Seeing (and Tasting) the STARS of Napa

March 11, 2016 by evebushman

On March 2, at the beautiful Beverly Hills Peninsula hotel, once again organizer Ian Blackburn of WineLA.com brought together the most acclaimed STARS of the Napa Valley wine scene. And, as we all know how stars can be bright or fade from view, leave it to Blackburn to select shining stars year in and out in all of his STARS events, including STARS of California Wine, STARS of Pinot Noir, STARS of Italy, STARS of Cabernet…

Now, for this current STARS event I attended the media and trade “pre-show” that had all of the same vintners the public would taste from later in the evening. Some of which, like Del Dotto Vineyards, are rarely seen at tasting events.

With my wine glass and cell phone camera in tow (see the event via this YouTube slideshow in under 2 minutes) I made my way through much of the incredible lineup below. And, as usual, I bolded the wines that I loved, some of which I was told I couldn’t miss by Sommelier/Wine Distributor/Consultant George Skorka (Schweiger Vineyards) and wine critic/author/ radio personality Anthony Dias Blue (AVE Winery).

Eve and WineLA.com founder Ian Blackburn

Wine List

Acumen Wine

Acumen Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Acumen Red Wine 2011

Acumen Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Mt. Brave
Mt. Brave Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

La Jota
La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

COHO Wines
Pinot Noir, Stanly Ranch 2013
Headwaters (Cab/Merlot/Petit Verdot) 2012
Merlot, Michael Black Vineyard 2012
Cabernet Sauvignon, SummitVine Ranch 2012

Round Pond Estate
Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Kith & Kin Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Fisher Vineyards
Mountain Estate, Chardonnay 2013
UNITY, Pinot Noir 2013
Coach Insignia, Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Mountain Estate Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

AVE Winery
Mt. Veeder “Crouse Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Beckstoffer G111 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Mt.Veeder “Crouse Vineyard” Merlot 2014

Del Dotto Vineyards
2013 Cave Blend

2009 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Ft. Ross Seaview

2013 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, Ft. Ross Seaview

2013 Piazza Del Dotto Pinot Noir

2013 Piazza Del Dotto Chardonnay

Eleven Eleven Winery
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Laki’s Vineyard, Oak Knoll AVA, Napa Valley 2013
Pinot Noir, Bacigalupi Vineyard, Russian River Valley 2013
Chardonnay, Dutton Ranch, Russian River Valley 2013
Estate Syrah, Oak Knoll AVA, Napa Valley 2013
Neal Family Vineyards

Napa Valley Cabernet 2011
Rutherford Dust Cabernet 2006
Rutherford Dust Zinfandel 2013
Rutherford Dust Petite Syrah 2010

Patland Estate
Sauvignon Blanc, Tench Vineyard 2013
Rosa 2014
Proprietary Red Wine, Stagecoach Vineyard 2013
Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard 2013

Raymond Vineyard
Raymond Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Sommelier Select 2013
LVE Cabernet 2012
Generations 2012

Coup de Foudre
Pinot Noir 2013
Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Cuvee 2012
Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Alpha Omega Winery
ERA 2012
Alpha Omega Chardonnay 2012
Alpha Omega Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Alpha Omega Proprietary Red 2012

JH Collection
Clark Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Clark Claudon “Eternity” Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
The Debate 2012
Michel Rolland Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Krupp Brothers Wines
Krupp Brothers Chardonnay 2014
Krupp Brothers M5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Krupp Brothers Black Bart’s Bride 2014
Krupp Brothers “The Doctor” 2013

Oberon Wines
Oberon Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2013
Oberon Los Carneros Chardonnay 2014
Oberon Napa Valley Merlot 2013
Oberon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Michael Mondavi Family
M by Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Animo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Emblem Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Emblem Oso vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2011

Kenefick Ranch
Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Calistoga’ 2012
Merlot ‘Calistoga’ 2012
Pickett Rd White 2014

B Cellars
Blend 23 (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier Blend) 2013
Maldonado Chardonnay 2013
Blend 24 (Cabernet, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah Blend) 2011
Ehrlich Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Tres Sabores
Tres Sabores Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Tres Sabores Por que no? Napa Valley Red Wine 2012
Tres Sabores Zinfandel, Rutherford Estate, Napa Valley 2013
Tres Sabores Petite Sirah, Guarino Vineyard, Calistoga, Napa Valley 2012

