A Piece of Italy in Temecula Valley

I’ve never been more compelled by a winery brochure and web site than when I started thumbing through and surfing the pictures of South Coast Winery. The grounds are breathtaking and the whole concept of a relaxing get away weekend with spa, pool, and Tuscan villas had me immediately daydreaming and planning my escape. A previous review included tastings of their GVR white blend, 06 Meritage blend, and Ruby Cuvee sparkler. Each wine showed very well and at attractive price points too. Voted California winery of the year (twice) and 2010 Winery of the Year, South Coast Winery, you may very well be the little slice of Italian heaven that I need right about now.

The NectarView

2010 South Coast Winery Sparkling Pinot Grigio

Want a pop of pineapple in your mouth? Pop open this amazingly crisp sparkler. The head of foam overwhelmed the glass on the pour and I had to do a double take as it looked like strands of hair dancing in the glass as the bubbles swayed from bottom to top. The aroma was bright and full of minerals, yeast, and lemon lime. On the sip, the wine was perfectly Pinot Gris with loads of citrus (specifically pineapple), and hints of wet stone. Chill this way down. When the wine starts to warm up, the tart finish throws it slightly off. The natural 2.2% residual sugar is nicely balanced with the bright acidity. At only $18 this is a perfect pairing with spicy sushi, lemon cake, or citrus chicken. 4/5 (based on value, flavor, and uniqueness).

2007 South Coast Winery IL Temporale

The super Tuscan blend of 58% Sangiovese 19% Cabernet, 13% Petite Verdot, and 10% Merlot is similar to the young wild stallion gracing it’s label. The wine is big and bold but needs to be tamed by a few more years in the bottle. The grapes come from Wild Horse Peak Mountain Vineyards and spend 14 months in 1 year old French barrels before being bottled. Hints of earth, sandalwood, and cherry softy rise from the glass. The mouth feel is rich with a strong sense of earth, peppered red fruit and tobacco. The wine boasts good overall quality and structure and will show well soon. Pair this with a hearty jalapeño flavored spicy pasta or pork. At $36, I can only give this a 3/5

Looking for a good deal? South Coast Winery is currently offering shipping for a penny and savings of up to 20% on online orders.

Did You Know Bordeaux is its Own Planet?

Email – “Wanna drink some Bordeaux?”

Response – “Duh, winning!”

Email – “Okay, we’ll send ya some to drink online with other blawgers and the Frenchies.”

Response – “Killer!”

This is a rough synopsis of the interchange that happened between Balzac Communication and Marketing and Nectar Wine Blog (me) a few weeks back. I love Washington wine, but I’m always looking for opportunities to expand the travels of my palate. Being that the event was on a Friday night, I was running the risk of being called away by paying customers but anticipated a 4pm start time to be plenty doable.

Joining me for the tasting is one of the wine slingers at Nectar Tasting Room, Ben Hilzinger (affectionately known as Benny by all the adoring 21-24 year old lovelies that come in every Friday and Saturday). Ben is passionate about wine and has a voracious appetite for wine knowledge and experience. Alongside my tasting notes are some of Benny’s poetic ramblings.

A brief Bordeaux lesson;

• Southwest corner of France
• Wine history dating back 2000 years (thanks Caesar)
• 700 million bottles of wine produced
• Strictly controlled and regulated

Just like in America, wines in Bordeaux range in quality and price. Tonight’s tasting involved five wines from the Bordeaux Superieur AOC. Wines from this appellation come from mostly older vines and most be aged a minimum of 9 months. All five wines tasted range in price from $13-$16 (a bargain for most any region).

“If you want to earn the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation “stamp of approval,” you have to comply with particularly strict winemaking conditions that give an optimum expression of the terroir.”

The NectarView – A Trip to Planet Bordeaux

I had no idea that Bordeaux was its own planet, but I was really excited for the journey. Uncertain if we traveled by space ship or just virtually through enotravel, I figured I better strap in for the journey. My previous experiences in this price range of French wine left me thinking of trips to my grandma’s house and the smell in the 100 year old basement mixed with a little dirt and mushroom.

Wine #1 Chateau La Gatte La Butte 2006

This 100% Merlot really took me by surprise with its strength. A strong sense of place comes through in both the nose and the palate. The wine seemed a little uptight. @PalatePress said it best with “This will be better tomorrow. Too tight. The wine needs a Manhattan, a massage, and a good night’s sleep. Needs to relax.” The wine is reminiscent of dust covered cherries with a hint of pencil lead. Score this one 3/5.

Wine Slinger Ben – Wed dog nose, well structured, opens up in the back end…”I could sip this.”

