Vintage Eve Circa Feb 2016: Wow, the 13th Annual Stars of Santa Barbara, by WineLA.com

February 26, 2019 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Ian Blackburn of WineLA (formerly Learn About Wine) has done it again – rallied a stellar list of wineries to offer samples of their latest vintages at this year’s Stars of Santa Barbara event, once again held at the prestigious Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel. (Watch the event in a slide show here.)

STARS also included VIP winemaker speakers, 80s KROQ DJ Richard Blade taking requests, yummy noshables and a silent auction – with enough wine to deck out a great cellar – that benefitted the T.J Martell Foundation in supporting Leukemia, cancer and AIDS research.

VIP Session: Brian Loring and Greg Brewer

Winemakers Brian Loring of Loring Wine Company and Greg Brewer, Co-Founder Brewer Clifton Winery led the VIP session. Ian called these men two of the “top personalities” that were represented at the event. These are my take-away lessons:

From Brewer

The “sand and plankton” added to the “oceanic voice” of the Santa Rita Hills.

All estate vineyards from old Lompoc family farms, so these same family names are on their wine labels.

The fruit is “generous (and produces) lush, curvy, sexy wines.” They use the full cluster, like “nose to tail” as referenced in cooking. The stems and the flesh add to the long-lasting tannins.

Only problem in the industry is that though we don’t need to dumb down wine we do need to make it accessible and understandable to all.

Brewer got hooked on wine while working in a tasting room.

From Loring

About ten years ago Wine Spectator named him and Brewer as 2 of the 10 to watch.

Unlike Brewer, Loring doesn’t use stems at all. Joked that it was due to his dislike of vegetables. His wines are big and plush on their own.

His 2006 Pinot Noir, closed with a screw cap, had aged well. Loring wanted people to see that the closure doesn’t affect the aging.

Loring, joking again, said he got into wine via a work release program from prison. However, like Brewer, he had started in the industry working in a wine shop, “hung out at harvest” and then, along with his sister, went full time.

Now, onto the tasting (I had a wee bit of a cold so I’m sure there were some great wines that I missed!)

Big Hits for Me

Westerly Wines, Fletcher’s Red, Happy Canyon Santa Barbara 2010.

All of the Pinots from the Bonaccorsi Wine Company.

Clos Pepe (yes this wine is still available for purchase) Axis Mundi Grenache/Syrah 2012.

Crawford Family Wines Syrah, Zotovich Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills 2014 and Second Street Cuvee, Ballard Canyon 2013.

Summerland Winery Trio (GSM Blend) – Paso Robles 2013.

Margerum Amaro and M5 Rhone Blend, Santa Barbara 2013.

Coquelicot Estates Wines Mon Amour Bordeaux Blend and Sixer Rhone Style Syrah, both Santa Ynez Valley 2012.

Everything from Stolpman: ‘L’Avion’ Roussanne, Stolpman Vineyards, Ballard Canyon 2013; Estate Syrah, Stolpman Vineyards, Ballard Canyon 2013; ‘Originals’ Syrah, Stolpman Vineyards, Ballard Canyon 2013 and ‘La Croce’ Red Blend, Stolpman Vineyards, Ballard Canyon 2013.

Rusack Zinfandel, Ballard Canyon Estate (one of my fave AVAs in the area), 2013.

Everything from Larner Vineyard and Winery: Estate Grenache 2012

Estate Mourvèdre 2012; “Elemental” Estate GSM 2011 and Estate Syrah 2011.

Two from Crawford Family Wines: Syrah, Zotovich Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills 2014 and Second Street Cuvee, Ballard Canyon 2013.

From Tercero, two stay-tuned-for new releases: 2015 Mourvedre Rose and 2015 Aberration (a red blend in stainless steel).

DV8 Cellars: GSM, Santa Barbara County 2012 and Syrah, Ballard Canyon 2012.

Refugio Ranch Vineyards Escondrijo blend (Syrah, Grenache, Petite Sirah) 2012 and my pick of the day: a killer Petite Sirah 2013.

From Wine LA

Dedicated to keeping the populous current on the developments growing out of Santa Barbara, this Annual Tasting Event features the namesakes, owners, winemakers pouring some of the best wine made in California. Long before Sideways, LearnAboutWine was bullish about the quality of Santa Barbara wine. Today, with the continued evolution of Santa Barbara we see Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos and specifically Ballard Canyon focusing on Syrah and Rhone varieties and Happy Canyon focusing on Bordeaux varietals. Santa Barbara continues to make smaller production wines that need a story to be told and we deliver on that promise. Come and meet the winemakers, passionate owners, and the farmers and see why Santa Barbara deserves a bigger part of your wine budget and why you should plan a number of visits in the months ahead

2016 PARTICIPANTS

Bonaccorsi Wine Company
Brewer-Clifton
Brophy Clark Cellars
Ca’ Del Grevino Winery & Estate
Cargasacchi
Carucci Wines
Challen Winery
Clos Pepe Estate
Coquelicot Estate Wines
Consilience Wines
Crawford Family Wines
D’alfonso-Curran
Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards
Dv8 Cellars
Foxen
Inception Wines
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Jonata
La Fenêtre Wines
Lafond & Santa Barbara Winery
Larner Vineyard & Winery
Levo Wines
Loring Wine Company
Margerum Wine Company
Refugio Ranch Vineyards
Riverbench Winery
Rusack Vineyards
Silver Wines
Stolpman Vineyards
Summerland Winery
Tantara Wines
Tercero Wines
Temerity Vineyard
The Brander Vineyard
The Hilt
The Paring
Thorne Wine
Westerly Wines
William James Cellars
Zaca Mesa Winery And Vineyards

Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance
Ave Winery
Ken Brown Wines
Kessler-Haak Vineyard & Winery

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Wine LA Presents Grenache Wars

January 6, 2019 by evebushman Leave a Comment

GRENACHE – (a.k.a. Garnacha) one of the most widely planted grapes in the world is now one of the most exciting! Presented in a large number of styles, come taste and VOTE for which winery wins 1st prize!!!

