After the Fires - A Salute to California's Resilience and Recovery

As originally seen in Galveston Monthly magazine

Touring and Tasting at Château Bonnet

The wines of Château Bonnet had been some of the first from Bordeaux that I had tried when my wine interests first began to diversify. I was very excited to visit and see from where those wines had come.

The vineyards at Château Bonnet were originally planted in the 16th century. The current owner’s grandfather took possession of the property in 1897 and began acquiring more of the surrounding land. André Lurton inherited the property in 1953 and continued his grandfather’s dream.

On our tour, I saw a large and very modern winemaking facility. Vincent Cruège, the Group Winemaking Director, showed us a winery in full action. Grapes were coming in from harvest and new wines were beginning as older wines were being bottled and boxed.

We went inside and learned about the art of blending from cellar master, Laurent Le Dez, who set up some barrel samples from different vineyards for us to blend. We also tasted the current Bordeaux Blanc and Bordeaux Rosé is their unfinished state. Christine Lurton-de Caix joined us for our tasting.

Recommended Wines to Drink Now:

Divinus de Château Bonnet 2012 - This is the chateau’s prestige cuvée made from 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. This dry red is rich and ripe with plum and red berries, a full body, smooth tannins and a light nuttiness in the finish.

Château Bonnet Bordeaux 2012 - This 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and dry with velvety tannins. It expresses bright cherry and blackberry notes with a slight spiciness in the finish.

Château Bonnet Bordeaux 2014 - This 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is dry, fresh and fruity with a full-body and smooth tannins. It expresses red plum and raspberry notes through the lingering finish.

Château Tour de Bonnet Bordeaux 2015 - This 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and dry with silky tannins, bold mixed ripe dark berry aromas and flavors with a bit of spiciness in the finish.

Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser

I was not personally familiar with Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser until I did a tasting recently in Houston with 4th generation winemaker, Sébastien Tribaut. Though the wines are just now becoming available in my market, the maison is well-known for their house style which involves aging their reserve wines in foudres or large wooden vats made from French oak which gives the wines a rounder feel. 

Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser has about 40 hectares of family owned vineyards primarily located in the communes of Romery, Cormoyeux and Fleurie-la-Rivière though they also source from other high quality sites who follow their same protocol of sustainable viticulture.

The wines:

Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser Brut Origine - A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 30% Meunier with three years aging on the lees and only 10% reserve wine added gives this wine light, fruity notes of apricot, green apple and citrus with a fresh finish.

Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser Blanc de Chardonnay - This wine is 100% Chardonnay with 20% of the grapes from old vines from Aÿ; it was aged for four years on the lees. Floral aromas of honeysuckle with toasted notes and a lingering crisp, mineral finish. 

Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser Brut Rosé - A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 30% Meunier with three years aging on the lees gives this wine bright aromas of raspberry and blood orange with a matched lingering taste.

Cuvée René Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser - This wine is named for the house's founder, René Schloesser. The blend is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir and contains 50% of the foudre-aged reserve wines. The cuvée is aged for 6 years on the lees prior to disgorgement. Fuller-bodied and rich with a hazelnut brioche character and a long, elegant finish.

l'Authentique Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser 2008 - Sourced from old vines in Aÿ, Romery and Écueil, this is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay wine which was aged in foudre for two years followed by five years of bottle aging on the lees before disgorgement. Sébastien Tribaut recommends decanting this wine to fully release all that it has to offer. Full-bodied, dry and intense with caramelized bakery notes through the lengthy finish.

All of the wines are recommended, I particularly enjoyed the Champagne Tribaut-Schloesser Blanc de Chardonnay which can be found on-line for about $35.

Why Not Willamette? Perfect for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As originally seen in the November 2017 issue of Galveston Monthly magazine

Top Texas Wines to Drink Now

Texas celebrates Texas Wine Month every year in October. After tasting more than forty of the state's vinous offerings,  here is my list of top picks that are currently available on each individual winery's website. These are not just for October drinking, most of these wines are Thanksgiving friendly and would make great gifts for wine lovers for Christmas and beyond.

