memorable trips that I do each year (I just happen to be lucky enough to do it biannually) is visiting the guys up at Au Bon Climat (ABC). Our crew for this adventure was the usual core group of tasting professionals (note: I use the term professional extremely loosely in this specific context) and my parents were able to meet us there. This particular trip, as is customary, followed the irrepressible personality of our gracious host, Jim Clendenen. To be specific, we started slow but ended like a run away freight train, which can be supremely enjoyable as long as you can hold on!
After a hardy greeting by the team, we were treated to a fairly extensive visit to the barrel room by the ever affable Jim Adelman and dry humored Rob Fry. As usual, there was a great mix and variety to both provide great pleasure to the senses and awaken them for the unfailingly spectacular lunch being prepared during our barrel romp.
ABC Barrel Tasting
1. 2008 Clendenen Family Tocai Fruliano
2. 2007 ABC Pinot Gris (to go into 2007 Hildegaard)
3. 2007 ABC Pinot Blanc (to go into 2007 Hildegaard)
4. 2008 ABC Chardonnay (neutral oak)
5. 2008 ABC Chardonnay (new oak)
6. 2008 Qupe Hillside Select Roussanne***
7. 2008 ABC Block 2 Pinot Noir
8. 2008 ABC Los Alamos Pinot Noir
9. 2008 Barham Mendelson Russian River Pinot Noir
10. 2008 Clendenen Family Le Bon Climat Pinot Noir*
11. 2007 Clendenen Family Pinot Noir
12. 2008 Qupe Bien Nacido Baja/Block 11 Syrah
13. 2008 Qupe Bien Nacido X Block Syrah
14. 2008 Qupe Bien Nacido Z Block Syrah***
Before being able to move onto the Italian varietals the chow bell was rung and off we rushed to take full advantage of the sizeable spread that had been prepared by Jim Clendenen. After piling as much on my plate as was possible, I found my seat and engaged the positively hedonistic feast that lay before me. One of the truly special facets of note is that much of our current meal comes from Clendenen's own organic garden.
The lunch is one of those rare occasions that you get to be a part of where chaos and order live in perfect harmony. The conversation goes from sports to politics to women to the finer points of winemaking all within a matter of moments. And, all at the proclivity of our presiding host. The wines are numerous but ordered in a prearranged lineup as was seen appropriate. But, after an initial run through of each, there is a free-for-all where personal taste and position at the table take over. As with this trip, we are typically surprised by a few extra bottles that Clendenen will disappear into a far off corner of the winery and present as he returns.
Lunch menu:
Chicken and sausage jambalaya
Fried Catfish
Okra
BBQ Jumbo Shrimp
Yams
Lima Beans with a lamb broth and ragu
Jalapeno corn bread
Green salad with a beet vinaigrette
Lunch Wines:
1. 2007 ABC Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
2. 2006 ABC Bien Nacido Chardonnay
3. 2006 Ici/La-Bas Chardonnay
4. 2007 ABC Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
5. 2006 ABC Los Alamos Pinot Noir
6. 2006 ABC Nielson Pinot Noir
7. 2006 ABC Isabelle Pinot Noir***
8. 2000 Barham Mendelson Pinot Noir
9. 2001 ABC Mt. Carmel Pinot Noir (1.5L)
10. 2001 Zind-Humbrecht Clos Windshuhl Gewurztraminer
11. 1996 Zind-Humbrecht Hengzt Grand Cru Gewurztraminer***
12. 1990 Ostertag Fonholz Gewurztraminer***
13. 2007 Clendenen Family Auslese Riesling Gold Cap**
14. 1999 Nicolas Potel Premiere Cru Burgundy
15. 2006 ABC Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
16. 1991 Vita Nova Sangiovese
17. 1988 Vita Nova Sangiovese
18. 1991 ABC Chardonnay
After five and a half hours, 32 wines, and more food than normal people should consume in one meal, we decide that it is time to head home. This was such a fantastic day of enjoying the simple things in life that truly make for La Dolce Vita; great food, amazing wine, and wonderful conversation.
