Don’t misunderstand me. The cause was great. The efforts had obviously been put in. (The room was stunning, the bar and general staff enthusiastic and the wineries pouring deserve credit for surviving the crowds!) Yet the final result was a little less then radiant, and it is for that reason I am going to be totally honest in my account of it because I feel that events like these need to be excellent so that people are prepared to spend their money on tickets and support causes like this which are so important to us all.

I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a bit like a fairy tale except that it’s not. It’s true.

So I am a food and wine writer and as often as I can I love to involve myself in charitable causes and try and raise publicity for good events supporting these charities. A few weeks ago I noticed on Facebook that there was to be a Celebrity Gala in aid of the Leukaemia and Lymphoma trust. Although the ticket price was totally out of my budget I contacted them to offer endorsement and was told that with my support I would receive two tickets to the evening so that I could report on it and of course the wines being poured. I was truly excited by this unique opportunity and even managed to drag my dear friend, Blondie, along as photographer for the event.

So began a mission to acquire a dress. (Kindly loaned by a well known designer as a favour but who wishes to remain anonymous at the current time as she doesn’t normally do this.)

A pair of shoes.

A hair appointment.

And of course the jewellery.

The shoes sorted themselves out as they became a belated birthday gift.

My hair was magically uplifted and pinned into a mesmerising myriad pattern by celebrity stylist Michelle Lyn Bechler owner of Light Studio 809. (I do love fate when you pop to a local bar, sit down next to a pretty girl strike up a conversation with her about a fetching waistcoat and discover that she is well known stylist who has worked around the world on catwalks and studios around the world.)

And the pièce de résistance?

Well a hand assembled and designed necklace from Michelle’s own collection which she is currently finishing for an e

So Lulu-ella was dressed and ready for the Gala.

Her carriage was a De Soto Taxi but that wasn’t unpleasant.

Then she arrived at the Bentley Reserve and this is where the story starts to get interesting…

It all began with chaos at the door. My name was not on the list, not on any lists they seemed to have in fact. Even though I had had several email confirmations by email with one of the event organisers. The poor girl in charge hadn’t slept in two days as there had been such confusion over lists and tickets. Finally we established that I was meant to be on a ‘list’ and I entered the main hall. It was here that things became even more confusing. The layout of the room was unobservable and so I had to plunge pretty much head first into a sea of well dressed suits and plunging necklines. (I’m very impressed with the high quality of breast implants at the moment – I’m almost tempted.)

It was amongst this heaving mass I realised I had accidentally thrown myself into a dating scene which looked worrying like an older version of the Marina crowd. (Middle aged men with young blonds but then let us add an extra ten years and a few more zeros to the end of the bank accounts.) The more refined members of the party stood to the sidelines and looked as amused and baffled as I did with the predatory nature of both sexes.

Another guest made the acute observation that we were in a room full of ‘high net-worth individuals’. Strange then, that these people were so unprepared to spend on the fantastic silent auction items up for bidding. I found this really rather sad. I would have loved to have bid on either the Chef Tomm package or some of the jewellery but had stupidly thought I would be outbid and had not filled out any of the forms or organised payment methods so eliminated my chances immediately, but at least I will know if there is a next time. (A piece of jewellery was even stolen from one of the tables during the event – do people have no ethics or morals at all these days?) And where were the celebrities who were supporting the event? Oh not there. No their support was in the form of ‘things’ and not physical presence so when at 15 minutes until close I approached another organiser and asked whether he thought any VIP’s might step out of their pen and endorse or encourage I was told there really wasn’t anyone in there who would fill that criteria. Delightful to know that over here you can still as in the UK have VIP’s who are really individuals with ‘Very Impressive Personal accounts….’ Yes, I am a die-hard believer that people should be famous for a skill or talent not just for a big bank account. Oh well. I think someone bid on the car and won it although trying to establish any confirmations with the organisers is like trying to draw blood out of a stone.

I would love to tell you about the music but the acoustics inside the Bentley Reserve made it almost impossible to hear anything clearly. Indeed to have bid you would have had to stand underneath the bidding area or been an expert lip reader.

So finally to the wine.

Or rather the highlight of my evening (other then meeting a prestigious and amusing barrister in the queue for a Basil Gimlet with VeeV an acai spirit –yes the stuff we put on our faces to stop aging, we are now drinking– sorry Doug – it had to be tried, and I will now strongly recommend).

So I was taking some photos of the auction pieces when I spotted a tall attractive man, who looked every bit like a gracefully maturing rock star and his companion who had a long snowy ponytail approach the table I was loitering next to and put down two bottles of wine. My interest peaked.

I enquired whether they had purchased them at the event as I had never tried the wine before and was told no. These were the winemakers own bottles, as this was the winemaker himself, Mr Noah Taylor and his companion ‘Uncle Billy’.