The Whites:
Four different single varietal white wines that are not only food friendly offering a range of pairing compatibility but that are also delicious for anytime sipping.

Duchman Family Winery Trebbiano 2016 - Tropically refreshing with mouthwatering acidity, SRP $16.

Spicewood Vineyards Hill Country Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2016 - Grapefruit and lime linger through the crisp, mineral-laced finish. SRP $19.99

Brennan Vineyards Reserve Viognier 2015 - Fragrant with honeysuckle and pineapple aromas, pleasantly textured with tropical flavors and a fresh citrus finish. SRP $25

Fall Creek Vineyards Certenberg Vineyards, Texas Hill Country Chardonnay 2015 - Fermented and aged sur lie in stainless steel tanks, this wine is fresh and lively with green apple and lime zest aromas and flavors with a bit of sweet nuttiness in the long slightly smoky mineral finish. SRP $25
Fall Creek also makes a limited production and more expensive version of this white which is aged in French Oak and has rich tropical flavors and bakery notes, perfect for heavier meals, SRP $50.

The Rosés:
Interestingly, these were almost the exact same deep rose color due to the high amount of pigment in the grape skins this vintage. Past versions of the Spicewood rosé have looked Provencal while this vintage looked more like a Clairet. Both of these were a bit more structured than expected and will work well with the heavier foods of fall and winter, rosé season never really ends in Texas.

Brennan Vineyards Reserve Mourvèdre Dry Rosé - Partially fermented in neutral French Oak and then blended with 25% Cinsault, the wine's strawberry, rose petals and rhubarb linger through the refreshing finish. SRP $25

Spicewood Vineyards Mourvedre Rosé 2016 - Primarily fermented in stainless steel with a portion aged in neutral oak and blended with 20% Cinsault, this wine has mixed berry aromas and flavors mingling with a light peppery note in the fresh, fruity finish. SRP $18.99

The Reds:
Four different red varietals and three unique blends round out the list. While the Tannat screams for red meat or game, the others work well with pizza, pasta, roasted poultry and more.

Duchman Family Winery Montelpulciano 2014 - Food friendly and easy-drinking with good acidity and moderate tannins, this medium body red has nuances of black plum, black cherry, baking spice and tobacco that last through the finish.

Pedernales Cellars Texas GSM Melange 2015 - A blend of 58% Mourvèdre, 36% Syrah and 6% Grenache. Raspberry and dark chocolate dominate this smooth, medium body red right through the herb-laced finish. SRP $35

Spicewood Vineyards High Plains Tempranillo 2015 - Fresh ripe mixed berry aromas and flavors, with a medium body, moderate tannins and a baking spice note that lingers through the persistantly fruity finish, SRP $23.99. My husband and I shared a bottle of this wine with dinner last month and I chose it for the list then. Last week, I had a taste of the Spicewood Vineyards Hill Country Estate Tempranillo 2014 which is also delicious but with a bigger structure, a more savory edge and a higher price tag, SRP $42.99.

Wedding Oak Winery Regency Bridge, Texas Hill Country Red Wine 2015 - This blend of 42% Graciano, 39% Tempranillo, 16% Garnacha and 3% Tannat is bold and flavorful with black cherry, mulberry and wild raspberry with a bit of pink peppercorn in the fruit-filled finish, SRP $29.

Bending Branch Mourvedre Reddy Vineyards, Texas High Plains 2014 - Energetic and fresh with ripe black currant, black pepper and eucalyptus in a medium body with smooth tannins and a slightly spicy finish, SRP $30.

Bending Branch Texas Tannat 2014 - This full bodied red has a big, bold tannic structure with mouth-filling flavors of cranberry, tobacco and black pepper with a touch of cola in the generous finish,  SRP $30.

