Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Dutch Henry Winery

Dutch Henry Winery is a small winery owned by the Chafen family and is located on the Silverado Trail in Calistoga.  Scott Chafen is the winegrower and winemaker who also functions as their cellar rat, sales guy, office manager, landscaper, olive picker, architect, delivery boy, forklift operator, customer service representative, etc.  The winery was established in 1992 and by 1999 the winery was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top five wineries to visit in Napa Valley. In addition to their fame for very good hand crafted wines, they are also known for their picnic grounds and their dog friendly attitude. (see bottom of page.) There is a tasting fee, but it is waived with the purchase of a bottle of wine which are priced very reasonably, beginning at $28 and topping out at a mere $68 for their Cab reserve.


Entry sign


The winery was named after the nearby Dutch Henry Canyon which in turn was named after a mercury prospector who lived in the hills behind the winery. (Mercury was used to extract gold from quartz.)  This prospector became a farmer who sold produce to the stagecoach passengers visiting Napa Valley.  There is a story that Dutch Henry might have supplemented his produce sales as a highwayman on the Silverado Trail, possibly working with the infamous Black Bart. 

Picnic area

Some wines are sourced from single vineyards in Napa Valley. Estate wines are California Certified Organically Farmed.  Production is 4,000 to 6,000 cases a year with ten to fourteen different wines. There is also a wine cave that was completed in 2008

Tasting room entrance


Our gracious host was Julius, who is the Manger for the Wine Club, Hospitality and Retail and has been with the winery for over six years.  Our tasting began with the Chafen Family 2011 Sauvignon Blanc at $28.  Following a light lemon nose, I got crisp, dry lemon and grapefruit on the palate with a very clean finish.  It should pair very well with seafood.  Next up was the Dutch Henry 2009 Mount Veeder Pinot Noir at $48.  Hold this one up to some sunlight to appreciate the lovely color before putting it to your nose.  After a light aroma of strawberry, I got mostly strawberry on the palate with a touch of cherry, followed by a good finish.  This was followed by the Chafen Family 2009 Rutherford Zinfandel at $48.  I got mostly plum on the nose with more plum and some blackberry on the palate.  It was slightly jammy with some pepper.  I always welcome pepper or spice in a Zin and found this one very pleasing.  Next was the Dutch Henry 2007 Napa Valley Argos, a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc.  This was a very nice Bordeaux type blend for only $49 and my second favorite wine during the tasting.  Almost as appealing was the Dutch Henry Napa Valley Estate Syrah at $48.  It had a very good nose followed by a lush presentation on the palate of blackberry and currant, with a little plum and spice. It was very easy and pleasant to drink and had a great finish. 


Tasting room


The favorite for both of us, however, was the final offering, the Dutch Henry 2006 "Terrier Station" Cabernet Sauvignon at $50.  This wine is described as coming from their St. Helena vineyard and having the finest qualities of Rutherford bench terroir.  It is 100% Cab, sees 30% French oak and had a production of only 425 cases. Mostly blackberry on the nose, it hits the palate with a lush, concentrated, black cherry, with beautifully integrated dusty tannins, some pepper and a lot of personality.  It has good structure with a decent finish and is not at all jammy.  This was a real standout of a wine and will be added to our list of all time favorite Napa Valley wines.  It is very drinkable now but should cellar well.

Dutch Henry Winery offers a free tasting with the purchase of just one bottle of wine and has some very good wines reasonably price wines with a wide range of varietals, although the focus is more on reds.  Calistoga might seem somewhat far north to drive if you are coming from Napa, but you can zoom quickly up the Silverado Trail and find the winery right there on the roadside with plenty of parking.  They are also open without appointment.  We highly recommend you visit them.  If you can't, you should try to try some of their wines if you can find them.  They do have a club membership, providing discounts on the wine along with shipping, so that is another option.

4310 Silverado Trail  
Calistoga, CA 94515
(888) 224-5879
Date of visit: January 30, 2013

Here is some information from their site:
Picnic & Bocce
Our picnic tables and bocce ball courts are available for use by our guests.  We are happy to offer both of them for your enjoyment and space may be reserved on a first call basis.  We require our guests to experience our Current Release Tasting while enjoying these amenities. 
Dogs
Dutch Henry winery is dog friendly. While Dogs are not allowed in the winery we are happy to set you up at a picnic table for a tasting. Leashes are encouraged and when possible a call ahead to alert our resident Airedales of pending four legged company.


Salvestrin Estate Winery

This small, family owned and operated winery offers some excellent wine in a lovely private setting where your host will likely be one of the family members.  We highly recommend a visit, especially if you like premium Cabernet Sauvignon or Super Tuscans.


Historic Crane Ranch Victorian home

Salvestrin Estate Winery was originally planted in 1860 by Dr. Crane and has been owned and operated by the Salvestrin family since 1932.  It is located on Highway 29 next to St. Helena High School just south of downtown St. Helena.  The winery tasting room, built in 1994, is in back of the historic Crane Ranch Victorian home and sits on 26 acres.  Up until 1994, Salvestrin sold their grapes to other wineries for production.  But in 1994 they produced their first Cabernet Sauvignon with a release of 150 cases.  Current production is about 3500 cases per year.  During the past five years they have utilized organic guidelines and sustainable agricultural practices. 


Tasting bar and window

Tastings are available by appointment only but may easily be made by phone or email.  The $25 tasting fee is waived with a three bottle purchase.  They also run a Victorian bed and breakfast on the grounds named Inn at the Salvestrin Estate.


Winery tasting buliding

The tasting room is located in the upper floor of the building where lovely views may be enjoyed.  Our host, Lynn Salvestrin-Hosburgh, maintains a very busy schedule attending to both the winery and the inn.  It is amazing that she can manage to do so much while still being so friendly and pleasant.  