The wine was Noah’s 2007 Zinfandel and he insisted I try it. A friend of his, a delightful lady called Jennifer endorsed him so wholeheartedly I wondered if she was on the payroll! But none the less I set off to track down glasses. (Something which the event seemed worryingly short of.)

Returning with my treasure Noah poured us a taste.

Oh what uncontrolled bliss.

Noah’s Dry Creek Zinfandel 2007

Here was a truly beautifully balanced Zinfandel.

It had all the classic qualities you look for in a Zin, but had the structure so often lacking form other Zins. There were big juicy jammy red berries on the nose, strawberries and over ripe cherries and a hint of fig insides. While on the palette these flavours continued through but were then complimented by a little milk chocolate and pepper and some raspberry jam fresh from the jam making pot with a little remaining heat and almost the verge of the caramelised burned but still sweet fruit which cakes the side of the pot. The finish on this wine was its closing deal breaker. It was languorous and rich. I was mesmerized. This was a wine which had enough structure that it would keep for several years and retain its character through the strength of its original build.

Mr. Noah Taylor with some of his adoring fans.Noah was incredibly personable and answered my questions with enthusiasm and energy. It turned out that he was a donor to the auction and that he had donated a case of his wine. (At a bargain starting point as well!)

While talking to ‘Uncle Billy’  who was one of the most engaging conservationists I discovered a lot of intriguing family history and came to the conclusion that I had been pretty lucky in a room full of a couple of hundred people to have met these two men.

Uncle Billy and LuluIf you haven’t tried the 2007 Zinfandel I deeply recommend it. A treat in a glass and a wine which should hold for a good 6-9 years, if cellared well.

So I left the gala feeling happy that I had met such an interesting wine maker with such a great wine but disappointed as I felt that people hadn’t really made much of an effort to do much for the charity it was in aid of. Come on San Francisco – you can do better than this. And to the celebrities who donated things. Well, lovely thought, but your presence would of been appreciated, because really this was a ‘Celebrities-not-here Gala for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Trust’. The latter who I hope got some money out of the night because I can’t track down anyone to ask today what was raised. Everyone loves a party. Few people like the hangover.

Photography courtesy of Drew Altizer.

Hair and Jewelry courtesy of Michelle Lyn Bueller @Light Studio 809

I met Jeffrey at the “In Vino Unitas” event at One Market in SF a few weeks ago and was surprised to see how his table drew people from all directions to try his single offering, the 2007 Vellum Cabernet Sauvignon. In a room full of similar wines and ‘sameness’, I was momentarily shocked by the experience I had when I reached his table. I had expected wines of a similar ilk, but Vellums offering stood out as being something really rather different and dare I say ‘special’?

Jeffrey and Karl are close friend who have come together to create a wine, which I feel is outstanding in its field just like its creators.

2007 Vellum Cabernet Sauvignon: $56

84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot

Alcohol 14% (Only 800 cases produced)

This is described as being made in a ‘French style’ (St.Julien style) which really means that it has  ‘bright acidity and lower alcohol’.

A dark ruby red, with a nose abundant with cherries, black pepper, celery spice, tobacco box, coffee beans, horse leather and the gentle hint of cardamom.

I was momentarily taken aback but intrigued and taking my first taste I felt the warmth of summer fruit cherry pie, rhubarb, figs and over ripe plums. The finish was ridiculously long and velvety and I felt I was wrapping myself if velvet blankets in front of a log fire.

This wine was incredibly well structured, with a solid acid backbone, which allowed for good integration of alcohol, acid and tannin. 

So what makes this wine different other Cabernets out on the market at the second?

Well, in my opinion it has to be the perfect partnership between the scientist and humanist. Jeffrey W. Mathy and Karl R. Lehmann are the two people behind VELLUM.  Lehmann has over 8 years under the tutelage of legendary winemakers and now does private consulting and wine making. He believes that to make a wine truly great you must look at the whole picture. The structure of wine, how wine falls on the palate is most important instead of the looking for the little individual characteristics which although pleasant are often fleeting if the wine doesn’t have the backbone to support them. By creating a wine with a solid backbone, the sensory experience will be amplified and this strong structure will let everything else fall into place. Flavours and aromas are constantly changing over time, and in ten years it is often hard to know what to expect from a wine. However with Vellum’s 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon the structure behind the wine suggests that the wine will age gracefully without losing much of its finish.

Lehmann graduated from the prestigious U.C. Davis Viticulture and Enology program, after fours years of service in the U.S. Navy during the Gulf War.

Also a graduate of U.C. Davis, Mathy has always dreamed of producing ultra-premium Napa Valley wines. Before starting a career in winemaking Mathy was a sponsored athlete for Lipton Tea - and was one of the youngest mountaineers in history to climb the seven summits, including two expeditions to Mt. Everest.

