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Two Great Things That Go Great Together

In the interest of full disclosure, I don’t read Playboy for the pictures, either. If I want to see well-lit T&A, I’m lucky enough to be able to step into my shower. You wouldn’t believe the money I don’t spend on internet porn.

I’m a big fan of Playboy for a reason that has nothing to do with literary merit or bouncy body parts. His name is Dan Dunn. He’s known as The Imbiber; he’s the spirits writer for Playboy and he just gave me a big ol’ box o’ booze to review.

Never stop believing in miracles, kids.

The only thing naked in this post will be my reviews. But don’t hold it against me. I promise I’m good and my wine rack is awesome (even in low light).

Campo Viejo Crianza Tempranillo 2006: From the world-renowned Rioja region of Spain comes an “old friend.” A blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Mazuelo, this deep, dark garnet wine has a golden rim in the glass and a nose of plum and cherry, ripe blackberry and vanilla. 12 months of barrel aging adds smooth vanilla on the palate and soft, ripe fruits like the cherry and blackberry you smell right out of the bottle. But this baby burns. It’s acidic; the initial velvet mouthfeel is replaced by a tinge of acid in the back of the throat. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it the first night. It felt rich, smooth. It went down easy. I didn’t enjoy it as much the next night. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t as good as the first time. And in my opinion, it should always be better the second time around.

Castello Monaci Piluna Primitivo 2007: Italian Primitivo is the genetic twin of the grape we know as Zinfandel.

Primo Primitivo

Generally best consumed in the first 3 – 5 years after bottling, the longer Primitivo/Zinfandel ages in the bottle, the more that lush, jammy fruit taste diminishes.

Apparently for the Castello Monaci Piluna, now is a great time to drink the 2007.

Dark purple in the glass, with a nose of cherry, blackberry and blueberry (Jess actually called it blueberry pie). On the palate it’s all ripe black fruit deliciousness. Balanced, velvety mouthfeel. Medium tannins, medium finish. There was a slight burning on the way down, but just the slightest bit.

Antonio Galloni reviewed it for Parker:

The 2007 Primitivo Piluna flows from the glass with waves of dark red fruit. This generous, ripe wine should continue to drink well for at least another year or two. It is another incredibly delicious value-priced red from Castello Monaci.

Producer Notes:

The wine has broad, ripe black fruit and spice aromas, with notes of pepper, toasty vanilla and Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, the wine has a robust, concentrated character, a firm structure, and small black fruit and licorice notes on the aftertaste.

At around 11 bucks a bottle, this is a great buy.

Good stuff

Trapiche Broquel Chardonnay 2007: In doing research for this piece, I noticed that the importer used the word “international” to describe this wine and its packaging no less than 1 billion times (give or take a few). So I’m going to wager that they’re describing this wine as “international” to reassure potential buyers that it’s as good as Australian and Californian Chardonnay; maybe they’re afraid the average bear won’t buy a Chardonnay from Argentina. Could that be true? Do we use Argentina for their Malbec and rudely walk away from the rest?

If that’s the case, than shame on us. This wine is delightful. Lovely, golden straw in the glass. A nose of honey and apricot and peach. Flavors of green apple, honeysuckle, grass, muscat and apricot. It’s crisp but has backbone. A bit of bite, but – under the right circumstances – a bite isn’t bad. At $15 a bottle, it’s a little more than I’d want to spend, but if you find it on sale, go for it.

Producer Notes:

Tasting Notes: It is an elegant wine with intense scents of red apples, honey, and cinnamon [Ed: Cinnamon?! WTF?!]. Well-rounded flavors offer good body and a mild, harmonious finish.

Food Match: White meats, scallops, hard cheeses, fish, chicken, BBQ [Ed: And left-over pumpkin cheesecake right out of the fridge, when you're too lazy to make yourself lunch after spending an entire week cooking for Thanksgiving].

Those are my favorites from the free stuff I got; I raise a glass and toast. Here’s to women and wine. Here’s to Dan Dunn, The Imbiber. And here’s to the magazine that circuitously brought all of them together in this piece. Cheers!

One can hardly visit the Santa Ynez Valley and not notice the effect of the movie Sideways. I never visited before the movie so I can’t be sure what was different then (probably fewer tourists and less usage of the words “sideways” and “pinot noir”), but the impact of the film is obvious when you visit the area.

It’s the most obvious when you visit The Hitching Post II restaurant and bar on Highway 246 in Buellton. You can drive the route that Miles stumbled, you can hang out at the bar where he drowned his sorrows in Pinot Noir, and now you can even see pictures on the wall of the cast and crew when they were filming.

I was personally more interested to see what all the hype was about than I was in reliving the movie, but it was a bit surreal. Up until a few weeks ago my interest in Hitching Post was nil specifically because of all the hype and I’d avoided the scene on previous trips. This time though, I squeezed it into our itinerary for a few reasons.

First, I’d recently tried the Cork Dancer Pinot Noir at the Viceroy in Santa Monica at a friend’s birthday party. They have it on their Happy Hour menu (which goes until 9pm) for $6 a glass. That’s a deal for any wine in this town and it’s a great deal for good wine. The second reason we went there on this trip was that we were spending the night in Buellton and its gravity sucked me into a vortex of curiosity (that, and we needed to eat dinner in the small town). Lastly, I saw on their website they do a full wine tasting at their bar for $7 until 6pm. THIS was a reason to go!

We arrived around 5pm (we had a 6pm reservation–I HIGHLY recommend making reservations and going early. People were waiting in big crowds/lines for a long time.) and found a spot in the bar area which was eerily familiar (I’ve only seen the movie once but the images from inside HPII were burned into my brain). We ordered a couple of tastings and settled in to try the 7 pours of infamy before dinner.

(If you get bored reading the reviews of the wines, skip to the end where I talk about our dining experience.)

Note: The website is a little out of date and the wines available for purchase aren’t all the same vintages as I tasted so the notes and prices may be a little askew. Well, their notes might be… mine are probably as askew as they always are!

2007 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post “Pinks”, a Dry Rose – $18 per bottle

What they say: Beautiful aromas of strawberry, cherry and rainbow sherbet. Brilliant color and fresh crisp flavors makes this a joy to swirl and sip.

What Jess says: Mild and subtle. Cool and refreshing. Would go well with anything on a hot day. (Still biased by my favorite Rose of all, Beckmen Grenache Rose.)

2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Cork Dancer Pinot Noir – $27 per bottle

Hitching Post Cork Dancer Pinot Noir

What they say: A blend of six vineyards that stretch from Santa Maria through Los Alamos and into the Santa Rita Hills. Bright fruits, medium body, a well proportioned great drinking everyday pinot.

What Jess says: The nose was like other earthy local Pinot Noirs. (I find that Pinots from this area of a distinctive nose that I can always detect, no matter what the winemaking did to the wine.) It was a beautiful light red with a nice feeling at the back of the mouth. I detected berries in this well-balanced Pinot. I liked it as much as I did at the Viceroy, too. While I like this wine, I’m not sure most of us think $27 per bottle is an “everyday” wine.

