The Barrel Room Rolls Out New Wine Concepts – Hosts Laird Family Estate

by Frank Mangio
It’s customer first for the many happy guests who have discovered all there is to know about The Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo, a vintage wine bar and bistro that is raising the bar skyward with some grand plans for the future. They started the year our right by bringing in the legendary Laird Family Estate from Napa Valley. The last time I saw Rebecca Laird she was holding court in Del Mar at a dinner years ago. She hasn’t aged a bit but her wines have. Laird wines are simply in great demand, especially from other wineries. Confusing you say?  Not really.
 

 Rebecca Laird brought her brilliant Napa Valley wines to The Barrel Room in Rancho Bernardo.  She is shown with GM Brett Preston and Exec Chef Trevor Chappell.

After founding Laird in 1970 by buying 200 acres, her father Ken Laird and his wife enlisted the help of the one and only Robert Mondavi. He mentored them to specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.  The first few years, they did 3,000 cases, and in the boom in production in the valley that followed, wineries were coming to them to buy all the grapes they could produce. Today, the Laird empire owns 2,400 acres with 40 vineyards. They count the legendary winemaker Paul Hobbs and Merryvale/Starmont as star customers for their grapes.

I asked her about all the rain this season and the affect on the grapes. “This season the rain has been vey beneficial for the grapes, but”…she hesitated.  “Any more rain, we may have a big problem with the crop.” She wound up the presentation at The Barrel Room with a vertical flight of three years worth of her Jillian’s Blend of Cab, Merlot, Syrah and Petite Verdot:  2011, 2012 and 2013. My vote went to the 2013, a carefully prepared vintage with subtle, elegantly mixed grapes. Most of the rest of the room thought so too.

I didn’t know a lot about the Barrel Room until I witnessed the professionalism and the fun of the Laird wine dinner. The team has worked hard to make it a retail wine shop, a wine bar, full casual dining restaurant, and I would add, a source of memorable wine dinners.

The Barrel Room Executive Chef Trevor Chappell offered a main entrée of Oxtail Terrine, Espresso Elk Striploin and Braised Short Rib, to go with the vertical wine threesome of Laird Jillian’s Blend.

To match the Laird offering of a 3 vintage vertical tasting of their most popular blend, The Barrel Room came up with 3 connected entrees:  an Oxtail Terrine, an Espresso Elk Striploin and a Braised Rib. The next extraordinary wine dinner is scheduled for Tuesday March 21st at 6pm.  It’s a 90+ point Argentina Wine Dinner with Marcos Mizzau, a wine expert from the country.  He will showcase the diversity of Malbec, the signature wine from Argentina . Cost is $75. per guest.  RSVP at 858-673-7512.

I sat down with the GM, Brett Preston, who enthusiastically revealed plans for an expansion into Carmel Valley soon.  “Our new location will have a full bar, amazing patio dining and a sister concept, Brother’s Provisions, next door.  Another restaurant is close to opening.  It will be called Urge Common House and is a full service restaurant, brewery and bowling alley.”  He also confirmed that “all of our 250 + wines at The Barrel Room are also sold for guests that want to buy them for take home purchase, at a discounted price.”

The Barrel Room is in The Plaza, off Bernardo Center Drive , just east of the I-15.  Find out more at TBRSD.COM.

Cabernet Sauvignon – the Classic Red Wine

by Frank Mangio
In Napa Valley , the reviews are in for the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon harvest.  The judgment  is this is the 5th consecutive year of  exceptional wine grapes for this iconic varietal. The only regret is they didn’t get enough fruit due to 5 years of drought conditions. Well, as a Calilfornian, I can assure all that in 2017, all of our wineries will be producing more than enough wine grapes this year. The drought is over!

 For the last 12 years of writing on wine, I have marveled at how Cabernet  Sauvignon has dominated the world of wine.  With the exception of the terrible years of the” Great Recession,” Cab producers have cranked up prices and its adoring public has bought more and more.  California and Washington are America ’s Cab capitals, emulating the French Bordeaux style cabs that are the reverential  kings of the castle.  If I asked my readers for a show of hands as to whether

The 2012 vintage Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley
has been just released to rave reviews.

Cabernet is their favorite red wine, it would be Cabernet overwhelmingly.  Cabernet buyers base their purchases on the optimistic notion  that there is a greater Cabernet just over the horizon, and that perfection is just ahead with the next brand discovery, unlike most other wine varietals.  What other varietal would be so coddled and prized in a cooler for several years, maybe a decade, before being carefully opened at a birthday, anniversary or other special event.

Cabernet is one of the most tannic of red wines. The skins need aging for a certain power and elegance in the “royal” wineries that  know how to get the most out of these complex wines.  The   Napa  “country club” lineup would include:  Silver Oak, Lewis, Far Niente, Opus One, Caymus, Harlan, Hall, Joseph Carr, Chappellet, Joseph Phelps, Screaming Eagle, Shrader and Grgich in Napa Valley .  In Washington, turn to Leonetti, Pepper Bridge and Columbia Crest premiums.

The greatest vineyard producing California Cab would be To Kalon vineyard in Napa ’s Oakville , where grapes go for upwards of $60,000. a ton.  It is where Opus One is harvested, along with other very high- end Cabs.

New Cabernet releases are celebrated in Napa Valley about this time of year.  One of my contributing writers just returned from events at Far Niente and Silver Oak.  Both are estate bottled Cabernets. The 2014 Far Niente ($160.) and the 2012 Silver Oak ($125.) were both critically acclaimed.

Far Niente of Napa Valley celebrated its new release 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon at the luxurious Meritage Resort in Napa .  From left:  Executive Chef Dana Hicks, guest chef Miller McRae,
and Far Niente winemaker Nicole Marchesi.

The 2015 Far Niente was offered directly from the barrel and showed complexity and elegance. Winemaker Nicole Marchesi has crafted her talents at Far Niente since 2005 and has been chief winemaker since 2009, working with the vineyard sites and blocks to capture place and vintage excellence.

The Silver Oak release party was, as always, an original event at their Oakville winery.  It was a celebratory day of new release Cabernet, food pairings and bottle signings with the proprietors, the Duncan family. Oakville is considered central to Napa Valley world-class Cabs. Over 80 wineries dot the district with over 5 thousand acres under vine including Silver Oak and Far Niente.  Others include Heitz Cellars, Paradigm, Plumpjack, Girard, Nickel and Nickel, Turnbull, Ramey, Screaming Eagle, Cakebread, Bay, Opus One and Robert Mondavi.