Fall Creek Vineyards Certenberg Vineyard, Texas Hill Country Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon - Lush yet elegant with a full body and silky tannins with fresh red currant, red plum, forest floor and a bit of pencil box in the continuing finish. SRP $35.

The Lone Star State's varied terroir supports a broad mix of grapes which allows for a wide range of wines to be produced. All of the above are highly recommended wines with which to get a true taste of Texas.

Honorable Mentions - McPherson Picpoul Blanc and Messina Hof Texas Pinot Grigio 2016, these two white wines were no longer available on their winery websites though you may still see them at retail shops and restaurants. Join their email lists to be apprised of the release of the next vintage.

Château de Reignac - A Tour, Tasting and Lunch

After a tour and tasting at Planet Bordeaux, the headquarters of the Bordeaux and Bordeaux Supérieur AOC Winemaker's Association, our group headed to Saint-Loubès to learn more about Château de Reignac. We were greeted by export manager, Marion Bechu, who along with the vineyard manager, Benjamin Fruquiere, toured us around the estate.

Like so much of Bordeaux, Château Reignac was significantly affected by the two heavy frosts in late April causing them to lose between 70-80% of the 2017 vintage while also pushing their harvest date back, the grapes were still hanging during our visit.

The estate is located where the Dordogne and Garonne meet so the

property has both the gravelly soils of the left bank which are ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon and the chalky clay soils of the right bank which are ideal for Merlot.

The château was built in 17th century. It got a nice upgrade two hundred years later when a greenhouse created by Gustave Eiffel was added to the property. Yves and Stephanie Vatelot purchased the estate in 1990 and began a new stream of improvements including the addition of a lake, a remodel of the 16th century pigeon tower into a tasting room along with continuous environmental upgrades with the goal of becoming more sustainable and biodiverse. New measures taken range from adding a bamboo plantation to help clean winery waste to inviting local farmers to graze their sheep on the property through the winter.

Château de Reignac is very easy for wine tourists to visit as well. Their website lists multiple tasting experiences from the olfactory tour of wine aromas in the Scent Garden, to a multi-course lunch or a vertical tasting in the pigeon tower. The pigeon tower tasting room features bird's eye views of the property at the top and a high tech tasting space below complete with a mechanized bar top which carries down the wine bottles elevator style for the final reveal.

Our group ended the visit with lunch inside the château with owners, Yves and Stephanie Vatelot. We savored some of the culinary delights offered up in the estate's food and wine experiences while we tasted through the current releases.

The wines:

Reignac Bordeaux Blanc 2015 - Primarily made from Sauvignon Blanc
with some Semilon and Sauvignon Gris sourced from their 2 ha plot planted on soils with large polished gravel, this wine is fresh and inviting with citrus and honeysuckle.

Chateau de Reignac Bordeaux Supérieur 2014 - This is the second wine of the property, it is fruity, approachable and crowd pleasing.

Grand Vin de Reignac Bordeaux 2012 - The estate's premium wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc sourced from the estate's best terroirs. Effusive aromas of blackberry, black cherry and dark chocolate with a hint of smoke, it is dry with good tannic structure and a rich chocolate cherry finish.

Balthus 2012 - This limited production special cuvée is made from 100% Merlot sourced from 40 year old vines in a high density planted vineyard which is then fermented in new French oak barrels. Dry and fruity with ripe plum and raspberry aromas and lush flavors, silky tannins and a persistent rich chocolate-laced finish.

Grand Vin de Reignac Bordeaux 2001- This older vintage of the estate's premium wine is very expressive with cassis and leather with dark berry and espresso flavors, it is dry, with velvety tannins and a light truffled note in the lingering finish.

All of these wines are highly recommended.

A Dinner Tasting at Château Freyneau

After a very full day, we arrived a bit late to our scheduled dinner visit at Château Freyneau with owners Eric and Valérie Maulin. My jet lag starts to make its presence known here, I somehow did not take photos of Eric cooking our beef course over vines or the dish prepared on the plate. I just ate it, it was delicious as was everything that they served us that evening.

