Save BIG On ZinTopia Tickets !!!
August 31, 2009
The Facts:
On September 19, 2009, ZinTopia will take place from 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Lake Sonoma, Warm Springs Recreation Area, 3333 Skaggs Spring Road. It is located at the northern end of scenic Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. Tickets are $75 (Scratch that- See below for a special DISCOUNT!) and are available at www.wdcv.com. For additional information, contact The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley at 707-433-3031.
Gabe’s Take:
Those of you who have been reading our site know that ZinTopia is coming up and that here at Drink Dry Creek we’re pretty excited about it! Now thanks to the Winegrower’s of Dry Creek Valley we’re able to offer our readers a discount on tickets. This is a pretty serious discount to what promises to be THE Premier Harvest Event in Sonoma County. Act now and get 30% off on your tickets.
To save 30% buy your tickets now and use the code ZIN when you checkout. I’ll be at ZinTopia and I certainly hope to see a lot of you there! To read more about ZinTopia click one of the links Below:
The Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley – The Official Source For ZinTopia Information
Introducing, ZinTopia, Harvest In Dry Creek Valley – Our Teaser With ZinTopia Information
People Are Talking…About ZinTopia – Quotes from the Wineries themselves
Frick Winery – 2006 Grenache, Conley Vineyard
August 31, 2009
The Facts:
Frick Winery was established 1976 and is located at 23072 Walling Rd. Geyserville, CA 95441. Their Phone number is 707-857-1980. Frick opens weekends only 12:00 PM-4:30 PM. They have 11 Acres under vine, and their total case production is 1,800. The focus at Frick Winery is on Rhone varietals. Offerings include Syrah, Viognier, Cinsaut, Grenache, Counoise, Grenache Blanc and Merlot. The 2006 Frick Grenache is made from Dry Creek fruit sourced at Conley Vineyard. This vineyard is a small terraced section located in the hills above the Frick tasting room. In addition to Grenache (96%), there is also some Syrah (4%) in this selection. Barrel aging was accomplished over 22 months in neutral oak. A mere 125 cases of the 2006 Grenache were produced and it sells for $27.
Gabe’s Take:
Each time I’ve had the opportunity to taste the wines that Bill Frick is crafting I’ve been duly impressed. So it was with a sense of anticipation that I sat down to taste Bill’s 2006 Grenache. Huge wallops of strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry lead the effusive nose of this wine, underscored by a nice edge of vanilla bean. Fresh baked cherry pie elements make up the core of the palate; they’re joined by copious raspberry notes and serious spice components. The finish on this Grenache is memorable with smoked meat elements as well as hints of tart fruit and continued spice. The Frick Grenache slowly, gently disappears from your mouth, as if the wine almost senses its own deliciousness and doesn’t want to let go too soon and disappoint the drinker. I paired this wine with a Pastrami sandwich and a side of pasta salad which worked beautifully.
There’s a lot to like about the 2006 Frick Grenache. Chief amongst them though is the tremendous balance and incredible varietal purity that shines through. This Dry Creek Valley Grenache is made with food pairing in mind. Grab a bottle of this Grenache and pair it with something delicious, I guarantee it’ll be a memorable wine and food pairing experience.
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Mauritson – 2007 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
August 27, 2009
The Facts:
The 2007 Mauritson Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel has 8% Petite Sirah blended in. This wine was produced using fruit from a combination of Estate Vineyards, as well as some sourced from other long time growers such as Saini Farms, Mazzoni Vineyards, Faloni Ranch, and Buchignani/Garcia Vineyard. Approximately 40% of the fruit is from Rockpile. Barrel aging was accomplished over 14 months in a combination of French (80%), and American (20%) oak. Just fewer than 2,300 cases of this vintage were produced and the suggested retail price is $27.
