My Vine Spot

Taste-Live: #PinkOut 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Like most real men, I wear a beard, work from 9 to 5 (Go Dolly!), drive a 4x4 SUV, own an IPad, watch reruns of Gunsmoke (America's favorite western television series), and drink pink early and often. As a matter of fact, I keep a good number of [dry] Rosé selections in my rotation year-round; but, the pink drink really shines and satisfies during the warm summer months. Rosé, with its often times bright and vibrant red fruit flavors and mouth-watering acidity, is one of the most food-friendly and versatile wines you’ll find on the market today. Drier versions of the pink drink, served well-chilled, are perfect (and refreshing) accompaniments to picnic and summer fare, seafood, and just about anything that says ‘backyard barbecue.’ Add some bubbles, preferably made in the traditional method, and a sparkling Rosé can offer nice complexity, wonderful effervescence, and good food matching ability at a fraction of the cost of Champagne – though the latter is quite tasty too. A sparkling Rosé is also a great way to kick things off – be it a party, cookout, or even the day (try a bottle with brunch!).

Varying Shades Of Pink

Now, I do realize that some of you have tried to drink pink (the drier version) and it wasn’t for you. And that’s okay; at least you tried it and perhaps you will “rethink pink” and give it a second chance to dance on your palate and make beautiful music with your food during the spring and summer months. A common misconception about Rosé, however, is that it is a sweet wine. If we’re talking about White Zinfandel and various American blush wines, then you have a point – these are different wines altogether. If you, and you know who you are; have avoided Rosé for this very reason, then give a drier example a try and see what you think. The investment is low (generally $10 -$15) and the reward can potentially be high (you thoroughly enjoy it). Remember these words: Don’t judge a book by its cover or a Rosé by its color!

Below are four examples (including one unique example for a sweeter and adventurous palate) I recently sampled during RAP (Rosé Avengers and Producers) and TasteLive’s fun-filled and tasty virtual #pinkout tasting event earlier this week. Cheers!

* @GloriaFerrer 2007 Sparkling Brut Rosé: Sonoma County producer that specializes in sparkling wines, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. I’ve enjoyed this refreshing and delightful vintage a number of times on its own and with a wide variety of foods. The wine offers bright red fruit, citrus nuances, and pleasant yeasty accents w/ a lovely texture. Fine and persistent palate-cleansing bubbles sweep across the tongue with refreshing acidity and moderate complexity -- a flavorful glass full of deliciousness. I'm filing this one under #MustHaveSummerWine. ($42)

* Chateau d'Esclans 2011 Whispering Angel Rosé: Producer nestled in the depths of Provence renowned for producing premium Rose wine. The Whispering Angel is the producer's most accessible selection. This wine is extremely versatile and food-friendly and will compliment a wide variety of dishes. Pale salmon in color with shy, yet vibrant strawberry, raspberry and rose petal scents that extend to the palate with lovely acidity and a fresh fruity finish. Chateau d'Esclans' also offers three other pink selections including a very limited production "Garrus" that's made from 80 year old vines and is not your typical Rosé wine. It's pricey ($100), but also glorious -- I had an opportunity to enjoy a bottle with friends last year. ($22)

* @Envolvewines 2011 Sonoma Mountain Rosé (92% Syrah 8% Grenache): Two boyhood friends come together to craft small batches of premium Sonoma County wine. The Rosé is a lovely pink watermelon color in the glass with inviting [fairly ripe, jolly rancher like] strawberry, rhubarb, and raspberry aromas and flavors balanced by refreshing food-friendly acidity. A delightful, bio-dynamically farmed summer sipper that should be invited to your next backyard cookout. ($24.99)

* Croft Pink Rosé Port (NV): Historic Port house offers this unique wine that targets the millennial demographic who are more curious and adventurous. This wine is a first of its kind that's unique and interesting; but you cannot sip it like a Rosé (19.5% ABV) on a warm summer day. In the glass, aromas and flavors of strawberry and cherry pie dominate with some residual sweetness and a viscous texture. In my humble opinion, great for cocktails and night-clubs. Get a bottle and get a creative! ($20)

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

Click Here to visit Gloria Ferrer's website.

Click Here to visit Chateau d'Esclans' website.

Click Here to visit Envolve Wine's website.

Click Here to visit the Croft Pink Rosé website.

Click Here to visit Taste-Live's website

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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DrinkLocalWine Colorado: Stone Cottage Cellars

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:09:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

During my visit to Colorado’s Western Slope, where the lion’s share of the state’s vineyards are located, I had an opportunity to visit a few small family-owned and operated vineyard and farm wineries. The first winery I dropped in on, nestled in the majestic mountains of Delta County’s small town of Paonia, was Stone Cottage Cellars. The tasting room and adjacent 4.5 acre vineyard are situated at a lofty elevation of 6,300 feet and located within the West Elks AVA, which boasts some of the highest vineyards in North America.

Stone Cottage Cellars' vineyard (6,300 ft above sea-level)

Owners Brent Helleckson, a former aerospace engineer, and wife Karen, a former business professional, left the hustle and bustle of the big city [Boulder] with their two children to return to their farming roots and spend more time as a family. The family purchased the Paonia property in 1994, which was already planted to Gewürztraminer, and over time built a modest, yet charming tasting room and a barrel room that’s built into the side of a hill. In addition to the existing Gewürztraminer vines, they planted Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Factoid: Their Gewürztraminer vines are some of the oldest in the state at 28 years old.

Stone Cottage Cellars Tasting Room and Barrel Room

By 2003, Stone Cottage Cellars opened its doors to the public and Brent and Karen were fully dedicated to making wines reflective of the West Elks’ unique terroir. What I personally found to be the AVA’s signature feature was expressive, crisp and refreshing white wines. The higher acids, yet still good flavor profile, may be attributed to a slightly shorter growing season, but ample sunshine (light intensity) at 6,300 feet. However, there are obstacles. The most challenging aspect of growing grapes in Colorado’s Western Slope said Brent, “… are frost, birds, hail, coon, elk, and deer.” Karen went on to add, “Late spring frosts can be a threat well into June.”

In the Barrel Room with Brent Helleckson

Despite the challenges, the rewards expressed themselves in a delicious, elegantly-styled [2009] Chardonnay that offered seamless [tree] fruit and oak integration, baking spice, and slight minerality with a wonderful mouth-feel and lingering finish. Equally as tasty was the Stone Cottage Cellars’ 2009 Gewürztraminer; fragrant with lemon peel, citrus lime, spice, white pitted fruit, and mouth-watering acidity. I also had the opportunity to taste a fruit-driven and fairly high octane, yet decently balanced Syrah and a fortified Gewürztraminer dessert wine. The shining stars for me, however, were the food-friendly and well-made Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer wines that I should have in my cellar sometime soon. From vineyard to glass, the family does all the work and produces a manageable 600 to 800 cases of wine annually.

The Beautiful Smith Fork Ranch

After leaving Stone Cottage Cellars, I checked into Smith Fork Ranch for an overnight stay and a memorable wine dinner with a few Delta County wineries, including: Alfred Eames Cellars (fairly ripe, board line intense, modern blends and estate-grown Pinot Noir) and Leroux Creek Inn and Vineyard (B&B, restaurant, poured a well-made Chambourcin and a refreshing Cayuga white). The ranch, located in west Crawford and owned by Linda and Marley Hodgson Jr., is a slice of heaven -- very tranquil with breathtaking views. Dinner was glorious; and it was quite fitting that one of the best pairings of the night was a Colorado Striped Bass Crudo (Italian version of sashimi) and Stone Cottage Cellars 2009 West Elks Chardonnay. If you plan a trip to the Western Slope (Delta County), the Smith Fork Ranch is a great place to stay (friendly atmosphere, near wine country, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife, adventure, relaxation, and a great wine cellar) and Stone Cottage Cellars a must visit – especially if you’re suffering from the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) blues. There’s a cure for you in Paonia my friend. Cheers!

