2010 Sonoma vs. Napa Showdown Highlights

I had the pleasure of attending Uncorked Events: Sonoma v. Napa Showdown tasting last night in San Francisco at Fort Mason’s Officers Club. All the heavy hitters were in attendance; Duckhorn, Silver Oak, Fisher, Dominus etc. Not only were the views of the bay phenomenal, but so was the wine that was being poured. A few wineries that I expected to really impress didn’t bring much to the table, while a number of others that I didn’t expect really blew me away.

My stand out favorite of the evening had to be St. Helena’s Pahlmeyer; with each wine poured stepping up in complexity and flavor. From their four offerings the 2007 Pahlmeyer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay ($70) was by far at the top of my list of the night with rich and decadent flavors of tropical fruits (mainly pineapple), peach and buttered brioche. This is the epitome of what every Chardonnay should be with some strong aging potential. On the heels of this Chardonnay are the 2006 Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Proprietary Red ($105) and the 2007 Pahlmeyer Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($70) following closely behind. As the event progressed I watched Pahlmeyer’s table go from bare to barely there with crowds of impatiently waiting drinkers swarming from right and left.

Another strong offering was presented by Twomey Cellar whose 2008 Twomey Russian River Pinot Noir ($49) quickly made my top 10 of the evening. The flavors were ripe and concentrated with flavors of bright red cherry, raspberry, cola and cigar box. This Pinot has the ability for some aging potential and I feel it would fare even better with a few more years in bottle. Moving onto another “Sonoma” selection; Sol Rouge’s 2007 Russian River Valley Viognier ($32) with it’s light sophisticated flavors and aromas of white tea leaves , peach, orange blossoms and white florals. The crisp and acidic elements of this wine were a wake up call from the overly oaked Chardonnays presented by many of the other participants.

As far as Napa standouts go, I was actually a bit under whelmed by their big players and downright disappointed in some. One that definitely did not disappoint was the Krupp Brothers 2006 Black Bart Bounty Syrah ($45) with bold dried bramble berry flavors of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry with subtle hints of vanilla, oak, spice and aromatic florals. The tannins are quite present and would definitely soften with a few years of aging.

All in all it was a great night with some really spectacular wines and Sonoma really taking the Trophy for me. There were too many to mention in this one post but many other producers really did present some outstanding wines.

Additional Recommendations:

2009 Fort Ross Rose of Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast ($12)
2007 Sol Rouge Zinfandel, Tom Feeny Ranch Russian River Valley ($36)
2008 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($31)
2008 Siduri Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($31)
2009 Twomey Napa Sauvignon Blanc ($25)
2006 Dominus , Yountville ($135)

2005 Rubicon Estate Cabernet Franc

Specs:

2005 Rubicon Estate Cabernet Franc

Napa Valley

California

14.3% Alcohol

78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon

$56.00

http://www.rubiconestate.com/flash.php

Notes:

Cabernet Franc isn't usually my go to varietal as it tends to lack alot of flavor and complexity. This grape is usually a blending agent in wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is often added in small doses to add acidity and spice to these sometimes fruity varietals. When I opened this bottle I wasn't really sure what to expect as this wine is a little over 3/4 Cab Franc. Upon first smell and taste I knew I had been wrong about this bottle.

In the glass the wine is a deep garnet and almost opaque in the glass, with rich crimson around the edges. On the nose the aromas are intense and lush. Scents of red and black fruit like cherries, blackberries and raspberry stand out as the fruit while vanilla, cigar box and baking spices round out the bouquet. On the palate the wine is silky-smooth and round. The tannins and acid balance one another out extremely well which adds to the velvety mouthfeel. Flavors of ripe red cherry, oak, tobacco, and cloves mirror the aromas on the nose. The wine is powerful and full of flavor and complexity with a long finish and lingering aftertaste of oak and cherry. This is a beautiful wine from a quality producer who consistently puts out beautiful estate wines; the eye for detail is evident in this perfectly balanced Cabernet Franc blend. This wine will do well with aging up to 10 years however if perfect to drink now. It will only get better.

As far as food pairings, this can be enjoyed solely on its own or paired with heavy meats and game. Italian fare like short ribs with tagliatelle or hearty tomato dishes would compliment the bold favors.

2007 T-Vine Cellars Petite Sirah

Specs:

2007 T-Vine Cellars Petite Sirah

Napa Valley

California

14.1% Alcohol

100% Petite Sirah

$36.00

Notes:


Drinkers are usually confused by the "Petite" in the Petite Sirah varietal. However, Petite Sirah's aren't light in any way but exactly the opposite. These wines are typically dark, fruity as have pretty high tannins but in a good way...The T-Vine Petite Sirah is just that; dark, tannic, rich and fruity. The warm climate of Napa helps to get these berries to their perfect ripeness and it really shows in the bottle.

In the glass the wine is dark and basically opaque with ruby tones and fuchsia at the wines edges. On the nose there are dark black fruits, cinnamon, licorice and is pretty moderate in intensity. In the mouth the wine has a full mouthfeel and is quite viscous. The wine is moderate in acid and tannins with flavors of jammy fruits like raspberry and blackberry and a big kick of blue fruits like blueberry and boysenberry. The finish is complex and lengthy and ends with some earthy tones and hints of cigar box and tobacco. This wine is silky, smooth and very elegant. The mix of moderate tannin and acid with the punch of fruit and oak really balances the wine perfectly.

This wine is beautiful on its own with all its complex flavors and can pair really nicely with rich fatty foods. Juicy grilled steaks, pork tenderloin with cranberry, and desserts like blueberry crisp with vanilla ice cream would be divine. If you have yet to try a Petite Sirah I suggest you start here.