Varietal:Merlot
Appellation:California, Sonoma
Style:Red
Price:$18
WOW Rating:90
Entering stage left is rich plum with a plume of fresh thyme in the hat. Flavors of complexly ripe fruit with, again, nice herbal nuance, then plum, blackberry, a hint of earthy dust, along with delicate floral hint of violets. This soft but assertive red will match a big steak, or any assertive red meat dish.
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Varietal:Merlot
Appellation:California, Napa
Style:Red
WOW Rating:93
Vine Cliff Winery has arisen to beautiful restoration in the past two decades by the Sweeney family, sensitive to the site’s 1871 roots.
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Festival date: May 6-8 2010
Festival venue:Ashland, OR
Festival theme:ScienceWorks hosts the 7th annual The Science of Wine
May 6th, 7th and 8th in support of ScienceWorks’ education programs.
The Science of Wine promises more “ wine! science! fun!” in 2010. The three day event includes the Winemakers’ Dinner and Live Auction on Thursday, May 6th, Wine Lectures and Reception on Friday, May 7th and Gala evening on Saturday, May 8th. Purchase your tickets today!
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2000 Cline “Oakley”
California Vin Gris
If your gonna drink pink, then you may want to think “Vin Gris”. A rose made in the fresh and dry style of the Rhone Valley’s famous pink wines. A nice strawberry brightness that is balanced with some dusty earth and a dryness that will work rather well with summer time appetizers. This is for the folks who want to finally drop the white Zin and step up to a more sophisticated style. Count me in for a couple bottles next to the pool this summer.
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Alexander
This spectacular Pinot Noir may be one of the best bargains from California. The Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir would pair nicely with veal in a piquant sauce or with venison (or other wild game).
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3 out of 25…
“That ain’t Good”
Just the other day I received my $300 tax rebate in the mail and where do you think it went? You guest it, the wine store. Isn’t that where everyone’s went? So, while I was there just getting my old squeaky cart with one bum wheel ready to go, I get this bright idea to pick up all red wines that are all $10 or under.
Well it seemed like a bright idea at the time. So I proceed to pick up a little bit of everything I thought might be a good bang for the buck. I picked out Malbec’s and Cabernet Sauvignon’s from Chile and Argentina. Shiraz and Cab-Shiraz blends from Australia. Sangiovese and Cabernet’s from Italy. Cabernet, Merlot and Red Blends from California. Some Red Bordeaux’s, and some Pinot Noir’s and Merlot’s from the Pacific Northwest. Every bottle fell within the $8 and $10 dollar range.
Once I got home I proceeded to blindly reach into one of the two cases of wine, and without looking pull out a bottle and wrap it in tin foil and place it on my desk. I tasted six bottles at a time without knowing each bottle until I had taken notes on all of them. I got through 25 bottles in four nights.
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Caymus Vineyards
Phone: 707.967.3010
8700 Conn Creek Road
Rutherford, CA 94573
Make a reservation for the tasting, it’s free. Excellent Cabernet. The Special Selection Cab from a dry harvested 15-acre parcel is outstanding. The tasting is limited in size so it’s comfortable, relaxing, and you might even learn a thing or two. Purchases of the Special Selection were limited to 3 bottles at our visit – and of course we bought the limit. See detailed review.
PlumpJack Winery
Phone: 707.945.1220
620 Oakville Cross Rd.
Oakville, CA 94562
Well what can I say – the first winery to offer a metal screw off top in their top end $145 per bottle cab. Should last forever… This winery is neat, comfortable, and fun. Interesting Sangiovese too. Enjoy a sandwich outside while drinking wine (your bring the sandwich).
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Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards
5937 Alpine Road
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Phone: (650) 851-6777
A frequent stomping ground of ours. Whether you found Fogarty’s name in the Time 2002 Almanac under the Inventor’s Hall of Fame, worked with him in the medical field, or know him personally, you need to stop at the winery if you are in the Santa Cruz Mountain Region, more specifically if you are traveling the Skyline Blvd area near Silicon Valley.
Jon Hunt manages Fogarty’s wine tasting room. Although he can’t make a good bet on a football game, he sure is fun to talk with at the winery. The winery has wonderful views of the vineyards and is a great place to have a great outdoor event like a business meeting or wedding. They have all that is necessary.
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