CO Striped Bass and Stone Cottage Cellars Chardonnay

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

Next Up: A trip to a few Grand Valley producers

Click Here to visit Smith Fork Ranch website.

Click Here to visit Stone Cottage Cellar's website.

Click Here to visit the DrinkLocalWine website.

Click Here to visit the Colorado wine website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Today at 4PM PST: L’Ecole No 41 Estate Perigee

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:24:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

L’Ecole No 41, as many of you are well familiar with, is a family-owned winery located in Washington State. The tasting room is housed in a much talked about early 1900’s schoolhouse that I hope to visit one day soon. From what I’ve heard and seen through pictures, the tasting room still has an old schoolhouse feel to it; with chalk boards, desks, and bookshelves (just substitute the students for wine enthusiasts). Over the years, I’ve enjoyed everything from Semillon to Cabernet Sauvignon from this producer, and their Columbia Valley produced wines are easy to find and reasonably priced. The L’Ecole No 41 winemaking team of Marty Clubb and Mike Sharon, in my humble opinion, have the Midas touch when it comes to Merlot (attention: those of you still bitten by the Sideways bug). I have always been pleased with their Columbia Valley offering and particularly charmed by their estate-grown selection from the Walla Walla Valley AVA.

L’Ecole No 41 Estate 2008 Perigee (Nice label)

Today’s Quick Sip, the L’Ecole No 41 2008 Estate Perigee, is a single-vineyard Bordeaux-style blend (55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot) sourced from the best and oldest blocks of the producer’s [co-owned] Seven Hills Vineyard. I will be popping the cork on this wine with oodles of other wine tweeps today for L’Ecole No 41’s Perigee Full Moon virtual tasting from 4PM to 6PM PST on Twitter. The Seven Hills Vineyard (where the fruit comes from), first planted in the 1980’s, is a well-known vineyard in Walla Walla that produces exceptional and expressive red wines. Earlier this year, Stephen Brook of Decanter magazine, named the 2008 Estate Perigee one of the Top 10 Bordeaux blends in Washington State. Owner and managing winemaker Marty Clubb, views Perigee as the ultimate expression of L’Ecole No 41’s Seven Hills Vineyard. I’m honored to have the opportunity to share a glass, thoughts, and tweets with all of you later today on Twitter (Hash-tag: #perigee41) from 4PM to 6PM PST. And since I just popped the cork to decant a third of it, five words come to mind: balance, complex, accessible, elegance – and lastly, delicious. Nice job, @lecole41 -- see everyone online at 4PM PST. Cheers!

Click Here to visit L'Ecole No 41's website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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DrinkLocalWine Colorado: The Pre-Tour Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:23:00 +0000

Hello Friends

For much of last week I was in the beautiful state of Colorado having a wonderful time supporting and participating in the 4th annual DrinkLocalWine.com conference. What was a successful event in Virginia two years ago, shined the spotlight on the local food and wine industry of Colorado this year. I arrived in Colorado a few days early to take full advantage of a quick trip to the Western Slope. The Western Slope is approximately four hours west of Denver and is where most of the state's wine grapes are grown. Both the Grand Valley AVA and the West Elks AVA are along the Colorado Western Slope and have a climate conducive to many fruit crops, including European grape varieties. Planting wine grapes further east, like in the Front Range area [e.g. Denver, Boulder], for example, is risky business due to vine-killing freezes. The Western Slope has some of the highest vineyards in North America and its low humidity results in low disease pressures – a common problem some US wine producing regions further east face; particularly Virginia. The biggest vineyard challenge Colorado faces is frost. At one point during the Colorado’s Terroir and the Challenges of High Altitudes seminar, Horst Caspari, professor and state viticulturist at Colorado State University, said, “If I was only interested in money, I'd plant peaches, not grapes.”

Row 14 Bistro and Wine Bar ... A Place to Eat/Drink Local

The day before take-off, a few of us who arrived early had the pleasure of meeting up at Row 14 Bistro and Wine Bar with Doug Caskey, a leading Colorado wine advocate and executive director of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board, and Kyle Schlachter, who I call a jack-of-all-trades – even social media. Row 14 Bistro and Wine Bar is a swanky and sophisticated, yet down-to-earth wine bar located in downtown Denver. Row 14’s executive chef, Jensen Cummings, who also sat in on the “Local Food and Local Wine” Colorado seminar, is deeply passionate about preparing locally raised and grown ingredients and showcasing quality regional wines from the area. During my two visits to Row 14 (yes it was so nice I had to do it twice), I ate and drank local and the food and wine experience was exceptional. One pairing of note was the Espelette Marinated Rabbit and Garfield Estate 2009 Syrah. The latter is a small producer in Palisade, CO, (within the Grand Valley AVA) that I had an opportunity to later visit. For 2009, they produced a well-made flavorful and bright (good food-friendly acid) Syrah with white pepper and spice nuances that marries nicely with the rabbit – totally complementing, not overwhelming the dish. The second dinner was hosted by representatives from Nomacorc; a manufacturer of advanced synthetic wine closures. Fun factoid: One out of every three bottles of wine produced in the US is closed with Nomacorc’s patented synthetic closures.

Wine Bloggers Invade the Western Slope

By the time morning came, several more friends arrived in Colorado and we (Doug Caskey @1winedude @chiefwino @winecompass @winett and @terroiristblog ) packed up and jumped into a rather comfortable 10 passenger turbo prop (and yes, some were nervous… but not me) and headed out to the Western Slope. After landing we paid a visit to Stone Cottage Cellars; a small producer situated at an elevation of 6,300 feet. Stone Cottage Cellars is located in the West Elks AVA and run by a husband-and-wife team. They will be the central theme of the next blog post. In closing, I’m still trying to figure out how someone with the Twitter handle @terroiristblog got to sit in the cockpit next to the pilot [WTH --- LOL]. There will be more on Colorado wine and food to come, friends. Cheers!

Next up: Stone Cottage Cellars

Click Here to visit Row 14 Bistro and Wine Bar website.

Click Here to visit Stone Cottage Cellar's website.

Click Here to visit the DrinkLocalWine website.

Click Here to visit the Colorado wine website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

The views from above were Beautiful!

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Quick Sip: Domaine François Villard 2008 Condrieu

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:23:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

When you look at the number of wine regions and states within the US that produce Viognier, it’s hard to believe that by the mid 1980’s there were less than 100 acres of the exquisite northern Rhone variety planted in the world (all mostly in Condrieu). Today, Viognier is fairly popular all over the wine world, though not a major player in terms of broad-scale consumer recognition like Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. The small appellation of Condrieu, located in the northern Rhone just south of Côte Rôtie, makes white wine exclusively from the Viognier grape variety. Condrieu is the homeland of Viognier and is considered the benchmark for fine examples of Viognier throughout the wine world. Condrieu is hard to find and fetches a pretty penny; with price points starting at $50 a bottle and going up.

