HALL ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF 2018 KATHRYN HALL CABERNET SAUVIGNON ON AUGUST 28 DURING HARVEST CELEBRATION

July 17, 2021 by evebushman

ST. HELENA, CALIFORNIA – Napa Valley based HALL Wines, a luxury Cabernet Sauvignon producer, has announced details for its annual Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration taking place at HALL St. Helena on Saturday, August 28, 2021. The annual event, offering both a VIP Vertical Tasting and a Main Event, coincides with the release of the new vintage of HALL’s flagship wine, Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. The theme of the event will be “Celebrate the Year You Missed”.

Los Angeles and San Francisco Advertising Portrait Photographer Marc Olivier Le Blanc, Advertising, Editorial and Lifestyle.

“We are so excited to be able to hold this event in person this year,” says Vintner Kathryn Hall. “Guests travel from all over to taste the new vintage, and what better way to do that than through a celebration of milestones that people missed last year such as birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and weddings. Wine helps us celebrate those special moments and we look forward to honoring those with the 2018 vintage of Kathryn Hall Cabernet.”

The Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration marks the public release of the 2018 vintage and will include various celebratory ‘milestone’ stations on The Great Lawn in St. Helena. Food will be included with the ticket price with catering by Tre Posti. Guests will also be able to enjoy live music throughout the event from San Francisco-based band Pop Fiction. Additionally, a VIP Ticket is available for those wanting a deeper dive into the pedigree of the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon. The VIP Ticket includes a vertical tasting of the 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018 vintages of Kathryn Hall takes place prior to the Main Event.

HALL’s flagship wine, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon, is defined by its core of dark, succulent Sacrashe Vineyard fruit located just above the Rutherford Appellation at the top eastern ridge of the Vaca Mountain range in Napa Valley. The wine is characterized by an interplay of elegance and concentration and displays voluptuous, dark berry fruit with notes of crushed lavender.

Since the first vintage was produced in 1996, this wine has been one of the highest rated in HALL’s portfolio, earning 95 scores rated 90 points and above from the industry’s top critics including The Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, and Vinous. Most notably, the 2008. Additionally, the Kathryn Hall Cabernet Sauvignon earned the #2 spot in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100” list in 2011. The wine is named after Kathryn Hall who is most known globally as the former United States Ambassador to Austria. Ambassador Hall is also a New York Times Bestselling author of “A Perfect Score: The Art, Soul & Business of a 21st Century Winery”.

Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration

Saturday, August 28, 2021

VIP Vertical Tasting – Peterson’s Loft
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. $225 per person + includes admission to Main Event

Main Event – The Great Lawn

12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

HALL St. Helena
401 St. Helena Hwy S. St. Helena, CA 94574 707-967-2626

$100 per person

Eventbrite
For more information, please visit www.hallwines.com, follow on social @hallwines

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HALL Family Wines produces high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel under the HALL, WALT and BACA brand monikers. Owned by Craig and Kathryn Hall, the family-owned winery produces artisan wines that express the unique and diverse character of the wine country’s soils and climates through meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and throughout the winemaking process. The family’s luxury wine portfolio, led by Director of Winemaking Megan Gunderson Paredes, sources fruit from some of the most prominent vineyards up and down the West Coast including eleven Estate vineyards– Sacrashe, Bergfeld, Hardester, Beller, T Bar T Ranch, Atlas Peak, Lamoreaux, Rainin, Dellar-Freidkin, Cook, Bob’s Ranch, Clos Pepe and The Corners. The HALL St. Helena winery was the first LEED® Gold Certified Winery in the State of California in 2009 and earned another LEED® Gold certification for its high-tech production facility and Tasting Room in 2014. Since the inception of HALL in 1995, the three luxury wine brands have earned over 700 ratings of 90 points or above from the industry’s top critics, including four 100- point scores. Visit www.hallwines.com, www.waltwines.com, www.bacawines.com for more information, or call 707-967-2626.

