am in Marlborough now. Today at Dolce in Blenheim I had a wonderful lunch
of steamed greelshell mussels with Cloudy Bay sauvignon blanc (both local).
It was quite surreal, sitting in a cool restaurant, looking outside and
enjoying a perfect meal, thinking, hey I am really in New Zealand, enjoying
two of my favorite things!

Tomorrow we are going to several wineries: Cloudy Bay, Villa Maria, Huia,
Allan Scott, Herzog, etc. They all mainly produce “savs” as they call them
here in Marlborough but some pinots, chard and gerwurz too.

Also, I was in the Central Otago region a few days ago (or was it a week? and had some KILLER pinot noirs.

Will report again soon… cheers from NZ!

Syrah and Shiraz
Top Twenty Favorites

Syrah to me, is the most beautiful wine made. There are many great styles of Syrah, bursting with flavor and complexity.

More than half the world’s total Syrah acreage is planted in France, but it is also a successful grape in Australia (called Shiraz), South Africa and California.

Syrah is the great red grape of the Northern Rhone, responsible for such fine wines as Hermitage and Cote Rotie. Big, dark and spicy, wines made from this varietal can age as well as Bordeaux. The varietal is gaining popularity in the United States as well as other countries. Since the 1970’s, Syrah has spread throughout the Southern Rhone, and Provence regions of France, where it is being bottled as a single varietal wine or in blends.

Syrah has also seen tremendous success in Australia where it is commonly called Shiraz (same grape, different name). Brought ‘down-under’ in the 1830’s, Shiraz is widely planted through out Southeastern Australia. The wines range in style from fruity forward wines to big thick port like monsters. Shiraz is also frequently blended with Cabernet Sauvignon or Grenache.

Syrah is a fairly new variety in California, first introduced in 1971. Some of the state’s vines were propagated from Hermitage and some from Australian cuttings. It is also one of California’s most rapidly increasing varieties.

As of 2004, Syrah was estimated to be the world’s 7th most grown variety at 142,600 hectares (352,000 acres), after having enjoyed a strong growth in plantings for several years.

This will be a constantly evolving list as I taste more Syrahs. I have just returned from the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival and this updated list reflects my findings from that trip.

Here are my choices of the best Syrahs I have tasted over the last few months.

1. 2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard Syrah
2. 2005 March Phillips ‘Grail of Lisa’ Shiraz
3. 2005 Zaca Mesa Black Bear Block Syrah
4. 2006 Radio-Coteau Timbervine Syrah
5. 2004 Ken Brown Bien Nacido Syrah
6. 2006 Booker Vineyard ‘Fracture’ Syrah
7. 2006 Harrison-Clarke Syrah Cuvee Charlotte (To be released in July 2009)
8. 2006 Kenneth-Crawford Larner Vineyard Syrah
9. 2005 Stolpman Hilltops Syrah
10. 2003 Zaca Mesa Estate Syrah
11. 2003 Jaffurs Melville Vineyard Syrah
12. 2006 Vie Winery Alder Springs Syrah
13. 2006 Thompkin Cellars Syrah
14. 2003 Ken Brown Bien Nacido Syrah
15. 2005 Ampelos Cellars Alisos Vineyards Syrah
16. 2002 Consilence Hampton Vineyard Syrah
17. 2005 Edward Sellers Syrah Sélectionné, Syrah Cuvée
18. 2005 Epiphany Cellars F Block Rodney’s Vineyard Syrah
19. 2004 Thompkin Cellars Syrah
20. 2006 Coquelicot Black Oak Vineyard Syrah

I first tasted this wine during the Barrel Tasting Weekend in Sonoma County in March 2008. At that time the wine had already aged in barrel for over two years. I was stunned by its complexity and depth, and as a result I purchased a case of futures - something I almost never do.

My shipment arrived in November 2008 and I immediately opened a bottle. It was as good as I remembered it!

The color is very deep purple with brilliant clarity. Perfume and lilacs on the nose, with undertones of earth and a hint of vanilla typical of the Maple Vineyard.

On the palate this wine explodes with fruit yet also retains amazing balance and complexity with well integrated tannins. Ten minutes in the glass reveals cocoa and dark chocolate with a hint of tobacco on the nose.

This really is a beautifully-done Zin.

This lovely wine is brick red; with its high level of extraction is 50% opaque… in the glass, the tongue is magenta at the edges, transitioning to purple, then the brick red at the heart.

On the nose are dried herbs, lilac and pomegranate, with plum and toasty vanilla at the top of the glass.

When tasting, the first attack shows big, dark fruit with undertones of peat/earth. The long finish reveals tobacco, licorice, a hint of charcoal and coriander.