Gabe’s Take:
Considering the lengthy history (6 generations) that the Mauritson family has in Dry Creek Valley as growers, it’s almost hard to believe the relatively short time that they’ve been a producer. Short time or not their reputation for producing wines that speak of their place precedes them. All of that in mind, I sat down to taste their 2007 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. The largest case production of their Zinfandels is also a cuvée where the others are from specific vineyards and/or blocks.
Dark fruit themes highlight the nose of this Zinfandel; plum, blueberry and an undercurrent of vanilla. The palate is loaded with raspberry and black cherry liqueur as well as significant hints of black pepper and bramble. Dry Creek dust and rich baker’s chocolate highlight the lengthy and lingering finish which also has elements of tart cherry and blueberry.
I found this Zinfandel to be remarkably smooth and easy to drink. That ease of drinking shouldn’t fool you though; this is a complex Zinfandel loaded with copious layers of flavor that emerge as it opens up. By combining fruit from so many different sources Clay Mauritson has created a very well balanced Zinfandel that shows off elements of several sites but never veering all the way in one particular direction. Personally I’m fascinated by the distinctions between single vineyard (or block) Zinfandels and Cuvées like this one. Each has its benefits. The beauty of this one is that it’s priced well enough for regular consumption and has more than enough diverse elements in it to hold your attention. Considering this wine is most often available for around $22, it’s an excellent deal for a Dry Creek Zinfandel of this quality. Don’t hesitate to lay this one down for a few years either; it has legs.
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People Are Talking…About ZinTopia
August 25, 2009
ZinTopia is just a few weeks away. This brand new, one day, open air, destination event is one I’m really looking forward to. It occurred to me that the Vintners involved are pretty excited as well. With that in mind I reached out to a handful of the folks participating and asked them for their thoughts about ZinTopia. Here’s what they had to say:
“ZinTopia is a great way to extend the opportunity for Bay area and out of state wine buffs to learn more about Dry Creek Valley. For those that have missed Passport here’s another chance to enjoy great food and wine pairings and meet the winemakers. It’s a don’t miss!”
-Barry Collier, Collier Falls Vineyard
“I love the idea of having a Zinfandel centric event in the heart of a Premier Zinfandel Appellation. ZinTopia will allow the consumers to focus on Dry Creek Zinfandels and the characteristics that make us special. My hope is that people walk away with the understanding of a Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel and develop a better comprehension of the diversity that lies within the valley-from valley floor to bench and ridge fruit within vineyard designate wines, our organic vineyards to the unique characteristics of the northern and southern vineyards of the valley.”
-Debra Mathy, Dutcher Crossing Winery
“ZinTopia is a first time event that showcases the great aspects of Dry Creek Valley: it features a focused tasting on the best from the Valley; …a marketplace that highlights the best produce (DCV is one great place for most agriculture-they focused on a more diverse spread of crops in the 1800s and early 1900s); it will have a gathering-in the middle of harvest-of winemakers and owners with a great cross section of DCV producers and growers. This is an opportunity for people to visit us and plunge right in to Dry Creek Valley and experience what we experience on a daily basis.”
-Julie Pedroncelli St. John, Pedroncelli Winery
“Dry Creek Valley’s only event, Passport to Dry Creek Valley, has been routinely sold out for nearly 20 years. Up until now Passport was the ONLY valley-wide event her in Dry Creek. Now with the introduction of ZinTopia, visitors can get down to the nitty-gritty, up close and personal with Dry Creek Valley Wines, life and personalities. ZinTopia is held during the buzz of harvest and visitors will feel that buzz in the air. ZinTopia is being held under a massive tent at the headwaters of Dry Creek; one location in the valley where we will all converge to taste, eat, see and listen. Dry Creek Valley’s reputation has been built on Zinfandel, thus the name, however participants will discover there is much more to Dry Creek. Other unique world class wine types. Good people. Great food and farm fare. Small town charm, small family tended vineyards, Wine Country hospitality in a relaxed friendly style.
Thus you see that I am excited about ZinTopia because it is the beginning of new type of event, during a wine-magical time of year. I think participants will feel the roots of the valley, learn a lot and have a great time.”