Food for thought - Champagne can be a confusing and sometimes mysterious wine. I thought I'd provide a few basic facts to get things started. For one thing, only wine made with grapes grown in the small appellation of Champagne in France can be called "Champagne." There are 9 official varietals that can be made into Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Gris, Pinot de Juillet, and Pinot Rose. Approximately 99% of Champagne is made with the first three varietals, in equal parts, with the last remaining 1% falling onto the use of the others. Each of the three main varietals provide something unique to the wines made from this region. Chardonnay provides acidity, minerality and verve. Pinot Noir gives a wine length and backbone. And, Pinot Meunier adds body and fruit. These varieties, along with wonderful terrior, can create spectacular wines of distinct character and class.
Cheers!
Side Note: The title of this post was inspired by the life, work, and death of Michael Jackson. While on this trip we learned of his untimely death.
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
What has become one of the most memorable trips that I do each year (I just happen to be lucky enough to do it biannually) is visiting the guys up at Au Bon Climat (ABC). Our crew for this adventure was the usual core group of tasting professionals (note: I use the term professional extremely loosely in this specific context) and my parents were able to meet us there. This particular trip, as is customary, followed the irrepressible personality of our gracious host, Jim Clendenen. To be specific, we started slow but ended like a run away freight train, which can be supremely enjoyable as long as you can hold on!
After a hardy greeting by the team, we were treated to a fairly extensive visit to the barrel room by the ever affable Jim Adelman and dry humored Rob Fry. As usual, there was a great mix and variety to both provide great pleasure to the senses and awaken them for the unfailingly spectacular lunch being prepared during our barrel romp.
ABC Barrel Tasting
1. 2008 Clendenen Family Tocai Fruliano
2. 2007 ABC Pinot Gris (to go into 2007 Hildegaard)
3. 2007 ABC Pinot Blanc (to go into 2007 Hildegaard)
4. 2008 ABC Chardonnay (neutral oak)
5. 2008 ABC Chardonnay (new oak)
6. 2008 Qupe Hillside Select Roussanne***
7. 2008 ABC Block 2 Pinot Noir
8. 2008 ABC Los Alamos Pinot Noir
9. 2008 Barham Mendelson Russian River Pinot Noir
10. 2008 Clendenen Family Le Bon Climat Pinot Noir*
11. 2007 Clendenen Family Pinot Noir
12. 2008 Qupe Bien Nacido Baja/Block 11 Syrah
13. 2008 Qupe Bien Nacido X Block Syrah
14. 2008 Qupe Bien Nacido Z Block Syrah***
Before being able to move onto the Italian varietals the chow bell was rung and off we rushed to take full advantage of the sizeable spread that had been prepared by Jim Clendenen. After piling as much on my plate as was possible, I found my seat and engaged the positively hedonistic feast that lay before me. One of the truly special facets of note is that much of our current meal comes from Clendenen's own organic garden.
The lunch is one of those rare occasions that you get to be a part of where chaos and order live in perfect harmony. The conversation goes from sports to politics to women to the finer points of winemaking all within a matter of moments. And, all at the proclivity of our presiding host. The wines are numerous but ordered in a prearranged lineup as was seen appropriate. But, after an initial run through of each, there is a free-for-all where personal taste and position at the table take over. As with this trip, we are typically surprised by a few extra bottles that Clendenen will disappear into a far off corner of the winery and present as he returns.
Lunch menu:
Chicken and sausage jambalaya
Fried Catfish
Okra
BBQ Jumbo Shrimp
Yams
Lima Beans with a lamb broth and ragu
Jalapeno corn bread
Green salad with a beet vinaigrette
Lunch Wines:
1. 2007 ABC Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
2. 2006 ABC Bien Nacido Chardonnay
3. 2006 Ici/La-Bas Chardonnay
4. 2007 ABC Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
5. 2006 ABC Los Alamos Pinot Noir
6. 2006 ABC Nielson Pinot Noir
7. 2006 ABC Isabelle Pinot Noir***
8. 2000 Barham Mendelson Pinot Noir
9. 2001 ABC Mt. Carmel Pinot Noir (1.5L)
10. 2001 Zind-Humbrecht Clos Windshuhl Gewurztraminer
11. 1996 Zind-Humbrecht Hengzt Grand Cru Gewurztraminer***
12. 1990 Ostertag Fonholz Gewurztraminer***
13. 2007 Clendenen Family Auslese Riesling Gold Cap**
14. 1999 Nicolas Potel Premiere Cru Burgundy
15. 2006 ABC Bien Nacido Pinot Noir
16. 1991 Vita Nova Sangiovese
17. 1988 Vita Nova Sangiovese
18. 1991 ABC Chardonnay
After five and a half hours, 32 wines, and more food than normal people should consume in one meal, we decide that it is time to head home. This was such a fantastic day of enjoying the simple things in life that truly make for La Dolce Vita; great food, amazing wine, and wonderful conversation.