Tasting bar


Our tasting began with the Salvestrin 2011 Estate Sauvignon Blanc that sells for $24 and is 100% SB.  970 cases were produced. After a good lemon nose, I got  some crisp grapefruit on the palate with some pleasant herbaceousness and a hint of butter rounding it out.  Finish was medium length.  A nice, easy to drink SB.  We were told that the winery use to produce only red wines but they decided to add a white wine to help balance out their wine line up and Sauvignon Blanc was Mr. Salvestrin's favorite white.

Tasting lounge
Next was the Salvestrin 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon at $60.  This is about 95% Cab and 5% Merlot, with the percentage varying slightly from year to year.  Production is 900 to 950 cases.  It is barrel aged for 24 months in 60% new oak, mostly French.  It starts out with a good nose of cherry with a touch of oak.  On the palate it is mostly red cherry with some baking spices.  Very smooth, with well integrated tannins, a medium body and moderate length finish.  Quite nice for the price.


Patio area for tasting

Even better was the Salvestrin 2008 Estate "3D" Cabernet Sauvignon at $125.  This sees 36 months in 100% French oak.  200 cases were produced. It begins with a pronounced black cherry nose that leads to dark, ripe, black cherry on the palate with some ripe blackberry. It is very smooth with a full, lush mouthfeel but also has great tannins and spice, along with very good structure, balance and complexity.  This one will go on our list of all time favorite Napa Valley wines.  A wonderful Cab! We both really loved it!!  It will be added to our list of all time favorite Napa Valley wines.


Vineyard

The tasting that surprised us the most was the Salvestrin 2008 Retaggio at $45.  (The current release is the 2010.)  This is a Super Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is an amazing wine for the price.  This one had a great nose of cherry and oak.  How pleasant to just sit and enjoy the aroma.  The Retaggio is  sumptuous and very full flavored.  I got ripe blackberry and currents on the palate, with very good spice, excellent balance and a medium length finish.  We both really enjoyed this wine!  Another one to add to our all time favorite list.


View from tasting room



397 Main St.
St. Helena, CA 94574
707-963-5105
Date of Visit: January 30, 2013









Barrel room


Welcome sign




Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

Please see our update here:  Napa Favs

Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries
The wines listed below are some of our favorite wines from the hundred plus wineries we visited over the past year or so in the Napa Valley. There are still many great wineries we have not visited, and there were certain wines that were not offered for tasting at some wineries we visited. When a wine is produced from grapes not grown in Napa Valley, I have tried to make a note of that.

Tasting wines at a winery is somewhat similar to listening to audio speakers in stores. It is brief and very limited. I can tell which ones I like, but not until I take the speakers home, hear them in my own listening room, spend extended periods of time with them and "pair" them with different types of recordings, do I really develop a thorough understanding and appreciation of them.

Sometimes a bottle of wine I take home from a winery does not taste quite as good as I remember it at the winery.  More frequently, however, it is even better than I had initially thought. At home I am able to find that right combination of temperature, air, pairing, etc. in a setting where I can really pay close attention. It is a much different experience than tasting wines blind or tasting numerous wines at one setting. Different types of tastings provide different kinds of information. Visiting a winery, meeting the winemaker, sampling the wines and then slowly and attentively drinking the wine later at home is, for me, the best way to understand and truly appreciate a wine.

Not surprisingly, we were especially impressed with the very high quality of Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley. I think they hold their own with the finest wines in the world. There were so many outstanding Cabs, it was difficult to pick favorites.

We welcome questions from potential visitors to Napa Valley. Please send these directly to us at our email address and do not post them as comments under a winery unless the question relates specifically to that winery. 

Cabernet Franc
Ballentine 2008 Cabernet Franc $29. 
Chappellet 2009 Cabernet Franc $65
Girard Winery 2009 Cabernet Franc $40
Robert Keenan 2008 Cabernet Franc $60
Titus Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Franc $36

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Blends
Alpha Omega Winery 2007 Proprietary Red, Bordeaux blend, $86
Alpha Omega Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $85
Barnett 2009 Rattlesnake Hill Cabernet Sauvignon $140
B Cellars 2008 Synergy Cabernet Sauvignon $55
Bennett Lane Winery 2006 Maximus $35, Bordeaux blend
Beringer 2007 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $89
Burgess Cellars 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon $68
Burgess Cellars 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $80
Cain 2002 Cain Concept $70
Cain 2007 Cain Five $100
Chappellet 2009 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon  $135
Chappellet 2009 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Chateau Montelena 2007 Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $135
Cosentino 2006 Winemaster, Cabernet Sauvignon, $60
Elizabeth Spencer 2007 The Guardian $60
Elyse 2007 Morisoli Vineyard, $70
Erna Schein (Behrens) 2006 Fat Boy $75, Bordeaux blend
Girard Winery 2009 Artistry, Bordeaux blend, $40
Groth 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $125. Wonderful.
Heitz 2006 Martha's Vineyard Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon $150
Hendry 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $55
Hill Family Estate 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $55. Great value
Hill Family Estate 2007 Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon $150
Hill Family Estate 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $48
Honig 2009 Campbell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $75
Ideology 2007 Reserve Block Cabernet Sauvignon $68
Inglenook 2006 Captain’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $48
Inglenook Estate 2007 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon $65
Inglenook Estate 2008 CASK Cabernet Sauvignon $65
Jacquelynn Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon $175 (Chateau Boswell)
Joseph Phelps Vineyard 2006 Insignia $200. Famous for a good reason.
Joseph Phelps Vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $54
Juslyn 2007 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $110
Kelly Fleming 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $120. Best paired with food
Kelly Fleming 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $120. Drink alone, great stuff
Kelly Fleming 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $90
Louis Martini 2007 Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon $85
Marston Family Vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon $120. Loved it
Marston Family Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon $100
Quintessa 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon $155
Quintessa 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $155
Regusci Winery 2008 Angelo’s Hillside Cabernet Sauvignon $125
Regusci Winery 2008 Patriarch Proprietary Blend, Bordeaux blend, $80
Robert Keenan 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Rutherford Hill 2007 TFV Cardinal’s Peak $48
Rutherford Hill 2007 TFV Rutherford $62
Sawyer Cellars 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Schweiger Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $58
Schweiger Vineyards 2007 Dedication $85
Smith-Madrone 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Air it or pair it with food
Smith-Madrone 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Even better than the 2005
Smith-Madrone 2007 Cook's Flat Reserve $200. Fantastic
Somerston Wine Co. 2007 Somerston Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $120
Spring Mountain Vineyard 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $75. Loved it.
St. Supery Estate 2006 Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon $80
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2007 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon $125
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2008 FAY Cabernet Sauvignon $95
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars CASK 23 Cabernet Sauvignon $195. Wonderful.
Summers Estate, 2007 Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon $70
Terra Valentine 2007 Marriage, Bordeaux blend, $75
Trefethen 2006 Halo (92% Cabernet Sauvignon) $175
Trefethen 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $100
White Rock Vineyards 2003 Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $85. Great!!!
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate Cave Hill Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, $100 Sensational!!!
White Rock Vineyards 2004 Laureate Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Wonderful Cab and a great value
White Rock Vineyards 2005 Laureate Cabernet Sauvignon $45. Great value
White Rock Vineyards 2006 Claret, Bordeaux blend, $36. Great bargain

