Month: April 2025
2021 Donati Family Vineyard Petite Sirah – “Gifted Wines”
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Donati generally means “gift” from the Latin “Donatus”. Their wines are truly gifts for wine connoisseurs.
This story unfolded from Donati’s participation in the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition on March 5th. They won Best of Category in the $56-$70 California and Double Gold Medals from the Professional Judges. They also received a Silver Medal from the People’s Choice Judges. This price category included wines from Lodi, Santa Maria, Paso Robles, Alexander Valley, Napa Valley and Temecula and perhaps one of the toughest categories in the competition. This was their second year participating.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
While attending the #CabFrancMasters in Paso I contacted Donati Wines to arrange a visit as I did not know the winery. We agreed to meet on Monday after the event and what a fun, delightful and engaging visit pursued with winemaker Brianna Heywood. Her background prior to joining the Donati Family was at J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for almost 10 years as an enologist and previous experience with a variety of wineries.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
During the visit with Briana, we sampled various wines from their award-winning lineup. We left with two of their wines, one being Petite Sirah. Petite Sirah is best known as offering a more intense full-bodied experience with a signature blend of dark fruit, spice and chocolate notes. A different grape varietal than Syrah.
This Petite Sirah is made with 96.7% Petite Sirah, 2.8% Petit Verdot and .5% Malbec. It won Double Gold at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition. The grapes come from HuerHuero Vineyard in Paso Robles. The grapes are hand-picked with primary fermentation in macro bins and secondary fermentation in barrel. The barrels used were 50% new Russian oak, medium toasted heads and 50% neutral oak. The wine was aged 23 months in barrel and held in the bottle for one year before releasing. Only 68 cases were produced and listed at the winery for $56/bottle. The wine comes in at 14.9% alcohol.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes a very dark and brooding inky purple color with medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, tightly bound up scents of blackberries. On the palate, the dark fruits of blackberry and blueberry reign prominently. Secondary flavors of earthiness, black pepper and a tinge of dark chocolate complete the sipping experience. On the finish, high tannins and acidity and a complete mouth filling experience provide bold and vigorous enjoyment.
The Donati Family Vineyard Petite Sirah displays all the key components of this beautiful varietal. This wine will make my annual list of Best Wines Tasted during the year for 2025. Only 3-4% of the 1500-1800 wines tasted make this list.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen this evening to be paired with a 24-hour marinated and then BBQ’ed Carne Asada steak.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The marinade ingredients included, fresh chopped Jalapeño peppers (3 with seeds), olive oil, soy sauce, fresh squeezed orange and lime juice, minced garlic cloves, ground cumin, Kosher salt, ground black pepper with a flank steak. Drizzled with a side batch of marinade fresh marinade sauce and a modicum of fresh squeezed lime juice. Accompanying the meal were sauteed broccoli and Spanish rice with tomatoes & green chiles. The Petite Sirah with its fruit surrounding the spicy meat and was a wonderful pairing.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery produces both a larger scale commercial wine offering and very small artisan & boutique wines for direct to customer purchase and their wine club. They are located at 2720 Oak View Road in Templeton, California. Their tasting room is quaint and inviting and more like a family room atmosphere.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Here is the lineup of some of their commercial and mass-produced wines. They are moderately priced for the consumer.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
They also have a fair number of varieties of wines for their club members and are sold only in the tasting room. The tasting room is quaint and inviting to enjoy sipping some or perhaps all their wines!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A great visit meeting Brianna with her enthusiastic energy, bright smile and her knowledge of both the vines and making wine. While not one of the “major names” in Paso Robles AVA, they are getting noticed by wine aficionados and discerning wine drinkers. I will look forward to a return visit on the next trip to Paso Robles AVA.
Sláinte,
Michael
2022 Cuvée St E by J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines – A Special Blend
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery and Background
50 years ago Jerry Lohr set out to find all the elements of a great “terroir”, climate, soil and location. He found two regions, one in Monterey County, specifically the Arroyo Seco area. The other being Paso Robles. The cool climate and the development of the vineyards were paramount. Today, J. Lohr has more than 1,400 acres of vineyards. His “go to wines” are Chardonnay, Riesling, Valdiguié and Pinot Noir. Additionally, they have added 30 plus acres in Napa Valley. The winery now offers seven tiers of award-winning wines.
