Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

The Howell Mountain appellation, located in the Napa Valley is home to vineyards that produce some of the most prestigious Cabernets in the world. Many of the vineyards planted on the Howell Mountain appellation are planted between 1,400 and 2,200 feet above sea level and benefit from cooler temperatures during the day. Howell Mountain contains drier soils that force the vines to produce more structured wines that lead the way to excellent aging potential.

Cornerstone Cellars produces their Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from grapes grown on Howell Mountain’s Ink Grade Vineyard. The vineyard is organically certified and its fruit is known for its robust flavors. The composition of the wine contains a touch of Merlot that comes from Carneros.

Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

This Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. The wine is aged for 22 months in 100% French Oak. In the glass, the wine pours a deep garnet color. The nose of the wine is very aromatic with notes of blackberry cobbler, blueberry, boysenberry, lavender, as well as hints of leather and tobacco. On the palate, there are several rich layers of blueberry, boysenberry, and dark cherry, followed by layers of baker’s chocolate, espresso, and eucalyptus with a very robust tannic structure. The wine finishes very long and begs for the next sip. This is a very bold, structured, Cabernet that commands your attention. This is a powerful wine that will leave a long-lasting impression. This is one of my all-time favorite Cabernets and I have had the pleasure of tasting it for the past several years. This wine will stand up to a thick, juicy, New York steak or a bacon, cheddar cheese burger. This wine is drinking beautifully now but has excellent long-term aging potential. The wine sells for $80 on the Cornerstone Cellars website. This is a wine for Cabernet connoisseurs and is worth the investment to have a couple bottles to enjoy in the short-term and tuck some away for several years down the line. I highly, highly recommend this wine.

This Cabernet Sauvignon is another masterpiece by talented winemaker, Jeff Keene. With every wine that I taste by Cornerstone Cellars, I am always delighted at the high quality and certain level of care that is put into crafting each wine. You have heard me sing the praises of the wines by Cornerstone Cellars throughout the years and I would never endorse a winery that I truly didn’t believe in and enjoy their wines. If you haven’t already tasted this Cabernet Sauvignon, or any of the excellent wines by Cornerstone Cellars, I recommend seeking them out.

Cornerstone Cellars does a fantastic job in their social media campaign and connecting with people. Be sure to check out their Facebook and Twitter pages to stay up to date with their new releases and winery news. Join me next week as I look at the world through Rosé colored glasses. Until the next time friends!

Cheers!

~Monica

* This wine was generously donated as a media sample for review purposes.

The Rosé Garden is in full bloom at Whole Foods Market

Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. With the rising temperatures, you know what that means, it’s Rosé time! I am a firm believer that Rosé season is all year long however, there is something about the warmer months that makes people want it even more. Rosé is definitely my wine of choice for sipping by the pool or to take along on picnics. It’s very versatile and pairs beautifully with a whole range of foods.

Unfortunately many people still associate Rosé with White Zinfandel and won’t drink it because of that. That is simply not the case. Rosé comes in all shades of pink and can be produced from numerous varietals and can come from wine regions from all over the world. Whole Foods Market has started a marketing campaign in their Southern California stores promoting Rosé called, The Rosé Garden. I recently paid a visit to the Whole Foods in Laguna Niguel, California and had an opportunity to speak with their wine specialist, Priscilla Vazquez. The Rosé Garden contains approximately 14 different selections, all in limited quantity, with Rosé made from several different varietals and coming from several wine regions across the world. You will find some wonderful selections from French wine regions such as Provence and The Rhone Valley, as well as Rosé from wineries that have small production from California’s central coast. The selection may vary slightly from store to store. One thing’s for sure, there is something for everyone.

The Rosé Garden at Whole Foods Market in Laguna Nigue, CA

The Rosé Garden at Whole Foods Market in Laguna Nigue, CA

This 2012 Rosé by Dragonette Cellars in Santa Barbara is one example of the different selections available. This one came from my local store in Laguna Niguel, California. This is a Rhone-style Rosé with a composition of 75% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 5% Syrah. In the glass, the wine pours a salmon color with aromatics of fresh watemelon, strawberry, and minerals. This wine is crisp, clean, and refreshing with flavors of tropical fruits, white peach, strawberry, and grapefruit; all wrapped around by bright acidity. The wine finishes long with a fresh burst of citrus and acidity. This is a small production wine with only a limited quantity of cases produced. The retail price on the wine is $19.99. This Rosé is delicious and highly recommended.

