Dry Creek Vineyard 2021 DCV Block 10 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

You may not be familiar with Dry Creek Vineyard Chardonnay. If that’s the case, here’s what you’re missing.

Dry Creek Vineyard championed Loire Valley-style wines in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley. Their excellence, however, extends to Chardonnay. A prime example is the latest release of the DCV Block 10 Chardonnay.

All 185 acres of estate vineyards are certified sustainable. DCV Block 10 in Russian River Valley has an ideal microclimate for growing Chardonnay. The moderate temperature and fog from the Pacific Ocean keep the grapes protected from the harsh sun and allow the grapes to ripen evenly and slowly. The DCV Block 10 Chardonnay is crafted from just 30 rows in the northeast corner of the vineyard.

One thing  I have always appreciated about Dry Creek Vineyard is its judicious use of oak aging. They don’t cover up the flavors of the wine with excess oak. That is the case here.

The wine is 88% barrel fermented with the remainder fermenting in stainless steel. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation for the most part (88%). Barrel aging is in French oak, 26% new.

On the nose, there is an immediate rush of tropical notes, including pineapple and some peach. On the palate, there is pear and mango mixed with some light oak. The oak contributes spicy notes without overwhelming the bright and harmonious flavors. This is a perfect Chardonnay for me, light enough to enjoy on its own or pair with a meal without bogging down with oaky, buttery notes.

This is drinking well now and can age for up to three years. This is a beautiful dinner companion or a wine for weekend entertaining. SRP is $45.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Moon Mountain District Wines Sky High With Premium Quality

Moon Mountain District Dinner

Moon Mountain District crafting premium reds from mountainous perch in Sonoma County.

By Dave Nershi, CSW

Vino-Sphere Publisher

Ten years ago I tasted my first wine from Moon Mountain, buying five bottles from the Moon Mountain Vineyard winery. The luscious wine soon ran out and to make matters worse, I learned the winery was closing. My lingering fears were unfounded as Repris Wines purchased the property and continued and expand the reputation of the legendary vineyard and wine from this special slice of Sonoma continues to flow.

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The Moon Mountain District AVA, formed in 2013, is in a mountainous region in the very east of Sonoma County. It is made entirely of hillside vineyards, some incredibly remote, with iron-rich volcanic soil. A clear view of San Francisco 50 miles south is not uncommon.

Moon Mountain wines

Wines made there have been famed since the 1880s. Phil Coturri, vineyard manager and pioneer of organic and biodynamic winegrowing in California, explains the uniqueness this way, “The multiplicity of slopes, aspects, exposures, and elevations, combined with volcanic soils enlivened with organic matter and enhanced by complex cover crops creates flavors as unique as the terroir found in the Moon Mountain District --  of course, the attitude of the winegrower adds additional spice.”

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We recently celebrated these magnificent wines with the Red Side of the Moon: A Moon Mountain AVA Dinner, pairing six wines with tasty gourmet dishes. These are premium red wines and most have limited production. Although these are "big" wines, we were impressed with the richness and balance that translated to grace and power. We decanted each wine for at least an hour.

Kamen Cab, Lasseter Syrah and stew

Our group included wine writers Dathan and Jen of Triangle Around Town and Arthur and Mary Barham of Merlot2Muscadine as well as friends Robert and Linda. Each wine was served with a specially crafted dish.

For “lift-off” on our voyage to the Moon, we started with a sparkling Grüner Veltliner Sekt (more on that in a separate story) and the Reprise 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Clones. This was paired with Vadouvan Spiced Carrots & Radishes and a cheese selection. The unique French spices, a take on Indian masala, created a complex blend of smokiness and sweetness that worked wonderfully with both wines.

Moon Mountain diners

The Repris Cabernet uses the Moon Mountain Clone evolved in volcanic soil over four decades. It includes some of the oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vines in California and delivers a wine that delighted the group with aromas of dark fruit and sweet spices. This is a savory wine that immediately opens your eyes to the glorious potential of Moon Mountain District.

Pairing six big reds with a dinner menu can be ticklish, but the Green Dragon was up to the challenge. Our next dish was a Beef & Vegetable Stew and a Thai Quinoa Crunch Salad (prepared by me). The stew was a lighter affair just perfect for the Kamen 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain and the Lasseter 2018 Syrah Moon Mountain.

Faces at the Red Side of the Moon dinner

The Kamen captured fans right away with raspberry and violet notes riding on complex dark chocolate layers. Minerality and smooth tannins make for a great finish. The Lasseter was the only non-Cabernet wine and provided a nice contrast with a decided Old World vibe and brambly notes of sweet oak and blackberry. At this point, our guests have become avid Moon Mountain admirers.

All six wines have ABV levels above 14.5% and two have more than 15%, so it was time for a pause. Arthur presented his intermezzo, a chilled fruit soup duet. We enjoyed a Peach & Champagne Shooter and a Pear, Prosecco & Mint Spoon. Now that’s the way to cleanse your palate!

Peach & Champagne Shooter and a Pear, Prosecco & Mint Spoon

Two very special wines were teed up for our next entrée: Seared Duck Breast with Port & Cherry Sauce. What a refreshing food pairing. The duck offers a delicious change from steak, with its rich meat and robust flavor.

Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso and Duck

The Louis M. Martini 2018 Monte Rosso Vineyard has the vineyard’s signature spice and sweet oak aromatics. Topping out at 16.1% ABV, I wondered if this would be too “big,” but it proved to be big, balanced, and agile – like the Yankees Aaron Judge. Monte Rosso has been producing award-winning wines for three generations. This is a bottle that can and should be aged to fully integrate the tannins.

Stone Edge Farm Winery is an interesting producer that is focused on organic grapes and high environmental standards. It produces energy independent of the power grid and has a carbon footprint below zero. However, my main interest was its 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon. This has 4% Malbec and 1% Cabernet Franc, which fine-tunes the powerful Cabernet flavor. On the tongue, there are baking spices, ripe cherries, and tobacco.

Red Side of the Moon and chocolate

For our “wine-down,” we moved out to the patio and amidst the torch flames enjoyed a selection of Dark Chocolate Truffles and Caramels. Our final Moon Mountain District wine was the B Wise 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain. A 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, just over 500 cases were produced. After five big reds, could the B Wise still delight? Yes, with exceptional balance, jammy goodness, dark fruit, and hints of leather this was a perfect wrap-up to the evening.

The greatness of these wines is undeniable right now, even though most are designed to age, some up to 20 years. The warmer climate, longer growing season, and rocky high-altitude soils make Moon Mountain wines a memorable treat. If you are unfamiliar with this unique region, the Moon Mountain District Winegrowers Association website provides a nice background.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Dry Creek Vineyard Releases Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Dry Creek Vineyard is celebrating 50 years as a pioneering winery in Sonoma.