2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post St. Rita’s Earth Pinot Noir – $34 per bottle

What they say: Dark fruits, good structured blend of Sanford & Benedict, Fiddlestix and Clos Pepe Vineyards. All Santa Rita Hills. Aromas of earth and cherries. Deep purple color with warm flavors of berry and spice that linger.

What Jess says: The nose was detectably earthier and stronger than the Cork Dancer. When I tasted it my first response was YUM. Blueberries and blackberries slinking seductively across the tongue in this smooth well-balanced Pinot Noir. For $7 more, I’d choose this over the Cork Dancer.

2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir – $42 per bottle

What they say: Aromas of berries and sweet Frenchy oak, bright young fruit tastes rich and round, poised to improve over the next 5 to 10 years. (Note: this is their flagship wine.)

What Jess says: The nose had a very particular smell about it that I couldn’t put my finger on. I tasted cherries. This wine was super smooth and a long, silky, wonderful finish. WOW. I can see why this wine gets so much attention and it tastes like it’s their pride and joy. But even still, we didn’t buy any of this wine because it’s still out of reach for most people.

2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Generation Red – $18 per bottle

Hitching Post Generation Red Blend - Cabernet Franc, Mourvedre, Syrah, Refosco

38% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 23% Syrah, 6% Refosco

What they say: Generation Red honors our parents and grandparents who first introduced us to wine at the dinner table, and our children, who have shown a keen interest in winemaking as inquisitive youngsters and excited young adults. With this bottling we focused on high quality sources: 20 yr old Cabernet Franc from Alisos Vineyard in the hills above Los Alamos, meticulously farmed Merlot from Westerly and Gainey vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley, and small amounts of White Hawk Syrah and Bien Nacido Refosco. This blend is mainly Cabernet Franc and shows a young rustic character with dusty, smoky aromatics. Excellent with food.

What Jess says: The nose smelled “Cabby.” I tasted cola and “purple” fruit. I found the wine smooth and interesting (in a good way, unlike the Porque No! red blend from Napa I just tried that found to be interesting in a notsogood way). This wine said to me, “Buy me!” So I did. A great value in a unique and high-quality wine.

2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Merlot, Santa Barbara County – $20 per bottle

What they say: I can’t locate their tasting notes on this one.

What Jess says: I’m not a fan of Merlot, but at this point my notes just say “too buzzed to care.” That’s me, slackin’ on the job!

2006 Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post Syrah, Big Circle – $25 per bottle

What they say: This cuvee honors the Big Circle Riders who surrounded the cattle to bring them together are the roundup, where our style of oakwood grilling got its beginnings by feeding the cowboys after a hard day’s work. Today we gather Syrah grapes from various Santa Barbara vineyards, and bring them together in this wine that combines the structure and intensity of cool sites with the broad flavors of Syrah grapes from warmer vineyards.This wine is ripe, juicy and flashy. Showing notes of black cherry and cooked plum with polished edges.

What Jess says: Red berry and chocolate on the nose. Nice, chocolate, black cherry, pepper, and plum in the mouth. A little more expensive than I normally spend, I bought a bottle anyway because it was very good and I’d look forward to serving it to guests.

At this point in the evening, our reservation was up and we were drunk. WE is a noteworthy comment because Mitch RARELY gets drunk.  The tasting pours were very generous and we were on an empty stomach (especially Mitch because at least I’d had some snacks at the Vino de Suenos event earlier in the day where I’d met and spoke with Frank Ostini–super nice guy). We ambled over to the hostess stand, and were promptly seated as we walked past hordes of jealous restaurant-goers.

Folks, I gotta say, this place is like a time warp. What it’s not though is snobby or elitist. When I met Frank Ostini earlier in the day, our conversation led me to believe he’s a genuine guy who believes in the good things in life: Good food, good wine, good friends, and doing what you love with honesty and integrity. I got that sense at the restaurant, too.

Not everything we tried was a winner and the veggie tray that they brought out when were seated was peculiar, right down to the 1970′s aluminum serving dish the veggies arrived in. We ordered a couple of appetizers (I liked the mushrooms, Mitch didn’t) and dinner. Mitch had pork chops for dinner and I had a cut of their famous BBQ steak. The steak was incredible. The most flavorful, moist, and tender piece of meat I’ve ever eaten (and I eat a lot of meat). I can’t recommend the steaks highly enough.

At any rate, if you’re a Sideways junkie, a Pinot Noir lover, or just want to take a trip back in time to the late 70s, add the Hitching Post II to your itinerary and make a reservation!

Spectacular Fall Foliage in Santa Ynez Valley

The GrapeSmart gals and their pimp-for-the-day, Wilfred Wong

BevMo!, a beverage superstore local to California and Arizona, recently opened its 100th store, and Jess, Mitch and I trekked all the way to Rolling Hills Estates to help them celebrate (see Bordeaux Wines That Won’t Break The Bank). The expansive wine, beer and spirits “mega-tasting” was probably an incentive…

Armed with vinoculture literature and a solid breakfast, we descended on the event – determined to taste as much as possible before passing out. Or until they closed up shop at 5pm. So we started at the most likely place: The ticket booth.

Our $15 tax-deductible entrance fee went straight to Boys and Girls Clubs of the South Bay, and gave us 10 tasting tickets. Jess and I looked at our notes, looked at each other and promptly decided to buy 10 more tickets to split between us. We were handed a reusable 6-bottle wine carrier, a commemorative BevMo! glass and a shiny new wine key, then headed into the fray.

Before I talk about our tastings, I thought I’d share some important bits of info we quickly learned about these types of events:

1) Don’t buy extra tickets in advance. At this tasting there were several wineries at each tasting station but only one ticket was requested per table. So one ticket could buy as many as 10 tastings, depending on who was crowding into the area. And by the time the place was packed, tables weren’t even taking tickets anymore. Go back and buy extras as needed, but don’t stock up in the beginning.

2) Wear a hat.

3) Come sober.

(The last one is probably a given, but I thought I’d throw it out there, just in case)

And now that that’s out of the way, here is a list of our favorite pours and the ones we would’ve preferred to pass up:

FAVORITES:

Silver is golden

Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay 2007: This unwooded Chardonnay is made from grapes grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterey County and is aged in concrete tanks (which are made in Burgundy). It contains no malolactic fermentation and never touches oak. A beautiful light straw color in the glass, it has a lovely nose of grass, stone fruit (peaches, apples), and bright flavors of pineapple and citrus. It comes with a screw top!

Altocedro Reserva Malbec 2007: Rated as #47 of the “Top 100 Wines” in Wine Spectator, this Argentinian delight is a rich, dark purple in the glass, with a nose of grapes (!), oak, cherry and earthiness. On the palate it’s big and lush and oaky, with flavors of bright, dark fruit. This was definitely one of the stand-outs of the day. I should note, however, that it was only the Reserva that blew us away. The Ano Cero and Desnudos Malbecs didn’t do much to impress.