-Bill Frick, Frick Winery
“I think that it is going to be a wonderful event. Usually, big open house events are timed for the late fall/winter or early spring. Being the slow time of the year it allows the wineries to plan for big events and to generate extra traffic during a lull. However, the downside is that there is not much to show, wines are already in barrel and the vineyards are dormant. This is why ZinTopia is going to be such a unique and entertaining event. Situated right in the middle of crush visitors are going to have a first-hand view of where vineyard farming and winemaking intersect. Great wines start in the vineyard, and I think that ZinTopia will give people a view of winemaking that is rarely experienced by those outside of the industry. Overall ZinTopia will be a wonderful event and I look forward to it.”
-Emmett Reed, Gustafson Family Vineyards
“ZinTopia seems to be shaping up to be a great new event. One of the best things is that it brings together the wonderful wines, food, farming and artisanal products of the region all under one tent. Kind of like a farmer’s market with wine and music thrown in for fun. People will also see the full beauty of the Dry Creek Valley during harvest, one of the most picturesque times of the year here. Talk about photo ops! I’m planning to attend and hope to meet and chat with a lot of new faces–people who might not have visited the Dry Creek Valley before or people who haven’t been able to go to the extremely popular Passport to Dry Creek Valley event we hold each Spring.”
-Kim Stare Wallace, Dry Creek Vineyard
“We love Passport Weekend which the Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley put on, with much aplomb, every April. We are very excited that we get a chance to be a part of a new event conjured up by the Winegrowers, to be inaugurated in September, at the height of the harvest season. Bella as a winery, and the Valley as a whole, gets to show off the varietal that we are most famed for…Zinfandel!”
-Tim Nordvedt, Bella Winery
So as you can see everyone is really looking forward to ZinTopia. It should be an excellent and fun event; unique in many ways and quite different from Passport specifically. I for one know I’m going to be there, I hope you will too. It’s worth noting that Passport sells out each year, that in mind if you plan to attend ZinTopia, grabbing your tickets soon is a good idea.
Ferrari-Carano – 2006 Dry Creek Valley Malbec
August 24, 2009
The Facts:
The 2006 Ferrari-Carano Malbec is a limited release selection. The fruit for this offering is off of their estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. That fruit was hand harvested and hand sorted prior to being cold soaked and fermented in tank, leading up to pressing. This 100% varietal wine is available directly from the winery. Oak aging was accomplished over 16 months in a combination of new, (30%) and older (70%) French barrels. The 2006 Malbec was also bottle aged for an additional 4 months prior to release. The suggested retail price for this small production wine (548 cases) is $38.
Gabe’s Take:
Ferrari-Carano makes a number of really nice wines. However the small lot offerings I’ve tasted recently (Petit Verdot, Zinfandel) have knocked my socks off. In addition to being tiny productions within the larger world of Ferrari-Carano they are also made from Dry Creek fruit, sourced right on their home vineyard, so perhaps it’s that Dry Creek fruit which my palate is dialed into that really pushes the envelope on these offerings for me.
Chocolate covered, berry infused fruitcake notes fill the nose of this Malbec with a heady and intoxicating perfume. Throughout the full, rich palate there is a purity of fruit that attacks your senses with layer after layer of delicious flavor. Blackberry pie, boysenberry, sweet black cherry and chocolate all take turns. Waves of berry fruit keep on coming through thee finish which is also loaded with spice notes as well as touches of leather and emerging earth. This wine is well structured and has fine acidity. Delicious on its own, this would make a tremendous match with Beef Brisket.
Of course when drinking any Malbec I think of the examples from Argentina. They’re made in such a variety of styles there, much like Zinfandel is in Dry Creek Valley. What’s interesting about this selection is that on one hand it reminds me of the ones made in a young, brash and somewhat jam-laden style, on the other hand it has the structure and elegance of those made in a more refined style. Add it all together and this one of the best and most mouth-watering California Malbecs I’ve run across to date. Bottom line for me, this is another small lot, powerhouse from Ferrari-Carano. My advice is to drink it over the next 3-5 years while that exuberant and eager berry fruit is still vibrant.