Dry Creek Vineyard not only is located in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley, it has done much to establish the standards of quality for that prestigious wine region. The history of this multigenerational family winery is full of notable firsts within the industry:

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1972:  First winery built in the Dry Creek Valley following Prohibition.

• 1972:  First to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Dry Creek Valley.
• 1972:  First to label a wine as “Fumé Blanc” in Sonoma County.
• 1982:  First to display a sailboat on a wine label, a bold and daring move beyond the popular chateau-style labels of the time.
• 1983:  First to pioneer Dry Creek Valley’s American Viticultural Area (AVA) status.
• 1985:  First to label a wine as “Old Vine” Zinfandel, setting off an industry trend.

   

• 1987:  First to label a wine as a “Meritage,” illustrating the family's love of Bordeaux blending.
• 1997:  First to release a “Heritage Clone” Zinfandel from pre-prohibition vine cuttings.
• 2017:  First to receive a U.S. patent for the design of printed sustainable sourcing information on a cork.
• 2022:  First to release 50th consecutive vintage of Dry Chenin Blanc in the United States.

Here are the latest releases as the winery continues its 50th-anniversary celebration.

2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Vineyard really led the way for Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley and we love their vision of this wine. It is made of 81% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Sauvignon Musqué, and, 3% Sauvignon Gris. The Gris provides a creamy texture while the Musqué adds weight and juiciness. The flavors are bright tropical fruit, lemon,  and melon. We love Dry Creek Vineyard’s Fume Blanc, but this is a step up in complexity and elegance. It’s also a refreshing change from the jarring acidity of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

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2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Creek Valley

Dry Creek Valley is primarily known for Zinfandel, but the AVA has almost as much Cabernet Sauvignon planted. This is a wine that delivers inviting flavors in a medium-to-full body. It’s enjoyable to sip on a summer’s night – as we did. The flavors are lush and elegant with cranberry and black cherry with undertones of coffee and leather. It displays the hallmark of Dry Creek Valley wines: floral and spice notes.

The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot with small amounts of Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. While this Cab can be aged for another five to 7 years, its rounded edges make it very approachable now. Also approachable is the $32 price tag.

2019 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley

The Mariner is perhaps our favorite red wine. It’s an elevated wine created with finesse and the vision of creating the finest Meritage from the Dry Creek Valley with the five noble Bordeaux grapes. Each year the footprint is a bit different as the winemakers search for the best lots in Dry Creek Valley, including Dry Creek Vineyard’s DCV9 Endeavor vineyard. This year the blend highlights Cabernet Sauvignon (61%) with 18% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 11% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

The wine gets 20 months of aging in French and Hungarian oak, 42% new. During the fermentation, the wine gets pump-overs twice daily. All vines are 20+ years old. The point is, that all steps are taken to make this a special wine.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Dry Creek Vineyard Celebrates 50 Years Of Innovation And Excellence

Dry Creek celebrates with a special anniversary edition of its signature Fumé Blanc.

Setting Sail With Fumé Blanc

Years ago, before I had any notion of becoming a wine writer, I was perusing a shelf at a wine shop hoping to find something interesting for dinner. At that time, my definition of “interesting” included being reasonably priced.

I was attracted to a bottle with a boat with a billowing sail. It was Dry Creek Vineyard’s Fumé Blanc. My wine knowledge then was pretty limited and I didn’t even know what grapes were in it. Well, we loved it and this version of Sauvignon Blanc has been a staple for us ever since.

We aren’t alone in our love of Fumé Blanc and this year there is special cause for celebration. It’s the 50th anniversary of Dry Creek Vineyard.

Dry Creek Vineyard is one of the last, truly-private family wineries in Sonoma County. They consistently produce 90-plus rated wines.

The Roots Of Dry Creek Vineyard

It all began 50 years ago with David Stare and a dream. Stare traveled to Germany after completing his engineering studies. It was there he developed his interest in wine. Soon after his family spent two weeks in France, where he developed a love of Loire Valley and Bordeaux wines.

His path then led west to California where he discovered a rundown 55-acre prune farm in the Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma County that was to become his dream location. He purchased the orchard and began planting the region’s first vines since Prohibition. Stare was determined to plant Sauvignon Blanc, despite the advice of several famed vineyard experts who warned that the variety was “inappropriate” for the region. He ignored the warning and plowed ahead and established an iconic and innovative Dry Creek winery. Today Sauvignon Blanc is the most widely planted grape in Dry Creek Valley.

Here’s a look at two 50th-anniversary Dry Creek Vineyard releases:

2021 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

Before even tasting a drop, you can tell that this is a special wine. On the reverse side of the front label is a drawing of the 1972 Fumé Blanc label. The front of the label has a nice embossed 50th-anniversary seal. The reverse of the back label has three historical photos.

While there are aromas of cut grass and grapefruit, don’t expect a New Zealand-style Sauvignon Blanc. Upon sipping, a lovely balance of acidity and tropical fruit is evident. Bright notes of tangerine and a cooling minerality keep you reaching for one more glass. This wine is our favorite California Sauvignon Blanc and at $16 it is an amazing value. I also place this in the “people pleaser” category: no matter your guests’ wine knowledge or palate, they are sure to love it.

2021 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

There just isn’t enough good quality Chenin Blanc, like this bottle, to go around. If you only know Chenin from inexpensive bottles from South Africa or perhaps overly sweet Vouvray, you’re in for a treat. This wine reflects the Loire Valley-inspired roots and has been produced every year since the winery was founded. The grapes come from the Wilson Ranch in Clarksburg.

On the nose, there are melon and white blossoms. Finished in stainless steel, it is a refreshing wine, with flavors of peach and lemon. It has a soft texture and a lower ABV of 12%. Wonderful with seafood or as an aperitif, the SRP is $16.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Vintage Sonoma County Pinot Noir An Elegant Experience

Sonoma County wine shines in these two bottles of Pinot Noir.

A Tale Of Two Regions

There’s nothing like Pinot Noir to accompany a meal, sip by itself, or just to ward off the wintertime blues. We recently opened two bottles of single-vineyard Sonoma County Pinot Noir from two regions – one we know well and one that’s new to us.

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Russian River Valley is one of our favorite wine regions and the Pinot Noir from there is extraordinary. When we last visited Sonoma a few years ago, we stopped at Balletto and tasting their wonderful range of wines.