Rosenblum Rockpile Road Zinfandel 2006: This old clone Zinfandel is rich and robust and bursting with flavors of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and vanilla. I’m already a big fan of Rosenblum’s more value-priced vinos, but this one really stands out and I think it’s worth the steeper price. Grown in Lake Sonoma in the upper Dry Creek Valley.

Trefethen Chardonnay 2006: Bright, light yellow in the glass, with aromas of pear, lemon and honeysuckle. Great balanced flavors of pear, lemon and vanilla. This is a nice, full, creamy white and has become one of our favorites in this price range.

Le yum!

Joseph Perrier Cuvee Josephine: Have you ever taken a sip of champagne that was so delicious it made you smile? The perfect amount of tiny bubbles tickling your tongue through the perfect balance of aroma and taste and mouth feel? Apple-y, citrus-y, peachy, vanilla and caramel deliciousness cascading over every tastebud and gracefully slipping down your throat? If you answered “no” to any of the above, than you need to find an occasion to try this remarkable champagne. Those French really  know what they’re doing.

NOT-SO FAVORITES:

Roth Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006: You know how we’ve said that Alexander Valley Cabernet is across-the-board delicious? Yeah…well…we can also admit when we’re wrong. This is a blend of 76% Cab Sav, 19% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. The color is 100% gorgeous. The nose is scrumptious chocolate cherry. The flavor is…well…bland. Slightly tannic. Unimpressive. And at $30 – $40 a bottle, I need more for my money.

Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005: Hailing from Healdsburg, California, Lancaster is a family-owned winery and was at the same tasting table as Roth. In the glass, this wine is gorgeous and dark, with a nose of cherry and coffee. Smooth, rich mouthfeel. Coffee flavors. Very tannic. Fussy. However, in their defense, I learned in my research that Wine Enthusiast doesn’t feel this wine will reach its full potential until 10 years of bottle aging. Currently between $55 – $70 per bottle, that’s the chance you’d have to take.

Zinfandon't

Renwood Grandmere Zinfandel 2006: Boy, I really wanted to like this wine. The owner was at the tasting. He was incredibly enthusiastic. His winery is “Green Friendly,” which is a term he coined to describe the beautiful environmental protections he practices in his business. The grapes for this Zin are grown in the “oldest known Zinfandel vineyards in America.” Honest-to-blog, I really, really wanted to like this wine. But I didn’t. The color was super light. The scent and taste were very strawberry. It was incredibly tannic. It wasn’t very good. In fact, I couldn’t even drink it. Maybe that makes me a bad person. I’m sorry. I tried.

Parcel Thirty-One Zinfandel 2007: The Wine Whore has an interest in the topic of why some varietals don’t work for him, but he just keeps tasting them anyway because you never know when your palate will change or you’ll find one you DO like. There are three wine-growing areas that I feel this way about… Monterey, Lodi, and Mendocino County. And this Zinfandel, from Victory, was yet another example of how the wines from those areas don’t work for me. This was thin and light (Zinfandels should have body and finish!) with no appreciable flavor qualities beyond “red wine.” {Sad face goes here}

To wrap up… Wine Tasting Events are fun! Bring a friend and come prepared. And don’t forget to take notes or you’ll forget EVERYTHING. Oh, and don’t go shopping at a wine store while you’re drunk… the next day Jess looked in the wine box and the following conversation ensued:

Jess: “I bought those?!”
Mitch: “Is that a bad thing?”
Jess: “No, actually, those are wines I either like or have wanted to try.”
Mitch: “I guess it’s a good thing that even when you’re drunk you know what you like!”

People who love wine often talk about how wine is just as much about the experience as it is about the wine itself. They’re sometimes referring to the process of uncorking a bottle, who they’ve shared the wine with, or the time they visited the winery. In my case, when I wax poetic about Sanford Winery, it’s 1/3 because of how I discovered it, 1/3 because of how beautiful it is there, and 1/3 because I like the wines.

A couple of years ago on my first trip to the Santa Ynez area with Mitch, we got lost looking for the Wine Ghetto in Lompoc. We’d never been and Google Maps is dreadful at understanding the addresses in this area so we had to attack the problem the old-fashioned way–drive around aimlessly until we stumble on it, or give up and try it again next time. We did NOT find the wine ghetto on that trip (but we did on the next one with much more assiduous research). We did, however, take a detour down Santa Rosa Rd (which we didn’t know the name of) through a beautiful valley, part of the Santa Rita Hills AVA. On our way, we encountered what appeared to be a brand new, and open, tasting room… so we went. We’d never heard of Sanford before that moment, but we’re glad our adventure went that way.

Chardonnay grapes growing on the flat land at the Sanford-Benedict Vineyard

On this past trip, honoring the discovery of the winery on our last trip and the several bottles of Sanford Chardonnay we’ve consumed since then, we popped in on our way to a scheduled wine-tasting charity event. Boy are we glad we did!

We came at the winery from the opposite side of Santa Rosa Rd (exiting 101E instead of 246W) and drove through the gorgeous valley in late-afternoon sunlight which–yes it’s cheesy–danced on the grapevines showing their new fall colors. We passed by Mosby and Alma Rosa, making note to come back this way next time, and pulled into the parking lot at Sanford to find only four cars. Sweet!

In we went to the familiar tasting room. We later learned that the beautiful architecture is made from reclaimed Douglas Fir and local adobe hand cut by the vineyard workers themselves. Because it was empty we were served immediately and we shared our first tasting of the day.

Mitch isn’t crazy about Chardonnays in general, but really likes the Sanford Chardonnay (probably because there’s no oak). We both remembered not being crazy about their red wines a couple of years ago, but we know our palates have matured and each vintage is different, so we had open minds as we began the discovery process all over again.

The door to the barrel room

The Sanford Winery Tasting Room does public tours of their winery every Saturday at 12pm and 2pm. We were the only folks around so we took a private tour of the winery with the new tasting room manager’s inaugural tour. If he hadn’t told us, we wouldn’t have known!

It was our first time in the “employees only” area of a winery so it was great fun to see all the wine as it ages, to learn about the equipment and methods of their winemaking, to hear about the investments a winery makes, and just to soak in what daily life might be like if we lived there (one can dream). As our careful tour guide removed the lock and the stellar old-fashioned door “knob” from the West Barrel Room, we knew we were in for a treat. The room requires no HVAC to remain a constant 60-something degrees and walking into the quiet room filled with barrels which each hold 300 bottles of wine was serene.

Where the Chardonnay Ferments

We also saw the different types of equipment to start extracting juice from the grapes, the massive open-topped fermentation tanks, and views of the vineyard which included an explanation of how the Pinot Noir grapes grow up on the hill and the Chardonnay grapes grow in the lower flat areas. There were also, as I somewhat expected, various clones the winemakers are “fooling around with” as they craft their next wines.

The Pinot Noir grapes growing up the hill with the Chardonnay grapes in front

Of course, let’s not forget about the reason it’s all here looking so luscious… the wines! Here’s a rundown of what we tasted and what we thought about it.