Frank Family Vineyards
Chardonnay, Lewis Vineyard 2013
Zinfandel, Napa Valley 2013
Pinot Noir, Carneros 2013
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012
Petit Sirah 2012

Schweiger Vineyards
Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Chardonnay 2013
Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Dedication 2011

Bougetz Cellars
2014 Sauvignon Blanc
2013 Jovana Merlot/Cabernet Franc
2012 Eminence Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Amaryllis Cabernet Sauvignon

Merryvale Family of Wines
Merryvale 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Starmont 2013 Chardonnay, Carneros
Starmont 2013 Pinot Noir, Carneros
Forward Kidd 2012 Napa Valley Red Wine

Oakville East
Oakville East Exposure – Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Oakville East Core Stone – Red Blend 2012
Oakville East Franc ‘N Stern – Cabernet Franc 2012

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

From WineLA: New event announcements and top tastings

December 26, 2015 by evebushman

LEARN ABOUT CORAVIN
Jan 09, 2016 – 3:30PM
Location: Eat.Drink.Americano, Downtown LA
The new Coravin II is shaking up the wine world – allowing you to drink any wine any time without waste – restaurants love them and so will you! Free when you purchase a CORAVIN from us (10.12.2015 until the date of the event)

WINE CAMP
Jan 10, 2016 – 3:30PM
Location: Eat.Drink.Americano, Downtown LA
LA’s #1 Introduction to Wine Class with over 80,000 students since 1997. A-Z’s and the 1,2,3’s… tasting great wines and providing good times… fun and fast!

L.A.W. SCHOOL (4 – Week Program)
Jan 11, 2016 – Feb 08, 2016
Location: Eat.Drink.Americano, Downtown LA
LearnAboutWine School provides world wine competency; taste 80-100 wines and prep for the BAR exam (Beverage Aptitude Review) – join over 1000 graduates since 2007!
Two Sessions Available: 11-2 (OR) 6:30-9:30PM

WINE BUSINESS 101
Jan 16, 2016 – 11:00AM
Location: LAW Loft, Downtown LA
Do you want to work in the wine business? …. let me help you find the best route to your career inside the business of wine. Import/Export, Wine Shop Owners, Winemakers , Entrepreneurs, Discruntaled Lawyers (we made this for you), Music Industry Vets, Second Life Planners – this is it.

TOP WINES OF 2015
Jan 23, 2016 – 4:00PM
Location: Eat.Drink.Americano, Downtown LA
Taste up to 20 of the best of the best wines of 2015 Wines – As Selected by Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Robert Parker and our own Ian Blackburn.

TOP WINES OF 2015
Jan 24, 2016 – 4:00PM
Location: Upper West, Los Angeles
Taste up to 20 of the best of the best wines of 2015 Wines – As Selected by Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Robert Parker and our own Ian Blackburn.

STARS of SANTA BARBARA 2016
Jan 27, 2016 – 7:00PM (VIP Experience 6:00PM)
Location: Peninsula Beverly Hills
Dedicated to keeping the populous current on the developments growing out of Santa Barbara, this Annual Tasting Event features the namesakes, owners, winemakers pouring some of the best wine made in California. Taste 100 wines from 40 top wineries and meet the namesakes, winemakers and executives.

VIP WINE TRAVEL VACATIONS

MEET US IN NAPA
Jan 29 – 31, 2016
Although our January Trip is Sold Out, we have added another version of the trip for:
March 18 – 20, 2016
Click for Details

MEET US IN SICILY
Apr 03 – 10, 2016
Tour the beautiful Italian Island of Sicily with wineLA. This one week adventure takes you through some of Sicily’s most pristine Wineries and Vineyards with Ian Blackburn and a team of experts as your guides!

Perlis Picks: STARS of California

June 13, 2015 by evebushman

Ian Blackburn has been teaching all of us about wine for the last 20 years. First with Learn About Wine and now with Wine LA, he has been teaching classes and putting on events which have been instrumental in turning a lot of wine drinkers into wine lovers.

His “Stars of…” events are legendary and for me the highlight of these is the Stars of California, recently held at the Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills.

Now there are certainly far too many great wineries in California for all of them to be in attendance, but Ian did his usual great job of putting together a selection to highlight what makes California wine so great. The list of wineries reads like a veritable who’s-who of superstars.

