January 24, 2005 SAN JOSE, CA - Did my annual trip to Anderson Valley during their Passport Week, and Mendocino Crab Fest. Stopped at my usual haunts. First, Maple Creek to visit Tom and Linda Rodriguez. Their 2001 Merlot is a big rich red wine. Try their newest release, a Reserve Chardonnay! The 2002 Zin is worth a try as well. Next, we went to Brutocao for their Cabs. I bought their 2001 Reserve Cabernet, even though they weren't pouring it. I tried the 2002 wines, although very good, not up to the "01" vintage. At Claudia Springs, their Estate Pinot Noir is one of the best I have yet to try! I also bought their 2002 Eagle Point Zinfandel. Excellent richness and mouth feel. Lots of concentration of cocoa and coffee on the finish. This year, we added a new winery to our trek, Goldeneye, at the request of one person in our party, Daryl Sattui. We ran into Dan Duckhorn while tasting there. He took us around the property, while we drank his latest release of sold-out Goldeneye Pinot Noir! The highlight, aside from the Pinot Noir, was seeing the private bungalow overlooking the vineyards used by special guests! At Navorro, I bought the 2002 "Unfiltered" Pinot Noir ... very soft and luscious, with a nice dusty texture. I also picked up some wonderful 2002 "Cluster Select Late Harvest" White Riesling. Next door, at Greenwood Ridge, I bought the outstanding 2003 "Late Harvest" estate White Riesling, truly one of the best I've tasted. At Husch, I bought the 2001 Mendocino Merlot and the 2001 "North Field Select" Mendocino Cabernet. I wasn't allowed to taste the Cab, but based on my experience with Husch's Mendo Cabs, and the fact that 2001 is a stellar vintage, this was an easy decision. The nice people at the tasting bar, however, wouldn't allow me to taste their 2003 Zinfandel, NOR would they sell me any. Last year, I was able to buy the 2002 version, which was the "surprise" wine of the trip. Husch now only sells the Zin to their wine club members. So it was a major disappointment not to be able to buy the 2003 vintage.
Dinner was had, again this year, at Ole's Crab Shack at the Little River Inn. Not quite as good as last year, but a fun experience, and one I would highly recommend! Great place to stay overnight as well.
June 10, 2004 SAN JOSE, CA - Tonight I opened a bottle of 1996 Clos Pegase Carneros Merlot. It was elegant, full, deep rich spicy berry flavors. Does it get any better? I almost regretted opening this bottle by myself! Almost.
I just got back from a business conference in San Diego. I stayed at the Marriott Marina near historic 5th Street, which is where all the good Italian restaurants are. Petco Park is walking distance away. Looking from my balcony high above the boats in the marina with a view of the bay beyond is relaxing. I ordered a massage from the salon in the hotel and got a reservation with their best technician. I had a massage from her the last time this conference was held in San Diego,10 years ago.
During the massage the technician mentioned that she loves red wine. I told her about my passion for red wine and that I had brought several bottles with me, all red. I offered her a bottle of my wine as a tip. She gladly agreed, especially after I bragged about how good these bottles were. Of course, they were! After the massage, I went back to my room and brought back a bottle of 1996 Clos Pegase Merlot. I bought two cases of the stuff. Now I have four bottles left.
The following day, in the afternoon, upon returning to my hotel room from the conference, I found the message light blinking on my phone in the room. The message was from the massage technician saying that earlier in the day she was at the Wine Bank on 5th Street and mentioned this gift to the person behind the counter. She goes on to say that the person at the Wine Bank told her the bottle was worth only $23, which is probably bad by now. I could not believe my ears! So, I decided to stop by the Wine Bank later that evening on my way to dinner somewhere on 5th.
Inside the Wine Bank, I found a man alone in the shoppe named Mike. I told him about the technician. He said he wasn't the person she was referring to. However, Mike also felt that Merlots, in general, don't age very well beyond a few years, but the proof is always the tasting. I readily agreed with Mike on the latter comment, but that I could not make such as sweeping statement such as his about how Merlots age. Example: I recently opened a bottle of 1995 Trentadue Estate Merlot. It is still wonderful!
June 11, 2004 - I called Mike back at the Wine Bank to let him know I had opened a bottle of the 'defamed' wine, and how I enjoyed drinking the 1996 Merlot along with my lucky neighbor, Conrad.
February 4, 2003, St. HELENA- This past week, I went to Mendocino to the annual Crab & Wine Days and Anderson Valley Winery Passport Week. For those of you who have never experienced this event, add it to your calendar next year. Just go to www.Mendocino.com in December of this year for details. It is always the last week of January and the first week of February.
My friends and I gorged ourselves on a fresh cracked crab all-you-can-eat dinner at the rustic B&B, Fensalden Inn for $25.00. Wow! Not only that, but Tom and Linda , owners of Maple Creek Winery, were there serving their wonderful wine. (see below)
Earlier in the day, I toured the wineries in Anderson Valley and here are my recommendations:
Yorkville Cellars: 2001 Sauvignon Blanc, Randle Hills Vineyard, and 1997 Richard the Lion-Heart Red table Wine, from their Rennie Vineyard. All their wine is made from organically grown vineyards.
Maple Creek Winery: From their "ArteVino" label, 1999 Cowboy Red, a delicious red table wine, and Nectar of the Goddess, a beautiful amber-colored desert wine.