Tasting Monteru French Brandy with the Southern California Whiskey Club, aka a Masterclass of Single Grape Varietals

June 25, 2021 by evebushman

Never heard of Monteru French Brandy before Ries Michael of the So Cal Whiskey Club invited me to this particular class and I did some research on them ahead of time. They’ve won their fair share of medals in worldwide spirits competitions, received high ratings from respected critics, besides the styles listed in our tasting below they also have a brandy in Japanese Mizunura and other rare casks, then they double distil, triple toast and double cask…see their website for all of the details!

Photo credit: Stephen Roebuck.

For this tasting I asked Vashti and Steve Roebuck, of the popular Facebook group “Friends Who Like Wine In The Glass” to join me. Our notes are a combination from Steve (SR) and me (EB).

From the Southern California Whiskey Club:

This is a convergence of the world of wine meeting the world of whiskey in an informative tasting of single grape varietals, all aged in oak. If you are a wine connoisseur who is curious about amplified wine or a whiskey drinker who wants to learn the subtle nuances of grapes this is meant for you. We will taste five grape varietals, a sherry cask, and then a bourbon drinkers’ brandy for an in-depth and unique tasting.

Tasting Notes:

Single Grape Brandy, Riesling, 40% ABV

SR and EB: Pineapple, salted vanilla, lemon, floral, mango, light acidity, dill/herb, dried peach, some salinity.

Single Grape Brandy, Merlot, 40% ABV

SR and EB: Milk chocolate, almonds, Marzipan, white chocolate on palate, cream, char, oak, smoke, yellow corn, corn syrup. Vashti really liked this one, as did I.

Single Grape Brandy, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2014/2016, CS002-16, 41.3% ABV

SR and EB: Caramel, dark chocolate dust, some almond, creamy soft palate, hints of caramel, maple syrup, super long finish. One of my favorites.

Single Grape Brandy, Chardonnay, 2014/2016, Batch CH002-16, 41.3% ABV

SR and EB: Chocolate, caramel, orange blossom, pine sap, brine, orange chocolate candy, honey, candied ginger, pine needles, maple, honey, jasmine tea, ginger, dried botanicals, sweet finish. Another favorite for Vashti and me.

Single Grape Brandy, Sauvignon Blanc, 2014/2016, Batch SB002-16, 41.3% ABV

SR and EB: Light lemon, ginger, salted caramel, savory honey notes, oak on the palate, an herbal quality, sandalwood incense, counting mouthfeel of clover honey yet savory, the sweetest and lightest in color from the tasting. This was another one I wanted again.

Rare Cask Finish, French Oak, Finished in Sherry Oak, 2012/2016, Batch 001, 41.7% ABV

SR and EB: Caramel, orange blossom, vanilla, honey, brine, salt on palate that overtook some aromas for Steve, while I noted the whisky-like aroma and salted nuts.

Double Wood Triple Toast, 2012/2016, Batch 003, 42.7% ABV

SR and EB: Sweet corn, caramel, brine, maple, dill/herb, almonds, vanilla, oak notes, honey, mango, freshly husked corn, simple syrup.

Want to get your hands on some Monteru of your own? Email Davidd@MissionLiquor.com

About the brand:

The origins of Monteru date back to the late 1700’s and has remained closely tied to the tradition of brown spirits distillation and has become a leading innovator by combining authenticity and tradition to create a product somewhere between traditional brandy and single malt whisky. Maison Monteru produces small batches with intricate differences that are aged in a stone cellar on the Atlantic coast where the temperature and the humidity levels remain stable. Another significant characteristic of their process is to age the brandies in different types of oak casks: French first, imparting delicate nut flavors, then American oak which conveys subtle spice and brioche aromas.

https://www.monteru.fr/home

https://www.facebook.com/MaisonMonteru

https://www.southerncaliforniawhiskeyclub.com/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/149146278567212

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.

Paso Robles Wine Country’s First Virtual Auction Raises Over $70,000 Paso Wine Fan’s Go Above and Beyond

June 19, 2021 by evebushman

Paso Robles, CA – The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) has completed the first Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction, which began on Monday, May 10, and concluded on Sunday, May 16. This inaugural online auction supports the PRWCA Foundation, the non-profit organization that gives back through its scholarship program for high school seniors and supports the local community with charitable contributions.

