Wine Club Newsletter - December 2021
Healdsburg, A Trip to Remember
In October and November of this year, we took fellow wine club and wine tour regulars on a five-day wine tour of wineries and restaurants in and around the newly regentrified city of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. Both groups loved the wineries and the restaurants we visited.
I thought it might be nice to share an outline of our tour(s) with those who didn’t get a chance to attend, or were not aware that Lori and I offer winery tours at least once a year, to areas all over the globe.
Because we are in the wine trade, we get special wine tastings and into some wineries that are not open to the general public, which is always fun and special. If you would like to be on the list of possible tour attendee’s, please feel free to email me at gparker@winesellar.com.
Happy Holiday Season to YOU!
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Winery Stops, in order of visits:
Jordan Winery
A great first stop, they have just completed multi-million-dollar renovations to the facilities, and can provide multiple tasting venues and options. The standouts here were how well their Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay age in the bottle. We had a Chardonnay from 2015 that was fresh, lively, complex, and going strong. We also had a Cabernet Sauvignon from 2011 that has ages to go as well.
Paul Hobbs
The name Paul Hobbs is associated with some of the best wines and vineyards designations throughout the globe. Here, we tasted an amazing line up of wines from Sonoma and Napa Valley. The Chardonnay and Pinots from Sonoma were decadent, rich, long in the palate, and will be long lived in the bottle. We tasted about $1,000 worth of wine!
Hartford Family Winery
Hosted by the well-spoken and agreeable winemaker Jeff Stewart, we tasted through many of their single vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as a Chenin Blanc and a really cool Syrah and old vine Zinfandel.
Carol Shelton Winery
This was perhaps the most fun stop on the tour. Carol guided through her current release line up, as well as some of her older vintage beauties, my favorite is the older Coquille Blanc, a Rhone Style blend that ages well in the bottle.
Kanzler Winery
They don’t do tours for the public, so getting in was super special. We had their Pinot Noir last month in the Gary Parker Club. Hosted at their beautiful guest house, the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialists shined very bright!
Merry Edwards Winery
Simply a fabulous experience, hosted by their Sommelier Brown Uzoechi, the tasting was off the charts by the wines and the ambiance. Most special of the tour, I felt.
Rockpile Winery
Wines from this minute appellation are intense, dense, and quite remarkable. Tasting room is conveniently located in Healdsburg itself and comes highly recommended!
Ridge Winery
Just minutes from Healdsburg, the winery that got me into wine nearly fifty years ago, still produces individualistic, remarkable wines that will stand the test of time. They offer tastings of the Ridge Montebello, one of the finest Cabernets made in California by the two-ounce taste. Exciting!
Williamson Winery
Also located in Healdsburg, the lineup of wines is long and intriguing. Offering food to go with their selections, it is a must stop. Wines only available to purchase through the winery, not at stores.
Restaurants:
Valette
This Healdsburg restaurant has excellent food, ambiance, service, and wine list. Very professional, yet still personable service, and the owner was always just an email or call away.
Ca Bianca
In Santa Rosa, we lunched here both times on some excellent Italian food. Service is also outstanding. The thing I loved about Ca Bianca was their extended wine list, with interesting selections and the very reasonable bottle prices. Great outdoor area as well.
Willi’s
Very fun spot in Healdsburg, serving an array of oysters, seafood, tacos and other small plates. Not your typical appetizer and main course kind of place, you can order two, three or four different bites. Fun wine list also.
Barndiva
One of the harder places to get into in Healdsburg, now with a one-Michelin star rating to boot. No nonsense style of service, tightly run. I have never had a better heirloom tomato salad anywhere else in the world, with tomatoes marinated for a few days in olive oil and balsamic, super sweet and ripe, just awesome. Everything executed extremely well.
William Coffield Cheese
Not a restaurant, but a dedicated, passionate cheese maker who set up a special tour and tasting in his facilities in the Barlow Market in Sebastopol. You can easily get into the passion Mr. Coffield projects. We marveled at the distinctive cheeses he offers, along with library wines he supplied us from Pax Cellars next door to his shop. He will be coming to San Diego to visit and offer a tasting with The WineSellar & Brasserie patrons next year!
