{"id":19,"date":"2012-03-01T01:13:00","date_gmt":"2012-03-01T01:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/?p=19"},"modified":"2012-03-01T01:13:00","modified_gmt":"2012-03-01T01:13:00","slug":"housekeeping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/?p=19","title":{"rendered":"Housekeeping"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/font>Arrivederci, 2011! <\/i>It\u2019s not that Your West Coast Oenophile <\/b>doesn\u2019t harbor any warm recollections from the year just past<\/font>\u2014certainly my creation of ResCue\u2122<\/a> bodes well, in and of itself, for this quasi-altruistic endeavor, but augurs perhaps to consolidate the long-overdue launch sustainable wine bar & retail shop to which this blog is intended to serve merely as an adjunct (my readers do want to taste the wines I have been highlighting, don\u2019t you?)<\/i>. Yet my continued struggles to give substance to my sundry concepts (not to mention keep updating these posts in a relatively timely fashion)<\/i> over the course of the past year proved quite draining, physically, emotionally, financially, and\u2014<\/i><\/b>
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Basta!<\/i><\/b> Enough indulging in dour lamentation! Moving forward, I forecast that 2012 will turn out to be a gem, if not a Gemma, of a year, not only for my assorted wine ventures\u2014Sostevinobile<\/font><\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font>, COMUNALE<\/b><\/font>, and Risorgimento, <\/i>but on a personal level as well.* Beyond that, I offer no speculation for this Leap Year, neither for the Giants returning to the World Series, the Punahou Kid re-upping for another four-year stretch, nor the possible future of the world after December 21.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Allora!<\/i> Let me FINALLY<\/b> put 2011 in the rear-view mirror by giving long overdue acknowledgment to the numerous events I attended but have neglected to chronicle, starting with the Taste of Mendocino<\/a> that supplanted Slow Food San Francisco\u2019s Golden Glass<\/a>. A truly spectacular tasting, this event filled the cavernous Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason with 63 wine producers from three regional groupings, numerous food vendors, solar living displays, art promoters, music\u2014even acrobats! This potpourri of diversions made the oft-formidable challenge of covering so many wineries far from onerous (not that tasting great wine ever is)<\/i>.
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Newcomers to the Sostevinobile<\/font><\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font> roster this afternoon started with Campovida<\/a>, more of an umbrella for art, music, gardening, and the full panoply of gastronomy, an agricultural preserve that leases its viticultural operations to house the four labels<\/font><\/font> under which Magnanimus<\/a><\/font><\/font> produces their organic and biodynamic wines, most notably the 2005<\/b> Mendocino Farms Syrah Fairborn Ranch<\/b> poured here. Also heralding from the Hopland\/Ukiah Haven sector, Orsianna<\/a> similarly impressed with its 2009 Chardonnay Mendocino<\/b> and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendocino<\/b>.
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From Fort Bragg, Sally Ottoson\u2019s Pacific Star Winery<\/a> staked its claim with their 2005 Merlot<\/b>, though I had a great fondness for their 2007 Charbono<\/b>, as well (I can\u2019t think of any other North Coast winery that makes both Charbono and Carignane)<\/i>. And though Hopland\u2019s Rack & Riddle<\/a> may be a custom crush facility, they release a small selection of wines under their own label, here best exemplified by their non-vintage sparkling wines, the Rack & Riddle Brut<\/b>, a blend from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the Rack & Riddle Ros\u00e9<\/b>, composition unspecified.