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A total of 23 auction lots, as well as donations, raised $72,000 for the PRWCA Foundation. This weeklong auction saw bids quickly come in for some of the anticipated items, which included the Saxum Current Release Portfolio lot as well as the French Family Affair package at Les Petites Canailles which brings the wine families of Clos Solène, Benom, and L’Aventure to the dinner table. A 3L bottle of PATRIMONY and Estate Experience also generated bidders’ enthusiasm. These top lots received a flurry of bids and achieved the highest totals.

“The popularity of the Paso Robles wine region has been on the rise with wine lovers and critics alike,” said Joel Peterson, Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “This acclaim coupled with the newfound ease and familiarity of virtual experiences created a perfect opportunity for this inaugural auction, which supports our local community.”

Over the six days of the auction, 342 bids took place in pursuit of these carefully curated auction lots by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Collections of wines and unique experiences were collected through generous donations from more than 70 member businesses, including wineries, hotels, transportation providers, restaurateurs, and more.

“This auction’s success was all about the relationships and sense of community shared among the local industry,” said Molly Scott, Chairperson of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Board of Directors and Director of Grower Relations for JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. “As a wine community, our vintners, growers, and associated businesses live, work, and invest into the local economy and to raise funds that make their way back to support this community we all live in is exceptionally important. As an organization and board, we are happy with how well this first time out went and with the results netted.”

Auction lots garnering the strongest bids at the inaugural Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction include Saxum Current Release Portfolio, A French Family Affair, The PATRIMONY Estate Experience, Turley Wine Cellars Stay, Sixmilebridge | Denner Vineyards Dinner, VIP Booker Experience, Geneseo Retreat, Best of JUSTIN Library, Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Vintage Portfolio, Tour of Paso with its Organic Leaders, Sacramento Kings Game and Dinner with Cordant | Nelle, and the San Francisco getaway and dinner at The Battery with J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.

The inaugural Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction had bidders and buyers from across the United States, upholding the goals of promoting the Paso Robles wine region to a diverse audience. The net results of the auction far surpassed all expectations, confirming how the wine industry can positively enhance the greater community. These funds will augment not only the scholarship program for high school seniors in northern San Luis Obispo County but also help in other community-oriented initiatives.

ABOUT PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance is the official trade organization that 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 pasowine.com. Facebook – @PasoRoblesWine, Instagram – @Pasowine, #pasowine.

American Airlines Chooses Six New Wines To Serve on New Flights from NY, Miami & Dallas to Tel Aviv, Israel – and Two are Kosher

June 17, 2021 by evebushman

(Bayonne, NJ) – For those heading to and from Israel, it’s the best news since the kosher meal option: American Airlines is now serving fine kosher wines in all cabins on all of its new flights between New York’s JFK International Airport and Tel Aviv.

Photo: MamaLikesToCook.com

And starting on June 4, All Miami and Dallas passengers will be able to order from American’s kosher wine list as well.

The panel tasted many different wines (hey, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!) and narrowed the new selections down to six wines – only two of which are kosher certified – and both kosher varieties come from the esteemed House of Herzog.

Nathan Herzog, President of Royal Wine Corp. – which is owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family – was not surprised to see the prestigious Herzog name on American’s kosher wine list. “After all, the Herzog family’s winemaking roots go back nine generations. They produce world-class wines that just happen to be kosher.”

Herzog said, “Royal and Herzog Wine Cellars are excited to partner with American Airlines. Their decision to offer high-end kosher wines shows how committed they are to this new route.”

Travelers on American can order the Baron Herzog Chardonnay, a full-bodied white featuring fragrant notes of apple blossom and honeysuckle and flavors of ripe peach, tangerine, and a hint of caramel.

Those who prefer red wine will savor the soft, rich Herzog Lineage Cabernet Sauvignon with its aroma of black cherry, boysenberry, and tobacco. Both wines are perfect companions to foods of all kinds and will definitely set the mood for an Israeli sojourn.

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Founded in 1848, Royal Wine Corp. has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking origins go back more than 200 years in Czechoslovakia.

