Friday evening we will be enjoying wines of the Pacific Northwest. Our first three come from Oregon where cooler climate varietals shine. Therefore, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate the Oregon wine production. Tonight’s selections are the Chehalem Chardonnay and the Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir. We will also enjoy a nice Oregon summer time wine, the Benton Lane Pinot Gris. In Washington warmer Bordeaux varietals do best. Washington has begun to make a name for itself with high end Cabernet and tonight we have the Seven Hills Columbia Valley Cabernet. The tasting culminates with a nice red wine from Bookwalter Winery that is largely a Cabernet and Merlot blend.
On Saturday we will taste some wines from Spain. Spanish wine making has come leaps and bounds and there are some fantastic values available to consumers. Tonight there is one white and four red wines on the list. All five received 90 or more points from major publications. We have a nice Albarino to start off before exploring the red wines. They include a Grenache, a Tempranillo, and a blend before we finish with the Alto Moncayo Garnacha. This wine is a two time 100 Point Wine from Robert Parker in two of its prior vintages.
I will be sitting in this weekend for Bill and Patrick
We hope you will join us.
Jason Perry
Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:
Friday, April 3rd, 2015 5pm – 7pm – $20/person
Saturday, April 4th, 2015 3pm-5pm – $15/person
759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
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Friday, April 3rd, 2015 5pm-7pm
Wines from the Pacific Northwest
2011 Pacific Rim Columbia Valley Dry Riesling ($10.99 During Tasting)
- The wine is crisp, dry and lush with flavors of citrus, jasmine and minerals. Our Dry Riesling is endlessly versatile and harmoniously complements the world’s most vibrant and flavorful cuisine. Pair with anything from Asian to European to a wide variety of seafood, cheeses and cold meats. 91 Points Wine Enthusiast! #1/100 WE Smart Buys!
2011 WillaKenzie Willamette Valley Pinot Gris ($19.99 During Tasting)
- Fresh straw color. Dominant notes of fresh squeezed lemon and tropical fruits give way to fragrant wisteria, jasmine, and rose petal on the nose. This bright and racy Pinot Blanc delivers lemon curd, granny smith apples, kiwi, and juicy blood oranges to the palate. A long finish brings the whole experience together with just a touch of stone fruit and minerals. Our 2011 Pinot Blanc will age well for 4-6 years. Serve slightly chilled. Try this acid driven Pinot Blanc with delicious white fish tacos, clam steamers, grilled prawns, or a green papaya salad. 89 Points Wine Advocate! 87 Points Wine Spectator!
2010 Tamarack Cellars Columbia Valley Firehouse Red ($19.99 During Tasting)
- “The Firehouse Red is a multi-regional blend of 9 varietals aged for 16 months in 40% new oak. Dark ruby red in color, it displays a pleasant perfume of spicy red fruits, dried herbs, and floral notes. This sets the stage for a forward, easy-going, tasty offering with some complexity and length. It is an excellent value meant for drinking over the next 3-4 years.” Jay Miller Wine Advocate 88 Points! 89 Points Wine Spectator!
2007 Patton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($32.99 During Tasting)
- “The medium ruby-colored 2007 Pinot Noir Estate Grown is a forward, easy-going wine with spice box, smoke, and red fruit aromas. On the palate ample savory fruit is buttressed by lively acidity. Drink this pleasant, spicy effort over the next 6 years.” JM Wine Advocate 87 Points! 88 Points Wine Spectator!
2007 Seven Hills Red Mountain Vintage Red ($34.99 During Tasting)
- “Polished, round and effortlessly focused, with impressive cherry, beet and pomegranate aromas and flavors, persisting beautifully against mineral and spice notes on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2011 through 2017.” Harvey Steinman Wine Spectator 93 Points! Wine Enthusiast 92 Points!
Saturday, April 4th, 2015 3pm-5pm
Wines from Spain
2013 La Cana Albarino ($17.99 During Tasting)
- “Green-tinged yellow. High-pitched aromas of lime zest, green apple, ginger and chalky minerals; showing very good clarity. Bright and nervy on the palate, offering bitter citrus fruit and quince flavors and a sexy floral nuance. Weightier on the persistent finish, which features fleshy pear and melon character and repeating minerality. About 15% of this wine was barrel-fermented. For the category and its level of quality this wine is a steal.” Steven Tanzer International Wine Cellar 91 Points!
2012 Bodegas Borsao Tres Picos ($19.99 During Tasting)
- “The terrific 2012 Tres Picos is one of the finest inexpensive, Grenache-based wines made in the world. This full-bodied beauty boasts a deep ruby color as well as loads of strawberry and black cherry fruit, hints of lavender and crushed rocks, sweet tannin, and a broad, savory mouthfeel. It, too, should be consumed over the next 3-4 years.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92 Points!
2010 Muga Rioja ($29.99 During Tasting)
- “The young nose is dominated by dark fruit aromas intermixed with notes of orange rind, licorice, Chinese ink and smoked peat. The palate shows some grainy tannins denoting a young but tender wine, with good intensity and acidity, ideal to have with food. They produce 850,000 bottles of this wine, which is remarkable given its high quality. Very Rioja. Drink 2014-2020.” Steven Tanzer International Wine Cellar 92 Points!
2012 Jorge Ordonez Vatan ($39.99 During Tasting)
- Plush yet focused, this rich red delivers flavors of black cherry, blackberry and plum preserves, backed with mocha and smoky notes. Features firm tannins and bright acidity, leaving a clean, floral finish. Powerful, yet light-footed. Drink now through 2020. 500 cases made. –TM Wine Spectator 91 Points; Steven Tanzer 93 Points!
2012 Alto Moncayo Garnacha ($49.99 During Tasting)
- “The 2012 Alto Moncayo, pure Garnacha from a warm, extremely dry and early vintage is extremely young and oaky with a nose full of vanilla, cinnamon, clove and smoke along with ripe blackberries, some cereal hints and notes of café au lait intermixed with quite a lot of toasts aromas from the barrel. The bottled wine is 16% alcohol but feels quite balanced, it has some grainy tannins to be resolved, and some oak flavors to be integrated. A ripe, rich Garnacha that should age well in bottle. There were 55,200 bottles produced in 2012.” Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate 92 Points!
