Landmark Vineyards
By jmberry | March 18, 2009
We went up to Landmark Vineyards on St. Patty’s day to see what all the fuss was about. Check it out..
Topics: Wine Fun | No Comments »
The Eighth Street Wineries of Sonoma Valley
By jmberry | February 12, 2009
Eighth St East is one of the best kept secrets in Sonoma Valley Wine Counrty. See why…
Topics: Wine Fun | No Comments »
A tribute to Moose Cohn
By jmberry | February 8, 2009
Topics: Wine Fun | 1 Comment »
B. R. Cohn and the Doobie Brothers
By jmberry | January 16, 2009
Certainly not a surprise which band we’re pairing.. but which album? Check it out and see.
|
|
|
Topics: Winotone | 1 Comment »
Ty Caton and the Eagles
By jmberry | November 16, 2008
A little something for everyone with this Sonoma Valley classic…Check it out.
 |
 |
Topics: Winotone | 3 Comments »
Gloria Ferrer and the Electric Light Orchestra
By jmberry | November 7, 2008
Oh yes.. Classy and Classical. These 2 get it done. Watch below….
|
|
Wine coming soon… |
Topics: Winotone | No Comments »
Sebastiani Cabernet and Robin Trower
By jmberry | October 30, 2008
Really?? Are we really pairing those two? Oh yes we are.. watch the video and see why.
|
|
|
Topics: Winotone | 2 Comments »
Passport Weekend Pinot Challenge
By jmberry | May 20, 2008
OK, I’ll just come right out and say it. I don’t like Carneros Pinot Noir. That’s right, the only appellation in the country that stretches over two counties and produces one of the most sought after wines in the world, when it comes to Pinot Noir from that AVA, it’s just not for me. It’s not that it’s bad; there is really no bad wine. There’s wine I like, wine I don’t like and corked wine. The task for the day was to utilize the Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Alliance Passport Weekend to seek out a palatable Pinot in the Carneros Region. I started out the day at Viansa, which, ironically, had no Carneros Pinot. I did sample another “P” wine, their Prindelo, which is a custom meritage blend that differs from year to year that I always seem to find palatable, but I digress.
The Carneros region only became an appellation in 1983, but the Pinot varietal made in that region has such specific characteristics that regardless of which winemaker builds it, has a similar feel in the mouth, making it truly deserving of it’s own AVA.
Next stop was the new Jacuzzi Winery, which had a 2006 Carneros Pinot. The build was a little softer of a typical Carneros Pinot, with hints of cherry and smoke. Then it was time for Roshambo Winery at Cornerstone, which also did not have a Carneros Pinot but did whip out, upon seeing my reporters notebook, a wine called the Rock Blend, a unique mix of Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Syrah, which was quite a find. I will also be back to play the vintage ’80s cocktail table video game that sits in the eclectic tasting room with Pacman and Galaga ready to play.
I then hooked up with my colleague and award winning wine writer, Daedalus Howell and his wife the Contessa, and continued to Bartholomew Park for some excellent barrel tasting and a history lesson and then on to Sebastiani Winery and Vineyards where we tried the 2006 Carneros Pinot. Sebastiani builds big reds and the Pinot is no exception, with a big fruit forward nose that continues on the palate but, alas, a traditional Carneros Pinot.
The find of the day was at a winery more famous for its sparkling wine that its still wine, Gloria Ferrer. I had thought all Carneros Pinot’s had that perfumy, floral fragrance and taste that it’s famous for, but it seems that when it comes to the grapes grown in the hills of the region, there is quite a difference from the grapes grown on the baylands. The vineyard specific 2003 Gravel Knob Pinot from Gloria Ferrer was so un-Carneros Pinot like it was astounding. The grapes, grown on the hill right above the winery to the left of the tasting room yields a wine that almost has a Merlot feel to it, mellow and no hint of perfume.
Mission accomplished, although according to the wine list at Gloria Ferrer, the vintage is sold out, we did find the elusive palatable Carneros Pinot Noir, for my palate anyways.
Topics: Wine Rants | No Comments »