Best of Show– Montemaggiore

The Syrah & and the Cabernet Sauvignon from Montemaggiore were the overall winners. Young currently, they are going to be blossoming in the coming years. The Cab was the breadwinner of the night. Closing your eyes, you could easily picture ripe blueberries swirled together with a chocolate mocha—just on the nose. Yum. The wines were spectacularly clean, with a good amount of tannins, are sure to calm down in a matter of years.

Coolest label and coolest wine–
Steele Wine Blue Franc Lemberger 2008

This wine clearly had the lightest taste of all of the reds and yet had the biggest back story. The Blue Franc is actually made from BlauFrankisch grapes, which literally means “blue grape from France.” The winery’s owner discovered the grape while traveling through Austria. In America, you’re best bet is to find it in the Columbia Valley, where the latitude is close to what Austria’s is.

This wine is going to be awesome in the summer time. It’s light, very light on the palate. But excellently executed in a way that is still very balanced. There is a fair amount of fruit in this wine; think boysenberry & cherry pie, topped with a little spice. You can drink this wine at normal room temperature, but chill it about 10 more degrees and you’ll be in for a treat. Joy Merrilees, winemaker, concurred and added that it would be perfect for a backyard barbecue. She also added that this wine would be perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.

At $12.50 a bottle, it ’s a great light drinking red wine. The Blue Franc is on the same wavelength as Peju’s Provence, another red wine that can be served cold.

Best Chardonnay of the night– Perry Creek Winery

Located in the Sierra Foothills you’ll find a Chardonnay that has decided to take a soak in Austrian Oak barrels, a completely different departure than other Chards. I was taken aback when I assumed, when asking the oak style, it would either be French or American. The wine has about 66% ML, giving it a light & creamy oak texture. It’s more on the citrus side with hints of green apples. Simply, wow. I wasn’t expecting to find such a fine balance of cream / butter and apples in a Chardonnay. The finish is perfect, with the wine lingering for a good few minutes. Take time to savor this Chardonnay.

Honorable mention– Rockwall Winery

Like father like daughter. Winemaker  Shauna Rosenblum, has a great winery on her hands. Her wines are clean, balanced and focused. Her Zin from Sonoma County is comprised of deep berries mixed in with a hint of violet. Simply well-made wines.

I was thrilled to discover this wine sitting unannounced on one of the shelves of a wine store. There it was, in a nonchalant style resting it’s head on one of the wooden racks. Either the store employee had no idea what they had in stock (probably the case, no pun intended) or they knew what it was and played it cool. Either way, the Ata Rangi 2008 is truly a gem. It’s one of the top wineries in the Martinborough region (no, not Marlborough), if not one of the top 10 in New Zealand.

On the nose , the wine displays it’s trademark Kiwi styles with a bit of lemon and grapefruit. There is a shallow tartness in play, though it starts to alter a bit on the mid palate, with a bit of pear in the middle. It’s soft and flavorful. At the end, a beautiful finish plays out by brining back a bit of the grapefruit.

The wine is balanced from beginning to end. The secret to this wine I feel comes in the fermenting process. 90% touched only stainless steel, but the remaining 10% sat in 3-year neutral oak barrels. That small amount of oak is enough to round out what could have been a lawn full of grass in your glass.

I originally purchased this wine for $20. However, after returning a week later, it was nowhere to be found. After calling around, I tracked the wine down at K&L in San Francisco. It is currently sitting in their Hollywood warehouse, at a price of $14.99. Wow. Now the only question remains, do I buy a half or an entire case?

Cheers,
Haydn

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County (and at times, Napa Valley) looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com.

Don’t have lots of extra dough to woo that special someone with spectacular wine this Valentine’s? We’ve got tips on wines that will win him or her over and cost less than $25. So go celebrate all the silly sweetness in style!

WHITE

2008 Hop Kiln, “Thousand Flowers,” California (pictured)
Of course your lover deserves a thousand flowers! This trio of Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat and Gewurztraminer with a pretty bouquet of orange blossoms is crisp, flirty and quaffable. You brought flowers, so you’re in.

2007 William Hill Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California
Winemaker Ralf Holdenried’s Chardonnay will make her swoon with its big juicy honeysuckle and peach fruit, creamy malolactic character and engaging mouth-feel. For a romantic outing, make an appointment to visit the tasting room perched atop a hill off the Silverado trail with stunning views of the treetops and mountains.

