Top 10 wines of 2013

‘Twas the year of Pinot Noir…

While scrolling through my bottle shots in iPhoto and clicking through the past year’s posts, I realize I was on quite the Pinot Noir kick—all year long! I picked the following wines as “favorites” because they stood out in my mind and/or I enjoyed them more than once. Here they are, in no particular order:

Laurent Perrier Brut Champagne NV: I always like to begin with Champagne, and the LP never gets old to me! I enjoyed it on my birthday in October; every time I have gone to La Folie on Polk Street in SF in the past three months; and on countless occasions during the summer. There are even two half-bottles of it in my fridge as I write this. Bright and crisp, this Champagne is always a great price (under $40 retail, less than $20/glass in restaurants) and delicious every time!

2010 Dominique Cornin Pouilly-Fuisse: When I was working in the city, I accidentally grabbed a bottle of this instead of the $20/bottle Cornin Macon-Chaintre (which I think is a great value and blogged about in the spring). Alas, I was pleasantly surprised with this Pouilly-Fuisse ($35/bottle), as it was a notch up in complexity and fruit flavors from its more affordable sibling wine. Unadorned with oak, this Chardonnay also has terrific acidity without the mouth-puckering quality of biting into a lemon. If you know where to find in the Bay Area, please let me know!

2011 Domaine Perraud Mâcon-Village Vielles Vignes: Yes, another White Burgundy. I’ve become a huge fan, especially when said wine is only $18/bottle. Totally unoaked, this is a great wine for summertime and seafood, as mentioned in the July 18thblog post.

2009 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Pinot Noir: I listed the vintage only because it was a 2009 I blogged about back in September. But at the winery in Healdsburg last month, I had the opportunity to taste a few single-vineyard Pinot gems that you won’t find in stores. The 2011 Gary Farrell Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir ($55/bottle) has a perfume of rose petals and dark berries. On the palate, notes of ripe plum and red currants are bolstered by ample acid and silky tannins. And the views of Russian River Valley from the tasting room are spectacular!

2009 Kosta Browne Gaps Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir: I really liked the 2009 Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir as well, which I tried on July 4^th (but didn’t blog about) and then enjoyed again at a party in October. It was awesome tasting the RRV and the Gaps Crown Vineyard side-by-side. Mr. Browne does an excellent job of taming the tannins that Gaps Crown fruit is known for, while keeping the mouthfeel lush and satiny. It’s a full-bodied Pinot fit for a steak or similarly full-flavored meal.

2010 Alysian Russian River Valley Pinot Noir: I never mentioned this particular wine in a blog post, but it is delicious ($42/bottle). It has been on the wine-by-the-glass menu at Main Street Wine Bar in Tiburon for the past six months—for a reason: everybody loves it. It has that classic dark cherry cola flavor with just a hint of earthiness and a luscious mouthfeel.

2011 Sojourn Cellars Wohler Vineyard (Russian River Valley) Pinot Noir: Are you seeing a pattern here? I love Russian River Valley Pinots! This particular one even got a mention in my novel and was mentioned in the highlights of my “Release PartyRound-up” post.

2010 Anaba Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir: I discovered this wine at my favorite restaurant, Picco in Larkspur, after driving by the winery hundreds of times. I finally stopped in at the tasting room, which is a quaint spot just off the 121/12 intersection in Carneros and blogged about it in July.

2010 Sequana Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir: This was a popular wine on many by-the-glass menus in the spring—and I was quite happy about that. I also love the darker, richer Sequana Pinot from Russian River Valley and compared the two in a postback in May.

2009 Cornerstone Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: I have to include at least one Napa wine on this list! And this is it. This new release from one of my favorite wineries is a delicious Cab, which I included the tasting notes for in my last post.

A few other wines that I really enjoyed in the past year were the 2009 Castello di Amarosa Sangiovese, the 2010 Tendril Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2010 Rubissow Mt. Veeder Merlot and the 2012 Hess Collection Albarino. I would love to hear your favorite wines of the past year—please post your comments below or on my Facebook page. Cheers!

P.S. The hardback edition of Where I Want to Be: A Wine Country Novel is still available for purchase at authorcortney.com or consider the ebook as a gift for yourself or a fiction-loving friend (no shipping fee, all you need is the recipient's email address). The ebook is exclusively for Kindle and the Kindle app for iPad, iPhone, and iMac.

