Top Ten Wine Tastes 1st Half of 2016

by Frank Mangio

Welcome to the hardest test of my experience as a wine taster and commentator of wine: to select the top ten tastes from many hundreds of bottles of mostly excellent wines that are newly released this year. But somebody’s got to do it so here goes.  Four of the ten came from the center of the wine universe, Napa Valley , 2 from Sonoma , 1 from Italy , 1 from France , 1 from Temecula and 1 from the Sta. Rita Hills north of Santa Barbara. The 10 are treated equally as top tier wines with sensational bouquet, flavor, structure and value.  The list is alphabetical and does not indicate rank.

Banfi Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany, 2011. $22.  Could be the best value in the roster.  Brunello-like flavor at a way lower price, from the winery that sets the standard in Italy .  Castellobanfi.com.

Frank Family Pinot Noir, Napa Valley , 2013. $29. Beautiful aroma and flavor with lasting results.  Grapes come from the Pinot-perfect Carneros District of Napa Valley .  Frankfamilyvineyards.com.

Gerard Bertrand Chateau La Clape Rhone Valley France . 2013.  $17. The southern Rhone is a rich mix of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre with a Mediterranean influence. Focus is on quality here.

Wine.com.

Grgich Hills Zinfandel Napa Valley, 2013.  $36.  Mike Grgich celebrated his 93rd birthday on April 1st. His 30 acre Calistoga personal estate has only Zinfandel on it. Fresh flavors of blackberry.  Grgich.com.

Pedroncelli Wisdom Dry Creek Sonoma, 2012, $36.  Premium wine with 90% Cabernet, 10% Malbec. 16 months in French Oak. Tribute wine to the late John Pedroncelli. Pedroncelli.com.

Prodigal Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills CA., 2013, $29. Kudos to COSTCO for discovering this boutique winery only planted to Pinot.  Classic velvet , smooth  coating on the palate.  prodigalwines.com.

Robert Renzoni Sonata Temecula Valley, 2013. $42. A California peer to classic Italian Super Tuscans.  50% Cabernet and 50% estate Brunello di Sangiovese. Aged 20 months.     robertrenzonivineyards.com.

Roth Chardonnay Alexander Valley Sonoma,  2012. $12.  This is the Sonoma coast at its best and at that  price, back up the truck and tuck them away for years  of tasting. Rothwinery.com.

Whitehall Lane Tre Leoni Napa Valley, 2012. $25.  A true-to-form blend with big and bold mouthfeel.  Rich, round and delicious.  Whitehalllane.com.

ZD Reserve Chardonnay Napa Valley , 2013. $46.  From the world class ZD Carneros Estate. 15 months aging for a finer wine. ZDwines.com.

Wine Bytes

Twenty/20  Restaurant  in the Sheraton Carlsbad has its BBQ Summer Series Wednesday nights to August 3rd from 6:30 to 7:30 with star chef Julian  Quinones and special guests.  His secret tips are revealed, with tastes for all. $40. per class.  Call  for an RSVP at 760-827-2500.

Falkner Winery in Temecula is planning an exciting Anniversary and holiday series of parties July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, celebrating 16 years of superior wines.  Includes a free concert on Sat. from Noon to 3pm with 60’s and 70’s music.  Special menu items from the acclaimed Pinnacle Restaurant. The full story at Falknerwinery.com, or call 951-676-8231 x4.

Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards in Temecula presents “Wild Child” an amazing concert recreation of the Doors, one of the greatest of the 60’s bands, Fri. July 8th 7 to 10pm.  Admission $35. RSVP and tickets at wilsoncreekwinery.com.

Best of Breed Wine Tasting 1st Quarter 2016

by Frank Mangio
Since the TASTE OF WINE release of its Top Ten Tastes of 2015, we have reviewed over 400 wines the first few months of 2016 and found lots to cheer about. Many were from the outstanding 2012 and 2013 vintages, so the only thing I found difficult was limiting my picks to 8 to fit into the space of the column.

Napa Valley again showed why it is the most prestigious wine country in the world.  Half the choices were from this blessed part of California .  Although Napa Valley is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, this list shows diversity with Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well as Cabernet. Price quotes are the best I could find and the list is shown alphabetically with no regard for ranking.  They are all equally excellent.
             
