by Laura Ness - HerVineNess on May 10, 2010
The 4th annual “Santa Lucia Highlands Fling” takes place this coming Saturday, May 15th, from 2pm til 5pm, on the grounds of the beautiful Hahn Estates, overlooking the entire Salinas Valley. Join the vintners of the Santa Lucia Highlands for an exclusive tasting. Sample limited release gems and hard-to-get vintages, offered by the winemakers themselves and paired with elegant hors d’oeuvres from master chefs.
Winemakers scheduled to pour their Santa Lucia Highlands’ wines include August West, Belle Glos, Boekenoogen, Cru, Hahn, Hope & Grace, La Rochelle, Lucienne, Manzoni, Martin Alfaro, McIntyre, Mer Soleil, Morgan, Novy, Paraiso, Pelerin, Pessagno, Pey-Lucia, Pisoni, Puma Road, Roar, Sequana, Siduri, Talbott, Testarossa, Tondre, Tudor, and Wrath.
Stunning pinot noir, world class chardonnay and sensational syrah: all in one spectacular setting. It’s a delicious perspective on one of the world’s most tantalizing wine regions. Sample the new 2009 Morgan pinot gris from R&D Franscioni Vineyard, one of the region’s newest and most prolific vineyards; be seduced by the elegant and sensual 2007 Wrath pinot noir, and delight in the peachy pleasures of Boekenoogen’s mouthwatering and top scoring chardonnay (96 pts, Wine Enthusiast). Truly a must for the connoisseur of fine wines and great food. Live music and views to pin a dream on…
Get your tickets now! www.santaluciahighlands.com
Tagged as:
Boekenoogen,
Hahn Estates,
Highlands Fling,
Morgan,
Pinot; Central Coast,
wine; Santa Lucia Highlands; PMorgan,
Wrath
by Laura Ness - HerVineNess on April 26, 2010
The 18th annual Hospice du Rhône extravaganza of all things Rhônely kicks off this Friday, April 30, in Paso Robles at the Paso Robles Event Center. The day begins with a series of seminars, followed by a lovely rosé lunch, and the spectacular Rhône Rendezvous tasting from 3pm til 6pm. This event features Rhône producers from all over the world, plus food pairing from a local artisan purveyors.
At Rhone Rendezvous, Big Basin Vineyards will be pouring the 2008 Booker Grenache/Syrah (Fall ‘10 release), the 2007 Odeon Syrah/Cabernet (93 points from Spectator), and the 2005 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah from Bradley’s library collection.
If you go to only one event, make it the Saturday Grand Tasting, May 1, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
One of the most comprehensive tastings of Rhône wines, this event boasts producers from around the globe. To duplicate this tasting, you’d need a passport, numerous flights and a few weeks of exhausting travel. To complement the wines, artisan food purveyors will be located throughout the venue to share their wares. Nationally acclaimed chefs will be on hand to create some excitement in the new demonstration kitchen: there’s nothing like Rhônes and food!
Big Basin Vineyards will pour the full line-up [...]
by Laura Ness - HerVineNess on April 21, 2010
What music best matches the vibe of Petite Sirah? What an intriguing question. Music definitely influences mood: it carries an inherent sense of time that bonds us together: we live to remember, to share and share again. It’s part of the ritual of being human. Thanks to Jo Diaz for creating the forum for a handful of wine writers, including Dan Berger, Steve Heimhoff, Ken Payton, Clark Smith and myself, to share a compendium of Petites, 19 in all, brown-bagged, on a winter day at Hess Collection on Napa. Her idea was to pair each of them with cuts on this intriguing jazzy CD by Alacia Van. Crazy? Maybe. Fun? Absolutely. Definitive? Nope. Enlightening? Totally.
What music best matches the vibe of Petite Sirah? Short answer: it depends on the Petite. If they’re massively dense and tannic, you’ll want a heavier sound, like March Slave, Pearl Jam or Beethoven’s 9th. If the Petite leans towards vibrant, effusive and cheery, maybe something more like Amy Grant or Faith Hill. Got a sexy, flirty, saucy Petite? Jazz works, anything from Coltrane to Diana Krall.
Music certainly influences mood: I know from experience in tasting rooms that if you play Eagles or Cream, people [...]
Tagged as:
Alecia Van,
Artezin,
Berger,
Clark Smith,
Concannon,
Heimhoff,
Hess collection. PS I Love You,
Jazz,
Ken Payton,
Petite
by Laura Ness - HerVineNess on March 17, 2010
Big Basin Vineyards, a boutique producer of premium Rhones and Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains, will open its doors for the annual Spring Release celebration, April 3 & 4, from noon til 5pm. Come experience the latest releases and revel in the beautiful greenery of a vineyard in spring.
New and highly anticipated releases include: 2007 Odeon Syrah/Cabernet, the 2007 Mandala Syrah, 2007 Alfaro Pinot and the 2009 Aura Rosé. The reviews on these wines are rolling in with Connoisseurs’ Guide giving the 2007 Alfaro Family Vineyard Pinot Noir 92 points, and the 2007 Mandala, 93 points. The Wine Spectator recently awarded the 2007 Odeon 93 points and the 2007 Mandala 91 points, while Rhone Report rated it 93 points. Metro Silicon Valley recently named Big Basin Vineyards as the “Staff Pick – Best Syrah”.
Try them for yourself — the Mandala is truly a knockout. And it has no foil capsule!! nothing to recycle or trash– just pop that cork and you’re good to go. Bradley is going sans capsule from here on in. Packaging has no taste: only waste.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOcURgn4Poo
Enjoy savory food pairings to compliment the wines and groove to live music, art and fabulous scenery.
Combine a trip to [...]
by Laura Ness - HerVineNess on March 6, 2010
Do you love Rhones? Does your heart soar at the first sip of a good Syrah? Does it melt at the discovery of a meaty Mourvedre?
If so, you’ll enjoy the combination of the two in Katy’s new Rhone blend, Mantra.
Join fellow Rhone lovers at “Rhone Rhapsody,” a celebration of the 2007 vintage of “Mantra”
Saturday, March 13th, noon to 5pm
At the Winery at 5000 N Rodeo Gulch Drive
Poetic Cellars welcomes you to “Rhone Rhapsody,” a celebration of the release of winemaker Katy’s new Rhone blend, “Mantra.”
This delicious blend of 45% Mourvedre, 45% Syrah and 10% Sangiovese is a smooth, multi-layered experience of pure pleasure, balancing the racy, wild red fruits of the Mourvedre with the depth and richness of the Syrah. Spritely Sangiovese adds charming cherries and buttery smooth tannins to create a Mantra worth repeating over and over. This may become your favorite wine ever!
All Poetic Cellars Rhone wines will be featured, including the 2006 Syrah, the 2006 Mourvedre and the 2006 Petite Sirah, accompanied by delicious French gastronomical delights.
Bonus! Treat yourself to some of the best cupcakes you have ever tasted! Aileen Avila from Tulula bakery in Livermore will be on hand to sample and sell her [...]