Charbono
Summers Estate Wines 2008 Charbono $28

Chardonnay
Chateau Boswell Russian River 2009 Chardonnay "The Voyage" $75
Cuvaison 2010 Carneros Chardonnay $23
Robert Keenan 2010 Chardonnay $30
Smith-Madrone 2008 Chardonnay $30
Smith-Madrone 2009 Chardonnay $30. My favorite.
Stony Hill 2010 Chardonnay $42
White Rock Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay $30
ZD 2009 California Chardonnay $34

Chenin Blanc:
Chappellet 2010 Signature Chenin Blanc $30

Gewürztraminer
Stony Hill 2010 Gewürztraminer $24. My favorite.

Grenache:
Burgess Cellars 2009 Grenache $24

Late Harvest wine:
Van Der Heyden 2002 Late Harvest Semillon $125 half bottle

Merlot
Barnett 2009 Spring Mountain Merlot $55
Burgess Cellars 2008 Merlot $28
Darioush Winery 2007 Merlot $46
Duckhorn Vineyard 2007 Merlot $52
Paloma 2008 Merlot $54. Outstanding! A great Merlot. My favorite.
Pride Mountain 2008 Merlot $58
Robert Keenan 2008 Merlot $36
Rutherford Hill 2007 Reserve Merlot, $59

Petite Sirah
Ballentine 2009 Fig Tree Vineyard Petite Sirah $28
Behrens Family Kick Ranch Petite Sirah $50
Burgess Cellars 2009 Petite Sirah $28
Esoterica (Kent Rasmussen) 2007 Petite Sirah $40. My favorite.
(The 2008 Esoterica is not nearly as good.  The 2009 is not quite as good.)
Gustavo Thrace 2006 Petite Sirah $40.

Pinot Noir
Barnett 2010 Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, $55
Clos Pegase Winery 2008 Mitsuko’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Carneros, $35.
Etude 2008 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir $42
Etude 2009 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir $42
 
Port type
Beringer 1987 Port of Cabernet Sauvignon $60
Heitz Ink Grade Port NV $30 half bottle

Red blends
B Cellars 2008 Blend 24 Cabernet Sauvignon/Sangioves/Petite Sirah/Syrah, Super Tuscan $55
Benessere Vineyard 2006 Phenomenon $50, Super Tuscan

Riesling
Smith-Madrone 2010 Riesling $36. Incredible! My favorite!
Stony Hill 2010 “White Riesling” $27
Trefethen 2011 Dry Riesling $22, better than 2009 or 2010, exceptional

Roussanne
Truchard 2010 Roussanne $22

Sangiovese
Benessere Vineyard 2008 Sangiovese $28

Sauvignon Blanc
Hill Family Estate 2010 Tiara Sauvignon Blanc $35
Jacquelynn 2010 Cuvee Blanc $45
Joseph Phelps 2009 ‘St. Helena’ Sauvignon Blanc $30
Kelly Fleming Wines 2010 Sauvignon Blanc $30. Great! My favorite.
Marston Family Vineyard 2010 Albion $50.  Really nice.
Peirson Meyer 2010 Sauvignon Blanc $28. Lovely
Robert Mondavi 2010 Stag’s Leap District Sauvignon Blanc $32
Robert Mondavi 2009 Fume Blanc $20 (sale $13 Safeway) Great value
Solovino 2009 Sauvignon Blanc $19, good value

Syrah
Cakebread 2009 Napa Valley Syrah $55
Cuvaison Estate Wines 2009 Diablo Syrah $35
Darioush Winery 2008 “Shiraz” $68
Robert Keenan 2008 Napa Valley Syrah $38

Zinfandel
Ballentine 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel $25
Elyse 2008 Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard (Rutherford) $37
Hendry 2007 Block 28 Zinfandel $35
Highlands Winery 2006 Howell Mountain Zinfandel $29
Robert Biale 2009 Monte Rosso Zinfandel $50. My favorite.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Napa Valley Wines Recent Favorites:

Please see our update here: Napa Favs

Here are some of our favorite wines from Napa Valley wineries that we tasted recently.  I'll incorporate these in with our previous list and then post the complete list. Tasting notes and other comments may be found on this blog by looking up the winery.  These are not all the wines we recommend, simply the real standouts we tasted in recent months.

