Release Party Round Up

On October 5th, I threw myself a party in honor of the release of my new ebook, Where I Want to Be: A Wine Country Novel. This is the first of four novels in the Wine Country Series and it contains many real wine and winery references. If you have been reading Sip, Swirl, Savor for any length of time, you know I only promote wines that I am passionate about. The same goes for the wines I mention in the novel—they are my favorite wines and places to visit. Naturally, I sourced the same wines for the party!

You can’t call it a celebration without bubbles, so we popped the cork on a bottle of J Cuvée 20 Brut NV ($28/bottle) right off the bat.  As always, this J sparkler was a crowd pleaser. A blend of 50% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir and 1% Pinot Meunier, this Russian River Valley bubbly is elegant and sumptuous. It offers zesty citrus notes and yeasty aromas with flavors of pear, toast, and almonds. It was spectacular to sip on it’s own but it was also quite lovely with a variety of cheeses, olives, and Marcona almonds.

The Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs NV ($22/bottle) is what we toasted the success of my ebook with. (It’s a delicious wine, let’s hope it’s a lucky one too!) This pale-pink bubbly is 82% Pinot Noir and 8% Chardonnay, all of which is hand-harvested from the 340-acre estate in Carneros (Sonoma). With lots of bright strawberry and bright acidity, this too is a wine that is great with ripe cheeses or duck liver mousse, ahi tuna, or smoked salmon.

The 2012 Stepping Stone Napa Valley Pinot Gris ($20/bottle) is a brand-new release from Cornerstone Cellars. This fresh and lively white wine with its colorful label was the perfect accompaniment to the joyous energy of the celebration. With crisp fruit flavors and great acidity, this is a terrific warm weather wine and great with appetizers of all kinds!

Side note: Interestingly enough, the three wineries above just recently debuted beautiful new websites! After launching my new Author Cortney website, I can appreciate how much effort goes into this process. I love the new look at Jwine.com, GloriaFerrer.com, and Cornerstonecellars.com!

Another white wine that attendees sipped while I read one of my favorite excerpts from the ebook was the 2012 Honig Sauvignon Blanc ($17/bottle). It’s a white-gold color in the glass with subtle aromas of mango, lime and lemongrass. On the palate, it has zippy acidity with bright tropical fruit flavors. This wine is very refreshing and such a great value. Ten percent is aged in neutral oak barrels and it is blended with 2% Semillon and 1% Muscat. Yum!

After the party, a small group of us went to the Tiburon Tavern for dinner where we enjoyed the 2011 Sojourn Cellars Wohler Vineyard Pinot Noir ($48/bottle). This is one of my favorite Sojourn wines. About 500 cases were produced from this small Russian River Valley vineyard. It has that classic cherry cola flavor along with a super-smooth mouthfeel and moderate weight. It paired perfectly with the lamb sliders!

If you like reading this wine blog, check out my new ebook, which is available exclusively on Amazon. Where I Want to Be started as a blog post, and then got longer and longer until I started referring to it (and self-published it) as a novel. Although it’s women’s fiction, quite a few men have already read it (and enjoyed it!). I hope you’ll enjoy it too. Cheers!

Refreshing Summertime Sippers

Summertime is my favorite time of year. As the temperature rises, I am more inclined to reach for something chilled and refreshing. Here are a few options to help keep you cool…

2011 Chateau Lestrille Blanc, Entre-deux-Mers (under $15/bottle, bordeaux.com): I tasted this refreshing white at the Wine Riot event in San Francisco earlier this month. Fermented and aged in stainless steel for three months, this crisp wine is mostly Sauvignon Blanc blended with a little Muscadelle. It has aromas of white flowers and citrus with peach and stone fruit flavors. With vibrant acid, this wine is best sipped alongside fresh oysters, summery salads, or moules frites.

2011 J Winery Pinot Gris ($15/bottle, jwine.com): As always, this tasty bottling is crisp and clean and perfect for just about any occasion. This easy sipper offers aromas of Mandarin orange, stone fruit and melon. Vivacious acidity balances the melon, citrus and minerals on the palate. It has a screw-top closure and lots of food pairing potential, especially with spicy foods. 