You can almost always get a Cabernet  Sauvignon in a blend as most Napa Valley blends are Bordeaux style, which mandates a Cab as lead varietal.  If an authentic single vineyard 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is your style, be prepared to pay up for the real deal. Visit farniente.com and silveroak.com.

Here and There in the Wine World

by Frank Mangio
2017 is off to a speedy wet start for wine events, like our “atmospheric river” of seasonal rains here on the west coast. Word from the Napa Valley is that flooding is causing great concern for the 2017 vintage. On the bright side, the 6 year drought is done and over with in California .

You have to know the rainy season is getting extreme when rain is in its 3rd week in the Palm Springs desert in Southern California, where I spent time with my close friend Mike Grgich, the pioneer winemaker who created the foundation for Napa Valley wine greatness.
Grgich has been my hero since I began writing on wine in 2005.

Wine columnist Frank Mangio visits with Napa Valley wine pioneer
Mike Grgich and samples his new release 2013 Merlot.

His rise in the 60’s and 70’s as a premier winemaker is well known. This year Grgich and family are celebrating their 40th anniversary  since founding Grgich Hills Estate in the Rutherford district in 1977. His current release 2013 Merlot is one to taste. ($43.)  Consistent sunshine and temperatures  created a complex, excellently balanced wine.  As Grgich determined, “this is a Cabernet lover’s Merlot.”

Croatian born and raised, Grgich and his daughter Violet, established a Croatian winery in 1996, Grgic’ Vina , overlooking the Adriatic Sea at Dubrovnik. See more at grgich.com.

How long can wine last once the cork is opened?
Like many wine topics, this one is subject to a lot of discussion.  Variables abound.  The easy answer is drink it all as soon as it’s opened, preferably with a friend. With a standard .75 ltr. bottle, the rule of thumb is 3 days before the oxygen intrusion begins to turn the taste toward vinegar. Use a pump and stopper to get the air out of the bottle before it accumulates and you can extend the time in a bottle to four days.  If the bottle has a twist cap, you can get a week out of it. Another thing that will help longevity is to keep it in a refrigerator after opening and buy quality wines whose tannins will help preserve its life to a week.

Did you know that one of the foremost Port and Sherry style wineries is in Vista, in San Diego County ?

Eric Brooking took us back to pre-prohibition days in the city of Vista and other North San Diego hubs that were making wine, especially fortified wine.  With a climate and topography that was distinctly Mediterranean and looked for all the world like a hillside in Portugal , some 120
wineries were producing  fortified wine before Prohibition.  When that hideous law swept across America , most of the wineries in San Diego County were wiped out and swept into the history books.

 Brooking Vineyards in Vista is an oasis of top quality Cream Sherry and Port style

wines, one of which, the Old Fashioned Angelica,
won gold at the San Diego County Fair.

Eric Brooking and his family survived and mastered the technique of fortification, where grapes grown in a warm Mediterranean climate like Vista , were fermented and interrupted by the addition of grape brandy, retaining the natural sugars. The grapes used are Tempranillos, those used in Portugal and Spain , generic homes for Sherry and Port.  He also makes Muscat Canelli Angelica on his 6 acre estate. Wines are $49. per bottle. See brookingvineyards.com

Tasting the History of BV. Part 3 of the Napa Valley Wine Journey

by Frank Mangio
It’s been a long, prosperous journey for this now world famous wine growing region, since Charles Krug established Napa Valley ’s first  commercial winery in 1861.  His success opened the door to a wave of growth, and by 1889, there were some 140 wineries cranking out bottles including well known names that we are familiar with , like Beringer, Inglenook and Schramsbrerg.

Beaulieu Vineyards (better known as BV) was founded in 1900 by George de Latour, one of the early pioneers who recognized the Napa Valley ’s potential to make great wine, especially in and around Rutherford.

Jeffrey Stambor is now the  winemaker for BV wines located in Rutherford, in  the Napa Valley .

In 1938 Latour  traveled to France to find a  winemaker who could bring the expertise of European style winemaking to the Napa Valley .   He found Andre Tchelistchef, an aristocratic Russian, who would revolutionize winemaking in the valley with techniques that are still used today.

Jeffrey Stambor, the 3rd and current winemaker for BV, recalled his time with Tchelistchef , who had created the Georges Latour Private Reserve Caberrnet Sauvignon, one of the most revered Cabernets in Napa Valley .  I sat with Stambor at a private  Reserve  Retropective Tasting of 6 vintages of these wines starting with the most collected of the Lartours, the 2002.

“The greatest benefit of aging wines is the development of complexity,” he said.  “The style of the wine by the winemaker is passed on with time and vintage improvement.” See BVWines.com.

Shari and Garen Staglin of Staglin Family Vineyard, founders
of the Music Festival for Brain Health.

 Of the 700 or so wineries in Napa Valley, 95% are family owned.  None reach out more to the greater world than the Staglin Family. On day 5 of my journey to the valley of the greatest grapes, I found myself in the middle of a miracle:  the 21st Music Festival for Brain Health. Experiencing its 21st year, it’s an event that has raised 221 million dollars for the research and treatment of brain illness.  Most wineries raise a glass of their wine and see a lovely liquid that they could grow with.

The Staglins saw it as a means to grow a national movement to improve life for people with brain disorders, making a difference in making the road to recovery a possibility. The Staglin Family, Shari and Garen, with son Brandon and daughter Shannon, presented to guests: a  Brain Symposium, a Wine Reception of only the very best of Napa Valley in their Caves, a Concert Performance by Melissa Etheridge and a VIP Dinner. This year they would raise 4.1 million dollars from this event. See staglinfmily.com.

Another remarkable winery to place on your must see list next time you visit Napa Valley is HALL Wines, a high end producer of premium wines. It has a sister winery, WALT Wines in Sonoma with some of the best Pinot Noir I have ever tasted, that come from the Willamette Valley in Oregon and the Anderson Valley, Sonoma Coast, Napa Valley and the Central Coast of California. My recommendation would be the 2013  WALT “Gap’s Crown” from the Sonoma Coast ( $75.); fruit forward, bountiful berry flavor with along finish.  HALL Wines in Napa Valley is an art lover’s delight with modern art and architecture. The wine to enjoy and fall in love with is the 2012 Kathryn HALL  Cabernet sauvignon, named after the owner. ($150.)  It is rewarded with a stunning 97 points… perfect balance and elegance. hallwines.com.

