Prince of Wine » Featured Articles http://www.princeofwine.com Prince of Wine Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:00:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 iPOW- Et Fille Winery- 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-et-fille-winery-2008-oregon-pinot-noir/ http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-et-fille-winery-2008-oregon-pinot-noir/#comments Wed, 21 Jul 2010 08:55:22 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1331 Howard and Jessica Mozeico are the father / daughter team behind the beautifully named artisan Oregon winery Et Fille ( “with daughter” in French). Jessica flew down to San Diego and I had a chance to taste her wines and do a quick video interview on my iPhone (OK it is just the 3Gs and I have not upgraded to the iPhone 4 … wine antenna anybody?). Jessica with father (et le Père…alright Et Fille sounds better) have just celebrated their 6th release with the 2008 offerings of Pinot Noir wines sourced from select growers as well as their own and very Burgundian tiny estate of 1 acre. The 2008 Vintage in Oregon is being heralded as outstanding due to a late yet long growing season. Besides the 2008 Pinot Noir wines, the winery also released a crisp yet bright 2008 Viognier from the Deux Vert Vineyard. 144 cases, about $24 Retail, POW 88. Plus a tiny amount (24 cases) of 2008 Rose of Pinot Noir, of which a sample bottling did not make it on the plane, no doubt since Jessica is hoarding the whole lot as she made it sans Dad. She calls it her baby: Fille’s Fille!

Here is the rundown on the 2008 Et Fille Pinot Noirs followed by my POW rating based on the 100 point scale:

2008 Et Fille Willamette Valley Pinot Noir: A blend of grapes sourced from 7 vineyards, the wine exhibits aromas of freshly picked mulberries and has a round texture with bright fruit and subtle acidity. Barrel aged for 9 months (21% new), alcohol 13.1%, 931 cases made., about $25 Retail. POW 89

2008 Et Fille Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir: This Vineyard was originally planted by Jim Maresh in the Dundee Hills on lava soil and has produced legendary Pinot Noir for more than thirty years. This wine builds up its profile in the glass and gives you measured bits of fruit and tannins in an elegant yet complex package. Bravo for the relatively low alcohol level at 12.9%. Barrel aged for 9 months (40 % new). about $42 Retail. 100 cases made. POW 91

2008 Et Fille Kalita Vineyard Pinot Noir: There are moments when a certain wine makes a lasting impression and you remember the combination of aromas, flavors and finish for years after. I can recall clearly the 1961 La Tache, 1989 Chateau Beychevelle, 2004 Ambullneo Pinot Noir Canis Major and the 2005 Chateu Pavie Macquin St Emilion amongst a small handful of other great wines. This wine is hereby added to the gang, bravo Et Fille! Sourced from the Kalita Vineyard located in the Yamhill-Carlton district of Oregon, the wine’s fruit is delicate yet is underlain by a tightly wound acidity that delivers the exact doses of red berries and kumquat marmalade for a long pleasurable finish. Barrel aged for 9 months (42% new), alcohol 13.3%, 206 cases made., about $38 Retail. POW 93

For further details please visit the winery’s website at www.etfillewines.com

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine
www.princeofwine.com

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-et-fille-winery-2008-oregon-pinot-noir/feed/ 0 iPOW- Wine on Tap http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-wine-on-tap/ http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-wine-on-tap/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 01:09:03 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1302 I was at a wine trade tasting yesterday and I happened to meet Jordan Kivelstadt of Free Flow Wines. I shot this video using my iPhone so it is a bit quirky. The delivery of wine in methods other than the conventional bottle has been gaining momentum.

I do support the concept of wine taps in all their formats as I see it solving the most common problem when ordering wine by the glass: Oxydation (freshness) and wine temperature.

For further information click here www.freeflowwines.com.

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-wine-on-tap/feed/ 3 iPOW-French Wine Artist Erwin Dazelle and Paso Robles http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-french-wine-artist-erwin-dazelle-and-paso-robles/ http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-french-wine-artist-erwin-dazelle-and-paso-robles/#comments Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:57:41 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1279 In this video I interview Emmanuelle Lupe the agent for French wine artist Erwin Dazelle who was selected by Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance as 2010 Artist of the Year. The Alliance is a trade group representing wineries, growers and businesses of Paso Robles. Centrally located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, along California’s Central Coast, Paso Robles is a fast growing and important California wine region encompassing more than 26,000 vineyard acres and 180 wineries.