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Cheers!
Gary Parker, Owner
The WineSellar & Brasserie
2019 Grenache Blanc, Double Bond
Growing Region Ballard Canyon, Santa Ynez, California
Varietal Composition 100% Grenache Blanc
Fermentation Stainless Steel Tanks
Alcohol Content 13.5%
Suggested Retail $34.00
WineSellar Club Price $25.19
Broad Strokes: 96 Points, Toast of the Coast Wine Competition (Gary Parker Judge)
From the Winery: Strong… Reactive… Rare. In chemistry, a double bond is a connection between two atoms that is stronger, more reactive and rarer. Founded by a PhD Biochemist, our scientific background and appreciation for wine grew into a passion that espoused so naturally that we couldn’t help but christen this winery of ours with the namesake that inspired this strong, reactive, rare endeavor.
We strive to harness a perfect balance of a fascinating science with the intoxicating art to innovate and redefine while still paying homage to classic wines.
Specializing in the hallmark varietals the Central Coast of California is renowned for; we focus on unveiling the majesty of single-vineyard, pure, premium and boutique Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Syrahs and Zinfandels.
Appearance:
A subtle, understated label/branding. Would be easy to pass it up on a shelf. Nice verbiage on the back label, as many of us appreciate winery descriptions of the wine. It has a light white corn/silver hue, and the wine is clear and brilliant.
Nose:
Very fresh white tree fruit, especially Anjou pear, with honeydew melon, ripe orange, hot stones and notes of fine mineral. Very similar to winery descriptions!
Texture:
Zesty, fresh feel in the mouth. This palate dancer feels like spritzy rainwater, its softness edged by Meyer lemon like acid. Beautifully clean on the finish.
Flavors:
Mandarin Orange with honeydew melon, lemon and lime, with hints of apricot fruit. This reminded me of a very sophisticated and evolved adult version of Mountain Dew. So delicious and refreshing. Also noted toasted sesame seed, rosewater, minerals, and a bit of wet pebbles.
Serving Suggestions:
The wine is quite versatile, and is great on its own, but also excels when foods are part of the event. Ripe cheese, tuna tartare, fruits. Check. Out. the big, discounted price!!!
2016 F. Thienpont Bordeaux Rouge
Growing Region Bordeaux, France
Varietal Composition 95% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Fermentation Barrel Fermentation
Alcohol Content 14%
Suggested Retail $35.00
WineSellar Club Price $17.99
Broad Strokes:
From the Winery: Francois Thienpont is the proud heir of a Belgian family dedicated to wine since the 19th century. His ancestors migrated to the Bordeaux’s region in the 1920’s, where they came to produce and trade wine. Vieux Chateau Certan, acquired by his grand- father Georges, Château Puygueraud and Le Pin count as some of their historic vineyards. François Thienpont wines have much in common. Firstly, they evoke their terroir and their vintage with the utmost integrity. In every one of their appellations, they’re the best of Bordeaux.
Appearance:
The label, (with the exception of the etching of the Chateau), does not depict your typical, classic style you see from Bordeaux wines. It may not ring my bell, but it may also be quite effective. I like the info on the back label. The wine has a magenta rim, emanating from a very dark red ruby core.
Nose:
Dark fruit aromas of red berries and ripe plum. Black pepper, with some strapped leather and oak. Compelling aromas of vanilla ice cream over a blueberry essence, with lavender and Asian Spices.
Texture:
The wine has a delightful, rich feel in the mouth. This medium to medium-full bodied wine from Bordeaux is at five years of age. From this time in the bottle, you will notice the tannins and the acids have mellowed, yet the wine is still firm, and will hold its own with foods and more years in the cellar.
Flavors:
Quite ripe and rich fruits of black plum, blackberry, black currant, with a hint of chocolate and vanilla. Some spicy notes, with lead pencil/graphite essence popping through. The leather and oak from the nose translate seamlessly to the flavors in the palate, as does the black pepper and vanilla.
