Eve's Wine 101

Perlises Pick: Jeff Cohn Cellars

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We’ve tasted wines from Jeff Cohn Cellars many times, but always at events, where the wines were poured by Jeff or his wife, Alexandra. We had never had an opportunity to sit down and taste through the lineup with Jeff and hear the full story.

We finally were able meet with Jeff at their recently opened tasting room in Healdsburg. You can read all about Jeff Cohn Cellars on the website here www.jeffcohncellars.com/about-our-story but ultimately, it turns out that their story is a multi-faceted love story.

First and foremost, the love story of Jeff Cohn Cellars is about Alexandra and Jeff and their family. They met while they were both working at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Virginia – Jeff was F&B Cost Controller and Alexandra was an accounting trainee. Coincidentally, they had both also attended Florida International University. Alexandra’s career path took her back to Florida and Jeff joined her there, working on cruise ships for two years. But being in the hospitality industry often means being bitten by the wine bug and eventually, they moved to California. Jeff had already worked as an intern at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland but during the process of obtaining his Master’s in Agricultural Chemistry at Cal State Fresno, he discovered French techniques as well as the wines of the Northern and Southern Rhone plus Zinfandel. The rest was history.

It is also apparent the love that Jeff has for his colleagues and mentors, both former and current, most notably the late Kent Rosenblum. Jeff went to work for Kent at Rosenblum Cellars after graduating from CSUF, moving up the line to eventually become winemaker and then vice president of winemaking and production. He left in 2006 to focus on Jeff Cohn Cellars [then called JC Cellars] which he had founded in 1996, but not before making his permanent mark on the wine world by having Rosenblum’s 2003 Rockpile Road Zinfandel hit #3 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 list.

Finally, and certainly not least, is Jeff’s love of wine grapes, particularly, as mentioned above, Rhones and Zins.

So yes, we are finally getting to what we tasted –

2017 Iris Sparkling Brut Rose – named after Jeff’s beloved mother, this delicious bubbly is a blend of 60% Grenache (Rossi Ranch), 20% Syrah (Rockpile) and 20% Mourvedre (Rossi Ranch). Modeled after the wines from the France’s Tavel region, Karen picked up notes of Persimmon.

2018 Rossi Ranch GSM – a classic blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre, this wine had a long finish, with sausage spices notes.

2018 Maggie’s Vineyard – 100% Zinfandel from vines that are over 120 years old         . Many textures and layers on this wine that Jeff dedicated to his friend Kent [see above].

2017 Sweetwater Springs – 100% Petite Sirah. Dark, ruby red, purple in color, big and balanced.

2017 Domain Des Chirats -100% Rockpile Syrah – A joint project with Yves Cuilleron, Northern Rhone winemaker from Chavanay, France (half of this wine’s production is exported to France). Big luscious berry notes; one of the finest Syrahs we’ve tasted.

2016 Stagecoach Marsanne – 85% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne. The last wine we tasted was a white. We asked Jeff why other wineries pour their whites first and he said “because they are doing it wrong.” Seriously though, white wines poured at the beginning of a tasting are often forgotten by the end. We wouldn’t have forgotten this one though no matter where in the tasting it was poured. A wonderful palate brightener with delicious tropical fruits to wake up the taste buds. Crisp citrus notes and a big mouth feel. This Napa Valley vineyard was bought by Gallo a few years ago so we are not sure what the future holds for these varietals there.

Jeff Cohn makes more wines in addition to the ones we tasted.  He has many more Rhones and single vineyard Zins sourced from Sonoma, Napa and the central coast. They are definitely worth a stop when you are in Healdsburg or in the Santa Rosa area or interested in making an online purchase.

We expect you’ll love them as much as we did.

Jeff Cohn Cellars

34 North St, Healdsburg, CA 95448

www.jeffcohncellars.com

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Eve’s How To: The Wine Night

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We have a “wine night” with friends pretty frequently and it recently dawned on me that I’ve never written about how that works.

For some, or even most of you, you have some experience with this: you invite pals over, everyone brings a bottle or two to share over dinner, and you talk about the wines – why you chose them and how they fared during the evening. This blog post is to remind those with experience how to make it enjoyable for the newbie guest, and the how-to for a newbie host.

This one wine night I will use as an example is described a bit in this social media post: How was your last Wine Night with friends? We recently shared a 2019 Napa Hindsight Chardonnay that was new to me and Chablis-like due to its fresh fruit and no noticeable oak, then came the Grenache we mistook for Syrah or Mourvedre in a 2007 Domaine Du Pegau Chateauneuf Du Pape, a masterfully balanced 2000 Marcarini Brunate Barolo with dinner that benefitted from 6 hours of decanting, and two I was too tired to taste: 2010 Orma Super Tuscan and Camus VSOP Cognac. If I had to pick a favorite of the night it would be hard as the ones I had were all so good for many different reasons.

Now the details to help our wine 101ers:

Let your guests know what your menu is so they can bring a wine (or two) that they believe will be appropriate for pairing.

Always have a white to start. I’m amazed at how many people prefer sparkling, white or pink wines in general; so having at least one leaves no one out.

Decant any wine, in this case it was the Barolo, if you know requires it due to its youth or older age. Decanting allows more air to envelop a wine that needs to “open up” a bit before drinking. If you’re not sure, taste the wine before you serve it to guests. If it’s tight or tart decant it. You can also search the Internet for the same wine (same vintage year too) and see what others recommend.