Dave’s Take:
Ferrari-Carano is a shining example of how a large producer can keep in touch with their artisan roots. Sure I have my favorites amongst the wide selection that they offer, but I’ve yet to have a wine from them that hits me like a generic house wine. Some of their wines are that well distributed and yet still retain the quality that I’ve come to expect. So now I have a bottle in front of me that is truly special as there were only 548 cases produced.
One whiff of the open bottle and I knew that I was in for a guilty pleasure. Wafts of over-ripe plum, cherries, and chocolate emanate from the glass. Continued ripe fruit rolled up in a touch of a creamy mouthfeel. Blueberries and Anise slide over the palate. The finish is ridiculously long and each moment rewards you with a little something different – even clove and earth peek through the jammy overtones.
I agree with Gabe that this is too good not to drink over the next couple of years. I might lay one aside to see what happens, but it will take a lot of willpower not to give in. Perhaps the biggest surprise is that there aren’t more cases of this gem produced.
Malbec may not be the first varietal that comes to mind when I think of Dry Creek Valley, but now I am left wondering why not?
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Forth Vineyards – 2007 “All Boys” Cabernet Sauvignon
August 23, 2009
The Facts:
The Forths discovered Dry Creek over 20 years ago, and fell in love with this place. After finding themselves returning again and again they ultimately stumbled upon an old ranch for sale. This was the birth of Forth Vineyards. With 10 acres under vine, 6 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon are split into 3 main blocks, each named for their children (Rebecca, Joshua and Benjamin). The suggested retail price for this wine is $25.
Dave’s Take:
“Let’s hear it for the boys”! …Forth Vineyards 2007 “All Boys” Cabernet Sauvignon derives its name from the simple fact that the grapes hail from the vineyards of their two sons , four grandsons, and a nearby vineyard owned by five brothers. Never before has so much testosterone been packed into one bottle…will it show? Time will tell.
The aromas of dark cherry and blackberry leap from the bottle as does a touch wood. The palate delivers more berry fruit, bramble, and cassis. The slightly above average finish reveals elements of clove and nutmeg, white pepper. This medium tannic, well balanced wine should age gracefully and improve through 2013, but I would probably see how they’re doing at that point if you plan to age them.
Overall this is an impressive effort; Forth Vineyards does a good job of delivering a solid wine that shows off its Dry Creek roots. With a name such as “all Boys” I thought it would have a bit more muscle. That being said, not all men are the same. Some will be weightlifters and others will sing on Broadway. This one is singing…a pretty good tune at that.
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Michel-Schlumberger – 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
August 22, 2009
The Facts:
The 2005 Michel-Schlumberger Estate Cabernet is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, 1% Cab Franc, and 1% Carmenere. It spent 24 months in French oak, 35% new. A total of 2,900 cases were produced. The suggested retail price is $40.00
Dave’s Take:
Two things have been exciting me about the selections from Michel-Schlumberger. Firstly, I feel that the quality of their wines has been on an uptick. They have always been enjoyable, but they continue to evolve and improve which is a good sign from such a veteran winery. Secondly, the distribution seems to be getting better. This is only based on personal experience, but I happen to run across it more frequently now – nothing can make me happier than that. With only 2,900 cases produced this selection won’t be available everywhere, but you can always go to michelschlumberger.com.
The nose on this bottle is effusive with aromas of cherry, plum, and cedar. The palate is rewarded with more cherries, blueberries, currant. End all of this with a floral note, a nice earthy / leather component, and spice. Really nice, a bit of tartness at the end also which will dissipate with age. I definitely would like to re-taste this in a couple of years, but it is good now. Pair this up with a typical steak or be adventurous and make yourself an ostrich burger. This is an elegant wine that will go well with a variety of foods.