P.P.S. I look forward to sharing more of my reviews and wine-tasting experiences with you in 2014. Happy Holidays!

Book signing recap at Cornerstone Cellars

We had a great turnout for my first-ever book signing party at Cornerstone Cellars in Napa Valley this past weekend. In my novel, Where I Want to Be, the main characters visit the Cornerstone tasting room in Yountville. It was the perfect venue for my event!

In between chatting with my Wine Country friends and answering questions about my book (no, it’s not autobiographical!) to new fans, I took the chance to taste through the current line up of Cornerstone wines:

2011 Stepping Stone Napa Valley Riesling ($20/bottle): Yes, it’s a dry Riesling! This wine has a fresh and lively attitude with bright citrus notes and an alluring finish.

2011 Willamette Valley Chardonnay ($40/bottle): Lots of Meyer lemon on the palate with a kiss of vanilla and a long finish citrusy finish. This would be an amazing complement to fresh crab. Mmmmm….

2010 Stepping Stone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($35/bottle): This delightful Pinot Noir is young and fruity with notes of ripe raspberry, cranberry, and juicy strawberry. Vanilla and spice are super-subtle on the finish. Very easy to drink!

2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65/bottle): This brand-new release has “drink me” written all over it. The rich and complex palate offers delicious notes of dark red berries and dark chocolate supported by velvety tannins. (I went back for seconds of this one!)

2010 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon ($80/bottle): This wine has such a gorgeous perfume that becomes more pronounced with every swirl. Think blackberry jam, fresh sage, and black licorice. On the palate, a mélange of ripe dark fruits charms the taste buds with a finish that lingers seductively until your next sip. A little age on this wine will help smooth out the sturdy tannins. I tasted the 2009 vintage of this wine on Sunday night and it is divine. But it is also quite youthful; it was even better the second day. Don’t forget to decant!

If you're going to be in the Napa Valley this weekend, please visit the Hill Family Estate tasting salon on Saturday, 12/7 from 2-4 PM for my second book signing event!  Click here for more info.

So many delicious Mt. Veeder wines!

This past Saturday was the 14^th Annual Mt. Veeder Appellation tasting at The Hess Collection in Napa. Surprisingly, it was also the first rainfall of the season. Despite a little wetness, about thirty wineries poured their Mt. Veeder-grown wines and there was a great consumer turn out!

At the last Mt. Veeder Appellation tasting that I attended in April I enjoyed some fantastic wines, but there were many new wines for me to try on Saturday. I was particularly impressed with the 2007 Renteria Tambor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($50/bottle; renteriawines.com). The 2005 and the 2008 vintages were also very good and it was great to compare the three distinct bottlings, but the 2007 really stood out. This single-vineyard Cab is luscious and provocative with a medium-plus weight. The palate is very fruit-forward with rich, ripe flavors of boysenberry, black cherry and blueberry. It ends with a long, lingering finish of juicy red fruits with a kiss of oak spice. Blended with 3% Syrah, there were only 220 cases produced!

The 2010 Rubissow Mt. Veeder Merlot ($38/bottle, rubissowwines.com) was also very impressive. One-hundred percent Merlot, this recent release offers the hallmark super-smooth tannins of this variety with the depth and concentration expected from a mountain-grown wine. It is full-bodied and lush with forward flavors of mocha, sweet black plum and ripe raspberry. This Merlot spent 20 months in 35% new French oak barrels and will age well, but it is incredibly drinkable now; 289 barrels made. I am also a big fan of the Rubissow Trompettes, a Bordeaux-blend of predominantly Cab Franc. Contact the winery directly for purchase info.

The 2009 Mount Veeder Winery Elevation 1550 Cabernet Sauvignon ($60/bottle; mtveeder.com) was another amazing quaff. The fruit for this particular bottling is sourced from estate vineyards that average at 1550 feet elevation. Powerful yet refined, this limited offering has flavors of crushed dark berries and spice with velvety tannins.

