Category Archives: Zinfandel

2nd Annual Garagiste Festival – Paso Robles

Posted on November 27, 2012 | 1 Comment

By definition, the term “garagistes” refers to a group of innovative, renegade wine makers from the Bordeaux region who refuse to follow the strict French rules and instead, produce “Vins de garage” or “Garage wine”.

For the second year in a row, Paso Robles has celebrated the spirit of the garagiste movement by holding a festival focused solely on small production wines.   Local artisan wine makers – some familiar and some unknown – gather together for a long weekend, giving wine lovers from all over an opportunity to taste the fruits of their labor.

The Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast – Per Cazo Cellars

This year was my first experience at the Paso Robles Garagiste Festival and I was thrilled to be part of it.  On this particular trip, we stayed at the Creekside Bed & Breakfast at Per Cazo Cellars.  I honestly can’t recommend Creekside B&B enough.  From the comfy bed to host Lynn Teckman’s delicious gourmet breakfasts that were delivered to our room each morning, the entire stay was perfect.  Creekside B&B was also very dog-friendly which made it extra convenient and comfortable.

The cozy Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast

The cozy Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast

The Creekside Room at Creekside Bed & Breakfast

Amazing breakfast #1: Egg & sausage scramble with fresh mixed fruit, fresh squeezed juice, and warm muffin

Amazing breakfast #2: French toast, thick bacon, and fresh berries

The Garagiste Festival opened on Thursday with a dinner at Thomas Hill Organics featuring the cuisine of celeb chef Ludo Lefevbre.  Unfortunately I did not attend the dinner, but having experienced Ludo’s pop-up restaurant LudoBites in Los Angeles, I’m sure diners had an unforgettable experience.

Windfall Farms – Paso Robles

We attended the Garagiste Festival on Saturday, which was the day of the big Grand Tasting.  We walked into the beautiful Stallion Barn at Windfall Farms where 48 independent and passionate wine makers were set up for tastings in the horse stalls.

Inside the Stallion Barn at Windfall Farms

It was difficult to decide where to begin, but I decided to head over to Liquid Farm.  On a rare occasion, I’ve seen Liquid Farm Chardonnay and Rose on menus at some of the finer restaurants in LA, but I had yet to actually try the wine.  Owners Nikki and Jeff Nelson took us through a tasting of two Chardonnays – both of which were unique and wonderfully balanced – as well as one Rose.  If you can get your hands on a bottle of Liquid Farm, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

Nikki & Jeff Nelson of Liquid Farm

After Liquid Farm, we headed to Nicora Wine where winemaker Nick Elliot took us through some outstanding Rhones.  Right now, Nicora wines can be tasted by appointment only, but I highly recommend trying them next time you’re in Paso Robles.  I can’t wait to see what else Nick comes up with in the future.

Nick Elliott of Nicora Wine

From Nicora, we headed over to Cloak & Dagger where Ray Schofield walked us through his portfolio of exceptional wines – all of which are “handcrafted in secret”.  We were unsuccessful at uncovering any of the secrets of Cloak & Dagger wines, but we were very impressed with what we tasted.  We tried two Pinot Noirs, as well as a delicious 2010 Illuminatus Sangiovese and a 2010 Skull & Bones Zinfandel.

Ray Schofield of Cloak & Dagger Wines

After Cloak & Dagger, we headed to Red Zeppelin Winery where the eccentric Stillman Brown introduced us to a couple really good Central Coast red wine blends.  Finally, we ended our tasting with the latest offerings from our friends Lynn and Dave Teckman at Per Cazo Cellars.  The 2010 Epi Telos and 2010 Zing were so good that I had to take home a couple of bottles when we checked out of the Creekside B&B.

Stillman Brown of Red Zeppelin Winery

Overall, I loved being part of the 2nd Annual Paso Robles’ Garagiste Festival and feel like there were so many more amazing wines to try.  The wine makers who I met continue to inspire me and deepen my love for wine.  It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to taste new wines with the passionate people who are hand-crafting them.   I look forward to next year…

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Posted in Bordeaux, Burgundy, CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Petit Sirah, Pinot Noir, Rhone, Rosé, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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Truett-Hurst & VML Wineries

Posted on December 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

Sometimes wine tasting in Napa and Sonoma can be daunting.  With so many wineries to choose from in a relatively small area, I often feel like I don’t know where to begin.  However, during my last visit, I felt like I found a couple perfect spots.

