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!

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!

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!

Gun Bun Fun!

A couple weeks ago, I received a message via Twitter from a friend that read, “I know how much you love Chardonnay, you shouldn’t miss this.” There was a link included in the message that took me to the website for the SF Chef’s festival and a list of wine-related events (including a session on the history of Chardonnay in California).

While I appreciated the info, my first inclination was to defend my wine drinking sensibility, because I don’t love all Chardonnay.

If this friend had had accused me of loving White Burgundy, I would have said, “Yes, you’re absolutely right.”

Because California Chardonnay can be a bit of a mixed bag. If you read my earlier post, “Just the right amount of oak”, you’ll remember that I prefer Chardonnay when it’s fruit-driven with good acidity and just a kiss of oak—as it is made in Burgundy, France.

I’m glad to report that I am discovering more and more of this balanced style produced here in California. You could call it a conditional love I have for Chardonnay…

The 2010 Gundlach Bundschu Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a fun, delightful quaff ($27/bottle). Its complex perfume offers Meyer lemon, key lime, green apple, pear and a whisper of toasty vanilla. With bright minerality and lively acidity, this wine has “cool climate” written all over it and tastes like summertime. Prickly pear, lemon, and pineapple flavors prevail on the palate. This wine is light-bodied and clean, with citrus notes that linger on the tongue until your next sip.

Twenty percent of this wine was fermented in stainless steel, the other 80% was barrel-fermented, but only 20% of the barrels used were new. Also, this wine did not go through malolactic fermentation. The lack of “ML” helps to preserve this wine’s fresh fruit flavors and vivacious acid level; it is a very refreshing and food friendly choice.

It is the perfect wine to sip on it’s own, as I did earlier this week while I prepared dinner. I sautéed corn, spinach, and summer squash separately. Then I whisked three eggs together for an omelette, which unfortunately became scrambled eggs in the pan. I piled the veggies and the eggs into a bowl; it wasn’t as pretty as I had planned. But with a little dill, basil, and goat cheese on top, it tasted great with the Chardonnay.

Seafood (i.e. petrale sole in a beurre blanc sauce or shrimp), creamy risotto or pesto pasta, or a light salad would also pair well with this wine.

Gundlach Bundschu is one of Sonoma’s oldest wineries. They celebrated their 150^th anniversary in 2008! They also produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, Rosé of Tempranillo, and a signature blend called Mountain Cuvée.

I also had the opportunity to enjoy the 2009 Mountain Cuvée recently. For $24 a bottle, it is a great, easy-drinking red wine that would pair nicely with everything from BBQ ribs to eggplant parmesan. It is a unique blend of 7 varietals (mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cab Franc, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and only 1% Malbec). With dark fruit aromas, this palate expresses flavors of black cherry, currant, black licorice and tobacco. This wine has soft tannins, a rich mouthfeel, and a lush medium-plus body. Cocoa and dark berry flavors linger on the finish. This wine will probably improve with 1-2 years of aging, or I would recommend decanting it if you decide to drink it right away.

These two wines were received courtesy of Gundlach Bundschu Winery for sampling purposes. Their wines are distributed throughout the US and they can be ordered directly from their website. 

*If you unsure of how to pronounce the name of the winery, think gun-lock-bun-shoe, like the pictures depicted on the cork.

To all of you going to Outside Lands this weekend, have fun and be safe. Some great wineries will be there, too. Cheers!

A Great Impression from Expression wines

Yesterday, my boyfriend Doug and I (at left) hosted a July 4th party. The food was great and there were many tasty wines to choose from. But instead of writing about one of those wines, I want to highlight two bottles I enjoyed this past week.

On Tuesday evening, we went for dinner at Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, Ca. Doug and I were happy to enjoy a glass of 2009 Expression 38° Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Gap's Crown Vineyard ($48/bottle) while we waited for a table.

This Pinot is exceptionally dark and concentrated in the glass. Sweet, dark fruit aromas lead to a medium-plus body. Layers of black cherry, ripe blackberry, espresso bean, and vanilla are supported by dusty tannins and good acidity. This is a structured and luscious wine that finishes dry with cocoa and herbs; it was easy to sip on its own and it tasted great with the mushroom pizza we ordered. It would also pair nicely with a burger, sausage, or BBQ ribs!

The '38°' in the name represents the latitude of the vineyard from where the grapes were grown. Focusing on Burgundian varietals sourced from Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley (39°), Willamette Valley (44°), and Santa Rita Hills (34°), Expression makes terrific wines that express the unique terroir of these different regions. I discovered this producer at Pinot Days and they sure made a great impression on me!

