Sierra Starr

2007 Proprietary Blend

Inertia

$30.00 a bottle

A few months ago I attended a blind wine tasting of two different varietals. A tasting of Sparkling’s and Zinfandel’s for under $20.00. When both winners of each varietal came from an unknown winery to me, called Sierra Starr I was determined to make a stop there the next time I was in Nevada County. I have been able to taste a few Nevada County wines and I must admit, I have not yet been very impressed. Living in the heart of California’s Wine Country, of course most of the wines I drink come from Sonoma and Napa County. A few weeks ago I was finally able to make a trip to Sierra Starr’s tasting room located on Main Street in Grass Valley California. Grass Valley is located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills between Sacramento and Reno, Nevada. To my surprise downtown Grass Valley was very cute full of charm and history. Main Street looked as if it was right out of an old western film. Sierra Starr’s tasting room was very pretty and inviting with walls made of brick and old rustic wood floors.

I was excited that day to meet one of the family owners and assistant winemaker Jack Starr who was pouring behind the tasting bar. Jack poured all their wines that day for me to taste. One bottles that really stood out and I enjoyed the most was their Cabernet Blend called, “Inertia”. This blend is a make up of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% Syrah, and 10% Petite Sirah. A very nice Cabernet blend. Inertia’s aromas are of blackberries and cigar box. First tasting lots of dark fruits and creamy plum and finishing with a smokey light tobacco. Most of the Cabernet blends I usually drink are hearty and complex but this blend is light yet still extremely complex with flavors. Has a definite beginning, middle, and end. This wine has won a double gold at the El Dorado County Wine Competition and Best of Class in the category of Bordeaux Blends. Sierra Starr also makes many other varietals of wines which include Sparkling’s, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonny, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Port, and Ice Wine. A definite stop to taste if in Nevada County.

Sebastiani

2007 Secolo

Sonoma Red Blend

$35.00 a bottle

A few weeks ago I was invited out for a private tasting at Sebastiani Winery in Sonoma, California by James Marshall Berry @Winotone on twitter. I think I literally almost tried everything they had that day. James so generously spoiled me with their flights of Chardonnay, Pinot, Zinfandel, and Cabernert Sauvignon all from Sonoma County. Sebastiani’s wine making all began nine years after Samuele Sebastiani emigrated from Tuscany in 1895. As a stone mason he worked long hours to save enough money to buy land in Sonoma County to make wine. Sebastiani Winery was the only Sonoma County winery to stay operating through prohibition, making wine in small amounts for medical and religious uses. Today Sabastiani is operating under Bill Foley an entrepreneur who acquired the winery in 2008. The grounds of Sebastiani are beautiful and I found they make some pretty great wines as well. I was very excited to find a new, great Sonoma County red blend to blog. Sebastiani’s “Secolo” meaning century, is a bordeaux-style blended red wine. This 2007 Secolo is a pefect blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petite Verdot, 8% Malbec, 8% Merlot, and 1% Petite Sirah. Secolo has huge aromas of blackberries and blue berries with a hint of coco. First tasting dark berries, lots of spice and finishing with a musty light chocolate cherry. A very rich bold blend complex in flavors but very surprisingly elegant. Definitely a great example of an awesome Sonoma County Cabernet blend. This wine was given 92 points in June of 2011 from Wine Spectator. This bottle is great to enjoy now but has the potential to really improve with time if you are disciplined enough to wait. If venturing to Sonoma, be sure to make a stop at Sebastiani Winery to taste their wine and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to meet James Marshall Berry @Winotone.

I attended a perfect pairing event yesterday in Healdsburg, California. This pairing event was of oysters and wines, held at a little gem in the wine country right on the Healdsburg Plaza called “Vintage Wine Estates”. The pairing of local Tomales Bay oysters and Sonoma County wines was superb! When I fist arrived I was greeted with live music and a little sparkling.

