BAY AREA WINE SOCIETY TASTE-OFF BLOG
Bay Area Wine Society

May/June Membership Events

May Mingle at the Marin/ Sonoma Concours d'Elegance
Sunday, May 19th
11:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We will pick our 'Best of Show' among art on wheels and in the wine glass.  We will evaluate a dozen different picnic wines for our annual outing plus some munchies.

We will join the Fifth Annual Marin Sonoma Concours d’Elegance, as we return to a bygone era when Hollywood set the world’s stage; men were men, women were glamorous and the cars they drove were as dazzling and exciting as the lives they led.

Come see the infamous 1960 Rolls-Royce Cloud ll Drophead Coupe owned by Elizabeth Taylor and purported to have played a significant role in her blossoming affair with Richard Burton.

Picture yourself seated next to Mae West in her 1934 Duesenberg J-370sharing a laugh about how “when you’re bad, you’re better.” Imagine Jean Harlow driving her 1932 Packard 903 Sport Phaeton, wind in her hair, a winsome smile on her face or Dick Clark, listening to the latest Top 40 hit on the radio of his 1966 Cord 8/10 Sportsmen.

Featured vehicles for 2013:

  • Vintage automobiles formerly owned by Hollywood Legends
  • Modern bespoke automobiles from local avant-garde designer Steve Moal
  • Corvette Sting Ray in celebration of the 50th Anniversary
  • Lamborghini in celebration of the 50th Anniversary
  • Japanese Manufacture
  • Vintage Italian motorcycles
  • Classic wood cars and station wagons
  • Vintage campers and trailers

Second Annual Concours Couture Awards and dress etiquette:

For both ladies and gentleman, this year’s Concours attire is unequivocally about the hat. Large, small, floral, fantastic – no matter your preference the hat is a sensational accessory to mark the importance of the occasion. Encouraged dress is‘garden party attire’ – elegant blazers, vibrant ties, sweaters and slacks for the men; sundresses with weather appropriate sweaters, jackets and gloves for the women. On the day of the event, Concours Couture Awards will be presented for Best Hat, Best Ensemble, Best Dressed Coupleand Best Period Ensemble.

General Admission to Concours: $20 ~ Wine Tasting: $15 plus processing fee.  Limited to 15 who prepay.

To purchase tickets to the Concours please click here.  For the tasting click below (disregard shipping box, just bring receipt):

Picnic wines tasting

Details on where to meet will be emailed to members who RSVP.

1/2 Off Eighth Annual Uncorked! Tasting 

...Food and wine lovers will gather at the historic Ghirardelli Square to enjoy wines from more than 50 top-tier wineries, live entertainment, and cooking demonstrations by top San Francisco chefs.  wine.coop will have its own booth. 

Just added, Food Truck Court on Beach Street!

Uncorked! has once again partnered with local nonprofit organization, Save The Bay, and will donate a portion of proceeds raised from ticket sales to support the organization’s efforts to protect, restore, and celebrate the San Francisco Bay.

Tickets cost is normally $50.00 to participate in wine tasting. Ghiradelli Square management is extending to members of the Bay Area Wine Society/wine.coop a limited number of 1/2 off tix.  Go to http://ghirardellisquareuncorked.eventbrite.com/ and enter the promotional code BAYAREAWINESOCIETY.

Ghirardelli Square Wine Festival-Uncorked!

Here is a partial list of wine and food purveyors

Alexander Valley Vineyards 
Berryessa Gap 
Calstar Cellars 
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 
Capay Valley Vineyards 
Concannon Vineyard 
Cornerstone Cellars 
D & L Carinalli Vineyards 
Darms Lane 
Dashe Cellars 
De Novo Wines 
Dogwood Cellars 
Dutcher Crossing Winery 
Ellipsis Wine Company 
Fenestra Winery 
Frey Vineyards 
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company 
Ghost Pines 
Hannah Nicole Vineyards 
Julie LePla Winery 
Longboard Vineyards 
Louis M. Martini 
Martin Ray Winery 
Matchbook Winery 
McGrail Vineyards and Winery 
Moreno BHLB Sparkling Wine 
Mutt Lynch Winery 
Navarro Vineyards 
Quady Winery 
Roadhouse Winery 
Robert Mondavi Winery 
Rockwall Wine Company 
Rosa D’Oro Vineyards 
Route 3 Wines 
Sanel Valley Vineyards 
Séka Hills Winerey 
Simas Family Vineyard 
Six Sigma Ranch and Winery 
Skinner Vineyards 
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers 
Spicy Vines Spiced Wine 
Steven Kent Portfolio 
Taproot Wines 
Terra Savia Organic Wines 
The Bubble Lounge San Francisco 
The Winery SF 
TR Elliott 
Turkovich Family Wines 
White Oak Vineyards 
wine.coop 

Donfino Cheese 
Farm Fresh to You 
Fins on the Hoof Gastrotruck 
Ghirardelli Chocolate 
Kind Snacks 
Repicci's Italian Ice of the East Bay 
The Melt Bus 
Ultimate Kitchen Grater from Italy 
Vita Coco 
The Wine Xchg 
3g Designs 
Alex & Ani


Launching of wine.coop at a remarkable SF urban winery

  • Harrington Wine

    1559 Custer Avenue, San FranciscoCA (map)

For our inaugural wine.coop event we are featuring the extraordinary new releases, library gems, and barrel samples presented at an open house by Harrington winery located in San Francisco's India Basin south of Dogpatch just off of 3rd St., three blocks from a light rail station.

The tasting fee is being waived for Meetup/wine.coop members who will also receive a special 25% discount off with the discount potentially going even lower--"prices drop as more members shop".












The focus of this open house event will be on recently bottled 2012 white wines. Mr. Harrington will be pouring the following wines along with light appetizers.

Fiano Luna Matta Vineyard, Paso Robles, 2 wines, sulfite and no-sulfite  

Fiano Fratelli Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley

Chardonnay Bald Mountain Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains

Muscat Canelli Fratelli Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley

Pinot Noir SVD wines from Wiley, Stori, Thompson Vineyards

Nebbiolo Luna Matta/Berardo Vineyards, Paso Robles

Negrette Calleri Vineyard, Cienega Valley, barrel sample

Trousseau Siletto Vineyard, Cienega Valley, barrel sample

Teroldego Fratelli Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley, barrel sample

Charbono Fratelli Vineyard, Santa Clara Valley, barrel sample

Lagrein Berardo Vineyard, Paso Robles, barrel sample 

Carignane Lovers Lane Vineyard, Mendocino, barrel sample

thompson pinot8-1 2

MORE ABOUT THE NEW WHITE WINES

Two 2012 Fianos hail from the organically-farmed Luna Matta Vineyard in Paso Robles; the Terrane version – as always – is bottled without sulfites. Remarkably different wines. Come compare and contrast.