Truett-Hurst Winery

Tucked away on a gorgeous piece of land in the heart of the Dry Creek Valley in Northern Sonoma County sits Truett-Hurst Winery.  Truett-Hurst encompasses 26 picture-perfect acres, complete with an eco-friendly tasting room, an organic garden, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah vineyards, and several outdoor seating areas.

Truett-Hurst Winery

Truett-Hurst Winery

We made our way into the tasting room where we began our tasting and learned a bit about the winery.  Truett-Hurst was purchased fairly recently by bio-dynamic/organic farming guru, Paul Dolan, and the former winemaker of Fetzer Winery, Phil Hurst.  Virginia Lambrix was brought on as winemaker and completed the winery’s vision of “creating world-class wines using bio-dynamic principles.”

Truett-Hurst Winery Tasting Room

Truett-Hurst Winery - Outdoor Tasting Area

Truett-Hurst Winery - Outdoor Tasting Area

With our second glass of wine in hand – a delicious and juicy 2010 White Sheep Pinot Noir – we decided to stroll down to the banks of Dry Creek. We were given pairs of “fish finder” glasses that we thought were just a clever little touch until we discovered they magically allowed us to have a crystal clear underwater view.  We watched a few salmon making their way up-stream and headed back to the tasting room.

Truett-Hurst Winery - Organic gardens leading to Dry Creek

Truett-Hurst - Vibrant red chairs next to Dry Creek

Modelling my amazing "fish finder" glasses while enjoying a glass of wine

We finished our tasting with a 2010 Black Sheep Pinot Noir, 2009 Rattler Rock and Red Rooster Zinfandels, and a 2009 Burning Man Petite Sirah. The entire line up was expertly crafted and really tasty, but I absolutely loved the ’09 Black Sheep Pinot Noir and the ’09 Red Rooster Zinfandel (both of which I took home with me).

VML Winery - Russian River Valley

After a really great experience at Truett-Hurst, we asked our tasting room host for a recommendation on where to go next. He suggested we head down the road to VML - Truett-Hurst’s sister winery.  VML is winemaker Virginia Marie Lambrix’s  brand new winery that specializes in hand-crafted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley.

Beautiful gardens at VML Winery

Beautiful gardens at VML Winery

Beautiful gardens at VML Winery

Beautiful gardens at VML Winery

We pulled up to the winery and were blown away by the beautiful, Alice in Wonderland type gardens and vegetation that lead us up to the tasting room.  We walked inside and were immediately greeted and offered some crackers, cheese and chocolate to accompany our tasting.

Tasting room at VML Winery

Tasting room at VML Winery

One of the first things I noticed about VML wines were the incredibly cool wine bottle labels.  Apparently Virginia Lambrix hired a company to come up with a brand image that truly reflected her personality and passion.  The branding company felt like she was like a witch or a sorceress - mainly because of her dedication to organic/bio dynamic wine making practices – and created labels that I felt communicated this perfectly.

VML 2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Our tasting consisted of a 2010 Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc, a 2010 Chardonnay, and two 2010 Pinot Noirs – one from the Russian River Valley and one from Ivywood Vineyard.  All the wines we tasted were fantastic.  You could taste the impeccable care and craftsmanship in each glass.  I took home a bottle of  Chardonnay and one of each of the Pinots (and ordered another bottle of each when I got back to Los Angeles).

The rocky coastline just a short, scenic drive from VML Winery

The rocky coastline just a short, scenic drive from VML Winery

We left VML and headed on a quick, scenic drive towards the rocky coast before heading back to our hotel.  I feel like we were so lucky to find both Truett-Hurst and VML Wineries and highly recommend both to anyone visiting the area.  Virginia Lambrix is an incredibly talented winemaker and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Click here to visit the Truett-Hurst Winery website.

Click here to visit the VML Winery website.