2011 Domaine Perraud Mâcon-Villages Vielle Vignes ($18/bottle, fpwm.com): Who loves White Burgundy with a small price tag? I do! I do! This Chardonnay is unadorned with oak and pleasantly fruit-forward. Lively acidity and green apple flavors make it a great match for a sunny afternoon by the pool, a goat cheese salad, chicken dishes, or sauteed shrimp.

2010 Cornerstone Cellars Sauvignon Blanc ($25/bottle, cornerstonecellars.com): This wine is aged sur lie in French oak for six months following fermentation in stainless steel. Pale straw color in the glass with the tiniest tinge of green, it has alluring aromas of lemon peel and guava with a very subtle note of fresh herbs. The palate is equally as mesmerizing with mouthwatering acid, bright minerals, and snappy citrus flavors. This is an inspired Sauvignon Blanc that pairs with everything from a triple-cream cheese (as shown in the pic) to fresh crab or even lobster risotto. 

2011 Smith-Madrone Riesling ($27/bottle, smithmadrone.com): If something light and fruity is what you’re seeking, this Riesling from the Spring Mountain district is it. With a lower alcohol content (12.6%) and brilliant acidity, the stone fruit flavors explode on the palate. With less than 1% residual sugar, it is technically a dry wine and delicious at lunchtime. 

Splurge 2004 Nicholas Feuillatte Brut Blanc de Blancs ($50/bottle, mainstreetwinebar.net): This vintage Champagne is utterly dreamy! It has a perfume of roasted hazelnuts and freshly baked bread. The palate is nutty and yeasty with racy green apple flavors and a kiss of caramel. Not particularly fruity, this sparkler is best served all on its own! 

As always, thank you for reading Sip, Swirl, Savor. Please follow me on Facebook and Twitter for wine events and more fabulous wine-related content. 

Cheers,

Cortney

Looking for a tasty white wine? Reach for Cline!

If you’ve ever driven up to Napa via I-121 by way of I-37, you’ve passed Cline Cellars on the left in Sonoma. There’s a sign just north of the winery entrance on which a clever rhyming phrase is always posted. A lot rhymes with Cline (other than wine, which is very convenient).

Cline is probably most known for Zinfandel, but they offer many different wines. With the arrival of Spring, the winery has just released some distinct and delicious white wines. The following two boast the Green String stamp on the label, which is Cline’s commitment to natural and sustainable farming.

The 2012 Sonoma Coast Cool Climate Pinot Gris (on sale for only $11.05/bottle) has a richness of fruit and beautiful opulence that you might think it’s seen some oak. But it was produced exclusively in stainless steel, preserving its naturally vivacious acidity and elegance. Green apple and grapefruit aromas greet the nose while Asian pear and citrus linger on the palate long after the initial taste. It’s divine on its own, but this wine is a perfect pairing for springtime vegetables and seafood. At this price, it’s definitely worth having on hand!

The 2011 Sonoma Coast Marsanne Roussanne ($22/bottle) is like a tropical vacation for the taste buds. It is a sunny straw color in the glass with aromas of honey blossom and tropical fruit. The palate is dominated by juicy pineapple with lingering mineral notes. This is a blend of 76% Marsanne and 24% Roussanne, two varieties that you don’t see much in California. (There are less than 250 combined acres of these grapes planted in the Golden State.) With exciting acidity and a delicate weight in the mouth, it would be amazing on an warm day with a Nicoise salad with seared ahi tuna or fish tacos.

The 2012 North Coast Viognier is slighter deeper in color and flavor but has equally appealing acidity. It smells of peach and nectarine. The palate offers ripe stone fruit character, minerals, and a touch of beeswax. It is medium-bodied and has an attractive fullness that finishes with lemon peel and lime zest. This pure Viognier is complex and incredibly easy to drink. It would be an awesome match for triple-cream cheeses, English pea risotto, or roast chicken. This wine should be available soon!

