Vintage Matters
Just this weekend, I was shopping in a local wine store. It was one of the big stores, as I was looking to purchase some glassware as a prize for a blind wine party. Since I cannot stop myself from browsing the shelves, I passed by the Spanish section. There was this excellent Grenache from Alto Moncayo Veraton, and the shelf talker announced, “92 points from The Wine Advocate.” The price was under $26, and one would say that would be a good purchase. I looked closer at the shelf talker to find the year that the wine garnered that rating, and it was 2009. The wine that they were selling on the shelf, though, was a 2011. While the 2011 of this wine was rated the same – what if it had not been?
Herein lies the problem. All vintages are not the same. That may be a real understatement this year, as California faces its worst drought in history. Winemakers deal with Mother Nature, and each season presents its challenges. In Napa Valley, the past few have been very different; and you will see the difference on the shelf and in the bottle.
Sparkling Wine: A Refreshing Time!
The Super Bowl is now a few days behind us. For those who live in Seattle or have allegiance to the Seahawks, it was a great game, a glorious triumph. For others, it was a Super Dud. A blow-out does not lend itself to excitement. Nonetheless, the Seahawks and their fans should be celebrating with some wonderful sparkling wine!
Most people will refer to sparkling wine as Champagne, yet the truth is that only sparkling wine from the region in France named Champagne can truly be called that. The French have done an excellent job with their expression of sparkling wine, and many times it will come at a price. The process of getting all those little bubbles in the bottle is the result of a specific process of secondary fermentation. The grapes that are used are specific as well. Champagne is produced using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. It is a lovely journey, which may be a bit expensive yet worth the pleasure.
Wine on the Fly
I travel frequently – flying predominately. (Yes, I have very strong arms!) So, for a wine lover on the road, it is a challenge to find quality wines. Yet as most of you know, airports have caught up with the trends in expanded wine appreciation on the part of their customers. Almost every airport has some semblance of a wine bar. Vino Volo now has 33 locations. I was stunned just last week when I was in the Salt Lake City airport and noticed the very big Vino Volo store/bar/restaurant. It turns out it is the biggest of their chain. I say go figure.
Leonetti Cellar: A Washington State Great!
Last night, we had dinner at our favorite restaurant with new friends. One of the aspects of wine that I truly love is sharing it with others. I most certainly enjoy bringing new or special bottles to those who appreciate the experience. On this night, I brought a white and a red. The red was a 2005 Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon from the Walla Walla region in the state of Washington. This is a wine that I received as a gift and let rest for a while to have the flavors evolve. It was a wonderful bottle. It presented rich, dark fruit with a dusty finish that went on and on. Silly as it seems, I timed it once, and the finish lingered for 45 seconds.
Shiraz from McLaren Vale in Australia: Mitolo’s 2011 Jester
I travel frequently, and yet I still want to enjoy good wine on the road. The challenge with that is expense and aging. We all know what happens in restaurants with the prices. I appreciate that everyone needs to make a living, yet sometimes the price for a nice bottle is not in the budget. Aging is a challenge, as well. Many bottles available in retail outlets are young wines and, sad to say, it is a shame to drink a wine before its time.
One of the go-to varietals for me when I am traveling is Australian Shiraz. Remember, this is the same grape as Syrah, but the Aussies and the South Africans call it Shiraz. (Let me know if you want to know the back-story as to why.) What I have found is that these young wines are approachable now and will provide great fruit and soft tannins. For me, they are quite enjoyable in the dinner setting at a restaurant. The best part of the story, though, is that many good ones are quite economical.
2012 Tres Picos: One of Wine Advocate’s Best Value Wines for 2013!
I love Grenache. It is a wine from many different continents and provides great pleasure for an everyday wine. It can also be so well done as to provide great depth of flavor and structure. This is a varietal I find myself turning to frequently as it can be bright and fruity (typical flavors of strawberry and raspberries, when young) and will not overpower a lighter meal like chicken. (Apparently, Californians eat a lot of chicken – Giada De Laurentiis said this the other day as I was watching the “food network.”)
Grenache is grown in Spain, the Southern Rhone of France (it’s included in the blend in Chateauneuf-du-Pape), Australia, Coastal Central California, and Northern California. I have bottles in my cellar from all of these regions, and they all have their own special nuance.
Kelly Fleming Wines: A Calistoga Gem
Just a short drive off the Silverado Trail near Calistoga, California, you will find Kelly Fleming Winery. It is a gorgeous setting, and the property itself includes almost 300 acres. Only 12 acres are planted to vines, and they are all cabernet sauvignon. The flagship wine from this winery is a deep, rich, and graceful cabernet that in 2010 alone garnered a 95-point rating from The Wine Advocate. Antonio Galloni’s review of this wine is included for you below.
On this day in winter, we drove up Pickett Road – no more than 5 minutes from the Silverado Trail – and found a beautiful setting in one of the canyons of Calistoga. The architecture of the winery is gracefully done in stone. It is beautiful elegance. The building sits back among the vines and provides a peaceful setting. Lili Shariati, our hostess for the visit, provided us with the history of the property and a perspective of the winery philosophy. She was well informed and engaging making for a very pleasurable experience.
Ann Kraemer: An Artist in the Vineyard in Amador County
Talk to any winemaker, and he or she will tell you that wine is made in the vineyard. Some will say that 80% or more of what you taste in the bottle is actually crafted in the vineyard. There is much work involved in having the grapes ready to be picked, and many factors influence the quality of the crop itself. Imagine the attention that must be given to such things as cover crops, the orientation of the vines to sunlight, the time on the vine, water, the weight of the canopy, the distance between the rows, the number and quality of the grape clusters, and on and on. Much goes into the individual management of the vines and vineyard. It’s in the vineyard where the science and artistry of great wine begins. And it’s in her Shake Ridge vineyard in Amador County where you’ll find Ann Kraemer.
Need Some Stocking Stuffers? Good Scoring Wines at Reasonable Prices
I stopped into the local CVS drugstore to pick up a few things and couldn’t help but notice that the two customers in front of me were buying a magnum of red wine. I couldn’t see the label through the bag, but I was curious to know the price and paid attention to the checker as he told them the amount. $9.95 was the bill, and I wondered what that wine would taste like. I can only imagine what one would taste from a magnum of wine for less than $10. What that reaffirmed for me is the need for modestly priced bottles with great structure and taste that translates to great value.
So, with the holidays approaching, I thought it would be good to offer some recommendations that are well-priced, value wines with large productions that, hopefully, you can find.
Holiday Heart Syndrome: Too Much of a Good Thing
It's the Holiday Season -- a joyous, expressive time of the year. It is the time of the year to enjoy family, friends, food, and good wine. We all know that moderation is important in all things - it is important in this season as well. I was reading an article from Medscape, a source that I trust and regard, and it affirmed for me the need to moderate in terms of eating and drinking. I wanted to share an excerpt from the article with you, which discusses a well-established syndrome called Holiday Heart Syndrome. Believe it or not, this condition was designated as a syndrome in 1978.
I realize this is an interesting article that most of us don’t need to read in order to be healthy through the season, yet perhaps it is important information to help us take care of those around us.