My Fave Wines From 2020: The Year When Drinking Wine Became Everyone’s Favorite Pastime

February 12, 2021 by evebushman

Lots pop into our heads when we think of 2020, and of course we aren’t out of the woods yet, or even close, so far for 2021. For me it was a windfall of wines sent for review, often accompanied by a Zoom tasting led by the winemaker. I (virtually) traveled to Germany, Spain, Argentina, France, Italy and more in those meetings and via my own cellar. And before Covid shut things down I did have quick trips to Los Olivos, Paso Robles and the Lompoc Wine Ghetto. Below is a collection of some of my favorite wines from 2020. If any of this sounds good to you, go find these wines!

It turns out that I had about 50 wine tastings, if not more, in 2020. These shout-outs are from EveWine101 website articles: the 2020 Gambero Rosso Master Class, 2017 Bordeaux presented by the Union des Grand Crus, Vega Sicilia collectors dinner with Pablo Alvarez, Fontanafredda Barolo, wine from New Zealand’s Waipapa Bay, Folded Hills Winery with winemaker Angela Osborne, California Wine STARS 2020, LA County Wines (Byron Blatty, Acri Wine Company, Angeleno Wine Company and Cavaletti Vineyards), Zoom tasting with Suzanne Phifer Pavitt and their 2012 Date Night Cabernet, Camins 2 Dreams, Gary Farrell single vineyard Pinots with winemaker Theresa Heredia, revisiting Montemar, catching up with winemaker Mark Cargasacchi and Jalama wines, also visiting Ampelos and Zotovich in Lompoc, Switchback Ridge via the Grand Reserves Reward Master Card, tasting from family-owned wineries with Dr. Laura Catena, Anne Trimbach, Laure Colombo and Alessia Collauto Travaglini, great wines that stole my palate but not my wallet from Guarachi Wine Partners, reviewing DAOU’s Soul of a Lion, Tenuta Montemagno sparkling Barbera, Castello di Fonterutoli with Giovanni Mazzei, Paul Kornell Sparkling…

In SCV Elite Magazine this year I got to write about wine tasting in Paso Robles just before the shutdown. Had exceptional experiences at Thacher Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Derby Wine Estates, Steinbeck Wines, Cass Wines, Eberle Winery, Oso Libre Winery, HammerSky vineyards and the Allegretto Vineyard Resort.

January started out great with my first, and last, visit and dinner at Marstons with my VP/BFF Michael Perlis, our wonderful spouses, all over lots of wine ($10 corkage!) including 2013 Audacious Grenache/Syrah/Cab blend by Law Estate, 2013 Comstock Rockpile/Sonoma County Zinfandel, 2009 Regusci Zinfandel Napa Valley…

At Wine 661: Lucas And Lewellen tasting where we sampled five of their Santa Barbara County wines, including a Rose of Pinot and a Bordeaux blend. Had a couple of wines off of the Happy Hour menu. This was not the last time I went to Wine 661 in 2020…

Now some single bottle shout outs:

Vinos Zanzonico 2017 Syrah Reserva: 100% Syrah, 13.5% alcohol, from the Valle de la Grulla area of Baja. With a regal dark purple color, I was drawn in to fantastic aromas of sweet black cherry, plum, tri-color peppercorns, layers of rich bark, milk chocolate…all very welcoming. I went in for a taste and was rewarded with a very rich and layered mouthfeel, with dark and dry blue to black fruit, grilled mushrooms, peppery spicy goodness and tannins that held my back palate at attention for a length that just would…not…quit. 99 Eve points.

2014 Old Vine Zichichi Family Vineyard Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley: The 14.8% alcohol didn’t translate at all to a hot wine on the palate, instead it delivered incredible substance. It started with a nose full of sweet dark plums, pipe tobacco, black licorice, toasted oak, black pepper and popcorn kernel. Going in for a taste my mouth was filled with delicious dried blueberry and blackberry, that same black pepper, tannins that held firm, and a great balance of the dark fruit and tannins to keep it lingering a long time on the palate. This was a new Zin discovery for me, will definitely be looking for it again!

Entourage by Two Papas Wine barrel fermented (1) and stainless steel (2) 2019 Chardonnay, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County: 1. Barrel: Designated by a gold wax top (the stainless has a silver wax top) I was amazed that this was a young 2019 vintage! It had lovely notes of creamy butter, pineapple, golden delicious apple and popcorn kernel that morphed into caramel apple on the palate, mild acidity, with a long, balanced and lush finish. 2. No barrel: Our stainless sibling gave off nicely scented whiffs of Meyer lemon, both cantaloupe and honeydew melon, and a little unsalted butter. When I tasted the wine I got homemade fruit cocktail, wet pebbles, low acidity and a medium finish.

2018 Kindred Rose of Pinot Noir: The color of rose gold, complete with sparkles! Then on the nose I found pink grapefruit, lemon pith, French Toast, Creme Brûlée, and Mandarin orange = all very inviting! In for a taste next, there is a very round mouthfeel, and the same citrus fruits I found on the nose – grapefruit, lemon and orange – with a medium acidity. Enjoy now, with or without food IMO!

2015 Phifer Pavitt XRoads Cabernet Sauvignon: Crushed dark cherry, wet forest floor, grilled steak and mushrooms, dark chocolate, black licorice, pipe tobacco, toasted oak, a hint of sweet cream and more all on the nose. Flavors included that same black cherry as well as blackberry, blueberry, a gamut of spices, velvety and firm drying tannins that of course require that you go back in for another sip…and another.

