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.

I had the chance to check out the latest and greatest Pinots coming out of California at this year’s Pinot Days in San Francisco. Yet one booth turned the whole tasting on it’s head. I’m referring to the New Zealand Pinot booth. Unconsciously I began comparing and contrasting the two worlds. Here is what I was able to deduce.

In California, it’s all about the Clone Wars

This fruit truly never falls far from UC Davis when it comes to California. It seems that every story of Pinot can be rooted back (yes, puns intended here) to the University. And a good portion of vineyards were all too happy to announce that they are using the latest and greatest rootstock.

It was then that I recalled a surprisingly profound quote by Jeff Goldblum from the movie Jurassic Park to which he said, “They were so focused on whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should”. Such is the case with a few of the vintners. I did like the wine, but the sales pitch, at one point, came down to a map showcasing where the various clones were being grown.

Now there comes a time when, say with PapaPietro Perry, that their single clone 777 Pinot Noir simply shines (and for the record they didn’t blare that clone name over the loudspeaker) and is stunningly gorgeous. But there were others where it was not only a blend of clones but a muting of tastes.

In New Zealand, it’s all about the grape

At the New Zealand booth, they were focusing more on growing conditions, regions, the environment. Yes, they did include a map, but only to show the regions of the wine, so a taster could locate Martinborough on the map. The wines were even arranged from North to South. It was a striking difference between the sales pitches of California vineyards and the New Zealand ones.

Which one was better? They both are. Because science can and does help a wine out. Yet there is something to be said about picking a good plot of land, growing the grapes organically and a simple bottle and barrel process. Pinot Noir is a funky grape and while you can spend an eternity rangling it, letting it be on it’s own is sometimes the best formula. And it never hurts to have one of the most goregous vineyards in one of the world’s best Pinot-growing regions to help sell your wine (Rippon Vineyards).

Recommend Pinots from Pinot Days in SF:

PapaPietro Perry 777 Pinot Noir, Russian River ($70)

Skewis 2006 Peters Vineyard, Sonoma Coast ($48)

Winemaker Notes 2006 Laetitia Pinot Noir Reserve ($40)

Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg (NZ) ($17)

Fort Ross Symposium ($32)

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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

Appellation: Martinborough, New Zealand
ALC: 12.5%
You can buy this wine at: haythornthwaite.co.nz/
Retail price: N/A
Haydn gives it : 92pts

I can still remember that afternoon I stepped into the tasting room of Hythronthwaite, a quiet little winery in the town of Martinsborough (no, you read correctly, that’s not Marlborough). We picked the winery because it was one of the few that was open past 5 o’clock in the afternoon. For more information on Martinborough, see “Martinborough, the other “borough” of New Zealand.

The winery was lightly populated with me, my Dad, and two staff members. We went through the few wines that were still opened. And while the region is know for their excellent Pinot Noirs, it was the Sauvignon Blanc, “Sarah” that won me over.

What I liked the best about this wine, aside from the exquisite taste, was that the winery felt more like a home than a winery. To further drive home the, well, homey feel of the winery, each bottle is given it’s own “name”. The Sauvignon Blanc was given the name, Sarah, after the winemaker’s sister, who drank Sauvignon Blanc while living in Seattle to remind her of New Zealand.

One whiff and taste of this wine will instantly clue you into the fact that you are drinking wine made by the kiwis. The traditional lemon/lime and grass components were evident from the first sip. Yet it wasn’t as acidic as some of the other wines I’ve tried from the islands. While some will have a sharp bite, this wine is smooth and doesn’t pack too much of a power punch.

I was drinking this by itself and it held up nicely. As noted in other posts, you can easily pair a Sauvignon Blanc with mostly any fish, with the exception of Salmon. For the salmon, go with a Grenache or a Chenin Blanc.

Here’s the bad news, Americans. As far as I can tell you can only get this wine at the winery or in the surrounding towns. I had to carry this wine back in my suitcase in order to get this gem back into the states.

That being said, this wine speaks volumes in terms of the quality of wines coming out of this small wine region in New Zealand.

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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

I really have been trying to add some Batman reference into this blog for a while. Apparently I succeeded. Ok, now on to Martinborough. Martinborough is located about an hour north-east of Wellington, and some 150 miles from Marlborough (though you’ll have to travel by ferry to get to either as they are literally on opposite islands). It is not the most well-known regions in New Zealand, but some of the stronger wines, such as Ata Rangi, come out of this little area.

The region got it’s start in 1978 when three different grapes: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Gewurztraminer were planted. Soon after the year, they discovered that the soil and terrior had similar characteristics to some of the premier wine regions in France. And thus a few wineries began to spring from the ground and the wine rush was on. Just like with the 49ers of California, these wine makers were as green as they made them. Yet, learning from mistakes, their quality grew and grew into what it is today.

Today, over 40 wineries dot the landscape of Martinborough. The town itself is quite charming with the townspeople quite the same. I’ve only had the chance to spend a day in Martinborough, but it was a day I won’t soon forget. It was very enjoyable to literally be able to walk from our bed and breakfast right over to some of the wineries. The buildings on the grounds of the vineyards could have easily been mistaken for residences, had it not been for the “hours of operation” signs.

It was also enjoyable in the fact that it was quiet with no hint or sound of any tour bus. Just a few cars dotting the various streets and passerby’s on foot. If you are heading to New Zealand, I would recommending stopping for at least a day in Martinborough. The slower speed will rejuvenate you and the exceptional wine will make you keep coming back.

