Dry Creek Vineyard 2010 Sauvignon Blanc

My first introduction to Dry Creek Vineyard was probably not unlike many other wine drinkers. I spotted a bottle of their California Fume Blanc with a sporty painting of a sailboat on the label. Soon after I was awash with the fresh taste of cool climate Sauvignon Blanc.

Dry Creek is entering their 40th year of family winemaking in Dry Valley and is a pioneer in California Sauvignon Blanc. They launched the very first Sonoma County Sauv Blanc in 1972. Founder David Stare is probably the biggest reason that Dry Creek Valley is now known for producing world class wines instead of prunes.

The 2010 Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a new release from a vintage that was one of the most challenging of the last decade. There were late spring rains, a cool summer and then several heat spikes. Thankfully the winemakers kept a steady hand on the tiller and were able to bring in the grapes with full ripeness, flavor and balance.

Sauvignon Blanc is a favorite grape of ours, especially Green Dragon, who favors the style of Marlborough New Zealand. She has thumbed her nose as some recent California Sauvignon Blancs, so it was a moment of truth when she sipped the DCV.

This Sauvignon Blanc easily won her seal of approval, with the grassy aromas and citrus zest that is a hallmark of the variety. It’s an energetic wine swirling with floral and pineapple flavor notes. The wine is medium bodied for a white leading into a mouthwatering finish. The finish turned from citrus to a mineral note.

Our preference for Sauvignon Blanc is steel fermentation, and this wine has no oaking whatsoever. In fact, no oak barrels are used on any of DCV’s Sauvignon Blanc wines – preserving its crisp and refreshing character. This is a juicy wine that will pair nicely with shellfish. It’s a great value at $16.

I had always wondered about the incongruous image of the sailboat on a label from a “dry” creek. The sailboat reflects the family’s commitment and passion for the sport, but it is easy to imagine the boat on a sea of wine sailing boldly towards the next successful vintage.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Technorati Tags: wine,Dry Creek Valley,Sonoma

Rating: 3.5 of 5

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Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard: Santa Barbara County Winery Visit

There was one stop I had to make during our recent trip to Santa Barbara County wine country. A couple years ago I was covering a wine tasting at the Toledo Museum of Art that featured winemaker Karen Steinwachs of Buttonwood Farms Winery & Vineyard. We had the opportunity to sit down and sample her wines while she gave the backstory on each.

It was so enjoyable. The white wines seemed crisper and the red wines smoother as Karen described the Buttonwood Farm vineyard in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley. Now I has the opportunity to see the farm firsthand.

Cousin Mary, husband Cleve, Green Dragon and I rolled through some rainy weather on the way from Lompoc to Buttonwood, but the light and airy tasting room lifted our spirits. The 39-acre vineyard stretches across the top of a mesa. A barn and production facility are at the top of the hill – unfortunately it was too muddy for us to walk up there.

Perhaps the coolest thing about Buttonwood is that it is a working 109-acre farm. The tasting room is nestled next to a field of fruit trees and the farm freshness is pervasive. The farm grows persimmons, olives, Asian pears, almonds and peaches.

The vineyard is planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Marsanne, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah. Buttonwood opened in 1989 and now produces about 8,000 cases of boutique wine goodness a year.

While we chatted with Karen, we tasted through her wines.

We opened with the 2010 Zingy Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship grape for Buttonwood and Zingy is a pure expression. There’s no oaking and no malolactic fermentation. It is bright gold in the glass with green highlights. On the palate there is citrus and a fresh zesty flavor with a mineral thread. Hard to believe that this wine is just $18 – one of the best values on our trip. Only 403 cases of this were produced versus more than 2,600 of Buttonwood’s regular Sauv Blanc.

We next tried the Grenache Blanc 2010. This is just the second vintage for this wine and it was a challenge. The grape ripens late and this year about half of the crop was lost. The bouquet is of white flowers. Peach and melon flavor notes mix together with a bit of dust.

The 2010 Devin is worlds apart from Zingy. Where Zingy is crisp and bold, Devin (a 60-40 blend of Sauvignon Bland and Semillon) is smooth and full bodied. This is a classic Bordeaux blend that has richness and depth, some of which is provided by fermentation in French Oak. Some lime and toast are evident.

The 2010 Syrah Dry Rose shone like a pink sapphire and radiated strawberry flavors. This is a perfect drink for a summer afternoon (and it wasn’t too bad in the middle of winter either!).

A highlight of the tasting was the flagship red blend Trevin (“tres vins” or three wines). The 2007 vintage is a superb red Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The dark wine resonates with blackberry, spice and vanilla bean. It spends 36 months in barrel bulking up and another nine months in the bottle. The mouthfeel is oh so smooth with a finish of black cherry and herb. Only 273 cases were made. It goes for $36 retail.

We closed with a delicious taste of P.O.S.H., a delightful Port-style wine made with Syrah grapes that are aged for 35 months and top out at 20% alcohol. This is a smooth sipper with rich, velvety, berry goodness. The acronym is Port Out, Starboard Back and it certainly is smooth sailing with this wine, which pairs well with almonds, chocolate or dried fruit. 