2007 Eberle “Mill Road Vineyard” Viognier, Paso Robles, California
Heidi Klum s-e-x-y and fragrant, with lush body and a kiss of spice. Think honeysuckle, apricot and candied ginger. Surprisingly, this lusty white hovers right at the $20 mark. Seize the moment.

2007 Chateau Graves de Liron, Bordeaux
White Bordeaux is a classy wine for the money. This graceful wine sports lip-smacking acidity and fruity melon-like fleshiness. Great with succulent seafood—and less than $10, sweetheart.

RED

2007 Vignerons de Caractere Vin De Pays de Vaucluse
This French Grenache-Syrah blend has earthy soulfulness. Flavors of blackberries and bright cherries, rose petals, and nuances of black pepper, licorice and lavender will warm things up right away. Grab the bottle with the sweet label displaying a tiny white dove holding a heart in its mouth, all for under $7! Take it on a romantic picnic.

2007 Murphy Goode Liar’s Dice Zinfandel, California
Oh how Zin tempts us to sin. Alexander Valley grapes display rich blackberry jam and black cherry flavors and the Dry Creek grapes contribute black raspberry and currant flavors. Passionately sweet and juicy with a shot of pepper, it will steal her heart.

2007 Brazin (B) Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi, California
Looking for an intense experience? Here’s a Zin sourced from vines that range from 35 to 80 years. Prepare for a deep, inky color, bold aromas of plum and chocolate, plus palate purring vanilla mocha notes. Then there’s that long, lingering finish, and a price tag around $17. It fires on all cylinders kind of like Johnny Depp. (They were also selected as “wine to watch for” from ZAP’s grand tasting).

2006 Field Stone Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California
He will adore you for bringing a robust Cabernet to go with grilled steaks for dinner. Here’s a sultry one with a nose of caramel, cream and chocolate-covered cherries and flavors of black cherry, cocoa and casis. Yes love, it’s under $25.

2008 Nova Wines “Norma Jeane” Merlot, California
Marilyn Monroe takes center stage on these various labels like the one with the starlet donned in cowboy gear. More fun than complex, this fruity Merlot is youthfully exuberant. Ride ‘em cowgirl!

2006 Cupcake Vineyards Merlot, Central Coast California
She has a die-hard sweet tooth so bring on the trendy cupcake. This easy-to-find, affordable wine has dark berry fruit, a touch of vanilla, and velvety texture, plus a fanciful label that will make your funny little Valentine smile.

Dow’s NV Port, Six Grapes Reserve
Classic reserve port will pair right up with your Valentine’s chocolates. Expect thick and grapey with black cherry, raisin, spice and mocha with a sweet finish. Perfect to sip in front of a roaring fireplace.

PINK

NV 2007 Francis Coppola Sofia Rose, Napa Valley, California
You won’t be able to keep your eyes off the feminine shape of this bottle and its gorgeous coral-hued contents. The romantic label even pulls you in. In the glass, it’s all fresh strawberries, rose petals, juicy cherry, raspberry and citrus zest. Think seaside café along the French Riviera.

2008 McDowell Grenache Rose, Mendocino, California
Bursting with red berry fruit and black pepper, this dry potent pink will put the blush in her cheeks. Perfect for white wine drinkers who “don’t drink red” and red wine drinkers who “don’t drink white.”

True Prosecco Pink Couvee Rose, Italy
Here’s a delicate pale pink and lightly sweet prosecco of Valdobbiadene for a Valentine’s tete-a-tete. Distinctively bright with stone fruit and red currant flavors, sip as an aperitif or enjoy with a lavish fish and shellfish dinner. Be true.

Best of Class:

Bedrock Wine Company
Morgan Twain-Peterson is one of the hottest winemakers at this time. His knowledge is clearly evident in his two wines showcased: the 2009 Stellwagen Vineyard and the 2009 Dolinsek Ranch (along the 2008 Heirloom at the Flights! showcase). At a case production of under 200, these micro-produced wines were some of the strongest Zin’s found.

Dasche Cellars
The best description I had for this winery was “calm”. All of their wines flowed easily over the palate and left with a considerable length. Elegant Zinfandels.

