Tasting Titus…with Eric Titus

March 22, 2019 by evebushman

It is impossible to know every great winery in Napa, or in any reasonably sized wine region, in my opinion. So I didn’t feel too terrible that I was unfamiliar with Titus Vineyards – though this year they are celebrating “50 years of farming in Napa Valley.” I was ready to rectify this in a tasting with fellow #LAWineWriters over 12 bottles of vintages between 2006 and 2017 and lunch at the Viviane in the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Titus Vineyards is located in St. Helena AVA at the base of Howell Mountain on the Silverado Trail. The winery is family owned and originally sold their fruit to wineries such as Beaulieu Vineyards, Cuvaison and Charles Krug. Now 75% of their farming goes directly into their own wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. The focus: Cabs and Bordeaux blends.

The vineyards have been farmed for over 150 years, with the Titus family purchasing the property in 1968 and having their first harvest in 1969. Their first proprietary vintage was 1990. They strive for a “light carbon footprint” according to Titus, using “hand crews” for harvest.

Eric Titus surrounded by members of my #LAWineWriters group

Tasting

Aromas and Favors separated by ;

2016 Andronicus (a tragedy by William Shakespeare)

Cabernet Sauvignon Blend with Cab Franc and Petit Verdot.

Dark sweet cherry, plum, black pepper, mushroom, earth; nicely balance of both fruit and pepper, tannic, long finish.

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Napa Valley

Similar aromas as the Andronicus, also dark berry, green peppercorn, pipe and char; dark fruit, forest floor and a great balance. One of my favorites in the tasting. (Balance, due to being blends in my opinion, was going to be a positive and predominant factor in these wines.)

2016 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Blend

Perfumy, violet, mocha, plums; velvety, spice up front yet delicate, dry. (This one had some Cab Franc and Zinfandel.)

2016 Cabernet Franc

Balance, chocolate, dried dark berries, stewed mushroom, milk chocolate; dry, dark, peppery, spice and chocolate. Another favorite.

2016 Zinfandel

Blueberry, sweet charred wood, pipe, wet earth, dried leaves; welcoming spice and a very rich palate. Another favorite for me to note.

2017 Sauvignon Blanc

Golden delicious apple, lemon, minerals, zingy; lemon-lime, peach, pear, low acid, balanced. (There is a bit of Viognier in the blend, which may have accounted for the fruit and low acid. Titus said it was used to “knit together a lot of fruit.”) Very nicely done.

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Blue to black fruit, pipe, plum, sweet earth; dry, balanced, dark fruits, port-like.

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon

Crushed black cherry, dark chocolate, tri-color peppercorns, redwood; red fruit, smoke, oak, incredible balance. This was also a favorite in the tasting.

2012 Petit Verdot

Sweet blue fruit, ripe blackberry, ash; dried berries, tannin and that perfect balance again.

2009 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Voluptuous, sweet and dark fruit, dark chocolate, spice; big tannins and long length.

2010 Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Sweet aromas of cherry candy, fruit and charred steak; black cherry, earth, dry, dark, tannic.

2012 Napa Valley Lot 1 (proprietary blend)

Hello spice, earthy, wood, blue and black fruit; big, dry, tannic and a slight musty quality. Very welcoming on the mouth. Titus called it his “chocolate mousse of wines (and) more about hedonism.”

Conclusion

Clearly, I missed Titus in my Napa adventures and am thrilled to have been able to meet with Eric Titus, learn about their winery and taste these exceptional vintages. My suggestion: get some.

Titus Vineyards

2971 Silverado Trail N, St. Helena, CA 94574

707-963-3235

http://www.titusvineyards.com/

https://twitter.com/TitusVyds

https://www.facebook.com/titusvineyards/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. 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

Two Bottle Post: 2016 Légende Médoc and Bordeaux Rouge

March 13, 2019 by evebushman

When I review wines sent to me or at a tasting room, I really prefer not to see the tasting notes provided by the winery. It’s pretty hard to turn a blind eye…but I do try. In this tasting I haven’t looked at the tasting notes that were emailed to me, but I include them below so that you can compare their notes to mine, and for the pairings they offered. Also, truth be told, after all these years doing this I’m always tickled if and when some of our notes match up.

This week I had two Bordeaux wines to review from Légende, and each bottle has a small round stamp that declares that they are included in the Domaines Barons de (Lafite) Rothschild. I found that a wee bit intriguing, so, on with the tasting:

Légende Bordeaux Rouge 2016

12.5% alcohol

Observations: Opaque, the color of deep garnet with a dark edge.

Aroma: Raspberry, black currant, dark cherry, bell pepper, balanced.