Domaine François Villard 2008 Condrieu

Lighter-bodied, fruit-driven and floral-laced examples of Viognier can usually be found for under $20 from a number of wine regions and several states within the US. In my Viognier / Condrieu tasting experiences, I guess the thing that makes Condrieu stand out is it’s often imitated but never duplicated. With that being said, for the price Condrieu fetches, it can, in my humble opinion, be hit or miss in the quality-to-price-ratio category. However, when it’s a hit, Condrieu delivers a rich, round texture with layers of complexities (fruit, well integrated barrel character, earthiness, minerality, etc.) that non Condrieu (or Condrieu-style) Viognier wines do not deliver (granted wines made in the style of Condrieu can be quite delicious and usually less expensive). Today’s ‘Quick Sip,’ the Domaine François Villard 2008 Condrieu Le Grand Vallon, is aromatically complex with white pitted fruit, melon, white flowers, hay, and orange blossom scents with light buttery nuances and a sprinkling of baking spice. The palate is rich, yet well balanced with a slightly oily texture that carries through to the mid-palate with a pleasant mélange of flavors and a nice lingering finish. When it comes to getting familiar with Condrieu, get a small tasting group together to offset the price. Besides, you’ll likely have a better time tasting in a group setting where you can discuss the wine and region with others. The Domaine François Villard 2008 Condrieu retails for $75 and is one of the nicer Condrieu wines I’ve tasted recently. If you like Viognier, don’t let price keep you away from Condrieu – find a few good tasters! Cheers!

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Anemoi 2009 Boreas (Colorado)

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:17:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Today's 'Quick Sip' is a tasty red blend from Colorado. Like Virginia, Texas, Arizona , etc. -- Colorado is an up-and-coming wine region that falls under the radar of a large percentage of US wine drinkers, wine critics, and popular wine publications. For a number of these lesser-known and small-production US wine regions, it's not a matter of whether or not they can make good wine, but the fact that many of them just don't make enough of it. Almost 100% of these wines are consumed by that region's locapour population and tourists, so the wines tend to be a well-kept secret. I had an opportunity to visit Colorado last fall and left pleasantly surprised and fairly impressed with the overall quality of the wines being produced there. The blend I have today -- a well-kept Colorado secret -- is from Canyon Wind Cellars, a small family-owned and operated farm winery founded in 1996 that's producing 100% estate wines.

Anemoi 2009 Boreas

Anemoi, Canyon Wind Cellars second label, specializes in expressive, modern style blends, while the original label, (Canyon Wind Cellars), focuses on more classic / traditional wines. The 2009 Boreas was the first wine crafted under the new label and is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Petit Verdot. The fruit for Boreas comes from Canyon Wind Cellars' Riverside Vineyard, which is one of two vineyards planted on the familiy’s 50 acre property (35 acres under vine) in the Grand Valley AVA. In the glass, the Boreas displays a deep, inky purple color with inviting ripe plum, boysenberry and blackberry scents balanced by vanilla spice and anise on a sweet toasty oak frame. The aromas follow through to the palate with good extraction and nice depth of flavor and a cashmere texture with velvety tannins and a medium-long pleasing finish. This wine retails for $38 and only 168 cases were produced. For further information on Canyon Wind Cellars and to see if they can ship to your state, visit the producer's link below. This pleasing blend is hopefully a sign of tasty things to come at this month’s DrinkLocalWine.com conference in Denver, Colorado . Look for the #colwine tweets to be pouring -- no pun intended, April 27th thru 29th! Cheers!

Click here to visit the Canyon Wind Cellars website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Martin & Weyrich 2010 Moscato Allegro

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 22:32:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

First it was sweet red wine, then chocolate wine (go figure), and now, Moscato seems to be one of the new hot topics in wine today. Moscato’s rise in popularity is largely fueled by hip-hop culture and millennials. Also known as Gen-Y; millennials, a late teen to early 30’s demographic, are the fastest-growing segment of wine drinkers and generally prefer recommendations via social networks (e.g. wine blogs, Facebook, Twitter), pop culture, and word-of- mouth from friends over wine scores and printed publications to drive their wine purchase decisions. I had an opportunity to witness this first-hand last year at Wine Riot DC; a millennial-geared wine tasting event that’s put on by Second Glass. This event featured a smartphone application specific to the DC event for rating and recommending all the wines that were available for tasting. Event goers were later able to check the Second Glass website to see which wines rated best, their price points, recommend those wines to friends, and what nearby stores carried them. Recent reports suggest that the union of [rap] music and millineals is responsible for Muscat surpassing Sauvignon Blanc to become the third top selling white wine nationally (Chardonnay and Pinot Gris occupy the first two spots).

Martin and Weyrich 2010 Moscato Allegro

Today’s ‘Quick Sip,” the Moscato Allegro, is a California Muscat Canelli (white grape variety in the large Muscat family) semi-sweet wine made in a style similar to Northern Italy’s Muscat. In the glass, it displays a medium straw color with notes of sweet apricot, white peach, light tangerine zest, and honeysuckle touches. The palate is flavorful and slightly sweet with soft acidity and a medium length, lip-smacking finish. At 7.5% ABV, it’s fairly low in alcohol and one of those fragrant, easy-drinking, slightly sweet bottles of wine that you can finish before you get started – if you know what I mean. Priced at a pocket-friendly $12, it’s a wine that won’t break the bank and is a good aperitif or an ideal accompaniment to picnic fare or spicy ethnic cuisine. Serve chilled, unscrew, pour, and enjoy! Cheers!

Click here to visit the Moscato Allegro website.

This wine was provided as a sample from my friends over at Balzac Communications and Marketing. Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Joseph Jewell 2009 Floodgate Pinot Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:09:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

I recently had an opportunity to taste the Joseph Jewell 2009 Floodgate Vineyard [ Russian River Valley ] Pinot Noir during another fun and informative Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday Live streaming broadcast. Joseph Jewell, started by two friends, Micah Joseph Wirth and Adrian Jewell Manspeaker, is one of those feel-good stories where passion, perseverance, and motivation trump all other [limiting] factors. Micah and Adrian’s story began inside a garage in 2006 with an investment in two French oak barrels, a small basket press, and an exceptional vintage, which resulted in very good ( Russian River Valley ) Pinot Noir fruit. The duo bottled 50 cases that were well-received and soon after launched the Joseph Jewell label (a play on their middle names). Today, they work with select growers in Sonoma and specialize in small-lot production of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel.

Joseph Jewell 2009 Floodgate Pinot Noir

The 2009 Floodgate Vineyard [ Russian River Valley ] Pinot Noir is translucent ruby in color with inviting black cherry, cranberry and Asian spice core aromas with a hint of sweet toast and shy earthy undertones. The palate is smooth and balanced with nicely focused fruit, tangy acidity, and a pleasing medium-long finish. I enjoyed this Pinot Noir with apple stuffed pork chops and seasoned potatoes and enjoyed it equally as well when I sipped it on its own. This wine retails for $42 and can be found at both the Joseph Jewell and Cellars of Sonoma websites. Kudos to my pal Scot Jordan at Cellars of Sonoma in Santa Rosa, California for highlighting small-lot quality wine producers from his corner of the world on his weekly broadcast. Cheers!

To view the winemaker interview on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the Joseph Jewell website.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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April 4th #winechat: Calling All Locapours!

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:54:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

This Wednesday, April 4th, at 9PM EST, Todd Godbout of WineCompass wine blog, Eileen Gross of WineEveryday wine blog, and I are hosting a Twitter discussion about #localwine / #drinklocal on Marie Payton’s (writer for The Life of Vines wine blog) weekly Twitter wine conversation called #winechat. I encourage you to grab a bottle of local wine (or as local as you can get) and join the discussion. In Virginia, where I’m located, it’s easy for me to find a solid, Virginia grown wine at a nearby wine shop or the producer’s tasting-room. Unfortunately, this is not the case for everyone. Depending on where you reside, availability, low QPR, perception, and authenticity are some of the issues I have repeatedly heard (namely via social media) from wine consumers about the local juice produced in their respective states. Industries facing some or all of these issues tend to be lesser known wine producing regions. Does any of this sound familiar to you? Whether any of this describes your local wine industry or not, we would very much like to get your take on what’s fermenting in your backyard.

For me, #DrinkLocal = Virginia Wine!