A third '12 Fiano sourced from the Fratelli Vineyard will also be offered. This is the same vineyard source as the 2011 Fiano which roused a bit of a fan base last summer. A rich wine with clear aging potential.

White Burgundy fans will appreciate the new 2012 Chardonnay from Bald Mountain Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyard is situated on a rare limestone outcrop and the effect of the white stony soil is evident in the crisp, lively flavors of this no-oak Chardonnay.

Besides being a source for Fiano, the Fratelli Vineyard has also become one of Bryan's favorite vineyards for “oddities” like Teroldego and Charbono, so he went all-in on a Muscat Canelli as well. A wine with spicy, seductive aromatics, Muscat is one of the oldest and most exotic of the cultivated grapevines. With such beguiling perfume, it is easy to understand why this grape has been around so long.

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For information on our consumer buying cooperative, go to, yes,http://wine.coop .


April Event ~ "Mint & Mingle"

Mint & Mingle: Viewing a 'Fashionable' Exhibit at the Old Mint Followed by a Taste-off of Wines from Nevada and Placer Counties

Saturday, April 20 & 27th, 2013


Kurt Nystrom, Executive Director of the Old Mint discusses the features  of the building

 

 

Rating wines on April 20th at the Pickwick Hotel and the 27th at 54 Mint restaurant

 

This historic building, which opened in 1874, was turned over to the City by the U.S. Treasury in 2003 and used only sporadically for private events and the occasional exhibit, while it tries to raise funds to turn it into a city history museum.  See the wonderful photos of the mint down through time on the Museum  homepage

The exhibit was entitled San Francisco Style, showcasing the styles and fashions of San Francisco from the 1850s to the 1970s. Fashion is the ultimate artistic expression of individual style, and San Francisco has had an influence on the way people dress dating back to the 19th century.

This was a rare chance to view the interior while enjoying an enticing exhibition. Afterward, we crossed the street to the Bogart Room in the Pickwick Hotel to rate and rank green/ natural/ sustainable/ organic wines with an array of munchies.  The following weekend we accommodated those who were prevented from attending on the 20th due to limited capacity.  Our hosts, the owners of the Roman restaurante 54 Mint, provided excellent appetizers to complement the white and red wines.

Because of the linkage to the Old Mint, and in keeping with Earth Day, we featured limited production, ecofriendly wines from the Gold Country (we also gave away a bottle of organic wine produced by the Frey family in Mendocino). Wines are being considered an candidates for inclusion in the wine.coop store.

Our monthly multi meetup mingles ("Winegles") seek to offer occasions for people to socialize over new and different wine styles and flavors.  Why nurse a glass of a single varietal or be limited to a flight of three at a high markup wine bar like Press or W, when for the same amount of money you can savor and learn about a range of wines.

Our unique approach is based on the premise that certain special wines have an appeal to many types of personal paletes which too often rarely please the refined tastes of the wine pros.  We want to offer attendees--who represent a cross section of those who buy wine for dinner--the opportunity to decide on their choices.

We broke this tasting down into four flights, we sampled a variety of wines from microwineries sourced mostly from grapes grown near Auburn, Grass Valley and Nevada City.  As the results show below, members and guests were quite pleased with the quality and value of the vino. These wines deserve wider exposure  At least our members and their guests now know that there is more to the Sierra Foothills than El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties.  We were glad to make the introduction to these lesser known wines, which are being considered as candidates for inclusion in the wine.coop online club.

The prices attached to each of the medal winning wines are winery retail.  More information with links on each winery listed below and each county AVA can be found at::

http://www.placerwine.com/

http://www.sierravintners.com/


A SELECTION OF WINES FROM NEVADA AND PLACER COUNTIES


Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image(90-92)  DELICIOUS EXCELLENT - A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement  Gold Medal

Avanguardia 2011 Cristallo white blend Nevada County Sierra Foothills  $14

Avanguardia 2009 Premiato red blend  Sierra Foothills  20

Bent Metal Winery 2009 Barbera Sierra Foothills    22

Bent Metal Winery 2009 Syrah Sierra Foothills  23

Le Casque 2010 Rousanne Amador County  22

Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Estate Sierra Foothills  16

Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery 2010 Cabernet Franc  Reserve Estate View Forever Vineyard    Sierra Foothills   38

Lucchesi Vineyards & Winery 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon  Reserve Estate View Forever Vineyard Sierra Foothills   38

Mt. Vernon 2011 Cuvée Blanc blend Sierra Foothills   22

Nevada City Winery 2010 Barbera Nevada County Sierra Foothills    30  

Nevada City Winery 2010 Sangiovese Nevada County Sierra Foothills  28

Popie Duarte Family Vineyards 2009 Barbera Estate Sierra Foothills  24

Sierra Starr Vineyard & Winery 2009 Zinfandel Phil's Selection Sierra Foothills  25

Smith Vineyard 2008 Merlot Estate Sierra Foothills  21

Solune Winegrowers 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Bear River Vineyard Sierra Foothills  24

Solune Winegrowers N/V Port Style Wine C'est si Bon Sierra Foothills  21

Vina Castellano 2008 Abuelito blend Estate Sierra Foothills  22


Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image  (87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD  Displaying special qualities of finesse and flavor  Silver Medal 

Avanguardia 2011 Rosato Cara Mia Nevada County  16
Bonitata Boutique Wine N/V Duet white blend Sierra Foothills   18 (scored very high by some)
Ciotti Cellars 2010 Barbera Placer County  24
Dono dal Cielo 2008 Zinfandel Estate Sierra Foothills 2  33
Gianelli  Vineyards 2010 Aglianico Tuolomne County  27
Indian Springs Vineyards 2010 Semillon Lake County  16
Nevada City Winery 2010 Zinfandel Nevada County Sierra Foothills  20
Secret Ravine Vineyard & Winery 2008 Syrah Sierra Foothills  20
Solune Winegrowers 2009 Verdelho Silvaspoons Vineyard  Alta Mesa Sierra Foothills   16
Smith Vineyard 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Sierra Foothills   22
Stark Wine 2011 Primitivo Damiano Vineyard Placer County  36
Vina Castellano 2006 Tempranillo Estate Sierra Foothills   28

Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image  (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness  Bronze Medal


Lone Buffalo 2010 Zinfandel "Thunder  Beast" Sierra Foothills   26

Smith Vineyard 2010 Syrah Estate Sierra Foothills   23

Wine Tasting is Bullshit Except When it is Done by Us

This is why, relying on a larger "panel" of real people in a social setting with food as we do, using a more sensible index to evaluate how delcious a wine is, gets closer to a particular wine's appeal to potential buyers
Be sure to also read the comments.

