Michel's Remote Cab Tasting

Michel sent out his proposed rules:

We will taste 3 DIFFERENT wines 😊  Like we were suppose to do last time.

I can pick the 3 wines or someone can bring their own choice, if they would like.   The wines must be Cabs and must be between $35 and $50 approximately.   If someone wants to bring their own, they have to bring me 4 bottles of it (or I can go pick it up at your place).

I will then create 4 packages of three bottles, all in brown bags, with marked corked top, and bottles will be marked A, B and C, because I would like for all of us to taste the same bottle together.

I will deliver each of you a package of three bottles, some days ahead of the tasting, which could be on Saturday May 23rd.    

If that date works for you and you would like to chose a wine, please let me know ASAP, so I don’t buy more than needed.

I thought Ted and I were going to submit bottles. In the ends Michel supplied two and I supplied one. I chose from the SF Chronicle's Wine Competition Cabernet Winners.

Michel graciously picked up my wine and delivered the set to everyone. Ted's rocket ship wasn't necessary.

Jose texted that he was ready days before.

We zoomed, enjoying the company and wine. Michel told everyone that the wines were from three different regions: Napa, Livermore, and Paso Robles. Ted and Shannon tried to get everyone to guess what regions each of the wines were from.

Results

B 2016 Justin, Isosceles, Paso Robles - came in first place with an average of 3.76. It cost $47. It is usually priced out of the range, but a friend, who is an owner of a wine store, gave it to him at cost. It's listed as a Bordeaux blend. At a bigger tasting, price or blend might have disqualified it.

A 2016 McGrail Vineyards, Reserve, Livermore Valley - came in second place with an average of 3.58. It cost $48.

C 2016 Peju, Napa Valley- came in last place with an average of 3.13. It cost $41. Michel likes it for the price.

Our wine was too hot when we tasted it, but a later retasting at proper temperature confirmed at least the ones we liked the most.

Everyone having the same labeled wines I think helped. I'm not certain the aluminum foil was worth it, but it did hide the cork until extracted.

Vinvino came up as a source of future tastings. It scored the Justin a 4.5, the McGrail a 4.1, and the Peju a 4.2. Vivino's top rated Cabs from $30 - $50 looked like an interesting tasting to me.

Halleck Vineyard's Virtual Tasting

On a whim, I ordered a Virtual Tasting from Halleck Vineyards. Stop me if you've heard this one before. By on a whim, I mean I received an email offer at 11:30 after enjoying a couple bottles of wine, not wanting to go to bed because that would mean having to get up and go to work. I asked Sue if she was interested. She of course was. Shannon's birthday was right around the corner as was Sue's. I decided to buy two one for us and one for the Farrell's. We could partake somewhere in the middle of the two birthdays.

I ordered the Mother's Day Virtual Tasting, but in retrospect I could have investigated a little more before I purchased. I'm pretty certain we didn't need the embroidered apron and wine opener to say the least.

The tasting included

• 2019 "Not Your Mother's" Dry White Zinfandel
• 2017 Three Sons Cuvee Pinot Noir
• 2016 The Farm Vineyards Pinot Noir

I added a bottle of 2016 Haas Vineyard Pinot Noir. We have tasted at Halleck before, but never this wine.

The tasting included two different cheeses from Valley Ford and some chocolates. Instead of a White Zinfindel, we were shipped a Sauvignon Blanc. We scheduled the tasting for Friday at 5.

Halleck supplied materials to print out if you wanted and instructions on when to take the wines out. At 5, we were all set up.

Stephanie Culen was our host. She was excellent! She walked us through the 5 Ss: See, Swirl, Smell, Sip, and Savor. She made a short presentation on the history of Halleck. She guided us to the cheeses that paired best with the wine we were trying. She was very informative and answered any of our questions.

We had a great time.

All of the wine tasted great. The Farm was our favorite. Ted's favorite was the Haas.

I would recommend this experience to anyone.

In retrospect, Sue does make good use of the apron.

Jose's Remote Zin Tasting

Jose broached the idea of a remote wine tasting while everyone was sheltered in place. We talked about it for 3+ hours. Weeks later he sent out an email.