Sonoma’s Russian River Valley earned AVA status in 1983, and comprises 15,000 vineyard acres. By far, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel top the charts in this region. The heart-shaped AVA doesn’t follow the path of the Russian River exactly, but reflects a sweet spot that’s cool, but not too cold.

Balletto Vineyards started as a vegetable farm in 1977. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s additional land was purchased and by 1994 it was the largest vegetable farm in Northern California – producing more than two million cases of vegetables per year at its peak.

After weathering several storms and foreseeing California’s growing water shortage, John and Terri Balletto made the decision to convert to grape growing. Wine grapes are less water-dependent than other crops. We’re quite glad they made the change. Today Balletto produces 20,000 to 25,000 cases of premium wine.

Rugged And Remote

The Fort Ross-Seaview AVA was carved out of the larger Sonoma Coast AVA in 2011. It is remote and rugged and few of its wineries are open to the public. It does produce some of Sonoma County’s most sought after Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Although just a few miles from the chilly Pacific, its 500 vineyard acres bask in warm sunlight and it is above the damp belt of fog that often covers the Russian River Valley.

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Wayfarer Vineyard was founded by acclaimed Napa winemaker Jason Pahlmeyer. After vintage upon vintage of powerful red wines, he became enchanted with Pinot Noir and the wines of Burgundy. Helen Turley, who made wines for Pahlmeyer, learned that Wayfarer, an organic farm on the remote Sonoma Coast was for sale. Pahlmeyer purchased it, completed planting in 2002, and released his first Wayfarer wine in 2014 (earlier wines were labeled Pahlmeyer).

Honestly, the price tag for Wayfarer Pinot is a bit above my usual range. I acquired it through Underground Cellars, where you make a purchase without knowing the specific bottles you will receive until after you make the purchase. (Although you will see the large listing of bottles from which your bottles will be selected.) I was really pleased when I learned I bought this beauty.

Balletto 2014 Pinot Noir Burnside Road Vineyard

Bright cherry flavors enhanced with lavender and violets. This is a medium-weight Pinot with spicy accents and a delicate finish. Pleasing oak lead into the finish.We were very pleased with the condition and this single-vineyard wine could have aged even more. It’s become even more beautiful than when we tasted it at the winery in 2018. There were 630 cases produced.

Wayfarer 2012 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard

We didn’t realize it at the time, but we were sipping history. This bottle is from the first vintage of Wayfarer Pinot Noir. It includes Jason Pahlmeyer’s signature on the label (just printed, not signed). This is a blend of the vineyard’s 12 clones. It offers black cherry and light oak with elegant fresh red berries. Dazzling from the first sip, it’s a lovely ride through the mid-palate, and right on to the end. The acidity keeps it vibrant and the minerality gives it an exotic allure.

Dry Creek Vineyard The Mariner and Old Vines Zinfandel Great Picks For Holiday Gifting

Ready for the holidays? These two bottles from Sonoma will help you celebrate.

Perfect Picks

I recently got an email from a friend trying to pick my brain on what wines to give as gifts. It got me thinking about what makes for a great holiday wine gift. After sampling two new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard, I think I have my answer.

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We opened up the 2018 The Mariner and the 2019 Old Vine Zinfandel. The winery is located in Dry Creek Valley, one of our favorite AVAs in California’s famed Sonoma wine country. Each bottle has just what it takes to fill Santa’s stocking or to present to anyone planning on ringing in the new year.

The Mariner has long been our favorite red blend. It is a Meritage, which is America’s answer to Bordeaux’s famed blends. It must include two of the “noble” Bordeaux grapes and no grape can exceed 90%. It usually applies to a winery’s top blend.

The blend for the 2018 version of The Mariner (it changes slightly each year) is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. It is aptly named because the winemaker must navigate his way through the vintage. We’re happy to say winemaker Tim Bell navigated the choppy seas without crashing on the rocks.

Two Great Gifting Recommendations

The Mariner opens with aromas of cranberry and black cherry. The first sip has a bit of heat even though this is 13.9% ABV, less than many “big” California reds. Upon sipping the aggressive initial impression faded into a delightfully smooth texture and dark fruit.

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One of the reasons we dub this a great gifting wine is that it has multiple layers that will delight savvy wine lovers. It has savory notes as well as cocoa and white pepper. The finish displays vanilla and a hint of violet. Part of the complexity is due to the aging for 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, 44% new. The cooler harvest allowed additional hang time for the grapes to develop their wonderful character. The Mariner is priced at $50.

I was quite anxious to open and try the 2019 Old Vine Zin, since we just love OVZ. My wife had me hold my horses until the next night so that we could pair it with some nicely grilled herbed lamb chops.

Old Vine Zin And Lamb Chops

This is a big, rich wine that benefits from being paired with a robust steak, or as we found, some perfect lamb chops. The fatty nature of the meat tames the magnitude of the wine, which clocks in at 14.5% ABV. Dry Creek Vineyard knows their grapes and the addition of 19% Petite Sirah and 3% Carignane adds to the allure.

The OVZ is aged for 15 months in French, Hungarian, and American oak, 22% new. The tannins give nice structure, but the overall texture is rounded. There are lush tones of black cherry, espresso, and cedar.

The vines for this bottling average more than 100 years old and some are nearly 140 years old. As the vines age, their yield goes down, but each grape is a masterpiece of concentrated flavor. This is an ideal gift for your friends who like to grill or enjoy a hearty steak. At $38 SRP, you may consider picking up a couple of bottles.

I’m pleased to see that Dry Creek Vineyard wines are widely available, but if you can’t find these bottles in your local wine shop, they are available for purchase online.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

Dry Creek Vineyard New Releases Hit The Summer Entertaining Trail

Grab one or more of these three wines for your next patio wine extravaganza.

Patio Party Planning

When that old sun begins to shine on the backyard and the grill is smoking away, you need just the right wines for the friends descending on your patio. Here is a trio of new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard that capture the fun of a wide-open summer.

2020 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

Dry Creek Vineyard has produced Chenin Blanc every year since the family winery was founded in 1972. That’s a lot of Chenin!

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It took some luck and skill to bring this delicious wine to market. A wildfire in Sonoma and one in a remote forested area threatened the purity of the region’s wine grapes. Since white grapes aren’t fermented on their skins, they are less susceptible to smoke taint. Lighter pressings were also used to limit the potential impact.

This is a simply wonderful Chenin that is a perfect dinner guest. Honeysuckle and peach notes on the nose give a foretaste of what’s to come. Lemon, melon, and a hint of orange zest grace the palate. The wine has a soft and filling texture. It is an ideal pairing for seafood or shines as an aperitif. SRP is $16.

