Vinophile

It's been forever since last post. I still haven't even thrown up the 07 birthday pics. Bonobo beatdown-sigh. One day-when I have DSL or Wi-Fi. Loading images on dial-up sucks ass.

Over the past few years, I'm happy to report that I've become somewhat of a vinophile (and a cheesephile, chocophile, and lots of other thigh-expanding, blood-pressure raising philum). Over this last weekend, I made a second excursion to Healdsburg (more on the first in a bit). I was off US reds after Europe, discovering the joys of various Spanish and French reds. However, I've returned to exploring Northern CA wines, beyond what I thought was the end all-be all of a few select cabernets from 1997 ot 2000.

This last trip included:
Jordan (known for their cabs, the chard was tasty and the 1999 library cab fantastic)
StoneStreet (eh-no purchase here)
White Oak (to purchase their pure butter 2005 Russian River Chardonnay) Got the cab to accompany our dinner of bison burgers. Wine was ok, but not that notable.
Lancaster Estate (purpose of this trip being for their 2004 Cabernet release party)
Alexander Valley (Decent and cheap rose and syrah)
Hanna (decent-refreshing savinon blanc in a hot tub)
FieldStone (um, "blessing of the grapes" party with mullets and old ladies gumming chocolate cake. Poured 8 tastes, so if anything, solidified the buzz for the steep hill ride home)
Belverdere (cute boys tasting, but the dude pouring never shut his yap and made broad, and incorrect statements like "blue cheese never pairs with anything but reds." Liked the Sangeovese-light and refreshing-more like a deep rose)
"____" Forgot the name of this one-a historic distillery. People were everywhere. The wine wasn't very good-some of the worst on the trip, but they had free pretzels and various dips-hence the crowds.
Gary Farrell (one of my new favs along with Lancaster. Every wine was good and the setting beautiful. Favs included the Chardonnay and Pinots).
Attempted to go to Chalk Hill and Twomey, but they were closed).

The last trip included:
Unti (great sangeovese and fab Grenache. Petite Syrah was the deepest, beautiful purple)
Mazzuco (nice solid cab paired well with burgers. Bought the Matrix which was a bordeaux/malbec blend)
Maurtison (not too memorable)
Wilson (Touch of Merlot-like a rose-tasted better after hard riding. One of the few Zins I really liked-their Old Vine-paired awesome with ho made goulash)
La Crema (awesome rose and decent Pinot Gris-tasted better after the ride)
Rosenblum (actually bought a dessert wine-tastes like liquid chocolate. Nice syrah from santa barbara)
Lancaster Estate (yes, I joined the club and not just for the cave/world domination room) The Nicole wine is fucking awesome. The deepest red that in my opinion can be paired even with the lightest fish. 1999 Library cab was also great.
White Oak (as noted above-awesome buttery chard)
Cakebread (disappointing to say the least. As standard, their cab was solid-excellent, but all others, especially the whites were way acidic)

In general, some of my favorite wines of all time (as of now) include:
1997 Jordan Cabernet
2000 Cakebread Cabernet
2003 Muga Reserva Rioja
2005 Gary Farrell Chardonnay-Cresta Ridge
2005 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir-Bein Nacido
2004 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir-Starr Ridge
2003 Lancaster Estate "Nicole"
1999 and 2004 Lancaster Cabernet
2005 White Oak Russian River Chardonnay

Many Argentinian Malbec Reservas and Sicilian Neros. Gosh-there are so many more, but I know them more by label.

Anyhoo-wine...is...good!