Grenache is finding more than a few fans here in Southern California and is planted extensively in Santa Barbara (especially Ballard Canyon) and in Paso Robles where the style is more concentrated and inky, with typical notes of spice, berry fruits, and white pepper. Grenache is often described as being similar to Pinot Noir but with a powerful tannic grip, a great alternative for those summer BBQs!

Come and experience Grenache at its best with a number of the top producers in attendance for this round of battles–all to the tune of live music curated by the talented DJ Wig.

No wine glass is safe when Grenache gets involved, and don’t forget your toothpaste… your teeth may never be white again. wineLA welcomes wine fans of all experience levels!

To honor this versatile grape, wineLA is thrilled to present our Grenache Wars event on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at The Brea Bakery Cafe. With approximately 20 prominent wineries set to participate, wineLA invites you to join us and taste these most delightful wines at an exclusive gathering where you get to vote and decide who will be crowned the number one Grenache this year!

Participating wineries include: Ascension Cellars, Dubost Vineyard & Wines, Archium Cellars, Leverage Wines, Byron Blatty Wines, Kimsey Vineyards, Tercero Wines, Nelle Winery, Shale Oak Winery, Vines on the Marycrest, Vila de Torroja – Terroir Al Limit Soc. Lda – Priorat, Zaca Mesa, Bodega de Edgar, Martian Ranch & Vineyard and more!

The event will begin at 6pm for V.I.P. TICKETS (Advance tickets for the V.I.P. experience may be purchased for $100 and any remaining VIP tickets will be $125 at the door; prices will increase as sell-out approaches). Limited sale 6pm V.I.P. admission entry tickets include delicious short rib sliders with horseradish chive cream, crab-stuffed crimini mushrooms with Hollandaise drizzle, ahi tuna La Brea Bakery naan chips with cilantro chipotle aioli, lamb meatballs with tzatziki.

At 7pm, doors open for General Admission. (Advanced tickets may be purchased for $75; remaining tickets will be $90 at the door). General Admission includes tasty chorizo-Manchego mini-tartlets, roasted tomato and mozzarella bruschetta, grilled vegetable ratatouille on pita chips with sun-dried tomato hummus, avocado toast with roasted corn, grilled pineapple on sourdough and much more!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.winela.com/grenache-wars

About wineLA

wineLA is about enhancing the wine culture of Los Angeles one event at a time. To do so, wine must be in rhythm with food, fashion, music, and must reflect the geography, the architecture and atmosphere of centers of interest. Los Angeles is a giant playground with an amazing array of venues, spaces, wine bars, restaurants, beaches, rooftops, gardens, and magical views. We are a part of the LA lifestyle, the wine lifestyle, and we celebrate the people, the places and the passion.

ABOUT T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION:

The T.J. Martell Foundation is the music industry’s largest foundation funding innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation sources and supports early-stage research projects aimed at developing more effective clinical treatments for patients who otherwise might not be funded. Learn more at tjmartell.org.

About La Brea Bakery Cafe:

In 1989, the Original La Brea Bakery opened its doors on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles, California. La Brea Bakery is now the leading U.S. producer of partially baked artisan breads supplied to restaurants and food stores throughout the world. They use their original recipe to this day, and their creativity, passion and dedication continues to set La Brea Bakery apart as the authority on artisan bread. Their flagship store-front bakery still thrives on La Brea Avenue and to this day, enthusiasts continue to line up outside the bakery for our delectable creations. La Brea Bakery’s breads can also be found at the La Brea Bakery Cafe in Anaheim, California, and your favorite restaurants and grocery stores across the country. La Brea Bakery is part of Aryzta AG.

Vintage Eve Circa 4/15: Santa Barbara County AVA Lesson and Tasting Courtesy NASA and Michael Larner

June 5, 2018 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Santa Barbara County is our local world-class wine region. The region boasts a perfect combination of climate, soils, geology and geography, allowing growers and vintners to produce excellent wines from grapes associated with three major global areas – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone.

Santa Barbara County Vintners Vice President Michael Larner, a grower, vintner and geologist by training, led our lecture on this very local winemaking region.

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Michael Larner, photo from Larner Vineyards Facebook page.

Seminar

“Today I will be your conductor…” began Larner. Who would share “what is diverse in the wines found in a 17 mile stretch.”

Larner explained that there are 211 AVAs (designated wine grape growing regions) in the United States.

Almost all of what we have in California has the varietal name on the label.

There can be up to a 50 degree shift between day and night temperatures in Santa Barbara County, which allows for “great natural acidity left in the wine…longer hang time…(and) giving a great complexity to the wines.”

A majority of the wineries are family-owned and produce fewer than 10,000 cases. The vintners association strives to create public awareness of this.

Climate is diverse in the different zones, and allows for different varieties to be grown. The heat burns off the nightly fog and pulls in the marine layer. Then, as the sun burns it off, a vacuum is created and brings in the coastal breeze.

Fog burns off at different times in the various regions, so some vineyards get warm while others remain cool.

Grapes were planted first in the area in 1782. The first commercial wineries started planting in 1960s.

“In a short story…we have two continents that crashed against each other…over 40 million years ago.” Then 20 million years ago an area north of San Diego fragmented off and ended up where Santa Barbara now is. Land is still moving due to the San Andreas Fault.

By 2013 23,000 acres had been planted. More Bordeaux varieties have been planted since 2003, as well as Syrah mostly in Ballard Canyon.

Larner then went through the stats for each of the Santa Barbara AVAs, when they were established, climate, elevation, rainfall, degree days (a heat summation; how many days an area gets hot after fog is burned off), soils and principal varieties grown in the region.