Jeff became interested in wine through his frequent international travel associated with his interest in climbing. This started as a hobby and soon became a passion which led him to ‘want’ to be the youngest person to climb the 7 summits and then to ‘become’ one of the youngest mountaineers in history to climb the seven summits, including two expeditions to Mt. Everest. (A decision he made when he had already climbed four. And now a record soon to be broken by 13 year old Jordan Romero of Big Bear, CA)

In his climbing travels he tasted many different types of table wine and his palette became excited by the mixture of flavors and aromas associated with wine. His travels expanded his culinary tastes and he was mesmerized by the differences in wines produced around the world.

But Jeff’s passion was still climbing, an expensive hobby (up to $75,000 per expedition) and so it was that he went in search of sponsorship which through a series of lucky chances he managed to end up on the line to the Lipton Tea PR firm who happened to be searching for a way to market themselves to a younger demographic.

It was during expeditions to Antarctica and Mt. Everest that he was fortunate enough to end up sharing a tent with a Master of Wine who was the chairman of major Napa and Sonoma wineries.

Jeff would have started his winemaking career a year earlier, but a chance sickness a few days before summiting Mt. Everest sent him retreating from the mountain.  He then spent another full year training for a second expedition. 

It was during this second expedition on Everest that he made the decision not to reach the summit but stop 1000ft below. It was there, sitting looking out over what can only be described as a breath taking view that he had a moment of clarity, and decided that he would rather keep fingers and toes then proceed on and risk his life.

But what next? His interest spiked by his travels, Jeff packed up his bags and moved to Sonoma. It was here, that Mathy and Lehmann met in the summer of 2003 when Lehmann interviewed Mathy for a cellar position at a major Sonoma Valley winery. Their friendship over the years led to a decision that if they were to produce wine, they wanted to produce wines on a very small scale (by Napa Valley standards) and to make wines that would compete with the best wines in the world.

After one year working side-by-side, Lehmann and Mathy parted ways to take other work but remained great friends.

Lehmann spent a harvest in New Zealand and returned to Napa Valley to assume an apprenticeship with Dr. Jerry Seps, winemaker and proprietor of Storybook Mountain Vineyards. It was there that Lehmann produced their 2004, 2005 and 2006 vintages, which recently ranked among the best wines ever produced by the winery. All three of Lehmann’s vintages with Storybook Mountain yielded critical acclaim in the form of scores in the 94-96 range.

Meanwhile, Mathy was gaining experience in winery management and promotion through association with multiple institutions including the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in London and the American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts.

Mathy and Lehmann began looking for vineyard properties in the winter of 2006-2007. They discovered and partnered with three perfectly matched properties and decided to harvest four separate blocks of wine for the first VELLUM harvest in 2007.

After finding vineyards and joining forces with Bin to Bottle winery in Napa, Mathy and Lehmann began soliciting investments from friends and family. With the minimum investment offered at $1,000 the two young entrepreneurs raised enough capital to harvest and produce 800 cases of the inaugural vintage of VELLUM Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vellum is available at:

BayWolf Restaurant

K&L Wine Merchants

Half Wit Wines

Bocanova (Starting in June)

Lark Creek Walnut Creek (Starting in June)

As someone with a personal interest in this society I will be attending to cover the food and wine aspect of the event which looks to be quite interesting as Artesa Winery and Blackbird are listed as two of the sponsors and one of the auction items is from Quilceda Creek, Washington, a 2002-2007 vertical (the highest rated six-bottle consecutive vertical of cabernet sauvignon of any winery in history). (Quilceda Creek is dedicated exclusively to the production of world-class Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon. Founded in 1979, Quilceda Creek has had an unbroken string of highly-rated vintages that has led Robert Parker Jr. to name it Washington State’s premier Cabernet Sauvignon producer.)

There will be live entertainment, a hosted open bar with top shelf wine and spirits, delicious small plates, hors d’oeuvres and desserts provided by San Francisco’s top restaurants, and gift bags.

Live performances include very special guests: singer/songwriter EOIN HARRINGTON from Ireland and inspirational singer NADINE RISHA; violinists ANGIE SEEGERS and KIPPY MARKS, DJ NADER and comedian RICH EGAN.

Tickets are available online: http://llsgalasf.eventbrite.com/ 

Appearances and/or auction items have been pledged by Carlos Santana, Evan Handler (“Sex and the City” and “Californication”), Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), Willie Brown, Jr., Timothy Draper, Frank Caufield, John Hummer, John Donahoe (CEO of eBay), David Schwimmer, Kendra Kassebaum (from “Wicked”), Jeffrey Jordon (CEO of OpenTable.com), Oscar winning director Jeffrey Brown, Star Varga (from “Secrets of Aspen”), Tyson Stenglein, Chef Tomm, and many others.