The following wineries were represented:

Foxen

Keller Estate

Miura Vineyards

Truchard Vineyards

Modus Operandi Cellars

Graef Wines

Chesebro

Cole Bailey Vineyards

Cordon Wine

La Rochelle Wines

Law Estate

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

Metaphora Wines

Oakville Ranch Winery

Refugio Ranch Vineyards

RN Estates Winery

Robert Biale Vineyards

Saxon Brown Wines

Amici Cellars

Sonoma-Loeb Wines

Ahnfeldt Wines

St. Supery Estate Vineyards & Winery

Valdez Family Winery

Westerly Wines

Alma Rosa Winery

Aloft Wine

Cairdean Estate

Clos Selene

Epoch Estate Wines

Hawk and Horse Vineyards

Cellars 33

Argot Cellars

Beekeeper Cellars

Gentleman Farmer

Kosta Browne Winery

What a list!

Ian Blackburn, STARS of CA 2015

As with almost any event, you can’t taste everything. Of what my wife Karen and I tried, here’s what we liked the best…

Modus Operandi Cellars

I haven’t written about Jason Moore’s wines in some time. I first tasted this Napa Valley winemaker’s wines when visiting Silenus Cellars a few years ago. I really enjoyed his “Vicarious” blend and Cabernet Sauvignon, both from the 2012 vintage.

Jeff Cohn Cellars

Formerly known as JC Cellars, to me this winery does not get nearly enough attention. Jeff is making great wines in the Oakland/Alameda area, sourcing excellent fruit from various outstanding California vineyards. All four wines being poured this evening were delicious: The Imposter Zinfandel Blend, Rockpile Syrah, Botticelli Zinfandel and Misc Stuff [GSM Blend], all also from the 2012 vintage.

Law Estate

What can I say about this Paso Robles winery that I haven’t already said? They came out of the box swinging with their 2010 vintage and really brought it home bigtime with the 2011s. Being poured were the 2011 Intrepid [Syrah] and the Sagacious [Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache], all that is left from the 2011 vintage. The 2012s will be out this fall – don’t miss them!

Oakville Ranch Winery

I was excited to find this new-to-me Napa winery. Although the name may seem nondescript, the wines definitely weren’t. The 2012 Field Blend, 2011 Robert’s Cabernet Franc and 2012 Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon are all worth seeking out.

Robert Biale Vineyards

I’ve been a fan [and club member] of this Napa “zin house” for many years. Their Black Chicken Zinfandel and R.W. Moore Zinfandel both tasted great. And lest you think they are only about zin, they are doing what they can to put Petite Sirah back on the map. Being poured was the Royal Punishers Petite Sirah [ask me to explain the name sometime] – always one of my favorite “pets” and this was no exception. All three of these wines were from the 2013 vintage.

Valdez Family Winery

Based in Sonoma, this winery not only makes great wine, but there is a wonderful story behind the winery. Owner/winemaker Ulises Valdez came to the U.S. from Mexico to work in the fields and is now a respected vineyard manager as well as an excellent winemaker. The 2011 St. Peter’s Church Zinfandel and the 2009 Silver Eagle Syrah were both excellent.

Clos Solene

It amazes me how Guillaume Fabre continues to make such beautiful elegant wines at his small Paso Robles winery. All three wines he was pouring were amazing and worth finding: 2014 Hommage Blanc [blend of Roussanne and Viognier], 2013 Harmonie [Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre] and 2013 Hommage A Nos Pairs [mainly Syrah with a little Grenache and Roussanne].

Epoch Estate Wines

Continuing the Paso Robles theme, it is hard to find better wines there [or anywhere] than at Epoch. The 2013 Grenache Blanc, 2011 Ingenuity [Syrah blend] and 2012 Veracity [Grenache blend] were all showing very well. And in case you needed another reason to visit, they have finally moved winemaking operations into their new state-of-the-art winery.

Beekeeper Cellars

Ian Blackburn does more than teach us about wine. His Beekeeper Cellars produces some really tasty zinfandel. Both the 2011 Rockpile Zin and the 2012 Howell Mountain Zin are tasting great, showing delicious bold fruit without being overpowering.