2012 Regusci Patriarch Proprietary Red: aroma: dark berries, dried leaves, figs, toasted oak and a bit o’ mint. Some of the same aromas in the flavors with the addition of dark chocolate.

2001 Giacomo Conterno Cascina Francia, a Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont…I looked for the roses, tar, licorice and red berries (notes from a professional critic) and also found tart berries, spice and tannins after decanting for 7 hours. So interesting.

Have you tried Guentota, aka the “Soul of Cuyo”, a “100-YR-OLD-VINE PREMIUM 2016 MALBEC” from Mendoza, Argentina? It’s from Belasco De Baqueano and was awarded 91 points from James Suckling. And I was far too busy lapping it up to make any tasting notes. But find it at Newhall Press Room. (Truth be told I had a LOT of wine from Newhall Press in 2020!)

2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia, I have no notes as I was also too busy drinking to take any. A stellar wine as it’s been proven vintage after vintage.

1999 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo: The nose and taste had really changed and mellowed over the 7 hours, with aromas of dried dark fruit, grilled mushroom, balsamic, dust and oak; on the palate I got both bright and dark fruit in a very fine balance.

From my local Pulchella Winery we had: Suspect sparkling wine, 2019 Latitude Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier blend, 2017 Mercenary Zinfandel blend, 2018 Witness Grenache…among others!

A note on Los Olivos: this was a non-press trip so no notes were taken. With that in mind we loved: Barbieri and Kempe are “Boutique wines made by Master Sommelier Paolo Barbieri” along with his wife Erin Kempe = bought a case! The second, Bella Cavailli Farms and Vineyard, produces some amazing wines against a backdrop of a working horse ranch, as well as some fun distilled spirits from Dorwood Distillery. Jeff Lockwood is the winemaker and his brother Jay the head distiller. We left there with both wine and spirts to enjoy at home.

A note from Wine on the Porch: During the summer months we enjoyed Hanzell Chardonnay, Saintsbury Chardonnay, Parhelion Cellars Light Pillar Chardonnay, St Supery Virtu Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blend, Pagter Brothers 2018 Viognier, and from Hoi Polloi I snatched up their 2018 Rose of Grenache and Double-Gold Best-Of-Class 2018 Chardonnay!

A note about spirits: Yea, I wrote a lot about spirits this year too, stay tuned for a roundup of those next!

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.

One Bottle Post: The 2015 Phifer Pavitt X Roads Cabernet Sauvignon

January 8, 2021 by evebushman

First time we were introduced to the 2015 Phifer Pavitt X Roads Cabernet Sauvignon was over dinner with their white winemaker Gary Warburton and his wife Terry back in September 2019. Back then I didn’t have a chance to take tasting notes and later wrote this for SCV Elite Magazine:

…Shout out to Phifer Pavitt and their 2015 XROADS Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley. We had a glorious multi-course dinner with our friends Gary and Terry Warburton in the Solbar at Solage Resort where Gary brought the wine – he happens to be their white winemaker – and I was smitten. As soon as we got home I ordered some! — EVE BUSHMAN, Elite Magazine, November 2019 (Read it on the Phifer Pavitt website here.)

Note: There are four articles in Elite where I mention Phifer Pavitt. You can see them listed here. There are also over a half dozen times I’ve covered them here in Eve’s Wine 101. Wrote about their dog Mongo years ago for one of the Wine Dogs books too. Phifer Pavitt may actually have been one of the first wineries – or the first winery – I first wrote about over 12 years ago when I started my journey as a wine columnist. We have been overnight guests on their property and have spent many hours over the years with owner Suzanne Phifer Pavitt, of course, over many bottles of their wine. Suzanne is originally from Georgia, and has an unmistakable accent and exquisite Southern charm. She is the perfect pairing for their wines, IMHO. Now, back to X Roads.

Pronounced Cross Roads – not X Roads as it reads on the label – this is not their only Cabernet Sauvignon; it comes on the heels of their popular “DateNight” Cab and a Reserve. I was betting that another year in bottle, we wouldn’t need to decant, and the wine would have done nothing but improved over time. If that’s possible. At least I could rectify my earlier review with some tasting notes.

2015 Phifer Pavitt X Roads

14.9% alcohol

Crushed dark cherry, wet forest floor, grilled steak and mushrooms, dark chocolate, black licorice, pipe tobacco, toasted oak, a hint of sweet cream and more all on the nose. Flavors included that same black cherry as well as blackberry, blueberry, a gamut of spices, velvety and firm drying tannins that of course require that you got back in for another sip…and another. We had it with a sous vide rib eye, it was delicious before, during and after.

The label says, among other things, that “X marks the spot” and it certainly marked a very sweet (as in good!) spot for me. 99 Eve points.

From the Winery

OUR STORY:

CITY BOY MEETS COUNTRY GIRL

This is the story of city boy meets country girl. What you may not know is that every country girl that has ever successfully worked her way out of the country life has worked exponentially harder than any city boy could imagine. What you probably already know is that every idealistic city boy has absolutely no clue just how challenging country life can be.

Sounded like a great idea to Shane, who grew up in the town of postage stamp lots, Manhattan Beach, CA. Move to the country, breathe some fresh air and sloooow down. Scared the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of Suzanne. Move away from the city (you gotta be kidding me!), hour plus drive from any reasonable shopping, holy smokes she was closer than that growing up in rural Ringgold, Georgia.