Sunlight shining into the Sanford Winery Tasting Room

2007 Sanford Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, $22 per bottle

What they say: Our 2007 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay comes from four great vineyards. Our estate vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills, La Rinconada and Sanford & Bendict, along with the El Camino Vineyard in Los Alamos and the Bien Nacido Vineyard east of Santa Maria, combine to give this wine aromatic complexity and layers of flavor. The 2007 vintage was low yielding and produced wines of great intensity and structure. This barrel fermeneted Chardonnay shows all of the exotic tropical fruit and citrus that Santa Barbara is renowned for, along with the minerality that is a signature of wines from the Santa Rita Hills. This full bodied wine has nice acidity to keep it in balance and makes a nice compleemnt to most seafood, poultry, and pasta with lighter sauces.

What Jess says: Apple & oak on the nose, with a smoky, astringent quality to it. It’s initially strong on the front of the palate with a bit of pineapple in the mid-palate. A lingering finish that fades gracefully.

Also known as “The Flower Label” Chardonnay, it’s a fairly large-production wine that can be found at Vons/Pavillions/Safeway/etc. and other stores, too. Santa Monica Seafood retails it for $17 and it goes on sale at the Safeway stores for as low as $14.99. At $14.99 it’s a FANTASTIC Chardonnay.

Buy it at K&L Wines

2006 Sanford La Rinconada Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, $34 per bottle

What they say: The 2006 La Rinconada Chardonnay comes exclusively from our estate vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills. It is sourced from our two best lbocks (Wente and Clone 15), whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented. With the traditional Burgundian technique of lees stirring and barrel aging, this wine has developed richness and elegance sought after in fine Chardonnay. Intense by balanced, our flagship Chardonnay is bursting with citrus and tropical fruit, with hints of creme brulee.

What Jess says: On the nose: detectable minerality, earthy, smells like a Chardonnay and not like overdone winemaking. In the mouth, light, acidic/bright, and smooth with notes of oak and, believe it or not, that creme brulee.

2006 Sanford La Entrada Chardonnay, $45 per bottle

What they say: A stunning Chardonnay from our most prized block of Clone 15. This intense but balanced barrel fermented wine is called “La Entrada” because it comes from the parcel at the entrance to the Rinconada Vineyard. From its lifted citrus and tropical aromatics, to its rich but well structured palate, this barrel fermented Chardonnay has impressed all who have tasted it.

What Jess says: Yum. I, too, was impressed. A delicate vanilla nose. Smooth and silky mouthfeel with hints of citrus and pineapple. I’d be happy to drink some more of this one.

2007 Sanford Flor de Campo White Blend, $48 per bottle

What they say: The 2007 vintage marks the second bottling of this exotic white wine. Inspired by the great wines of France’s Northern Rhone Valley, this wine from Santa Ynez Valley is called “Flor de Campo” which is Spanish for wildflower. To preserve the exotic spicy floral character of this Roussanne/Viognier blend, we barrel fermented in neutral French Oak barrels. The resulting full-bodied wine offers aromas of peach and nectarine, with hints of jasmine. The full palate is balanced by crisp acid and minerality.

What Jess says: Also blended with less than 1% Chardonnay, these grapes hail from Happy Canyon, happy indeed. The nose was sweet, green apple and honeysuckle for me. It was smooth but tasted heavily of the Viognier. As much as I’m a Rhone nut (or at least a Rhone Ranger Sidekick), I’m notsomuch a fan of the Viognier unless it’s been cut by something heavier or sweeter. In this case, the more delicate Roussane could have used more mmph than the 60%/40% blend gave it… at least for me.

2008 Sanford Pinot Noir Rose – Vin Gris, $18 per bottle

What they say: Our 2008 Vin Gris of Pinot Noir is from the La Rinconada Vineyard and the historic Sanford and Benedict Vineyard. After de-stemming our Pinot Noir, we allow 3-5 hours of contact time before draining off the lightly colored juice for our Vin Gris. This wine is then tank-fermented to dryness before aging in neutral French Oak barrels for 4 months. This wine has inviting aromas of strawberry, rhubarb, and cranberry along with floral notes suggestive of orange blossoms and a hint of white pepper. This dry orse has excellent acidity, which allows it to pair well with a range of foods. Grilled seafood, spicy dishes and most picnic fare would be excellent with this wine.

What Jess says: Nose: a nice smooth rose smell. Mouth, a light “red-fruity” flavor, cranberry, with a full-tongue experience and a good finish. We liked this and found it to be a good value at $18. The problem is that I’m in love with the Beckmen Grenache Rose and we figured we’d stop by there and pick some up on Sunday when we were over that way… except we didn’t go! I said, “Nah, some other time.” What was I thinking??

2007 Sanford Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, $40 per bottle

What they say: A blend from our estate vineyard, La Rinconada, and the historic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard next door. A mix of vineyard blocks and several different clones give this wine added complexity. This wine is deep violet red in color and is bursting with black cherry and plub, pepper and sage on the nose. The palate delivers dusty berry flavors framed nicely by bright acidity and supple tannins. The wine was allowed to age in French Oak barrels (30% new oak) for 10 months where it gained concentration and picked up hints of vanilla and licorice.

What Jess says: Beautiful and earthy Santa Ynez Valley Pinot on the nose, enticing me to drink it. This is a structured, smooth Pinot Noir, the red fruit is expressive, there’s a little chalkiness on the mid-palate and I detected oak but no vanilla or licorice. We liked this Pinot better than last time but we don’t think it’s worth the release price of $40… yet. Perhaps with some age this wine will mature into something spectacular. You’d have to ask Robert Parker about that We’ve seen this at the grocery store at retail price, if it goes on sale for $25 or less I’d pick up a bottle.

Buy it at Wine.com, Buy it at K&L Wines

2007 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir, $60 per bottle

What they say: Sourced exclusively from this historic vineyard in the esteemed Santa Rita Hills AVA. Planted in 1971 this iconic vineyard consistently produces distinctively superb Pinot Noir. The 2007 wine is deep ruby in color and is loaded with aromas of black cherry and raspberry with hints of clove, cinnamon, and white pepper. The rich palate delivers bright spicy cherry flavors framed nicely by bright acidity and ripe tannins. Aged in French Oak for 11 months where it gained concentration and complexity, this wine will improve in the bottle for 5 to 8 years with proper cellaring.

What Jess says: The nose was deep and earthy, hints of clove for sure. This wine melts over the tongue with cherry, smooth earthy finish, oaky (but not in a bad way). This blog is about value wines because we’re too cheap to buy a $60 wine (in general). We liked the wine, but not enough to pay $60 for it.

A charity event raising money for Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People (PHP)

We had a trip planned for Santa Ynez Valley this past weekend and I decided to check out LocalWineEvents.com in the Santa Barbara area to see if there was anything going on we’d like to add to our itinerary. Indeed there was! Dean was kind enough to provide free tickets in exchange for our coverage of the event (the FTC requires me to disclose that to you).

