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Central Coast Wine Tour Day One - Paso Robles

Robert Hall
Overview: In July 2001, with nearly 300 acres of wine grapes in production, Robert Hall welcomed Winemaker Don Brady to Robert Hall Winery. Brady, a graduate of Texas Tech University, has more than two decades experience in bringing the fruit to the bottle.
Tasting and Tasting Room: Our experience with Robert Hall is the wine we purchased in the supermarket. It has has a good taste for the value. Their estate wines did not hold up in regards to taste and price point. The wine tasting room is on the east side of Paso and is very big with outdoor fountains and picnic areas.
http://www.roberthallwinery.com

Fratelli Perata Winery
Overview: Fratelli Perata produces high quality wines from the Paso Robles area of California, following in the history of the Italian immigrant family parents of the brothers Perata, Gino and Joe.
Tasting & Tasting Room: Lotus really enjoyed both the wineries history and the wines. She purchased three bottles from this vineyard. The day we where there we were served by the grand daughter. She shared with us a lot of family history and their philosophy behind their winemaking. The tasting room is on a bluff with a wonderful view of the surrounding hills.
http://www.fratelliperata.com

Windward Vineyard
Overview: Windward Vineyard is a Pinot Noir vineyard located in the Appellation Paso Robles (Westside) that exclusively produces award winning, Burgundian styled Pinot Noir.
Tasting & Tasting Room: The wines we tasted where too young. It was hard to tell if they would get better with age. Beautiful grounds with a nice tasting room.
http://www.windwardvineyard.com

L'Aventure
Overview: Coming from Bordeaux, Stephan Asseo “fell in love with Paso” in 1998 and has worked to craft the finest wines the wine field can give.The proof of his passion for quality lies in our estate grown “Paso blends.” Asseo’s California winemaking adventure is appropriately called L’Aventure, and it symbolizes his realization of blending tradition and technology with artisanal methods and a passion for quality.
Tasting & Tasting Room: This was one winery I was looking forward to the tasting. Timing was off and they only had a Rose and the Optimus available to taste. I was looking forward to the Optimus and was not disappointed. Wines not available for tasting on my wish list were the Estate Cuvée, Estate Côte à Côte and Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. I have a 05 Optimus in my cellar and purchased the 06 Optimus to add to my collection. On our visit the parking lot was filled with bottles and wood  crates for the spring bottling. In backing up in the narrow lot I knocked into a pvc pipe with a facet for an outdoor hose. A water fountain was created and in my embarrassment I had to go back into the tasting room to confess.
http://www.aventurewine.com

Terry Hoage Vineyards
Overview: Terry Hoage Vineyards is a 26-acre family-owned vineyard and winery located off Hwy. 46 West in Paso Robles.John Alban and Justin Smith designed vineyard is planted with Rhone varietal grapes on 26 acres of southwest facing hillside. Varietals planted on our estate include Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Counoise, Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc and Roussanne.
Tasting & Tasting Room: We tasted "The Pick" Cuvee 2006,  "The 46" Grenache-Syrah 2006, "The Hedge", Syrah, 2006 and the "5 Blocks" Cuvee, 2006. The tasting room was on a large bluff with beautiful vineyard views.
http://terryhoagevineyards.com

Chumeia Vineyards
Overview: Lee Nesbitt, Chumeia's Winemaker, believes that not only is winemaking an alchemic process, but the grapevine has its own transformation of basic elements to gold (the grapes). Holding true to form, Chumeia's philosophy is to source exceptional fruit from specific locations.
Tasting & Tasting Room: These wines were too young to drink.
Tasting: Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2006,Vineyards Merlot California 2006, Pinot Noir Argentina 2005,Zinfandel California 2006
http://www.chumeiavineyards.com

Midnight Cellars
Overview: They are a small producer of Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Reserve Red Bordeaux Blends and Paso Roblan Rhone and Italian Blends as well as Chardonnay.
Tasting & Tasting Room: None of us were moved by their wines and felt they were not in the same category of the other wineries we had visited. Right as soon as we left a tour bus limo came in with people dancing in the aisle to rap music. We were very glad we left......
http://www.midnightcellars.com/

Villa Creek Cellars
Overview: Villa Creek Cellars is a Cherry family venture founded in 2001, specializing in blends of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Tempranillo. In the spirit of the great wine producers of the southern Rhone and the bodegas of Rioja and Priorat, blending is what Villa Creek does best. The area’s finest Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo Vineyards are just a stone’s throw from the west Paso Robles winery where these blends are lovingly produced by winemaker Cris Cherry and his wife JoAnn.
Tasting & Tasting Room: I really like their reds and I purchased an Avenger to replace the one I gave as a gift. We tasted: 2006 Avenger, 2006 Badger - Booker Vineyard, 2006 Vulture’s Post, 2006 Willow Creek Cuvée.
http://www.villacreek.com

Linne Calodo
Overview: Linne Calodo is a family-owned and operated winery, focused on the production of unique and exceptional, hand-crafted wines. Their name, Linne Calodo, describes the distinctive limestone soils of the west side of Paso Robles where our vineyards are located. They are proud to be creating unfined and unfiltered wines balanced through the blending of Rhone and Zinfandel varietals.
Tasting & Tasting Room: There was a lot of construction going on when we visited.This was our last tasting of the day. I am not a fancier of Rhone and Zinfandel varietals. So I did not appreciate the wines they created.
http://www.linnecalodo.com/

Central Coast Wine Trip - Food - McPhee's Grill

 LOCATION
McPhee's Grill is located at 416 S. Main Street in Templeton, California. 805-434-3204
McPhee's Website

This is one of my favorite restaurants. They have a great wine list with a lot of local wines. The restaurant is located in historic downtown Templeton. Templeton was founded in 1886 and was the end of the line for passengers coming via railroad from the north; tourists disembarked here and took a stagecoach south to San Luis Obispo.

