Lucas & Lewellen - 2008 Chenin Blanc

In certain areas of France and South Africa Chenin Blanc is widely planted and pretty highly regarded. And while it’s planted in many regions throughout the world it doesn’t get nearly as much acclaim anywhere else. In the US Dry Creek Vineyard has been making an excellent one for years that they do quite well with. There are certainly other producers in California, but the noteworthy examples are few and far between. Today I’m looking at one from Lucas & Lewellen. The 2008 Chenin Blanc from Lucas & Lewellen is produced from fruit sourced at the Los Alamos Vineyard; part of the Santa Barbara AVA. This offering is 100% varietal. This wine was cold fermented. 376 cases were produced and the suggested retail price for this offering is $20.

This Chenin Blanc has an abundance of floral notes in the nose along with orange blossom and hints of spice. Lychee fruit, pineapple and mango are all part of the bright, fruity palate along with sweet pear nectar and touches of honey. Gentle but lingering spice makes up the finish. This wine has good acidity and is well balanced.

What I like about this wine is the wealth of appealing ripe fruit flavors. This Chenin Blanc has touches and hints of sweetness but is far from a truly sweet wine. Those hints however add a lot to the appeal of this selection and drive the desire to keep going back to the glass for another sip. This offering is delicious on its own but has the complexity to stand up to a variety of foods. Chicken based, spicy, Indian dishes would be a particularly good match. A lovely wine, made for summer.

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Fat bastard - 2008 Rosé

With summer here a couple of things come to mind, Yankee Baseball and drinking lots of Rosé. The two happen to go well together. There are several Rosés which have become standards for me year after year. The Rosato from Swanson Vineyards is one of these. However every summer I keep an eye out for selections I haven’t tried. Today I’ll look at the one from Fat bastard.

The Fat bastard 2008 Rosé is made from fruit sourced in Languedoc, This offering is an even split of Grenache and Shiraz. The wine most often sells for just under $10.

This 2008 Rosé has a lovely pink hue, perhaps a bit darker than the average French offering in the category. The nose offers an enticing mix of strawberries, cherries, white pepper and a hint of sugar. Watermelon is the most dominant component through the palate. While this wine isn’t really sweet it reminded me of Jolly Ranchers. Raspberries and dark cherries join the watermelon flavors in supporting roles. The finish is crisp and refreshing, beckoning you back for another sip. This Rosé has excellent acidity and will pair well with the casual foods associated with summer. I paired it with Hot Dogs slathered in onions and a side of Pasta Salad; an excellent and laid back summer match.

The refreshing and fruity nature of this Rosé is what stands out most. It’s noteworthy to add that while I often drink Rosés ice cold this one was better a couple of degrees warmer. That still chilled, but slightly warmer temperature allowed several additional layers of flavor to emerge.

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Graffigna - 2008 Centenario Pinot Grigio

Pinot Grigio is an often frustrating varietal. It wants to be loved and there are a lot of wine drinkers who do in fact drink it in spades. The trouble is that a lot of the Pinot Grigio that’s widely available on US shelves is, to be kind, uninspiring. Speaking for myself I know that I’m always compelled to try Pinot Grigios that cross my path; the search for something great, always on my mind. A couple of months ago I looked at some wines from Graffigna; two Malbecs and two Cabernet Sauvignons, all of them were pretty tasty. So when the chance to taste their current release Pinot Grigio came up I was intrigued. The 2008 Graffigna Pinot Grigio is 100% varietal. All of the fruit for this selection was handpicked. The grapes were sourced in the Tulum Valley, located in San Juan Argentina. The vineyards are close to 2,000 feet above sea level. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. The suggested retail price for this Pinot Grigio is $13.