DATE NIGHT

Every big decision we ever made together was on our once a week “Date Night”. The should-I-take-that-job decision happened on Date Night. The let’s-make-babies decision happened on Date Night. And the decision to put an offer on what would become the Phifer Pavitt property happened on Date Night. From our perspective, every decision we made together on Date Night gave us results that exceeded our expectations. So it should come as no surprise that the decision to make Phifer Pavitt Date Night Wine happened on Date Night. We fully believe that the enjoyment of the night led us to making the best decision. So this is our offer to you…cherish those moments together, because life doesn’t come with a pause button. Date Night is not just our wine, it’s a way of life.

https://www.phiferpavittwine.com

https://www.instagram.com/phiferpavittwine/

https://twitter.com/DateNightWine

https://napagreen.org

FROM FEEDSCV: The First COVID-19 Restaurant Tracker for the Santa Clarita Valley

March 19, 2020 by evebushman

From our friends at FEEDSCV, SCV Elite Magazine and Santa Clarita Magazine comes this comprehensive list of local restaurants and their current dining options due to the Cornonavirus. We highly recommend that you check this list often as it’s constantly updated. Also, if you can afford it please consider supporting all of the restaurants that have supported so many of our local non-profit events over many years…now is the time to reciprocate! And tip handsomely too!

Follow the hyperlinks below for the list of the Santa Clarita Valley restaurants participating in take out or curbside services during the Coronavirus shut-down. This is from the FeedSCV website under the tab marked Drive Thru and Take Out Options:

This page is meant as a place to find local restaurants that are offering take-out and/or curbside service during the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent social distancing. If you have a restaurant to add to this list please fill out this form (click here).

Photo credit: FeedSCV Facebook page.

THE RESTAURANT TRACKER IS SUPPORTED THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF ALL THE RESTAURANTS LISTED, AND FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, SANTA CLARITA MAGAZINE AND ELITE MAGAZINE.

From FeedSCV’s Facebook page: feedSCV in conjunction with Santa Clarita Magazine and SCV élite Magazine is proud to offer our Restaurant Tracker as a service to the Santa Clarita Valley. We’re building a list of all the restaurants in the area which will feature take-out, curbside or even delivery services in the near to mid-term future as we all do our best to minimize exposure to COVID-19. Visit our website @ http://feedscv.org/covid-19-restaurant-tracker/ to see the list of restaurants offering these services, and also if you’re an owner or manager and want to add yours, you can find the link to do that there as well. Be safe everyone!

Gourmet Foods and Wines of Castilla y León

April 19, 2019 by evebushman

If you’ve been paying attention to my social media as of late you should’ve noticed that I’m headed to Spain this summer, notably as I was offered a stay at Abadia Retuerta Domaine with my family. (I’ve already written a two-part story on their wines and their highly rated destination winery. After my visit I will be writing more in depth for SCV Elite Magazine.) So you can imagine my thrill to learn that GM Enrique Valera was going to be back in LA again before I would see him in Spain and I would have an opportunity to try more wine and foods from the region:

Hi Eve: I wanted to drop you a note because Enrique Valero is returning to Los Angeles for a special food and wine event that he thought you might enjoy: an exclusive tasting at the City Club, showcasing five top wineries and world-acclaimed gourmet food products from Spain’s Castilla y León región.

Castilla y León, the largest autonomous community in Spain and home to over 60% of Spain’s heritage architectural and cultural sites, also produces 69 traditional food products, including roast suckling pig, Iberico ham and many coveted cheeses. Winery principals and food producers will be on hand to discuss their products, and would love to meet you. Featured wineries include Abadia Retuerta, Cesar Principe, Dominio del Pido, Emilio Moro, and Pago de Carraovejas.

Well. Have to say for a small tasting event, I was very impressed with the quality of the food and wine from Castilla y León and am looking forward to our trip even more.

Food

Walking up to a table with a ham hock, a butcher and the sharpest knife to cut the slimmest samples of ham I thought, oh, it’s a prosciutto. Nope. It is Ibérico ham. Right off it looked redder and had slimmer veins of fat. I also learned that the ham had been aged for four years. On the taste: I loved the subtle slightly gamey flavor, and it was less salty and generally a stronger structure than Prosciutto. I liked it so much I went to the Fermin website to learn more – that information is at the end of this article.

Along with the ham there were four hard cheeses, from sharp to smoked, each was meant to sample with specific teas. I stuck to the wine for my pairing. And I thoroughly enjoyed the cheeses and the ham together.

Wines

Of the wineries, Abadia Retuerta, Cesar Principe, Dominio del Pido, Emilio Moro, and Pago de Carraovejas, I enjoyed them all. All of the reds were either 100% Tempranillo or a blend, the whites were also blends. Abaida Retuerta is already a favorite of mine, as mentioned above, but this time I also enjoyed many of the wines from the other wineries in the area.

These are the ones I hope to find again in Spain: Cesar Principe 2015 Tempranillo, Dominio del Pido 2018 Rosado and 2015 Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo, Emilio Moro 2016 Tempranillo and 2015 Malleolus Tempranillo, and Pago de Carraovejas 2016 Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo, Ossian 2015 White Wine and, of course, everything I can try at Abadia Retuerta Domaine.