On a personal note, in my mid-twenties, I cut my teeth on J. Lohr Chardonnay as my choice for social occasions. I mistakenly long ago abandoned J. Lohr until December 2022. At a dinner party at a residence in Paso Robles, I was sitting across the table from a most knowledgeable and gracious man, Steve Peck. As we struck up a conversation, I found out he was the VP of Winemaking for J. Lohr for both the Paso Robles and San Jose operations. He quietly pointed out that while J. Lohr is a commercial winery, they do have many brands highlighting artisan varietals and small boutique production lots.
See a previous story written on a visit to J. Lohr in Paso Robles at:
After a subsequent visit and extensive tasting experience, I fully appreciate the quality of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The composition of this year’s wine was 69% Cabernet Franc, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec. The grapes were handpicked, and the skins were left on juice for 8 days of maceration. The wine was in 225-liter French oak barrels for 18 months. The wine came in at 15.2% alcohol. Age ability is listed at 2034 and only 639 cases were produced. Price is only $50/bottle and was rated 95 points by Wine Enthusiast!
When opening the wine, the coloring was a deep dark color with enticing purple and red hues with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose, aromas of ripe blueberry waft into the senses. On the palate, the wine shouted out a light and mellow pipe tobacco, with mocha and dark fruit compote of the aforementioned fruits. The finish was epic with vanilla, not sweet, just pronounced, followed with defined chewy tannins that drifted to the edges of the mouth and then calmly disappeared with a mid-length residual flavoring that preceded. Minimal pyrazines (green bell peppers), mostly just silky smoothness.
This wine will make my annual list of Best Wines Tasted for 2025, both for quality and value.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled this evening to pair with a seared and BBQ’ed filet mignon seasoned and served medium rare. Accompanied by a Yukon Gold potato and sauteed snap peas. A fantastic food paired with the fruit and tannins of this gorgeous wine.
Sláinte,
Michael
Want to Visit Italy? Travel to Angels Camp, California to Avellino Italian Market and Wine Bar
Photo from Avellino website
This last weekend had a wonderful, unexpected experience wine tasting and eating at a new venue called Avellino Italian Market & Wine Bar. As noted by the name this is a combination of a wine bar, small plates for dine-in (both inside & outside), homemade Italian foods to go and specialty items. What a treat to enter a shop where 99% of the items are imported from Italy. It was like being transported effortlessly to Italy without any air travel!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Started the tasting sitting at the wine bar experiencing wines from various parts of Italy. Found out the wine list changes weekly and to my surprise they had one of my favorite white wines, Torremossa Fiano. A wine with bright and crisp notes of fruits in the nose and soft minerality and a saline finish.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Next up was Montepeloso, a super Tuscan comprised of equal amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Montepulciano and Sangiovese wines. Lots of flavor from the assemblage of these grapes being complex and very balanced.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Followed by Familia a collaboration of Carlo Deperu and Tatiana Holler. Ripe cherries dominated the palate with dark inky coloration and spiciness. The wine is from Sardinia combining grapes of Muristellu, Caricagiola and a tinge of Cannonau.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The next wine was a shining star, Barrosu. A big bold wine from Sardinia made from Cannonau, Grenache grapes. Bramble and a earthy minerality finish. This wine is best served with a big meal but still enjoyable to taste. A couple of other wines were tasted but wanted to highlight these.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
During this last weekend rain and light showers were constant and chilly (by California standards). Ordered a bowl of hot minestrone soup and this was like nothing I have ever tasted outside of Italy. Fresh vegetables galore, cheese, croutons, pork sausage and every Italian spice known. The flavors and textures were amazing and warmed us up immediately. The size of the bowl was twice what I was expecting and consumed every drop of the soup.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Next up was to choose a wine to go with our charcuterie board that was ordered. Elected to go with a Chianti Classico, Isole e Olena as it would complement so many of the items on the board. Opening with an enchanting fragrance of flowers and red berries. On the palate there is juicy raspberry and red plum with a presence of silky tannins surrounding the fruit. The charcuterie plate looked like a feast for King & Queen.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
