Washington Wines: A Real Value
A few years ago, I tasted a red blend from Washington State called Ursa. It was produced by a small winery named Baer Winery in Woodinville, WA. Interestingly, Ursa is Latin for the animal bear. The wine itself was a blend and a pure pleasure to drink. In fact, that year this wine was Wine Spectator’s #6 wine of the year. The price, at that time, was a mere $35 a bottle for an outstanding wine.
More recently, I purchased their 2010 Ursa for about the same price, and it scored 91 points. When Wine Spectator released their top 100 list again this year, Baer’s 2012 Ursa ranked at the #28 spot. I suspect there is a trend here. This is a consistently well-crafted wine that delivers year after year. Here is the best part – it is still available from the winery for shipment to most states. (Sorry, to my friends in PA!) I just searched their website to confirm, and they still have wine to sell and ship. Now is a great time as the weather is cool, and there is no concern regarding temperature.
To Our Health!
I still remember the slide show presented by the cardiologist that night. He compared the impact of beer, white wine and red wine on blood lipids. His slide depicted a clear advantage for red wine. That was over 25 years ago and that information still resonates for me to this day. It opened the door for greater reading and seeking to understand the effects of drinking red wine – both positive and negative. Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor and not making any recommendations here, just sharing what I’ve read!
Add Some Sparkle to Your Holidays!
The holiday season is the perfect time to share a glass (or two) of Champagne with family and friends. It is a tradition to ring in the New Year with and serves as a festive apéritif at dinner.
True Champagne comes from only one region, which is 90 miles north of Paris. Yes, it is the Champagne region. The complex process by which Champagne is made involves a secondary fermentation during which carbon dioxide is trapped inside each bottle. The trapped CO2 will eventually become Champagne bubbles.
Party Time: Excellent Red for $12!
This 2013 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon hails from Columbia Crest in Washington state. Several months ago, I posted about their ’12 Red Blend, and the ’13 is again a noteworthy buy. This is Cabernet that is approachable when young with deep fruit flavors, round dusty tannins and a smooth finish that lasts. In fact, it was surprising how long the finish was given the price per bottle.
This is the wine’s description from the winery’s website: “This bold Cabernet opens with flavors of black cherries and blackberries with a touch of currants and vanilla, complemented by earth and mineral notes. Deep berry flavors lead to a soft tannin cocoa finish.”
Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year for 2015
It’s that time of the year when lists are compiled and outstanding results are recognized. In the film industry, we are getting close to the Academy Awards being announced. In the sports arena (shout out here to the Kansas City Royals!), MVPs are called out and recognized. As you well know, the same is true for wine. Right now, Wine Spectator is revealing their top 100 wines of 2015. They started the roll-out the week of November 9th starting with the Top 10 wines – working down to #1.
This year, that top spot went to a Napa Valley wine. It is Peter Michael’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville Au Paradis. The score from Wine Spectator is 96 points, and the price per bottle is $195. This is only the 5th time that a Napa Valley Cabernet has owned that #1 ranking.
Seghesio: A Bright and Fruity Wine at a Nice Price
The primary flavors of Zinfandel are jam, blackberry, black pepper, cherry and plum. You can even find boysenberry, cranberry and licorice in bottles as well. Sounds to me like a great party wine, and that season is just around the corner.
Seghesio is a great buy with a huge production that should not be missed. I have drunk many bottles of this wine. Seghesio has a tasting room in Healdsburg; and, if you ever get to that city, stop in and enjoy the tasting. If you can’t get to Healdsburg, you should you should be able to find this wine in several outlets. For the price, it is quite a delicious bottle.
A Great Value: “The Paring Wines”
A big challenge for wine lovers is to find excellent wine to enjoy at a great price. This is the “Holy Grail” for wine enthusiasts. One of the producers that fits that bill for me is “The Paring.” This is a label out of the Central Coast of California close to Santa Barbara. I found this wine when visiting Jonata in that same area. The Paring is Jonata’s second label and really worth every penny. How many pennies you ask? The Paring wines sell for $25 a bottle. Given what is in the bottle, this is remarkable!
Kale Anderson: A Winemaker to Watch
It has been said that the quality of a wine is mostly a function of the quality of the grapes. Others simply say that the wine is made in the vineyard. While all that is true, that last 20% of what makes a wine great is the winemaker. They are the ones who say when it is time to pick; they watch over the development of the flavors of the grapes; and it is their final touch that brings all the components together to the finished product’s expression.
One of those winemakers to take note of and watch is Kale Anderson. Better yet, drink his wine. He has learned his craft well from some of the best in the business. I first met Kale at a blending seminar put on by Pahlmeyer. This was a great event where we were given different varietals to make our own Rhone-like blend. He had just become Pahlmeyer’s new winemaker, and he was engaging and readily shared his knowledge. His first full vintage for Pahlmeyer was the 2012, and their Red Blend received 94 points from Parker. What was intriguing to me was that prior to joining Pahlmeyer he was assistant and then winemaker at Cliff Lede. This is another winery that I send folks to frequently based on wines I have tasted and bought there. Kale was the winemaker on a case of wine I bought at auction – Cliff Lede’s 2008 Poetry. His success has not gone unnoticed in the valley, and Wine Spectator included him as one of the “Four to Watch” in an article in their March 31, 2014 issue.
The Wine Thief: It May Just Steal You Away!
The challenge for any small, boutique producer is how to get their wine tasted by the most important people – the buying public. The cost of overhead for a tasting room for a growing portfolio is daunting. Brick and mortar invested in a building is costly. Hiring tasting room associates is another big expense. The best resolve could be sharing overhead with others. This is how a “collective” is born. Bring many small, budding winemakers together and voila! What you have is a resource for all.
The Wine Thief is just that and more. It is the newest kid on the block in Napa, California located just across from the Oxbow Market. Oxbow Market is a destination by itself, and the convenience for wine lovers with the Wine Thief right next door is excellent. To simply walk across the street to enjoy several wines from many talented winemakers is a real plus. The Wine Thief setting is hip and has a cool vibe. The design is that of clean lines as you step up to the bar and are greeted and hosted by professionals who know their business. In fact, some of the folks pouring the tastings are the winemakers themselves. Not often do you get the chance to taste and chat with the person who makes the wine. No appointment necessary.
Taste of Howell Mountain: A Wonderful Annual Event for a Great Cause
Howell Mountain rises up on the east side of the Napa Valley floor. It is a distinct appellation in the valley that presents characteristics that contribute to the flavor profile of wine made from Howell Mountain grapes. The vineyards rise up to as high as 2200 feet, and this gives rise to temperature variations that range from 10 degrees cooler in the early summer to 10 degrees warmer later in the season. The fog is a big contributor, as it will hang on the valley floor yet the mountain will be bathed in warm sun. The red volcanic soil is full of minerals and not a lot of water. The vines really have to work hard on these mountain slopes. All this and more contribute to depth of flavor and a great fruit profile in the wine that will entice you back for more.
This is more than a wine-growing region though — it is a community. It is one that strives to contribute and has its eye on taking care of the children who attend Howell Mountain Elementary School. Each year, the Howell Mountain Vintners & Growers Associationpresents Taste of Howell Mountain. It is charitable event that supports the elementary school on Howell Mountain to ensure that the kids who attend have the opportunity to grow and learn in the best possible way.