this little guy has recently relocated from Paso Robles, Ranch Santa Margarita Vineyard, to wonderful Santa Maria. He was found in the Deaver Clone Zinfandel grapes we got in last week. You can find all sorts of things in picking bins….
…check out restaurant Juliene. They are doing a great job. Last night was a little nuts…the Santa Barbara tasting group was kind enough to let me sit in- it was white burgundy and chateauneuf night (: 00 Raveneau chapelot was the wine of the night…there were a couple of others decent producers representing including Colin-Morey, Francios Jobard, Charvin, Pagau, la nerthe, latour-giraud, and Usseglio. Not too shabby.
What is liquoreux?
Answer: The French term translated as “syrupy sweet” used for very rich, often botrytized wines that are markedly sweeter than Moelleux wines.
Boy, hope everyone who was privileged enough to get a glass of it at the Larkspur employee party enjoyed it. Grower Champagne ROCKS!!
What is the IVDP?
Answer: The Instituto do Vinho do Douro e do Porto which is the governing body for both Port and Douro wines.
Its Pinot Noir and it’s from California, Sonoma Coast no less. On any other day I would immediately shun it and order a lesser priced bottle of Burgundy but I do have to admit that I liked this wine, both when I was blind tasted on it and knowingly served it on another occasion. All my sensibilities tell me not to, it’s named after a car, made by a veritable wine rock star, and bottled by a “cult” winery. Things I find my pocketbook, especially, like to avoid. However, if you run into a bottle of 2006 Aston Pinot Noir, give it a try. I think it might be what other people in this part of the world might have been trying to do for awhile. It isn’t French, and doesn’t seem to try to be, it just is, and it’s pretty good at it. But it’ll cost you, if you can find it…they only made 450 cases. I love this forum for voicing my unsolicited opinion, by the way!!
zin Bringing in Santa Margarita Zin from the West Side of Paso. Did you happen to see the 2.5 stars in the NY Times?