Buttonwood Farms has produced a bumper crop of great wines. The value is outstanding as well. Dig in!

Technorati Tags: wine,Santa Barbara County wine

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Pueblo del Sol 2010 Tannat, Juanico Region, Uruguay

This guest review is by Larry, an IT professional in Bowling Green.

Today my wine crew received the pleasure of testing the 2010 Pueblo del Sol Tannat.

This wine is of product of Uruguay. I had not heard of the Tannat grape.

Research shows It  originated in South West France, and is now the favored grape of Uruguay. Once opened there was the aroma oak, and black cherry. The color was a deep ruby red. It was a dark, but beautiful wine.

First sips were tart and a little chewy. You could taste the oak, and a hint of coco. While being a tasty wine, we agreed that this was a wine that would would be even better with food. We started with some Brie and crackers. This made the Tannat taste even better. This evening, our main meal was Jambalaya. The Tannat complemented the tomato sauce, peppers, and sausage.

We really enjoyed it with the food. We agreed that this would be excellent wine to have with steak and mashed potatoes. The main complaint from my crew was that we ran out of wine. We thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it as a very reasonably priced wine to have with meals.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

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Toledo Area Wine Tastings & Events: February 8-11, 2012

Image of Rodney Strong Vineyards via Snooth

Wednesday, February 8
The Andersons, Sylvania, Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Nick Kubiak of Pere Jacques Wine Imports presents Valentines Day Wines . $15.

Thursday, February 9

The Andersons, Maumee, Wine Tasting. 5-7 PM. Sonoma County California Classics: 1. Rodney Strong – Chalk Hill – Chardonnay, 2. Nalle – Russian River Valley – Pinot Noir, 3. Selby – Merlot, 4. Hobo – Alexander Valley – Cabernet Sauvignon. $6.50 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Talmadge Road. Wine Tasting. 6-8 PM. Our Annual Fear of Darkness Tasting: The darkest-fullest-firmest reds for the darkest part of winter. 1. Cline Ancient Vine Mourvdre, California; 2. Altos Los Hormigas Reserve Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina; 3. Chateau Haut-Montplasir Cahors (Malbec), Cahors, France; 4. Alvaro Palasios Les Terrasses, Priorat, Spain; 5. Gilbert Cellars Petite Verdot, Washington; 6. Five Star Cellars Petite Verdot-Cabernet Franc, Washington; 7. Delectus Petite Sirah, Napa California; 8. Mazzi Amarone. Nominal fee per sample.

The Andersons, Woodville Mall. 5-7 PM. For Valentine’s Day, Wine With Chocolate: 1. Ironstone Cabernet Franc with Lindt Milk Chocolate, 2. Starry Night Zinfandel with Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate, 3. St. Christopher Gewurztraminer with Lindt Intense Orange, 4. Meeker Fro-Zin Icewine with Hershey’s Kisses. $2 per flight or nominal fee per sample.

Beer and Wine Cave, 4400 Heatherdowns, (419) 382-6221. 6-9 PM. Nick Kubiak of Pere Jacques Wine Imports presents Valentines Day Wines. $15.

Corks Wine and Liquor, Promenade Plaza, 27250 Crossroads Pkwy., Rossford – (419) 872-6800. 6-9 PM. Amore Italy. Italian wines with winemaker Massimo Piccin of the Sapaio winery. Three Super Tuscan blends plus two wines from the island of Sardinia. Nominal fee per sample.

TREO Wine Bar, 5703 Main St., Sylvania, (419) 882-2266. Wine & Cheese Thursday. Explore the wonderful world of wine and cheese. Try four different wines with a sample platter of the day’s cheese.

Friday, February 10
Special Event – Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion, 7:00 – 9:30 PM. Art of the Vine. Wine: Blowing Bubbles (GlasSalon)
Tour: Glass with Bubble Inclusions. Sample four wines, light snacks, and enjoy a complimentary art tour at 7:00 or 8:00 PM. $15 members or $25 nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased at the TMA information desks; reservations are not required.

Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Riesling Tasting: 1. Biltmore Estate Riesling, 2. Heinemans Riesling, 3. Boeckel Riesling, 4. Leitz Dragonstone Riesling. $15 tasting.

Walt Churchill's Market, 26625 Dixie Hwy, Perrysburg, (419) 872-6900. Valentine's Wine Tasting. 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Nominal fee per sample.

Saturday, February 11
Aficionado Wine and Cigars, The Shoppes at RiverPlace, 26567 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 135, Perrysburg, (419-873-4444). 5:00 – 8:30 p.m. Riesling Tasting: 1. Biltmore Estate Riesling, 2. Heinemans Riesling, 3. Boeckel Riesling, 4. Leitz Dragonstone Riesling. $15 tasting.

Walt Churchill’s Market, 3320 Briarfield. Maumee, (419) 794-4000. 12:00 Noon - 5:00 PM. Wines for Wine Lovers. We’ll taste a collection of wines guaranteed to get your heart racing. Cult Classics, steady favorites, and special discounts are what you should expect. Nominal fee per sample.