Peaches, melon and a touch of hibiscus are prominent in the nose of this South American take on Pinot Grigio. Pineapple, ripe, sweet white peach and apricot star in the appealing palate. Those sweet and inviting fruit notes continue through the finish which also has some light hints of vanilla. I found this wine paired well with a simple snack of Kalamata olives, sharp cheddar and flatbread. That said I think this selection also drinks quite nicely on its own and would be a tremendous welcome wine for a dinner party.

The Pinot Grigio from Graffigna is a very tasty effort. This is an excellent selection for summer. It’s light and refreshing with sufficient Pinot Grigio character to keep things interesting. For a $13 price-point, less if you shop around, this selection won’t break your budget either.

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Cameron Hughes - 2006 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon (Lot 100)

It's been fascinating tasting wines in the Cameron Hughes Lot Series from time to time. One of the things that stands out to me about them is that they source fruit from numerous regions.  Often a  Négociant sources primarily (or wholly) from one region. By using the world as their source material Cameron Hughes Wine is able to provide a truly diverse array of offerings. Today I'll look at one of their California releases. The 2006 Cameron Hughes Lot 100 Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon has fruit from Coombsville (9%) and Mount Veeder (3%). In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon this offering has 3% Petit Verdot blended in. 4,000 cases of this cuvee were produced and the suggested retail price is $20.

This Cabernet is a touch young right now. If you're going to drink it in the next year or so don't be shy about decanting it. An hour would be great, two hours even better. Once it's had that chance to get some air the nose of this wine is quite expressive. Violets, plums, leather and blackberry are all present and prominent. These characteristics continue through the palate where they are joined by an avalanche of cherries as well as subtler cardamon and cinnamon. layer after layer of flavor emerges in the palate which is full flavored and persistent however quite well balanced. Mineral notes, tobacco, black tea and continued spice make up a lengthy and impressive finish. This Cabernet has firm but yielding tannins and good overall structure. While it will pair well will an array of foods, this is the style of Cabernet I like to drink on its own over a long afternoon or evening as I contemplate its many changes.

What stands out most about this wine is that it continues the Cameron Hughes tradition of delivering much more value than the sticker price would indicate. I don't know who they sourced the fruit from, but I suspect that if that name were on the label this would be at least a $35 bottle. If you can wait, I'd lay this down for 3-4 years. That time will really serve this beautiful Cabernet well.

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Blackstone - 2006 Merlot

Some wines are so ubiquitous that it strikes me as interesting to check in with them from time to time. My purpose in doing this is two-fold. On the one hand I'm just curious to see how a wine is tasting from vintage to vintage. And on the other I'm always interested to taste something that has mass popularity; looking at that as a bit of a barometer of the general tastes of the average consumer. While not particularly scientific, it does fascinate me. Blackstome Merlot is such a case. For quite a number of years now this wine has been incredibly popular on store shelves, and in restaurants. I know that for many years this wine was the most popular Merlot in restaurants, it may still be the case but I'm not sure. The 2006 Blackstone Winery Merlot carries a California designation. Fruit was sourced in a number of counties, Monterey at 58% was the most represented. The fruit is a blend of Merlot (85%), Syrah (9%), Cabernet Franc (2%), Cabernet Sauvignon (2%), Malbec (1%), and Petite Verdot (1%). French and American oak barrels were used to age 30% of the wine. While the suggested retail price is $12, this wine is widely available for between $8 and $10.

Ripe berry with a little lilt of jam fills the nose of this Merlot along with subtle violet and vanilla notes. Throughout the palate dark fruit notes such as blackberry, black cherry and plum are prominent. The medium length finish brings out white pepper spice and a touch of sour cherry. Overall this wine is approachable with a soft mouth-feel and gentle tannins. A grilled burger is the classic match for this wine.

The bottom line for me with the Blackstone Merlot is that it's widely available and very reasonably priced. I find it to be a step up from the Yellowtails of the world in terms of varietal correctness and overall drinking pleasure. The fruit is perhaps a bit brighter than what I find in my favorite Merlots. But those aren't available for $8 and aren't necessarily made to satisfy a large gathering. For me that's the appeal of the Blackstone Merlot. if you have a BBQ or party a lot of people who will drink a glass of wine but don't necessarily spend countless hours obsessing over it are going to enjoy it. And the ones that do obsess over it, they'll be glad it does in fact taste like Merlot.

