Stark

2006 Dry Creek Valley

Syrah

$36.00 a bottle

Excited to say this is my very first blog on a Syrah. I have really been enjoying more Syrah’s this year. In the past I have felt food was so needed to be able to enjoy that bottle. Over the last year I have been trying more Syrah’s and finding many great bottles that are smooth and don’t necessarily need food to be enjoyed.
Both Cartograph and Stark Wines share the very hip, new Garagiste tasting room right off the Healdsburg Plaza in Healdsburg, California. When I was invited out to taste at Cartograph wines a few weeks ago I was introduced to Christian Stark owner and winemaker of @Starkwine. A very humble, sincere winemaker full of passion, who in 2003 followed his dream and started Stark Wine. A true artist that reflects so much in his awesome 2006 Syrah.

Starks 2006 Syrah is a blend of two Syrah vineyards, 55% Unti Vineyards and 45% Teldeschi Vineyards. Both vineyards are located in the Dry Creek Valley. This Syrah has strong aromas of fruit, dark cherry, black berry, cinnamon, and oak. First tasting of cherry, black pepper, and nutmeg. This Syrah finishes with light musty oak and creamy vanilla. Really I think this is one of the biggest Syrah’s I have had in terms of flavors and structure. Super bold and hearty, yet smooth enough to enjoy without food. When paring this Syrah with food it only intensified its flavors. A true gem of a wine. Christian also makes two other great varietals that I also highly recommend, a 2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay and a 2009 Sierra Foothills Viognier.

Cartograph

2009 Pinot Noir

Russian River Valley

$38.00 a bottle

With Pinot Smack Down right around the corner I only found it appropriate for my next blog to be an awesome Russian River Valley Pinot that I was recently introduced to. Friends I met through twitter Alan Baker @Cellarrat and Serena Lourie @Slourie of @Cartographwines just recently opened their new tasting room right off the Healdsburg Plaza in Healdsburg, California, called Garagiste. I was invited out to come taste their wines for the first time, the weekend before their opening. Cartograph wines all began back in 2009 when both Alan and Serena moved to the heart of Wine Country. Their new tasting room is chic and modern with a lovely outdoor tasting space with plush, cozy couches and a large flowing fountain. Indeed a very inviting tasting room. With Cartograph's focus on Pinot Noir, I definitely couldn’t wait to visit and try. I really fell in love with Cartograph’s Pinot at first sip. Cartograph’s 2009 Russian River Pinot comes from the Floodgate Vineyard. This appellation is home to some of the most prestigious Pinot Noir Vineyards. This vineyard is located adjacent to Mark West Creek on the south end of the Middle Reach section of the Russian River Valley, harvesting the perfect weather for Pinot grapes to thrive. These Pinot vines are primarily planted on the hillsides of Floodgate Vineyards in very rocky soils allowing for excellent drainage and also allowing all of the energy of the vines to focus on the grapes.

Cartograph 2009 Russian River Pinot has aromas of huge red cherry and spice and that traditional Russian River Valley earthiness, tasting first of cherry, tea, and rhubarb. In a really good Russian River Valley Pinot the finish tends to be my favorite part. This Cartograph Pinot did not disappoint. Its finish was my favorite part long and lasting of mushroom earthiness. A very complexed yet also very balanced Pinot. This Pinot comes highly recommended and I’m adding it to my list of Russian River Valley favorites. Cartograph also makes a great Mendocino Ridge Pinot and a Russian River Valley Dry Gewurztraminer.

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.