Posted on 09/13/2006 9:08:46 AM PDT by NautiNurse
The harvest season has arrived in California wine country.
Thus far, reports from the Napa Valley have been unanimously positive, which means if Mother Nature continues to cooperate, 2006 could be an exceptional vintage for a number of wine varieties.
Per usual, things got going early in the Carneros region, which straddles the southern borders of both Napa and Sonoma counties. Thats a big area for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir two key ingredients in sparkling wine and the makers of sparklers prefer to work with less-ripened fruit.
Sauvignon Blanc was the first variety harvested farther north in Yountville, with Chardonnay not far behind. The Chardonnay bunches were reportedly ripening very evenly, a harbinger of quality wines to come.
In the Stags Leap District, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot seemed to be running about a month behind other areas, and up on Mt. Veeder, a mid-October harvest was being anticipated.
Overall, the California Cabernet harvest is expected to be somewhat small, but of exceptional quality again, as long as Mother Nature doesnt pull a fast one with some extended rainfall or, even worse, a hailstorm.
Other news around the vineyards and wineries
Earlier this year, all the legal maneuvering finally ended and it was decreed that wineries that use Napa in their name must make their wine from Napa Valley fruit. It was considered a landmark truth-inadvertising case.
Now, a similar brouhaha is brewing or, perhaps that should be fermenting in Sonoma County. As was the case in Napa, there is not unanimous support for the proposal. However, for consistencys sake, its a proposal that certainly seems to make sense.
More than $700,000 was raised for local charities at the 2006 Sonoma Valley Harvest Wine Auction.
Among the highlights of the event: Joe, Mike, Chris and Bob Benziger showing up in full Elvis regalia.
Another: Bruce Cohn of B.R. Cohn Winery impersonating Elton John, sequins and all.
Proceeds benefited the Sonoma Land Trust, Vineyard Worker Services and the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation, among other local groups.
In response to a question from a Daily Press reader, a wine glass should be washed immediately after use with hot water and a mild detergent.
This prevents staining, and gets the glass completely clean for its next use.
After being dried with a clean cloth, the glass should be stored upright so stale air doesnt become trapped in the bowl.
And in answer to another reader question, the main difference between making white wine and making red wine involves the skins of the grapes.
In the making of red wine, the skins are kept in contact with the fermenting juice. Thats what gives the wine its color.
Mark your calendar: The next tasting event of the High Deser t Wine Explorers is scheduled for Sept. 23 at the Cask N Cleaver restaurant in Victorville.
The theme of the tasting is blended wines, the first time in the clubs history that the topic has been tackled
and tasted.
To order tickets, call 843-0500.
Wines of the week
White: Legends 2005 Chardonnay, California. Legends is the wine project of basketball hall of famer Larry Bird, and this wine is all about finesse and elegance. It offers aromas and flavors of ripe, sweet pear, apple and peach, and even though it did not undergo malolactic fermention, its soft and creamy in the mouth. In basketball-speak, this wine is nothing but net. $25. Rating: 88.
Red: Cosentino 2003 The Poet, Napa Valley. This red Meritage wine is dark garnet in hue, with complex aromatics that unfold to reveal cedar, mint, black currant, black cherry and dark chocolate. The sweet black fruits are more prominent in the mouth, picking up notes of black licorice and tobacco leaf. A few years in the cellar should help this wine show even better. $65. Rating: 92.
Wines are rated by Bob Johnson and Glen Frederiksen on a 100-point scale: 70-79, commercially sound; 80-84, good; 85-89, very good; 90-94, excellent; 95-100, world class. Send questions to Wine Lines in care of the Daily Press, P.O. Box 1389, Victorville, CA 92393 or e-mail them to bobwino@aol. com.
I knew a psychologist couple who did the same. They teased it was a psychology experiment to see who chose which place setting and wine glasses.
It made a lovely eclectic table--and I do like eclectic.
Word on the street is that if you liked Red Zin out of California . . . .
My advice is PASO ROBLES! Best Zins & Syrah anywhere (IMO). Still much cheaper than Napa (although the gap is closing fast).
If you're not familiar with California, Paso Robles is about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, approx. 22 miles inland from the ocean and 25 miles north of the city of San Luis Obispo.
The first modern winemaker, IINM, was Gary Eberle (Def. Tackle for Penn State way back when); others followed.
They are still coming, and even French producers have set up shop there -- Beacastel (from Chateauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhone region) opened up Tablas Creek in PR and makes great Rhone-style wines.
Another French family (Mom, Dad, and 3 kids) moved into Paso and founded L'Aventure, which makes OUTSTANDING wine.
In vino veritas in aeternam!
Raymond Burr owned vineyards/winery for many years. I believe it is still in his name. I would imagine there are other Hollywood types with investments in the wine industry.
Too funny!
You could say that about their airliners too.
VIRGINIA IS FOR WINE - NAPA IS FOR AUTO PARTS
(Not even close to being true, but a funny slogan)
now THAT is a good bumper sticker!
new keyboard on order...
Chateau Morrisette still a winner. try Naked Mountain, too - wine is foul but great t-shirts and hats.
Pairs well with cucumbers!
"...My GF bought a bottle of French Wine for $5.99 the other day.
After I scolded her, I had a great laugh at the price...."
I bought a $6 bottle of French wine a few months ago, and it was undrinkable. Worse than kerosene. I had to pour it out.
I owned a 3 cylinder 500 2 stroke Kawasaki back in the 1970s. It was a real screamer. No power until past 5,000 rpm, then HANG ON. It had a wobble on long right hand sweepers. The forks were made of recycled aluminum foil.
You've got it backwards. That makes our exports cheaper over there, and their exports (like wine) more expensive over here.
plus the French make a LOT of wine.
That much is true. Sky-high, subsidized production, in the face of declining demand = Cheap wine!
-ccm
Do you still ride? Or was the Norton your last bike?
Fess Parker in the Santa Barbara area. You may recall his winery as the tourist-infested site where Miles had a breakdown in the movie "Sideways", taking a big drink from the spittoon.
Do it this way and you have to wash them again before you use them.
Instead you should spend five bucks on a rack that suspends your wine glasses in the cupboard. It not only keeps your glasses clean and ready for use but it also frees up shelf space below the glasses.
Have been to them all.
My favorite Virginia winery is Pearmund Cellers in Broad Run, VA. Very, very good wines.
Check out their website http://www.pearmundcellars.com/ (and wines and regular dining events!)
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