Wineries to Watch For:

Brazen Cellars
One of the stronger wines to come out of Lodi, Brazen rounds out their portfolio with a strong Zin from Dry Creek. With price points of $17, they are wonderful.

Klinker Brick
Another strong winery out of Lodi. The “Old Ghost” Zinfandel is still one of the best wines from that region.

Starlite Vineyards
A little gem that is peeking it’s head out from the Alexander Valley. In an area that is known for their Cabs, this Zin shines. Their Zin also was partially aged in Hungarian Oak, giving it beautiful hints of white pepper, a bit of spice and a few berries on the nose. Along with the Zin characteristics, there were even bits of cocoa and plums.

If you were at the Grand Tasting at ZAP, I’d love to hear what you’re favorites were. Feel free to comment here or e-mail me at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com.

Cheers,
Haydn

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County (and at times, Napa Valley) looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com.

The 9th Annual Flights! was a showcase of five different winemakers ranging from Eric Baugher, winemaker at Ridge, to smaller-producers, such as Matt Cline, of Three Wine Cellars. Each winemaker showcased a slightly different style of Zinfandel ranging from 100% Zinfandel to Morgan Twain-Peterson’s Zin of 6 different varietals plus “other stuff”.

The discussion ranged from the ever-debatable alcohol percentages to dry farming and soil conditions. But at the heart of the matter was the question, “What is Zinfandel?” The nature of Zinfandel is as temperamental as any grape, even more so than the Pinot Noir, due to it’s thin-skin makeup. Jeff Cohn, of JC Cellars (formerly of Rosenblum) described Zin as being “like Beyonce”.

Stepping back from the deeper questions, it was simply great to taste a dramatically different makeup of Zins. Some were sourced from as far south as Paso Robles, while others were in the Napa Valley. Each seemed to have captured the terrior in the wine. Dry Farming, irrigation, additions of Carignane, Petite Sirah, and the list goes on and on, were continually discussed.

While I can say I know a fair bit about this mistivious grape, I came away with a greater knoweldge and a greater appreciation for the Zinfandel. Like America that grows it, the Zinfandel (both 100% and as a blend) are still taking shape. And Zap’s Flights! discussion is a perfect platform in which to evaluate, learn and discern the grape with each passing vintage. These might be reasons enough for you to check out ZAP for yourself next year!

Cheers,
Haydn

Speakers and their respective wines that were poured:

Morgan Twain-Peterson | Bedrock Wine Company
Bedrock Wine Company 2007 Bedrock Heirloom Wine from Sonoma Valley
2007 Ravenswood Zinfandel Bedrock Vineyard from Sonoma Valley

Steve Hall | Robert Biale Vineyards
2007 Aldo’s Vineyard from the Napa Valley
2007 Stagecoach from the Napa Valley

Jeff Cohn | JC Cellars
2007 The Impostor Red Blend from California
2007 Sweetwater Springs Zinfandel from the Russian River

Eric Baugher | Ridge Vineyard
2007 Geyserville
2007 California Zinfandel from Paso Robles

Matt Cline | Three Wine Company
2007 Old Vines Zinfandel from California
2007 Old Vines from California

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County (and at times, Napa Valley) looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com.

The California landscape is dotted with more Chardonnays than CHP cars. It seems that one can toss a dart onto a wine map and inevitably find a Chardonnay-producing winery. The flavor notes are as scattered on the wine wheel as the grapes are in any particular AVA (wine region). Stainless steel, new French oak, used French oak, Hungarian oak (ok, for the record I’ve yet to see a Chardonnay touch Hungarian Oak, but I just never know), a mixture of oak and steel, and on and on the list continues. There’s the ABC club, or anything but Chardonnay, and the Le Crema fan club (one of the more oakey Chards).

Then we have the 2009 Cougar Chardonnay from Temecula. With colors that resemble a Savignon Blanc and an alcohol percentage that is unheard of in California (11.5%) in the Chardonnay world, this wine is way off the charted characteristics of what and how a Chardonnay should behave and act.

With this Chardonnay, you’re going to get hints of tropical fruits, going all the way into the guava and coconut arena. If by now you’re saying that’s madness, well, you’re partially right. Thankfully the wine rebounds with additions of Chardonnay characteristics with a little bit of acidity mixed in with a few bartlett pears. The secret to the notes of this Chardonnay is in the way it is produced—the wine never touched an oak barrel, new or used, at all.