March Events ~ Pinot Noir Summit/Showdown/Tasting

March Mingle: Discount tix to the Pinot Noir Summit, Showdown & Grand Tasting

  • Exclusive, interactive and educational Pinot Noir tasting presented by Affairs of the Vine. "The most amount of fun you can have with Pinot with your clothes on." WineOh.tv

    "This Pinot Noir showcase event defines excellence for New World winemaking."

    Pit your palate against the expert judging panel at the Pinot Noir Showdown, attend two Pinot Noir Workshops and at Grand Awards Tasting & Ceremony, taste fabulous Pinot Noirs with winemakers - discuss one on one their approach and philosophy.  A selection of Pinot-friendly hors d'oeuvre will be served. 

    Pinot Noir Workshops

    12:30 - 1:30 PM
    Pinot Noir: The Wine That Speaks Loudest from the VineyardTop winemakers from four premier cool climate growing regions will discuss and share their personal insights into the wonderful capacity of Pinot Noir to reflect the unique characteristics of site and growing environment. Each winemaker will present and taste his personal choice of a single Pinot Noir that best demonstrates and defines the unique characteristics of site specifics and growing environment as reflected through that particular wine.

    Moderator: John Drady, Founder, Sonoma Coast Vineyards
    Eugenia Keegan, Acting General Manager,                      The Four Graces Winery
    John Clark, Winemaker, Brophy Clark Cellars
    Francis Mahoney, Founder, Mahoney Vineyards
    David Strada, US Marketing Manager, New Zealand Winegrowers
    Erica Trombetta, Enologist, Trombetta Family Wines

    1:45 PM  3:00PM
    Winemakers to Watch will feature four talented and relatively young winemakers who you may not know but should. The winemakers will answer roundtable questions and share a wine that demonstrates his or her style and philosophy of winemaking.

    Moderator: Fred Swan, CS, DWS, CWAS: NorCal Wine
    Panel: Csaba Szakal, Owner/Winemaker, En Garde Winery
    Alan Dewitt, Winemaker, Guglielmo Winery

    Michael Zardo, Winemaker, Ten Acre Winery
    Matt Hughes, Winemaker, Six Sigma Ranch

    3:00 - 5:30 PM
    Pinot Noir Showdown (see results below)
    Blind taste 40+ of the top wines selected by the professional judging panel in two flights.

    PINOT NOIR GRAND TASTING:
    6:00-8:30 PM

    Enjoy 50 Pinot Noirs plus other varietals with the winemakers as you discuss one on one their approach and philosophy.  A selection of Pinot-friendly hors d'oeuvre will be served.


    The contestants for the blind tasting--the "Showdown--ranked high by the pros during the "Shootout" held in December:


    Kenneth Volk 2010 Steiner Creek Vyds San Luis Obispo Cty $60.00

    TR Elliott 2009 Queste , Russian River Valley $44.00

    Ventana 2010 Ventana Vineyard , Arroyo Seco $32.00

    Chloe Creek Vineyards 2010 Leras Family Vineyard, Russian River Valley $40

    Rodney Strong 2009 Reserve Russian River Valley $40.00

    Brophy Clark 2010 , Sta. Rita Hills $34.00

    Director's 2010, Sonoma Coast $21.00

    Schug 2010 , Sonoma Coast $24.00

    Black Pine 2010, California $26.00

    Anam Cara Cellars 2010 Nicholas Estate, Chehalem Mountains $32.00

    Portalupi Wine 2010, Russian River Valley $30.00

    En Garde 2009 Reserve, Russian River Valley $58.00

    Enkidu 2010 Tina Marie, Russian River Valley $45.00

    Mahoney Vineyards 2010, Carneros $24.00

    Ketcham Estate 2010 , Russian River Valley $38.00

    Pacific Coast Vineyards 2010 Babcock Vyds, Santa Rita Hills $50.00

    Bouchaine 2011 Estate Vineyard Pinot Meunier, Napa Valley – Carneros $40.00

    Carol Shelton Wines 2011 Larson Vineyard, Sonoma‐Caneros $38.00

    David Bruce Winery 2010, Anderson Valley $42.00

    EJ2 Winery 2010 Doctors Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands $39.00

    Guglielmo 2010 Private Reserve, Monterey $35.00

    Lumos 2009 Temperance Hill Vineyard Willamette Valley $34.00

    Canihan 2009 Estate Canihan Family Vyd Sonoma Coast/Carneros $50.00

    Gloria Ferrer 2007 Jose S Ferrer Selection, Carneros $40.00

    Hahn SLH Estate 2011, Santa Lucia Highlands, $35.00

    Ten Acre 2010 Stephens Vineyard, Russian River Valley $55.00

    Graton Ridge Cellars 2010 Paul Family Estate, Russian River Vineyards $50.00

    Fleur de California 2010 Pinot Noir, Central Coast $15.00

    David Bruce Winery 2010 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, $35.00

    Claiborne & Churchill 2010 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley $26.00

    Bonneau 2010 Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast $36.00

    Fess Parker 2010 Ashleys Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills $50.00

    The Four Graces 2010 Black Family Vineyard Pinot Noir Dundee Hills $45.00

    LaMontagne 2010 Theron Clos Pepe Vyds, Sta. Rita Hills $58.00

    Hagafen Cellars 2011, Coombsville, Napa Valley $32.00

    Mud House 2011, Central Otago $21.99

    Anderson Oaks 2010, Sonoma Coast $30.00

    Laetitia 2009 Les Galets, Arroyo Grande Valley $60.00

    Double Bond 2007 Wolff Vineyards Pinot Noir, Edna Valley $65.00

    Handley Cellars 2009, Anderson Valley $32.00

    Bargetto 2010, Santa Cruz Mountains $25.00

    Field Stone 2011 Hopkins River Ranch, Russian River Ranch $30.00


    The Showdown results that pitted the palates of the people against the pros.  The outcome: those who buy wines, i.e. the wine loving consumers,  don't consider the wines chosen by those who get them as samples, i.e., the gatekeepers, as superior.  The conclusion: Let the people do the judging for the people!

    Best of the Showdown: an entry from Canihan Wines, which ended up on both the female and male consumer top three.

