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Archive for January, 2010
Day 4: The Road to Napa with Steve
The evening started with cocktails at a small bar near Union Square called Cantina. Unremarkable name but the concoctions were superb.
2007 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape $199.00
All manner of fresh herbs and fruit garnishes are expertly employed to create tasty and lovingly crafted drinks. This is a must stop for fans of the ideal cocktail.
Later we were invited to dinner at one of San Francisco’s finest restaurants, Boulevard. One of the pricier too. Yikes. Food was excellent especially if you are a meat lover. Bob and I both felt the lamb t-bone was the best lamb we had ever tasted. BTG Tablas Creek Cote de Tablas was tasty as was Chave CDR but the wine of the night was the young but clearly outstanding 2007 Clos du Pape CDP. Its the finest young CDP I’ve tasted and I think RP’s score is right on. It is fully ripe but somehow not overripe and the flavors are expansive and the finish endless.
Day 3: The Road to Napa with Steve
Gnarly Head Zin $6.99
We were blessed with cool sunny weather today for the ZAP tasting. It is indoors but in two large warehouses right on San Francisco Bay so we were exposed to the elements when traversing between them. Despite reports of frost I found several 2008 Zins with much to like. Some great ones actually. Some nice 2007s are still in the market too but they are becoming harder to find. The best overall group of zins had to be Seghesios. 2008s and 2007s are tasting good there. We found a few new leads too which I’ll report on once secured.
BTW Gnarly Head was the best value for the 5th year in a row! It is very impressive for the price.
Come one come all to the best Pre-Game Party Around!
I am so stoked about our Wines of Spain Grand Tasting and Sale! It truly will be the best Superbowl Tailgating Party in Tampa Bay. With seminars starting as early as 12:00 noon, the afternoon will be filled with a ton of great Spanish wine from Priorat to Ribera del Duero to Rioja and on and on. Wines from Vega Sicilia, Muga, Emilo Moro, Mas Doix, Alto Moncayo, El Nido and Numanthia to name a few.
Did I forget to mention that Juan Muga, Proprietor of Bodegas Muga will be in the house? So will David Espinar, the Winery Director of Emilio Moro. They will be here in person signing bottles.
Top top it all off, we will be tasting more portugal wines and ports than we’ve ever had available to taste before. Yes, even ports from the amazing 2007 vintage which Wine Spectator has said is “A Classic Year” and been praised by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Jancis Robinson, and more.
The grand tasting begins at 2:00pm with seminars starting as early as 12:00pm. And for those of you who are worried about getting back before the Big Game, no worries the events end at 5pm with plenty of time to get back for the big game.
Check out these Seminars:
12pm-12:45: The Schistes Show with Anthony Pannone of European Cellars (Priorat wines)
1pm-1:45pm: La Rioja with Juan Muga of Bodegas Muga - SOLD OUT!!!
2pm-2:45pm: Ribera del Duero with David Espinar of Emilio Moro
3pm-3:45pm: Amazing old ports from Gould Campbell (1980, 1983, 1985, & 1994 vintages)
Sign up today! Time is running out!
Click here to make a reservation.
Day 2: The Road to Napa with Steve
Well you don’t see much Charbono out there. We’ve handled a few at B-21 over the years including Robert Foley and Tofanelli. Only 60 acres of it are planted in the entire world! Charbono seems to originate in France’s Savoie but its flavor profile is decidedly more Italian reminiscent of a combination of very fine Sangiovese and Barbera. In any case last night I think I tasted the finest example of Charbono I’ve ever had. It is from very old vines in Napa that have been tended by the same family for three generations. Look for it to be available later this year.
Day 1: The Road to Napa with Steve
- The Estate Vineyard at Turnbull taken from my trusty blackberry!
9:41 am
Its 39 degrees and foggy as we make our way through the wine disneyland known as Napa Valley. Our destination is in the town of Oakville but the view from the road is a “Who’s Who” of wineries and vineyards. Even through fog, the sites of wineries such as St. Clement, Beringer and Freemark Abbey elicit “oohs” and “ahs” in this idyllic setting. Check back often as I will be journaling my trip to Napa and ZAP convention (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers). I’ll be taking pictures along the way. Here is a shot of the estate vineyard at Turnbull I just took from the road.
- Steve
1:12 pm
Here's a snapshot I got of Winemaker Peter Heitz with B-21's Proprietor Bob Sprentall
The day has warmed up a bit and the sun is shining. We tasted with winemaker Peter Heitz at Turnbull Cellars. He is doing good things here with natural yeast fermentation and I’m also impressed with the vineyard management. Best of all the wines are delicious from Sauvignon Blanc on up. This is a winery to watch. I wonder how many people know they are just north of Opus One and across hwy 29 from Robert Mondavi winery.
