It's always fun when UPS shows up

This unboxing is cool because I wrote about the Four Virtues Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel in a column last year focusing on wines for grilling. So I'm looking forward to seeing how the cabernet holds up. Oh, and I can't forget about the pinot too. I'll post the results or links to the articles when they go live.

This delivery is pretty awesome as Pahlmeyer makes some impressive wines.

I'm torn with the Proprietary Red. Pahlmeyer has been producing this for 30 years. What I'm torn between is opening it now and being patient, letting it sit a few years. This wine has an amazing aging potential. 80% cab the rest merlot, cab franc, petit verdot and malbec. It's also pricey ($200) and not something I want to uncork with takeout on a Tuesday. This one deserves to be shared with special friends.

Decisions Decisions

Pinot Party

I was lamenting last weekend about not being able to attend the fabulous International Pinot Noir Celebration in Oregon, yet again. 

So to sooth my sorrows I decided to host my own pinot party.

It was also a good way to turn a party into a story for my next wine column in the Fort Myers News-Press; Gina Drinks. I opened almost a case of pinot noir, mostly from California with a couple of selections from Chile and New Zealand thrown in for giggles.

My friends actually cooperated quite well, at least in the beginning, offering impressions of the wines, guessing how much they cost, etc. As the night went on, it got a little more difficult and a lot more fun. Thanks to all who participated in helping me with this latest column which you can read here. You'll see I focused on California. With Oregon and Burgundy being the motherships when it comes to pinot, those will come another time. 

Retired Firefighter Turned Winemaker

Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to attend an epic tasting through 6 decades of Charles Krug Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa. We started with a 1964 vintage. Did I say epic?

I caught a ride from the airport with Ray Hanson, owner of Destiny Wine Tours. As we chatted it up on the drive from SFO to Napa I learned about his past life as a firefighter and how he now makes wine from the cabernet sauvignon growing on his property.

He was so kind as to give me a bottle to try which I feature in my Memorial Day wine column for the Fort Myers News-Press, "Gina Drinks." Since I have a limited word count, I wanted to share an excerpt from our conversation during our ride.

Not only does Ray talk about his wine, but what it was like as a retired fireman, to go through last year's devastating fires. Take a listen:
 

An Afternoon of Drinking with Rob Mondavi Jr

Drinking bubbles with Rob Mondavi Jr in Naples

I recently was privileged to spend an afternoon drinking wine with Rob Mondavi Jr., winemaker at for the family's Michael Mondavi Family Estates in Napa Valley, California.

We tasted through his current releases at The Continental on the famous 3rd Street South in Naples, Fl, over an amazing array of food.

During the course of the tasting Rob sat with us telling stories of the vineyard, the fires, the wines in our glasses and even through the tragic tales, there were lots of laughs. It was also the most beautiful afternoon in Southwest Florida and since we had also shared our mutual love for bubbles, there was no escaping a bottle.

Walking across the street to Sea Salt, where Rob had a wine dinner scheduled later that night, we ordered a bottle of Schramsberg before calling it a day.

Read about Rob's current releases with Michael Mondavi Family Estate and which wines survived the fire here.
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Wine Lovers Rejoice, The 2016 California Harvest Is Looking Good

Cabernet at Jordan Vineyard

Harvest time is an exciting time in wine country. I got to witness much of the fun this year in the Santa Lucia Highlands area and throughout the Sonoma Valley. The story I wrote last week for the Fort Myers News-press tells a good bit of what we can expect from the 2016 vintage: click here.

Chardonnay at McIntyre Vineyard

The photos I took and stories I have could not possibly fit into that one column so there will be more to follow. But in the meantime, I thought I'd share a few here. The chardonnay pictured above is from McIntyre Vineyard in The Santa Lucia Highlands, the beautiful purple grapes are from Jordan Winery.

Ted Lemon, owner and winemaker at Littorai Wines checks the equipment during harvest. Here, everything is hand sorted to his specification.

Fisher Vineyards uses an optical scanner to pick the perfect grapes for each batch of wine that comes from their steep slopes.

The old punch down method is still in use at Hahn Family Wines, for specific small batch fermentation. Below are videos of pinot noir coming out of the press at Hahn Vineyards and the sorting table at Fisher, amazing.

If you ever get a chance to visit wine country during harvest, do it. It can be a bit chaotic and some of the smaller tasting rooms won't entertain tours and may limit tastings as it is all hands on deck when tons of grapes start rolling in.

Make arrangements for accommodations as quickly as possible as many place fill up this time of year.

Summer Series: Fabulous Franciscan

Every summer it's the same drill, finding some good white wines to accompany seasonal foods and also feel good going down in high temperatures.

I was doing some research on medal winning wines for an upcoming story when I came across the latest releases from Franciscan. The 2014 vintage from Napa has been highly anticipated and thought to be a great year. From what I've tasted here, I'm excited to try more.