We will also chat with Jeff Siegel (nationally known wine writer based in Texas) and Dave McIntyre (wine columnist for The Washington Post), founders of DrinkLocalWine.com. Their mission is to highlight, support, and promote lesser known wine regions in the US. Though all 50 US states make wine, most people can count on one hand the number of wines they’ve tasted from different states. DrinkLocalWine.com has already held successful conferences in Texas, Virginia, and Missouri and will hold its fourth annual conference April 27-29th, 2012 in Denver, Colorado (#colwine on Twitter). Michelle Cleveland, winemaker at Creekside Cellars in Evergreen, Colorado (charming little mountain town), will also join the Twitter conversation and tell us a little about the Colorado wine industry. See you Wednesday at 9PM EST for another fast, furious, fun, and informative Twitter #winechat session, friends. Think global, drink global, and support local! Cheers!

Join us in Denver for the 4th annual DLW Conference!

Click here to visit the DrinkLocalWine website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

Live, Love, Laugh, Tweet, Sip, Enjoy!

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Quick Sip: Gann Family Cellars 2006 Petite Sirah

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:52:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Petite Sirah is often times deeply colored, spicy, peppery, and assertive. Yet, most of the time it’s a grape variety that’s underappreciated. Petite Sirah is also the source of confusion for some. First off, the name can be misleading because Petite Sirah usually produces wines that are anything but petite. And while it sounds similar to its distant cousin Syrah, they are two different grape varieties that are well worth getting to know. Petite Sirah is mainly grown in California and generally produces fairly big, bold, and full-bodied wines. For last week’s Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday Live, host Scott Jordan welcomed Michael Gann, owner and proprietor of Gann Family Cellars. During the live broadcast (every Tuesday at 9PM EST), I had an opportunity to taste the Gann Family Cellars 2006 Alexander Valley Petite Sirah with wine blogging buddies @DanGod1 (aka Miles), @awanderingwino, and @tampawinewoman.

Gann Family Cellars 2006 Alexander Valley Petite Sirah

In the glass, the Gann Family Cellars 2006 Alexander Valley Petite Sirah displays a deep, inky purple color with expressive scents of dark stone fruit, black cherry, currant, cocoa powder, and muted minty nuances. The palate is rich and textured with black fruits and spice [a nice depth of flavor], good acid-tannin balance, and a spicy lingering finish. This wine retails for $42 ($33 if you’re a Cellars of Sonoma wine club member) and would pair well with a well-marbled rib-eye or beef short ribs. Gann Family Cellars made less than 80 cases of this award winning Petite Sirah which won double gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. What started as a dream in the mid 80’s and came to fruition in 2001, is delivering in the glass today. Nice job, Gann Family! Cheers!

To view the winemaker interview with Michael on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the Gann Family Cellars' website.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: DuNah Estate Vineyard 2008 Pinot Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:28:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Just about every Tuesday at 9PM EST, you’ll find me tuned into Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday Live. Proprietor and host Kevin Jordan showcases a number of small family-owned and operated boutique wine producers throughout Sonoma County . My wine blogging buddy @DanGod1 (The Iowa Wino), who is affectionately known in Twitter wine circles as Miles, was thrilled that Scott would be interviewing Rick DuNah of DuNah Vineyard and Winery for this particular broadcast. He was even more thrilled that we would have the opportunity to taste one of Rick’s pre-released wines; the DuNah Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley 2008 Pinot Noir (now you get the aforementioned Miles reference).

DuNah Estate Vineyard RRV 2008 Pinot Noir

DuNah Vineyard and Winery is situated in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley near the small town of Sebastopol and specializes in limited-production Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. All Rick’s wines are naturally fermented (including secondary fermentation) and non-interventionist techniques are employed in the cellar. Rick says, “This best expresses what the grapes are saying in the vineyard.” Best known for his time spent at Flowers Vineyards and Winery (very good Pinot Noir producer), winemaker Greg La Follette, who specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, makes wines for DuNah. The DuNah Estate Vineyard Russian River Valley 2008 Pinot Noir marries traditional Burgundian style characteristics with new world flair. In the glass, the wine displays a bright translucent ruby red color with inviting and complex [perfumed] black cherry and cranberry aromas with soft earthy undertones, a sprinkling of Asian five-spice powder, cedar, and dried rose petal nuances. The aromas follow through to the palate where they integrate nicely with layered flavors, a smooth, soft texture, and a pleasing lengthy finish. My wine blogging friends @DanGod1 (aka Miles), @awanderingwino, and @tampawinewoman all gave this wine two ~~thumbs~~ stems up. The DuNah Estate Vineyard RRV 2008 Pinot Noir is priced at $45 (fair IMO) and Rick suggests pairing it with salmon or red meat dishes and goes on to add, “the style is such it goes with just about everything.” Due to the very limited production (a few hundred cases) of this Pinot Noir, the best way to secure a bottle is by using the links below. Cheers!

To view the winemaker interview with Rick on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the DuNah Estate website.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Francis Coppola 2009 Claret

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:59:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Today’s Quick Sip is the Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2009 Claret [Cabernet Sauvignon]. Claret is the name Francis Coppola uses for the flagship wine in their Diamond Collection brand (created in 1996). The intent of the Francis Coppola's Diamond Collection brand is to make wines of good quality that are affordable and enjoyable for all. Traditionally, Claret is an age-old term (circa 1600’s) originally used by the British to describe good quality red wines from Bordeaux. Due to an agreement [standards of identity] signed by the United States and the European Community, only wine producers who were already using the name "Claret" before 2006 can label their wine as such. Other familiar names affected by this agreement include Burgundy, Chablis, Champagne, Port, etc.

Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2009 Claret

The Francis Coppola 2009 Claret is a blend of all five Bordeaux varieties (81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec, 3% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc). Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant variety in this wine, is capable of producing a wide range of styles from easy-drinking to highly intense with firm tannins. The Francis Coppola 2009 Claret is fruit-forward and accessible now, offering medium black cherry, red currant, and anise aromas with hints of baking spice and toasted bread nuances. On the palate, the wine has soft and supple tannins with good fruit flavors and a medium length, lingering finish. I revisited this wine the next day and did notice that the fruit had dropped off more than expected. The Francis Coppola 2009 Claret retails for $20, is widely available, and makes for a decent everyday sipper – particularly with grilled fare. In closing, the attractive wire mesh packaging and label honors the first California Cabernet blended in a Bordeaux style done in 1910 by Gustave Niebaum. Cheers to you and cheers to that!

Click here to visit the Francis Coppola website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: James Family Cellars 2010 Chardonnay

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:32:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Last week on Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday, host Scott Jordan welcomed special guest Jeff James of James Family Cellars. Jeff, along with his wife Judy, own and operate this micro-boutique Sonoma County winery that focuses on small-lot, hand-crafted wines. The family planted their estate vineyard in 1998 and sold fruit to nearby producers. In 2007, they decided to keep their fruit and start their own label. While specializing in making small lots (under 1k cases per year)of estate-grown Pinot Noir, James Family Cellars also makes a very nice Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – which like the Pinot Noir variety, thrives in some of the cooler areas of Sonoma County. Jeff’s 2010 Chardonnay is aged in new (25%, 8-9 months) and neutral French (75%) oak barrels and goes through partial malolactic fermentation (conversion of a sharper malic acid to a softer lactic acid), which helps the wine retain its natural acidity and freshness. Approximately 240 cases of this Chardonnay were produced. Without further ado, let’s uncork this wine and give it a swirl, sniff, and sip.