Here is our previous list: Favorite Napa Valley Wines
Here is the list that combines the two: Combined List

Cabernet Franc:
Ballentine 2008 Cabernet Franc $29. 
Chappellet 2009 Cabernet Franc $65
Robert Keenan 2008 Cabernet Franc $60

Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Blends:
Barnett 2009 Rattlesnake Hill Cabernet Sauvignon $140
Burgess Cellars 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon $68
Burgess Cellars 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $80
Cain 2002 Cain Concept $70
Cain 2007 Cain Five $100
Chappellet 2009 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Chappellet 2009 Prichard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon  $135
Groth 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $125
Honig 2009 Impressive Campbell Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon $75
Jacquelynn Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon $175 (from Chateau Boswell)
Quintessa 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon $155
Quintessa 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $155
Robert Keenan 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $49
Smith-Madrone 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon $45
Smith-Madrone 2007 Cook's Flat Reserve $200
Trefethen 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon $100
Trefethen 2006 Halo (92% Cabernet Sauvignon) $175

Chardonnay:
Chateau Boswell Russian River 2009 Chardonnay "The Voyage" $75
Robert Keenan 2010 Chardonnay $30
Smith-Madrone 2010 Chardonnay $30

Chenin Blanc:
Chappellet 2010 Signature Chenin Blanc $30

Grenache:
Burgess Cellars 2009 Grenache $24

Late Harvest wine:
Van Der Heyden 2002 Late Harvest Semillon $125 half bottle

Merlot:
Barrett 2009 Spring Mountain Merlot $55
Burgess Cellars 2008 Merlot $28
Robert Keenan 2008 Merlot $38
 
Petite Sirah:
Ballentine 2009 Fig Tree Vineyard Petite Sirah $28
Burgess Cellars 2009 Petite Sirah $28

Pinot Noir:
Barnett 2010 Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, $55
Etude 2008 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir $42
Etude 2009 Carneros Estate Pinot Noir $42

Riesling:
Trefethen 2011 Dry Riesling $22, exceptional

Sauvignon Blanc:
Peirson Meyer 2010 Sauvignon Blanc $28, outstanding
Solovino 2009 Sauvignon Blanc $19, a bargain

Syrah
Cakebread 2009 Napa Valley Syrah $55
Robert Keenan 2008 Napa Valley Syrah $38

Zinfandel:
Ballentine 2009 Old Vine Zinfandel $25
Elyse 2008 Zinfandel (Rutherford) $37
Zahtila Vineyards 2008 Oat Hill Estate Zinfandel $45

Sunday, January 13, 2013

ZAP-Zinfandel Advocates and Producers Annual Festival

Readers are encouraged to check out the upcoming annual Zinfandel Festival sponsored by ZAP or Zinfandel Advocates and Producers. There are four events (Epicuria, Flights, Zinfandel Winemaker's Dinner and Grand Tasting) with the Grand Tasting being a fun, informal event where you may sample over 200 different premium Zins.  There are smaller Pinot Noir and Petite Syrah festivals, but nothing quite like this one.  Think of it as one of those necessary lifetime experiences and put it on your "bucket list." Cheers, TJ
 
 
FROM BOAR TO MOLECULAR WINE ICE CREAM
50 ZINFANDEL VINTNERS TEAM UP WITH 50 RESTAURANTS
Rough & Ready CA, December 2012---- Epicuria: Food & Zin Pairings is a culinary adventure where 50 top Zinfandel wines and wineries collaborate with 50 chefs, taking place on January 31 in San Francisco, one of four events making up Zinfandel Advocates & Producers’ 22nd Annual Zinfandel Festival in San Francisco. Tickets are $95 for ZAP members and $125 for non-members. The meticulously crafted combinations cover a rainbow of Zinfandel-food pairings, from boar to beef to the sweet side.
 
 
Epicuria is the Festival’s first event, taking place from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at The Concourse (635 8th Street at Brannan in the South of Market neighborhood in San Francisco94103-4901). “It’s an amazing gourmet adventure, exploring the versatile flavors of Zinfandel, "explains Rebecca Robinson, Exectutive Director, Zinfandel Advocates and Producers "You will have the opportunity to sample sophisticated and whimsical culinary creations from master chefts, perfectly paired with 50 top Zinfandel wines and you can savor tantalizing delicacies from the ZinKitchen celeberity chefts while you learn their techniques." she adds.

 
Want to make Muleheart Farm Pork Chili (from Central Market) or Braised Pork Belly Bahn Mi Sandwich (from the Ledson Hotel)? These are some of the recipes being presented at Epicuria which will be appearing on the ZAP website, http://www.zinfandel.org/default.asp?n1=29&n2=1212.
 
Want to experiment with desserts and Zinfandel? Several of the winery-restaurant teams had that idea----Barefoot Cellars with Sonoma Cake Creations, Dogwood Cellars with Sift Cupcake Frank Family Vineyards with Chef Tyler Stone (Frank Family Molecular Wine Ice Cream Dessert), Grgich Hills Estate with 3D Candies (Raspberry Hazelnut Caramel and Lavender Black Cherry Vanilla Caramel) and Scott Harvey Wines with Healdsburg Toffee (Assorted candies).

 
What about a combination to stretch the boundaries? Several teams are offering non-traditional combos---namely Klinker Brick Winery with Radius (Duck Liver Mousse with Blackberry Gastrique), Gnarly Head Winery with Johnny Garlic's (Sashimi Won Tacos), Peachy Canyon Winery with Swan Oyster Depot (Shrimp Cocktail), and Renwood Winery with Eastside West Restaurant (Achiote Braised Lamb - mango & olive salad, cheese fried plantains, mint, cilantro).

