Impromptu and Spontaneous Wine Tasting
A simple day turns into a spontaneous wine tasting experience! A couple of folks were golfing in the late morning along with Susan and when done came by house. It started off in the late afternoon with appetizers and a refreshing 2020 Wood Family Vineyards Chardonnay (https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/10/19/2020-wood-family-vineyards-new-chardonnay/ ) which has made my Best Wines of the Year for 5 years straight. Followed by a delightful and 2016 Darcie Kent Vineyards Cabernet Franc (https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/04/14/2017-darcie-kent-vineyards-cabernet-franc-silver-and-bronze-medal-winner/ ) with assorted cheeses, fig compote and assortment of specialty crackers.
As the conversations continued for a few hours it was decided to order a couple of pizza’s to be delivered. They were a meat combination (salami, pepperoni, olive, mushroom, onion and bell pepper) and a Margarita pizza. It was now time to “up the wine selection” to some heavier wines. One guest went home to pick up a 2013 Leal Vineyards Cabernet Franc from the Popescu Terrace Vineyard located in San Benito region. An excellent heavily oaked Cabernet Franc (https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/10/01/one-steakhouse-founded-by-morton-brothers-a-1200-degree-success-with-hindsight-leal-vineyards-far-niente-and-trinchero-wines/ ). The accompanied wine from the cellar was a 2015 Alaya Tierra from Spain. This is one of our favorites from 1,000 meters altitude region of Almansa and is a Granacha Tintorera. Intensely dark, almost black in color and a heavy viscosity. An elegant nose, with wood aromas from both French and American oak. A juicy wine with an extremely lengthy finish. This wine has also made my list of Best Wines of the Year for the last 4 years! https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2021/05/04/3-acquiesce-wines-3-food-pairings-3-couples-1-spectacular-dinner-and-8-hours/
The culminating crown jewel of the evening was the 2008 Oakville East Exposure Cabernet Sauvignon. This was well worth the 11 years letting it rest in the cellar aging gracefully to partake of this beauty. Elliot Stern, owner of the winery, produces a Cabernet Sauvignon with a nose of blackberries and blueberries. On the palate, dark cherries, Christmas spices and a hint of honey tobacco. The finish had a panache with structure and punctuated silky smooth tannins. All of us thought this was a great wine to cap off the evening! https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2020/06/29/2008-oakville-east-cabernet-sauvignon-exposure/ Oakville East Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon have made my list of the Best Wines of the Year many times. It will again this year!
Sometimes impromptu and spontaneous gatherings are the best. As the evening wound down, it reminded me that great wine and food is best shared with great friends!
Sláinte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
https://woodfamilyvineyards.com/
https://darciekentvineyards.com/
California Wines & Wineries 