These wines were received for sample purposes. Please visit the Cline website for more info about ordering and tasting room hours. Cheers!

OMJ! The J Signature Tasting

I can’t believe it’s already been two months since my visit to the tasting room at J Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg. With a chic, modern feel to it, the J Visitor Center is a great place to enjoy a tasty selection of wines, including red and white, both still and sparkling.

Although J produces some wines that are readily available in the marketplace (like the California Pinot Gris), the J “Signature” Tasting flight features wines that are sold exclusively at the winery.

The 2011 J Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley ($20/bottle) was a delicious wine to start with. Clean and crisp with flavors of melon, citrus, and spice, this is an ideal wine to sip on its own or with light apps.

I loved the 2011 J Chardonnay from Jewell Ranch, Russian River Valley ($45/bottle). Produced in the Burgundian style, this medium-bodied Chardonnay spends only 3 months in oak and has very subtle notes of vanilla and butterscotch. Sweet pear and mineral notes round out the palate nicely. This is a very elegant and balanced wine that would be amazing with shellfish, simple pasta dishes, and goat cheese.

The 2010 J Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($37/bottle) is equally as delicious as the Chardonnay. It offers bright cherry aromas and flavors of red fruit, vanilla, and white pepper. With a juicy and lush mouthfeel, it finishes smooth with a bit of spice. This would be an excellent complement to mushroom risotto, an aged cheddar, pork or duck.

And then—surprise!—we tasted a few sparkling wines. It seemed a little untraditional to try sparkling wines after the still wines, but it provided a refreshing change of pace. The J Cuvée 20, Russian River Valley NV ($28/bottle) was just as tasty as I remembered it with bright acidity, subtle lemon notes and a clean finish.

The 2005 J Vintage Brut, Russian River Valley is a beautiful sparkler ($45/bottle). I took a bottle of this to Thanksgiving dinner last week. A pale golden hue in the glass, this brut offers nuances of green apple, lemon, and Asian pear. The mid-palate offers richer flavors of hazelnut and brioche; the wine ends with refreshing citrus note. While a delightful aperitif on its own, this sparkling wine would go well with sushi or appetizers like an arugula salad with pears and goat cheese crumbles.

J Winery is one that I will definitely visit again. Next time, I’m making a reservation for the 3-course wine and food pairing in the Bubble Room!

2011 J Pinot Gris (what to order by the glass)

I went out to dinner twice last week, and at both restaurants [Straits in San Francisco and Jason’s in Greenbrae], I enjoyed the 2011 J Vineyards “California” Pinot Gris by the glass. I’ve also noticed it on the wine list at Balboa Café and on the store shelves at Whole Foods.

This wine is super versatile and delicious. Unlike some white wines that can be overly tangy with tart citrus notes and harsh acidity, this Pinot Gris ($15/bottle) balances lemon/lime flavors with tropical fruits, minerals, and honey. It has a nice fruity finish that lasts until your next sip. And when it’s a balmy 74-degrees out like it was in San Francisco last week, that next sip can’t come soon enough!

The tasting notes on the J website refer to the Pinot Gris as “the perfect sipper when entertaining with friends.” I couldn’t agree more…

When I ordered it at Jason’s Restaurant, I was with a friend and it was the ideal choice on the wine-by-the-glass menu. We ordered a variety of different appetizers, including the tempura-fried green beans with spicy-sweet dipping sauces, shrimp cocktail, and sautéed scallops with asparagus and mixed greens. The food was super tasty and the wine paired beautifully with each of the unique flavors.

Blind dates, entertaining with friends, ethnic cuisines, spicy foods—the J Pinot Gris pairs well with all!

Celebrate subtlety with Erath Wines!

The more wines from Oregon I taste, the more I love Oregon wines. (And it's a good thing because I'm going to be spending the next 4 days in Portland!)

It’s easy to get inundated with Californian wines when you live within an hour of many winegrowing regions in California. But Oregon wines offer something that California wines often lack—subtlety.