Here’s an overview of the event:

Vino de Sueños, “Wine of Dreams,” is a wine brand conceived by the non-profit human services organization, Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People (PHP), and a small group of premium Santa Barbara County vintners. This group wanted to make a difference in the lives of vineyard and farm workers who are at the very heart of the County’s agricultural economy and more specifically, the vineyard and wine businesses. Founding Participant Wineries of Vino de Suenos include Alma Rosa, Buttonwood, Clos Pepe, Feliz Noche, Foxen, Longoria, and Presidio.

The Vino de Sueños wines will be sold in order raise funds to give workers and their families the assistance they need during difficult economic times. PHP will administer the funds to furnish basic needs (food, rent, and utility assistance) and family support services (counseling, youth after school programs, parent education, and scholarships). Services are directed to giving families a hand-up to achieve their dreams of a better life.

When I arrived, the staff was friendly and the crowd was pretty big. There was a beautiful tented set-up with a large catering area and plenty of tables to stop and chat at. Most wineries sent emissaries, and some of them were the famous winemakers themselves. It was heart-warming to see these big names and faces at an event designed to help the communities they, and their workers, live and work in.

About the Wine (General)

Top wineries & winemakers from Santa Ynez Valley were invited to participate and the showing was impressive. Each wine was given a unique bottle with a custom-made piece of artwork adorning it. The original art the labels were based on were available for silent-auction. One piece had the media listed as “wine on paper” and it was evocative of an Old World winery… and unusual. The wines were available for purchase at the event at a little bit of a discount from their normal release prices, and some wines are only available from Vino de Sueños directly.

I’ve now attended a few different types of tasting events and I have to say each has had its own unique flair. I’ve been to a Rhone Rangers event (30+ wineries, very professional vibe), a BevMo! Mega-Tasting event (hundreds of wines, beers, and spirits, mass consumer crowd), a Learn About Wine event (unoaked theme, pretentious but consumer-oriented), and now this Vino de Sueños event (a charity event with a blue-blood feel, despite the presence of rancheros and vaqueros).

I highly recommend tasting events to anyone who wants to learn more about wine or expand their palate quickly. Arrive as early as possible, take notes, and remember to dump most of the wine or you’ll be drunk inside an hour! (Which is fine, if that’s what you’re aiming for… it’s almost inevitable anyway.)

About Each Wine

“For over 20 years, my wife Thekla and I have focused on what’s most important to us: sustainable business practices and organic farming. We are deeply committed to the environment and the soulful connection with our employees and the people who enjoy our wine.” says Richard Sanford.

They presented their 2008 Alma Rosa Pinot Gris, Santa Barbara County ($16 per bottle, 1201 cases produced)

What they say: Like one of the models in a Modigliani, lean yet full of curves, our 2008 Pinot Gris is a bit softer and more rounded than the prior vintage. It retains that wonderfully brilliant nose of fresh orchard fruits and a pleasant bitter-almond quality, along with apple-pie like flavors and cleansing acidity that lead us to recommend pairing this wine with Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, or inventive Pacific Rim dishes… Let’s do some lightly-fried or grilled fish in garlic-lime butter with a spicy tropical-fruit salsa…

What Jess says: Produced in the Burgundian style with stainless steel fermentation and neutral oak. No malolactic fermentation. Has a screwcap closure. On the nose I detected grapefruit and pineapple. This was a smooth wine, showing green apple and a bright, but not overly so, acidity. I also detected something that seemed “nutty” to me, but that seems strange.

“The Au Bon Climat winery is located on the world-famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, and is owned by winemaker Jim Clendenen. Au Bon Climat was listed on Robert Parker’s Best Wineries of the World in both 1989 and 1990, while Jim Clendenen has been named Winemaker of the Year in 1992 by the Los Angeles Times, and Winemaker of the Year in 2001 by Food and Wine Magazine.”

They presented their 2005 Au Bon Climat Santa Maria Petit Verdot ($32 per bottle)

I was unable to find any information about this wine online and they didn’t send me home with any goodies so that I could reference those materials… so folks, you’ll just be getting my review of this one!

What Jess says: The nose was earthy and bore the scent of many other Santa Maria Valley wines I’ve tasted. It was aged 36 months in oak and reminded me of a Merlot (which isn’t really a compliment coming from me, but they ARE growing on me a little… thank you BevMo!). I’ve only ever had one other pure (or nearly pure) Petit Verdot and it was from Justin Vineyards & Winery in Paso Robles. The Au Bon Climat sample was better.

“Buttonwood’s varietal mix of sauvignon blanc, semillon, marsanne, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and syrah reflects the preferences of owners Betty Williams and her son-in-law, Bret Davenport, for Bordeaux and Rhone style wines. As we expected, they grow perfectly in our warm, eastern Santa Ynez Valley location.”

They presented their 2008 Buttonwood Sauvignon Blanc ($13 per bottle)

What they said: The 2008 Buttonwood Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect melding of our warm Santa Ynez Valley climate, careful cultivation and winemaker know-how. Imagine what sunshine would taste like if you could bottle it and you come close to the bright and tangy flavor of our favorite white wine. Flavors of lemon-lime edged tropical fruit with a creamy core and tart finish offer a rare treat at the end of a warm summer day. A high acid profile makes Sauvignon Blanc the perfect food wine and we like it best with seafood. Try our latest edition with chilled English pea soup served with a dollop of crab salad topped with lemon infused creme fraiche.

What Jess says: The 20% Semillon was a great idea to cut through the acidity of a Sauvignon Blanc from this area. On the nose: bright, grapefruit. In the mouth: Light and buttery. This was my first stop at the event (right next to the door) and my palate was at its freshest. I’m a fan of Sauvignon Blanc from this area (thank you Fiddlehead!) and at $13 a bottle, this is a great value wine.

“My mission and goal as a winemaker is to illuminate and define Viognier, to elevate its profile and explore its potential through keen observation and copious tasting. I seek to sound the depths of this enigmatic grape, to reveal its secrets and shine a bright light on the extraordinary fruit grown in the cool vineyards of the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys of California ‘s Central Coast.” – Morgan Clendenen

Morgan was representing her own wine and was delightful to speak with.

She presented her 2005 Cold Heaven Syrah Santa Barbara County ($30 per bottle).  At first I thought it was the “Second Sin” Syrah, but now I’m not so sure. She’s launching a second label (focusing on Sauvignon Blanc) called Strangelove. The order form for the wines says Strangelove Syrah. Regardless, I don’t have the winemakers’ notes for you, and again, you’re stuck with my interpretation (but since I can’t identify the wine, it will make it hard for you to argue with me!)

What Jess says: I found the wine to taste quite a bit like a Pinot Noir from the area. Since this was the sixth or seventh table I tasted at I figured it was just me, but someone else asked Morgan and she said it herself (something to the effect of) “everyone is trying to make their Pinots taste like Syrahs and here I am trying to make a Syrah taste like a Pinot.” If nothing else, it’s a testament to the effect winemaking can have on a grape! The wine was “pre-release” and even though it’d had 2 years in a barrel and 2 years in the bottle, it could have used a little more time to rest… and beef up.

