2014 Ceja Vineyards Bella Flor Rose Wine Sonoma Coast Sonoma County Quick Sip

Tonight's wine is the 2014 Ceja Vineyards Bella Flor Rose from my wine club shipment. The Latino family owned winery was the first I met as I discovered the world of wine. I have always held a special place in the cellar for their juice.

The nose is full of ripe red berries and fresh cut rose pedals with a hint of spice. The aromas are so pleasing with the fruit and floral notes.

The mouth is superb with tart cranberry and plum. As the wine warms in the glass the tartness is replaced by this wonderful hint of cream followed by a juicy crisp finish. The complexity of this cool climate rose is outstanding. I'll give the winemaker an A+.

If you are considering joining a wine club I highly recommend the Ceja Vineyards Wine Club where you have the choice 3, 6 or 12 bottles shipped 4 times per year. Ceja Vineyards winemaker Armando Ceja selects the wines for each shipment and can I say he never disappoints my palate. Sign up today and start receiving this premium wine at your doorstep.

Headed to wine country then make sure your itinerary includes a stop at the Ceja Vineyards Sonoma Wine Tasting Room located at 22989 Burndale Rd in Sonoma. Here you will learn about the family and story behind the wines plus sip some mighty fine juice. And if you are lucky these 2 beauties will be your guides to a great tasting experience.

Cheers
Dan

2015 Campesino Cellars Chiquis Grenache Blanc Sonoma Coast Ceja Farms Quick Sip

Another excellent purchase from Campesino Cellars and winemaker Macario Montoya. Our 100+ degree days called for a refreshing sip and this bottle was perfect. Love the label drawn by daughters Isa & Alina for mom Griselda. The flowers represent what they think of when hearing her name....special pretty and happy. Mom you should be so proud and Dad you as well.

The nose is a tropical delight with apple, lemon/lime, honeydew melon and cantaloupe. The fruit is crisp and fresh racing from the glass.

The mouth I'll call this on a scale of 1-10 10+++. Juicy pear and ripe melon treat the palate with a hint of citrus zest. The finish is long and I would agree with the winemaker definitely "mouthwatering". Nicely balanced and highly recommended to be in your glass. Well done Macario. I'm a fan of Grenache Blanc!

Grab your bottles before this vintage is all sold out. Click the Purchase Campesino Wine link and order yours today.

Cheers
Dan

2014 Passaggio Pinot Noir Hook Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands

I opened this purchase to celebrate with winemaker/owner Cynthia Cosco as she moved to the new winery location in Sonoma. Passaggio Wines born in 2007, has grown quickly in popularity and quantity. From the early white wine program to the over 12 varietals produced today, she captures the beauty of each vineyard and grape in every bottle.

The 2014 Hook Vineyard Pinot Noir shows a beautiful nose of ripe cherry and fresh sliced strawberries. Hints of rose pedals with a touch of damp forest. Simply beautiful.

The mouth superb with ripe red fruit. Fresh cherries, strawberries and raspberries with a hint of vanilla. A faint hint of spice on the elegant silky juicy finish. One of my top rated Pinots tasted this year! Nicely done Cindy.

Swing by the tasting room in the beautiful Sonoma Square to pick up your bottles of Pinot and be on the lookout for winery visits coming soon!

Cheers
Dan

2012 Bonneau Cabernet Sauvignon Moon Mountain District Caton Vineyards Sonoma County

*Sample Received*

Always a great discussion when John Bambury vintner of Bonneau Wines visits Cellars Of Sonoma for an evening on TV Tuesday Live. His insight into the winemaking process from vineyards to barrels is straight forward and to the point. There is no mediocre in his philosophy and he has perfected his wine making craft.

The Cabernet grapes for this wine were grown at the Caton Vineyards located in the Moon Mountain District. The vines were located on the eastern foothills of the Sonoma Valley in rocky clay soils with a southern exposure ideal for growing these grapes. The wine was aged 22 months fine french oak barrels.

The nose is intense aroma packed with dark fruit consisting of black raspberry and cherry. Hints of cocoa with cloves compliment the fruit. One thing I find with Johns wines is that I have just as much pleasure swirling and sniffing as I do tasting.