According to the Mayacamas website, the 2008 Maycamas Cabernet Sauvignon has yet to be released, but this is definitely the vintage that I tasted at the event (I have the picture to prove it!). The assistant winemaker was present to explain the lengthy and unique aging process, which begins with fermentation in concrete. Before bottling, the wine spends up to eighteen months in large American (neutral) oak casks and at least one year in French oak barrels, only 10% of which were new. This barrel regimen keeps the tannins restrained and produces a wine medium in body (especially compared to other mountain-grown Napa Valley Cabernets). But what it lacks in weight, it makes up for in complexity and approachability. The 2008 Cab offers cassis, blueberry and blackberry complemented with savory and spice notes. Find more info about this upcoming release at mayacamas.com.

Our last stop in the lovely outdoor courtyard where the tasting was held was the Hess Collection table. The 2012 Small Block Series Albariño was an absolute stunner ($28/bottle.com; hesscollection.com)! It has aromas of tropical fruit and a palate bursting with white peach, pear, citrus, minerals, slate and zippy acidity. Bright and balanced, this round and complex white wine would be incredible with shellfish and salads. When I opened a bottle on Sunday night, I learned it's a great wine for Mexican fare too. And it's pretty darn tasty on it’s own. The 2009 19 Block Cuvée ($40/bottle) and 2010 Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon ($55/bottle) were spectacular. See more notes on these wines in my previous Mt. Veeder blog post. I also enjoyed tasting the 2010 Hess Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($30/bottle) in the tasting room.

If you’ve never been to the Hess Collection Winery, I strongly recommend a visit. This secluded property features an historic stone winery constructed in 1903, a contemporary art collection, and a broad portfolio of wines available for tasting. A special thank you to the winery for hosting the tasting. What a great experience!

Editing and enjoying the 2010 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon

I love blogging about wine, but it’s not the only writing I do...

As a writer, I have always been encouraged to write what I know. It was sometime in December 2011 when I started a novel. Because I was living in Yountville at the time, it was the logical setting for my story. I wrote about dating and drinking wine in the Napa Valley—two topics I know well.

In the second draft, I flexed my creative muscles and developed the main character, meaning I made stuff up. This is not an autobiography; it is contemporary women’s fiction (yes, that’s a genre!). The third draft was all about adding wine references and a few wine-savvy personalities to support the main character—a wine novice—on her wine-soaked path to self-discovery.

The development of this story and the writing process itself has been inspired and fueled by many glasses of wine. After working with a wonderful editor, Susan K Cole, I am currently polishing the final draft with hopes of self-publishing my ebook on Amazon soon. For updates on the official ebook launch and other fun fiction tidbits, please like my new Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/AuthorCortney and follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AuthorCortney.

Who knows where I would be in my writing process without wine. Last night with a glass of the 2010 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, I edited the 22^nd chapter.

At $25/bottle, this is a tasty weeknight Cabernet and pretty affordable by Napa standards. The nose offers aromas of dark berries and oak spice. Concentrated and bold, this Cab has a lush mouthfeel and well-integrated tannins. With ripe blackberry flavors, dark chocolate notes, and the tiniest whisper of black licorice, this is a young wine with a lot of potential. Over the next six months, it will benefit from decanting and don’t forget to give it a good swirl. Cheers!

Sojourn Cellars: wines for every day of the week!

Not far from the main square in downtown Sonoma is a quaint little house-turned-tasting room. There’s a sign out front with a lawn chair on it. This inviting and casual space is the home of Sojourn Cellars.

What started as a mere 100-case release of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2001 has grown to an amazing portfolio of small-production offerings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well. When I recently visited the tasting salon, I was thrilled to taste seven different wines, each of them enjoyable with significant food-pairing potential.

The 2011 Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($45/bottle; 250 cases produced) smells of honey blossom and white flowers. In the mouth, it is opulent and creamy thanks to the French oak treatment and 100% secondary fermentation. Baked apple and vanilla notes round out the mid-palate with refreshing hints of pineapple and ginger on the finish.

The 2011 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($39/bottle; 1250 cases produced) gives off delicate aromas of rose petal and red currants. It is on the lighter side with thrilling acidity, racy red cherry fruit flavors and dusty tannins with a whisper of smoke. This is an extremely easy-drinking wine that would pair nicely with prosciutto-wrapped asparagus or bacon-wrapped scallops.

The 2011 Pinot Noir, Rogers Creek Vineyard ($48/bottle; 550 cases produced) is dark and voluptuous for a Pinot. Perfumed with purple flowers and baking spice, the palate delivers a mélange of boysenberry, raspberry and black cherry fruit laced with a subtle earthiness. Wow!