Equilibrium (under $25) is one of the signature bottlings from Franciscan Estate and the 2014 is extraordinary. With a beautifully floral nose, the crisp wine had citrus, peach and honeysuckle for a full range of flavors on the palate. This complex blend is sauvignon blanc based, with a little chardonnay and muscat to round things out.

Empty bottles equal a good tasting

The 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, in the $20 range, is made from grapes that are harvested from several sub-appelations in Napa Valley, fermented using a variety of techniques, then blended together for a great marriage. The result is a fresh wine with lime and lychee and a finish full of minerals and citrus.

Both of these wines are refreshing accompaniments to fish, summer picnic foods or simply sipping on their own. Be sure to buy several of each, as you will almost certainly want more once the bottle is empty.

I "Heart" Ehlers

The first thing I noticed on the label when I was first introduced to Ehlers wines was how the E on the label forms a neat little heart.

Ehlers has quite a history, first making wine as early as the mid 1800's, then a long history of selling the land, recouping it all and then giving it away again, this time for charity. 100% of the proceeds from Ehlers wines goes to cardiovascular research, hence the heart on the label.

The celebrated winery grows Bordeaux varietals and is 100% organic. The newest releases come from the 2012 vintage, a banner year following the brutal weather of 2011 that caused many vintners big losses.

The 2012 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon may seem young for a Napa cab, and while it certainly could use a little more time in the bottle, it is delicious with lots of rich dark fruit; cherry, black raspberry a bit of caramel.

The 2012 Estate Merlot is bold but velvety, with some of the same characteristics of black raspberry and cherry, but a little more spice and a juicy mouthfeel.

Both wines come in around $55, good for drinking now but are keepers for some aging.

An Evening With Elizabeth.....

It all started at my Christmas tree trimming party when I pulled out a 2009 Elizabeth Spencer Rose. I had been saving it to share with some friends who visited the winery in Napa with me a number of years ago. Since several of us were together that night I thought it the perfect time.

However, it wasn't chilled and we had long since moved past the rose' stage of the night. Instead, we planned for an Elizabeth Spencer tasting after the holidays, with the goal of gathering as many vintages as possible--a grand tasting of sorts.

We began the evening with some bubbly and then dived in to my bottle, the oldest and proof that most roses are meant to drink, not age. As soon as we opened it, I could tell it was past its prime as it smelled like a fortified wine, sweet, nutty but not the kind you really want.

Disappointment that I let that one sit too long, then excitement we had several more bottles to go.

Next up was a 2011 pinot noir rose that was quite pleasant, with good fruit and acidity, however, it lacked the freshness we were expecting. Good thing we saved it from the perils of sitting in the cellar much longer.

The idea was to keep the tasting as close to a vertical possible but since the 2012 was a grenache rose, instead of a pinot noir, we skipped over it briefly. When it finally made the round it was full of raspberry and reminded me of a Necco Wafer Candy.

The 2013 pinot rose was the vintage that really hit the spot with bright acidity and red fruit like strawberry.

Moving right along in the Elizabeth Spencer portfolio, a 2012 Chardonnay was pulled from the ice bucket. While it smelled a touch oaky, it was crisp and tropical, with flavors of pineapple; a favorite for sure.

Up next came the reds and a 2007 Zinfandel. For a zin it was quite mellow; another one that was on its way out. The fruit was still intact but we were gentle with it in the glass, afraid it would disappear with any spirited swirling.

The 2010 Mendocino Cabernet was a beautiful color and a lovely way to end. The wine was a bit chalky, again a bit of that Necco Wafer Candy, with juicy raspberries.

If you are like many of us at this tasting, and have set aside some wine for a special occasion or to share with a special group, do some spring cleaning in your cellar. You might be surprised at what has been tucked away, forgotten about and is now in need of being uncorked. Nothing is worse than having to dump a precious bottle that was soooooo delicious and had so much promise when you bought it--because you let it rest for too long. Cheers. 

Wine Wednesday; Savoring Salvestrin

This Wine Wednesday I'm raising a glass to my friends who are California cab snobs.....you know who you are.

But have you tried the Salvestrin Three D Cabernet Sauvignon? Start looking for it now because this is a highly rated, small production wine. Thankfully the winery has some other goodies in their portfolio.

Highly rated, low production, high price ($125)....does it live up to the hype? Um.....yeeeeessss! It has that classic cherry taste but with other dark fruits including blackberry. Add a bit of vanilla, spice and a smooth yet full bodied finish and this wine has all that you would hope for. It's like velvet right now so I can only imagine what it will be like with a few more years in the bottle.

Happy Wine Wednesday, CHEERS!

Wine Wednesday: Delectus, its Delicious

The Delectus Bear Crossing Cabernet is so fantastic, it knocked me off my feet, literally.