 
Wild boar often makes an appearance at Epicuria; this year presented by Rosenblum Cellars with Chef Joey Altman (Wild Boar Sugo over Creamy Polenta with Bellweathers’ San Andreas Sheep's Milk Cheese) and Saddleback Cellars with Rosamunde Sausage Grill (Lamb Merguez & Wild Boar Sausage with Mango Chutney and Sauerkraut).
 
Additional teams include Alexander Valley Vineyards paired with Flavor Bistro (Sweet Potato Timbale flavored with a trio of cheese), Artezin Wines with Truffle Gateau, Ballentine Vineyards with Rose’s Café, Berryessa Gap Vineyards with Le P'tit Laurent, Black Stallion Winery with Black Stallion’s Estate Chef, Bonneau Wines with Ruth's Chris Steak House, Brazin' Cellars with Sauce (Braised Beef Short Rib Sliders), Cakebread Cellars with Cakebread Cellars’ Culinary Department (Braised Short Ribs with Daikon, Carrots and Ginger- Sesame Broth), Calstar Cellars with Cabot Creamery (The World's Best Cheddar Cheese),Carol Shelton Wines with Pizzeria Rosso, Charter Oak Winery with Fifth Floor Restaurant, Chase Cellars with BarberQ, Cycles Gladiator Winery with Chef Marco's Catering, Dashe Cellars with Twenty Five Lusk, D-Cubed Cellars with A-16, Dry Creek Vineyards with Maven, Four Vines with City College of San Francisco, Harney LaneWinery with SavoyEvents, Hendry Wines with Kinyon! Culinary Services, LangeTwins with Straits San Francisco, M2 with Alebrijes Mexican Bistro, McCay Cellars with Wine & Roses, Mounts Family Winery with Savvy Production & Events (Curried Pork& Winter Squash), Outpost Estate with Mustard’s Grill, R&B Cellars with Soleil’s African Cuisine, Ravenswood Winery with Central Market, Robert Biale Vineyards with Alexander’s Steak House, Ridge Vineyards with Harris’ Restaurant (Harris' Signature Steak Tartare), Rock Wall Wine Co with Le Truc, Seghesio Family Vineyards with Winery Executive Chef Peter Janiak (Seghesio Signature Ribs), St. Amant Winery with A Winechef For You, Chef Tony Lawrence (Cuban Slow Braised, Poked, Jerked, Rubbed & Spiced Pork), St. Francis Winery with Executive Chef David Bush (Five Spice Pork Spring Rolls with Smoked Chili Hoisin), Starry Night Winery with Il Davide Restaurant (Black Truffle Porcini filled Agnolotti, White Truffle Fondue), Storybook Mountain with Rose Pistola, Terra d'Oro Winery with Taste, Three Wine Company with Starbelly, Tres Sabores with Local Mission Eatery, Troon Vineyards with Vegetarian Gourmet and Wilson Winery with Carneros Bistro.
 
The next Festival event is Flights, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at The Fairmont Hotel (950 Mason, San Francisco 94108) on Friday, February 1. A seated seminar-style tasting will further a detailed understanding of the uniqueness of Zinfandel. Details: http://www.zinfandel.org/default.asp?n1=28&n2=1071

 
Another event is the Zinfandel Winemakers’ Dinner, 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. at The Fairmont Hotel on Friday, February 1: a glamorous evening where a walkaround tasting precedes a live auction and sumptuous dinner. The proceeds benefit ZAP’s programming, education and heritage vineyard projects.
 
 
The concluding event is the Grand Tasting, 2:00 p.m. –5:00 p.m. at The Concourse on Saturday, February 2, is the world’s largest single varietal tasting, a chance to taste more than 200 different Zinfandels. Participating wineries:

 
Tickets for all events are on sale online at zinfandel.org.

 
VENUE IS THE CONCOURSE
This will be the second year for ZAP to base Epicuria and The Grand Tasting at The Concourse. “The Concourse is a terrific venue for us, located in the heart of SoMa and downtown San Francisco, with easy access to public transportation and a comfortable and elegant venue for our events,”explains Rebecca Robinson.
 
 
ZINFANDEL ADVOCATES & PRODUCERS
The Association of Zinfandel Advocates & Producers is a not-for-profit, member-based, educational 501(c)(3) organization. ZAP’s mission is to advance public knowledge of and appreciation for American Zinfandel and its unique place in our culture and history. Winegrowers, winemakers and wine enthusiasts combine to form the membership. The common focus is the preservation and recognition of Zinfandel as America’s heritage wine. ZAP’s membership includes approximately 250 winery-members, 4,000 advocate members and 100 associate members. The annual Zinfandel Festival is part of ZAP’s ongoing program focused on outreach and promotion of Zinfandel as America’s Heritage Wine. The Festival provides an opportunity for Zinfandel producers to introduce their wines to a wide base of consumers, media, and members of the wine trade.
 
 
 

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Budget Wine Review 9

It is not that easy to find a decent everyday drinking wine in the under $10 range.  Once you go above that amount, there are many more options.  Here are some I tried in the last six months or so, usually after somebody's recommendation. Most of these wines sell for under $10 and a few, amazingly, are under $5. Some of these I simply couldn't drink. Others were drinkable, but I did not enjoy them and would never buy another bottle.  Eight of the wines listed below are underlined and represent what I think are best values, wines that are well worth the price and that I would enjoy drinking again. One wine, the Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir, is a real standout and an unbelievable bargain.  I've also listed my favorite bargain sparkling wine, which I also highly recommend for the price, the Piper Sonoma, Sonoma Valley NV Brut.

Of course everybody's taste is different, and none of these are really great wines, but one could never expect that at these prices.  With wine you do not always get what you pay for, but you always pay a premium price for really exceptional wines. Purchase prices and sources are indicated with each listing.