Note: One AVA, Sta. Rita Hills, was established with that abbreviated name over Santa Rita because there already is a wine growing area in Chile with that name.

Tasting Notes (Aromas and flavors separated by 😉

2013 Fess Parker Viognier, Camp 4, Rodney’s Vineyard, Santa Barbara County
Lemon, white pepper, orange; lemon-lime, citrus, crisp, nice fruit, long finish.

2012 Byron Chardonnay, Nielson Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley
Buttery oak, buttered popcorn, sugary lemon drops, a bit of anise; balanced citrus fruit and acid works well, oak dries my palate and made me want more, well done. If you’re an oak fan this one is for you.

2012 Brander Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley
Lime, Kiwi, white peach, lemon, wet gravel; bright, lemon, pineapple, medium acidity and finish.

2012 Sanford Pinot Noir, Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills
Raspberry, plum, tart cherry, green peppercorns; same fruit, tart but nice balanced bright fruit with a light acid.

2010 Larner Syrah, Larner Vineyard, Ballard Canyon
Deep, dark plum, mushroom, black licorice; nice mouthfeel, bowl of dark fruit, balanced with nice pepper. My favorite of the tasting so far.

2011 Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Dusty blueberry, river bed, chocolate, little bit of mint; Dark dusty plums, blackberry, stems, black pepper, stewed mushrooms.

After the conclusion of the seminar Larner invited us to taste some other wines from the Santa Barbara Vintners. It was nearing the end of the workday for me having already had a great class and a tasting…but I still thoroughly enjoyed:

2011 Palmina Alisos red blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, Santa Barbara

2012 Scott Cellars Sangiovese, West Slope, Santa Barbara County

2012 Fess Parker Syrah, Santa Barbara County

2013 Rusack Syrah, Ballard Canyon Estate, Santa Barbara County

2013 Casa Dumetz GSM, Santa Ynez Valley

2009 Larner Elemental GSM

Story in photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10205360193031725.1073741909.1455706632&type=1&l=f4f064285c

Eve Bushman has been reading, writing, taking coursework and tasting wine for over 20 years. She has obtained a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, has been the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and recently served as a guest judge for the L.A. International Wine Competition. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits that may be answered in a future column. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Nerano Welcomes Winemaker Matt Dees for the Jonata Wine Dinner on August 22

August 13, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

A Menu Created by Chef Michele Lisi and Wine Pairings by Sommelier Samantha Johnston in Celebration of Jonata’s Cult Wines

As part of a continuing series of dinners showcasing domestic and international winemakers, Nerano presents an intimate five-course dinner tasting menu paired with wines from Jonata, one of the Central Coast’s most sought after wine producers, on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

nerend The wines selected for Nerano’s Jonata wine dinner were chosen to introduce and familiarize the richness of these Santa Barbara County wines to a wider audience. Winemaker Matt Dee’s wines offer something for everyone – Rosé for warm afternoons or Aperitivo, versatile Chardonnay for any food at every price point, and reds that can be enjoyed every day like The Hilt, or something reserved for a memorable dinner, such as Jonata’s Tierra or ‘Alma’ Cabernet Franc.

The evening reception begins with Stuzzichini of Crostino di Pomodoro Verde with Apulian Burrata and Green Tomato Marmellata and Ahi Tuna Tartare with Meyer Lemon, Capers and English Cucumber Cup paired with The Paring, Rosé of Pinot Noir 2016. A Primi course of Capesante with Roasted Scallops, Sunchoke Crema, Toasted Walnuts and Crispy Salsify is paired with The Hilt, ‘Vanguard,’ Chardonnay 2014; followed by a Risotto with Kabocha Squash and Norcia Black Truffles paired with The Hilt, ‘Old Guard,’ Pinot Noir 2014. Next is the Pasta course of house-made Pappardelle with Colorado Lamb Ragu’, Castelmagno Cheese and Crispy Rosemary paired with Jonata, ‘Tierra,’ Sangiovese 2007. For Secondi, guests will savor Braciola Di Cervo – a Roasted Venison Chop with Oregon Chanterelles, Grilled Polenta and Bing Cherry Riduzione paired with Jonata, ‘Alma,’ Cabernet Franc 2013.The dinner is completed with a Dolci of Coconut Sorbet paired with Nerano’s House-Made Limoncello.

Pricing for Nerano’s Jonata Wine Dinner is $175 per person inclusive of menu and wines, and exclusive of tax and gratuity. Dinner will be served in the upstairs BG Lounge promptly at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required and seating availability is limited for this event.

ABOUT JONATA

Matt Dees and the Jonata team’s commitment to a forward thinking approach to winemaking has made Jonata one of the most sought after cult wines of California’s Central Coast. The sandy soil slopes of the 84-acre vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA of Santa Barbara County were uncultivated until the Jonata team pioneered the land, planting some of the first and most successful Bordeaux and Rhone varietals in the region. Matt Dees has shown extraordinary results and gained widespread acclaim from critics such as Robert Parker, Antonio Galloni, and Stephen Tanzer. In addition, the Jonata team has an incredible commitment to sustainability. The Jonata Estate integrates livestock into their farming model, which enhances the soil and the health of their land. The ranch also contains a large communal garden, an orchard that produces olives for estate olive oil and honey bees raised for the production of honey. The vineyard team practices judicious water use without using chemicals such as herbicides or pesticides. Small production, meticulously made, with an outstanding commitment to quality – that is Matt Dees and Jonata’s way.