Mendocino Specialty Vineyards: Tasting Room located on Hwy. 128 in Boonville (707) 895-3993. Claudia Springs 1999 Rhodes Vineyard Zinfandel, an awesome high-impact, with 17.1% alcohol, and Raye's Hill 1998 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, one of the best Pinots I have ever tasted.
Husch Vineyards: 1999 Mendocino Cabernet Sauvignon, a wonderful Cab with deep berry flavor and soft texture.
Greenwood Ridge Vineyards: 2000 Sonoma County Zinfandel, a very pleasant surprise winner! 2001 Mendocino Ridge Late Harvert White Riesling, always beautiful. It's what's for desert!
Pacific Echo Cellars: 1995 Brut Reserve Sparkling Wine. This wonderfully rich, toasty, and complex wine ranks with the best French Champagnes, making it a bargain, at $39.95.
Next, I will present the facts about the 2002 Napa Valley vintage. Another California special year influenced by El Nino. Coming soon, I will talk about a special winery, Trentadue, in Sonoma County's Geyserville.
August 31, 2002, St. HELENA- This past week, I opened up a bottle of of the 1998 "Napa Valley" Zinfandel from a purchase two years ago from Rombauer in St. Helena, California. This wine is one of my annual favorites. The 1996 and 1997 vintages were tops. Most Zin aficionados feel the 1996 Napa Valley vintage is the best of the best. My friend Karen, an artist from Laguna Beach, once said, "The only thing better than a '97 Rombauer Zin is a '96 Rombauer Zin!"
After the El Nino phenomena in 1998 the ripening was delayed by cooler than normal summer weather extending the harvest of this Zin until November. The decision to wait and harvest later than usual proved to be a very wise. Initially, the taste of the 1998 vintage had the same deep and luscious berry flavors I had come to know as uniquely Rombauer, just a bit less intense. It wasn't until this wine was another year older that it came up to the same standard that the previous two years.
With 16.0% alcohol, the 1998 vintage is a mighty addition to any tailgate party! I have two bottles left in my wine stash and both will be consumed this year in the parking lot at Candlestick Park. Also, while rummaging through my cellar, I discovered that I still have 9 bottles left of the 1997 Rombauer "Napa Valley" Zinfandel! In the future, we'll talk about the 1999 "El Dorado" Rombauer Zin too.
July 25, 2002, St. HELENA- Last week, I picked up two cases of the 1999 "Suzanne's Vineyard" Zinfandel of a futures wine order from V. Sattui Winery in St. Helena, California. Until last week, the tasting room staff at the winery poured samples of the wine as part of their complimentary tasting. It was removed from the tasting room pour list because it is selling too fast!
I am glad to have two more cases of futures to pick up. I usually do not purchase four cases of futures of any specific vintage varietal. However, when I barrel sampled this Zin at the V. Sattui 2000 Barrel Tasting Party, February 5, 2000, I could tell that this wine would be fantastic! When I opened a bottle yesterday, I was not disappointed. Apparently the experts agree with me. This wine has won several awards, including three prestigious Gold Medals.
The 1999 growing season produced less volume in terms of wine production, but the richness of berry flavors and the depth of this Zin is unsurpassed in recent vintages. I can attest that this is not an anomaly for the 1999 vintage in the Northern California appellations. The Suzanne's Vineyard Zinfandel is one of three Estate-bottled varietals produced at V. Sattui Winery. The Zinfandel vineyard is located about 500 yards away from the winery crush pad. At 14% alcohol, it is muscular, but it is the jammy flavor that gets me.
Retail price: $19.75/bottle. (Btw, I purchased the wine, February 5, 2000, for $13.25/bottle taking advantage of the futures purchasing plan offered by V. Sattui Winery)
June 29, 2002, St. HELENA- I recently attended the ZAP Dinner Party at one of my favorite wineries, Folie á Deux Winery in St. Helena. Wow! Fantastic Zins were enjoyed by those of us attending. Ditto for the dinner which was catered by the Silverado Brewing Company in St. Helena. This party was attended by some very nice and fun Zin-lovers and accompanied by a live band.
We drank some varied wines with appetizers in the caves and then sat down outside for a beautiful vineyard view dinner. The wine list and menu below. I have my own opinion on the Zins, but gosh, we're talking splitting hairs on this one. They all could make any Sommelier's A-List. I listed the dinner Zins alphabetically.
Appetizer Menu
Smoked Salmon on Crostini Pale Ale Sauce
Grilled Tiger Prawns on a Stick
Ginger Ahi Skewers
Wine
2000 Saddleback Viognier
2001 Folie á Deux Chenin Blanc
1999 Koves-Newman "Napa" Chardonnay
1999 Miner Family "Napa" Zinfandel
Dinner Menu
Organic Field Greens with Fennel
Pepper-crusted Tenderloin Beef Slices with Wild Mushrooms
BBQ'd Loin Lamb Chops with Demiglazed Red Wine Sauce
Grilled Scallions Pork Sausage
Mixed Berry Ginger Cake Brulee
Wine
2000 Dcubed Cellar "Howell Mountain" Zinfandel
1999 Folie á Deux "Harvey Vineyards" Zinfandel (130 Year Old Vines)
1998 Koves-Newman "Sonoma" Zinfandel
2000 Miner Family "Napa" Zinfandel
2000 Saddleback "Napa" Zinfandel