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Before moving onto the next designated \u201cdistrict,\u201d I sampled a pair of organically-grown wines from Ukiah\u2019s Simaine Cellars<\/a>, <\/font>the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc<\/b> and the delectable 2007 Syrah Venturi Vineyard<\/b>. First up from Anderson Valley\/Yorkville Haven, Jeff Hansen\u2019s debut of his Lula Cellars<\/a> equally impressed with both their 2009 Mendocino Coast Pinot Noir<\/b> and the 2009 Mendocino Zinfandel<\/b>. Also based in Philo, Toulouse Vineyards<\/a> offered a cross-section of their Pinot portfolio, of which the 2008 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir<\/b> left me feeling the \u201cgoosiest.\u201d
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The third sector, Redwood\/Potter Valley Haven, featured a number of Carignane producers, spearheaded<\/font> by Tahto Wines<\/a> with their 2009 Carignane Potter Valley<\/b>, as well as a compelling 2008 Petite Sirah Potter Valley <\/b>and 2009 Syrah<\/b>. In a different vein, Testa Vineyards<\/a> offered a dry 2010 Ros\u00e9 of Carignane<\/b> alongside a most compelling 2007 Black<\/b>, a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Carignane, and 3% Petite Sirah from their organic vines in Calpella. Lastly, Yeilding Wines<\/a> featured a number of wines as distinctive as its atypical orthography, particularly the 2008 Syrah Mendocino<\/b>; as impressive were the 2008 Bell Springs Cuv\u00e9e<\/b> (30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petit Verdot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot) <\/i>and the 2009 Chardonnay Mendocino<\/b>.<\/p>\n
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That Taste of Mendocino<\/i><\/b> will now host an annual event in its own right made this year\u2019s session even more pivotal, And I look forward to an abundance of new participants, as well as the many established wineries, in 2012. Moving forward to my next outstanding obligation, I returned to downtown Livermore for the Ninth Annual Petite Sirah Symposium<\/a>. This year\u2019s event f\u00eated the 80th birthday of host Jim Concannon<\/a>, whose namesake winery bottled California\u2019s first varietal Petite Sirah in 1961.
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Nearly all of the 43 wineries scheduled to pour this year, having appeared at previous incarnations of this single-focused event, have been covered here extensively. Newcomers included Livermore\u2019s Las Positas<\/a>, which comported themselves admirably with their 2007 Casa de Vi\u00f1as Covarrubias Vineyard Petite Sirah<\/b>. Tapping into the same fruit, McGrail Vineyards<\/a> showcased their splendid 2009 Casa de Vi\u00f1as Petite Sirah<\/b>, also from the Covarrubias Vineyard.
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San Francisco\u2019s Shoe Shine Wine<\/a>, initially founded as a purely Petite Sirah venture, debuted their 2006 Petite Sirah Solano County<\/b> from the highly coveted Tenbrink Vineyard.<\/font> A true standout for the afternoon came from the 2007 Petite Sirah Winemaker’s Reserve <\/b>from Calistoga\u2019s Vincent Arroyo<\/a>, while Clarksburg\u2019s Wilson Vineyards<\/a> offered a most approachable 2008 Petite Sirah<\/b> from their <\/font> sustainably-farmed Yolo County estate.<\/font><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Back when I toiled as a denizen of the Fourth Estate, <\/font>the cardinal rule was always to lead in directly with the article\u2019s main topic, not to obfuscate the subject with a mash of peripheral issues or questions. And so I will refrain from bemoaning, yet again, the conspicuous dearth of Porta-Potties at the latest <\/font>Monterey Winemakers\u2019 Celebration<\/a><\/b><\/i> and focus instead on the delectable wines and sumptuous cuisine purveyed to the resilient attendees who braved the narrow confines of The Barnyard<\/a> in Carmel, the newest staging for this annual event, with nary a recourse to relieve the effects of their overconsumption.<\/font><\/div>\n
Discoveries here began with Carmel Hills Winery<\/a>, a boutique operations that excelled with both their 2007 Unfiltered Chardonnay<\/b> and a spectacular 2009 Syrah<\/b>. Tiny Figge Cellars<\/a> provided a chiasmus with their 2009 La Reina Chardonnay<\/b> and 2007 Sycamore Flat Syrah<\/b>. Holman Ranch<\/a> also offered a delectable 2010 Chardonnay<\/b>, complemented by their 2009 Pinot Noir<\/b>.
