This month we will be focusing on the wines of California. While mostly known for high end cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and chardonnay from such locations as the Napa Valley, Paso Robles, and the Sonoma Coast, there is a wealth of good inexpensive wine done in a range of styles from rich heavily oaked zinfandel from the Sierra Foothills and Lodi to savory white Rhone varietals around Santa Barbara, and everything in between.
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Qupe Central Coast Syrah |
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Region: Central Coast |
100% Syrah fermented with 10% whole clusters fermented in a combination of small open-top fermenters and larger closed-top tanks to give freshness and brightness. Aged for 16 months in François Frères Burgundy barrels, 15% new to give a richness to the final wine. Deep almost purple in the glass with a nose of violet, blackberry, black pepper, and blueberry. Medium bodied and smooth on the palate with a juicy finish. |
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Winemaker: Blake Kuhn |
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Price: $18.99 per bottle / $195.49 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: A range of rich red meat dishes, stinky cheeses like gorgonzola or stilton |
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Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir |
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Region: Santa Maria Valley |
100% Pinot Noir wholly destemmed and fermented in stainless steel with a 5 day cold soak to improve color, help produce softer tannins, and bring out a deeper richness of fruit. Aged in barrel, 22% of which is new, for 8 1/2 months. Medium ruby with a nose of baking spices, bright red fruit, and pomegranate. Fuller bodied, with a long floral and silky finish. Certified sustainable |
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Winemaker: Jill Russell |
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Price: $24.99 per bottle / $271.09 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Roast chicken, mushroom pizza, duck |
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Lava Cap Estate Zinfandel |
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Region: Sierra Foothills |
A blend of Zinfandel and Primitivo (a different clone from their estate Zinfandel which imparts more acid and tannin) aged 24 months in French oak. Deep purple, with notes of cocoa, spices, and dark berries on the nose. Full bodied with big, grippy tannins and good acidity framing flavors of chocolate covered cherries and raspberry liqueur. |
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Winemaker: Nolan Jones |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / $260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Burgers, grilled mushrooms, BBQ, |
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Daou The Pessimist Red Blend |
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Region: Paso Robles |
66% Petite Syrah, 22% Zinfandel, 16% Syrah, and 2% Lagrein aged in new French oak, 50% of which is new. Deep purple with notes of earth, baking spices, blueberry, and smoked meat on the nose. Full bodied and plush on the palate, with silky tannins, and balanced acidity framing flavors of blueberry and blackberry with a long, mouth coating finish. |
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Winemaker: Daniel Daou |
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Price: $20.99 per bottle / $227.89 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Beef ribs, hearty meat stews, chocolate cake |
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Cochon Cherry Bomb Carbonic Grenache |
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Region: Alexander Valley |
100% old vine Grenache, Half undergoing carbonic maceration and the rest fermented 50% whole cluster after a cold soak using only native yeasts for 2 ½ weeks. They were then transferred to a mix of 300L French oak Hogsheads, and 500L Puncheons and aged for 6 months on the lees. Blended before being bottled unfiltered. Medium ruby with notes of red cherry, and raspberry on the nose. Medium bodied with silky tannins and bright acidity with flavors of fresh red berries on the palate. Can be served slightly chilled |
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Winemaker: Adam Webb |
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Price: $18.99 per bottle / $206.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Duck with cherry sauce, |
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Forlorn Hope Queen of the Sierra Red Blend |
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Region: Sierra Foothills |
Zinfandel, Barbera, Tempranillo, Trousseau noir, and Mondeuse fermented separately with native yeast for 14-21 days on the skins and then aged in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Medium ruby in the glass with notes of fresh red berries and rhubarb. Light bodied and fresh on the palate with soft tannins and crisp acidity with a mineral finish. |
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Winemaker: Matthew Rorick |
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Price: $24.99 per bottle / $271.09 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Chicken Caesar salad, gouda, sauteed asparagus with garlic |
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Ancient Peaks Santa Margarita Ranch Chardonnay |
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Region: Paso Robles |
100% Chardonnay, 86% of which is cold fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve brightness of fruit and delicate floral aromatics. The remainder was barrel-fermented and aged in French oak on the lees, 30% of which was new, undergoing malolactic fermentation to add a creaminess to the finished wine as well as batonnage (stirring of the lees to give a richer texture and more complex flavor from the spent yeast). Pale yellow in the glass, with an expressive nose of baked apple, lemon meringue, and wet stone. Full bodied with fresh acidity, and a long mineral finish |
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Winemaker: Stewart Cameron |
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Price: $17.99 per bottle / 195.49 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Creamy poultry dishes, richer seafood |
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Macrostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay |
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Region: Sonoma Coast |
100% Chardonnay, 77% of which is barrel-fermented in French oak, 14% of which was new. The remainder was fermented in stainless steel to bring a freshness to the finished wine. The wines were aged 6 months on the lees with occasional batonnage, and underwent partial secondary malolactic fermentation. Pale yellow in the glass with notes of tropical fruit, brioche, and citrus on the nose. Full bodied, with vibrant acidity and a long juicy finish |
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Winemaker: Heidi Bridenhagen |
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Price: $24.99 per bottle / $271.09 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Succotash, lobster ravioli, chicken caesar salad |
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Curran Grenache Blanc |
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Region: Santa Barbara County |
100% Grenache Blanc fermented and aged in stainless steel. Pale yellow with a green tint and a fruity nose with layers of tropical and stone fruit with white flowers. Medium bodied with balanced acidity and a crisp, fresh finish. |
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Winemaker: Kris Curran |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / 260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: turkey, chile verde, tandoori chicken |
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Bonny Doon Central Coast Picpoul |
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Region: Monterey County |
100% Picpoul cool fermented in stainless steel to preserve freshness and aromatics. Pale greenish yellow, with notes of bright citrus and mineral notes. Light bodied with shimmering acidity and savory finish. |
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Winemaker: Randall Grahm |
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Price: $16.99 per bottle / $184.69 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: fresh shellfish, ceviche, Greek salad |
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Ser Dry Orange Muscat |
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Region: Paso Robles |
100% Orange Muscat (a cross between Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains, the grape used in Moscato d'Asti and the dessert wines of Beaumes-de-Venise and the Swiss varietal Chasselas) cold fermented and aged in stainless steel for 4 months. Pale straw, with notes of candied orange peel, orange marmalade, and candied ginger. Medium bodied with balanced acidity and a long concentrated finish |
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Winemaker: Nicole Walsh |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / 260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Garlic crab, dim sum, chicken liver mousse, smoked ham, |
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Stolpman Sauvignon Blanc |
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Region: Santa Barbara County |
100% Sauvignon Blanc fermented in stainless steel then aged 60% in large neutral French oak barrels and 40% stainless steel for 3 months. Pale yellow with green tints and a nose bursting with notes of kiwi, lychee, and key lime. On the lighter side of medium bodied with bright acidity and bright citrus flavors on the long silky finish |
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Winemaker: Kyle Knapp |
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Price: $24.99 per bottle / 271.09 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Aguachile, tuna tartare, banh mi |
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