2019 Heritage Vines Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley

I’ll cut right to the chase: This wine rocks! The Heritage Vines are pre-Prohibition era vines grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. The result is young vine wine with Old Vines characteristics. This is perhaps our favorite Zinfandel of the bushels out there.

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We popped this one open at the end of an evening of dinner and wine with friends. It was time for something sweet. Out came a chocolate mousse pie.

I’m not sure if this is an ideal pairing – but it does combine two longtime loves: chocolate and excellent Zin! Some Zins entice you with jammy fruit flavors. The Heritage Vines is a more refined bottle with complex layers changing and dancing as you drink.

The black cherry and raspberry notes fill the mouth as you enjoy highlights of toasted oak and savory herb. It’s a rich and round wine with silky tannins. The finish is all mocha with a dash of white pepper. At $26, this is a tremendous value.

2020 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

Buy this wine and buy it in abundance for your summer entertaining. This Fumé Blanc is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the most planted grape in Dry Creek Valley and a variety championed by Dry Creek Vineyard. It’s a classic dry wine that is now in its 49th vintage.

It’s modeled after the beloved wines of the Loire Valley in France and it has a chic yet fun style that’s perfect for summer. Lime and the smell of fresh-cut grass highlight the bouquet. On the palate there is grapefruit aplenty with peach and tropical flavor. The acidity is intertwined with a refreshing minerality.

We paired this with Barramundi in herbed butter sauce and Ombré Root Vegetable Gratin. The acidity of the wine contrasted nicely with the fattiness of the fish. The artful gratin dish brought delicate flavors to the meal and the Fumé provided the high notes for the bites.

The wine finishes crisply and with the right chill on the bottle, this is ideal for a warm evening on the patio. At $16 we recommend this as a multi-bottle buy.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Sonoma Zinfandel Highlights Blind Tasting

A blind tasting opens our eyes to Zinfandel.

Eyes Wide Shut

We just love blind tastings. The mystery of not knowing the identity of the wine you are sipping and swirling adds intrigue to any wine occasion. I know that master sommeliers earn their spurs by being able to identify wines, regions, and grapes by taste and aroma alone.

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I must confess it can be challenging. Winemakers have so many tricks up their sleeves. Whether the wine is finished in stainless steel or French oak has a big impact on the wine. The country and region change the picture too -- a Cabernet Sauvignon from South America may be soft as a Merlot while a Merlot from Washington State can be outright bold. And don’t even mention malolactic fermentation.

All this is to say that when the blinders are put on, identifying wine is tricky. It also forces you to tune into your senses of taste and smell. We did that just recently for a patio blind tasting.

Exploring The 2018 Vintage

I was able to nail the grapes for all three wines -- of course, that is because they were all the same: Zinfandel. I also put the wines in the bag, so I was the only one in the group who knew which was which. The identities were unknown to my wife and two guests.

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We fired up the grill and cooked some burgers and Beyond (no meat) burgers to go with the meal. Some homemade coleslaw added some crunch to the burgers. As the meal was served, wine was poured.

Our three Zins were all 2018 vintage. Leading off was the Cameron Hughes Lot 744 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. This wine comes from a small family winery that has been crafting Zinfandel for decades. It’s a limited run of 800 cases. It starts with rich, jammy berries accented with leather notes then flows into spice flavors on silky tannins. This was a great start to our tasting. SRP is $17.

Our second selection was the Turley 2018 Fredericks Vineyard Zin from Sonoma Valley. Turley is one of our favorite producers and is famed for their single-vineyard wines. This wine was dubbed drier than the first and was refined with elegant, laid-back fruit and earthy flavors. The grapes come from a certified organic vineyard and the wine gets 15 months in oak barrels. Truly beautiful at a price point of about $45.

Old Vines Zinfandel

Number 3 was the Dry Creek Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley. This wine was rich with blackberry and cherry and a lingering finish. It’s complex with bright acidity. The wine has 19% Petite Sirah, adding to the rounded mouthfeel. The vines for this wine average more than 100 years in age and in some cases, nearly 140 years old. SRP is $38.

Before we revealed the wines, everyone critiqued the wines and picked their favorite. I replied that I couldn't pick one, because it is like being asked to pick a favorite child. It was a win-win-win! It was a great demonstration of how elegant Zinfandel can be once you step away from the gimmicky Zinfandel sold in the grocery store.

Full Disclosure: Some of the wine was received as marketing samples.

Deerfield Ranch 2012 Estate Syrah, Sonoma Valley

Scoring A Win For Clean Wine

A Treasure From The Cave

With 2020 basically being a wipeout in terms of wine travel, we really treasure the memories from our pre-pandemic wine visits. One especially sweet trip was to Sonoma back in 2017. The occasion was the Wine Bloggers Conference (since redubbed as the Wine Media Conference). Joining the Green Dragon and I were our good friends Steve and Tracey (aka the Cabernetor and Glorious T).

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We crisscrossed Sonoma and Napa stopping at places that produce some of our favorite wines as well as new-to-us wine producers that would create indelible impressions. One unique experience was at Deerfield Ranch.

Truth be told, we decided to visit primarily because it was located on our route to other wineries we had penciled in. I didn’t know much about it, but its website did mention a wineglass-shaped wine cave. That was enough to tip the scales and redirect our rental car.

To get to the wine cave tasting room, you walk through the production area, past barrels and tanks and hoses. The payoff is certainly worth it. The cave is decked out with comfortable seating areas such that each party could have its own semi-private tasting area. It was social distancing before its time!

A slightly weird note is that this was in October, so the cave was decorated with mannequins dressed in Halloween costumes. This led to a lot of clowning and photos on our part. But the main attraction was certainly the wine.

Sonoma Syrah At Its Best

Deerfield has many wines that top $100, and our small sips certainly were delicious. What grabbed our attention, though, was a beautiful Syrah, which we purchased and cracked open recently.

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The Estate Syrah uses organic grapes and is a biodynamic wine. In addition, Deerfield has a focus on “clean wine” which means they triple hand-sort their grapes and keep the free oxygen levels low resulting in fewer sulfites and histamines.

Another beautiful aspect of Deerfield Ranch wines is their aging. They aren’t presenting wines that are two years on from vintage, they’ve had a chance to mature for several years before release.

Only 500 cases of the Estate Syrah were made and it is aged in oak for 40 months. This wine is rich with cherries and strawberries in a beautifully refined style. Loose tannins and vibrant flavors are underpinned with lively acidity. The mid-palate is clean and precise with berry flavors. A savory finish adds to the experience. Drinking it reminded us of the great time and great friends with whom we enjoyed it.

Cassata Sonoma Unleashes Cru-Level Quality In Wine Releases

The cru designation is reserved for Europe’s greatest vineyards. Does a Sonoma “cru” wine live up to the label?