Dazelle’s Artwork is being featured in event brochures and displayed as a poster throughout Paso’s tasting rooms. Dazelle has already created the cover art and imagery for Zinfandel Festival beginning this weekend (March 19 – 21) as well as the art for the Paso Robles Wine Festival (May 21 – 23). He is also to create the art for the Harvest Wine Weekend (October 15 – 17).

Dazelle, 35, initially honed his skills as a glass artist, inheriting a family tradition begun by his grandfather in the south of France during the 1930s. In 1996, Dazelle began translating these techniques to the canvas, and has developed a style that is as sharp as it is colorful with iconic French imagery and classic Basque theme infusion. This is the first time that Paso Robles has selected an international artist.

These are the dates for 2010 Paso Robles Events:

18th Annual Zinfandel Festival (March 19 – 21, 2010)

28th Annual Wine Festival (May 21 – 23, 2010)

Harvest Wine Weekend (October 15 – 17, 2010)

For further information visit www.dazelleusa.com

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Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine
www.princeofwine.com

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-french-wine-artist-erwin-dazelle-and-paso-robles/feed/ 1 Wine Review Short #35: Valdez Family Winery-Mexican Immigrant Success Story http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-35-valdez-family-winery-mexican-immigrant-success-story/ http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-35-valdez-family-winery-mexican-immigrant-success-story/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:58:40 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1251 Most of us day dream of doing things we are passionate about ( a mid career change anybody?) whether it is becoming an actor, best selling writer, an accomplished chef or a winemaker. The reality is there is a tremendous amount of work to be done behind the scenes to accomplish our dreams. Enter Ulises Valdez a field worker who landed in Napa/Sonoma in 1985 as an immigrant from Michoacan, Mexico. Ulises joined the thousands of immigrant field hands who are the backbone of the agricultural miracle we call California and specifically the vine growing valleys of Napa/Sonoma. Behind all the fancy labels and the “superstar” winemakers this small army tends to the vineyard, protecting, nurturing, pruning and harvesting. Ulises, a hard worker climbed up the ladder and ended up owning his own vineyard management business. Although the history of Napa/ Sonoma is primarily a success (and heartbreak!) story of italian immigrants who over the generations rose to the top (Mondavi, Gallo, Sebastiani etc.), there are few Mexican field workers who rise to become winemakers themselves (other notable mexican immigrant success stories are listed below). Valdez took the big leap bottling his debut wines in 2006 producing varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel to critical acclaim. Valdez has the advantage of picking and choosing the source for his wines from the various vineyards he manages for his clients. I tasted the 2006 Lancel Creek Russian River Valley Zinfandel (one of 5 different single vineyard Zinfandels Valdez makes) and found it to be very elegant with the characteristic varietal fruitiness but without the sticky mouthfeel of bigger Zins. The wine was made with the help of consulting winemaker Jeff Cohn and was sourced from a tiny 2 acre parcel with a production of 400 cases. 15.5% alcohol. POW 92 points.

As the new generations grow up within the vineyards, my prediction is that the story of Valdez will be more of the norm than the exception. For further information please visit valdezfamilywinery.com.

Here is a list of other notable and successful Mexican immigrant stories:

Ceja Vineyards cejavineyards.com
Renteria Wines renteriawines.com
Madrigal Vineyards madrigalvineyards.com
Delgadillo Cellars dcellars.com
Shafer Vineyards shafervineyards.com (The longtime winemaker is the respected Elias Fernandez)