1. Vote on the type of wine we’ll taste. I narrowed the choices to three: Zins, Malbecs, and Pinots. My vote is Zins. Please reply to this email confirming your participation and with your vote.
2. Each tasting party suggests 1 or 2 wines to include in the tasting. Please make sure that the wines you suggest are available in quantities of 3 or more. Please reply to this email with your suggestions by Wednesday April 29th.
3. Once we have the list of candidates we’ll have a Zoom meeting to randomly choose only 3 wines from the suggested wines.  I will write the names of the wines in identical pieces of paper, drop the individual papers into an opaque container, shuffle, and draw from the container 3 choices, these will be the wines we’ll taste. Tentatively, we can have the wine drawing meeting on Thursday April 30th.
4. Each tasting party buys the chosen 3 wines. If one of your suggested wines is part of the 3 wines we are tasting, please provide the information where to buy that wine by Friday May 1st.
5. Once all parties have the same 3 wines at home we will schedule the Remote Tasting Meeting.
6. Some notes on how the tasting can be blind, specially when only one person is at home. My plan is to remove the cork wrapping, and paper bag each bottle as soon as I get them. Blind shuffle the bottles each day until the tasting day. On the day of the tasting uncork the bottles and shuffle then one more time. Finally, write a number on the bottles from 1 to 3. You should also number your covered bottles. Our numbering will not map to the same wines, but that is OK, when the tasting is done we’ll add each other’s rating per wine, not per number.

We agreed to Zin, knowing Jose's love of the varietal.

Our wine suggestions were:

1)We've tried the lower end from Dry Creek Vineyard. Why not try what they consider their best? I asked them. Here's the reply I received from their Direct to Consumer Manager, Michael Longerbeam We would choose one.

Our best Zinfandel? That’s a tough question to answer since we make so many, and they are each so different from one another.

I’ll highlight 3 of my personal favorites.

2017 Somers Ranch Zinfandel

If your preference is a fruit forward Zinfandel with a nice long finish, this is your best bet

2017 DCV2 Four Clones Zinfandel

A beautifully balanced Zinfandel made from four different Zinfandel clones

2017 Vogensen Ranch Zinfandel

Our mountain Zinfandel. The flavors are full bodied due to dry farming and vines grown at high elevation

2)Robert Biale "Black Chicken"

I found this in a light article, titled "5 California zinfandels you’ll want to drink right now".

"During Prohibition, when customers of the Biale farm ordered produce over the unsecure telephone party line, “black chicken” was code for a jug of zinfandel."

Sounded interesting.

Michel's suggestions were:

1 - Ridge Geyserville

2 - Rombauer Zinfandel N.V.

As the process progressed, the rules were changed so only three of the four tasting parties were able to pick a wine. I volunteered to not pick. Ted volunteered to disperse the wines, giving him more time to drive his new car. I was thankful, because I couldn't justify driving around for wine for a wine tasting as essential.

Ted's path to delivery was complicated, 6 steps long, but he pulled it off in record time.

After some discussion of tasting on Cinco de Mayo, which I thought was trouble, since it was a work night. We agreed to taste on a Saturday night at 8.

We got all set up. Taking the wines out of the cellar 2 and a half hours before, and pouring the wines into decanters an hour before. Alex didn't do as much homework as she should have, but came anyway. What a treat!

Jose had been ready since 5:30.

We zoomed, enjoying the company and wine. After we had settled on scores, Shannon guided us through an attempt to align our randomizations. Our A, was Michel's C, etc.

Results

B - 2013 Seghesio, Old Vine, Sonoma County took first place. It cost $30, including tax.

A - 2017 Rombauer took second place. It cost $35, including tax.

C - 2017 Rombauer took third place. It cost $38, including tax.

Unbelievably, two of the same wines were picked. Better yet, we all thought they tasted a little different. I wrote down sickening sweet as a descriptor for both of them, but I thought one was jammy, so what do I know. Alex had said how much she liked Rombauer zin during the tasting, but she's not certain which one her and her friend usually drink. Sometimes they enjoy El Dorado "Twin Rivers" Zinfandel.

Thomas Fogarty Winery Online Tasting Experience

On a whim, I ordered a Virtual Tasting from Thomas Fogarty Winery. By on a whim, I mean an email offer came to me at the right time during the shelter in place. A lot of wineries have discovered the right time recently. I'm sure my name is on a list that people pay good money for. I imagine this list is titled, "Send this guy an email. He'll buy your wine, sometimes if he's never even heard of you before. Discounts help".