Serving Suggestions:
The beauty of this wine, along with our other selection this month, is that is great with or without food. AND. Check. Out. the big, discounted price!!!
2018 Zinfandel, Wine Guerilla, Paradise Lane
Growing Region Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California
Varietal Composition 100% Zinfandel, 90 Year-Old Vines
Fermentation Barrel Fermentation
Alcohol Content 15.6%
Suggested Retail $36.00
WineSellar Club Price $33.29
Broad Strokes:
From the Winery: Wine Guerrilla is a small winery focusing on one varietal. With ambitions of not just growing ourselves, but growing the adoration of Zinfandel by producing well balanced and high-quality zins, our goal has been to procure Sonoma County’s finest Zinfandels and provide the premier Zin experience to our tasting room customers and beyond.
Sourcing from 4 different appellations and over 10 different vineyards, our wines embody every exposition of Zinfandel. From century old vines to recently planted Zins, our wines mirror the soul of Sonoma County.
Appearance:
Very cool, poster-like label created by artist Miranda Byk, who does all their labels. I like the art and the continuity that it gives to the branding. The wine is black at the core, with only a meek surrendering of magenta at the very edge. Long legs are clear, slowly dripping down the glass.
Nose:
Deep berry, spices, pie dough, with clove and nutmeg, white pepper, dark chocolate and vanilla. Kind of jam-like, which is to be expected from ripe old vine Zinfandel, with added blueberry, smoke, and blistered peanuts.
Texture:
This wine will grab your attention! Full bodied, yet smooth, with a large, dominating presence in the mouth. Power in a silk pocket . . . yet putting a hole in that pocket with its power. Long, silken, not quite to the point of creaminess, but full . . . Watch out for sediment!
Flavors:
It’s like a savory roasted plum dessert. A wine that is powerful with savory flavors: oak, roasted nuts, pie crust and spices (clove and nutmeg) and blistered peanuts. Then the fruit of blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, and finally, topped with vanilla ice cream. This wine is SO MUCH FUN!!!
Serving Suggestions:
Winery is right, in that it will be great with Hawaiian BBQ beef, grilled pineapple with a teriyaki glaze. It will also go great with chocolate desserts.
2018 Rive Gauche, “Left Bank”, San Marcos Winery
Growing Region South Coast, California
Varietal Composition 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 15% each for Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Fermentation Barrel Fermentation
Alcohol Content 14%
Suggested Retail $36.00
WineSellar Club Price $31.49
Broad Strokes: Only 125 cases made! Rare!
From the Winery: Malcolm’s passion for winemaking started with his passion for drinking wine. As an accomplished Electrical Engineer working in Silicon Valley for over 25 years, he would spend weekends at wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sierra Foothills that led to extensive, in-depth conversations with the winemakers about grape varieties, climate and soil. Malcolm began reading everything he could get his hands on about grapes, grape growing regions and the art of making wine. He then attended enology courses at UC Davis when he realized, “this is what I really want to do”.
Malcolm absorbed himself in “everything about wine making”, expanding his knowledge and developing his skills. His efforts paid off, winning a silver medal for the inaugural red blend, 2013 Sunset Red, at the 2016 San Diego Wine and Spirits Challenge.
Appearance:
“Rive Gauche” translates from French to mean “Left River”, or “Left Bank”, known for producing excellent wines in the region of Bordeaux, which this wine is patterned after. The wine has a garnet hue with clear edges, looking almost light.
Nose:
Super pleasant and subtle aromatics bring fine complexities from this strategic blend of “Left Bank” grapes. Dark cherry fruit, with a clay-like fragrance that I find thoroughly enchanting.
Texture:
Medium in weight and body. Very pleasant entry, defying the relative youth of the wine. Smooth, elegant, silky and gentle texture stays long in the mouth.
Flavors:
The winery calls red licorice, molasses, ripe cherry, black currant and plum. I think that is 100% on the money. I will add a touch of wet earth and clay, cola, vanilla, leather, mulled spices and white pepper.
