'95 Alexander Valley Silver Oak

Silver Oak is one of the few wineries in all of Napa that has been a beacon of want and desire for me since I started drinking wine. Of course there are many wines I would love to try and many wineries around the world I love to get to go to but for now, I can say I have had the opportunity to try not only a '04 Napa Valley, '07 Napa Valley, '07 Alexander Valley, I have had the opportunity to drink a 1995 Alexander Valley Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon. Let me tell you, for an 18 year old wine, not to shabby, not at all! And before I forget I have to say a big THANK YOU to Mr. R.T. for giving me this marvelous gift! Beautiful Ruby red color, with ripe red and black fruits, earth and a small hint of spice overwhelmed every sense as I poured, smelled, swirled, smelled then sipped this masterpiece called Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon.

Silver Oak was founded by the Duncan family in the 1960's and is still family owned and operated. Dedicated to strictly making one type of wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, they do 100% Cabernet Sauvignon substantially grown grapes within both the Alexander Valley and Napa Valley continuing tradition set by founder Raymond Duncan in the early 70's. If your ever in the Napa Valley area Silver Oak is must see, that won't leave you disappointed. Cheers!

A must try "Elsa Bianchi 2012 Torrontés"

Argentina does it again. South American wines are definitely nothing to take lightly, and if you think you don't like them because all you have had was Malbec's you need to give them another go around. Torrontés is very similar to Sauvignon Blanc with its own spin. Orange blossom, spice cake, green apple and grape fruit fill the palate with a clean crisp finish, with floral citrus aromas that open more as time goes on. Elsa Bianchi's Torrontés was named a top 100 best buy under $20 through Wine Enthusiast for 2013. Easily able to drink on its own it will go great with grilled seafood, shellfish, chicken, as well as cream based pasta dishes.

Wine Region of the Month: The Central Coast

The Central Coast AVA is my choice for Wine Region of the Month for many different reasons; 1. The wide variety of grapes grown 2. The vast area that it spans over California 3. Dubbed Wine Region of the Year from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

The Central Coast AVA spans from San Francisco all the way down to Los Angeles area. With that span of length it can grow a vast majority of grapes dominantly growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot close behind, the different soil, weather conditions, mountains and valley's give way to so many wonderful varietals grown from North to South. Growing roughly 15% of the states grapes, over 90,000 acres are planted wine grapes and has over 360+ wineries ranging from mass producers to family owned estates, all with their own beauty and charm.

San Francisco to Monterey, consists of some of the biggest counter culture areas of California with Santa Cruz and San Francisco leading the way. Monterey, Spanish Bay, Carmel, Pebble Beach and Big Sur lie within the beautiful oceanside counties but you can't forget about Contra Costa, San Benito and Alemeda either. Producing predominantly Chardonnay, there is over 6400 acres of different planted wine grapes. The cool coastal climate creates small concentrated clusters that produce low yields but big flavors. Mostly consisting of well drained gravely soil, my suggestion is try finding Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from Monterey, for the money you won't be disappointed.

A little further down the historic 101 freeway you find the humble yet rapidly growing Paso Robles. Paso Robles was named the 2013 Wine Region of the year from Wine Enthusiast Mag for the second time in 3 years. Quite impressive since usually people don't know where this is, well the secret is definitely out now. I read an article last year in Wine Enthusiast about 5 major wine regions, they named Paso Robles the Bohemia style town of wine making for its low key nature and laid back, humble style. Rhone style wines and blends have been thriving more and more in this area considering the warm sunny days and cool nights play huge factors in the outcome, but rest assured the Cabernet Saugvignon and bordeaux style wines are no slouch either. Mountains, valley's, rolling hills and ocean breeze are what you will find here considering it is only 10 miles off the coast yet has such a major climate change. From small estate wineries like Wild Coyote to mass production wineries like Justin, you can be more than sure you will find something that fits your style and budget.

Northern San Luis Obispo county Santa Barbera is your quintessential Spanish style setting on the water. Great restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, tourist attractions are all here. Santa Barbera is your upscale city on the water is a destination you have to see if you come to California nestled between Los Angeles and Paso Robles you have the opportunity to hit some of the best wine regions in the Southern and Central parts of California. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are the main staple grapes you can find with over 12,000 acres planted between the two. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also great here with cool climate growing conditions. With wineries like Latetia in Arroyo Grande, Cambria in Santa Maria Valley and Wente in Santa Barbera, just to name a few, you will never be bored in the Central Coast.