Duckhorn Merlot, Napa Valley, 2012.  $26.99.  Dan Duckhorn’s focus for his winery has always been to make Merlot his signature wine varietal, after many trips to Bordeaux France .  “I like the softness, the seductiveness, the color and the fact it goes with many foods so well,”he said.  A slight blend of Cabernet gives it depth and structure.

Frank Family Pinot Noir, Napa Valley, 2013.  $26.99.  Pinot Noir is the current “Glamour Queen” of the reds.  Sometimes testy and not for all vineyards, but when done right it’s a sensual, lush and savory wine, with cherry/berry and complimentary fig notes.  This wine was awarded overall best wine at the most recent  “East Meets West” Wine Challenge with 1,300 wines in competition, in Santa Rosa.

Frank Family of Napa Valley displaying some of their award winning wines
including the 2013 Pinot Noir.

 Grgich Hills Chardonnay, Napa Valley, 2013.  $43.  This is a pre release and should be ready for purchase in May.  Mike Grgich is celebrating the 40th year of the “ Paris Tasting” when, in 1976, his 1973 Napa Valley Chardonnay bested all the Chardonnays that the French could offer.  Since then he has been called “the King of Chardonnay” and the accolade is never more true than in the 2013 vintage, with its natural acidity, tropical flavors and notes of minerality.

Maison Nicolas Perrin Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone Valley France.  2013.  $20.  Who says fine French wines have to be expensive.  I increasingly look to the Rhone Valley .  This ruby red Syrah exudes intense fruit and racy herbs and spice.  Earthy finish.

Michele Chiarlo Barbera D’Asti, Piedmont Italy. 2012. $24.  This wine offers a great opportunity to enjoy a leading grape, Barbera, without a hefty price tag that you’ll see in the Barolo and Barberesco.  This Piedmont ’s go-to red wine is for daily dinners, especially the pastas and risottos.

Quivira Black Boar Zinfandel, Dry Creek Sonoma, 2013. $45.  One of the finest terroirs for Zinfandel, producing excellent balance for the sizeable alcohol, found in all great Zins.  A range of aromas and flavors due to various stages of harvest.  The Black Boar breed of Zin spent 17 months in  customary 60 gallon French oak barrels, as well as 132 gallon barrels and 900 gallon foudres. A distinct swagger to this wine.

Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2012. $27.  This is a reserve selection wine.  Look for this distinctive description when you go to buy, and make sure it’s a 2012. Nice balance of fruit forward qualities, with a hint of chocolate.

Robert Renzoni Sonata, Temecula Valley, 2013.  $45. Hard to choose a”best of” with the list of varietals from this foremost maker of Italian wines. From a true to form Tuscan Sangiovese, a delicious Montepulciano and several Brunello blends, we chose the Sonata, a Super Tuscan style wine with 50% estate Cabernet and 50% estate Brunello di Sangiovese.  Aged 20 months in French oak. Lots of family tradition here.
  

Robert Renzoni, owner and winemaker, tasting new releases with
Assistant winemaker Olivia Bue, at Robert Renzoni Vineyards in Temecula.

 Wine Bytes
Sommelier Gino Campbell of PAON in Carlsbad has set his wine events to a new level of quality with his tasting for Wed. March 30 from 6 to 8pm, when he offers the Grand Cru’s of Burgundy .  $200. per person. Call 760-729-7377.  He’s also created a new wine list of over 900 labels with some of the most sought-after wines.

Vittorio’s of Carmel Valley has a 5 course food and wine dinner with Taken wines, Thurs. March 31st at 6pm.  The menu features braised short rib Tortellaci and roasted Prime Rib Au Jus.  $49.50 ea.  Call 858-538-5884.

The 4rd annual Vin Diego happens Fri. Apr. 1 and Sat. Apr. 2. Over 300 new wines with gourmet appetizers. Wines from California , Oregon and Washington .  Fri. night 6 to 8:30pm is the Passion for Pinot and Reserve Chardonnay, and Sat. 3 to 7pm the Grand Tasting.  All events at Liberty Station in San Diego ’s Point Loma. See vindiegoticketsauce.com for prices and details.

Mastro’s is the Maestro of Palm Desert

by Frank Mangio
One of my top ten views is the one coming off the peak on Highway 74 to Palm Desert .  It’s an E ticket ride with its figure eight 2 lane highway that seems like 1½  lanes with the shear mountain walls on either side.  Once on the Palm Desert side, you’ll want to find the nearest wine bar and toast your driving skills.