Please see our favorite wines from Napa Valley wineries here:  Favorite Wines from Napa Valley Wineries

3 Girls 2011 Pinot Noir-$9.99 Cost Plus.  I didn't bother taking tasting notes on this. It is okay for the price, but I wouldn't buy again and I can't recommend it.

Archeo Sicilia 2010 Nero d'Avola-$3.99 Trader Joe's. Soft, round, candied fruit with little structure poor balance and short, earthy-barnyard finish.  Improved somewhat with air but was not that pleasant to drink, less so than the Epicuro Nero d'Avola.  Might appeal to some who don't ordinarily like red wine or those who like a very fruity, somewhat sweet, simple red wine, but I can't really recommend it.

Black Mountain 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$5.99 Trader Joe's. Slight nose. Round with too much sweetness, lacking acid and insipid. Does not taste like a SB but more like some cheap jug wine. Slightly bitter finish.  Poured most of it down the drain. Not at all recommended

Black Mountain 2011 Pinot Noir-$5.99 Trader Joe's.  Not much in the way of varietal characteristics.  Medium bodied and rather smooth, with little going on. Might appeal to somebody who wants a really bland, inoffensive red wine.  After trying it at different temperatures and exposures to oxygen, I finally gave up and poured the rest out.  I've had some Black Mountain Pinot years ago that were okay so you might want to try another vintage, but I cannot recommend this 2011.

Blason de Bourgogne 2010 Pinot Noir-$6.99 Trader Joe's. Thin, rather acidic, not pleasant to drink and uninteresting.  I ended up pouring about half of it out. In general, it is best to avoid all inexpensive French Pinot Noirs.  Not recommended

Brancott Estate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand. $8.99 Safeway Pale straw color with a good nose. Dry, crisp and bright on the palate with mostly lemon and some melon. Slight pleasant grassiness. Clean finish. Should appeal to those who find some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to be too fruit forward, although this certainly has decent fruit.  I've had three bottles now.  Moderately recommended at this price.  You might want to see my previous New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc post at:  New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs

Caretaker 2011 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir-$9.99 Trader Joe's.  Fruity, simple, uninteresting, and poorly balanced.  This wine did not come together at all for me, and I did not enjoy drinking it even after airing it, so poured much of it down the drain. This is about what I would expect if Charles Shaw made a Pinot Noir, although Charles Shaw might do a better job. Not recommended.

Castle Rock 2009 Carneros Pinot Noir-$9.99 Vallergas. Somewhat thin and uninteresting but not bad. Not as good as the Castle Rock Mendocino, Monterey or Russian River.  Go for the Castle Rock Mendocino and Castle Rock Monterey, two great bargains in Pinots. I won't be trying any more of this Carneros one. Pass.  

Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's- Not nearly as good as the Castle Rock 2009 Mendocino Pinot Noir which I highly recommended.  I got some cherry and vanilla on the nose.  It was lighter in body than the 2009, had a less substantial mouth-feel and didn't come together as well.  The finish was unpleasant and fortunately short. A second bottle was better but still not nearly as good as the 2009. (I suspect the first bottle was mishandled.)  You take your chances on the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir.  Addendum 5/13/13:  I've now tried about a dozen of these 2010s and they are all over the map. Some are fairly good and others have been undrinkable but none have been as good as the 2009. I know Castle Rock has an unbelievably huge production.  I doubt that the problem is with them but rather with those who retail their wines.  It appears that some of these are improperly handled. Just be aware that Castle Rock produces huge quantities of Pinot and have a wide distribution.  So the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir that one person buys might be totally different than the one another person buys. Obviously it will vary in different areas of the country.  It is a good example, though, of how wines vary, depending on how they are handled by distributors and retailers.  The wine a critic drinks and recommends might be completely different than the one you purchased even though the labels are identical and it is the same winery, varietal and year.  This is a good reason to make purchases from wineries and reputable wine stores.  But in this price range this is not usually an option. You just take your chances.  In 2010 Castle Rock's annual production was a total of 600,000 cases.  That makes it among the largest producers in the U.S.
Castle Rock 2009 Monterey Pinot Noir-$7.99 Trader Joe's. Moderate to full body. Some forest floor. More black cherry than red with some tart plum on the finish.  Good, smooth tannins. Well balanced . Very nice for the price.  I also like the Castle Rock Russian River PN at $20 and the Castle Rock Mendocino PN at the same price as the Monterey ($5.99 to $9.99). When comparing the 2009 Mendocino and 2009 Monterey side by side, I actually liked them equally.  I've had three bottles of this Monterey now and plan to buy more. (I've had many of the Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir, which is a nice alternative at the same price.)  How does Castle Rock do it? Highly recommended at this price for a PN.  Addendum 6/21/13: The Castle Rock 2010 Monterey Pinot Noiris is just as good as the Castle Rock 2009 Pinot Noir and, unlike the Castle Rock 2010 Mendocino Pinot Noir, I have not encountered any bad bottles.  It has been consistently decent.
Charles Shaw 2011 California Chardonnay-$1.99 Trader Joe's. Can vary, but usually their best white.  A fairly drinkable wine at only $2. It even sometimes wins in blind tastings. Some people claim Charles Shaw wines are all terrible, but they are better than most cheap jug wines. It is amazing that anybody can produce a wine at this price level. Of course you are not going to get much of a wine at at this price. Usually their Chrad is fairly dry and somewhat balanced with at least some minimal varietal characteristics, but I recommend spending a little more for something better. Pass.