Dragonette Cellars 2012 Santa Barbara Rosé

The price range for all of the wines in the Whole Foods Market Rosé Garden is between $11.99 and $19.99. With domestic and international selections, ranging from off dry to bone dry, there is something for every palate. Rosé is an extremely food-friendly and versatile wine. Now that the weather is getting warmer, you will want to stock up on Rosé to have on hand for picnics, barbecues, or for just some lazy afternoon sipping. If you are in Southern California, be sure to pay a visit to your local Whole Foods Market and take a stroll through their Rosé Garden. You will be sure to find something right up your alley.

A very special thank you to Priscilla Vazquez, wine director of the Whole Foods market in Laguna Niguel, California for her time and introduction to the Rosé Garden.

Cheers!

~ Monica

* This wine was provided as a media sample for review purposes. 

Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Recently, I brought you the wonderful wines of Cornerstone Oregon and as promised, I am bringing you the iconic Cabernets of Cornerstone Cellars in the Napa Valley. When I think of Cornerstone Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon immediately comes to mind. Cabernet Sauvignon is king in the Napa Valley and with hundreds of wineries producing it, it is very challenging finding the true gems. Cornerstone Cellars is among the few wineries in the vast sea of wineries in the Napa Valley producing exceptional Cabernet that is a true reflection of the terroir.

Cornerstone Cellars produces two Cabernets; the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and the Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon. They also produce a Cabernet Sauvignon from their Stepping Stone series which I talked about earlier this year. This blog will focus on the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from several vineyards; Ink Grade Vineyard, Howell Mountain, Oakville Station, Oakville, Kairos Vineyard, Oak Knoll District and 5% Merlot from Stewart Ranch Vineyard in Carneros. In the glass, the wine pours a deep purple color, almost ink-like. Immediately, I got intense blueberry and blackberry aromatics, along with some plum. As the wine opens up, you get some baker’s chocolate, spice, vanilla, and a hint of toasted oak. On the palate, the wine is lush and supple with layers of blueberry pie, blackberry, dark cherry, and plum. There is another layer of dark chocolate with hints of vanilla and spice. The wine finishes very long with some espresso notes. This is definitely a supple, full-bodied wine with silky tannins. It’s drinking well now but is built to age. This is one of my favorite Cabernets. This was paired with a New York steak smothered with sautéed mushrooms. The wine will stand up to hearty dishes like meat stews and even cheeseburgers as well as assorted cheeses and chocolate for dessert.

This is a fantastic example of a bold, powerful Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley. Cornerstone Cellars continues to craft Cabernet that is powerful, yet elegant that can be enjoyed now but can age beautifully for many years. The wine retails for $65 per bottle on the Cornerstone Cellars website and 842 cases were produced. This is a highly, highly recommended wine. This is one to buy at least a couple bottles of; one to enjoy now and one to lay down for several years to enjoy it with some age on it. There is definitely a lot of Cabernet production in Napa but very few Cabernets with the complexity and finesse that the Cabernet from Cornerstone Cellars has. This is one for all Cabernet lovers to try.

Again special thanks to Mr. Craig Camp for sharing his wines with me and giving me the opportunity to share them with my readers. If you haven’t already done so, connect with Cornerstone Cellars on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on current releases and winery news and events.

Be sure to check out my post on Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, coming soon! Until the next time friends.

Salud!

~Monica

* This wine was provided as a media sample for review purposes.

Cornerstone Cellars produces complex and elegant wines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Many of you are familiar with Cornerstone Cellars and the outstanding wines they produce in the Napa Valley. I’ve been privileged enough to have tasted many of their Napa Valley wines and have shared them with you on this blog throughout the years, however did you know that they have production in Oregon’s Willamette Valley as well? Obviously Cabernet Sauvignon thrives in the Napa Valley’s climate and we know Cornerstone produces world-class Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley. To make exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, you look to the climate of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Cornerstone Cellars’ Craig Camp believes this wholeheartedly and also feels that if you have a Cabernet vineyard next to a Pinot Noir vineyard, then something is wrong; one or both of them are in the wrong place.

Cornerstone Oregon was born as a collaboration between Cornerstone Napa’s Craig Camp and renowned Oregon winemaker, Tony Rynders. Craig Camp has had a passion for Pinot Noir for many decades due to discovering and importing the wines of Burgundy. Take that passion and the talents of Tony Rynders, and you have some of the most complex and elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay coming out of Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley.