This wine opens up nicely in the glass and the mouth feel, which is a little rough at first, quickly becomes rounded and silky. Bright acidity complements the supple tannins.

This Barbera presents great varietal character, works wonderfully with food, and though ready to drink now will also age nicely for a few more years.

Highly recommended!

Four Vines 2007 Freak Show Release Party

Not an April Fool’s Day Joke, Four Vines Owner Bill Grant, alias the Zin Pimp, Showing the 2007 Freak Show Wines for the first time

Wednesday, April 1, 2009 from 5pm to 8:30pm

Seven wines will be poured: 2007 Anarchy “Red Blend” 2007 Heretic “Petite Sirah” 2007 The Peasant “Rhone Blend” 2007 “Naked” Chardonay 2007 j dusi “Dante Dusi” Zinfandel. The 2006 selections include: 2006 Loco “Tempranillo” 2006 and “Old Vine Cuvee” Zinfandel

Three Magnums will be given away!

$20. Seating Hourly - RSVP - reply to this email and specify the hour and number of peopleinfo@winelabnewport.com

More information about Four Vines, Bill Grant, his team or da goods can be found at www.fourvines.com

$20. Reservations recommended - seatings at 5, 6 & 7 PM - reply to this email, info@winelabnewport.com Wine Lab Newport hosts wine tastings during store open hours from Tuesday thru Sunday.

Wine Lab Newport 2901 West Coast Highway Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-515-VINO www.winelabnewport.com   

 

 

2007 marked the introduction of Thompkin Cellars newest wine, which they call 3ie Degré. This Rhone style blend consists of 50% Syrah (from the Thompson and Vogelzang Vineyards), 25% Grenache from the Vogelzang Vineyard and 25% Mourvedre from the Thompson Vineyard. Bottled without fining or filtration.

The 2005 Thompkin Cellars 3ie Degré is the jewel of the Thompkin Cellars wines. It was given a 90 point rating by Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate Issue 177. It is, without a doubt, one of my favorite wines.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Plum, ruby
• Nose: background of oak, raspberries, tea and some tar tones
• Palate: medium tannins and acidity, rich and full-bodied with bursts of cherry and plum fruit, raspberry, cinnamon and black pepper toward the end

Winemaker Notes

• Cropped at 3 tons/acre
• 198 case production
• 15.5% alcohol
• Bottled on 3/10/07 to be released for sale April 2007
• Aged for 16 months 25% new French oak and the remainder in 2-5 year old American and French oak.
• Grenache harvested on 10/3/05 at 26 degrees brix (inoculated with Syrah yeast and fermented for 2 weeks in open top fermenters with punch downs 3x/day); racked once prior to bottling.
• Mourvedre harvested on 11/4/05 at 24.0 degrees brix (inoculated with RC212 yeast and fermented for 10 days in open top fermenters with punch downs 2-3x/day); racked once prior to bottling.
• Thompson Syrah harvested on 10/12/05 at 25.0 degrees brix (inoculated with RC212 yeast and fermented for 3 weeks in open top fermenters with punch downs 3x/day); racked once prior to bottling.
• Vogelzang Syrah harvested on 10/7/07 at 25.6 degrees brix (inoculated with RC212 yeast and fermented for 2 weeks in open top fermenters with punch downs 3x/day); racked twice prior to bottling.

This proprietary blend is composed of 85% Cabernet Frac from the Thompson Vineyard in Los Alamos and 15% Estrella clone Syrah from the Thompson Vineyard. Bottled without fining or filtration.

Tasting Notes

• Color: medium to dark ruby with purple edges.
• Nose: hints of vanilla, oak in the background, bing cherries, cocoa and fennel.
• Palate: full-bodied, moderate amount of soft tannins; medium acidity, dark cherry fruit, baker’s chocolate, peppermint and mint.

Winemaker Notes

• Cropped at 3 tons/acre
• 144 case production
• 15.4% alcohol
• Bottles on 3/10/07 to be released in April
• Aged for 27 months in 30% new French oak and the remainder in 2-5 year old French oak.
• CF harvested on 10/22/04 at 24.6 degree brix (inoculated with BDX yeast and fermented for 2 weeks in open top fermenters with punch downs 2-3x/day); racked twice prior to bottling.
• Syrah harvested on 10/1/04 at 24.2 degree brix (inoculated with RC212 yeast and fermented for 2 weeks in open top fermenters with punch downs 2-3x/day); racked once prior to bottling.

Santa Barbara County Vintners Association
presents
2009 Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival
 

Saturday April 18th 2009
       1:00 pm - 4:00 pm             

River Park
Highway 246 at Sweeney Road
Lompoc, CA

The annual Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Festival attracts wine lovers from near and far for an opportunity to meet member vintners, taste their wines, and enjoy great food and music in a festive outdoor environment. The 2009 Vintners’ Festival will be celebrated from 1 to 4pm on Saturday April 18th at River Park in Lompoc.