Today, Royal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy, and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offer some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest, Mediterranean-inspired, contemporary Californian Cuisine.

Musae: Wonderful Sauvignon “Monferrino”

May 29, 2021 by evebushman

(cultivated in Monferrato) When you present a wine, a vine or a grape, often we mention also the terroir.

We know very well that with this term, as you could easily understand, we are neither talking about territory or soil. By terroir is meant something that goes beyond the aspects, even wide and articulated, that are about the land on which the vineyard lies.

The term terroir denotes and includes the climatic conditions, specific to a certain region. Moreover, this word includes also the human factor, that implies the history, the culture and the tradition.

The traditional encyclopedia’s definition of terroir states: terroir can be described as a well delimitated area of the climatic, natural and physical conditions, the geographic zone and the weather, all these element allow the production of a specific wine, identifiable by the unique characteristics of its territoriality. The terroir connects the interaction of many factors as the soil, the position, the climate, the vines, the winegrowers, and the wine’s consumers. Then, the word terroir cannot be banally translated into territory, because the significance is much more complex.

Well, why this introduction to terroir?

Because the word terroir is the reading key to fully understand our Sauvignon in purity, vinified in the two ampelographic varieties Blanc e Gris, which, in Tenuta Montemagno is called Musae.

The vineyards of this international grape flank the road that leads to Tenuta.

The exposure is south/southwest and the vine positioning is guyot, French heritage. The rows follow neatly and precisely the inclination of the hill, offering to the clusters the better exposure and the lowest possible thermal shock, so the grapes are caressed by most gentle sunshine of the day.

The fantasy name describes the wine: Musae, the inspiring figures of poets and artists. The bouquet that opens its perfumes in the glass is exactly that: delicate and inebriant, that reveals itself step by step, offering intense fragrances, with delicate olfactive notes of white flowers, acacia, and hawthorn, tomato’s leave; of citrus fruit, pear, grapefruit and passion fruit. It is supple and deep on the palate thanks to the few months of refinement on yeasts. It is elegant, pleasantly fresh and stands out for the surprising gustatory persistence. Its color is pale straw yellow tending to greenish with golden shades.

Our Sauvignon is out of the pattern and organoleptic traits that characterize the New World’s Sauvignon. We are talking about a Sauvignon proudly cultivated in Monferrato. It si unique since the influence of the terroir is huge, makes the grape unique and enrich it with the traits proper of the soil, Astian Marls. Then, another peculiar factor is the microclimate that here, in Montemagno is definitely different: the rain is rarely abundant and the winds touch the grapes softly.

Musae is 100% Sauvignon, vinified in the two varieties of Blanc – which gives structure and Gris – which gives aromaticity. This is Tenuta Montemagno’s Sauvignon interpretation, produced under the appellation of Monferrato Bianco Doc, the only appellation to permit the blend of the international grape.

If according to the varieties classification, the Sauvignon is considered international, for our philosophy and standards’ production, this grape has a deep identity in Monferrato. The vineyards’ roots plunge in the Monferrato soil that millions of years ago was covered by the sea. Furthermore, Musae, the Sauvignon of Tenuta Montemagno tells our story and about the careful and precise job that is carried on the soil, on the vine and the grapes.

Musae is a fresh wine, ideal s aperitif or during the relax moments. It is extremely versatile with the food pairing. Besides to be the perfect combination with the vegetable starts or with fish dishes, it is great with risotto and white meat.

Musae, our Sauvignon of Monferrato is able to surprise with every sip.

LIBRANDI: THE AUTHENTIC CALABRIA

May 15, 2021 by evebushman

Encircled between two seas, Calabria offers a changing and unparalleled landscape, from the rugged peaks and lush forests of the hinterland to the clear beaches of its shores. Librandi is based in Cirò Marina, a town overlooking the Ionian Sea, with its hilly and flat vineyards set in the Mediterranean maquis.

The activity of bottling Gaglioppo and Greco Bianco based wines began in 1953 in the small winery in via Tirone and the company has always been exclusively family-run: managed until 2012 by the founding brothers Antonio and Nicodemo Librandi; today, after Antonio’s passing, it is run by Nicodemo, Raffaele, Paolo, Francesco and Teresa Librandi. An important choice that sees the Librandi family at the forefront of all the company’s activities: from vineyard management to marketing.