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High Note- 2008 Elevated Malbec

Over the last several years the prominence of Malbec has grown in the United States. South American wines in general get more shelf space than they used to; Malbec is one of the leading growth categories within that. I for one am pretty happy about it. South America has long been a place to look towards for value. The increase in selection also means we're getting more wines in every price range and that makes for more interesting choices. Today I'll look at a value priced Malbec. The 2008 High Note Elevated Malbec was produced by Vista del Sur Winery. Fruit was sourced in Argentina's Uco Valley, which is part of Mendoza. Grapes for this selection were picked from five vineyards; they ranged in elevation fron 3,200 to 5,000 feet above sea level. In addition to Malbec (85%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Viognier (2%) and Petit Verdot (2%) are blended in. This wine was aged in French (65%) and American (35%) oak; 24% of the barrels were new. This selection sell for around $12 but proficient shoppers will note that it can often be found for less than $10.

While there is only a small amount of Viognier blended in to this wine, it does wonders for the nose, adding a lovely floral quality. Blackberry, blueberry and vanilla bean are also part of the aromatics. The palate is rich, and tightly wound, with an array of deep, dark berry fruit flavors. The finish has continued vanilla, along with chicory notes and a dollop of lingering minerals. This Malbec has firm but approachable tannins and sufficient acidity. This offering, while tasty on it's own will perform best when matched with rich, full flavored foods.

For a relatively low price point this Malbec offers good flavors and a particularly expressive nose. It's a nice example of the varietal and indicative of the values coming out of Argentina. With BBQ season in full swing, here's one to keep in mind

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Irony Wines - 2006 Monterey Pinot Noir

As readers to this blog can attest I have a fickle relationship with Pinot Noir. In theory I’m a huge fan. In fact if you force me to choose a favorite varietal, Pinot Noir is in the running, with a fighting chance to win. Sadly though there are a lot of Pinot’s from California, especially in the under $20 category that don’t live up to what this great grape should be. These subpar examples often have other varietals blended in to darken the hue or add something. The trouble is they take away more Pinot character than anything they add. So when I find an example in this price range that acquits itself nicely, I find it a reason for a minor celebration. Today I’ll look at one from Irony Wines. This 2006 Irony Pinot Noir is produced from fruit sourced in Monterey. This wine is aged in a combination of both new and old French and American oak for eight months. 24,000 cases were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.99.

Wild strawberries dominate the nose along with touches of vanilla and an inherent and appealing hint of cream. Throughout the palate, cherry and raspberry characteristics are on the forefront and underpinned by subtle spice. Earth, wild mushroom and white pepper are all part of a medium length finish. I found this wine went quite well with pork loin and rosemary roasted potatoes.

As I hinted at above what I like about this Pinot Noir is that it’s both true to the varietal and well priced. This is a genuine wine that’s widely available and sold at a reasonable cost. When it comes to California Pinot Noir those traits don’t intersect very often. This wine is made to drink now and will be enjoyable for the next couple of years. As far as everyday drinking Pinot goes, this is a solid choice.

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Cornerstone Cellars - 2004 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

Today’s recommendation for a Father’s Day gift of Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Napa Valley. Travel to Napa and you’ll get to taste many different varietals, but one fact will quickly take hold; Cab is King. And with Dad being King on Father’s Day it’s only natural that a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon would make a nice gift. Today’s selection is from Cornerstone Cellars. This boutique producer of Cabernet makes just a few thousands cases of wine per year. At just over 1,200 cases their 2005 Napa Valley designated selection is their largest current production. Their wines are made by Celia Masyczek who is both highly regarded and sought after. Today I’m going to look at their, smaller production, Howell Mountain Cabernet.  This Napa Valley sub-appellation is located east of Calistoga. Elevations 1,400 feet and above, a lack of fog, early morning warmth and vineyards that fully ripen a bit later than the rest of the valley are all things that make Howell Mountain unique. The Cornerstone Cellars 2004 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is composed of fruit harvested over a period of a month. This wine is 100% Howell Mountain and all Cabernet. Aging was accomplished over 22 months in French oak; 75% of the barrels were new. 620 cases of this vintage were produced. The suggested retail price for this wine is $100.