Serving Suggestions:
Again, agreeing with the winery: Roast pork, beef brisket, with roasted potatoes and vegetables, and also white cheddar cheese.
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, Whitehall Lane, Leonardini Estate
Growing Region Napa Valley, California
Varietal Composition 97% Cabernet Sauvignon
Fermentation 65% New Oak for 26 Months
Alcohol Content 14.9%
Suggested Retail $80.00
WineSellar Club Price $71.99
Broad Strokes: 93 Points, various publications
From the Winery: The winery continues to receive accolades and awards for producing exceptional world-class wines. In Wine Spectator Magazine’s year-end ranking of wines, Whitehall Lane has been honored three times for producing wines rated among the top five in the world. The winery was also voted Winery of the Year from Quarterly Review of Wines and Wine and Spirits Magazine. Napa Valley Life Magazine has also rated their tasting room as Best Tasting Room in Napa Valley.
The winery was founded in 1979 but the history of the soil cultivation dates back two centuries. In the mid 1800’s, Napa Valley settlers were drawn to the gravelly loam soils and ideal climate, planting high quality grape vines at the Whitehall Lane Winery site. In 1979, two brothers built the winery and directed their winemaking efforts successfully to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They named the winery after the road that runs along the southern border of the property, Whitehall Lane.
Appearance:
A beautiful, distinctive package tells you something special is inside, without going crazy on bottle size or other theatrics. The wine has a lovely blue/black/purple hue to it. It is brilliant, dark and deep looking.
Nose:
Blackberry pie, with ripe, dark plum, currant, freshly crushed herbs, and sweet vanilla oak. Lovely, correct, yet exciting, haunting aromatics stem from deep fruit density and superb craftsmanship. Black pepper, lead pencil.
Texture:
Extremely well-built wine, with excellent structure. Medium full in body and weight, the tannins meld well into the rich fruit, and give a fabulous, plush, lasting impression.
Flavors:
Tons of focused, dark berry fruits, to include blackberry, blueberry, and cassis. Sweet vanilla oak foils off nicely to the chocolate and spices. Notes of tobacco, black pepper, compelling~
Serving Suggestions:
This is, by all means, a classic and beautifully crafted Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. Put six or twelve bottles in the cellar to ten to fifteen years.
Cremant D’Alsace Brut Rose’, Domaine Riefle
Growing Region Alsace, France
Varietal Composition 100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation Steel Vats
Alcohol Content 12.5%
Suggested Retail $28.00
WineSellar Club Price $24.29
Broad Strokes: 90 Points, Wine Enthusiast
From the Winery: The Rieflé family is deeply rooted in the history and culture of the Rhine. The domaine's very identity is inspired by the spirit of its beautiful winemaker’s house which was built in PFAFFENHEIM in 1609. It sits next to a magnificent church with a 13th century choir, the quintessence of Roman architecture. Domaine Rieflé’s vineyards are located throughout the communes of Pfaffenheim, Rouffach, Westhalten and Soultzmatt on the fracture zones of the Marbach and Ohmbach faults. They form a mosaic of highly fragmented geological compartments. Our Crémant parcels are generally situated on deep, predominantly sedimentary loess soils which produce very ripe grapes (particularly in Drotfeld). The other parcels, situated on the highest parts of the hillside near to the forest, are slower to ripen and produce wines with good acidic structure.
Appearance:
The packaging is really cool, and appropriate for a sparkling wine. It looks celebratory, distinctive and sophisticated. The wine has an orange/copper hue, evenly spread through the glass. The bubbles are medium-small in size, and active.
Nose:
Strawberry, cherry, ginger flower pop out right away, followed by rose petals and ripe, white cherry fruit. Nice hints of bread dough, biscuit, and yeast, as we often get from our sparkling wines.
Texture:
Seamless palate entry, this medium weighted sparkling wine is smooth and even from start to finish. The mousse, while active, leans to the more delicate s, elegant side of things. The subtle fruit finishes with a citrus crispiness that cleans up very well.
Flavors:
Ripe, white cherry fruit with a cool swath of strawberries, and of course the ginger flower. Some dense and sweet pomegranate fruit flavors surface, playing tag with the citrus elements of Meyer lemon and tangerine.