Third generation winemaker, Eric Maulin toured us through the winery while sharing tastes and stories along the way. They make about 200,000 bottles annually, most of which being red wine. The 45 hectare family estate has been sustainably grown since 1992. The soils are a mix of clay and limestone where he primarily grows Merlot but also has Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. He only has 4 hectares of white grapes, most of which is Sauvignon Blanc.

He also talked about how the landscape of his part of Bordeaux has been changing in recent years due to urban sprawl. The number of producers has significantly dropped with only a few estates left, the majority of which are fairly small.

The Dinner Tasting:

Château La Tuilerie Bordeaux Rosé 2016 - This refreshing blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc has enough structure to enjoy with richer food but is also enjoyable to drink alone with its lingering red berry fruit finish.

Château La Tuilerie Bordeaux Blanc 2015 - Primarily made from Sauvignon Blanc with some Semilon and Muscadelle, this wine is fresh, citrusy aromatic with a pleasant weight and texture.

Château Freyneau Bordeaux Supérieur 2014 - This easy drinking blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc is soft, red berry fruity and crowd friendly.

Château Freyneau Cuvée Traditionnelle Bordeaux Supérieur 2012 - This wine is chosen from the best tanks with a percentage aged in mostly neutral barrels for 16 months. This smooth blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec shows ripe dark plums and berries playing nicely with forest floor and cocoa through the dry, velvety finish.

Château Freyneau Cuvée Prestige Bordeaux Supérieur 2005 - This wine is only produced in exceptional years, it is sourced from the property's oldest vines and aged in new French oak barrels for a minimum of 16 months. Still surprisingly young after 12 years, this wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. It is dry, rich, elegant and complex with blackberry, plum, chocolate and tobacco mingling through the smooth, lingering finish.

All of these wines are recommended.

Tasting at Château Pertignas with Vincent Gauthier

It was not the most beautiful day in Bordeaux as we headed out into the vineyard with Vincent Gauthier at Château Pertignas. Unlike our visit the previous day where the vines were still loaded with Merlot grapes, here we were viewing a just picked vineyard following the harvest.

As we walked through the vineyard Gauthier discussed the difficulty he had with the 2017 vintage which was caused primarily by the heavy frost at the end of April. This weather hazard had significantly reduced his yields. After the high quality and high quantity 2016 vintage, he is estimating that his production for 2017 will be about one-fifth of the previous year.

He said he believes the quality of the surviving fruit to be quite good and ushered us to an outside tank for a taste of freshly fermenting Sauvignon Blanc which tasted of sweet citrus. We then headed inside for a tasting of the current releases.

The tasting:
Pertignas en Blanc Priolet Bordeaux Blanc 2016 - This drink-now white wine is made from Sauvignon Blanc. It is light, dry and aromatic with fresh citrus and a slightly bitter pithy note on the finish.

Pertignas en Blanc La Borie Bordeaux Blanc Semillon 2014 - A more serious white with some aging ability, it is made from 100% Semillon from old vines which is then aged in neutral barrels. Rich and dry with honeyed aromas, juicy acidity and a lingering tropical finish.

Rosé de Pertignas Bordeaux Rosé 2016 - This wine is made with 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It is dry with fresh and fruity mixed berry aromas and mouth filling flavors.

Chateau Pertignas Bordeaux Supérieur Cuvée Vin de Copains 2015 - A blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Carmenere and 20% Petit Verdot, this dry red wine is easy drinking, fruity, soft and round with a spicy finish. Gauthier recommended it be served slightly chilled.

Chateau Pertignas Bordeaux Supérieur Cuvée Spéciale 2015 - This blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot is dry with ripe berry aromas and flavors, grippy tannins and a spicy note in the finish.

Chateau Pertignas Bordeaux Supérieur Cuvée Fût de Chêne 2014 - This wine is 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon from old vines which is then aged in barrique. It is dry with velvety tannins, ripe aromas and rich flavors of plum and red berries with a bit of dried herbs and a mineral note in the lingering finish.