A couple of things are readily apparent about this Cabernet when you pour and taste it. The first thing is that it’s black as night; reminding me a bit of Petite Sirah in its hue. Second and not at all surprising is that it needs some air. There’s a lot going on the minute you pop the cork and taste it so you could be fooled into not decanting; don’t make that mistake. After an hour in the decanter the difference is beyond substantial. It’s like the distinction between taking a car with a big engine out on the highway and opening it up after having cruised neighborhood streets for an hour; only then can you truly appreciate the power of the engine. The same thing is true with this Cabernet Sauvignon.

Having given it that time to open up I found the nose to be full of effusive black raspberry, earth, mushroom and hints of leather. The palate is intense and layered with opulent fruit, bold spice and tremendous mineral notes that underpin things. The finish, which has terrific length, features ever emerging earth, dusty baker’s chocolate notes and echoing spices. This wine is very well structured.

What I like best about this offering is that it achieves its intent. The 2004 Cornerstone Cellars Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a full throttle, ripe Napa wine with the added punch of mountain fruit intensity. All that said this wine is balanced and will age well. No doubt in fact that this Cabernet will improve for 15-20 in appropriate storage conditions. Personally though, I find its exuberance and explosive berry fruit hard to resist right now. So if Dad has been good this year and you decide to splurge on this wine for him, know that you are getting a tremendous example of Cabernet from one of the regions it flourishes in. If you're lucky, he'll share some with you.

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Martin & Weyrich - 2005 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon

Martin & Weyrich has become a standard bearer for me when it comes to Paso Robles Wineries. They’re one of the larger producers and make a broad selection of offerings. They also manage to maintain a high level of quality across those offerings. It’s unlikely to love every selection from a winery, particularly one that makes as many releases as Martin & Weyrich does. The bottom line though is that by and large I find their wines, well made, appealing, and interesting. More often than not they are also priced fairly. All that said, when I decided to taste through about a dozen Cabernet Sauvignons so I could find a handful I felt comfortable recommending as Father’s Day gifts it seemed natural to check in with the latest one from Martin & Weyrich. The Martin & Weyrich 2005 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced at the Weyrich Family Ranch. Aging was accomplished in French oak for 24 months. 188 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $30.

This wine is a touch closed up at first and some time in the decanter is recommended if you're drinking it now. Once it opens up, berry, bramble and cedar notes emerge in the nose of this Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherry, black raspberry, nutmeg and crushed white pepper are prominent throughout the palate. Dried cherry, earth and a touch of espresso all emerge in the finish which is of above average length. This wine is well structured and has firm acidity. Roasted game or pasta with a hearty meat sauce would be excellent matches for this Cabernet.

People are discovering Paso Robles, but it's still not a household name, meaning there are still a lot of values to be had there. This Cabernet Sauvignon is one of them. It’s $30 but would be a lot more if it came from a region that was better known. In this price range it’s a bonus to get a Cab that you can easily lay down for 7-8 years. If you want to splurge a little on Dad get him two bottles of this wine; one to drink now and one to age.