The event will feature the auction of “celebrity experiences,” including: 

**Meet Carlos Santana with 2 VIP tickets and backstage passes to his upcoming Las Vegas show**
**Meet Evan Handler**
**Watch Sammy Hagar and the Wabos rehearse at their studio in San Rafael, with including lunch, margaritas and signed DVD’s & CD’s etc.**
**Power lunches with Willie Brown, Jr., John Donahoe, Timothy Draper, Frank Caufield and John Hummer**
**Private screening of the Oscar winning short “Molly’s Pilgrim,” with Oscar and Emmy winning director Jeffrey Brown**
**A WICKED EXPERIENCE Meet Kendra Kassebaum, also known as Glinda, from the smash hit Wicked, and see the musica**
**Private dinner/cooking lessons with Chef Tomm**
**Dinner Date with Australian Football Superstar, Tyson Stenglein**

Other auction items include: the ungettable 2011 BENTLY MULSANNE (currently sold out until 2012), Napa spa getaways, and fine art and jewelry.

The Blog with info on some of the auction items: http://llscelebritygala.blogspot.com/

The feeling on the grapevine is that Rosé is having resurgence in popularity. (I have to admit I never knew it had dropped, being the ardent advocate of this feminine looking but often powerfully brilliant family of wines, I can think of few nicer experiences then drinking rosé in the sun.)  It seems that more wine drinkers have realised the versatility of rosé wines in pairings with foods alongside drinking it alone or as an aperitif.

The RAP ‘PINK OUT’ event was held at the intimate Butterfly Restaurant and bar at Pier 33 and was sponsored by Mutineer Magazine and Cellar Pass . The trade tasting began at 3.30pm with the event opening to the public at 6.30. Although I arrived only 10 minutes after the start time, the room was packed and buzzing with pink everywhere. On shirts, dresses, hats, boas, wigs, roses, table cloths, drapes – you name it, it was probably there in pink! With over 40 still and sparkling wines to try I felt as though I had walked into a pink version of heaven.

For rosé lovers who couldn’t attend, TasteLive – ‘the world’s premiere online wine tasting community’ brought the virtual experience to the people.

Tastelive and Rap invited guests from across the globe to join in the fun, by opening and tasting their favourite rosés in real time, before tweeting their thoughts and pictures onto the TasteLive site. While Mutineer’s editor-in-chief Alan Kropf hosted the tasting, live from Butterfly.

Pan-Pacific rosé-inspired appetizers created from sustainably and organically sourced ingredients by Chef Robert Lam, on the whole, brought out the strengths rosé wine has in food pairings Little salmon roll delicacies drifted past me regularly as I again tried to perfect the art of holding glass, notes, pen and spit cup. However I was shocked to see some trays of oyster shooters go round and people take them! A sure way to kill your palate. (I waited until the end to sample one and was left almost horizontal by the heat of the tomato juice and spice next to the oyster – delicious, but not what I would personally pair with pink.)

So in this intimate incredibly pink venue I began my tasting and what delights awaited me.

There were many interesting finds and I found it very hard to narrow down what I liked.  There were lots of the obvious rosé characteristics of vanilla, strawberry and white chocolate but also some unexpected melon and green pepper aromas from some of the cab blends.

Amorosa Bella: 

NV  Sparkling Brut Rosé: $38

C: A vivid cerise.

N: Wild strawberries, raspberries, cherry pie, a little ripe mango with some minerality on the nose. P: Wild strawberry sweetness and flavour with a hint of white chocolate.

I: Good bubbles structure, and good longevity make this a very drinkable sparkling Rosé.

Benzinger Family Winery:

2009 Grenache Rosé, Sonoma Mt. Sustainable:  $24

This wine had another fantastic hue of pink.

N: Strawberries, vanilla, floral suggestions of rosé and violet lead to a refined nose.

P:  A ‘tetris’ wine, I loved the multiple layers that unfolded which each taste.  Plum, freshly buttered toast, vanilla cream and raspberry all sit alongside each other in harmony, with a clean finish to close.

I: This has a big personality fitted into a sleek bottle. This is a wine I could see having potential to be drunk alone or would bring out some of the nuances of some slightly grilled wild salmon.

Chateau D’Escalans:

2008 ‘Whispering Angel’, Cote de Provence Rosé

C: Pale pink salmon.

N: Rosé water and herbaceous notes complimented by peach, pear skin, and strawberries.

P: This is soft and round on the palate, a nice medley of wild strawberries and vanilla. Possibly some liquorice on what is undoubtedly a sound finish. The French still know how to make beautiful refined delicate rosés and this is no exception.

I:  This wine was as angelic in nature as in name. Graceful and refined it carried itself well but wasn’t overpowering which made it stand out against some of the more blunt rosés surrounding it.