Don’t get me wrong; subtlety does not equal a wimpy wine.

Yes, there are times when a full-bodied Cab from Napa is just the ticket (for example, when you’re grilling up rib-eye steaks). But for someone who eats very little red meat, I don’t want a wine that will hit me over the head with tannin, fruit (i.e. a fruit bomb), or alcohol. I find myself gravitating towards wines that have subtle nuances and modest characteristics.

That being said, when I poured myself a glass of the 2010 Erath Pinot Noir (Oregon, $19/bottle), I was surprised. Albeit a pretty ruby hue, the wine was transparent in the glass—it looked more like a rosé than a red wine!

But one sniff and I knew this wine was more powerful than it looked.

Rose petal, red fruit, dusty earth, and violet aromas jump from the glass. According to a  friend of mine who just moved here from England, the smoky quality to the nose is reminiscent of a widely used wood polish in the UK*. I thought it smelled more like saddle leather, but I have never polished wood in an old English home (and I hope I don’t ever have to, haha).

*There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to wine—it’s all subjective. And that’s the beauty of it!

This elegant Pinot Noir expresses understated flavors of brandied cherry, red currant, and raspberry. It has very high acid without being abrasive; the mouthfeel is juicy and soft. Although I was skeptical at first, I really enjoyed this wine. And for $19 a bottle, it’s my new favorite Pinot Noir for under $25.

This wine would be great with ahi tuna—whether tartare or lightly seared and served with as a salade niçoise. It would also pair perfectly with an Italian anitpasto plate of proscuitto, salumi, olives, and peppers.

Before we “nose-dived” into the Pinot Noir, we tasted the 2011 Erath Pinot Gris (Oregon $14/bottle). This wine was a great way to start the evening; it’s a terrific apperatif.

Tart and snappy with vivacious acidity, the Pinot Gris is perfumed with Meyer lemon, pear, and citrus blossom. The palate confirms the nose with additional green apple and banana flavors. It is a pale straw color in the glass and finishes with very slight nuances of freshly cut grass and pineapple.

We enjoyed this wine with a honey goat-milk Gouda cheese from Trader Joe’s before we sat down for dinner. This wine would also go nicely with quiche, lobster bisque, or summer veggies.

Sidenote: I loved that both of these wines have cork-free closures. Without a cork, there's also no foil to mess with (and therefore less waste). These bottles were received courtesy of Erath Winery for participation in the Thirsty Girl Twitter tasting. Thank you both!

I am attending the Wine Blogger’s Conference from August 16-19. Please follow me on Twitter and like me on Facebook for updates. Thank you and cheers!

As good as it gets in Marin

There are many great restaurants in Marin, but with Restaurant Picco about a mile from my house, it's usually where I end up when I go out for dinner. The wine and cocktail selection never disappoints and the food is consistently delicious.

I met a friend at Picco last night; over the course of three hours, we ordered 5 dishes and 5 glasses of wine to share. 

To start, I opted for a glass of the 2009 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris. It was crisp and clean with flavors of pear and green apple. Although refreshing and tasty on it's own, it was the perfect accompaniment to our first course of kampachi crudo and risotto with wax beans and peppers.

Meanwhile, my friend enjoyed the Italian 2010 Ceretto Blange Arneis--a slightly sweet white wine with stonefruit flavors and a medium body.

When the trio of sliders arrived, I quickly ordered a glass of the 2009 Bueyes Malbec from Argentina. Dark and juicy, this approachable red has been on the wine list for a while and I love it! It's also great with the thin-crust pizza served next door at the Pizzeria. 

The Malbec also paired nicely with the hen of the woods mushroom (a meaty mushroom grilled and served in a citrusy beurre blanc sauce). 

The luscious 2008 Lambert Bridge Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel was such a wonderful match for the rich, pungent cheese plate we had in lieu of dessert. For $14.95, the four-selection cheese plate with marcona almonds, fruit and grilled bread, this is the best cheese plate ever.

Why would I go anywhere else when Picco is as good as it gets?