AREA WINE BARS

• Tres Belle Wine and Martini Lounge, (419) 874-4555, 3145 Hollister Lane, Perrysburg (Levis Commons).
  
• Zinful Wine Bar & Restaurant, (419) 878-9463, 7541 Dutch Road, Waterville.

Technorati Tags: wine [Information on tastings can be sent to TWAV@ATT.NET.]

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Louis Bouillot Crement de Bourgogne Perle d’Ivoire Blanc de Blancs Brut

This “Ivory Pearl” is a sparkler from Burgundy produced by Louis Bouillot a specialist in the Methode Traditionelle for more than 130 years. The wine is 95% Chardonnay with 5% Aligote.

While our party of friends enjoyed Super Bowl XVLI on the big screen, this gem was chilling down in the wine cooler. I had to ask Green Dragon to put the Champagne flutes out of sight to avoid jinxing my favorite football team.

There is nothing sadder than unopened Champagne in the losing team’s locker room! We weren’t about to experience that scenario.

Luckily, justice and superior football skills prevailed and the New York Giants won the title – but not before putting me through the emotional wringer. When the final Hail Mary pass from Tom Brady bounced harmlessly to the turf in the end zone, it was time to pop the cork and celebrate with the Ivory Pearl.

The Louis Bouillot is the color of pale moonlight and treats the eye to tight streams of tiny bubbles after the froth subsides. The bouquet is fresh with slight citrus and nuttiness. On the palate this is crisp with bright acidity and a steely quality. There is a hint of grapefruit and a refreshing finish.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable sparkler by a well-respected French producer. It was the perfect exclamation point to a Super evening.

Technorati Tags: wine

Rating: 4 of 5

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Arcadian Winery: Santa Barbara County Winery Visit

Sometimes your good fortune is the result of planning and hard work. Other times it’s just dumb luck.

The latter was the case when we visited the Arcadian Winery tasting room at the Lompoc, in Santa Barbara County. The tasting room is located at the Wine Ghetto, a unique community of winemaking facilities in a warehouse-style setting. Our visit was on a rainy Monday when most of the tasting rooms were closed.

The tasting room looked dark at Arcadian Winery, but the door was open. We stepped inside and were fortunate to be greeted by winemaker Joseph Davis who was soon pouring some of his acclaimed wines.

Joe is responsible for introducing the French Burgundian artisan-style of wine production of Pinot Noir to California. His outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah have captured the fancy of the world’s wine media. His techniques include pigeage (treading the grapes by foot).

Our intimate tasting began with the 2006 Dierberg Vineyard Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley). This is a wine with melon and citrus with tuned-down oak. It makes overly oaked Chardonnay seem quite clumsy by comparison.It’s bright, fresh and well balanced.

We then moved to a beautiful 2006 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay. The fruit comes from the Santa Lucia highlands and 35-year-old vines. It has peach and tangerine mixed with a tasty minerality. It finishes with a touch of citrus.

Cleve, one of our tasting party, asked Joe an interesting question. The general wisdom is to drink whites within a two to three-year window.

The two Chards we had were drinking very well and Joseph mentioned that they could be cellared for another 10 years. The winemaker responded, “It’s about the foundation. If you build a house made of paper, it won’t be standing as long as a house built of brick or steel.”

We were in the land of “Sideways,” a movie that boosted the profile of California Pinot Noir (at the expense of Merlot) and were about to taste some that have captured praise from around the world.

First up was the 2007 Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands. Like all the Arcadian reds, the grapes are tread by foot.The wine, which has not yet been released, is light garnet in color and spent 28 months in an oak barrel. The flavor has cranberry and earth. It is a supple wine with long, pleasing finish.

Next was the Santa Maria Valley Jill’s Cuvee 2006 Pinot. This cuvee is the wine created by Joe to woo his wife-to-be. It proved to be more intense than the Sleepy Hollow with a higher skin to juice ratio. It is rich and ripe in flavor with floral notes over red berries. It’s complex, layered and completely cool.

At this point our group was completely engaged with Joe. He pulled out the 2001 Gary’s Vineyard Monterrey Pinot Noir.  This wine is a revelation. Flavors of currants and dark fruit layer with a slight earthiness. This is the finest Pinot Noir I’ve ever tasted – and it can be cellared and will gain even more complexity. It is vibrant, smooth but racy. This goes for $95 per bottle, reflecting that the grapes are some of the most expensive in California.

Before we closed with a pair of Syrah, Joe was again dispensing some serious wine wisdom. He was asked about the Vinturi aerator (which we happen to use and like). “I don’t like to microwave my wine,” was Joe’s response. “Cramming it through a little hole is not the answer.” He prefers a more civilized decanter and allowing it the time to breathe.

The 2005 Stolpman Vineyard Syrah was subtle yet elegant with notes of blackberry, cherry and smoke.

The 2005 Purisma Vineyard Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley, is intense with red and black berry with peppery spice. This had a long,persistent finish.

Arcadian wines and Joe Davis have a world-class reputation. It’s well deserved. If you seek Pinot Noir perfection, circle Lompoc on your wine trail map!

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