Here Are Four Romantic Red Wines To Spark Your Valentine’s Day Celebration

Looking for a perfect bottle to celebrate with your sweetie? Here are four top picks.

Ready For Romance?

The stage is set. Candles. Soft music. Delicious meal. What’s missing? That’s right, the perfect wine.

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At Vino-Sphere world headquarters we taste hundreds of wines a year with one goal: to identify the best of the best for you, our readers! Today we are pleased to present our picks for Valentine’s day. Here are four reds (the color of romance!) just perfect for your enjoyment.

Cameron Hughes 2018 Lot 744 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

Yes, we have waxed poetic about the great value and taste of wines from Cameron Hughes. Why not? It’s hard to find wines from prestigious boutique wineries at less than half price. Priced at $17, this wine comes from one of our favorite regions – and one of the world’s best for Zin: Dry Creek Valley.

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You can expect an explosion of jammy flavors flowing into complex flavors of leather and pepper wrapped in silky textures. Decant this for 30 minutes to let the wine open up and display it’s full range of layers. It comes from one of the region’s top family wineries that’s been crafting top-rated Zinfandel for decades. Available through Cameron Hughes website.

Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Meritage, Dry Creek Valley

This wine is a sure winner and one of our top choices for our own dining and entertaining. Meritage (pronounced like Heritage) is America’s Bordeaux-style wine. Dry Creek Vineyard was the first in California to produce a wine with Meritage on the label, so it knows how to produce it beautifully.

This is an assemblage of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, and 4% Petit Verdot. It seamlessly blends ripe black cherry, caramel, and herb flavors. A complex wine, it pleases from first sip to last. DCV is widely distributed and this bottle has an SRP of $35.

Windsor Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Alexander Valley is the most inland part of Sonoma County and the summer heat and the cooling influence of the Russian River combine to make it a perfect spot for robust reds. Wine grapes have been grown in this special corner of Sonoma County since 1846.

If you are planning a steak dinner for your romantic dinner, this is the ideal pick. Black currant, plum and cocoa flavors highlight this wine which has soft tannins and touches of dark cherry and vanilla on the finish. Part of Windsor’s Platinum Series, it is $30 and available from the Windsor Vineyards website.

Woodward Canyon 2018 Merlot, Walla Walla Valley

We have a hunch that Merlot might be the biggest-seller for Valentine’s Day. The Merlot grape is known as being soft and, well, romantic. Woodward Canyon was the second winery in Washington’s famed Walla Walla Valley and produces premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends.

This is a sophisticated 100% Merlot from the westernmost vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. It includes an "old vines" block that is now 23 years old. It has a nose of plum and cooked fruit that gives way to tastes of spice and black cherry with leather and oak. A sensational wine priced at $52.

Full disclaimer: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Clos Du Bois 2008 Marlstone, Alexander Valley

Marlstone is Sonoma’s first Bordeaux-style blend. Born in the ‘70s, it continues to be one of our favorite wines year after year.

Bordeaux-Style Beauty

Marlstone, by Clos du Bois, is one of the reasons we love Bordeaux-style wine. We stumbled on Marlstone at a wine festival years ago. We were swimming in an endless sea of tasteless Pinot Grigio and watery reds when I got a pour of Marlstone.

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My taste buds skyrocketed on the rich flavors and robust body. Soon after we split a half case of 2008 Marlstone with our friends. Years and miles passed, but one of my bottles still remained. Until last week that is. In line with the thought, "life is too short to drink bad wine," we opened the last of the 2008 Marlstone.

Clos du Bois is a premiere winery in Sonoma. They farm top vineyards in the Russian River Valley, Knights Valley and Alexander Valley. Grapes for Marlstone come from Alexander Valley, known in recent years for producing superb Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Alexander Valley is one of the warmest wine growing areas in California during the day, but a wide temperature swing cools the grapes at night. Proximity to the Russian River provides fog that blankets the vineyards in the early morning until burned off by the sun.

Marlstone Doesn’t Jump The Shark

Marlstone was Sonoma's first Bordeaux-style blend, making its debut in 1978. It is a limited production wine, and in 2008 production was 2,000 cases. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot.

Six separate barrel lots make up the final blend of 2008 Marlstone, three of Cabernet Sauvignon and one each of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. The individual barrels were then blended and aged in 84% new French oak for 24 months.

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Structure and tannins allow wine to age with grace. Without it, a wine once full of vigor can in time "jump the shark," sliding down the slippery slope to become a shadow of its former self. Marlstone '08, 10 years beyond its vintage, not only still has a great structure, it could easily age for another seven years.

