Month: September 2019
Gossamer Cellars 2014 Negroamaro’s
Gossamer Cellars located in Murphys, California is one of the gems of the Sierra Foothills. Their “motto” written in chalk in a very tiny tasting room sums up their goal and lifestyle “Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you” (Anonymous). See a complete story at https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2019/01/18/gossamer-cellars-a-unique-find/ . This is about one of their wines called Negroamaro. Grown in the Sierra Foothills, this grape is a dark-skinned and best known in the Puglia region in Southern Italy (the heel of the boot). The name Negroamaro translates “dark, bitter”. The typical characteristics are red cherry, forest fruits, licorice and tobacco. With aging (5-10 years) the wine can develop aromas of black pepper, prunes, earthy notes, blackberry and dried thyme.
This wine on the eyes was not as dark as some of the Italian Negroamaro’s but don’t let it fool you. It possessed a purple and crimson hue and was medium to medium heavy viscosity. Aromas of plum, dark cherry were prevalent. In the mouth, besides dark fruits, licorice and tobacco, a tinge of green pepper was present along with an almost bitter rhubarb but with food, a slight sweetness of the plum & cherry came forward. The finish was dry with both medium to medium heavy tannins and acid. Definitely an “old world” flavor is what you are left savoring. When paired with a meat ravioli with a red garlic & mushroom sauce, it held up beautifully!
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
http://restless-frog.com
Hoopes Vineyard 2015 Chardonnay, Genny’s Vineyard, Carneros
Hoopes Vineyard has a great tagline with a picture of the dog jumping thru the hoop being “In Dogged Pursuit of Perfect Wines”. It also could be “we will jump thru hoops to make your experience enjoyable”. Known for their Cabernet Sauvignon’s, I also picked up a couple of bottles of their 2015 Carneros Chardonnay. It is simply excellent! Winemakers Ann Vawter and Jennifer Rue, found a vineyard in Carneros called Genny’s Vineyard. Carneros is area heavily influence by the maritime coolness from San Pablo Bay. It also has a very shallow soil. Thus the vineyard has a low yield with small berry size. It does produce a desirable and distinctive character in which to make Chardonnay. The wine is made in 100% French oak barrels, with 33% being new. It is aged 10 months Sur Lie. They only produce 146 cases of Chardonnay. On the eye, a bright almost glistening golden straw color and medium viscosity. On the nose, pineapple, pear and honeysuckle. On the palate, French pastry and vanilla crème brûlée produce a fullness not normally found in many Chardonnay’s. The pear and green apple produce a wonderful and long lasting finish. Paired last evening with a light stir fried Teriyaki chicken with mushrooms, snow peas and cauliflower rice. Hoopes is now one of our new favorite Chardonnay’s.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://hoopesvineyard.com
Revana Family Vineyard, 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Terroir Series
Last night pulled a 2014 Revana Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Terroir Series. On the eyes this wine is dark red/purple extract and medium to medium heavy viscosity. On the nose one gets blackberry, licorice, violet, leather and a hint of pipe tobacco. On the palate, the aromatics from the nose take flight and collide with the senses to make a wonderful mouthful experience with oak, black cherry, smoke and plum leading the charge. Thomas Rivers Brown has once again created a wine worthy of his statue. Besides Cabernet Sauvignon, small portions of Petit Verdot and Merlot were added. Wine Spectator rated this 95 points! Paired with flank steak marinated in Chaka sauce, stir fried in a skillet. Asparagus and green onions accompanied the meal for an exquisite food pairing.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.revanawine.com
2012 Jazz Cellars Pinot Noir, Lone Oak Vineyard
Pulled this from the cellar last night, a Jazz Cellars (located in Murphys, Calaveras County) and they source their grapes from around the state from 6-7 AVA’s. This Pinot Noir came from the Lone Oak Vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands on the California Central Coast. For those not familiar with the Central Coast of California with the various hills and valleys near the Pacific Ocean, they draw in the morning fog and it cools down the vineyards reducing their daytime warmth which causes stress on the vines. This area is known for their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays both preferring this temperature relief. This Pinot Noir on the eyes is semi translucent, clear and bright violet color. On the nose a full bouquet entices you to strawberries and violets. On the palate, you instantly receive predominately cherry cola and plum, surrounded by a round texture and a lasting finish. Just enough spice and body to please any Pinot Noir drinker. This wine won a Gold Medal at the California State Fair in 2017 and voted Best of Class with 95 points. It also won a Silver Medal at the San Francisco Wine Competition in 2016.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.jazzcellars.com/
Amici Cellars 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
On the eyes a dark red with medium to medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, floral notes along with dark berries. On the palate hints of chocolate, leather, pipe tobacco and concentrated blackberries. The finish shows dark fruits and smooth tannins. Fruit is 75% mountain vineyards (Spring Mountain) and 25% valley floor vineyards (Rutherford and Oakville). It is comprised of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged 20 months in 85% new French oak barrels. This was rated 93 points by James Suckling. An enjoyable wine with or without food as tannins and acids were balanced and smooth with rounded edges. Current release (2016) is $90 and received 96 points by Jeb Dunnuck and has a similar profile mix but with some Merlot added.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://www.amicicellars.com
Paoletti Estates Winery 2012 Nero d’Avola, Calistoga, Napa Valley
Some meals are more elegant than others but matching a simple pizza with a Nero d’Avola was heavenly. Pulled from the cellar, this Nero d’Avola is “almost black” and considered one of the most important grape in Sicily. The name comes from the town of Avola in the far south of Sicily. It is also known in Italy as Calabrese. This is a blend mostly of Nero d’Avola varietal with some Merlot and Malbec blended into the Cuvee. The grapes were brought in from Sicily almost 18 years ago and planted in Calistoga. On the eyes, this is a dark almost black sea of delight with medium heavy viscosity. On the nose and palate, it parlays one back to old world Italy/Sicily with a dusty and rustic taste with blackberries, plum, cherries and dark chocolate. This is a wine that pairs well with sausage and a simple steak. Pizza with sausage and pepperoni was spot on!