Flavor: Soft, tart cherry, tannic, mellow spice, dry. Tried again in a few minutes and noted no change. (My notes only matched the wineries in the mention of tannins.)

Légende Médoc 2016

Observations: Opaque, blackberry color, brown edge.

Aroma: Stewed fruit, plums, earth, suede, coffee, tobacco, red licorice, black pepper.

Flavor: Dark fruit, lots of nice spice, mushroom, tannin structure allowed for a long finish. Preferred this a bit over the Bordeaux Rouge. (Here I matched the winery in the mention of the wine’s spice and length.)

From The Winery

Wine collectors around the world have mastered the allure and prestige of the esteemed appellations of Bordeaux – and this season, you can join them. With the Légende wines collection, self-proclaimed connoisseurs now have access to wines from one of the region’s top producers – Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). All wines in the collection perfectly capture the spirit of the iconic region through the lens of one its most influential producers. Paired with savory fall dishes, or on its own with a good book – you will certainly find your favorite Bordeaux in the mix.

Légende Bordeaux Rouge 2016 – $17.99 – Pair With Apple Picking!

Varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot

A wine for every day, dinner with friends, or a glass in front of the fire, Légende Bordeaux Rouge is a well-balanced blend of traditional grape varieties. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine the classic elegance of the Lafite style, while the aging gives it charm and a well-rounded character. On the palate, the wine is structured, round and easy, nicely oaked with firm, silky tannins, and a long, fresh and fruity finish.

Légende Médoc 2016 – $24.99 – Pair With Fresh Winter Flavors!

Varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot

The rich patchwork of châteaux in the Médoc produces ruby-colored, well-rounded wines that are a fine accompaniment to many fall dishes. The Légende Médoc benefits from the same care as a Grand Vin: rigorous selection, extreme precision in the winery, with meticulous specifications, reduced yields, impeccable ripeness, purity of fruit, and traditional maturing. The star of the Médoc, Cabernet Sauvignon is given excellent expression and can be appreciated for its natural characteristics by lovers of Bordeaux’s wines. The wine is generous and silky, with a full-bodied, very rounded structure. The finish is long and spicy.

Tasting 2016 Bordeaux via Union Des Grands Cru Bordeaux 2019 Tour

February 8, 2019 by evebushman

This is one of several years we’ve covered the Union Des Grands Cru (UGC) Bordeaux tasting. This year we were trying the latest 2016 releases at the Jeremy Hotel in West Hollywood, surrounded by many old friends – from the wineries and wine pals – in attendence. I covered as much ground as I could in the two hours I had (traffic and parking were not on my side, though we were given three hours for the press and distributor portion of event) most of which can be seen in these four photo grids.

There were two rooms for the tasting, and as I mentioned we were late, the first larger room was pretty crowded so we headed to the second smaller room behind it. There we found the usual long row of tables of sauternes – our dessert for last that we would return to – as well as wines from other appellations: Pauillac, Saint – Estephe and Saint – Julien if I remember correctly. The larger room held the remaining Bordeaux appellations.

The entire list of the wines that were expected to be sampled is below. The Chateaus that stood out for my palate, and in no particuclar order, included Brainaire – Ducru, Talbot, Clerc Melon, Lynch – Bages, De Pez, Grand Mayne, Cap de Mourlin, Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Villemaurine, Canon – La – Gaffeliere, Leoville Poyferre, Rauzan Gassies, Coufran, Franc Mayne, d’Armailhac, Phelan Segur, La Dour Figeac, Pavie MacQuin, La Couspaude, Balestard La Tonnelle, Smith Haut Lafitte, La Louviere, Giscours, Clinet, Gazin, Fonreaud, Suduiraut, Lafaurie – Peyraguey, Guiraud and de Fargues.

Note: When I got to the Saint – Emilion tables I was quite pleased with about 90% of the wines I tried, and many had a nice little sweetness to them. One gentleman, Julien Barth of Chateau Beau Sejour Becot, was quite earnest in how “serious” he felt the appellation was that I filmed him sharing his opinion – for about 30 seconds.

Of the pals I met up with, many were completely immersed in the tasting. There was not a consensus about this particular vintage year that I heard, and as I’ve stated in past coverage of this event, there is no way I would say all was good or all was bad – my palate, such that it is, always seeks out – and always finds – outstanding wines. If a Chateau that you normally like isn’t on my list it doesn’t mean I didn’t care for it, it could just mean that I didn’t have the time to taste everything that was available. And one last word to the winery reps and family that come to pour in this tour: we appreciate you traveling to so many of our U.S. cities to share your latest vintages year in and year out. Looking forward to seeing you all again in 2020, and enjoying these 2016s wherever I can find them.

