Monday, January 20, 2025

2021 Mariner/Dry Creek Vineyard/2021 Cabernet Franc/ Great New Wines for dinner and every dish

Crafted from several vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, The Mariner represents our vision to produce the finest Meritage wine from using the five noble Bordeaux varieties. 2021 The Mariner!! The Mariner is a powerful, yet elegant Meritage made in the tradition of some of the world’s greatest Bordeaux blends. This wine is the culmination of years spent working with different vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley, including our own Endeavour property. The Mariner represents our vision to produce the finest Meritage wine from the Dry Creek Valley using the five noble Bordeaux varieties. The grapes for this delicious Bordeaux-inspired blend come from several of our most prized estate and hillside vineyards in the Dry Creek Valley. At first swirl, the wine displays aromas of black currant, plum, black cherry and blackberry. Several more minutes reveal hints of tobacco, toffee and cinnamon. The palate has dark berry flavors along with earthy complexity and savory tones. It finishes with notes of mocha, herbes de Provence and violet. Good acidity will help this wine to age beautifully for years to come. I think the blends are extremely special,and lets' open this wine and one more to pair with our dinner tonight! Often used in our blends, this varietal's intriguing and indulgent character makes a wonderfully unique and aromatic wine. 2021 Cabernet Franc Winemaker Notes: Cabernet Franc may have origins entrenched in Bordeaux, but it has a home here in California's Dry Creek Valley as well. We find that this delicious varietal adds a layer of finesse and a peppery perfume as a blending component for our Bordeaux-inspired red wines, but is also outstanding all on its own. The Cabernet Franc we grow on our estate Bullock House vineyard stands out vintage after vintage, so we set aside a few barrels as a special wine available exclusively at our family winery. This voluptuous estate Cabernet Franc displays intriguing aromatics of black currant, spiced plum and blueberry. Additional airing reveals nuances of cocoa power, espresso and fine leather. The palate is medium-bodied and rich with luscious flavors of black and red cherries and black tea complimented by savory notes of cardamom, caramel, cedar and cinnamon. A finish of fine tannins rounds out each indulgent sip. this wine is one of my favorites and I wait for each new vintage to be released! Cheers!

Great New Vintages from Dry Creek Vineyard/ Four Clones Vineyard Zinfandel and The 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel

Since 1972, our winemaking style has been to produce classic varietals that define their varietal category. From our signature offerings to our single vineyard and limited release wines, each bottling personifies our family’s passion to produce elegant, balanced and food-friendly wines. our first wine is 2020 Four Clones Vineyard Zinfandel.I love this wine,and each vintage seems better. This delicious Zinfandel comes from our Four Clones Vineyard, just in front of our family winery. The incredible 4.4-acre property honors the bygone era of grape growing and represents the heritage of old vine vineyards for generations to come. Planted in 2009, this traditional head-pruned, dry-farmed Zinfandel vineyard incorporates four distinct clones: Bradford Mountain, St. Peter’s Church, Primitivo and DuPratt on St. George rootstock. This vintage includes a touch of Petite Sirah and Alicante Bouschet, planted adjacent to the Zinfandel. At first swirl, fragrant aromas of coriander, cinnamon and cocoa powder come forward. A few minutes of airing reveal notes of blackberry, boysenberry and cranberry. On the palate are characters of blackberry and blueberry, with lingering white pepper, mocha and cumin. The tannins are silky and smooth to lend a round, rich mouthfeel. Full-bodied and complex, this estate Zinfandel is impeccably balanced with a mouthwatering finish. We will open 2 wines today Our second wine is the 2021 Old Vine Zinfandel. First coined by Dry Creek Vineyard in 1987, the term “Old Vine” has special meaning to our family winery. Its vineyards remain the most prized and historic of all plantings in the Dry Creek Valley. Although there is no legal definition, we define an old vine vineyard as having vines that average more than 50 years in age. For this bottling of our Old Vine Zinfandel, the vines average more than 100 years in age! This vintage presents alluring aromatics of boysenberry, blueberry and blackberry with notes of white pepper, cardamom, toffee and marzipan. On the palate, layers of black cherry and plum come forward with nuances of coriander, mocha, allspice and violet. The wine is complex, with vibrancy and impeccable balance. The tannins are fine, lending to an elegant texture and mouthfeel.We have a few more great wines from Dry Creek vineyard. Please join us....we saved you a seat! Cheers!

