A Trip Down the Central Coast: Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Roundup

A scene from the film Storm by Daniel Addelson, set in Santa Barbara wine country. This film will be screening at the Sonoma International Film Festival in April and premiered online today on Uncorked. By: Chiara Shannon | Head Sommelier - K&L Personal Sommelier Service 

A Trip Down the Central Coast: Santa Barbara/Santa Ynez Roundup

Whenever a team of K&L staffers make a company visit to wine country, we return bubbling over with excitement about great producers, various microclimates, interesting soil types, and--of course--great wines! Nothing compares to the experience of walking the vineyard with the grower or tasting barrel samples with the winemaker when it comes to understanding a wine's origins and the passion that goes into its production.

Over the next couple weeks, Uncorked will feature a series of blog posts about our domestic team's recent trip through the Central Coast. We were extremely impressed by the quality of wines being produced across the board, the diversity of varietals, and the direction many producers, big and small, are going towards balance, restraint, and authenticity. Stay tuned for stories and featured wines.

In the mean time, here's a short list of top picks from some of our favorite producers in the Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez area. These are in stock now, come highly recommended, and represent great values:

2010 Palmina "Honea Vineyard" Santa Ynez Valley Arneis $16.99

"I can't think of anyone who has done more to promote Italian varieties in California than Steve Clifton with his Palmina label. I admit I was intrigued with these offerings, and came away deeply impressed with most of what I tasted." (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

2011 Storm Santa Ynez Sauvignon Blanc $17.99

K&L Notes: Sourced from La Presa, Curtis, Kingsley, and McGinley vineyards, four distinct sites in Santa Ynez with varying soil types and microclimates, this 100% Sauvignon Blanc shows classic citrus, grapefruit and grassy notes in the nose, with mouthwatering acidity, a nice creamy texture on the midpalate, and citrusy flavors echoing in the finish. Storm's technique of predominantly stainless steel fermentation (84%) followed by six month on the lees yields a balanced and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc that is delicious on its own but highly versatile with food. 

Watch the Movie: K&L hosted the official online premiere of the film STORM about winemaker Ernst Storm scheduled to screen at the Sonoma International Film Festival in April. Be the first to watch it online now on Uncorked!

2011 Dragonette Cellars Happy Canyon Sauvignon Blanc $26.99

"Fleshy and smooth but energetic too, offering lively pear and orange zest flavors and notes of white flowers and anise. Shows smoky, spicy qualities on the finish, which clings with impressive tenacity." (Stephen Tanzer)

2010 Clos Pepe "Barrel Fermented" Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay $22.99

"The 2010 Chardonnay Barrel Fermented Clos Pepe Vineyard is a big, virile wine endowed with serious depth. Despite its richness, the 2010 has gorgeous underlying minerality lurking beneath the fruit. The 2010 is decidedly intense but also beautifully balanced." (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

"2010 marks our eleventh consecutive bottling (sixth under our own vineyard management) of this illustrious and coveted site in the appellation,” notes the winery. “Originally planted in 1991 by Ron Piazza (current owner), this was the first of our quintet of vineyards overseen by Francisco Ramirez and soil and energy consultant, Stan Kadota. Of the twenty acre parcel, six are devoted to chardonnay on a steep, wind-beaten slope of botella clay and limestone.”

2010 Brewer-Clifton "Mt. Carmel Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay $49.99

"An explosively perfumed bouquet displays scents of candied lime, lemongrass, anise, iodine and ginger. Deeply pitched but energetic, with precise, incisive citrus and orchard fruit flavors that pick up smoke and floral nuances with air. Shows a tangy, stony note on the finish, which emphatically repeats the lime and ginger notes. This is still a baby but shows terriffic potential." (Stephen Tanzer)

2010 Foxen "Tinaquaic Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay $34.99

K&L Notes: The Tinaquaic Vineyard was planted in 1989. It is dry-farmed, which helps create very concentrated fruit. The wine itself is concentrated as well, and it retains a wonderful acidity and backbone that is lightly touched with some new oak (20%). (Clyde "Trey" Beffa III, K&L Domestic buyer)

2009 Ojai Santa Barbara Chardonnay $21.99

"The 2009 Chardonnay possesses gorgeous depth. Rich layers of varietal fruit sit on a big frame. This is far from an easygoing Chardonnay. Rather it is a wine endowed with considerable depth and intensity. Rich varietal notes come to life on the layered finish. The Chardonnay is made from young vines from Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills. This is a gorgeous showing." (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

2009 Huber "Estate Grown" Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay  $24.99

K&L Notes: From one of the oldest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Huber's property benefits from the cooling fog, the sandy loam soils and the consistent afternoon ocean breezes that make for ripe, fresh Chardonnay grapes. Aged in barrel, this version (the Hubers also make an unoaked Chard) pops with aromas of vanilla and spice interlaced with tropical fruit. The palate has fantastic tension between fresh pear and lemon notes, with the richness of spice and cream, but because only a portion of the fruit underwent malolactic fermation and only 20% of the barrels were new, there's wonderful lift too. A must try.