All the items on the board were imported meats and cheeses from Italy. They included the following: prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella con pistachio, Coppa Stagionata (season Coppa), Salame con Finocchio (with fennel), Salame Picante (spicy), Taleggio, Pecorino Toscano and fresh Mozzarella cheeses. Served with the fresh baguette was fig jam, pickled vegetables, spicy olives, hot honey and semi-dried cherry tomatoes.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Besides the indoor seating, they have an outdoor rustic patio area but due to the inclement weather everyone was inside and the facility was packed. The interior was tastefully decorated with Italian art, posters and signage.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
They also sell the wines tasted and others not on the weekly tasting list. There were three racks of wine with various price points. The one rack that caught my attention included a Barolo, a Brunello di Montalcino, a Chianti Classico and Montepulciano.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Have not mentioned the ownership up to this point. Sara Beaudreau is the proprietor of Avellino Wine Bar. Sara was the chef and owner of Sarafina’s Italian Kitchen in Arnold until recently when she sold it. In November of 2024, Avellino was opened in downtown Angels Camp. Her creativity and authentic dishes are amazing and inspirational. Many other items were on the menu, and we only tried two! The current listing of tantalizing foods can be found on their website.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
One last note, Sarah and her entire staff were working tirelessly and flittering like bees the entire time we were there providing a level of service not often found in the Sierra foothills. A special thank you to Debi Miller for encouraging me to visit.
Sláinte or better yet for this article, saluti!
Michael Kelly
2023 Girasole Vineyards Pinot Blanc – Perfect for Light Summertime Foods
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
I previously have written a couple of stories on BARRA of Mendocino. The winery has two labels, one of them being Girasole Vineyards. All their wines are California Certified Organically Farmed (CCOF) and have been for 20 years. Even before certification, Charlie Barra had been doing this twenty plus years before “being certified”. You can read the history, the vision, the family and vineyards at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2022/03/30/barra-of-mendocino-winery-2019-petite-sirah/
History of Pinot Blanc
What is Pinot Blanc? The history of this grape is a bit tangled with mystery and misunderstanding. This white wine grape is essentially a mutation but sharing mostly the same DNA with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Pinot Blanc has wide ranging descriptors: high in acidity, low in acidity, mix of fresh fruits, aromas (apple, citrus), pear, a little buttery, a bit creamy, hint of spiciness, dry, floral characteristics, honey, sweet, possessing stone fruit aromas, heavier minerality, cabbage odor, etc. The grape is best known for growing in Alsace, eastern France and borders the countries of Germany and Switzerland.
Map from Wikimedia Commons
Where is it grown? The main areas for this variety are Alsace (northeast France), the Alto Adige region in Italy and neighboring areas of Alsace in Germany & Austria. Pinot Blanc is also taking hold in Canada’s Okanagan Valley as one of their signature wines. Other areas include Hungary, Croatia, Spain, Washington, California and Oregon. In France it is permissible to blend this varietal with other grapes in some quantities.
What other names does it go by? Warning: the list is a minefield for possible mispronunciations: Austria (Weissburgunder or Klevner), Hungary (Feher Burgundi); Spain & Italy (Pinot Bianco), Czech Republic (Rulandske Bile), Slovakia (Rulandske Biele) and Argentina (Pinot Bianco). In the Champagne region, Pinot Blanc is often called Blanc Vrai. In the United States, besides Pinot Blanc, it is often referred to as a white ABC (anything but Chardonnay) or a stepchild to Chardonnay. The truth of this varietal is very different!