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-35-valdez-family-winery-mexican-immigrant-success-story/feed/ 1 Wine Review Short #34: Lucchesi Vineyards, Sierra Foothills, California- Wine of The Year in Poland! http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-34-lucchesi-vineyards-sierra-foothills-california-wine-of-the-year-in-poland/ http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-34-lucchesi-vineyards-sierra-foothills-california-wine-of-the-year-in-poland/#comments Sun, 14 Feb 2010 11:07:21 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1232 How about this: A dedicated couple from the Sierra foothills of California make a killer Pinot Grigio and it gets the nod for Wine of The Year in Poland! No I did not make this up as Linda and Mario Clough are the real deal and besides scoring big for being married for 25 years their wine portfolio is outstanding. OK Soap box time: Discover emerging wine areas and you will not be disappointed! Yes I love the great viticultural hotbeds of Napa/ Sonoma as well as the beloved Bordeaux and Burgundy regions but it is time for the spotlight to shift onto other regions which have equally dedicated winemakers. Mario Lucchesi’s biography is also fit for an international thriller with his family escaping Mussolini’s fascist Italy and ending up in California despite personal tragedy via Egypt, Argentina and Bolivia. The Lucchesi’s 2007 Pinot Grigio is a pale straw delicate yet elegant wine with hints of citrus, peach and marzipan. The wine texture is smooth with a lingering and refreshing finish. 13.7% Alcohol by volume, 295 cases made. $16 US retail, POW 90. For further information please visit the winery’s website at www.lucchesivineyards.com

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-34-lucchesi-vineyards-sierra-foothills-california-wine-of-the-year-in-poland/feed/ 0 Wine Review Short #33: Lange Twins Winery, Lodi, California and Petit Petit http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-33-lange-twins-winery-lodi-california-and-petit-petit/ http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-33-lange-twins-winery-lodi-california-and-petit-petit/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:53:18 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1218 Meet Randall and Bradford Lange of Lange Twins winery of Lodi, California a 5th generation sustainable family vineyard turned winery with creative offerings such as the 2007 Petit Petit ( a blend of Petit Sirah and Petit Verdot Grapes). The wine is dense in color with aromas of blueberry and black plum followed by a palate of dark and brooding fruits with a solid structure and a medium finish. A pleasant ready to drink wine (perfect with the boneless short ribs on the barbie) and a solid offering from the twins of Lodi. POW 88. $20 Retail.

For further information please visit www.langetwins.com

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine


]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-33-lange-twins-winery-lodi-california-and-petit-petit/feed/ 1 Wine Review Short #32: Dubost Ranch, Paso Robles, CA http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-32-dubost-ranch-paso-robles-ca/ http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-32-dubost-ranch-paso-robles-ca/#comments Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:08:46 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1200 Another video from our 2009 season. I interview Jacob Raines the winemaker of Dubost Ranch, a 6 acre family owned vineyard located within a 320 acre farm in California’s central coast wine region of Paso Robles. I was impressed by the 2005 Gran Reserva a blend of 50% Tempranillo from Silleto vineyards in San Benito county and 50% Grenache from the Starr Ranch in Adelaida. Fermented and aged separately for two years (the Tempranillo in new French oak and the Grenache in neutral hogshead barrels), the two wines were blended and aged in neutral hogshead barrels an additional year to “marry” and then bottle aged one year prior to release. This ruby red effort’s bright aromas of red cherries and black plums leads to a hedonistic attack on the palate of red berries, chocolate, cedar and leather. The bright tannins lifts up the complex flavors for a nice long finish. A great Spanish themed gem from an emerging young winemaker. 100 cases produced, $32 Retail. POW 92. For further information please visit www.dubostwine.com

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-32-dubost-ranch-paso-robles-ca/feed/ 2 Wine Review Short #31: Barlow Vineyards, 2005 Barrouge, Napa, California http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-31-2005-barrouge-barlow-vineyards-napa-california/ http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-31-2005-barrouge-barlow-vineyards-napa-california/#comments Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:31:45 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1178 As we begin the new year (and decade) I wanted to upload the remaining video segments that I could not put up from our 2009 interviews. I will start with Barlow Vineyards who make an exceptional Meritage (a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petite Verdot) that has a deep garnet color with a nose of dark berries, ripe strawberries and black plums with an initial vibrant attack of mixed berries intertwined with roasted black figs and menthol with great underlying acidity, structure and depth. Although you would expect a bigger California style Meritage from the hotter part of northern Napa Valley, this wine’s elegance and layers will go head to head with any solid Bordeaux offering. A great effort (and a bargain) from this small family producer located in the Calistoga area of Napa. 600 cases produced. $45 Retail. POW 91. For further information please visit the winery website at www.barlowvineyards.com.