The wines of Cornerstone Oregon

Cornerstone Oregon has it’s production in Gaston, Oregon. Their current production consists of a 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Chardonnay, a 2010 Pinot Noir from their Stepping Stone series, and a 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Pinot Noir. I recently tasted each of these current releases and was blown away by how wonderful and complex these wines were. Anyone who reads my blog and knows me, knows that I have been a huge fan of the Cornerstone Napa wines for many years and now I can say that I am a huge fan of their wines out of Oregon as well. I am extremely excited to share these wines with you and encourage you to seek them out for your enjoyment.

Cornerstone Oregon 2010 Willamette Valley Chardonnay

The Cornerstone Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Chardonnay is composed of grapes from two different AVAs; Yamhill-Carlton and Chehalem Mountains, both at 50% each. This wine is aged in 100% French Oak. In the glass, the wine pours a lovely, light straw color. This wine has beautiful aromatics. On the nose, you get fresh lemon and lime along with some tropical fruit components such as pineapple and guava. You also get some vanilla and the barest hint of spice. There is also some subtlety with some delicate floral notes, along with wet rocks. On the palate, there is fresh lemon and lime along with a touch of enchanting Crème Brûlée and spice; all of which is beautifully embraced by vibrant acidity and a long finish. This wine is very Burgundian in nature and Chablis lovers will definitely love this wine. If you are not a fan of Chardonnay, I definitely urge you to taste this one. It will definitely make you re-think Chardonnay as a whole. It is a Chardonnay that has beautiful structure and is full of complexity and finesse. In my opinion, it is one of the best Chardonnays being produced in Oregon. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this wine. Only 166 cases of this wine were produced, so make sure to get your hands on some before it’s all gone. The wine sells for $35 per bottle on the Cornerstone website.

2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Next wine up is the 2010 Stepping Stone by Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The Stepping Stone Series by Cornerstone contains excellent wines that are perfect to serve for your Tuesday night dinner or for any special occasion. They come in at great price points. There are several Stepping Stone wines in Cornerstone Napa and now there is one available for Cornerstone Oregon. This Pinot Noir is composed of fruit from six distinct AVAs in the Willamette Valley; Yamhill-Carlton (45%), Eola-Amity (33%), Chehalem Mountain (15%), McMinnville (5%), Ribbon Ridge (1%), and Dundee Hills (1%). This wine is aged in 100% French Oak. In the glass, the wine pours a lovely ruby color with red hues when you hold it up to the light. The nose of the wine is full of cherry, strawberry, pomegranate,  a touch of vanilla, oak, mushrooms, earth, and herbs. Again, Burgundian in nature. On the palate, there is cherry, tart cranberry and pomegranate. You also get a touch of herbs and spice along with beautiful acidity. The wine is light and bright and typical of the 2010 vintage of Oregon Pinot Noir, which is among one of my favorite vintages. I absolutely love this Pinot Noir. It’s versatile, yet elegant and perfect to pair with a weeknight dinner or cellar some for special occasions later on down the road. This will pair well with mushroom risotto or classic grilled salmon. I absolutely recommend this Pinot Noir. Only 137 cases were produced, so I recommend getting some soon before it’s just a lovely memory. In fact, my cellar needs more bottles. This wine sells for $30 per bottle on the Cornerstone website; an excellent value for a wonderful Oregon Pinot Noir of such depth and high caliber.

2010 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

The last Cornerstone Oregon wine that I am pleased to share with you is the 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. This wine is composed from grapes from the same six distinctive AVAs that the Stepping Stone Pinot Noir is composed of, except the percentages are slightly different; Yamhill-Carlton (68%), Chehalem Mountain (10%), Eola-Amity (8%), McMinnville (6%), Ribbon Ridge (5%), and Dundee Hills (3%). This wine was also aged in 100% French Oak. In the glass the wine pours a seductive, deep garnet color. On the nose, there are aromas of fresh raspberry, cherry cola, violets, spice, earth, and coffee. The palate is coated by a generous juicy layer of cherry and berries, followed by another layer of baking spice, cocoa, vanilla, and a touch of espresso on a long, lingering finish. The tannins on this wine are softer and graceful. This is a very classy, refined, and elegant Pinot Noir. It would pair wonderfully with lamb dishes or any mushroom dishes. This is yet another stellar example of Oregon Pinot Noir from the 2010 vintage. This wine is also very highly recommended. 498 cases were produced and it can be purchased for $50 per bottle on the Cornerstone website.