The several family estates cover about 350 hectares, of which 232 are vineyards, 80 are olive groves and the rest woodland where craftsmanship and manual work supported by innovative technological tools represent the mix that has always characterized the work of the Librandi family.

In the Rosaneti estate they have given birth to a “varietal garden”, a collection of autochthonous vines that currently contains about 200 varieties recovered throughout the region and arranged in a vineyard with a characteristic spiral shape.It is here that some of the most important and representative wines are born, the result of research work on the native varieties: Efeso and Megonio.

Moreover, the estate houses the museum of vine and wine and farming activities Vi.Te.S (VIticulture, Territory and History), a collection of artefacts, tools and utensils partly kept over the years in the warehouses of the Librandi family, partly belonging to other local families who have given new life to precious objects in their possession. Visiting the museum is a unique experience that takes you back to an archaic but highly ingenious world.Autoctonous Grape varieties: Gaglioppo, Greco Bianco, Magliocco, Mantonico
International grape varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc.
Denominations: Cirò Doc, Melissa Doc, Igt Calabria

Social channels:
Facebook: Librandi Wine
Instagram: librandiwine

Perlises Pick: What Wines We Are Drinking At Home – Part 4

May 8, 2021 by Michael Perlis

It is finally time to move our focus to Northern California, so now we can write about the Big Three.

Ahhh, the Big Three. These are the three winemakers that have had the biggest influence on our wine drinking over the last 2+ decades. Not only do they make great Zinfandel [kind of a requirement for this Zinfan] along with other wonderful reds that are in our wheelhouse [think Syrah, Petite Sirah, etc.] but they also make wonderful lighter style wines.

In addition, they are all founding members of the Historic Vineyard Society [insert website], an organization dedicated to preserving California’s old vineyards.

Photo provided by Mike Officer of Carlisle

The Big Three are:

Mike Officer of Carlisle Winery and Vineyards

Tegan Passalacqua of Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands

Morgan Twain-Peterson of Bedrock

Mike and Kendall Officer’s first vintage from their Carlisle Winery www.carlislewinery.com was 1998. They both kept their day jobs for the next few years, but given the immediate accolades they received out of the starting gate for their wines produced from old-vine vineyards, focusing on Zinfandels and Rhones, demand for them to increase production was high. They eventually were able to devote themselves full-time to the winery and their family – both of their children now work at the winery. While we immediately became huge fans of their red wines, they also make three whites that are definitely on our go-to list:

Sonoma Mountain “Steiner Vineyard” Grüner Veltliner: Not too many wineries use this varietal in California.

Sonoma Valley “Compagni Portis” White Wine: a field blend of primarily Gewurztraminer, Trousseau Gris and Riesling from the Compagni Portis Vineyard. Sonoma County “The Derivative” White Wine: The 2018 is a blend of Semillon, Muscadelle, Columbard and Palomino.

While many people consider Turley Wine Cellars www.turleywinecellars.com to be a Paso Robles winery since they purchased the old Pesenti winery in 2000, they also have a facility in Amador County, having acquired the Karly property in 2012. More to the Northern California point, Turley’s headquarters is in St. Helena in the Napa Valley. Under the auspices of Director of Winemaking Tegan Passalacqua, Turley produces an amazing number of delicious Zinfandels from some of California’s best vineyards, along with some Petite Syrahs, Cinsaults and even some Cabernet Sauvignon. If you are looking for lighter wines, they make some great ones as well. For whites, the Sauvignon Blanc is a favorite of ours and The White Coat blend is always outstanding. And yes, Turley also makes a White Zinfandel; but please don’t expect it to be that silly sweet stuff.

Tegan and his wife Olivia also own Sandlands www.sandlandsvineyards.com , where they focus mainly on “forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite (sand), from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture.” Sure, they do make some outstanding Chardonnay, but don’t miss their Lodi Chenin Blanc or Cinsault, Mataro and Carigane from Contra Costa County, even a Mission from Amador County, among others. The wines have an old-fashioned flair to them, including lower alcohol by modern California standards and are lip-smackingly delicious. Prices are really reasonable too, but you need to try to get on the mailing list!

