Niche Wine Blog

20th Anniversary ZAP Recap

The 20th Anniversary ZAP zinfandel festival was a big hit this year, as always. While I wasn't able to attend all events, I did make my way through the grand tasting. It's the first wine event I've attended since being back in the Bay Area and it was a great way to get back into the wine groove after living in Tucson, AZ for the last three years and being a stay-at-home mom for the last 15 months. If you would like a recap of the event, click here for the press release. I'm not going to regurgitate what other bloggers will probably say. Instead, I would like to highlight wines from three estates I liked the best. Why only three, you ask? Well, I thought about listing five or ten, but I think three is a nice number. There were so many wines and there's no way I was able to taste all of them due to time restraints. But of the ones I did taste, I think three really stood out to me in terms of quality and value.

Brown Estate, in Napa Valley is one that I really enjoyed. They poured the 2009 Napa Valley Zin, the 2009 Chile's Valley Zin and the 2009 Micky's Block. While they were all good, I liked the quality of the 2009 Napa Valley Zin for the $36 price. The others go for $55, and while that's not necessarily bank-breaking, they didn't stand out to me as much. Here's the link to the tasting notes for the Napa Valley Zin, and you can also purchase if you're interested.

 Another winery I enjoyed tasting was Fritz Winery, from northern Sonoma. They poured their 2007 Estate, Dry Creek Valley, their 2008 Estate Reserve, Dry Creek Valley and finally their 2008 Estate Late Harvest, Dry Creek Valley. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to taste the late harvest, but the two others were great. If you're looking for value, the 2007 Estate goes for $25 and tastes very nice. However, if you're willing to spend a little more, the 2008 Estate Reserve is fantastic and goes for $40. Unfortunatly, they don't have the 2008 on their website, but here's the link for tasting and purchasing information for the 2007.

Last, but most possibly my favorite is the wine I tasted from Black Sears Vineyard and Winery located in the Howell Mountain AVA of Napa Valley.  They poured their 2008 Estate, Howell Mountain Zin and it was fantastic, with traditional black pepper, brambly and fruit-forward. There's definitely notes of all spice, cinnamon and clove. There's also some hints of savory spices. It is a little higher in price at $45, but I think the quality makes it a great value.

I hope you all were able to attend the event and find wines that were your favorites. I also hope these three wineries give you something new to try if you don't know about them already.

Cheers!

Masi: Italian Wines for Summertime

I recently tasted two Italian wines, a white and red, that I think are great for summertime sipping. They are both from Masi Agricola, a leading Venetian producer of quality wines from Northeast Italy. Masi Agricola dates back to the 18^th century when the Boscaini family first planted vineyards in the region.  Today, the company is still run by the Boscaini family and is recognized globally as a leading producer of high-end, contemporary Amarone wines. 

The two wines I had the opportunity to taste were:

• Masi’s Masianco Pinot Grigio (approx. $17.95) is the estate’s exclusive blend of Pinot Grigio and Verduzzo grapes.  Masianco is a unique twist on the traditional Pinot Grigio, and offers a perfect match for hors d’oeuvres, fish and white meats.

• Masi’s Campofiorin (approx. $19.95) is a truly affordable luxury and another one of the estate’s specialties. Campofiorin is a versatile wine that truly encompasses the quality and characteristics of the Verona region. It is blended with the three traditional grapes, Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. It’s perfect with many pastas, grilled or roasted red meats, game and mature cheeses.

I have to say, I loved both of these wines, especially for the price. The Masianco was fresh and crisp, but also had a richness. The nose gave off aromas of tropical fruit - banana and pineapple, and there was nice citrus, mostly lemon. The finish was quite long and there was nice complexity. The Campofiorin had a nice dark ruby color. While there was an intensity, with aromas of cassis and black cherry, vanilla, chocolate, the tannins were well balanced and make it light enough to sip during the warm summer months, as well as the rest of the year. It had some similarity to Amarone for sure. The alcohol didn't come across as too overpowering either.

I'm really glad I got the opportunity to sample these and I hope you're able to find them in your area.

Product sheets:

Masianco Pinot Grigio

Campofiorin

Wines for Father's Day - Emblem Napa Cabernet

As we all know, Father's Day is a very special day where we get to celebrate fathers from generation to generation. What better way to show appreciation than to give the gift of wine to those wine loving fathers. Wine is very cultural and when you drink wine that tells a story it makes the experience all that more special because it creates a connection.

Emblem Cabernet Sauvignon was created by father and son team Michael and Rob Mondavi.

2008 Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand

from Anna Magliozzi

Brancott Vineyards, creators of the original Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and one of the founding members of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, has partnered with Blue Ocean Institute and Chef Barton Seaver to support Blue Ocean Institute's effort to restore living abundance in the ocean.

Chilean Wines - Part 3

Part 3 of this series reviews the 8 wines tasted during the Wines of Chile Blogger Tasting that took place May 12, 2010. They are all 2009 vintage so I won't be including that in the titles.

1. Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, Casablanca Valley, 100%, 13.5 % abv, $10.99

Tasting notes: clear, light straw in color, medium concentration, medium viscosity; honeydew melon, grapefruit, white peach and jasmine on the nose; add lime, lemon and green apple to the palate - dry, medium body, medium alcohol, medium plus acid and medium finish.