Serve appetizers as well as a main course during your evening. Drinking wine without food causes early inebriation so having some starters helps. And as this may be when you are drinking your white wine, serve with cheeses, nuts, and crackers – nothing too big – unless you will be moving onto reds. If you do that before dinner then add in the charcuterie. Some wine people like charcuterie with whites too, it’s not my preference, but as in my recommendation for decanting – taste your food with your wine to educate your palate and form your own opinion.

When you do move onto reds you can do it a couple of different ways. Serve the lower alcohol wines first and move up the bigger ones last. You can decide what is served first depending on the menu. Big wine with big food. In this case we had the Barolo with a lasagna dinner, the Rhone that was more Grenache-based just before, and the Napa Chardonnay first. The Super Tuscan came at the end of the meal and the Cognac came last.

One other note on the order of the wines. If you have an amazing wine to share consider serving it early on in the evening. I had “palate fatigue” and couldn’t taste the final Super Tuscan or enjoy the Cognac, and I may have missed out.

Lastly, encourage your guests to taste each wine before committing to a full glass. That way if it isn’t their “cup of tea” they can move onto something else that is. I like to have at least two bottles open at a time to give guests that option.

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.

Arizona Wines Score Big in San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

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San Francisco, CA. – The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC) is one of the world’s most highly publicized and well-respected wine competitions of both local and large-scale wineries. A testament to the quality of wines being grown in the state, several of Arizona’s wineries have been chosen as winners in this year’s SFCWC competition.

Photo from Phoenix.org

Arizona has three wine growing regions (Verde Valley, Willcox and Sonoita/Elgin), all of which are designated American Viticultural Areas. In total, there are more than 120 wineries and tasting rooms, many of which grow varietals native to Italy and Southern France. The following wineries placed in the categories below:

  • Callaghan Vineyards:
    • Red Blend: Grenache leading blend – Up to – $29.99
    • Port – Up to – $32.99
    • White Blends – $28.00 and over
    • Cabernet Franc – $30.00 – $39.99
    • Red Blend: Grenache leading blend – $30.00 and over
    • Red Blend: Petite Sirah leading blend.
  • Copper Horse Vineyard:
    • Cabernet Sauvignon – $35.00 – $38.99
  • Four Tails Vineyard:
    • Cabernet Sauvignon – $35.00 – $38.99
    • Petite Sirah – $28.00 – $34.99
    • Viognier – Up to – $26.99
    • Petit Verdot – Up to – $39.99
    • Tempranillo – Up to – $34.99
    • Dry Rosé/Blush Blend – RS 0
  • Golden Rule Vineyards:
    • Red Blend: Sangiovese leading blend
    • Red Blend: Petite Sirah leading blend
    • Aglianico
    • Mourvedre
  • Heart Wood Cellars:
    • Cabernet Sauvignon – $39.00 – $41.99
    • Red Blend: Syrah leading blend – $36.00 and over
    • Tannat
    • All Other Red Varietals
    • Port – $33.00 and over
    • Red Blend: Petite Sirah leading blend
    • Sangiovese – $35.00 and over
    • Tempranillo – $35 and over
    • Dry Rosé/Blush – RS .1 – .299
    • Mourvedre
    • Petite Sirah – $46.00 and over
    • Pinot Noir – $44.00 – $47.99.
  • High Lonesome Vineyard:
    • Malbec – $37.00 and over
    • Tannat
    • All Other Red Varietals
    • Other White Varietals
  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery:
    • Rosé Sparkling
    • Merlot – $27.00-$30.99
    • Petite Sirah – $35.00-$39.99
    • Petite Sirah – $40.00-$45.99
    • Red Blend: Zinfandel leading blend – $25.00 and over
    • Riesling – Dry <.99 RS
    • Sangiovese – Up to $34.99
    • Sauvignon Blanc/Fume – $20.00-$25.99
    • Syrah/Shiraz – $31.00-$34.99
    • Tempranillo – $35 and over
    • Zinfandel – $42.00-$47.99
    • Barbera – Up to $34.99
    • Cabernet Sauvignon – $35.00 – $38.99
    • Dry Rosé/Blush Blend – RS 0
    • Red Blend: Merlot leading blend – $30.00 and over
    • Zinfandel – $32.00-$34.99
  • Jerome Winery:
    • All Other Red Varietals
  • LDV Winery:
    • Petite Sirah – $46.00 and over
    • Petite Sirah – $40.00-$45.99
  • Mogollon Vineyards:
    • Chardonnay – $23.00 – $25.99
    • Red Blend: Syrah leading blend – Up to – $35.99
    • White Blends – $28.00 and over
    • Grenache – Up to – $34.99.
  • Pillsbury Wine Company:
    • Petite Sirah – $46.00 and over
    • Syrah/Shiraz – $44.00 and over
    • Dry/Sweet Rosé/Blush – RS 1.00 and over
    • Grenache – $35.00 and over
    • Malvasia Bianca
    • Red Blend: Mourvedre leading blend
    • White Blends – $22.00 – $27.99
    • Mourvedre
    • Red Blend: Grenache leading blend – $30.00 and over
    • Red Blend: Syrah leading blend – $36.00 and over
    • White Blends – $28.00 and over
    • White Blends – Up to – $21.99
  • Strive Vineyards:
    • Aglianico
    • Cabernet Franc – $30.00-$39.99
    • Dry Rosé/Blush – RS 0
    • Petite Verdot – Up to $39.99
    • Port – $33.00 and over
  • Sultry Cellars:
    • All Other Red Blends: $35.00 and over
  • Tantrum Wines:
    • Chardonnay – $20.00-$22.99
    • Dry/Sweet Rosé/Blush – RS 1.00 and over
    • Red Blend: Petite Sirah leading blend
    • Pinot Noir – $32.00-$35.99
  • Winery 1912:
    • Grenache – Up to – $34.99
    • Albariño
    • Red Blend: Grenache leading blend – $30.00 and over
    • Verdelho
  • Zarpara:
    • All Other Red Varietals
    • Red Blend: Syrah leading blend – Up to – $35.99.

Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s competition! Find out more about Arizona Wines with Arizona’s Wine Trail Passport.

Perlises Pick: LAW ESTATE WINES

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The curving drive through the woods on Peachy Canyon Drive only heightens the anticipation of arriving at the gates that provide entry to Law Estate Wines and the experience it and the winery staff provide.

But it wasn’t always this way.

Our first taste of Law Estate was when they were pouring their first vintage at the Ojai Wine Festival in 2013. At that time, Michael wrote: “…speaking of Law Estate (www.lawestatewines.com), their wines really stole the show for me at this event, especially their GSM blend. A new player in Paso Robles, they haven’t even released their wines to the public yet. This is one you might want to get on board with early.”

To give credit where credit is due, it was Karen who had told Michael to be sure to taste the Law wines, especially that GSM blend named Sagacious.

Our next visit to Law was while the winery was still under construction. Sitting with General Manager Oliver Esparham, who we had met at the Ojai festival, we continued to be awed at the quality of the wines produced by such a young winery. Of course, Law’s geologist owners did their homework with site selection for their vineyards [all Law’s wines are Estate designated], a state of the art winery, as well as one of the best winemakers around – Scott Hawley of Torrin.

But those are old stories and visiting Law now is about tasting outstanding wines in a beautiful luxurious setting, whether on the outdoor patio with the gorgeous views or the spacious indoor tasting lounge. Though, all would be for naught were the hosts of your tasting not the best you might encounter anywhere, which they are at Law. Their hospitality is what elevates the tasting into the perfect experience that it is.

During our tasting, we had the great pleasure of meeting with Marketing Manager Jessica Locklin and were also joined by GM Oliver. Scott Hawley has moved on to focus 100% on his own label and former Assistant Winemaker Phillipp Pfunder now has full control of the winemaking process. The wines, if anything, are more delicious than ever.

We started with the 2019 Soph, a white blend of 47% Roussanne, 28% Clairette Blanche and 25% Marsanne with a really bright floral nose. Named after the Laws’ granddaughter [Oliver’s daughter], this is always one of our favorite white wines of the year. We were delighted that there was still some available to purchase as we had just run out at home.

Moving on to the red blends of mostly Rhone varietals, these are as usual stunning and virtually impossible to pick a favorite. Karen has always been especially partial to the one called Sagacious, as mentioned above [Oliver somehow still remembers this].

We tasted through the following reds:

2018 Beguiling – 85% Grenache, 15% Syrah

2018 Sagacious – 35% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 31% Mourvedre

2018 Audacious – 31% Grenache, 26% Carignan, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Syrah

2018 Aspire – 84% Syrah, 16% Grenache

One of the several great things about the Law tasting experience is that the taster is presented with the entire flight at once, with ample opportunity to go back and forth between wines to compare the various flavors. And Jessica, like everyone else at Law, was ever-present to graciously answer questions and provide additional information.

As we were tasting back and forth through the flight, Jessica asked if we had any preferences. Michael’s “I dunno, they’re all so good” was followed by Karen’s “You haven’t tried the Aspire yet.

” Even though Karen loved the nice long finish and big mouthfeel of her usual favorite Sagacious and the dark ripe blackberry notes of the Audacious, she was spot on with the Aspire’s fruit forwardness and violet bouquet. Upon tasting it, Michael immediately agreed with an insightful “damn”.

Much as it is difficult to pick a favorite amongst Law’s wine selection, it is also hard to pick a favorite winery in Paso Robles. There are too many wineries in the area that we love for us to be able to say that there is a #1. But, you would be hard-pressed to find a better winery experience, wines, and people than Law Estate Wines. And now the addition of a guest cottage makes an extended stay possible. Plans are also in the works for an education center.

With all that, you may never want to leave the property on your next visit.

LAW ESTATE WINES

www.lawestatewines.com

3885 Peachy Canyon Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Perlises Pick: J DUSI WINERY

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A visit to Paso Robles is never complete for us without a visit to J Dusi Winery. Admittedly, it’s personal.

We first met Janell Dusi in the mid-2000s at a roadshow tasting for Paso Robles wineries held at a hotel in Santa Monica. At that time, she was pouring her first commercial vintage of Zinfandel made from the family’s historic Dante Dusi Vineyard off the west side of Highway 101. Planted by Janell’s great-grandparents in 1945, the amazing fruit had been traditionally sold to other wineries who were proud to designate the vineyard on their label. But Janell took the family business to the next level by making and bottling the wine under her J Dusi brand.

Since then, we’ve visited Janell many times, initially at the family home on the vineyard property and more recently at the winery/tasting room on Highway 46 West. Whether they know it or not, Janell and her family have become our Paso family.

Janell has also grown the wine selections beyond the flagship Zinfandel and even added another brand to the mix – Paper Street.

The first thing we noticed on this trip was how much the outside tasting area had expanded, with lots of comfortable seating and umbrellas, much of it colored the signature Dusi blue.