JONATA WINE DINNER WITH SPECIAL GUEST MATT DEES

Executive Chef Michele Lisi

Sommelier Samantha Johnston

Special Guest Winemaker Matt Dees

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

7:30 PM IN THE BG LOUNGE

stuzzichini

Crostino di Pomodoro Verde

apulian burrata, green tomato marmellata

Ahi Tuna Tartare

ahi tuna, meyer lemon, capers, english cucumber cup

The Paring, Rosé of Pinot Noir 2016

primi

Capesante

roasted scallops, sunchoke crema, toasted walnuts, crispy salsify

The Hilt, ‘Vanguard,’ Chardonnay 2014

Risotto

risotto with kabocha squash, norcia black truffles

The Hilt, ‘Old Guard,’ Pinot Noir 2014

pasta

Pappardelle

pappardelle, colorado lamb ragu’, castelmagno cheese, crispy rosemary

JONATA, ‘Tierra,’ Sangiovese 2007

secondi

Braciola di Cervo

roasted venison chop, oregon chanterelles, grilled polenta, bing cherry riduzione

JONATA, ‘Alma,’ Cabernet Franc 2013

dolci

Sorbetto

coconut sorbet

Nerano House-Made Limoncello

$175 per person

inclusive of menu and wines, plus taxes and gratuity.

WHEN:

JONATA WINE DINNER WITH WINEMAKER MATT DEES

TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2017

7:30 p.m. upstairs in the BG Lounge

Limited availability; advanced reservations required

WHERE:

Nerano & The BG Lounge

9960 South Santa Monica Boulevard

Beverly Hills, CA 90212

310.405.0155

ABOUT:

Nerano is the fourth restaurant from the Toscana Restaurant Group and is the vision of owners Andy Brandon-Gordon and Carlo Brandon-Gordon’s trips to the Amalfi Coast where they became inspired by the temperate climate, the pure simplicity of the coastal cuisine and the inviting Italian culture. In combining their individual talents with a virtuoso team of culinary and creative professionals, they are fulfilling their vision of a stunning contemporary space matched with exquisite dishes and welcoming service they discovered in the village of Nerano. Executive Chef Michele Lisi’s menu is deftly created with a light touch, using only the finest California and imported Italian ingredients. Mixologist William Perbellini has crafted the cocktail program for both Nerano and the sleek and lush BG Lounge upstairs. The BG Lounge is beautifully appointed and the dramatic and theatrical room is an instant classic, reminiscent of Bemelmans Bar at New York’s Carlyle Hotel or Bar Hemingway in Paris. Nerano and BG Lounge opened in November with much fanfare from The Hollywood Reporter, Eater, Thrillist and Urban Daddy.

Become a Fan of NERANO on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/neranobh

Follow NERANO on Twitter: @neranobh

on Instagram: @neranobh

For OpenTable reservations

Please visit TRG’s restaurants on the Web:

www.toscanabrentwood.com

www.bartoscana.com

www.sykitchen.com

Perlis Picks: Double Trouble Wine Room

July 29, 2017 by Michael Perlis 2 Comments

Downtown Newhall is fast becoming an all-in-one destination for the Santa Clarita Valley.

With a state of the art public library standing guard at the north end of Main Street and Newhall Refinery restaurant and Pulchella Winery tasting room near the southern end, along with everything else going on nearby and in-between, it is easy to see why this area’s popularity is only going to increase.

Recently, Karen and I had the opportunity to visit the Double Trouble Wine Room on Main Street, a joint project of Hoi Polloi Winery and Pagter Brothers Winery. Both wineries make their wines locally at SCV Custom Crush Services, sourcing grapes primarily from vineyards on California’s Central Coast.

PAGTER BROTHERS WINERY

For some years, I’ve enjoyed the wines made by Scott Pagter of Pagter Brothers Winery. I can’t remember all the details of when he shared the wine [under his previous wine label] with me at the much missed All Corked Up wine bar, but I do remember it being a pretty killer Grenache. [I also have very fond memories of Scott’s band Stupid Pony from those days. Fronted by excellent lead singer Sidney Iverson, I always looked forward to this band’s rare appearances.]

Scott and his brother Gib formed Pagter Brothers Winery in 2013 specializing in “big, bold reds.” That being said, the first wine we tried was the 2014 Chardonnay which was excellent, a fairly light wine but with a touch of oak on the finish to give it some body.

After that, though, we did move on to those big bold reds, tasting through a selection of wines from the 2014 vintage, mostly Rhone varietals with Syrah sourced from the White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Ynez and the Grenache from the Hoyt Vineyard in Paso Robles…

Notorious – blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, named after Gib’s day job as an attorney.

Melodious – a reverse of the Notorious, 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache, a tribute to Scott’s music/entertainment background.

Syrah – 100% from the White Hawk Vineyard. This was delicious, but we also got a sneak peek of the 2015 vintage which if anything was even better.

In addition, Pagter Brothers makes a Tempranillo. I think Tempranillo does very well in Paso and this 2014 was no exception.

Finally, another sneak peek – the 2015 Tannat. From Paso’s Adelaida district, this wine belied Tannat’s reputation as being monolithic and unapproachable. Definitely the opposite of that, drinking very well right after bottling and will only get better. My fave of the Pagter Brothers tasting.

Scott told me that their motto is to “make wine they like to drink…so if no one buys it they can drink it.” With these wines, they’re not going to be able to keep much for themselves.

HOI POLLOI WINERY

My relationship with Doug Minnick, one of the three owner/winemakers of Hoi Polloi Winery, goes back several years as well. Doug is also one of the co-founders of the Garagiste Festivals and he and I first met when I interviewed him for our Eve’s Wine 101 website about the inaugural event that was coming up.

So, it was a natural progression to want to make wine. The special focus is on Syrah and Doug says they will soon be able to do side-by-side single vineyard Syrah tastings from all four of their Syrah sources – Sebastiano Vineyard [Sta. Rita Hills], Alta Colina Vineyard [Paso Robles], Hoppe Kelly Vineyard [Russian River Valley] as well as the iconic Larner Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. If you know Syrah, you know that Doug et al have connected with some pretty outstanding vineyards. I feel that Syrah is one of the best varieties for showing off differences in terroir, so this is pretty exciting stuff.

