Once again I'll be doing my Scary Wines article and hosting a wine tasting for all our friends that show up as the balloons go aloft. We are blessed with a front row seat to the Balloon Fiesta in the Corrales sandhills and love to have friends come by for wine and balloon viewing, right through balloon glow.

What's with Lodi?

You will no doubt notice the wine question this month is associated with the winery of the month. This was in part, inspired by talking with David Phillips of Michael David Winery in Lodi. David mentioned that even now, many people think it is amusing that there is winemaking in Lodi. However, most wine lovers have noted that some of the biggest and boldest Zins come from Lodi. Even if John Fogerty of Clearance Coldwater Revival claimed to be stuck there, most folks who visit now love the variety, innovation and quality of Lodi fruit.

 

 

The distinctive character of Lodi Zinfandel was officially recognized by the federal government in 1986 as an American Viticulture Area (AVA).  In 2006 seven sub-regions within Lodi were officially recognized. Now there are nearly 80 wineries, hundreds of "Lodi" labeled wines, and approximately 100,000 acres of premium wine grapes.  About 5,000 acres of Lodi vines are on their own root stocks; one of the largest stands of un-grafted Vitis vinifera in the world. Approximately 40% of premium Zinfandel-based wines come from Lodi.

 

This region was also one of the first to plant grapes, particularly Zinfandel, and has more "Old Vine" Zinfandel than any other wine region in California. One of Lodi's favorite sons is Robert Mondavi who later founded Woodbridge Winery near the town of Woodbridge. During prohibition he began crating grapes to sell to families that made their own wine; a legal loophole of the Volstead Act.

 

So California wine history depended to a large extent on those visionaries of the 19th and 20th century that saw this wine region, with its Mediterranean climate, to be a great place to grow grapes and make wine. The Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta or just the "Delta" helps shape that climate with cool evening breezes to permit an extended growing season.

 

A lot of good things have come out of Lodi, and not just Zinfandel, although Lodi is the self-proclaimed Zinfandel Capital of the World. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah and Syrah are among the very fine reds one finds here and comprises 66% of the total acreage. Chardonnay and Viognier are gaining a following and there are even the beginnings of Albarino planting; the Spanish white wine grape. So that's the lowdown on Lodi; an area that is finally getting some respect.

 Jim's Picks of the Month   

The turn to fall means we can again sample many red wines that were deemed too heavy for the dog days of summer. And that works for me since I drink a lot more red than white or ros�. Also since I have sampled a lot of big reds from Lodi and elegant Cabs from Washington State, I have found some new favorites.

The wine tasting event I led at the home of Linda and Jim Wolcott was a great success, in part due to the wonderful fruit and good prices of the state's wines. Two wines reds and two whites stood out for me and they are listed below.

Chateau Ste. Michele Indian Wells Cabernet Sauvignon: $16 to $20. I've probably mentioned this wine before and the current vintage (2011) is another good one. This is a special area of the Columbia Valley that produces big, rich Cabs and ripe full-bodied Chardonnay.

I shared a bottle of this Cab with Cheryl and Bill Jamison of New Mexico Magazine at our Los Palomas casita on the private patio. It was a good day to kick back and enjoy the wine, conversation, and the quite comfort of the resort.

Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon "Traditions": $13.49 and up. This was a delightful surprise for me with flavors of black cherry, plums and a broad hint of mint, which is an enviable accent to this Cab, and is highly recommended. Imagine; a Napa-style Cab for under $15.

Chateau Ste Michelle 2012 Cold Creek Riesling: $14 to $16. This has quickly become my favorite under $20 Riesling. The grapes were planted in the 1970s and Cold Creek is one of the oldest vineyards in the state. Tropical fruit flavors abound, wrapped in a wonderful chalky, wet stone undercurrent that marks this as a classic German-style dry Riesling.

Kestrel Chardonnay Old Vines Yakima: $15 to $17. This Chardonnay is very much in a French-style with crisp acidity and elegant fruit and lightly-oaked. Old vine wines express more of their terroir and minerality is more expressive and that definitely shows in this wine. This one is for the ABC (anything but chardonnay) crowd.

Drops of Jupiter Red Blend: $8 to $12. This may be the steal of the month. When I joined Jimmy Stafford of Train to taste the band's Save Me San Francisco wines, this wine was not on the table and Jimmy asked, "Where's my Drops of Jupiter?" Now I know why he was looking for it. At Total Wines I grabbed six bottles and I was being conservative. This full-bodied wine has red and dark fruit and lush, silky tannins. I give it a 98 HDI, which is Hammond's Drinkability Index. You are likely to tap out the dregs so none goes to waste and it will go quickly if you share it with friends.

California 37 Cabernet Sauvignon: $9 to $12. This is a medium-bodied Cab, closer to Bordeaux than Napa with a nice hint of tobacco on the nose. I'm thinking Turkish Samsoun to be more precise. The smooth tannins permit this wine to work with lighter fare as well as beef and lamb. Another Save Me San Francisco wine; the name refers to Highway 37 that links Napa and Sonoma and a road the band members took nearly every day.

Michael David Winery 2011 6th Sense Syrah: $13 to $15. This wine definitely got my attention at the winemaker's dinner. It wasn't one of the paired wines, but one David Phillips shared with our table. It's a solid Syrah that garnered 90 points and "Best of Class" at the 2013 California State Fair, whose wine notes are below.

At first whiff you'll take in ripe dark plum with just a hint of pepper and toffee notes.  Rich, juicy fruit come on with a mid-palate of Christmas cake.  This wine shows depth, focus, and a nice spicy finish.

October Events

October 5: Opera Southwest Season Opening Gala to the 41st season. The time is 6pm, October 5th, at the Hotel Albuquerque, 800 Rio Grande Blvd NW. With a Champagne Reception, delicious food, silent, live and online auctions, there is something for everyone! I'll be there and I'm for sale at the silent auction.

 

October 5 to 6:  Open House at Milagro Vineyards. The latest Corrales Red Blend will be released and tasted this weekend. I will definitely be there Sunday to try it out.

 

October 5 to 13:

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is kind of hard to miss in central New Mexico. From hundreds of hot air balloons swaying precariously in the skies overhead to traffic jams off I-25 and Alameda we all know when the fiesta starts and ends. Gruet Winery will be sponsoring wine tasting on October 12 and 13.

 

October 8 to 11: Casa Ronde�a-Music in the Vines series runs from 4pm to 7pm with a $5.00 cover. Enjoy fine wines and the music of SWAG, Silver Blue, Los Radiators and The Moondogs.

 

October 31: Halloween. Look for my Scary Wines of Halloween article here on October 28.

"Wines of Enchantment the Centennial Edition"