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Hard to believe that a winery in this millennium could even countenance the concept of a White Zinfandel, but Saint\u2019s Valley<\/a>, a winery based in Temecula that sources Monterey grapes, made a gambit with their own bottling in 2010. Fortunately, they obviated this miscue with both their 2009 Zinfandel Vista Del Lago Estate Vineyards<\/b> and an intriguing white Rh\u00f4ne blend, the 2009 GVR<\/b> (Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne)<\/i>. And while this last stop concluded the discovery portion of my tasting, the rest of the event was more than flush<\/i> with many excellent wineries I had sampled at last year\u2019s event or other tastings. And if next year\u2019s Winemakers\u2019 Celebration<\/b><\/i> provides more facilities to flush, I am sure I will find the fortitude to cover them all!<\/p>\n
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Sometime in the not-so-distant future, the resorts around Clear Lake<\/a> will likely attain the cachet of major destination\u2014a magnet like Tahoe or Palm Springs. Not that I want to despoil this relative isolation of this underappreciated sector of Northern California nor overrun its lacustrine jewel with throngs of tourists\u2014it just seems inevitable that such a spectacular natural resource gain a popularity on par with its majesty. When I
\nstarted out in the wine industry, one would have been hard pressed to identify another Lake County winery apart from Guenoc<\/a>; today, this North Coast quadrant contains five distinct AVAs and is dotted with dozens of progressive producers.
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To showcase just how diverse this region has developed viticulturally, the Lake County Winery Association<\/a> put on its first urban group showcase, Big Wines from the High Elevations of Lake County<\/b><\/i>, at Winery SF<\/a> on Treasure Island. Of the 23 wineries<\/font><\/font><\/font> participating<\/font><\/font><\/font>, fourteen were debuting labels which Sostevinobile<\/b><\/font> had not previously encountered, with a range of <\/font><\/font><\/font>varietal<\/font><\/font><\/font>s easily matching Sonoma or Paso Robles.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Of course, I was temperamentally predisposed to like a winery that calls itself<\/font><\/font><\/font> Bullion Creek<\/a>. Their striking vertical of Cabernets from 2005-07 was preceded by an even more outstanding library selection, the 2003 Bullion Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>. Kelseyville\u2019s Bell Hill Vineyards<\/a> showed itself equally adept with Bordeaux varietals, their forte being the 2005 Merlot<\/b>, which slightly edged their 2004 vintage, as well as their more recent foray with the noteworthy 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>.
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In sharp contrast, another Kelseyville winery, Chacewater<\/a>, showcased a complex variety of varietals, starting with a modest 2010 Riesling<\/b>.Their 2010 Chardonnay<\/b> proved nominally better, the 2009 Malbec<\/b> even more so. Their indisputable skill at vinification shone best in their 2009 Syrah<\/b> and particularly in their 2009 Petite Sirah<\/b>. From Lower Lake, biodynamic growers Hawk and Horse<\/a> produced an enticing 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>, matched by their distinctive 2006 Latigo<\/b>\u2014a Cabernet Sauvignon dessert wine.
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No, they are not dyslexic. Lavender Blue<\/a> impressed <\/font><\/font>their self-described 2010 Sweet Suave Blanc<\/b>, a Sauvignon Blanc desert wine with 2% residual sugar. Still I preferred their dry 2010 Sauvignon Blanc<\/b> and found their 2010 Nebbiolo Ros\u00e9<\/b>, an interesting, if not compelling, wine. Continuing with my vigilant exploration, I next sampled the numerous offerings of Vigilance<\/a>, a sustainably-famed winery based in Lower Lake. While their 2010 <\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font>Sauvignon Blanc<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/b>, and particularly the 2010 <\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font>Chardonnay<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/b> were pleasing, their star turned out to be the luscious 2009 Viognier<\/b>. On the red side, I found the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> (blended with 9% Petite Sirah)<\/i> young but quite delectable, while the 2009 Petite Sirah<\/b> stood out on its own merits.