2011 Qupé Santa Ynez Valley Marsanne $17.99*

*Special pricing for K&L Wine Club & Personal Sommelier Service Members

K&L Notes: Mostly Marsanne from the Ibarra-Young Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley, with 11% of the fruit coming from Edna Valley's Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard and a small proportion of Roussanne (21%) from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. All of the fruit was picked ripe, but at low sugar, with brighter acidity, which help keep this wine wonderfully fresh, highlighting its mineral streak. The wine still has the weight and richness of the varietals that balances out the acid structure, making this a white that's delightful and fresh now, but that will really start to shine in 10 years when it's secondary characteristics are able to poke through the veil of acidity.

2010 Cold Heaven "Le Bon Climat" Santa Barbara County Viognier $29.99

"Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of nectarine, orange pith, candied ginger, bee pollen and flowers. Sappy citrus and dried pit fruit flavors stain the palate, with slow-mounting spiciness adding back-end cut. Lively but powerful viognier, with excellent clarity and floral-driven persistence." (Stephen Tanzer)

2010 Alta Maria Vineyards Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir $23.99

"The 2010 Pinot Noir opens with an attractive, sweet bouquet. The fruit isn’t quite as radiant as the aromatics suggest, leading to an impression of compactness. Sweet red cherries and flowers linger on the perfumed finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2015." (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

2010 Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir $19.99

"Dark red. Musky, spice-accented aromas of redcurrant and cherry, with a note of cured meat in the background. A chewy, tangy midweight that offers tangy red fruit qualities and touch of bitter chocolate... finishing with good energy and tightly wound red fruit character." (Stephen Tanzer)

93 points! New score from Wine Enthusiast: "Made from grapes sourced from the old Addamo property in the cool Solomon Hills region, this wine shows an impressive core of cherry, cranberry and currant flavors. It’s racy and complex, and the mouth-watering acidity makes you crave lamb, tuna, steak and soft cheeses. It can be enjoyed now, and it should age for up to 10 years." (04/2013)

2010 La Fenêtre "Presqu'ile Vineyard" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir $44.99*

*Special pricing for K&L Wine Club & Personal Sommelier Service Members

K&L Notes: Only 310 cases produced! This exceptional Pinot comes from a prime block in Presqu'ile Vineyard in the Solomon Hills district of Santa Maria, a highly coveted source for the dense, powerful, yet elegant fruit that Santa Maria is famous for. Planted in the late 1990s (then known as the Addamo vineyard) Presqu'ile is family-owned and meticulously cared for by the Murphy family, who maintain the vines in pristine condition. It is deep red in color, with ripe red and blackberry fruit aromas and flavors accented by earth notes and baking spices. 30% whole cluster pressing adds spicy complexity to the profile along with some grip on the finish. A pleasure to drink now, but with the balance to age 5-7 years or more.

2010 Talley Estate Arroyo Grande Pinot Noir $33.99

"Vivid red. Heady, exotic bouquet evokes candied red fruits, potpourri and spicecake, with a mineral topnote. Fresh, penetrating raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show impressive clarity and put on weight with air. Fine-grained tannins give shape to the finish, which leaves sweet red berry and rose pastille notes behind. This must be the best version of this bottling I've yet tasted from Talley." (Stephen Tanzer)

2011 Chanin Wine Company "Los Alamos Vineyard" Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir $47.99

K&L Notes: Winemaker Gavin Chanin is on a roll: Named one of the San Francisco Chronicle's Winemakers to Watch in 2012, one of Forbes magazine's Top 30 Under 30 in food and wine and an "exciting boutique producer" by Food & Wine magazine, and his wines clearly demonstrate why. Take the 2011 Los Alamos Pinot Noir, for instance. It comes from two sections of the vineyard and is aged for 11 months in 20% new French oak. While the vintage was challenging, the wine is vibrant and fresh, full of crushed red fruit and spice character. Drinkable now, but with enough backbone to age.