The number of acres planted of Pinot Blanc is 259 acres statewide in California per the 2023 California Grape Acreage Report from California Dept of Food & Agriculture. Upon several previous tastings of various Pinot Blanc’s, I was impressed with the aromas, flavors, textures and tastes of this varietal. What stood out was this wine was significantly different from France to California. Admittedly, I have not tasted this varietal in all the previous countries mentioned. In France Pinot Blanc wines can and may add Auxerrois (from the town in Chablis region) but still labeled as Pinot Blanc. Auxerrois often has a “green vegetable quality” to it and it can add a cabbage tinge. What are the differences between California and French Pinot Blanc? Apart from “terroir”, as mentioned the French often blend in Auxerrois and it has a distinct “green vegetable” on the palate. When I tasted a Sonoma and Napa Valley Pinot Blanc I was taken back with a soft “cotton candy sweetness” verses the French “cabbage flavor” on the palate and finish.
The Winery
Picture of Redwood Valley Vineyards from their website Vineyards at Barra of Mendocino
The Pinot Blanc comes from their Redwood Valley Vineyards. It is their home ranch, originally planted by Charlie Barra in 1955 (175 acres). An additional 90 acres have been added for a total of 265 acres. Today the vineyards are planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard elevation is 820 feet and has six man-made freshwater ponds for both frost protection in the spring and irrigation in the summer. It is designated CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) and certified in 1989. In addition, they have two other vineyards, Bella Collina representing 27 acres and Vineyards at Barra of Mendocino Tasting Room having 50 acres.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
2023 Girasole Pinot Blanc – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First, on the eyes you are greeted with a clear pale golden hue for color and a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose honeysuckle and orange blossom greet the senses. Secondary aromas of a soft sweet vegetable characteristic of snow peas and a hint of lemon citrus are present. On the palate, tastes of a slight fresh earthiness, intense floral, coupled with white peach make for a rich and flavorful tasting with a tinge of sweetness on the finish. The finish was full and multi-layered especially as it went from chilled to warming up but always smooth and mid-lasting. One of the unique characteristics of this wine is the full creamy mouth feeling it provides during the tasting and especially on the finish. The grapes were harvested from their Redwood Valley Vineyards in Mendocino and then “cold aged in stainless steel at 40 degrees to retain freshness and fruit character”.
This is now on my list for summertime enjoyment as a wine of balance and place. It is 100% Pinot Blanc, vegan friendly and amazingly sells for $16/bottle!! The wine comes in at 13% alcohol, and will make my yearly Best Wines Tasted (comes out annually mid-December) for 2025 for both uniqueness and price point in the under $50 category.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a fresh Ahi tuna seared quickly on the BBQ. Prepared with only a sprinkling of sea salt, black pepper, white sesame seeds and black sesame seeds. Served medium rare and plated with a squeeze of fresh lemons and topped with green onions. Accompanied by rice pilaf and a fresh garden salad. The light and airy wine provided a good complement to the fish without overpowering it.
The quintessential take away is that California Pinot Blanc possess wide ranging characteristics and flavors. It is much more than your Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc wine and will provide a new adventure and a great addition to your everyday whites. The 2023 Girasole Pinot Blanc was a real treat.
