by Frank Mangio
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles, offers a commanding vista of one of the largest, most beautiful marinas in the world.
It is one of the 85 Ritz-Carlton properties in the world. When I viewed the boats docked in the blue Pacific on a picture-perfect day in L.A. from the Concierge Lounge, I couldn’t help but go back to my first experience with the Ritz Hotel in Paris. Different view, same awestruck feeling of the pinnacle in hotel living. “Putting on the Ritz” still sets the tone in song, as it did many years ago in a popular song composed for the original Ritz in Paris. Later, this hotel was merged with the Carlton in London with the first Ritz-Carlton opening in 1927 in Boston, a model for what was to come.
Ritz-Carlton has twice won the prestigious National Quality Award for hotels, and plans are to expand to 30 more hotels and residential projects, including the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage in the desert, most of which has already been completed and open for guests.
The Ritz-Carlton has conceived a maximum guest service on an upper floor appropriately named the Club Lounge. Club concierges attend to Club guests from 6:30am to 10pm with superior comfort and services. This includes breakfast, lunch, hors d’oeuvres and late night treats from tables and chairs with a commanding view of the marina and the ocean. Complimentary Business center and Wi-Fi are available, as well as premium beverages anytime during service hours. Kudos to management for requesting that no cell phone conversations be made in the lounge.
The center of my interest was the makeover of the waterside restaurant, Cast & Plow, with panoramic views of the marina. The menu underlined “Community Made” with fresh, organic, locally grown and raised ingredients….from seed to your table. Its 80 indoor/outdoor seats allow for dining and gathering at intimate locations within the restaurant, for full breakfast, lunch and dinner. I was impressed by the 32-day aged, smoked ribeye steak, shown in the photo with sides that included asiago cheese potato puree, oversize asparagus tops and an herb salsa verde spread over the steak. Superb!
I must congratulate the Sommelier/Wine Steward Mitchel Ober for his choice of wine for this choice of entrée. It could not have been better. It was the 2010 Figgins Estate Red from Walla Walla, Washington. This is a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small portions of Merlot and Petit Verdot aged in French oak for 20 months. Chris Figgins also makes wine for the well known Leonetti Wines in the same Walla Walla area.
The Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey is paradise found! Visit www.ritzcarlton.com/marinadelrey for more.
Review: Night at the Mission San Luis Rey
The historic Mission San Luis Rey hosted their 3rd annual Night at the Mission to benefit
the Old Mission Montessori School. St. Francis of Assisi once said “for it is in giving that we receive.” Thanks went out to Charlie Plummer, Oceanside resident and newly appointed Regional Sales Manager for Jackson Family of Fine Wines for his organizational In all, 17 wine, beer and food companies contributed to the pristine venue.
Wine Bytes
Cougar Winery in Temecula is having a Blending Party Sun. June 8 from 6:30-8:30pm. Be a winemaker for a day and compete in this best blend contest as a 2013 Miscuglio Del Circolo is created. Appetizers served. $30. per person. Reduction for club members. Call 951-491-0825.
It’s Feel Good Friday with Blu Gruv music at Orfila Winery in Escondido, Fri. June 13 from 4 to 6pm. Admission free for the Jazz music, with wine and food an additional cost. More on this at 760-738-6500 x22.
Morada at the Rancho Santa Fe Inn presents Wine Tastings Thurs. June 19th from 5 to 6:30pm. Cost is $25. pp for 8+ tastings and includes light appetizers. RSVP at 858-381-8212.
The Women’s Museum is holding its 7th annual Wine, Cheese and Chocolate Festival, Fri. June 20 from 6 to 9pm at the museum at Liberty Station in Pt. Loma. Cost is $50. and includes the music of Sue Palmer, the Queen of Boogie Woogie. Learn more at 619-233-7963.
Showing posts with label cougar winery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cougar winery. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Friday, December 27, 2013
Our Top 10 Wines of 2013
by Frank Mangio
The bounty of fine wine is never more evident than in our Top Ten list for 2013. Up and down the price ladder, fine wine became more affordable as the country returned to economic stability and confidence. One proof of that report is COSTCO the largest seller of wine in the U.S. now offering “big bottle” formats, one which sold for $7,800. per bottle, (a 27 liter Fontodi from Tuscany.)