Food for thought - Champagne can be a confusing and sometimes mysterious wine. I thought I'd provide a few basic facts to get things started. For one thing, only wine made with grapes grown in the small appellation of Champagne in France can be called "Champagne." There are 9 official varietals that can be made into Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Gris, Pinot de Juillet, and Pinot Rose. Approximately 99% of Champagne is made with the first three varietals, in equal parts, with the last remaining 1% falling onto the use of the others. Each of the three main varietals provide something unique to the wines made from this region. Chardonnay provides acidity, minerality and verve. Pinot Noir gives a wine length and backbone. And, Pinot Meunier adds body and fruit. These varieties, along with wonderful terrior, can create spectacular wines of distinct character and class.
Cheers!
Side Note: The title of this post was inspired by the life, work, and death of Michael Jackson. While on this trip we learned of his untimely death.
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
Monday, March 22, 2010
From Lompoc to Italy
February 23, 2010
It’s all about who you know, and because of a good friend of mine, I have been lucky enough to become friends with several local winemakers and have been a part of some fairly epic tasting trips up to the valley. This particular trip was a group of 8 eager and willing participants heading up to the Santa Rita Hills and a visit with Steve Clifton in the Wine Ghetto of Lompoc. We made a quick stop at Lafond Winery to wake up the senses and then continued onto Palmina for the main event.
At Palmina we were greeted by Steve Clifton with open arms and his typical genuine warmth and enthusiasm. The discussion, boisterous at times and solemn at others, ranged from family, to sports, to local wine, and of course Italy. Steve is a fantastic winemaker but even more important, a heck of a guy. He made a great meal for us, consisting o salami and grana, a balsamic and arugula salad followed by homemade sausage lasagna that brought everything home.
I have included the wines tasted during the adventure and some quick notes.
At our first stop, Lafond:
'07 SRH Chardonnay** (rich and easy to like)
'06 Lafond Vineyard Chardonnay** (slightly more complex and would hold for a year or two)
'07 SRH Pinot Noir** (fruity and forward)
'06 Arita Hills Pinot Noir** (spicy and tight)
'05 Lafond Vineyard Pinot Noir** (deep and dark with some earth)
'06 Syrah/Grenache** (tasty, chocolate covered cherries)
And then on to Palmina:
'09 Palmina Traminer** (bright, keylime - bottled 3 days before)
'08 Palmina Traminer** (slightly richer, still bright acid)
'06 Palmina Traminer** (so bright, pink grapefruit)
'02 Palmina Bianca*** (wow, petrol and flowers on the nose, youthful palate)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Gnesa Chardonnay*** (crushed seashells, chalky minerality, meyer lemon, built to age)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Zotovich** (young with big fruit already)
'02 Palmina Stolpman Nebbiolo*** (wow, rich and elegant, wish I had some of this one)
'00 Palmina Stolpman Nebbiolo** (showing more age, dusty, leather, Italian)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Mount Carmel Chardonnay (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Mount Carmel Pinot Noir (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'06 Palmina Sisquoc Nebbiolo** (from barrel, muscular, tannic, the fruit is there but you'll have to wait 5 years to enjoy it)
'06 Palmina Stolpman Nebbiolo*** (from botte, beautiful, feminine, already enjoyable, can't wait to see where this goes)
Food for thought: Nebbiolo is grown almost exclusively in the Northwest corner of Italy, wedged between the sun baked shores of the Italian Riviera and the snow capped mountains of the Alps, in a region called Piedmont. It’s most important expressions are in the two major wines of the sub-region, called the Langhe. These wines are called Barolo and Barbaresco. The wines are both 100% Nebbiolo and separated only by one year variance in aging (Barolo gets one more year in wood) and about 5 miles. Similar to Palmina’s Stolpman Nebbiolo, Barbaresco’s character is typically more feminine and elegant where the Palmina Sisquoc Nebbiolo is more like Barolo with muscular tannin and higher alcohol. Nebbiolo is an extremely difficult varietal to grow due to an unusually long growing season from bud break to full maturation, opening it up to greater risk of weather born complications. But, because of this slow maturation process the flavor are complex and aromatics are uncommonly elegant and expressive. Overall, this is a very unique grape that should not be overlooked and I recommend exploring.