The James Family Cellars 2010 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

In my opinion, this Chardonnay falls smack dab in the middle of bright and refreshing [mostly stainless] and the [lower acid] big, buttery, oak-driven styles many people associate with [classic] California Chardonnay. On the nose, this wine boasts inviting aromas of green apple, pear, melon, buttered toast and a touch of vanilla with pretty floral elements. The palate is round and fairly mouth-coating with generous supple fruit flavors and nice balancing acidity that flirts with finesse. The wine finishes with pleasant notes of vanilla, crème brûlée, and citrus accents. For food pairing ideas, Jeff offered two excellent recommendations: fresh Dungeness crab and grilled chicken. The James Family Cellars' 2010 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay retails for $30 and for those in the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) club, this selection may compel you to cancel your membership. Lastly, due to very limited production you probably won’t find Jeff’s wines in stores. Please visit the links below to learn more about James Family Cellars and wine availability. Cheers!

P.S. If you're looking for wallet friendly chardonnay or accessories for wine bottles, use this coupon for Kmart.

To view the winemaker interview with Jeff on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the James Family Cellars website.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Chester Gap Cellars 2009 Merlot

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:10:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

With up-and-coming grape varieties like Viognier and Petit Verdot often in the spotlight, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Virginia is capable of producing some very nice Merlot wines. Merlot is ranked in the top three of the most planted grape varieties in Virginia; only Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc rank higher. I see Merlot as a work-horse variety for Virginia: a grape that does well on its own and is equally important to the state’s Bordeaux-style blends — with much more emphasis on the latter.

Chester Gap Cellars 2009 Merlot

I recently drove out to Rappahannock County and paid a visit to Chester Gap Cellars. This small family owned and operated winery is situated at fairly high elevations and specializes in estate-grown wines. Chester Gap Cellars makes a few nice Viognier wines, but on a brisk fall-like afternoon we opted to enjoy a glass of the Chester Gap Cellar's 2009 Merlot while taking in the picturesque views from the deck. The 2009 vintage is 100% Merlot and opens with inviting wild berry fruit, dark cherry, lingering spice, and shy sweet herbal notes. On the palate, the wine is smooth and well-balanced with a medium-length pleasing finish. For those of you still (even some eight years later) under the spell of the “Sideways effect,” a six ounce pour of this Merlot may be your cure-all. This wine retails for $22 and with spring seemingly here already; grab a bottle, pack a picnic basket (light cheeses, aperitifs), and enjoy the beautiful views from the tasting room or deck. Cheers!

Find wine openers, cheese, aperitifs, and everything else you might need for the picnic basket with these coupons for Overstock.

Click here to visit Chester Gap Cellar's website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Breaux Vineyards 2010 Viognier

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:12:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Today’s ‘Quick Sip,’ the Breaux Vineyard’s 2010 Viognier, comes from our friends in Loudoun County, Virginia (also known as DC’s wine country for its close proximity to the nation's capital). The 2010 growing season is one I remember well -- it was unusually dry, humid, and extremely hot. My flower garden was constantly begging for a drink of water and many flowers stopped blooming or wilted to the unforgiving heat of summer. Based on the 2010 Virginia wines (barrel and bottled) I have sipped so far, the hot and dry conditions that marked 2010 had more of an influence on white wines than reds. Some of the state’s 2010 Viognier wines lack the brightness and refreshing qualities the 2009 growing season and previous years produced.

Breaux Vineyards 2010 Viognier

For Breaux Vineyards, who usually makes a stainless Viognier, the 2010 vintage saw some oak aging. The result is a [slightly] round, well-integrated wine with good balancing (not crisp) acidity that boasts peach, melon, spice, and shy apricot fruit laced with soft floral, mint, and citrus notes. The wine retails for $32 and would pair nicely with poultry or pork dishes and also sips well on its own. In previous years, Breaux Vineyard’s Viognier is typically sleek, vibrant, and fruit forward and retails for around $22. Had Mother Nature not been such a fickle master in 2010, Breaux Vineyards may have not aged any of the wine in oak barrels. The change in style paid off, as the Breaux Vineyard's 2010 Viognier was recently listed as #87 in Oz Clarke’s 250 Best Wines 2012 publication and has also received numerous awards. To get some of the Breaux Vineyard's 2010 Viognier in your glass [before it’s all gone], visit the tasting room or click on the link below – they can ship to several states outside of Virginia. In closing, I encourage you to pay close attention to the vintage you are buying/drinking as the style and characteristics of a wine can vary dramatically from year to year. Cheers!

If you're looking to purchase a new bottle opener, or storage options for your wines, check out this Overstock Promo Code, and find some wallet-friendly options.

Click here to visit Breaux Vineyard's website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Franciscan Estate 2008 Cuvee Sauvage

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Today’s Quick Sip is the Franciscan Estate 2008 Cuvee Sauvage Chardonnay ($40) from Carneros [Napa Valley], California. The Carneros AVA spans both Napa and Sonoma counties and its relatively cool climate and long growing season is prime for varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Franciscan is one of the first Napa Valley wineries to produce a wild yeast fermented Chardonnay [1987]. The 2008 Cuvee Sauvage is 100% wild (native, indigenous, natural) yeast fermented. Those who favor native yeast fermentation believe it makes for a more complex wine (e.g. enhanced aroma, flavor, texture) and reflects the character of the vineyard terroir more accurately. On the flip side, many winemakers consider native yeast fermentation risky; as it can lead to sluggish and very slow fermentations, contribute undesirable characteristics (e.g. acetic acid), or can result in a stuck fermentation. Be it risky business or not, Franciscan has a good track record with their wild yeast fermented Chardonnay; so, let’s uncork this bottle and have a swirl, sniff, and sip.

Franciscan Estate 2008 Cuvee Sauvage

In the glass, the Franciscan Estate 2008 Cuvee Sauvage displays a straw-yellow color with inviting aromas of toasted nuts, spiced pear, toasty oak, abundant tree fruit character, honeysuckle, and delicate citrus and mineral notes. The aromas follow through to the palate with a mouth-coating, viscous texture, nice balancing acidity, and a long toasty finish. I enjoyed this wine on its own and later paired it with poached salmon topped with a caper butter sauce – a pairing that worked nicely. There's a fairly good amount of oak, but it's well integrated and frames the fruit nicely. Less than 1,500 cases of this wine was produced and I’ve seen the price point as low as $18 from various web sources. As a matter of fact, I’m shopping for another bottle as I wrap up this blog post to pair with a lobster dish I plan on making. Cheers!

Click here to visit the Franciscan Estates website.

Note: This wine was sent as a media-sample for review purposes. Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

One last thing, to all my sipping readers, here are coupons for Kmart if you're looking for cheaper wine alternatives.

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The Wine Connection: Pairing Wine & Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Depending on how old you are, you may remember classic television game shows like The Dating Game and The Love Connection. These shows sought to connect compatible people and entertain those of us who watched. Here at My Vine Spot, your host Dezel seeks to marry food and wine on the blog show -- The Wine Connection. Red roses and dinner reservations typically claim the spotlight on Valentine’s Day, but wine and chocolate are a popular combo, too. It’s a pairing idea that I personally don’t do too often. It is also a pairing, that in my humble opinion, sounds good but can be fairly tricky when placed in front of you. At the end of the day, food and wine should complement one another -- bringing out each other’s best traits. The conundrum: sweeter chocolates have a rich sweet flavor and unsweetened chocolate has a strong bitter flavor. Both, sweet or unsweetened chocolate can overwhelm a wine or bring about bitter flavors that wouldn’t exist if you enjoyed each on their own. That being said, I’m very open to trying new food and wine pairing ideas and recently took advantage of two opportunities to marry wine and chocolate and make a gastronomic connection.