Last but not least, Morgan Twain-Peterson founded Bedrock www.bedrockwineco.com

in 2007, but winemaking would seem to have always been in his blood. As the son of Joel Peterson who created Ravenswood and now owns Once And Future Wine, Morgan made his first wine when he was 5 years old – I think he made Pinot Noir just to annoy his Zinfandel-loving father. We were first drawn to the Bedrock Syrahs, Zinfandels and Heritage field blends, but we have found the whites to be equally as compelling. Morgan and his now partner-in-wine Chris Cottrell are doing amazing things with Sauvignon Blanc. And if you or anyone you know thinks that Rieslings are not for them, please give Bedrock’s a try; you will change your mind. Finally, the Ode to Lulu is one of our favorite pink wines every year.

Be aware that all of the Big Three reserve the bulk of their production for their mailing lists, so I highly recommend you sign up – or get on their waitlists.

As the weather starts heating up and Karen and I get to being fully vaccinated, we are looking forward to traveling to our favorite wine regions and tasting new varietals and vintages and reporting back. But in the meantime, you’ll probably see another article or two in this series.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 30 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 President of MCP Financial, which provides outsourced controller services. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or mcpfinancial@aol.com.

Tasting A Tribute Wine: 2011 DON Cabernet Sauvignon by Pure Cru Napa Valley, Winemaker Mitch Cosentino

May 7, 2021 by evebushman

Eddie and I tasted the 2011 “Don” Cabernet Sauvignon Tribute Wine with Mitch Cosentino, founder and winemaker at Pure Cru Napa Valley, in 2015. We liked it so much then we bought a few bottles, found them in our cellar recently and decided that we needed to crack one open. Below are notes from the back label, my tasting notes from 2015 and 2021, the technical notes, and a new quote from Mitch.

What is the tribute for?

In April 2014 we lost a family member, friend and partner, Don Held, aka Superman. This wine, like Don who had so many special qualities, has been developed as a tribute to his life. He lived life to the fullest and enriched the lives of those lucky enough to be around him. Two of the rarest clones of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have been blended to produce this extremely rare, one of a kind wine.

For those that knew Don, we hope when you drink this wine it will bring back so many beautiful, lasting memories. For those of you who did not have the pleasure of knowing him, our hope is “Don” will inspire you to makes some special memories of your own.

We never met Don, but we do raise a glass – from his remarkable wine – to him now.

2015 Tasting Notes

2011 The Don: (25% of the sales of this wine go to Make-A-Wish foundation and is named after a former partner in the winery that has since passed away.) 100% Cabernet from “two of the rarest clones” that shall not be named…I got aromas of dust, what Mitch referred to as “lead pencil”, blackberry and hard candy; very rich dark fruit, velvety, intense black cherry that would be hard for any taster to miss, doesn’t need food or aging. 96 Eve pts.

2021 Tasting Notes

14.8% alcohol.

Opaque, dark purple in color. Aromas included dried blackberry, fresh blueberry pie and chocolate mousse desserts, pecan, campfire, black pepper, toasted wood/sweet bark, spicy. Velvety layers of dark spicy fruit flavors that goes on and on. Found the same blackberry and blueberry notes as on the nose, balanced with spice notes, coffee grounds, tannins doing their job. Doesn’t need food, which seems remarkable as it’s a big wine. 97 Eve pts.

I texted Mitch after we tasted Don and he added this news, “…we just bottled the same blend from 2017 in honor of another partner who passed, Dr. Prab. That is the last we can do because one of the clones (the Lafitte) was torn out by the current owner of the property unfortunately. It will be offered to club members this summer. I have hidden the Don’s that I have to keep me from drinking them.”

Technical Sheet

Napa Valley (100%), 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Winemaking: Each lot was punched cap fermented and barrel aged for 36 months in selected French Oak barrels then blended before bottling.

