Ballast Stone is a new winery in market. The name of the winery comes from the area around the vineyard sight that was were ballast's were made for boats. Not being aquatic by nature I think they were used to keep the cargo from shifting in transit by placing weight evenly.
Riesling 2007 diesel oily petrol, things you can get from certain soils. not a lot of fruit and acidity though.
Shiraz dill and vanilla and oak...all the things that come from too much oak or oak chips...some pretty fruit flavors though and a hint of cocoanut which came through on the next wine.
Petite Verdot...a Bordeaux varietal that I find from Australia now and then, again pretty flavors, much more integrated than the Shiraz.. again with a mocha/cocoa/coconut finish...sweet i guess
Cabernet Sauvignon dark colors in the glass, red fruits on the palate and a quick finish... some tannins but ....
StoneMason wines which is their second label because it was the stone masons who obviously cut out the ballast stones...i guess
Chardonnay unoaked and uninteresting...some ml but a little syrupy
Shiraz...actually the best of the bunch...fruit a touch of anise and nice acidity..not cloying like its big brother..
Friday, March 13, 2009
new wines in store
Several new wines from R winery group from australia came in late this week. Some good price with great press. and some great press and great price.
Also new for the store in time for Passover...Hagafen wines from Napa that are kosher for passover. I think...I will review and post if not.
Also new for the store in time for Passover...Hagafen wines from Napa that are kosher for passover. I think...I will review and post if not.
Monday, March 9, 2009
myths and legends.
Being in the wine business I have heard stories that I will admit I passed on as truths. They produce nice stories but may not be the absolut truth. Zinfandel and Italians was one such story.
Seems that a man named George Gibbs brought the first plantings to the US where they landed in New York state in the 1830s'. Eventually they migrated to california in the gold rush days by New Englanders. So when the Italian migration came in the late 1800's there were already old vines in existence. The Italians did help keep the zin plants growing because of their tradition of wine with meals.
Prohibition also played a big factor in keeping the california wine trade from expanding until the 1960's. We know that time period known as prohibition killed the bottled wine trade but there was a thriving home brewing business. wineries would send bricks of dehydrated grapes to homes. this caused people for years after prohibition to continue making their own, asking the question why buy a bottle when I can make it cheaper myself. It took the passing of that generation before Napa and Sonoma could come into the vision they are today.
Another interesting feature due to Prohibition is the laws regarding labeling of grapes on a bottle. In france they label place not varietal, in california before prohibition the standard bottling of wine was a mixed blend of local varieties, petite sirah, zinfandel, alicante bouchet, dourif, etc. After prohibition the law became a wine must be labeled by its variety and since most wine drinkers knew of cabernet and chardonnay those grape types began to be planted more often. Zinfandel is actually the 3rd most planted grape in california behind cab and merlot.
we have a lot to give credit to carrie nation and her bunch for...good or bad...mostly bad as the grand experiment failed on many levels.
Seems that a man named George Gibbs brought the first plantings to the US where they landed in New York state in the 1830s'. Eventually they migrated to california in the gold rush days by New Englanders. So when the Italian migration came in the late 1800's there were already old vines in existence. The Italians did help keep the zin plants growing because of their tradition of wine with meals.
Prohibition also played a big factor in keeping the california wine trade from expanding until the 1960's. We know that time period known as prohibition killed the bottled wine trade but there was a thriving home brewing business. wineries would send bricks of dehydrated grapes to homes. this caused people for years after prohibition to continue making their own, asking the question why buy a bottle when I can make it cheaper myself. It took the passing of that generation before Napa and Sonoma could come into the vision they are today.
Another interesting feature due to Prohibition is the laws regarding labeling of grapes on a bottle. In france they label place not varietal, in california before prohibition the standard bottling of wine was a mixed blend of local varieties, petite sirah, zinfandel, alicante bouchet, dourif, etc. After prohibition the law became a wine must be labeled by its variety and since most wine drinkers knew of cabernet and chardonnay those grape types began to be planted more often. Zinfandel is actually the 3rd most planted grape in california behind cab and merlot.
we have a lot to give credit to carrie nation and her bunch for...good or bad...mostly bad as the grand experiment failed on many levels.