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

Barlow Wines


Label for Barrouge (borrowed from 2004 vintage)

]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/wine-review-short-31-2005-barrouge-barlow-vineyards-napa-california/feed/ 0 iPOW-Organic and Biodynamic Winemaking-Antonio Bravo of Emiliana, Chile http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-organic-and-biodynamic-winemaking-antonio-bravo-of-emiliana-chile/ http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-organic-and-biodynamic-winemaking-antonio-bravo-of-emiliana-chile/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:26:58 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1153 I attended a recent tasting in Los Angeles hosted by the global wine powerhouse Banfi Vintners to showcase the wines of Emiliana and meet its winemaker, Antonio Bravo. We have all heard about the great gems coming out of South America and especially Chile and Argentina over the last decade. So what is so special about this lineup? Well the story here is the commitment by Emiliana to produce organic and Biodynamic wines on a large scale which requires an intensive amount of capital, backing and a long term vision. You cannot just press a button one day and say we are going to be organic and biodynamic winery. The other part of the story is the wine quality. I was impressed with winemaker Antonio Bravo’s passion for this endeavour and the wines I tasted ranged from everyday $11 fresh and vibrant wines (Natura) to seriously complex $90 wines (G). To view the full wine range please visit www.banfivintners.com and click on Emiliana under the new world portfolio. For the rest please watch the video clip! (Pardon the lighting as it was inside a restaurant). Cheers and share the POW!

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine

The Wines of Emiliana Antonio Bravo, winemaker for Emiliana The Wines of Emiliana ]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-organic-and-biodynamic-winemaking-antonio-bravo-of-emiliana-chile/feed/ 2 iPOW- A few photos from our TV pilot shoot in Napa/Sonoma http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-a-few-photos-from-our-tv-pilot-shoot-in-napasonoma/ http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-a-few-photos-from-our-tv-pilot-shoot-in-napasonoma/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:24:28 +0000 princeofwine http://www.princeofwine.com/?p=1087 I am sharing with you a few photos we took from the TV pilot shoot we just had in Napa/Sonoma, California. We had great time shooting at several wineries: Harvest Celebration at Bouchaine, Carneros, , visiting the stunning Palmaz Winery hosted by the warm and hospitable Palmaz family who cooked a traditional Argentinian Asado (BBQ) and some mouthwatering home made empanadas. Blending wine with a scion of a famous wine legend, Robert Mondavi Jr at Folio . Visiting Murphy-Goode vineyards and having a backyard BBQ with Hardy Wallace, winner of a social networking dream wine job, and tasting olive oil and Syrah wines at a biodynamic winery with the Ciolino family of Montemaggiore . We also did some food and wine pairing footage at Oxbow market in Napa, Hog Island Oyster Company , Oxbow wine merchant, Oxbow cheese company, Napa Valley wine train and Zin restaurant in downtown Healdsburg. Additionally we met with a great and talented wine label artist, Bob Johnson. Thanks to our great Crew!! The show is currently in post production and is being marketed to various TV channels domestically and internationally.

Walid Romaya
Prince of Wine
www.princeofwine.com

Bouchaine Bouchaine Bouchaine Harvest Celebration Hog Island Oysters at Oxbow, Napa With Bob Johnson, label artist Palmaz Winery Palmaz Winery Palmaz Winery Napa Wine Train Napa Wine Train Palmaz Winery Palmaz Winery The Great Crew Empanadas at Palmaz Winery Argentinian Asado at Palmaz Winery Cheers at Palmaz Winery Blending Wine at Folio with Robert Mondavi Jr Wine and Food Intervention at Zin Restaurant, Healdsburgh Zin Restaurant, Healdsburgh With Hardy Wallace, Murphy Goode Winery Murphy Goode Backyard BBQ Vikings Fans at Murphy Goode Winery ]]> http://www.princeofwine.com/ipow-a-few-photos-from-our-tv-pilot-shoot-in-napasonoma/feed/ 1