The 2009 Cougar Chardonnay is a great wine pre-dinner. The low alcohol is a pleasant welcome to the Chardonnay arena, which means you can enjoy a glass or two and still follow your dinner recipe if need be. The lightness of alcohol makes this wine rub elbows with the Riesling world, in terms of an un-heavy wine when it hits the mid-palate.

For food, the lighter the better. Being a distant 5th cousin to Riesling, the Chardonnay here could possibly be paired with a non-spicy Thai dish (it’s not potent enough to remove the spice from your mouth) or maybe crab cakes.

For a new take on an old California standard, have a look, and a taste of the Cougar 2009 Chardonnay from Temecula Valley. At $20, it’s well look a few looks, um, tastes.

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com

Happy New Year, and enjoy,
Haydn Adams

Wine #10: m2 Zinfandel
$35 | m2wines.com

It has been rated as one of the top 12 Lodi wines of 2009, and I have to agree. Lodi is a strong player in the Zinfandel world, and while Lodi zins cannot can’t compare to those of the Zin capital of the world, Dry Creek, m2 Zinfandel is a very close runner-up and one of the best to come out of Lodi.

Wine #9: Meeker 2007 Carignane (Alexander Valley)
$26 | meekerwine.com

A beautiful, and often overlooked varietal.

Wine #8: Montemaggiore Syrah (Paolo’s Vineyard, Dry Creek)
$35 | montemaggiore.com

A gorgeous (non-Zinfandel) wine to come out of Dry Creek. Biodynamically farmed, this Syrah has a little hint of pepper and plum, and an overall balanced finish.

Wine #7: J Cuvée 20
$20 | jwine.com/

Can sparkling wine really age well? If you would have asked me that last December, I would have scoffed off the answer, period. But the J Cuvée has changed my thinking. This base sparkling of J’s has grown up over the past year and has become a formidable contender in the sparkling wine arena. A great price for a great sparkling.

Wine #6: Quivira Grenache (Dry Creek Valley)
$26 | quivirawine.com/

Ahh the Grenache. It’s one of my favorite varietals. Quivira makes a beautiful 100% Grenache, which is no easy feat since this grape is one of the subtlest around.

Wine #5: Rippon Vineyards Pinot Noir (New Zealand)
Price N/A | www.rippon.co.nz/

The southern region of New Zealand is the new hot spot for Pinots and Rippon Vineyards is leading the charge. This Pinot is a textbook example of the excellent Pinots currently being produced in the Central Otago region. Unfortunately, I have recently been having a hard time tracking down where I can get this one, which is why it didn’t rank higher on the list.

Wine #4: Tandem Pinot Noir (Sangiacomo Vineyards)
Price N/A | tandemwinery.com/

This is one of my favorite Russian River Pinot Noirs. It is a bit spicy (standard for a Russian River Pinot), but in a near-perfect amount. Beautiful.

Wine #3: 2008 Cakebread Chardonnay (Napa Valley, Rutherford)
$37 | cakebread.com

Another fantastic showing from Cakebread. The secret to this wine? Nearly 70% of the wine is aged in neutral oak so the butterball effect is gone leaving behind beautiful notes of pear, and a bit of cantaloupe / honeydew.

Wine #2: William Harrison Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley, Rutherford)
$45 | whwines.com

William Harrison, an excellent winery located near Rutherford in the Napa Valley, has delivered a near spotless Cabernet Franc.  This wine is simply gorgeous and well worth a try.

Wine #1: Archipel (by Vérité) (Alexander Valley)
$45 | archipelwines.com

Archipel has been and remains my favorite wine. I find the “California Bordeaux” to be a near perfect pair with my particular preferences for this style of Bordeaux.

The holidays are sparkling at Domain Carneros (no pun intended). A beautiful Christmas tree stands fully decorated in the corner of the main sitting area. The fresh smell of pine drifts through the room tingling the senses of Sparkling Wine aficionados. Around the room, gold trimmings and wreaths adorn other walls and hallways. With the fire on and the weather dancing near freezing, there was no other place I wanted to be that evening then sitting with a good friend and drinking Sparkling Wine.