Dunstan Wines:

2009 Durell Vineyard Rosé of Pinot Noir: $20

C: A slightly richer pink, this wine had a surreal luminosity to the colour, and a truly beautiful label with the light traces of a horse shoe on it.

N: Small sweet wild strawberries, white chocolate vanilla and peach.

P: Well rounded wine. The wild strawberries suggested on the nose were now coated in white chocolate and there were whispers of lavender and peach in the central structure.

On the nose this wine ticked a lot of boxes for me. It showed distinctive fruit and floral aromas which progressed to form a balanced wine with a clean finish.

Fleur de California: 2009 Rosé: $20

High acid holds this wine together allowing a beautiful entwining of fruit and floral aromas which are softened further by vanilla and peach flavours.

Gloria Ferrer: 2006 Brut Rosé : $42

C: Beautiful light pink.

N: Ainseed, white chocolate, vanilla.

P: Bubbles were balanced. More strawberries and whit chocolate but with hints of melon and peach flesh.

This was easily one of my favourite wines, as it had a real summer sparkle to its flavour and although the bubbles didn’t last quite as long as I hoped the finish was generally good.

Other wines of note:

Bordigioni Family Winery:

2009 Big Pink: $22:

Everything about this wine is big and in your face. But don’t take that as a bad thing. Instead relish in those big berry flavours that thrash their way across your palate and leave you breathless. This is a fun wine for bbqs and summer fun. 

Cornerstone Cellars: ‘Stepping Stone by Cornerstone’: $16

Cornerstone Cellars didn’t disappoint with a rosé which had strong white chocolate, vanilla and latte on the nose, followed by a well defined palate of honey, jasmine, vanilla, strawberry and again that white chocolate warmth and smoothness.

Lynmar Estate:

2009 Rosé of Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley: $22 -  Classic rosé flavours. Won’t disappoint.

Pedroncelli Winery:

2009 Dry Rosé of Zinfandel: $10 – Bargain wine for the flavours showcased.

PEJU Winery: 2009 PEJU Pink: $22

Pisoni Vineyards and Winery:

2009 Lucy Rosé of Pinot Noir: $18 – A little tight but with great texture. I think this wine will open up over time and the spicy back notes would work well with summer meats.

Robert Oatley Vineyards: $15 - Fresh strawberries and raspberries on the nose. In the mouth it is abundant with fruit yet maintains a dry style. This is definitely a producer to keep an eye on.

This was easily one of the most fun tasting events I have attended in some time. Every effort had been made to make this a tasteful showcase of rosé wine and the feeling in the room was contagious. There was a clear distinction between styles, each wine told a completely different story about the terroir and the process from which it was born and it was great to see such enthusiasm and passion behind what were often very small productions.

Having Tastelive at the event and the online tweeting made this a world wide pink party and I could easily see many more of these happening in the future and maybe expanding to cover other varietals in such a user-friendly way.

Even though the day began with torrential rain, this did not deter either the wine makers or members of the trade and media who turned up to sample Mendocino’s wines and food.

The Golden Gate Club is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty and the room in which the tasting occurred had high full length windows which allowed you to sample the wine while looking out over a mesmerizing view.

On Tuesday there were 58 tables pouring which was slightly more (there were 53 wineries last year) than last year, however there were more members of the trade in attendance. 

The first thing to catch my eye upon entering were the beautifully designed tasting books which had clearly had a lot of thought and consideration put into their design. I’m always amazed even I attend an event and the tasting booklets are quite simply useless as there isn’t enough room to write any notes, the fonts are too small, the spacing too narrow, these tasting booklets were quite different though. Thin bound with two wineries a page and nice big bits of blank space for you to list your thoughts, these were of a completely different ilk to other booklets I had seen. Stepping into the main area I was impressed by the label flags above each table and the good use of distribution of space between tables.

I often find wines from Mendocino to be a little disappointing. Bold on the nose, disappointing subdued on the palate. This year, however I found three producers of interest. In alphabetical order with my recommendations.

Chiarito Vineyard

2005 Zinfandel - $21

Further review to follow, but this wine was ‘berry laden’ with good balance and nice tannins which didn’t overpower the red jam flavors and cherry on the tongue with the slight sweetness of raisins.

(I was lucky enough to also try the 03’ which was possibly coming to its life extremity but showed well how these wines hold their character with age and don’t lose much of the tannin structure.)

Rivino

2008 Viognier - $24

A nose of peaches and pear skin with floral undertones. This wine has a medley of white flesh summer fruits on the palate and good finish.

Phillips Hill Vineyard

If you haven’t heard about Toby Hills wines you will soon. This is a man to watch as his recent publicity acts show.

His wines show amazing character in the face of the forest fires, and turn the smell and taste of burnt wood into a fiery mix which is mesmerizing.