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Vigilance\u2019s sister operation, Shannon Ridge<\/a>, provided a veritable marathon to taste through, with 10 wines to negotiate\u2014about as an eclectic a mix as any winery offers. The 2008 Single Vineyard Roussanne <\/b>clearly stood out among the white selections, while the 2008 Single Vineyard Barbera <\/b>and the 2009 Single Vineyard Zinfandel<\/b> highlighted their red lineup. Inarguably their most notable bottling was the 2006 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>, while the 2008 Wrangler<\/b> from their Ranch Collection, a proprietary blend of 37% Zinfandel, 35% Syrah, 18% Petite Sirah, 5% Barbera, 3% Mourv\u00e8dre and 2% Tempranillo demarcated the considerable breadth of their viticulture.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
On a much smaller scale, both the 2007 Petite Sirah<\/b> and the 2007 Petit Verdot<\/b> from Dusinberre Cellars<\/a> made striking first impressions. Robinson Lake<\/a>, primarily a bulk and varietal supplier, still showcased its deft blend, 2009 Glamazon Sauvignon Blanc-S\u00e9millon<\/b>, and an amiable Glamazon Chardonnay<\/b>. Again from Kelseyville, Lajour Estate<\/a> completed an impressive trifecta with their 2009 Sauvignon Blanc<\/b>, 2009 Zinfandel<\/b>, and a superb 2009 Barbera<\/b>. And Wildhurst<\/a> featured both an impressive 2010 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc<\/b> and 2008 Reserve Zinfandel<\/b>, alongside their 2010 Muscat Canelli <\/b>and stupendous 2010 Reserve Chardonnay<\/b>.
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Rounding out Sostevinobile<\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font>\u2019s list of discoveries came the delightful Shed Horn Cellars<\/a> from Middleton. I found myself quite impressed with both their 2009 Lake County Sauvignon Blanc<\/b> and the 2010 Lake County Chardonnay<\/b>, but relished their 2009 Lake County Zinfandel <\/b>even more. Even so, their 2007 Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> may well have been the most serendipitous find of the afternoon.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Had I time and space, I would detail the many other excellent wines I sampled from familiar stalwarts like Beaver Creek<\/a>, Ce\u0101go<\/a>, Diamond Ridge<\/a>, Gregory Graham<\/a>, Langtry<\/a>, Six Sigma<\/a>, Steele<\/a>, Nils Venge\u2019s Cougar\u2019s Leap<\/a>, host Sol Rouge<\/a>, and Italian varietal virtuoso Rosa d\u2019Oro<\/a>, But as all the participating wineries in Big Wines from the High Elevations <\/b><\/i><\/font><\/font><\/font> richly demonstrated, Lake County has blossomed into a distinct and diverse appellation in its own right, one that will certainly command a prominent role in the Sostevinobile<\/b><\/font> wine program.<\/p>\n
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The next two days belonged to the grandest of the Grand Tastings, the 21st Annual Family Winemakers of California<\/a>. Even though I have attended this event ever since it served as a coda to the fall harvest, I still found numerous wineries making their first appearance here (or that I had perhaps inadvertently overlooked in previous years).Also from St. Helena, Andesite<\/a>, named for the ancient volcanic deposits found atop Spring Mountain, showcased its Right Bank-style 2007 Mervignon<\/b>, a rich blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Across the way in Santa Rosa, Ch\u00e2teau Ador\u00e9<\/a> debuted with a discrete selection of their offerings, including a striking 2009 Chardonnay<\/b>, a generically-labeled Vintage White<\/b>, and an impressive 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>.<\/p>\n

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This
\ntasting took on special meaning for many of the wineries and attendees,
\nas it served as tribute to the late Jess Jackson, one of Family
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\nvoice to the small family endeavors that serve as backbone to the wine
\nindustry. Fittingly, one of the first wineries I sampled on this day, Analog<\/a>,
\nprototyped the kind of venture Jess had championed, a humble, two-person operation producing a mere 600 cases of a
\nproprietary wine. Their m\u00e9lange of Merlot and Sangiovese, the 2005 Analog<\/b>, replete with their nostalgic logo (the once ubiquitous triskelion adapter<\/a> used to play 45s)<\/i>, tasted redolent of their craft and commitment.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Healdsburg\u2019s Field Stone Winery<\/a> featured an impressive array of wines, starting with their 2010 Vineyard Select Sauvignon Blanc<\/b>. Switching quickly to reds, their proprietary 2007 Convivio <\/b>blended the Merlot, Cabernet, Sangiovese, and Petite Sirah found in their Vineyard Select varietals. While the Sangiovese was not available here, I found both the 2007 Vineyard Select Merlot<\/b> and the 2007 Vineyard Select Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> standouts among their selections, with the 2007 Staten Family Reserve<\/b><\/font><\/font><\/font> Petite Sirah<\/b> and the 2007 Staten Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> nearly as approachable.