Aligote is a white wine grape that has some commonality to Chardonnay. Limestone and clay soils in Burgundy give this wine a fresh acidity and minerality along with a chalky texture. It is dry with flavors of citrus and stone fruit. Pair it with shellfish, seafood and light poultry dishes.
Entre Deux Mers (meaning “between two tides”) is a wine region within the Bordeaux area of France. The wine presented here is a blend. Sauvignon Blanc, a primary white varietal grown in this area, is in the lead. Sauvignon Gris, Semillon, and Muscadelle fill in behind. This wine has aromas and flavors of grapefruit.
Cabernet Franc is a typical grape that is grown in the Bordeaux region of France. These grapes produce a light, fruity juice that is often used in a Bordeaux blend along with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Cabernet Franc presented here is light, but with bold flavors of red berries. Raspberry, blueberry, plum and fig flavors jump out of the glass along with delicate spices. Drink this with fish dishes or ham. The fruity nature of the wine also allows it to pair well with spicy dishes.
Pinot Noir is the second most widely grown grape in Burgundy trailing closely behind Chardonnay. The soils in this area are varied. There is a mix of chalk, limestone and granite soils giving the wine a pleasant mineral quality. The flavors here are of dark cherries and black fruit. It has mellow tannins and a hint of Christmas spices. Beef stew is a good match for this wine. And, if you want to be very French, pair it with a nice “coq au vin”.
This blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre will remind you of some of the wines you have tasted in the Paso Robles wine region. Here, we call it a GSM blend. The grapes for this wine come from a unique, single block of 50+ year old vines. The old vines create a robustness in the wine that is unmistakable. The Vinsobres has flavors of black fruit, plums, licorice, and black pepper and is a perfect match for tomato-based dishes as well as lamb or beef.
The Cuvee Raphael is a typical red “right bank” Bordeaux blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes for this wine are selected from the best 40+ year old vines on the estate. This wine is very dry with structured tannins and flavors of dark fruits, black current and licorice. Drink this as an accompaniment to beef ribs or roasted vegetables.
Do you remember the classic “I Love Lucy” episode that revolves around Lucy stomping grapes in a wooden barrel? This was “Little Soul” winemaker, Molly Longborn, in the fall of 2023…stomping out the juice from the Pinot Noir grapes that were used for this bright and perky Rose. This Rose has tropical fruit aromas and hints of strawberry. The palate is a silky smooth peachy delight with a pleasantly acidic finish.
Anthony Yount, winemaker and owner of Kinero Wine, is a star in the Paso Robles wine industry and beyond and the creator of this wine. This Chardonnay “rides the line” between old and new world Chardonnay. It has great citrus flavors, perky acidity and a long finish.
I met Nathan Carlson, winemaker of this delicious Rose, on my 60th birthday. One of my friends threw a party for me and convinced Nathan to come to do a private tasting for me and 6 of my closest friends. At this event, he presented wines from Center of Effort, where he was and is still the primary winemaker. Aromas of grapefruit and Meyer Lemon pop from the glass in the nose. Flavors of strawberry and melon and the bright acidity will make you think you are in the heart of Provence.
The Downslope Red is a second label for them. It is a yummy blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Petit Syrah, a pretty classic Rhone style blend. The nose opens with dark cherries and currants and has a palate of dried cranberries and fresh blueberries. This is a bold, yet approachable red blend that will pair well with all of your summer barbeque favorites. This one will definitely give you “instant gratification”. And….if you happen to have any left, you will be gratified again.
“High on the Hog” is a wine that you can drink for any occasion. It has aromatics of black cherries and fruit cobbler. The palate is soft and energetic with flavors of plum preserves and chocolate covered blueberries. This wine is named for a memory of Mac’s Grandma. When the family gathered for dinner at her house, she would say “We are living high on the hog tonight, aren’t we?” Open this wine, gather your family around the dinner table and enjoy living and drinking “High on the Hog”!
This wine is not meant to be aged. It is a “drink now” wine for people who recognize good quality and just want to finish the day with a satisfying glass of wine. The aromas of this Cabernet are of black cherry with a hint of coffee. In the velvety palate, you find those aromas extended with flavors of black cherry, chocolate and a hint of coffee. A subtle thread of current finishes out the mix adding texture and a layered depth. Pair this with a fire-crusted filet mignon. Delicious!
This Chardonnay with aromas of bartlett pear and ripe peaches followed by flavors of fresh apple are highly compelling. The wine is textured and smooth, but with just a hint of oak. It is crisp with nice acid and a freshness that pops in your mouth. The style sits right in the center between Old World and New World. It’s described as “Fresh as the morning dew with everything that California promises in Chardonnay and rarely delivers. This one comes through.”
This Sauvignon Blanc has subtle herbal tones mixed with honeysuckle and citrus flavors. Treatment of neutral oak and aging on the lees smooth out the finish while maintaining a bright acidity. The oak evens out any of the typical grapefruit tartness that is sometimes prominent in Sauvignon Blanc. Get some spicy Asian food, open this to complement the food, and enjoy!