There you have the three wines in production by Cornerstone Oregon. All three of these wines are what you would come to expect with the Cornerstone brand:  elegance, complexity, beauty, and finesse. These three wines are HIGHLY recommended for the Oregon wine aficionado or anyone who is interested in tasting some examples of the outstanding wines being produced in Oregon. A very special thank you to Mr. Craig Camp for giving me the opportunity to taste these wines and sharing them with my readers.

Cornerstone Oregon has recently created a Twitter profile which can be found here. Be sure to connect with Cornerstone Cellars on Facebook as well to stay in the know on current releases and winery news.

Keep an eye out in the next couple weeks on posts on Cornerstone’s iconic Cabernets. Until the next time friends.

Cheers!

~Monica

* These wines were provided as media samples for review purposes. 

Another wonderful experience in Oregon wine by Seven of Hearts

Some of you may remember that in the last couple months, I had an opportunity to taste some fantastic wines from Seven Of Hearts and Luminous Hills. Both labels by talented winemaker/owner, Byron Dooley. The post for the Seven of Hearts GSM can be found here and the post for the wines by Luminous Hills can be found here. I know some time has passed since these two posts, mostly due to being out for a long time recovering from surgery and recently heading back to work. I recently had the opportunity to taste some more wines by Seven of Hearts and I am excited as ever to be able to share these with you. Without further ado, I present to you Seven of Hearts’ 2011 Pinot Gris, 2010 Pinot Noir, and 2010 Pinot Noir Dessert Wine.

Wines by Seven of Hearts

The Seven of Hearts 2011 Pinot Gris is fermented completely dry in 77% neutral French oak 23% stainless steel. In the glass, the wine pours a light straw color and right away you get lovely floral aromatics. On the nose, there is also Asian pear, white peach, crisp green apple, and wet rocks. On the palate, there are flavors of white peach, delicate honeysuckle, honeydew melon, and green apple, followed by a long finish. This wine has great acidity, making it a very food-friendly wine. I paired the wine with salmon with a creamy dill butter sauce. The crispness and acidity of the wine was a wonderful compliment to the richness of the salmon and the cream sauce. This wine sells for $18 per bottle on the website. Only 385 cases produced, so definitely get your hands on some.

Seven of Hearts 2011 Pinot Gris

The next wine I tasted was the Seven of Hearts 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Those who know me well know that 2010 is one of my favorite vintages for Oregon Pinot Noir. 2010 was a cooler growing season, producing wines that were lighter in body, more acidic, and pure. Seven of Hearts 2010 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir gets its fruit from five different vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills, Yamhill-Carlton District, Ribbon Ridge, and Dundee Hills. The wine is fermented in French Oak with 22% New. In the glass, the wine pours a gorgeous ruby color with some delicate pink hues. The bouquet of the wine is filled with dark cherry notes, plum, strawberry, cranberry, rose petals, and gentle spice. On the palate, flavors of cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate come alive. There are also hints of vanilla and baking spice. All of the flavors are tied together by beautiful acidity. This is another example of a fantastic Pinot Noir from Oregon’s 2010 vintage. This wine is a perfect pairing for salmon, pork roast, or lamb dishes. The price of the wine is $20 per bottle but unfortunately it is sold out on the Seven of Hearts website. If you do some detective work, you can find a few online retailers carrying it. 469 cases of this wine were produced. I highly recommend seeking some of this Pinot Noir out.

Seven of Hearts 2010 Willamette  Valley Pinot Noir

And now, who’s ready for dessert? Seven of Hearts makes dessert wine? Why yes indeed. The Seven of Hearts 2010 Coupe’s Cuvée marks the third vintage for this port-style Pinot Noir. Utilizing Brandy and the Traditional Port Method, this dessert wine is fermented in all Neutral French Oak and contains 6% residual sugar. In the glass, the wine pours a deep ruby color. The nose is brimming with cherry preserves, plum, caramel, maple, spice, and a hint of tobacco. The palate is coated with generous flavors of plum, raspberry, vanilla, and a touch of mint on the finish. This wine is very smooth and in a word, luscious. Pair this with some chocolate and you have an absolutely decadent indulgence. If you happen to be in their tasting room in Carlton, definitely pair this with some of the chocolates from Honest Chocolates sold onsite by wife Dana. The 375 ml size of this wine sells for $22 and the 75ml bottle sells for $42 on their website. Note: the one available on the website is the 2011 vintage. Very few quantities are produced each year, so definitely get some before they’re all gone.

