Talia Hart, CEO Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce fills us in on
everything that’s new, upcoming and happening in Healdsburg.
Wine of the Day: 2016 Selby Sangiovese
Book of the Day: Steven Spurrier: A Life in
Wine
Fast Five: Pepperoni Bread from Bobby Terrano from
F. Teldeschi Winery in Dry Creek
Episode 150 -- Kathy Harsbarger, Director DTC, Jeff Cohn Cellars tells us about
the history of Jeff Cohn Cellars, the tasting room experience and
what types of wine you may enjoy there. Our Wine of the Day is 2002
Jeff Cohn Cellars 2018 Maggie’s Vineyard Zinfandel. Fast Five
Recipe, Spätzle from Chef Tom Mulligan at Spoonbar in
Healdsburg. Book of the Day: On California From Napa to Nebbiolo.
Rosé season is here and the annual crop of new releases practically makes me giddy. I can almost hear Ethel Merman belting out “Curtain up! Light the lights! Honey, everything's coming up roses!” But of course I hear her sing Roses as Rosés. Okay, so maybe Rosé does not conjure up Ethel for you—but Rosé can certainly spark joy with it’s easy to drink style and playful pink color; full of summer fruit flavors and a crisp, refreshing finish. By the way, I drink Rosé year-round for a fresh burst of summertime, anytime. #ROSÉALLYEAR
Here are capsule reviews of Rosé you may find along the Wine Road.
Acorn Alegría Vineyards 2021 Rosato Field Blend, RRV
Just reading the list of varieties in this Acorn field blend sets my expectations for a wine that will be both thrilling and delicious—and it is! Composed primarily of Syrah, Zinfandel, Dolcetto, and Sangiovese—the Acorn Rosato is nod to the Italian style of Rosé made from a range of indigenous Italian grapes. Initial aromas of pomegranate, strawberry and pink peppercorn are followed by notes of watermelon and fleshy ripe cherry. Balanced and complex, it’s full of juicy red fruit flavors, with a creamy raspberry finish. Pair with grilled chicken and warm goat cheese salad.
ABV 13%
$35
Baldassari 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir, RRV
The Baldassari 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir is an intentional Rosé made with grapes harvested at a lower sugar rate in order to make a more delicate and lower alcohol wine. The color is the palest of pale, almost translucent. It’s a lovely balance of fruit and acid with notes of nectarine, strawberry, thyme and rose hips on the nose. On the palate, crisp favors of pink grapefruit, lime zest, and coriander predominate, with a distinct creamy peach note. The long dry finish is clean and bright with a touch of saline and rosewater. Pair with grilled shrimp and pineapple fried rice.
ABV 12.9%
$28
Balletto 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir, RRV
Fermented in stainless steel, the Balletto Rosé of Pinot Noir is exceedingly crisp and bright. Pale pink in color, it opens with a delightful bouquet of crushed rose petals, carnation and strawberry-lime. Great acidity and balance with a marvelous texture and zingy flavors of watermelon, white peach, Rainier cherry and nectarine. Dry and precise with a steely finish and a lingering note of pink peppercorn and orange zest. Pair with spicy sushi tuna rolls.
ABA 13.3%
$22
Jeff Cohn Cellars 2017 Iris Brut Rosé Sparkling, Sonoma County
The Jeff Cohn Cellars Brut Rosé is made Méthode Traditionnelle with 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 20% Mourvèdre. In the glass the color sparkles like a pink tutu made of tulle and taffeta with a rush of bubbles that race to the top. The creamy body floats across the palate with delicate flavors of cherry, raspberry cream and wild strawberry. Refreshing and celebratory—pair with truffle popcorn or blinis with crème fraiche and smoked salmon.
ABV 12.79%
$60
Martinelli 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
The Martinelli Rosé of Pinot Noir is a pretty pale rose color with a slight blue undertone. On the nose, wonderful aromas of rhubarb, strawberry, candied violet, cotton candy and rosewater. Juicy flavors of pomegranate, cranberry and a touch of orange peel are crisp and refreshing. The long clean finish is dry with notes of crushed rocks and a spicy pink peppercorn note at the end. Pair with Salmon cakes and Panzanella salad.
ABV 14.9%
$28
Martorana Family Winery 2021 Rosé of Zinfandel, DCV
The Martorana Rosé of Zinfandel has a classic pale pink color with a slight tinge of onionskin orange. A profusion of aromas fill the glass including candied ginger, orange peel, dried strawberry and crushed rose petals. Well-balanced and juicy it has flavors of gooseberry, watermelon, cherry, and a hint of cantaloupe. The steely finish presents notes of creamy peach and nectarine. Pair with baked goat cheese salad and prosciutto wrapped figs.
ABV 13%
$28
Pedroncelli 2021 Rosé of Zinfandel, DCV
The Pedroncelli Rosé of Zinfandel has a captivating medium pink hue reminiscent of watermelon juice. On the nose a bouquet of rose petals, honeydew, and strawberry with a base note of peach and vanilla. Great balance of fruit and acidity deliver flavors of watermelon, thyme and raspberry. The bright crisp finish has a mineral quality like wet slate and a lingering note of spicy coriander. Pair with barbecued spare ribs.
ABV 13.9%
$22
Carole Shelton, Wild Thing Rendezvous Rosé, Mendocino County
Oh my, one sip and it makes you wonder, what came first—The Troggs song Wild Thing, or Carole Shelton’s Wild Thing Rendezvous Rosé? In any event this luscious Rosé made with Carignane and Zinfandel grapes, has a brilliant ruby pink color and is bursting with aromas of brambles, cherry, wild strawberry, bright raspberry and hibiscus. Zesty with great acidity and body, it pulses with fresh flavors of watermelon, red grapefruit, and orange creamsicle. The finish is dry crisp with a refreshing minerality. Wild Thing, I think I love you! Pair with your favorite old vinyl records and Chinese Chicken Salad.