Then, Janell greeted us and, although we forewent our usual hugs, it was with immense joy that we sat down with her to talk about the last several months and sample several of the new releases.

We started with the 2020 Pinot Grigio. We found this to be super bright and fresh. Its low alcohol makes this a true summer wine, although we drink a lot of this all year long. It is not just popular with us, as Janell’s customers love it and buy it by the case. One of them even referred to it as “Dusi Water”, a term a stickler might find offensive, but not Janell. Hey, whatever keeps the customer happy, right? [Just a thought from us – much like in our neck of the woods, Agua Dulce means Sweet Water in Spanish, maybe she should rename it – not Acqua Dolce – but Acqua Dusi. What do you think, Janell?]

Second to be tasted but always first in our hearts was the Dante Dusi Zinfandel. This was the 2019 vintage and we noted that it was fruity and spicy [specifically with pumpkin bread spices] with a nice long finish. Classic Dusi Zin.

The next two wines were from the 2017 vintage. The Escandalosa is a blend of – not Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre – but Zinfandel, Syrah and Mourvedre. We’re not sure if the “scandal” is the unusual blend or what happened at the naming party that came up with it, but it had a beautiful cherry color and great spices from the Zinfandel. The other 2017 was the Caterina’s Vineyard Syrah, which was full bodied, well rounded, with notes of white pepper and a looong finish. Sadly, the 2018 version of this is the “last Syrah” from this great vineyard, although other varietals will be forthcoming.

We also tasted one of the wines from the Paper Street label – the 2017 Narrator. This is a classic GSM [40% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre] and was just perfectly balanced. The Paper Street vineyard was planted by Janell’s brother Matt and their father Mike on the West side of Paso Robles. Planted not only to Zinfandel, but also to Mourvedre, Grenache, Syrah and Clairette Blanche [among others], Janell is doing great things with this vineyard, as are other wineries in the area. The name Paper Street has a double meaning, referring both to the vineyard not having a true address and as an homage to Matt’s favorite movie, Fight Club. Ditto with the name Narrator, referring both to Mike Dusi and to the Narrator in the movie.

Janell also told us of an exciting new development involving J Dusi Wines. You may have heard of the emerging market for canned wines. My initial observations have been these tend to be lower-end wines designed for maximum quaffing. Maker Wine Company (www.makerwine.com) is taking a different approach – focusing on quality wines from smaller producers in a convenient canned package. Janell’s contribution to the brand is a blend of the Zinfandels from the Dante Dusi and Paper Street vineyards. This should really “up” the perception of what canned wine is all about.

It was wonderful to visit with Janell, but she had a winery to run. We said our goodbyes after quick tastes of the yummy 2016 Zinfandel Port and the 2018 Haute Blanc Viognier Port and headed out, knowing we would be back to J Dusi on our next trip to Paso Robles wine country.

J Dusi

www.jdusiwines.com

1401 CA 46 West

Paso Robles, CA 93446

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Perlises Pick: Caliza Winery

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When we decided it was time to visit wine country again, selecting the region was pretty easy. Paso Robles has long been a favorite of ours, going back to the 1980s[!]. Deciding who to visit was a little tougher – there are a lot of people who we consider friends in Paso and many of the wineries are on our “favorites” list. In addition, there are many new wineries that deserve attention.

One thing that was certain was that we needed to visit Carl Bowker at Caliza Winery. The one and only time that we did visit Caliza must have been soon after they opened the tasting room in 2008 – Pam and Carl Bowker had started making wine commercially with the 2006 vintage, but didn’t make their first wines available until late 2008. [We had actually tried to plan a visit in 2018 but couldn’t coordinate schedules.] Since that one time, we had relied on tasting Carl’s efforts at various events, such as Rhone Rangers and the Garagiste Festivals and they were always outstanding. But with no events happening in the last year and a half, visiting became a must.

Upon our arrival at the winery at the end of Anderson Road in the Willow Creek District AVA, Carl gave us a 4-wheel tour of the hillside vineyard adjacent to the tasting room. Carl explained that while the Caliza property is 60 acres, only 28 of those acres are planted. The expected Rhone varieties are there [Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Viognier, Mourvedre / Mataro], along with some Primitivo, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo and Tannat. Limestone and slate dominate the soil in this area [Caliza means “limestone” in Spanish]. The qualities of the soil and the climate of the Templeton Gap are what make this AVA so unique and enables Caliza and neighbors such as L’Aventure and Booker to make such great wines, as do other wineries that source fruit from the area.

And great wines they are. Sitting outside with Carl and tasting through the lineup reminded us of how much we enjoy his wines:

2020 “Pink” Rosé – One of the more complex rosés we’ve had, with a rich, strong finish and notes of white peach; a very bright blend of Grenache and Mourvedre.

2019 Viognier – This delicious 100% Viognier was concrete egg fermented. We noted ripe melon fruit with a dry, medium finish, and a full mouthfeel.

2019 Kissin Cousins – the 2020 vintage is already sold out but fortunately Carl has some of the 2019 left of this blend (48% Viognier, 30% Grenache Blanc, 22% Roussanne) that is always one of our favorites. Fermented in a combination of neutral and new oak and stainless steel (depending on the varietal) this wine had a solid mid- palate, clean stone fruit, and white flowers on the nose.

2019 Sidekick – another tasty white blend, this one 80% Roussanne and 20% Viognier. Barrel aged with a rich golden color, and notes of fresh straw and chalk, this is a serious food wine.