Seven of Hearts 2010 Coupe’s Cuvée

I am lucky enough to be able to visit Oregon’s Willamette Valley a couple times a year and I have found many great wineries. Seven of Hearts is among one of my favorites and I recommend their wines to everyone I know and always recommend a visit to their Carlton tasting room to people that are planning trips to Oregon’s beautiful wine country. Seven of Hearts and Luminous Hills produce consistently wonderful wines. I have never had a wine they produce that I didn’t like. That definitely says something. As always, it is an absolutely pleasure tasting Byron’s wines and sharing them with you. I definitely recommend tasting his wines and paying him a visit when visiting Oregon wine country. You’ll be glad you did. I definitely look forward to when I can plan my next visit to the Willamette Valley. You can bet a visit to the Seven of Hearts tasting room will be on my list!

Both Seven of Hearts and Luminous Hills can be found on Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to connect with them to stay in the know on their latest releases and winery news.

Seven of Hearts on Facebook

Seven of Hearts on Twitter

Luminous Hills on Facebook

Luminous Hills on Twitter

Until the next time friends.

Cheers!

~Monica

*These wines were provided as media samples for review purposes.

Celebrate this Valentine’s Day with Bocelli Family Wines

How many of you knew that superstar Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli came from a wine-producing family? I sure didn’t; up until recently. Bocelli’s family has been known for their wine production long before he found his fame in music. The Bocelli family has been making classic Italian wines for four generations on their Tuscan Estate under the name Bocelli Family Wines. The family prides itself on keeping it a hands-on operation with every member of the family taking part. Their current production includes Prosecco, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Super Tuscan blend. The Prosecco DOC and Sangiovese Rosso Toscana IGT are made in collaberation with vineyard partners, whereas the other wines they produce are estate grown. I recently had the pleasure of tasting the Prosecco DOC and Sangiovese Rosso Toscana IGT. Both are lovely wines that would make a perfect accompaniment to your Valentine’s Day celebration.

Bocelli Family Wines Prosecco and Sangiovese

The Bocelli Family Wines Prosecco DOC is extra dry and made from 100% Prosecco grapes. This sparkler has delicate aromatics of fresh granny smith apple, citrus, juicy peach, and flowers. On the palate it has flavors of honeydew melon, citrus, Asian pear, and peach. The sparkler finishes with a clean, crisp, and lingering finish. This is definitely a fun sparkling wine. If you’re planning a romantic dinner for your Valentine, this Prosecco will pair wonderfully with oysters or if shellfish isn’t your thing, it would pair well with assorted cheeses or how about some potato chips for a fun pairing? Based on my research, the best place to purchase this Prosecco is at BevMo. It’s selling for $19.99 per bottle there. I have sources that tell me that it can be purchased at Costco as well. I definitely recommend this Prosecco for your Valentine’s Day dinner or for any other event where bubbles are called for, which in my world, is ALL the time!

The other Bocelli Family wine that I tasted was their Sangiovese Rosso Toscana IGT. This wine is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes and is 20% aged in French oak for one year and then four months in the bottle. This Sangiovese pours a gorgeous ruby color in the glass. Supple aromatics of cherries, plums, raspberries, and spice fill the glass. The palate is coated with flavors of cherry and tart rhubarb, along with spice and a slight hint of cocoa; all of which is wrapped around by bright acidity and a long, pleasurable finish. This is another fun, bright, easy drinking wine that would pair well with tomato-based pasta dishes or beef. The suggested retail price on this wine is $14-$16 and can also be found at BevMo.

Bocelli Family Wines, along with Andrea Bocelli’s beautiful music is the perfect addition to your Valentine’s Day. Pair the wines with a delicious dinner, and you have the components of a perfect, romantic evening with your Valentine. Delicious wines, beautiful music, a delectable meal, and the one you love; what could be more perfect than that?

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Cheers!

~Monica

* These wines were provided as media samples for review purposes.

A visit to Monte De Oro Winery

I admit, I am a native Southern California wine geek who happens to have very little experience with Temecula and their wines. My first and only visit up until this past weekend was about two years ago. Due to a bad experience at one winery in particular, I decided to cut my day short there and write off the entire region. Ok I admit, that is a little harsh but after tasting mediocre wines and bad service, I was less than impressed. Fast forward two years later and I’ve decided, it’s time to re-visit Temecula.