Castello di Amarosa is a city within a winery.  Built as an Italian renaissance castle, it has 8 stories of stone, including a great hall and grand barrel room, most of it underground.  On the night I visited, it had a Grape Stomp Competition with dozens of six member teams squashing those poor little grapes, to be the first ones to fill a bottle with juice.  It was hilarious. See castellodiamarosa.com.

Some readers have asked that a list of favorite Napa Valley wines be presented at a future column. We will do that soon . You can learn lots more about the 2015 harvest by visiting napavalleyvintners.com.

Wine Bytes
Tuscany Restaurant La Costa has the Peter Marin Jazz Quartet Sat. Nov. 7th at 7:30pm.  Tickets $25. advance, $30. day of show.  Call 760-929-8111.

Firenze Trattoria in Encinitas welcomes Grgich Hills Estate
Wines for a wine dinner Tues. Nov. 10th at 6pm.  Master winemaker Kevin Vecchirelli joins with a presentation.  $95.  pp.  RSVP at 760-944-9000.

Chandler’s along the coast in Carlsbad, presents its Executive Chef and a Truffles 5 course dinner experience Nov. 5th, 6th and 7th.  Italian chef Fabrizio Facchini presides.  Call 760-683-5500 for an RSVP.

Encinitas Wine Merchants, in the Kohl’s Center in Encinitas, has a 20% off on all wines in the bar, on a six bottles mix or match program.  Get the details at 760-407-4265.

Napa Valley Wine Pours at Rancho Valencia

by Frank Mangio
It’s not every week we can get up to Napa Valley , where wine royalty reigns supreme and Cabernet Sauvignon is the King of the castle. Only 4% of the wine grapes in California come from Napa Valley , one of the smallest wine regions in the world. Yet it is hardly tiny in sales.  Napa Valley generates more than 13 billion dollars annually, 1/3 of all the wine sold in the U.S.

Next week, I will be visiting some 14 wineries spread out over 30 miles of hills and valleys, capped by a renowned benefit event, with premium wines offered for tasting that are legendary around the world.

Linda Neal pours her 2012 Tierra Roja Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for TASTE OF WINE’S Frank Mangio at a Napa Road Show at Rancho Valencia Resort, in Rancho Santa Fe.

Recently, Rancho Valencia , a favorite resort in Rancho Santa Fe, under the expert wine guidance of Sommelier Mitch Price and Food & Beverage Director Justin Wilson, brought in a select group of Napa Valley Vintners on two closely knit occasions, as a kickoff to California Wine month for September.  Each date gave the public an opportunity to go face to face with stunningly big beautiful wines, mostly from the great 2012 harvest. This was all the more important to wine lovers, because most, if not all of these wineries are not open to the walk-in public at their tasting rooms in Napa Valley.

Wines featured included:  Grgich Hills, Hill Family, Staglin Family, Swanson Vineyards, Arrow&Branch, Neal Family, Spring Mountain , St. Supery and the biggest story of the gatherings, Tierra Roja Cabernet Sauvignon of Oakville.

Linda Neal, the owner, did the honors, and poured her Cabernet treasures.  She was kind enough to include her sold out 2011 vintage from her personal collection. But all eyes were turning to the current 2012 Cabernet, a brilliantly crafted master wine from winemaker David DeSante.  He was quoted as saying that “the palate races along with full and robust flavors of dark plums, cedar, cocoa and espresso, to an ethereal finish with toffee-like richness.”  Only 225 cases have been made.(Suggested retail at the winery $145.)  It is a distinct sensation of wine refinement.  Review this wine at tierraroja.com.

It’s Grape Stomping Season in Temecula
 Some wineries in Temecula have some great fun coming in the next weeks, at the Grape Stomp events.  South Coast Winery is planning the Blessing of the Wines, a Grape Stomp and Harvest Festival, Sat. Sept. 20th from 4 to 7pm.  Dining, dancing and games included for $55. each.  Go to southcoastwinery.com for details. Lorimar Vineyards & Winery has its Grape Stomp & Harvest Sat. Sept. 26th from 4 to 8pm.  in the Barrel Room. Live music, hay rides, dinner, wine and a keepsake wine glass for $65. per person.  Call 951-694-6699x4 for tickets.

Grape Stomps are coming to Temecula wineries in the next few weeks.

 Ponte Family Estate has its 13th annual Grape Stomp Sun. Sept. 27th at 4pm.  Prices from $86. to $95. Team competition, gourmet food stations, wine, live music.  Connect at shop.pontewinery.com.

Wiens Family Cellars has a Wiensfest on Sun. Sept. 27th from 4 to 8pm.  German traditional food, music, wine and beer.  Try the Octoberfest costume contest and grape stomping.  Cost is $40.
See wienscellars.com.

Wine Bytes
San Diego County Restaurant week is Sept. 20th to 27th. Over 180 restaurants are discounting their menus. The theme is Go Local. Check out which ones at sandiegorestaurantweek.com.  You can also RSVP at this site.

Il Fornaio in Del Mar is presenting a Hahn Family Wine Dinner Thurs. Sept. 24th at 6pm.  Hahn rep Peter Pons will lead guests on a tour of the wine portfolio.  Highlight will be a Branzino Intrecciato ( Mediterranean Seabass) served with a 2013 Hahn Meritage.  $55. cost.  RSVP at 858-755-8876.

Vittorio’s of Carmel Valley has a Robert Hall wine dinner Thurs. Sept. 24th at 6pm with a 4 course dinner plus dessert. $49.50 pp.  Call 858-538-5884 for a place.

Mixing it up with Wine Blending

by Frank Mangio
In my many years of interviewing winemakers on their favorite winemaking experience, it’s almost always blending. Blending is the art of winemaking, an exclusive work for the world of wine to judge. Several finished wine varietals are brought together with the final creation more than the sum of the parts.  Three of the more sought-after blending styles are Bordeaux France (all their wines are blends, with Cabernet Sauvignon the lead grape); Rhone Valley France with mostly Syrah; and Super Tuscan where blends are mostly built around Tuscany ’s Sangiovese grape.

I have talked to many wine sommeliers and thumbed through the national wine sales reports, and blends are one of the fastest growing wine categories in the U.S.