Kosta Browne Winery

Kosta Browne participated in the pre-event VIP dinner, allowing us to enjoy their wonderful 2013 One Sixteen Chardonnay and 2012 Cirq Treehouse Pinot Noir.

Speaking of the VIP dinner, I highly recommend that, if you are attending an event of this magnitude, you spring for the VIP experience. Great food, special wines and early entrance to the tasting make the extra cost well worth it.

Kudos to Ian and his team for putting on another great event. And the setting at the Peninsula as well as the silent auction raising money for the TJ Martell Foundation just made it that much better.

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: Ian Blackburn and the Stars of Cabernet

November 23, 2013 by evebushman

Thank goodness for Ian Blackburn.

Allow me to explain…

Not long ago, I had the extreme displeasure to attend a wine seminar and tasting event that was run so poorly that I ended up leaving far earlier than I normally would, and vowed never to attend an event again by that particular organizer until I could be sure they had solved their problems – which will probably be never, as they seemed genuinely clueless.

Fortunately, a few weeks later, I had the great pleasure to attend Ian Blackburn’s Learn About Wine Stars of Cabernet seminar and tasting, held the at the beautiful Peninsula hotel in Beverly Hills. It reminded me how wonderful these types of events can be when run properly, which Ian has proven time and time again he can do, and nobody does it better.

For the seminar, Ian Blackburn was moderator of a panel that consisted of:

Jean Hoefliger, winemaker for Alpha Omega.

Aaron Pott, consulting winemaker for several wineries as well as winemaker for his own label – Pott Wine.

Lars Ryssdal, general manager of Ackerman Family Vineyards.

The primary focus of the seminar was the 2011 vintage, and part of the seminar, of course, included tasting wines from this vintage from each of the above name wineries:

Alpha Omega ERA Napa Valley 2011

Pott Wine La carte et Le Territoire Napa Valley 2011

Ackerman Napa Valley 2011

The discussion continued well beyond that to include the careers paths of the gentlemen on the panel and their winemaking philosophies. And, we got to taste other wines from these winemakers, including:

Ackerman Napa Valley 2003

Monteverro, Toscana by Jean Hoefliger from a project he is involved with in Italy.

Pott Wine Carbernet Sauvignon from the iconic Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak.

After the seminar, it was time for the tasting, which included about 50 wineries pouring their latest Cabernet Sauvignon offerings. Most of the wineries were from the Napa Valley, but there were wines from other areas as well.

Some of my favorites [with my comments, if any, in brackets] were:

Louis M. Martini

http://staging.louismartini.com/

2010 Monte Rosso Cabernet

2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Lot 1

[Admittedly not a winery that I have paid attention to in a while. Very impressive .]

Hall

www.hallwines.com

2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Tanner DaFoe

www.tannerdafoe.com

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Tasting

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

[Hard to believe this Cab came from Santa Ynez. And having an actual mini barrel for the barrel tasting was a nice touch.]

Hawk and Horse Vineyards

www.hawkandhorsevineyards.com

2009 HHV / Block Three

2009 Latigo

[Biodynamic and organic winery based in Lake County.]

Anakota

www.anakota.com

Helena Montana Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Helena Dakota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Tierra Roja

www.tierraroja.com

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

[A great wine that really emphasized the fruit.]

Gentleman Farmer

www.gentlemanfarmerwines.com

2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Collier Falls

www.collierfalls.com

2010 Hillside Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

[I’m a big fan of this Sonoma winery’s Primitivo. Their Cab was very tasty and it was nice to see some Sonoma representation.]

As usual, I couldn’t try everything, but that is, I think, one of the marks of a good event – to leave you wanting more and looking forward to next time. And I am definitely looking forward to Ian’s next event. You should too – sign up for the Learn About Wine email list at www.learnaboutwine.com.

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. (2013 Update: Eve and Michael announced Eve Wine 101 Consulting. Info is here: http://evewine101.com/press-releases/) Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com.

Rhone Master Class with Jean-Luc “Not Stupid” Colombo 

September 20, 2013 by evebushman

Granted, it was a wee bit difficult for some to get past winemaker Jean-Luc Colombo’s heavily accented-English. The one word I did pick up, which peppered most of his one-hour lecture, was “stupid.” When I laughed out loud at one of his stories, detailing a wine practice he thought was stupid, I got a smile back from the master, as I may have been the only one that got his jest.

www.LearnAboutWine.com founder Ian Blackburn opened the session by explaining that we would taste nine wines that are distributed by Southern Wine and Spirits. Blackburn said that Colombo was originally a pharmacist – which alters how he thinks about organics and biodynamics; i.e. bees, flowers and animals are integrated into his vineyard practices in the small appellation region of Cornas.

