This month we are having some fun, tasty wines that span California, Italy, Spain, and France, which are the top four global wine producing regions. Plus we have a Big Dog wine from Napa Valley which will blow you away.
Actors can absolutely be multidimensional, using their charm and skills to branch out into other fields. Few, however, actually become farmers and enologists – but Fess Parker did. Known for his roles as Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in two different television series, he used that frontier spirit into a whole new career at 64. He purchased the 714-acre Foxen Canyon Ranch in 1988 with the dream that his progeny would carry on his dream, and they certainly have. Now maintained by second and third generation family members, Parker’s desire to remain family owned and operated is thriving. Riesling was the very first variety planted on the vineyard, and this wine’s off-dry nature is balanced by high acidity. It’s got some good body to it, too, at 12% ABV. An exceptional nose beguiles with jasmine and citrus blossom, and in the mouth, green and stone fruits explode, including green apple, melon, white peach, and apricot. Riesling holds up to many cuisines, but Asian dishes with some heat, like Malai Kofta, from Spicy Chawk, will be a perfect accompaniment.
The term ‘Cerasulo’ sounds like cherry – and its name does translate to ‘cherry red,’ which could be a reference to the bright dark pink hue or the intense tangy flavors that are imparted with each taste. The Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo DOC is one of the only wine regions in Italy to focus on rosato—or rosé—wines; there must be a minimum of 85% Montepulciano according to the DOC, and this rendition is 100% Monte. Eight hours on the skins is all it took to achieve the gorgeous color, and then it was vinified like a white wine, with fermentation and a short aging period in stainless steel. Crafted from hand-picked grapes of younger vines, the Ciavolich Cerasuolo is a party in the mouth. Its bright acidity is matched by an abundance of red fruits – cherry (duh!), strawberry, and pomegranate are complemented by herbal notes like sage and mint, finishing with a tinge of minerality. This fun wine could also just be considered a chilled red for those who don’t love rosé. It will be transcendental alongside some kebabs from the Momo Kabab Food Truck.
The Côtes de Bourg appellation is a satellite of Bordeaux, located on the Right Bank, which is known for Merlot. It devotes nearly 7500 acres to red grapes versus only 100 acres to white grapes. By volume, Côtes de Bourg produces 99% red wines and 1% whites and rosés. The region is characterized by rugged geography, consisting of mostly hills and valleys, as well as a sunnier and less rainy climate than the rest of Bordeaux. The soils there are clay-limestone with a porous stone bedrock, which generally impart a unique mineral note to the wines. Currently, there are about 220 winemakers there, including the Mallet family who craft the approachable Château Robert blend. Fourth generation vignerons, their primary line is Château Haut-Macô. This Bordeaux blend, which is 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, has notes of cherry, plum, blackcurrant, blackberry, earth, spice, and touch of oak. Savor it with a creamy Chicken Caesar Salad from Picone.
The mountain range near Lodi, a wine region in California’s Central Valley, is the Sierra Buttes. A particular mountain to the east resembles a sleeping dragon, and it is often cloaked in early morning fog that the sun burns away in the afternoon. Some people say that this sleeping dragon overlooks and protects Lodi’s vineyards; therefore, this line is called Dragon Ridge in honor of the unique topography of the land. This Cabernet Sauvignon, according to the winemaker, is also “the stuff of legends” due to the bold character of Lodi’s intense vines. They use flash détente technology, which rapidly heats grapes, causing them to rupture, and then chilling them in a vacuum chamber, all within a matter of minutes. This method makes the wine more stable while extracting color concentrated flavors. Dense black fruits like plum, blackcurrant, and blackberry marry with warm spice and charred oak in this Cab. The pork carnitas from El Viejon Cocina y Cantina will stand up to this beast.
