The Official Wine Thread

[Cary Grant]



Did a tasting at Core Wine Company because I can stroll to their tasting room from my parents' place. Wasn't blown away by anything, really. Got a glass of their best wine, and I liked that well enough. Will probably do more tastings either in the Santa Ynez area or in Paso Robles with some friends on Tuesday.

I know David Corey- good guy, a real farmer who loves to get his hands dirty. Every year his wines are different. He's always experimenting, mixing odd varietals and the like, bless him. But the results are that every year his wines differ greatly... sometimes good, sometimes not and always a little odd.

Opolo- not my style-but if you like fruit bombs... like many do, their Zin is popular for that reason.. Again- a good bunch of people.

 

[erictheobscure]

^His wife was running the tasting room. She seemed really, really nice. She mentioned that her husband studied entomology, which I thought was interesting.

My first time trying California tempranillo; not sure I loved it, but glad I did.

 

[Cary Grant]



^His wife was running the tasting room. She seemed really, really nice. She mentioned that her husband studied entomology, which I thought was interesting.
My first time trying California tempranillo; not sure I loved it, but glad I did.

Yeah- great couple. David went to Kansas State to study bugs and plants. He's like Hamacher- really understands the science.
Don't judge Cali tempranillo by David's work - but then, I have never had a Cali tempranillo I liked

That said- I have at least one bottle Core's Temp around here somewhere...

 

[Piobaire]

Domaine de la Chaponne Morgon, 2009 tonight. Great summer read. Just easy drinking and full of fruit. Nice value at $14.

Oh, L'Aventure is anything but fancy. Seriously, do it. Very rustic. Hint: when you come to the two gates and the end of the dirt road, it's the lower one on the left that you want to ring the buzzer to.

 

[Concordia]

Tonight, some Chateau Vrai Canon Bouché 2003, from Canon-Fronsac. I can't remember if this was an $8 cheapie, or a $15 one. But it was one of the nicer miracles from the great Californian vintage. Excellent house red.

 

[Piobaire]

Had a 2010 L'Adventure Viognier last night. Very nice floral nose with lemon tastes. Paired with pesto shrimp and it was awesome. Hope you went there, Eric.

 

[Quatsch]



Had a 2010 L'Adventure Viognier last night. Very nice floral nose with lemon tastes. Paired with pesto shrimp and it was awesome. Hope you went there, Eric.

Whats the origin? V.d.P. from somewhere? Viognier is a really cool grape when done well - acidity being its biggest problem.

Also interestingly - as I've said before, Viognier does pretty well in Virginia and at Chrysalis last year we put some of our Viognier into Acacia wood barrels, which is supposed to add aromatic qualities to a white wine. Its a pretty new thing and I have not had the chance to try the wines produced from this.

Eric Texier does a v.d.p. (or maybe vin de France?) Viognier from Condrieu thats made with a Mosel Kabinett being the stylistic ideal - a friend of mine did a tasting with him in France and apparently its pretty cool. He picks super early for this, but I guess Viognier from a good site has so much aromatics that it works out. One of the shops in town is getting it in soon and I can't wait to try.

 

[Piobaire]

L'Adventure is one of the more notable and established Paso Robles grower/producers. Think Stephan has been there nearly 20 years, and based on conversations at the tasting room over Xmas, he grows all his own grapes.

 

[erictheobscure]

Alas, my SB friends don't want to trek all the way to Paso. Starting at Foxen., which I've meant to try anyways.

 

[Piobaire]



Alas, my SB friends don't want to trek all the way to Paso. Starting at Foxen., which I've meant to try anyways.

I did that drive just a few months ago and think it was all of 120 miles...you can even stop in Los Olivos and taste quite a few there.

 

[erictheobscure]

Yeah, I went to Los Olivos with these same friends last time I was in town. Did you find any good restaurants in the area? My parents are decidedly not fine dining folks but I'd like to have a good place in mind for occasions. Ballard Inn seems to get local buzz.

 

[Piobaire]

We only stopped for a few hours tasting. It was in the middle of our arduous drive from Paso to SB.

 

[Bhowie]

..

 

[Piobaire]

Enjoyed it greatly.

 

[gomestar]

a first