MEMBERS OF THE UNION DES GRANDS CRUS DE BORDEAUX

AUSTIN HOPE NAMED THE 2018 PASO ROBLES WINE INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE YEAR

January 27, 2019 by evebushman

Paso Robles, CA – On January 18 the Paso Robles wine community come together to recognize one of their own who has exemplified the spirit of Paso Robles Wine Country with outstanding leadership and vision in promoting the region. Austin Hope, President and Winemaker of Hope Family Wines will receive the 2018 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year award at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s annual winter gathering.

Austin Hope (photo credit: Carpe Travel)

Austin Hope, President and Winemaker of Hope Family Wines, is a steadfast advocate for the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area. Austin has played an important role in introducing the wines of Paso Robles to a global audience while holding leadership positions within the industry leading to the region being recognized and respected as one of the great wine regions of the world.

“I am humbled to be recognized as the 2018 Wine Industry Person of the Year,” said Austin Hope, “I have had the great benefit to work with an amazing team at Hope Family Wines who share my philosophy in promoting the region with the same enthusiasm as promoting our own wine brands. This honor would not be possible without the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance team as well as the endless support from my wife and daughters.”

Austin has emerged as a visionary leader after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in fruit science, today he is a third-generation California farmer and first-generation winemaker. He built and leads Hope Family Wines which includes Austin Hope, Treana, Troublemaker, Liberty School, and Quest wine brands.

Working locally, nationally, and internationally on behalf of the Paso Robles wine industry, Austin has held several important positions, including past Chairman and current Secretary of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance where as a board member he worked with 58 vintners and growers to establish the region’s 11 AVAs. Austin currently sits as a board member of the CAB Collective, a group dedicated to promoting Cabernet Sauvignon and red Bordeaux wines of Paso Robles. Austin, and his wife Celeste, support Must! Charities by hosting an annual golf tournament as well as hosting an annual Dia de Los Muertos event benefiting children’s art programs for Studios on the Park.

Austin Hope was nominated and named the 2018 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance membership which represents 450+ companies including wineries, vineyards, and associated businesses. Austin was recognized by industry colleagues at the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s Annual Gala on Friday, January 18 at the Park Ballroom.

The evening also featured the installation of the Alliance’s 2019 Board of Directors and the presentation of the new incoming Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (official announcement to follow in the coming week.)

Board of Directors Installation
The incoming Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Board of Directors and Executive Team are as follows:

•   Jason Yeager – Chairman
•   Jason Haas – Vice Chairman, Tablas Creek Vineyard
•   Austin Hope – Secretary, Treana And Hope Family Wines
•   Sarah Kramer – Treasurer, Umpqua Bank
•   Tyler Russell – Director, Cordant|Nelle
•   Molly Scott – Director, Justin Vineyards & Winery
•   Bob Tillman – Director, Alta Colina Vineyards & Winery
•   Faith Wells – Director, Hospice du Rhone
•   Malani Anderson – Director, Turley Wine Cellars

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers, and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 250 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, @PasoWine, #pasowine

2019 PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY EVENTS

January 24, 2019 by evebushman

Paso Robles, CA – Tickets for Paso Robles Wine Country’s marquee events are on sale at www.pasowine.com. The annual celebration of Paso’s heritage variety, Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend is scheduled for March 15-17, 2019. Paso Robles’ signature wine event, the Paso Robles Wine Festival celebrates its 37th year on May 16-19, 2019. Now is the time to plan, for Paso Wine, in 2019.

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend begins on Friday, March 15 with Zinposium, a Zin-focused seminar in downtown Paso Robles at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom. Moderated by iconic winemaker, Neil Collins, owner and winemaker of Lone Madrone, a panel of winemakers will discuss dry farming Zinfandel and Zin blended wines. This seated tasting is guaranteed to be educational and entertaining.

In the evening, the ballroom transforms into a lounge atmosphere for Z After Party. Join up to 20 Paso wineries for a savory walk-around Zinfandel tasting, complemented by a fantastic selection of desserts and live jazz. This intimate tasting is sure to sell out with 80 seats for Zinposium and 175 tickets for Z After Party. Advance purchase only.

Zinfandel Weekend continues on Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 with more than 100 wineries holding their own individual events throughout Paso Robles Wine Country. Visit www.pasowine.com to search by winery, activity or day to plot a course for Zin.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival returns May 16-19, 2019 with the 37th annual celebration of everything Paso Robles wine. Wine Fest kicks-off Thursday, May 16, 2019 with Winemaker Dinners, each featuring multiple winemakers at the table with their wines paired with the cuisine of two iconic Paso Robles restaurants, Thomas Hill Organics and The Hatch. On Friday, May 17, RESERVE delights a limited gathering of wine and food lovers with Library, Reserve, White/Rosé, and Barrel Sample wines, complemented by fresh and local gourmet bites.