Sláinte,
Michael
2023 Wood Family Vineyard Malbec and Santa Maria Tri-tip – A Perfect Combination
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Malbec wine is a full bodied and deep purple wine that originated in France and now is mostly associated with Argentina. The distinct characteristic is the taste and the balance between fruit and acidity. While in 2024 California crushed significantly less grapes than the previous year, the tonnage of Malbec was essentially the same percentage, 2023 being 1.71% and 2024 being 1.67% of red wine grapes. Interestingly, the average price per ton increased from $1,332/ton to $1,483/ton by 11%.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine on the eyes is medium-heavy viscosity, a deep royal purple and magenta coloration with an inky characteristic. On the nose blackberries and dark red plums are the leaders rushing in to claim dominance in the olfactory senses. Also, the presence of violets and roses were noted.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the palate almost empowering black and dark red fruits (blackberries and plums) with a tinge of red ripe raspberries were dominant flavors. Secondary flavors of oak and cherry cola rounded out the tasting experience with a tinge of smokiness. The finish provided strong acidity along with bold and strong tannins but completed each sip with a juicy mouth filling and velvety finish.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Alcohol is 13.7 % and last year at the winery for the 2022 it was $42/bottle. At the time of writing, I did not have the 2023 pricing. The wine is produced from their estate vineyard. Barrel treatment was 25% new French oak and aged for 17 months. The 2023 vintage will be released mid-May 2025. The Wood Family Vineyards Malbec has been on my list of Best Wines Tasted yearly for the last four years and will continue to be in 2025.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a Santa Maria Tri-tip BBQ’ed steak. Since this story goes out to a wide-ranging audience, I wanted to define what a Santa Maria Tri-tip is. The tri-tip gets its name from its distinctive triangular shape. The cut is typically lean and tender making it a delicious meat to barbeque. This signature cut emerged in the Santa Maria Valley of California. Legend has it that Bob Schultz, the owner of Santa Maria Market, first introduced it to locals in the 1950’s. It had been a cut used only for ground beef or stew meat. This cut was prepared (marinated) by the local meat market so the exact ingredients are not known. Typically, Santa Maria Tri-tip marinade may have soy sauce, honey, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, paprika, onion powder, rosemary and even cayenne pepper.
Slow cooked on the barbeque without direct heat to provide a juicy cut of meat and served medium rare. Accompanied by sauteed Brussel sprouts with bacon and risotto with button mushrooms and bacon. The spices and richness of the meat made a beautiful combination with the Malbec varietal encompassing each bite with fruit. An excellent food and wine pairing.
The Winery
Photo from Wood Family Vineyards
Wood Family Vineyards, located in eastern Livermore Valley, with Rhonda Wood owner & winemaker, has been producing award winning wines for over two decades. You can read more on her background from airline pilot to award winning winemaker at:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/10/wood-family-vineyards-2/
and
Her awards are extensive and too numerous to list here in this article.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
An Open Love Letter from Wine to Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z and Millennials
Dear Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Millennials, etc.,
This is your shunned friend Wine. I thought since you seem to be dissing me, I wanted to recap why our relationship is on the rocks. While having been around for thousands of years and more recently with your parents, the Baby Boomers, I (wine) have had a dynamic relationship and growing relationship. However, recently I have been shunned by you my “alphabet generation” friends and wanted to address the issues.
You have repeatedly stated that I (wine) is too complex and ethereal to comprehend. I find that amusing in that you my “alphabet friends” can magically work smart phone, smart television screens, computers, smart watches and the who knows what new fandangle devices that will be forthcoming with the ease of cutting butter with a hot knife. Then you add software and applications which even my true friends the Baby Boomers often struggle with, you do without even a thought.
Yes, I do have my own terminology and with quirky language like appellation, residual sugar, malolactic fermentation, MOG, barrel toasting, left bank, right bank, etc. But that pales in comparison to just getting your pictures transferred from your phone to a computer. For example, connecting a phone to a computer via USB or Bluetooth (thought that happened when you drank too much Petit Verdot), then look up file explorer, then use cloud storage (where the bloody world is that? whereas I (wine) am right in front of you in the real world), enable file transfer, copy and paste, go to cloud service website, use a WiFi photo transfer, and on and on. My dear “alphabet friends” you can do this like twiddling your thumbs without a thought. That is only one application and most “alphabet friends” having 50 to 100 applications on just one device! I (wine) think you can spend a few minutes a day trying to understand me, my beautiful aroma, my graceful tastes and appreciate who I am! Fortunately, I don’t cry in my bottle but I occasionally need to be caressed.
An often complaint you have voiced to me (wine) is that I disguise myself with too many choices beyond the normal Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc. I lurk in back rooms with the likes of Assyrtiko, Picpoul Blanc, Albariño, Dornfelder, Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, Lagrein, Carmenere, Nebbiolo, etc. Yes I hang out with many of my kind at last count 13,500 varieties at per authorities. So if you want choice, I (wine) can accommodate you. Just don’t pick up a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon and dismiss me as having too many tannins or being too oaky, try a mellower Merlot or Cabernet Franc? If you don’t like the citrus flavors in a Sauvignon Blanc, try a Bourboulenc or Picpoul Blanc?? Remember you don’t hang around for 7,000 to 8,000 years being a “flash in the pan”. You “alphabet folks” have only had “smart things” since the advent of the transistor and semiconductor technology. So think about who is “smarter”? Experience speaks for itself. I (wine) am happy to coexist with your technology and in fact include many innovations in the growing and production of many of my wine friends.
