Stepping Stone...these wines totally rock!

Earlier this week, a friend of mine posted the following question on Facebook: “What is your favorite tasting room and why?” She has received 18 comments so far…

One response was Schramsberg because of its “historical and haunting” beauty; another said Buena Vista because the outdoor area there is “beautiful and quaint”; and a few people supplied the name of a room in their own house (maybe they don’t live near a bunch of terrific tasting rooms?). I noticed how these answers had more to do with the location and setting of the tasting room, and there was no mention of the wine. Hmm.

There are many variables to consider when answering this question, including wine selection, price (tasting fees and the cost of the wines), ambiance and setting, timing (do you have to make an appointment or go for a tour?), and location. I have a different “favorite” for each of these criteria!

Although I love destination wineries with beautiful views and a relaxed atmosphere (like Terra Valentine or Pride Mountain), my favorite tasting rooms are the ones that are easy to get to, don’t require an appointment, and offer a good mix of wines (both in price and style). If this is what you’re looking for in a tasting room, then Cornerstone Cellars is the correct answer!

Cornerstone Cellars is on the main drag in Yountville, centrally located in the Napa Valley. There’s no need to make an appointment; you’re not forced to take a 90-minute tour; the staff is super-friendly; and the wines (which range in price from $18-$125) are fantastic. Plus, when you’re done, you can hop across the street to the Hope & Grace tasting room (another one of my favorites) or go for a bite to eat at one of Yountville’s award-winning restaurants (without even having to get back into the car!). There are actually 6 different tasting venues along Washington Street—you could easily spend a few days wine tasting [on foot] in Yountville alone. (How’s that for minimizing your carbon footprint on your next trip to Napa?!)

Since my first introduction to Cornerstone Cellars at the Pinot Days event in SF, I have loved every single Cornerstone wine I’ve tasted including the Corallina Rosé, the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and The Cornerstone Cabernet Sauvignon.

Most recently, I enjoyed the Stepping Stone Rocks! White and Red wines. For $18 a bottle, these wines are incredible! Designed as “house” wines, the blend is different each year, and the exact composition is kept secret. In fact, I did not read the tasting notes prior to writing this post, so I was curious to see what varietals were used in each wine.

When I sampled the 2011 North Coast White Rocks! over the weekend, the fragrant perfume of this wine was suggestive of an aromatic variety that you don’t see that often in California. This particular vintage is a blend of Gewurtraminer and Chardonnay (a blend that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before). The Chardonnay brings depth and tropical fruit flavors while the Gewurz adds crisp acidity, melon, and spice notes. This is an awesome wine to sip with spicy appetizers (it would also be great with Mexican dishes).

The 2010 North Coast Red Rocks! drinks like a Super Tuscan-style blend twice its price. So I was surprised to read just now that it’s a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot (so much for my blind-wine tasting skills, ha). Syrah is very pronounced in the nose, which offers savory aromas of roasted meat, spice, and berry compote. The palate is full and luscious; black cherry, vanilla, red currant and white pepper components intertwine seamlessly. With smooth tannin and good acidity, this wine was the perfect match last night for ratatouille and it would be an ideal wine for pizza.

All of the Stepping Stone by Cornerstone wines offer great value ($18-$35/bottle). I received mine as samples from the winery, but they are available to taste and purchase [alongside the eponymous wines] at the Cornerstone Cellars tasting room. They’re open 10-7 everyday, so go visit them and tell them I sent you.

Maybe it will become one of your favorite tasting rooms, too!

Praise for Lincoln Park (the wine bar, not the band)

There are two new wine bars in San Anselmo (central Marin County). As you know, a bar that serves a large selection of wine by the glass is my kind of place. Especially now that I’m newly single.

When I walked into Lincoln Park Wine Bar (in the old Dream Farm restaurant on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard) at 4:30 on Friday to meet a friend, there was already one couple at the bar throwing back a glass of bubbly. In addition to the 12-seat marble-topped bar with antique-looking wooden chairs, there is leather banquet seating as well as intimate tables. The menu of fresh and seasonally inspired dishes is written on a large chalkboard behind the bar. Although not a large place, they make good use of the space without making it feel overcrowded. I really liked the design and casual, lounge-like ambiance.

The wine list is comprised of small, California producers. The wines are offered by the 4-ounce “pour” or the 7-ounce “more"...

