Saturday, April 9, 2016

Best Santa Cruz Mountains Value Pinots (Under $30) - Round 3

We were joined by our friends to taste the third batch of 6 random Santa Cruz Mountains Pinots under $30 on a cool Spring night that was close enough to my birthday to elevate the event.

Days before Sue had performed a successful trial run of bacon wrapped potatoes in her new air fryer.



I brought out some of my big bottles to celebrate my birthday.


We warmed our taste buds with some yummy whites: A 2013 Dariush Chardonnay, a 2012 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay, and a 2014 Picchetti White Pavone.

Sue served up all my favorites: Bacon wrapped potatoes, pot stickers, cheese and charcuterie. We all enjoyed the bites as we tasted. Occasionally some screamed of Trump and Obama. Our neighbors enjoyed our renditions of the Gambler and more.

Results



Top to Bottom from Left to Right

All the wines we tasted were really good. Ted mentioned many times that he thought this was the best batch yet.

F - 2013 Villa del Monte, Santa Cruz Mountains came in first place with an average of 3.39.

E - 2012 Storrs, Santa Cruz Mountains came in second place with an average of 3.26.

D - 2012 Nicholson, Cuvee, Santa Cruz Mountains came in third place with an average of 3.24.

C - 2012 Trout Gulch, Santa Cruz Mountains came in fourth place with an average of 3.20.

B - 2013 Alfaro, Estate, Santa Cruz Mountains came in fifth place with an average of 2.68.

A - 2009 Domenico, Santa Cruz Mountains came in sixth place with an average of 2.54.


After the tasting we enjoyed some special treats.

We enjoyed the double magnum of 2010 Kings Mountain Pinot from last year's Silicon Valley Wine Auction. This was the first double magnum I have ever served. Pouring from a double magnum is an incredible feeling. The bottle is huge! Magnums are fun, but they do not compare. The Kings Mountain was delicious! I'll be looking to win this again, at this years event.



We enjoyed a 1999 Trout Gulch, that Gerald Turgeon had given us to throw into a blind tasting as a ringer. What an incredible gift to share with us! Thank you Gerry. I've never tasted something so old.



Sue rounded out the night with Fred's steak, salad, other fixins, and some cake.
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Friday, January 8, 2016

2016 SF Chronicle Wine Competition Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Medal Winners

The results are in for the 2016 SF Chronicle Wine Competition. Congratulations to the 26 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinots! I'll ponder which should be tasted.

Apriori
  • 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains, $40.00, Silver
  • 2013 Byington, $45.00. Gold
  • 2013 Finley Vineyard, $33.00, Silver
  • 2012 Kings Mountain Vineyard, $65.00, Gold
  • 2011 Kings Mountain Vineyard, $60.00, Silver
  • 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains, $50.00, Bronze
  • 2013 McHenry Swan, $44.00, Bronze
  • 2013 Santa Cruz Mountains, $34.00, Silver
  • 2009 Santa Cruz Mountains, $34.99, Gold
  • 2011 Santa Cruz Mountains, $49.00, Bronze
  • 2012 Brooks' Block, $39.00, Gold
  • 2013 K. Berry, $30.00, Silver
  • 2013 Muns Vineyard, $40.00, Bronze
  • 2012 Far Away Block, #2, $44.00, Bronze
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Friday, November 20, 2015

Best Santa Cruz Mountains Value Pinots (Under $30) - Round 2

We were joined by our friends to taste the second batch of 6 random Santa Cruz Mountains Pinots under $30 on a brisk Fall night. Unfortunately, some of the usuals were unable to attend: Bob and Carolyn, with Carolyn's knee still healing, and Jose, who was recovering from a couple of weeks in Bolivia. We hope to see them all next time. Given the smaller number of participants, we were able to provide a glass for each wines being tasted, a treat for sure.

Sue set us up inside, moving the couch back a couple of feet and the rug into another room. Everything looked great! I hoped our friends wouldn't look down and notice any of the spots the rug had covered.

All Set Up and Ready to Taste

Sue decorated a little, setting out some Christmas lights. Ted, who normally would have objected to Christmas lights before Thanksgiving, claimed the NyQuil, that was helping him recover from a cold, kept him from complaining.

Christmas Lights Already?