From Fermin Iberico

Recognized as one of the 4 aces of global gastronomy along with caviar, foie-gras and truffles, FERMIN Iberico Acorn-Fed Ham is an authentic treasure from Spain. FERMIN is also distinguished as being the first Spanish Producer of Iberico meats to gain approval from the USDA.’

FERMIN acorn-fed, free-range ham comes from 100% IBERICO pigs. During the Acorn season (from September to February) known as Montanera, these animals double their weight on a diet based of acorns and grass. They go from 200 to 400 pounds!

Free RANGE: Our Grain-fed free range Iberico is 100% Ibérico, fed on grains, grasses and all that nature provides. Also known as the “Kobe beef of pork” because of its intense marbling, flavors and uniqueness, the FERMIN Iberico ham is the first authentic Iberico to enter the US market. Cured for a minimum of 36 months, this Iberico ham…melts in your mouth.

Grain-fed 50% Iberico: We cross a 100% Iberico pig with a 100% Duroc pig, and the result is phenomenal: An affordably produced, lower fat content product that maintains its characteristic visual fat marbling.

https://www.ferminiberico.com/

2019 Dates – and Some Surprises – for Wine on the Roof and Cocktails on the Roof

March 29, 2019 by evebushman

SCV’s Only Roof Top Events Offer Unique Atmosphere For Both Wine and Spirit Lovers to Dine with Wine and Dance with Cocktails!

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY – The WiSH Education Foundation is once again pleased to announce the dates for their wildly popular rooftop events held on the top of Macy’s parking structure at Westfield Valencia to benefit over 23,000 students in the Hart District: Wine on the Roof…Dine on the Roof will be held on May 16 and the 5^th annual Cocktails on the Roof on September 6. Tickets, sponsorship information, “raves”, past and current vendors can all be seen on the Cocktails on the Roof dedicated website: http://cocktailsontheroofscv.org/

What to Expect: In our inaugural 2018 event Wine on the Roof guests were treated to several courses paired with wines in a seated dinner. The venue was not made public prior to the event, and each dish came out with its own menu and pairing card. Chefs and winemakers took to the microphone during the evening to share their inspiration for their own creations. All restaurants brought staff members to the roof, all working seamlessly together. The models from Pinups for American Heroes, a local nonprofit, also served guests at the event in the spirit of the 1940s USO. Local favorite Lance Allyn provided live music.

Wine on the Roof participants, several in their debut, included: The Speakeasy Bakery, Bakers Scott Ervin and Todd Wilson, Newhall Press Room, Chef Trevor; The Old Town Junction, Chef Daniel Otto; Hundred Miles, Chef Louis Pechan; Olive Terrace Bar and Grill, Chef Lucio Teraza and Chef Alfonso Canuto; Bonefish Grill, Culinary Team; Sweet Beams Ice Cream Truck, Karin and Chris Beam; Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jennifer and Zachary Zeidler; Wolf Creek Restaurant, Pastry Chef Meghan Launier, 8. Salt Creek Grille, Pastry Chef Kristina Waggoner and Honu Coffee, Brew master James. Wineries: Byron Blatty Wines, winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper; Pulchella Winery, winemakers Steve Lemley and Nate Hasper; Hoi Polloi Winery, winemakers Ted Behlendorf, Doug Minnick, Dan Erland Andersen; Pagter Brothers, Scott Page-Pagter winemaker; Parhelion Cellars, winemaker Adam Hasper.

What to Expect: In our 5^th Cocktails on the Roof, Eve Bushman and a committee of amazing volunteers and WiSH board members promise to have a surprise or two up their collective sleeves. Our first year was brand new: DJ MAV from SOS Entertainment, guests voting for their favorite cocktails and a Flash Mob of prepared dancers doing “Thriller” for guests. In subsequent years, guests could sponsor private lounges with private service; finally last year we added in a table just for Pulchella Winery as a special nod to their invaluable work in Wine on the Roof. (Cocktails on the Roof focuses on highlighting the cocktail programs from our local restaurants, and several unique single spirit vendors.)

2018 participants included: JFC Int’l, Nealie’s Skillet, Marston’s Restaurant, Honu Coffee, Mammoth Mountain Coffee, Willow Creek Distillery, Indian Affair, Wolf Creek Brewery, Wolf Creek Restaurant, Salt Creek Grille, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pomp & Whimsy Gin Liqueur, Sweet Beams Ice Cream, Mule 2.0, Lazy Dog Restaurant, SCV Custom Crush Services (Pulchella Winery), Newhall Press Room, LA Scotch Club, Alchemy, Dulce Vida Tequila, Hyatt Regency Valencia, Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, Sweet T’s Treats, Impex Beverages, The Local Pub, Smokehouse on Main, Claim Jumper, solita, Figenza Mediterranean Fig Vodka and the Joy Squad Photo Experience.

