Winery
of the Week: San Francisco Sips
San
Francisco doesn't necessarily come to mind as part
of California's wine-scape. While clearly none of the grapes
are grown in the city, we recently sampled a few wineries producing
some very notable bottles from their locations on Treasure Island.
Sourcing their fruit mostly from the North Coast, Vie, Sottomarino,
and Sol Rouge made a rather good impression with our tasting
panel.
Click
on labels to enlarge |
Vie
Winery 2011 013 Roussanne
Winery:
Vie Winery
Grape(s): 100% Roussanne
Region: Lake County
Year:
2011
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 25-30
Review:
A bouquet of pears, peach, honey, and white blossoms greets
the senses. The palate reveals flavors of pear, peach,
and apricot that unfold into nuances of vanilla bean,
white flowers, and minerals. A bright wine with a welcoming
acidity, fans of crisp, floral whites will enjoy this
bottle. Just 165 cases produced.
Rating: 90
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Vie
Winery 2011 "L'Intruse" Mourvèdre
Winery:
Vie Winery
Grape(s): 84% Mourvèdre 15% Syrah,
& 1% Grenache
Region: North Coast
Year:
2011
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 35-40
Review:
Fragrances of cherries, plums, and raspberries open up
into earthy and herbal suggestions on the nose. A sip
delivers flavors of blackberry, cherry, and raspberry
that interweave with traces of pepper, herbs, and anise.
A lively red with plush tannins, pair a bottle with a
spicy lamb dish. Only 110 cases were made.
Rating: 92 |
|
Sottomarino
2013 Pinot Grigio
Winery:
Sottomarino
Grape(s): 100% Pinot Grigio
Region: Lake County
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
Aromas of honeydew, pear, and lemon are accented by a
hint of herbs on the nose. A sip reveals flavors of lemon,
melon, and pineapple, along with suggestions of minerals
and thyme. Clean and crisp, if you like Pinot Grigio,
then give this bottle a try. 300 cases produced.
Rating: 88 |
|
Sottomarino
2013 Muscat Canelli
Winery:
Sottomarino
Grape(s): 100% Muscat Canelli
Region: Lake County
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 15-20
Review:
Notes of pears, peach, and dried apricots mingle with
nuances of perfume and citrus candy on the nose. Flavors
of pear, apricot, peach open up into traces of citrus
blossoms and orange spice on the palate. Light, bright,
and slightly sweet, pair a bottle with a spice cake. 200
cases were made.
Rating: 90 |
|
Sottomarino
2013 Sangiovese
Winery:
Sottomarino
Grape(s): 100% Sangiovese
Region: Mendocino County
Year:
2013
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 30-35
Review:
A bouquet of plums, cherries, raspberries, and cedar greets
the senses. The palate delivers flavors of red currant
and black cherry along with notes of cedar, cocoa, and
floral earth. It's a darker more opulent Sangiovese than
you might be use to, but it's quite tasty. 400 cases produced.
Rating: 91 |
|
Sol
Rouge 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery:
Sol Rouge
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: Lake County
Year:
2011
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 30-35
Review:
Aromatics of cherries, currants, and blackberries mingle
with suggestions of creamy oak and fennel seed on the
nose. A sip reveals flavors of cassis, blackberry, and
cherry that unfold into notes of anise and vanilla on
the palate. A rich Cab with expressive tannins, enjoy
a bottle with a portobello mushroom burger. 150 cases
were made.
Rating: 91 |
|
Sol
Rouge 2011 Cabernet Franc
Winery:
Sol Rouge
Grape(s): 100% Cabernet Franc
Region: Lake County
Year:
2011
Special Designation: n/a
Farming Certification:
n/a
Price: 30-35
Review:
Black cherry, plum, and boysenberry aromas open up into
traces of dark chocolate and herbaceous notes on the nose.
Flavors of blackberries, boysenberries, and black cherries
are accented by hints of coffee and fresh herbs on the
palate. A supple Cab Franc, open a bottle with your favorite
lamb dish. 150 cases produced.
Rating: 89 |
Note:
Wines rated with a "+" have not yet reached their
peak quality but will do so over the next few years
By
Jason Barlow
96
— 100 |
Spectacular |
92
— 95 |
Outstanding |
89
— 91 |
Great |
85
— 88 |
Good |
81
— 84 |
Solid |
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