Palm Desert is one of my favorite get-a-ways with its other-world look and feel.  Sipping a Cabernet with a dish of risotto and fresh Italian bread, gazing at the Santa Rosa Mountains that look like you could reach out and touch them, is my idea of relaxation.  There are 125 hotels and resorts and many of them can boast that feature. Plants and flowers are year-round drought tolerant.  They have to be…only about 5 inches of rain falls on Palm Desert .

The city has about 48,000 residents but that goes up about 31,000 in the winter as “snowbirds” fly  in from the north and Canada to warm up with the warmest winters in the western U.S. at an average 75 degrees. There are over 348 days of sunshine for the year. Yes it does get up to 108 more often than not in the summer, but it’s a dry heat, and with air conditioning around every corner, you can forget about the heat outside. El Paseo is the main shopping district in Palm Desert with 150 shops and restaurants.

Shopping and dining are my two not-to-miss pastimes and both are spent on El Paseo, the pristine, sophisticated avenue with over 150 shops and restaurants.  The biggest names will show you desert fashion that you’ll want to be wearing the next day. At the center of the El Paseo action is Mastro’s, the classic steak house for locals, visitors and celebs.  I like to call Mastro’s the Maestro of fine wine and dining in Palm Desert. The music, the atmosphere and the steaks sizzle nightly in the bar and dining rooms. Yes, one of the first things I noticed and loved was the number of semi private rooms with  lots of room between tables so the chefs can roll out the entire entourage of food at the same time.

 Executive Chef Erik Wepfer of Mastro’s in Palm Desert presents a “Branzino”
whole Mediterranean fish  with his 4 course menu.

 
The night our group was there, the menu selections included:  Smoked Salmon, French Onion Soup, an 18 ounce Bone-In Filet that was shared and a Mediterranean Sea Bass that was called “Branzino” with skin and tail in coated sauces that allowed for consuming the skin, which I found surprisingly delicious.  When you go be sure to order the dessert that Mastro’s has become famous for.  The general manager, Natalie Stern, who has been with the restaurant group for some 9 years, who helped open this location 3 years ago, swears that customers come in just to feast on the warm dessert butter cake with whipped cream and powdered sugar.

California Cabernets dominate the wine list with no finer selection in the desert.  Names like Bryant, Opus One, Joseph Phelps, Dominus, Pahlmeyer, Caymus, Silver Oak and many more are in abundance. If your passion is for exotic drinks, try the Apple-tini with dry ice.  It’s smokin’ good!
To learn more about this elegant place to dine, visit mastrosrestaurants.com or dial up 760-776-6777.

Wine Bytes
Il Fornaio with 2 locations in San Diego County is presenting the special food and wine of Lombardia Italy , now through January 24.  It’s the original land of Il Fornaio which began in Italy in 1972.  A favorite is the Filetto di Blue al Gorgonzola.  Restaurants are in Coronado and Del Mar.

Firenze Trattoria in Encinitas welcomes Niner Wine Estates in Paso Robles for a wine dinner, Thurs. Jan. 21 at 6pm.  Meet Andy Miner, President of Niner, and enjoy wines like the 2011 Fog Catcher with Short Ribs al Cabernet.  $85. per person.  RSVP at 760-944-9000.

Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula Wine Country has a Wine Blending Party Fri. Jan. 23 at 6:30pm.  You’ll be blending and tasting 4 different varietals of wines.  The experts at Wiens will be there to coach you and you’ll be bringing home your own blended bottle.  Light food will be served.  $100.  Club members pay $80.  Find out more at 888-98-WIENS.

San Diego State University will be holding an open house for its Certificate in the Business of Wine program Mon.  Jan. 25, 6 to 7:30pm at Splash Wine Bar, 3043 University Ave. in San Diego. Meet instructors and students.  To RSVP this no-charge event, call 619-594-1138.

Family Style Winemakers Gather at Del Mar Fairgrounds

by Frank Mangio
So how’s the family?  If it’s the Family Winemakers of California, they’re doing just fine thank you.

For the 5th consecutive year, this association of wine producers with an active membership of 550 California wineries, will be coming to the San Diego area and assembling 175 producers Saturday March 9th and Sunday March 10th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall.  The Saturday show is for the public, as well as trade and press with public hours from 3 to 6pm.

