The Wine Spectator magazine recently released its 2013 Top 100 Wines.  On Saturday our fortunate wine tasters will get the opportunity to taste five of the wines that made the list.  It is an opportunity we rarely get the chance to do.  The wines consist of one white (a Washington Riesling from Charles Smith Wines) and four reds.  The Reds include: A-Z Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Greywacke New Zealand Pinot Noir, Epoch Estates Red Blend, and finally Hewitt Napa Valley Cabernet.  The Hewitt landed in the top 10 this year!!! The wines are very limited, and I cannot guarantee that we will have many available for purchase, and therefore we will not be offering them at the 15% off discount for this one time tasting event.

~ Jason

Jonathan’s Market La Jolla Wine Tasting:

Friday, December 13th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 14th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm

7611 Fay Avenue
(between Kline St & Pearl St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858.459.2677
View Map

Friday, December 13th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm

Friday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

The Battle of Domestic Pinot Noirs

2011 Longwood Napa Valley Chardonnay ($34.99)

• “There’s plenty to admire in this Chardonnay, from the dryness and acidic structure to the subtle, complex range of citrus and tropical fruit flavors. The creamy, leesy mouthfeel makes it lush.” Steve Heimoff – Wine Enthusiast 89 Points!

2012 Lea Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir ($29.99)

• The 2012 Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills is a winner. Perfumed and loaded with fruit, it offers up beautiful purity, vibrant acidity and a pure silk texture that’s hard to resist. Crushed berries, flowers and spice are just some of the nuances here and this has a decidedly upfront, delicious profile that will be ideally suited for drinking over the coming 4-5 years. Drink now-2018.” Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate 92 Points!

2010 Athair Russian River Pinot Noir ($34.99)

• This wine wonderfully expresses the “terroir” of the Russian River Valley, with bright red fruit dominating but accompanied by earthy undertones. It shows flavors of bright raspberry, currant, dark cherry and vanilla. Hints of tobacco leaves and cloves merge with the vibrant fruit flavors creating an intricate and rich balance ending in a long dark finish.

2009 Domaine Serene Willamette Vly Pinot Noir ($44.99)

• “It is firm in texture, featuring mildly chewy tannins around the butterscotch-accented blackberry flavors. The wine finishes with refinement. Will drink best from 2013 through 2017. 5,000 cases made.” –HS  Wine Spectator 89 Points!“The Serene 2009 Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee offers sweeter red berry flavors than does the corresponding 2010, with brown spice accents and nicely integrated tannic chew. Pure-fruited and with ample finishing juiciness, this betrays none of its vintage’s weak sides and ought to drink well for another several years.” JS Wine Advocate 89 Points!

2011 Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($49.99)

• A model of total elegance and class, the 2011 Pinot Noir from Flowers is absolutely gorgeous. Savory herbs, crushed flowers, licorice, salt, orange peel, mint and plums are all woven together in the glass. Today, the 2011 is impeccably crafted and flat-out gorgeous. Although very much a medium-bodied wine, I would not at all be surprised to see the 2011 blossom with more time in bottle. This is an impressive effort. Unfortunately, the Sonoma Coast was the only 2011 Flowers Pinot I was able to taste, but based on this effort, 2011 is certainly shaping up well here. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021.” Antonio Galloni Wine Advocate 91 Points!

Saturday, December 14th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm

Saturday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Wine Spectators 2013 Top 100 Wines

2012 Charles Smith Kung Fu Riesling ($12.99)

• Lovely, expressive, bright and vibrant, with apple, lime and citrus blossom flavors, persisting enticingly as the off-dry finish lingers against natural acidity. Drink now through 2015. 70,600 cases made. –HS Wine Spectator 90 Points!

2011 A to Z Pinot Noir ($19.99)

• This sleek red is tightly packed, with delicate layers of cherry, tobacco and cocoa flavors that mingle against refined tannins, persisting pleasantly on the light-stepping finish. Drink now through 2017.—H.S. Wine Spectator 90 Points!