The Search For Utopium

When I learned that Cassata Sonoma’s line of wines is called Utopium, a smile lit up my face. After all, isn’t everyone searching for Utopia? It’s a turn of phrase that conjures up the ideal world (or wine) in every respect.

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The Cassata Sonoma Family Vineyard is located in Glen Ellen, California, known for its exceptional soils and climate. The vineyard, purchased by Tom Cassata in 2002, is located in Sonoma, also known as the Valley of the Moon. The vineyard is farmed bio-sustainably with plants, animals and nature all working together.

“We believe in creating excellence through sustainable winemaking practices,” said Cassata. “This ensures that the vineyard and its environment can continue to produce wines for future generations and is the ultimate in sustainability.” The Cassata Sonoma brand Utopium features four grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc. In addition, the vineyard also produces four bio-sustainable varieties of olive oil.

A Sonoma Cru

What riveted my attention is a special designation on two recent Cassata Sonoma releases. The winery offers a 2014 Sonoma CRU Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2014 Sonoma CRU Reserve Zinfandel. How did the cru vineyard designation sail across the ocean and land in California? My inquiring mind wanted to know.

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The fruit for the two CRU wines comes from a very specific part of the vineyard known for producing high quality fruit. The wines are also barrel aged for five years. We had the CRU Cabernet Sauvignon, so I was ready to uncork and get to the bottom of the lingering question: Is the cru label deserved?

We decided that the wine would be the centerpiece of our Valentine’s Day dinner. Rather than grabbing a Styrofoam clamshell takeout dinner, we decided to whip up a gourmet caliber meal on our own. (I say “we” because I did make the potatoes!).

The entree was Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with a luscious coating of breadcrumbs, rosemary, mustard, and several other secret ingredients known only to my wife. My side dish was Crushed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Lemon, which was executed brilliantly by yours truly. Roasted vegetables rounded out the plate. The crowning touch was the 2014 CRU Cab.

Decant De Wine?

My mind was probably elsewhere as dinner preparations unfolded. I posted a picture of the wine on Instagram and got some nice reaction including a comment from the winery that I should open the wine to let it breathe. Aha, I thought, the perfect occasion for my swan-neck decanter. I only bring it out on special occasions because of the gyrations needed to clean it the next day.

I merrily poured the wine into the decanter and proudly posted a perfectly composed photo. I was soon pinged by the winery and was informed that the wine shouldn’t be decanted and the bottle merely opened. We’ll I certainly wasn’t going to chance spilling any of this noble wine by pouring it back in the bottle. I also reasoned that just opening the bottle only exposes about one square inch to the softening effect of air.

Some of the best discoveries have been made by accident, and I’ll list this decanting adventure under that heading. When we sat down to our beautiful meal and sipped the CRU Cabernet, it was magical.

On the nose there were delicate aromas of mocha and red fruit. Some wines getting significant aging in barrels can become as impenetrable as oak itself. Not so with this wonderful CRU. The tannins were smooth and dialed back. The palate was awash with coca, black cherry, and deep flavors of butterscotch and caramel. The interplay between the CRU and our lamb entree was spectacular.

The Cassata Sonoma 2014 CRU Reserve Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon delivers a memorable experience at a mere $60 SRP. It certainly drinks like a Cab for which you’d expect to pay twice that amount. The CRU label properly calibrates your expectations.

Another Trip To Utopium

Our enthusiasm for the CRU Cabernet shouldn’t distract you from the other wines in the Cassata Sonoma portfolio. We also sampled the outstanding 2012 Sonoma Zinfandel.

Deep ruby in color it has plum and cocoa on the palate wrapped in notes of warming berries. There is a dash of pepper to accent the finish. It’s a big wine and the 14.9% ABV was apparent at the start, but the impact smoothed as the sipping continued. It’s well-made and well-priced at $39. It did leave me wondering how the CRU Zinfandel would compare.

For those of you who may not be able to pop in to Sonoma, Cassata has announced that its CRU Wine Club will open in Bonita Springs, Florida, this month. It will feature a wine room for tastings and pairings. Featured will be the line of Utopium wines plus the Talisman Pinot Noir from the Los Carneros AVA. We can’t wait to pay a visit.

Full Disclosure: These wines were received as marketing samples.

Dry Creek Releases Good Choice For Holidays

Looking for wines for gifts or holiday meals. Check out these four new releases.

California Unlocked

Much of the country – heck, all of it – has been struggling mightily with the pandemic. That includes winery tasting rooms and wine country businesses.

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This morning I was reading a newspaper article about a three-week stay at home mandate in Los Angeles County. Thankfully there is wine – not just to ease our frazzled nerves, but the purchase of which support the wineries, staff and related businesses.

A memorable pre-COVID wine country trip included a stop at Dry Creek Vineyard, one of our favorite wineries. We’ve just tasted through four new releases. They came not a moment too soon. The holiday season is upon us and these Dry Creek Vineyard wines are perfect for holiday meals, gift giving, or just unwinding.

2019 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County

This wine is one of our “go-to” bottles for entertaining. It is reasonably priced at $16 and is a crowd-pleaser that delights wine aficionados as well as wine novices.

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DCV has been producing Fumé Blanc for 48 years. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is fermented in stainless steel to preserve the bright, refreshing flavors. Lemon and peach notes align with minerality and a pleasing minerality.

2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley

While the Fumé Blanc echoes the Loire Valley aspirations of the winery’s founders, the second generation of this family winery has produced a more contemporary take on Sauvignon Blanc. The 2019 vintage blends 73% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Musqué, and 7% Sauvignon Gris.

This wine has multiple layers of cool. Not only with the added grape varieties, but aging is in chestnut, acacia and French oak barrels. Add to this the wonderful terroir of Dry Creek Valley and you have a winner for only $20.

We suggest this for a nice holiday meal where seafood or poultry is highlighted. The palate has tropical fruit and a slightly creamy texture.

2019 Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg

Chenin Blanc is plentiful in South Africa and in France’s Loire Valley, but may not be a familiar sight at your wine shop. This is a rich white wine that is perfect as an aperitif or pairing with a light meal. At $16, it is also light on your wallet.

Please not that this is dry Chenin Blanc. Chenin can also be produced as a sweet or semi-dry wine, as is often the case with Vouvray. The flavor palette includes lime and candied lemon mingled with tropical mango notes. It’s fresh and lively and is finished in 100% stainless steel.

Like the other wines produced by Dry Creek Vineyard, the grapes are sustainably farmed. The wines are made with minimal intervention and without any animal-based fining agents or products containing gluten. Put your feet up and recover from the holiday chaos with a glass of Chenin Blanc.