The festival features the wines of our 100+ members of the Association, live and lively music, a silent auction and wine country cuisine by the area’s finest chefs.

And we’ll make a weekend out of it, celebrating the arrival of Spring with the Vintners’ Visa - a four-day pass to twelve participating wineries, each of whom will waive tasting fees and offer something special just for Visa holders.

To register for this event,
http://www.sbcountywines.com/events/festival.html

2009 Vintners’ Festival
$75 per person ($85 at the gate)

2009 Vintners’ Visa                                                        
$35 per person

2009 Vintners’ Festival & Visa Combo                
$100 per person 

2009 Vintners’ Festival Designated Driver
$25 per person

Buses to and from the Vintners’ Festival

$25 per person

Santa Barbara - departs 11.15am, Fess Parker Doubletree Resort on the side street Calle Puerto Vallarta

Santa Maria - departs 11.45am, Santa Maria Holiday Inn & Suites on Broadway

Solvang - departs noon, Veterans Memorial Hall, 745 Mission Drive

I always enjoy going to the Wine Lab Newport, they have a great selection of wines from some of my favorite California wineries including: Edward Sellers, L’Aventure, Justin Vineyards & Winery, Sol Rouge, Justin Vineyards & Winery, Booker Vineyard, Thompkin Cellars, Sol Rouge, Thompkin Cellars, Vie Winery, Palmina, Cass Vineyard & Winery, Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards, Ovene Winery, Curran Wines, Four Vines Winery and Joseph Phelps Vineyards, just to name a few. They also have a great selection of old world wines from Europe.

The Wine Flights at the Wine Lab Newport are always very enjoyable and I usually find something to add to my wine collection.

It is even more enjoyable when there is a special event at the Wine Lab Newport. The Winemaker Events at the Wine Lab Newport are not to be missed. Many of these winemaker events are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the winemaker in your own neighborhood and taste the wines with him or her.

In this case it was L’Aventure Barrel Tasting Event on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at the Wine Lab Newport. While Stephan Asseo, owner and winemaker at L’Aventure did not attend the event; Riley Hubbard, Sales Representative from L’Venture, did a great job presenting the current and new releases from the L’Aventure wine collection.

We had the opportunity to taste the new estate releases of 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, Côte à Côte, and Estate Cuvee. In addition to the three barrel samples we tasted the Cuvée Des Potes Rosé 2007, Optimus 2005 and Optimus 2006.

Transplanted Frenchman, Stephan Asseo (from St.-Emilion) masterfully creates Bordeaux and Rhone style blends. The new Rose was really good, the Optimus, Côte à Côte and Estate Cuvee were all wonderful.

The Côte à Côte is the shining star of the L’Aventure wine collection. With a subtle nose comes forth spice, red fruits and a slight slate or chalk aroma. The mouth displays nice tannins and the finish is black cherry and vanilla. Unfined and infiltered. The Côte à Côte, 100% estate grown fruit aged in French oak for 14 months, is a magnificent wine. 

For more information on L’Aventure wines, visit their website at: www.aventurewine.com

Wine Lab Newport
2901 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92683
(949) 515-VINO (8466)

Find Your Taste at the Wine Lab Newport
Newport Beach’s Only Wine Bar and Wine Store
Over 160 Wines in Stock for Under $25.00 

www.winelabnewport.com

Roger Richards and ChrisAnn Richards, owners
To e-mail Roger: roger@winelab.biz
To e-mail ChrisAnn: chrisann@winelab.biz

             Camp 4 & Rodney’s Vineyard

90 point rating from Robert Parker Jr.

Revelation is the signature wine of the Epiphany Cellars collection. A red Rhone-style blend comprised of 62% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 8% Petite Sirah, the 2005 Revelation was aged in 35% new French oak barrels for 25 months to enhance this complex, full bodied wine that we have grown to love. 

On the palate, this wine has a wonderfully inviting bouquet of black cherry aromas. On the palate, this full bodied wine is round, slightly acidic, and displays spicy blackberry like flavors. The finish is very very dry, tingly, and has tannins that linger for a little while.

Winemaker Notes: Revelation showcases aromas of black cherry, boysenberry, anise, spice box, cinnamon and vanilla then leaves the palate with jammy dark fruits, black cherry, baking spices, dark chocolate, Kirsch liqueur and vanilla.

With its wonderful balance and nice long finish, Revelation is sure to be a cellar favorite.

BEST RED RHONE BLEND OF SHOW 
– 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition

For more information on Epiphany Cellars wines,
visit their website at: www.epiphanycellars.com

Epiphany Cellars
2963 Grand Avenue
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(866) 354-9463 toll free