The following day, Saturday, May 18, begins with a Winemaker Seminar. The topic is under wraps for now but promises to be a fun discussion and tasting. The day culminates with the Wine Festival Grand Tasting in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park. This unique outdoor tasting features 70+ wineries arranged by “regions” (Bordeaux-style, Rhône-style, Zinfandel, Burgundian-style, Italian varieties, and Other Wild Wines) with wineries pouring their best. In the picnic area and gazebo, live music will provide the perfect atmosphere to enjoy a beautiful summer day sipping Paso Robles wines.

Back by popular demand, the 2019 Wine Festival will feature complimentary food tasting from the region’s best chefs and caterers. Visit www.pasowine.com often to see updates on who will be sampling their delicious creations. Creativity abounds with the return of a limited lineup of handpicked artisan merchants. These entrepreneurs will offer a selection of unique local and wine country themed products.

Sunday, May 19 of Wine Festival weekend encourages people to travel beyond the Park to explore more than 100 winery events throughout the weekend including winemaker dinners, live music, barrel samples, and so much more!

Tickets – All Zinposium, Z After Party, Wine Festival Winemaker Dinners, RESERVE, Wine Festival Seminar, and Wine Festival Grand Tasting Tasting tickets are now available on www.pasowine.com.

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend, March 15-17, 2019

Zinposium Seminar – $40
Z After Party – $40
Combo: Zinposium Seminar & Z After Party – $70
Tickets available here – https://pasowine.com/events/vintage-paso-zinfandel-weekend/

37^th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival, May 16- 19, 2019

Winemaker Dinners – Thomas Hill Organics ($125), The Hatch ($100)
Combo: Friday, RESERVE & Saturday, Grand Tasting, Early Entry – $145 ($135 until March 15)
RESERVE only – $90
Saturday, Grand Tasting, Early Entry (12 p.m.) – $90 ($80 until March 15)
Saturday, Grand Tasting, General Admission (1 p.m.) – $70 ($60 until March 15)
Winemaker Seminar (10:30 a.m.) – $25
Designated Driver (Grand Tasting, 1 p.m.) – $25
Locals Only Ticket (1 p.m.) – $50 (until March 15)
Early Bird Pricing applied to Combo, Early Entry or General Admission Tickets only, with $10 savings
Early Bird Offer and Locals Only Ticket Expires March 15, 2019

During Paso Robles Wine Country event weekends, visitors and locals alike are encouraged to travel beyond the park to visit the more than 100 wineries that host special activities including winemaker dinners, food pairings, barrel tastings, winery and vineyard tours, and much more. Visit www.pasowine.com to plan a complete Paso Robles Wine Country experience, including lodging, restaurants, transportation, and more things to explore.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance represents wineries, growers and businesses in Paso Robles Wine Country. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles Wine Country is California’s third largest wine region. It encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and 200 wineries. For more information, visit www.pasowine.com. @PasoRoblesWine, @PasoWine (Insta), #PasoWine, #VintagePaso, #PasoWineFest

Perlis Picks: Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards and Winery

January 12, 2019 by Michael Perlis

Let me make this perfectly clear: I have nothing against Cabernet Sauvignon. While our own personal wine journey has taken us primarily down the Zinfandel and Rhone paths, we definitely recognize Cabernet’s place in the pantheon of great wine grapes. Most of our wine trips tend to focus on our favorite varietals, but we have no aversion to expanding those choices. So when our friends gave us a certificate for a tasting at Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery we were happy to do just that.

Stone Edge Farm actually owns three vineyards – Stone Edge, Mount Pisgah and Silver Cloud, which are managed organically by the renowned Phil Coturri.

The Stone Edge Vineyard property at the base of Sonoma Mountain was acquired by Mac and Leslie McQuown in 1995. The property has the distinction of having been owned by Nicholas Carriger, who came to Sonoma from Missouri in 1847. When he planted here, he became the first American to grow wine grapes in Sonoma Valley.

Mac McQuown had his own distinction, not only as a very successful businessman and entrepreneur, but also in the wine industry, having been a founder of both Chalone and Carmenet wineries.

Winemaker Jeff Baker, who was also a partner at Carmenet, joined the McQuowns with his Mount Pisgah Vineyard in the Mayacamas Mountains. Eventually they formed Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery in 2004.