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Field Recordings Wines<\/a> holds no connect to Field Stone (nor, for that matter, the aforementioned vinyl-themed Analog)<\/i>; its esoteric blends bear little resemblance to others\u2019 wines as well. After sampling their 2009 Chenin Blanc Jurassic Park Vineyard<\/b>, I delved into the 2010 Fiction White<\/b>, a proprietary m\u00e9lange of Albari\u00f1o, Grenache Blanc, Malvasia Bianca, and Marsanne. No less complex was the 2010 Fiction Red<\/b>, this a blend of 28% Zinfandel, 26% Tempranillo, 18% Grenache, 18% Malbec, 5% Touriga Nacional, 3% Mourv\u00e8dre, and 2% Syrah. While the 2009 Petite Sirah Red Cedar Vineyard<\/b> offered a straightforward interpretation, the 2009 Chorus Effect Koligian Vineyard<\/b> presented a Paso Robles-style marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Tannat.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Also heralding from Paso, Barr Estate Winery<\/a> started out strongly with their 2010 Albari\u00f1o<\/b>, a delicate expression of the grape. From there, their wines focused on Bordeaux varietals and blends, including a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> balanced with 20% Petit Verdot. Their 2007 Jubilado<\/b> highlighted Petit Verdot, with Cabernet Sauvignon coming in at 40%. Distinctively, the 2007 Malbec<\/b> added 10% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, to meld a most striking m\u00e9lange, while their Port-style dessert wine, befittingly titled The Last Act<\/b>, married five parts Syrah with two parts Souz\u00e3o and a single part Touriga.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Further to the south, the town of Los Alamos, CA should not be confused with its New Mexican counterpart; even with Vandenberg Air Force Base<\/a> nearby, it\u2019s highly probable this Santa Barbara enclave has never developed\u2014nor even housed\u2014a nuclear weapon. And while not as recognized as other nearby cities for its \u0153nology, it serves home to the beguilingly named Martian Ranch Vineyard & Winery<\/a>. I initially surmised theis moniker was meant to parody Michael Mondavi<\/a> (much in the same manner Randall Grahm\u2019s Le Cigare Volant<\/b> tweaks the esoteric regulations of Ch\u00e2teauneuf-du-Pape)<\/i>, but owner Nan Helgeland assured me she derived it as a portmanteau of the names for her sons. Martin and Ian. Regardless, the winery\u2019s 2009 Viognier<\/b> and spectrum of Grenaches: 2009 Grenache Blanc<\/b>, 2009 Grenache Rose<\/b>, and the 2009 Grenache <\/b>displayed a most assuredly earthy familiarity and appeal. Over in neighboring Ventura County, Oxnard may seems even less likely a domain for viticulture, but from its base here, Montage<\/a> sources grapes from as far north as Oregon and as far south as Los Angeles! I enjoyed both the 2009 Chardonnay Russian River Valley<\/b> and the 2010 Viognier Malibu<\/b>, while their 2008 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast <\/b>and 2008 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley<\/b> proved twin wonders.
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Out in Brentwood (the Northern California city, not the Los Angeles district)<\/i>, Hannah Nicole<\/a> has been petitioning to establish a separate AVA for eastern Contra Costa County, a designation that would grant them a level of exclusivity on par with Esterlina<\/a>\u2019s Cole Ranch AVA<\/a> in Mendocino. Putting this debate <\/font><\/font><\/font>aside <\/font><\/font><\/font>for now, I did enjoy their 2010 Viognier<\/b>, along with their aptly-named 2010 M\u00e9lange Ros\u00e9<\/b>, a blend of Grenache with 10% Mourv\u00e8dre. Single varietal reds included the 2009 Petite Sirah Reserve<\/b>, a notable 2009 Cabernet Franc<\/b>, and the equally-appealing 2009 Petit Verdot Reserve<\/b>.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
On the other hand, Napa Angel<\/a> does indeed herald from LA County. This domestic project from wine importers Montes USA impressed with their 2007 Star Angel Syrah<\/b> from Paso Robles, while making a commendable debut with both their Napa-grown 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon <\/b>and 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>. The same ownership offered an eponymous label, Guarachi Family Wines<\/a>, also from Woodland Hills; with the guidance of consulting winemaker Paul Hobbs, they produced a trio of exceptional wines: the 2009 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay<\/b>, the 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>, and a spectacular 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir<\/b>. Paralleling this effort, Paul Hobbes\u2019 new CrossBarn<\/a> label presented its 2009 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay<\/b>, a compelling 2009 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir<\/b>, and their elegantly structured 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>.