The 2011 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley (not yet released) is silky smooth and elegant. This purple-hued beauty tastes like dark plum fruit and red candy and will only improve with a little age.

The 2011 Pinot Noir, Gaps Crown Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($54/bottle; 800 cases produced) is chocolate-covered cherries in a glass. Dark ruby-red in color, this wine is luscious and mouth-filling; it could accompany many dark-meat dishes.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District (please inquire for price and availability) tastes remarkably similar to the Cabernets from Terra Valentine (which I love!). Sourced from the Wurtle Vineyard, this Clone 7 Cab has aromas of black tea and dark fruit. Rich with minerals, the palate delivers satisfying flavors of ripe blueberry compote and blackberry jam. For a winery known for its Pinot Noir production, this Cab is absolutely delicious; a shining gem of a wine.

The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III, Rutherford, Napa Valley ($95/bottle; 225 cases produced) is a big, serious wine with a lot of longevity. Definitively masculine, this wine is complex and structured with firm tannins and a lingering richness. Will cellar very well and pair perfectly with a filet mignon.

Maybe you're wondering about the lawn chair... I had to ask about the story behind it, because these wines are hardly the sip-by-the-pool kind. When the founders decided to name their winery “sojourn”, which means to vacation or rest (verb) or a visit (noun), a lawn chair was the obvious emblem for rest and relaxation. Proprietor Craig Haserot also thinks the lawn chair symbolizes the “laid-back” atmosphere in Sonoma County.

These wines are so good you will want to find a comfortable place in which to sit back and enjoy them!

Don’t forget to call ahead for an appointment at the Sojourn Tasting Salon the next time you’re planning a trip to Sonoma. I also highly recommend grabbing lunch at the Sonoma Cheese Factory (the pulled pork sandwich and slaw is to die for). More Sonoma-based winery recommendations to come soon. As always, I invite you to connect with me on Facebook. I look forward to your comments. Cheers!

The Wines of Atlas Peak

Hill Family Estate, Krupp Brothers, Astrale e Terra, VinRoc, Lobo Wines, Antica Napa Valley, and Alpha Omega all have one thing in common—these producers belong to the Atlas Peak Appellation Association (APAA). Despite a shared appellation designation, the wines grown in Atlas Peak couldn't be more diverse. This AVA offers quite the range of styles! For more information about the area, click here.

The APAA tasting kicked off with a barrel sample of the 2012 Hill Family Estate Atlas Peak Sauvignon Blanc; a blend of 86.3% Sauvignon Blanc and 13.7% Semillon, this barrel-fermented white offers bright tropical fruit on the nose. The palate is full and lush with lots of refreshing citrus notes and a finish with just a hint of spice. Keep an eye out for its release this fall. Also from Hill Family Estate, the 2009 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon ($68/bottle) has beautiful longevity and depth with lingering flavors of blackberry and sage, with just a whisper of licorice.

From the Krupp Brothers label, the 2009 Chardonnay is opulent and full-bodied; it is both fermented and aged in French oak (80% new) for 22 months. It undergoes 100% malolatic fermentation and yet it retains an attractive acidity that complements the green apple flavors and buttery texture. The 2007 Veraison ($67/bottle) gets the same oak treatment and is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cab Franc, 4% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. This sumptuous blend offers bright red fruit flavors and a robust richness on the palate. It finishes with red berries and spice notes. It is delicious now but still has a lot of ageing potential.

Astrale e Terra is a tiny little winery that produces only 1500 cases annually. We tasted the 2012 Syrah Rosé ($22/bottle), which was just lovely. Very pale pink in color, this rosé is low in alcohol and has the tiniest amount of residual sugar to balance out the acid. Light and fruity with cranberry and watermelon notes, it is a perfect poolside companion! The soon-to-be released 2009 Arcturus ($40/bottle) is a blend of Cab, Merlot, Syrah, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot. This bold wine serves up a tasty combination of plum and blackberry flavors with velvety tannins. A great value! 

The 2008 VinRoc Cab ($98/bottle) is 100% Cabernet and accounts for more than one-third of VinRoc’s total production. Aged for 24 months in French oak, the nose imparts aromas of black olive and earth. Structured yet refined, red currant and surprisingly bright acidity round out the palate. It finishes dry with lingering red berry notes.