The Silver Cloud Vineyard is in the Moon Mountain District just north of the Mount Pisgah vineyard, up in the Mayacamas Mountains where Sonoma County borders Napa County. The tasting room is on the Silver Cloud property and it is aptly named, being at a high elevation seemingly close to the clouds. It’s a long, winding and narrow road; they recommend you hire a driver. Please don’t go all the way up there without making an appointment first.

Karen and I had plans to head into Napa (more on this in a future article) so we chose that morning to pay Stone Edge Farm a visit.

We parked and were met by Philippe Thibault, Stone Edge Farm’s Director of Hospitality, who gave us a tour of this amazing mountain property and led our tasting.

Stone Edge Farm makes three wines: a Sauvignon Blanc a Bordeaux blend called “Surround” and their flagship Cabernet Sauvignon.

We tasted the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc [actually an 80/20 blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon], two vintages of the Surround blend [2009 and 2014] and the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon.

My impressions were that these wines are designed to showcase the fruit but to not overpower the palate. Sometimes wines are referred to as “food wines” because they just don’t stand on their own and need food to make them work. That was not the case here. The wines all drank beautifully on their own but the experience was definitely enhanced by the charcuterie that was provided.

The Cabernet Sauvignon in particular made a special impression. I am not one for complicated tasting notes, but I did comment specifically about the mouthfeel of this wine, the way it magically spread across my tongue and then dissipated. I actually said “…like a cloud” before I remembered we were at the Silver Cloud Vineyard.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, the name is Stone Edge Farm. The entire operation is built around sustainability and includes 16 acres that are organically farmed just west of downtown Sonoma. There is a 30-seat private dining room called Edge where their culinary director pairs the Stone Edge Farm wines with seasonal dishes.

Just to wrap up – Thank you so much Philippe Thibault for being such an engaging host. This is definitely a winery to check out when you are looking for an elevated experience, both in location and in wine. But remember: Make an appointment!

Stone Edge Farm Estate Vineyards & Winery

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.

Perlis Picks: Jaxon Keys Winery

December 1, 2018 by Michael Perlis

Karen and I were planning to revisit Santa Rosa / Sonoma County just a little over a year removed from our last ill-fated visit.

While working on scheduling appointments, I started thinking that maybe last time turned out the way it did because we were somehow being punished for not visiting our good friend and extremely talented winemaker Antoine Favero. I jest, of course, but I wasn’t going to take any chances either. Besides, we hadn’t seen Antoine in a couple of years so meeting up with him seemed like a great idea regardless.

We’d visited with Antoine a couple of times at Mazzocco in the Dry Creek Valley where the focus is on Zinfandel – and incredible Zins they are. But knowing that Antoine makes the wine for some of the other wineries in the Wilson Artisan Wines family, we asked him where else we might meet. Antoine suggested either Jaxon Keys for Rhone varietals or Soda Rock for Bordeaux varietals.

As Rhone varietals are right up there with Zins as my favorite grapes, I naturally said: “Jaxon Keys, please.”

Jaxon Keys Winery is at the southern end of Mendocino County. Lest you think that is far, the drive took less than an hour from our home base for this trip in Santa Rosa. Driving north on Highway 101, we passed Healdsburg and the northern edge of Sonoma County and found ourselves in the foothills of Mendocino County, then passing a few other wineries before arriving at our destination.

We met with Antoine in the private tasting lounge in the winery itself, separate from the tasting room. The lounge also houses the distillery but more on this later.

As Antoine knew that we were interested in focusing on the Rhone varietals that he makes at Jaxon Keys he set up a great sampling of what he does there with those.

We started with the 2017 Viognier, which we felt was a delicious take on this varietal, free from the mistake [in my opinion] that winemakers often make with Viognier – residual sugar. None here and we got to experience a clean, dry wine with plenty of fruit.

Then we moved on to the red Rhones.

We started with the 2016 Grenache, a tasty lighter style of this grape and perfect way to segue to the…

2016 Syrah – Antoine said that it’s the best Syrah he’s every worked with and that sure showed in the glass. My note just says “wow”.

We finished with a very interesting wine: the 2016 GPS is a blend of Grenache, Primitivo and Syrah. I’ve never tasted this particular blend anywhere else and I doubt if you have either. It turns out they work really well together.

While we tasted, Karen and I had the opportunity to chat with Antoine about the winery. The Wilsons acquired the property in 2009. Before that it had a long history, most recently as Jepson Winery, which you may have heard of. The Wilsons renamed it Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery, after Ken Wilson’s grandfathers. Total acreage is about 1200, with about 100 acres planted. Production is entirely Estate at about 2500 cases. Antoine said that like many small wineries that own vineyards, much of the grape crop is sold to other wineries. Antoine took over winemaking and vineyard management duties at Jaxon Keys fairly recently and has found an ongoing challenge as the wines become popular to balance the needs of other wineries that purchase the grapes with making sure that there is enough wine for retail customers and club members.