The historic, traditional guide for blenders is the Bordeaux model.  This famous district in France long ago developed production methods that wove Cabernet, Merlot and Cab Franc grapes from the finest vineyard sites, with aging in small oak barrels.  Wineries were classified by the government as premier “first growth” or “grand cru” wines.  What evolved was a model for the world’s wineries that ventured into blended brands.  Other Bordeaux style grapes included:  Malbec, Petite Verdot and Carmenere.

Fast forward to the Napa Valley in the late 70’s when rising wine star Robert Mondavi  caught the attention of French Grand Cru baron Phillippe de Rothschild.  The two wine heavyweights combined their genius to create Opus One, the first big-brand blend in Napa Valley , with Cabernet from the legendary Oakville To Kalon Vineyard.

To this day, Opus One is viewed as a masterpiece in fine wine blending. Others followed with their own creations, applying their own brush strokes to their own canvas.

In Napa Valley in the year 2000, the harvest was difficult  for Dave Phinney, so he took small amounts of Zinfandel, Cabernet, Syrah and old vine Charbono and created a big, bold blend the he called The Prisoner.  That year he made 385 cases.  In 2008, he sold the brand, producing some 85,000 cases.  That was considered to be the beginning of the red blend trend.  In the south, Justin Baldwin of Paso Robles fell in love with Bordeaux blends, so much so that he vowed he could do just as well, maybe better, with the unique soil content and coastal breezes of west “Paso.”

Founded in 1981, the turning point for Justin Winery was 2000 when the 1997 ISOSCELES was named one of the top ten wines in the world by Wine Spectator.  Most recently, the 2011 ISOSCELES ( $72.) was awarded double gold as the Best Bordeaux Blend at the San Francisco International Wine Competition.  The newest release, 2012, consists of:  77% Cabernet, 12% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc.

The “Super Tuscans” of Italy are generally a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot and occasionally Syrah. A leader is Piero Antinori and his Tignanello ($89.95).  He adds 15% Cabernet to Sangiovese for power and density.

Wine  Bytes
West Steak and Seafood in Carlsbad presents a Silver Oak and Twomey Wine dinner Thurs. May 7th at 6:30pm.  These great Napa Valley wines will be paired with some of Executive Chef Arbella’s best menu achievements in a 5 course dinner in the West Room.  $150. ea.  RSVP at 760-930-9100.

The Harvest of the Decade

by Frank Mangio
In 2010 and 2011, the struggles of wineries up and down the state resonated in all corners of the industry.

The weather, front and center, was a force to be reckoned with and it sorted the winemaker pros from the rest of the pack. Too much rain, too much cold, too much heat was the hue and cry, while our friends in France and Europe took advantage of better weather conditions to gain an advantage in reviews and sales. Their current wine releases show bigger imports into the U.S.  The crop for 2012 will change all that.

 A Napa Valley worker sorts a bin of Cabernet grapes to hand remove sticks and leaves,  preparing grapes for the crusher.

From Temecula to Washington, west coast vineyards and wineries are grinning from ear to ear about the results.  The bad news this year is confined to France and Italy.  French wine production has slipped 20% to the lowest in 40 years with the double whammy of bad weather and disease, especially in the Champagne and Beaujolais regions.  Italy had a steaming hot spell.  White sparkling wine grapes suffered a 20% drop in Italy’s most popular sparkling wine varietals. Results are no better in Piedmont, Tuscany, Puglia, Veneto and other grape growing regions.  Add in rising labor, processing costs and the recession, and this year could rival the terrible 2002 crop.

New world wines on the coast will be the best in years.  Washington re-ports the completed growing season was near-perfect. The quality was exceptional and quantities were way up.  Up in Spring Mountain, Napa Valley, they loved the clockwork consistency of the season.  The fruit was beautiful and abundant. Perfect clusters were the norm.

Over in the Dry Creek District of Sonoma, Jim Pedroncelli of Pedroncelli Winery wrapped up the 85th harvest with a “bounty of grapes, and a seamless year.  We were truly blessed to have such a great year,” he joyfully asserted.  His yields were up 20%.

Aaron Piotter is the red Wine maker for Ferrari-Carano, not far from Pedroncelli.  He calls it a “fantastic year, after two very challenging years. We got more heat  but it was never too hot, and it was a longer growing season. There was a huge crop of white grapes, the merlot, zin and  sangiovese were up.”

Aaron Piotter, the winemaker for premium winery Ferrari-Carano in Sonoma, praised the 2012 wine

grape growing season as one of the best in a decade.

Paso Robles reported some spectacular fall weather allowing extra ripeness and development into the vines.  Cass Winery has 150 acres planted, just east of the Templeton Gap.  It specializes in Rhone varietals like Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Marsanne and Rousanne. Owner Steve Cass is expecting more grapes for his hand picked estate varietals, now about 35% branded with the Cass name.  The rest is sold off elsewhere in the market.

Jim Hart can speak for Temecula Wine Country and the Ramona Wine Trail in San Diego County.  He makes wine for both Hart Winery, one of Temecula’s oldest, and Milagro Farm, the biggest winery in the Ramona Valley.  “Both wine countries are similar in soil and weather conditions. What grows well in Temecula, does well in San Diego County, and this harvest will turn out to be the best in years.  We are very excited about the crop.”

All this evidence augurs well for the west coast 2012 vintage.  The juice still needs to go through fermenting, aging and bottling and no one can really know, but when you see this great year on the shelves in a couple of years, I would advise you consider buying it by the case.

Wine Bytes
Bacchus Wine Market downtown San Diego has a Rhone Valley Tasting Sat. Nov. 24 from 2 to 8:30pm.  Cost is $20. for 7 samples of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and others.  Call 619-236-0005 for details.

At Vintana in Escondido, a DAOU Wine dinner is planned for Sun. Nov. 25 at 6pm.  Wine makers Georges and Daniel Daou will be there for the 5 course dinner with their wines.  Cost is $85. pp.  Call 760-745-7777 for an RSVP.

333 Pacific in Oceanside has a Hendry Ranch wine dinner set for Tues. Nov. 27 at 6:30pm.  Special guest is owner Mike Hendry.  $75. ea.  Call 760-433-3333 for reservations.

South Coast Winery in Temecula unveils its Tree Lighting Celebration in their courtyard Sun. Nov. 25 at 6pm, with holiday music.  Details at 866-994-6379 x 7210.