I (wine) have heard you talk about how expensive I am. Well, compare me to your smart cars, exotic vacations, electric vehicles, flights around the world, etc. and I am bargain. I don’t only reside on 5th Avenue NY or Paris, France; I can be seen at many local restaurants and grocery stores in every city at an affordable price. Yes, some of my brothers and sisters, are a bit “stuck up” and believe they are all royalty of different kind costing thousands of dollars. But the same can be said of rare cars, superstar professional sneakers, houses on remote beaches, tropical islands, etc. Quality can exist within everyone’s means and not just the one percenters.
I (wine) know I have some issues like storage and transportability, but isn’t that a small thing compared to what I have to offer? I (wine) can offer you sexiness (Pinot Noir), brute strength (Cabernet Sauvignon or Plavac Mali), light heartiness (Chardonnay), spiciness (Zinfandel or Sauvignon Blanc), thought provoking (Cabernet Franc) and many more characteristics of a solid relationship. It has been documented that I (wine) can also provide when drinking in moderation provides healthy antioxidants in fighting inflammation and heart disease.
I know that the “alphabet group” are looking at seltzer drinks, carbonation everything, non-alcohol drinks, alternative packaging (cardboard, cans) but really?? That is like substituting sawdust for a filet mignon. I (wine) am authentic, experienced, come in many forms and have a known history. Can’t we get along? My heart longs for yesterday’s passion that I once shared with other.
Longing again for a relationship, your friend,
Wine, until the end of time.
(story by Michael Kelly, https://californiawinesandwineries.com)
2022 Balverne Chardonnay – With Protected Land Being “Forever Wild”
The Winery
(Photo Balverne website)
Bob and Renee Stein purchased the 710-acre Russian River Valley estate that included a working vineyard in 1992. The Steins vision was to create a sustainable property which they developed by keeping 350 acres in a protected Forever Wild open space. This acreage weaved with the vineyards combines rugged wildland and wildlife with the manicured vineyards.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
They accomplished their ideal view and called it Notre Vue (our view). Who would not enjoy viewing this idyllic setting every day? Can you imagine yourself sitting here?
(Photo Balverne website)
The resulting effort is 250 acres of rolling vineyards and the “Forever Wild” protected space. This includes 17 miles of hiking and biking trails with picnic areas throughout. Horseback riding trails also exist. Their label shows a red shoulder Hawk which roams the area. Their motto is the reason they consider Forever Wild to be the heart of the Notre Vue Estate.
Their goal with their winemaker Alex Hoffman is focused on making wine in a European style with finesse and low intervention. Their current offerings with the Balverne label include Zinfandel, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, a few different Chardonnay’s, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Under their Notre Vue label, they have various Rosés, Chardonnay’s, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a few red blends.
The Wine – 2022 Balverne Chardonnay
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The wine is a lighter straw golden color with medium viscosity on the eyes. On the nose fuji apple and light butterscotch aromas welcome the imbiber. On the palate, soft lemon custard and a unique marshmallow cream swirl about in the mouth. Secondary flavors of honeydew melon are also present. On the finish, an abrupt short finish but with a tinge of aforementioned lemon custard citrus leaving one with complete enjoyment.
The wine is 100% Russian River Valley and aged 8 months in 100% French oak, with 20% being new barrels and having 14.2% alcohol. Only 245 cases were produced and is scheduled is being released right now!
Their current release is listed at $35/bottle and is the 2021 vintage. 252 cases of the 2021 were produced and won Double Gold at the SF Chronicle Wine Competition.