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Havens Winery<\/a> represents a bit of a phoenix, a peripatetic label that has moved, closed, then been revived by Stonehedge<\/a>. Here at Family Winemakers<\/b><\/i>, its first bottlings under its new incarnation included the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>, a 2009 Meritage Red<\/b>, and the 2009 Red Blend<\/b>, a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Employing a bit of legerdemain, St. Helena\u2019s Houdini Wines<\/a> magically debuted with their 2009 Talaria Chardonnay<\/b>, alongside a striking 2007 Oakville Merlot <\/b>and 2007 St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b>.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Cru, a label from Highway 29<\/a>, bears no relation to Cr\u016b<\/a> from Madera, and neither winery holds any connect to Cru Vine Dogs<\/a>, a Denver-based wine project sourcing from vineyards in Sonoma and Napa. Despite the mawkishness of its canine-themed labels, I found both the 2008 Blue Heeler Shiraz-Grenache-Mourv\u00e8dre<\/b> and the 2006 Lucky Cabernet-Merlot<\/b> moderately appealing. Also blend-focused, Napa\u2019s Jules M\u00e9lange<\/a> showcased three generically-labeled wines, the 2009 Vin Blanc<\/b>, the 2009 Vin Ros\u00e9<\/b>, and their distinctive 2009 Vin Rouge<\/b>.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Healdsburg\u2019s Kachina<\/a>, a name derived from the emblematic Hopi carved dolls that adorn their label, posed no ambiguity with its varietals: a mellow 2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay<\/b>, the 2007 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> (blended with 5% Syrah)<\/i>, and their signature 2009 Charbono<\/b>. Further south in Sonoma, Cotati\u2019s Katarina<\/a>, the wine-producing adjunct of Field Vineyards, displayed a competent 2009 Chardonnay Sonoma County <\/b>alongside their new 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley<\/b>, an evolution of the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County <\/b>and 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County<\/b>, which they poured for contrast. <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/div>\n
Coastview<\/a> winemaker Ian Brand\u2019s own brand, Le P\u2019tit Paysan<\/a>, impressed more than a little with his 2010 Le P’tit Pape Monterey County<\/b>, a Rh\u00f4ne-style blend consisting of 42% Mourv\u00e8dre, 42% Grenache, and 16% Syrah, and the 2007 Meritage<\/b>, an atypical blend with equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Not atypical but still a rare pleasure from Napa was the 2010 Tocai Friulano<\/b> that Macauley Vineyard<\/a> poured as white complement to its 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley,<\/b> a distinctive 2008 Old Vine Zinfandel <\/b>and 2008 Petite Sirah,<\/b> and their forte, the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon<\/b>.