2018 Azimuth –the first of four outstanding reds that we tasted, this one is a blend of 50% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Huge fruit, notes of cherry, complex but balanced.

2017 Cohort – 58% Petite Sirah, 28% Syrah, 14% Mourvedre. This one was held back a year so the Petite could integrate, which it certainly did in this superb inky blend.

2018 Syrah – no nickname needed for this delicious 100% Syrah. It was fresh, bright, big and rich.

2018 Companion – the only wine that contains some non-estate fruit, this blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Syrah created a terrific symbiotic pairing.

The accompanying cheese board from Paso favorite Vivant Fine Cheese with pairings selected specifically for the wines tasted just added to the experience, as did the great vineyard view from the patio.

As we were leaving, Carl mentioned that he had another important writer stopping in after us…from The Wine Advocate. Now that is impressive, but equally so is how Carl considered us to be important too. It goes to show you that he and the rest of the Caliza staff treats everyone with the same importance no matter who you are.

We Perlises don’t give number ratings, but we thought we’d share these with you from hugely respected critic, Jeb Dunnuck [as per the Caliza website]:

2018 Azimuth            95 points

2018 Companion      95 points

2018 Syrah               95 points

2017 Cohort              94 points

In your visits to Paso Robles wine country, you might be tempted to not go all the way to the end of Anderson Road. We really think you should because, if you don’t, you’ll be missing out on some great wines and wonderful down-to-earth people.

Caliza Winery

www.calizawinery.com

2570 Anderson Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

Perlises Pick: What Wines We Are Drinking At Home – Part 6

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Admittedly, we meant to get back to this sooner. In wrapping up the discussion for now of the lighter wines we are drinking at home, this article will focus on a few more Northern California favorites.

Shane [www.shanewines.com]

We first discovered the wines made by Shane Finley several years ago. Back before Facebook became so popular, Michael relied on various wine message boards for news. And that was how he first heard about Shane and his eponymous label. The buzz was actually pretty compelling so Michael took a chance. We immediately became big fans of his Syrah and later [gasp!] his Pinot Noir. For lighter wines, Shane used to make a Grenache Blanc, but the last vintage of this seems to have been 2014. We’ve enjoyed his Rose, which used to be made from Syrah grapes but now with Pinot Noir. But the real showstopper for us in the light wine department is his Sauvignon Blanc under his Constant Disruptions label, which is a sub-project of his Shane brand.

Shane’s Constant Disruptions bottle art shows a picture of his parents as a young couple. The name “Constant Disruptions” refers to a comment about Shane on one of his early report cards, the Sauvignon Blanc is called “Infraction”. The wines are typically single varietal and the pricing is really amazing for what’s in the bottle. For those of you that fear Sauv Blanc due to its high acidity, you’ll have nothing to be scared of here – just rich pure delicious fruit. The 2019 was from the Russian River Valley. It had lemon notes with a lingering medium finish and paired perfectly with our roasted cod. Unfortunately, this was our last bottle of the 2019. Fortunately, our case of 2020s just arrived!

Navarro Vineyards [www.navarrowine.com]

In our search for lighter wines, we’ve taken the opportunity to try to some wines that we’ve been receiving emails from for what seems like years but had not checked out. One of these is Navarro.

Navarro is in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley. One of the special things about Mendocino County, in addition to the abundance of tasty wines, are the not-Napa/Sonoma prices, especially Navarro’s mixed-case specials. So far, we’ve especially enjoyed the Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer, both from the 2018 vintage. The Chard was medium-bodied with vanilla and pear notes – not over the top as it too often seems to be these days. The Gewurtz showed peach and lychee on the palate, a bright melon nose and a medium-to-long finish with crisp acidity. It paired perfectly with chicken in a honey/mustard sauce.

They are definitely on our list to visit when we start traveling to Nor Cal again.

Keplinger [www.keplingerwines.com]

Helen Keplinger is a superstar winemaker, having gained her reputation making wine for Grace Family Vineyards and Bryant Family Vineyard, among others. She is now totally focused on making wine for the label that bears her name. When we think of the Keplinger wines, we usually think of her powerful Syrahs and Rhone blends, so the relatively delicate nature of both the 2019 Eldorado and the 2020 Rose were somewhat of a surprise to us.

Not that their delicacy implied lack of flavor or complexity. The Rose is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre from the Shake Ridge Vineyard in Amador County. It has a luscious floral nose, with peach notes and a light to medium finish. The Rose is very crisp and paired perfectly with a salmon mousse appetizer. The Eldorado is a vibrant blend of Viognier, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc from Amador County. We noted guava tones and a long smooth finish.

Michael and Karen Perlis have been pursuing their passion for wine for more than 30 years. They have had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show them the way and after a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as they possibly could, they had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Michael and Karen do their best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers.

South Coast Winery Celebrates 20th Anniversary

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20th Anniversary Happenings: New Sustainable Red Wine Blend, Rhythm on the Vine® Country Series, Grape Stomps, Winemaker Dinners and Anniversary Package

TEMECULA, Calif. – Pioneering Temecula winery and resort South Coast Winery Resort & Spa has much to celebrate on its 20th anniversary. Commemorative events include a special anniversary red blend, live country music series, grape stomps, special dinners and a luxury anniversary resort package. Since its inception in 2001, the Carter family-owned winery put Temecula Valley on the map as a premier wine destination and also set the bar for the Southern California wine industry by breaking records in both domestic and international competitions – all while accumulating over 3,000 accolades. South Coast offers approximately 45 wine labels and proudly introduces its most recent addition – a special 20th Anniversary Blend. In many ways this blend has been “20 years in the making” proving what can be created in the Temecula region – certified sustainable production of 49% Syrah, 22% Mourvèdre, 19% Grenache and 10% Petite Sirah – delivering a rich, complex Rhône-style that highlights the best of the Temecula Valley.