Since we were sitting next to the historic still, it seemed proper to finish our tasting with some brandy. Renowned [and now primarily retired] distiller Hubert Germain-Robin consults on this side of the business and the brandy is made in a historic Alambic Pot still from Cognac, France using primarily the French Columbard grapes grown on the property. We tasted through three levels of brandy [5-7 years old, 7-10 years old, and 15 years and older]. I enjoy brandy but admittedly have little expertise in it. But this stuff was smooth and tasty. They also make some very high-end bottlings as well.

Our visit with Antoine was coming to a close; it was harvest and he needed to get back to his real work. He introduced us to Jessie in the tasting room because I really wanted to taste the Jaxon Keys Zinfandels. Admittedly, we had come for the Rhones but I am the Zinfan after all. Besides, I already knew that Antoine’s Zins are legendary regardless of the label on the bottle.

Of course, I wasn’t disappointed. Especially delicious were the 2016 Mae’s Block Zinfandel and the 2016 Brandy Barrel Aged Zinfandel. We bought some of each as well as that Viognier we had tasted earlier. We wanted to buy the other wines that we had tasted with Antoine, but he had apparently shared with us what were pretty much the last bottles available of these wines. That’s what happens with great small-production wines. We can’t wait to try the next vintage.

A comment about pricing, which I rarely discuss. I believe a wine should stand on its own, regardless of what it costs. I don’t feel it is up to me to opine on the business model of a winery. That being said, I need to say that these wines are remarkably underpriced for wines of this quality. When I expressed that opinion to Jessie in the tasting room, she said “Welcome to Mendocino County.” Indeed.

Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery
10400 South Hwy 101
Hopland, CA 95449

Paso: The 8th Annual Garagiste Festival, Rare and Reserves and Grand Tasting

November 30, 2018 by evebushman

Over 60 Garagiste winemakers – aka garage winemakers, most of whom don’t have tasting rooms and don’t produce over a certain number of cases annually – would be pouring for the 8^th Annual Garagiste Festival in Paso Robles. We’d covered this event in Los Angeles and Paso Robles over the years and oftentimes these wineries would grow – they would have to leave the event to make room for new Garagistes. This turnover meant an influx of new discoveries every year, as well as seeing some winemakers that have remained small and we could then taste their new vintages.

The Garagiste events, co-created by our very own Doug Minnick of Hoi Polloi and the Double Trouble Wine Room on Main in Downtown Newhall, is also the non-profit brainchild of partner Stewart McLennan.

In this two-day Paso event Minnick and McLennan had separated the rare and reserve tasting from the main event by a day. I loved the idea as I usually experience palate fatigue after the first tasting anyway. Combining my notes with day two, the wines of special note have the winery names in bold, with the Rare and Reserves noted as RR in bold as well. And, as is my usual disclaimer, if I missed a winery or a wine it wasn’t due to any distaste but can only be blamed on palate fatigue and/or I had already tasted their lineup at Garagiste Santa Monica earlier this year:

Adron Wines*

Alta Colina

Armitage Wines*

Artisan Uprising – RR: 2015 Tempranillo and 2017 Sangiovese.

Ascension Cellars – RR: 2012 Trinity GSM and 2012 Soul Shaker Cabernet Syrah blend.

Bevela Wines

Bolshoi Family Wines*

Bon Niche Cellars – RR: They did a vertical of their Bordeaux Blends including a 2010, 2012, and 2015. I liked the balance of the 2012 the best.

Caldera Cuvee

Caliza Winery – We have tasted Carl Bower’s wines off and on over the years at this event, happy to have tried them today as enjoyed: 2015 Azimuth GSM, 2015 Syrah and 2014 “Cohort” blend of Petite Sirah, Mourvedre and Syrah. All wines are from estate vineyards.

Circle B Vineyards

Cloak & Dagger Wines

Copia Vineyards – RR: 2016 “The Story” blend of Grenache and Syrah.

Corner Cellars*

Cutruzzola Vineyards

Decroux Wines*

DENO Wines

DeWitt Vineyard*

Diablo Paso – RR: 2014 Tempranillo Gran Reserva. Learned that these were grapes sourced from Napa and had spent 42 months in oak. My second favorite of the rare and reserves.

Dusty Nabor Wines – RR: I’ve liked all of Dusty’s wines at Garagiste, this time it was a 2016 NSO, meaning for “No Special Occasion”, California Red Wine for $19 that was the winner!