Our first pairing called “Pink & Sassy” was with an 07 SCV “Sea Fog Cuvee” Blanc de Noirs paired with Hog Island Kumamoto and a sassy pink mignonette. Our second pairing was called “Fresh Kiss” paired a 2010 Windsor Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley and a Tomales Bay Miyagi with a classic rice wine mignonette. The next pairing called “Purely Naked” was definitely my favorite pairing. A 2010 SCV Sauvignon Blanc Laguna Vista with a Hog Island Kumamoto with a naked mignonette. The oyster literally melted in my mouth. Fourth pairing called “Tropical Thrill” was an 09 Windsor Sonoma Chardonnay Russian River Valley pairing with a Hog Island Kumamoto in a mango chutney mignonette. The last pairing that day finished off sweet, hence the name “Sweet Finale”. A 2009 Windsor Vineyards Muscat Canelli pairing with a Hog Island Kumamoto with a mango chutney, naked mignonette. Vintage Wine Estates was truly an awesome way to spend a Saturday afternoon in the wine country. A must stop on the Healdsburg Plaza.

Ceja

2007 Napa Valley

Vino de Casa

$20.00 a bottle

I was invited to come out last month to Ceja Vineyards in Napa Valley, California. to attend a virtual wine dinner put on by Amelia Ceja and Chef Robin White @Canapes45. I am still so grateful to have been invited to such a special crazy event. To be there live at Ceja Winery while people from around the world joined in the cooking and pairing of Ceja’s wines was a pretty incredible experience. It was a pleasure to meet and spend an evening with winery owner Amelia Ceja. She is truly an amazing women. So full of spunk, charisma, and kindness. Amelia’s joy of life is so contagious. I also got the pleasure of meeting and sharing wine that night with the wine maker Armando Ceja. I Really enjoyed our conversation that night, Armando was so willing to share his knowledge of wine making and teaching more about the Carneros region. I felt honored that he wanted my input on his wines and really was interested in what I thought of them.



This virtual dinner was by far one of the best wine events that I have attended. That night I was able to try their wines paired with exquisite dishes. One bottle that night really stood out among the rest, Ceja’s 2007 Vino de Casa. I had never tasted a red blend of this make up before. A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 23 months in a variety of oak barrels. I instantly became a fan. This red blend has complexity and spice but yet is light and smooth in the finish. Amelia told me she calls this, “Her breakfast, lunch, and dinner wine.” The aromas of this blend are of strong red cherry and dark fruits. First tasting cherry, plum, and light blueberry, then finishing with spice and light carmel. An extremely tasty wine. Ceja’s Vino de Casa red blend is truly a gem from the Napa Valley especially at its price point. Ceja Vineyards also makes many other great wines, Sparkling, White Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Carneros Chardonnay, Dry Rose, Merlot, Syrah, Carneros and Sonoma Coast Pinot, Cabernet, and a Dessert wine.

Krutz Family Cellars

2007 Napa Valley

Cabernet Sauvignon

$75.00 a bottle

It was so great to find this awesome bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon the other day while out tasting. It has been a while since I was able to find and blog about a great new Cabernet Sauvignon which is my very favorite varietal of wine. I found Krutz Family Cellars in Santa Rosa, California. Located in Vintners Square which houses four different wineries. I instantly fell head over heals for this Krutz Cellars Cabernet at first sip. I was so very fortunate to meet and taste with owner and winemaker Patrick Krutz that day. A true artist of wine! Always a big treat for me if I can chat with the winemaker one on one about what goes into that incredible bottle. Patrick was full of passion which definitely showed in his wines.

Krutz Family Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come from the Stagecoach Vineyard in Napa, California. This vineyard is 1,200 feet above sea level and at it highest point reaches 1,850 feet. Stagecoach Vineyards rests just on the southern side of the appellations Pritchard Hill and Atlas Peak. The vineyard resides in shallow volcanic soil, in very rugged terrain making this ideal for growing these intense Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Krutz 2007 Cabernet is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon ,10% Malbec and aged in the barrel for twenty months. This truly is an exquisite Cabernet. Beautiful dark ruby in color with aromas of pepper and spice with a hint of Eucalyptus. At first taste huge black pepper, currant, light blackberries. Finishing extremely hearty and earthy with light oak and spice. A Cabernet full of so many layers of intense flavors, making me instantly fall in love with this wine. Krutz 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon was given 97 points from Wine Enthusiasts and #33 for top 100 wines of the year. Krutz Family Cellars also makes other great wines an Anderson Valley Pinot, Chardonnay, Malbec, and Syrah.