Slainte,
2015 Wood Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Especial”
Last night had a bacon wrapped venison tenderloin with whole grain mustard potatoes, baby carrots, Swiss chard and mushroom demi. Meal was at the Copper Grill at The Golf Club at Copper Valley. Paired with Wood Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon “Especial”. It possessed a dark purple & red color which was lush with a medium body on the eyes. On the nose dark cherry was predominate. Upon entry to the palate, it opened up to caramel, chocolate and spices. The finish was smooth and elegant and picks up the French oak it was aged. This won a Gold Medal at the 2109 Alameda County Fair Wine Competition. It also was awarded 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. Their 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon “Especial” won Best of Class at the 2019 SF Chronicle Wine Competition. This was a great pairing sipping and savory the venison.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://woodfamilyvineyards.com
https://www.coppervalleygolf.com
2012 Arzuaga Reserva by Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro.
This wine comes from Ribera del Duero D.O. in north central Spain. An enjoyable wine from Spain with a deep red color. The wine consists of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo 95 percent), Merlot (3 percent) and Albillo (2 percent), made from the old vines of the winery’s own “La Planta” estate. Due to the harsh growing conditions (geography, weather & altitude) the yields are scarce and very concentrated. This wine has “hearty tannins” that fill the mouth but still fruit persists. On the nose and palate, vanilla & floral notes rise up to greet you. On the palate, a soft sweetness of smoke and earth are present. Spice, oak and tannins are ever present on the finish. Arzuaga Reserva is aged for 26 months in French and American oak barrels. This was paired with a marinated ribeye steak in a peppercorn and bourbon sauce and then Bbq’ed. The wine was decanted almost 2 hours before serving.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://arzuaganavarro.com/
2014 Alyris Audition Chardonnay
Most local (Northern Californian) wine folks know that Sonoma (coast & Russian River), Santa Cruz Mountains, Livermore Valley & Napa Valley (Carneros Region) make some of the best Chardonnay wines from these vineyards. This is due to the cooler temperatures of the Pacific Ocean, the Russian River, San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay drawing the fog into the regions. No exception is the 2014 Alyris Audition Chardonnay. Always one of my personal favorite Chardonnay’s, regardless of price. The wine is put in 50% new French oak barrels. On the eyes a light straw color, but it holds a punch. On the nose, honeysuckle and traces of pineapple are the two main aromas that waffle into your senses along with floral notes. On the palate, these two flavors explode into ripeness with spices of nutmeg and allspice in the background. Always a great soft finish with just a touch of minerality. This wine won Double Gold Medal at the 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Paired with some fresh sushi of Maguro, Sake and Hamachi made a perfect lunch. Normally $45, on their website it is listed for $38.25……definitely worth grabbing a bottle or two!
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
http://alyrisvineyards.com/
2014 Red Mare Cabernet Sauvignon
Hard to believe but this was a new wine for me! Our friend brought over this bottle to try with a BBQ New York steak. What a nice treat for sure. Red Mare is owned by Jim Striegel and Anne Vawter. She is also the winemaker at Red Mare. Anne got her training at UC Davis in enology and viticulture philosophy. She worked for wineries in Washington, California and Chile and then settled down in Napa. In Napa, she was the assistant winemaker under Heidi Barrett at Paradigm. She is also the wine maker at Hoopes Vineyard where I was doing a story recently but more on that in a different review. Red Mare, an artisan wine comes from vineyards across the street from Opus One. It is 85.6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, 4% Malbec and .4% Petit Sirah. She ages it in 35% new French oak barrels for 20 months. On the eyes it is a dark purple/red hue and medium body viscosity. On the nose and palate, blackberries, cocoa and vanilla are the prevalent aromas and tastes. A smooth and easy drinking wine with soft tannins and a lasting finish. A bargain pedigree wine.
Slainte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
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