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1/31/2012
Pedroncelli Winery you just turned 85. You’re looking pretty good… What, you work out? I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say you must be doing something right when a guy named Jr. has been making the wine for more than 50 harvests. Can you remember your first glass of Pedroncelli? Mine was in the late 70’s and came from a 1.5 liter bottle. I can still see that classic old Pedroncelli label. So if you haven’t had a glass of Pedroncelli lately, I suggest you get with the program. And you won’t break the bank. Look for the Pedroncelli 2009 Mother Clone Zinfandel a classic well balanced Dry Creek Zin, all blue and black fruit, rich in the mouth with a tickle of spice, 4 wine stains, $16. And the Pedroncelli 2009 Bushnell Zin is juicy with warm ripe blackberry, yum!! 4½ wine stains, $20. Pedroncelli – ...
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1/31/2012
Pedroncelli, right there on Canyon Road since 1927. I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say 27, 37, 47, 57… wow! That’s 85 years! 85 years and 4 generations right there on Canyon Road between Highway 101 and Dry Creek Road. This day and age with all the hype, animal labels, tweets, twits, and yelps, Pedroncelli just quietly does its thing. You know there are only a few guarantees in life; death, taxes, and the quality and value of Pedroncelli wines. Look for the Pedroncelli 2010 Eastside Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc showing grapefruit and melon in the nose. In taste bright with electric spritz, 4 wine stains, $10. And the Pedroncelli 2008 Three Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is all dusty, cherry chocolate with coffee, black raspberry, and toasty oak. 4 wine stains, $17. Pedroncelli, an institution, 85 years young in Sonoma’s Dry Creek Valley.
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1/31/2012
Silver Oak Release Day and A Wine and Chocolate Fantasy, I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say you’ve got one more day to buy discounted tickets to the Silver Oak Release Day Party in both Oakville and Geyserville. This Saturday, be among the first to taste the knockout 2007 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Taste, enjoy live music, and delicious wine country faire. Click on silveroak.com.Also this Saturday, February 4th, if you love chocolate, raise your hand! It’s the 23rd Annual Wine and Chocolate Fantasy at Rodney Strong Vineyards. The word fantasy describes this event best as the barrel room is transformed into a beautiful series of halls and rooms featuring wine and chocolate and chocolate and wine. This is a “bucket list” event not to be missed. Click on rodneystrong.com for tickets.Now get out there and taste responsibly.
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1/22/2012
With the New Year, I’m recharged and ready to go! I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say what better way to start than a Napa Valley Vintners and St. Helena Star Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting at the Rudd Center. This time – single vineyard 2008 Napa Valley Cabs. Prices range from $65 to $165. The 2008 vintage started with a hard frost in April, heat during bloom in May, then a 100 degree August, but other than that, headache free. Best remembered for its low tonnage and concentrated fruit. The eighteen wines I tasted are proving 2008 to be a stellar vintage with wines that should be cellar aged. With patience and time in the bottle, the collector will not be disappointed. Top four wines in my flights were B Cellars, To Kalon Vineyards; Tierra Roja Vineyards, Oakville; Bennett Lane Winery, Calistoga; and Ceja Vineyards, Napa Valley. Click ...
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1/22/2012
It all started with a simple handshake. I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say the year was 1972 when Ray Duncan, a businessman from Colorado, and Justin Meyer, a former Christian Brother and winemaker, turned a dream into reality. With a handshake Silver Oak Cellars was born. After 40 years Silver Oak is still dedicated to one variety – Cabernet Sauvignon. Justin Meyer has passed on and Ray Duncan has handed the baton to his sons who run the day to day operations. Daniel Baron took over winemaking from Justin Meyer in 1994. So for these 40 years, if it wasn’t Justin, it was Daniel’s work you smell and taste in every single glass. The 2007 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will be released February 4th and shows cedar and dark chocolate in the nose, in taste creamy and well balanced with blackberry, mocha, and dusty ...