Eve Bushman of Eve’s Wine 101 and Eve Bushman Consulting created these two events and co-hosts along with Amy Daniels, Executive Director of the Wish Education Foundation; Marlee Lauffer, the President of the Henry Newhall Memorial Hospital Foundation; and Alexander Hafizi; of Elite Magazine and the Santa Clarita Magazine. Steve Lemley, the co-owner of Pulchella Winery and SCV Custom Crush Services, is the co-host for Wine on the Roof, curating all of the wineries, working with the winemakers and pairing the menus with Bushman. Last but not least, Jennifer Chadwick, Director of Marketing for Salt Creek Grille; serves as the Wine on the Roof Lead Coordinator in the restaurant Prep Tent. Our tireless committee members also include: Judy Penman, Ed Masterson, Richard Cohn, Jennifer Ramos, Dawn Begley and Mitch Russell.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for either or both of these exciting events, please reach out to Amy Daniels: Wish@HartDistrict.org

Past and Present Sponsors include: Westfield Valencia Town Center, The Magazine of Santa Clarita, Elite Magazine, Littler, California Credit Union, Oasis Associates, Brightview Tree Company, Andy Gump, Burrtec, 24/7 Events, SOS Entertainment, Peterson Printing, Jennifer Ramos Social Conduit, Eve Bushman Consulting, Image 2000, Craig and Lisa Eichman, Team House Real Estate and PinUps for Heroes.

Napa 2017 After The Fires: Del Dotto

December 1, 2017 by evebushman

Been to visit Del Dotto Vineyards Estate almost annually for ten years now, covering their amazing cave tour and tasting for Elite magazine, Eve’s Wine 101 and the SCV Beacon. I have never had an experience like it: After entering the subterranean entrance, guests are greeted with expansive views of marble floors and Venetian glass chandeliers, a large tasting bar…and then you notice the private bars set up around the room, and a large curtain off to your right that, when opened, reveals the long path of barrels – many with different oak expression from different sources – and expectantly you’ll follow their guide and his wine thief to what will truly be a most remarkable tasting.

This time we started at the bar with a tasty sip of the 2015 Chardonnay from the Cinghiale Vineyard, a Family Reserve, while Gerard Zanzonico, Del Dotto’s winemaker of ten years, shared his stories on the recent fire.

#NapaFire

“All fires are now contained…just finished Harvest…415 tons of grapes…long year…fire effected many people and destroyed homes and vineyard land..569 homes were lost in Napa County…” Gerard explained. “In Santa Rosa there was 5,400 homes burned down, many commercial structures also (with a ) loss of $3 billion. Tourism is down and it is a good time to go to restaurants, etc. At times, it is hard to believe this happened.”

No Del Dotto employees lost their homes, though some of the grapes still hanging came back from the lab with “smoke taint” and therefore could not be used. During the fire roads were closed, however winery workers that wanted to (and were able to) come in worked with Gerard doing pump overs. The whole town was evacuated. Rumor is that the cost to rebuild homes in Santa Rosa has skyrocketed to $1,000 per square foot.

The Estate Tasting

As we followed Gerard into the caves we stopped to try a barrel sample of the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 887 in French oak. We are the first to taste this according to Gerard – and there would be more than one first! Really got a nice flavor of black fruit and toasted oak. This would be one of many to watch when it’s released. We tried the same wine in a different French oak – Fouquet Margaux – here, as Gerard explained, the oak wasn’t as integrated. For me it was a bit less dark and brooding, and equal in quality, another to watch out for.

The wine thief then stole a taste of another we were the first to taste: 2016 St. Helena Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon in French oak. Gerard said this one had earned a full 100 points in the past from wine critic Robert Parker. (A full 50% of this Cabernet was destined to go into another grand Cabernet, The Beast.) This wine retails for about $200 a bottle, which works out to about 60k a barrel. Why would we need to know the cost of a barrel? As some people – a few – have purchased by the barrel.

Next came the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard 887, currently on the market but with not much left. Big and balanced, and good to go. Destined to be a 100-pointer when reviewed.

The 2015 Oakville Vineyard Estate Cabernet in French oak has since been moved to a Piazza Reserve label (we would be tasting wine in a paired lunch there next). Gerard said his best wines come out of Oakville, and that the AVA produced higher priced wine. The south section is notably better than the north. He drops tons of fruit to make an intense wine for the 887 labels. This had more perfumy aromas to me, very welcoming.

Onto a sample of the 2015 St. Helena Mountain Block 2 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine also goes into the making of The Beast; making it more age worthy.

The 2016 barrel sample of the Villa del Lago Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon – the 2014 garnered 100 points – should be bottled and ready for release in February of 2019. Gerard said that “some of the best wines are from Pritchard Hill.” Their vineyard on the east side, which is near the lake, allows the grapes to be cooled off at night.

Winemaking

Most of these wines are only produced at between 12 to 14 barrels a year. They are either sold via VIP allocations or direct to consumer at the winery. They rarely sell wholesale to restaurants or stores.

Gerard focuses on the vineyard over the winery, “We grow the wine in the vineyard” as he walks his vineyards, manages the canopy, isolates the weaker areas, looks at the clusters – all in his effort to make the finest wine for the average $200 per bottle price tag.

The “winery work is a mathematical equation”, according to Gerard, while the vineyard doesn’t work that way.

The Piazza

Not as grand in size as The Estate but just as appealing, the Piazza focuses on food and wine pairing with seated tastings and two different menu experiences. When you arrive here you will notice the bright yellow two-story tasting room, rustic ceiling, fountain and gardens – which will soon be dwarfed by the caves, with large portals (what doors leading into caves are called) and a hospitality area currently under construction. Stay tuned, as caves will most likely open in phases over the next three years. The Piazza itself just opened in September of this year.

Entering the Piazza you will notice the large open kitchen on your right, the tasting bar on your left, another tasting area directly in front, and just outside the doors are several tables set up for the wine and food pairing experience.

Gerard took us upstairs where there were several seating arrangements for guests as well as a conference table set up for a large meeting and/or tastings.