Cheers!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
It’s all about who you know, and because of a good friend of mine, I have been lucky enough to become friends with several local winemakers and have been a part of some fairly epic tasting trips up to the valley. This particular trip was a group of 8 eager and willing participants heading up to the Santa Rita Hills and a visit with Steve Clifton in the Wine Ghetto of Lompoc. We made a quick stop at Lafond Winery to wake up the senses and then continued onto Palmina for the main event.
At Palmina we were greeted by Steve Clifton with open arms and his typical genuine warmth and enthusiasm. The discussion, boisterous at times and solemn at others, ranged from family, to sports, to local wine, and of course Italy. Steve is a fantastic winemaker but even more important, a heck of a guy. He made a great meal for us, consisting o salami and grana, a balsamic and arugula salad followed by homemade sausage lasagna that brought everything home.
I have included the wines tasted during the adventure and some quick notes.
At our first stop, Lafond:
'07 SRH Chardonnay** (rich and easy to like)
'06 Lafond Vineyard Chardonnay** (slightly more complex and would hold for a year or two)
'07 SRH Pinot Noir** (fruity and forward)
'06 Arita Hills Pinot Noir** (spicy and tight)
'05 Lafond Vineyard Pinot Noir** (deep and dark with some earth)
'06 Syrah/Grenache** (tasty, chocolate covered cherries)
And then on to Palmina:
'09 Palmina Traminer** (bright, keylime - bottled 3 days before)
'08 Palmina Traminer** (slightly richer, still bright acid)
'06 Palmina Traminer** (so bright, pink grapefruit)
'02 Palmina Bianca*** (wow, petrol and flowers on the nose, youthful palate)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Gnesa Chardonnay*** (crushed seashells, chalky minerality, meyer lemon, built to age)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Zotovich** (young with big fruit already)
'02 Palmina Stolpman Nebbiolo*** (wow, rich and elegant, wish I had some of this one)
'00 Palmina Stolpman Nebbiolo** (showing more age, dusty, leather, Italian)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Mount Carmel Chardonnay (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'08 Brewer-Clifton Mount Carmel Pinot Noir (young, looking forward revisiting this one in a couple years)
'06 Palmina Sisquoc Nebbiolo** (from barrel, muscular, tannic, the fruit is there but you'll have to wait 5 years to enjoy it)
'06 Palmina Stolpman Nebbiolo*** (from botte, beautiful, feminine, already enjoyable, can't wait to see where this goes)
Food for thought: Nebbiolo is grown almost exclusively in the Northwest corner of Italy, wedged between the sun baked shores of the Italian Riviera and the snow capped mountains of the Alps, in a region called Piedmont. It’s most important expressions are in the two major wines of the sub-region, called the Langhe. These wines are called Barolo and Barbaresco. The wines are both 100% Nebbiolo and separated only by one year variance in aging (Barolo gets one more year in wood) and about 5 miles. Similar to Palmina’s Stolpman Nebbiolo, Barbaresco’s character is typically more feminine and elegant where the Palmina Sisquoc Nebbiolo is more like Barolo with muscular tannin and higher alcohol. Nebbiolo is an extremely difficult varietal to grow due to an unusually long growing season from bud break to full maturation, opening it up to greater risk of weather born complications. But, because of this slow maturation process the flavor are complex and aromatics are uncommonly elegant and expressive. Overall, this is a very unique grape that should not be overlooked and I recommend exploring.
Cheers!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Who says that dining alone can't be fun?
Previously written on March 1st:
I have wanted to go up to Miro at Bacara for quite some time, so last night I put on a suit and went up there at 7pm and was blown away. The resort was dead, probably only 2 other tables full at Miro. I ended up getting a ton of food and the fantastic Sommelier paired one or two wines to each course! Here is the run down:
Started off with a glass of NV L. Aubry Brut Rose Champagne**. This was a very nice start, it was rich on the palate and doughy on the nose.