The legendary Silver Oak Napa Valley and Sonoma wines will be poured at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido Thurs. Dec. 6, from 6 to 8pm.  $20. cost includes a selection of gourmet cheeses. RSVP at 760-745-1200.

Harvest On Howell Mountain

by Frank Mangio
In our last report on Napa Valley wines, most wineries were happy to see the progress of the fruit as it experienced “Veraison,” the changing of the leaves and grapes to a rich color, signaling the onset of harvest.  This latest blast of heat we are experiencing seals the deal, especially on Howell Mountain, the first AVA subappellation  in Napa Valley and an  impressive elevation for growing wine grapes beginning at 1,400 feet above the fog. This means warmer mornings and cooler afternoon breezes.   This is Cab Country, concentrated and structured.

Howell Mountain, the highest elevation in Napa Valley rises to 2,400 feet and is home to Cabernet, Merlot and Zinfandel. The Cakebread Dancing Bear Vineyard is shown.

TASTE OF WINE was struck by its elegant and timeless qualitieswith a Mountain Wine distinctive flavor , characterized by pepper and warm spices.  The grapes are small, tightly clustered and powerfully concentrated for intense fruit.  They develop thick skins that yield rich tannins. A closer look at the terroir reveals rich, red volcanic soils  with naturally superb iron, enriching the grapes in Howell’s 600 + acres planted.  Here are some names to know:

Robert Craig Winery
Robert and Lynn Craig have been producing distinctive Cabernets for over 20 years.  Their ’96
Cab brought fame when Wine Spectator called it the hot new winery. It’s been a top 50 Cab producer ever since.

  

The winemaker since 2008 at the 20 acre Robert Craig Winery on Howell Mountain is Stephen Tebb.

Be sure to taste their 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet with 85% Cab, 6% Petit Verdot, 7% Merlot, and 2% Malbec.  It recently bagged 96 points at Wine Advocate.  www.robertcraigwine.com.

Charles Krug Winery.  The Peter Mondavi Family has staked their reputation on the 9 acres planted to Cabernet on their 20 acre parcel and the accolades are pouring in on this ’07 Howell Mountain Rocky Ridge Vineyard Cab, their first release from their Howell Mountain Vineyard. www.charleskrug.com.

O’Shaughnessy Estate Winery.  Owner Betty O’Shaunessy began her winery in 1990 in Oakville and over the next few years more vineyards on Howell and Mt. Veeder.  Founding winemaker Sean Capiaux is still master winemker, creating world class Cabernet. with deep roots on the  hillside property.  A favorite is the 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet offering excellent structure and deep color.  www.oshaughnessy.com.

Betty O’Shaughnessy at harvest.

Duckhorn Vineyards.  Duckhorn has its headquarters winery in St. Helena on the floor of Napa Valley, but their vineyard that has the signature 2007 Cabernet is midway up Howell Mountain.  They have sourced cab here since 1989.  The current release has 68% Cab and  32% Merlot.  To further encourage complexity, this wine was bottle-aged one year longer than normal prior to release.  www.duckhorn.com.

Cakebread Cellars was founded in 1973 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread.  The current winemaker is Julianne Laks, only the 3rd winemaker in 35 years.  Their Cabernets are full-throttle wonderful.  Their Howell Mountain Dancing Bear ranch is a favorite, with most applause reserved for the 2007 with 22 months in French Oak. The mix is 80% Cab, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc.  www.cakebread.com.

You can experience mountain wines from Howell Mountain at a Harvest Celebration in Napa Valley’s Yountville, Saturday November 3 from 1 to 4pm at the V Wine Cellar.  $35. pp. advance tickets for 17 wineries plus Chef’s tasting menu.  Call 707-965-2665 or visit www.howellmountain.org.

Wine Bytes
PAON in Carlsbad presents a Napa/Sonoma Tasting in the Tasting Bar, Thurs. Sept. 27 thru Wed. Oct. 3. Six one ounce glasses for $16. Check for names at 760-729-7377.

Meritage Wine Market in Encinitas has Lobsterfest 2012 Sat. Sept. 29 from 6 to 9pm.  Advance tix required at $100. ea.  This is an old fashioned Maine Lobster Boil with all the trimmings with lots of wines.  Call now at 760-479-2500.

Ponte Winery in Temecula rolls out its Grape Stomp Sun. Sept. 30 from 4 to 9pm.  Cost is $95. for a Buffet Dinner, and Dance.  Stomps are team mate competition for prizes.  Call 877-314-WINE.

The RB Historical Society brings its 2nd annual wine tasting, music and food fest to Bernardo Winery, Sun. Sept. 30 from Noon to 4pm.  Four live bands will play. Beer and wine from area breweries and vineyards.  Tickets $20. ea. or at the door for $25.  Call 858-775-5788.

Pop Open These Wines!

by Frank Mangio

Traveling the length and breadth of California for the past 3 months of 2011 has brought me to over 60 venues, tasting over 1,500 wines. I evaluate all tastes on a 1 to 5 rating, from bad to excellent. Flavor, place and price are chief factors in the selections. Prices shown are suggested retail. These are my recommended Excellent 10:

Artesa Cabernet, 2005, Napa Valley 63%/Sonoma 37%. $15. A Cab blend of two world-class growing grounds… aged 2 years in French Oak.

Concannon Conservancy Petite Sirah, 2007, Livermore Valley, CA. $8. Incredible buy. America’s first Petite Sirah winery. Full bodied cherry flavor, rich to the finish.

Le Machiole Bolgheri Rosso, 2008, Italy. $32.99. A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet, 15% Syrah and 5% Sangiovese. Dark, rich fruit with that Italian minerality that showcases this mama earth vino.

Markham Merlot, 2006, Napa Valley CA. $16. Merlot is very much alive and Markham deserves credit for this exceptional quality red.

Niner Twisted Spur Syrah/Merlot/Cab Franc/Petite Sirah, 2007, Paso Robles CA. $25.

The artistry of leading California winemaker Amanda Cramer is perfectly balanced fruit. Lovely complexity.

Ravenswood, a big crowd-pleaser at the recent Zinfandel Festival in San Francisco, is considered a pioneer in this varietal.

Ravenswood Zinfandel, 2008, Lodi CA. $16. Winemaker/owner Joel Peterson produces wines from many vineyards and makes over 800,000 cases of red wine. His major skill is presenting each wine as handcrafted with flavorful artistry.

Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc, Napa Valley CA. $ 11. Our only white wine entry, Fume Blanc was coined by the master himself. It has a slightly citrus quality to tweek the palate; same as Sauvignon Blanc. Racy and refreshing.

Seghesio Cortina Zinfandel, 2008, Sonoma CA. $35. The north end of Sonoma holds lots of gravely loam soil that the Seghesio Family added to their estate wines in 1957. Dry Creek is a timeless appellation where most of the Old Vine Zin vineyards live.

Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir, 2008, Dundee Hills, Oregon. $38. A marvelous example of an old world style of Pinot, in the best Burgundian tradition. This mystical growing ground is the stuff that the queen of red wines thrives in. Place it into a 16 month hibernation in old oak and you have pure Pinot, Sokol Blosser style.

Thornton Winery Syrah, 2007, Temecula Valley, CA. $24. The aroma and taste of the Rhone Valley, Thornton has captured what the Temecula Valley does best. Velvety tannins enhance big-bodied fruit with layers of berry and a touch of mocha.

Enjoy these latest release wines. My picks for the first quarter of 2011.

Getting Caught Up in the Wine World

Wine sales are recorded for last year and once again Chardonnay is the leading varietal with 2 billion in sales and 22% of total sales.

Cabernet Sauvignon comes in 2nd at 1.35 billion and 15% of sales, according to the International Wine Guild. Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio is next, with Merlot holding on in 4th place and Pinot Noir 5th.

Chardonnay and Cabernet still hold on to

1st and 2nd place in wine sales in the U.S.

The fastest growing sales increases are coming from Riesling and Pinot Noir, with Italy’s Sangiovese coming in 3rd. Italy is the top importer, selling 30% of all imported wines.

Veteran San Diego Chef Jeff Rossman and his long-time restaurant in Hillcrest, Terra, have re-located to a sleek bistro style dining establishment on El Cajon Boulevard in La Mesa called Terra American Bistro which should be ready next month. Jeff will emphasize even more, his farm-to-table format. The décor will feature a “living wall” garden. He recently published “From Terra’s Table: New American Food Fresh From Southern California’s Organic Farms.”

China is the next hot market for wine. The monied crowd consider wine drinking to be Western, modern and cool. The sales in Hong Kong are double that of New York and London combined.

Check out www.wineanddinedeals.com, chock full of wine and dine news. It’s run by Ron James who used to do it for Sign On San Diego. You’ll find what you need for that next happy hour and more.

Wine Bytes

§ A Tuscan Night with Banfi Wines and dinner at Vigilucci’s in Encinitas is planned for Wed. March 23 starting at 6:30pm. Banfi will have a presentation by Educational Director Sharron McCarthy. Wines range from Pinot Grigio to Brunello di Montalcino. $65. cost. RSVP at 760-942-7332.

§ A Stags Leap Wine Dinner is planned for Thurs. March 24 from 6pm to 9pm at the Marriott Laguna Cliffs in Dana Point. Chef Erasmo has a 7 course feast accompanied by 6 different varietals of Stags Leap. Cost is $100. ea. Call 949-661-5000.

§ Mistral at Loews Coronado is presenting a 3,000 bottle wine cellar seminar event with an hors d’oeuvres reception followed by a 4 course dinner with paired wines, Thurs. March 24 from 6 to 9pm. $75. pp. Reserve at 619-424-4000.

Wineries are on the Road Again

by Frank Mangio
Call it a sign of the times or more wineries than ever taking to the road to show and offer their wines, but the invitations are pouring in to attend well-orchestrated events spotlighting wine countries in California and elsewhere.

A few favorites came to Southern California in the last couple of weeks: Family Winemakers of California and the Napa Valley Vintners, showcased in San Diego, and the Howell Mountain Wine Tasting in Los Angeles.

Family Winemakers represents hundreds of small production wineries in California who pride themselves in seeking the highest quality out of their grapes. The association, led by Veronica Barclay, leads the group in keeping a level playing field for its members. “We recently were able to help defeat the proposed per-drink taxation that no doubt would have meant a price increase for most California wines,” she said.
Michael Riboli of Riboli Family Estates, pours his new releases at the Family Wine Event in Del Mar.

Some wines that I favored included: Riboli Family 2007 Petite Sirah, ZD and its 2007 Pinot Noir Carneros, O’Shaughnessy Estate’s 2006 Cabernet Blend, Tercero’s 2007 Granache and Tablas Creek with its 2007 Granache Paso Robles.

The day after Family Winemakers, we joined the Howell Mountain Wine Tasting at the largest car museum in the world, the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. This appellation is at the northern heights of Napa Valley. All wineries are at 1,400 feet or higher. Cooler spring temperatures and hotter summers produce fruit that has a greater balance between sugar and acidity, achieving complex flavors. Some names to know include: Outpost with its 2007 Howell Mountain Zinfandel, Cakebread Cellars 2006 Dancing Bear Ranch Cabernet and Highlands 2005 Howell Mountain Cabernet.

Barry Waitte of Tamber Bey, left, shows Taste Of Wine Columnist Frank Mangio his latest Napa Valley 2007 Cabernet.

Just a few days ago, the Napa Valley Vintners came in to San Diego with over 125 wineries. The young and legendary were side by side declaring themselves still the champs with their world-beating Cabernets and other quality contenders.

Standouts included: Tamber Bey and its 2007 Yountville Cabernet, Whitehall Lane had a beautiful 2006 Merlot in a stylish new glass top, Darioush also had a 2006 Merlot that stood out ( could it be that Merlot is getting back its mojo?) and Staglin with its 2006 Rutherford Cabernet was drawing a big crowd.

Certainly I rank the Napa Valley and its 400 or so wineries, producing 4% of the wines in California but 34% of sales, still the most renowned in the golden state.

Wine Bytes
San Diego State University has a Dynamic Wine and Food pairing class Saturday Apr. 10, 9-4:30pm at the Wine and Culinary Center on Harbor Drive, San Diego. It’s part of their certification program. For up to date information call 619-594-6924.

Belle Marie Winery in Escondido is hosting a Healthy Wine and Food seminar Sat. Apr. 10, 2 – 4pm. It includes wines samples and recipes to take home. Cost is $25. Details and RSVP at 760-796-7557.

Café Merlot at the Bernardo Winery in Rancho Bernardo is celebrating a Grand Re-Opening Tues. Apr. 13 from 11-4pm. Free tastes of the current menu plus new samples with free Champagne and other beverages. Prizes, giveaways and raffles for free classes and wine dinners top the day. RSVP at 858-592-7785.

Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido has an Ecluse Wine Tasting Thurs. Apr. 15 from 5:30 – 7:30pm. It’s from the west side of Paso Robles featuring Rhone varietals. $10. in advance. $15. at the door. RSVP at 760-745-1200.

Rhythm and Vine, San Diego’s music, wine and food festival to benefit Boys and Girls Clubs is set for Sat. Apr. 17 at 6pm at Escondido’s Westfield North County Mall. $75. in advance, $100. at the door. Special VIP pricing. www.rhythmandvine.org.

Meet the Chefs of Del Mar is Sun. Apr. 18 from 1 - 4pm at the Hilton Del Mar. 15 different restaurants and their celebrity chefs participate to benefit Casa de Amparo. Fine wines and champagne included in the $125. ticket. VIP treatment for $185. Check it out at 760-754-5500 or visit www.casadeamparo.org.

Tuscany in the Desert

by Frank Mangio
It was a sunny, temperate day in Palm Desert recently, adding a lively garden atmosphere to the driveway leading to the grand entrance of the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa. I was there to renew my friendship with Paul Bologna, the wine sommelier for the restaurants, and to review the lush Italian style Tuscany Ristorante that sits by a lake within the property. Paul was guiding guests through a holiday wine tasting of California and Oregon Pinot Noirs at the boat dock.

His “Pinot Showdown” pitted Oregon names like Domaine Serene and Chehalem Reserve against California’s Sequana and MacPhail Toulouse. All were lovely picks, but I am partial to Pinot in Oregon so my favorite was the ’05 Chehalem from the Willamette Valley.

Tuscany’s menu, with its Northern Italian cuisine, is the creation of Executive Chef Oliver Wolf. He contributes to the relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere with a lovely selection of wines and fresh, seasonal flavors. The venerable Lobster Ravioli is chef’s favorite and has been on the Tuscany menu since its inception.

Tuscany Executive Chef Oliver Wolf, 2nd from the right, with his kitchen staff, prepares a menu of the finest flavors in the desert at the JW Marriott Desert Springs.

When you go, you must ask for Elena Sembenini for table service. She has been with the ristorante for 18 years. Her presentation is show business quality as she guides her diners through the history of each menu item. It is classic Italian. She personally selected my wine, Castel Ciocondo Frescobaldi 2004 Brunello di Montalcino. Its elegance cannot be overstated.

The wine list, a world tour of all that is superb, touches all budgets and is a credit to the selection decisions of Paul Bologna.

Life is beautiful when it’s spent dining at Tuscany Ristorante at JW Marriot’s Desert Springs. www.desertsprings.com.


What’s in your Cooler?
Keeping wine for years, to open and enjoy at another time, was the last thing I thought I would do when I began collecting my knowledge and thoughts about the qualities of great wine. After a while I began to realize that some red wines do get more magnificent with age.

They become like prized possessions, stored away developing flavors that would be unknown without years of aging.
Old world red wines, whether from the country of origin or a new world adopted country, do best when aged. These are big in tannins, those character-building components of the skins and seeds of grapes that make wine live longer.

My wine storage and coolers hold about 300 bottles of reds, the oldest being 10 years old. All will be consumed as I don’t believe in “collecting wine” just for the sake of name-dropping. Tuscany Italy and Napa Valley California are the wine countries I favor. Varietals I prefer to keep in storage for increased body and flavor include: Cabernet, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico, Tempranillo, Barolo, Barbaresco, Syrah, many blends from France, Super Tuscans from Italy, Sonoma, Napa Valley, Paso Robles and Temecula.

My prize wine, until I drink it, is a Sassicaia Super Tuscan.

A couple of last thoughts on storing wine: Always keep the bottles laid down horizontally to keep the cork moist, and keep a record of what you have, when you bought it and exactly where it is stored. Salute!


Wine Bytes
San Antonio Winery in downtown Los Angeles has a wine seminar luncheon, Understanding Bordeaux Varietals, on Sat. March 20 from 1 to 4pm. Call 323-223-1401 for pricing and details.

The 9 DePortola Trail Wineries of Temecula are presenting a Zinfandel and Pasta Fest Sat. and Sun. March 20 and 21 from 11 to 5pm. Each winery has pasta, wine and a logo glass for guests. $45. fee. Tickets at the wineries or access www.deportolawinetrail.com.

West Steak, Seafood and Spirits in Carlsbad is hosting the Caymus Napa Valley Family of Wines Mon. March 22 at 6:30pm. Enjoy a five-course dinner featuring seared Prime Angus Filet Mignon paired with Caymus Wines. $95. ea. RSVP at 760-930-9100.

BICE Restaurant in the Gaslamp District downtown San Diego celebrates several winemakers from Italy with a 4 course dinner paired with Chianti Classico, Barbaresco, Barolo, Montepulciano and other Italian districts, Tues. March 23 from 7 to 10pm. $80. pp. RSVP at 619-239-2423.

The Napa Valley Vintners will be well representated at a wine tasting at Fleming’s Prime Steakhoue in La Jolla on Thurs. March 25 from 6 to 8:30pm. Enjoy small bites and big wines with winemakers. $45. ea. Contact Fleming’s at 858-535-0078.

Howell Mountain: Where it’s at in Napa Valley

by Frank Mangio
Millions of wine lovers, touristy types and California back-country drivers are driven to explore a revered 44,000 acres of wineries ands vineyards known as the Napa Valley . It makes only 4% of the wines in California , but produces 20% of wine sales in this state. Its reputation really took off when Robert Mondavi established his Robert Mondavi Winery. The rich tastes and ripe tannins of the signature Cabernet Sauvignon resemble the Bordeaux wine making area of France , and has demonstrated and was judged, to be superior to the French version.

Highway 29, which cuts through the Valley and routes the traveler to some 400 wineries and 700 grape growers, is a miniature Interstate 5 with traffic woes increasing to the boiling point.

Those in the know have known for some time that the Silverado Trail, which parallels Highway 29 to the east, is a more beautiful, pristine route that takes the traveler to some of the best brands in Napa Valley . Its crown jewel is Howell Mountain , a gentle, rural incline which begins at the 1,400 foot level. It also happens to be the fog-line boundary. Any grapes grown above that level are subject to sunnier days and cooler nights, the holy grail for excellence in wines. The soil is rockier and porous allowing for drainage of the heavier rainfall that they experience. The bottom line is a rich complexity and flavor.
The view from Viader, one of the wineries at the base of Howell Mt. It makes superb examples of Cabernet & Cab Franc.