TRUETT-HURST WINERY
5610 Dry Creek Road
Healdsburg, CA  95448
Phone:   (707) 433-9545
Email: info@truetthurst.com
Tasting room hours:  11AM – 5PM Daily

VML WINERY
4035 Westside Road
Healdsburg, CA  95448
Phone:   (707) 431-4404
Email: info@vmlwine.com
Tasting room hours:  11AM – 5PM Daily

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Petit Sirah, Pinot Noir, Sonoma, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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Calcareous Vineyard

Posted on October 2, 2011 | 2 Comments

Calcareous Vineyard

We hadn’t been to Calcareous in a few years and decided to stop for a tasting during our last visit to the area.  Perched up on a hill overlooking Paso Robles, I remembered Calcareous being really beautiful with picture-perfect views.  After our last visit however, I think Calcareous might possibly be one of the most beautiful wineries in Paso.

Lloyd’s Lookout – the gorgeous tasting room at Calcareous Vineyard

We drove up the long driveway to the winery and arrived at the parking lot.  From the tasting room with floor to ceiling windows to the perfectly landscaped grounds dotted with tables where tasters can sit and take in the views, Calcareous was stunning.

Lloyd’s Lookout – the gorgeous tasting room at Calcareous Vineyard

The view at Calcareous Vineyard

The hilltop tasting room opened in 2008 and was named Lloyd’s Lookout, in honor of the winery’s cofounder, Lloyd Messer.  We found the perfect table outside and I went in to set up our tasting.  I was immediately offered a big bowl of cold water for our dog and was given our first pour – a wonderful 2009 Viognier/Marsanne.  It was full of refreshing citrus and great to drink outside on a warm day.

Calcareous Vineyard

The view at Calcareous Vineyard

The priceless view at Calcareous Vineyard

Calcareous Vineyard had a consistently good portfolio of wines with quite a few stand outs.  Since our last visit, they have broken into 2 proprietary labels – Calcareous and Calcareous Twisted Sisters.

Bocce ball court at Calcareous Vineyard

Booker enjoying the bocce ball court at Calcareous Vineyard

The glorious view at Calcareous Vineyard…

The view at Calcareous Vineyard

The winery’s signature and primarily estate grown wines fall under the Calcareous label while the Twisted Sisters wines are made from several different local vineyards.  All the Calcareous Twisted Sisters wines retail for $20, which makes it nice if you’re searching for high quality wines at reasonable prices.

Calcareous Vineyard

We found both labels to be equally good and could have easily purchased 1 bottle of everything.  We narrowed it down and purchased two wines from each label. From the Calcareous label, we took home an ’07 Cabernet Sauvignon and an ’07 Cabernet Franc which was full of dark cherry, strawberry and a touch of oak.  From the Calcareous Twisted Sisters label, we chose an ’08 Main Squeeze – a perfectly balanced blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel – and an ’07 Syrah which earned 92 points in the World Wine Competition.

Our dog Booker running around with one of the winery dogs…

Overall we were very impressed with the wines of Calcareous Vineyard and could have easily spent the entire day relaxing on their beautiful grounds.  Calcareous is a must-see for anyone looking for a truly memorable Paso Robles wine experience.

Click here to visit the Calcareous Vineyard website.

CALCAREOUS VINEYARD
3430 Peachy Canyon Road
Paso Robles, CA  93446
Phone:   (805) 239-0289
Fax:  (805) 239-0916
Tasting room hours:  Open daily 11AM – 5PM

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Paso Robles, Rhone, Syrah, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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Per Cazo Cellars

Posted on March 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

Per Cazo Cellars

During my last visit to Paso Robles, I had one of my most unique wine tasting experiences to date. While researching wineries in the area to check out, I came across a review on Per Cazo Cellars.  This person had great things to say about it and I really knew nothing about the place so I added it to the list.

Per Cazo means “by chance” in Italian, which perfectly describes our visit. We decided to make Per Cazo Cellars our first stop of the day.  I hadn’t called ahead to make sure anyone was there to do a tasting, so I really wasn’t sure what to expect.

Sign at the entrance to Per Cazo and Creekside Bed & Breakfast

On the Per Cazo Cellars website it says “the gate is always open when we are home”, which was luckily the case when we arrived. We turned down the driveway and parked our car in the empty parking lot.  While we sat inside debating whether to call or just go knock on the door, I heard a light tap on my window.