My first trip was during my first Central Coast Wine tour in 2006. The B&B we were staying at recommended this restaurant. That dinner was great and we have gone back every time we are in the area. On our 08 Spring wine tour I took my cousin Joan who was in from New York with her friend June. We stayed at a B&B in Paso and eat one night at the Villa Creek restaurant and McPhee's the second night. This meal was one of the highlights of their trip.On this years 09 Spring wine trip I had a Porterhouse for 2 that I shared with Mike and it was one of the best I have ever had. Lotus had the Rack of Lamb that she also loved. Do your self a favor and go to McPhee's you will not be disapointed.

MENU
Starters
Sweet Potato Fries, California Artichoke Fritters,Warm Goat Cheese & Roasted Garlic,Crispy Tempura Shrimp,Ancho Duck & Cheese Quesadilla,Kung Fu Baby Back Ribs.

Salads & Soup
Ruby Grapefruit & Butter Lettuce Salad,No Nonsense Green Salad sun dried tomato ranch, Original “Ian's” Salad, Mexican Tortilla Soup

Pastas & “Full of Life Flatbreads”
Jambalaya Pasta, Roasted Butternut Squash Raviol, Organic Tomato & Four Cheese American Flatbread,Caramelized Onion & Mushroom Flatbread, Grilled Fennel Sausage, Sun Dried Tomato & Cheese Flatbrea,Thai Chicken Flatbread

Hamburgers
Oak Grilled Certified Angus All Natural Hamburgers

Main Courses
Goat Cheese Basil Stuffed Chicken Breast, Oak Grilled Prime Top Sirlon, BBQ Pork Baby Back Ribs, Oak Grilled Filet, Oal Grilled Prime Rib Chop.

There specials range from BBQ Kung Fu Duck, Grilled Rack of Lamb, Grilled Swordfish Tostada, Cedar Planked Salmon, Macadamia Crusted Mahi Mahi, Ancho-Chile Apricot Jam Glazed Double Cut.

A Trip To Napa Valley Vintners Event

Date: Jan. 25th A Trip To Napa Valley Vintners Event
Location: Wine House 2311 Cotner Ave, Los Angeles CA 90064
Event Cost: $59

The Wine House and the Napa Valley Vitners Association presented A Trip To Napa Valley. There was 30 different wineries and around 75 different wines were poured. Hor d'oeurves were passed out by the Upstairs 2 Restaurant and cheeses by 2311 Gourmet Depatment.

Participating Wineries include: Atalon Winery, Bouchaine Vineyards, Cain Vineyards & Winery, Cardinale, Clark-Claudon Vineyards, Corison Vineyards, Freemark Abbey, Frog's Leap, Grgich Hills Estate, Heitz Wine Cellars, Honig Vineyard & Winery, JAX Vineyards, Keenan Winery, Krupp Brothers, La Jota Vineyard Co., Lang & Reed Wine Company, Long Meadow Ranch, Miner Family Vineyards, Peju,Pine Ridge Winery, Robert Craig Wine Cellars, Sequoia Grove Vineyards, Silver Oak Cellars, Spring Mountain Vineyard, Swanson Vineyards, Trefethen Family Vineyards, Twomey Cellars, Viader Vineyards & Winery, ZD Wines.

Opus One Vertical Tasting in Hollywood

K&L Opus One Vertical Tasting
Location: K&L Store in Hollywood, California
Date & Time: Friday Jan 30th 2009, 5:30-7:30pm
Vintages: 1985, 99, 2000, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05

In the last 4 years I have been on a journey to develop a wine palate. I decided to focus on Central Coast of California wines because they are a 2 to 4 hour drive to visit. I am a neophyte when it comes to wines.

I received an email from K&L my local wine store about this once in a lifetime tasting of Opus One a top Northern California winery. This was the start of my birthday celebration week so I treated myself to this $100 tasting event as part of my wine education.
Enjoy
Francesca

I attended this tasting with my friend and fellow wine drinker Mike Teller. There was a good group of people at the event who where local and from Northern California. One pair of brothers traveled by car from San Francisco for the event. They were planning on driving home the same day. Cheese and crackers were served by the K&L crew. Mari Keilman from K&L poured the wines and provided some input into each bottle.

