Pinot Summit! Results are in!

With the 8th Annual Summit behind us, I am already looking forward to next year!  Organized beautifully by the Amazing Barbara Drady, this event was not only super fun, but is dedicated to my favorite: Pinot Noir.  This year, we got to taste through 40 Pinots that showcased the mutability of this grape variety as well as the artistry of expression of the wine makers. 

In addition to the fun classes, the highlight of the day is walking into a big room with broad expanses of Pinot Noirs wrapped to completely hide the bottles and labeled only with color names so that we could try them all and vote for our top 3.  These 40 wines were culled from several previous tasting groups so that these finalists represented all that is good in the world.  Yum!  Of course, I had to spit and even then ended up with pinot-colored wine goggles by the end of it.  But I got to experience a wide gamut of Pinot personalities.  If you are curious about the entire result lists it can be found here:

As for my favorites:

Number 1 was Eric Ross Saralee Vineyard 2007.  It was an amazing clear, salmon pink color.  I expected it to taste flinty and restrained.  Wrong!  Whiffs of strawberries, rhurbarb and apricot.  Flavors of fresh strawberries, cedar and toast.  The mouthfeel was almost creamy.  Delish!  We got to meet the winemaker and see some of his excellent photography, too

The Pinot I gave the second highest score to was Heart o The Mountain 2007 Santa Cruz Mtns.  100% Pommard clone, the garnet hued wine had in additon to a nice pinot palette, black tea, banana and jasmine in its aromas.  Flavors shone with cherry, cedar and something slightly smoky in the midpalate.  Lovely almost chocolatey finish. 

For the third highest, I picked, 2007 Nicholson Ranch Sonoma Coast pinot. I loved the coppery undertones in the medium garnet hues of the wine.  Aromas of cedar and cherry.  Bright cranberry splash in the flavors. 

It was fun to also talk to people about their top three colors.  I spoke to a lot of people who rated the Tan high, but I had rated it very median.  Hmmm.  During the reception that preceded the Awards, I ran to the table where Tan was being poured.  Was I ever glad I did!  My inital notes read "sweet, raspberry soda, no finish"  Tasting the 2007 Claibirne and Churchill Edna Valley by itself, I found the wine to be ripe with cherries and red fruit and a nice touch of spice.  I revised my opinion just in time to hear the results where this was the Pinot Noir showed up in almost all of the four top 3 lists. 

All in all a great day!

A Taste of Chile in San Francisco, CA. April 6th, 2010

Hey Bay Area folks!! Come support vicitims of the Chilean earthquake by attending this charity event. There is quite a selection of Chilean Wines, foods and entertainment.



"Raise a Glass and Funds for Chile - Tuesday, April, 6th

Bay Area Chileans, Presidio Cafe, Chilean Consulate SF and Chilean Importers will host “A Taste of Chile: A Benefit for Earthquake Relief” at the Presidio Cafe, from 6:30 to 10 pm. Guests will sample various wines from a multitude of Chilean appellations paired with empanadas from Café Valparaiso of Berkeley .

All proceeds benefit COANIQUEM, a private non-profit Burn Center foundation that operates three rehab centers in Chile. The February 27th earthquake comprised their facilities and they need immediate funds to continue treating their young patients.

COANIQUEM’s U.S. Director will attend to accept donations. We ask that guests contribute a minimum of $25.00 donation, and those who give $100 or more will be included in a raffle drawing.

We are excited to have Alex Geiger, the Consul General of the SF Chilean Consulate as an honorary special guest and our co-sponsor "Wines of Chile-USA".