“D’Alfonso – Curran Wines is the identity for two very successful and celebrated wine makers – Bruno D’Alfonso and Kris Curran. The two together bring decades of knowledge, artistry, experience and accolades to their personal labels – Curran, DiBruno and BADGE. Their wines offer an array of sought-after, limited production wines, each with its own unique characteristics. Grenache Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Syrah and Tempranillo all from locally grown fruit are just some of the varietals offered. The company operates a tasting room located in downtown Solvang and a new winery located in the heart of the Santa Rita Hills AVA on Rancho La Vina.”

They presented their 2006 BADGE Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills ($30 per bottle)

What they say: I can’t locate any of the winery’s tasting notes on this one.

The person pouring (I’ve now forgotten who it was) told me about their unique “triple finish” which consisted of 1/3 Oak fermentation, 1/3 Malolactic fermentation, 1/3 Stainless Steel fermentation. So I’d expect oaky, buttery, and citrus or tropical fruit.

What Jess says: Smells like pineapple. In the mouth it was bright and buttery, but I lost the oak layer in there. Perhaps what I detected as “Viognier-like” was in fact oak?

“Kathy Joseph established Fiddlehead Cellars to capture the pure essence of the two grape varietals that she loves best – Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Now in her twentieth vintage as “Head Fiddle”, Kathy continues to passionately pursue her goal of creating stylistic Sauvignon Blancs and silky, intense Pinot Noirs. Terroir-driven, Fiddlehead’s Sauvignon Blanc wines hail from the stellar eastern-end of the Santa Ynez Valley, while her estate Pinot Noirs showcase the cooler Santa Rita Hills in the western-most part of that transverse valley. And loving the nuances of place, Kathy continues to craft intriguing Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.”

The opportunity to meet Kathy Joseph was a big one for me personally. Fiddlehead was the first wine club we joined (we joined our second on the same trip as this event) and it was the first time we were blown away by everything we tasted in a tasting room. We’ve enjoyed every shipment of wine we received and were seriously bummed when our financial circumstances didn’t leave room for us to join their Stradivarius Club (small group, library wines) and we were forced to give up our spot on the long waiting list. With every tasting note packet, personal recipe, and enthusiastic email I grow to appreciate Kathy and her passion more and more.

As a side note: Doing what you are most passionate about for a living, or making wine, clearly is the secret to good, healthy living. When you see Kathy in person she doesn’t look like someone who should have 20-something vintages under her belt.

Kathy Joseph herself presented her 2005 Fiddlehead Cellars Seven Twenty Eight Estate Pinot Noir – Fiddlestix Vineyard ($38 per bottle)

What they said: This cuvée struts the beauty of the varietal: classic black cherry fruit, hints of black pepper and an underlying earthy signature; together they express layers of finesse and concentration. Laden with silky, sexy tannins and spot on acidity that ensure vibrancy through to the finish and which predict long life in your cellar. A selection of six clones: Pommard 4 and 5, and Dijon clones 667, 777, 113, and 115, each adding significant layers to this charming wine.

Aged 16 months in our favorite selection of tight-grain French oak (Rousseau, Bel Air, Cadus, Saury, Seguin Moreau, Marcel Cadet) and held an additional year in bottle to allow the pinot charm to shine in all its glory!

What Jess says: I loved the wine. I always do. A special wine, balanced and luxurious in the mouth. A long finish with red fruit that makes you relish the last sip and reach for the next.

“Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery & Vineyard at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic in northern Santa Barbara County.

Since that time, their dedication has remained the same—the creation of very small-production, vineyard-designated wines using a “minimalist” approach to winemaking.”

They presented their 2007 Cuvee Jeanne Marie (GSM – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) ($30 per bottle)

What they say: I can’t find any tasting notes on this one. What’s VERY interesting to me though is that they give you every detail about how the wine was made, and don’t tell you anything about what it tastes like. I was told a story by a younger woman at one of the other tables about how the wine is named after her grandmother, and her father (or uncle?) was pouring the Foxen wine. Perhaps this family understands that everyone will taste the wine differently and the art is in the growing of the grapes and making of the wine rather than in the poetry that sells it?

What Jess says: I love GSM. It’s one of my favorite “varietals.” (Like my interpretation of the four food groups: Bread, Cheese, Garlic, and Wine.) On the nose this wine was hearty and smelled of that ever-unidentifiable “purple fruit.” In the mouth it was flavorful but a little “thin.” I noted that it started to fill out with more and more sips. I’d bet this would be great in 6-months to a year… but not at $30.

“Frank and Gray believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Their winemaking philosophy is that they are caretakers who guide the wine into the bottle. As the wine matures it is simply left to gently age in the barrel. This minimalist approach allows Hartley-Ostini Hitching Post wines to reflect the character of the vineyard and the vintage, preserving the essence of the grape for you to enjoy when you open the bottle.”

Frank Ostini himself presented a special blend of 2007 Santa Maria Pinot Noir & 2007 Highliner Pinot Noir ($25 per bottle)

Frank was charming and gracious. He reminded me of one of my friends’ Dad when I was a kid. It was nice to meet the man who would be responsible for my dinner that night (a separate review of my experience tasting Hitching Post wines will be available shortly). Since this was a blend made especially for this event (and probably some private labeling venture), there aren’t any winery tasting notes.

What Jess says: Nose was earthy and otherwise like a local Pinot Noir. It was a little thin, even for Pinot. It was aged 3 months in the bottle, but not scheduled for release until the Spring. And it could use the extra few months.

“With a strong conviction of creating food compatible wines and simply not making the same wines as everybody else, the Kalyra wine portfolio is as interesting as it is varied.
Winemaker Mike Brown holds true to the new world philosophy that a wine should be a reflection of the grape as well as the unique characteristics of where it is grown.”

They presented their 2005 Late Harvest Riesling ($27 per bottle)

What they say: Tasting notes from Kalyra are MIA, but that’s okay. You’ve got me!

What Jess says: Made in the “Ice Wine” style (properly called Eiswein), I was impressed. My husband is from Ontario and I always stare at the little Ice Wine bottles at the LCBO and wonder why anyone makes wine that sweet. You expect Ice Wine from the northern grape-growing regions as it can be damn cold early in the year (I remember from my Chicago-dwelling days), but it’s pretty unusual to find it in Southern California (the presenter pointed out that you can freeze anything). Honestly, I don’t like sweet wine and the only Rieslings I like are the dry ones. So let’s just say I was more than a little surprised to enjoy this Late Harvest Riesling. It was very sweet, but subtle, well-balanced and layered. I detected pineapple and other tropical fruit that I would expect from grapes grown in this area. If you like sweeter wines, I’d chase this one down.

“If you look at the Au Bon Climat triangular labels, a line near the bottom says “Produced and bottled by Jim Clendenen, Mind Behind.” And while Clendenen is the sole provocateur of the label, when he’s on the road promoting Au Bon Climat and Santa Barbara County, the daily winery tasks fall to Jim Adelman, production winemaker at the joint Au Bon Climat/Qupé facility, located on the Bien Nacido Vineyard property. Effectively, he’s the mind behind the mind behind!