As this winery produces selections that are a bit different stylistically for Dry Creek, I highly recommend that you seek them out. Put aside a day for a little vino from the valley, it’s like finding the gold at the end of the rainbow.
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Visiting Amista Vineyards
August 18, 2009
The Facts:
Amista Vineyards is a boutique operation producing just fewer than 2,000 cases of wine per year. Amongst their distinctions, all their wines are 100% varietal, single vineyard offerings. They have 20 acres of Estate vines and also source additional fruit from long time, Dry Creek growers. Their tasting room which is located on Dry Creek Road is open from Thursday through Monday from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Gabe’s Take:
When I was out for Passport 2009, Amista Vineyards was on the list of Wineries I wanted to get to but ran out of time to stop by. Having made two separate visits there on my recent trip it’s fair to say I made up for it. My first stop came in the middle of the week as I wandered into their spacious tasting room to sample their offerings and see what they were up to. A couple of friendly folks helped me and were more than happy to tell me about the wines and the winery.
Tastings at Amista Vineyards come with a modest $5 charge. This is complimentary for their wine club members. I’d learn later that they have a robust and tight knit club that stands at the core of their efforts in many ways. Tasting through their wines I found that there was a lot to like. The ones that stood out the most to me were:
2007 Morningsong Vineyards Chardonnay – This is their Estate vineyard. This Chardonnay is all about the fruit which shines through impeccably. Apple, white peach, mineral and white pepper are the stars of the show here. This wine has no oak treatment and is very crisp and clean. 296 cases of this wine were made and the suggested retail is $25
2005 Francesca’s Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon- This fruit for this wine was sourced from the Passalacquas. This Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with dark and brooding berry fruit. Cassis is prominent in the extroverted nose and there are copious spice notes throughout as well as recurring flourishes of dark chocolate. About 300 cases of this wine were produced and it has a suggested retail of $40.
2005 Saini Farms Zinfandel (Gene’s Block)- Soft lush fruit is the hallmark of this Zin. Sour cherry notes stand out. The finish features earth and black tea. This is a dry, balanced Zin that will be great with many foods. Despite alcohol over 15% this wine isn’t hot in the least. 318 cases of this Zinfandel were produced and the suggested retail price is $32.
2004 Morningsong Vineyard Syrah – Leather and hints of spice are prominent on the nose. Dark berry notes are present throughout the palate. Cigar box and earth emerge on the finish. This wine is lovely, balanced and restrained. 406 cases of this offering were produced and the suggested retail price is $28.
The connective tissue that ties these wines together is the clean and balanced style they are made in which accentuates the fruit. That’s also true of the other offerings I tasted from Amista. Staying true to their name which means making friends, the folks at Amista were incredibly welcoming; so much so that they invited me to come back. A couple of days after my visit they were having a party for their wine club to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary. How could I resist that?
When I stopped by on Saturday I was curious to see what their party would be like. On a patio area outside their tasting room they had a section set aside with tables for people to sit and hang out. The party was catered with some delicious food and of course they were pouring wine. One of the special treats was a 3 year vertical of the Syrah. The 2004 had been my favorite of the wines when I visited earlier in the week so I was curious to taste the other vintages. While each of them was solid, the 2004 remained my favorite of the moment. That could change when the 2005 has a touch more age on it.
Another highlight of the event was getting to meet Vicky and Michael Farrow who are the co-founders and proprietors of Amista Vineyards. In meeting them it’s easy to see where the friendly attitude that permeates Ross and other folks in the Tasting Room comes from. One of the things that made the event fun and laid back was that it went on for a large part of the day. By doing this their guests were able to come and go at their leisure without worrying about getting to Amista in a narrow window of time. I’m sure it took extra effort and resources for them to schedule the event this way but it was worth it as people were flowing in and out while I was there, creating an excellent atmosphere. If you like these wines this seems like the sort of Wine Club to join; both for the beyond excellent treatment and the fact that the Farrows sure know how to throw a fun and inclusive event.