Participating Wineries and Wine Entities include:

Apaltagua, Calcu, Domus Aurea, Penalolen
Parqua, Maquis & Tercos - (Global Vineyard Imports)

Terranoble -( Winebow Chilean Imports)

La Playa Family of Wines - (Cabernet Corp. Imports)

Kingston Family Vineyards, Casablanca Valley

Aresti, Curico Valley - (Broadbent Selection Imports)

Cono Sur - (Vineyard Brand Imports)

Los Vascos - (Pasternak Wine Imports)

Veramonte, Primus & Ritual - (Huneeus Vintners LLC)

Alto Sol, Cucao, Chono, Vina Quintay, Rayun,
Palin & Vina Litoral - (North Berkeley Imports)

Casa Marin & Vina Chocalan - (Domaine Select Wine Estates)

Concha y Toro & Palo Alto - (Banfi Vintners)

Arboleda - (Frederick Wildman)

Montes & Santa Ema - (TGIC Imports)

Concha y Toro (Banfi Vintners)

Vina Ventisquero (Austral Wines)

Vina Santa Carolina (Rapel Valley)

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Food Sponsors:

Empanadas (Vegertarian & Beef) by Cafe Valparaiso Berkeley

Shrimp Anticucho w/ Cilantro Jalapeno Pesto & Alfajores by Sabores del Sur

Breads & Savory Tarts provided by La Boulange Bakery & Cafe

Cheese provided by Say Cheese of Cole Valley

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Entertainment Sponsor:

Araucaria Dance Organization will perform "Cuecas" (Chile's National Dance)

Raffle Prizes:

Presidio Golf Course Gift Certificate- A Round-Of-Golf for 4
Don Melchor Reserve Cabernet 750ml bottle
Los Vascos "Le Dix" Cabernet 750ml bottle
Casa Marin Pinot Noir "Litoral Vineyard" 750ml bottle
Veramonte "Primus" Red Table Blend 1.5L magnum bottle
Local Bay Area Chilean Artist, Javier Urzua's Landscape Oil Painting of Central Valley
Absinthe Brasserie & Bar Gift Certificate
Nopa Gift Certificate
Ozumo Gift Certificate
XYZ Restaurant @ "W" Hotel Gift Certificate
Citizen Cake/ Orson Gift Certificate
Sauce Gift Certificate
Jardiniere Gift Certificate
Fifth Floor Gift Certificate"


If you want to know more about the effects of the Chilean earthquake on the wine industry go here: http://www.winesur.com/news/serious-effects-of-chilean-earthquake-on-wineries-and-vineyards

A Feast for the Senses in Calistoga

Tucked behind a sunny storefront in quaint and charming Calistoga, an amazing oenophile experience awaits.  Thanks to Marcy Gordon who invited me, I got to participate in a wine blogger session of this fun and educational opportunity.  Brought to us by the wonderful folks at W.H, Smith Wines, this set up allows you to experience the different components of wine aromas separated out into opaque black glasses.  Reying only on smell, we sniffed our way through the set up trying to match the scents with the component.  I thought I would get all of them wrong, but was happy to have gotten 11 right!  Turns out my love of fruit and the various and mercurial waftings of Pinot Noir served me well!  T'anne Butcher, who lead us through the excercise said that she can make it easier or harder depending on the make up of the groups.  We also got to examine the effect of stemware on flavor.  I found it fascinating how the exact same wine tasted different --in some cases radically different---based on the form factor of the glass.  Because the shape of the glass affects how you process the aromas and aromas inpact flavor, well, you do the math.  Fun to experiment!  But the most fun experiment was sampling the W.H. Smith Wines.  After all that analysis, it was great to wrap my taste buds around some yummy Pinot Noir, Zin and Cab Sauv. 

Marcy squealed with delight when she correclty identified one component she had previously misidentified.  I immediately wanted to train like Rocky Balboa and go back again to increase my score...errr..increase my knowledge.  Tasting blind created a challenge!  A display of Oak components and identifying flavors in chocolate was also included as were delectable snacks.  Definitely a great way to learn more about wine, enjoy Cailstoga and spend quality time with friends!

If you are interested, find out more here.  Classes are held daily by appointment from 10 am to 11:30 and cost $35.