Adelman makes a small amount of wine under his Makor label, though it’s usually his own spin on something neither producer makes.” (Source: Appellation America)

Jim couldn’t be there that day and the event kindly provided a volunteer to pour this wine. She didn’t know much about it other than the fact that it was a 2007 Merlot from Santa Maria ($14 per bottle). I’m not a Merlot fan, so bear with me.

What Jess says: The nose was peppery (a good start!). It was a well-balanced wine with a nice finish, but it had that grapey thing going on that I don’t like about Merlot wines in general. If anybody knows why Merlot tastes grapey to me, please let me know! (That’s if you’re even still reading at this point.)

“My belief that the Santa Barbara wine region would someday produce world class wines has come true,” Rick states, “and my dream of having my own winery has also come true.”

Longoria wines are handcrafted in very small quantities ranging from 50 cases to 500 cases. Total production at this time is about 3,500 cases.”

They presented their 2007 Syrah Cuvee blended specifically for this event ($25 per bottle).

Rick Longoria created this special blend of Syrah from two of the top Syrah vineyards in Santa Barbara County, Alisos and Clover Creek. The blend is 71% Alisos Syrah, 24% Clover Creek Syrah, and 5% Viognier. The resultant wine is a delicious, complex blend that is enjoyable now but will also benefit from two to three years of cellaring.

What Jess says: The nose was smoky and chocolatey. This is a gentle, unusual Syrah. Thin and light, and Pinot Noir-like.

“Vogelzang Vineyard team is proud to have winemaker Robbie Meyer, former assistant winemaker at Peter Michael and winemaker for Lewis Wines. Over the last year, Robbie and the Coastal Vineyard Care team have worked together to fine-tune the growing of our Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc varietals in preparation for our coming estate wines.”

They presented their 2008 Sauvignon Blanc featured in the June 17th Wine Spectator Insider and rated 94 points ($25 per bottle).

What Jess says: The nose is like a Chardonnay to me. The wine was bright with pineapple, and acidic, with a little butteriness… despite the fact that there was no malolactic fermentation used for this wine. A very unique Sauvignon Blanc that other event-goers couldn’t get enough of.

South African Wine Regions Map "borrowed" from WineMecca2009's Blog

The other day the infamous Jancis Robinson (“internationally known wine writer respected for my independence”) sent out an innocuous tweet while waiting for an event to begin. It went like this,

“Why aren’t SA wines more appreciated in the US? (You can tell I’m nervously waiting for charity gala to start.) Rowley Leigh ready to cook.”

Twitter being twitter and requiring abbreviations all over the place, me being me and knowing little about wines from outside the Americas, I had to reply… “I don’t know… what are SA wines? RT @JancisRobinson: Why aren’t SA wines more appreciated in the US?”

The twitter community was quick to respond and I got many answers telling me, duh, she meant South African wines! Somebody, thank goodness, actually said it COULD have been South American wines, but since we do drink South American wines here in pretty sizeable quantities, at least in our house, I figured she must have meant South African wines, too.

But it leaves a question that DOES beg to be answered. Armed with a few pieces of data and some assumptions that I carry about how the general consuming public in the US buys wine priced under $25 per bottle, I’ve come up with a few ideas that probably contribute to our lack of interest in South African wines.

1. Political problems created a massive stumbling block
   This one’s not my idea, I stole it from Eric Asimov. But he makes a good point. Right about the time American’s were “learning” about wine the culture of Apartheid and the associated trade embargoes, made it impossible for South African wines to find their way to the U.S. So we learned about California wine, French wine, and Italian wine instead.
2. Americans are Xenophobes
   I’m not personally a xenophobe, but culturally-speaking, our melting-pot doesn’t like new ingredients. It especially abhors anything it can’t read (which these days includes 4th-grade textbooks), and many of the labels I looked at contain German- or Austrian-sounding names (another group of wines that doesn’t get much attention from the general consumers of America)
3. Americans buy based on the pretty pictures on the label
   There’s something interesting that I noticed in the labels of the wines from South Africa. It’s very subjective, but they reflect a different culture of marketing & packaging design than ours. I’ve noticed this in my adventures in e-commerce, but I’m sure it holds true in the physical world as well. What works in America doesn’t work other places. Other cultures have different aesthetics than ours and while other cultures like what we do, we shy away from what seems different than the our “style” of doing things.
4. We’ve been taught that Southern Hemisphere Wine = Cheap Wine
   Unfortunately, the Australians are learning this the hard way, but Americans have been programmed to believe that wines from the Southern Hemisphere are inexpensive and not well-made. Now I’ve had enough fantastic wine from Down Under, New Zealand, and Argentina to know that ain’t true, but it is the “grocery store” version of how Southern Hemisphere wines are marketed in the US. If I’m already thinking it’s cheap because of where it comes from, why spend my money to try the one or two bottles that MAY show up at my local store?
   

If I’ve misunderstood, been wrong, or left out important information, school me please!

Keep in touch with the people I mentioned in the article.

Follow Jancis Robinson on twitter
Visit Jancis Robinson’s website

Follow NY Times: The Pour on twitter
Read NY Times: The Pour

Bor d'Oh, yes please!

Arianna & Jess tasted Bordeaux wines for the first time at the BevMo 100th Store Mega-Tasting in Rolling Hills Estates. At this type of event (a large mixed-beverage tasting at a “big box” store) it’s unusual to encounter a real wine experience. But to BevMo’s credit they lined up 100 2007 Bordeaux’s for tasting, and brought in the owners from many of the wineries to introduce the BevMo customer to Old World winemaking and wine-drinking. It seemed a strange juxtaposition (elegant wines poured by elegant French people in a SoCal parking lot), but in the end, we tasted a wide spectrum of 2007 Bordeaux wines across a broad price range and now we feel a little less intimidated by French wine in general and by Bordeaux specifically.

Jessyca’s ignorance of wines from outside of California has been discussed before, so the following revelations should not be interpreted as wine snobbery, but rather sharing what she learned…

1. Bordeaux is not a grape. While most people who drink wine know this, Jessyca did not. Or at least not officially. Grapes grown in the Bordeaux wine region of France are predominantly Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Side note: Similarly, Chateau Neuf-du-Pape is not a winery, but also a wine region in France. Not all Chateau Neuf-du-Pape wines are worth the reputation.

2. They like to mix their grapes in Bordeaux. Most Bordeaux wines that we tasted were primarily Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, but nearly all were blends of 3 or four different varietals.

3. French people aren’t all snobby. The manager at BevMo found it important to tell us how unusual and special it is that this level of wine proprietors would be present at such an event, much less doing the pouring. I found the proprietors to be charming, patient, and knowledgeable. One even spent several minutes teaching Jess how to pronounce Pouilly-Fuisse and Pauillac. They were eager to expose the American consumers to their wines and had much better attitudes about the heat and crowds than the other winery owners present at the event.

World famous for some of the oldest and highest regarded wines on the planet, Bordeaux wines are full-bodied, rich and delicious. The wines we listed here are a great value and will age beautifully for the next 5 – 10+ years.