Second came a pre-appetizer that was delicate seared sea scallop that the sommelier, Mike paired a 2008 Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec Blanc**. The wine was light but possessed a richness to round out the pairing very well.
Next came what ended up being the star of the night, a sweet potato and mascarpone agnolotti with mushrooms and crispy Serrano ham. Wonderful textural play in this dish. Really really good. The two wines paired were: A Domaine de Poulette, Cote de Nuits Villages 2005** and an Etude Pinot Gris 2008** from Carneros. This was an especially cool pairing because both wines complimented the food differently, but equally well. The Burgundy brought out the earthiness of the dish where the Pinot Gris played with the savory/saltiness of the Serrano.
Then came my main course, a pistachio crusted venison chop. The Somm. paired that with a 2007 Stolpman Estate Syrah** (the other Somm.'s typical pairing) and his preference that was a Grenache based Remonda, La Montessa, Rioja 2005**. I definitely preferred the Rioja to pair with the dish. The Stolpman was good, just lacked that acidity to really do it's job with the venison. I’d think that I characterized it as, “I’d rather drink the Stolpman by itself and the Rioja with food.”
After that, I was brought over a taste of Ruston, La Maestra**, a 2005 Napa Cab. With a little air, this smoothed out and was enjoyable.
Next was the cheese course. 3 great cheeses, but at this point I was getting pretty full. He brought over a great white burgundy to enjoy with the cheese. The Charache Bergeret, Haute Cotes de Beaune, Les Graveliers 2006*** had awesome vibrancy and purity that left me wanting more.
Last was the dessert, some ridiculous beignets that I really had no choice but to get. Ha! And, they were damn good. They were matched with Chateau Pajzos, 5 Puttonyos 1999**, a sweet Hungarian Tokaji that smelled like I shoved my face into an apple pie. (That’s a good thing, just in case you were wondering)
I got a tour of the wine cellar and poked around for a bit. Some crazy stuff in there and especially the magnum of '94 Echezeaux that felt pretty good in my hands.
Then up to the bar to chat a bit and try the newly release 2007 Beckmen Purisima Mountain Grenache** and a taste of NV Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne** that they have by the glass.
All in all, this was a pretty amazing night.
Ciao
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
I have wanted to go up to Miro at Bacara for quite some time, so last night I put on a suit and went up there at 7pm and was blown away. The resort was dead, probably only 2 other tables full at Miro. I ended up getting a ton of food and the fantastic Sommelier paired one or two wines to each course! Here is the run down:
Started off with a glass of NV L. Aubry Brut Rose Champagne**. This was a very nice start, it was rich on the palate and doughy on the nose.
Second came a pre-appetizer that was delicate seared sea scallop that the sommelier, Mike paired a 2008 Beckmen Cuvee Le Bec Blanc**. The wine was light but possessed a richness to round out the pairing very well.
Next came what ended up being the star of the night, a sweet potato and mascarpone agnolotti with mushrooms and crispy Serrano ham. Wonderful textural play in this dish. Really really good. The two wines paired were: A Domaine de Poulette, Cote de Nuits Villages 2005** and an Etude Pinot Gris 2008** from Carneros. This was an especially cool pairing because both wines complimented the food differently, but equally well. The Burgundy brought out the earthiness of the dish where the Pinot Gris played with the savory/saltiness of the Serrano.
Then came my main course, a pistachio crusted venison chop. The Somm. paired that with a 2007 Stolpman Estate Syrah** (the other Somm.'s typical pairing) and his preference that was a Grenache based Remonda, La Montessa, Rioja 2005**. I definitely preferred the Rioja to pair with the dish. The Stolpman was good, just lacked that acidity to really do it's job with the venison. I’d think that I characterized it as, “I’d rather drink the Stolpman by itself and the Rioja with food.”
After that, I was brought over a taste of Ruston, La Maestra**, a 2005 Napa Cab. With a little air, this smoothed out and was enjoyable.