2010 Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir $34.99

"Brewer-Clifton’s 2010 Pinot Noir opens up with striking, beguiling aromatics from the use of 100% whole clusters. It is an utterly impeccable, layered Pinot endowed with tons of clarity and finesse. The 2010 impresses for its energy and sheer brilliance. Simply put, the 2010 is a fabulous wine for the money. It remains one of the highest quality and easiest to find Santa Rita Hills Pinots." (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

2007 Palmina Santa Barbara County Nebbiolo $27.99

"The 2007 Nebbiolo is a blend of fruit sourced from Sisquoc Vineyard planted with the Michet clone (60%) and from Stolpman Vineyard planted with the Lampia clone (40%). It possesses striking dark fruit and plenty of varietal character, but with an extra degree of textural density from these Central Coast sites. It is one of the finest Italian-varietal wines I have tasted in California." (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate)

2010 Beckmen "Cuvée Le Bec" Santa Ynez Valley Rhône Blend $16.99 

" Ripe, smoke- and spice-accented black and blue fruits on the nose and in the mouth. Lush and open-knit but energetic as well, showing a suave floral quality on the long, sweet and gently tannic finish. An impressive example of this bottling, which has long been one of the Central Coast's best QPR wines." (Stephen Tanzer)   

2006 Ambullneo "Howling" Santa Maria Valley Syrah $29.99

K&L Notes: "Ripe, spicy, and delicious! If I were you I would decant this baby, run to the market, throw some ribs on the grill until they are beautifully charred, smokey, and falling off the bone, and kick your feet up with the decanter and ribs within arms reach." (Melissa Smith, K&L Staff Member)  

2009 Zaca Mesa "Black Bear Block" Santa Ynez Valley Syrah $59.99

"If the first duty of a wine is to be delicious, this tiny production bottling succeeds beyond all measure. The Black Bear Block is almost always Zaca Mesa's best Syrah among its many releases, and so it is again in 2009. Take one sip and you’re dazzled by the refined tannins, dryness and complexity of flavors: blackberry, cassis, plum sauce, mocha, bacon, smoky oak, white pepper, chamomile tea and licorice. What's harder to express is the sheer pleasure of the mouthfeel. This is an exciting Syrah, and may just be at the beginning of a long journey. Drink now and for many years as it slowly changes." (Wine Enthusiast)  

Cheers!

-Chiara

Interested in learning more about wines from the Central Coast? Design your own customized wine club through the K&L Personal Sommelier Service. 

K&L Wine News: August 2012 Online Newsletter and Staff Picks

We've posted the latest electronic copy of our printed newsletter in PDF format online, available for view or dowload at http://www.klwines.com/staff/3005pdf/August12.pdf -- here are some of our highlighted recommendations this month:

2011 Domaine Begude Pinot Noir Vin de Pays d'Oc Rosé ($12.99) This elegant and crisp Pinot Rosé hails from Domaine Begude, a small family -owned property located high in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Limoux region of the Languedoc.

Chiara Shannon: What's not to love here? With fresh watermelon and strawberry aromas and flavors lifted by hints of tomato leaf and chalky minerals, this 100% Pinot Noir rose is fruity and refreshing without skimping on complexity. Served chilled, this is delightful on its own or accompanied by a fresh nicoise salad. It would also make a cleansing counter pairing to a more substantial dish, such as a provencal chicken or sausage stew with tomato and fresh rosemary.

2010 Eyrie Vineyards Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Gris ($13.99) 93 WE A blend of grapes from all four of their Dundee Hills vineyards, Eyrie's estate Pinot Gris was a trailblazer for the varietal in Oregon with its first bottling in 1970.

Bryan Brick: On a recent week long trip to Oregon scouting out wines with my counterpart in San Francisco Mike Jordan we found tons of great stuff. We met with something like 30 wineries and were impressed by pretty much everyone; however few of our visits rivaled the one we had with Jason Lett at Eyrie Vineyards...From what may be some of the oldest Pinot Gris vines in the Willamette Valley this Pinot Gris is head and shoulders above all that we tasted on our trip...more

2009 Bodegas Norton "Privada" Mendoza ($17.99) 93 WE | 91 RP | 91 WS Bodegas Norton is back in a big way with their Privada bottling from the very solid 2009 vintage made of nearly equal parts Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Joe Manekin: Though I'm not a "brand hater"...the larger guys need to continually prove themselves and earn a spot here. And this year, Norton really earned it. Their 2009 privada bottling is all pure, fresh, focused red fruits, with a satisfying texture and persistent finish. For the price, you could not ask for a tastier new world Malbec Cab blend.

 2010 Sarno Fiano di Avellino ($24.99) Tenuta Sarno's organically farmed vineyards are situated on 4.5 hectares and are planted on rich soil deposits of calcareous clay and limestone characteristic of the region- a phenomenon attributable to the great eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1944.