My friend Danielle started with a pour of the 2011 Viandante del Cielo Skywalker Ranch Rosé of Pinot Noir (Marin County). It was a pretty fuschia color with bright cherry and ripe strawberry notes. Very round and full-flavored for a rosé. My first glass was filled with the lemony Jaffelin Cremant de Bourgogne.

By 5:30, there was a lively bar scene (but luckily, the noise level was moderate enough that it was still easy to have a conversation). The food looked delicious, but Danielle was off to dinner in San Francisco with her fiancée and we only had time for another “pour”. We opted to share the 2011 Broc Valdiguie from Green Valley (Solano County), a grape I wouldn’t have guessed grew anywhere in California.

The Valdiguie was reminiscent of a great first date. Young, fun, flirtatious—which also happen to be at least three characteristics I look for in a potential mate…

Almost transparent in the glass, this wine reveals itself to you with good clarity and ruby-red color. It has an alluring perfume and a modest palate; this is not a wine that will mislead you or try to hide anything (don’t you wish everyone was this straightforward?). The dynamic flavors of ripe cherry and red raspberry along with good acidity are like that magical first-date chemistry that you hope will never end. The long, juicy finish is the intimate conversation that goes well into the night.

Before this blog post turns into a long-term relationship, I want to add that the Broc Valdiguie was also very satisfying and easy to drink all by itself (because who really wants to eat on a first date and worry about getting food stuck in your teeth).

I will definitely return to Lincoln Park soon; perhaps on a first date of my own!

A wedding day wine for every day!

When my friend Julie asked me three weeks ago for some recommendations for wines to serve at her wedding, I was eager to help. She said she wanted something fun and affordable. I immediately went to the Reverse Wine Snob blog for ideas.

The wedding, which took place this past Saturday, was held at a small B&B in Cloverdale--and it was hot. Everyone was parched by the end of ceremony; as the bride and groom hurried off to have their pictures done, the guests quickly assembled at the beverage station. I was poured a tall glass of the Hannah Sauvignon Blanc, a wine that I have previously blogged about and that we found on sale at Costco for only $10.99. It was very refreshing!

When we sat down for dinner, the sun was setting and the temperature was also dropping. The family-style meal included pork and chicken in a tomato-based, spicy sauce with vegetables; the tasty food suited the rustic setting perfectly and was an ideal match for red wine. There were two options for red wine: the 2009 BV Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (which was good) and the Evodia Garnacha (which was even better!).

The 2010 Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha from Calatayud, Spain was only $8.99 at Costco, and I suggested it because it received high marks on the RWS blog. (After tasting it, I wish I had picked up some for myself.) It was round and plush, with just a little bit of spice that paired nicely with the dinner. Flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and licorice were supported by good structure and a long, juicy finish. I never would have guessed this wine was under $10 a bottle; it was really delicious and at that price, it qualifies as an amazing everyday value wine!

For the toast, they served the La Marca Prosecco, which was also purchased from Costco for a great price ($10.99/bottle compared to $15.99 at Whole Foods).

Julie and Chris did a great job planning their wedding. I merely suggested a few affordable wines to serve; ultimately, the bride and groom made the final decision and everyone seemed to enjoy the wine selection [and everything else]. For wedding day wines, everyday wines, and even the high-end stuff [think Dom Perignon and $100 Napa Cab], the selection at Costco is hard to beat.

Congrats to Julie and Chris! Hope you're having a terrific honeymoon...Cheers!

On my next trip to Oregon wine country...

Just when I was starting to have withdrawal from Oregon Pinot Noir, I received a delivery from Youngberg Hill Winery.

I was excited to open the 2009 Natasha Pinot Noir ($30/bottle), a very limited production. Off came the screwtop and I poured myself a large glass of this ruby-red wine. The complexity of the nose was very appealing; it smelled of red cherry, raspberry, root beer, and licorice. On the palate, flavors of tart cherry, red currant, cola commingle with bright acidity and subtle notes of baking spice. The wine ends with a juicy, mouthwatering finish.

The first glass I paired with roast chicken and veggies, and then I indulged in another glass while I nibbled on goat cheese and fresh figs. The wine was very versatile and delicious; it could definitely hold up to even more hearty dishes.