My personal favorite was the 2008 Phillips Hill ‘Ring of Fire’ Pinot Noir. A combination of two vineyards, this wine has pepper on the nose, and then cherries, cigar box and earth soil on the palate. Described as a ‘big’ wine by the man himself this is no shrinking violet.

Over the next few weeks I hope to be able to review these wines in more depth and hopefully tell you more about the fascinating stories behind the wines and their makers.

In conclusion the ‘Taste of Mendocino’ was one of the best organized tastings I have attended in some time. There were a selection of producers who had ‘interesting’ wines but only a limited few shone out as being special and of further interest.

My most recent discovery was the ‘Wine Aroma Wheel’, created by Ann C. Noble in 1990, something that may already be familiar to many of you but is still worth mentioning.

The ‘Wine Education’ market is flooded with similar devices and apparatus but each one has a unique quirk or differentiating feature and this one is no different.

The purpose of the ‘Aroma Wheel’ is to ‘facilitate communication about wine flavor by providing a standard terminology’. This sounds obvious enough but for a lot of people the logical progression of ideas when wine tasting can be overwhelming and this wheel aims to alleviate this.

The wheel consists of three tiers. The inner circle has general terms (floral, fruity) , expanding out to far more specific terms on the third level. : it has very general terms located in the centre (e.g. fruity or chemical), going to the most specific terms in the outer tier (e.g. grapefruit or strawberries). 

These terms are not the only terms that can be used to describe wines, but represent ones that are often encountered.

What we liked about the Aroma Wheel was the logical progression from the inner circle to the outer circle. The colours helped the review panel remember the terms and it was felt that the size of the wheel, was reasonable due to the good size of font.

At $6 (not including p&p) we felt that the wheel was a good purchase as it did indeed assist with improving the communication in wine discussions.

The Wine Aroma Wheel can be purchased online from www.winearomawheel.com.

You can ‘Like’ it on Facebook and see it in action on YouTube. For more details please click on the links.

The problem I have encountered is that we are faced with a variety of wines but it sometimes may not be clear that I appreciate both more expensive varietals as well as more affordable shop rather than vineyard bought bottles.

It isn’t about one wine being ‘better’ then another; instead I prefer to think of it like clothing. You have a different coat for different weathers. Sometimes you want something light and uncomplicated; while at other times you want a warmer, multi-layered jacket, with extra pockets full of surprises. Different coats, different weathers…

I do believe that some wines do need, the ‘experience’ of a few years drinking other wines before you can fully get the most out of them due to their complexity, but I ardently believe that you live and learn through experience and I feel very lucky that I have had the chance under Doug’s guidance to try and so many new things since joining the team.

In conclusion – I love wine, and I intend to review anything I think worthy of attention even if it surprisingly inexpensive. Why? Well, sometimes it’s in the ‘Bargain Corner’ you find the real gems and surprises! 

Last night I attended “Looking Forward, Giving Back” which was SF Camerawork’s

I went because I have for some time wanted to know more about this non-profit organisation and in the interest of finding the best this city has to offer I was told that in this hidden environment I would have a chance to see some real and raw talent.

Stepping into the exhibition area I was at first overwhelmed by the crowds and the heat. The room was pulsating with energy as DJ Toph One (AS Krew) pumped out his tunes and delicious sandwiches and fruit salads were passed around students and board members alike.

I soon began to make progress in crossing the room towards the back areas where the sponsored photo booth was located and the ‘special token’ bar lay with some wines that had sparked my interest. Of course, this was made impossible but the distraction caused by the quality of the photography on show. Mentors photographs were placed next to their students and at times it was hard to tell what belonged to who due to the high level reached. I was particularly impressed to see work by a 13 year old being fought over, and hoped that the photographer wherever she might be might see the fuss and delight over what she had created. 

The silent auction proceeds from the photographs by the students and mentors will benefit First Exposures, SF Camerawork’s unique youth mentoring program that uses art education to develop transferable skills and foster supportive intergenerational relationships between artists and under-served Bay Area youth. Students and mentors meet weekly for a year and work toward a final project, which in the past has included exhibitions, public billboards, and the book First Exposures.

1991 Domaine Amiot-Bonfils Chassagne- Montrachet, Pes Chaumes

As we milled around the room I was lucky enough to try the1991 Domaine Amiot-Bonfils Chassagne- Montrachet, Pes Chaumes which was being served on a glass per token basis alongside the pay bar. (Incredibly limited release)

This was a wine which was possibly getting to the extremity of its life however still retained some of the classic Burgundy characteristics which make the region so renowned.

The colour was moving from an orange, warm brick red to a brown. On the nose it was warm and sweet, rich cherries and maybe some blackcurrant jam hinted at in the background. There was wood and bark underneath the fruit levels and I felt that this wine had a complexity to it that would continue through out the glass. On the palate it was classically smooth and soft, with a reasonable length of finish to it. My mouth felt as though it was experiencing a cherry and chocolate dessert, so smooth was the finish.