The virtual tasting included two bottles of Pinot, cost $109, and included free shipping.

It started on Friday at 5 PM PST.

We joined a zoom session and enjoyed an hour of discussion of the two wines and interesting tidbits about the vineyards, including some fun pictures. Tom Fogarty Jr, winemaker Nathan Kandler, founding winemaker Michael Martella, and wine director and sommelier at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay John Toigo did a good job entertaining us and answering questions people typed in the chat.

I wasn't sure if there was going to be face to face communication during the zoom. There wasn't. I felt bad that Sue got all gussied up, from the waist up, and even put on make up. She looked great, but no one but me could see her.

We tasted the 2016 Razorback Vineyard and 2016 Rapley Trail Vineyard. We both enjoyed the wine and the experience.

I think the experience could be improved by giving more of a deal. $109 may have been a deal, but it didn't feel like it to me. Even without a reduction in price, I still would do it again if Sue wanted to.

YouTube of the Event

50th Birthday COVID-19 Interrupts

2020 was a special year for us. It was my 50th birthday and our 30th wedding anniversary. We thought this was a pretty good reason to do something big, and we planned to go to France, the birthplace of Pinot. Unfortunately, COVID-19 happened, and everything was delayed. While we were unable to go to France we still feel incredibly lucky to have a job and our health, knock on wood, in these trying times.

Because it was the "end of the world" and we weren't in France, I decided to have a tasting of White Burgundies, even if it was only going to be Sue and myself. I used KnL's website and chose one White Burgundy from each of the regions they had available. It turned out to be only four appelations: Chassagne Montrachet, Corton, Meursault, and Puligny Montrachet. We had them delivered.

Spring did not stop for COVID-19, it came as usual around my birthday.

We had the tasting on the Friday after my birthday and only invited our kids and their significant others given the shelter in place and social distancing.

I wrapped all the bottles, but we didn't use go so far as decanters for a double blind system.

Alex, the only one of our three children that drinks, agreed to participate. I used an aerator to pour the wines into the glasses.

Given the small number of participants, I wouldn't rely on the results, but we all enjoyed trying the wines. I would have liked to involved all my friends as well, but it was nice to be with family.

Results

A - 2017 Ballot Millot Meursault 1er Cru "Perrières" came in first place with an average of 3.83. It costs $150. This was Alex's and my favorite.

C - 2017 Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru came in second place with an average of 3.20. It costs $200. This was Sue's favorite.

B - 2017 Domaine Joseph Drouhin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru "Folatieres" tied for third place with an average of 3.00. It costs $120

D - 2017 Domaine Marc Morey Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru "Morgeot" tied for third place with an average of 3.00. It costs $95

The Napa Cabs of Summer

Last winter I picked up some Napa Cabs thinking we would have a small tasting. It didn't happen, but I was able to get something going over the summer. I knew Jennifer would love to taste some of her favorites; she's known for her love of Stag's Leap cabs. Karol mentioned his wife's favorite winery, Spring Mountain, and I thought we could use some new blood in our tasting group. Ted has always been known for his love of Napa Cabs. We rounded out the group with Jose, who prefers Zins, but never says no to a tasting.

Recent winery tastings had brought my attention to modern, angular wine glasses. Given we primarily had Pinot glasses and throwing in some toughness convinced me to push the Amazon buy button on Schott Zwiesel, Tritan Crystal, Cabernet glasses. Truthfully, there wasn't much arm twisting involved.



The glasses are beautiful, easy to wash and dry, and a joy to use. We're very happy with our decision, although Sue thinks I went a little overboard with the number of times I clicked the button.

When Paul was preparing their bottle, the cork broke. This worried Jennifer and they decided to give it a taste only to find it off, possibly corked. At Jennifer's insistence Paul ran back to their house and picked up another bottle.

We offered two choices to whet appetites: A 2012 Rhys, Horseshoe Vineyard, Chardonnay and a 2018 Patz & Hall, Sonoma Coast, Rose. We had been cellaring the Chard for awhile and although their vintage chart still said to hold, I thought it was time. It was very nice and its taste improved as it warmed to room temperature. We've really been enjoying the Rose and wanted to share. Not everyone likes Rose, Ted, cough, so we offered the Chard as well.