2017 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley

The Mariner, Dry Creek Vineyard’s powerful yet elegant Meritage, has been one of our favorite wines for more than a decade. It’s a blend of the five noble Bordeaux varieties. The 2017 vintage, retailing for $50, is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot.

Aging is 18 months in French and Hungarian oak, 42% new oak. The grapes come from a hillside vineyard with gravelly, iron-rich soil.

We paired The Mariner with a grilled sirloin steak. On the nose there is cocoa and blueberry. On the palate it is luxuriously smooth with deep raspberry and notes of smoke. There is an earthy complexity.

The Mariner continues to top the charts of our wine favorites. As with other DCV wines, the value is outstanding. It drinks like a much more expensive bottle. As such, we recommend The Mariner as a perfect holiday gift for the wine lover on your list.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

Balletto 2013 Brut Rosé, Russian River Valley

Can anything top sparkling wine for an important celebration? The short answer is no.

Time To Pop The Cork

Sparkling wine producers spend a good deal of time and marketing money to let people know that sparkling wine is not just for special occasions. You can pop it open with leftovers after work or on a Thursday evening watching a ballgame.

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That’s all true. We also enjoy having bubbly as an arrival wine when guests visit. While sparkling wine isn’t just for special occasions, there is nothing better for special occasions. Earlier this week was a great example.

Rain, Rain and Then…

On Monday we had an important doctor’s appointment. Going to the doctor’s office is similar to going to a transmission repair place. You don’t know if just a fluid change is required, or if the whole transmission is faulty and major body work is required. Come to think about it, I don’t recall ever going to an auto repair place and hearing that my dreadful transmission problem could be fixed for about $50.

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My personal “transmission problem” had played out for almost two months. Against a backdrop of the COVID plague and rioting in the streets, it wasn’t a jolly time. So when the doctor delivered good news, we were ecstatic.

In my mind’s eye I had pictured blue skies and birds singing. Unfortunately, we had a substantial cloudburst when we arrived home. I was determined to celebrate and so stepped onto the patio to check the precipitation.

What should appear but a beautiful rainbow, a lovely sign from above. The celebration was on.

Russian River Valley Sparkles

From the wine fridge I grabbed the outstanding 2013 Balletto Brut Rosé. This is a beautiful coral-colored wine produced in the traditional method.

We love Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, which is famed for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Zinfandel. The Brut Rosé is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.

Since we were outside, I uncorked the bottle – launching the cork a good 15 feet in the air. It flew over the fence and down the hillside, there to happily decompose.

Balletto is one of our favorite domestic Pinot Noir and bubbly producers. This Brut Rosé is one reason why. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed – a technique we love that adds depth and complexity. Malolactic fermentation was used on the Chardonnay grapes to add a creamy texture. The wine rests on lees for three years.

Nothing busts up a celebration like sparkling wine that goes flat just minutes after it’s poured. That’s certainly not the case with Balletto. The bubbles are persistent and tickle the nose quite well.

Upfront the wine has red fruit notes of cherry and strawberry. As the bubbles wash the palate, a light minerality and yeasty note are evident.

Not only were our palates pleasantly cleansed, but the wine flowed over our anxious minds flipping the switch from anticipation to celebration. This is a distinctive wine well worth the $42 price tag. The current vintage is 2014 and I can’t wait to try it!

Cellar Angels Does Pandemic Pivot To Aid Wineries, Charities

DTC wine company quickly adjusts to new realities, aids small producers and charities.

The Virus Crescendo

When the coronavirus first started assaulting American shores in February, Cellar Angels co-founder Martin Cody saw Washington State hit hard and then the virus crescendo across the country. Cellar Angels is a direct-to-consumer digital wine business with a focus on Napa and Sonoma.

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“We cater to the more discerning wine customer,” said Cody during a recent Vino-Sphere interview. “The focus is on limited-production, high-end wines.”

The pandemic has caused online wine sales to boom but has dealt a major blow to small wineries – just like those featured on Cellar Angels. “The small producer is basically shut out of the three-tier system,” said Cody, referring to the distribution system that requires most wineries to sell their wares through a middle-man distributor. It’s tough for smaller producers to navigate the varied state rules that regulate direct to consumer sales.

The Cellar Angel team is mostly local, so Cody set up a virtual war room in February. “We knew quickly there had to be a way to help wineries,” said Cody. “We are virtual to begin with, so we focused on creating a method or event to bring people together virtually.”

Telling The Story Of Wine

Cellar Angels developed the SIP (Shelter In Place) tastings held every Friday night. The virtual tastings feature a winemaker or winery owner. Cellar Angels offers a wine tasting kit with six wines from featured wineries. Viewers can sip along while Martin interviews winemakers or owners over Zoom and Facebook live.

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“This really tells the story of the wines,” said Cody. “People can stay safe and sit on the patio and watch.” The series is booked up through October.

Small producers are getting a needed boost from the SIP series, but Cody also recognized that fundraising for charitable groups was also being decimated because of the cancellation of wine galas. “What’s missing during a pandemic is physical contact,” he said. “Even though we are physically distant, we don’t have to be social distant.”

To respond to this need, Cellar Angels works with their charitable partners and creates a custom landing page and a curated wine kit of three to eight bottles which is sent to the home of the fundraiser participants. When the supporters tune in, they get a high-level overview of the wines with details. The tasting also features video clips of the wineries and even a Google Earth fly-over of the specific vineyard.

Tough Times Ahead For Wine Country

No one knows when the world will see some form of normalcy. Cody says California wine country may experience similar conditions to the financial collapse of 2008 when wineries were acquired for pennies on the dollar. He terms that prospect “soul-crushing.”

The 2020 vintage is expected to be a good one, according to Cody, but adds that it will also bring big challenges. “The grapes don’t know that there is a virus,” Cody said. “They still need to be brought in.” Revenues for many small producers are shrinking while winery operational expenses are ongoing. Wineries are trying to cope through belt-tightening and staff reductions.

There are downstream casualties too, with the travel industry, restaurants, and hotels all suffering. The average consumer also has seen a drop in spending capability.

The good news, says Cody, is that despite the pandemic people can still share superb wine and help others from the comfort from their own home through events such as SIP tastings and virtual fundraisers. Through creativity and savvy marketing, Cellar Angels is providing a boost to wineries, charities and wine lovers alike.

Hanna 2014 Bismark Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Moon Mountain District

As big as a battleship, this delicious mountain Cabernet Sauvignon comes from one of our favorite AVAs.