Charles Shaw 2011 California Shiraz-$1.99 Trader Joe's. Simple and  fruit forward, but not very interesting. Does taste rather like a Shiraz/Syrah. Not really bad at this price and as good as some of the inexpensive Australian Shiraz which can be real fruit bombs.  Probably the best of the "Two Buck Chuck" red wines, but I recommend spending a little more money for something better.  Pass.

Cline 2011 Cashmere (Mourvedre, Grenache and Syrah)-$14 Cost Plus. Has a good reputation and is fairly good for the price, but I'll pass on trying any more. Mild recommendation at this price if you are looking for a Rhone style California wine.

County Fair 2010 Flying Pinot Noir-$8.99 Trader Joe's. Deep garnet. Red plum with some mushroom on the nose. Smooth entry of soft red fruit. Well balanced, simple with medium body. Medium length finish with some slightly tart cherry. Despite the silly name, it is not bad at this price. When you first open this wine it might seem too tight and thin.  If it does, then give it some air. Usually it is the big red wines that we think of as needing this, but Pinots also often need air to open up.  Mild recommendation at this price.

Delas St. Esprit 2010 Cote du Rhone Rouge-Cost Plus $13 sale $10. Very nice for money. Decent fruit. Well balanced. Enjoyable. Tastes like a decent French Rhone and is a very good buy.  I've had three bottle now and they were very consistent.  Quite nice for the price.  Moderately to highly recommended at this price.

Dry Creek Fume Blanc 2011-$9.99 Safeway. Pale color with light nose.  Dry, pleasantly grassy and balanced on the palate.  No green pepper. Fruit is fairly good but restrained, more melon than anything else.  Acid good but not lively.  All the components come together which is more than I can say for most California Sauvignon Blancs. Very much in the California tradition but not as good as the Mondavi Fume Blanc, which sells for a few dollars more and is a real bargain.  Mildly recommended at this price.

Epicuro 2010 Nero d'Avola-$5.99 Trader Joe's.  Made from Nero d'Avola grapes.  Soft, fruity and simple, this is my least favorite of the Epicuro red wines.  I tried a second bottle and it was the same story. Not bad, but overly fruity and not well balanced so not really recommended.

Epicuro 2009 Salice Salentino-$5.99 Trader Joe's. Good nose of cherry and raspberry. Smooth and fruity w. raspberry entry. Soft tannins, rather simple, light to moderate bodied but balanced. Pleasant, medium length finish.  Decent for the price, but I prefer the Epicuro Anglianico and the Epicuro Primitivo that are both better red wines from the same winery at the same price.  Please see my previous budget wine reviews for descriptions of these two wine bargains. I tried a second bottle of this and it will be my last. Very mild recommendation at this price.

Fadeaway 2011 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley-$8.99 Trader Joe's.  Not much varietal character. Not very pleasant to drink so half of it went down the drain. I took detailed notes but they seem to have "faded away.Not recommended.

Ferrari Carano 2011 Fume Blanc-$11.92 Safeway.  Light citrus nose with grapefruit and some grass on the palate. Some people seem to really like this one for the price, but I thought it was pretty ordinary at this price level.  Pass.

Giesen 2011 Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand-$8.99 Cost Plus. Pale straw color. Light, but pleasant aroma. Fairly dry with a fruity entry of mostly tropical fruit. No grassiness.  Okay finish.  I don't plan to purchase any more. I prefer the Brancott New Zealand SB mentioned above at the same price. This is a pleasant enough SB, though, so mildly recommended at this price.

Gnarly Head 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi-$8.87 Safeway. Pleasant aroma of blackberry and oak. This is a big fruity, rather jammy Zin, mostly blackberry, with some oak, not too high in alcohol (14.5%), and fairly well balanced.  Plenty of  lush fruit. It is ripe and smooth, with tannins being relatively soft and integrated.  Should appeal to those who like a full bodied, fruity but fairly well-balanced Zin.  Might be too jammy for some, but I enjoyed it. It is easy to drink and should go well with BBQs, pizzas, some Mexican food, spaghetti, etc.  Some Lodi Zins I've had have been too high in alcohol, but this one holds its alcohol very well. I'll definitely buy another bottle and add more tasting notes.  The 2010 is moderately recommended at this price but not the 2011.
Addendum 1/24/13: Tried a second bottle of the 2010.  Deep, dark ruby color. Got some dark cherry on the nose and palate this time along with the previous blackberry and also some spice on the palate.  Pleasant touch of rusticity. Finish is short.  I also tried the Gnarly Head 2011 Old Vine Zinfandel and did not like it. Lacking balance with too much jammyness overwhelming everything else. I tasted the 2010 and 2011 side by side for comparision, and the difference between them was remarkable.  The 2011 is not recommended. If you like super jammy Zins, though, you might like it. All Gnarly Head wines are worth trying to see if you like them.  They are often amazingly good bargains. I'll wait until the 2012 is released.

Green Fin 2011 Table Wine-$3.99 Trader Joe's. This is flabby, unbalanced, uninteresting and insipid, more like a cheap jug wine.  It is not really a desert wine but is not dry enough for a table wine unless it was balanced with more acid or carefully paired.  It is the sort of wine that a person who does not usually like wine might like. I poured most of it out.  This wine is produced by the same company that does Charles Shaw "Two Buck Chuck", but the Charles Shaw Chardonnay at half the price is better than this Green Fin. Definitely not recommended.

La Merika 2011 Pinot Noir. $9.99 at Cost Plus. Not bad. Light nose. Medium bodied with plenty of ripe fruit, mostly red cherry.  Somewhat fruit forward for a Pinot. Not very complex, but extremely easy to drink. Good ripe cherry finish of medium length. Should appeal to those who like a smooth, fruity, simple Pinot.  This Central Coast Pinot was rated at 98 and given double gold medals at the 2012 California State Fair International Wine Competition.  It is a good deal at the price, but not a 98 point wine. Worth trying if you like this style Pinot. Just don't expect it to be a complex, elegant 98 point Pinot.  I'm undecided if I'll ever try another bottle. Mild recommendation at this price.