    Female Wine Lovers (= consumers)

    3rd Place ~ Portalupi Wines 2010 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley $30.00 (best value among the people)

    2nd Place  ~ Graton Ridge Cellars 2010 Paul Family Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley $50.00

    1st Place ~ Canihan 2009 Canihan Family Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast/Carneros $50.00

    Female Judges (=gatekeepers)

    3rd Place  ~ LaMontagne 2010 Theron Clos Pepe Vyds Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills $58.00

    2nd Place  ~ Handley Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley $32.00

    1st Place  ~ Mahoney Vineyards 2010 Pinot Noir, Carneros $24.00 (best value among professionals judges)


    Male Wine Lovers (= consumers)

    3rd Place  ~ Double Bond 2007 Wolff Vineyards Pinot Noir, Edna Valley $65.00

    2nd Place  ~ Canihan 2009 Canihan Family Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast/Carneros $50.00

    1st Place ~ J2 Winery 2010 Doctors Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands $39.00

    Male Judges (= gatekeepers)

    3rd Place  ~ Anderson Oaks 2010 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast $30.00 

    2nd Place ~  Double Bond 2007 Wolff Vineyards Pinot Noir, Edna Valley $65.00

    1st Place ~  Field Stone 2011 Hopkins River Ranch Pinot Noir, Russian River Ranch $30.00


February Events~SF Chronicle Competition Comparison

Multi Meetup Wine Mingle: Judging wines from the SF Chron Competition 

  • February 28, 2012
  • 6:00 PM

  • This month at our smaller event we taste a variety of the most talked about medal winners from the mighty SF Chronicle Wine Competition --"the largest competition of American wines in the world."  As part of our plan to select wines for our venture wine.coop, we will evaluate an array of varietals, both red and white, from different price points and regions.  And as with many of our other vinous showdowns we will do it blind with ballots.  And some tasty nibbles

    The gallery will also have different artists on display this month: "art on the wall and in the glass" as our slogan says.

Our monthly multi meetup mingles ("Wingles") seek to offer occasions for people to socialize over new and different wine styles and flavors. Why nurse a glass of a single varietal or be limited to a flight of three wines at a high-markup wine bar when for the same amount of  money you can savor and learn about a range of wines while enjoying the gallery's ever changing artist exhibits.

AND THE TASTING IS JUST ONE BLOCK FROM BART WITH DISCOUNTED PARKING RIGHT OVERHEAD.

Our unique approach is based on the premise that certain  special wines have an appeal to a broad range of different palates which rarely please the refined tastes of the wine pros.  We want to offer attendees--who represent a cross section of those who buy wine for dinner--the opportunity to decide on their choices.

We will draw raffle prizes from the tickets used for the ranking of wines.  You will also be able to purchase additional tickets to enhance your chances of winning a bottle of wine.

VOTING RESULTS 

The results combine two flights and don't always reflect the results reached by the professional judges.  The medal designated at the end of the listing was awarded by the SF Chron competition.  Also shown is the category each wine was judged in and the winery retail price.  Bear in mind that all these wines can be found for less at various retail outlets.  The Ahnfelt "Provocative" Cab, for example, can be found for $19.99, well below the winery retail of $29.  Check out www.wine.searcher.com to find the best prices.

The wines are listed by the rating and ranking of the participants within each broader taste appeal category. So following our scoring system of five glasses, the Waterstone scored higher than the Deerfield, but both made the cut of four out of five glasses.  We are not interested in all the distinctions that go into, say, the Davis 20 pt system.  We are only interested in how much pleasure the vino gives our taste buds: they're "yum" factor and the prices.  We always like to see giant killers like the Fetzer Gewurztraminer, though some of its appeal is no doubt due to its off-dry quality.

Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image (90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT - A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement  Gold Medal

Waterstone Wines  Cabernet Sauvignon - $60.00 & Over 2009 Reserve  Napa Valley   60.00 Gold

Fetzer Vineyards  Gewürztraminer   2011  California   $9.99   Double Gold

Ahnfeldt Wines   Cabernet Sauvignon - $25.00 to $29.99  2010  Napa Valley  Provocative  $29.00  Double Gold

Deerfield Ranch  Merlot - $30.00 to $39.99 2008  Sonoma Valley  Morrison Vineyard   $38.00 Gold


   (87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD  Displaying various degrees of finesse and flaor Silver Medal

The Crusher    Cabernet Sauvignon - $15.00 to $19.99 2010  Clarksburg     Wilson Vineyard  $15.99  Best of Class

Berryessa  Gap Vineyard  Petite Sirah - $20.00 & Over   2009  Yolo County  $21.00    Silver

Berryessa  Gap Vineyard   Zinfandel - up to $19.99    2009    Yolo County $19.00   Silver

Silkwood Wines  All Other Red Varietals   NV   California   Alicante Bouschet    $39.00       Silver

Rancho Sisquoc Merlot- $20.00 to $24.99  2009 Santa Maria Valley  Flood Family Vineyard  $20.00  Silver

Ceja Vineyards  All Red Blends - $15.00 - $24.99  2009  Napa Valley  Vina del Sol  Vino de Casa  $20.00  Bronze

Ca'Momi Wines  All Red Blends - Up to $14.99  2010  Napa   Rosso di Napa  $12.95   Double Gold

Field Stone Winery & Vineyard  Cabernet Sauvignon - $15.00 to $19.99  2009 Alexander Valley $18.00  Gold

Handley Cellars Gewürztraminer   2011   Anderson Valley  Gewürztraminer   $18.00   Silver

Envolve Winery Sauvignon Blanc  - $20.00 & Over    2011   Sonoma Valley   $20.00    Gold

Girasole Vineyards  Pinot Blanc  2011  Mendocino  $13.00  Gold

McFadden Vineyard Chardonnay - $15.00 to $19.99 2011 Potter Valley  McFadden Farm $16.00  Double Gold

TR Elliott  Chardonnay  $30.00 to $34.99 2011 Russian River Valley  Three Roses Herrick Vnyd   $32.00 Silver


  (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness  Bronze Medal

Davis Bynun  Chardonnay - $25.00 to $29.99   2011  Russian River Valley  River West,  $25.00  Silver

Beringer  Vineyards  Founders Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - up to $14.99   2010  California   $9.00  Gold



January Cabernet Event~Pit Your Palate Against the Pros

Annual Cabernet Shootout Challenge

Noon to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The Winery SF 
Treasure Island

PIT YOUR PALATE AGAINST THE PROS

For many wine enthusiasts, the start of the year is associated with a major tasting of Zinfandels.  Now Cabernet fans can indulge their passion after the start of the new year in one of the most dramatic settings in the Bay Area - The Winery SF on Treasure Island.  And enjoy the experience of this fundraiser without the crowd crush of the mega tastings or Passport weekends. 