2007 Chateau La Chenade, Lalande de Pomerol. $16 – $20

Bright, dark red. This wine smells of strawberry and is a little firm on tannin. This is a value price for a wine from the Bordeaux region, and while rich and delicious, it tastes “younger” and “greener” than some of the others on this list. However, La Chenade is a good place to start and will improve (although not a ton), by aging.

Drink by 2015

70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc.

Jessyca really enjoyed this wine and after tasting 12 different Bordeaux wines, feels this one in particular is of good value. It also says something interesting about the power of winemaking because she’s not a fan of Merlot.

2007 Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc. $25 – $35

Although the property’s history dates back to 1560, it is likely that the vines from which these grapes descended are much, much older. The vineyard is widely held in high esteem, despite being one of the smallest producers in the area.

Deep red. Tastes of dark fruit, minerals and chocolate. This is an excellent wine at an excellent price. Drink now until 2025.

73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot.

2007 Chateau d’Issan, Margaux Bordeaux. $35 – $45

Dating from the 15th century (and possibly even the 12th), Château d’Issan is located in Margaux, 30 minutes’ drive from Bordeaux. The chateau is still surrounded by a moat, and is frequently described as the most romantic in the Medoc appellation.

Mild at first with a strong finish, this lighter-colored red is fruity on the nose, with a nice, full structure and hints of tobacco.

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.

2007 Brane Cantenac, 2nd Grand Cru Classé, Margaux. $35 – $50

A Bordeaux blend middleweight, this is a softer, more “feminine” wine. Well crafted, earthy, with tastes of chocolate, strawberries, and raspberries. This isn’t one to age for long, but it’s an excellent value.

As a less robust wine, this might be a good choice for those who are just beginning to dabble in Bordeaux.

Drink now until 2015.

53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc.

Another of Jess’ favorites from the group–this was a smooth, flavorful wine that was pleasant in the mouth and had a long, enjoyable finish.

Duluc Ducru Dulicious

Chateau Branaire Duluc-Ducru, St. Julien. $40 – $55

Oak-y, earthy, fruity and balanced. Nicely integrated tannins. Hints of mocha, blackberries and violets. 2007 was not a great year for the region, but this shows a delicious fruitiness for the vintage. Very nice finish. This one is a good choice for the holidays, and should definitely be a crowd pleaser. Drink now until 2017.

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc.

At GrapeSmart we like to talk about how you can get more value out of your wine purchases, but sometimes we want to share wine experiences that defy the “Under $25″ ethos and extend into the “If I had a million dollars” dreamscape…

The Tale of the Two Longueville Wineries – And Bordeaux Futures
(by Jessyca)

Those in-the-know went straight for the uber-expensive Bordeaux wines (and in retrospect, we should have done this, too) because these were only futures not yet available for purchase.

All day long people were talking of terroir, a concept that has much deeper meaning in France than it does in California. When the following two wines were poured, an explanation included that these two wineries are right across the street from one another so that they should have much in common with one another, and also, the particular area of Longueville in Pauillac is desirable, so the wines are higher-priced.

The 2007 Chateau Pichon Lalande ($100 – $120) and the 2007 Chateau Pichon Baron ($90 – $115) could not have been more different. The Lalande is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Easily one of the best wines I’ve ever tasted, smooth and luscious. It was easy to see what winemakers the world over are trying to achieve when I had the opportunity to taste such deliciousness. The Baron on the other hand, 74% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot, was more acidic and less special. It felt extraordinarily overpriced, especially in comparison to the Lalande.

This experience really solidified for me the importance of winemaking in the whole process, and rather downplayed the terroir impact. These wines shared little other than their name and their price tag. Ultimately only you can say if a wine is good or bad for you. You just have to try a lot to know what you like and what you don’t.

Lastly, it’s worth noting that K&L Merchants has a MUCH better price on these two wines than BevMo is offering which suggests that perhaps when you want premium wines, it still pays to shop around before you buy.

• @TheWineWhore What kind of Malbec did you have? Argentinian, French, other? Did you like it enough to make it your new favorite grape? in reply to TheWineWhore #
• Last night: tasted STRONGLY like tobacco & chocolate w/ no finish. Tonight: tastes like a chocolatey Cab w/ nice finish. Guess the grape! #
• @ravenpearlink @palatematch @spartacuswines @n_khanna — It was a Malbec! Great call @ravenpearlink ! More about Malbecs coming soon #
• Holy crap! WineClubReviews' conversion-to-fans was 75% on FB yesterday! Are you a fan of WCR on Facebook? http://bit.ly/pJGP1 #
• Me, too! RT @HappyWineGuy: @grapesmart I'm a Fan now! Would you like to be a Fan of happywineguy.com on FB? Fun info and videos. #
• Awesome Charity Tasting Event in Buellton (Santa Ynez Valley) on Saturday: Vino de Suenos http://bit.ly/UiRJi #
• 2009 "Wine & Mushroom Festival" in Mendocino County http://bit.ly/2KtTrw …if only I weren't already going wine-tasting this weekend! #
• #WineWednesday is great, but I kinda dig #WineMonday, #WineTuesday, #WineThursday, #WineFriday, #WineSaturday, and #WineSunday, too. #
• There's value… and then there's "why bother?" http://bit.ly/2RBkVT #
• #FollowFriday #FF @WineBooks @n_khanna @MacMcWong @susannye @spartalacrosse @BarbaraLasky @miyapapa @CtlCstUncorked @dave_moss @wimijpelaar #
• Live near / tasting in Santa Ynez Valley this wknd? Awesome charity event w/ area wineries: http://bit.ly/34ZfVc #
• More #FollowFriday fun! @llagble @lilwainwright @YELLOWBONE @petersthoughts @StefanSchwytz @Everwalking @NittyNill #
• on our way to Santa Ynez Valley for a wine tasting weekend! Woohoo! #

Are you searching for something cheap, easy and delicious? Nope, this isn’t an ad for an online sex site; it’s a genuine endorsement for a bottle (or two or three) of 2007 La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Ventoux.

Hailing from the Cotes du Ventoux AOC in France (a region in the southeastern Rhone), this wine is a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan and 15% Cinsault – all grapes that grow well in the area’s limestone-rich terroir.

Lovely, lively red in the glass, with a bouquet and mouthfuls of juicy red fruit and just enough spice, this wine has a smooth, supple body and goes down easy (no really, I promise, I’m only talking about wine).

La Vieille Ferme is owned by Perrin & Fils (of Château de Beaucastel fame (“Beaucastel is regarded by many as one of the top estates, if not the top estate, of Châteauneuf du Pape, in the Southern Rhône Valley” – thewinedoctor.com). Much less powerful than it’s big sister wines (step-sisters? half-sisters?), however, this wine is a terrific value and is great for summer. Take it to picnics, concerts in the park, sunset walks on the beach… you get the idea.

And the best part? At less than $10 per bottle, you can enjoy this wine all you want – as often as you want – without any kind of commitment. That’s a small price to pay for a really good time. Salut!