While we waited for everyone to arrive we enjoyed a Picchetti, Brut Rose and a Vine Cliff, Chardonnay. At seven we poured the wines and started rating as we discussed music, video games, politics, and more. I tried to play topical music, but started off with AWOLNATION and Meg Myers, who we had just seen with Ted and Shannon at Live 105's Fright Fest. Paul and Jennifer arrived as we started D, E, and F. We joked that we were just about ready to divvy up their A, B, and C. A glass per wine makes a world of difference in a tasting. It allows all the wines to be revisited, contrasted, and compared.

I was sure D was the oldest based on its appearance. Ted disagreed and bet $20 it was F. Ted was right, but I will point out we had chosen the two oldest wines.

Results



Top to Bottom from Left to Right

All the wines tasted really good; all but one averaged above a three (I liked it).

F - 2010 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard, Bailey’s Branciforte Ridge, Santa Cruz Mountains came in first place with an average of 3.79.

It is amazing that every time a Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot has participated in one of our blind tastings, it has won:


E - 2013 La Honda Winery, Sequence, Santa Cruz Mountains came in second place with an average of 3.31.

A - 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate came in third place with an average of 3.16.

D - 2011 Rexford, Santa Cruz Mountains came in forth place with an average of 3.11.

B - 2013 Sante Arcangeli, Split Rail Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains came in fifth place with an average of 3.10.

C - 2012 Savannah Chanelle Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains came in last place with an average of 2.90.



We retried our favorites and a French wine Michel brought: 2013 Bourgogne.

2013 Bourgogne

Sue served a standing rib roast, fingerling potatoes, and sautéed brussel sprouts for dinner. She ended the evening with warm cookies. A great time was had by all.
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Friday, October 30, 2015

Friday Night Malbecs for Jose

We have been acquiring Malbecs from the wineries we've visited in order to share them with our good friend Jose. Malbecs seem to be more popular these days. We were told in Napa that many wineries were tearing out there Syrahs to put in Malbec. Who knows if it's true.

Jose was free on Friday so I made the date and filled in the table. John decided to say yes, which is a rarity - my guess is the allure of conversations with Jose convinced him. Paul and Jennifer surprised us by being available at a last minutes notice.

Since we were only six, I decided to give each wine a glass. It was a mismatch of glasses for sure, but made comparisons in the tasting easy.

Everything is Ready

The Aftermath

We tasted, ate, and enjoyed each other's company.

Results



Top to Bottom from Left to Right

E - 2011 Kuleto Estate, Napa Valley came in first place with an average of 3.08. It cost $55. We picked this up at the winery on our Wine Train inspired trip to Napa. Sue has loved India Ink, now renamed El Coyote, from Kuleto since she discovered it at Taste of the Town years ago with Bob and Carolynn in San Francisco. We took the opportunity to visit this beautiful place before going on the Wine Train.

View from Kuleto


B - 2012 Picchetti, Shoemaker Vineyards, Paso Robles came in second place with an average of 3.00. It cost $30. We picked this up at Picchetti, where we are club members.

The 2010 of this won the last Malbec tasting we had a couple of years back: I'm Dreaming of a Malbec Christmas.

D - 2009 Thomas Fogarty, Gist Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains came in third place with an average of 2.75. It cost $52. We purchased this from Fogarty when we were members as part of a club shipment.

A - 2011 Capataz, Mendoza, Argentina came in fourth place with an average of 2.62. It cost $35. We picked this up in Napa at Dariush.

C - 2011 Chalk Hill, Sonoma County came in fifth place with an average of 2.58. It cost $45. We picked this up at the winery. The Chalk Hill AVA is a region of the AVA of Russian River AVA. I wanted to give it a try the last time we went to Sonoma.

F - 2013 Chilensis Reserve, Chile came in last place with an average of 2.45. It cost $8. John brought. He picked it up at Bevmo where they recommended a Chilean and Argentinian Malbec.
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Sunday, September 6, 2015

Best Santa Cruz Mountains Value Pinots (Under $30) - Round 1

Our friends joined us on a hot Friday evening to taste the first batch of 6 random Santa Cruz Mountains Pinots under $30. Gusts of wind helped cool things down and added a tinge of excitement: Falling grapefruit. Everyone would cringe when a gust came and a few grapefruit would fall, but none of them landed anywhere near us. In the past three years of entertaining under the giant grapefruit tree only Parker has been hit by a falling grapefruit, right on the noggin. The wind calmed down as the evening cooled.