Lobo is another itty-bitty producer. Only 75 cases were produced of the 2009 Lobo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65/bottle); it is brick-red in color with savory aromas and big, mouthfilling tannins. This wine will age well.

We tasted a few wines from the Antica Napa Valley portfolio. The 2011 Estate Chardonnay is perfumed with orange blossom and spice. The palate delivers notes of lemon curd, almonds, and sweet vanilla with refreshing acidity. The 2009 Townsend Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($105/bottle) has a soft, supple texture and a pretty purple color. Restrained and focused, this wine offers dark berry and mineral notes. This is a wine that age wonderfully. Then during lunch, a few bottles of the 2012 Fossino Rosé of Pinot Noir were passed around. It was a refreshing complement to the food and the warm afternoon.   

The last wine in the line-up was impressive and rich, the equivalent of dessert. The fruit for the 2009 Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon ($120/bottle) was sourced from Jan Krupp’s Stagecoach Vineyard. Dark and super-concentrated in the glass, this Cab offers intense aromas of purple fruit and baking spice. Prevailing flavors of coffee and dark chocolate overwhelm the taste buds. Decadent!

Visiting the Atlas Peak Appellation and spending time at the Antica Napa Valley property was a fantastic experience that I encourage you to experience for yourself. If you’re looking for unique and complex Napa wines, this is where you can find them! 

The Atlas Peak Advantages

I’ve always had an affinity for mountain-grown wines, so when I received an invitation to a luncheon and tasting organized by the Atlas Peak Appellation Association (APAA), I quickly confirmed my attendance.

Prior to the luncheon last week, I don’t think I had ever tasted a wine from the Atlas Peak AVA. It was an enlightening experience. Approved as an American Viticultural Area in 1992, the region includes Soda Canyon and Foss Valley and ranges in elevation from 760 feet above sea level to the highest point of its namesake (the Atlas Peak itself stands at 2663 feet in elevation). This region is not new to the wine-producing landscape of the Napa Valley; in fact, grapes have been grown here since 1870! Located east of Yountville and above the Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak covers 11,400 acres. Only 1,500 acres have been planted, which is a teeny-tiny number compared to the total vineyard acreage planted in the Napa Valley.

With its diverse micro-climates, treacherous terrain and limited access (there are only two very narrow roads in and out), it can be hard to imagine why anyone would want to develop a vineyard site in Atlas Peak.

When asked this very question, Doug Hill of Hill Family Estate Winery just laughed. As a vineyard manager, grape grower, and vintner, Doug talked about the surplus of challenges involved with growing grapes in Atlas Peak. The soil is thin and extremely rocky. Preventing soil erosion on these steep slopes and irrigating the vines is tricky. Also, all the farming must be done by hand, which is more costly. And yet Doug and other APAA-members saw the potential in this area and agreed that the additional effort required to farm this land has been a worthwhile venture. Fortunately, this region gets a good amount of rainfall and there are natural springs throughout.

Another advantage of this AVA is that it’s above the fog line which allows for long, sunny days and more consistent temperatures than the valley floor. Michael Parmenter of VinRoc Wine Caves explained that the grapes benefit from additional hours of sunlight and the rocky soils stay warm at night so there is a smaller shift in temperature from day to night. The elevation also shields the vines from heat spikes. On Michael’s property, we witnessed how diverse the climes of Atlas Peak can be. Only twenty feet from the front of his house where it was warm and sunny, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped noticeably! For this reason, grapes within the same vineyard—even on the same vine—mature at different speeds, which makes picking at optimal ripeness all the more grueling and time-consuming. The harvest of red grapes in Atlas Peak usually begins the first week of October and takes a full month before completion.

Jan Krupp, the founder of Krupp Brothers and Stagecoach Vineyard, is known as a visionary. When he sold his medical practice in 1998 to pursue his dreams of creating a vineyard to rival that of Chateau Margaux, he was not intimidated by the formidable terroir of Atlas Peak. Jan was captivated with the rich soils and rocky nature of this AVA and he was determined to make world-class Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc here. Due to the adverse growing conditions, vines on Atlas Peak “struggle”, which equates to small yields and tiny berries. These highly concentrated grapes offer superior intensity of color and tannins, as well as a greater potential to age these wines—just the qualities Jan was determined to achieve in his vineyards. He farms the Bordeaux varietals and 13 more varieties in his mountainous vineyards. Under the Krupp Brothers label, he only makes about 7,000 cases of wine but his vineyards are capable of producing as many as 133,000 cases. He sells the surplus fruit to 80 different wineries.