The other interesting wine which was available was a 1989 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, limited barrel selection produced by Bernard Pradel Vinyard of Yountville, CA for the commemoration of the San Francisco Symphony’s 1990-91 season. [This was a wine never intended for a large, public consumption, but rather for the members of the Symphony’s Board of Directors only] therefore to have an opportunity to try something of such a limited release was really very fun.

As delightful as the wines were, it was the art and the experience of the silent auction, which really held my attention for the night. As I wandered around the gallery I was mesmerised by the talent I saw before me. The photographs were set up in pairs with the work of the mentors next to those of the students and at times it really was hard to tell which was which. On a more human level, to see students as young as eleven watch others bid over their work so frantically was wonderful as you could see their excitement and happiness at having achieved something so high in demand.

It was a hugely impressive turn out for a midweek event and I was delighted to see such a mixed crowd in attendance. What with the combination of fantastic photographs, some interesting wines, beautifully cut sandwiches and lavish fruit salads this event was well executed and well received. Now, I am just looking forward to what they do next. Based on this event, whatever they do next will undoubtedly worth a visit.

SF Camerawork is slightly hidden on 657 Mission Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105 next to the Cartoon Museum.

www.sfcamerawork.org

657 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 512-2020

Many of the wines on display seemed to be without distributor as noted from the carefully presented tasting note booklets, which were clear with complete company details and wine details.

The room was laid out with food intermixed with wine. Unfortunately although each table and winery had a number, on entering it was hard to distinguish the flow of numbers and traffic around the event. Undeterred however I stepped bravely forward (after a quick look at the booklet) I decided to head in the direction of the Cava first.

At this sort of showcase event I am always looking for ‘pleasant suprises’ and the Pera Ventura Cupatge d’Honor was just such a Cava.

Pere Ventura Cupatge d’Honor:

 Winery: Pere Ventura

The Pera Ventura Cupatge d’Honor is a blend of 70% Xarel-lo and 30% Chardonnay. Aged for a minimum of 24 months on its lee this cava had a rich gold colour, a rich hazelnut and yeast nose, which followed through on the palate to butterscotch and hint of sherbet. Bubbles were consistent and not overwhelming.

Pere Ventura I Familia, S. L.

www.pereventura.com  

In the whites I liked:

Viña Cartin Albarino 2009:

Winery: Viña Cartin 

This 100% Albarino was slightly creamy with refreshing pear and melon on the nose and apple and lime peel on the palate. A gentle de-stemming process, hand-selection, and modern winery techniques lead to a very clean and crisp wine which would be refreshing either as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to pasta or seafood.

I was fascinated to discover that the winery of Vina Cartin is situated in the Salnes Valley, which is in the Rias Baixas sub-region of the same name. This is the coolest and dampest of the zones in the Rias Baixas sub region which leads to Cartin having to care meticulously for their fruit at all stages in the wine making process.

www.wineattitude.es

Casa de la Dehesa Moscatel 2008:

Winery: Bodegas Naranjo, S.L

100% Moscatel of small grain this wine had a wonderful white fruit nose of peach yoghurt and caramel which followed through on the plate with a good finish.

Bodegas Naranjo, S.L

www.bodegasnaranjo.com

While in the red section I found the 2005 Egomei Ama spectacular.

Egomei Alma 2005

Winery: Finca Egomei, S. L

A blend of 75% Tempranillo and 25% Graciano it is fermented for 18 months in new French oak casks after it has been maintained for 3 months on the lees before six months in the bottle. The Egomei Alma 2005 is cherry red in colour, with chocolate, toasted oak, and coffee beans on the nose. The palate has a good balance of fruit and minerality with liquorice on the back palate and cherry pie and dark chocolate at the front. This a wine with both complexity and grace.

In 2008, the  2005 Alma Egomei took the gold medal at the ‘Concours Mondial de Bruxelles’, in addition to the jewel of Gold ‘Award Zarcillo’ 2009 and Gold Medal at Decanter World Wine Awards 2009.

www.bodegasab.com

The

Held at the Intercontinental Hotel, with over a 1000 attendees, and hosted jointly by the New Zealand Wine Group and by KGO News Talk Radio, this was an day not to be missed as it showcased some of the most interesting wines to come out of New Zealand alongside food from some of San Francisco’s most noted restaurants and for a not unreasonable price of - $30 advance, $40 at the door. From such a gathering I hoped to take away from it a better understanding of the nature of the wine production and the relationship between the wine and the terroir, and I truly felt I did.

This is only the second year this event has been run, and KGO News Talk Radio ‘Dining Around’ presenter Gene Burns described it as “a prototype for future events which could focus on other regions which have significant wine production”. Indeed KGO’s hosting of this event showed how well the cooperation of a media outlet can act as a connect mechanism with the public.