Rhythm on the Vine® Country Series

South Coast Winery’s Rhythm on the Vine® Country Series kicks off the 20th anniversary festivities on September 2 with Coffey Anderson performing with Kanan Road as opener. This concert will benefit the American Cancer Society with $10 from each ticket sold donated. On September 22 country hit singer Dylan Scott performs, and the series ends with a September 23 performance by award-winning Cassadee Pope with opening set by Leaving Austin. Concerts held outdoors in the Courtyard; doors open at 5 p.m. and concerts begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets and more information available at www.southcoastwinery.com/concerts.

 Grape Stomps

South Coast Winery Grape Stomps are composed of two-person teams. The winner of each of these friendly competitions receives a bottle of the special 20th Anniversary Blend.

The competition Grape Stomps schedule:

  • Friday, September 10; 2 and 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 12; 12 and 3 p.m.
  • Friday, September 17; 2 and 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 19; 12 and 3 p.m.
  • Friday, September 24; 2 and 4:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, September 26; 12 and 3 p.m.

Tickets start at $168 and include a wine flight for each person that matches his/her preferences (choice of three flights) and a case of wine per two participants as part of the ticket price. Cases can be mixed and matched. Guests reserve their spot by purchasing a timeslot on the online store. The non-refundable deposit is $50 and counts for a team of two people.

Tickets are available at www.southcoastwinery.com/stomp.

 Wine Dinners

To celebrate 20 years of thousands of prestigious wine industry recognitions, South Coast Winery is throwing three exquisite wine dinners at the lovely The Vineyard Rose Restaurant. Executive Chef José Esparza teams up with Master Winemaker Jon McPherson to put together the perfectly paired dining experience. Each dinner will feature the winery’s special 20th Anniversary Blend. These exceptional dinners will be held on Thursday, October 14; Thursday, November 18; and Thursday, December 9. Seating is limited to ensure a very intimate dining experience.

For reservations, please call (877) 662-5062.

Luxury in the Vines Anniversary Package

Available through December 15

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa invites guests to celebrate and fully experience all this unique Temecula property has to offer during the special occasion of its 20th Anniversary by presenting its Luxury in the Vines anniversary package, including accommodations and memorable perks and amenities:

  • Two-night Stay in Suite or Private Villa
  • Welcome Wine Amenity
  • Mixed Case of South Coast’s Award-Winning Wines
  • Sunrise Balloon Ride for Two
  • Couples Massage at GrapeSeed Spa
  • $100 Dining Credit to The Vineyard Rose Restaurant
  • Option of Early Check-in (2:20 p.m.) or Late Check-out (2:20 p.m.)

Package starts at $1,498. Reservations by phone: (866) 504-6007

 

South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

34843 Rancho California Road

Temecula, California 92591

844.428.6292

www.southcoastwinery.com

Tasting Le Grand Verre

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How cute are these little cylinders of French wine? Too cute! But how do they taste? Let’s rip them open to see. And let’s get some information too. Excerpts from their news release are below in italics, my notes follow each of their wine descriptions:

Inès Andrieu of Domaine de Caylus produces Le Grand Verre Domaine Caylus, a rosé blend of Syrah and Grenache from the Languedoc- Roussillon winemaking region. Andrieu inherited the vineyard from her grandfather and quickly became a champion for the importance of preserving the region’s biodiversity, converting the estate to organic farming in 1999.

Notes on the 2020 vintage: Reminded me of watermelon hard candy, fresh cut strawberry, lemon-lime fizzy soda and wet stones when I took a sniff. Then for the taste I noted those same fresh berry notes, as well as Meyer lemon, orange zest, a medium acidity and a long, lasting finish.

Another cult classic is Le Grand Verre Château Val D’Arenc, an organically certified Bandol rosé blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Cinsault produced by the young and innovative male winemaker, Gérald Damidot, in Provence. Under Damidot’s leadership the estate converted to organic farming practices in 2015 significantly enhancing the quality of the win.

Notes on the 2020 vintage: Ooh, nice nose that called up memories of silky rose petals, waterfalls, fruit cocktail and the ripest of red berries. When I had a taste some of those same notes came through as well as pears in light syrup, orange marmalade and a welcoming low acidity.

Laurence Dupuch of Château Peyredon Lagravette works in tandem with her husband Stephane to produce Le Grand Verre Château Peyredon, one of the prized wines of the LGV collection. This quintessential Haut-Medoc Crus Bourgeois blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with fruit picked from vines over 100 years old is crafted with world famous oenologist Hubert de Bouard, the winemaker and owner of Château Angelus, one of the four most prestigious Saint-Émilion estates.

Notes on the 2019 vintage: Sweet black cherry, plum, mushroom, dark chocolate, blueberry jam, green peppercorns, bark on the nose followed by flavors of dried dark berries, spaghetti sauce, lively spice, with firm tannins and a very rich mouthfeel. Felt older than a 2019, very balanced with a nice long dry finish.