For the luncheon and tasting, we were hosted at Antica Napa Valley by Glenn Salva, who has been the Estate Manager at this property since 1985. Similar to the Krupp Brothers, Antica sells as much as 90% of the fruit they grow in Atlas Peak. Of their total planted acreage, 50% is Cabernet Sauvignon; Chardonnay accounts for 25%; and the Bordeaux varietals and Sangiovese make up the balance. Owned by the Antinori family, Antica was named in 2006; it is the word for ‘ancient’ in Italian and also a blend of the family name and California. Today, this beautiful wine estate boasts breathtaking views; a 10,000-case annual production; and an Italian-trained chef.

The terrace at Antica Napa Valley was the perfect setting to enjoy some stellar wines, which represented a variety of styles. I highly recommend a trip up Soda Canyon Road, just be sure to call before you get there; Antica Napa Valley is by appointment only (as are the rest of the wineries in Atlas Peak). 

For the complete tasting notes of the APAA tasting, please click here. Cheers!

Notes from the Mount Veeder Spring Tasting

Set at the Golden Gate Club in the Presidio, with a beautiful backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge on a crystal-clear afternoon, the Mount Veeder AVA Spring Tasting was a very civilized event. I appreciated the small, intimate nature of the venue (compared to the overwhelming vastness of Fort Mason). It wasn’t crowded and most of the winery representatives were the owners and winemakers (which is not usually the case at some of the bigger tastings).

 

Mount Veeder Summit

 Most of the producers at this event were teeny-tiny, some only produce a few hundred cases, many of which were new to my taste buds.  I was impressed by almost everything I tried. What can I say…I’ve always been a fan of mountain fruit.

I started in one corner of the room with Chateau Potelle. I really enjoyed the 2009 Illegitimate ($37) from the Explorer collection. A crazy blend of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 17% Zinfandel, and 11% Syrah, this wine is aromatic and full-bodied with bright fruit flavors and terrific food pairing potential. I can’t wait to check out their new tasting room in St. Helena!

I really enjoyed the two selections from Hess Collection. The 2009 19 Block Cuvee ($38) is a blend of mostly Cabernet (63%) and Malbec (20%) with a little Merlot, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. It is plush and powerful with velvety tannins and delicious dark berry notes. Although I can see how the 2009 Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon ($55)—82% Cab, 14% Malbec, 2% Merlot, 2% PV—could be cellared for many years to come, it’s already very approachable with all the ripe red fruit and concentration I expect from a mountain-grown wine. Both of these wines will only get better with time.

I was also charmed by the 2009 Y Rousseau Cabernet Sauvignon “Le Roi Soleil” ($65). This is a small producer that has recently doubled its production. Yannick Rousseau, founder and winemaker, also makes Russian River Valley Tannat, Mount Veeder Chardonnay, Sonoma Cab, and Colombard. The new tasting room will open in Napa soon. Check out their website for more info.

If you’re a Cab Franc fan like me, you’ll love the 2009 Yates Cheval ($48)! Delicious and dark and 100% Cab Franc, this beauty offers black cherry, plum, and spice. The Yates Family Vineyard is a family affair—Michael and Lynn Yates own the vineyards and the winery is staffed by their daughters Whitney (assistant winemaker) and Mary (CFO) and son-in-law Todd (sales and marketing). They also produce Merlot, Cab, and the super tasty Cab/Merlot/Cab Franc blend, the 2009 Alden Perry Reserve ($65).

Lampyridae Vineyards is another itty-bitty producer on the mountain with a well-known winemaker, Aaron Pott. The 2010 Communication Block Cabernet Sauvignon is very tasty. It’s a wine project that supports a local charity which promotes academic achievement for children who have severe communication needs. Awwww!

Wow, normally I don’t have this many wines to rave about from a single tasting, but I also have to mention the Foyt and Meadowcroft Cabernets. These delicious wines are showcased at Corner Stone in Sonoma.