After enjoying this delightful wine, I was even more disappointed that I didn’t get to visit Youngberg Hill in person when I was in Portland last month—it looks like a beautiful property with a charming Vineyard Inn. I’m already planning my next trip to Oregon and I know exactly where I want to stay!

Youngberg Hill is in McMinnville, about 25 miles from the coast. It was purchased in 2003 by Wayne Bailey; he relocated there with his family from the Midwest. The vineyards, which were planted in 1989, are farmed organically and named after Wayne's three young daughters—the “Jordan” and “Natasha” blocks are planted to Pinot Noir, and “Aspen” is a small planting of Pinot Gris. Combined, they produce less than 1000 cases a year.

This wine was received courtesy of Youngberg Hill for review purposes. Please visit their website to acquire your own!

Family Winemakers Tasting in SF

Wine tasting events at Fort Mason in San Francisco are always fun, crowded, and loud. And the 2012 Family Winemakers Tasting held this past Sunday, September 9^th was no exception!

There was a terrific mix of large, established wineries and small, newer producers. I tasted some wines from wineries with which I was already familiar—including the exquisite 2008 vintage from Ladera, the new Grenache-based wine from Orin Swift, and Rhone blends from Tablas Creek—as well as a lot of unfamiliar stuff.

I reviewed the list of participating wineries before I arrived at the tasting, making note of a few wineries in particular that I wanted to get to. Main Street Wine Bar carries the 2011 Enkidu Tin Cross Vineyard Chardonnay ($30/bottle), so I was eager to try that wine. It was light and refreshing with crisp acidity and mild citrus notes.  Enkidu’s winemaker was pouring about 7 other wines, so I tried a few a more. I also really enjoyed the 2008 Humbaba [red] Rhone Blend ($28/bottle) and I was very impressed with the two Cabernet Sauvignons. The 2009 Napa “E” Cab was complex and fruit-forward with integrated tannins (and only $24/bottle!). The 2009 Sonoma Valley Cab was equally delicious ($45/bottle). Enkidu produces more than 10 different wines but no more than about 3500 cases total; their tasting room in Kenwood is open daily.

The best Pinot Noirs of the day were from a small, brand new producer called Ten Acre. The wines came highly recommended by a friend from Napa (otherwise I might have missed these cool-climate gems). The winemaker was pouring a selection of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. I tasted four different vineyard-designate Pinots from the Russian River and Sonoma Coast ($35-$65/bottle). They were elegant, juicy, and focused. I don't know if these wines are in distribution yet, but you can taste them at the Bella Vineyards tasting room in Healdsburg (which I suggest you do!).

The Hook and Ladder wines were also quite tasty. They were being poured at a booth down at the far end of the pavilion and by the time I got there, the entire place was packed. (This is the unfortunate aspect of such large tastings—you don’t get much time to get acquainted with each wine and it’s so loud it makes conversation extremely difficult.) So, although I didn’t get to hear the story about Hook and Ladder Winery, I sampled a few of their wines. These wines are extremely well-made and a great value. The 2009 Tillerman Bordeaux-style blend was awesome! When I asked for the price, I heard $70—but it was actually only $17. I definitely look forward to tasting these wines again.

A few other wines of note were the 2007 Kelleher Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2009 Inspiration RRV Pinot Noir and the Gregory Graham wines from Lake County.

Thank you to the Family Winemakers of CaliforniaOrganization and the participating wineries for such a great event. I would definitely recommend this event—and I plan to go again next year (but I will go as early as possible to try to beat the crowds). Cheers!

Like being in Spain for one great meal

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I met a friend for dinner at B44 Catalan Bistro on Belden Lane in San Francisco.

At 5 pm every night, this tiny side street transforms into a little slice of Spain. Or France. Or Italy. (Depending on which restaurant you go to.) It becomes a pedestrian-only lane as tables and chairs are moved onto the street for dinner service. Awnings go up and strands of lights are hung. Attractive hostesses stand at the sidewalk and beckon new patrons.

At B44, we settled at an outdoor table, conveniently under a heater (it’s San Francisco, after all). A busboy poured us water without ice (so European!) right away, but the server ignored us for a while (also very European).

So we had plenty of time to scan the menu, which featured a long list of tapas, paella with an assortment of different ingredients, and many mouthwatering Spanish wines.

