Creekview Melodious 2009

I think it was while I was drinking wine from Creekview that I realized there are a lot of kinds of wine out there, and while someone might personally enjoy some more than others, they can all be appreciated. The first time I went to Creekview, I tasted a bunch of wines - at least 7 or 8. And I enjoyed every single one of them. I went back again a while later, and even though the wines weren't all the same, I had the same sort of experience. Both times they had a Bordeaux blend that really knocked it out of the park. They're still doing it with Melodious.

As I've mentioned before, a Bordeaux blend is a mix of the traditional varietals of the Bordeaux region in France. The St. Francis wine that I reviewed before was mainly petit verdot and malbec. This one is a little more standard, with more cabernet sauvignon than anything else, but there's no single varietal that dominates. I like that there's at least 10% of each of the 5 grapes. I've heard it said that a Bordeaux blend shouldn't be "just another Cab" and I agree. Blends are great because they can really have a synergy going and let the winemaker express something interesting.

This one has a beautiful nose, it's smoky and oaky and has a lot of black cherry. It fills the mouth really well, no holes anywhere. There's some vanilla and almond and it's nicely tannic. I'm having it with cheese and crackers, and the tanginess of the cheese is bringing out something that tastes a little like toast and jam, but the wine isn't jammy at all. 

Creekview is in St. Martin, on the south end of the Santa Clara Valley. Before Prohibition, the whole valley was a big area for vineyards, but now pretty much the only ones left are around Gilroy. The winery has a beautiful patio area with walkways through the vineyard. They're only open the 3rd weekend of each month, and you're almost guaranteed to meet the winemakers since they operate the winery behind their house.  You can do an afternoon of wine tasting in this area less than an hour's drive from San Jose, and some of the wineries are really top notch. Others in the area that I like are Sarah's, Aver, and Sycamore Creek.

Dawn's Dream Carmel Valley Pinot Noir 2010

The wineries around Carmel Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands are known for Burgundy-style wines of pinot noir and chardonnay. The tasting list at Dawn's Dream included 5 different pinots. They started out very light and fruity and gradually became more full-bodied and complex. The Carmel Valley 2010 was the 4th of the 5 we tasted that day. They were all very good, but this one really jumped out at us.

It pours a pretty color, not super dark but not as light as you see with some pinots. The nose is strawberries, canteloupe, and roses. The floral note is fairly subtle but adds a nice elegance. The taste is really silky with a long finish especially in the mid-palate. There's a touch of spice and tobacco, and lots of strawberry and some cranberry. It's not a delicate pinot, but it hits all the right notes for me with elegance, the medium body, and the long finish. We had this wine with roasted chicken and it was a nice pairing.

When we went wine tasting in Carmel Valley, there were only a few wineries we had planned to visit in advance. The town is really small, and there are a lot of wineries basically next door to each other all the way down the road. We got a recommendation from one place to go to Joyce, and at Joyce they recommended Dawn's Dream. Both were really nice, and I liked that they had different styles. Joyce had a pinot noir as well (it's got to be on the list for wineries there), but they also had a good Riesling and a good Merlot. Then it was nice to head to Dawn's Dream to see what different kinds of style you can get even within the same varietal. Learning what different winemakers like to do is something I really enjoy about visiting small wineries like these.

Regional Wine Week - South Bay area

October 6-12 is Regional Wine Week, and it seems like a good time to highlight some of what I love so much about the local wineries here in the South Bay area. You may be thinking, "Come on, it's still California, that's not very 'regional.'" Well, I disagree--not that it's California, that's true enough, but it certainly is regional. When I bring up a wine tasting trip with friends, they often think that means driving up to Napa Valley, as if that's the only place worth talking about. Here are a few reasons why wineries in the San Jose vicinity deserve some consideration.

First, they're really close to home! Sure, I can drive 2+ hours to get to Sonoma, Napa, or Paso Robles, but I can drive less than an hour to get great wine from the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley. There are wineries and tasting rooms in Saratoga, Sunol, San Martin, Los Gatos (among many others) and even downtown San Jose. If you want to get away from it all, there's no shortage of wineries to visit out in the hills at the end of long winding roads where chances are pretty good you won't have mobile service.

Second, there are options for all tastes. You like delicate pinot noir? Try Hallcrest (they have a pinot-only wine club option). Maybe big juicy zinfandels are more up your alley. Satori Cellars has some very nice ones. Perhaps you are interested in something a little different. Check out the pinotage at Loma Prieta or the charbono at Sarah's Vineyard. And let's not forget the whites--the area produces excellent chardonnay, such as those at Cinnabar and Creekview, and MJA has some of the best sauvignon blancs I've ever had.

Third, you don't have to break the bank. It seems like the more well-known a region is, the more they charge for the wine, or even just the tasting experience. There are a ton of South Bay wineries that offer a tasting for $5, which is usually waived with a purchase. And the wines themselves are very reasonable. Some of my local favorites are under $20. I'm also a lot more tempted to join the wine club of a local winery. I can go to pick up my wines in person, so I don't have to pay shipping costs, plus it gives me an excuse to visit on a regular basis.

Fourth, there are some famous names here, and they help lift up the little guys. Ridge is a big winery, no doubt. Their most celebrated vineyard, Monte Bello, is at the top of a hill outside of Cupertino. If you go visit Ridge (and you should, the view is amazing), you have to drive past a couple of smaller ones on the way. Why not stop in for a tasting? Bonny Doon is a well-known name in Santa Cruz. They have a tasting room and restaurant in town that's in the same center as several other wineries. So go check out the famous players, but drop by the small wineries too. They'll be very glad to have you, and you might find a new favorite.

In short, if you live near San Jose, you love wine, you haven't tried any of the local wineries, what are you waiting for? Consider this your engraved invitation.