Over a number of weeks in the fall, Affairs of the Vine convened a select panel of 41 wine makers, writers, retailers, educators, and consultants to judge the 7th Cabernet Shootout among mostly limited production family owned Cabernets, Cabernet Francs and Cabernet blends from over 50 different appellations.  Without regard to price, vintage or region, this group of experts moved 64 wines to the final round selecting 32 "best of the best."

These finalists were then evaluated in a blind tasting by wine lovers attending the Bay Area Wine Society sponsored  Cabernet Shootout Challenge

Starting at 1:30 pm, each Cab lover selected their favorites in one of two flights of 17 and 18 Cabs containing five of the top 10 wines chosen by the panelists.

In this Pro/Am competition, the results of the professionals'  Cab Shootout were compared to the tally of the amateurs' Cab Challenge, both tabulated by gender.

   This distinctly different format provides a unique opportunity  to compare your taste preferences to those of the 'experts' in the wine industry.   It also allows participants to sample other than the usual suspects and rate rising star wineries

During the afternoon, attendees were also able to mingle and meet with many of the vintners from the wineries that participated in the Cabernet Shootout in an open walk around tasting accompanied by various nibbles.from such notable vendors as Fabrique Délices.and the Vineburg Deli in Sonoma.Attendees could meet Vintners from such artisanal stalwarts as Cass, Cuda Ridge, Vigilance,  Rocca Family, HeartSmart, Muscardini, Fernwood, Peju, Rodney Strong, Signorello, Petroni, Field Stone, Shannon Ridge, and last year's SF Chronicle Best Red, McGrail.

In addition,starting at noon the Cabernet Shootout Challenge offered two concurrent VIP panel sessions of winemakers who explored how this noble varietal is influenced by the terroir of different grape growing areas.  One session focused on the distinctive features of representative Old World Bordeaux Cabs vs some of California's New World versions discussed by winemakers from Sol RougeRahn Estate, EnGarde, and Auburn James.The other workshop examined how the  viticultural characteristics of several regions in the state differ and guide winemaking decisions. Winemakers from Eberle (Paso Robles), J Pilar (Murrieta, South Coast AVA)Deerfield Ranch (Kenwood, Sonoma Valley), and Rodrigue Molyneaux(Livermore).

2.5 starsWe also raffled off bottles of Cab from the participating wineries to raise funds for One Brick that assists charities with temporary manpower needs. And since 26 wineries poured in the walk around tasting, and no more than 280 tickets were sold, the odds were quite good that one could walk away with a special bottle of vino.

Thanks to Barbara Drady, Chief Wine Evangelist of Affairs of the Vine, for putting this unique event together and to Katherine Bernitt who expertly sourced, prepared, presented, and orchestrated the volunteers who assembled the munchies and kept the beautifully decorated food table stocked. John Lyle did his usual efficient and friendly job of checking in attendees.  And to the One Brick Volunteers for all their assistance including set up and break down.  Terrific teamwork all around.


The Challenge Finalists

Red Team                   

Edna Valley Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $15

Rahn Estate 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $55

Barefoot Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, California $6.99

Rocca Family 2009 Collinetta Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Coombsville, Napa Valley $85

Shannon Ridge 2010 High Elevation, Cab Sauv, Lake County $22.99

Lucas & Lewellen 2009 COTE DEL SOL Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Ynez Valley $32

Great Dane 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Coombsville $110

Deerfield 2007 Zukowski Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley $60

The Winery SF 2008 Beatty Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Vly/Howell Mtn $150

Field Stone 2010 Staten Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley $40

Edge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, North Coast $20

Rodrigue Molyneaux 2009 Reserve Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley $45

BOYANCI 2009 Stagecoach Vineyards Red Blend, Napa Valley $110

Petroni Vineyards Petroni Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley $70

Cannonball Wines 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, California $15

 AuburnJames 2009 Bella Vista Blocks 1&4 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $75

J Pilar 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, South Coast $40

Cass Winery 2009 Cass Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $45

White Team                                                               

Sol Rouge 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lake County $32

En Garde 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District, Napa Valley $88

BOYANCI InSpire 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $60

Muscardini Cellars Madrone Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley $39

McGrail Vineyards Estate Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley $39

Arroba Winery 2009 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley $40

Louis M. Martini 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County $18

Martin Ray Winery 2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District $55

Field Stone 2009 Vineyard Select Wally’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley $30

Signorello 2010 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $90

Ghost Pines 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa/Sonoma/Lake $23

PEJU 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $45

Eberle 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $34

Rocca Family Vineyards 2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Napa Valley $50

Venteux Vineyards 2009 Starr Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles $20

Shingleback The Davey Estate 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale $22 

Rodney Strong 2008 Rockaway, Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Alexander Valley $75

Best of Challenge combining male and female scores and both flights together

First Place (with twice as many votes as the 2nd place wine): 

Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image AuburnJames 2009 Bella Vista Blocks 1&4 Cab Sauvignon, Napa Valley  $75 

230 cases produced

Professional judging panel:  There is a prevalent earthiness on the brooding nose of dried fruit. Mushroom and cassis flavors on entry with coffee notes adding further dimension. The acidity of this wine rocks! The tannic backbone and dusty fruit are in total balance with the whole. Exciting and intense aromas emanate from the glass. The well balanced palate shows black cherry and black currant flavors with a lovely spice accent. A definite sense of place, no doubt...Napa Valley. 

Second Place (tie)

Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image:  The Winery SF 2008 Beatty Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley /Howell Mtn $150 /

100 cases produced

Professional judging panel:  A serious quiet fireside wine with tangy red cherry, anise, soft cocoa, and soy aromas that replicate on the palate. Evolves in deeper versions through the long finish. Engaging black fruit aromatics. Gorgeous mid-palate of fruit and spice with supple sexy tannins.

 Muscardini Cellars Madrone Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley $39 

217 cases produced

Professional judging panel: The red fruit nose has dried herbs and some dustiness. Blackberry with smoky notes throughout. Inky, blue/black in color. Nose of soft red fruit and cassis. Front palate of cherry and earth, mid moves to cassis and leather. The long finish shows cassis and red fruit. "I'll definitely buy this." 

3rd Place (and Best Value)

Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image: Ghost Pines (Louis Martini) 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa/Sonoma/Lake Counties $23--though it can be found in retail outlets for as low as $16 at places like The Wine Club.  

129,100 cases made!