About a week ago, I got an email from one of the owners of Monte De Oro Winery who had stumbled across my blog and had very nice things to say about it. He had extended a most generous invitation for a private tour and tasting at the winery. The winery is working hard to change negative perceptions about Temecula. Knowing this, I was very intrigued to visit and taste their wines. Having this invitation was a wonderful opportunity to plan an overnight trip to Temecula. My friend Claire and I quickly made plans to drive to Temecula for the night.

Monte De Oro was founded in 2002 and is composed of 68 partner owners who pride themselves in crafting award-winning wines while maintaing sustainable practices in their winemaking. Their goal for the winery is to create an elegant, sophisticated environment that is welcoming.

Patio at Monte De Oro Winery

The grounds at the winery are lovely and they have a huge modern-looking tasting room. When we arrived, we saw the tasting room filled with happy people tasting wines. Always a good sign! Shortly, we were enthusiastically greeted by David Allbright who is in charge of Cellar Operations for the winery and the Signature Tasting Manager. Before we got things going, we started with a pour of their 2011 Viognier. Viognier is one of the wine grapes that does well in Temecula’s climate. This wine was very fragrant and had a lot of tropical fruit and citrus flavors on the palate. It was a lovely introduction to Monte De Oro’s wines. David took us on a tour of the grounds and vineyards and told us about all the varieties that are in production. Most of the wines are 100% Estate Grown. Currently in production, they have Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, as well as various white and red blends and Rosé. They also have Petite Sirah and Tempranillo in barrel as well as Petit Verdot. Next it was time to tour the barrel room and do some barrel tasting.

Private tasting area of barrel room

David doing a lovely job of getting samples of Petite Sirah using the wine thief.

Down in the barrel room, David talked to us more about the winemaking process and we had a chance to sample some Petite Sirah from the barrel. One of the most impressive things about the entire visit was that David took the time to read my blog and get to know about some of the wines I’ve written about in the past and pulled a wine that is not yet released to the public for me to taste based on a glowing review I did for a wine from Oregon recently. The wine that he opened was their 2009 Cuvée De Oro. It is the winery’s proprietary Rhone varietal blend. It consists of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault. I am a huge fan of Rhone wines, especially blends like GSMs and David knew this from that particular blog post I had written, so he was excited for me to taste it. The wine was brimming with red fruit, spices, smoked meat notes, and nice acidity to balance it out; not to mention a gorgeous ruby color. It was delicious wine. I was very impressed with the wine and so delighted that he opened it especially for us.

2009 Cuvée De Oro

Barrel sampling some Petite Sirah

After doing some barrel tasting down in the barrel room, we went upstairs to the tasting room and tasting through their line-up paired with various cheeses. The 2011 Viognier and  2011 Nostimo (white blend) were our favorites for the whites. The Syrah, Zinfandel, and red blends were our favorites for the reds. The only thing I wish was different with most of the reds (and this goes with most of the reds I have tasted across the various Temecula wineries I have visited) is their high alcohol content. Most of them range between 15% and 16%. There are a few in the 14% range. I know the climate has a lot to do with it. When you’re growing grapes in a warmer climate like Temecula, you tend to get wines that are higher in alcohol and lower in acidity. For these bigger, bolder, more robust reds, you will definitely want to pair them with heartier fare like steaks and meat stews.

2008 Owner’s Blend Synergy 65

Monte De Oro really seems to know what they are doing and the direction that they are going in. Out of all the wineries in Temecula that I have visited, this is definitely my favorite and I will recommend it to friends. The pricing is definitely on par with the quality of wines that they produce. Like all other wineries, they have their own wine club where you can get regular shipments of their wines sent to you throughout the year. They also offer wedding and event planning services for events at the winery for those interested in getting married in Temecula wine country or having a party. Their barrel room makes for an awesome backdrop for a private event and the beautiful grounds would make a perfect location for a wedding.

Monte De Oro is leading the way in changing the public’s perception of Temecula wine country through their award-winning wines and wonderful hospitality. I encourage those of who have never visited Temecula or those of you who may not have visited in a while to pay a visit to the wonderful people at Monte De Oro; you will be glad you did.

Monte De Oro can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Be sure to connect with them to stay up to date on winery news and events.

A special thank you to Brian Allman for the invitation to visit the winery and to David Allbright for his wonderful hospitality during our visit. Until the next time friends.

Cheers!

~Monica