ABV 13.5%
$18
Six years ago this month I pitched the idea to Beth that the Wine Road should have a podcast. We started out recording in the warehouse and settled on a schedule of posting a show every other week. Our audience grew and we started recording episodes at Threshold studios with our sound engineer Richard Ross.
Anyone who has a podcast knows how much work it is to consistently record and post—be it every week, every two weeks or even once a month.
Most podcasts run out of steam after a few months. It’s easy to start a podcast it’s hard to keep it going. I’m proud to say we’re going strong and heading into our 7th year.
Thanks to Beth Costa for believing in my crazy ideas, to Richard for making us sound so good and to our amazing sponsor Ron Rubin Winery for their generous support. And most of all cheers all our listeners!
Dan Teldeschi and Bobby Terrano join us for a fun filled
conversation about the wines of F.Teldeschi and how they both came
to be in the wine business. Wine of the Day 2002 F.Teldeschi Petite
Sirah.
Fast Five recipe: Barbecued Tri-Tip from Jason Robinson of Ehret Family Winery
Karissa Kruse, President Sonoma County Winegrowers joins us to tell us all about the Healdsburg Food and Wine Experience May 20-22, 2022. Wine of the Day CAST Blanc de Noirs Sparkling. Fast Five Recipe: Apple Cider Pulled Chicken from Elizabeth at Dutton Estate Winery.
Pinot Noir is synonymous with Sonoma County as one of the flagship
wines of the Russian River Valley region. Light bodied with moderate to
high acidity gives Pinot Noir a structure that makes it eminently pair
worthy with a wide range of foods. A cool climate grape, Pinot Noir can
be finicky and difficult to grow, but it is also most expressive and
reflective of the place where it’s grown. Here in Sonoma County, in the
Russian River Valley and along the Sonoma Coast, we have some of world’s
best vineyards and growing conditions for producing classic Pinot Noir
of elegance and complexity.
Here are capsule reviews of Pinot Noir you may find along the Wine Road.
Baldassari 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
On
the nose the 2019 Baldassari Pinot Noir presents a bouquet of
strawberry, clove and pomegranate and a hint of flint. A nice balance of
fruit, acid and tannin with a plush mouth feel delivers tart cherry,
hibiscus, rose hips and deep grounding notes of tobacco. It’s juicy and
zingy and full of flavor with a long taut finish. Enjoyable now, but for
those that can wait, a few years of bottle age will make it sing. Pair
with pulled pork sliders.
ABV 14.1%
$52
Dutton Estate 2018 La Familia Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Deep
garnet in color the 2018 Dutton Estate La Familia Pinot Noir opens with
a beautiful nose of cranberry, plum, warm spun sugar, black cherry and a
touch of white pepper. Well balanced with silky unobtrusive tannins
that glide across the palate with lush notes of cocoa, red plums,
pomegranate and wild blueberry. Great acidity and a long spicy finish
with a pleasant hit of mint at the end. Pair with something classic such
as a Liberty Duck confit with a cherry glaze.
ABV 14.4%
$72
Ektimo 2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
The
Ektimo 2017 Pinot Noir is perfumed with crushed rose petals and violets
and a heavenly scent of wild strawberry. Bright and fruity with good
acidity featuring primary notes of ripe cherry, plum sauce, and spicy
carnation along with savory notes of fig and cocoa that linger on the
finish. Great balance and structure make this a sure bet for cellaring,
but who wants to wait? Enjoy now with a baked Brie or warm goat cheese
salad alongside a rotisserie chicken.
ABV 13.5%
$38
Furthermore 2017 Gaps Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir, Petaluma Gap
The
deep garnet color of the 2017 Furthermore Pinot Noir, from Gaps Crown
in the Petaluma Gap AVA, portends what’s to come. On the nose you’ll
find earthy scents of mushroom and tobacco, with notes of cocoa and ripe
Bing cherry. Bright fruit flavors sashay across the palate with juicy
red raspberry, black plum and tart pomegranate. The spicy finish offers
notes of clove, baking spice and candied ginger that is savory and long
lasting. Pair with mac and cheese for a high/low combination that is
both elegant and satisfying.
ABV 14.7%
$60
Russian River Vineyards 2017 Horseridge Vineyards Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
There
used to be an airline slogan “Something special in the air…” and that’s
what came to mind as I inhaled the complex scents of this Russian River
Vineyards 2017 Pinot Noir. It was an aromatic rush to the senses of
strawberry, leather, clove, vanilla, cigar and plum. Balanced and
well-integrated interplay of acid and tannins deliver tart layered
flavors of cherry, red raspberry, wild blueberry, smoky fig, rhubarb and
a dusting of cocoa. Pair with a fine cigar or something decadent like
black truffle risotto.
ABV 14.5%
$90 (Library Wine)
Trione 2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
On
the nose, the 2017 Trione Pinot Noir has scents of sweet briar, cherry,
cranberry, clove, mushroom and plum sauce. Soft silky tannins provide a
seamless backdrop to the juicy flavors of strawberry, pomegranate and a
wonderful note of bacon fat. The long spicy finish has a touch of rose
hips and raspberry. There’s a lot going on here but it all comes
together in perfect harmony. Great to drink now and I suspect it will be
rewarding well into the future too. Pair with bacon wrapped Scallops or
cedar plank salmon.
ABV 14.6%
$44