2013 was another banner harvest for West Coast wines. Both Temecula and San Diego wine countries ramped up the quality with their reds.
Resorts, restaurants and casinos spent millions on high quality wine bars and dining rooms. Wine Sommelier became an increasingly important position in the restaurant experience. This year, I had memorable experiences in Sonoma, and fell in love with the Rhone Valley and the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the south of France. A trip is planned. My ten are all red wines, with 2 from Napa Valley, 2 from Sonoma, 2 from Temecula, and 1 each from Oregon, Italy, France and Argentina. The ten are all of equal value and listed in alphabetical order…no ranking allowed. They entered based on an excellence scale from 1 to 5, weighing flavor, body, terroir and price to value. All had a 5. Enjoy!
Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico, Tuscany It. 2009. $19. From vineyard to bottle, the utmost care with quality receives a “best Italian Sangiovese” grape award. A rich tradition is very much respected with rich, ruby red flavor. www.castellodibossi.it.
Cougar Winery Estate Montepulciano, Temecula, CA. 2010. $41. Earthy mineral bouquet at the nose sets up big Italian style flavors and a lingering finish. Captures the Tuscan style. www.cougarvineyards.com.
Domaine Serene Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Or. 2010. $65. Awarded the top Taste of Wine for November by this column, this wine went on to be the #3 wine in the world for 2013 by Wine Spectator. Winemaker drew from 7 premium vineyards of Pinot. www.domainserene.com.
E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone, Rhone Valley, Fr. 2010. $15. The Guigal family is the largest producer in the south of France with 3.5 million cases. This one is the biggest bargain with 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache and a dash of Mourvedre. Long aging is the secret. 2010 was the best harvest in France in half a decade. www.guigal.com.
Ferrari-Carano Tresor Bordeaux Blend, Sonoma Ca. 2010. $41. Five classic Bordeaux varietals grace this premium blend, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc, estate grown in the Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley vineyards. All grapes are hand harvested, low-yielding vines from mountain heights. Serve with roasted or braised meats, lamb or duck. www.ferrari-carano.com.
Grgich Hills Estate Merlot, Napa Valley, CA. 2009. $42. This is a Cab lover’s Merlot with bright strawberry and cherry flavors, from grapes certified Biodynamic with natural and sustainable farming. From the famed Mike Grgich of the 1976 Paris Tasting that changed the world of wine and put Napa Valley on the map. Visit www.grgich.com
Mele’e Old Vine Grenache, Napa Valley, CA. 2010. $26. An iron- rich, classic Rhone Valley grape grown in the shale and limestone areas of Mendocino and Paso Robles. Deep purple with a striking garnet look and a hint of tobacco. Tuck Beckstoffer is the winery owner and winemaker from a farming legacy in Napa Valley, began by Andy Beckstoffer in 1975. www.tbwines.com.
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Russian River Sonoma, CA. 2011. $45. Elegant Pinot from a pioneer Pinot producer since 1974. Handcrafted and in limited quantities. Graceful structure. Grapes come from small lots from 6 different vineyards of converging influences. www.merryedwards.com.
Monte De Oro Synergy 65 Estate Blend, Temecula, CA. 2009. $35. Named after the original 65 families that founded the winery, this blend is really starting to earn the medals around the state, including Best of Class at the San Francisco International competition. Includes 4 Bordeaux style grapes plus a healthy dose of Zinfandel. www.montedeoro.com.
Norton Privada Private Reserve Mondoza, Arg. 2011. $18. A Bordeaux blend with an Argentina approach, this time Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec. Structured and smoky, with plum and fig notes. Long, lovely finish. Drink now through 2018. Small, carefully chosen 18,000 cases. www.norton.com.ar.
The bounty of fine wine is never more evident than in our Top Ten list for 2013. Up and down the price ladder, fine wine became more affordable as the country returned to economic stability and confidence. One proof of that report is COSTCO the largest seller of wine in the U.S. now offering “big bottle” formats, one which sold for $7,800. per bottle, (a 27 liter Fontodi from Tuscany.)
2013 was another banner harvest for West Coast wines. Both Temecula and San Diego wine countries ramped up the quality with their reds.