But they do make other wines besides Syrah. We started our tasting with the newly released 2016 Grenache Rosé from Colburn Vineyards in Paso Robles – one of the best Rosés that I’ve had.

We then moved to the reds by first tasting the 2015 “Illicit” Pinot Noir from Santa Maria and the 2014 “Touch of Evil” Cabernet Sauvignon from the Cass Vineyard in Paso Robles. Both solid wines.

Now, time for the red Rhones!

We eased into them, starting with the 2015 Syrah / Grenache Blend called Tryst, so called because while the 34% Grenache is entirely from Paso Robles, the 66% Syrah is a combination of Paso and cool-climate Sonoma. Makes for a very tasty wine.

Not messing around now, we tasted the Sebastiano Vineyard Sta. from Rita Hills and the Alta Colina Vineyard from Paso Robles, both from the 2014 vintage. I had already tasted these wines from last year’s Garagiste Festival in LA and knew what to expect. I was not disappointed. [Not tasted this time but tasted at that same festival was the 2014 “Double Exposure” blend from both of these vineyards, which was actually one of my favorites that day.]

We got a sneak peek here as well – the 2015 Petite Sirah from the Loma Seca Vineyard in Paso Robles. Delicious now, this wine is going to be fun to watch develop.

The Double Trouble Wine Room is definitely worth your time. Gorgeous facility, now with a patio, along with great wines poured by nice people. I expect this is a place you may want to become a “regular” at before it becomes too popular.

DOUBLE TROUBLE WINE ROOM

24338 Main St.
Newhall, CA 91321

Vintage Eve Circa March 2013: The Great Los Olivos, Solvang and Santa Ynez FOOD shout out!

March 14, 2017 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Getting ready to hit the road for a weekend in Santa Ynez and Lompoc wine country I did what I always do: I asked Facebook friends where to eat. Once on my weekend, with plans for a picnic with one winemaker and at least one dinner at Hitching Post II I was looking for more breakfast and lunch places.

Below is what they offered up…and below that is where I ended up!

Facebook Choices

Denise L: Succulent.

Tanya G: Route 246 in Solvang. Best pork chop I’ve ever had IN MY LIFE! No joke!

Myron H: Ellen’s Danish pancake house in Buellton! Also the golf course in Solvang has a good lunch.

Marlee L: Ellen’s for breakfast!!!

Todd W: It’s kind of a tradition for me to go to The Little Mermaid in Solvang for Æbleskivers, but I heard they closed, so I dunno what else to recommend.

Myron H: The ebilskivers that are in the town of Solvang are also good do not know that restaurant name.

Eve B: Could it be Solvang Restaurant – Home of Arne’s Aebleskiver www.solvangrestaurant.com

Todd W: Thx! If you’re looking for a light lunch, I might suggest Panino. Love their sandwiches.

Sonya R: The Restaurant at the Ballard Inn is well reviewed in Yelp.

Hola O: I can’t vouch for it myself, but my friend went there and really liked it, but not full on restaurant, cheese plate, wine bar type food, olives, chocolate etc. http://www.thegoodlifecellar.com/about-the-good-life-solvang/

Todd W: I’ve eaten at Ballard Inn for dinner (took my wife there for a Valentine’s weekend getaway in 2010) and it was an incredible meal. We stayed at the Inn as well. Lovely place. Nicely located between Solvang and Los Olivos. Don’t know that I’d suggest it for lunch.

Lee T: Succulent is the best. Really, really good, it’s also worth taking time to go to Los Alamos to Quackenbush as well.

Patrick B: You can grab breakfast there, but you have to be staying there. To many bakeries in Solvang to count. Look for the place with a line. There aren’t too many breakfast options in Los Olivos either.

Diane G: We eat at Ellen’s a lot when we are up there. Haven’t heard about Succulent – is it newer? The menu looks great!

Eve B: I can’t wait to try them out! How about Los Olivos? Any breakfast or lunch spots there you guys like?

Patrick B: Try the Los Olivos Cafe

Julia V: Los Olivos Cafe’s curried chicken salad is my absolute fav! I may be there tomorrow for an early lunch … visiting my 94-year-old aunt and 93-year-old uncle who live in Solvang. Hope they’re up to it! There is also The Vineyard House and Ballard Inn.

Andrew F: Paula’s pancake house!

Alex H: Long horn coffee shop and bakery soooo good!!!

Julia V: Olsen’s Danish Bakery – ITEM – 103 Olsen’s 7 Sisters Butter Ring Coffee Cake. A delightful Danish coffee cake filled with the goodness of almond and custard. A coffee cake for any occasion. FABULOUS!

Barry L: If you go, I want an almond butter ring from Olsen’s bakery. Just read Julia’s post. It is the best thing ever.

Jannis S: Sides Hardware & Shoes in Los Olivos!

Diane G: Don’t forget about “Pea Soup Anderson’s” if you are into pea soup… not a great place for anything else, though.

Larry M: Toss up between Sides for Eggs Benedict and Paula’s for Danish Pancakes.

Our Choices

Well. Things took a turn once we arrived in wine country…we still dined at The Hitching Post II, but we also had tasty offerings in the Stolpman Vineyard, Corner House Coffee, Stafford’s Famous Chocolates, the private home of Steve and Cathy Pepe and finally, at Sides Hardware and Shoes.

Starting out at Stafford’s in Los Olivos, a candy shop located in a former windmill, we were completely surrounded by chocolate. Laced with Lavender, infused with red wine, bars and pops – we were in red wine pairing heaven. We sampled many of the items and planned on ordering more. I suggest spending time there in between tasting rooms!

