Petite Sirah Celebrates 50 Years As A Varietal

I have been on this planet for a shade longer than a half century since my birthday this past November. But there is a wine variety that I think is underrated that has also just turned the big 5-0 as a varietal, Petite Sirah. I even included this grape in a rough draft of my [...]

Petite Sirah Celebrates 50 Years As A Varietal originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller Mena Suvari Mia Kirshner

2009 California Pinot Noir: Best Vintage Ever?

Wine Spectator called the 2007 California Pinot Noir vintage the "best ever". Now there's talk 2009 might be even better than 2007. The skeptic in me is starting to think this is like Bordeaux where a vintage of the century comes around three out of five years, but the reality is Pinot Noir consumption outpaces all other varieties combined around here so I'm paying attention to the accolades and buying 2009 California Pinot Noir. Although Oregon's Willamette Valley has a reputation for being the home of domestic Pinot Noir, all things considered I prefer the options available from California.

It's mostly because south of $30 I've had better luck with California Pinot Noir. Many of the lower-end bottlings from Oregon I've tried fall flat on the mid-palate and are accompanied by a green/stemmy aftertaste that sometimes dominates the flavor profile. It's not to say that there aren't fantastic Oregon Pinot Noirs. Far from it. But of the wines available in Massachusetts it seems like you have to spend north of $40 to find an outstanding bottle.

And that's not the case with California Pinot Noir. While it's not easy to find a great California Pinot Noir for around $25, higher production levels and wider distribution do make it possible.

If you search Wine Spectator's tasting notes for 90+ point Pinot Noir made in the US since 2006 costing less than $20 you'll find 5 wines. Two of them were made by Siduri (their 2007 Sonoma County and 2007 Willamette Valley).

As we look at early ratings for 2009s, three wines from Siduri again stand out: The 2009 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (91WS/$29), the 2009 Siduri Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (also 91WS/$29), and the 2009 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir (92WS/$29).

I tried the 2009 Russian River Valley a while back and was unimpressed. I thought it was a little over-ripe and hot at points. I'd rate it 87 points. This left me a little "spooked" until I tried the 2009 Santa Lucia Highlands at the Wine Spectator event in Boston a while back. It showed quite well so I tracked down a bottle to try. I'm glad I did.

The 2009 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir is a powerful and focused wine with classic California Pinot Noir markings. It's generously fruit-forward with primarily black cherry notes but refrains from straying into over-ripe territory - at least for my palate. It finishes clean with just the slightest bit of heat on the backend. Overall an outstanding wine. I'll go along with Spectator's rating on this one: 92 points WWP.

I think it's one to check out, especially if you can find it for less than $25. It's also trending a point or two higher than the 09 Siduri Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast bottlings on CellarTracker. A terrific example of outstanding California Pinot Noir and an insightful window into the 2009 California vintage.

Check it out:
Siduri website
2009 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands on CellarTracker
2009 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands on Wine-Searcher.com

I have more 2009 California Pinot Noir recommendations coming up, and a deeper analysis of the 2009 vintage. I'd love it if you subscribed to the site so we can keep in touch.

Question of the Day: What are your impressions of 2009 California Pinot Noir? Which producers are you buying from?


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Laetitia Casta Lake Bell Larissa Meek Laura Harring

Wine Revelations, Power Grabs, Numbers, Battles and Events

Thinking About... THE REVELATION Upon reading Anthony Lane's remarkably thoughtful analysis of Terrence Malik's new film, The Tree of Life, in The New Yorker, it finally hit me why wine critics likely won't rise to the quality challenge laid down...

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Megan Fox Melania Trump Melissa George Melissa Howard

Why Do Wine Blogs Need To Make Money?

The Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine has long been a resource for consumers looking to find great wines from my native state. Founded in 1974, the publication was among the first I purchased when I first got into wine almost 30 years ago. My old green CGCW guidebook has long since been replaced by other wine [...]

Why Do Wine Blogs Need To Make Money? originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Lauren Conrad Lauren German LeAnn Rimes Leeann Tweeden

American Sommelier Association ? 6 Day Training in Napa Valley

I received this information from the American Sommelier Association and thought I would pass this on to our readers. In these economic times there are many out of work or in transition wanting to shift careers. Perhaps this intensive course may pave the way for a future career in the wine business. It appears that there are some scholarship funds that can reduce the cost of the training course by 50%. Continue reading

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/american-sommelier-association-6-day-training-in-napa-valley/

Paige Butcher Pamela Anderson Paris Hilton Patricia Velásquez

Taste of the Nation Boston Thursday, April 14th 2011

Coming Thursday April 14th, 2011 to Boston is Taste of the Nation - an expo style event where you can taste food from local restaurants along with wine from around the world. Beer, cocktails and entertainment too.

I attended last year on a press pass and enjoyed the quality and breadth of the offerings. Interesting wines, creative dishes, and festive yet manageable crowds. There was something for everyone and proceeds go to a good cause.

A sampling out the participating restaurants:

  • Craigie on Main
  • Hamersley's Bistro
  • KO Prime
  • L'Espalier
  • The Oak Room
  • Redbones
  • Jasper White's Summer Shack
From their press release:

Boston?s Culinary Icons Come Together for the City?s Largest Hunger Fundraiser
Share Our Strength?s Taste of the Nation Boston Hosts 23rd Annual Fundraiser on April 14th

Boston, MA ? Inspired by a passion to fight childhood hunger, Boston?s hottest chefs, restaurants and mixologists will gather for Share Our Strength?s Taste of the Nation® benefit, the city?s premier culinary event. Taste of the Nation Boston, which will be held on April 14, 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center, will raise the critical funds needed to support Share Our Strength?s efforts to end childhood hunger in Boston and across the nation by 2015.

Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $73 million for organizations in the United States, Canada and abroad, including more than $1.4 million in Boston alone. Area charities that will benefit from this year?s event include The Greater Boston Food Bank; Food for Free Committee; Cooking Matters, formerly known as Operation Frontline ? Massachusetts; and Project Bread/The Walk for Hunger.

WHAT: Share Our Strength?s 23rd annual Taste of the Nation Boston

WHEN: Thursday April 14, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. ? 9:00 p.m. EST; VIP reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. EST

WHERE: Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street Boston, MA

WHO: More than 65 of the city?s finest chefs and restaurants will participate in the gastronomic event. Along with Andy Husbands of Tremont 647 and the last season of Hells Kitchen, and Jody Adams of Rialto, participating restaurants will include Gargoyles on the Square, Hamersley?s Bistro, L?Espalier, Sel de la Terre, Summer Shack and Oceanaire. Attendees will also be able to sample over 100 different varietals of wine and sample a variety of cocktails prepared by some of Boston?s premiere mixologists.

DETAILS: Tickets for Taste of the Nation Boston are $90 in advance / $100 at door for General Admission tickets are $150 in advance / $160 at the door for VIP and can be purchased by calling 1-877-26-TASTE or visiting www.strength.org/boston  or www.TasteOfTheNation.org.
For more information about Taste call 202-478-6516. To purchase tickets or to get involved, visit TasteOfTheNation.org.


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Leighton Meester Leila Arcieri Lena Headey Leonor Varela