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Two Angels - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

The second Cabernet Sauvignon I’m going to recommend as a Fathers Day gift is from Two Angels. The winemaker for the Two Angels releases is the Legendary Bob Pepi. He makes a wide range of quality wines for several producers in the US and abroad. The 2006 Two Angels Cabernet Sauvignon is made from fruit sourced on Sonoma’s Mayacamas Mountain, In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon (76%), Merlot (18%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) were blended in. This offering was aged in a combination of French (85%) and American (15%) oak for 18 months; 40% of the barrels were new. This selection is finished in screw top. 600 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $27. Leather, cherry and vanilla notes are all prominent on the nose of this Cabernet Sauvignon. Throughout the palate, layer after layer of cherry and spice are present. Earth, mineral, black tea, pencil lead, tobacco and light truffle notes all emerge in the persistent finish. This wine has good structure and acidity. This Cabernet would be an excellent match for Pork Carnitas or other flavorful meats.

The elegance of this Cabernet is what stood out most to me about it. From the moment you open and pour this wine it’s immediately smooth and graceful. It’s gentle and refined but keeps coming at you with wave after wave of complex flavors and characteristics. This release will be enjoyable for the next several years. This is an offering that tastes more expensive than its $27 price point. Buy this Cabernet for Dad and he's sure to think you spent more on his gift than you actually did.

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Martin Ray - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Father’s Day is coming up this week and I’m sure many people are still wondering what to get Dad this year. I can tell you, I’m pretty certain Dad does not want a tie. Somehow neckties have come to symbolize the classic bad Father’s Day gift, or at the very least the default one. This year get your Dad a bottle of wine. In particular I think you should get him a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Over the next few days I’m going to present several Cabs that I recommend at different price points. Depending on your budget and Dads taste there should be one in there that works for you. The first one up is from Martin Ray Winery. The 2006 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from fruit sourced in Napa, Sonoma & Mendocino Counties. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), this wine has Merlot (18%), as well as Cabernet Franc & Syrah (2%) blended in. This offering was aged in French oak for 24 months. 9,500 cases of this Cabernet Sauvignon were produced and the suggested retail price is $20.

Dark berry fruit with a slightly funky edge, vanilla and eucalyptus are all part of this Cabernet’s nose. Throughout the palate there is a solid and persistent core of fruit as well as a significant spice component underpinning it. Chocolate, mineral, black tea, a touch of pencil lead and continued spice are all elements of the above average finish of this wine.

What I like best about this selection is that it has excellent balance and proportion. The blending of fruit from three diverse Cabernet Sauvignon producing counties helps make this wine multi-faceted in style. It’s got nice structure and tannins that yield with some air. While this isn’t a Cabernet that you’re going to lay down for a long time, it’ll drink nicely over the next 3-5 years. Shop around and you’ll find this wine for close to $15. The Martin Ray Tri-County Cabernet is a good value and a delicious gift for Dad.

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Michael David - Sixth Sense Syrah

Today I’ll look at the third wine in a row from Michael David. The majority of the wines they make are produced from Lodi fruit. They’re clearly proud of their Lodi heritage, brandishing their appellation on their front or back labels. And it seems like a mutually beneficial situation. The wide availability of their wines has likely made many more people aware of their region than would have known about it otherwise. By and large their offerings are also excellent examples of the bold and sumptuous wines that Lodi fruit often produces. Today I’ll look at one of their Syrahs. The 2006 Sixth Sense Syrah has small amounts of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon blended in. The name of this wine comes from a nickname for the Phillips Grandpa Don. He’s known to have a knack for predicting certain things; This Syrah was aged in French oak for 18 months. The suggested retail price is $17.

Plum, blackberry and kirsch liqueur notes are prominent in the demonstrative nose of this wine. The palate is laden with rich, opulent ripe fruit flavors. While other berry notes are apparent, cherry is the star of the show. Imagine fresh cherry pie with a chocolate graham cracker crust, that’s what the middle of this wine reminds me of. Black pepper plays a role but doesn’t fully emerge until the finish which also shows earth and a touch of bramble.

What I like most about this wine is what strikes me about the Michael David Wines in general. That is, it’s an unabashed expression of big fruit and lavish flavors; still and all though these wines are not over the top. Not every big and boisterous wine is a good one. This Syrah from Michael David is an example of one that is.