My favorites of the tasting were the La Borie Bordeaux Blanc Semillon and the Cuvée Fût de Chêne. I thought the Cuvée Vin de Copains served slightly chilled as suggested would be a delicious pairing with Texas barbecue. All six of these wines are recommended.

Château Pabus - Tasting in Bordeaux

During a recent media tour set up by Planet Bordeaux, our group headed to Château Pabus in Sadirac for our first on-site tasting of the trip. The 19th century chateau and vineyard were purchased by New York financier Robert S. Dow at the suggestion of his daughter due to his love of Bordeaux wines. After extensive searching throughout the region, the property was chosen for both its history and its future potential.

In 2012, Dow asked Belgian winemaker Kris Couvent who was the property's former owner to help manage the estate with the help of wine consultants Michel Rolland and Bruno Lacoste. The goal was to bring the 6.47 hectare or sixteen acre vineyard area to peak health using no herbicides while using what they call rational cultivation techniques like encouraging natural grass cover crops. The vineyard soils are a mix of silt, sand and clay and are planted with 85% Merlot some of which is pictured on the right and 15% Malbec. They are planted at a density of 5,500 vines per hectare, all of which is harvested by hand.

A new winemaking facility was also built along with a vat house addition and an outdoor tasting terrace to take in the vineyard views. The new construction reflects the modern vision for the Château's future. We gathered up there after our tour of the property for a vertical tasting of the chateau's wine.

The tasting:

Château Pabus 2012 - Lush, juicy, rich and balanced, very drinkable.
Petit Pabus 2013 - Soft, charming, red fruit character with a hint of freshly tilled earth.
Château Pabus 2014 - Leaner, more linear structure with chewy tannins and a spicy finish. Planet Bordeaux ambassador, Michael Madrigale made the comment that there was "a pureness to the fruit" in this glass.
Château Pabus 2015 - Big tannic structure, more muted aromas and flavors, not quite ready to drink yet.
Château Pabus 2016 barrel sample - Oak nuances and fruit are not yet integrated. This wine will go another six months in barrel before it is ready to be bottled.

The team's commitment to quality at Château Pabus is apparent on the property and in the glass, enjoy the top three now and lay down the 2015 for a treat at a later date, all are recommended wines.

Messina Hof - 40 years of Romance, Family and Tradition

As Originally Seen in the October issue of Galveston Monthly magazine

September is California Wine Month

As originally seen in the September issue of 

Galveston Monthly magazine

Sustainability Rocks

As originally seen in the August issue of Galveston Monthly magazine

Wines to Celebrate International Albariño Days

International Albariño Day has been expanded from one day to six days this year and it is starting now! Follow along on social media and share your personal celebration with the world by using #AlbarinoFiesta.

Albariño is the most important white grape of the northwestern Spanish wine region, Rías Baixas, pronounced Re-ass By-shass. The area is known as "Green Spain". The climate and soil are heavily influenced by the Atlantic as the vineyards lie along the long coastal plains of Galicia bordering the ocean. The climate is generally cooler than much of the country with plenty of rainfall. The Albariño variety does well in this terroir creating refreshing light white wines that are perfect for summer sipping as well as making an excellent pairing with simple shellfish dishes. 

Nessa Albariño Rías Baixas 2015 - Light and silky with peach and almond aromas and flavors with snappy acidity and a smooth, lingering mineral-laced finish. SRP $23

Terra de Asorei Rías Baixas Albariño 2015 - A bit richer and rounder, this wine has aromas of refreshing lemon citrus with fresh herbs and a light tropical sweetness in the persistent finish. SRP $16

New World Pick:
From the volcanic clay soils of the Clements Hill area of Lodi, California, this small production wine fulfills the owners dreams of creating wines from Spanish grape varieties.

Bokisch Terra Alta Vineyard Albariño 2015 - Made from organic and sustainably farmed grapes, this wine is light and fresh with citrus blossoms, orange zest and grapefruit with a slightly tart lingering citrus finish. SRP $18

All of these wines were given to me as media samples.