As a special treat, we offered elk and deer summer sausage on the meat plate, a gift from my cousin's husband Justin. It tasted great and the novelty enticed everyone to try and enjoy. Thanks Justin!

Sue prepared the backyard for our first of the summer event, positioning her flowers and lights to great effect.

We gave everyone three glasses, tasting the six wines in two rounds, followed by a final round of comparisons.

Results

D - 2016 Amici, Reserve came in first place with an average of 3.98. It cost $80. Jose brought this and said "I was planning to get the silver oak, but in my search for it in K&L Wines the Amici also came up, and it had higher ratings. 96 from Jeb Dunnuck, 94 from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 94 from James Suckling, 93 from Vinous."

B - 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Cask 23 came in second place with an average of 3.76. It costs $270 from KnL. Paul and Jennifer brought this from her private stash.

E - 2013 Hartwell, Stag's Leap District, Estate came in third place with an average of 3.73. It cost $120. Ted and Shannon brought this.

F - 2014 Crossbarn came in fourth place with an average of 3.66. It cost $46. Sue and I brought this. It was on a list when I was searching the internet. 2014 was supposed to be a great year.

C - 2015 Robert Mondavi, To Kalon Vineyard, Oakville came in fifth place with an average of 3.31. It cost $125. Sue and I brought this. Mondavi was instrumental in the establishment of Napa. I had never tried one of his wines and figured this was a good place to start.

A - 2014 Chateau Montelena, Estate came in last place with an average of 3.27. It cost $130. Sue and I also brought this. Who doesn't want to enjoy a Chateau Montelena? It's a great wine.

I managed to secure the last three places, not a trivial task.

The unveiling almost went wrong given a copy/paste error in my spreadsheet that showed 4 ties for last place. Thankfully we fixed this after the second reveal.

Karol and Amber shared a lovely 2006 Spring Mountain blend with us that we had disallowed from the tasting because it was denoted as a red wine and not a cab. You'd think we would have given Karol a break, but we didn't.

Carlos Loves Oregon Pinots

Carlos is always talking about how much he enjoys Oregon Pinots. We've enjoyed some, but mainly stick to California Pinots given that we mostly drink wine from the wineries we visit. We decided to give them a try. Temperatures kept us inside, and we chose to keep it simple, limiting us to 4 couples, including us. Unfortunately, we couldn't include all the usuals, but this did allow us to bring out one glass for each wine.

We started with a 2016 Domaine Serene, Dundee Hills, Chard. It was an excellent introduction into Oregon wines.

Results

B - 2015 Evening Land, La Source, Seven Springs Estate, Eola-amity Hills came in first place with an average of 3.25. I picked this up a year or two ago from the winery's website after doing some online research. I found out after that I could have purchased it via KnL and avoided the shipping and handling. It cost $75.

C - 2015 Domaine Serene, Evensted Reserve, Willamette Valley came in second place with an average of 3.24, although you could argue it was a virtual tie. In our tastings of Oregon Pinots this has always been a go to. I wanted to make certain it was represented so I brought one, telling everyone else not to bring it. It cost $75 at KnL.

D - 2015 Domaine Drouhin, Dundee Hills came in third place with an average of 3.11.
A - 2015 Domaine Drouhin, Dundee Hills came in fourth place with an average of 2.98. KnL lists this at $40.
There's a first time for everything! Carlos and Ling brought one of these, Ted and Shannon the other. Carlos selected a couple and the owners of the store said 'this one'. Ted said this was on a list of good Oregon pointers (5th he thinks); he went down the list looking for it in stock and this was first hit.

E - 2017 Resonance, Willamette Valley came in last place with an average of 2.67. Jose and Lili brought this. Jose picked this because Paul Gregutt ratings was 4.5/5 stars. He had never heard of Paul, but that was the only rating he could find. He paid slightly over $30 including tax.

Caveat

The wines were tasted at different temperatures. 3 were cooler, which allowed people to know more about the wines than they should have. To what degree this influenced the outcome is anyone's guess, but it no doubt did. Suffice it to say this will be addressed in future tastings. I don't know why this hasn't come up before.

Aftermath

The downside of one glass per wine is 3 or 4 dishwasher loads of glasses. It usually takes a week for our house to get back to normal after one of these events, but it's well worth it.