Whether you are coming with family or just on a romantic getaway the Central Coast is one of California's hidden gems. From restaurants and recreation to wineries and relaxation, don't overlook this captivating area. Cheers!

Wine of the week: Cambria "Julia's Vineyard" 2012 Pinot Noir

Youthful, balanced, supple, very fruit forward, light nose type of Pinot Noir. Cambria Julia's Vineyard Pinot Noir is the quintessential expression of the Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir. Light and fruity balanced and textured, red cherries, pomegranate, raspberries, and sweet oak fill your palate with a long dancing finish that makes you want to drink a second glass. 100% grown estate Pinot Noir for $20-$25 is a steal! I would recommend this to any Pinot lover or someone interested in getting to reds but don't know where to start. Also this wine could make a great gift for Christmas.                                                                          

Wine and Christmas go hand and hand

Christmas dinner is something that a lot of people look forward too, its a chance to be with family, friends and loved ones you might not get to see as much as you like or more than you want, don't worry that's what the wine is for. I always love Christmas because it's a chance to see family, you get to have another reason to feast like your royalty, getting and giving gifts, and enjoying the time of year where its cold and you get a reason to dress up and dress warm at the same time. Now its time for the good part, talking about the dinner your having and the wine to pair with it:

Big red meats such as beef and lamb you are going to want something that will hold up to flavor as well complimenting the wine your drinking. Cabernet Sauvignon is the obvious choice for most people, but lets go outside the box and try a Malbec, Syrah, or Old Vine Zinfandel.

Malbec is a classic Bordeaux style grape made famous by South American countries Chile and Argentina. This is a big fruit forward sometimes spicy type of wine. The deep purple color with floral, stone fruit, earthy spicy flavors will be the eye opening jaw dropping approach you will be looking for.

Syrah, the classic Rhone style wine that is grown around the world. Can easily be drunk in its early stages, it also has the ability to age with grace and taste even better than before. Flavors of dark cherry, chocolate, pepper, leather and earth feel as if you traveled around the world and back in one sip of your glass.

Old Vine Zinfandel big wine for the one who wants to be different. Old Vine Zin's are deep purplish, burgundy in color and can range from big fruity, jammy with a slight hint of peppery spice, to a smack you in the mouth spice that grabs you like you didn't know what to expect and makes you say "WOW, now that's a wine"

Milder but still full flavored meats like Duck, Chicken and Pork dishes you have a variety of ways you can go because these can make very versatile dishes and pair easily with both red and white, so lets go with Pinot Blanc, Tempernillo and Barbera also known as Barbera d'Alba.

Pinot Blanc in my humble opinion can sometimes get a bad rap. It varies so much in characteristics that people get confused by it because it can be so close to Chadonnay, yet soft and floral like a Rousanne. Beautiful caramel golden color, displays a hint of spice with pear and honey, perfectly different type of white wine.

Tempernillo my new favorite grape from the Old World to the New World. Medium bodied to full bodied, Ruby red in color, intense fruit with a slightly spicy earth finish this is a balanced wine that will go with your perfect Christmas dinner. Found mostly in Spain from the Rioja region, California, and South America do great things with the grape as well.

Barbera/ Barbera d'Alba classic Italian wine that pairs well with food because it has a brigh acidity, and crispness, low supple tannins and berry like flavors. Unfortunately not a lot of American winery's are planting Barbera but not to worry bringing or giving a bottle of Italian wine is sure to impress.

Seafood was never a tradition in my house hold around the holiday's but that doesn't mean your not allowed to make it one or just do something different this year. Whether your doing traditional or non traditional, wine can go with anything, so if Seafood is your choice for the holiday this year try pairing it with these; Gamay, Prosecco or Viognier.

Gamay or Beaujolais is low alcohol content softer version Pinot Noir. Grown in Loire Valley, France, mostly. Other countries use it more for blending and California has very small acreage in it, but if you want a wine that won't overwhelm you and you would like to try a soft red, this is your chance. 

Prosecco the Italian Sparkling wine. Sparkling wines just like any other wine can vary in tasting, texture, nose, color and body but the nice thing about Prosecco like other sparkling wines it gives a sense of celebration anytime you drink it. Floral, citrus, mineral, nutty, peach tones can all be flavors of any prosecco but the higher acidity that can cut the big flavors of seafood while complimenting it at the same time is the great thing about this pairing.

Viognier can be a spice driven floral white wine, but from my experience with it Viognier blended wines are fantastic. Viognier is mostly grown in France and very hard to grow at that, but the Central Coast California area's do a phenomenal job at producing low yields of this wine and when blended together with Rousanne or Chenin Blanc this is  makes a wine unforgettable. 