For all public ticket options and prices, go to www.familywinemakers.org.

A big idea from this event is that no matter where you go throughout California you will find winemakers making quality wines. I spoke to Ray Falkner from Temecula Wine Country about pouring side by side with Napa and Sonoma wines.

Ray and Loretta Falkner of Falkner Winery in Southern California’s Temecula Wine Country, will be at the Family Winemakers event at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

  He confidently commented “We pour at these events because it gives the trade and the public the opportunity to sample our wonderful Temecula wines in comparison to other regions.  Most wine writers don’t know much about Temecula Valley and think about us as a small hot region.  Wine events like this allow consumers to make up their own minds on what wines are worth purchasing.”

I asked Falkner what kinds of wines he will be bringing. “We have our 2011 Viognier, 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Amante-Super Tuscan, 2008 Meritage-Bordeaux Blend and 2009 Cachet Syrah Blend, made for wine club members.”

In Napa Valley, Ceja Vineyards is prepping  and packing their ultra-premium wines for the trip south  with their gold-winning wines like the 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2010 Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay. They’ll also be pouring Carneros Pinot Noir, Vino de Casa red blend and Dulce Beso late harvest white wine.  The latest gold came from the San Francisco Chronicle Competition, one of the toughest and most competitive in California.  Ceja’s tasting room is in downtown Napa and combines with an art gallery for a complete sensory experience.

Ceja Vineyards co-founder Amelia Ceja and Sales & Marketing Director Dalia Ceja will be offering their 2008 Cabernet at the Family Winemakers event in Del Mar.

Three generations of the Ceja family work their 113 producing acres and have grown wine grapes for 47 years for other top quality wineries.  The Ceja brand was launched in 2001.  Company President Amelia Ceja is the first Mexican-American to be the President of a wine production company.

David Ramey owns Ramey Cellars in Sonoma County’s Healdsburg. He makes traditional, artisan wines with elegance and richness, drawing grapes from both Napa Valley and Sonoma.  I asked him what it was like to be both an owner and winemaker.

“Owning a winery is the dream of every winemaker. At Ramey Wine Cellars, we have a team environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute. My hope is to create an atmosphere of great opportunity for all,” he noted.

He also is Family Winemakers top representative as Chairman of the Board, where he brings that big idea to the organization.  “We’re in a vibrant industry with room for the small winemaker to move in.  Good people help each other out with events such as the one in Del Mar.  There is lots of diversity. We urge visitors to come both days to taste wineries that will bring their best offerings.”

Ramey Wine Cellars will be one of those you can taste test. The complete list is on the web site at familywinemakers.org.

Wine Bytes
March 2nd and 3rd, Temecula Wine Country celebrates the World of Wine when 30+ wineries offer their latest releases and barrel tasting, with gourmet food sampling.  Details on the self guided tour including pricing, at 800-801-WINE.

SDSU has an intensive course focusing on French Wines, Mondays March 4 to 18 from 6 to 9pm on campus.  This is part of the Certificate of Wine program.  For details, call 619-594-1138.

The Laguna Beach A La Carte Food and Wine Experience is a celebration taking place around town Sat. March 9 from 12:30 to 3:30pm. Price range of $75. to $145.  Hear details at 949-497-9229.

Wiens Family Cellars in Temecula presents a Reserve Zinfandel and Chocolate Dinner, Fri. March 8th.  Four course dinner.  $62.50 pp.  RSVP at 951-694-9893.

The first of a series of 2013 Musical Wine Pairing Dinners at Europa Village in Temecula will be unveiled on Thurs. March 21 at 6:30pm.  A four-course French dinner, each with Europa Village french wines, will be topped off by professional singing waiters.  Cost is $79. ea.  Details and RSVP at europavillage.com.

Old Vines Rule in the Land of Zin

by Frank Mangio
Spring has again brought life to the venerable old vines, whose age reach back over 100 years in the root stocks of Mother Clone Zinfandel at the Sonoma vineyards of Pedroncelli. This Spring, the buds that will be concentrated juice are now leaves and showing another year of life. Plenty of “Goldilocks” rainfall, not too much and not too little, support the delicate leaves and shoots that will shape the 2010 harvest.

Jim Pedroncelli watches over his ¼ acre, 1st generation Mother Clone Zin vines like a mother hen would over her eggs. The 2008 vintage is just out, from 30 acres of 2nd generation Zin vines using budwood from the original century-old vines, adding a Pedroncelli flavor to this classic blackberry, spice, black currant beauty. 5% Petite Sirah has been added for color and tannin balance.