Expression makes a yummy Chardonnay, too. Last Friday, I popped the cork on a bottle of 2009 Expression 38° Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Goldrock Ridge Vineyard ($25/bottle). Too tired to cook anything for dinner, I unwrapped some Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk cheese, sliced a few fresh figs, and grabbed a handful of crackers

With aromas of orange blossom, vanilla, and creme brûlée, this full-bodied Chardonnay matched the weight and richness of the gooey, triple-cream cheese. Flavors of sweet oak and honey rounded out the palate and baking spice was abundant on the finish.

(If you prefer a lighter, leaner style of Chardonnay, please check out the wine I reviewed this past Tuesday.)


These two bottles were received courtesy of Expression Wine for review purposes. Order yours directly from the website.

Have you checked out the new Sip Swirl Savor Facebook page? Please visit www.facebook.com/SipSwirlSavor to like the page. Receive updates, wine news, and post your commentary. Cheers!

A scrumptious Pinot of the white variety

Last night at chez moi, the menu featured sautéed shrimp in a buerre blanc sauce with pesto pasta and wilted spinach. My wine of choice? The white wine version of my favorite varietal--a Pinot Blanc.

As I've mentioned previously, Dutton-Goldfield knows how to make a mighty fine Pinot Noir. They do a great job with the white wines, too, including Chardonnay, Riesling and Gewurtztraminer. 

The 2011 Dutton-Goldfield Shop Block Pinot Blanc (Russian River Valley, Sonoma; $25/btl) is a very limited production released just in time for summer. It smells of white flowers and grapefruit but it's less acidic on the palate than the nose suggests. Nuances of cantaloupe, stone fruits, and guava give way to a crisp finish with lingering notes of mineral and lime.

This wine makes a superb aperatif and paired nicely with the shrimp. Cheers!

A Pinot that was better the 2nd day?!

There are not normally leftovers at my house. I don't usually like drinking (or eating) the same thing two days in a row and I don't like to be wasteful, but there are always exceptions...

When I opened a bottle of 2009 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($45) on Sunday evening, I didn't expect there would be any left over.

It was delicious right after being opened. Robust flavors, big body, and bold finish--this was not a wimpy wine by any means. My boyfriend said he might have guessed it was a Zinfandel if he had to guess. The dark fruit flavors and prominent tannins were surprising--a pleasant surprise--and no doubt enabled the wine to hold nicely until Monday evening.

I have had big Napa Cabs that tasted better the next day, but I usually find second-day Pinot Noir disappointing and lifeless. The Patz & Hall was incredible the day after being opened (to keep it, I used a VacuVin and I left it on the counter at room temperature). Aromas of currant, black cherry, blackberry, black licorice and spice enticed the nose. It was a perfume I wanted to dab behind my ears. This deep garnet-hued wine offered the same dark fruit flavors on the palate, with a long, dry finish.

I would imagine this wine would age well....although it is sold-out at the winery. I'll have to check out the 2010's and report back! ;)

Wonderful Weeknight Wines: Moshin Pinot Noir

As my search for wonderful weeknight wines continues, I have stumbled on a few good ones...

For me, "weeknight wine" is code for a bottle of wine that is under $20 but still delicious. After years of avoiding Costco, I was finally convinced to check out their wine selection. 

I was overwhelmed by the long aisles, gigantic shopping carts, and well-known wine brands. When I saw how low the wines were priced, I quickly amassed a case of many varietals. It was like going shopping and finding out everything was on sale! 

But, like most women, I'm guilty of buying clothes because they were on sale, even though they didn't fit right. How could I turn down such a great deal?! This rationale flies out the window when you get home and realize the sale jeans are too short or the sale sweater is too tight. I've learned that many stores will not return sale items, whether you've had buyer's remorse or better judgment.

With this thought in mind, I reminded myself I was at Costco to find a wonderful weeknight wine. I considered the 12 bottles of wine in my too-big, awkward cart. I removed the bottles that cost more than $20, and narrowed my purchase down to 5 bottles. (I only had room for that many bottles in my wine fridge anyway.)

For $82.14, I went home with Chardonnay, Malbec, Primitivo, and two Pinot Noirs (one Sonoma, one Oregon).

The 2009 Moshin Pinot Noir from Sonoma was light and fruity with good acidity--a great wine you can enjoy both with and without food. (I had at least one glass while I was cooking dinner.) It paired nicely with the sugar-brined pork chops, sweet potatoes, and broccoli with a lemon-mustard sauce I prepared.

Costco's price was $8 less than retail price. For $15.99, I will definitely buy this wine again.