Tasting Notes: Currants with a hint of spice and a gravel like mineral element in the nose. On the palate it is intense and dense with black fruit. Very varietal and well structured, accented by spice throughout add to that long, complex and complex finish.

Special Notes: This is a very special tribute wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon components are very unique. The two clones used are the rarest in the Napa Valley. One is the Secret Clone from its original vineyard on a hill in Pope Valley and from a small block in Yountville. The other is the “L” Clone which supposedly traces its origin to the famous Chateau Lafite Rothschild property. This is the first use from new plantings in Pope Valley where it exhibits a distinctive Pauillac minerality and dense black fruit as it does in Bordeaux.

(Production limited to 80 cases.)

https://www.purecruwines.com

https://www.facebook.com/PureCruWinesNapa

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.

Paso Robles Announces Virtual Auction Giving Access to One-of-a-Kind Experiences

April 26, 2021 by evebushman

Paso Robles, CA – The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA) has announced the launch of their first-ever Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction. Set to begin on Monday, May 10, and running through Sunday, May 16, this online auction features over 25 lots from more than 50 Paso Robles wine country businesses, including wineries, hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and recreation outfitters. The specially curated auction lots are exclusive packages that are not available as retail experiences where wineries not only offer wine but luxury overnight stays in wine country, winemaker dinners at Paso’s best restaurants, high-touch educational vineyard tours, as well as rare and allocated wines. Funds generated from the Wine Country Virtual Auction benefit the Paso Robles Wine Country Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization that gives back to the community primarily through educational scholarships for aspiring young adults headed off to college. Visit https://pasowine.com/events/virtual-auction to begin viewing lots.

The weeklong online auction will run from May 10 to 16, which precedes the traditional time when the annual Paso Robles Wine Festival takes place. Considering event restrictions and limitations on large gatherings, this auction allows the Paso Robles wine region to showcase the wine country lifestyle to fans and bidders from around the country. One-of-a-kind lots like A French Family Affair brings the families of L’Aventure, Clos Solène, and Benom together for a dinner for six with the highest bidder at the high-end, French cuisine restaurant Les Petites Canailles. Another multi-brand experience unique to Paso Robles brings a group of eight to Sixmilebridge where owner Jim Moroney treats guests to the dinner table with winemaker Anthony Yount. Dinner also features the wines of other brands that Anthony makes including Denner Vineyards and Royal Nonesuch Farms.

There are impossible to find lots available to the highest bidder as well, like a complete current release package (12 bottles) of Saxum wines along with two signed 1.5L magnums. Another hard-to-get lot includes an Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon vintage line-up, including the vintages of 2015 – 2019, along with two signed large format bottles of the 2017 and 2018 vintages.

Overnight stays offer everything from a three-night getaway in a luxury house stay for six at Turley Wine Cellars to the equally luxurious stay for two at the new Geneseo Inn on Cass Winery’s 145-acre estate. These stays and many more uber-cool experiences are on the auction block ready to be won. Visit https://pasowine.com/events/virtual-auction as new lots will be added daily leading up to the launch on Monday, May 10, 2021.

“We are excited to showcase some incredibly rare offerings unique to Paso Robles wine country that have been pulled from personal cellars and paired with incredible experiences that we’ve never seen offered in our area!” said Molly Scott, Chairperson of the PRWCA Board of Directors, and Director of Grower Relations for JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery. “Equally exciting is the new online auction format which allows Paso Wine fans across the world to partake in helping raise funds that we will channel right back into our local community through our foundation.”

This auction uses the Greater Giving Online Bidding platform, allowing for a paperless bidding system. Bidders use a smartphone, tablet, or desktop to bid on auction items and can easily track lots by “following” their activity without having to continuously return to a table or bid sheet.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Foundation has been giving back to the local community through high school scholarships for 15 years. These scholarships help college and trade school-bound young adults to have a little extra funding to take some of the pressure off affording tuitions, materials, travel, etc. as they plan their futures. The Paso Robles wine community is proud to help the next generation reach their goals.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction launches on Monday, May 10; however, lots are being populated online now. Visit https://pasowine.com/events/virtual-auction to begin viewing lots and check back daily. The inventory of unique and exceptional experiences grows by the day leading up to the May 10 open bidding. The auction concludes at midnight, on Sunday, May 16, 2021.

