Mar 092013
 
2011 Bryon Santa Barbara Pinot Noir, CA, $19 (S) – Rating 89

A good value Pinot Noir with a pleasant nose of blueberry and cherry with hints of cola and notes of campfire smoke. The wine has a rich and round mouth-feel with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry, red cherry and cola. Soft tannins make the wine immediately enjoyable. Buy This Wine

Feb 122013
 
2010 Emeritus Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch, Russian River Valley, CA, $47 (S) – 93

Year after year Emeritus Pinot Noir creates on of the great food pairing Pinots. Very accessible from the first pour. A sensual garnet color precedes a nose of dark fruit, smoke and blueberry. The soft mouth-feel is beautifully balanced with good food pairing acidity offering flavors of blueberry, blackberry, raspberry and spice with subtle notes of cinnamon. Previously only available in restaurants and wine bars, the beauty is now available from the winery. Buy This Wine

Winemaker Interview – Kurt Beitler of Bohème Wines (Sonoma Coast)

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Jan 302013
 

Kurt BeitlerDuring the 2012 Aspen Food and Wine Festival we had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Sonoma Coast winemaker Kurt Beitler of Bohème Wines. I was excited to meet the energetic and passionate young winemaker; if for no other reason than he is a grandson of one of the winemakers most influential in my early wine development, Charlie Wagner, co-founder of Caymus Vineyards. We waited for Kurt outside an Aspen restaurant, to find him wheeling up through the festival crowd on his mountain bike with a great smile on his face and even better wines in hand.

While Kurt learned much of his craft working with his uncle Chuck Wagner (co-founder of Caymus) and cousins at Caymus Vineyards, he ventured out a few years ago to create hand-crafted Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and Chardonnay under his own label Bohème Wines. Kurt’s five small-lot wines are exceptional examples of terrior-driven single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Bohème Wines are available from their website and tasting room in Occidental, CA. For those who support small, family and artisan wineries…Bohème is a wine find that will definitely excite your palate and enhance your cellar. Continue reading »

Jan 222013
 
2010 Van Duzer Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, OR, $30 (S) – Rating 91

An extremely approachable and eminently enjoyable Pinot Noir. The nose offers aromas of dark fruit, spice and just the tiniest hint of campfire smoke. The palate is treated to bright berry flavors, dark cherry, blueberry and ripe raspberry with subtle notes of cola and smoke. The wine is very well-balanced with soft tannins and enough acidity to pair well with the chicken in wild mushrooms we served. Buy This wine

Jan 122013
 
2010 V. Sattui Winery Henry Ranch Pinot Noir, Los Carneros, Napa Valley, CA, $39 (S) – Rating 90

This Pinot is a bit tight upon opening but really blossoms after about 30 minutes. A soft nose of black cherry jam and spice is the prelude to a lush and soft mouth-feel with flavors of black cherry, plum, tobacco and baking spice with just enough acidity for good food pairing. Patience is rewarded. Buy This Wine