If any of you know football, you may know about Terry Hoage, NFL Hall of Famer with 13 years of playing for the NFL under his belt. Terry retired from football in 2002 and started Terry Hoage Vineyard with his wife, Jennifer. With some coaching by Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards, they built a reputation on producing delicious, award-winning Pinot Noir and Rhone style blends. This year, after 20 years in business, Terry and Jennifer decided to fully retire and sell their Paso Robles winery.
This aged Cabernet Sauvignon is medium to full bodied with notes of black fruit. It is complex with light spice and vanilla notes. It’s ready to drink now, and is a perfect match for a big, juicy steak. This is about as good as it gets!
The grapes for this cool weather Syrah are sourced from Spanish Springs here in San Luis Obispo. The wine has aromas of cranberry sauce, pomegranate and raspberries with a hint of black pepper. The mouth feel is full bodied with subtle tannins and a long finish. It calls for meat…lamb, beef, even a burger. It’s ready and raring to go. Open it now and enjoy!
The Lolita Red is a big, full-bodied Bordeaux style blend. Aromas of black cherry, smoky blackberry and earth are evident in the nose. The flavors that follow are strong black cherry and fudge. Lolita requires a bit of air before it warms up to you. Open it early and leave it alone for awhile. It’s worth the wait!
You may have heard of the grape varietal called Valdiguié…or maybe not. It’s a newly popular and trendy varietal with roots in the Languedoc region of France. And, if you have tasted a wine made with Valdiguié, you may have had it in the style of an aged red wine. The Rosé to has quite a different feel than the fruity, soda-pop like quality of the bigger red. The Rosé Valdiguié presents as a very dry, light and crisp wine. It has notes of strawberry, rose petal and cherry.
Chenin Blanc has origins in the Loire Valley in France. In the last years, it has become popular in South Africa and has now become a fast-growing favorite in California. This “old vine” Chenin Blanc comes from vines planted in 1972. It has nice acidity and good structure with aromas of lemon peel, Marcona almonds and white pepper with flavors of Kaffir lime, nectarine and brioche that linger in a surprisingly long finish. It’s a great match for the easy, breezy flavors of summer.
Megan Mouren and Spencer Rawles, proprietors and winemakers at High Camp Winery, have spent the last 3 years cultivating the 75 acres of grape vines at the former Ranchita Canyon Vineyard in San Miguel. This Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of Christmas spices and leather with flavors of raspberry, blueberry, and black pepper. Pair it with a New York strip...or a burger. Your call.
What do Villa San Juliette and American Idol have in common?
The common thread is Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe, co-owners of Villa San Juliette and early producers of American Idol. Together, they created a beautiful and tranquil Tuscan-style villa right in the middle of San Miguel. The wine presented here is highly complex, yet fruit forward with flavors of dark cherry and blackberries. It is spicy and smokey with tones of baking spice finishing with a flavor of dark chocolate.
This simple 5-line poem, called a “cinquain” (pronounced seen-cane), embodies the spirit of Cinquain Cellars. David Nagengast of Scheid Vineyard fame, is the owner and winemaker. He and his crew view their wines as poetry in a bottle. This blend is well-rounded wth aromas and tastes of ripe black cherries, blackberry, pepper and cola. Oak aging leaves the essence of vanilla.
Don Arndt is the driving force behind the wines of Arndt Cellars. Of all of the people I met along the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail, Don has had the most interesting transition into the winemaking. He was a machinist in Long Beach before learning the craft and jumping into wine-making. This wine has aromas of black plum and spice. Then flavors have floral notes along with plum and ark back cherry and finish with a hint of lavender. This is a wine for big, rich meats such as lamb, veal, pork
November 28, 2022
Picpoul Blanc is white grape varietal with origins in the Rhone area of France. The literal translation of the name from French is “lip-smacker”, which tells you something about this wine. It “jumps out of the glass” with aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. The flavor profile is “lip-smacking” good with juicy strains of pomelo, lemon curd and pineapple finishing with hints of salinity and minerality. Pair this with your holiday appetizers. It’s a “show stopper”.
Kinero Wine is one of the side-projects of Anthony Yount, winemaker of Denner Wines in Paso Robles. Anthony has a passion for white wine that he says stemmed from his father’s distaste for it. This unusual blend of Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc brings aromas of lemon zest, white peach and fresh rosemary and flavors of pomelo, rosemary and green olive. The finish is light, refreshing and lingering.
Mourvedre is, indeed, an adventurous and unusual full-bodied wine. The nose reveals dark berries, plum, blackberry and juniper berries. On the palate, you will taste dark berries and plums along with a distinct earthiness and spice quality. The wine has pleasant tannins and good acidity that lingers on the finish. The grippy tannins in this wine ask for rich foods such as beef short ribs or lamb. Great for cool weather fall meals!