In the glass, this is a muscular wine. In retrospect, this could have used an hour or so of decanting. In the glass, the wine is a deep garnet, almost inky. On the nose, there was a light aroma of spice. As we sipped the wine loosened up in the glass. We had this bottle after dinner with some Manchego cheese, which also helped soften the tannins.

On the palate there is leather and juicy dark berries. Layers of flavors become more apparent the longer you sip. The full body is supple and smooth leading to a wonderfully long finish.

When I purchased this in 2012, my cost was $32, based on a half-case split with our good friends. While the 2008 vintage is no longer available, the current 2014 vintage is available for about $60.
Not only is this a superb wine, but a great value – costing much less than an equivalent blend from Napa.

When it comes to red blends, make mine Marlstone!

Technorati Tags: Bordeaux blends,California wine,wine,Cabernet Sauvignon

Jordan Vineyard & Winery: An Exquisite Wine, Food and Caviar Experience

There were a number of “mountaintop” experiences at the Wine Bloggers Conference in Sonoma – but there’s no doubt the pinnacle took place at Jordan. Here’s why…

French Inspiration Takes Root In Sonoma’s Alexander Valley

Jordan Vineyard & Winery is an American success story that sprang forth from a unique vision. Founders Tom and Sally Jordan were inspired by the great wine estates of France and sought to create a Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignon that is approachable in its youth, but ages gracefully.
Jordan, established in 1972, has succeeded in spades. While other wineries offer dozens of different wines and styles, Jordan has remained focused on producing a singular Alexander Valley Cabernet and singular Russian River Valley Chardonnay.

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Jordan also has a long history with sparkling wine, in the past producing “J by Jordan” sparkling wine. The sparkling wine effort grew and moved to its own facility. In 2015, J Vineyards and Winery was sold. Now, through a partnership with Champagne AR Lenoble, a French Champagne house, the winery also offers the sparkling Jordan Cuvée. 

Woven through Jordan’s history is the connection between food, wine and hospitality. During the most recent Wine Bloggers Conference, we experienced it firsthand at a special winery dinner.

A Caviar And Wine Surprise

When our bus arrived at the Jordan estate, we were greeted with a glass of Jordan Cuvée – immediately creating a festive mood as we walked into the wine production area where tables had been set.

Five glasses were arrayed on a white placemat with an artistically presented plate of different roe and caviar. We were being treated to a wine and caviar tasting that no one outside the winery had yet experienced!

Jordan has teamed with Tsar Nicoulai Caviar for this unique tasting. The California company makes roe and caviar from farm-raised white sturgeon.

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The 2014 Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay with its creamy round notes was a spot-on pairing with the golden-orange, slightly spicy Ginger Roe by Tsar Nicoulai. The 2009 vintage is one of our favorites for California Cabernet, so we relished the 2009 Jordan Alexander Cabernet and its pairing with the Tsar Nicoulai Beet and Saffron Roe. Red wine and caviar doesn’t seem like a natural pairing, but the aged and elegant Cabernet blended nicely with the earthy notes of the ruby red roe.

A younger 2012 Jordan Cab provided racy notes and melded nicely with the lush flavor of Italian white truffle of the Tsar Nicoulai Truffle Roe. The grand finale of the caviar tasting was the Brut Jordan Cuvée by Champagne AR Lenoble paired with Jordan Chef’s Reserve Caviar by Tsar Nicoulai.

The caviar is made in collaboration with Jordan and is only available through the winery. Jordan’s chef Todd Knoll created a special salt to cure the eggs using salt water and kombu seaweed from the Sonoma Coast. The crisp, golden Cuvée and the Jordan Chef’s Reserve Caviar were incredibly delicious. We would have stayed there all night, but as the caviar and wine disappeared, we moved to the barrel room.

Jordan’s Embracing Hospitality

Winery owner John Jordan then hosted a magnificent three-course meal in the barrel room. Joining Green Dragon and me were tasting team members Cabernetor and Glorious T, who consider themselves the number one fans of Jordan. Needless to say, we were feeling a touch of euphoria throughout our visit.

The 2015 RRV Chardonnay, aged for six months in 100% new French oak, was served with Abalone and Jordan Extra Virgin Olive Oil Poached  Alaskan Halibut. Chef Todd’s Grilled Mary’s Duck Breast with Olive Oil Confit, Chanterelles and Pomegranate Duck Jus was paired with the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine is 75.5% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Petit Verdot and smaller quantities of Malbec and Cabernet Franc.