Professional judging panel: Black plums, soy, coffee, and bitter chocolate show on the reserved and pleasant nose. The fruit is accented with coffee, earth and integrated wood notes. Nice finish. Not an overly aggressive style.  Baked dark fruit - plum, raisin - and spice on the nose. Nice chalky mouthfeel. Lots of ripe fruit with attractive spice mid to late

Other higher scoring (Consumer Choice Competition) wines across both sexes:

 Reviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer imageReviewer image  Aroba, En Garde, Field Stone Reserve, Lucas & Lewellen , PEJU, and Rodrigue Molyneaux

Compare these ratings and rankings to the results from the professional Shootout which includes the finalists of both the critics and consumers competitions by gender.

The Rating System

(95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal - An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which other wines are judged

  (92-94)  SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE  Double Gold Medal

(90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal- A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement

(87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD Silver Medal

(85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD  Bronze Medal - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness

  (82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY

(80-82) NEUTRALFAIR - A simple  quaffer for everyday drinking

  (77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE

(75-77) DISLIKE IT ~ DEFICIENT -  An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed

Ranking: 1st, 2nd, 3rd




December Event


12/12/12 Multi Meetup Wine Mingle ("Winegle"): Open House Holiday Party


  • Gallery/Wine Bar~4N5

    863 Mission St. @ 5th, San Francisco, CA 

  • Our periodic wine mingles seek to offer occasions for people to socialize over new and different wine styles and flavors. Why nurse a glass of a single varietal or be limited to a flight of three wines at a high-markup wine bar when for the same amount of  money you can enjoy anhd learn about a range of wines while enjoying the gallery's ever changing artist exibits.

    AND THE TASTINGS AT 4N5 ARE JUST ONE BLOCK FROM BART WITH DISCOUNTED PARKING RIGHT OVERHEAD.

    The wines were paired with some tasty nibbles, including rustica pizza with a variety of toppings..

    Ballots were available to pick favorite releases of the evening. Our unique approach is based on the premise that certain special wines have an appeal to a broad range of different palates which rarely please the refined tastes of the wine pros.  We want to offer attendees--who represent a cross section of those who buy wine for dinner--the opportunity to decide on their choice.on their choices.

     

    Bob Lynch, Irish Monkey

     

    Jeff Hill, Hill Wine Co.

     

    Alex Pomerantz, Qualia & Pavo Wines

    December's shootout included the sort of producers we seek to showcase: limited production, below the critics' radar producers that deserve exposure to those who appreciate unique wines for purchase at reasonable prices, not just obtaining samples like the gatekeepers.  There was no particular theme this time except for our overall approach to wine tasting.
     
    The four wineries draw from vineyards throughout the North Coast including Gold Country. And one of these wineries succeeded in placing two of their four wines in our 'Gold Medal' category achieving 4 out or 5 stars, which is rare when you have a People's Choice judging since regular people don't inflate their grades the way the "experts" tend to do.
     
    You'll note that all the Sauvignon Blancs poured ended up in the third category.  Once again, I think, this demonstrates that Sauvignon Blanc is not as favored by wine drinkers.
     
    Also the rating and ranking results sometimes don't quite jibe, which means that those who do like wines that scored a bit lower, like the Irish Monkey Sangiovese really like them. (I am one of those-TOM)

    Best value wines clearly come from Hill Wine Company.  Napa wines for $18!
     
    Our 'Best of Show' winery was Qualia Wines which also produces Pavo Wines.  Qualia used to make their wines in the San Francisco urban core on 3rd St. in Dogpatch.  They have since moved operations up to 8th St. in Sonoma where since 2009 they are making their canister varietals on tap: Free Flow and Silvertap Wines.  More on this promising venture here:  www.freeflowwines.com/


    Free Flow Wines was founded on a principle: to reduce the carbon footprint of the wine industry and improve wine quality. One 19.5L keg eliminates 26 empty wine bottles, corks, labels and cardboard boxes from going to the landfill or being recycled

    Qualia is a Latin philosophy term used to refer to our individual experiences of the world around us - the sensations of sight, smell, touch, and taste. In 2005, Nancy Kivelson and Tom Angstadt, like many vintners are refugees from the worlds of law and finance, discovered the property that became the Kivelstadt Vineyard, a steeply sloped and rocky estate of Glen Ellen that has been organically farmed since its planting .  

    The winemaker, Jordan Kivelstadt, personifies the new generation of entrepreneur. After a traditional pre-med and engineering education, and a stint in biotech consulting, he turned his back on the corporate world, followed his passion into winemaking, and moved back to his native Bay Area.

    Starting as a harvest intern at Copain Custom Crush, he dove headfirst into the world of wine and traveled the globe working harvests year round to pack maximum experience into the shortest amount of time. After work in Australia’s Margaret River and two years at The Donum Estate in northern California, Jordan launched Pavo Estate Wines in 2007, using Syrah grapes from his family’s celebrated Bennett Valley vineyard. Two years later, encouraged by Pavo’s critical acclaim, he created Qualia Wines

    Alex Pomerantz (AP), who serves as 'Right Hand.' and poured the Qualia wines at 4N5, caught a serious case of the wine bug during a semester studying in Paris. Tapping into his studies in finance and public relations, experiences from the financial and insurance worlds, a stint in the Israeli army and an eternal love of food and wine, he brings a passionate enthusiasm and hardworking diligence to the team.

    Alex met the Kivelstadts in search of his foray into the wine business. He has become Qualia W
    ines jack-of-all-trades, with a hand in winemaking, vineyard relations, events, sales, marketing, day-to-day operations and everything in between.
     
    Our other wineries showed well garnering highly recommended results and not dropping below three stars.

