Mood: Unnerved

Wine Selection: Chronic Cellars 2006 “Sofa King Bueno”

I have been in the Napa Valley almost a month. I have been wine tasting in the Napa Valley once. My experience? UNNERVING! I don’t want to pat my own back, but I know some things about wine. Let me rephrase, I know enough to where I have never been embarrassed in a conversation with someone who knows a lot about wine.

The story…

I walked into a tasting room with a group of 5 people and bellied up to the tasting bar. The man working the counter looked at us and asked what we were up to. We told him that we wanted to do some tasting. He proceeded to pour us the first wine and asked where we were from. I took out my business card for my blog and was about to tell him that I was new in town and this is the blog that I have created, but before I could say anything, he picks up my card and lifts it to the light?! I thought it was odd. He proceeded to flick the card as though he was testing the card stock and authenticity of the card and said, “So, I suppose you want a free tasting????” I couldn’t believe it! I hadn’t had a sip of wine and I already had a bad taste in my mouth! I mean, these people are in CUSTOMER SERVICE! They are there to serve me! I couldn’t believe his attitude! To think that if I liked the wine, I was going to buy some! Well not after that! I wouldn’t buy wine from that guy if it was the best wine I had ever tasted. What bothers me even more is that I am in the same industry as this guy and I was hoping to strike some decent conversation about his wine and the region. Should I be punished for that? Plus, I not only host a blog, but I also work for a neighbor winery. Should I get thrown to the gutter because of that? So I have created a guide for all tasting room staff to follow:

1. When someone comes into your establishment looking for wine, smile.
2. When the person asks for a tasting, other than checking their I.D., get a glass.
3. As you are describing the wine, try to acknowledge the possible sale of wine and give them the information that they seem to want.
4. No matter if the person is 21 or 79, wearing sweat pants or a tuxedo, never act like they aren’t good enough for your establishment, wine, or time…you NEVER KNOW when you are talking to someone with money or an opinion that people care about.
5. Lastly, thank them for their visit and ask them to come again.

This should seem like common sense to anyone who has worked in a customer service position. You would never expect to be treated like that in Starbucks, the grocery store, or even a doctors office. Why is it accepted behavior in a winery? I mean, the point of a tasting room is supposed to be to educate people about your wine and the story of the winery. I understand that people take advantage of the system and print their own cards to get a free tasting, but it goes with the territory. If you are too bitter, after serving in a tasting room for too long, find a new career, don’t give me attitude.

Ok, off my soap box On the Sunday after this “lovely” wine tasting experience, I decided to improve my mood with a glass of wine and some good ol’ fashioned pumpkin carving. The Chronic Cellars “Sofa King Bueno,” is a Rhone style blend of Syrah, Grenache and Petite Sirah.

“Bright fruit flavors and aromas. Dark fruits followed by a hint of the tropics. Herbs and spice are plentiful along with some floral/violet highlights.” In other words it’s got fruit, it’s got a smooth mouth feel, and a finish that keeps going and going. This is a crowd pleasing wine, fun label, and a perfect pick for Halloween!

The result of my pumpkin carving and wine down, was obviously a happy one! What do you think?

Cheers!

Erica Lauesen

The Moody Wine Drinker

Mood: Unstoppable

Wine Selection: Armida 2005 Sauvignon Blanc

SO much has happened! I moved to St. Helena. Started a new job. Brilliantly set up the internet, after only 400-500 attempts. I am UNSTOPPABLE! I have left my home and everyone I know to embark on a new journey I call “Erica becoming an adult.” I know, 25 years old and already becoming an adult? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alright, down to business. I stumbled upon the cutest little wine destination. You are all probably thinking that the destination is going to be in the Napa Valley, the heart of California wine country, but you are mistaken. I found this place before I moved, on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Its name is Vino Prima and many of you may know the location…it is at the end of the wharf, where Beauregard’s tasting room used to be. I LOVE what they have done to it! This couple has their priorities straight with wine and the spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean as the main events here. This couple, that has opened it, isn’t formally trained, but they have a refreshing passion for wine. The wines that they have in the store are mostly small production, boutique style wines, however they do have the typical “crowd-pleasers” like: Rombauer Chardonnay, Silver Oak Cab, etc.

The wine that I have chosen for my mood is Armida Sauvignon Blanc. It has so much flavor, while still holding up the crisp acidity and dry finish that I look for in a SB. This wine has ripe apple and pear on the nose, then it hits your palate with more tropical fruit like nectarine and pineapple. Finishing with a clean citrus punch. I assume that this Sauv. Blanc has seen some oak, with its full and rounded features, but I could be wrong (though I’ll never admit to it!).

This wine has really soothed my nerves after a long day of training in a new job. My favorite time to partake, in this Armida experience, is while the sun is setting and the hot day (hot for my standards), just starts to cool off in the early evening. Go to Vino Prima and get yourself a bottle before the last warm days of Fall are no longer!

Cheers!

Erica Lauesen

The Moody Wine Drinker

Mood: Toasty

Wine Selection: Merryvale’s 2005 “Hyde Vineyard” Chardonnay

Well, it’s Indian Summer alright. We are getting hot hot hot in Santa Cruz County and I’m in a cool wine mood. Merryvale, my new employer as of Oct 1., makes one of the best Chardonnays that I’ve tasted this year. No, it’s not because I’m biased, it’s because it’s true. After my interview, I was able to taste their wines and I started with the ‘05 Carneros Chardonnay and I knew right then and there that I wanted to work for this winery!