The Howell Mountain appellation was the first to be recognized as a distinct growing region within the Napa Valley . The family style wineries often have small, hard-to-obtain quantities and are respected for their Cabs and Zins.

The Howell Mountain Wine Tasting for the public and the trade is traveling to Los Angeles and the Peterson Auto Museum on Wilshire Boulevard Monday March 15 from 2 to 6pm . More than 25 select wineries will be pouring. It will be a rare occasion.

Some names to know include: Cakebread, Atlas Peak , Beringer, Duckhorn, O’Shaugnessy, Robert Foley and many more. Tickets for the public are $45. each and can be processed at www.howellmountain.org. Public hours are 4 to 6pm . The info line is: 707-965-2665.

La Costa Wine Company Ramps Up Events
Kris Garrett is a man on a mission. He purchased the former Wine Street in Carlsbad not too long ago from Tanya Kinberg, a popular wine entrepreneur, and proceeded to move into the down economy with an added value and special event mentality.

The name was changed to La Costa Wine Company and the interior was re-modeled into a clean, upscale style that made wines easier to find. An imported cheese section was added to compliment the increase in events at the comfortable bistro style, marble bar. Tanya’s unsurpassed experience in the Napa Valley was enlisted for key “A-List” selections from small producers.
La Costa Wine Company owner Kris Garrett pours Italian wines at a recent tasting event.

The biggest, most exciting news yet is just around the corner on the calendar as Kris and his North County Wine Company host the two legendary wineries in Paso Robles wine growing history: Justin Winery on Friday February 26 from 5 to 8pm and the man that put the appellation on the map, Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery, on Thursday March 4 from 5 to 8pm with a charge of $20.

Eberle is considered to be the pioneer in the making of fine wine in Paso Robles Wine Country with over 30 years of production. His winery tastings are still complimentary, including cave tours. Learn more at www.eberlewinery.com.

At the Justin tasting, wines include: Chardonnay, Cabernet, Savant, Justification, Tempranillo and Obtuse. Fee is $30. Their site is www.justinwine.com. For more on La Costa Wine Company, access www.lacostawineco.com or call 760-431-8455.

Wine Bytes
Firefly Grill and Wine Bar in Encinitas is hosting an Amglin Winemaker Dinner Thurs. Feb. 25, 6:30pm . Cost is $75. ea. Amglin of Paso Robles focuses on the Rhone Varietals and will be pouring Viognier, Pinot Noir, a Rhone blend and a Syrah. To RSVP call 760-635-1066.

Cicciotti’s Trattoria in Cardiff is staging a benefit Opera Concert Thurs. Feb. 25 at 7pm and 9pm . Entrance fee $20. Two internationally known tenors will sing. Gaetano Cicciotti, the owner, has a new cookbook out featuring Italian food specialties. Call 760-634-2335.

Bacchus Wine Market in the Gaslamp District San Diego presents its next “Drink Yourself Blind” bagged wine tasting Fri. Feb. 26 form 4 to 8:30pm. Eight wines to try. Guess right and win prizes. Details at 619-236-0005.

A ZD Napa Valley Wine Tasting is planned for 21 Oceanfront Restaurant in Newport Beach Fri Feb. 26 from 6:30 to 10pm . Four course dinner with perfectly paired wines for $95. Learn more at 949-673-2100.

The Hilton Anaheim hosts a Chalk Hill Wine Dinner Fri. Feb. 26 at 6pm for $75. pp. Main entrée is Herb Roasted Lamb with Salsa Verde and Black Truffles, matching up with the ’06 Estate Cabernet. Call for RSVP’s at 714-740-4412.

Peter Mondavi on the Grandeur of Cabernet

by Frank Mangio
For as long as I have known about wine, I have known that the Mondavi Family of Napa Valley was the standard by which all others aspired, in making great Cabernet Sauvignon. So it was with high expectation and a twinge of nervous energy that I sat down with a family member, Peter Mondavi Jr. He and his brother Marc, whom I had spoken with earlier in my wine-writing days, have major roles in the Charles Krug Winery near St. Helena.

Charles Krug has a long history of winemaking in Napa Valley, being the first winery to open its doors in 1861. Fast-forward to 1943 when the Mondavi family purchased the property, with Peter Sr. and Robert Mondavi jointly building the brand with Cabernet as its signature wine.
Peter Mondavi of Charles Krug Winery in Napa Valley compares 7 Krug Cabernet vintages in a classic “Vertical Tasting” from 1980 to the newest 2006 release.

In 1966, Robert opened his own winery in nearby Oakville and Peter Sr. turned to his sons Peter and Marc to carry the load of quality winemaking and marketing.

Peter was in San Diego to conduct a “Vertical Tasting” of 7 of his Cabernets during the recent San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival. “I’m looking forward to sharing some of our older vintages, from our current 2006 release all the way back to 1980,” he said. I reminded him that it would be like a historic footprint of the rise of Cabernet to the grandeur that it enjoys today. “Well that may be true,” he agreed, “but the real education will be in the tasting of the wines that have evolved over time, how the age enhances the taste so that the experience of the wines will be the best teacher. Definitely, Cab is king in the valley and it will be coming out of the Napa Valley for decades to come.”

I asked him about the 2009 harvest as I heard there were issues. “The ’09 season was challenging. It was cooler than normal with a much longer growing season and heavy rains, the heaviest since 1962. We were out picking grapes the end of October.”

After the teaching session, Peter asked the assembled for a show of hands as to which vintage was their favorite and it was the 1995, followed closely by the 2004. The current release also did well with its classy and opulent flavor with hints of chocolate and espresso at the finish, preceded by notes of blackberry and licorice, with 23 months in French Oak barrels. The Vintage Selection is suggested at $70. with the ’06 Yountville Cab retailing for $27.

I found that the more age in the bottle, the more mineralized the taste became, such as the bottles from the 80’s. They were also bigger wines with higher alcohol. Krug and others are now achieving more balanced flavor with lower “PH” or sugar content in the grapes, resulting in a less alcoholic wine that pairs well with fine food. It is now a sustainable practicing vineyard with sensitivity to the environment, using only natural additives. See it all at www.charleskrug.com