 

Last but not least, the three wines (Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon) from Mt. Brave Winery are all gorgeous. The Malbec ($75) was particularly appealing; this dark-purple beauty is concentrated with raspberry and cassis flavors with a full and luxurious palate.

A special thank you to the Mount Veeder Council for putting this awesome tasting together. More info about Mount Veeder AVA wines can be found on their website. Cheers! 

Bordeaux Matchmaking

The following statement was said to me the other night: “You, young lady, have a California palate.”

No, really?

You, loyal reader, know just how much I embrace my California wines, so I would never dream of denying such an astute observation, but I was encouraged to tell this person that I have been enjoying quite a few French wines recently, including the Cornin Mâcon-Chaintré.

I don’t think of it as cheating on my locally fermented options; it’s more like playing the field.

However, “playing the field” is an analogy that can’t really be applied to the wine tasting event I attended last week. Unlike the Rhone Rangers event, where I randomly approached various wineries of my choosing and was free to taste as many wines as I wanted to, at the Bordeaux Matchmaking event at the Clift Hotel on March 27^th, I was provided with a table assignment and drink tickets upon check-in.

Before the event, I filled out a short questionnaire with simple questions about my wine preferences and based on my answers, I was matched up with the four wines poured at Table 7.

My friend Laura and I located our table and were presented with a glass of 2011 Château Reynier, Entre-Deux-Mers, a blend of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon. It was crisp and refreshing with tropical fruit notes and lively acidity.

Although we were off to a great start, we were dying to know what was being poured at the other tables. Why is it we always want what we can’t have?

As we worked our way around the Velvet Room to the beats of DJ Antiks, it was too dark to see what other wines were available. We got away with tasting the 2009 Château Beaumont Haut-Médoc at Table 6 (shh, don’t tell); it was quite tasty.

We returned to our assigned table where we socialized and conspired to switch tables. We met a guy whose nametag read “Sexy” and he was suave enough to convince the staff at Table 4 to let us taste the 2009 Château Guibeau Saint-Emilion—which was my favorite wine of the night. Rich blackberry and cassis with dry cocoa notes and sweet oak…it was soft but powerful, and one small taste was not enough of this delicious wine.

The last wine we tasted was the 2006 Château De Cruzeau, Pessac-Léognan. This blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc was starting to show some age; the palate was dominated with masculine notes of cedar and tobacco. It wasn’t the fruit-forward style of wine I’m used to drinking, but it was worth trying, and with the right meal—like mushroom risotto or duck breast—it would be incredible.

At that point, I was out of drink tickets. I only tried four wines that night; but three of them I would happily drink again (these are pretty good odds). There are more terrific (and affordable) Bordeaux suggestions at Bordeaux.com, the major sponsor of the event. This was a really fun event, even if it had a different format from what I’m used to. Because going to a wine tasting is all about trying new things, right?

"Misery Loves Cabernet" (and so do I)

--> I have a weakness for funny, lighthearted women’s contemporary fiction. And if Cabernet is in the title, I’m definitely going to read it.

Which is exactly what I did when I discovered “Misery loves Cabernet,” a novel by Kim Gruenenfelder. I came across it on Amazon.com while I was doing a little research for the manuscript I’m currently working on (and specifically, what to call it).

As I embark on the sixth draft of my own novel, I have been thinking a lot about titles. Although “Misery loves Cabernet” is a quick and entertaining read, I don’t think the title is a clear representation of its content, characters, or plot. I was slightly disappointed that it didn’t have more wine references. The main character likes to drink wine, but the only bottles she mentions specifically are Clos du Val and Guenoc. And no one is wallowing in misery. This book might not really be about Cabernet, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless.

Truth be told, I’d rather be drinking a really great Cabernet than reading about one…

The 2010 White Hart Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon is one of my favorites right now. From a boutique producer in Paso Robles, this Cab is such a great value at only $23.50 a bottle (fpwm.com).

This juicy, ripe wine is dark and concentrated in the glass with mouthwatering aromas of cassis and blackberry pie. The palate is rich and round with chewy tannins, an abundance of dark berry flavors, and oaky undertones. The wine finishes with notes of sweet vanilla and wood spice. It is silky enough to sip casually on its own, perhaps while reading an amusing novel like “Misery loves Cabernet”, or enjoy it with an aged Gouda or hearty meat dish for the perfect pairing.