Hello, Feastlings.
This Sunday, July 31, our Last Sunday tasting has us tasting wines from the Central Coast of California. Bob Leopardi joins us with wines that reflective of the trend in the region (and elsewhere) to make less-manipulated wines that express terroir, specifically the terroir of this nice warm wine region that’s ten degrees south of Burgundy. The tasting is $30 plus tax and tip, and each wine will be paired with a tasty snack. We’ll begin at 3:30 on Sunday, and we hope you’ll join us. Please call us at 326-9363 if you’d like to make a reservation, as web and email reservations will not hold a place at the tasting.
Wines of the Pacific Northwest
2015 Lieu Dit Melon, Santa Maria Valley $23.00
Established in 2011, Lieu Dit is a collaboration between friends Eric Railsback and Justin Willett. Their primary focus is grape varieties from the Loire Valley grown in Santa Barbara County. Eric & Justin feel the climate and terroir of the are is well-suited to these grapes. They produce several wines under their label and produce around 2500 cases of wine per year. Fresh, crisp, and intense. Loads of citrus and crushed rock, with excellent tension and acidity.
2014 Tangent “Paragon Vineyard” Albariño, Edna Valley $15.00
From winemaker Christian Roguenant: “Made in the traditional style of Rías Baixas Albariño, this wine is pure and vibrant, with a slight salty characteristic. Mandarin orange and tangerine peel begin in the aromatics and run clear through to the finish. The round mouthfeel is beautifully balanced by a somewhat crisp acid structure. The refreshing quality of this wine makes it an excellent aperitif, and it pairs well with most seafoods.”
2013 Sandhi Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County $28.00
2013 Santa Barabara County Chardonnay is a blend from different vineyards located in: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Sta. Rita Hills. Vineyard sources include: Bien Nacido, Gainey, Zaca Mesa, Rita’s Crown, Wenzlau, Bentrock, Duarita, and Sanford & Benedict. The average vine age is 25 years old. The wine was fermented in used older French oak barrels with ambient yeast and without any other additions (except a little SO2). The wine was aged for 10 months in barrel and finally racked to stainless steel tanks and bottled with a light fining. The 2013 was a cool vintage. The wine is soft and unctuous with flavors of lime, orange, honey and raw almonds. We expect the wine to drink well young and age for 5-7 years.
2013 Paraiso Pinot Noir, Monterey County $18.00
The Paraiso Estate Monterey Pinot Noir is an exceptional wine, showcasing the union of six individual clones grown on the estate vineyard; 4, 115, 667, 828, 943, and 777. Each makes a particular contribution to the final blend; 4 and 115 offer Burgundian fruit freshness, 667 brings solid backbone structure and color intensity, 828 and 943 flesh out the palate with silky tannins and earthy aromas, while 777 adds dark berry aromas and a brambly component. Production: 6,000 cases
2013 Tyler Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County $38.00
From winemaker Justin Willett: “The optimal point of balance in the fruit is my number one objective each harvest. By this I mean the sum of the following: acidity + flavor + aromatics+ pH + sugar = potential alcohol, weather, vine & fruit health. I factor each of these considerations and try to find the perfect equation in my mind and taste. The vintage of 2014 is no expectation and like nothing I’ve ever seen before. We had an unusually warm winter with little frost and minimal rain in the spring. These conditions combined with warm temperatures and unusual high humidity, caused the vines to wake up and begin their growing season 4-6 weeks ahead of time. The result was a very early vintage which started on August 6th! The incoming fruit was very pretty, balanced and at lower sugar
level. I believe the resulting wines are exceptionally elegant and have a long life ahead of them. This is not a vintage about power, but of grace and sophistication.”
2013 Margerum “M5,” Santa Barbara County $16.00
Bright ruby. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of red and dark berries, cherry and tarragon, with a subtle floral note in the background of rose petals and red-fruited Grenache. Nervy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show very good clarity and tangy acidity. Finishes with a bright mineral quality and a red berry skin note.