Located right next store to Stafford’s was the rustic Corner House Coffee. We got our coffee fix in as well as almond croissants and toasted bagels. It was an important spot for us as some of the tasting rooms didn’t have restroom facilities, but the coffee shop did – for its guests.

Our lunch that first day was provided by Peter Stolpman in the Stolpman Vineyards located in the Ballard Canyon section of Santa Ynez Valley. A grand picnic of sandwiches, salads and pickled vegetables that went very well with their white blend L’Avion Roussanne, Syrahs and Sangiovese. (The tour and tasting will run in a separate story.) Even though the day was cold, and had grown windy enough to knock empty wine glasses from our picnic table – we loved it. We just had to keep our glasses full to prevent any mishaps – not a problem. You can book your own picnic and vineyard tour too via this link: http://www.stolpmanvineyards.com/Tasting-Room/index.php?p=31&title=Vineyard-Tours

Much later that evening we had dinner at The Hitching Post II. I hadn’t been there since the film Sideways came out. It was crowded, as expected, but the service was prompt. We had the fresh lobster, filet mignon, prime flat iron, Angus rib chop and rack of lamb. And when I mentioned my sister-in-law’s birthday as we were ordering dessert, hers arrived with a lit candle and a song.

I felt silly after asking everyone for a breakfast spot as the one breakfast we had ended up being provided for us…

After driving through the gates of Clos Pepe Vineyards to reach the home of Steve and Cathy Pepe where we were to spend the night, we quickly saw winemaker Wes Hagen playing Frisbee Gold, aka Disc Golf, amongst the dormant vines. We had an appointment for a wine class and tasting the next day and told Wes we’d see him then. He told us he would be up for breakfast first.

How pleasant, just as it had been with Peter Stolpman, to mingle and chit chat with Wes Hagen over granola, Cheerios, bananas, toast and bagels.

Our final meal was one of the suggested places: Sides Hardware and Shoes, a Brothers Restaurant. When Wes overheard our plans he suggested we try anything they had with bacon in it as they cure their own. Sold. We had a fresh cobb salad, with bacon, bacon burger, fried chicken salad and a “Triple Pork Burger with bacon, pork shoulder and house made chorizo, served with fried onions, jalapeños and roasted poblano aioli.” And though it sounded really rich to me, those that ordered it were the first ones done!

One Bottle Post: Workman Ayer 2013 “de facto”

December 2, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

I’m a Rhône fan, but I’m also a Bordeaux/Zin/whatever is great fan. Point is that if asked I have a hard time picking just one wine as a favorite. Depends on where I happen to be, what’s on my plate and whose company I might be enjoying. So, in a nutshell, it depends on my collective mood. And the day I met Michel Ayer I was in a really good mood. Then again, every time since then my mood has only improved – by his Rhônes, all two of them. (What is a Rhône? A quick lesson can be had via the Rhone Rangers website: http://rhonerangers.org/)

Michel makes a white Rhône, a 100% Viognier; and a red Rhône, a Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre blend.

Previous Tasting Notes

Eve’s Wine 101: Tasting the First Rhones from Workman Ayer, July 2014, SCV Beacon.

Eve’s Wine 101: Garagiste Urban Exposure: Their First Wine Tasting at Union Station, July 2014, SCV Beacon

Eve’s Wine 101: Can’t Get Enough: STARS of California Part Two, June 2016, SCV Beacon

Catching up with Michel Ayer

Before the tasting I reached out to Michel to ask him what was new and what the future holds for him.

No particular challenges in the vineyards in 2013 despite continued drought conditions. Real challenges begin with 2015 and yields being down and therefore fruit prices being up. As for the future, hope to get over to California in January to pour at wineLA’s Stars of Santa Barbara in both Orange County and Beverly Hills, but have yet to solidify that plan. Am also working to expand production on our existing two wines as well as explore adding a Grenache dominant blend and a white Rhône blend (both initially likely only via mailing list).

Today’s Tasting

Workman Ayer 2013 “de facto” red wine, Central Coast

Syrah Grenache Mourvedre (aka GSM blend)

Aromas of black cherry, plum, red roses and a hint of black licorice and black olives.

Flavors included ripe and rich black fruit, green peppercorn, cigar, charred steak, that same hint of black olive and firm tannins. 90 Eve pts. at the first taste, 91 Eve pts. After 10 minutes in my glass. Other scores include: 91 from The Corkscrewer Report, 89 Wine Enthusiast magazine, and 88 from Connoisseurs’ Guide.

Tech Sheet

Vintage

2013 was a warm, dry growing season. In every single month from March through November, valley temperatures were above the historical average and precipitation was below. Thankfully, the rest of the growing season was fairly problem free – no massive heat spikes and less frost problems than normal resulting in a large, but high quality harvest – despite the drought conditions.

Vineyards

30% Los Alamos Syrah, 25% Ballard Canyon Syrah, 25% Santa Ynez Valley Syrah, 10% Los Alamos Grenache, .10% Los Alamos Mourvedre. Production: 100 cases 750 ml.

Winemaking

The bulk of the Syrah was from Los Alamos and was its typical self – big, fat, chewy, smoky. The Ballard Canyon Syrah was off the charts good with nice oak. Then there was some Santa Ynez Valley Syrah. We used two lots – the first pick and the last pick. The first pick was zingy and perfumy, which added a great backbone to the blend. The last pick was dark and brooding, but still nice aromas. It was a nice balance of the two. The Mourvedre was a bit tannic and structured, which was a nice addition. The Grenache was little softer than normal, but loads of nice strawberry. The blend was aged in approximately 40% new French oak for 20 months.

Winemaker’s Tasting Notes

Bright, fresh aromas of strawberry, white pepper, anise, smoked meat, caramel and kirsch. Broad, expansive and mouthwatering on the palate, with flavors of sweet raspberry, strawberry, tart plum, earth and semi-sweet chocolate. Very long finish with continuing bright, fresh fruit and rich tannins. Remarkably forward now, but also deep and structured. The ol’ iron fist in a velvet glove!

https://www.workmanayer.com/

https://www.facebook.com/WorkmanAyer/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Perlis Picks: Rhone Rangers at the Skirball – Part 2

September 3, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Starting the Rhone Ranger event with the seminar was a great way to kick off the day for Karen and me. The seminar was moderated by Patrick Comiskey, wine writer for the Los Angeles Times as well as Wine & Spirits magazine. In addition, soon after you read this, Patrick’s book American Rhone: How Maverick Winemakers Changed the Way Americans Drink should be available – I am very much looking forward to this.

Panel participants and wines tasted were:

Larry Schaffer of tercero wines – 2014 Verbiage Blanc [64% Roussanne, 24% Viognier, 12% Grenache Blanc] from Santa Ynez Valley.

William Allen of Two Shepherds – 2013 Pastoral Blanc [50% Roussanne, 25% Marsanne, 13% Viognier, 6% Grenache Blanc, 6% Grenache Gris] from Russian River.

Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard – 2015 Cotes de Tablas Blanc [26% Viognier, 25% Grenache Blanc. 25% Marsanne, 24% Roussanne] from Adelaida.

Kale Anderson of Kale Wines – 2014 Heritage “McGah Vineyard” Rutherford [87% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 5% Syrah] from Napa Valley.

Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard – 2012 “Elemental” Estate GSM Blend [47% Grenache, 38% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre] from Ballard Canyon.

Bob Lindquist of Qupé – 2014 “Los Olivos Cuvee” [57% Syrah, 29% Mourvedre, 14% Grenache] from Santa Ynez Valley.

David Gates of Ridge Vineyards – 2012 Lytton Estate [52% Syrah, 48% Grenache] from Dry Creek Valley.

Seven wines in total, three whites and four reds – all blends. Patrick noted that “California has always been all about the blend.” Larry’s aim was to show off the Roussanne. William, whose wines [to me] tend toward subtlety and require the taster to pay attention, was inspired by the Northern Rhone while Jason took his inspiration from the Southern Rhone valley. Kale said that the McGah Vineyard had the only Rhone grapes in Rutherford; I think this is the most massive Grenache-driven wine that I have ever tasted. Michael expressed that he enjoys making blends because he gets to be an artist.

Bob’s Rhones were gateway wines for me back in the day, when I was first introduced to Qupé by the late great Bob Senn in Los Olivos. [Bob Lindquist and I shared a toast to Bob Senn when I visited his table later at the Grand Tasting.] Bob also said something at the seminar that really resonated with me. Bob explained that Grenache is oxidative while Syrah and Mourvedre are reductive in nature, which is why Grenache brightens up the often closed-in flavors of the other two and a primary reason that traditional GSM blends work so well.

Last but not least, David’s Syrah/Grenache blend from an iconic property was another great example of how these two varietals work so well together and a delicious way to wrap up the seminar.

On to lunch, which was out on the patio on a beautiful summer day, to enjoy a buffet of chilled chicken, wild rice salad, seasonal veggies and cookies along with an assortment of white and rosé Rhone wines. A plus was hobnobbing with some of the winemakers who joined us for lunch, such as Kale Anderson of Kale Wines, Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon as well as Craig Jaffurs and Matt Brady of Jaffurs Wine Cellars. I especially liked the Jaffurs Grenache Blanc and the Withers Winery Rose, but there were lots of others there too. My favorite though was the Bonny Doon 2013 Vin Gris Tuilé, a “solarized” pink wine (a wine that had been set out in the sun in glass carboys for several months).

It was now time to head over to the Grand Tasting, being held inside spacious Herscher Hall.

Next week…the Grand Tasting.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com.

Santa Barbara Road Trip Los Angeles: Rhone Varieties

June 3, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

Home to the only transverse mountain range in North America, the Santa Barbara County Appellation is made up of diverse regions and six AVAs – Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Sta Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara and Los Olivos District. The region is also home to an unrivaled growing season with coastal influences, where pinot noir, chardonnay, syrah, grenache, roussanne, marsanne, viognier, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and more thrive. (From the organizer, PleaseThePalate.com)

Eve and Michael Larner of Larner Vineyard and Winery.

As I’ve said before and will say again: One of the best ways for wine 101ers to learn about wine is to do a comparative tasting of the same grape or region. This time it was wine only from the Santa Barbara AVA, and to narrow it down further, I only did the Rhone portion of the tasting that included Viognier, Marsanne, Roussane, Counoise, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (the last three often blended together and referred to as a GSM).

Wine 101 note: Rhone wines traditionally come from Rhone, France, where only certain varietals are allowed to be grown and turned into wine. Of course someone living in the Rhone valley could plant a grape that isn’t considered the best for the terroir (soil, climate, etc.) but they wouldn’t be allowed to sell it commercially.

Now, back to this stateside tasting. A few fun photos can be seen here of my afternoon at LA’s Republique restaurant tasting all things Rhone from Santa Barbara County. And my favorites of the day are listed below in bold, however, I didn’t make it to every table.

Participating Santa Barbara County Wineries

Andrew Murray

Beckmen 2013 Syrah, Purisima Mountain Vineyard, Ballard Canyon AVA blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and a bit of Counoise.

Bien Nacido 2012 Estate Syrah, Santa Maria Valley.

Casa Dumetz with the lovely-as-always winemaker Sonja Magdevski pouring at least two that I thought were very pretty: 2014 Grenache, Santa Ynez Valley and 2014 GSM, Santa Ynez Valley.