The mouth is luscious with the red and black raspberry so juicy followed by vanilla bean and coca powder. A slight hint of clove but faint. When I taste the fruit it takes me back to my younger days when my friend and I would harvest raspberry for his mother to make jam and pie. Funny thing those berries rarely made it back up the hill like this bottle which didn't last long either. The finish is soft, silky and elegant begging you to drink more. One excellent Cabernet John!

Thanks to Scott and the crew at Cellars for inviting me to this tasting series of boutique wines. Thank you John Bambury for sharing your wines with me. Always a great tasting with you and Scott.

Cheers
Dan

Troon Vineyards A New Journey Has Begun For This Historic Winery

*Samples Received*

Imagine my surprise hearing Craig Camp was moving from the Napa Valley to the Applegate Valley AVA of Oregon. It was 6 years ago when he introduced me to the wines he represented but knowing him this new venture was an opportunity to showcase distinct wines from a new growing region.

Historic Troon Vineyards was first planted in 1972 by Dick Troon so as you can see the vineyard has been around for some time. The addition of winemaker Steve Hall (2014 his first full vintage) along with Craig the journey has begun. How these wines will evolve in the next year, two, five and ten is very exciting. Steve is moving toward a more natural wine making process. Craig comments "Our wines are almost all trodden by foot, fermented with indigenous yeasts and go through natural malolactic fermantations." He goes on to say that only small fermenters are used and no pumpovers just good old punch downs by hand. You will find these wines "clean, elegant and refined with bright, fresh fruit flavors."

First wine was the 2014 Blue Label Vermentino/Sauvignon Blanc Applegate Valley. This wine is 80% Vermentino and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Right out of the gate (no pun intended) lemon, pear, fresh sliced almond and some nice herb and floral notes. The mouth was a citrus blast with lemon curd, lime zest with dried herbs intertwined. The finish showed a touch of honey with a quick splash of orange peel. If you love citrus this crisp refresher is for you. Well done!

Second wine is the 2014 Longue Carabine Applegate Valley. Named after the rifle used by the pioneers who traveled across the country, this wine is a unique blend of 3 lots marsanne/viognier, vermentino/sauvignon blanc and a vermentino/muscat. On the nose ripe peach and apricot with a hint of coconut and chopped thyme. Mouth is full of juicy peach and apricot with a hint of ginger and herbs on the finish. A nice crisp hot summertime wine!.

Last up the 2014 Red Label Zinfandel Applegate Valley.  The nose is big with blackberry, cinnamon and dark chocolate aromas. The mouth is luscious  raspberry, dark berries with milk chocolate and a nice pepper spice. Classic Zinfandel and I paired this with my spaghetti/meat sauce. For a big aroma wine once allowed to open there was this subtle softness. Really nice Zin Craig!.

Keep this winery on the radar. Producing some very fine wines which will only get better!

Cheers
Dan

2015 Angels & Cowboys Rose Sonoma County #Winestudio Rose Revolution

A nice fun little Rose from Angels & Cowboys on tonight's #Winestudio. One of the interesting facts of the night is that the wine is not sold direct to consumers at this time. Maybe someday but currently only sold in small shops and wineries. We might see a tasting room in the future so stay tuned you Rose lovers. Overall winery case production is 6000 (includes their red blend). At $14.99 a bottle a well priced Rose.

A light blush/pink color, this wine is a blend of Grenache Rouge, Petit Verdot and Grenache Blanc. Grapes for the wine are sourced from Carneros, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley. The nose shows a nice balance of pink grapefruit, red berries, wild flowers and a sassy spicy note. Let it warm in the glass a touch and watch the aromas race to your nose.

The mouth I will agree with all the participants was lively and racy. The red berry fruit and acidity is a great compliment with a silky and spicy long finish. Like my buddy Dezel before you knew it the bottle was empty. What an easy sipping wine and paired with baked chicken. Nicely done and my comment "it's a keeper."

Sadly our month long Rose Revolution has come to an end. Thanks to Tina and Winestudio for a fun educational month of Rose.Oh and the participating wineries and winemakers too!

Cheers
Dan