2011 Greywacke Pinot Noir ($39.99)

• Elegant, with supple, fresh and lively flavors of raspberry and cherry, meshing harmoniously with details of clove, forest floor, tobacco leaf, pepper and dried lavender that echo on the long, lingering finish. Drink now through 2024. 500 cases imported.—M.W. Wine Spectator 93 Points!

2010 Epoch Estates Red Blend ($49.99)

• Combines richness with subtlety and finesse, weaving together fresh earth, chocolate-covered espresso bean and vivid dark berry flavors with touches of hazelnut, gliding to a long, graceful finish. Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Tempranillo. Drink now through 2022. 1,699 cases made.—James Laube Wine Spectator 93 Points!

2010 Hewitt Cabernet ($99.99)

• Deliciously pure, rich and deep, featuring tiers of spicy red berry, blackberry and red and black licorice flavors, with pretty wilted rose scents and a long, seamless finish that slowly reveals an underlying tannic grip. Drink now through 2026. 2,592 cases made.—James Laube Wine Spectator 95 Points!

Hope to see you all out this weekend!

This weekend at El Cajon we’re excited to host our annual Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines tasting!

We have a stellar lineup of wines that each received the coveted Top 100 Wines of the World award from Wine Spectator.

Most of these wines are already sold out, so our stock is severely limited.  However, we want our loyal customers to have the opportunity to sample these wines, so come early!  Some will be limited to just one bottle to pour.

See you this weekend!

~ Patrick

El Cajon Wine Tasting Event:

Friday, December 13th, 2013  5pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 14th, 2013  3pm – 5pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

This weeks selections: $15.00

Kung Fu Girl Riesling 2012   ($11.99 During Tasting)

• Expressive, bright and vibrant, with apple, lime and citrus blossom flavors, persisting enticingly as the off-dry finish lingers.  #51  TOP100

A to Z Pinot Noir 2011    ($15.99 During Tasting)

• Sleek and tightly packed, with delicate layers of cherry and cocoa flavors mingling against refined tannins, persisting pleasantly on the finish.  #55 TOP 100

Rockaway Cabernet 2010   ($72.99 During Tasting)

• “Exhibits gorgeous dark berry flavors in a big yet graceful style, turning elegant and supple on the finish, where touches of spice, mocha and light oak come into play. “  #64 TOP 100

Epoch Estate Blend 2010     ($39.99 During Tasting)

• “Combines richness with subtlety and finesse, weaving together chocolate and vivid dark berry flavors with touches of hazelnut, gliding to a long graceful finish.” #25 TOP 100

Seghesio Cortina Zin 2010     ($42.99 During Tasting)

• “Big, very ripe and long on essential blackberry fruit, Seghesio’s Cortina bottling is a generously filled wine that succeeds on the strength of both balance and richness. It is quite full in body but is always alive, and its ample acidity affords it plenty of room for improvement with age.”  #23 TOP 100

See you all this weekend!

Throughout the history of wine-making and viticulture, the differences in quality between one plot of land and another have been closely observed. For instance, in Burgundy for decades now the highest quality vineyards receive the “Grand Cru ranking.”  In the United States, however, single vineyard wines are recent phenomena.  Laws vary slightly, but a single vineyard designated wine is a wine produced entirely (or nearly entirely—U.S. law is 95 percent) from that vineyard. Therefore many estates select the very best grapes from their very best vineyards when bottling single vineyard wine.  Indeed, specific vineyards have become famous for their production and often grapes from these vineyards are sold to various “rockstar” winemakers who are eagerly seeking the highest quality grapes.

On both Friday and Saturday we will try five different single vineyard wines.  Both nights will feature five different wines (two white and three reds). The wines are entirely different on both evenings so feel free to join us for both tastings if you like.  On Friday the featured wine is the 2009 Wedell Hillside Vineyard Chardonnay, and on Saturday the 2009 Hawyood Los Chamizal Vineyard Cabernet will be our grand finale.

See you this weekend!