Anam Cara Cellars

2007 Estate Reserve

Pinot Noir

$40.00 a bottle

I truly had an incredible journey through Oregon wine country tasting many Pinots. I have to admit I was a skeptic of Oregon Pinot Noir before my trip believing there was no way Oregon Pinot could be as good as my ever so favorite Russian River Valley Pinot. Let’s just say I was wrong. I’m ending my Oregon Pinot blog with the very best Oregon Pinot I found. Hence the saying “Saved the best for last.” Two days of tasting numerous Oregon Pinots this 2007 Anam Cara Estate Reserve stood out among the rest. I was told by a few wine friends that this winery had some of the best Oregon Pinot and should be a must stop. I was very eager that Saturday to get to Anam Cara Cellars, to try this “So called best Oregon Pinot.” I was also very excited to finally get to meet winery owner Sheila Nicholas, who knew I would be coming by. Again I met up with twitter friend Jack @NWwines and headed to taste and meet Nick and Sheila Nicholas. Both Nick and Sheila are really some of the friendliest people I’ve met in the wine industry. Literally welcoming me with open arms and a huge hug.

I tasted all their wines that day that were open, but fell in love with this 2007 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir. Truly an exquisite Pinot! This wine has aromas of Rhubarb and spice, soil and earth. First tasting blackberries, slight plum then finishing with a smooth light earthiness. What I love so much about this Pinot, is the complex earthiness I crave in a great Pinot but was elegantly light. Making this a great Pinot Noir to have with or without food. By far the best Pinot I had in Oregon. Sheila Nicholas has definitely earned her name “ Queen of Oregon Pinot .“
I need to send special thanks to a group of twitter friends who helped in my journey to taste that perfect Oregon Pinot Noir. With only a couple days to taste and a limited amount of wineries to visit they definitely steered me in the right direction! Thank You so much for all of your recommendations it was so very much appreciated! Jack @NWwines, Clive @clivity, Tom @WineTom, Tamara @Sipwithme, Beau @UCBeau, Karin @KarinMcKercher. Last but not least a huge thank you to my wonderful mother who accompanied me on my journey and put up with traveling with me for four days, but I know she had fun and we have some great memories!

Cana’s Feast

2008 Montagna Rossa

Super Tuscan

$30.00 a bottle

I woke up that Saturday morning on my second day in Oregon wine country very excited to visit the last two winery stops on my list. I was also very excited because I was finally going to be able to meet two Northwest twitter friends in real life, Jack @NWwines and Tamara @Sipwithme. First stop that day was at Cana’s Feast in Carton, Oregon. I had so much Pinot the day before, I was very excited to try some heartier reds that I was told they would have. It was so great to meet both Jack and Tamara. Tamara who works at Cana’s Feast had everything open for us to taste. She also spoiled us with an incredible lunch at the wineries restaurant, Cucina which was excellent. It was so great to get to drink great wines, visit and enjoy an incredible lunch with them.

I did try the Pinot Noir first, which I did enjoy but quickly moved on to their Italian reds. If I had to pick one favorite Cana’s Feast wine, it would definitely be the 2008 Montagna Rossa. Their Super Tuscan blend that Tamara was so generous in sending me home with. This wine is a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese Grosso all from the Columbia Valley, Washington.
This wine had nice aroma’s of slight floral, raspberry, and blackberry. First tasting the fruit, raspberry and blackberry. Finishing very earthy of cedar and soil with a slight creaminess. Once this wine had a chance to really open up it became incredibly smooth. This wine would definitely be great with rich foods that would intensify all it’s flavors. I really enjoyed tasting all Cana’s Feast great reds that day. I also owe Tamara @Sipwithme a huge thank you for such a great experience that Saturday! Cana’s Feast a definite must stop in Oregon wine country! Now only one more Oregon stop on my list, Anam Cara.............