-a wine blog
Ok normally i would NEVER ever ever say Cali. But, Biggie Big is calling my name, and since we’re in Virginia sweating our asses off, I thought it was appropriate as we taste the 2010 Sivas Sonoma Sav Blanc.
This is a VERY grassy and green pepper wine. It is 68% Sonoma Valley and the rest of the fruit comes from Russian River; it is 100% stainless steel fermented and is aged on the lees. For $14 it could be a great summer quaffer, but it’s too grassy for me.
Jefferson Vineyards 2010 Pinot Gris sells for $19 is made about 70% stainless, and produces a lovely wine that smacks of pears. A litle Riesling is blending in there as well and just a touch of secondary gives it a touch of fizz. There is also a smattering of Viognier for fun.
I love pinot gris and this is really a classic pinot gris that I would buy. The pear component gives way to peaches and other stone fruit, and this tastes like dessert in a glass!
2008 Michael Shaps Viognier is made just outside of Charlottesville, at Virginia Wine Works. VWW is the first custom crush in Virginia! YAY custom crush!
This wine is a blend of 2 vineyards, and Michael has been making it since 2000 here in Virginia. Creamy and rich, it’s got a lot of stone fruit and grapefruit structure. On the skins overnight, there is a great mouthfeel in the wild yeast wine fermented in stainless. This is quite a classic viognier.
Virginia Wine Works has 23 brands currently, and they are all small time producers and new wineries.
$32
The 2008 Tabbarini Montefalco from Umbria, called Adarmando made from trebbiano spoletino is a rich creamy white, a bit of cheese, rich white wine. Even though there is no oak, it’s rich and viscous, very different.
There is no oak on the wine and the flavor profile is very different. There is a nice oiliness in there, almost like you opened a can of sardines.
Tasty!
$17-22
Rose rose rose! Thank god because it’s hot. Damn hot. So hot you could do some crotch pot cooking. *for those of you who never saw Good Morning Vietnam, I apologize but you really need to.
Slightly sweet, wish it were drier. Notes of rose petals and orange blossom. $14 Chambourcin rose, is new to me. Could be interesting but I really want it to be more crisp for my taste.
Afton Mountain Methode Champonoise 2008 not released yes, 50% pinot noir 50% chardonnay. Traditionally hand riddled bubbly.
All estate fruit. Nice crisp green apple, bubbles are a bit big but this is really impressive for a Virginia wine. YES you CAN change a wine brats mind! Retails for $30, and only 200 cases were produced.
This is a great example of sparkling wine that is not either Champagne or sparkling from California which I love, but from an alternative region. This is a nice sparkler that could be a tad colder – but – in 100degree heat and 100% humidity, what can I say.
Hawkes Bay New Zealand
Decibel Cellears 2009 Sav Blanc winemaker started in the music industry.
100% sustainable vineyards. All wine exported out of NZ by 2012 will have to be sustainable vineyards and winemaking practices! That’s pretty cool.
Grassy classic NZ savvy. But the flavors belie – it’s much calmer than a normal NZ sav blanc. Nicely rounded, a touch of gooseberry, very nice acidity not overdone. Nice river rock, chalk in there. 100% stainless fermented but lees are stirred and it gives a nice roundness to the pallate.
1000 cases, $16 a bottle. Total winner! I’d buy it! Lovely lemony fruit flavors in here.
Ah, Sonoma. That illustrious wine growing region to the north. Oh the delicious pinot, zinfandel, and other wines created there! Well, here in San Francisco, sometimes it’s hard to get up there. Traffic, time, gas, etc.
Fortunately for us city dwellers, Sonoma is coming to the city! This week, through a series of tastings and events, the wines of Sonoma are being showcased here in the city.
Starting tomorrow, the Grand Tasting at the Westin St Francis, over 200 wines from 100 wineries and growers will be poured. Here, you can explore over 200 Sonoma County wines from 13 regions hand picked to show off the diverse terroir and winemaking styles. Tickets are $55, but you can get a discount if you use your VISA Signature card! There is also a special VIP room ($65).
On Thursday, Forks & Corks will be at the Firehouse at Fort Mason. Eighty wines will be paired with five of our best food trucks: An the Go, Brass Knuckle, El Porteno Empanadas, Japa Curry and the Crème Brulee Guy. Tickets are $75 ($50 with the VISA discount, or $40 using code SPECIAL).
For those who like a little less formal of a stating, Vin12, who does monthly wine tastings at urban locations, is hosting a tasting on Friday at SLOANE for $25. Featured wineries include Ceja, Gloria ferrere, Roessler, and Tin Barn.
I hope to see you out and one or more of the events!
Happy Sipping!
Normally, I refrain from posting anything that is particular patriotic, political, or US centric because hey – you never know who is reading my blog these days. Today however, I feel like I have a lot to celebrate:
I don’t have to work today horray! Any time I get an extra day off to drink, eat, and play is fine by me!So, here I am, making cookies for home made Its Its (if you don’t know what an Its It is, I feel sorry for you! A Bay Area institution, this ice cream sandwich concoction is heaven in a freezer) and I popped open the Domaine Carneros Brut Rose. Domaine Carneros makes some of my favorite domestic bubbly, and I never say no when there is some in the fridge
chilling.
A pale salmon copper color, this bubbly is 58% pinot noir and 42% chardonnay, where traditionally blanc de noir is all pinot. Crisp and refreshing, there are dry wild strawberries and white peaches. A touch of shale and mineral gives this a nice refreshing body with hints of orange juice (no i did NOT make a mimosa first!) and spicy back notes on the finish. It really is the perfect brunch beverage and I am enjoying it on my lazy summer day.
For $35, this is a MUST BUY if you love bubbly!
Happy drinking!
Thank you Tattinger (parent of Domaine Carneros) for providing me this yummy treat for today!