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Michael David - 2007 Petite Petit

As I mentioned yesterday I've had several of the Micahel David wines over the years. There are a handful of them that I keep in my cellar regularly. All that said there are a few that I've never had. The wine I'm looking at today, Petite Petit is one of them. I'm a huge fan of Petite Sirah which makes it surprising to me that I hadn't gotten to this one before now. But that's been corrected. The 2007  Michael David Petite Petit is produced from Lodi fruit. This wine is a blend of Petite Sirah (85%) and Petit Verdot (15%). This offering was aged in French oak for 15 months. The suggested retail price for this selection is $18.

Violets, plum, blueberry and nutmeg are all part of this wine's nose. The palate is rich, jammy, velvety and loaded with decadent and inviting berry fruit flavors. Blackberry is the standout characteristic. It's not quite blackberry pie though. There are some vanilla elements and fresh pastry notes that put me in the mind of blackberry and currant scones. Dusty cocoa, white pepper and continued nutmeg are all part of a nice finish. Sufficient acidity keeps things in check.

As I mentioned I'm a sucker for good Petite Sirah. and while Petit Verdot is most often used in Bordeaux style blends I think it really adds a lot to this selection. The lush and velvety mid-palate is most likely a result of the healthy percentage of Petit Verdot in the blend. There are a handful of solid Petite Sirah's in the budget category that have been consistent year after year. Concannon and Bogle are two that come to mind. This release from Michael David is a bit more than those, but for the extra money you get an additional wallop of flavor. I'll be very curious to see if this wine is as consistent from vintage to vintage as the other Michael David wines. As it stands this wine is a nice value and a good example of both Petite Sirah and what adding Petit Verdot in can bring to the party.

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Michael David - Incognito Rhone Style Blend

A number of years ago someone poured me a glass of Seven Deadly Zins, that was my first experience with the Michael David wines. Since that time I've gone on to have quite a few of their offerings. Their Earthquake Petite Sirah is one of my favorites, year to year. A couple of things always strike me about their wines. They tend to be big, bold, full throttle offerings, loaded with flavor and indicative of the Lodi region where fruit is predominately sourced. Secondly I've found their wines to be pretty consistent from vintage to vintage. Over the next few days I'm going to look at a few of their current releases, the first one up is a Rhone style blend. The 2006 Incognito is a blend of Mourvedre, Petite Sirah, Cinsault, Carignane and Grenache. This selection was aged in French oak barrels. The suggested retail price for this offering is $19.50.

This Rhone inspired blend has a pretty striking nose, filled with blackberry, blueberry, cinnamon and clove notes. The palate has a host of dark, juicy and inviting fruit prominently featured throughout. Smoke, licorice, chocolate, subtle earth and a hint of bacon fat all emerge in the finish which is of medium length. Firm acidity keeps everything in check.

What I like best about this wine is that by combining many of the varietals typically found in a Rhone blend with fruit from Lodi, what emerges is an offering that brings both regions to mind. This wine retails for close to $20, but if can often be found much closer to $15, sometimes less. At that price this is  great wine to reach for during a large gathering. The diverse flavors this blend offers will please a variety of palates.

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Firesteed - 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir

When it comes to Pinot Noir, outside of a handful of exceptions Oregon really has it all over California. Their climate, especially in Willamette Valley is prime Pinot real estate. For those of us who love Pinot Noir made with Burgundian intent there are many examples available. Today I'm looking at one from Firesteed. They make approximately 60,000 cases of wine and acquire their fruit from a host of growers, mostly through long term contracts. The Firesteed 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir is composed of fruit sourced from Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla Valleys. A small percentage of the wine was barrel aged. This offering commonly sells for less than $15.