Real People of Paso - The "Visiting Paso Robles" Wrap-Up

During my fast and furious introduction to Paso Robles and their new sub AVAs, I became acquainted with many great producers in the area while tasting my way through many fantastic wines. At several of our stops, we were joined by some of the neighbors who brought some of their wares and contributed an even broader taste of the area.

During these events, it was fun to sit back and listen to the locals talk amongst themselves a bit. In addition to discussing how things are currently going out in their vineyards, they asked about each other's spouses and children who they mostly knew by name, they talked about various upcoming and past community events, they offered to help each other with specific projects and a few even organized a fishing trip for their soon to be day off.

It was an endearing peak at life in Paso Robles, a tight knit community of neighbors seeking not only to put their best in every bottle but in their everyday existence as well.

Here are just a few of the many friendly people I met during my time on the Paso Robles wine trail. All of the wineries mentioned below have recommended wines that are worth seeking. I plan on visiting the ones that I missed on my next trip. Chef Jeffry, pictured below, is a winemaker favorite and can be hired for any of your private catering needs when in the area, too.

Thank you all for your hospitality and for sharing all that is good in Paso,
Cheers!

From left to right, top to botom-
Don Brady, winemaker at Robert Hall, Mike Sinor, winemaker at Ancient Peaks Winery, Karl Wittstrom, owner at Santa Margarita Ranch, Daniel Daou of Daou Vineyards, Vic Roberts of Victor Hugo & Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery, Brendon Wood, asst. winemaker at J. Lohr,
Kevin Willenborg, winemaker at Vina Robles, Matt Merrill of Pomar Junction and Geoff Barr of Barr Estate Winery.

Jason Joyce, winemaker at Calcareous Vineyard, Justin Lonbord, Viticulturlist at Tablas Creek, Lucas Pope, Vineyard Mgr at Halter Ranch, Justin winemaker, Scott Shirley, Austin Hope of Hope Family Wines, Chef Jeffry Wiesinger of Jeffry's Catering,
National Sales Director for Opolo Vineyards, Cary Thrasher, Jeff Strekas, Assoc. Winemaker at ONX Wines and Soren Christensen, winemaker at Hearst Ranch winery

For more information on planning your visit to Paso Robles wine country, check out the official website at
https://pasowine.com/.

Other things to do in Paso:
Eat at Thomas Hill Organics
Taste and tour at Pasolivo Olive Ranch

Visiting Paso Robles - Tasting Treana and Hope Family Wines

Our final vineyard stop was at Treana to hear owner and winemaker, Austin Hope, talk about another Paso Robles AVA and learn about the Hope Family Wines. The Treana Tasting Cellar is located on the Hope Family's Estate Vineyard in the Templeton Gap District. We arrived in the early evening for our tour and tasting.

The Templeton Gap District has more maritime influences than any other part of Paso Robles.  It sits below openings in the Santa Lucia range. Elevations extend from 700-1,800 feet. Higher elevations in the west create a path for ocean breezes and fog to come through creating a cooler, damper climate which leads to slower ripening times and a later harvests.

The Wines:


Treana Blanc 2014 - This wine is a blend of 45% Viognier, 45% Marsanne and 10% Rousanne, it is fresh and lively with tropical aromas and flavors and a light honeysuckle note, SRP $30.

Love and Hope Rosé - A true southern France blend of 47% Syrah, 27% Grenache, 11% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache Blanc, 3% Counoise and 2% Carignan, this light and refreshing rosé has aromas and flavors of peach and grapefruit with a savory note and a citrus finish. SRP $20

Treana 2014 - 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah make up this full bodied big, red wine wine. Ripe blackberry and pomogranate dominate this wine's profile with dark chocolate, leather and smoke; rich, chewy and lengthy. SRP $45

Liberty School Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 - Juicy aromas and flavors of boysenberry and pomegranate with black tea notes in the velvety finish. SRP $16

Treana Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 - Bright aromas of blackberry with pomegranate and baking spices with a full body, similar flavors. velvety tannins and a bit of cedar in the long finish. SRP $30

Austin Hope Syrah 2014 - This line of wines are what Hope described as

bold and expressive, he hopes to showcase the best that the estate vineyards can do. He has high density plantings of Rhône varieties in one of the coldest parts of Paso Robles. This wine has intense aromas of ripe raspberry and blackberry with a full body, similar flavors and a slight savoriness in the smooth lingering mineral laced finish. SRP $55.

Visiting Paso Robles - Lunch at Justin with Winemaker, Scott Shirley

Justin Vineyards and Winery was our next stop for lunch and a tasting. The winery sits below rolling vineyards providing picturesque views all around. The beautiful landscaping and gardens ensure that the patio seats are highly prized for tastings.

The Restaurant at Justin is a Paso Robles dining destination. The restaurant features a farm-to-table menu with something for everyone on the eclectic list, choose from American home-style favorites to the internationally inspired. Each item comes with a
suggested wine pairing so you can create your own special meal. We started with a taste of the Justin Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2016 which was fresh, crisp and tropical.

Winemaker, Scott Shirley greeted us and took us on a mini-tour of the grounds. Shirley has an impressive background. He is a UC Davis graduate with a degree in biochemistry who honed his winemaking skills at some iconic Napa Valley wineries including Opus One. He doesn't rely only on his science background, he considers winemaking to be a bit of an art as well. He pointed out that his job is always easier because he starts with high quality fruit.

He shared the story of owner and company namesake, Justin Baldwin, who was drawn to Paso Robles in 1981. The rich limestone soils, steep hillsides and the wide diurnal swings seemed the perfect place to plant Bordeaux varieties. Thirty-six years later, Justin Vineyards and Winery now produces some of the most iconic wines from the Central Coast. Shirley joined the team in 2012 and says he has really enjoyed his time in Paso Robles and is proud of the wines they are making.

As we took our seats at the shaded patio table, Shirley recommended two things for the table to share: the pickled beets with goat feta, pine nuts, citrus and watercress and the Brussels sprouts prepared with blue cheese,
walnuts, pomegranate, and apple cider gastrique. He assured us that was the extent of his food knowledge, he was there to talk wine.

He poured the Justin Paso Robles Rosé 2016 to go with these vegetable laden starters. This refreshing Rosé is made in the Provencal style but is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Justin's flagship grape. It had cherry/berry aromas and flavors with a light herbal note in the fresh finish, it was perfect with the appetizers.

As we had an array of red wines up next, I ordered the Patty Melt served with Holy Cow cheese, caramelized onions, thousand island dressing and a dill pickle on sourdough bread. This entree was listed as the suggested
pairing for their famed Isosceles wine.

The Reds:

Justin Justification Paso Robles 2014 - This wine is inspired by Bordeaux's Right Bank with its blend of 55% Cabernet Franc and 45% Merlot which is barrel aged in French Oak of which 50% was new. Bright cherry aromas and flavors with baking spice and smoke, full bodied and fresh with smooth tannins and a lingering finish.  SRP $50

Justin Savant Paso Robles 2014 - A somewhat unusual blend of 62% Syrah with 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Grenache aged in French Oak
barrels for 21 months of which 60% were new. This wine is intense and lush with jammy berry flavors, baking spices and a note of smoked meat with a full body, chewy tannins and a peppery note in the long finish. SRP $50

Justin Isosceles Paso Robles 2014 - This flagship wine is made from 73% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Cabernet Franc and 12% Merlot aged 21 months in new French Oak barrels. Rich and fragrant with blackberries, cassis and licorice, this full bodied red blend is big and bold yet still approachable with chewy tannins and a lengthy chocolate laced finish. SRP $72

All of the wines at Justin are recommended, as is a visit to the winery should you be visiting Paso Robles.