We also had a quick visit at Louis Martini which is one of the oldest wineries in Napa valley having been established in 1933. Its interesting that their Sonoma Cabernet is our best selling Cab.
Back on the road…
5:28 pm
- Robert Foley, Winemaker
This afternoon we drove way up Howell Mtn. Rd. into Angwin and then kept going further into the boonies.
Our goal was to see Bob Foley and we accomplished that. Felt pretty honored too, as we later learned not many get that invite.Bob’s a passionate guy about wine and music, and co-runs an amazing winery with his wife. Besides Robert Foley and Switchback Ridge he also handles winemaking for a couple of other tiny-production wines.
Iconic gryphon atop a barrel at the entrance to Robert Foley's aging cave on Howell Mountain
This was a nice continuation to our time with Peter Heitz at Turnbull as both Bob and Peter, I would say make wine more by taste than by numbers. And you know it when you taste their wines. These may or may not be your favorite wines but then you won’t ever think they taste just like someone else’s wine. Both Peter and Bob are experts at coaxing flavor that reflects the terroir of the grapes with little winemaking signature. I think that increases the chances of creating something great. Actually it may be the only way.
Mountain high, prices low on great California rarities
Napa Valley, Anderson Valley, the Rhone, the Rhine, all those rivers, creeks and valleys would make you think wine grows only in the broad flood plain.
Au contraire. Many winemakers eschew good valley soil and prefer mountains and hills which are the flip side of valleys (you can‘t have one without the other). Thank goodness that rivers and seismic elves made so many in California.
I mention this because when B-21 dug out jewels for the current California sale, the best deals to me were from up in the hills, many of them home to very high priests and their cults (the kind that have waiting lists on the web).
Why are they up there? Mountaineers see many advantages: fog burns off early, rocky soil demands deeper roots, steep vineyards open canopy to more breeze and sun; the wines could be rough and tumble or brawny heroes. Maybe the remote site and 45-degree harvests made the land the last and cheapest sites? Or maybe it just appealed to the brilliant and plain ornery, from David Bruce and Martin Ray to the pioneers on Mayacamas and Al Brounstein on Diamond. They’ve appealed for more than 100 years.
No offense to the fine Rutherford dust on Napa’s valley floor, but I always look up. There would be no valley without Mayacamas on one side (Mt. Veeder, Spring, Diamond) and the Vaca range on the other (Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley and Howell Mountain). Harder to get to, but worth it for the wine and the view.
In the 25 percent sale, the climbing is easy – and sometimes $30 to $40 off.
2005 Carol Shelton Rocky Reserve Zin (On Sale - $22.49) for a limited time!
2000 Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon marked down to $134.99
2000 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet also $134.99
2005 Linne Colodo Slacker Syrah blend in the rumpled hills west of 101 in Paso Robles $33.74
2005 Carol Shelton Rocky Reserve Zin from the Rockpile Road stretch high above Dry Creek $22.49
1998 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from Howell Mountain $97.49
1991 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (largely Howell Mountain) $134.99
2003 Delectus Cabernet Sauvignon Sacrasche Vineyard above Auberge du Soleil $82.49
2004 Barnett Cabernet from Rattlesnake Vineyard on Spring Mountain $82.29
2005 Ridge York Creek Zinfandel $20.99
- Chris Sherman
Me and the big spenders in old Napoli (di Florida)
I’ll try not to rub in the fact that I’ll be at the Naples Winter Wine Festival Jan 28-29s since you probably don’t have your $7500-a couple ticket, of course I’m in the peanut gallery but it’s worth saving your ducats for the next time. For the real fun of bidding you’ll need save a bunch more for very rarely does a single lot go for under $20,000.
In 10 years the festival has put southwest florida on the map, even if they do flay the stars in by provate jet. And such stars. From U.S. wine country the festival draws the names behind the labels at Harlan, Colgin, Grace, Colgin and Staglin and from overseas, the giants who create Vega Sicilia, Antiniori, Drouhin, Lynch-Bages, Haut- Brion, Beaucastel and more. Plus the newest celebrities with wine Labels, tennis great Annika Sorenstam and actor Kyle MacLachlan (cue dwarf and edgy music).
Chefs include Thomas Keller, Tom Colicchio, Dean Fearing, Emeril Lagasse’s Daniel Boulud and a full brigade of Ritz-Carlton all-stars from hotles across the U.S.
Celebrated wines under glass included real treasures, like a 100-bottle instant cellar of Austrlian greats includeiong 12-vintage verticals of Hill of Grace and of Penfolds Grange (with multiples) . I’ll let you know what they sell for.