My favorite vintages in order were 1999, 2001 and 2003. I would need to have the 1985 vintage with food to see if food would bring the wine out more.To me it just seemed to be too smooth and not much flavor. I truly disliked the 2000 and felt both the smell (Hay like) and taste was foul. The 2005 was just to young to really know what its true taste would be when it was mature and ready. The 02 and 04 were fine but did not standout as much. This style of wine is not to my taste but I felt privileged to taste them. In my wine tasting journey I find I tend to enjoy Pinot Noir wines. Mari was kind enough to save me the empty bottles from the tasting. I have them showcase in a wooden Opus One wine crate.

Opus One History

In 1980 the wine partnership between Baron Philippe De Rothschild and Robert Mondavi became official. In 1981 Robert Mondavi sells Q block (35 acres), part of his famous ToKalon Vineyard, to the joint venture for its first estate vineyard. In 1983 a 50-acre ranch, The "River Parcel", is purchased for the joint venture. The property is east of Highway 29 in Napa California. The same year the name Opus One was agreed upon by the partners. They wanted something that would be easily recognized in both English and French. In 84 the 1979 and 1980 vintages are simultaneously unveiled as Opus One's first release. Opus One acquires the 49-acre Ballestra Vineyard, adjacent to the River Parcel. The 1985 which I tasted was the first vintage to be sold in France, the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

Website
www.opusonewinery.com/

 

1985
Vintage
One of Napa Valley's best vintages in decade, 1985 saw an early bud break, a long, moderate growing season, and dry, warm weather during harvest,. Wines are rich, supple, and very aromatic, showing great balance and length.
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 90%, Cabernet Franc 4%, Merlot 6 %
Skin Contact - 21 Days
Barrel Aging - 17 months New French Oak

1999
Vintage
After moderate summer temperatures in 1999, a glorious Indian summer put the final touches of maturity on a fine harvest. The 1999 Opus One offers aromas od cassis, cloves, and roasted almonds against a creamy texture of soft tannins and round, rich fruit. Long-lived and concentrated, the wine shows flavors of plum, cherry and black pepper against a silky
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 84%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Merlot 7 %, Petit Verdot 1%, Malbec 3%
Skin Contact - 40 Days
Barrel Aging - 17 months New French Oak

2000
Vintage
Despite an early bud break, vintage 2000 saw a long, cool growing season, with a harvest extending into late October. Soft and plush in texture, the 2000 Opus One offers aromas of sandalwood, leather, carmel, and a hint of anise. Showing flavors of blackberry and herbs, the wine is harmonious with sweet tannins and a long, intense finish.
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 84%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Merlot 6 %, Petit Verdot 2%, Malbec 3%
Skin Contact - 44 Days
Barrel Aging - 19 months New French Oak

2001

Vintage
Vintage 2001 produced small, concentrated berries and an excellent unhurried harvest. The 2001 Opus One shows aromas of blank currant, black cherry liqeur, plum, fresh vanilla, with hints of graham cracker and black peppercorn. A supple, creamy entry is follwoed by intense flavors of ripe black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate, finishing wit
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 87%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Merlot 6 %, Petit Verdot 2%, Malbec 3%
Skin Contact - 32 Days
Barrel Aging - 17 months New French Oak

2002
Vintage
Opus One thinned the 2002 vintage to the lowest per-arce yeild in a decade, encourgaing quality and concentration of flavors. The 2002 Opus One shows aromas of dried strawberry, vanilla bean, and mocha with flavors of casasis, black cherry, plum and espresso. Offering a lean, vibrant entry with profond, mid-palate, the wine finishes with a bittersweet
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 86%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Merlot 6 %, Petit Verdot 2%, Malbec 3%
Skin Contact - 32 Days
Barrel Aging - 20 months New French Oak

2003
Vintage
The harvest of 2003 began September 17th and concluded on a November 2nd, the day before the heavist rains. A moderately deep garnet, the 03 Opus One offers aromas of blackberry, plum, hazelnut, graphite, olive oil, cocoa and dried cherries. The wine presents a soft entry, nuances of dark chocolate black licorice and
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 91%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Merlot 2%, Petit Verdot 1%, Malbec 1%
Skin Contact - 32 Days
Barrel Aging - 17 months New French Oak

2004
Vintage
The 04 harvest ended October 1st with the lowest per-acre yeild since 1987. Showing a lustrous dark ruby, the 04 Opus One presents aromas of violets, cedar, black tea leaves, black pepper and brioche. A soft, creamy entry gives way to a concentrated mid-palate; elements of cassis, toffee and cocoa round out the rich flavors of the wine.
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 86%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Merlot 7%, Petit Verdot 4%, Malbec 1%
Skin Contact - 25 Days
Barrel Aging - 17 months New French Oak

2005
Vintage
Frequent spring rains through the month of May led to a year of cool temperatures and slow ripening, with an extended harvest that ended on November 2nd. A voluptuous garnet, the o5 Opus One offers concentrated aromas of blueberry, rose petals, white truffle, licorice and nutmeg. Flavors of cassis, black olives, raseberry and dark chocolate
Varietals
Cabernet Sauvignon 88%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Merlot 5%, Petit Verdot 3%, Malbec 1%
Skin Contact - 29 Days
Barrel Aging - 18 months New French Oak