posted on 26 June 2009 by tony
Alright. I’m pretty late writing about this, but in my defense, I’m a very busy man. Here goes.
About two weeks ago, I was on vacation in California. While I spent most of my trip in San Francisco, I did managed to get down to Santa Cruz for about a day and half. My partner in crime and I took this opportunity to visit the Bonny Doon production facility for a VIP tasting and a few brief lessons on biodynamic wine production. During the two or so hours of the visit, we were assisted by three highly knowledgeable tasters: Genevieve, with 2 years behind the bar, Leela, who packed 5 years of experience and Cameron, who also kept it real with 2 years. Armed with nearly ten years of tasting knowledge, we dove into the Bonny Doon portfolio. These are the wines we tasted:
2004 Le Cigare Volant
2007 Le Cigare Volant (which had been bottled only the day before)
2007 Le Cigare Blanc
2008 Vin Gris De Cigare
2008 Ca’Del Solo Albarino
Ca’Del Solo Sangiovese (unknown vintage)
2008 Ca’Del Solo Muscat
2006 Ca’Del Solo Dolcetto
2005 Ca’Del Solo Nebbiolo
Then they broke out the interesting bottlings they do only for their Wine Club members.
2005 Bien Nacido Syrah
2005 Syrah Le Posseur
2006 Syrah Cuvee Splendide
2007 Ca’Del Solo Orange Muscat (my favorite)
2007 Angel Paille
The Vinferno (unknown vintage)
I also got to taste a brandy Bonny Doon used to make but no longer produces. Delicious.
I’m not going to lie here guys, I didn’t take any tasting notes. I was just soaking up the vino and the stories that the tasters were telling. For me though, this wasn’t really all about the wine, but the experience as well. The tasting room at Bonny Doon is gorgeous, the staff is friendly and the wine is great. I would say if ever you’re in Santa Cruz, head down there and check it out. I know that I will be there again next time I’m in town.
-Out.
Tags: Bonny Doon, California, Red Wine, white wine
Category: The Wine Blog | Comments (0)
posted on 1 June 2009 by sarah
Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache: $15.99
When I was 14 my mother lost her wedding ring at the beach. We did what all people do when they lose jewelry on the beach; we rented metal detectors. Within hours I was sweeping the beach with a tool that resembled a light saber crossed with a cane: not a great accessory for an angst ridden teenager. What was worse was that I was suddenly one of “those” people, folks so miserly that they spend their day looking for hidden jewels while developing scoliosis in the process. Amazingly, we found the ring along with a number of razors and tin cans. Each time the detector (brand name “The Barracuda”) buzzed, fellow collectors would pop their heads up with a scowl to see if we had skeeched something good. I had a permanent eye roll the whole way home.
While most misers leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, this weekend I stumbled across a miser that I love: the Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache 2007. Miser wine? Yes. Grenache is a serious worker bee in its early years; the vines produce multiple bottles of wine per bush, but as the vines age over 25 years, they turn into nasty and selfish little squirrels producing barely one bottle per bush. I can almost imagine these old bushes out with their Barracudas giving bad tips to their waiters. While not particularly giving, the old vines produce a high quality grape. This Yalumba wine comes from grapes that have been aged 30-70 years: crotchety yet delicious.
Perhaps I am not that familiar with Grenache because it is always overshadowed by other Rhone varietals. The funny thing is that this is the most planted red grape variety in the world; it’s just that it is usually blended with other reds.
I like this red for summer because it is fruity and light but not thin like a disappointing pinot noir for example. One could pair this old magpie with almost anything, a tuna steak on the grill or bbq chicken would be a good bet. I was really blown away by this wine and will be drinking it a lot this summer. At $15.99 you don’t even have to spend an extra hour on the beach looking for spare change to buy it.
Tags: Australia, Australian red, grenache, Red Wine, Sarah Osteen
Category: Girl on Grape | Comments (1)
posted on 15 April 2009 by sarah
Paringa Shiraz 2007
I live in Somerville - my neighbors are all around me. They are above, below, and peeking around greasy stoves next door to watch me dart from room to room searching for a towel. Although we live so close, we exist separately; each eating, breathing, searching, procreating, and dying within a few feet of one another. The truth is, other than the friendly wave, the scorn of an abandoned trash can, and the occasional errant package, I don’t engage with my neighbors. Strange considering that I know when they shower… What happened to the days when you would go outside with a hula hoop and suddenly there were 10 girls in esprit shorts and geometric haircuts swarming around? Within minutes we were calling each other best friends and enemies.
Well I want to bring back simplicity! No, I don’t want to be BFF with Roberta my 93 yr. old neighbor who likes to smoke parliaments while yelling at Richard her Jack Russell, or start sucking back brews with Bob who sports leather chaps to leave his Harley throttling… I just crave a little taste of ignorance, like life before awareness of bizarre personality facets or inability to park properly.
The Paringa Shiraz is just what I am looking for. It is a really tasty traditional Shiraz. This southern Australian wine is not hiding some crazy grapefruity or sharp taste. It is what it is, a delicious Shiraz. The color is a deep purple which is appropriate for the full fruit flavor. It is great with ribs or a burger.