Rodney Strong Vineyard Chocolate Fantasy Exploration

The first event, The 23rd Annual Wine and Chocolate Fantasy Exploration, was put on by Rodney Strong Vineyards. This sinfully sweet event took place at Rodney Strong Vineyard’s Healdsburg, California, tasting room. This year they also did an online pairing event. Several bloggers and I had a chance to try four chocolates [Chocolate by Numbers 55%, 61%, 72% and Peter’s Chocolates 72%] with varying levels of cocoa and sweetness and taste each alongside Rodney Strong’s 2009 Knotty Vines Zinfandel (SRP $18.50), Alexander Valley 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon (SRP $25), and “A True Gentleman's” Port (SRP $30). The higher the cocoa percentage the less sweet the chocolate is – thus the 55% contains the highest level of sugar.

“A True Gentleman's” Port

On their own, the wines were pretty nice – and fell in a category I call big (higher octane) and balanced. The Zinfandel offers nice red and dark berry fruit, cedar, dusty spice, soy, and peppery notes that extend to the palate. For its size, the wine has good balancing acidity and versatility and had fairly positive, nuanced results with all four of the chocolates [55%, 61%, 72% cocoa]; though I think a better match for the Zinfandel would be BBQ or grilled burgers. On the other hand, the Alexander Cabernet Sauvignon has inviting cherry, plum, cassis, and baking spice scents with soft tannins, a smooth texture, and a medium length finish. For my taste, the chocolates overwhelmed this wine to various degrees – as I was getting more of the chocolate flavors and no longer tasting the wine. I also got some slight bitter flavors as a result of this pairing. The wine that made the best connection was the “A True Gentleman's” Port. The 61% and 72% seemed to be the sweet spot with this wine. This port-styled wine offered generous ripe red fruit, dark berry, plum flavors, and a dash of sweet spice with a little trailing heat on the long finish (the first day). The chocolate dampened the heat and the residual sweetness in the port played nicely with the chocolate. This was the best pairing of the night for me, and what it said was the sweetness level in the chocolate needs to paired with an equally sweet (or sweeter) wine for positive results. For the drier reds, in this case the Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, the stronger the chocolate (e.g. dark, bittersweet) the more full-bodied the wine should be.

The Crusher Rosé of Pinot Noir and Le Belge Truffles

My second pairing opportunity, a pink wine and truffles, came compliments of my friends over at Balzac Communications and Marketing. For this connection, we paired a bottle of The Crusher 2011 Clarksburg Rosé of Pinot Noir (SRP $18) from Don Sebastiani and Sons with a package of truffles from Le Belge Chocolatier in Napa. On its own, the [dry] Rosé was quite tasty offering bright aromas and flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and light citrus notes with lovely, food-friendly acidity to balance the fresh fruit flavors. The chocolate truffles (semi-sweet) were [very] delicious on their own as well. One pair was filled with a red jam and the other pair filled with caramel. When pairing the wine with the chocolate, the red filling had a nice interplay with the bright red berry fruit components in the wine. Conversely, the caramel filling combined with the chocolate sort of blanketed the wine; letting only a little of the wine’s bright red fruit shine through. Overall, good connections – but the latter may ultimately do better with another mate. As we wrap this show up, I would like to know some of your favorite chocolate and wine pairings – feel free to drop me an e-mail. Also, Valentine’s Day chocolates will be deeply discounted soon, so get out and pick some up and host your own chocolate and wine pairing event at home or repeat what I've done. I left links to the wine producers and chocolatiers below. Happy Valentine's Day!

Click here to visit the Rodney Strong Vineyard website.

Click here to visit the Don Sebastiani and Sons website.

Click here to visit the Le Belge Chocolatier website.

Click here to visit the Chocolate by Numbers website.

Click here to visit Peter's Chocolate website.

Also, check out http://www.chocologo.com/ -- they sell a do-it-yourself chocolate and wine pairing kit.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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#Winechat 2/8: Let's Talk About Viognier!

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

This Wednesday [2/8] on #winechat at 9PM EST, Todd Godbout of WineCompass/VirginiaWineTV and I are hosting a discussion and wine tasting about Viognier – the northern Rhone’s prized white grape variety. Condrieu and the smaller sub-appellation of Chateau Grillet, both located in the northern Rhone, are the height of fashion for Viognier. Although its exact origin is unknown, historical records confirm that Viognier was grown in Condrieu as far back as the Roman Empire. Condrieu is made of 100% Viognier and is considered the overall benchmark for high-quality examples of this varietal. To the north of Condrieu, upwards of 20% of Viognier can be contained in the Syrah dominated wines of the Côte-Rôtie [appellation] to add complexity and heighten aromatics. Today, some New World producers have followed suit (namely Australian Shiraz producers), and have started adding a splash of Viognier to their red wines to enhance the aroma profile. While Viognier dominates to the north, it is also grown throughout the southern Rhône.

Virginia Viognier!

All this said, life for Viognier hasn’t always been peachy (no pun intended). During the 1960’s, Viognier flirted with near extinction, with approximately 30 acres planted all in the diminishing appellation of Condrieu. In the mid-to-late 1980’s, the grape reached California and found favor with growers and a new group called the Rhone Rangers. This period marked a turning point for Viognier. Not only did it make a comeback in France, but other states in the US and New World wine producers began to find some success with the variety.

Colorado Viognier!

Here in Virginia, Dennis Horton, proprietor of Horton Vineyards, introduced the important northern Rhone variety to the Commonwealth. Horton’s 1993 vintage, which I wish I could have tasted, garnered national attention and had a domino effect of sorts – influencing other local wine producers to jump on the Viognier bandwagon. Dennis Horton’s “firsts” didn’t stop with Viognier – he is also responsible for the introduction of Cabernet Franc, Norton, Petit Manseng, and more. Today, Viognier is the 5th most planted grape in Virginia and can be found in a number of tasting rooms in several different styles. In May of 2011, Viognier was designated the signature grape of Virginia by the Virginia Wine Board Marketing Office.

Texas Viognier!

Besides my references above, nice examples of Viognier are being grown and produced in many areas of the United States including Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, Washington, and several other states. Other countries doing nice things with Viognier include Australia, Chile, Italy, and Argentina. In closing, one of the best qualities of well-done Viognier is its highly alluring and fragrant exotic aromas. On Wednesday [2/8] at 9PM EST, pour a glass of Viognier and sip along and tweet with us on Twitter using the #winechat hash-tag. To view the schedule for upcoming #winechat discussions check out @MariePayton "The Life of Vines" wine blog. Cheers!

Washington Viognier!

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

California Viognier!

Here are some of the wines we will taste through:

2010 Keswick Vineyards Estate Reserve Viognier (Virginia)

2011 Keswick Vineyards Les Vents d'Anges Viognier (Virginia)

2010 Breaux Vineyards Viognier (Virginia)

2010 Paradise Springs Viognier (Virginia)

2010 Rappahannock Cellars Viognier (Virginia)

2010 Sunset Hills Vineyard Viognier (Virginia)

2010 Veritas Vineyard Viognier (Virginia)

2010 Creekside Cellars Viognier (Colorado)

2010 McPherson Cellars Viognier (Texas)

2010 Brennan Vineyards Viognier (Texas)

2008 àMaurice Cellars Columbia Valley Viognier (Washington)

2010 HoneyMoon Viognier (California)

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Quick Sip: La Sirena Winery 2008 Pirate TreasuRed

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:07:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Last week on Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday, host Scott Jordan welcomed special guest Heidi Barrett of La Sirena Winery. Heidi is one of the most well-known and respected winemakers in California. Her name was behind some of California’s most celebrated cult wines, including Screaming Eagle, Paradigm Winery, Grace Family Vineyards, Dalla Valle, etc. One of Heidi’s wines that my wine blogging cohort, Dan from Iowa, and I had an opportunity to taste was the La Sirena Winery 2008 Pirate TreasuRed. The Pirate TreasuRed is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Petite Sirah. While Heidi consults for several other premium Napa Valley wineries, the La Sirena label, started in 1994, is Heidi’s personal project. Without further ado, let’s uncork the Pirate TreasuRed, mates!