Next was the cheese course. 3 great cheeses, but at this point I was getting pretty full. He brought over a great white burgundy to enjoy with the cheese. The Charache Bergeret, Haute Cotes de Beaune, Les Graveliers 2006*** had awesome vibrancy and purity that left me wanting more.
Last was the dessert, some ridiculous beignets that I really had no choice but to get. Ha! And, they were damn good. They were matched with Chateau Pajzos, 5 Puttonyos 1999**, a sweet Hungarian Tokaji that smelled like I shoved my face into an apple pie. (That’s a good thing, just in case you were wondering)
I got a tour of the wine cellar and poked around for a bit. Some crazy stuff in there and especially the magnum of '94 Echezeaux that felt pretty good in my hands.
Then up to the bar to chat a bit and try the newly release 2007 Beckmen Purisima Mountain Grenache** and a taste of NV Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne** that they have by the glass.
All in all, this was a pretty amazing night.
Ciao
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
Dinner with the Fam
I ended going to my parents house last weekend for my Grandmother's 90th birthday party, I know, amazing right? The night before the party; my parents, brother and his wife, and myself had a great dinner and semi-organized tasting. My mother made a fantastic bouillabaisse with fresh halibut, snapper, and shrimp in a beautiful saffron broth. The great thing about a dish like that is that it is powerful enough that you can ignore most rules about drinking white wine with fish.
We wanted to follow the Southern French theme and enjoy wines of a similar origin and character. There were three wines lined up and enjoyed over a 3 hour duration to experience the evolution of each.
1. 2004 Domaine Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape*** - This wine had the highest level of Grenache and you could easily tell that because of the color in the glass. The nose was bright with blackberries and raspberries, but there were dense undertones of smoked meat, baking spice, and new leather. The palate with balanced and had black cherry and spiced red fruits.
2. 2005 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Rouge*** - Deep and dark with aromatics of provencial herbs, black currant, licorice, and iodine. The palate was filled with supple dark berries and quite enjoyable. For tonight, this wine was most in it's sweet spot.
3. 2005 Tablas Creek Panoplie*** - This wine was extremely complex and makes me very excited about checking back in with it in 3-5 years. The nose showed smoke, black plum, savory duck in a sweet plum sauce, and graphite. The palate was rich and supple with dark dark fruit abound.
The tasting was great to see the two Tablas Creek wines next to each other and also see how they compared to a wine from CDP.
Cool tasting, I hope that you enjoyed hearing about it. I have a few stories to share that have happend over the past year, so let's call this the "turn back the clock" chapter of the blog.
Happy travels!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
We wanted to follow the Southern French theme and enjoy wines of a similar origin and character. There were three wines lined up and enjoyed over a 3 hour duration to experience the evolution of each.
1. 2004 Domaine Marcoux Chateauneuf du Pape*** - This wine had the highest level of Grenache and you could easily tell that because of the color in the glass. The nose was bright with blackberries and raspberries, but there were dense undertones of smoked meat, baking spice, and new leather. The palate with balanced and had black cherry and spiced red fruits.
2. 2005 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel Rouge*** - Deep and dark with aromatics of provencial herbs, black currant, licorice, and iodine. The palate was filled with supple dark berries and quite enjoyable. For tonight, this wine was most in it's sweet spot.
3. 2005 Tablas Creek Panoplie*** - This wine was extremely complex and makes me very excited about checking back in with it in 3-5 years. The nose showed smoke, black plum, savory duck in a sweet plum sauce, and graphite. The palate was rich and supple with dark dark fruit abound.
The tasting was great to see the two Tablas Creek wines next to each other and also see how they compared to a wine from CDP.
Cool tasting, I hope that you enjoyed hearing about it. I have a few stories to share that have happend over the past year, so let's call this the "turn back the clock" chapter of the blog.
Happy travels!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Great night for a BBQ
Last night was a great night for a BBQ with friends. Something about it being daylight savings time, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the above average temperatures... So, that is exactly what I did.
A group of four of us all met up at a my friend Mike's house to enjoy the perfect weather that we are currently having. We started things off with a couple bottles of cool and refreshing white wines. The '08 Brander Cuvee Nicolas** was bright but the small percentage of Semillon gave it a slightly spicy richness remeniscent of Gewurztraminer or Riesling. There was also a bottle of '08 Jaffurs Viognier** open that was wonderfully floral and delicate. Those were accompanied with a french baguette, manchego, and scamorza.