Last but definitely not least Vegetarian or Vegan pairings, which I personally think are the most versatile more than any other pairing because you can literally go across the board with this. Whether you are a red, white or sparkling fan, you definitely have your pick of the litter. Me personally though depending on how your doing these dishes you might want to play it safe and go with a lighter white either dry or semi sweet. Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, or a white blend will work nicely.

Riesling is probably the most widely grown grape throughout the world and vary from region to region. Dry to sweet, Riesling can do it all. Peach, citrus, floral, mineral spice, nuttiness tasting notes can with the heart of any wine drinker.

Sauvignon Blanc, the wine that grows great everywhere. Sauvignon Blanc takes many shapes and forms throughout the world and has a different name depending on the region its grown in. Fume Blanc and Chenin Blanc being the other names that takes place as well. Citrus, lemon grass, tropical fruit, tree fruit, green apple, orange blossom, lemon zest, pink grapefruit are just some of the many aroma's and tasting notes you will find from this exquisite wine.

White blends are awesome because it takes 2, 3, 5 wines and blends them all together bringing out each little nuance that wine brings to the table.

Whatever it is that you try this holiday make sure it is something you can enjoy with loved ones, be proud you brought it and enjoy the time being together. Happy Holidays and Cheers!

Bouchee in the desert

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Named on the menu The Best Chicken Ceaser, it was pretty delicious! Very big portion with a homemade ceaser dressing that is dare I say one of the best tasting ceaser dressing's I have had. I am also pretty sure that they put 2 chicken breasts chopped up because the amount of chicken on that plate was very surprising to say the least, usually you get 1 okay size breast that is hardly enough for the salad, not this time that plate was covered! Easily split between 2 people this salad was awesome. Even my little one got in on the action, she loved that salad which is impressive for a toddler to have such a refined palate.

The Bouchee Cobb, not your typical run of the mill Cobb salad. Again homemade dressing, Blue cheese, and instead of adding tomatoes they put marinated peppers and Kalamata olives in it that gives a last minute little kick. AWESOME! Applewood smoked bacon, hard boiled eggs, grilled chicken, avocado, romaine lettuce and a slice of french baguette, another score!













The Pork Tenderloin sandwich on 9 grain bread. Served cold which kind of was a change of pace considering you would think this would be a warm sandwich was still very appetizing. The pork was seasoned perfectly full of flavor not over cooked so it wasn't dry and the perfect size, not to filling where you are over stuffed. The 9 grain bread was fresh and you get a choice of breads which was nice, served with Roma tomatoes, Romaine lettuce and herb mayo this sandwich was a treat for me. I had accompanied this with the chicken ceaser salad that I shared with the table.








Then it was on to the piece de resistance, The Flowerless Chocolate Cake. Holy crap was this dessert delicious! The size of it to was nothing to complain about either, decadent yet simple and very delicious this is the dessert that would fulfill any chocoholic's dream, with a nice glass of port or late harvest syrah this would be the ultimate. Well done! We will definitely be coming back.

Pipeline Mainland Style!!!

You know when you get that craving of I just want something different tonight, last night was my night of having something a little different. I am not a huge beer fan but do enjoy a good beer every once and a while. Kona Brewing Co. Pipeline Porter, this is a seasonal limited release they do and it was absolutely stellar. Made with 100% Hawaiian Kona coffee, this beer was dark in color but not in flavor, roasted coffee with chocolate and hints of vanilla accentuate this perfect for a cold night beer. Porter style beers are deep in color and usually get some sort of coffee in the mix. Now from my experience with dark beer, the depth of color and flavor is like the spectrum of wine. You have your brown and red ale, medium full bodied lots of flavor, smooth and or hoppy, porters; darker, heavier, bigger in flavor and stouts; dark, dark in color, very full bodied, big beer that is like a meal in glass. There again that is just my experience, everyone has a different palate. But so far what I know is I like the darker beers rather than lighter beer. My question is though who in the world brought the idea of coffee and beer together because you know that had to be a mistake and they just rode with it till they came out and realized what they just did.

Counterfeit wine?