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Dry Creek Vineyard/ Don Wallace/Agave Mexican Cuisine

Recently Don Wallace and I met at agave In Healdsburg for some great food to pair with his wines. This is a feature with one of the great wines from Dry Creek vineyard! we will also feature the amazing family behind this great Mexican restaurant In healdsburg. Our wine? 2021 Heritage Vines Zinfandel. Winemaker Notes: To preserve the tradition and “heritage” of old Zinfandel vineyards, cuttings from a pre-Prohibition era vineyard were grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. Then, for several years we worked diligently to screen and propagate virus-free vines that would ultimately produce a crop. The 2021 Heritage Vines Zinfandel is delicious and wonderfully balanced. This vintage presents alluring aromatics of black cherry, boysenberry and plum with nuances of warm spices, mocha and white pepper. On the palate, brambly flavors of dark berries come forward. The wine is complex, with bright acidity complimented by deeper notes of cedar, fine leather and dark brown sugar. From start to finish, this remarkable wine offers refreshing acidity paired with excellent structure. At Agave Healdsburg, they draw from the artisanal customs and deepest cultures of Oaxaca. It’s more than just food and drinks; it’s a family tradition passed down through generations. Our Mole Negro, an exotic and incredibly fragrant creation made from over 20 secret ingredients, is a testament to this heritage. Executive Chef Octavio Diaz has mastered this recipe with the guidance and culinary expertise of his parents, ensuring the authenticity and depth of flavor in every bite. Mezcal, the smoky spirit of Oaxaca, is another thread woven into the fabric of our family history. Here at Agave Healdsburg, we craft a diverse range of premium cocktails that celebrate this ancestral beverage. Agriculture is a natural way of life for Don Wallace, the product of four generations of a hard-working California farming family. Don’s interest in machinery took him away from the farm for fifteen years while he pursued a career in international construction. While he was on a project in Sonoma County in 1980, Don met Dry Creek Vineyard founder David Stare’s daughter, Kim Stare, whom he married in 1982. With his father-in-law and wife in the wine business, Don’s next move was a stint among the vines at Murphy-Goode Estate Winery to “test drive” his new family’s industry. After one year, Don accepted his father-in-law’s offer to manage ranch operations at Dry Creek Vineyard in 1990. Don’s sphere of influence gradually grew to encompass every aspect of the business, including winery operations and sales, as well as vineyard development and acquisitions. Don took on the role of General Manager in 1999 and in April 2006, he was appointed President of Dry Creek Vineyard. In 2012, Don decided to take a well deserved sabbatical to pursue some outside interests as well as an extended list of honey do’s at home! We have two great features first with Don Wallace and I discussing our feature wine.Then on to our food and wine feature!Please Click on the 2 links below to listen to our audio features1 Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine . Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine .

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Daryl Groom/One of The Best Winemakers on The Planet/Zinfandel feature

Wehave another great audio feature for you all today!daryl Groom Will join me as we open his great Zinfandel.First we look at his website and fill you in on his great career in the winemaking industry. Daryl Groom has been involved in the wine industry in both the USA and Australia for more than 30 years. Currently he is engaged in a number of wine- related projects in both countries. He is the Owner/ Winemaker for Groom Wines in Australia, a very successful ultra premium brand focusing on Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. His other great joy is his newest brand Colby Red Wine, a wine initiated and inspired by his son Colby Groom who underwent back to back open heart surgeries. Proceeds from this wine go to charities across the USA that promote heart health (www.colbyred.com). The Groom Family has raised over $900,000 for heart charities including the American Heart Association and The Children's Heart Foundation. Prior to his current ventures, Daryl was Senior Winemaker for Penfolds in Australia where he oversaw the making of Penfolds famed red wine, Grange. He was the Executive Winemaker for Peak Wines International that owned both Geyser Peak and Wildhorse Wineries (1990-2005) and then Senior VP of Operations and Winemaking for Beam Wine Estates (2006/2007). Daryl's passion for wine sees him judging at 8 international wine shows annually. He has also been a repeat guest on E television and also appeared on the NBC Today Show. He also partners and is Chief Judge at the North Coast Wine Challenge Wine Competetion and is partner with well known Chef Charlie Palmer in the prestigious and highly successful Charlie Palmers Pigs and Pinot. Pigs and Pinot is an annual 2 day event that raises over $150,000 for local and national charities. Zinfandel is a grape variety whose origins are believed to be from Europe, possibly Croatia, where it was traded to Italy and referred to as Primativo. Zinfandel’s success is primarily related to California where it has been grown for 150 years. It is produced by many wineries and receives cult status among wine lovers. Many believe this variety is to California what shiraz is to Australia. Zinfandel is a hearty variety. It produces its best wines in areas where the grapevine needs to work hard. Our Kalimna shiraz vineyard has just the micro-climate to experiment with this variety to endeavour to produce wines that match California’s best. It is no secret that the best California Zinfandels are from old vines, grown head-trained (aka bush vines). With this principle in mind we decided to plant and train our vines to this method. More time consuming, less yield but hopefully high quality. Our 8 acres of bush vines have been designated the “Bush Block”. This first release is a solid wine displaying very typical zinfandel hallmarks. Brick red in colour, a very spicy, raisiny aroma and a rich medium weighted palate with some apparent sweetness, although the wine is dry. This sweetness in taste comes from the higher alcohol and raisining of some of the grapes. This wine can be very much enjoyed with pasta or red meat, and will be fantastic with cheese to end a meal. Please join us by clicking on the link below,and enjoy our great audio feature with Daryl Groom1 Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines and food.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Groom Wines.com/Daryl Groom/ Winemaker/Rock Star/Localwinemaker

We have a treat for you! I recently sat down with Daryl Groom,and opened three of his wines.Truly a Pleasure to talk with this world class winemaker. First we will look at his recent press and a little from his website)(groomwines.com) and on the wines to be featured. Prior to his current ventures, Daryl was Senior Winemaker for Penfolds in Australia where he oversaw the making of Penfolds famed red wine, Grange. He was the Executive Winemaker for Peak Wines International that owned both Geyser Peak and Wildhorse Wineries (1990-2005) and then Senior VP of Operations and Winemaking for Beam Wine Estates (2006/2007). Daryl's passion for wine sees him judging at 8 international wine shows annually. He has also been a repeat guest on E television and also appeared on the NBC Today Show. He also partners and is Chief Judge at the North Coast Wine Challenge Wine Competetion and is partner with well known Chef Charlie Palmer in the prestigious and highly successful Charlie Palmers Pigs and Pinot. Pigs and Pinot is an annual 2 day event that raises over $150,000 for local and national charities. We have three amazing wines starting with a beautiful Sav Blanc. Lenswood, in the Adelaide Hills appellation of South Australia, is where our Sauvignon Blanc is grown. It is a very cool climate with relatively high winter rainfall. Our Lenswood vineyard is dedicated to Sauvignon Blanc and is producing stunning Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Daryl says that the vineyard conditions are so perfect that all he has to do is harvest at the right moment and then get out of the way and not muck things up! What emerges from this clean, uncomplicated winemaking approach is a wine with brilliant acidity and flavors that balance citrus with floral. Brighter than California Sauvignon Blanc, and a little less pungent than New Zealand, this wine exemplifies the Adelaide Hills appellation as a world class Sauvignon Blanc producing region. Our wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc fruit, 100% stainless steel fermented with no oak contact and 0% malolactic fermentation. Daryl’s aim is to get the incredible, intense fruit flavors from the vine into the glass. This wine showcases pure Sauvignon fruit at its very best. Links to vintage specific technical information for each vintage. This wine is all a Sav Blanc wants to be,purely perfect and in fact a food and wine pairing in your very near future. Our next wine has become an instant favorite of mine! The Barossa Valley is the source of our Shiraz. With it’s hot, dry conditions and fairly level valley floor and undulating hills, this appellation is generally recognized as the best red wine district in Australia. Our Kalimna property is located next door to the traditional Penfolds Grange “mother source” vineyard. The unforgiving soils of this area are well known to produce very low yields, loose clusters and extremely small berries. Classic, ultra premium Shiraz territory! Daryl looks for a little less wood in his Shiraz than is typical of Australian Shiraz. He wants a wine that is rich, but not overly jammy, tannic, or oaky in flavor so that it can show off the spicy, anise, berry flavors - true varietal characters in the grape. He is looking for a firm, fleshy structure and a fine texture. Daryl achieves his results by traditional and gentle winemaking methods: fermentation is small batches, punched down in open-top vessels; a skin maceration of only 6 days; minimal handling throughout and aging in American oak (half new, half 1 year old). Careful barrel selection increases the quality and consistency of our Shiraz. In the very near future we will discuss and feature his Zinfandel. for now please click on the links be low,and join me as we introduce you to one of the great winemakers of our current times... Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines and food. Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines and food.

karamariewines.com/Ra Ra Wine Co./Kara Groom/Sonoma County Wine country Excursion

Today we will try three new wines from Ra Ra Wine Co. Healdsburg California is trulu a wine hub now,offering great wines from many different wine regions surounding this great little town. I met this amazing lady at Valette Healdsburg,and now will enjoy this great story and adventure with her great wines. We will look at the webiste,and tasting notes,but first,a little back ground. Kara Marie Wines began in 2018 with a passion for great wine made in a lively, fruit forward style. 100 cases of rosé later, and so began an unexpectedly epic journey! Trained and mentored (not to mention raised!) by a winemaker whose philosophy is to let the fruit do the talking, I’ve done exactly that…with my own spin of course! Fast forward to 2023, and I am proud to offer a full line up of wines I am passionate about making and drinking! Kara Marie Wines has now evolved into two brands, Ra Ra Wine Co. and Little Ra Ra Ferments. Both platforms allow me to craft limited production wines of excellent quality­ and top-notch drinkability. Kara Groom Six harvests across three continents and it was time to come home to Sonoma County. Now following my passion for food & wine (aka eating and drinking), I’m crafting beautiful wines and delicious dishes to accompany them." We have two great audio features and three wines. 1. 2023 DRY RIESLING 2.2023 MELON DE BOURGOGNE 3. 2023 ROSÉ OF GRENACHE Please go to Karamariewines.com to learn more! We will also get together with Kara and pair some great dishes from local chefs...in the very near future. So please clickon the links below,and join us as we discuss these great wines. Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great wines and food.

Karamariewines.com/ Kara Groom/ Sonoma Wine Country Excursion/ Ra Ra Wine Co.

Today we will try three new wines from Ra Ra Wine Co. Healdsburg California is trulu a wine hub now,offering great wines from many different wine regions surounding this great little town. I met this amazing lady at Valette Healdsburg,and now will enjoy this great story and adventure with her great wines. We will look at the webiste,and tasting notes,but first,a little back ground. Kara Marie Wines began in 2018 with a passion for great wine made in a lively, fruit forward style. 100 cases of rosé later, and so began an unexpectedly epic journey! Trained and mentored (not to mention raised!) by a winemaker whose philosophy is to let the fruit do the talking, I’ve done exactly that…with my own spin of course! Fast forward to 2023, and I am proud to offer a full line up of wines I am passionate about making and drinking! Kara Marie Wines has now evolved into two brands, Ra Ra Wine Co. and Little Ra Ra Ferments. Both platforms allow me to craft limited production wines of excellent quality­ and top-notch drinkability. Kara Groom Six harvests across three continents and it was time to come home to Sonoma County. Now following my passion for food & wine (aka eating and drinking), I’m crafting beautiful wines and delicious dishes to accompany them." We have two great audio features and three wines. 1. 2023 DRY RIESLING 2.2023 MELON DE BOURGOGNE 3. 2023 ROSÉ OF GRENACHE Please go to Karamariewines.com to learn more! We will also get together with Kara and pair some great dishes from local chefs...in the very near future. So please clickon the links below,and join us as we discuss these great wines. Cheers! Click here and join us as we enjoy great food and wine .