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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

2007 Pinot Noir by Sleeping Dogs
by Haydn Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Blog

Retail Price: Unknown
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Where you can buy this wine: Station Imports
ALC: 13%
Haydn gives this wine: 89 pts

The first thing you’ll notice about this wine is that is a bit more on the sweeter end of Pinot world. Not big cherries hitting you in the face, not dirt either for that matter. What you will pick up is a bit of honey (yes, in a Pinot) and a bit of deeper purple-colored fruit, such as a blackberry. The nose is very well structured and the aromas almost seem to caress the senses.

The fruit-forwardness continues to show on the mid-palate. There is a still a little bit of honey lingering in this wine. Such a new and delightful twist for a Pinot to have. What is also beautiful about this wine is the very low tannins. For being a 2007, I’m a bit surprised but equally happy. I really don’t like the way young Pinots grip your mouth not allowing you to taste anything else but tannins. 

The best part about this wine is it’s alcohol content. I’m so happy to be drinking a wine that is hitting at 13%. I guess all of the big Zins from the past week added to my gripe over California’s over alcoholic wines. I want to enjoy a glass or two, not throw down a shot. This wine would be perfect for a summer time picnic. I’d give it a slight chill if taking outside. 

Once again, a beautiful showing from the Central Otago region, the hottest Pinot region anywhere in the world today.

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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

Appalachian: Cental Otago, New Zealand
Alc: 14%
Haydn gives it: 89pts
You can buy this wine from: Station Imports

While the Chardonnay grape basks in the glory of being one the world’s most planted grape, it is mainly a distant memory in the eyes of growers from New Zealand. While, yes, this hearty grape could probably any weather you throw at it, New Zealand’s microclimates are better suited for Sauvignon Blancs. You it came as a surprise and a delight to review a Chardonnay from New Zealand.

At first glance, you could mistake this for a Sauvignon Blanc. The golden yellow that is normally the hallmark for Chardonnays is replaced here with a yellow-green color cast, though heavy on the yellow.

The aromas are extremely pleasant, with hints of butter but also a little pear. I’m curious if this wine went through stainless steel fermination and then hit some oak for a little while. In any case, the wine has a beautiful bouquet, and is sure to delight most Chardonnay drinkers.

Tasting the wine, I find the same butter but with some minerality. The wine is lighter than it’s California couterparts (I was just in Napa yesterday and let me tell you, the butter bandit was out in force). There is also a bit of honey that also comes out, especially on the finish. From start to finish, an extremely pleasant and easy-to-drink wine. Very little oak could be felt, which is a delight.

Overall, a very well-made wine. I’m glad to see the Chardonnay get some attention in New Zealand. With New Zealand dominated by Sauvignon Blancs, it is good to know that other white varietals can and do thrive in the climate of Central Otago.

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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 of the 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.

Retail Price: $22.00
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Where you can buy this wine: Station Imports
ALC: 13%
Haydn gives this wine: 89 pts

New Zealand’s Central Otago wine region is the up and coming destination for all things Pinot Noir. It comes as no surprise as this well made beauty can be found. Balanced, smooth with soft hints of spice, bing cherry, a little plum and just a tad smoky.

The appearance of this Pinot is bit light. The rim is still nice and clear, but the color is starting to wane. Compared with the 2006 Pinot Noir from Nevis Bluff, this wine is starting to show it’s age (but only in color I remind you). While the color might appear a bit light, the aromas and tastes are mighty strong.

Right away on the nose, you can pick up a pleasant amount of cherries with just a pinch of smoke and spice, further giving indication of it’s age. The aromas are harmonious. This is one of the smoothest noses on a Pinot I’ve had in a while.

On the palate, you are presented with a bit more cherries. Yet, they also pick up along their way a bit of asian spice and smoke. They are not that powerful, leaving you with more fruit that smoke. No tannins whatsoever. Simply gorgous on the mid-palate. The finish drifts off nicely, albiet a tad quick. This was the reason why it didn’t break the 90 point mark. It just seemed to fall soon after sipping this wine.

However, aside from the short length, this wine is ready for drinking now. You can cellar this one, but given the years already with screw-top, there is no real reason for cellaring it for too long. Simply gorgeous. Kudos to the wine maker. A beautiful wine from start to finish.

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Haydn S. Adams is a wine author and reviews wines for wineries all over the world. He currently writes for vinvillage.com along with his own wine review site at www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/.

Retail Price: $26.50
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Purchase at: stationimports.com
Haydn gives it 87 points

This wine shines in the glass, with a beautiful display of a gleaming brick red color. It’s only 2 years old and has the enthusiasm of being young and fresh with the rim further confirming its youthfulness. Yet don’t let the color of this wine throw you off. What it lacks in density, it picks up on the palate.

The aromas on the nose were pleasant, with hints of blackberry and cranberry, dancing beautifully together. There are no hints of earth or dirt at first in this wine. I imagine, after laying down in the cellar, that it would pick up a little, but overall, you’ll be smelling fruit.

The palate of this wine picks up some spiciness characteristics immediately on the tongue and at first, even attacks the front part of my tongue. In addition, a fair bit of tannins could be felt with this wine. On the mid-palate, along with the spicy aspect were still the blackberry and cranberry components. The wine was fairly silky and slipped right along and straight on to the finish. 

The spicy aspect of the wine dropped off and the berries continued to linger for just a little bit longer on the finish. I was hoping for a bit more to happen at the end, but it will delivered a smile to my mouth. 

While you could drink this solo, I’d probably recommend some sort of meal to go along with this wine, possibly a game hen or some type of turkey dish. The wine is a wonderful deal for its price point at $26.50. It’s a good wine to get a taste of Central Otago. 

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Haydn S. Adams is a wine author and reviews wines for wineries all over the world. For all reviews, check out his blog at www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/