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Not surprisingly, Napa was well-represented during this two-day marathon. One of their new entrants here, Craig Handly\u2019s Terroir Napa Valley<\/a>, lived up to the audacity of its name with a scintillating 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley<\/b>, a promising 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Carpenter Ranch<\/b>, and their 2009 Chardonnay P&J Vineyard<\/b>. From their second label, the 2010 Pool Boy Sauvignon Blanc<\/b> and the 2009 Pool Boy Chardonnay<\/b> also proved quite enjoyable. Another Napa venture with a touch of whimsy, Toolbox<\/a> comported themselves handily with their 2010 Clarksburg Pinot Grigio<\/b>, alongside a respectable 2007 Oak Knoll District Napa Valley Chardonnay<\/b> and the 2008 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc<\/b>. Their red offering included the curiously-named 2007 Napa Valley Merlot (Mi-anti) <\/b>and former San Francisco Giant J. T. Show\u2019s 2008 THIRST, a<\/b> Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (the 2009 Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon<\/b> tasted far too young to assess fairly)<\/i><\/font>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Moving laterally over to Trancas Street, Lateral<\/a> has evolved from its origins at Kathryn Kennedy<\/a>\u2019s Saratoga winery to a Napa-based endeavor, sourcing from several local vineyards to create the St. \u00c9milion-style 2008 Lateral<\/b>, a blend focused on Cabernet Franc and Merlot. As cherished as this vintage has been, the 2010 Lateral<\/b> portends to reach even greater heights. Moving lower to Solano County, Vez\u00e9r Family Vineyard<\/a> of Suisun Valley opened with a delightful 2008 Verdelho<\/b>. Both their 2007 Zinfandel<\/b> and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon <\/b>matched the intensity of this Iberian white, while the 2007 Petite Sirah<\/b> and the 2007 La Sallette<\/b>, a blend of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, approached it. Vez\u00e9r\u2019s zenith, however had to have been the 2007 Franci<\/b>, an indelibly sweet Black Muscat dessert wine<\/font><\/font>.<\/font><\/font><\/div>\n

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\n<\/font>Oracle World Headquarters<\/font><\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/font><\/font>Under the stern gaze of Larry Ellison\u2019s self-aggrandizing erection<\/a>, Von Holt Wines, in nearby Belmont, crafts sources grapes from prized vineyards in Sonoma to craft such wines as its excellent 2009 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir<\/b> and the 2009 Suacci Vineyard Pinot Noir<\/b>. Von Holt\u2019s forte, however, came from its two Syrahs, their 2008 Hoppe-Kelly Vineyard Syrah<\/b> and the compelling 2008 Old Lakeville Vineyard Syrah<\/b>. Lastly, veering a final time down south, Santa Barbara\u2019s first urban winery, Oreana<\/a>, closed up Sostevinobile<\/b><\/font><\/font>\u2019s discovery list with two utterly compelling whites, their 2009 Verdelho <\/b>and the 2009 Chardonnay Santa Barbara County<\/b>. Though I was slightly less impressed with their 2009 Sauvignon Blanc<\/b>, their red portfolio more than mitigated with a sublime 2008 Pinot Noir Central Coast,<\/b> the 2008 Zinfandel <\/b>and 2008 Syrah Santa Barbara County<\/b>, and most distinctly, the 2009 Malbec Margarita Vineyard<\/b>. If only they had poured their intriguing 2008 Refosco,<\/b> as well!<\/font><\/font><\/div>\n

The two day marathon at Family Winemakers<\/b><\/i> did allow me to visit with quite a few established friends, while probably 150 other wineries eluded my reach. As 2012 proceeds, I can only strive to do better, both in reaching out to new discoveries and in fulfilling the many, many promises Sostevinobile<\/b><\/font> has made. Please stay tuned\u2026<\/font><\/div>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

*Lest anyone surmise that, in the aftermath of my relationship with the oft-cited Ginkgo Girl<\/font><\/font>, I\u2019ve intended to maintain a perpetual \u201clock heart.\u201d
<\/font><\/font><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arrivederci, 2011! It\u2019s not that Your West Coast Oenophile doesn\u2019t harbor any warm recollections from the year just past\u2014certainly my creation of ResCue\u2122 bodes well, in and of itself, for this quasi-altruistic endeavor, but augurs perhaps to consolidate the long-overdue launch sustainable wine bar & retail shop to which this blog is intended to serve […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,40,91,4,34,28,16,32,7,11,17,70,15,18,12,90,63,10,38,14,88,65,41,82,9,36,13,62,37,3,52,24,89,58,66,57,5,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-albarino","category-barbera","category-black-muscat","category-cabernet-sauvignon","category-carignane","category-charbono","category-chardonnay","category-chenin-blanc","category-grenache","category-grenache-blanc","category-malbec","category-malvasia-bianca","category-marsanne","category-merlot","category-mourvedre","category-muscat-canelli","category-nebbiolo","category-petite-sirah","category-pinot-gris","category-pinot-noir","category-port","category-refosco","category-riesling","category-rose","category-roussanne","category-sangiovese","category-semillon","category-souzao","category-sparkling-wine","category-syrah","category-tannat","category-tempranillo","category-tocai-friulano","category-touriga","category-touriga-nacional","category-verdelho","category-viognier","category-zinfandel"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.sostevinobile.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}