~ Jason Perry

Jonathan’s Market La Jolla Wine Tasting:

Friday, December 6th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm
Saturday, December 7th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm

7611 Fay Avenue
(between Kline St & Pearl St)
La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: 858.459.2677
View Map

Friday, December 6th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm

Friday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring “Single Vineyard Produced Wines”:

2012 Alma Mia Leveroni Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ($15.99)

• At Levernoni Vineyards, Cooling afternoon winds and summer evening fog help create conditions that produce wines with classic acidity and structure, while displaying the lovely depth of flavor for which Carneros wines are renowned. This Wine has a nose of apricot, ripe pears, honey, and pineapple; The palate Shows rich peach, green apple, grapefruit, and green olives, with bright acidity crispy complex and well balanced finish.

2009 Wedell Hillside Vineyard Chardonnay ($79.99)

• The Hillside Vineyard Chardonnay is all about Terrior. The wine is unlike any other Chardonnay from the Edna Valley Appellation. Although it has undergone 100% malolactic fermentation there is no hint of butter; and while it has been aged for a considerable amount of time in new French oak, the oak is complimentary but not overpowering. This Chardonnay has an incredible rich mouth feel, immersing you in a spectacular balance of oak, fruit and acidity with a lingering complex finish. Because it is so balanced, it is enjoyable now will age and mature beautifully for many years to come.

2009 Hitching Post Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir ($29.99)

• Planted in 1973, the Bien Nacido Vineyard is one of the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in the region, consisting of over 800 acres of planted vines. The maritime-influenced climate is conducive to growing the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the state. This wine is bright red in color with an expressive high-pitched bouquet that evokes red berries, cherry and dried rose, along with a spicy overtone. Sweet, oak-spiced raspberry and cherry flavors are firmed by notes of black pepper and licorice, with silky tannins adding support. Finishes with lingering floral notes.

2009 Casa Lapostolle Apalata Vineyard Cabernet ($24.99)

• Apalta Vineyard is located in the wine-producing region of the Colchagua Valley, 200 km southwest of Santiago, 68 km away from the Pacific Ocean, between the Andes mountain range and the Coastal Cordillera. Juicy, showing a nice briary edge to the black cherry, red currant and roasted vanilla notes. This offers good grip on the finish, with the briar note hanging on. Drink now. – JM Wine Spectator – 88 Points

2008 T-Vine Monte Rosso Vineyard Cabernet ($49.99)

• Nestled in the majestic Mayacamas Mountain range nearly 1,000 feet above the Sonoma Valley, is this vineyard that has been producing award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon for three generations. Situated on the bright red, volcanic soils of Mt. Veeder that give it its name, the Monte Rosso Vineyard is a California Heirloom vineyard, first planted in the 1890′s. The Tvine Cab has a nose that is captivating, with wild, spicy aromas and a hit of rose petal surrounding a core of rich dark fruit. The palate is full and round with a velvety mouth-feel and long, lingering finish. This is a special Cabernet. Only 200 cases made.

Saturday, December 7th, 2013 – 4pm – 7pm

Saturday’s Selections: $20.00 per person

Featuring “Single Vineyard Produced Wines”:

2011 Saxon Brown Cricket Creek Vineyard Semillon ($24.99)

• Planted over 25 years ago at the north east end of the Alexander Valley, the vineyard is dry farmed and has a yield of less than two tons per acre, sitting on a bench that was once the Russian River. Nose: Pear, fig, ripe apple and slight melon with some sweet citrus & white blossom. Mouth: very bright entry, with a rich fruit cream finish.

2012 Talbott Sleepy Hallow Vineyard Chardonnay ($24.99)

• Located in the stunning Santa Lucia Highlands, 13 miles south of Monterey Bay, this 565-acre hillside vineyard is divided into three separate vineyard parcels, Sleepy Hollow West, Sleepy Hollow South and Sleepy Hollow North. The juicy, lively 2011 Chardonnay Logan is a great value. It offers up great aromas of ripe peach, citrus, kiwi, toast and crushed stone to go with a medium-bodied, balanced mouthfeel that gains in richness and depth with air. Enjoy this rock-solid white over the coming 3-4 years. Drink now-2017.” Jeb Dunnuck – Wine Advocate – 90 Points