This wine contains a full blown sensory experience starting with the tropical fruit nose! I could smell this wine all day. Maybe this should be made into a perfume:) On a serious note, you taste it and the beautiful balance of butter, oak, and citrus, comes full circle with the dry finish. This wine is a great example of a round Chardonnay. There isn’t one characteristic that stands out more than the other. It’s a delightful medley of experiences in just one sip!

 

Can you understand why I want to work at Merryvale winery? It’s simple to see. Plus, I’m not very good at lying, so it’s a good thing I can talk to people favorably about the wine made there. Check it out for yourself at the Merryvale website!

Mood: Tired

Wine Selection: Storrs 2004 “Petite Sirah”

That’s right, I worked 8 days in a row and all I wanted was a nice glass of wine and a mellow evening at home. I was in need of a ‘wine down.’ Storrs Petite Sirah wine was just the thing…

“Jam packed with ripe black raspberry and cherry fruit, with accents of pepper, spice and moderate oak. Full-bodied, with a lush texture and generous flavors of black cherry, ollallieberry and notes of vanilla. Supple tannins under the fruit promise a long life ahead.”

 

I read the tasting notes (above) and took a sip of the inky black liquid and BAM! The full-body character of this wine awakened my senses and I was ready to rock and roll. As it turned out, the “rock and roll” part of my evening was going to be the new Batman movie, “The Dark Knight” at Green Valley Cinema 8, in Watsonville. Yes, that’s right, I went to watch Batman battle head to head with the Joker. The explosive Petite Sirah was fresh on my palate and good thing because I needed a warm up for this intense movie. I have a very different type of wine pairing this week: Storrs’ Petite Sirah and Heath Ledger’s “The Joker.”

Cheers!

The Moody Wine Drinker

Erica Lauesen

**If you go see this movie, after having a glass of wine, make sure to have a designated driver.**

Mood: Thankful

Wine Selection: Sorry, you’re going to have to read on for that!

The scoop:

So, this may come as a shocker, but I’m moody. I know….the Moody Wine Drinker is moody? Who would have thought. My moodiness is the culprit for my lack of posts lately. Many of my loyal readers have probably been a little disappointed in my lack of writing. Don’t despair. I’m back! My most convincing excuse is that I’ve been moving and had a lack of time with my computer. My lame excuse is that I’ve also had a lack of enthusiasm about wine. I just haven’t had it in me. I’ve been exhausted and irritated and no one wants to read about that, so I’ll cut to the chase. I was auctioned off at a school fundraiser, for the first time, and I fulfilled my commitment today. I was able to taste some fantastic Santa Cruz Mountain wine and have some fantastic conversations. The result? I’m back in the wine saddle again!

 

 

This posting is in a little different format than usual. I’m going to list the wines tasted and give you a little tasting info, then give you some conversation points that were discussed. Sound good? Read on….

Alfaro Family Vineyard 2006 Lindsay Paige Vineyard Chardonnay
This is a big full bore Chardonnay that is ultra rich and incredibly deep and focused with lovely flavors and a long lush finish. Hazelnuts and white flowers lead to pure pear and apple fruit, with touches of clove, mineral, honey and vanilla.
Silver Mountain Vineyard 2004 Miller Hill Pinot Noir This wine is beautifully composed, balanced and sleek. The wine was aged 16 months in tight grained Hungarian oak, a barrel choice that complements the delicate Pinot Noir fruit, lends a light toasty, smoky character, and produces a smooth, silky mouthfeel.
Clos Tita 2004 Gironde
Named after the Southwestern French Department which contains Bordeaux. This wine contains Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Rich, round, smokey, plenty of mountain fruit stuffing. Drink now until 2015
Stroth-Hall 2005 Nelson Family Vineyard Syrah
The hallmark of this wine: spice! This Syrah out of the fermenters has a greater resemblance to a spice cabinet than to wine. A pronounced black pepper and coriander nose lead to a mouthful of black cherry, licorice, wet earth and more spice than Martha Stewart’s spice rack.
River Runs Late Harvest Zinfandel
This stunner of a wine is truly unique. sweet odors of ripe raspberries exude from the bottle. picture lush velvet berry swirls in your mouth. The vineyard is over 110 years old. Harvest of five acres picked at 37brix yielded only one hundred and seventy gallons of wine with a residual sugar of 6.1%. the total acidity of .84 and alcohol of 15.1% indicate a long life and the magnificent fruit characteristics make it a wine to have and to hold.

There were a number of great questions and conversations that went on. Some highlights for me were…

Why do you say that these wines taste like pineapple and oak? I just taste wine…

I applaud the honesty here. I mean, who cares if we taste butter or wine? All that matters is, do you like it or not? It doesn’t have to be a long list of things that you taste, it just has to appeal to you.

Is there a difference between “Petite Syrah” and “Syrah?”

Yup! They are actually two totally different varietals. Like comparing a fuji apple and a granny smith apple. They are very similar in flavor components, but Petite Syrah has noticeably smaller grapes, giving it more skin to juice ratio. The result? A peppery, tannic, full bodied wine that is delish!

Is there a reason why some bottles of wine are supposed to age before you drink them?

Absolutely! If you buy a big, full bodied, tannic bottle of cabernet sauvignon, you should “lie it down” for 5-10 years before opening it. That may sound crazy to some people, but that’s why the wine maker made the wine that way. Over time, the tannins really smooth out and the jammy fruit softens, and you get an end result that was worth waiting for.