    Here,then, is the tally [each winery has a link]:
     
     
      DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT
                                       
    Pavo Wines 2009 Syrah Estate Grown Bennett Valley $38 (1st place ranking)  $38
    Qualia Wines "The Assembly" Estate Syrah & Old Vine Carignan Bennett Valley & Alexander Valley (2nd place ranking)  $26
     
     
      HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD 
  • Calstar Cellars 2008 Alta Zin El Dorado County   $20
    Calstar Cellars 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (tied for 3rd place) $28.50
    Hill Wine Company 2010 Chardonnay Napa Valley  $18
    Hill Wine Company 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley  $25
    Hill Wine Company 2009 Merlot Napa Valley  $20
    Irish Monkey Cellars 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley  $49
    Irish Monkey Cellars 2010 Chardonnay Alexander Valley $22  
    Irish Monkey Cellars 2009 Syrbec-Syrah & Malbec (tied for 3rd place ranking) $27
    Qualia Wines 2010 Carignan Cooley Ranch Alexander Valley $32
     
      LIKE IT ~ GOOD
     
    Calstar Cellars 2009 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast $28.50
    Calstar Cellars 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County $20
    Hill Wine Company 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley $18
    Irish Monkey Cellars 2009 Sangiovese Alexander Valley (tied for 3rd place) $35
    Qualia Wines 2011 Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc $24

The Rating System

 (95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal - An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which other wines are judged

  (92-94)  SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE  Double Gold Medal

 (90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal- A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement

  (87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD Silver Medal

 (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD  Bronze Medal - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness

  (82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY

 (80-82) NEUTRALFAIR - A simple  quaffer for everyday drinking

  (77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE

 (75-77) DISLIKE IT ~ DEFICIENT -  An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed

Ranking: 1st, 2nd, 3rd


November Events

 
  • Split Bread Restaurant

    4th Street , the Metreon, San FranciscoCA (map)

Our monthly wine mingles seek to offer occasions for members and guests to socialize over new and different wine styles and flavors. Why nurse a glass of a single varietal with some cheese and crackers, or be limited to a flight of three wines at a high mark up wine bar when for the same amount of  money you can enjoy and learn about a range of wines with fine cuisine?.

This month we celebrated the stupendous achievements of the Giants during October leading up to the sweep of the World Series.We featured new releases from urban wineries within 210 miles of PacBell  AT&T Park.  

The wines were matched with a grazing meal taken from the innovative and tasty menu of a hot new bistro, Split Bread restaurant located in the Metreon, another downtown facility, which we visited in September but which some members couldn't attend.

We rated and ranked the various releases.  Our unique approach is based on the premise that certain special wines appeal to a broad range of different palates but which rarely please the refined tastes of the wine pros.  We want to offer attendees--who represent a cross section of regular wine drinkers who buy wine to have with their dinner--the opportunity to decide on their preferences not the "gatekeepers."

 The fries taste like the authentic French version

The sandwiches use rotisserie lamb and chicken



The Taste-Off Results:

 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD

Harrington Wines 2011 Pinot Noir Stori Vineyard Russian River Valley $40 (Ranked highest, tie)

Leaf & Vine 2010 Petite Sirah Vista Luna Vineyard Lodi $27 (Ranked highest,tie)

LIKE IT ~ GOOD

Bluxome Street Winery 2010 Pinot Noir Russian River $32

Stein Family Wines Just Joshin 2007 Tempranillo Sierra Foothills  $30

Stein Family 2010 "Arleyna" red blend Napa Valley  $59 (Ranked highest, tie)

Stein Family 2010 Just Joshin red blend  $20

Bravium 2010 Chardonnay Thompson Vineyard Carneros-Napa Valley $19

Bravium 2007 Syrah "Midnight Oil" Santa Lucia Highlands $24

Passaggio Wines 2011 Rosé of Zinfandel California $17

Passaggio 2011 "New Generation" (unoaked) Chardonnay California $23

Sol Rouge 2009 "Gypsy Rouge" Lake County $24

OK ~ SATISFACTORY

Harrington 2010 Nebbiolo Paso Robles $30

The Winery SF 2008 "People's Blend" red table wine  $16

Stein Family 2010 "Vaquero" Chardonnay (unoaked) Sonoma County $16


The Rating System

 (95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal - An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which other wines are judged

  (92-94)  SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE  Double Gold Medal

 (90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal- A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement

  (87-89)  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD Silver Medal

 (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD  Bronze Medal - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness

  (82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY

 (80-82)  NEUTRALFAIR - A simple  quaffer for everyday drinking

  (77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE

 (75-77) DISLIKE IT ~ DEFICIENT -  An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed

Ranking: 1st, 2nd, 3r



1/2 Price Tix To Wine Tasting Talk With Renowned NY Times Critic Eric Asimov

  • How-to-love-wine3

    Eric Asimov, the most respected wine writer in America, whose book, How to Love Wine, comes out this month. The NY Times wine guru journeyed to the Commonwealth Club for an easily digestible primer on picking a good varietal. With the vast array of choices from every conceivable grape-growing region in the world, it can be overwhelming to try and separate the merely drinkable from the truly spectacular, but Asimov shared his tips for choosing that perfect wine.

    Some of us grabbed a bite to eat afterwards at Mehfil across the street--applying the lessons we learned of course.  We matched the exotic with nine very distinctive wines.


ASIAN FUSION CUISINE PAIRED WITH EAST BAY WINES IN OLD TOWN OAKLAND

It's way past due that we gathered on the other side of the Bay . We sampled delicious Asian Fusion dishes at Le Cheval, paired with white and red varietals from urban wineries running from Berkeley to Oakland and Alameda.. We showcased 11 different varietals from the East Bay Urban Vintners association curated by El Presidente.  As usual rated and ranked the wines.

As with other venues we select, the restaurant  is less than two blocks from a BART station and near a parking structure.

To attend required advance payment so the food and wine pairings could be properly planned.  We SOLD OUT. cost: $21.50 all inclusive (tax and service).  Refunds were given up to Tuesday, Oct. 23rd.


Le Cheval, located in Old Oakland, introduced new Asian flavors into America, particularly Vietnamese cuisine. This style incorporates the French, Chinese and Southeast Asian cooking concepts of preparing wholesome, nutritious and special dishes that emphasize quality with quantity.  Fresh vegetables, nuts and spices are all essential ingredients to preserve this tradition of cooking.  Everyone knows that the secret to healthy living is good nutrition and a balanced diet.  So it’s no coincidence that a combination of any of these will be found in almost every dish.  Le Cheval is proud to continue that tradition and is dedicated to maintaining the harmony between mind and body through healthy eating.

The favorite wines will be available for sale to raise funds for your preferred charity which could be yourselves. The approach is described at pairings-sf.com .

The wines were well received, though no home runs to stay in season.  The Urban Legend Riesling "won" as favorite of the evening if we take out the scores of those 'judges' who don't like the fruitiness of the wine irrespective of how well it goes with Asian food.

Also the JC Cellars presents an interesting situation.  Jeff Cohen makes a superb Marsanne, however..... I would opine while the pros like it, and it goes well with food, consumers are less enamored of its taste profile. It's a difficult sell, particularly at $38.  And this shows in the response across the board, and why I prefer to get the reactions from the people who buy the wine not the "gatekeepers".

