WineLife365

Posts Tagged ‘California’

On this 19^th day of my 25 Days of Christmas, I present to you a really badass, New World style wine that will appeal to a wide spectrum of red wine lovers:  the 2009 PlumpJack Syrah ($50 US) from Napa Valley, California.  The Spirit of Christmas is about sharing and being together. This special red can bring together and unite lovers of Pinot Noir, and those that love bold and rich Cabernet Sauvignon.

This red wine also made me think of Christmas Past.  Well, not Christmas exactly…

It brought me all the way back to September 2000 – our second jaunt to Napa and Sonoma Wine Country – when we experienced a 5.2 earthquake.  Scared the living shit out us, I tell you! 

But it was also on that very same trip that I discovered and fell in love with PlumpJack Cabernet Sauvignon.  I could have drunk it morning, noon and night…if my liver, wallet and wife would have allowed me!  This particular trip to California Wine Country was extra special because my brother-in-law and another friend of ours were also there to help us drink and explore…one tasting room at a time.  On the last day of our trip, my brother-in-law presented me with a bottle of 1997 PlumpJack Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve as a special gift that he secretly purchased for me while we picnicked at PlumpJack Winery.  I gotta say, I’ve loved that guy ever since!!  And I still have that very bottle that just might get opened when he’s in town this weekend! 

Back to Christmas Present.

What makes the 2009 PlumpJack Syrah such a badass wine, is that it finds this halfway point where all the great things you love about Pinot Noir can cheer and sing with all the wonderful things of a Cabernet Sauvignon.  Like any great Cab, the 2009 PlumpJack Syrah is big, ooey-gooey rich and chewy inside.  Yet, this Syrah is very bright with a tad of tarty-sweetness, reminiscent of a fantastic Pinot.  It has the perfect amount of mouthful flavors – delicious plum, strawberry, licorice, black currents, clove, dark chocolate and vanilla – to pair with just about any holiday meal.  It will keep you puckering up and licking your chops from start to finish, and is sure to please all of the red wine lovers sitting at your table.

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With what seems to be everlasting gloom and doom in the US economy, it’s nice to come across a feel-good story that offers a glimmer of hope.  I don’t have a story for you, but I do have a good piece of info to pass along.

Quite tasty is how I would describe the 2010 Concannon Vineyard Glen Ellen Proprietor’s Reserve Pinot Grigio from California. (Sample, MSRP: 1.5L = $9.99 and 5 bones for a 750ml).  Not being someone who typically grabs for a bottle of Pinot Grigio, I was pleasantly surprised:  For about a buck a glass, you’ll get a refreshing wine with a slightly sweet burst of citrus and honeydew melon flavors that makes for a nice sipper.

3 Stars out of 4 for the 2010 Concannon Vineyard Glen Ellen Proprietor’s Reserve Pinot Grigio.   Whether you’re a Pinot Grigio fan, or just like a light white wine – this is a low budget flick worth checking out.

Looking for something Low Budget AND Scary to watch after the trick-or-treaters have stopped banging on your door?  Check out SlasherCast and The Flickest for movie reviews that will be your guide to the scary stuff!  Happy Halloween! 

Have you ever seen a bottle of wine that made you laugh?  Maybe it was the funny name on the label or perhaps the ‘interesting’ choice for artwork…or possibly both!

I have to admit that when I received a few samples from Clif Family Winery, I chuckled quite a bit.  No, I’m not going insane – and you’re right, there’s nothing funny about the name or the label.  However, you might recognize the ‘Clif’ name if you’ve ever purchased an energy bar or two… 

Wait the same people behind Clif Bar make wine too!?  Yep, those very same people are now making wine. 

Still don’t quite get the point of my amusement?  The reason behind what seemed to be the unprovoked laughter of a mad man was that I started thinking about doing a Clif Bar and wine pairing review.  Another scenario that kept swirling around in my head was to do a 70’s breakfast commercial that would go a little something like this: 

“Some people like to start their day off with a nice big bowl of Wheaties,

while others love the sweet taste of little chocolate donuts in morning.

But for me, nothing gets me up and at’em like a tall glass of Clif Family Winery “The Climber” Red 2009 (Sample, MSRP: $13) from California and a giant bowl of my ‘special’ cereal:

• A bottom layer of chopped pecans speckled with fresh cracked black pepper
• Then drizzled with pure honey
• Add a layer of crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese
• Finally, top with fresh, ripe raspberries sprinkled lightly with sugar

This tasty combination gives me that energy boost I need to start my day off right.  It’s also a great choice to help refuel after a long workout!    Clif Red – The Breakfast of Champions!”

Ok, I’m probably jumping the shark with this review, so I’ll simply say:  this is a terrific and versatile red blend made from fruit that comes from sustainably farmed vineyards, located in Mendocino and Lodi.  The Climber Red lifted my taste buds with its big, juicy splash of Zinfandel (63%) along with its blend of 21% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Syrah, 2% Petite Sirah and 2% Merlot.  It’s full of deliciously sweet red fruit, intertwined with mellow spices with a bit of chocolate on the finish.