La Sirena Winery 2008 Pirate TreasuRed

The Pirate TreasuRed blend comes in a short, rum-like bottle (750ml) with an old treasure map for a label with burnt edges. On first glance, one might mistake this bottle for a fun gimmick wine -- the type of wine where the packaging is far more interesting than the juice inside the bottle. That's not so much the case here, even though the packaging is fairly eye-catching; even amusing. This fruit-forward wine displays a deep ruby/purple color with aromas of [predominantly baked] cherry, raspberry, cassis, anise, warm spice and toasted vanilla notes. The palate is lush, mouth-filling, and round showing dense, ripe fruit, supple tannins, low-to-middling acidity, with (just) a touch of heat on the fruit-driven lasting finish. The La Sirena Winery 2008 Pirate TreasuRed clocks in at 14.7% ABV and retails for $60. Enjoy this wine on its own or try pairing it with dark chocolate. Wine and chocolate is a pairing I usually find difficult, but with Valentine’s Day around the corner this wine will do the trick ( ... I tried it already). To view the winemaker interview with Heidi on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the La Sirena Winery website.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: TR Elliot 2007 Queste Pinot Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:20:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Over the past several months, I have had the pleasure of watching a few episodes of Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday (live streaming broadcast) that featured special guest Theodore R. Elliot. Theodore, better known as Ted, is the man behind TR Elliot Winery – a boutique winery in Santa Rosa [Sonoma County] that’s producing small quantities of Pinot Noir from select vineyards in the cool climate of the Russian River Valley. I always enjoy shows with Ted because he speaks to the inner “wine” geek in all of us wine bloggers -- dropping information from clonal selection and brix readings to the type of French oak barrels he uses to mature his wines. During past tastings that featured Ted's Pinot Noir wines, I would hear from Cellars of Sonoma host and proprietor Scott Jordan, my wine blogging pal Dan from Iowa, and others about how delicious Ted’s Pinot Noir wines are. Fortunately for me, this time, I had the opportunity to sample the TR Elliot Queste 2007 Pinot Noir right along with Scott, Dan, and Ted. All I can say is my friends were right – Ted does make delicious small-lot Russian River Valley Pinot Noir wines (see my notes below).

TR Elliot Queste 2007 Pinot Noir

The 2007 TR Elliot Queste Pinot Noir ($42) is medium ruby red in color with light brick hues delivering aromas of zesty black cherry, currant, dried rose petals, sweet spice and cocoa powder. The palate is well-balanced with a fruit-driven entry, a velvety texture, a supple mid-palate and gentle tannins ending with a lingering, luxurious finish. I enjoyed this wine with pan seared duck breast and on its own -- it's very versatile. Ted’s wines are not in stores due to very limited production, but can be found via the website (see below) and Cellars of Sonoma tasting room. If you like Pinot Noir, Ted’s Russian River Valley examples are well worth seeking out. To view the winemaker interview with Ted on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the TR Elliot Winery website.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Bonneau 2007 Hyde Cabernet Sauvignon

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:55:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of tuning in for another fun-filled episode of Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday Live. This week’s live streaming broadcast featured John Bambury of Bonneau Wines. Bonneau Winery is a small family-owned grower and wine producer in Sonoma’s Los Carneros appellation. Bonneau’s estate site, Catherine's Vineyard, is certified sustainable and planted to Chardonnay. The winery is known for Chardonnay and crafts several different styles ranging from crisp and clean to elegant and even two dessert-styled selections. For red wines, Bonneau sources fruit from some of the top vineyards in Sonoma, Napa, Amador, Dry Creek and Sonoma Coast.

Bonneau 07 Carneros Hyde Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

For this show, Dan Goderis (The Iowa Wino) and I had an opportunity to sample the Bonneau 2007 Los Carneros Hyde Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($60) alongside Cellars of Sonoma proprietor and host Scott Jordan and Bonneau Wine's Director of Winemaking John Bambury. Hyde Vineyard, located in Carneros – on the Napa side, is a very reputable grower and many top name California producers source fruit from them. The Bonneau 2007 Los Carneros Hyde Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon contains small amounts of Petit Verdot (adding color and structure) and is aged in 50% new French oak and 50% neutral oak barrels. In the glass, the wine exhibits a deep garnet color with plum, blackberry, and blackcurrant aromas that comingle with soft vanilla, mocha, spice, and a subtle floral perfume-like fragrance. The aromas extend to the palate with a full and round entry, generous, but not over the top fruit, fine grain tannins, moderate acidity, and a pleasant medium-length dry finish. Over the course of the evening the wine opened up nicely and paired quite well with my brisket dinner. I encourage [Chardonnay lovers in particular] to get to know John Bambury and his small-lot wines. Use the links below to learn more about Cellars of Sonoma and Bonneau Wines. To view the winemaker interview on Ustream click here. Cheers!

Click here to visit the Bonneau Wines website.

Click here to follow Bonneau Wines on Twitter.

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Ramian Estate Parlay 2009 Bookmaker

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:04:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Today’s ‘Quick Sip,' the Parlay 2009 Bookmaker, is a recent release from Napa Valley winemaker Brian Graham of Ramian Estate. Their ‘Parlay’ brand features innovative blends at reasonable, everyday price points. The 2009 Bookmaker is a Cabernet Sauvignon (72%) based wine blended with small amounts of Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Petit Verdot. A large percentage of the Cabernet Sauvignon fruit comes from the Oak Knoll District while the other varieties and a small amount of Cabernet were sourced from the El Dorado appellation (sub-region of Sierra Foothills AVA). According to the tasting notes, the Ramian Estate Parlay 2009 Bookmaker was intended and created to be an ultra-plush, rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon based red wine.

Ramian Estate Parlay 2009 Bookmaker

Winemaker Brian Graham hit the target he was aiming for with this deeply colored, richly scented, and velvety-textured wine. The nose boasts inviting aromas of ripe blackberry, cassis, currant, and blueberry pie complemented by notes of vanilla and baking spice. The palate is ripe, soft, and fleshy -- bordering on jammy and almost gives off a note of sweetness with smooth tannins, middling acidity, and a medium-length, fruit-driven finish. This wine clocks in at 14.5% ABV, retails for $19.99, and is a fairly good deal for wine drinkers who favor smooth, ripe, fruit-driven wines. In closing, I also had an opportunity to taste Ramian Estate’s Varietal Series Merlot. This well-done, dense, and nicely structured Merlot benefits from two to three hours of breathing and opens up nicely. Even the fictional character Miles, the Pinot-loving wine snob from Sideways, who had some not-so-nice things to say about Merlot, would take a liking to this one. If you are interested in Brian Graham’s wines and other brands please visit the link below. Cheers!

Click here to visit the Ramian Estate website.

Note: This wine was a media sample from Balzac Communications and Marketing. Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Amorosa Bella 2010 RRV Sparkling Brut

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:26:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

For several months now I have consistently tuned in to Cellars of Sonoma TV Tuesday (live streaming broadcast) with my wine blogging friend Dan Goderis aka The Iowa Wino. Cellars of Sonoma is a wine tasting room and wine bar located in the heart of Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square. Proprietor Scott Jordan, son Kevin, and staff, host a live streaming broadcast every Tuesday that showcases small artisan and boutique wine producers of northern California as well as local chefs and people in the hospitality business.

