Hello Hive! I think I will start off this week with something off topic, or more like something that is not cannabis. Wine. Although it is something that I have fallen in love with because of so many similarities it has with the herb that I have known, and loved for all of my adult life. For one it is an intoxicant. Two because it comes from a plant, and if you are drinking a decent bottle of wine, that bottle will reflect that plants environment from the vintage of that bottle your drinking on. The French calls this terroir So when you are drinking on some good wine, it is taking you away back all the way to the vine. This feeling that I get, is the same felling I get when I put my face into a big jar of buds. Except with wine, you get to drink it, and enjoy that felling all the way till the end of the bottle. Yes it is short lived, and if you fall in love with this liquid art form, you will be chasing that Wine dragon all the way from the Coast of California, to the Valleys of South Australia.
By no means do I consider myself a "Wine Snob", just as I do not consider myself a "Cannabis Snob". I just like what ever is good. If someone gifts me a 5$ bottle of wine from WalMart, I would beyond happy. Now will I ever get that 5$ bottle myself? Most likely not. Wines like that have a formula where they are the same year after year. They have no structure, or balance. It is basically just grapes that have been fermented into alcohol. I would rather spend the extra money, and buy something that someone put their heart and soul into it. This is why I was super excited to find out that my sister just got a job on the weekends pouring wine for a small winery, Wrath. It is not often we get to go out and taste wine. So it was great to have an excuse to head down south into the Salinas Valley, right in the heart of Pinot Noir Wine Country.
Wrath's winery is family owned, and they produce only a few thousand cases a year. All of their grapes are cool climate grown, and many sourced from the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation. If you are a Pinot Noir lover, then this is your place!
Al Sauvignon Blanc
This Sauvignon Blanc came from a can! Yes you heard that right. Why you ask? Well a can is a great way to store a beverage. My thoughts on wine in a can is, you can easily pack some along with you to a beach, or a hike. Nothing like a toast on top of a mountain. I am not that much into White Wine, but this one was nice and refreshing. Perfect for hot summer days.
2019 EX Chardonnay
A very well balanced Chard. Easy drinking, and another great wine for hot days, or cold, or even in between. but still nothing that really gets me excited.
2017 EX Pinot Noir
Now where talking! But still not quite there yet. A little on the light side of the spectrum to my liking, still a decent wine, and I am sure will excite a lot of people who does not like Oak influenced wines, since the EX wines are made in stainless steel.
2018 Swan/828 Pinot Noir
This is a Pinot made from a specific clone from Wrath's San Saba Vineyard, situated in the Monterey Appellation. A very nice impression, but something about the wine grown near the valley floor that I am not to crazy about. Could be the cherries sticking out, but to me it reminds me of tennis balls.
2018 Pommard 4/777 Pinot
Again another clone specific wine showing off the site of the San Saba Vineyard. A little bit thicker, and on the medium side of life, a bit more to my liking. But again with that tennis ball smell that I am not to found of.
2018 Boekenoogen Vineyard Chardonnay
Now we are heading up away from the Valley floor, and into the Santa Lucia Highlands. Folks we now have a winner! It is rare that I have a white wine that lit me up as much as this one. First sip I knew I had something special before I was told where the fruit was sourced. Now I am not Sommelier, but I can say that this was a very earthy wine, with heavy oak influence, something that I love. But not to much to where it over powers the fruit. Just an impressive wine, one that I would love to drink again.
2017 KW Ranch Pinot Noir
YES! Another wine sourced from SLH, and it hits. Still a little lite for my liking, but a great Pinot! Cant say I taste the Red Berries, or cherry, but I taste some goodness, ;)
2018 Tondre Pinot Noir
I have had quite a few Pinot's from this vineyard, and they never disappoint. Out of all the wines tasted on this visit, this one took the top spot for me. I would bet if this bottle had another 2-3 years of bottle age, it would be something to remember.
2017 San Saba Syrah
Syrah is a another red wine that grows well in this area. There is less acreage, due to it not being as popular as Pinot. This also translate into price. Since there is not as high as a demand, it is usually cheaper! Which makes me very happy, because this varietal has become my favorite wine. This San Saba was some good juice. If it where not for the Tondre Pinot, this one would of been the best wine in the sitting.
Another great thing about wine tasting, is the ambience. There is something about being out in the country, in the middle of no where, enjoying the fruits of the land.
We ended up taking home the Boekenoogen Chard, and then a bottle that was not on our flight. I am sure they will do well with another few years of resting, that is if we can wait that long!