Ravenswood lunch with Joel Peterson
One of the most informative and enjoyable luncheons I have ever been to. I was amazed at what I didnt know about Zin and a lot of the urban legends I had believed to be true where squashed.
the lunch started with Chardonnay of all things. His only white wine because people at wine dinners would bring in another white to start. This Chard with a Sonoma appellation is done half in barrel and half stainless..very typical california chard in aroma with nice acidity and a lovely touch of caramel at the end.
Petite Sirah 2007 Vintners Blend a blend of lodi and sonoma fruit, lots of fruit, and nice texture and a slight mocha on the finish, great sipping wine and light meats or pastas.
From his appellation series
Lodi Zinfandel hot days and cool evenings produce this zin. a softer style zin with an overlay of blueberry, i am quoting here.
Napa Zinfandel picked near zinfandel lane... interestingly clearer in the glass than the other two, more raspberry and spice.
Sonoma Zinfandel darker color in the glass.. more of a mixed black berry fruit character..due to the fact that some of the grapes are petite sirah, alicante bouchet
Single Vineyard
Big River Zinfandel 2006 100% zin, spicy and a touch of dill...very pretty and rich
Barricia 2005 lighter in flavors but also a year older than the last...more acidity..volcanic ash soil that allows for water retention without becoming a gumbo.. if you have been on the missouri river bank or pond bank you know the feeling of too much water in soil that cant retain it. Barricia is an amalgam of the two owners name barbara and patricia...
Icon 2006 a mixed blend..think Chateauneuf in california.. plums and dark berry fruit...lovely rich texture and flavors. The icon of what a mixed grape wine should be like
the lunch started with Chardonnay of all things. His only white wine because people at wine dinners would bring in another white to start. This Chard with a Sonoma appellation is done half in barrel and half stainless..very typical california chard in aroma with nice acidity and a lovely touch of caramel at the end.
Petite Sirah 2007 Vintners Blend a blend of lodi and sonoma fruit, lots of fruit, and nice texture and a slight mocha on the finish, great sipping wine and light meats or pastas.
From his appellation series
Lodi Zinfandel hot days and cool evenings produce this zin. a softer style zin with an overlay of blueberry, i am quoting here.
Napa Zinfandel picked near zinfandel lane... interestingly clearer in the glass than the other two, more raspberry and spice.
Sonoma Zinfandel darker color in the glass.. more of a mixed black berry fruit character..due to the fact that some of the grapes are petite sirah, alicante bouchet
Single Vineyard
Big River Zinfandel 2006 100% zin, spicy and a touch of dill...very pretty and rich
Barricia 2005 lighter in flavors but also a year older than the last...more acidity..volcanic ash soil that allows for water retention without becoming a gumbo.. if you have been on the missouri river bank or pond bank you know the feeling of too much water in soil that cant retain it. Barricia is an amalgam of the two owners name barbara and patricia...
Icon 2006 a mixed blend..think Chateauneuf in california.. plums and dark berry fruit...lovely rich texture and flavors. The icon of what a mixed grape wine should be like
wine with britta gentle
Italian wines today
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2007 d everything you want PG to be..light, crisp, a touch of mineral...nice everyday Pinot Grigio.
Mezzacorona Pinot Noir 2007 a perfect beginners Pinot Noir, a touch rusty color with the red, soft fruit, strawberries in a glass?? not week.. light fruit but relatively long finish.
Quercetto Chianti 2007 typical color or light rust, light flavors and just a hint of the traditional sangiovese fruit, that saddleleather or rusty nail.
Quercetto Chianti Reserva 2003 very purple in color for the age and grape type. the flavors in the glass not on the nose, lots of bright fruit from a hot vintage. surprisingly juicy and again a little but not much of the sangiovese nose
Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2007 d everything you want PG to be..light, crisp, a touch of mineral...nice everyday Pinot Grigio.
Mezzacorona Pinot Noir 2007 a perfect beginners Pinot Noir, a touch rusty color with the red, soft fruit, strawberries in a glass?? not week.. light fruit but relatively long finish.
Quercetto Chianti 2007 typical color or light rust, light flavors and just a hint of the traditional sangiovese fruit, that saddleleather or rusty nail.
Quercetto Chianti Reserva 2003 very purple in color for the age and grape type. the flavors in the glass not on the nose, lots of bright fruit from a hot vintage. surprisingly juicy and again a little but not much of the sangiovese nose
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Jay Koeller with Coppola wines
One thing can be said for the Coppola wines they keep trying new things. With the diamond series they are producing lots of wines from California.
Sauvignon Blanc 2008 tropical fruit , banana especially...not the citrusy new zealand style.. nice acidity so it doesnt become too cloying
Pinot Grigio 2007 light, clean, a bit of melon and quick finish.
Petite Sirah 2007 purple color, tobacco, bacon fat, iodine, long finish.
Alicante Bouschet 2007 all Lodi fruit, dark color in the glass but the fruit is a little more restrained, reminescent of grenache, a little green in flavor either from over producing or not enough sun.. not a deal breaker but was hoping for a little more flavor.
Malbec 2006 full bodied color, a minty California version of a wine that maybe doesnt do well in california.
Sauvignon Blanc 2008 tropical fruit , banana especially...not the citrusy new zealand style.. nice acidity so it doesnt become too cloying
Pinot Grigio 2007 light, clean, a bit of melon and quick finish.
Petite Sirah 2007 purple color, tobacco, bacon fat, iodine, long finish.
Alicante Bouschet 2007 all Lodi fruit, dark color in the glass but the fruit is a little more restrained, reminescent of grenache, a little green in flavor either from over producing or not enough sun.. not a deal breaker but was hoping for a little more flavor.
Malbec 2006 full bodied color, a minty California version of a wine that maybe doesnt do well in california.
Edd Lopez of Seghesion Wines
This venerable wine company with a A type representative. I think it is a good thing because it keeps an old established winery from becoming complacent in their methods. Lots of passion for wine and it shows.
Seghesio Barbera 2007 as with most of the wines in this group there was a lot of juicy, mouth filling fruit, not heavy in the oak tannin but showing well with the fruit . a little soft mocha on the finish.
Seghesio Sangiovese 2006 not the brickish looking wine from Italy again this one was all about the California sunshine. bright jammy fruit with a slow finish.
Seghesion Old Vine Zin 2006.. great spectator press..and their old vines mean old vine. the family has been doing wine for over a century. dark purple in the glass and dark fruit nose, not overly briary but nice pepper.. and with all the zins going high alcohol this one was on the money, not too hot at all.
Seghesio Petite Sirah 2005 their Petit had always been a blended wine, this time they have made it the varietal. huge color, very berry flavored interesting coffee, smokey finish.
Seghesio Barbera 2007 as with most of the wines in this group there was a lot of juicy, mouth filling fruit, not heavy in the oak tannin but showing well with the fruit . a little soft mocha on the finish.
Seghesio Sangiovese 2006 not the brickish looking wine from Italy again this one was all about the California sunshine. bright jammy fruit with a slow finish.
Seghesion Old Vine Zin 2006.. great spectator press..and their old vines mean old vine. the family has been doing wine for over a century. dark purple in the glass and dark fruit nose, not overly briary but nice pepper.. and with all the zins going high alcohol this one was on the money, not too hot at all.
Seghesio Petite Sirah 2005 their Petit had always been a blended wine, this time they have made it the varietal. huge color, very berry flavored interesting coffee, smokey finish.
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