A cheese course featuring local creameries was served with the stellar 2003 Cabernet from magnums. The wine epitomizes Jordan’s philosophy – fruit-forward wines ready to consume in the near term, but becoming glorious as they age. The ‘03 is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Petit Verdot to contribute added complexity. Ten years after its release date, the tannins have fully integrated allowing appreciation of the soft blueberry and earth flavor notes without distraction.

Jordan wines are superb, and we encourage you to buy them in bountiful numbers. To take it to the next level, start planning you visit to the Jordan estate in Sonoma for an exceptionally rewarding experience with food, wine and hospitality.

Technorati Tags: Sonoma,California wine,Alexander Valley,Cabernet Sauvignon,caviar,Chardonnay,Champagne

Blue Rock 1999 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

Maybe that’s what Dionne Warwick had in mind when she sang the song, “That’s What Friends Are For.” And by “that” we mean incredible wine – like this standout Cabernet from Alexander Valley.

We Get The “Blues”

One of our favorite bottles is Baby Blue, a Bordeaux style blend from Blue Rock Vineyard in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley. I don’t think we have every had a bad wine from Alexander Valley – and Blue Rock keeps some pretty nice company.

Blue Rock’s 100 acre estate is located next door to the iconic Silver Oak winery. Blue Rock is named after the soils found in the vineyard, which contain a high percentage of Serpentine, a blue colored rock high in magnesium. The soil contributes a unique flavor profile to the wine.

Although we love Baby Blue, it is still the “baby” and the big daddy is the Blue Rock Estate Cabernet.

Entering The Way Back Machine

What’s more fun than opening a bottle of great wine? Opening a nicely aged bottle of vintage wine.
We were treated to just that as we paid a visit to tasting team members The Cabernetor and Glorious T. While Glorious T had the food covered with aplomb, The Cabernetor was determined to live up to his name – and he certainly did.

He emerged from the cellar with a 1999 bottle of Blue Rock Cabernet Sauvignon. Although typos are not unknown in the blog – this is not one! This was an 18-year old bottle of premium Sonoma Cabernet.

Napa Cabernets and maybe California Cab in general, are sometimes criticized as being a bad match with food. They can come on way too strong with heavy handed tannins that overpower a meal. Not so with Blue Rock.

Blue Rock is food friendly and a showcase of winemaking artistry. It is one of the most popular wines in Sonoma and has taken home bushels of honors from critics. The aging takes it into a whole different dimension.

It is a blend of several different mature blocks of grapes and may include small amounts of Merlot, Cab Franc, Malbec or, as was the case in 1999, Petit Verdot. With age, the wine is as finely polished like the hood of a car collector’s classic Corvette Stingray. This is smooth sailing with no jarring flavors or high alcohol level – all is harmonious.

The flavors are rich and flowing with red fruit, blackberry and notes of mint. Aging is done in a mix of new and used French oak barrels, so there is structure – but after 18 years, all is integrated into a symphony of flavor.

So, there are a couple take-aways from this experience. First, Alexander Valley and Blue Rock Vineyard in particular, produce smashing Cabernet. Second, your “treasure” bottles of wine only have value when you bring them out and enjoy them. That our friends would do this was as nice a feeling as tasting the incredible ‘99 Blue Rock!

Dust off those bottles and enjoy them with your friends!

Sonoma Wines Score Big With Pinot And Cabernet Power

Our Tasting Team members had planned an anniversary trip to Napa Valley, but ended up with a delightful detour to Sonoma.

Sonoma County A Land Of Wine Diversity

When people think of California wine, chances are the first thing that pops into mind is Napa Valley. Tasting Team members Glorious T and the Cabinator had planned to go to Napa to celebrate their anniversary. Visits with friends in Sonoma and the opportunity to get an inside look at wineries there changed their plans.
Sonoma Valley is actually more than twice the size of neighboring Napa. The land is diverse in climate and topography and as a result, more than 50 different grapes are grown there.
Glorious T and the Cabinator returned with luggage bursting with treasure wine and shipped wine following close behind. We were treated to dinner that featured Sonoma wine and tales of their visit.
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DeLoach Premium Pinot Is An Eye-opener

Our first wine was the delectable 2012 DeLoach OFS Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. As related to us, the winemaker tasted this line of Pinot Noir and declared it “out f****ing standing” which led to the OFS designation. The DeLoach website has a slightly different story, saying that OFS stands for “Our Finest Selection.”
Whichever story you prefer to adopt, there is no doubt this is one amazing Pinot Noir. We were able to enjoy it in special Pinot Noir glasses, large bowl-shaped affairs that allow you to sniff and savor the heavenly aroma.
When a Pinot strikes out with us, it is either that the flavor is a one-note affair or that it tries to be something it is not, with an overly ripe, almost candied flavor. This DeLoach has layers of complexity with delicate red berry flavors led by raspberry along with a slight earthiness. It’s a beautiful RRV Pinot that gives Willamette Valley a run for its money.