Piazza Del Dotto Food and Wine Pairing

Chef Josh Schwartz, formerly of The Laundry and one of many chefs in Napa in the TKG (the “Thomas Keller Group” as jokingly referred to by Gerard) and sommeliers work together on two different menus. The four “Poppers” isn’t not what you think of when you think poppers, these are four small bites created for the sole purpose of pairings. The second menu is called the “Delicacies Tasting Menu.” We had samples from each that included a cheese and fruit plate; Maine Lobster Roll on Toasted Brioche paired with the 2014 Piazza Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast Cinghiale Vineyard; Snake River Farms American Wagyu Beef Piccoburger with Black Truffle paired with 2014 Piazza Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley and the 2014 Piazza Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon; and finally the sous chef presented Cabernet sorbet. It was both a grand experience and an enlightening one as we discussed how each pairing worked out.

Piazza Del Dotto Wine Tasting

The wine list currently includes tasting from the Estate as well as Piazza labels. The Chard mentioned above is made with California clones and is French oak aged. We also enjoyed a 2016 Rose of Pinot Noir from the Cinghiale Vineyard. A treat for me was a rather tasty and easily affordable $45 2014 Petit Verdot what was from St. Helena Vineyard. There are only about 200 cases of this wine, their first foray into Petit Verdot.

http://www.deldottovineyards.com/Visit

http://www.deldottovineyards.com

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, 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

Don’t be left off THE ROOF – Do YOU have your tickets yet?

August 4, 2017 by evebushman

We’re giving you DOUBLE the fun this year as we begin with our pre-party celebration on August 17^th at TPC’s Oaks Grille! Come by from 5pm to 9pm for happy hour pricing all night long, bartender lessons, DJ MAV (the same DJ we will have at the main event for the third year), dancing and the best sunset in Santa Clarita, all while giving back to the WiSH Education Foundation! Have a big party? Call ahead to reserve your table: 661-288-1995.

Cocktails on the Roof, on August 25^th, has us looking forward to a new, fun layout, more lounges (you can even sponsor your own lounge – email Wish@Hart District.org to learn more) and voting on your favorite Craft Cocktails – you’ll even be able to win a social or dinner for a group of six this year in our new silent auction tables!

Everyone is a VIP this year! All tickets are general admission ($85) so you get to enjoy the entire evening from 8pm until 11pm… or come as a Designated Driver and enjoy mocktails and all that amazing food for just $65. All tickets at the door are $95. Either way, let us know about your excitement with #COTR17 on all your social media posts!

Hosted by Eve Bushman of Eve’s Wine 101, Marlee Lauffer, President of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation and WiSH Executive Director Amy Daniels, this year promises to be another top notch event with returning favorites and brand new participants! The restaurants sharing their most sought-after cocktails, mocktails and food are back. Included in the list is Speakeasy Bakery, California Pizza Kitchen, Yoshi Murikami with sake-based cocktails, Sisley Italian Restaurant, solita Tacos & Margaritas, Honu Coffee, Newhall Refinery, TPC Oaks Grille, An Indian Affair, Mammoth Coffee Roasting Company (coffee cocktails), Salt Creek Grille, Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Company, Persia Restaurant and Lounge, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Bonefish Grill, Pomp & Whimsy, Deep Eddy Vodka, Sweet Beams Ice Cream, Olive Terrace Bar & Grill, Marston’s, CPB Winery with wine-based cocktails, The Distillery at Opolo, Vina Sympatica Sparkling Wines, LA Scotch Club and Vines Restaurant. Get your tickets and stay tuned for every exciting announcement (and guest party secrets) on the WiSH Facebook and Cocktails event pages and www.WiSHscv.org!

Although WiSH sponsors many programs and initiatives NOT funded by tax dollars, we are focusing our funding this year on the ARTS, with another emphasis on our public school libraries. Together we can make a difference for our public school youth in our own backyard! Why not have fun while raising badly needed funding?

Many thanks to our sponsors, without whom we could never get this party started –Westfield Valencia Town Center and The Magazine of Santa Clarita/Elite Magazine, EveBushmanConsulting.com, Mitchpickswine, SOS Entertainment, 24/7 Events, Andy Gump, Burrtec, Brightview Tree Company, Lundgren Management, Nick Rose Insurance, California Credit Union, Littler, Randy Plaice & Associates, Oasis Associates, Jeff & Melanie Meyer, Gymnastics Unlimited, Peterson Printing, Enchanted Kids, The Signal, Solprint, KHTS and SCVTV. Special thanks to Genesis Moss, Print & Web Design (www.genesismoss.com), for creating our brand new dedicated website, www.CocktailsontheRoofscv.org.

WiSH asks that you be responsible – 21 & over only; please leave your car in the parking garage overnight (approved by Westfield) and take alternate transportation.

What’s new on THE ROOF?

July 14, 2017 by evebushman

Well, we can certainly tell from the social media BUZZ around town that you are VERY excited about the upcoming Cocktails on the Roof on August 25, 2017. Come join your hosts Eve Bushman of Eve Bushman Consulting, Marlee Lauffer, President of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation and Amy Daniels, Executive Director of the WiSH Education Foundation at our NEW Pre-Party on August 17^th from 5-9pm at The Oaks Grill in TPC. Gear up for #COTR17 with NO COVER, happy hour pricing all evening long, bartender lessons and our #COTR17 DJ MAV and dancing. With the best sunset viewing from their amazing patio, the Oaks Grill is also donating 15% of their proceeds back to the WiSH Education Foundation.