We started with Cava and a selection of tasty charcuterie with crusty bread. It was a delicious start to our meal.

Before our entrees were served, we noticed the other restaurants along the street were starting to fill up—it was becoming quite a scene with an eclectic crowd. Loud and lively, just like I experienced on my last trip to Spain [and I loved it!].

I ordered a glass of the 2010 Camins del Priorat to pair with my paella of chicken, sausage, clams and squid. My entrée was served in a cast-iron pan, which I think sat in the oven for a few minutes too long—but I enjoyed it any way.

The wine was amazing; full-bodied with soft tannins and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, and black raspberry. It had an elegant finish with a whisper of cinnamon spice. This juicy blend is 60% Carignan, 30% Garnacha (Grenache), 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Syrah; I found in on Wine.com for $21.99.

Doug ordered the lobster paella and was nice enough to share. His dish was presented with a large piece of lobster and the saffron rice was still moist and chewy. Both paellas were expertly seasoned and large enough for two people to share.

In lieu of dessert, we ordered the Spanish cheese plate; all three cheeses were delicious, but Manchego is the only one I can remember. There was another semi-firm cheese and one that was more similar to a gooey goat’s milk cheese. I ordered a glass of Rioja to pair with our final course, but I should have had another glass of the Priorat.

Although I hope to travel back to Spain soon, when I need my fix for paella and Spanish wine, I will definitely go back to B44. Cheers!

Cabernet deserves more than one day

After attending the Wine Bloggers Conference in Portland during August 17-21, I was rather “wined” out. But that didn’t last long. This past week, I started jonesing for something full-bodied and rich—it also happened to be #CabernetDay this past Thursday.

In the month of August, I tasted quite a few Cabernet Sauvignons that I didn’t get the chance to blog about. Here’s a re-cap of the highlights…

2010 Nadia Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Barbara, $35/bottle): blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. The palate expresses sweet blackberry jam and vanilla with hints of clove and tobacco. Solid tannin and structure, though young and tightly coiled. Aged 20 months in 100% new French oak. For the price, this wine is made extremely well. It shows great potential and it will most likely improve within 6 months to 1 year or more. This bottle was received as a sample courtesy of Laetitia Vineyards for review purposes.

2008 Ehler’s Estate One-Twenty over Eighty (Napa Valley, $45/bottle): smells like boysenberry jam with a hint of white pepper and tar. On the palate, this Cabernet Sauvignon delivers jammy, mouth-filling flavors of blackberry pie, toast, dusty cocoa, and vanilla. The wine finished with notes of lavender and tobacco. It was probably one of my favorite wines this last month; I wish I had another bottle to drink tonight!

2007 Hartwell Misté Hill Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, $49/bottle): black currant, tar, black licorice, and roasted coffee. Velvety mouthfeel. I was told on a recent visit to the Hartwell Estate that this wine is designed to be enjoyed within 1-2 years of release. This particular vintage is starting to lose its freshness and the fruit flavors are fading, but it’s still drinkable. The 2008 vintage is drinking beautifully (as I’m sure th current vintage [2009] is as well!).

2007 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley, $63/bottle): a delicious organically grown wine with cherry cola, exotic spice, mocha, and the faintest whisper of blueberry pie. Very aromatic and concentrated in the glass. Ready to drink. 

2008 Tamber Bey Deux Cheveux Vineyard Yountville “Rabicano” (Napa Valley, $48/bottle): Bordeaux-style blend with flavors of cherry cola, blueberry, pomegranate and clove. Very dark in the glass with rich and refined tannins. This wine could definitely hold for another 1-2 years.

2003 Divot Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, price N/A): this wine showed it’s age in the glass; it was transparent with a brown rim. I was surprised that it smelled of sweet berries. Unfortunately, one sip convinced me that this wine was past its prime. The aromatics were misleading; the palate was a savory mix of dried herbs, earth, and mushroom.

2007 Ladera Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($41/bottle). In case you missed it, please read Tuesday’s blog post for a full review of this amazing wine.

On a sidenote, if you happen to be in the Tiburon neighborhood in Marin on a Sunday or Monday, please come visit me at Prima Palate (soon tobe Main Street Wine Bar). I have also been hired to manage the wine bar’s social media marketing efforts [yes, that is a shameless self-plug for my freelance/consulting business]. Thank you reading Sip Swirl Savor and cheers!