3 Stars out of 4 for Clif Family Winery “The Climber” Red 2009.  It packs a lot of natural punch at a great price! 

Now what I’d really love to try is the Climber Pouch!  Cheers to the great outdoors!!

What do you get when you mix together the freshest local, organic, and sustainable ingredients and accompany them with a guide to help you create delicious, creative and super simple recipes?  The answer:  Shea Hess and her website Hungry in Brooklyn.  The goal of Hungry in Brooklyn and its host, Shea Hess, is to create, explore and document the local, organic, and sustainable food movement in Brooklyn and beyond.
 
I stumbled across Hungry in Brooklyn earlier this year, while trying to come up with a post about poached eggs and sparkling wine.  Shea’s “Simple in Sixty” YouTube video on “How to poach an egg” immediately grabbed my attention while I was putting the final touches on my post:  it was eye-catching, concise and super easy to follow.
 
I recently caught up with Shea after she wrapped up filming for Season One of Hungry in Brooklyn, and asked if she would kindly share a wine-related story with WineLife365 readers.  With much enthusiasm she agreed to write a BYOB about a recent trip she took with her family:  they were Sideways in Sonoma! 

Photo courtesy of Raphael Rodriguez

 
I fancy myself a foodie, and I do quite enjoy a glass or four of wine each night.  As a host of a cooking show focusing on local and sustainable ingredients, I’ve been so inspired by visiting the places where our food comes from, whether it’s a heritage breed turkey farm in New Jersey or an oyster farm in Montauk. And while people these days are placing a lot of emphasis on organic FOOD, many of us don’t think twice about our libations. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that wine can seem a bit intimidating in the first place – then you start swirling words around like organic and biodynamic, and it seems more complicated than using a fancy corkscrew.

But the good news is that there are plenty of small growers and winemakers out there dedicated to making beautiful wines in a sustainable way.  Perhaps the most interesting thing to note is that you don’t necessarily need to see an organic seal of approval for wine to actually be organic.  Many family and small-scale winemakers have been using organic practices for decades, maybe even centuries, and aren’t interested in paying the premium price for the organic label. The best rule of thumb is to trust your wine shop and just ask. 

Seems like a little bit more work to out these wines, right?  So why bother?  Well, consider this: large-scale wine makers are in the business of consistency. Stabilizers, sulfites, and chemicals are added to the wines to ensure that each vintage tastes the same. In addition, grapes are not an easy crop to grow. Many large wine-makers use fertilizers and pesticides that I wouldn’t want in my food, so I certainly don’t need it in my wine.

This past winter, my family and I did a tour of small-vineyard and organic wineries in Sonoma County, California. We hired a chauffeur to take us around from vineyard to vineyard – which I would 100 percent recommend.  No one has to worry about being the designated driver, AND the chauffeur will know more than you could ever imagine about the regions, the vineyards, and even the wines. (Not to mention, they’ll give you a complimentary bottle of champagne to enjoy as you gaze at out the window at the rolling hills). 

Because the vineyards we visited were so small – we’re talking a production of less than 5,000 cases a year—the winemakers were often right there in the tasting rooms.  As a result, we were able to have a deeper connection with and understanding of the wine because we met its maker. It’s easy to appreciate every sip when you understand the craft, the artistry, and the labor that goes into each barrel. I’ll never look at a bottle of wine the same way again, and I’ll cherish the memories I have with my family on that beautiful day in December.
 
SONOMA COUNTY SMALL-VINEYARD SUGGESTIONS:
Quivira (Dry Creek Valley) – This wine is absolutely delicious.  It’s organic and biodynamic, and even has garden plots where local chefs can farm produce for their restaurants.  The vineyard is gorgeous with a comfortable tasting room.  $5 waived with the purchase of a bottle.

Stryker (Alexander Valley) -  My favorite bottle was the Malbec; they also had delicious Zinfandels, which is what the Dry Creek Valley is renowned for. 

Porter Creek (Russian River Valley) – This region is known for their pinot noirs, and Porter Creek makes some of the best.  They are not available in stores, but you can order online and through their wine club.

Hawley (Healdsburg) – Hawley is a father/son operation with a vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley and a tasting room in downtown Healdsburg.  They take their organic wines very seriously, and even employ the use of hawks for pest control through the art of falconry. 
 

Photo courtesy of Raphael Rodriguez

Photo courtesy of Raphael Rodriguez

Thanks Shea!  Great information and I liked your means of transport!  All the best to Hungry in Brooklyn, and “Cheers!” to another great season!
 
For more great tips in the kitchen and ideas for preparing delicious meals using local, organic, and sustainable ingredients, please visit Hungry in Brooklyn.