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1/15/2012
Did I see you out tasting last weekend? I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say I was among some 5000 wine tasters out and about last weekend enjoying the unusual spring-like weather and tasting along The Wine Road. It was the 20th Anniversary of Winter Wineland. With more than 140 Northern Sonoma wineries participating I didn’t make it to every spot, but here are a few of my favs. The Fieldstone 2007 Andres Block, Alexander Valley Merlot rich with black cherry and light toast, 4 wine stains, $25. The White Oak 2009 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc, crisp with grapefruit and melon, 4 wine stains, $16. The Medlock Ames 2006 Bell Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, rich with mocha, black cherry and toast, 4 wine stains, $52. And the Stuhlmuller 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, screams Cabernet, balanced, all cherry, dark chocolate, and light oak, 5 wine stains, $38. Click ...
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1/15/2012
The road less traveled, hit the road Jack… The Wine Road, I’ve got my map out, I’m looking, but I need some help finding these roads. I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute to say okay… idioms, phrases, and quotes, I get it, but The Wine Road? That’s a road, right? It’s not actually a road in the sense of a single continuous stretch of highway, but more of a treasure map to many of the jewels nestled among the hills and valleys of Northern Sonoma County. This past weekend The Wine Road celebrated the 20th Anniversary of their Winter Wineland Event. With more than 140 wineries and 50 lodgings participating, some 5000 tasters enjoyed the best of what Sonoma County has to offer. If you missed this past weekend’s event click on wineroad.com and map out your itinerary for their next event, the March Barrel Tasting.
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1/15/2012
East Meets West at the Sonoma County Wine Library and Silver Oak turns 40! I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say the Wine Library Associates of Sonoma County presents Atlantic Seaboard Wine: A Talk and Tasting. Friday, January 27th, from 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. hear Dave Barber from Virginia’s Hartwood Winery taste and talk all things east coast wine. If you’ve never tasted eastern seaboard wines, now’s your chance. They’ll be pouring 24 different wines. Call 707-433-1660 for tickets.And mark on your calendar Saturday, February 4th for the Silver Oak 40th Anniversary Release Day. Be among the first to taste the 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at both the Oakville and Geyserville locations. Click on silveroak.com for a listing of events and discounted tickets for both locations.Now get out there and taste responsibly.
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1/8/2012
Personal favorites, I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say of the 5676 wines entered in this year’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, here are my favorites.• Kunde Family Estate 2010 Sauvignon Blanc, Best of Class, $15.• Frank Family Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Best of Class, $32.50.• Mazzocco Winery 2009 Zinfandel Reserve, Dry Creek Valley, Gold, $29.• J. Lohr 2009 Merlot, Paso Robles, Los Osos, Best of Class, $15.• Merryvale Vineyards 2008 Merlot, Napa Valley, Gold, $48.• Trentadue 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon, La Storia, Alexander Valley, Gold, $28.• Sequoia Grove 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley, Gold, $90.• Conn Creek 2007 Anthology Bordeaux Blend, Napa Valley, Double Gold, $55.
Taste all the winners at Fort Mason in San Francisco February 18th.
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1/8/2012
And the winners are… I’m Tom Simoneau with today’s wine minute here to say the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition took place this past week. Sixty-five professional wine judges swirled, sniffed, and spit their way through 5676 wines during the four-day competition.To the Sweepstakes Winners:Sparkling Wine: Gloria Ferrer 2006 Blanc de Blanc, Carneros, $28.Sweepstakes White: Dr. Konstantin Frank 2010 Gewurztraminer Reserve, Finger Lakes, New York, $24.99.Pink Sweeps: Bernard Griffin 2011 Rosé of Sangiovese, Columbia Valley, Washington, $12.Red Sweeps: McGrail Vineyards & Winery 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Livermore Valley, $36.Dessert: Castello di Amorosa 2010 Late Harvest Gewurztraminer, Anderson Valley, $35 for the 375ml.Click on winejudging.com for a list of all the winners.
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