Le Grand Verre Domaine Nadal Hainaut of Domaine Nadal Hainaut is Cabernet Sauvignon from the hands of husband-and-wife team Martine and Jean-Marie Nadal. The château has belonged to the family since 1900 and was fully converted to organic growing in 2010 making it a home to many new insects and birds. The Nadal’s plan to leave the estate with their three daughters Julie, Pauline, Marie and Luce.

Notes on the 2019 vintage: Red berries, dried dark fruit, powdery, perfumy, rich milk chocolate candy, and tea all on the aromas; then came the taste, which was all balanced spice and very dark fruit, smoke, some sweet prunes and very dry.

My conclusion: I would welcome having any of these wines again.

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From the Press Release

LE GRAND VERRE, CURATED SINGLE SERVE ETHICALLY MADE FRENCH WINES,

LAUNCHES IN THE US

The Predominantly Female Handcrafted and Award-Winning Proprietary Bottles Showcase French Wine

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – LE GRAND VERRE, the award-winning, single serve, ethical, proprietarily designed, and predominantly female produced boutique wine collection of France, has officially arrived on American shores. Envisioned by three French wine-loving friends, Nicolas Deffrennes, Founder, Régis Fanget, Brand and Artistic Director, and Valérian Déjours, Chief Operating Officer, the trio dreamt up LGV with one mission: to embody the culture and experience of tasting premium French wines – without the need to open an entire bottle.

The initial concept, a brainchild of Deffrennes inspired by his days as part of the wine club at Harvard University, quickly grew into an endeavor to feature solely boutique winemakers in lieu of commercial wineries. Those that use organic, ethical, or sustainable farming practices with the majority of them certified by France’s overseeing body Ecocert and Terra Vitis. Deffrennes and his counterparts aimed to make French wines more approachable by providing highly curated selections, thereby taking the onus off consumers to navigate the vast breadth of options available to them. The exclusive LGV collection represents France’s best styles, varieties and terroir from esteemed regions such as Bordeaux, Languedoc, and Provence.

Under a highly meticulous process the LGV trio tasted hundreds of wines from across France, primarily dedicating efforts toward wines crafted by almost entirely female winemakers, female-led, or female-owned estates, as well as those with distinct and long family histories of French winemaking tradition. Vetted by a panel of consumers state-side, the team oversees every step of the process from vine to bottle offering the most authentic, affordable and sustainable wines possible for oenophiles and wine newbies alike.

“We care about what goes into our wine and believe that you don’t ever have to compromise when it comes to offering the authentic experience of French wine and culture to consumers,” notes Deffrennes, Founder of LGV. “While touring vineyards we were struck by each winemaker’s powerful story; they were so devoted to their vines and removing all use of pesticides, additive and other chemicals, that we in turn became their advocates, dedicating LGV to their unique backgrounds with every sip. The importance of family, legacy, powerful female-led wineries, and a tradition of ethical farming techniques, rapidly became intrinsic to who we are and what makes us passionate about what we do. It’s single-serve packaging, but with a twist: very good wine with a very rich and versatile French history to be discovered inside.”

Funded by the Burgundy region the award-winning LGV bottles are proprietarily designed and packaged in a modern way to be enjoyed anywhere, anytime – without breaking the bank. Purchased in sets of 4 ranging from $20-$30, the 6.3 oz. design of each bottle is larger than your typical pour at 6 oz., as the name Le Grand Verre suggests. The wines are also made from recyclable materials and double-coated to preserve aromas.

“From the beginning we knew we needed to maintain the high standards set forth by the incredible winemakers who joined us in our mission. Developing an elevated and vastly unique single serve bottle to showcase their incredible wines was a challenging, exciting project,” explained Régis Fanget, Brand and Artistic Director of LGV. “The final product is a tall sleek bottle and an elegant departure from the canned wine masses we’ve seen over the past few years. Partnering on this endeavor with one of my oldest and dearest friends Nick has been a pleasure, to say the least. We’re thrilled to share our French wines with American palates…”

Powerhouse female producers include Elisabeth Prataviera of Domaine de Ménard & Haut-Marin the creator of Le Grand Verre Domaine Prataviera, a Sauvignon Blanc from Côtes de Gascogne known for stellar white wines. Prataviera took over the vineyards from her mother who has helmed the estate since 1960, both following in her family legacy while allowing for innovation such as the of use organic fertilizer to preserve soil.

“…We began working with Le Grand Verre only a year ago and already feel like part of the family,” said Inès Andrieu, creator of Le Grand Verre Domaine Caylus. “We’ve worked very closely with the team; Régis Fanget was invited to visit the estate during the last harvest season. We were proud to craft our organic rosé for LGV and are currently expanding the partnership with Chardonnay, also made with organic grapes.”

Officially partnering with Baron Francois, a premier wine distributor based in New York City, LGV wines are already making waves across the East Coast including NYC, Washington, D.C., and select airports such as Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia, where assorted LGV wines are available in premium dining locations and retail outlets.

“Le Grand Verre has been one of the most successful launches of Baron Francois to date,” said Alexandre Thevenet, Director of Sales of Baron Francois. “The wines are moving much faster than anticipated for a new brand in such a unique format. With plans to expand nationwide upcoming, LGV is in a great position to become the go-to single serve wine of choice for American wine lovers across the country.”

As Deffrennes and Fanget continue to tour the vineyards, new wines will be offered and available to the US throughout the year. “What do they all have in common? Delicious French wine from the meticulous work of emerging and female vintners, crafted under organic or sustainable farming, tested and vetted with both friends and consumers across the Atlantic!” adds Deffrennes.

