Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the Stars of California event presented by Learn About Wine. According to the invitation, the purpose of this event was to focus on “Newer or smaller brands that will make the difference in the future of wine in your stores, wine lists, and events.”
The event was held on the patio of Wilshire Restaurant in Santa Monica.
The wines to be poured, per the invitation, were:
“Casey Flat Ranch, St. Helena”
Open Range Sauvignon Blanc, 2009
Open Range Red, Capay Valley, 2007
“Center of Effort, Arroyo Grande”
Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, 2008
Chardonnay, Edna Valley, 2008
Chardonnay, Edna Valley, 2008
Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, 2009
“Eden Canyon Vineyards, Paso Robles”
Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, 2008
“Eric Kent Wine Cellars, Santa Rosa”
Chardonnay “Sangiacomo Green Acres Hill”, Sonoma, 2009
Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, 2009
Pinot Noir “Small Town”, Sonoma Coast, 2009
Syrah “Kalen’s Big Boy Blend”, Sonoma County, 2008
Syrah Dry Stack Vineyard, Bennett Valley, 2008
Saporo Family, Chardonnay, Sonoma, 2009
Saporo Family, Pinot Noir, Sonoma, 2009
“Freestone Vineyards, Sonoma Coast”
2008 Fogdog Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2008 Fogdog Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2008 Freestone Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2007 Freestone Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
“Flying Goat Cellars, Lompoc”
Bubbles Rose Sparkling Wine, Santa Maria Valley, 2009
Pinot Gris, Santa Maria Valley, 2010
Pinot Noir Salisbury Vineyard, 2007
Pinot Noir Clone 2A, Rio Vista Vineyard, 2007
Pinot Noir, Rancho Santa Rosa, 2007
“Hill Family, Napa Valley”
Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2010
Barrel Blend, 2008
Syrah, Clarke Vineyard, 2009
“Inception, Santa Barbara County”
Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, 2009
Viognier, Santa Barbara, 2010
Pinot Noir, Central Coast, 2009
Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County, 2009
Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, 2009
“Lang and Reed, St. Helena”
Cabernet Franc, North Coast, 2009
Cabernet Franc, Two-Fourteen, Napa Valley, 2008
Red Wine, RIGHT BANK, Napa Valley, 2005
“Lorenza!, Napa Valley”
Rose, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan, California, 2010
“Mauritson Wines, Dry Creek Valley”
Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek, 2010
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, 2008
Zinfandel, Dry Creek, 2009
Rockpile ‘Madrone Spring’ Petite Sirah, 2008
Rockpile ‘Bucks Pasture’ Red Wine, 2007
Rockpile ‘Independence’ Port, 2008
“Mercy Vineyards, Arroyo Seco”
Sauvignon Blanc, Arroyo Seco, 2009
Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco, 2008
Chardonnay, Griva Vineyard, 2009
Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, 2008
Pinot Noir, Zabala Vineyard, 2009
Syrah, Zabala Vineyard, 2008
“Palmina Wines, Santa Barbara County”
Tocai Friulano, Santa Barbara County, Honea Vineyard, 2010
Arneis, Santa Barbara County, Honea Vineyard, 2009
Dolcetto, Santa Barbara County, 2009
“Poem Cellars, Napa Valley”
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2009, Barrel Sample
“Presqu’ile, Santa Maria Valley”
Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Barbara County, 2010
Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, 2009
Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, 2009
“Rarecat Wines, Rutherford”
Lionheart Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2009
Charles Heintz Chardonnay, Russian River, 2009
“Silver Wines, Santa Barbara”
Chardonnay, White Hawk Vineyard, 2009
Grenache Blanc,Santa Barbara, 2009
Pinot Noir Coteau Palmer, Premier Vineyard, 2008
Saviezza, (90% Sangiovese, 5% Cab Franc, 5% Cab Sauv), Santa Barbara 2008
Trentotto File, White Hawk Vineyard (98% Syrah, 2% Viognier), 2008
“Skinner Vineyards, Sierra Foothills”
Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, “Seven Generations”, El Dorado
Grenache, El Dorado, 2009
“Eighteen Sixty-One”, El Dorado, 2008
Syrah, El Dorado, 2007
“Starlite Vineyards, Sonoma County”
Viognier, Sonoma County, 2010
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, 2007
Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, 2006
There were only a few wineries on this list that I had tried before, so I was very excited to be at this tasting to experience some new wines and wineries. Everything I tasted was of very high quality, but two wineries really stood out for me: Rarecat Wines and Hill Family.
“Rarecat Wines, Rutherford”
Lionheart Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2009
Charles Heintz Chardonnay, Russian River, 2009
Both of these wines showed incredible elegance, delicious fruit and long finishes. I loved the “mouthfeel” of these wines, especially the velvety Chardonnay.
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Excellent wines!
“Hill Family, Napa Valley”
Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2010
Barrel Blend, 2008
Syrah, Clarke Vineyard, 2009
We started the tasting event with this Sauvignon Blanc, and knew right away we were going to be enjoying ourselves. The Barrel Blend was very tasty and, at , an incredible value for a Napa wine.
And the Clarke Vineyard Syrah was my favorite wine of the day.
Michael Perlis provides outsourced controller services to businesses that do not need a full-time controller. He balances this with his interest in wine: reading and writing about it and, of course, drinking it.
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He is still trying to figure out how to combine these two pursuits. Feel free to contact him about either at mcpfinancial@aol.com or michaelthezinfan@aol.com.
Michael,
I was glad to see you chose the Hill Family wines. I agree the Barrel Blend is a great value and the Clarke Syrah is an excellent wine.
I tasted the Freestone wines earlier this year at Joseph Phelps, this is their Sonoma branded wine and they were very good with the promise of becoming exceptional. The event sounds like a great tasting opportunity!