The five star system was converted to the 100 pt. system which can be done when there are multiple scores.  The second score represents the 'favorite factor' when 1.5 scores are eliminated,  I translate this score to mean the person doesn't like a style of wine and would not buy it.  Also the two members who are going for their CWE credentials tend to mark lower and don't represent the middle of the bell curve consumer.

We asked participants to rank as well as rate.  There was a departure here.  Stage Left was the clear winner when ranking.

RATING AND RANKING IS BASED ON HOW MUCH THE DINERS ENJOYED THE WINES WITH THE MENU~The number in parenthesis represents the order tasted. Prices are winery retail.  The wines can often be found for less in stores.

1/2  Stars  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD

Blacksmith Cellars 2009 Zinfandel Reserve Sonoma County (9) RANKING: Tied for 2nd $20

Stage Left 2006 Petite Sirah Russell Family Vineyards, Paso Robles (11) 1st PLACE  N/A

Dashe Cellars 2011 Zinfandel McFadden Ranch Mendocino (10) Tied for 2nd $24

Urban Legend Cellars 2010 Riesling The Eighty Vineyard Lake County  (4) Tied
 for 2nd $18

R&B Cellars N/V "The Improvisor" red blend Napa/Contra Costa counties (6) $17
award winning 2009 california wine

3 stars  LIKE IT ~ GOOD

Carica Cellars 2010 Sauvignon Blanc Kick Ranch Sonoma County (1) $21  

Urbano Cellars 2009 Barbera Lodi (8) $20

Eno Wines 2010 A7 Viognier Tierra Alta Vineyard Santa Inez Valley (3) $20

Stomping Girl Wines 2009 Pinot Noir Corona Creek Sonoma Coast  (7) $34

Urbano Cellars 2009 Vine Rosé Green Vallely Solano County (5) $12

1/2 stars OK ~ SATISFACTORY

JC Cellars 2008 Marsanne Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley (2) $38 

 Rating system

 (95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal - An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which other wines are judged

1/2 Stars   (92-94) SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE  Double Gold Medal

4 (90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal- A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement

1/2 Stars(87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD Silver Medal

3 (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD  Bronze Medal - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness

1/2 Stars (82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY

2 (80-82) NEUTRALFAIR - A simple  quaffer for everyday drinking

1 1/2 Stars (77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE

1 (75-77) DISLIKE IT ~ DEFICIENT -  An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed

Ranking: 1st, 2nd, 3rd


We Get Naked

Our monthly wine gatherings, paired with distinctive experiences, seek to offer occasions for  Meetup groups to socialize over a new and different range of wine styles and flavors. We taste a variety of wines for the cost of a glass or flight of three wines at a high mark-up wine bar. AND THE TASTINGS ARE ALWAYS CLOSE TO BART WITH PARKING ALSO NEAR THE VENUE.

Schedule

2:30 - 3:30 The Smithsonian Magazine, as part of its national Free Museum Day program,  sponsored admission to the 75th Anniversary exhibit on the designing and building of the Golden Gate Bridge at the California Historical Society.  

3:45-5:00 p.m. Sampling of boutique wines offered by the new kid on the block, Naked Wines which supports winemakers by inviting wine drinkers to become investment angels at $40/month.  We conducted our September taste-off at a new restaurant inside the Metreon -Split Bread. Terrific nibbles to go with the wines.

This much talked-about resto offered hot spit roasted meats, fresh artisan baked breads, locally sourced produce for salads, house made pickles and spreads, and truly remarkable sandwiches. A deli it ain't (more like a sandwich bistro).  They laid out a showcase spread costing much more than we we paid

Find out more about Split Bread here:

Serious Eats: http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/08/first-look-split-bread-san-francisco.html

Yelp's live-in-primetime photos:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/yelp/sets/7215763153764549

And the wines--presented by Naked Wines: The clear standout was the more expensive Napa Cab crafted by noted local winemaker, Ken Deis.  All the wines--named mostly after the winemaker who crafted them--appealed, with even the lower scoring William Henry Sauvignon Blanc made from Mendocino grapes receiving a "Satisfactory." The South African Cab also scored well at half the price of the Deis. Ditto the Tempranillo from Spain.  

If you put in your $40 "angel" investment each month you can purchase most of the wines at half price, wines that are not available anywhere else.  The wines are already priced very reasonably so you stand to quickly make back your investment while supporting rising winemakers and scooping up varietals at super low prices.  Go to their website to learn more about this fascinating business model.


WINES TASTED                     retail/Angel price  SCORE

Rod Easthope 2011 Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand $25/13 G       85
Credence 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County $12/7.50 VG    87
Semilla 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Lake County $13/7.50 G       85
William Henry 2010  Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino County $12/7.50 S       83
Accord 2009 Chardonnay Santa Maria  $11/6.50 G       85
Da Da DA 2010 Merlot Lodi $10/6 G       86
F. Stephen Miller 2011 Shiraz Angel's Reserve Lodi $15/7 VG    87
Benjamin Darnault 2011 Shiraz, Grenache blend  Minervois France $15/6 VG    88
Arabella 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Western Cape South Africa $15/7 VG/E2 89
Ken Deis 2011  67% Cabernet  Sauvignon 33% Merlot Napa Valley $30/15 E       92
Bear & Crown 2010 Petite Sirah Sonoma Valley $15/9 G       86
Montaria 2011 Trincadeira, Aragonez 20% Alicante Bousché Portugal $15/6 G       86
Kimbao 2011 72% Carmenere, 26% Cab, 2% Merlot Chile $15/6 G       85
Trigales NV Rioja Tempranillo & Tempranillo Blends Spain $15/9 VG/E 89
Matthew Iaconis  2011 Moscato California $12/7 VG    87

Rating system

 (95+) LOVE IT!~EXTRAORDINARY Platinum Medal - An exceptional, ravishing wine that sets the standard against which other wines are judged

1/2 Stars   (92-94) SUPERB ~ REMARKABLE  Double Gold Medal

4 (90-92)  DELICIOUS ~ EXCELLENT Gold Medal- A complex, concentrated wine that balances lush fruit flavors with refinement

1/2 Stars (87-89) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ~ VERY GOOD Silver Medal

3  (85-87) LIKE IT~ GOOD  Bronze Medal - A pleasing wine with varietal distinctiveness

1/2 Stars (82-84) OK ~ SATISFACTORY

2 (80-82) NEUTRALFAIR - A simple  quaffer for everyday drinking

1 1/2 Stars (77-79) DISAGREEABLE ~ MEDIOCRE

1  (75-77) DISLIKE IT ~ DEFICIENT -  An inferior, innocuous wine that borders on the flawed

RANKING: 1st, 2nd 3rd




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