Resorts, restaurants and casinos spent millions on high quality wine bars and dining rooms. Wine Sommelier became an increasingly important position in the restaurant experience. This year, I had memorable experiences in Sonoma, and fell in love with the Rhone Valley and the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation in the south of France. A trip is planned. My ten are all red wines, with 2 from Napa Valley, 2 from Sonoma, 2 from Temecula, and 1 each from Oregon, Italy, France and Argentina. The ten are all of equal value and listed in alphabetical order…no ranking allowed. They entered based on an excellence scale from 1 to 5, weighing flavor, body, terroir and price to value. All had a 5. Enjoy!
Tuck Beckstoffer produces Mele’e, from St. Helena in the Napa Valley.
It’s a classic Rhone Valley style Grenache.
It’s a classic Rhone Valley style Grenache.
Castello di Bossi Chianti Classico, Tuscany It. 2009. $19. From vineyard to bottle, the utmost care with quality receives a “best Italian Sangiovese” grape award. A rich tradition is very much respected with rich, ruby red flavor. www.castellodibossi.it.
Cougar Winery Estate Montepulciano, Temecula, CA. 2010. $41. Earthy mineral bouquet at the nose sets up big Italian style flavors and a lingering finish. Captures the Tuscan style. www.cougarvineyards.com.
Domaine Serene Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley Or. 2010. $65. Awarded the top Taste of Wine for November by this column, this wine went on to be the #3 wine in the world for 2013 by Wine Spectator. Winemaker drew from 7 premium vineyards of Pinot. www.domainserene.com.
E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone, Rhone Valley, Fr. 2010. $15. The Guigal family is the largest producer in the south of France with 3.5 million cases. This one is the biggest bargain with 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache and a dash of Mourvedre. Long aging is the secret. 2010 was the best harvest in France in half a decade. www.guigal.com.
Ferrari-Carano Tresor Bordeaux Blend, Sonoma Ca. 2010. $41. Five classic Bordeaux varietals grace this premium blend, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc, estate grown in the Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley vineyards. All grapes are hand harvested, low-yielding vines from mountain heights. Serve with roasted or braised meats, lamb or duck. www.ferrari-carano.com.
Grgich Hills Estate Merlot, Napa Valley, CA. 2009. $42. This is a Cab lover’s Merlot with bright strawberry and cherry flavors, from grapes certified Biodynamic with natural and sustainable farming. From the famed Mike Grgich of the 1976 Paris Tasting that changed the world of wine and put Napa Valley on the map. Visit www.grgich.com
The 2010 Ferrari-Carano Tresor, a Bordeaux style blend from Sonoma.
Mele’e Old Vine Grenache, Napa Valley, CA. 2010. $26. An iron- rich, classic Rhone Valley grape grown in the shale and limestone areas of Mendocino and Paso Robles. Deep purple with a striking garnet look and a hint of tobacco. Tuck Beckstoffer is the winery owner and winemaker from a farming legacy in Napa Valley, began by Andy Beckstoffer in 1975. www.tbwines.com.
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Russian River Sonoma, CA. 2011. $45. Elegant Pinot from a pioneer Pinot producer since 1974. Handcrafted and in limited quantities. Graceful structure. Grapes come from small lots from 6 different vineyards of converging influences. www.merryedwards.com.
Monte De Oro Synergy 65 Estate Blend, Temecula, CA. 2009. $35. Named after the original 65 families that founded the winery, this blend is really starting to earn the medals around the state, including Best of Class at the San Francisco International competition. Includes 4 Bordeaux style grapes plus a healthy dose of Zinfandel. www.montedeoro.com.
Norton Privada Private Reserve Mondoza, Arg. 2011. $18. A Bordeaux blend with an Argentina approach, this time Cabernet, Merlot and Malbec. Structured and smoky, with plum and fig notes. Long, lovely finish. Drink now through 2018. Small, carefully chosen 18,000 cases. www.norton.com.ar.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Picnic in Wine Country
Cougar Vineyard & Winery is a great place to enjoy your picnic. Bring your own blanket or sit at one the winery’s picnic tables and enjoy lunch and wine surrounded by olive trees overlooking the vineyards. For those who forgot their lunch, the winery has deli items from Boar's Head as well as non-alcoholic products ranging from Reed's Original Ginger Brews to Virgil's Root Beer. For more information call: (951) 491-0825 or www.CougarVineyards.com
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