Malibu Family Wines

As I continue to explore the Malibu wine scene I have been extremely impressed by the different micro climates producing very unique takes on our most common varietals.  Malibu Family Wines would be no exception to this.  For their Semler label they currently have 65 acres of vines planted at the crest of the Santa Monica mountains.  The terrain is rocky with downward-facing slopes which make the vines fight a little harder to find nutrients.  The results are lower yields of more balanced fruit showcasing lots of earth and mineral characteristics.  Their other label, Saddlerock,  is produced with fruit sourced from the Central Coast.   These wines were showing more fruit forward notes on the nose and palate.  No matter your style of wine, there is definitely something for you at their tasting room.  It is located in the canyons off Mulholland Hwy.  There is a small sign out front, but be on the lookout because it's easy to miss.  As you walk up you are surrounded by a large area of outdoor seating and plenty of grassy knolls.  It would be the perfect place to have an afternoon picnic.  The tasting room is located outside, which gives you the opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery as you taste.  They currently do live music on the weekends from 1-3pm and will be starting an evening music scene after Memorial Day.  Definitely a place worth checking out!  I have attached some of my notes from the day.

2009 Semler Sauvignon Blanc $20
Bright aromas of lemon, green apple, pineapple and chalk.  On the palate, it bursts with acidity showcasing the same fruit above all wrapped around a mineral core.

2009 Semler Rose $17.60
A very sutle rose, with light aromas of strawberries, white peach and rose water.  On the palate it's very light on fruit, but has a very soft finish with lots of minerality.

2006 Semler Cabernet Sauvignon $25.60
Aromas of raspberry, plum, black cherry, cedar and spice.  On the palate it shows a little more restraint of fruit with medium tannins and finishes with lot of spice and vanilla.

2002 Semler Cabernet Sauvignon $32.00
It starts out with lots of smoke and earth on the nose and you really have to try to find the fruit.  On the palate it just takes over with tobacco, cedar, earth and spice.  Finishes with medium plus tannins.

2007 Saddlerock Pinot Noir $21.60
Aromas of bright red fruit - pomegranate, rhubarb and cranberry.  On the palate you get a bite of tart cherry with a finish of raspberry, plum and cedar.

Cheers for Rosé!

As we continue into Spring and the temperature outside begins to rise, I find myself looking for a lighter bodied wine that will refresh my palate.  My favorite pick for the moment is the ever versatile rosé.  With it's seductive pale pink hue, it always seems to catch my eye.  For all the skeptical ones out there, this wine is not to be confused with it's ever similar looking cousin,"white zinfandel." Rosé in it's truest form is meant to be bone dry with balanced acidity, showcasing bright fruit and floral aromas.  The varietal or varietals used is subjective to the producer, but I have seen straight grenache and syrah rosés or even blends of 5 plus grapes.  If you are looking for the perfect wine to bring to a summer BBQ or even Easter dinner...give it a try.  It pairs well with lighter proteins like salmon, chicken and ham.  If you want to get a little geeky, I suggest finding one from Tavel; this region in France is a widely renowned for making supreme rosé.  At the moment Bev Mo and Trader Joes has a great selection of value rosés or check out your local high-end liquor store for a premium bottle.  Happy Drinking!

Veramonte "Primus" Red Blend

2007 Veramonte "Primus" Red Wine, Colchagua Valley, Chile
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 8% Merlot, 7% Carmenere
A robust wine expressing aromas of black cherry, blackberry, currant, leather, tobacco, cedar and spice.  On the palate it's full of earthy elements, cooked dark fruits and has a long spicy finish.

Food Pairing: This wine would be great with a rustic dish like Shepherd's Pie

Music Pairing: Too Afraid To Love You, The Black Keys


Did You Know? Carmenere is a member of the Cabernet family originating from Bordeaux.  Today it is rarely seen in France, but has become one of the most widely planted grapes in Chile. 

Savor Dallas

This past weekend I attended the 7th annual Savor Dallas event in Texas.  The event strives to combine a unique experience of wine, food, spirits and arts.  I was only able to attend Friday of the two day extravaganza, but definitely got a good feel for the spirit of Dallas.  They split up the vendors between four different art museums, so you had the opportunity to explore the downtown art scene as you snacked and sipped.  My only complaint would be the time restriction; Friday's event was only two hours, which really didn't give you enough time to enjoy each museum properly.  Although feeling quite rushed, I was still able to find some unique wines and had a great time enjoying the scenery.

Concannon Vineyard
-Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Petite Sirah from the Livermore Valley


Bridelwood Estate Winery
-Chardonnay & Pinot Noir from Santa Ynez

Raymond
-Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley

Family Winemakers of California Tasting

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the Family Winemakers of California tasting in Pasadena.  The event hosted over 200 wineries from all over the state and hundreds of eager trade representatives ready to taste.  The association was originally founded in 1991 to give a voice to small family wineries in public policy.  Each year they host tasting events for the trade and public to showcase their wines and increase distribution.  For future tastings check out the link above.

Some of my favorite tastings from the day include:

Pisoni Vineyards & Winery
-Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands

Mauritson Family Winery
-Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley


Buoncristiani Family Winery
-Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Blends from the Napa Valley


Tablas Creek Vineyard
-Rhone varietals from Paso Robles

Malibu makes wine?...Who knew?

Who would of thought that Malibu would be the new hot spot for great wine?  It turns out that those beautiful rolling hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean are now prime real estate for planting vineyards.  With tasting rooms popping up all over and amazing scenic tours of the sand and surf; it has become quite the tourist destination.

Nestled in the canyons off Kanan Rd is Sip Malibu, Cielo Wine Bar.  It is the tasting room for Cielo Malibu Estate Vineyards owned by Richard Hirsh.  They produce two labels, the Cielo Estate collection and the Woodstock collection.  The Cielo wines are made from the estate vineyard in Malibu and the Woodstock wines are produced using grapes sourced from the Napa Valley, Mendocino, and the Central Coast.  There is an obvious love for music, as each wine in the Woodstock collection is named after a famous rock song. ex: "White Rabbit Sauvignon Blanc"  The tasting room exuded a rustic charm with a modern edge.  There were vintage music posters on the walls, plush seating and rock music blasting.  Their tasting menu consisted of 4 different flight options to taste or you can buy wine by the glass and enjoy outside. I have included notes from the three reds I tasted:

2008 Cielo Estate Malibu Rouge $95
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon
You are instantly hit with powerful dark fruit including blueberry and black cherry with undertones of earth and mushroom.  On the palate the wine is full bodied, exuding lots of fruit flavors and finishes with soft tannins.

2008 Cielo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon $85
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, and prune with hints of mint and vanilla.  On the palate it's powerful, showing lots of dark fruit, vanilla, spice and a hint of tobacco.

2008 Cielo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve $175
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
A beautifully crafted wine showing aromas of blackberry, black cherry, chocolate, clove and herbal notes.  On the palate it's full bodied yet refined with an extremely long finish.

Domaine Chatelain-De Oliveira Chablis

2007 Domaine Chatelain - De Oliveira Chablis 1er Cru "Fourchame"
This beautifully crafted Chardonnay from France has delicate aromas of pear, red apple, melon, acacia flowers and a hint of chalk.  On the palate it bursts with bright acidity showing flavors of lemon and green apple.  The finish is long with a touch of oak.  Highly recommend.

Food Pairing: White Truffle Mac and Cheese


Music Pairing: This wine craves a soft and elegant melody - Shoot The Moon, Norah Jones