Colombo began by thanking Blackburn and his own team. Then he explained a little of his own history: his wife was also a pharmacist but Colombo wanted to go to the Rhone Valley and learn about Cornas. He made his first wine, a single vineyard 100% Syrah. Cornas is a “sleepy town”, then and now, but now it’s known for its wines.

“Food and wine is not a business, it’s a lifestyle,” Colombo said. “It’s a shame to drink only water so it’s our job to educate people on food and wine.”

Colombo mentioned that they don’t use any pesticides in their vineyards. “People today talk too much about biodynamic or organic – it’s stupid – as it’s normal not to use pesticide. If you are a cancer patient in the hospital you never ask if your medicine is organic or not!”

Colombo continued, “If you don’t have a good climate you don’t make wine” as irrigation shouldn’t be needed. “Paying for water is completely stupid. For 2000 years (of winemaking) there was no irrigation…the more you talk about organic the more you are killing your vineyard. Then there will be no car wash (businesses) as there will be no water. Maybe one day we will say stop irrigation or stop organic. The great wines are made without irrigation…”

And, as we were about to begin the tasting Colombo reminded, or as I like to think, admonished us by saying, “Wine is for the table (with food) not a cocktail. A Cabernet or Merlot (or any wine) at 7 pm without food is not normal” to which I thoroughly agreed!

Now onto the wines of Jean-Luc Colombo!

In this tasting – all wines were about 13% alcohol

(Tasting Notes in parenthesis were provided by Colombo)

‘La Redonne’ Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2011 (70% Viognier, 30% Roussanne)

Sweet pineapple, freshly mown grass, wet gravel, lemon, sweet jasmine floral notes on the nose…full mouth viscosity, lemon-lime soda, citrus fruits – grapefruit, medium acid. (Tasting notes included stainless steel fermentation which may account for the gravel notes.)

‘Amour de Dieu’ Condrieu 2100 (100% Viognier)

On the nose I was greeted by honey, sweet pink lemonade, pineapple, honeydew melon, dried apricots…on the mouth lemonade with honey, nice mouthfeel, some acidity and lingering finish. (Tasting notes mention the same apricot.)

‘La Belle de Mai’ Saint-Peray 2011 (80% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne)

Cinnamon, apricot, anise…followed by a dry palate, less fruit forward than the first two, green apple, spice, more balanced and very interesting. (Tasting notes mention limestone, granite…and intense floral aromas.)

‘Les Forots’ Cotes du Rhone 2010 (100% Syrah)

Plums, blackberry, black cherry, green peppercorns, stewing mushrooms, seared steak…followed by a taste of dried plums, stems, tannins and pepper. (Tasting notes also mention blackberry.)

‘Les Bartavelles’ Chateauneuf du Pape 2011 (45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre)

Ripe black cherries, black currant, dark chocolate on the nose…on the mouth bright fruit, pepper, good spice balanced fruit and tannins, palate-drying. (Tasting notes called it exotic spice.)

‘La Divine’ Cote Rotie 2010 (95% Syrah, 5% Viognier)

Blackberry jam, very concentrated red and blue fruits, dusty, black pepper…followed by a less fruity taste, chewy, dark fruit, more smoke and tannins, very palatable.

‘Terres Brulees’ Cornas 2010 (100% Syrah)

Aromas of a kitchen filled with cooking vegetables, stew, steaks grilling, maybe someone brought some chocolate and a bouquet of velvety dark roses…and tastes of ripened blue fruits, black pepper, soil, and unsweetened dark chocolate.

‘Le Ruchets’ Cornas 2010 (100% Syrah)

Dark fruit, mint, cigar, chocolate, figs…smells good. On the palate smoky fruit, cigar and bark.

“La Louvee” Cornas 2010 (100% Syrah) Translates to “She Wolf”

Sweet hot chocolate, cinnamon, spice rack, roasted meat, blue and black fruits…on the mouth: dried plums, black pepper and green pepper, that same roasted meat.