Amorosa Bella 2010 Russian River Valley SP Brut

This past Tuesday’s live broadcast featured an interactive winemaker interview and tasting with special guest Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo of Amorosa Bella Winery. The name, “Amorosa Bella” means beautiful lover in Italian and Charlyn says, “The love affair is with life!” Dan and I had an opportunity to taste and discuss the Amorosa Bella 2010 Russian River Valley Sparkling Brut with Scott and Charlyn during the broadast. This sparkling wine is a blend of 78% Chardonnay and 22% Pinot Noir. In the glass, the wine displays a straw, light salmon color with subtle copper hues and fine persistent bubbles. The palate is crisp and refreshing with mouth-watering, food-friendly acidity, vibrant red fruit flavors with citrus nuances, a faint biscuit-like component and a clean, lasting finish. The SRP is $30 and $25.50 for Cellar of Sonoma wine club members. To the best of my knowledge, Amorosa Bella small-lot wines can only be found at the Cellars of Sonoma tasting room. Click here to view the producer’s portfolio. To view the video from the tasting click here. Charlyn was engaging as always and provided lots of good information, so if you have a moment I suggest checking it out. In closing, remember: Champagne and sparkling wine are not just for special occasions – the special occasion is the day you open the wine and enjoy it. Cheers!

Dancing Bubbles In My Glass !!!

Click here to visit the Cellars of Sonoma website.

Click here to visit the Amorosa Bella website.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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Quick Sip: Glen Manor 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:17:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

Remember the memorable line from Tom Hank’s Forrest Gump movie – “My momma said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Well, that can sometimes be the case when traversing the Virginia wine trail. Besides finding varietal wines like Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Chardonnay, and Merlot, which are fairly common in Virginia tasting rooms, you may very well run into an occasional well-done Tannat, Petit Manseng, Pinotage, or Sauvignon Blanc.

Glen Manor 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is generally grown in cool to moderate climates and Virginia is generally warm to hot. Glen Manor Vineyards and Linden Vineyards (Avenius Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc) located in northern Virginia, in my opinion, turn out very nice Sauvignon Blanc examples with good typicity and acidity. Both producers grow their Sauvignon Blanc at higher elevations where temperatures are generally cooler than normal. That said, the 2010 Virginia growing season was unusually dry, humid, and extremely hot. This selection, the 2010 Glen Manor Sauvignon Blanc, offers delicate citrus and melon scents with a mineral like flintiness and straw notes on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with a round texture, moderate acidity, balanced flavors, and a medium-length finish. This is a nice effort considering the hot, dry, and ripe 2010 vintage that presented difficulties (e.g. higher sugars, lower acids, higher alcohol levels, sugar ripeness but not always phenolic ripeness) for some producers. I’ll leave you with a tasting assignment: Find and try a Glen Manor 2009 Sauvignon Blanc next to the 2010 vintage. The 2009 vintage was fairly normal (not too hot, too cold, or too wet) and you and your friends will have fun enjoying the wines and discerning the differences. Cheers!

To visit Glen Manor Vineyard's website click here.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

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TasteLive: Wineyard at Santa Rosa Vintners Square

noreply@blogger.com (Dezel) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 22:54:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

I recently had the pleasure of participating in a fun online event to kick-off the opening [January 2012] of The Wineyard at Santa Rosa Vintners Square [California]. The Wineyard, formerly a strip mall, is an urban winery village with full on-site production and tasting room facilities. The Wineyard will host and showcase select Sonoma winery partners and local farmers. Owners Dino and Maria D’Argenzio have partnered with TasteLive to produce live interactive wine, food, and music related webcasts. The kick-off event included a live streaming demonstration webcast and a virtual tasting with the winemakers from the Wineyard’s first cooperative of wine producers. During the virtual tasting event a select panel of wine bloggers and I had the opportunity to taste a diverse selection of wines from the following four small-production artisan producers: Shone Farm Winery, Flocchini Winery, Atascadero Creek Winery, and Jazz Cellars. Overall, these wines offered good quality at fairly reasonable price points. See my comments as well as the link to the wines and winemaker interviews below. I would like to thank the D’Argenzio family for the invite and wish them good luck and success with the new business. Cheers! [Click here to watch the initial TasteLive broadcast with Dino D’Argenzio about the Wineyard.]

Shone Farm Winery 2010 Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Shone Farm Winery 2010 Estate Sauvignon Blanc [Russian River Valley] (SRP $18): Shone Farm is a 365-acre outdoor learning laboratory for the Santa Rosa Junior College. Seventy acres are under vine and the students get to assists with all aspects of the operation. Upon opening, the nose is dominated by methoxypyrazines [fresh green herbs, bell-pepper, and jalapenos] with bright underlying citrus and white pitted fruit scents and a hint of flintiness. The wine has bright acidity and a refreshing citrus/herbal finish. Stylistically, this wine would appeal to Sauvignon Blanc drinkers who don’t mind a higher than normal level of MP’s, which are typically not found in California Sauvignon Blanc wines. That said, this selection is light and bright and very food-friendly. Click here to view the winemaker interview on Ustream.

Flocchini Winery 2006 Andrea La Rue Pinot Noir

Flocchini Winery 2006 Andrea La Rue Pinot Noir [Sonoma Coast] (SRP $22 ...Good QPR): This Pinot Noir – a real crowd pleaser during the tasting -- offers inviting aromas of ripe cherry, pomegranate and cranberry with nuanced baking spice, tea, and violet notes. On the palate, it has a smooth texture and soft tannins with a round mouth-feel, but retains a pleasing, zesty acidity ending with a clean medium length finish. The suggested pairings, which I agree with, are roasted duck or mushroom risotto. The 2006 was the second vintage from the producer and approximately 300 cases were produced. Click here to view the winemaker interview on Ustream.

Jazz Cellars 2007 La Madres Vineyards Syrah

Jazz Cellars 2007 La Madres Vineyards Syrah [Carneros] ($34): Jazz Cellars Winery is named after the owners’ love of music. Their operation is focused on producing handcrafted, small-lot, single vineyard wines. The Syrah is deep purple in color, nearly opaque, with expressive red fruit scents and additional (complex) notes of spice, soy, graphite, white pepper and subtle floral/perfumed aromas. This Syrah is nicely balanced with a velvety texture, supple tannins, good fruit concentration, yet [pleasing] bright and zesty acidity with a nice long finish. My “seasonal” music pairing: Ella and Satchmo - "Baby It's Cold Outside." Cheers! Click here to view the winemaker interview on Ustream.

Atascadero Creek Winery 2008 Haun Ranch Zinfandel

Atascadero Creek Winery 2008 Haun Ranch Zinfandel [Russian River Valley] ($28): Atascadero Creek (the creek pictured on the label) is a small winery in west Sonoma County operated by Bob Appleby. The winery specializes in crafting small lots of single vineyard wines. Bob uses native yeast, no sprays, the vineyard is dry farmed, and the vines produce approximately one ton per acre. This Zinfandel is dark (nearly opaque), big, bold, and ripe with a mouth-coating texture. Currant, ripe black plums, blackberry, baked pie scents and a sprinkling of sweet spice fill the nose. The wine is full-bodied, dense, and concentrated with ripe/namely baked fruit-driven flavors, smooth tannins, medium-low (leaning low) acidity and a lengthy finish. Besides making wine … Bob plays in a band called Bottle Shock. I wonder if any of their songs are about wine. Cheers! Click here to view the winemaker interview on Ustream.

To visit The Wineyard at Santa Rosa Vintners Square website click here.

Have a question about this post, friends? Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail at myvinespot@yahoo.com, and as always, Happy Sipping! Stay tuned ...more to come.

Live, Love, Laugh, Tweet, Sip, Enjoy!

Please Click Here to vote Dezel's My Vine Spot as your favorite wine blog - You can vote 1x per day!

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Happy Sipping Friends - Tell your friends about the blog and thanks for your support and kind emails !