Chris Miller: Citrus, foral notes and minerals blossom on the mid-palate of this rich, textured white. The long , elegant fnish gives way to notes of honey and toasted hazelnuts. Hands down, one of the best Fiano d'Avellino I've ever tasted.

2002 Domaine Moillard Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Malconsorts" ($74.99) *Outstanding* 89-94 BH With Pascal Marchand consulting and a movement to biodynamic growing, the estate wines from this negociant are getting better and better. 

Susan Thornett: We don't often get beautiful, direct-from-France, well-aged Burgundies so it is a real pleasure to have this 02 Malconsorts available to sell. It needs some time to open in a decanter as it is still a little young. Lots of forest-floor and rich mushroomy goodness on the nose, the structure is quite firm and well balanced, do enjoy this one with food!

Bestsellers

Want to see which wines are most popular with our customers? We constantly update our lists of bestselling wines, online at: http://www.klwines.com/bestsellers.asp  

We offer five excellent wine clubs and a new exclusive Personal Sommelier Service, that allow you to sample outstanding wines from all over the world. Due to our bulk purchase power and longstanding relationships, the quality and value offered by these clubs are tremendous. Unlike winery clubs where you typically taste the same wines year after year, our clubs offer phenomenal variety that is strictly selected by our panel of buyers. See for yourself.

Food-Pairing Friday: Hungarian Goulash

While Goulash tastes awfully good with a crispy pint of Czechvar or Lagunitas Pils, Hungarian wines like Kekfrankos take it to the next level.

There are few dishes that make cold weather more bearable than Hungarian Goulash. This paprika-spiked beef stew was a staple in my house growing up--simple, warm and satisfying--though I doubt my mother, running around after two kids, ever started hers the night before. Decades later, in the small, Technicolor Czech town of Český Krumlov (which used to be part of the Hungarian empire), the savory, tomato-y smell of Goulash drifting from every restaurant in aromatic vignettes lead me to eat my first red meat in 10 years. Hints of caraway added a maltiness to the dish that paired perfectly with a crisp pint of locally-brewed Budvar or Budějovice pilsner, which was cheaper than water. And the fluffy dumplings, little nebula of melt-in-your-mouth doughy goodness, added textural contrast to the chewy strands of beef.

We don't get too many cold snaps here in SoCal, so now that the February heatwave has given way to chillier temps (it was in the 40s this morning), I'm digging on stews and braises while I can. But rather than pairing last night's rustic Goulash soup (I used an recipe from an old issue of Gourmet since my mom can't find hers) and dumplings with a bottle of Czechvar (what Budvar is called here in the U.S. because of the obvious issues with the original's similarity to Budweiser, a cheap imitation of the style), I decided to explore some of the new Hungarian offerings on K&L's shelves.

While the dumplings were steaming and my husband finished his crunch-intensive workout, I sat on the couch to watch and sip on a glass of 2008 Szöke Pinot Gris Mátraalja ($9.99), from the southern slopes of the Mátra mountains, about 30 minutes east of Budapest. The locals have been cultivating wine grapes on these mostly volcanic soils since the 11th centurym where the influence of the nearby mountains creates a unique microclimate that is perfectly suited to aromatic whites. The Pinot Gris from Szöke is a case in point. More like an Alsatian version of the varietal, this wine has lemon oil and mandarin aromas lifted by honeysuckle scents. In the mouth it is remarkably full-bodied for Pinot Gris, with lots of citrusy fruit and juicy acidity. 

To pair with the Goulash, I turned to a K&L's last bottle of 2007 Pfneiszl Kékfrankos, also known as Blaufränkisch, from a growing region called Sopron, near the Austrian border in Western Hungary. The wine comes from an old family winery owned by two sisters, Birgit and Katrin Pfneiszl, (their dad is Austria's Franz Pfneisl of Austria's Pfneisl United Vineyards) who got their 27-hectare Hungarian parcel back from the government after the fall of communism in the region. The winery is currently transitioning to organic viticulture. The 2007 had a little less grip than the 2009, which we now have in stock.   Vinified and aged in 70% stainless and 30% old Hungarian barrique, the wine has lots of cherry and blackberry fruit, tangy acidity, mushroom earth and a spicy black pepper kick that matches nicely with the goulash's sweet paprika heat. The acid in the wine was also able to stand up to the substantial tomato-y acidity in the soup. A decidedly more sophisticated pairing than the when washed down with beer, this duo would be a welcome warmer for Sunday supper or a small dinner party.

Leah Greenstein