Upon first opening this Pinot Noir is slightly reticent. A bit of time in the glass or decanter helps. Once it has opened up, bing cherry and earth notes are present in the nose. Sour cherry, mushroom and wild strawberry are apparent throughout the palate. Tea, mineral and cola reference points are all part of the finish which is noticeably lengthy and lingering. Good acidity frames the structure of this wine and keeps everything even keeled and balanced.

What I like most about this Pinot Noir is that it's gentle, soft and elegant, while also being nicely layered and complex. This is an offering that will really develop in your glass or decanter over a long meal or evening. It's one to savor. The combination of Oregon terroir and Burgundian intent when it comes to wine-making style, make for a winner, not to mention nice value.

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Toast Of The Town 2009 Is Coming !

Each year Wine Enthusiast’s Toast of the Town is one of the most impressive tastings in Manhattan. In addition to the bevy of fine wines and spirits poured annually, key New York City restaurants come out and each prepares a signature dish at the event. All of this is set against the backdrop of a tremendous venue, Lincoln Center. Over the years Toast Of The Town has grown and in 2009 it’s being held in 4 different cities. Next year Dallas will be added and it’s expanding to 5. This years Toast Of The Town in New York City is Monday June 15^th, just a few days away. Over 500 wines and other spirits will be poured there. The main event starts at 7:00 PM and lasts until 10:00 PM. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased through their official site. There is also a VIP tasting that begins at 5:00 PM. During those first couple of hours quite a few reserve and limited production wines are poured. The ticket price for the VIP tasting, which also includes the main tasting, is $195.

Each year I get to many wine tasting events of every shape, size and scope. I’ve attended Toast Of The Town a number of times and highly recommend it. It is without question one of the most complete premier tastings year after year. If you can swing it, the VIP tasting ticket is the way to go in my opinion. If not, the main event is still quite excellent. I hope to see you there!

Martin & Weyrich - 2004 Nebbiolo

There are a growing number of wineries in California growing Italian varietals. Martin & Weyrich had been doing so almost as long as anyone. Some grapes are notoriously hard to grow. Pinot Noir as an example is famously fickle about where it's grown. One that's at least as difficult, but less talked about is Nebbiolo. While it may be the second most famous red grape from Italy after Sangiovese, the wines it makes are often legendary. It all depends on taste but Barolo (which is made from Nebbiolo) is right up there with Brunello (made from Sangiovese) in every regard. There are very few California Wineries taking a stab at this grape. The two best I've had come from Paso Robles. One comes from Caparone Winery, the other is a Martin & Weyrich release and I'll look at it today. The Martin & Weyrich 2004 Nebbiolo is made from fruit sourced at 3 Paso Robles vineyards. This offering was aged in French oak for 15 months; 20% of the barrels were new. 1,645 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $18.

The nose of this Nebbiolo is incredibly perfumed. Cherry and cinnamon are the standout characteristics. Throughout the palate dried cherry notes are prominent and distinct. Light vanilla and spice accompany these. The finish is rich, lengthy and gloriously dry. Mushroom, earth and a touch of chicory, are all part of the equation. This wine is well structured with pleasing tannins and terrific acidity. Like Italian wines, this baby wants to be paired with food. The good thing is it will pair well with a host of full flavored Italian dishes.

There are two things that stand out most to me about this Nebbiolo. First is the fact that this wine displays all the classic characteristics of a Barolo. It certainly has some California in it two, but first and foremost the pure Nebbiolo fruit shines through. Secondly for $18 this wine is an absolute steal. Great, even good Barolo is very expensive. This wine tastes like a California version of a baby Barolo. It's worth every penny and then some. It should also easily age well for at least another 7-8 years. At this price I recommend socking some away.