To be absolutely frank, Lillie Langtry was a badass. While she is known for having an affair with King Edward VII in 1877, she is so much more than a titillating scandal. Nicknamed ‘Lilly Jeserey’ (for the Isle of Jersey, which is in the Channel Islands off the coast of France), she was a socialite, actress, and entrepreneur who captivated many with her beauty and moxie. When she was refused admission to a gentleman’s only steak house and pipe room in New York, she sued them and won. Keens Steakhouse later named a private dining room after her, and it still exists today! She gave the first celebrity endorsement for a retail product, Pears Soap, and she later invested in a horse stable and vineyard in California. Lilly was fiercely independent and financially successful, a rarity during the Victorian era. This Petite Sirah is as robust and luxurious as Lilly herself. With notes of blueberry, plum, blackberry, and blackcurrant, plus a cigar box finish, the Lillie’s Collection Petite Sirah will be delectable with the filet from 940’s Kitchen – get the steak in honor of Lilly!
Gundlach Bundschu may be a mouthful (they lovingly put a pronunciation guide on the back of their label: Gun-Lock-Bun-Shoe), but they have the chops behind the name. They are the longest continuously operating family-owned winery in California, founded in 1858. For six generations, the Bundschu family has farmed the Rhinefarm estate vineyard, which sits at the crossroads of the Sonoma Valley, Carneros, and Napa Valley. Not only is their brand historic, but they have taken the rigorous step for their vineyards to become Regenerative Organic Certified. The love shows in their ‘Mountain Cuvee,’ which is a Bordeaux-inspired blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 4% Cab Franc, 2% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. With layers of flavors, this blend evolves from cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant, and boysenberry to baking spices and oregano on its complex finish. Go in a Mediterranean direction with your cuisine by drinking the ‘Mountain Cuvee’ with a platter of Beef Souvlaki from Green Zatar.
From their website: “Matsu, which in Japanese means to wait, pays tribute to all the wine growers who, for centuries, have devoted their efforts, respect and sacrifice to working the vineyards.” Toro vineyards are old, with some more than 150 years of age, because parts of the region survived phylloxera and other diseases due to the sandy soils present there. Thus, Matsu is a testament to the perseverance of the vines and its winemakers. They have four wines, each depicting an individual in a different stage of life. ‘El Pícaro’ is the youngest; ‘El Recio,’ this wine, shows the balance between youth and maturity; ‘El Viejo’ is complex, and ‘La Jefa’ is a fun surprise. ‘El Recio’ comes from a selection of 90 year-old vines, which highlight concentrated fruits like strawberry, cherry, black plum, and blackberry, finishing with cacao and vanilla. Paired with the Smoked Shiner Pork Loin from GreenHouse, you’ll double the flavors and the fun.
Bob Pepi is a monumental figure in winemaking. His journey started in the 1960s when his father, Robert Pepi Sr., purchased land in Napa Valley. When he was in college, Bob changed his degree from Zoology to the highly esteemed Enology program at University of California Davis. In 1980, Bob, with his father, established Robert Pepi Wines in Napa’s Oakville, farming over 70 acres of vines there. His wines consistently achieved high rating and best seller status for a decade. Turning towards consulting and other positions, Bob decided to sell his winery to Kendall-Jackson in 1994. But he missed being in the fields and the cellar, so he returned to winemaking in 2000, launching Eponymous Wines. Because he sold off his moniker, he chose ‘Eponymous’ for this new brand because it means “one for whom or which something is or believed to be named,” thereby reclaiming his viticultural prowess. Using hand-harvested grapes from multiple AVAs in Napa, including Mt. Veeder, Howell Mountain, Coombsville, and Atlas Peak, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon spent 20 months in French oak barrels, 60% of which were new. On the nose, there are hints of violet, with a bang of ripe fruits on the palate like plum, blackberry, and blackcurrant, rounded out by toasted rosemary and dark chocolate. This heavenly Cab will shine with the Miso Glazed Wagyu Beef Short Rib at Hannah’s Off the Square.