I tried to keep the loud political discussions out of the neighbors windows by asking everyone to avoid the topic. While this didn't exactly put an end to these discussions or the surrounding bets, I don't think the neighbors heard any of it. Instead we serenaded them with Kenny Roger's Lucille and The Gambler. The lyrics to Lucille are still endlessly repeating through my head. I wonder which they would have preferred.

We started off with some nice whites. When everyone arrived I poured the first wine and we tasted.

Results



Top to Bottom from Left to Right

A - 2010 Dancing Creek Winery, Santa Cruz Mountains, Legato came in first place with an average of 3.30.

F - 2012 Radonich Brothers Vineyards, Estate came in second place with an average of 2.91.

E - 2012 McHenry Vineyard, Estate Santa Cruz Mountains came in third place with an average of 2.82.

B - 2012 Roudon-Smith Winery, Santa Cruz Mountains Private Reserve came in fourth place with an average of 2.73.

C - 2012 Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains came in fifth place with an average of 2.68.

D - 2011 Pelican Ranch Winery, Santa Cruz Mts., Meadowridge Vineyard came in last place with an average of 2.36.
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Monday, July 6, 2015

Best Santa Cruz Mountains Value Pinots (Under $30) - Planning Part 2

Sue and I spent the last couple of months scouring the Santa Cruz Mountains for the Pinots, often joined by the Fosters. We had a great time visiting so many different places, some for the first time! We spent $830 gathering a single bottle of each of the wines. When visiting wineries, we left with at least 3 bottles and sometimes as much as a case. Our wine budget is depleted, our cellars are overflowing, and we're ready for a break. Is it time to taste yet?

Preparing for the Tasting


I put them all together for this money shot.

Under $30 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinots

I removed all the foil, wrapped them in K&L bags, and stored them.

All Wrapped and Ready to Taste

The Final List (28)


WineryWineRetailBest Price
Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery2013 Alfaro "A" Estate$25.00$25.00
Bargetto Winery2013 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, Regan Estate Vineyards$35.00$28.00
2013 Pinot Noir, Regan Estate Vineyards$28.00$22.40
Burrell School Vineyards & Winery2010 Estate Pinot Noir$39.00$29.00
Byington Vineyard & Winery2012 Pinot Noir, Estate$39.00$29.25
Dancing Creek Winery2010 Santa Cruz Mountains Legato, Pinot Noir$28.00$28.00
MJA Vineyards2011 Davine Cellars Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$38.00$26.60
2012 Reagen$38.00$26.60
Domenico Winery2009 Santa Cruz Pinot Noir$35.00$28.00
La Honda Winery2013 SEQUENCE, Pinot Noir$28.00$28.00
McHenry Vineyard2012 "Swan Clone - Estate" Pinot Noir$38.00$28.99
2012 Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$34.00$25.99
Muns Vineyard2010 Estate Pinot Noir$40.00$28.00
Nicholson Vineyards2012 Pinot Noir, Cuvee$30.00$25.50
Pelican Ranch Winery2011 Santa Cruz Mts., Meadowridge Vineyard$35.00$29.75
2010 Santa Cruz Mts., Amaya Ridge Vineyard$35.00$29.75
Perrucci Family Vineyard2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$34.00$23.80
Radonich Brothers Vineyards2012 Estate$27.99$27.99
Rexford Winery2011 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains$25.00$20.00
Roudon-Smith Winery2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Private Reserve Pinot Noir$30.00$26.40
Russian Ridge Winery2012 Russian Ridge Pinot Noir$30.00$25.50
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard2010 Pinot Noir Bailey’s Branciforte Ridge Vineyard$32.00$29.00
Sante Arcangeli Family Wines2013 Pinot Noir, Split Rail Vineyard, Corralitos$36.00$28.80
Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$36.00$28.80
Ser Winery2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$33.00$28.00
Silvertip Vineyards2012 Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains, Estate$32.00$24.00
Soquel Vineyards2013 Estate Pinot Noir$33.00$29.70
Storrs Winery2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$36.00$28.80
Thomas Fogarty Winery & Vineyards2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$35.00$29.75
Trout Gulch Vineyards2012 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir$28.00$28.00
Villa del Monte Winery2013 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains$34.00$28.90
2013 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyards Martini Clone$32.00$27.20
2013 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Pommard Clone$32.00$27.20
2012 Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains Regan Vineyard$32.00$27.20
Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards & Winery2013 Terra Narro Estate Pinot Noir$29.00$23.00


Things I've Learned


There are a lot of Great People Out There


Those that responded were very helpful. They shared information, helped pick wines and vintages, and went out of there way to deliver or make it easy for me to pick up the wine. Thank you all.