Laurent Reverdy Sancerre 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$12.99 at Trader Joe's. Bright acid with restrained fruit and little going on. Didn't seem to open up.  Less minerality that I expected. I won't buy any more. Drinkable, but not really recommended.

Mondavi 2011 Private Selection Pinot Noir-$6.65 Safeway-Not bad for the price but Castle Rock Mendocino Pinot Noir or Castle Rock Monterey Pinot Noir sell for the same price or less and are much better.  I won't try any more. Pass.

Nerelo Del Bastardo 2008-$8.99 Trader Joe's.  Italian table wine.  Cherry nose with cherry, blueberry and some earthiness on the palate. Medium bodied, soft and rather fruit forward.  Short, slightly bitter finish.  A simple wine probably worth the price, but I don't plan to buy any more. Pass.

Panilonco 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Chile-$4.99 Trader Joe's. This seems to be a regular stock item at TJs.  Not much varietal comes through, and it has very little finish, but it is a smooth, rather full bodied, drinkable wine for this price. I wouldn't buy another bottle, but it is very mildly recommended if you are looking for a Cab at under $5.

Pennywise 2011 Pinot Noir-8.99 Cost Plus. Pleasant and drinkable. Lighter style. Not bad for the money if you can get past the name. I recommend the Trader Joes 2011 Napa Valley PN below or either of the two Castle Rock (Mendocino or Monterey)  Pinot Noirs. Even the County Fair Pinot noir above is a better than this one, but the Pennywise is an okay Pinot for the price.  I tried a second bottle and liked it even less.  Pass.

Piper Sonoma, Sonoma Valley NV Brut-$11.99 widely available. My favorite budget sparkling wine, and I've tried many of them in the $10 to $20 range because I'm very fond of sparkling wine and can't always afford French Taittinger or Napa Valley Schramsberg.  (I'm not going to list all the ones I tried but didn't like.)  On the nose I get green apple and pleasant yeast, more aroma than most budget bubblies.  Palate-wise I get mostly citrus, dry and crisp, but not at all austere and very well-balanced, with more yeast and minerality than most inexpensive sparklers plus more delicate bubbles. This is a real class act in this price range, and I haven't found anything at this price that comes close. The Gloria Ferrer NV Sonoma Brut  is several dollars more and tastes sweeter and fruitier.  It use to be my favorite budget bubbly until I started drinking the Piper Sonoma and now it is hard to go back. I tried the Piper Sonoma Rose bubbly, too, but didn't care for it.  This Piper Sonoma NV Brut is 60% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier. If you find a sparkling wine for under $20 that you think is better, please email me.  Very highly recommended for the price! 

Pontificis GSM France-$5.99 Trader Joe's-50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre. Drinkable, simple, with adequate balance and fruit but not really recommendable even though I can't think of any other GSM at this price range that I'd recommend. Spend more and get the Delas St. Esprit 2010 Cote du Rhone Rouge at $10. It is much better and well worth the difference in price. Not recommended.

Seaglass 2011 Sauvignon Blanc-$9.99 Cost Plus. Pale straw color. Light melon nose. Pleasantly dry with good acid but not overly crisp. Melon with some grassiness on the palate rather than grapefruit or tropical fruit.  Light to medium body. Medium finish with some grassiness.  A decent California SB for the price.  I don't think I will try another bottle. Mild recommendation at this price if you don't mind the grassiness.

Stonehedge 2009 Sauvignon Blanc-$4.99 Trader Joe's-Fairly drinkable for an under $5 wine but not really recommendable. Pass.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir-$12.99 Trader Joe's-Aroma of red, ripe cherries.  Medium bodied with lush mouthfeel of red cherry and some baking spices.  Extremely well balanced! Medium length finish.  This one tastes like a Pinot that should sell for at least three times the price.  (If I tasted this blind I would think it was one of the better Pinots in the $30 to $40 range.) I like it much better than the decent Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir (see below) or the very pleasant TJ's  Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir. It is also a finer wine than any of the Castle Rock Pinots but then most of them sell for almost half the price and are still great buys. This is a fantastic buy!  The best under $20 Pinot I've encountered and a complete winner!!  Very highly recommended!!!  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with others that sound the same.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve 2010 Russian River Pinot Noir-$12.99 at Trader Joe's.  Decent nose of cherry and vanilla. Somewhat tart red cherry on the palate with medium body. Not much finish.  A fairly good Pinot for the price. (Inexpensive Pinots are usually not very good.)  At under $20 it is worth trying.   Mildly recommended at this price.   Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with something that sounds similar.

Trader Joe's Reserve 2011 Napa Valley Pinot Noir- (ABJ Wines, Geyserville) $9.99 at Trader Joe's. Easy to drink and pleasant but somewhat simple and one-dimensional.  One cannot expect complexity, however, in a Pinot at this price level. Well worth it considering that it is a Pinot and under $10.  A great bargain.  My neighbor is a Pinot devote and loves it for the price.  You might too.  I've tried several bottles and they have been consistently enjoyable, especially since I know how much I paid. Highly recommended at this price.  Addendum 6/21/13: Long gone. Don't confuse it with something that sounds similar

Our favorite budget wines for the years are listed here:
Budget Wine Favorites in 2012
Budget Wine Favorites in 2013

Previous Budget Wine Reviews may be viewed here:
Budget Wine Review 1
Budget Wine Review 2 Alsatian Gewurtztraminers
Budget Wine Review 3
Budget Wine Review 4
Budget Wine Review 5 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 6
Budget Wine Review 7 Pinot Noirs
Budget Wine Review 8 New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs