“Bill’s Best Bets Tasting”
This week’s flight of wines comes from selections that I have particularly enjoyed over the last year. What they have in common is that they are all quality wines as well as being terrific bargains. We sold out of several of them almost immediately at previous tastings and have restocked and are locked and loaded for this weekend.
We’ll open with a lightly oaked Napa Valley Chardonnay made for this type of weather and then move to a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. A couple of surprise hits from the past – an Italian Corvina and a Chilean Carmenere – will follow.
The last wine will be a favorite of wine critics everywhere, star winemaker Dave Phinney’s E2, a Garnacha/Tempranillo/Carignan blend from top Spanish vineyards that won 93 points from Robert Parker.
I’m back from vacation so please stop by and enjoy the company of your fellow tasters and another varied assortment of cheeses and other goodies. – Bill Callahan
Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:
Friday, September 12th, 2014 5pm – 7pm
Saturday, September 13th, 2014 3pm – 5pm
759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map
This weekends selections: $15.00
Hill Family Estate Chardonnay 2012 ($16.99 During Tasting)
- Carly’s Cuvee has aromas of butter, cream, apples and caramel but carries nice acidity from being lightly oaked. The grapes come from Napa Valley’s Oakville, Watson Vineyard in American Canyon, and the Russian River.
Talbott Logan Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2012 ($21.99 During Tasting)
- Crafted from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard half old-vine (planted in 1972) Martini clone Pinot Noir grapes and Dijon clone Pinot Noir grapes (ranging in age 15-20 years). Full bodied, rich texture with flavors of Bing cherry and red plum.
Scaia Corvina Italian Red 2012 ($10.99 During Tasting)
- Corvina grapes are most commonly used as a key constituent of Valpolicella and have thick skins that often undergo appassimento – partially drying grapes before fermenting them a la Amarone. A delicious, well-balanced wine that is intense and medium-bodied despite its youth. – 90 Pts Robert Parker
Casas del Bosque Carmenere 2012 ($11.99 During Tasting)
- This versatile, smooth Chilean wine was a huge hit at a tasting last year. Intensely violet in color, on the palate an initial attach of black cherry, sweet tobacco and cinnamon gives away to a touch of earthiness and ripe bell pepper.
E2 Red Spanish Blend non-vintage ($16.99 During Tasting)
- This wine is a product of California winemaker Dave Phinney’s invasion of Spain that won raves from critics. Grenache/Garnacha from Priorat, Tempranillo from Rioja, and Carignan/Cariñena from Ribera del Duero frame a perfectly balanced expression of what this dynamic wine-producing land is all about. – 93 Points Robert Parker
See you this weekend!