Always Check the Bottles Before you Leave


If you don't, you might find that sometimes you won't have what you came for when you get home. Thankfully wineries are usually super flexible about making exchanges, even on days they aren't normally open.

Be Specific with the Rules


The purpose of this was to find the best readily available, under $30 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot. In some cases enthusiasts would have to go to extremes to get the price. In other cases the wine was no longer even made. If I ever do something like this again, I'll make the rules more restrictive.

Never do Something Like this Again


This was a little too aggressive. 28 wines is a lot. They were costly and time consuming to gather. They are going to take months to taste 6 or 7 at a time.

Good Luck!


I've met and interacted with so many great wine producers.  I'm rooting for all of them. If I wasn't confident we use an objective process I would be worried these interactions could sway the results.

The first tasting will hopefully be in August. I'll post results as I get them.
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Saturday, July 4, 2015

2015 SF Chronicle Wine Competition Santa Cruz Mountains Gold+ Pinot Winners

When the results of the San Francisco Wine Competition come out, my mind races with ideas to try them - yes I'm that kind of wine enthusiast. Not surprising to anyone that knows me, I decided to blind taste all the Gold and up Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot winners. I tend towards Pinots and while we enjoy wine from different regions, I favor the Santa Cruz Mountains given its local and has an endless supply of great wine.

We managed to get all but one of the winners:
  • 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Estate - Gold 
  • 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Lester Family Vineyards - Double Gold 
  • 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Partner's Reserve - Double Gold 
  • 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Library Selection - Gold 
  • 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Coast Grade Vineyard - Gold 
  • 2012 Villa del Monte Winery, William Vincent - Gold 
  • 2011 Storrs Winery and Vineyards, Christie Vineyard - Best of Class 
  • 2012 Woodenhead, Lester Family - Gold 

Unfortunately I was unable to find a bottle of the 2012 Savannah Chanelle Vineyards, Muns Vineyard - Gold. Next year I promise to react more quickly to the results. Medal winning helps wines sell out.

The Tasting


The wines were opened an hour before the tasting began, which hopefully helped them open up a little; they were a little young to drink.

Sue took the opportunity to change the look of the backyard. My initial thoughts are typically resistive, as Sue has learned to expect and justifiably ignore, but in the end I usually come around. The updated look was pretty impressive, complete with firefly lights.


The usuals all showed up. We tasted, discussed, rated, and loudly discussed politics some.

Results



Top to Bottom from Left to Right

A - 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Lester Family Vineyards came in first place with an average of 3.60. It cost $39. We picked up all of the Soquel on a trip to the winery with Bob and Carolyn. The Soquel winery is a lovely place, a seeming oasis given the surroundings. They were serving pizza fresh out of their pizza oven, which was a nice treat. I always wonder why we don't belong when we leave.



E - 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Partner's Reserve came in second place with an average of 3.14. It cost $39.

H - 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Estate came in third place with an average of 3.11. It cost $33. We'll be trying this again in the < $30 tasting.

F - 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Coast Grade Vineyard came in fourth place with an average of 3.06. It cost $39.

G - 2011 Storrs Winery and Vineyards, Christie Vineyard came in fifth place with an average of 2.96. We thought we had picked this up on a trip to the winery, but when I checked the year I realized we had picked up 2009. Thankfully, I was able to order the correct vintage from the web site and it arrived in time.

D - 2012 Woodenhead, Lester Family came in sixth place with an average of 2.82. It cost $42. The winery was sold out of this; they tried to find me a bottle when they heard what we were doing, but they could not. Luckily, I found this at The Wine House via wine-searcher.

C - 2013 Soquel Vineyards, Partner's Reserve, Library Selection came in seventh place with an average of 2.75. It cost $56.

B - 2012 Villa del Monte Winery, William Vincent came in last place with an average of 2.60. It cost $37. The winery was sold out of this wine, but after looking around they found me a double magnum.


3L of William Vincent

They even graciously signed it for me when I picked it up. Thank you Neil and John.



I wasn't about to use this bottle for a tasting. I was prepared to apologize about not putting it in the tasting, or possibly using a different vintage, but I luckily found a bottle down the street from the winery at Summit Store.
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