Perlises Pick: What Wines We Are Drinking At Home – Part 3

April 24, 2021 by Michael Perlis

When I started writing this series of articles about the lighter wines Karen and I have been drinking recently, I hadn’t really thought that so many of them would be from Paso Robles. After all, Paso’s reputation [at least in my mind] is for big delicious Reds, and there certainly are a lot of those coming from this area. And we don’t limit ourselves to PR’s AVAs, as I expect you know. But, as I’ve said, great winemakers make great wine, regardless of color, and here are three more wineries that produce some of our favorite lighter wines from the area. As an added bonus, they are all somehow connected to each other.

We’ve actually known Guillaume Fabre of Clos Solene www.clossolene.com the longest of these three, having met him at an event back in 2009. He was pouring his first vintage – a delicious Roussanne – and was still assistant winemaker at L’Aventure. But 2009 was long ago. We’ve followed him to the shared Paso Underground tasting room in downtown to Paso Robles and then to Tin City just south of downtown Paso. Now he and his wife Solene have their own property in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles, from which they are creating some of the best wines in the region. I’ve always felt that his Red wines did a great job of showing how their inherent power could be softened into elegance without losing the characteristics of Paso.

The lighter wines are equally as stylish. Karen loves all of them when “paired with our “Snacks– Hunkered Down” nights of charcuterie and/or smoked fish, various cheeses, dried and fresh fruit, followed by lemon cookies or a scoop of ice cream.”

The pink La Rose is a Rhone blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault and Syrah, made from grapes specifically farmed for rosé – no saignee here! Very pale in color that belies the complexity of the wine itself.

Clos Solene’s Hommage Blanc is a classic white Rhone blend of mainly Roussanne plus Viognier and Grenache Blanc. Karen found it to be “full bodied…flowers, fruit, spices…”

Finally, En Coulisse is 100% Chardonnay from Santa Maria Valley’s Bien Nacido Vineyards. A nice rich Chard, and [per Karen] “not overpowering with oak, vanilla or butter but fruit forward…”

Guillaume is also partner in another Paso Robles winery with his brother Arnaud –

Benom Wines www.benomwines.com. They originally took over Clos Solene’s spot in Tin City, although I believe they have now moved to a larger space in the same area.

The name Benom is a riff on the French word “binôme” which translates to “a project together”. These French brothers have successfully combined their homeland’s heritage with all that Paso has to offer, with their blends showing what can be done by them in a place with no rules. No surprise, again, that the red wines are great, but this article is focusing on these lighter wines.

The L’Essor rosé combines Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon and Contrast is a blend of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Neither of these could be made back home due to the rules about combining grapes from different regions. And they clearly should be. Karen loved the “bright fruit” of the L’Essor and found the Contrast to be “crisp, clean, full of fruit…”

As I mentioned at the start, this article is about three wineries that are somehow connected. Arnaud Fabre of Benom is also marketing director at Law Estate Wines www.lawestatewines.com, another winery that we first tasted at a festival. This time it was the Ojai Wine Festival back in 2013, when Karen came up to me and said “you really have to try Law”. As always, she was right and we have been big fans since. We met GM Oliver Esparham at the Ojai Festival and have visited him and the rest of our friends at Law at the state-of-the-art winery and tasting room many times – once even before it was complete. The winery and vineyards high up on Peachy Canyon are amazing in their own right. But, that would mean nothing if the wines didn’t match. And they definitely do. The Law wines are truly some of the best ones around.

With regard to lighter wines, Law makes two. The Rosé blend is typically Grenache based while the white Rhone blend Soph [named after the Laws’ granddaughter] is usually about half Roussanne. The exact blends vary from year to year for both of these, but they are always stunning and are present on our table [and in our glasses] often. I love that the description on the website refers to Soph as “an extremely moreish wine”. We definitely agree on that.

Next article, we’ll finally leave Paso Robles and look at wines from farther north. Unless I change my mind.

Clos Solene

www.clossolene.com

Benom

www.benomwines.com

Law Estate Wines