Wow, he sure waxes poetic on that one…

Wine #2 Chateau de Lugagnac 2008

A 50/50 split of Cabernet and Merlot from 40+ year old vines, the vineyards sit on soils of iron bearing clay and chalk. While at first I didn’t think the Lugagnac was as well structured as the first wine (thanks @suburbanwino for calling me out), the wine opened up as it sat in the glass while I tended to a patron. Once back to the wine there was an overwhelming amount of plum on the nose. The wine had a nice fruity front but a very hollow mid-plate. The finish was a little tart. Not a favorite of mine 3-/5

Wine #3 Chateau de Terrefort-Quancard 2008

64% Merlot and 36% Cabernet. The Quancard was not a favorite among several of the tasters. For me I got a little busy during the tasting on this one and couldn’t give it my full attention. My buddy @winefoot says, ” 2008 Chateau Terrefort-Quancard – rather tart for me- rhubarb, cherries, white pepper, bubble-gum and chalk dust.” From @skovi “The 2008 Terrefort-Quancard is definitely earthy; I get forest floor, tobacco, dry fruit, but not a long finish.” No score.

Wine Slinger Ben – Subtle nose…not too fruity, lingering finish, approachable earthy finish…wee bit spicy.

Wine #4 Chateau de Parenchere Cuvee Raphael 2007

A blend of 60/40 Cab/Merlot, the Parenchere had a full nose of mint, coffee, dry fruit and tobacco. Great structure on the palate with a great deal of layers. The wine is complex and needs to lay down on the couch for an hour session while I uncover the layers. At this price point, this is by far the best wine of the night. Tweet from @cellarmistress “I still can’t get over the muddy, sexy barnyard nose on this thing! Makes me want to mudwrestle! (only kidding!)” 3+/5 (big score for the little price.

Wine Slinger Ben – Wholly shit dude, this is good. Wow!

…again, the boy has a way with words that will make your knees buckle.

Wine #5 Chateau Penin Tradition 2008

While there was a mix up in the tasting (some had 08, some had 09), I had to just drink what I had…bummer. 90% Merlot, 5% Cab and 5% Cab Franc; Ben and I disagreed slightly on the wine. For me there wasn’t a ton of depth and character. It smelled nice and nice a nice flavor but the complexities were missing. Seemed reminiscent of a new world wine with berry fruit and smooth vanilla flavors. 3/5

Wine Slinger Ben – Loving this wine, buttery morning toast, great dimensions and balance, warm & inviting, great wine to pair with food and/or stand alone.

To summarize, the overall impression of Planet Bordeaux tasting was excellent. The value to price ratio left me feeling more confident of my next French wine purchase. Now, if only we could get those Frenchies to Americanize the labels so they’re not so intimidating to the average consumer.

Other Post Recaps from Friends

The Wellesley Wine Press http://www.wellesleywinepress.com/2011/03/bordeaux-tasting-reveals-affordable.html

Wine Tonite http://www.winetonite.com/2011/03/21/blast-off-to-planet-bordeaux/

My Vine Spot http://vinespot.blogspot.com/2011/03/taste-live-with-planet-bordeaux.html

Cana’s Feast – A Marriage of Washington and Oregon

Three things draw me to Cana’s Feast Winery; 1) the biblical tie to their name with Jesus’ first miracle as he turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana, 2) An Oregon winery that uses lots and lots of Washington fruit, 3) Tamara Belgard – a friend I met on Twitter who used social media to land a marketing job at the winery!

Cana’s Feast Winery is located about an hour south and west of Portland, OR sand south of the Yamhill wine area. Located in a Tuscan style villa in Carlton, OR, Cana’s Feast focuses on several Italian varietals (Nebbiolo, Primitivo, Barbera), and Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Counoise, and Pinot Noir. With price points under $30 (except the Pinot Noir), Cana’s Feast offers a good selection of well priced quality wines.

The NectarView

2008 Cana’s Feast Barbera

This 100% Barbera is grown in Washington from Coyote Canyon and Ciel du Cheval vineyards and is aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak. The aroma was bull of under-ripe (green) berries with reminders of Christmas tree fragrance. In the mouth the wine is slightly disjointed with strong acidity and tart raspberry. Admittedly, I am not a huge Barbera fan and know that this wine would be rockin’ with a big plate of spaghetti. For sippin’, I would pass on this wine but would definitly give it a go with food. At $22, I can give this a 3/5.