On THE ROOF, what you will recognize from previous years is the amazing venue atop the Macy’s parking garage at Westfield Valencia Town Center and the wonderful all-you-can-partake-in signature cocktails and food, DJ MAV for the third year and dancing and cool, modern lounges and lighting.

What will be new this year is that everyone’s a VIP! Rather than have two levels of tickets, we invite everyone up on THE ROOF from 8-11pm, while our sponsors will be greeted at 7:30pm. General Admission tickets are only $85 and Designated Driver tickets are $65 (by bracelet). Tickets at the door, if still available, are $95.

NEW: WiSH you could be a sponsor and get first dibs??? This year you CAN – we are offering a limited number of private 10’X10’ lounges that seat up to 8-10, allowing you and your friends – or your company – a spot to gather on your own for the party! The cost of the lounge, which includes all marketing, private entry and signage, is only $1,000! Get yours before they run out by contacting Executive Director Amy Daniels at WiSH@hartdistrict.org.

NEW: SoCalMagicMirror.com is joining us, “An Entertainment company specializing in providing the latest in entertainment venues for parties, weddings, business openings and more! More than just a standard ‘photo booth’, SoCal Magic Mirror provides a full length mirror to take your picture at the event, allowing a head-to-ankle capture instead of the standard waist-up shot. You can also write on the screen, choose from hundred of emojis, and personalize your pictures in ways other booths only dream of.”

In addition, our layout will be slightly larger to allow for the fun to reach all corners of the event so no matter where you are, the fun will follow. Don’t forget to have that picture taken at our Step and Repeat as you enter, sponsored by The Magazine of Santa Clarita and Elite Magazine. Tickets are live AND limited – don’t be left off THE ROOF – get yours right now at www.WiSHscv.org.

As of July 12, participants on THE ROOF this year include Deep Eddy Vodka, LA Scotch Club, JFC International sake-based cocktails, Speakeasy Bakery (check social media for hints to get the good stuff here), Honu Coffee, solita Tacos and Margaritas, Sisley Italian Kitchen, Newhall Refinery, NEW: Bonefish Grill, NEW: An Indian Affair, Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewery, Persia Restaurant and Lounge, Salt Creek Grille, Oaks Grill at TPC, NEW: Mammoth Coffee Roasting Company with a Coffee Martini, NEW: Vines Restaurant and Bar, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Olive Terrace Bar and Grill, NEW: Pomp and Whimsy Gin Liqueur, Lazy Dog, Sweet Beams Ice Cream, Marston’s, NEW: CPB Winery with a wine-based cocktail, The Distillery at Opolo and Vina Sympatica sparkling wine.

Our wonderful and generous sponsors are lining up to again be a part of the fun while giving back to our local students. WiSH greatly appreciates Westfield Valencia Town Center, The Magazine of Santa Clarita and Elite Magazine, The Signal, Brightview Tree Company, Nick Rose Insurance, Lundgren Management, California Credit Union, Andy Gump, Oasis Associates, SolPrint Solutions, Craig and Lisa Eichman, Jeff and Melanie Meyer, Eve’s Wine 101, Peterson Printing and Graphics, Littler Mendelson, Randy Plaice and Associates and the Watters Group. We would also like to thank SOS Entertainment, 24/7 Events, Burrtec, MitchPicksWine.com, Enchanted Kids, KHTS, SCVTV. Want to join us as a sponsor of COTR17? Email us at WiSH@hartdistrict.org.

Finally, keep up to date by checking out the WiSH Education Foundation, Pre-party and COTR FB event pages, WiSH site www.WiSHscv.org, and – thanks to web designer Genesis Moss – our brand new dedicated COTR website, http://cocktailsontheroofscv.org/

Vintage Eve March 2012: A Napa Tasting to Quench Your Thirst

October 4, 2016 by evebushman

From a recent trip to Napa I had a lot of wine, emphasis on a LOT, to taste. The story on the wineries will be in the upcoming April/May (2012) edition of Elite Magazine of Santa Clarita. But, for my wonderful readers, a thirsty audience that can’t wait until April, some of my tasting notes are below for wines I found truly remarkable:

Castello di Amoroso

http://castellodiamorosa.ewinerysolutions.com//index.cfm

Below is a vertical tasting of the Il Barone, Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (The few scores mentioned were offered by our host and the years not mentioned were unavailable for tasting):

2005, 100% Cab: Aromas of chocolate sauce, root beer, cherry candy followed by a welcoming taste of chocolate covered cherries and a gentle dryness of the palate.

2007, 94% Cab, 94 pts RP, 99 WS: A somewhat vegetal nose – with plenty of mushroom that was quickly surpassed by a great plumy taste and incredible smoothness.

2008, 94% Cab, 92 RP: Nice dark fruit and toastiness on the nose, and then a lovely blend of both dark fruit and black pepper on the palate.

2011, barrel sample, 100% Cab not yet blended: Young but plenty of potential!

Terra Valentine

2007 Yverdon Cabernet: Made from grapes from their property (and many soil types) this wine had a deep garnet color, a smooth balanced nose of plum and other dark fruits. The taste was just as balanced as the aromas promised a lovely fruit bowl of flavors and some white pepper to round it out.