Under The Spotlight

During our last visit to Sonoma, we had an exceptional visit to Hanna Winery. The spotlight event was a wine pairing lunch hosted by Christine Hanna that featured Hanna wines with some succulent dishes. For us, the spotlight shone brightest on the 2014 Bismark Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from the Moon Mountain District.

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Years ago we enjoyed wines from the Moon Mountain Vineyard. They were exceptional. When they closed, we lost our lifeline to wines from this exceptional area in the Mayacamas Mountains that lie between Napa Valley and Sonoma.

In 2013 the Moon Mountain District was established as an AVA. Although one of our favorite wineries was gone, wines created from that special terroir are still available. Hanna makes an impressive line of Moon Mountain AVA wines from their Bismark Mountain Vineyard, which is located in rugged terrain in the Mayacamas Mountains. The vineyard, located on the Sonoma side of Mt. Veeder, is so remote, there are no roads.

A Legendary Wine

We tasted and were blown away by the 2014 Bismark Cabernet Sauvignon. Last week we had a chance to open another bottle as we shared a virtual dinner with good friends Glorious T and The Cabernetor, who were with us on our trip to Hanna’s Alexander Valley tasting room.

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The Bismark Cabernet is as big as the legendary German battleship. With that in mind, we decanted the bottle for an hour.

The wine is dark ruby in color -- almost inky. We noticed some sediment in the decanter as we poured our first glass. Supple and elegant, the wine ripples with power. Sturdy tannins provide the underpinning for earthy and red fruit flavors. Baking spice, plums, and mountain brambles add interest to this mountain-style Cab. The body is full-plus and the intensity and finish are also big.

Over The Moon

To accompany our Bismark Cab, the Green Dragon prepared Vietnamese Shaking Beef (you may know it as Bò lúc lắc). This is a dish of grilled beef tenderloin cubes mixed with peppers, onions and savory sauces served on a bed of lettuce. It gets its name from the the shaking of the pan as you grill the cubes of meat. The Bismark paired with this dish was enough to trigger euphoria.

This is a wine to buy in multiples. Get several bottles. Enjoy one now and let the others mellow and evolve. The 2014 vintage of the Bismark Cabernet Sauvignon was limited to 500 cases. The current vintage is 2016 and it retails for $70.

We were “over the moon” with this powerful yet elegant wine. Explore the moon with your own bottle.

Kenwood 2013 Lone Pine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

It takes a special wine to rise to the occasion during these “unprecedented” times. We found a single vineyard Cab that meets the challenge.

Recalling A Sonoma Visit

About a month ago we started having a virtual dinner party with our good friends Cabernetor and Glorious T from Ohio. We relocated to North Carolina three years ago, but still get together for wine adventures and special occasions.

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Thanks to Zoom, we’ve been able to “share” dinner and wine on a weekly basis, despite the virus that’s wracking the country. Cabernetor came up with a great idea that is starting to pay great dividends. He suggested that we open the same bottle and that, if possible, it be a wine we purchased on a winery visit together.

We started the meal with a white wine or a rosé. It was pretty forgettable, but it was chilled and went with our dinner. Meanwhile, Cabernetor revealed that he had opened the Kenwood 2013 Lone Pine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that we each had picked up during a winery visit to Sonoma.

Wandering To The Lone Pine

Our first wine “evaporated” pretty quickly as we enjoyed dinner and convivial conversation. I wandered into the wine room and grabbed our bottle of the Lone Pine Cab – to the digital hoots and hollers coming from the computer screen. “That’s what I’m talking about,” said Cabernetor as I popped the cork.

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We had a great visit to Kenwood Vineyards and were joined by my cousin Mary and her husband Cleve.  We tasted a wide array of wines and toured the barrel room and production facility. Many people are familiar with the lower tier Kenwood wines that populate the grocery store shelves, but are unaware that the winery produces higher priced and higher quality offerings.

We had a chance to taste their Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, always a favorite of ours, as well as the 30th Anniversary 2006 Jack London Vineyard Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Flashing lights came on, though, when we tasted the 2013 Lone Pine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. This single vineyard Cab is the backbone of Kenwood’s famous Artist Series wine. While the Artist Series will set you back $75, the Lone Pine is an amazing buy at $44.

A Wine for The Times

Our visit to Kenwood was in 2018 and the two additional years of aging has only improved the Lone Pine. The grapes come from sandy-loam soil at the base of Sonoma Mountain. The wine is aged in French oak for 26 months – after that the best barrels are selected for the single vineyard bottling.

On the palate this has riffs of dried berries, coffee and leather. Tannins have started to integrate, but the wine has legs to go another three years with style. It’s a big wine with 14.5% ABV.

For us, it wasn’t just a bottle of wine. We uncorked a earlier time, filled with jokes and hugs, toasts and no facemasks. This is a great wine for the times. We also recommend you explore the other wines in the Kenwood Single Vineyard series – available online if you can’t find it in your wine shop.

Muscardini 2014 Cassata Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley

This big, bold red shows that all cult Cabernet Sauvignon doesn’t come from Napa.

An Italian Twist

We liked Muscardini Cellars before, but after our visit to Sonoma, we now love this winery. The winery’s Italian heritage and penchant for hospitality comes shining through at its Sonoma tasting room in Kenwood.

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We had a ball tasting their range of wines in the laid back atmosphere of the former schoolhouse a couple years ago. The Italian grape Sangiovese plays a prominent role in their wines, which include single varietal bottlings plus their flagship Tesoro, a Sangiovese-driven blend.

Big bold reds rule the roost. That’s the case with their 2014 Cassata Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon.

Loaded For Bear

Muscardini wines are small production, artisan wines. Their reds are undeniably lush and robust.

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The phrase “loaded for bear” comes to mind, perhaps because of our recent visit to Tennessee where we saw a black bear lumbering through the woods. When you are hunting bear, you bring your most powerful gun and ammunition you have to take down that hairy monster.

The Cassata Vineyard Cab is certainly no monster, but it is huge and maybe a bit hairy. At 15.6% ABV, it comes charging out of the bottle. We decanted for maybe 30 minutes and clearly, it would have benefitted from more time.

In the glass the wine is a deep ruby with long legs visible after a swirl or two. The aroma was closed at first, cloaked in an astringent, liquor odor.

It took a while for the wine to unwind. As it did, we enjoyed the full-bodied flavors of violet and red fruit. Intense flavors of brambles and spice crescendoed to an everlasting finish. This is a big red experience all the way.

Only 340 cases were made and just a handful of bottles are left. The price is now $85, about $30 more than I paid, but still a nice value. This is a wine that can age for another decade and as the flavors integrate, its greatness will only ascend.

If “go big or go home” is your motto, Muscardini’s Cassata Vineyard Cab is a perfect match.

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Dry Creek Vineyard 2018 Fumé Blanc and 2018 Sauvignon Blanc

Husband and wife don’t always agree. Such was the case with these two Sauvignon Blanc releases from Sonoma Country.

A Tale Of Two Palates

Anytime two different wine drinkers imbibe, you can expect a difference of opinion. One Instagram contributor I follow, for example, keeps posting photos of visits to interesting wineries in our state – but every wine shown is a sweet fruit sugar bomb. That’s clearly out of step with where I am in my wine appreciation journey.

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My wife (known as the Green Dragon) and I often think alike. That’s not so strange when you’ve been married for a while like we have. It’s not uncommon for me to say, “I’d really could go for some Mexican food tonight” and she’ll say, “I was thinking the same thing.” Our taste in wines are usually in sync too – but not always.

A Doubletake On Sauvignon Blanc

We recently opened two new releases from Dry Creek Vineyard, the 2018 Fumé Blanc, Sonoma County, and the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley. Although both Sauvignon Blanc, they are two different animals in the glass. We had two different favorites.

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Fumé Blanc is an approved alternate name for Sauvignon Blanc and was coined by Robert Mondavi when he was trying to jumpstart the California wine industry in the 1960s. While some associate Fumé Blanc with an oak finish, that isn’t always the case. This Fumé is fermented in stainless steel with no oak aging.

The Green Dragon leapt for joy with the Fumé Blanc. The racy acidity, aroma of cut grass, and dynamic citrus flavors push all the right buttons. Made with grapes from Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley in Sonoma, this is a perennial favorite with us. It is refreshing and intense with pure flavors. At only $16, this is a flavorful value.

Going For A Different Twist

While Green Dragon was going ga-ga over the Fumé Blanc, I was appreciating the Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc. It offers complexity and style at an amazing price point of just $20. To start with, it’s not just Sauvignon Blanc. It has 15% Sauvignon Musqué and 9% Sauvignon Gris. The Sauvignon Musqué, a clone, delivers added body while the Sauvignon Gris gives a unique texture to the wine. All grapes come from the Dry Creek Valley AVA.

So, instead of a New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc, there is a more sophisticated quality. As if the grape selection weren’t enough to pique your interest, a portion of the wine is fermented in acacia, chestnut and neutral French oak barrels. That’s cool.

This wine tips toward tropical fruit flavors of pineapple and tangerine. This has a fuller body than the Fumé Blanc with the acidity not as pronounced. It has a grand elegance you wouldn’t expect at this price and is my pick of the two.

Both bottles will make great pairings with light summer fare including chicken and fish. Of course, sipping them nicely chilled on a warm summer evening works too.

Full disclosure: These wines were received as a marketing sample.

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Rodney Strong 2015 Upshot, Sonoma County

This red blend from Sonoma packs a surprise. A white grape is part of the mix. Can you guess which one?

Rodney Strong Upshot - Photo by Dave Nershi

Dance Of The Grapes

Rodney Strong Vineyards began 55 years ago when celebrated American dancer Rodney Strong embarked on a second creative endeavor: winemaking. Through the years Rodney Strong has earned recognition for exceptional single vineyard and reserve wines. Though its portfolio covers the high end quite nicely, Rodney Strong recently debuted a reasonably-priced, fun red blend – Upshot.

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By my reckoning, the majority of US red blends are Bordeaux-style blends made mostly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

The percentages of each will vary and other grapes will be added in too. In California there is a wealth of Zinfandel, the closest thing we have to an “American” grape (although it’s actually an ancient Croatian variety). The upshot of this is, well, wines like Upshot.

And The Mystery Grape Is…

The Zinfandel for Upshot comes from Rodney Strong’s Hubbard Ranch vineyard. It makes up 44% of the blend with 29% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Riesling. All the grapes are from Sonoma County, with the majority from Alexander Valley and Knights Valley.

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Surprising to us was the addition of Riesling, a white grape. Some of the finest Rhone wines are made with Syrah with a dash of the white Viognier. In this case, the Riesling adds the fun and some floral aromatics. This also contributes to a silky texture.

On the palate Upshot is rich with dark cherry notes and black fruit. There is a bit of spice. Upshot has a healthy 14.5% ABV, which contributes to a full body. The tannins are dialed back and the finish is lingering.

For a $28 SRP, this is a slice of the good life in California’s wine country. Upshot is a tremendous choice to pleasantly surprise guests at the next dinner party – or to pop open for some casual sipping if you can’t wait that long.

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Dry Creek Vineyard 2014 The Mariner, Dry Creek Valley

A blind tasting reveals The Mariner as a top pick among red blends.

The Captain Wore A Mask

When it was our turn to host the local wine group’s tasting we decided the theme would be red blends. A fun twist to the tastings is that these are done blind. We usually feature four different wines.

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Dry Creek Vineyard 

I selected Tannat blend from Uruguay, a Super Tuscan and a Washington State Merlot blend. For the fourth spot, I rotated three different wines. One was a Bordeaux and the other two were from California. Each wine was snuggled inside a cloth sack with a letter: W, I, N or E.

This was the perfect opportunity to share one of our favorite wines – The Mariner from Dry Creek Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley region of Sonoma

Navigating Great Flavor

The Mariner is a proprietary blend that Dry Creek Vineyard debuted in 2004. Like a mariner keeping the ship off the dangerous rocks during a billowing storm, so a winemaker has to successfully navigate through the ups and downs of a vintage. In the case of 2014, Sonoma was experiencing the third year of the California drought. Although the grapes ripened at sugar levels lower than normal, the fruit tasted beautiful. In December, well after harvest, the winery had 20 inches of rain in less than two weeks – a welcome relief.

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Our red wine blind tasting lineup

The 2014 blend for The Mariner is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 9% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. That’s the highest percentage of Cab I’ve tasted in a Mariner.

The poor blend from Uruguay and even the Super Tuscan were completely blown out of the water, so to speak, by The Mariner. The Mariner gave a good broadside of complex spice flavors woven with dark, rich fruit.

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The tannins of the 2014 The Mariner give enjoyable structure and the promise of an even more beautiful wine in five to eight years. The Mariner is aged in French and Hungarian oak, 40% of it new, for 19 months.

The Fuquay-Varina Wine Tasting Group

With an SRP of $50, we consider The Mariner to be a standout value among quality California reds. We suggest laying a few bottles down to age. If you don’t have the patience, that’s fine because it drinks beautifully right now. We suggest decanting for 45 minutes or so.

Tasting blind or with eyes wide open, our tasting party guests are ready to join The Mariner’s crew. One bottle and we think you will be too.

Full disclosure: This wine was received as a marketing sample.

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