Today I was going to write about something completely different than this but when something as big as counterfeiting some of the greatest Burgundy's the world knows occurs it needs to be talked about! Rudy Kurniawan was found guilty today and could be prosecuted up to 40 years in prison!!! Now I just read this article this morning on Wine Spectator, but seriously who the hell does this guy think he is! I mean the fact he kept getting away with it for a few years is ridiculous because he also got caught right off the bat, so whoever kept letting him sell this stuff to me is also to blame. Understandably the wine community as a whole is pretty large, but the rare collectors community and ones who could afford this type of luxury is small. In the article it said he was unknown and started showing up at this ultra exclusive events and had a nose for sniffing out fake Burgundy's while at these events, but then soon after started getting caught for selling fakes himself, and continued to do it! I mean really I can see a few fakes over the years getting through and it being an honest mistake but the level this guy did it on over and over and over, wouldn't people stop buying from this guy? Well Karma is real that is all I am gonna say on that, whether you believe in it or not this guy finally is getting what he deserves! Counterfeiting this level of wine and selling it for millions of dollars he had his own style of printing money!  40 years plus all the fines, and money he has to pay back to the auction houses, the buyers, your name and reputation tarnished I just want to know was it really all worth it?

The link is below just in case you want to read it for yourself.

http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/49396

Old vs New whats the big deal?

Old vs New whats the big deal? These are terms we hear a lot in the wine world and will continue to hear till the end of the world. Now basically I can sum it up by saying Europe vs Everywhere else but that just does not do it any justice, its more complex, deep, structured, aged, fuller than to have it be struck down by saying something so simple and easy. What I will not do though is write every single difference in region and country but give an overview of the main differences between Old vs New and give some examples that will help bring the difference to life and not just by reading something I wrote from extensive research.

We have all heard it before in life or in lore, people say "The old country," well for this it actually kind of makes sense to say "The old country" because Europe and the Middle East were the original areas where grapes were grown and turned into wine. Every country has different rules and regulations that are over seen by a specific group within their country that lays down the law about how, where and what will be grown there thus taking the time to make sure that everyone else knows this is what it is, this is where it came from and this is how it was done. That being said every AVA (American Viticulture Area)  as we call it here in the New World or the AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) in France (Old World) for example will show the differences in weather, appellation, soil content, rain fall and growing conditions.  As for tasting notes Old World wines usually consist of more subtle fruit and more dominant mineral earth tones with lower alcohol content.

Now New World wines can be and usually are the opposite, big fruit forward, concentrated, higher alcohol content, focusing more on the grape itself than the area grown, although where the grapes are grown does have substantial change on what the end result will be. North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are considered the power houses of the New World wines. Each country really specializing in their own style of wine making because each country has different weather, soil, appellation, rain fall and growing conditions which gives their own unique twist on the grapes grown. No two vineyards will produce the same quantity or quality of grapes grown, everyone one of them is special.

The wonderful thing about wine and all the contrast and comparison is that it is all subjective and it is meant to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones. Humans by nature are social creatures and what better way to bring everyone together. Apply your knowledge, learn everyday, enjoy what you do, drink good wine, surround yourself with people you love and you will have never wasted a day. Cheers!
Comparisons:

Bordeaux vs California or South American Cabernet (Chilean preferred)

Italian Pinot Grigio vs California Pinot Grigio

French Burgundy vs California or Oregon Pinot Noir

German Riesling vs Washington Riesling

 That's just a few to get everyone started

Great Elements create great dishes

Artesa Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, the best of Napa and Sonoma counties blended together to make a soft tannin, fruit forward, great with food type of Cabernet Sauvignon. This was what we enjoyed after we had the Capture Sauvignon Blanc, and it was totally worth it. Paired with Beef Short Ribs, Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus with Pan Jus, this was another great pairing. Granted this is a Cab that you could easily drink on its own it was a very nice food wine as well. Whats funny is I have had this wine sitting for a few years now because I bought it from my last job, working in restaurants has its perks...sometimes! Not every place will allow you to do this and even if they do, do your research first because you might be able to get the same wine for cheaper in the store depending on the sales that they have going on. 

Aroma's of blueberry and casis with hints of chocolate, on the palate black cherry and stone fruit dance around with soft tannins and a very long finish.

A moment to "Capture" Friday night off!

Anyone in the hospitality industry knows to have a Friday night or Saturday night off is very rare and for some odd reason I scored a Friday night off! What to do, what to do, hahaha. I knew I wanted to drink a bottle of wine and it had been a while since my wife and I drank a good bottle of White. For some reason this bottle had kept my attention from the moment I had seen it the first time. I mean the name itself is enough to do what it says but the more I saw it I wanted to try it, so I grabbed a bottle brought it home invited my parents over for dinner and drank this exquisite bottle of "Capture Sauvignon Blanc Tradition 2010." With the capture I prepared Prosciutto wrapped, Blue cheese stuffed Artichoke hearts and Roasted Red and Golden Beet Salad with Baby Arugula, Balsamic Vinegar, Dried Cranberries, Shaved Almonds and Creamy Goat Cheese. This food pairing was right on point. The SB had just enough acidity to cut through the creaminess and flavor of the bold cheese while complimenting the dishes. We also drank a different bottle of red, we will get to that later. 