Optima Cabernet Sauvignon Makes A Smashing First Impression

The enjoyment of the DeLoach OFS Pinot bridged the appetizers right into our salad course. While we unwound and heard stories of tastings at top Sonoma wineries (which we expect to feature soon), the next wine was being poured.
Cabinator had been decanting the Optima 2011 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for about an hour. Alexander Valley is one of our favorite Sonoma sub-regions.
Cabernet is best accompanied by a nice juicy steak. Glorious T, who is a very accomplished cook, outdid herself with this meal.
The scrumptious steak was cooked perfectly (which in my mind is medium rare) and topped with a gorgonzola sauce and caramelized onions. This was accompanied by roasted asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. Bravo! This would have been a fabulous meal served under any circumstances – but paired with the Optima 2011 Cabernet, it became heavenly.

Optima Wine Cellars began operation in 1984 producing 400 cases of wine annually. The focus remains on producing limited production premium wines.
We had never heard of Optima wines before nor had we tasted any. This was a treat. The wine was rich and bold with blueberry and dark cherry nuances. The tannins were very well integrated, avoiding any harshness yet retaining a beautiful structure.
The finish was long lasting, enabling me to get a refill before the rich flavors disappeared. Another nice feature of the wine is that it costs about $40. The quality is sterling but it is a much better value than a similar quality Napa Valley Cab.

Dark Chocolate And Cabernet – That Would Be A Resounding “Yes!”

Glorious T succeeded in raising the culinary bar even higher by bringing out a dark chocolate chess pie. I can’t tell you why it is called a chess pie, but it was oozing with smooth dark chocolate goodness.
The Cabinator and I surveyed his cellar and brought forth a 2008 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua Valley in Chile. Although not from Sonoma, this proved to be a nice “wind down” Cabernet.
This isn’t in the same league as the Optima, but is a nice fruit-driven Cab that overdelivers on value. Montes is a top-tier winery and should be one of your go-to choices in Chilean wine.
At this point we had to depart or else ask about guest room availability! The Cabinator (who is considering changing his moniker to Wine Sponge) and Glorious T will be sharing their tasty  Sonoma adventures soon.

Technorati Tags: wine,Sonoma

Rodney Strong 2012 Symmetry, Alexander Valley

Rodney Strong Vineyards began more than 50 years ago when the winery’s namesake, a celebrated American dancer decided to embark on a second creative passion.

We Are Introduced To Rodney Strong Wines

Our introduction to Rodney Strong wines began more than a decade ago. In search of some wine for a special occasion, I selected Rodney Strong as a crowd pleasing, great value wine.
The true epiphany came a handful of years ago when we were dining at Poco Piatti. Tasting Team member The Cabinator and I perused the wine list looking for something to go with our tapas. He pointed out a Rodney Strong Rockaway Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. We were delighted to see that they must have mispriced the bottle – and there was also a special promotion for discounted bottles that night. In short, we enjoyed a magnificent bottle of regal Cabernet for a handful of dollars.
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Rodney Strong’s Symmetry Meritage

Fast forwarding to last month, our tasting foursome (which included Green Dragon, Cabinator and Glorious T) were invited to a special wine dinner hosted by Rodney Strong, Anthony Road Wine Company and Fox Run Vineyards. The event took place at the Atlas Brick Oven pizzeria in Corning, NY, in conjunction with the Wine Bloggers Conference.
Many glorious wines were enjoyed along with antipasto, lasagna and pizza. One of our favorites was Symmetry by Rodney Strong. Symmetry is a Meritage, America’s version of a Bordeaux blend.
The Symmetry blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. It hails from one of our favorite appellations, Alexander Valley in Sonoma.
Symmetry is made in a special small lot winemaking facility, the Rodney Strong Artisan Cellar. The clusters and berries go through pre-sorting to get the very best fruit. Indigenous yeast is used along with naturally occurring malolactic fermentation. The wine is cellared in French oak for 18 months.
The wine is stylish and complex. There are silky layers of dark fruit along with chocolate and coffee. The finish lingers and elegantly trails off. It’s a wine with body to stand up to roasted meat or stew. 
Symmetry is part of Rodney Strong’s Reserve range of wines and retails for $55. This is a wine that will blend in well with your next meal or special occasion.