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A Labor of Love Tasting

Ripe Sauvignon blanc grapes.
Ripe Sauvignon blanc grapes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

This week’s tasting at Creekside was called “A Labor of Love.” The wines at this tasting were all made by family-owned wineries, and the cheeses were provided by family-owned dairies and cheese-makers. We tried eight of the ten wines (We skipped the Frank Family Chardonnay only because we’ve had it before and quite enjoyed it). Here are the notes.

 

2011 Honig Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley ($17) – This wine is big, creamy, and beefy. It is halfway between a Chardonnay and a Riesling. It was nice, and has been a perpetual favorite of ours.

 

2009 Treana 50% Viognier and 50% Marsanne, Central Coast ($23) – This wine has citrus and kumquot notes and is very green on the nose. It also has subtle notes of Italian seasoning woven through.

 

2011 Buoncristiani Rosé of Syrah & Malbec, Napa Valley ($20) – This wine is phenomenal! It is good with white cheddar and olives. It is smooth, light, and refreshing with hints of blueberries. It’s one of the new rosé wines that proves that rosé is not limited to the dull white zins of the past.

 

Pinot noir growing in the French wine region o...
Pinot noir growing in the French wine region of Burgundy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

2009 Athair Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma ($37) – This wine was also quite excellent. It had notes of tobacco and spicy red peppers. It was absolutely excellent when paired with the Humboldt Fog cheese.

 

2010 Middleton Family Wines “Casa de Arcillia” Tempranillo, Paso Robles ($18) – This wine was very nice as well. It was creamy yet balanced. It was big with that cigar box nose that makes me just want to run away with the glass into a corner and savor it. IT had notes of fruit, pepper, and spice and was very well balanced. It paired well with the white cheddar.

 

2009 Haraszthy Family Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi ($16) – I was stunned to learn the price of this outstanding must-try wine. It is well balanced, with a heavy creamy body, and that lovely cigar box aura that we love so much. It also had some hints of rust – but in a good way. This one is a must-try for your list.

2009 Marietta Cellars Angeli Cuvee, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah & Caringnan, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County ($30) – This is a bit generic as far as wines go (it may be that it was overshadowed by the Haraszthy Family Old Vine Zinfandel). It has notes of fruit juice, cigar and spices. It was also quite good.

2008 Bell Cellars “Claret” 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Syrah, 5% Petite Verdot, and 3% each of Cab Franc, Merlot, Malbec, & Petite Syrah, Napa Valley ($33) – This red blend was very nice. It had notes of vanilla, almonds, raspberries, and dark chocolate. It too comes highly recommended.  

 

 

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Ronda Bowen

Ronda Bowen is a writer, editor, and independent scholar. She has a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Northern Illinois University and a B.A. in Philosophy, Pre-Graduate Option, Honors in the Major from California State University, Chico. When she is not working on client projects from her editorial consulting business, she is writing a novel. In her free time, she enjoys gourmet cooking, wine, martinis, copious amounts of coffee, reading, watching movies, sewing, crocheting, crafts, hanging out with her husband, and spending time with their teenage son and infant daughter.

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