Next time you want to have a simple relationship with a neighbor I recommend offering them a glass of the Paringa. You can talk about the Sunday night drum circle and the pet guinea pig later.
Tags: Australia, Australian red, Red Wine, Sarah Osteen, shiraz, somerville
Category: Girl on Grape | Comments (0)
posted on 11 March 2009 by sarah
Murphy’s Law Red
Sweatpants: the double-wide embarrassment of your closet or just an accessory when you feel double- wide?
Until six months ago I perceived these leisure costumes as a crutch or an emotional escape but these days I develop a sense of pride when I spend the night in my “sweats.” Bottom line, I spend less money when seated on my bottom line.
I recently upgraded my recession depression clothing line by purchasing a “Snuggie,” the pop culture phenomenon blanket that has groupies, bar crawls, and action figures celebrating its awkwardness. After ripping open my package from the official Snuggie website I learned that the Snuggie is thin, the color of a blue ford focus, and feels like a flea and germ-ridden airline blanket. The free book light doesn’t win me over. This “robe” is a cheap fleece jonnie with wizard sleeves. Who knew that the dissolution of the gold standard, the subprime mortgage crisis, and failed economic policies would create a colossal fashion obsession of humiliating clothing?
What’s the lesson learned? In the words of Young MC, “don’t hang yourself with a celibate rope.” Life is for living - with some semblance of self-respect and responsibility.
The name of this week’s wine Murphy’s Law is almost too easy for me to touch. I will refrain from making any cringe-worthy analogies and simply say it is a great wine. Friendly and comfortable but complex enough to make me want to discuss how to boost liquidity for small businesses - not watch America’s Best Dance Crew. Comprised of 65% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec and 6% Sangiovese, its diversified portfolio works. I know it sounds dim-witted but I like the label, the kitschy slogan, and the fact that it is from Columbia Valley. Murphy’s Law is a trend that I am willing to get behind for $15.99.
This really is the ultimate “house wine” for when you should stay in your house but you want to enjoy a decent wine with friends. So, here’s to sitting on my couch drinking a great glass of wine- wearing a kicky pair of boots.
“Again with the sweatpants?”
“What? I’m comfortable.”
“You know the message you’re sending out to the world with these sweatpants? You’re telling the world, ‘I give up. I can’t compete in normal society. I’m miserable, so I might as well be comfortable.’”
- Jerry and George, in “The Pilot” Episode
Tags: American wine, blends, Red Wine, Sarah Osteen, Washington Red
Category: Girl on Grape | Comments (0)
posted on 7 March 2009 by jeff
I was exceedingly excited about my opportunity to have lunch this week with the current wine-making scion of one of California’s oldest wine families: Ted Seghesio. Descended from a line of piemonte vintners, the Seghesio’s California holdings were established in 1902, after years of hard work by the original wine-maker, Edoardo Seghesio. Today, Seghesio occupies a position at the forefront of Sonoma Valley’s wine world. Seghesio wines can now be found in 43 countries, with a case or two rumoured to have even made it into the oft-neglected hands of the Belarussians. As if that were not enough, their 2007 Sonoma County Zinfandel was listed at number 10 on Wine Spectator’s 2008 edition of the Top 100 Wines of the World. It is this most recent success that drove Ted Seghesio away from his wine-making for a trip to the east coast with an eye towards keeping the good press rolling.
Zinfandel is not a grape that receives much attention from wine geeks, excepting those who wish to slam it. It has become largely synonymous with the American style of wine production and consumption. For all that they can be fun to drink, (especially given their proclivity towards a high alcohol content) zinfandel-derived wines tend to suggest a John Wayne-like quality in their gait: ponderous and bow-leggedly unbalanced.
The Seghesio zinfandels are all excellent. The quality of fruit, (some of the family’s vines are well over 100 years old), is exceptional and Ted’s attention to the details of vinifying this most American of grapes is meticulous. I was particularly fond of the Home Ranch Zinfandel out of Alexander Valley. The early morning fog off of the Russian River affords a completeness in the fruit’s ripening that many of California’s producers never achieve in their zin. All of Seghesio’s zins revel in their blackberry-hued richness, and though several of them are perhaps a bit youthful in nature, that is only because their overwhelming popularity demands something of a rushed release. For the lunch, Mr. Seghesio also brought with him some of his italian varietal bottlings. Keep yours eyes peeled for his barbera and sangiovese offerings, they should be in the store soon.
The winemaker himself was approachable and forthcoming, though I myself had to overcome his uncannily literal resemblance to my great-uncle Calvin. He also succeeded in affirming my long-running theory that all winemakers love to discuss beer. I recommend bringing some tongue-searingly hoppy beer with you should you ever visit the Seghesio’s compound in Healdsburg, CA.
None of the Seghesio bottlings are wines to be ignored, but some of them come in at relatively cost-prohibitive pricings. At $25 the Sonoma County Zin is not the most inexpensive wine out there, but it’s also a pretty great value for a Top 100 wine. Buy it soon though, it won’t be in stock forever.
J.
Tags: America, American Red, Caliornia Red, Red Wine, Seghesio, Zinfandel
Category: The Wine Blog | Comments (0)