It was Lynne Teckman – one of the proprietors – inviting us to come inside.  She literally welcomed us into her home, which serves at the tasting room at the moment, and led us to a table on the back patio.

The Teckman's home & current tasting room for Per Cazo Cellars

The surroundings and the day were absolutely gorgeous.  Lynne and her husband Dave also run a B&B called Creekside Bed & Breakfast which is located across the parking lot from their house and offers visitors a place to relax and enjoy the peaceful setting.  The creek cuts through the back of their property and a large, welcoming pool takes up a good portion of the backyard.

Creekside Bed & Breakfast at Per Cazo Cellars

A view of the creek that cuts through the back of Per Cazo

We made ourselves comfortable while Lynne began our tasting, pairing each wine with a hand-selected cheese or another accompaniment.  She is a true lover of wine and food, and believes in enjoying both in unison.  As food and wine lovers who are accustomed to tasting wine with a bowl of crackers or pretzels, we absolutely loved the added touch.

The backyard pool at Per Cazo Cellars

Once we had full glasses, Lynne sat down with us at our table and chatted with us about what we do, about our families, and about our shared passions for wine, food and travel.  I felt as if we were enjoying an afternoon with a good friend.

The back patio at Per Cazo Cellars where we enjoyed a long, leisurely visit...

Lynne’s husband Dave joined us a bit later and brought a barrel sample of ’09 Zinfandel which was absolutely delicious – unlike most Zinfandels I’ve tasted.  We chatted more with Dave about the wine making process and how they got into the world of wine.  It was such a relaxing and enjoyable experience, I didn’t feel like we were at a typical wine tasting at all.

The wines at Per Cazo Cellars are made in very small production and you can taste the attention to detail in each one.  While I enjoyed all the wines we tried, I thought the ’08 Epi Telos – a Rhone blend – was outstanding and walked away with 2 bottles.

Enjoying a wonderful wine tasting experience with Lynne and Dave Teckman of Per Cazo Cellars

From the warm hospitality we received from Lynne and Dave to the unique and tasty wine & food pairing, my entire experience at Per Cazo Cellars was both unexpected and truly memorable.  We ran into Lynne at L’Aventure Winery later in the day and it was like bumping into an old friend.  Hopefully the gate at Per Cazo Cellars will be open the next time you’re in Paso Robles…

Click here to visit the Per Cazo Cellars website.
Click here to visit the Creekside Bed & Breakfast website.

Per Cazo Cellars
5325 Vineyard Drive
Paso Robles, CA  93446
Phone:  (805) 227-4949
Fax:  (866) 252-5962
email:  dteckman@percazocellars.com OR lteckman@percazocellars.com
Tasting room hours:  BY APPOINTMENT.  Wine tasting is complimentary.

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Posted in CALIFORNIA, Paso Robles, Rhone, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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Chronic Cellars

Posted on September 1, 2010 | Leave a comment

Chronic Cellars

My first experience with Chronic Cellars happened many miles from the sprawling vineyards of Paso Robles.  We were up in Mammoth Mountain enjoying a tasty apres snowboarding dinner at a restaurant called Petras Wine Bar & Bistro.  I noticed a white wine on the menu called La Muneca (meaning “the doll”) from Chronic Cellars that was described as having clean acidity with just the right amount of sweetness and notes of tropical fruit, pineapple and peach.  I decided to try a sample and ended up ordering a couple of glasses with my meal.

Chronic Cellars

I knew Chronic Cellars was in Paso Robles.  In fact, we had driven past it many times making silly remarks about the name, never thinking the wine could actually be good.  But after trying La Muneca in Mammoth, I put Chronic on the top of my list for our next wine trip and I’m very glad I did.

Chronic Cellars tasting room

Chronic Cellars rebels against every wine tasting stereotype in the book.  At the tasting room, you’ll find no pretension, no overpriced wines, no corporate-looking decor, and no stuffy tasting room staff.  Brothers and co-owners Jake and Josh Beckett focus on making great wine that is fun, causal and accessible.

Chronic Cellars tasting room

Jake and Josh were raised in the heart of Paso Robles wine country and have always had a deep connection to the art of wine making.  After graduating from college, they joined the team at Peachy Canyon Winery and spent a decade each immersing themselves in all aspects of the wine industry.