Gary Kramer Guitar Cellars* – RR: A barrel sample of Malbec? I hate barrel samples as it’s all oak to me sometimes, this one was nice indeed.

Golden Triangle

Hoi Polloi Winery – I stopped at the table to say hello, but I have had their wines many times as they have a tasting room five minutes from my home in Santa Clarita.

Hoyt Family Vineyards – RR: 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon was my favorite of the entire rare and reserve tasting.

Jardesca*

Kaleidos Winery – RR: 2015 Praying Mantis Syrah.

Kitson Wines*

Last Light Wine Co

Leverage Wines – RR: 2017 Chardonnay and 2016 Trajectory GSM blend.

Lost Blues

MagnaVita Cellars*

Marin’s Vineyard

Mastro Scheidt*

MCV Wines – RR: 2011 1105 Petite Sirah blend. Also enjoyed to of their 2015 Petite Sirah – one from the Rosewynn Vineyard and the other from the Gemeny Vineyard.

Merisi Wines* – RR: 2016 Los Carneros Grenache.

Montage Russe

On Your Left Wine Co. – RR: A fellow wine taster sent me here. 2015 Two Wheeler Grenache Mourvedre that hadn’t been released but I thought was ready and a 2014 Single Track Syrah.

Pagter Brothers Winery – Of course I stopped in to say hello, even though the share a tasting room with Hoi Polloi (see my notes above) and was rewarded today with a wine club only pour of their 2016 Petite Sirah. Well done!

Pelletiere Vineyards – RR: 2015 Reserve Sangiovese and 2016 Lagrein (Lagrein is the name of the grape.)

Powell Mountain Cellars – RR: 2010 and 2011 Pinnacle Bordeaux blends.

RF Wines – Enjoyed their 2015 Exceed Malbec, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon and their 2015 Petite Sirah was my favorite at the grand tasting.

RN Estate Winery – 2015 Estate Cabernet Franc, 2014 Cuvee des Trois Cepages Bordeaux Blend and 2014 Malbec.

Saint K Wines

Seven Angels Cellars

Seven Oxen Estate Wines

Sea Shell Cellars

T. Berkley Wines* – 2016 Cabernet Franc, Napa.

Tlo Wines – 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lucas and Lewellen.

TOP Winery

Torch Cellars

Transmission Wine Co.*

Turtle Rock Vineyard – I had enjoyed a wine luncheon highlighting Turtle Rock Vineyards so I was thrilled to try the new 2016 Willow’s Cuvee GSM with a touch of Tempranillo and the 2016 Maturin Rhone Blend from the James Berry Vineyard. (Winemaker Don Burns is the assistant winemaker at Saxum.)

TW Fermentations – RR: 2015 Cultivator blend and a newly released 2015 Merlot.

Ultima Tulie

Vandella Vineyards*

Vigo Cellars*

Vinemark Cellars

Vino Vargas

Volatus Wines – RR: 2008 Reserve Red – a Syrah and Petite Sirah blend.

Willow Creek Wine Group*

*First time pouring at the Paso Festival.

To see the photo grids from all of our Paso winery visits from this trip click this.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 15k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. 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

Vintage Eve Circa 9/2015: Old and New Finds at Del Dotto and Regusci

November 27, 2018 by evebushman

After visiting the PureCru wine bar on the first night of our recent trip to Napa Valley we spent our second day tackling a wee bit more: Regusci Winery, Hall, Del Dotto and Vintner’s Collective. The first and last stops were not planned, but happy circumstances brought us to them. (This is the album of our trip.)

Tasting DEL DOTTO VINEYARDS “The Beast” behind the curtain, in the dark recesses of the caves, with winemaker Gerard Zanzonico

We thought we were starting at Hall at 10a.m. and found out the day before, no, we were to be there at 11. My friend “Double E” had made me a fan of Regusci Winery, by way of her wine club allotment that she generously shared, so we made a detour from Highway 29 over to the Silverado Trail to visit the nearly 200 year-old winery.

We were greeted by three dogs, yellow Labradors I think, that framed the driveway. Once we parked we walked up a short walkway, past a display of farm fresh fruits and vegetables for sale, to a lovely building filled with a welcoming wine tasting room staff.

Tasting Regusci

We started with a 2013 Chardonnay that had spent 14 months in American oak and had a very tart lemon-lime Sauvignon Blanc flavor profile. It was fine, just not destined to be my all time favorite.

From there we sampled a 2012 Estate Zinfandel from 90 year-old vines. It was dark, bold and spicy with a medium length. A nice wine…but hold onto your hats.