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Root: 1 - 2007 Carmenere

A few years ago at a large scale tasting I had the opportunity to try the Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon. After that I've had it from time to time and find it to be a very solid and consistent value in Chilean Cabernet. So when I discovered that they had also released a Carmenere I was pretty interested in tasting it. The 2007 Root: 1 Carmenere is produced from fruit sourced in the Colchagua Valley. Since Chile has been unaffected by phylloxera the vines are original, ungrafted rootstock. In addition to Carmenere (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Syrah (10%) are part of the final blend. This offering spent 10 months in American oak. This wine routinely sells for around $10.99.

The nose of this Carmenere is very intense and features eucalyptus, dark vibrant blueberry, vanilla and subtle cedar notes. The dark berry continues on the palate which is just loaded with deep, delicious fruit accompanied by light crème brûlée and white pepper characteristics. Some brighter berry fruit notes intermingle throughout the palate and provide a nice counterpoint.  The finish which is of medium length has kirsch liqueur and continued spice. This wine has soft tannins and sufficient acidity.

What I like most about this Carmenere is that it'll pair well with a very wide variety of foods. I found that it went very well with Sausage & Peppers. But I wouldn't hesitate to pair it with a dish of pasta or just about anything that comes off the grill. For a price that hovers right near $10 this wine offers varietal character and good value. Another solid entry from Root: 1.

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Bodega Septima - 2007 Malbec

A few years ago Malbec was little known to casual wine drinkers in the US. Thankfully, due to larger and larger quantities of Argentine Wines on US shelves this has changed. The 2007 Bodega Septima Malbec is a 40,000 case production. This wine normally sells for right around $10, often a little less.

Dark plum, blueberry and vanilla notes are the most prominent characteristics of this Malbec's nose. The palate is loaded with juicy black fruit that's got a nice jam quality to it. Pepper and vanilla spice notes are also quite lively. This offering has a solid finish that features, espresso bean earth, and continued pepper. This wine has approachable tannins, good structure and firm acidity.

What I like best about this wine is that its a solid example of Malbec. It displays many of the characteristics that have helped make Malbec a very appealing varietal whose popularity has grown in the US over the last few years. One of those characteristics is approachability. This release is tasty and appealing from the word go. That said 45 minutes in the decanter helps it really blossom and smooths out a couple of little rough edges it has at the start. This is also a very versatile release. It'll pair equally well with a burger or a chicken cesar wrap. It also drinks quite well on its own. All around this is a solid value and a good bet as an every day house wine.

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Cameron Hughes - 2004 Rioja - Lot 93

Years ago when I started looking for wines with great value, Spain was amongst the first countries that hit my radar. I loved the predominant style of wines from Rioja and found there were a boat load of stunning values coming from there. Fast forward almost two decades and some things have changed and some have stayed the same. The biggest change is that Spanish wines are much better known by US consumers then they were then. What hasn't changed is that there are still a host of excellent wines coming from Rioja and Spain in general. many of these continue to be excellent values. Today I'll look at a Rioja from Négociant Cameron Hughes. The 2004 Cameron Hughes Lot 93 Rioja is of course composed of Tempranillo. 700 cases of this wine wefre produced and the suggested retail price is $21.

Vanilla, cherry and cedar notes are prominent in the nose of this Rioja. When you first open it this wine is a bit tight and an hour or more in the decanter is recommended to get the best out of it now. Licorice, earth, dusty chocolate, star anise, bramble and more are all part of a complex, layered palate that unfolds as this offering opens up. The finish on this wine long, persistent, intense and more than anything else, impressive in both length and scope of complexity. This is and incredibly structured wine with firm tannic structure and excellent acidity. Pair this wine with a steak, or heck have the wine for dinner.

This offering has the benchmark qualities I think of when it comes to Rioja. Good fruit, structure and nice oak treatment. And it over-delivers in its price category. I have found that to be true of Rioja over the years. I haven't been drinking Cameron Hughes selections as long, but so far he's delivering a lot of value with each offering I have tasted. At this point I'm comfortable enough that I'd confidently pick up anything with the Cameron Hughes name on it and expect a good deal. By the way you could could easily lay down this particular wine for a decade.

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