The Food and Wine Pairing
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Paired this evening with a stir-fried chicken with Udon noodles with some fresh vegetables. The seasoning included soy sauce, onion, tomato powder, black pepper and rosemary. Vegetables included purple onions, broccoli and snap peas. This was a complete dish by itself. The complementary flavors of the Chardonnay harmonized with the savory Udon noodles, vegetables and spices. A very nice food and wine pairing this evening.
Sláinte,
Michael
2015 Gracianna Westside Reserve Pinot Noir – Spicy and Provocative with Gratitude
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
The name Gracianna is for Trini Amador III’s (owner) great grandmother (Gracianna) and they wanted to incorporate all they had to be grateful for and show their gratitude. Even on the back of the bottle, it reads “Gracianna is for those who have something to be grateful for”. The winery is set next to the Russian River on the well know “Miracle Mile” home of some of the best Pinots just outside of Healdsburg. The “Miracle Mile” is the confluence of a tectonic age, alluvial soils left by a wandering river, water flowing off the Sonoma Mountain range which carried with it eroded volcanic material–all of these factors created soil with large amounts of clay in the central portion of the Russian River Valley appellation.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Gracianna produces several thousand cases per year of which 70% is for various Pinot’s. The balance of production is for Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling Brut Rosé – Blush Cuvée. All their Pinot’s are produced in the Burgundian style with French barrels. They use clones 667 and 777 for their Pinot’s in the vineyard and then blend the two. The wine making is a “family affair” with all giving “gratitude” for the fruit of the vineyard.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2015 Gracianna Westside Reserve Pinot Noir is one of their outstanding wines. First on the eyes a radiant purple blush beckoning one to enjoy this elixir. Immediately, even upon just inhaling the aromas, I knew it was going to be a provocative Pinot Noir. With the first sip, a fruit forward taste of both ripe cherries and freshly picked strawberries, with just the appropriate amount of pepper, minerality and leather lingering in the background. The wine peeled backed invigorating layers upon each sip. One of the more spicier Pinot Noir and very enjoyable. A graceful finish and mellow tannins.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The wine came in at 14.8% alcohol. The current vintage is 2023 and believe the price to be $76/bottle. The 2023 Westside Reserve Pinot Noir won the prestigious Best of Show at the 2024 Sonoma County Harvest Fair.
I am thankful that this wine is now on my annual list of Best Wines Tasted for 2025!
Sláinte,
Michael
2013 Foretell Pinot Noir – “Ab Actu Ad Posse Valet Illatio”
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background
Picked up both the 2013 Foretell Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir many years ago. Opened and did a story on the Cabernet Sauvignon in 2017 and just opened the Pinot Noir last evening.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
As the name implies, Foretell is the art of telling beforehand what is to come. Very appropriate for a winemaker of Sam Baxter’s pedigree, both from experience and knowledge. To walk about the vineyards and be able to pronounce the future quality of the wine is as much intellectual training as it is intuitive from years of experience.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The label on the wine also provides a clue as to the pedigree of this wine with the Latin phase “respice, adspice, prospice” meaning “look, look, look!” letting you know something good is in the bottle! With the other phrase “Ab Actu Ad Posse Valet Illatio” meaning “from the past one can infer the future”. And Sam provides his calculated prophecy based on his excellent experience.
Sam and Angela Baxter used a woodcut from Jost Amman, an astonishing craftsman, noted for his detail in his art from the 16th century, for their unique signature label. This label stands out and doesn’t need a bright color or a gimmick to be remembered. Simply classy.
Photo from Terra Valentine website
Foretell label is a part of Terra Valentine located on Spring Mountain. Sam Baxter is the wine maker for both and had been the winemaker for 12 years at Terra Valentine. In 2014 the founders of Terra Valentine exited the business and Sam negotiated the purchase. At the same time, he founded Foretell Wines to showcase his reserve and selected barrels producing both Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Now on to the wine. Sam makes both a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon with the Foretell label. This Pinot Noir is from Fort Ross-Seaview one of the westernmost AVA districts in California. It is in the hills west of Russian River Valley and within the Sonoma Coast appellation. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay find a comfortable home in this maritime climate.