Then we had the 2012 “The Elders” Cabernet Sauvignon that I had enjoyed at home recently – the wine is stellar.

But hold on, we then were given a sample of the 2011 “Patriarch” Bordeaux blend. This wine had it all: velvety dark rose petals, a bowl of dark fruit and dark chocolate on the nose was followed by a very dry, firm and balanced flavor profile. 99 Eve pts.

Gerard Zanzonico, another winemaker I disturbed from harvest for a visit, took a brief respite from crushing the sweetest Cabernet grapes I’ve ever had, to take us through a short tasting at Del Dotto Vineyards.

There really is nothing better than tasting with a winemaker, in the barrel room with a wine thief. And at Del Dotto, one of the most grand barrel rooms in Napa, this is wine lovers heaven. We stole past some of the other tasting groups to sample some of their best new selections.

We enjoyed remarkable samples of: Del Dotto Napa Valley 2013 Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Darnajou, French Oak Family Reserve, Connoisseurs’ Series to release in Fall 2015; Villa Del Lago 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, to be released February 2016; Del Dotto Napa Valley 2013 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, Centre Sylvain, French Oak, South, Family Reserve, to be released Fall 2015; and a killer finale, the Del Dotto Napa Valley 2013 The Beast Cabernet Sauvignon, blend of all of their estate vineyards: Howell Mountain, Rutherford Estate, Oakville Vineyard, St. Helena Mountain, Vineyard 887 and Vista Del Lago, set to be released Fall 2015.

We reluctantly said goodbye to Gerard, promising to visit anytime – other than harvest! Maybe even for a glimpse of their latest property, Piazza Del Dotto:

Piazza Del Dotto is the latest winery and caves of the Del Dotto Family. Located in beautiful Oakville, Napa Valley, California. The Piazza in Italy is known for being the “hub of action”. Come enjoy the synergy of food and wine with your family and friends at the “Barchessa”, (Barn in Italian). The Barquessa is anticipated to open early 2016.

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

Two Bottle Post: 2000 Chateau Margaux Pavillon Rouge and 2007 Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf Du Pape, Reserve Auguste Favier

November 9, 2018 by evebushman

On the heels of the first Feed SCV Chef Auction where I couldn’t contain my thrill of a wine class with me being purchased for $900 (photo next to these wines), I celebrated a great week with some old pals, and two wines from our cellar. So, though I do like my one bottle posts, this week I give you two.

I stole away into the kitchen to sample and review the two wines alone, as is my way so that I can be completely devoted to the task. Then, as my guests asked, I let them know my findings and suggested they sample each before deciding which to start with. For me I thought that the Bordeaux was lighter than the CDP (Chateauneuf Du Pape) in both style, fruit and spice. I enjoyed both, but the chocolate and beer chili I had made for dinner screamed out for the CDP that I presumed was predominately Syrah, followed by Grenache and Mourvedre grapes.

2000 Chateau Margaux

Very dark garnet in color, with aromas of aged red fruit, musty, tri-color peppercorns, earth, cigar, savory beef and pencil shavings. On the mouth I got that same red fruit – with a brighter flavor than expected, along with mild pepper, slightly medicinal, good mouthfeel and good tannin structure. 91 Eve pts.

This 2000 Bordeaux is one of the six 2000 vintages I knew I would be reviewing this year. I had pulled up the Wine Spectator ratings on each of these to compare with my review:

CHÂTEAU MARGAUX

Margaux Pavillon Rouge 2000

Score: 94

Release Price $65

Current Auction Price $196

Country France

Region Bordeaux

Issue Mar 31, 2003

Tasting Note

Glorious aromas of freshly picked raspberries, with tiny hints of cream and minerals. Full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a long, long finish of berries and cherries. Super second wine from Margaux. Best Pavillon Rouge I have ever tasted. Best after 2010. 20,525 cases made. –JS

2007 Domaine Saint Prefert Chateauneuf Du Pape, Reserve Auguste Favier

The color began as garnet with a golden brown edge, however 30 minutes in the glass and it became more purple. On the nose there was raspberry, blueberry, mushroom, stewed meats, rubber and earth. It was quite inviting. I was thrilled with what I found on the palate: a huge mouthfeel, just wow, clean and fresh, killer berry fruits and spice rack notes, as well as milk chocolate and a little bit of mint on the finish. 100 Eve pts.

Conclusion

Being a fan of both Bordeaux and Rhone blends I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to sample such stellar older vintages. My husband has the cellar keys, and though I do keep track of the wines in our cellar on a spreadsheet, I didn’t realize we had some older CDP as well as the 2000 Bordeaux I knew we had. Thinking I need to take another look at the spreadsheet, and our cellar, and soon.