How does Naples get such great stuff? One clue: Many of them are deep into wine as collectors and as vintners and wineyard owners; they know wine and winemakers.You can count Napa’s Swanson and Gargulio wines, Figge in Monterey and Domaine Serene in Oregon , as “Florida wines, once removed.”
The Harlans are the Vintner of the year and if you can’t make it to cheer them on as the grand marshal in this luxury parade, B-21 has their near perfect ’04 red on hand at $599.99. That’s not a case price but a bo ttle and the judges agree on the quality: 97, 98, 98,97.
B-21 Hosts a Wine Dinner at Currents
Currents Restaurant in Tarpon Springs
We are excited to be hosting a wine dinner at Currents Restaurant in Tarpon Springs on February 8th with Proprietor Juan Muga of Bodegas Muga and David Espinar, the Winery Director for Bodegas Emilio Moro. Currents is a restaurant that recently opened here in Tarpon Springs and has become a hometown favorite. Laura Riley, food critic for the St. Pete Times has been by to visit and wrote a glowing review. (Click here to read Currents review in the Times.)
Unfortunately, the wine dinner was sold out within 2 weeks of announcing it! But, no worries, you can catch up with the winemakers the day before on Sunday, February 7th from 2pm – 5pm at our Annual Wines of Spain & Portugal Grand Tasting & Sale! Both Juan Muga and David Espinar will be here to share their wines and sign bottles, plus you’ll have the chance to taste from 75-100 wines from Spain and Portugal (yes even some of those amazing 2007 Ports!) This is an event you don’t want to miss! (And men no worries, its over in plenty of time to get home and watch the big game!)
The tasting also includes entrance to 1 seminar (if you want to taste in a smaller seated setting). But signup soon! Seats are filling up fast and it is first come first server on reservations.
Its only $25 in advance ($30 at the door if space available) Click here to make a reservation.
For more on this event or to see pictures from previous tastings click here.
- Summer Martin
A prescription diabetics can live with
“Fight diabetes – with wine and beer” was a surprise come-on on a new pitch from Prevention magazine, the good people, make that very good and prudent people at Rodale, but not entirely sober-sided. Don’t be stunned. Modern medicine has steadily found that daily moderate alcohol consumption improves metabolism, facilitates insulin reaction and reduces the risk of Type II diabetes (ask the man who owns one). No less than the diabetes gurus at the Joslin Center at Boston Medical Center sum up 15 studies from around the world: “Moderate drinkers are less likely to have type 2 diabetes than are abstainers. Teetotalers and heavy drinkers have equally high risk of the disease. Moderate drinkers (those who drank between about a half a drink to four drinks per day) were found to be 30% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than abstainers or heavy drinkers.” The key was not which form of alcohol they drank it was the pattern. “It’s much better to consume frequently (such as daily) rather than infrequently for maximum health benefits.”
- Chris Sherman
You say rioja, I say ribera: Muga or Moro… Taste the best of both in Tarpon
Spain is the home of great modern reds and the most delicious new debate: Grand old Rioja and the brave new (to us) Ribera del Duero. It’s better than Burgundy v. Bordeaux, and we’ll have great exponents of each in the flesh and in the bottle in Tarpon next month.
From the Ribera, Emilio Moro’s David Espinar will be here to talk about a place where innovation never quits and the latest super-Riberos, Cepa 21 and the lush Mallelous (why call them Crianzas or gran reservas). In the Rioja corner, none other than Juan Muga of Bodegas Muga, who embodies the greatest Rioja traditions as well as modern techniques in Rioja winemaking. They include the bright new Torre Muga and the just released 2005 Aro showpiece, a must for any Spanish cellar.
They’ll pour these fineries in a three-flight dinner at Currents restaurant in Tarpon Springs, unfortunately now sold out… but thats ok! Because both Muga and Moro will be in attendance on Sunday, February 7th at B-21′s Wines of Spain & Portugal Grand Tasting and Sale from 2pm-5pm for another of B-21’s famous afternoons of seminars, tasting and learning. I call it the “immersion method.”
This grand tasting will cover the whole Iberian peninsula from the Douro (the Portuguese end of the Duero) to the slatey hillsides of Priorat, thanks to special guests from top importers.
Port – Get in on the wines of Gould Campbell, a small distinctive port house, presented by Bob Bulifant from Stacole.
Priorat– Enjoy that Schistes Show from the high schist/slate vineyard of Catalaonia’s remote Priorat, as explored by Eric Solomon. Anthony Pannone will teach Geology 101.
To attend the tasting (and 1 seminar) the price is $25 per person. The seminars begin at 12pm and the Grand Tasting is 2pm to 5pm. To attend a seminar you must sign up for a seminar ahead of time.
The glory that is Spain will not be at the same table anywhere near you again.
Click here for more details about this event.
Click here to make a reservation.