The Beckett brothers came up with the concept of Chronic Cellars in the midst of harvest in 2004.  They had used the term “The Chronic” to describe likable objects before, but had never considered it a suitable descriptor for wine.  They sat alongside the crush pad one evening in wine stained clothes and wet boots laughing about the idea of a wine that targeted a casual lifestyle.

Chronic Cellars tasting room

After their time at Peachy Canyon, they decided it was time to try something new and use all the knowledge and tools they gathered over the years to work on their own dream.  They had an undeniable vision and desire to make a statement in the wine industry and took their first step toward Chronic Cellars.  Their dream became reality when their first wines went public in 2008 and they’ve been going strong ever since.

I’ve actually visited Chronic Cellars a few times now and am currently a member of the Connoisseurs wine club.  My most recent visit was a club event to celebrate the release of their summer shipment.  The Chronic Cellars Connoisseurs Club is one of the best wine clubs I’ve seen – 2 shipments of 6 bottles per year with a 30% discount on each shipment plus 30% off all other purchases of wine and merchandise.  It ends up being around $100 for 6 great bottles of wine which really can’t be beat.

Artwork on the walls at Chronic Cellars

Artwork at Chronic Cellars

I decided to pick up my summer shipment at the tasting room and enjoy the little party.  Immediately upon entering, my senses were overwhelmed by the colorful hand-painted Dia De Los Muertos inspired artwork that covered the walls. Bluegrass music played in the background and I noticed an ever so subtle hint of incense in the air.  Both Beckett brothers were in attendance – 1 pouring wine and 1 manning the grill outside.  It felt a bit more like walking into a comfy living room than your average tasting room.

Wine & cheese at the Connoisseurs' Club summer event

Next we decided to taste the 6 wines they were pouring, each paired with a locally made cheese.  One thing you notice immediately about Chronic Cellars wines are the fantastic wine labels and clever wine names.  The bright-colored labels are drawn by Joe Kalionzes, an amazing artist and good friend of the owners.

While La Muneca was no longer on the tasting list, I was excited to try 2 new whites that took her place.  The first was ’09 Stone Fox (55% Grenache Blanc/28% Roussanne/17% Viognier, $20) which was light, mildly acidic, and full of peach, pear, pineapple, and citrus fruit on the nose and the palate – perfect for a hot day.  While La Muneca holds a special place in my heart, Stone Fox was a fantastic follow-up and I purchased 2 bottles right off the bat.

Stone Fox was followed by ’09 Sofa King Suite (54% Viognier/46% Albarino, $13.99) which was well-balanced and a bit sweeter with flavors of gummy fruits, candied orange rind and freshly cut peaches.

Wine & cheese at the Connoisseurs' Club summer event

Next was a series of reds.  ’07 Purple Paradise (95% Zinfandel/5% Petit Sirah, $13.99) was full of raspberries, strawberries, white pepper and vanilla.  It was smooth on the palate and great for everyday drinking.  ’06 Dead Nuts Zinfandel (100% Zinfandel, $20) had concentrated flavors of dark fruits and peppery spices.  ’08 Sofa King Bueno (65% Syrah/12% Petit Sirah/11% Grenache/11% Mourvedre, $20) was my favorite with lots of juicy fruits, bing cherries and toasted vanilla.  Finally, ’08 Suite Petit (100% Petit Sirah, $30) was full of concentrated blueberry, blackberry and sweet oak flavors.

Outdoor patio at Chronic Cellars

We left the winery with 6 great bottles of wine and, as usual, smiles on our faces.  Chronic Cellars is truly one of a kind with a unique personality, a casual and welcoming vibe, and a great portfolio of tasty wines that can be enjoyed without feeling like you’ve broken the bank.  I’m already looking forward to picking up my winter shipment…

Click here to visit the Chronic Cellars website.

CHRONIC CELLARS
2020 Nacimiento Lake Drive
Paso Robles, CA  93446
Phone:  (805) 237-7848
Fax:  (805) 237-7532
Tasting room hours:  11:3oAM – 5:30PM Thursday through Monday

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Posted in Grenache, Mourvedre, Paso Robles, Rhone, WINERY/VINEYARD, Zinfandel

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