Mike grilled up some pork chops and polenta that really hit the spot. With the quality grub we enjoy a '06 Terry Hoage The Pick** which had a slight bit of funkiness on the nose, but not necessarily in a bad way and didn't overpower the red fruit, leather, and spice. I was a little disappointed in this wine, but it was still pretty enjoyable. There was also a bottle of '06 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir from Bien Nacido** that was good as usual, but still a little young. We moved onto some big boys next. '07 Booker My Favorite Neighbor** was big and tannic but showed nicer balance than I expected, dark fruit, and graphite. The last wine of the night was the '07 Jaffurs Bien Nacido Syrah***. It was really nice to check in on this wine and see how it is doing. The thing that stuck out most was the wonderful acidity, I think that this wine could be built to age. Give this one some time, but I think it will be a special wine.
Great night of food, wine, and hanging out with friends.
Happy St. Paddy's day!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
A group of four of us all met up at a my friend Mike's house to enjoy the perfect weather that we are currently having. We started things off with a couple bottles of cool and refreshing white wines. The '08 Brander Cuvee Nicolas** was bright but the small percentage of Semillon gave it a slightly spicy richness remeniscent of Gewurztraminer or Riesling. There was also a bottle of '08 Jaffurs Viognier** open that was wonderfully floral and delicate. Those were accompanied with a french baguette, manchego, and scamorza.
Mike grilled up some pork chops and polenta that really hit the spot. With the quality grub we enjoy a '06 Terry Hoage The Pick** which had a slight bit of funkiness on the nose, but not necessarily in a bad way and didn't overpower the red fruit, leather, and spice. I was a little disappointed in this wine, but it was still pretty enjoyable. There was also a bottle of '06 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir from Bien Nacido** that was good as usual, but still a little young. We moved onto some big boys next. '07 Booker My Favorite Neighbor** was big and tannic but showed nicer balance than I expected, dark fruit, and graphite. The last wine of the night was the '07 Jaffurs Bien Nacido Syrah***. It was really nice to check in on this wine and see how it is doing. The thing that stuck out most was the wonderful acidity, I think that this wine could be built to age. Give this one some time, but I think it will be a special wine.
Great night of food, wine, and hanging out with friends.
Happy St. Paddy's day!
0 Stars - No rating
1 Star (*)- Not of significant quality or interest
2 Stars (**)- A notable wine of legitimate interest
3 Stars (***)- Great wine that is worth searching out
4 Stars (****)- Fantastic wine that should not be missed
5 Stars (*****)- An absolutely mind-bending wine - beg, borrow, or steal to get your hands on some of this amazing juice!
Disclaimer: This rating is based on my palate and at the given time when tasted and may differ from yours. Also, I may catch a bottle in a dumb phase or it just may not speak to me at that particular time.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Greetings
Hello to all of you who are like me and are in a perpetual journey around the world through the enjoyment and exploration of great food and wine. This journey often does not require us to fly on an airplane or even leave the city that we live. This is the magical ability that great food and wine has to transport us to a time and place where these delicious indulgences are grown, created, and deeply rooted through the people, place, and culture of their genesis.
I decided that I wanted to try to write about and share my experiences with anyone who would listen. Sometimes my adventures are grand in scale and in distance travelled, but more often than not, they are simple pleasures that lay a foundation for what I like to call La Dolce Vita.
Through this blog; I hope to share stories about my experiences, share some knowledge as I learn along the way, and provide tasting notes on the food and wine that I enjoy along the way.
I hope that someone out there takes some value from my words and enjoys hearing about my adventures as I let food and wine lead me along this hedonistic path.
I decided that I wanted to try to write about and share my experiences with anyone who would listen. Sometimes my adventures are grand in scale and in distance travelled, but more often than not, they are simple pleasures that lay a foundation for what I like to call La Dolce Vita.
Through this blog; I hope to share stories about my experiences, share some knowledge as I learn along the way, and provide tasting notes on the food and wine that I enjoy along the way.
I hope that someone out there takes some value from my words and enjoys hearing about my adventures as I let food and wine lead me along this hedonistic path.
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