2007 Miura Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir ($49.99)

• Nestled between the dry creek beds and hills in the southern Santa Lucia Highlands are the vines at the Pisoni Vineyard and are intensely monitored by Gary Pisoni and his family. Like most of the wines from that vineyard, it has beautifully pure black raspberry and floral-infused black currant fruit with some sweet cherries, underbrush, and forest floor. With distinctive richness, full-bodied power, and an underlying earthiness (no doubt contributed by both the vineyard and the use of stems), this deep ruby/purple-colored wine actually needs about a year or two of bottle age, but it should drink well for up to a decade.” – Robert Parker

2005 Casa Lapostolle Las Kuras Vineyard Syrah ($32.99)

• Las Kuras vineyard is located in the Cachapoal Valley, 100 km south of Chile’s capital, Santiago near the Andes Mountains range. This vineyard has 115 hectares of vines, planted from 1992 to 2000, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah. It is dark, but pure and focused, with espresso-tinged tannins carrying the dark plum, briar, fig cake and bittersweet cocoa notes. Long, muscular finish is fine-grained and should cellar nicely- 2,070 cases made. –JM  Wine Spectator – 91 Points

2009 Haywood Los Chamizal Vineyard Cabernet ($54.99)

• Los Chamizal Vineyards, located in the foothills above the city of Sonoma, was first planted in the 1970′s. Los Chamizal is sustainably farmed, using permanent crop cover, compost and organic fertilizers to nurture the soil. The Haywood 2009 has a ripe, opulent style, with rich, juicy plum, blackberry and wild berry flavors, showing touches of licorice, spice, cedar and light dusty earth. Tightly focused, offering mild tannins that give the flavors the right amount of traction. Drink now through 2024. 120 cases made. –James Laube Wine Spectator – 93 Points

Hope to see you all out this weekend!

This weekend’s wines for your tasting pleasure will have a distinct French accent to them although they won’t all be from La Belle France! Highlighting the tasting will be classics from Bordeaux and Burgundy but we’ll also see how winemakers in other parts of the world are crafting French-style wines with great success from Paso Robles to Sonoma County to the Mendoza highlands in Argentina.

Please join us for another exciting adventure through the wonderful world of wine.

~ Patrick Campbell

Harvest Ranch El Cajon Wine Tasting:

Friday, December 6th, 2013  5pm – 7pm

759 Jamacha Road
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-442-0355
View Map

French Style

This weeks selections: $15.00

Adelaida Pavanne 2009   ($23.99 During Tasting)

• Delicious white Southern Rhone blend of  predominantly Roussanne with Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Viognier.  Nice white fruit with a hint of floral & vanilla nose. 90 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Joseph Drouhin Burgundy Pinot Noir 2006   ($44.99 During Tasting)

• This Pinot Noir comes from Chambolle-Musigny, in the heart of Côte de Nuits, between Morey-Saint-Denis and Vougeot. Fine lace and silk are the words most often associated with this wine. Bright, intense colour and complex aromas evoking violet, black cherry and damp earth. 89 Points – Robert Parker

Reignac Bordeaux Superior 2005   ($32.99 During Tasting)

• “Another top-notch effort from the home property of the brilliant Yves Vatelot. Has a dense ruby/purple color and notes of graphite, black currant, some sweet cherries, and spice box. It is a medium to full-bodied wine with beautiful concentration, decent acidity, and ripe tannin. 90 Points – Robert Parker

Domaine Dureiu Chateauneuf du Pape 2005     ($42.99 During Tasting)

• Classic Red Southern Rhone blend consisting of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre in varying proportions. Lovely garnet in color. Big, but balanced. Lovely grenache/cherry fruit wrapped in a cloak of juicy acidity and tons of garrige with the tannins underneath it all. Long sweet finish. 90 Points – Robert Parker

Farrier Alexander Valley Presshouse 2009     ($17.99 During Tasting)

• This is one of California’s nicer Bordeaux-style blends from Sonoma County that has rich flavors and is a powerful wine that’s ripe in blackberries, black currants and mocha. 90 Points – W&S

Enamore Allegrini/Renacer 2011     ($25.99 During Tasting)

• Bordeaux blend of Malbec (60%), Cabernet Franc (20-25%), Cabernet Sauvignon (10%), done in the Amarone style! Wine not yet rated!

See you all this weekend!