Capture Sauvignon Blanc Tradition 2010 is a blend of Sonoma County and Lake County 100% SB and absolutely delicious! Nuances and aroma of Citrus, vanilla, hints of green apple and gooseberries, with a creamy texture on the palate. I love comparing what the info on the back says to what I and my tasting partners if any think, wine is subjective always remember that! Yes of course what the wine maker and Master Sommelier's say is gonna trump what you or I say but its okay because we are trying to experience the same things they are, everyone's palate is different.  

Wine of the week

I chose the 2009 EOS estate Zinfandel from Paso Robles, CA as my wine of the week for a few reasons: 1. Could not beat the price, it was only $9. 2. I have tried it before and remembered it being tasty and wanted to see if I remembered correctly, I did. EOS winery is located right outside of Paso Robles with beautiful rolling hills and vineyards surrounding the grounds, from my experience with their wines they continually make complex big reds and beautifully composed whites. Paso Robles is really starting to become more well known as a wine destination more and more every year and recently was named 2013 Wine Region of the Year. Specifically becoming more known for their Rhone style Reds such as Zinfandel and Syrah, Paso Robles wineries specialize in upwards of 40 different varietals, so whether you like Red or White Paso Robles not only offers a different style of wine and winemaking, its laid back nature makes it a place you just want to be.

Tasting Notes:  Aroma of Raspberry, charred oak, with hints of pepper and vanilla. On the palate Raspberry jam, pepper, black cherry with a long supple finish. Definitely worth a try!

Great Priced Wine from Southern Rhone

This was a treat I got for only 15 bucks and got a second one for 5 cents got to love Bev Mo! My wife and I enjoyed this wine with a plate of Artisan cheeses, dried fruits and nuts, with some nice deli meats. Very good stuff! Rhone style wines are usually bigger and bolder in flavor and great to eat with bbq'd meats, artisan cheeses, or bold flavored cuisine. This one considering it still being young was ready to drink right out of the bottle and consisted of bright berry flavors with a pepper, smooth tannin, with a slightly lingering finish and considering it is old world style it helped that the alcohol level was a little lower, we were able to enjoy this bottle no problem. 

Chateau Lafite Rothschild

This one particular night was an opportunity of a lifetime to not only taste a great wine, but a historical wine, Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1986 Pauillac. Now not only has this wine and winery been around for centuries the quality of it rarely changes throughout the years. Obviously with age comes some oxidation, color, bouquet, body, taste and cork change but the quality never dissipates. When I saw this exquisite bottle my jaw dropped, my mouth watered and my eyes couldn't believe it, and I knew when the time came to open this bottle the cork it was going to disintegrate, and guess what it did and was already falling apart as I was taking the foil off. Once the cork was out and the wine was decanted the color and clarity of this remarkable feature was still second to none, as I poured the first glass from the decanter and watched this beautiful burgundy brick red liquid fall into its glass I couldn't help but be in awe. Watching as the rest of the table looked with confusion as to what was so special about what they had in front of them I turned back to the gentlemen who had so graciously given this gift and asked if I could get him anything else, he said yes "Another glass for yourself," I could not believe my ears. Of course I returned with a glass so quickly all he did was laugh, but he knew that I knew about Chateau Lafite Rothschild and what that bottle represented. I was very restrained in the amount that I poured for myself considering I didn't want to be greedy but he insisted I have a good taste.  As I swirled my glass opening up the bouquet and layers of flavor all I could say was "WOW," the gentlemen looked at me smiled, looked at his glass and said "Yep," then began to take a sip still with a smile on his face. Once I finally got past looking at the color, bouquet and layers in the glass, I tasted, the complexity yet simplicity of the flavors was overwhelming. Earth, cedar, and black fruits filled my mouth with such as smooth supple tannin it was wondrous, the taste lingered and when the glass was empty it gave a beautiful burgundy hue, I didn't want it to end. I left the table after shaking the gracious gentleman's hand with a very heartfelt thank you, wondering if I will ever get a chance to taste, and give someone the same experience I had. A very big thank you again to you sir!