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! 

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!

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?

Wonderful Weeknight Wines: Primitivo

At this point, I have opened--and enjoyed--four of the 5 bottles I purchased at Costco for my 'Wonderful Weeknight Wines' series. This makes me and my bank account quite happy.

Last night, to pair with homemade buffalo burgers and oven-cooked potatoes, I opened a bottle of 2008 Layer Cake Primitivo (aka Zinfandel). For $12.39, I will definitely buy this wine again.

I used to love Zinfandel, but I don't drink that much of it anymore. The alcohol content for California-produced Zins seems to get higher with every vintage. (I recently saw a Zin that claimed 17% alcohol by volume; this is practically port!!). For some, a high-alcohol wine might be just the ticket, but I find such wines pedestrian and unpleasant to drink.

Thankfully, European winemakers still embrace the idea of lower alcohol percentages...

At approximately 13.5% abv, the Layer Cake Primitivo, made from Italian grapes, is a great example of a wine that is lush without compromising complexity, and bold without being overbearing.

Upon my initial sip of this wine, I was surprised by bright aromas and very fruity flavors. Was that strawberry on the mid-palate and tangerine on the finish?

As I swirled my glass and allowed the wine to open up, I noticed a distinct shift towards darker fruit notes. Raisin became very pronounced on the nose as plum, black cherry, and cocoa developed on the palate. It was interesting to witness how quickly this wine evolved in the glass--in just a matter of minutes. Although I was delighted by the first taste, I enjoyed the wine more by the end of the glass. A second glass was necessary to double-check my tasting notes (wink, wink).

Click here to visit the Layer Cake website. Cheers!

A Zin that's pure Gold

With Christmas shopping, countless trips to the grocery store, decorating the house, and wrapping presents, I haven’t had enough time to go wine tasting. That being said, I would be neglecting my duties as a wine consumer and Napa Valley resident if I didn’t take the time to enjoy a little wine after a long day’s work.

During one of my visits to Whole Foods earlier this week, I picked up a block of aged cheddar cheese from Vermont; this wasn’t just any old cheddar, it was made with bits of cranberry.

Although I enjoy dried cranberries throughout the year, the idea of cranberry cheddar seemed particularly festive. I sampled it at the store; it was creamy and slightly tart with a sweet finish. My wine-pairing gears started shifting; this cheese would be the perfect complement to the 2006 Gold Series “Back Barn” Zinfandel from producer Michael Pozzan.

My instincts were right on. The Zinfandel, which is named for the parcel of land behind the Pozzan’s Yountville home where there was a barn before there was a vineyard, is ruby red in color with a medium transparency. (A dark, full-bodied wine would have killed the delicate flavors of the cheese.)

After giving it a good swirl in a stemless “O” glass, the nose really opened up, so much so that the aromas of ripe cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate escaped the glass and perfumed the entire room I was sitting in. The palate is just as powerful, offering juicy red fruits balanced by sweet oak and clove. But this is not your typical jammy Zin; it is polished and elegant, with super smooth tannins and a long, fruit-driven finish—and it’s a great value wine at $22 a bottle.

Michael Pozzan Winery produces over 100,000 cases; the wines are featured in the tasting room at the Napa Wine Company and at BevMo stores throughout California. I also highly recommend the Marianna Bordeaux-style red, the Sonoma County Chardonnay, and the Napa Valley Cuvée #13.

The new website will be up and running in the New Year; check it out at www.michaelpozzanwinery.com

Big tasty Zins on Big Ranch Road

It's definitely off the beaten path, and definitely worth the detour from Silverado Trail. Until visiting the winery, I had never tasted any of the Robert Biale wines, but I've seen them on wine lists at high-end resturants.

Robert Biale Vineyards has a facility off of Big Ranch Road; drive slowly or you'll miss the sign like we did. Once you locate it, the tasting room is a cozy wood-paneled room with friendly and attentive staff. We arrived a little after 11 am and had the place to ourselves. Maggie, whose family owns the winery in conjunction with the Biales, poured us 4 different Zinfandels, 2 Petite Sirahs, and a little of their new Port.

I loved the first Zinfandel we tasted--the 2006 "Black Chicken". It was a big and jammy wine, with surprisingly smooth tannins. With layers of blackberry and plumy fruit on the palate, the fruit-driven finish is long and juicy. It lacked the typical spicy quality, but it had the balance and complexity of a Cabernet.

The fourth Zinfandel that Maggie poured for us was even more complex, with a brightness that is uncommon for a Napa Valley Zin. It was a small lot production from their Monte Rosso vineyard. With good acidity and vibrant cherry fruit profile, this wine would make a great accompaniment to any dish--from a burger or steak to a spit-roasted chicken or spaghetti bolognese. If you're a Zinfandel fan (or even if you're not), I highly recommend Robert Biale wines.