Amista Vineyards is a very worthwhile stop on your next wine country excursion. They’re an operation run by and filled with friendly and welcoming folks; just as importantly they’re making some solid, fairly priced wines. So while you don’t have to visit them twice in one week like I did, you should definitely go at least once. You’ll go back for sure the second time without my needing to urge you.
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Dry Creek Vineyard – 2008 Petite Zin Rosé
August 17, 2009
The Facts:
The 2008 Dry Creek Vineyard Petite Zin is made from fruit sourced at family owned vineyards. This offering is a blend of Zinfandel (80%), and Petite Sirah (20%). Oak aging was accomplished with two months in French barrels. 384 cases of this Rosé were produced and the suggested retail price is $18.00
Gabe’s Take:
The first thing that hit me in the face so to speak about this Rosé is that it has a darker hue than most; strawberry red is how I’d describe it. At first the nose is a bit reticent, but it comes around pretty quickly with lovely aromas of enticing wild strawberry. Starting with the first sip, fresh summer pie, loaded with bright, juicy red berry is prominent throughout the palate. As this Rosé opens up layers of complexity, loaded with spice emerge and make their presence felt. Touches of tart fruit are present on the finish and provide a nice bite that helps beckon you back for more. This Rosé will certainly pair well with a pretty wide range of foods. My choice was a chorizo and chicken Paella, which worked quite well. Simply pairing this wine with the warm weather isn’t a bad choice either.
No one would argue that Provence is the epicenter of the Rosé world, its natural home in many ways. There, they of course use varietals such as Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, etc to make their Rosé’s. It stands to reason then that in Dry Creek Valley where Zinfandel is in its most natural habitat it would be used to make a lovely Rosé along with it’s frequent and well matched partner Petite Sirah. It’s no surprise to me how much the Petite Sirah bring to the table in this wine. The nice bite at the back end and the firm structure can be attributed to its contributions. As with white wines the tendency for some with Rosé is to serve them ice cold. With this wine that would be a mistake. Certainly it should be chilled, but when it’s too cold you’ll miss many of the nuances that emerge when this is just a couple of degrees warmer.
Admittedly, I’m a sucker for well made dry Rosé. This Inaugural offering from Dry Creek Vineyard is a very solid entry into that category. I for one am hoping this selection becomes a regular in their already diverse array of wines.
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Pezzi King – 2005 Chardonnay
August 14, 2009
The Facts:
The 2005 Pezzi King Russian River Chardonnay was barrel aged in 30% new French Oak. Alcohol is 14.4%. Although this is a Russian River Chardonnay, they are a Dry Creek Valley Winery established in 1993. The current release has a suggested retail price of $26.
Dave’s Take:
I first stumbled upon Pezzi King in the mid to late 90’s when it’s tasting room sat across from Dry Creek Vineyard where Passalacqua Winery is now. That tasting room held a lot of great wine and has many fond memories for me. I have not yet been to their new location, but if the past can in any way predict the future I am sure it is an experience that you won’t want to miss. This was one of my favorite stops. Imagine my surprise to find a bottle of 2005 Chardonnay at one of my local wine shops. If I was insane I would have hollered for joy (and been arrested), instead I stood there with a smirk on my face. More conservative, but the meaning was the same … I hit the Mother Lode. Now I know what you’re thinking, 2005? Chardonnay? Their current release is the 2007. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if it’s good. If its time had passed, I still would have been happy to try it. My Pezzi King didn’t let me down.
The age on this Chardonnay was revealed by its darker yellow hue. Vanilla and spice on the nose followed through the palate with deep tropical fruit and a creamy hazelnut/nutmeg finish that I really enjoyed. The great balance and acidity on this selection made it notable, but the spice on the finish put it somewhat over the top for me.
So now I wonder a few things: How’s the current release? Will I like it as much? Does anyone have a bottle of this from the 90’s…I’m feeling a bit adventurous.
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