2007 Wurtele Cabernet: Sourced from grapes grown three miles away with volcanic soil, we were greeted by a dark ruby to purple color, followed by flavors of both dark and bright fruit, some stemminess and dark cherry. (This is the one Jason Park has on the menu at Maru.)

Both of the above wines were aged in French Oak.

2007 Marriage: The color was a dark ruby with a brown edge – indicating some age. Made in a Bordeaux blend style of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, I got some chocolate on the nose, and then…dark, ripe, spicy fruit – seemed altogether ripe and ready to drink!

Chateau Montelena

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Montelena Estate, 99% Cab and 1% Merlot: A ruby color with a slightly darker hued edge, and then a blast of jammy fruits: raspberry, cherry and plum. Pepper and tannins hitting me at the finish, the taste was round. Enjoyed the tannins against the bright fruit flavors.

Robert Sinskey

2008 Cabernet Franc, Vandal Vineyard, Los Carneros, Napa Valley:

Dark ruby-red color followed by forest floor soils, pepper, mushroom with a lovely bright taste and balance.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Vandal Vineyard, Los Carneros, Napa Valley: Eddie’s favorite, their last vintage made, a garnet color, paler fruit taste (but welcoming!) with some nice chocolate.

2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, “SLD”, Stags leap District, Napa Valley: Purple color, dark fruit, plums, pepper and a perfect finish!

Cocktails on the Roof (co-hosted by Eve) is only DAYS AWAY and the Celebration will last ALL MONTH LONG!

August 26, 2016 by evebushman

Santa Clarita is all ABUZZ waiting for September 9^th and the second annual Cocktails on the Roof event, held on top of the Macy’s parking garage at Valencia Town Center! The one and only “signature cocktail” party of the year is back, New York rooftop style, with greenery, inventive lighting, DJ and Dancing (have you seen the “Thriller” teases on our FB event page?), selfie spots, cozy lounges and all the food, fun, cocktails and mocktails in our now famous mini martini glass!

Our VIP Early Entry tickets, $95, are new this year and a HUGE hit. You asked for an extra hour, YOU GOT IT. General Admission tickets, $75, enter at 9pm and our Designated Drivers are only $65. Put on your cocktail dress and remember when you used to party – plan on coming early and staying late as the fun doesn’t end until MIDNIGHT when we’ll have to kick the dancers off the dance floor, just like last year! Tickets will be sold online until NOON on Thursday, September 8^th. If tickets are still available, they will be sold at the door, all levels, for $95. This event was a SELLOUT last year and there is a limited number available. Go to www.WiSHscv.org to for your tickets.

This year you also get to vote on your favorite drink! When you check in at the front entrance, you’ll receive your entry bracelet, martini glass and THREE tickets. Make sure you vote for your favorite cocktail or mocktail by 10:15, when we’ll be pulling tickets and counting the votes to announce the winners at 11pm! Stay tuned for every exciting announcement (and guest party secrets) on WiSH Education Foundation’s website, Facebook and event page.

The normally elusive and hidden Speakeasy Bakery is back, along with Vermont’s Shacksbury Hard Ciders, TPC Valencia Golf Club’s Oaks Grille, Persia Lounge & Restaurant, Sake Sommelier Yoshi Murikami with Smart Assist, Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Co., Sisley Italian Kitchen, Bowen’s Whiskey, California Fruit Wine, Deep Eddy Vodka, solita Tacos & Margaritas, Honu Coffee (with alcohol, too!), Newhall Refinery, Parashar’s Indian Kitchen, Olive Terrace Bar & Grill, Culinary Wonders, Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar, Salt Creek Grille, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Marston’s, iCUE (Culinary dept at College of the Canyons), LA Scotch Club, The Distillery at Opolo, Shining Suns and Dancing Daughters Blended Spirits, Sweet Beams Ice Cream 12 Bottle Bar and Xevichez Sushi Bar.

Hosted by Eve Bushman of Eve’s Wine 101 and Marlee Lauffer, President of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation, this year promises to be another amazing event to benefit the 23,000 students of the Wm. S. Hart School District. WiSH supports programs and initiatives not supported by tax dollars. Look for our new “WiSHing Well” – an opportunity to make local public education’s “WiSHes” come true with your donations. Remember that 100% of the net proceeds of this event goes to benefit local public education through WiSH, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

WiSH would like to thank Crystal Sponsors The Magazine of Santa Clarita and Elite Magazine; Presenting Sponsor Westfield Valencia Town Center; Cocktail Sponsor Lundgren Management; Title Sponsors Littler, California Credit Union and Balfour Beatty Construction; Festival Sponsors Steven B. Chegwin, CPA, Chiquita Canyon and Julie M. Sturgeon, CPA; Rooftop Sponsors Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke and Oasis Associates and our in-kind sponsors Eve’s Wine 101, mitchpickswine.com, SOS Entertainment, Brightview Tree Company, 24/7 events, Andy Gump, Burrtec, Sol Print Solutions, Vom Fass Ventura, Enchanted Kids, KHTS and SCVTV.

WiSH asks that you be responsible – 21 & over only; please leave your car in the parking garage overnight and take alternate transportation if you need to.

New: KEEP THE #COTR16 PARTY GOING ALL MONTH LONG AT Wolf Creek Brewery every Tuesday night in September from 4-9pm – bands, corn hole tournaments, food trucks and 10% all going to benefit WiSH! Buy a Golden Eagle Ale at Wolf Creek Restaurant all month long and Wolf Creek will donate .50 per drink to WiSH.