Serving Suggestions:
I brought this to our club members for a holiday happening to go with our Cabernet this month. Open it sometime this month, and enjoy with friends or with a nice lunch!
Champagne NV Pol-Roger, Reserve Brut
Growing Region: Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims, Pinot Meuniere from the Valle de Marne, Chardonnay from Cotes de Blancs in Champagne, France
Varietal Composition (Cepage) : 33.3% Pinot Noir, 33.3% Pinot Meuniere, 33.3% Chardonnay
Vinification: Methode Champenoise, using 25% Reserve Wines, each bottle is hand riddled before disgorging and dosage and rests for at least 3 months before release.
Dosage: 9 g/l
Alcohol Content:
Suggested Retail: $60.00
WineSellar Club Price: $44.99
From the Winery:
Champagne Pol Roger made their first wine in 1849 and have continued with the making of beautiful Champagne over 5 generations. Sir Winston Churchill had a penchant for Pol-Roger Champagne as early as 1908 when orders were found for cases of the Champagne. His loyalty was cemented upon meeting Odette Pol-Roger in 1927 and the friendship lasted until his death. Churchill was quoted as saying that the home of Champagne Pol-Roger “was the most drinkable address in the world!” 10 years after his death a vintage cuvee was named and dedicated to him “Sir Winston Churchill Cuvee”. Champagne Pol-Roger has since been poured at numerous royal weddings (Kate and William’s included) and holds the Royal Warrant as purveyors of Champagne to Queen Elizabeth II.
92 pts Wine Enthusiast, 92 pts James Suckling
Appearance:
A beautiful golden, straw hue
Nose:
Pear, mango, honeysuckle, jasmine, vanilla, and toasted brioche
Texture:
Fine, luxurious bubbles
Flavors:
It is a lovely harmony with pleasant freshness. There are notes of cooked fruit; apricot jam, quince that happily mingle with acacia honey, candied orange, and cardamom.
Serving Suggestions:
This is a gorgeous and regal holiday Champagne with citrus and lovely spices!
It would be wonderful with duck a l ’orange or a spiced ham!
2017 Domaine Carneros, Brut, Carneros, Napa, California
Growing Region:
Varietal Composition (Cepage) : 53% Pinot Noir, 44% Chardonnay, 3% Pinot Gris
Vinification: Methode Champenoise
Dosage: 9g/l
Alcohol Content:
Suggested Retail: $33.00
WineSellar Club Price: $28.79
From the Winery:
Founded by the Champagne Taittinger family, Domaine Carneros was established in 1987 when Claude Taittinger selected a 138-acre parcel in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley.
93 pts Wine Enthusiast
Appearance:
Pale, butter lemon yellow
Nose:
Richness and complexity on the nose, aromas of green apple,
macadamia nut, honeycomb and yuzu.
Texture:
Crisp, persistent bubbles
Flavors:
The palate is dense and full, revealing juicy pear, golden apple, ginger
and lychee with a long, somewhat savory finish.
Serving Suggestions:
Pair with a California Triple Cream Cheese, Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt. Tam would be perfect!
Green Beans with Chicken Stock
We were visiting good friends Jim & Linda Nordstrom in Las Vegas, and they served us this really lovely side dish. This is what I got from them for the recipe . . .
Ingredients:
- 1 Pound fresh green beans
- 1/3 cup uncooked thick bacon
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1/3 cup butter
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ tomato chopped
- 1 thick clove of garlic
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Method:
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Place bacon in a large pan and cook over high heat until it is evenly browned and crispy
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While pan is still warm, remove bacon leaving the bacon juice in the pan
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Add garlic, tomato and onion and simmer until onions are slightly tender
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Add chicken stock to the pan and heat until reduced by 50%
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Add green beans and butter.
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Cover, reduce heat to low, until beans become tender
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Salt and pepper to taste
Options: (One or both!)
Add jalapeno pepper or Sriracha Sauce for spice
Top with cheddar or Monterey Jack