2009 Cana’s Feast Counoise

Hands down, the best 100% Counoise I’ve ever had! Okay, honestly this was the first 100% Counoise I’ve ever had. I was excited to try this Chateauneuf –du- Pape region blending grape. The wine hails from Washington’s Coyote Canyon vineyards and was aged in once used and neutral French oak. With a high alcohol of 14.9%ABV the wine has a vibrant aroma of cherry fruit and a subtle hint of perfume. The medium acidity is balanced out by the semi-sweet cherry flavors and medium fine tannin. With only 116 cases made, this wine alone is worth a trip to Cana’s Feast. With a retail price of $25, I want this wine again! 4/5

2008 Cana’s Feast Cabernet Franc

With a strong pedigree of 75% Ciel du Cheval fruit and 25% Coyote Canyon fruit, the 100% varietal Cab Franc started strong with good aroma of blueberry and bell pepper. In the mouth the wine is above average but doesn’t provide the wow-factor that I equate with other Cab Franc’s in my memory bank. At $29, this is a good wine that showcases the quality of Ciel du Cheval fruit. The nearly 15%ABV alcohol is balanced by the fruit and acidity without being overwhelming. A good wine that doesn’t quite live up to its pedigree 3+/5

2007 Cana’s Feast Primitivo

With a heritage from Croatia and closely tied to Zinfandel, Primitivo can be a big, jammy Italian wine. When tasting Primitivo, I make immediate mental comparisons to some of my favorite Zinfandels that hail from California. Only a few Washington vineyards produce Primitivo. 100% of the fruit comes from Coyote Canyon. The BIG 15.5%ABV is hidden underneath the thick berry and spice. The fruit flavors are strong on the front palate with an odd off acidity on the back palate. The wine has more layers than a typical $10 California Zin, but lacks the structure to compete with the $25 Seghesio Zins. A  solid offering and worthy of a taste test 3+/5

A Wine Destination in Temecula – South Coast Winery

South Coast Winery is more than a winery; it’s a wine tasting destination. Boasting 76 luxury villas, and award winning restaurant, luxury spa, 14,000 square feet of conference and meeting space, and 38 acres of surrounding vineyards, South Coast Winery is now on my must see destinations on my next visit to Southern California. The winery has been named the Golden Bear Winery of the Year recipient for 2008 and 2009.

South Coast Winery is more than a pretty destination; they produce a diverse selection of wines as well. With 72 wines, from various vintages, on their web site there is a wine for anyone. You can enjoy bubbles, hearty reds and dry or sweet whites. The 50,000 annual case production wines are crafted by winemakers Jon McPherson and Javier Flores. With a long list of awards, I was pretty excited to try these samples sent by their PR company. The press kit was impressive but the only thing it lacked was first class tickets to Temecula, CA with an all inclusive stay at their luxury spa and villa. I’m certain it was misplaced, I’ll keep my eye out for it.

The NectarView

2008 South Coast Winery GVR

The G is Grenache Blanc (44%), the V is Viognier (36%) and the R is Roussanne (20%). The Rhone blend boasts a beautiful thick angelic gold color in the glass. On the sniff I get an overwhelming aroma of melons and coconut. The wine was aged in French oak barrels adding to the flavor complexities. In the mouth there is a gentle flavor or melons, soft apple fruit, and citrus. This is a really dynamic wine that finishes with the invitation for another sip. I couldn’t find a price point on the web site but a web search reveals a $20 price point. I’m very intrigued by this wine and would love to try another bottle (the first one was emptied way to quickly). 3+/5

Cellar Tracker score of 89 points with 1 review

2006 South Coast Winery Meritage

Meritage in an invented word that combines ‘merit’ and ‘heritage’ (it’s pronounced like heritage). The Meritage Association hopes to create a class of American wines that is synonymous with Bordeaux. The 2006 SC Winery Meritage is a blend of 48% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 18% Cab Sauv, and 14% Cab Franc. In the glass the added Petit Verdot gives the wine a deep rich plum color. On the nose is a bright raspberry fruit with hints of evergreen tree, minerality, and roses. On the sip, the 06 Meritage is slightly disjointed presenting a tart under ripe fruit and flavors of herbs and earth. A moderate chalkiness presents itself on the finish along with the bright acidity. At $20 retail I would give this wine a try before committing to a large quantity. 3/5

Cellar Tracker score of 87 points with 1 review

2008 South Coast Winery Ruby Cuvee

Sparkling red wines are a rarity. Pop the cork on this wine at a party and you’re sure to have a conversation starter. 100% estate grown Syrah from South Coast Winery’s Estate Vineyard results in an off dry sparkler that boasts a thick head of bubbles and vivacious aromas of raspberry and flowers. In the mouth the wine is mostly dry with a great mid palate of fruit flavor. A slight tart acidity is balanced with a hint of sweetness on the finish. At $22 this is a fantastic purchase for any special occasion. Create a magical morning mixer by adding a little cranberry juice. Enjoy life and drink happy! 3+/5

Folie a Deux A Shared Fantasy of Wine

Folie à Deux, French for shared fantasies; I can think of a few shared fantasies I’d like to have, but they may be a little more than PG-13 for this blog. Folie à Deux is an Oakville California winery focused on creating wines that deliver a memorable shared experience. Many know Folie à Deux from their racier little sister label, Ménage à Trois (lower cost red and white blends). The Folie à Deux label offers varietal focused wines at a good price point.

The NectarView

2009 Folie à Deux Chardonnay

• The Stuff: 100% Chardonnay from Napa Valley vineyards in Oak Knoll, Oakville, and Atlas Peak. 6 months on 65% new French and American oak. ½ the juice was fermented in stainless steel and ½ in small oak barrels. 14.2% ABV; 25,000 cases made.
• The Swirl: In the glass the wine presents a muted golden color.
• The Sniff: The Chardonnay features typical chardonnay characteristics of apple juice and buttered toast. Not a lot dynamic aromas here, but still very nice.
• The Sip: I really enjoyed the flavor profile on this wine. More is happening on the palate than on the nose. A soft apple flavor gives way to a gentle coconut and almond. There are also interwoven characteristics of citrus fruit. The finish provides a slightly disjointed burnt flavor and the acidity seems relatively mild.
• The Score: At $18 retail (typically $15 in stores), a lot of people will enjoy this wine. The flavor characteristics are typical of what chardonnay lovers enjoy. For me, I was mostly pleased with the structure but didn’t care for the finish of the wine. 3/5

Cellar Tracker score of 87 points with 2 reviews

2009 Folie à Deux Merlot

• The Stuff: 86% Napa Valley Merlot and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon; 7 months of barrel aging in a combination of American and French oak; 14.5% ABV, 7,750 cases made
• The Swirl: A thin plum color defines the center of the wine but the edges are slightly watery.
• The Sniff: Pleasantly surprised by the pop of aroma on this Merlot. Very easily distinguishable as a smooth cherry and cocoa merlot. A nice hint of spice rounds out the nose.
• The Sip: The Folie a Duex Merlot has a soft initial attach but then opens up to a touch of sweet cherry on the mid palate. Good layers of flavor that evolve from cocoa to coffee and then a hint of spice on the finish. This is an easy drinking flavorful wine. The high alcohol slightly burns on the finish. At just $18 retail this is a great buy! 3+/5

Cellar Tracker score of 85 points with 2 reviews

2008 Folie à Deux Cabernet Sauvignon

• The Stuff: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Syrah from Napa Valley vineyards. After fermentation the wine spent an additional 14 days on the skins (extended maceration) before being aged for 15 months in a combination of French and American oak; 14% ABV, 20,500 cases produced. 
• The Swirl: In the glass the wine has an inky core with a cloudy plum color around the edges. 
• The Sniff: Very muted nose with hints of dried plums and a very mellow cigar box aroma.
• The Sip: I expected more from this wine and maybe I am being too harsh on it but the aroma and flavor profile doesn’t seem overly complex. The wine offers a good initial flavor of plums but to me that’s all the wine has. The tannins are very well integrated making this a drink now, drink often wine.
• The Score: At $24 retail, I’m not too hot on this wine. Give it a go at the tasting room or sample a glass before committing to several bottles. For the money there are more interesting options for affordable Cabernet Sauvignon. 3/5

A Conundrum and A Mystery Equals A Good Wine

A conundrum is a riddle in which a fanciful question is answered by a pun. Conundrum Winery offers a riddle of fanciful wine varietals to create a mysterious blend of delicious wine. For 20 years the Wagner family has been making Conundrum winery divulging only the use of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat Canelli. The addition of Semillon and Viognier in small quantities adds to the mystery that is Conundrum wine.

The wine grapes are grown, harvested and produced independently to focus on the quality that comes naturally from the vineyard. Some of the wine undergoes oak, some does not. Five quality wines come together during blending to create Conundrum. Conundrum is owned by the Wagner family (Caymus Vineyards), but is a separate brand. Charlie Wagner and Jon Bolta share winemaking responsibilities and in 2007 production expanded into a state-of-the art winery in Monterey County close to the sources of the most grape varietals that make up the wine.

The Nectar View

2009 Conundrum White Wine

The Conundrum wine is a proprietary blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Semillon, and Viognier. The wine has a moderate gold tone in the glass leaning more toward a golden wheat color. Immediately the floral and tropical aromas jump out of the glass causing me to think Viognier and Muscat Canelli. At first sniff, the thoughts of sweet syrup cross my mind but a subtle interwoven aroma of lemon and guava save the day. In the mouth the wine is slightly flabby but very full of flavor. The sweetness indicated on the nose is not overwhelming in the mouth. A hint of honey quickly gives way to smooth guava and butter. I would venture to guess that the predominate wines in this blend are Chardonnay (oaked), Muscat Canelli, and Semillon (also oaked). The white flowers definitely come from the Viognier. The wine lacks in a strong acidity which may lend itself more to a sipping wine than a food wine but the layers of flavor are very intriguing. Pair this with summer, bikinis, and some fresh shrimp fettuccini pasta or even a fresh cheese plate. The wine can be purchased for $17-$20. 3+/5

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