This is truly an “under the radar” producer. Jason Joyce, winemaker at Calcareous Winery in Paso Robles, and his wife, Kate, were surprised that I found them. This blend is a typically, BIG Paso Red that calls out for a BIG Rib-Eye steak. 75% Syrah and 25% Cabernet brings a savory, meaty quality to the wine with some substantial tannins. Be sure to give this one time to breathe. It is approachable now, but it would also be good in another 5 years or so.
This blend is full and bright with red and dark plum flavors and balanced spice notes. Even with a 50/50 split between Grenache and Syrah, the deep purple color and the pepper, cassis and smokey qualities of the Syrah move to the front with every sip. Open bottle…let breathe….and drink. Delicious!
The word, “Labrys”, means double headed ax. The ax in the hands of a Minoan (ancient person of Crete) woman symbolizes a woman in authority. This wine is a tribute to the strong women in the Boutzakis family. This strong blend brings flavors of smoke, bacon, herbs and black fruits. The black pepper qualities of the Syrah linger on the finish. This one needs a few breaths and a good steak in order to realize its full potential. It will also continue to develop in the bottle if you want to h
Summer 2022
"Flying Cloud" is a "Co-Pilot" brand by Stephen Ross Dooley of "Stephen Ross Wine Cellar" fame. The "Aviator" blend comes from grapes sourced from warm-climate appellations north of the grade. The wine is fruity, but has a depth that is very satisfying on the palate.
Union Sacré is known for producing white wines reminiscent of the Alsace area of France. Xavier, wine maker and owner, was challenged by a friend to step outside of his comfort zone to produce a high quality red from the Edna Valley. He has done it with this Syrah. This typical cool weather Syrah has a dark berry quality. It is savory with an acidic backbone and a bright, peppery finish.
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June 20, 2022
Red fruits and baking spice on the nose with ripe cherry candy, strawberry jam and roasted nuts on the palate will make your senses sing as you savor this wonderful example of SLO Coast Pinot Noir. While this is tasting great now, you will also find taut acidity and tannins present that speak to the aging potential for this delicious wine.
This Rosé is a great example of the efforts of Mikey Giugni and his wife Gina, winemakers and owners. The Gamay grape, typically grown in the Beaujolais area of France, does very well in the cool weather and acidic soils of the SLO Coast AVA. Paired with Pinot Noir, it adds notes of bright crushed strawberries and raspberries to this refreshing and bright summer wine. The grapes were handled carefully…..hand-picked and foot tramped….. by Mikey and Gina.
91 Points Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points Vinous
While in her 20's, Mindy Oliver, owner and winemaker at Croma Vera, developed a lifelong dream to make wine. After several decades and the passing of a good friend, she recognized that she needed to get started on realizing her dream. Her lively grenache has aromas of dark cherry and black raspberry along with flavors of sweet red berries, cherries and white pepper. It is a spectacular showing of this Spanish varietal.
94 Points Vinous
Louisa Lindquist, winemaker and owner, has been around the wine industry all of her life. She started Verdad in 2000 with the goal of making wines specifically from grapes growing in the coastal areas of San Luis Obispo County. This Tempranillo is complex and powerful with savory qualities and notes of dark cherry, spice and licorice. It comes alive with time in the glass and will be even better as it evolves over the next few years.
This vineyard is owned and operated by a local San Luis Obispo family. It sits in their backyard right in the middle of Edna Valley. The founder was born in the rough climate of the Alto Adige area of Italy where Lagrein thrives. This is a bold wine that is often used as a replacement for Cabernet Sauvignon. It has dark plum and wild cherry flavors with lots of spice and structured tannins. It is delicious on its own, but is at it's best when paired with pork chops, veal or beef.
If you have been to Del’s in Pismo Beach, you may have had some of the wines from Darren Delmore, the son of the pizzeria’s owner. With the last name of Delmore, which translates to “of the sea”, it’s no surprise that Darren would be focusing exclusively on grapes from our coastal vineyards for his wine. This youthful Syrah has a light, rustic feel with red berry fruit flavors and a satisfying savory quality. With time in your glass, the wine opens up into a delicious, deep and fruity wine.
May 2022
This mouth-watering wine is the creation of Edgar Torres, owner and winemaker. This selection from Edgar’s top tier label called “Songs” is 100% Cabernet Franc. It’s not just any Cabernet Franc. The unique Carbonic Maceration fermentation process is used in order to draw out cherry, raspberry, blueberry and blackberry flavors initially. Further sips reveal a full bodied and complex wine with floral and savory herbal notes on the finish.
This delicious Pinot Noir comes from Ryan Deovlet of Biddle Ranch fame. He and his partner in flavor, Grace Kegel, have been making wine under the Deovlet label since 2008. The grapes for this Pinot Noir come from 3 legendary Santa Barbara County vineyards. You will note layered red fruits, floral notes, spice and a subtle earthiness. It is approachable and easy to drink with lovely aromatics and a layered complexity that you will find very satisfying.
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