The 2013 Pinot Noir Foretell beheld a ruby color glistening in the sunlight. I was concerned seeing just a little brown in the rim of the glass, but it had no effect on the wine. Immediately upon opening a bouquet of strawberry fruit and red cherries meet the imbiber. On the palate, while “light in appearance” it provided essentially all that was needed in a pedigree Pinot Noir – a big thinking persons wine with structure, green earthiness, balanced and silky smooth. Flavors of strawberry and light red cherries were dominant. Secondary flavors hinted of minerality. The finish was dry and crisp with mild acidity. Tannins that were noticeable, but essentially soft and kept in check. A great wine to conclude the sipping experience with a big mouthfeel and texture.
This wine just made my annual Best Wines Tasted list for 2025!
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Pulled this out of the cellar to enjoy with a marinated and seared on the BBQ Pork Tenderloin. Had two choices for wines this evening a Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. Since the Pinot Noir was already 12 years old, I thought it best to go with it. The Pork Tenderloin was marinated in a dry rub for 3 hours after applying a mix of the following: brown sugar, smoked Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, sea salt, black pepper and chili powder (in moderation!). Accompanied by long and short grain brown rice with sautéed broccoli with bacon and mushrooms. The wine was perfect with the spices of the dry rub and pork.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
2020 Mitchell Katz at Shadow Hills Winery Cabernet Franc
Photo from Mitchell Katz website
Background
Mitchell Katz Winery is an innovative Livermore Valley winery dedicated exclusively to producing single-vineyard wines that capture the essence of each vineyard. My only exposure has been their first time entry into the 6th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition in March of 2025. For their first time entering they walked away with Best of Category for California Cab Franc and Double Gold Medal from the Professional Judge’s and a Gold Medal from the People’s Choice Judges. An extremely remarkable showing for their wine!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This was the first time I tasted this exquisite Cabernet Franc wine from Mitchell Katz Winery. The grapes came from the well-known Casa de Vinas vineyards and produced unfined and unfiltered. It comes in at 13.9% alcohol and tasted much bigger! Only 200 cases were produced and listed at $52/bottle.
On the eyes a dark ravenous deep color with a heavy viscosity. On the nose dark inviting fruits of blackberries and blue berries awaken the senses. Once on the mouth, a big bold and dry Cabernet Franc presents itself with esteemed credentials. The tannins are brazened in the mouth and yet going into the palate silky smooth. An easy wine going in and explosive jagged tannins at the finish. A very balanced and caressing wine. Additionally, a very oaky finish that was enjoyable. It may have been from 50% new American oak and medium plus toasting and in the barrels for 18 months.
This wine hit the bullseye for my tasted buds. I fully understand the awards it was given after tasting the wine. It just made my annual list of Best Wines Tasted for 2025! This is reserved for only 3-5% of the 1600 to 1800 tasted during the year.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was selected to go with a seasoned and seared BBQ’ed filet mignon this week. Seared at 1500 degrees to a beautiful medium rare finish. Accompanied by roasted Brussel sprouts with cooked bacon slices that were delicious. Also served with a Yukon Gold potato and a southwestern salad with roasted corn, roasted chicken and four cheeses of Monterey Jack, Queso Quesadilla, Asadero and Cheddar and topped with tortilla strips and a southwestern dressing.
The hearty Cabernet Franc was a perfect match with the meat and Brussel sprouts with bacon cutting the rich meat and fatty bacon.
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery was started by Mitchell Katz and was from the beginning a family affair. It started in 1998 in memory of Mitchell’s grandfather and even today two blends are named after his son’s Jackson and Wesley. The winery uses only estate and hand selected vineyards from Livermore Valley.
The Mitchel Katz Winery is located at 2915 Vasco Road in Livermore’s east valley. Today they offer white wines of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. They also have a Rose and two sparkling wines. Their red wines include Cabernet Sauvignon (2), Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel and a couple of Red Blends.
I have not tried their other wines and will be planning a visit soon to taste their other gems!
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly