2006 La Sirena Syrah Santa Ynez Valley Skype Taste With Scott Jordan & Heidi Barrett

Love technology and excited about tonights post. Scott Jordan of Cellars Of Sonoma and I have been working on a Skype tasting where I sip the current wine club shipment to coinside with each Tuesday Live show featuring the respective winemaker. Yours truly was projected on the TV in the tasting room (no they didn't run for the exits after seeing this wino from the Midwest) and enjoyed the wine along with the evenings guest Heidi Barrett. Having the opportunity to taste her wine and ask questions was a blast. The wine amazing!

What a great nose on this wine. The ripe plum combined with the spice is perfect. Hints of cranberry and strawberry are evident as well. Excellent red fruit aroma.

Scott and Kevin told me I would be in for a treat and they were correct. Cranberry and cherry followed by clove/spice with a slight hint of smokey oak on the finish. So smooth and silky. Heidi I see why your wine making is in such demand! Truly an awesome wine.

Scott I'm glad we were able to skype taste and can't thank you enough. Looking forward to the next 3 weeks and those wines. Folks tune in each Tuesday at 6pm pacific by clicking the link TV Tuesday Live which can also be found on their website. It's a ton of fun and full of knowledge. You get to meet winemakers, pick their brains from philosphy to production to farming techniques. Oh and buy some wine if you stop by the tasting room especially tonights portfolio from La Sirena

Cheers
Dan

2006 D'Argenzio Zinfandel Russian River Valley

Couple weeks ago I did a Tastelive event and the 06 Zinfandel was to be part of the tasting. Due to some delays in shipping the wine arrived a few days late for the event.

The winery located in beautiful Santa Rosa California (plus a tasting room in Burbank California) has won many awards with their portfolio of wines. Grapes are grown in Sonoma County and the family stays true to it's roots producing hancrafted wines Old World style. Three varietals are their main focus Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. They still hand press grapes with a 100 year old press, age wines in french and american oak ranging from 12-22 months. Quality wine from a wonderful Italian family.

On the nose the rich dark fruit was front and center. Ripe blackberry followed by hints of red raspberry, pepper and spice. Pleasant aroma with a nice balance of fruit and spice treating your senses.

Jamy blackberry starts your taste off. Pepper and spice compliment the blackberry in the middle. The finish is long and juicy with red raspberry lingering. I paired this wine with pasta & italian sausage and found the combination pleasing. I also enjoyed a few sips on its own (some things are just a given) relaxing on the porch.

Ray thank you for the opportunity to taste your Zinfandel. I look forward to enjoying your wines in the future. Check out their website by clicking the link D'Argenzio Winery to learn more about their wines and history.

Cheers
Dan

2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Corallina Syrah Rose Napa Valley

About a year and 1/2 ago Craig Camp Managing Partner of Cornerstone Cellars introuduced me to the portfolio of wines by Stepping Stone and I have been a fan ever since. Consistent, food friendly, fruit forward wines which are easy on the pocket book and great tasting. Todays post was a sample received the 2010 Corallina Rose` which is produced from the Syrah grape. Crisp, refreshing and I found myself unable to put the glass down it was that good.

Beautiful aroma on the wine with ripe strawberry very dominant in the beginning. Hints of ripe melon, allspice combining with fresh cut rose pedals is very pleasing to the nose. A wine you could swirl and smell all day!

As I said above so crisp and refreshing. Juicy fresh strawberry starts your taste followed by a hint of tart cranberry. A ripe melon citrus greets your palate in the middle and the slight hint of spice at the end compliments the juicy finish. The layers of fruit were in perfect balance and the wine very easy drinking.

Craig a big thank you for allowing me to taste this wonderful wine. My compliments to the winemaker Jeff Keene for creating a gem. Stop by their tasting room in Yountville on your next visit or click the link Cornerstone Cellars to order online.

Cheers
Dan

2008 Ceja Vineyards Carneros Pinot Noir

Selecting a bottle of wine to enjoy on any particular day is exciting to me and especially when I choose one from Ceja Vineyards. Each varietal pours nicely, the aromas are consistently pleasing to the nose and the taste is outstanding. The Ceja family takes great pride in producing some of the finest wines in Carneros and considers each fan an extension of their family. Armando the 2008 Carneros Pinot Noir is awesome.

In the glass that wonderful familiar herbal spice greets my nose that tells me right away it's Carneros. Different regions have that special characteristic that sets it apart from others. Next the aroma of cherry, a hint of rose pedal and red berries. I found myself swirling the wine more than usual admiring how the layers of aromas were absolutely perfect.

The taste spoiled me with so much flavor yet the finish was soft and elegant. Deep dark cherry with hints of red raspberry and strawberry. The spice had a slight earthy/herb flavor and finished the wine nicely. Just like the aromas before them the balance of flavors were heaven. Amelia this might be my new favorite Ceja wine but then again all your varietals make that list :)

Visit their website by clicking here Ceja Vineyards and order your own bottles to enjoy. I highly recommend stopping by their tasting salon in downtown Napa on you next visit to wine country.

Cheers
Dan

Flowers Winery TasteLive From the Sonoma Coast

What a great tasting this evening with Jason Jardine Winemaker and Christopher Barefoot Estate Director overlooking the Flowers Winery Vineyards on TasteLive via Ustream. We were truly spoiled this evening with 5 outstanding wines starting with the 2009 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, the 2008 Flowers Camp Meeting Ridge Chardonnay, the 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, the 2008 Flowers Sea View Ridge Pinot Noir and finishing with the 2009 Flowers Perennial. While the terrain may be rugged the wines are pure elegance. View their website by clicking Flowers Winery to learn more about their wines, history and georgeous views.

We started with the 09 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Lovely nose of pear and fresh lime. Others said it smelled like fresh key lime pie. I have to agree. The feel in the mouth was fresh pear, again the key lime, vanilla cream and mineral. Wonderful citrus and acidity. Really excellent wine both in aroma and taste.

Next up the 08 Camp Meeting Ridge Chardonnay. Slightly different than the Sonoma Coast with vanilla, carmel, pear and oak aromas. The citrus lime/lemon were softer, pear and a hint of melon and the finish a full vanilla/oak. Loved the style of this chardonnay as well.

On to the Pinot Noir starting with the 2009 Sonoma Coast. A very pleasing nose of bright cherry, red ripe fruit, floral notes, the slightest hint of spice and orange peel. I like others could smell these wines all evening they are that aromatic. Outstanding flavor of strawberry, raspberry, cherry with a touch of spice on the soft juicy finish. The red fruit lingers long at the end. Heaven!

The second Pinot Noir of the evening was the 2008 Sea View Ridge. Earthy aroma followed by cherry, cola and a heavier spice. The flavor is amazing with a jammy dark cherry, warm spice, hint of red raspberry, chocolate finishing with earth and oak. From the comments this may have been the fan favorite of the evening. I can tell you in my house this bottle never made it to midnight. Amazing pinot.

The final wine was the 2009 Perennial a blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Pinot Meunier. Normally there is a splash of Chardonnay but I believe the winemaker Jason said he omitted from this vintage. Floral aromas along with cherry, dark berry, a hint of pepper but very light, toasty oak. The flavor was more full bodied than the other 4 wines and the red berry was chewy, blackberry, cherry traces of plum all were very nice.

Well another successful TasteLive event showcasing the amazing wines of Flowers Winery. Cailyn and Joel a big thank you for organizing the event. Jason and Christopher I can't thank you enough for allowing me to taste these awesome wines and learning about your winery. You have a new fan.

Cheers
Dan