KGO held their live broadcast of the event on air and it was clear from the look, age and behaviour of many of the individuals present that this was quite a different demographic from the one I had seen on Thursday night at the Vin12 Event. Most individuals seemed to have a serious interest in wine or even have visited New Zealand and be using this opportunity as a chance to sample some of its finest examples of wine. Even the younger members of the crowd were knowledgeable about what they were drinking and it was lovely to see so many people asking educated questions of those pouring

The wine tasting space was well laid out with enough space to negotiate tables and people. Alongside one wall ran the buffet, which was laden with a selection of culinary delicacies, while on the adjacent wall was a combination of travel companies and wineries. Large maps and bright visuals acted as wonderful advertisements for such a diverse country. The central area of the room was where most of the tables were located and although there was no obvious low of wine-traffic people were behaving in a polite enough way that there were no obvious ruckuses.

Wines that stood out to me were:

Spy Valley Wines:

I had only previously tried the Sauvignon Blanc however I was very impressed by the 2007 Pinot Gris and the Gewurztraminer, both of which were from Marlborough.

Spy Valley Pinot Gris Marlborough 2007 $22.50

This was a medium bodied creamy wine that had an unexpected sweetness to it.

Delightful.

Spy Valley Gewurztraminer Marlborough 2007 $20.00

A big wine, with punchy flavours that carry good length. There is unquestionably some bitter sweet lychee sugar nestling amongst the folds of spicier tones. A little clove or ginger holds this wine together making it an easy summer favorite.

Tarras Vineyards:

Due to the nature of these events I often appear at a table and enquire which is the ‘flagship’ wine available to try. This can go one of two ways. You are impressed and tempted into trying the others or you aren’t and move on. If the former, then I wish you the best of luck as often the other wines are very underwhelming.

Tarras Vinyards wines on the other hand are really quite exceptional. These are wines which really allow the ‘land to speak’ .

Tarras Vinyards The Steppes Pinot Noir Central Otago 2008 $34.95

I tried this Pinot first and was captivated by the delicate refined nature of the wine. It truly was an example of the ballerina in the glass. From one vineyard, this was a wine of the richest purple colour, which captivated your eye while you palate was distracted by trying to relax into a wine which had enough length to make it feel like a story from the land it was from. Firm purple fruit with strong jammy sugars sitting further back on this wine give it real character.

As a contrast I also tried the Canyon Pinot Noir. It was wonderful to see such a difference in styles produced by the same wine maker.

These wines were truly delicious and called out to be drunk either alone or with a lovely piece of New Zealand lamb. Scrumptious.

Wither Hills:

Wither Hills were an old favorite from back home. Many a summer evening did I used to spend sitting outside The Mulberry public house in Hampshire in England with a bottle of their Sauvignon Blanc and so to have an opportunity to try the Pinot was lovely.

The chief winemaker Ben Glover sounds like a very interesting character.

“As a winemaker, moulding the nuances you can get from different parcels of fruit into a seamless glass of wine is the challenge but also the reward.”

Wither Hills Pinot Noir Marlborough 2008 $20.99

The Pinot Noir was described by Monique, who was pouring as ‘being as fresh as a daisy’. Aged in neutral oak, the fruit flavors keep going on through the velvety finish.

When asked what Mr Glovers favorite pairing for this wine was, I received the most surprising answer. Baked salmon with garlic butter and a little asparagus. This is something I will definitely have to try!

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2008 $15.99

http://www.witherhills.co.nz/wine-notes/sauvignon-blanc/

The Sauvignon still has a spice to it, a nuances of gooseberry, which would cut well through spicy food as it has a nice acid and balance. Not a bad wine for the very reasonable price of $15.99

Others worth mentioning:

Man O’War Vineyards

Man O’War Ironclad Bordeaux Blend Waiheke Island 2008 $34.99

A fruity blend which gives you an explosion of fruit in the glass.

Nautilus Estate Twin Islands and Opawa

Twin Islands Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2009 $9.99

This is there new release and is a complete bargain. Buy now for obvious N.Z Sauvignon Blanc characteristics wrapped up tight in clear minerality 

Villa Maria

Their portfolio is always an interesting taste- through.

Overview:

This was a well-organized, well-attended event with some great wines available to the public to try. When I spoke to Gene Burns, the key idea behind the concept was that this event would allow people to fly away to New Zealand for a few hours for the small price of $30 and no increase in their global footprint. It was both educational as well as enjoyable. The use of a public radio broadcaster may have encouraged a certain type of patron to this event yesterday, but it was the wines that held the spotlight. Rich in vitality and flavour, New Zealand proved itself to still be a leading wine producer even in the dark times of grape price decline, with key names like, Oyster Bay’s Vineyards facing a loss as N.Z. grape prices decline.

 All wines are available to buy direct from JJ. Buckley Fine Wines.