Explore Le Grand Verre’s Collection: https://lgvwines.com/ @legrandverre_wines #LeGrandVerre

 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.

Bushman and Perlis Review 5 Newly Released 2020 Rosés

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Recently Michael Perlis and I were presented with a few new Rosé wines for review. We didn’t taste together so below you will see notes by either K&MP (Yes, Michael enlisted his wife Karen to help with the hard work) or EB. I will first share the tantalizing invitation, and below that are descriptions of the wines from the wineries followed by our own tasting notes:

Rosé season is finally upon us! We are excited to present our selection of newly released 2020 Rosés, which come in a beautiful spectrum of pink shades. While these are wonderful wines for year-round enjoyment, there’s just something special about sipping a glass of pink during the springtime, when the weather begins to feel warmer, flowers bloom and days start to lengthen.

Jean-Luc Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé 2020 (750ml/$14.99): Jean-Luc Colombo is an estate built upon innovation, passion, and dedication to winemaking. From the stony, limestone vineyards nestled in the hills above the bay of Marseille near Provence comes Cape Bleue Rosé – a wine of pure elegance and freshness with pronounced raspberry aromas over a core of red fruit, classic watermelon and peach notes. An elegant mouthfeel, fluid and round with ample length and crisp finish. K&MP: Very intense with flavors of Gala apple and Anjou pear from the Mourvedre that wrap around the smokiness of the Syrah. We paired the wine with a roasted Pork Loin marinated in a ginger scallion sesame sauce with a few red pepper flakes thrown in. The wine was a great accompaniment. This was MP’s favorite – guess he’s a cheap date.

Côté Mas Aurore Rosé Pays d’Oc IGP 2020 (750ml/$13.99): Côté Mas Aurore Rosé captures the essence of its Mediterranean region’s charm, offering a rich and smooth palate full of cherry, strawberry and floral aromas evolving toward soft candied fruit notes. The palate is rich and smooth with ripe red fruits and well-balanced acidity. Enjoy as an aperitif or pair with grilled chicken, shrimp, and goat cheese salads. EB: I’ll admit I chose this wine to review as the label design attracted me: a couple from the past – he wore an old fashioned straw hat – sitting for some wine with the vineyard in the background, all painted with pastel pinks, blue, yellow and green. The color of the wine itself, a pastel pink, coordinated perfectly. Now, to smell, I got aromas of cherry blossoms, fresh cut watermelon, lemon and lime zest, dried berries and wet stones; for the flavor there was welcoming crisp apple, juicy red fruit, and a mild to medium acidity which gave away to a nice length. We enjoyed this as recommended, as an aperitif. 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 10% Syrah and 10% Vermentino. I would buy this wine.

Valdo Prosecco DOC Rosé 2020 (750ml/$15.99): One of the must-try wines from the newly approved category designation, Prosecco DOC Rosé, Marca Oro has a lovely pink hue and persistent perlage. On the nose, inviting floral notes lead to apple, pear, and small red berries. The palate is delicate, fruity, pleasantly harmonious with a long finish. This is perfect as an aperitif, and it pairs perfectly with pasta, fish, and tartare. EB: The color, of a perfectly ripe peach, and oodles of dancing bubbles definitely drew me in, including the three Prosecco lovers that shared this bottle with me. On the nose there was a wealth of raspberry, strawberry, toasted French baguette, wet river rock and white flower – all very enticing. One guest commented on the taste that the bubbly was fruit forward, as I got with more than a hint of ripe raspberry, bright strawberry, a feeling of general freshness, a nice low acidity, and that same raspberry from the nose to the taste lingered through to the finish. Pinot Noir and Glera grapes. My guests took photos of the wine in the hopes of finding it. I would also like to find this wine again.

Bertani Bertarose 2020 (750ml/$19.99): Bertarose is one of the oldest wines of the Bertani winery, and a blend of 75% Molinara and 25% Merlot grapes. Fresh aromas of pomegranate and red currants with notes of white flowers. Decisive on the palate, medium bodied with deft balance between acidity and tanginess. Excellent length. Perfect as an aperitif, it also goes well with salads, delicate-flavored pasta dishes and white meat. K&MP: Very clean nose and finish. Nice smooth mouthfeel as well. We got some citrus/lemon notes as well as pear. This wine was very refreshing yet full bodied enough to stand up to the mini-Reubens that we paired it with. They’ve been making this wine since the 1930s and they definitely know what they are doing. Very interesting blend as well as the approach of fermenting the Molinara on the skins and the Merlot off the skins. Makes for a pretty complex wine, which is not unexpected for a winery credited with creating the first commercial dry Amarone.

Planeta Sicilia DOC Rosé 2020 (750ml/$19.99): A blend of 50% Nero d’Avola and 50% Syrah, this fresh, fruit-forward rosé represents all the feelings of a Sicilian summer. The fresh aromas of strawberry make it a marvelously friendly wine, and easy to drink. Enjoy Planeta Rosé in good company, as an aperitif with tapas, raw fish, fresh salads or alone with seasonal fruit. K&MP: Light in color and nose, which makes sense as the wine is vinified like a white wine. Fragrance of Jasmine tea leaves. Seemed to bounce off the palate with its brightness. We paired this with a margarita pizza that we had added smoked salmon to and it matched perfectly. This would be great on a late summer California afternoon/evening with passed appetizers.

Find where to purchase any of these wines via Taub Family Selections:

https://www.taubfamilyselections.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 (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.