The atmosphere at Domaine Carneros is relaxing. My tasting partner and I shared two flights that included 6 different Sparkling Wines and two Pinot Noirs from the Carneros region. The staff was extremely friendly and very attentive with whatever request we asked. While the staff continually asked and inquired about how we were doing, the lingering time we had to simply discuss the finer points of the wine all the while gazing endlessly into the fireplace seemed to be hours. The mood of the room was joyful and jubilant (how can it not be with the bubbly flowing around like water?).

There is something Norman Rockwellian about walking in from the cold, crisp evening air, taking your scarf and jacket off and sitting next to a fireplace all the while sipping an amazing flight of Sparkling Wine. And Domaine Carneros further captured that feeling by beautifully adorning their tasting room with the holiday smells and sights.

The next time you’re in the area, stop in to Domaine Carneros, if only to take in the sights and ambiance of their facility. The aromas of the season are sure to envelop your senses which are surely completed with one of their many Sparkling Wines and Pinot Noirs.

Cheers,
Haydn

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com

The goal of wine is meant to enhance the flavor of the meal. While great food can stand on it’s own, wine has the catalytic power to push the food to heights one can only dream of. And then there is McDonalds. The land of the two all beef paddies, lettuce, pickles with some more fixins piled in on a sesame seed bun. Is it possible to elevate the quality of food that costs the same as a few Washingtons? I say yes.

For most of the food, the grease is a big factor. Yes, it is yummy and produces a great spike the ‘ye ole blood sugar, but it also greatly interferes with the wine. So for most of the foods at McDonalds, a safe bet is to go with a dry Riesling. It will do a good job of cutting down on the grease monkey and help to hold up the meat / poultry / fish that you’re eating. Another quality of any Riesling is it’s alcohol content. Most range from around 9% to about 11 or 12% if you get your hands on a non-German. The prices are affordable for most of the varietal so that you won’t feel bad breaking the bank on the wine while skimping on the food budget.

With the burgers and the chicken, including the McChicken and Chicken McNuggets, look for a fruit-forward Merlot. There easy to spot. Simply take a stroll down your local Seven-Eleven wine aisle. The larger producing wineries are sourcing grapes from the central valley of California and, in turn, producing big big berries with a lot of juice in them. That results in a strong fruit-forward style of wine. Beringer, Mondavi, and other common ones will have a Merlot that is going to go great with the items mentioned above.

If you are just going with the fries, then a Chardonnay that has touched some neutral oak will be your friend. The salt of the fried spuds will mix well with a mellow oakiness that will most likely be present. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to hunt these down and probably spend fifteen times the cost of your fries on that bottle of wine.

All in all, be aware how much you’re spending in a place that advertises their food for a buck. Yet at the same time, it could make that buck-fifty sandwich taste like ten with the right wine.

If you have tried a certain wine with McDonalds, I’d love to hear your comments. Feel free to e-mail me at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com.

Enjoy,
Haydn

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com

]]> http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/what-wine-goes-with-mcdonalds/feed/ 0 http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/what-wine-goes-with-cj-bitz/ http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/what-wine-goes-with-cj-bitz/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:10:53 +0000 Haydn http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/?p=488 What wine goes with CJ Bitz??

What wine goes with CJ Bitz??

CJ Bitz – $19.99

That holidays have arrived, which means desserts are sure to take center stage. Aside from the ham, the turkey and other proteins, it’s impossible to think of the holidays without mentioning any kind of sweet. One sweet treat that should be on your winter radar is CJ Bitz, made locally in Marin County (but available nationwide, see their retail locations). The question of the week then, is What Wine goes with CJ Bitz?

If you’re thinking dessert, then dessert wine should be on your radar, namely Tawny port. The reason I’d go with a Tawny is the toffee characteristics will match the toffee that’s added last when making CJ Bitz. Other ports will match decently, but the Tawny Port should match very well. I’d recommend taking a trip to your local wine market and seeing what they have in stock. Tawny’s can get up there in price so be aware what you’re picking out before you hit the checkout aisle.

If you are not a dessert wine fan, then you could go Zinfandel. However, you generally want to reserve the Zin for darker chocolate then what CJ Stix has. That being said, you’re other option would be to go for the Petite Sirah. Two Petites I’d recommend are from Optima Winery in Dry Creek and Judd’s Hill ($30) in Napa.

Both the dessert wine and CJ Bitz would work great during your next holiday party!

Cheers,
Haydn

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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com