Jim Pedroncelli inspects one of Pedroncelli’s carefully cultivated hundred year old Zinfandel vines, which he calls “Mother Clone.”

Old Vine Zinfandel has been planted on the property since 1904. The Pedroncelli family purchased the home vineyard in 1927 in a district of Sonoma called Geyserville. The family scraped through Prohibition by selling grapes to home winemakers with a 200 gallon government mandated limit. It wasn’t until 1934 that Pedroncelli could bottle wine under its own label due to restrictions after Prohibition was lifted.

Fast-forward to this day and this winery is still a personal, family operation with sustainable agricultural practices that preserve the environment, reducing water consumption and keeping the soil healthy for the next generation of family. All pruning, thinning and picking of the 2nd generation Zin vines is done by hand, better to respect the Mother Clone vines that have been among the longest producing of any in Sonoma.

Other wines that are popular with the Pedroncelli Wine Club members and area restaurants are: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel Rose, Cabernet, Pinot Noir and Merlot. The price range is a pleasing $10. for the Rose, to $25. for the Estate Cabernet. The Mother Clone Zinfandel is just $15. Mark Abraham, the Pedroncelli Southern California Sales Manager, is a popular guy when he delivers his latest releases to client restaurants. There is no better value in a bottle, and business has never been better. After all, mother would want it that way. It’s a family tradition. Learn more by accessing www.pedroncelli.com.

More Zins and other Rednecks
After exploring what’s new at the Zinfandel Road Show Tasting and the California Wine Festival in Orange County, then the Rhythm and Vine Festival in Escondido, my tasting notes show a few stand-outs that deserve attention:

Ancient Peaks 2007 Zinfandel, Paso Robles. $16. Sizzling nose, fruit forward and packed with tangy herb accents.

Cakebread 2007 Zinfandel, Napa Valley. $44. Class act, classic Zin with a zesty, super –long finish.

Four Vines 2007 Zinfandel Maverick, Paso Robles. $25. This one jams with super fruity taste and a nutty injection.

Artezin 2008 Zinfandel, Napa Valley. $17. Well balanced fruit, more earthy than most.

Cass 2008 Mouvedre, Paso Robles. $38. Rhone Valley grape usually used for blending. Just a touch of Syrah added here with spectacular results.

Lucas and Lewellen 2006 Petite Sirah, Santa Barbara. $28. Elegant tasting blue-blackberry texture with inky-black look. Big mouth-feel, smooth tannins. Silky finish.

Just reviewed: Zaca Mesa Estate Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley 2006. $23. Aged in Oak 16 months, the high altitude, cool climate allows perfect expression of terroir. Syrah sales have tripled year over year at Zaca Mesa. The ’06 should provide more momentum.


Wine Bytes
- South Coast Winery Resort and Spa in Temecula is hosting Rhythm on the Vine Benefit Concerts, with Jazz greats Stephanie Mills and Najee Fri. May 14 at 7:30pm and Country great Clint Black Sat. May 15 at 8pm. Full details and pricing at www.wineresort.com or call 951-587-9463.

- Tesoro Winery in old town Temecula opens its newest SOCAL Artist Series with California artist Richard Powers, Thurs. May 13 at 7pm. This free showing includes Tesoro Wine and cheese selections. Call 951-526-4540.

- Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido holds a Vintage Chardonnay event on Mon. May 17 at 5:30pm. California and French vintages compete. Cost is $5. Call 760-745-1200.

- The 12th annual San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts Grand Tasting and Auction is Sat. May 22 from 6 to 9:30pm. The best of California wines will be poured, paired with farm-fresh local dishes from the best restaurants. Auction will include the finest lots of rare wine vintages. Cost is $100. each, with VIP pricing for special feature packages. Go to www.mopavintage.org or call 619-238-7559 x 207.

- The California Center for the Arts in Escondido is the place for the 15th annual Rotary Club of Bonsall Wine, Brew and Blues Festival, Sat. May 22 from 4 to 10pm. Wine, handcrafted beer, tasty bites, dessert court, 2 stages for live blues bands, dancing and a live auction. Tickets are $60. For more information and tickets, access www.bonsallrotary.com or call 800-249-2024.