Uncorking the Central Coast - Fall 2010

In this edition of Uncorking the Central Coast, we'll explore some fantastic wines from a variety of producers in Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County, including Alta Colina, Caliza, and Cargasacchi.

Fall 2010 was marked by cool weather, slow ripening grapes, and consternation as winemakers and vineyard managers waited for Mother Nature to deliver her harvest goods.  Harvest 2010 also marked my first vintage as an amateur winemaker.  Nearly two years ago, I embarked on a week long wine tasting trip to San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County.  Although I have visited these wine regions for years, I wanted to expand my palate and explore the wine making process with an eye toward developing my own wine in the future.  But like any other new venture in life, you have to enter the building from the ground floor and move up as you gain more experience.  Fortunately for me, there was no shortage, and continues to be no shortage of winemakers who are more than eager to give a young wine novice an opportunity to assist in all aspects of the wine making process from the vineyard to crush.

Sampling my 2010 Syrah,
Alta Colina Vineyard

With much needed guidance and support from a few friends, I am producing my first vintage, which includes a Tempranillo Rosé and 100% Syrah from the Alta Colina Vineyard in Paso Robles.  To say I am excited about the fruit and the vintage is a serious understatement.  I'm already planning for next year and expanding the varietals and total volume.  In the meantime, I am counting down the months until I can bottle my Rosé (two cases only), but I will have to wait up 18-24 months to enjoy the Syrah.

Enough about me.  Let's talk wine.  As you'll see below, I kept myself busy with quite a few wines, all of which made the grade, but there were a few standouts that should be added to your cellar.  We'll let you decide for yourself what you like.  Cheers!

Ratings: ✭✭✭✭✭ = Outstanding | ✭✭✭✭ = Excellent | ✭✭✭ = Good/Average | ✭✭ = Below Average | ✭ = Poor

New Vineland 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Barbara County ($18)
Citrus, lime and lemongrass aromatics.  Bright tropical fruit flavors (kiwi and pineapple).  Robust minerality and crisp acidity round out this refreshing wine.  ✭✭✭

Caliza 2009 Pink, Paso Robles ($18)
Beautiful pink-red hue.  A refreshing and dry Paso Robles Rosé (Syrah/Grenache/Tempranillo) displaying cherry and watermelon aromas and layered flavors of bright red fruit, herbs and spice.  Wine can be sophisticated, but it doesn't have to be stuffy.  "C'est si bon!" ✭✭✭✭

Point Concepción Salsipuedes Pinot Noir 2008 ($25)
Robust aromas of tea leaves, saddle leather and clove.  Bright and fruit-forward on the palate, there is a hint of sweet and spice flavors on the mid-palate ending with a firm finish.  There are so many nuances to this QPR Pinot Noir that can easily be mistaken for a much more expensive Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills.  ✭✭✭✭

Cimarone Wines, 2008 3CV 2008 Bank Estate Blend ($24)
Bottle 1,430 of 5,220.  Dusty and earthy aromas with some chalkiness on the nose.  Lush mid-palate with dark fruit flavors.  Grapey finish with supple tannins.  47% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 3% Petite Verdot.  ✭✭✭

Vines on the Marycrest 2006 Round Midnight ($25)
Earthy aromatics with hints of cherry, strawberry and black pepper. This medium-bodied wine exhibits a silky palate, soft tannins and a juicy, lingering finish.  Food friendly and delicious - what a wine should be.  44% Syrah, 28% Mourvèdre, and 28% Grenache.  ✭✭✭✭

Adelaida 2006 Pinot Noir, HMR Estate Vineyard
Vibrant aromas of underbrush and black cherry combine with sandalwood and spice flavors leaving a robust, tangy and velvety finish.  Excellent weight on the palate and superbly crafted.  ✭✭✭✭

Caliza 2008 Kissin' Cousins ($25)
Perfectly balanced with lush texture and a savory finish, the '08 Kissin' Cousins is sophisticated and tantalizing with lemon and tropical flavors ending with a creamy, refreshing mouthfeel.  47% Viognier, 30% Grenache Blanc, and 23% Roussanne.  ✭✭✭✭✭

Tercero Wines 2006 Syrah, Tierra Alta Vineyard ($28)
Bright and spicy red fruit aromas opening up to loamy and earthy aromas after aeration.  Notes of tobacco, black pepper, black cherries and finishing with finely grained tannins.  Like any good wine, the '06 Tierra Alta Syrah opened up to inviting aromas and flavors.  ✭✭✭✭

New Vineland 2008 Viognier, Santa Barbara County ($22)
Good texture, weight and balanced acidity.  Oak is well-integrated into this medium-bodied wine that is succulent and flavorful with tropical and citrus flavors.  ✭✭✭

Alta Colina 2008 GSM ($40)
Seductive aromas and flavors of jammy red and black fruit, cocoa, and spice with a silky and lingering finish that lasts forever.  With aeration, the '08 GSM transforms into a sophisticated and focused wine with notes of herbs, dark berries, tobacco and a silky mouthfeel with round edges.  A brighter and more flavorful rendition of an acclaimed wine in the style of the Côtes du Rhône, Alta Colina has crafted one of the best GSMs in the Central Coast.  34% Syrah, 33% Grenache, and 33% Mourvèdre.  100% estate fruit from the Alta Colina Vineyard, Paso Robles.  Highly Recommended!  ✭✭✭✭✭

Vines on the Marycrest 2007 Petite Sirah ($32)
Earthy fragrances and oak aromas.  Vibrant flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, dark chocolate and tobacco.  Powerful mid-palate with a silky, lasting finish.  This wine has legs!  ✭✭✭✭

Cargasacchi 2008 Pinot Noir, Cargasacchi-Jalama Vineyard
With signature aromas of tea leaves, baking spice, cola and black leather, the '08 Pinot Noir shines with flavors of black cherry, cola and violets.  An elegant wine that exhibits a velvety mouthfeel with a quenching thirst for more (375 ml).  ✭✭✭✭

Palmina 2009 Tocai Friulano, Santa Ynez Valley ($18)
Italian varietals are in vogue and for good reason.  Palmina produces finely crafted Italian varietal wines for almost every occasion and every meal.  The 2009 Tocai Friulano (Honea Vineyard) is a light-bodied wine with expressions of tart green apples, pear and grapefruit, crisp acidity, minerality and a mouth puckering finish.  ✭✭✭

YNOT 2008 Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County ($20)
Why not!  Winemaker Norm Yost (Flying Goat Cellars) has crafted a bargain Pinot Noir with expressions of bright red fruit and sweet spice, a rounded mid-palate, which took time to develop a solid core, and a tart finish.  ✭✭✭

Anglim 2005 Syrah, Paso Robles ($24)
"Charcuterie in a glass."  Aromatics of meaty juices, blueberry, vanilla and white pepper.  Blueberry, blackberry and toasty flavors leave a dense finish on the palate.  ✭✭✭✭

Jalama Wines 2008 Mourvèdre, Santa Barbara County ($36)
Dusty, earthy, dark and vibrant berry aromas.  Restrained mid-palate opens up to black licorice, black currant and blackberry flavors with touches of dark cocoa and nutmeg on the finish.  There should be no doubt after drinking the 2008 Mourvèdre that this blending varietal can stand on its own, especially after generous decanting.  ✭✭✭✭

Epiphany Cellars 2005 Gypsy, Santa Barbara County
The winery tasting notes were spot on: aromas of sandalwood, cherry spice, toasted vanilla with flavors of dark berries and black pepper and a generous mouthfeel.  29% Mourvèdre, 29% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 11% Carignane, 10% Petite Sirah.  ✭✭✭