I was fortunate enough to take a vineyard tour of Delectus while in Napa Valley over the weekend and thought it was the coolest thing ever to be drinking the Bear Crossing Cab, in the Bear Crossing Vineyard, while looking at the actual tracks from the crossing bears.

The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, harvested from two vineyard blocks at the highest elevation on the ranch.

I found out just how high that elevation was when I took one too many steps backward. My feet slid down the dusty, gravely soil and I ended up flat, face first.

"MAN DOWN" but the wine was saved. At $130 a bottle you bet your ass I held on to that glass, for dear life. The only bit wasted was a splash on the side of my face, that gathered more dust as the day went on. It gave the appearance that the accident had been much worse. It was a great tale to relive and laugh about on the long flight home. But back to the wine....

The Bear Crossing started with lovely dark chocolate, oak and then a little dust, but that was just in my glass. It's drinking like a champ. Don't just buy one bottle, buy two. These wines have great aging potential.


Thanks to Unfiltered Unfined Wines for a fantastic time.

Happy Wine Wednesday. Cheers!

Thanks for joining me on the ground Tom!

Wine Wednesday on Friday, Nickel & Nickel

So I didn't post my Wine Wednesday feature on Wednesday. Everyone gets a free pass on a holiday week right? I have been so blessed to spend the 4th of July holiday with dear friends; dear friends who also share a love and passion for wine. More specifically, a love for Nickel & Nickel from California.

I've always been a fan and have consumed lots of different vineyard selections so when I was told to "pick whatever you want", I think I squealed and jumped a little.

I stood in front of their amazing NEW wine wall and took a few deep breaths as I studied the labels that stretched from floor to ceiling in a neat row, all Nickel & Nickel; Martin Stellng, Ponzo, Bonfire, Dragonfly, Harris Vineyard, etc.

I  must of stood there much longer than I thought because there was a shout from the kitchen, "If you don't hurry up and pick one, I'm gonna do it for you." YIKES! So I reached in and grabbed a 2003 Regusci Vineyard Block 4, one that I have never seen before.

We gave it a little aeration and started tasting it. At first it was a bit perfume like, with lots of raspberries. As it opened, I got more dark fruit and tannins. It was nicely balanced and a pure delight to my taste buds. FANTASTIC! Even more of a delight was the company I was able to share it with. Thanks Ali and Jonathan, "I love you more than my luggage".

Nickel & Nickel in the middle!

Wine Wednesday, Sexual Chocolate

When I got an email from my friend Steve this week to taste a wine called Sexual Chocolate I have to admitted i pursed my lips and furrowed my brow wondering what the heck I would be drinking. I could not have been more pleasantly surprised today to sip on this cheeky red blend of Syrah, Zinfandel and Petite Syrah.

It wasn't just the wine that got me, but also the lively winemaker, Brandon Allen, on the left. He started making wine in his backyard at the age of 19, while he was in college. Allen says, "I was trying to impress the girls." Hence the name. Before long, his friends started buying the wine, their friends started buying it, their parents started buying it and now people are buying it thousands of miles away, in Southwest Florida.

Allen's goal is to make a wine that is "fun and not pretentious. It is both. The blend is smooth and easy to drink, with lots of dark fruit. It retails for under $30 and you can find it at restaurants like Blue Coyote, Twisted Vine and Yabo in the Fort Myers area, to name a few. Happy Wine Wednesday. CHEERS!

Wine Wednesday, M5

My last few Wine Wednesday selections have been great values, todays is just a great wine. The 2009 Krupp Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon M5 comes from Stagcoach Vineyards. Stagecoach is a vineyard in Napa, developed by Dr Jan Krupp, that sells fruit to 80n producers. The vines produce some of the best Cabernet grapes for some of the best producers in the region; Conn Creek, Caymus, Duckhorn and Paul Hobbs to name a few.

The M5 is complex, both on the nose and the palate, with layers of flavors. It smelled fruity but a bit herbal to me, almost menthol, with some vanilla. I tasted lots of dark fruit, some cherry and spice to boot. It has great structure, nice tannins and will age nicely. This is a limited production and will cost you around $135 when you find it.

Over a Skype call this week Dr. Krupp says he is growing Grenache for the first time and "having fun and continuing to explore what is new while keeping what we've learned." He has a great story about taking land that was once thought useless, and turning it into something special.  Check out this video:

Wine Wednesday, Steelhead Red

I'm working on a wine article about blends and came across this interesting one from the North Coast of California. The Steelhead Red consists mostly of Zinfandel but also Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.

It was a little hot at first, lots of alcohol in this baby. But as it opened I got more dark berries, some cocoa and easy tannins. Another good BBQ wine in my opinion and an affordable one in the $15 range.

But perhaps best of all, you may just feel better when you drink this wine. Not because of the 14.2% alcohol content, but because a portion of the sales from each bottle helps to fund conservation efforts for the steelhead trout and coho salmon in Northern California. Cheers!