Central Coast Group Project (CCGP) Really big: 2012 “Names” Syrah, White Hawk Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. And on the huge scale: 2012 “Barrington Hall Wine Dinner Special Cuvee” (so named after wine dinners Scott Sampler attended in college) GSM, Santa Barbara.

Fess Parker

Imagine

Jaffurs

Larner 2014 Estate Viognier was a wonderful mix of refreshing fruit and vibrant floral, and my fave white of the day. Followed that up with Michael Larner’s 2011 Estate Syrah, Ballard Canyon.

Margerum 2015 Riviera Rose, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County was my fave Rose of the day. But I didn’t stop there, I also enjoyed Doug Margerum’s 2013 Grenache, Santa Barbara County; 2013 Syrah “UBER”, Santa Barbara County; 2014 M5 Rhone blend of GSM, Counoise and Cinsault, Santa Barbara County.

Qupe

Saarloos & Sons

SAMsARA

Sanger Family, pouring their Consilience label, shared at least three wine I thought were great: 2013 Syrah, Santa Barbara County; 2013 Viognier, Santa Barbara County; 2013 Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara County.

Stolpman, poured by Jessica Stolpman, had a perfect line-up – as I had tasted them all recently. But I still enjoyed tasting them all again, including the 2013 L’Avion, blend of Roussanne and Chardonnay, Ballard Canyon and the 2014 Grenache, Ballard Canyon.

Tercero was my first stop as winemaker Larry Schaffer was free when I walked in. Another I had tasted recently, it didn’t stop me from enjoying (again) his 2015 Mourvedre Rose, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara; 2014 Verbiage Blanc blend of Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara County; and a lovely Verbiage Rouge red blend.

William James

Zaca Mesa is an old favorite I used to love to visit and I was not only happy to revisit, but to discover two new wines to enjoy: 2012 Z Blanc, Santa Ynez Valley and 2011 Mesa Reserve Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley.

Perlis Picks: Hospice du Rhone, PART II

May 28, 2016 by evebushman Leave a Comment

The next day started bright and early with the first seminar on white wines at 9:30 AM. [White wine – it’s what’s for breakfast, right?] John Alban complimented us all on making it to the seminar given what must have been a late wine-filled evening for everyone.

The white wine seminar was called Costieres de Nimes – A Southern Rhone Exception for Whites. Moderated by Jeb Dunnuck of The Wine Advocate, presenters were Michel Gassier of Vignobles Michel Gassier, Luc Baudet of Chateau Mas Neuf, Francis Collars of Chateau Mourges du Gres and Diane de Puymorin of Chateau d’Or et de Gueules, each speaker presented two wines from their respective wineries:

Chateau d’Or et du Gueules – 2015 Domaine de la Petite Cassagne, Blanc [Grenache Blanc, Rolle]

Chateau d’Or et du Gueules – 2015 Les Cimels, Blan [Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Rolle]

Chateau Mourgues du Gres – 2015 Les Galets Dores [Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Rolle]

Chateau Mourgues du Gres – 2013 Capitelles des Mourgues, Blanc [Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier]

Vignobles Michel Gassier – 2013 Nostre Pais, Blanc [Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Viognier]

Vignobles Michel Gassier – 2013 Lou Coucardie, Blanc [Viognier, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc]

Clos des Centenaires / Mas Neuf – 2013 Compostelle Blanc [Roussanne, Viognier]

Clos des Centenaires / Mas Neuf – 2012 Armonio Blanc [Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier]

I apologize if I have misspelled any of the names of the winemakers, wineries or wines. Admittedly, I need to work on my French wine knowledge. Also, please excuse the lack of diacritical marks in this entire series of articles.

I was unfamiliar with the Rolle grape – turns out it is what the Italians call Vermentino.

We loved the fruit, freshness and vibrancy of these wines. This region of the Southern Rhone is devoted primarily to red wine, so this gave us a unique opportunity to taste fairly rare wines from a region that has been producing wine for about 2,500 years.

The second seminar was right up my alley [and everyone else’s] – comparative tastings of Syrah and Grenache from the Central Coast, called A Tale of Two Treasures: Paso Robles and Santa Barbara. In this seminar, moderated by Matt Kettmann of Wine Enthusiast, two wines each were presented by Jordan Fiorentini of Epoch Estate Wines, Russell From of Herman Story Wines, Trey Fletcher of Bien Nacido Estate and Chris Hammell of True Believer from Hammell Wine Alliance. Yes, this was the same Chris Hammell that we had the chance meeting with the previous evening and he was as entertaining during the seminar as he was at dinner, along with all the other participants, which just helped to support the theory that the Rhone winemakers are the coolest of all the winemakers.

We sampled:

Bien Nacido Estate – 2011 Grenache [Estate, Santa Maria Valley]

Epoch Estate Wines – 2011 Grenache [Sensibility, Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles]

Herman Story Wines – 2013 Grenache [On the Road, Central Coast]

HWA True Believer – 2013 Grenache [Santa Maria Valley]

HWA True Believer – 2012 Grenache [Santa Maria Valley]

Bien Nacido Estate – 2013 Syrah [Estate, Santa Maria Valley]

Herman Story Wines – 2013 Syrah/Grenache [Larner Vineyard, Ballard Canyon]

Epoch Estate Wines – 2012 Syrah [Block B, Paderewski Vineyard, Paso Robles]

Although I am not much of a blind taster, in this case I wish we could have tasted these wines blind. It would have been fun to try to determine which were which. I’m pretty sure I could have picked out Jordan’s wines, since I am most familiar with hers. Regardless, this was red Rhone heaven.

It was getting closer to the Closing Tasting, but first it was time for lunch, prepared by Chef Brian Collins and his team from Ember restaurant, along with lots of Rhone wines to pair with the food. There was also a live auction.

The day was already a success and now it was time for the Closing Tasting!