Two styles of syrah are produced in San Luis Obispo County. From the Paso Robles area, we often get a riper, jammy style that can be reminiscent of some Australian shiraz; from the cooler Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande areas, the syrahs tend to be more peppery and savory. Each style has its fans and, personally, I love them both. But this week’s recommendations focus on the lively, peppery syrahs from Edna Valley.
As the weather warms, I find myself gravitating more toward white wine, especially crisp, refreshing whites. My recommendations this week focus on local bottles that, when served well-chilled, would be perfect for sipping with a light meal or snack on the deck or patio on a warm spring day.
It’s fashionable to bash chardonnay — you’ve probably heard of the ABC (anything but chardonnay) crowd. But chardonnay still is by far the top-selling varietal in the country. One of the beauties of chardonnay is that it can be made in a wide range of styles, so there’s a version to appeal to nearly everyone. The following chardonnays from local wineries exhibit some of those differences, but they’re all well-balanced and delicious to drink.
Although I usually think of Paso Robles as red wine country, there are some interesting whites produced, especially from Rhône grapes. I particularly like some of the blends, which often have additional complexity achieved through the use of a variety of grapes. Here are three fine white blends, at a range of prices, that merit your attention.
With all the accolades showered on Paso Robles zinfandel and syrah, it’s easy to overlook the very good cabernet sauvignon that’s produced in the appellation. The wines come in a range of prices, but they still won’t cost you as much as a lot of run-of-the-mill Napa Valley cabs. Here are some good new releases to look for.
Sometimes wine drinkers simply want a change of pace from the usual cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay. This county’s wineries and vineyards offer plenty of choices that are a little different. My picks this week focus on two hearty reds, as well as a racy sauvignon blanc.
Linne Calodo on the west side of Paso Robles is best known for its red blends, which are dominated by zinfandel and Rhone grapes like syrah and grenache. The wines are on the pricey side, but they’re made in small quantities and are of very high quality. This week’s picks include two of those blends, tasted recently during a visit to the winery’s tasting room, as well as a more moderately priced red blend from another Paso winery, Vina Robles. (The zin-dominated 2006 Linne Calodo Problem Child isn’t included here because it’s now sold out at the winery, but the wine, which brims with ripe berry and white pepper, is a good bet if you can find it.)
I tried to taste as many SLO County pinot noirs as I could during the recent World of Pinot Noir. Some were from areas known for producing good pinots, such as Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley. Others were from regions not usually associated with pinot, like Paso Robles. Here are a few more WOPN highlights.
Pinot noirs from all over the world are on display during the annual World of Pinot Noir, held earlier this month in the San Luis Obispo area. But the majority of the wines are from the Central Coast. Next week, I’ll tell you more about the event. For now, consider these recommended pinots from a few SLO County producers.
Bianchi Winery is on the east side of Paso Robles, but winemaker Tom Lane also buys fruit from other appellations throughout the Central Coast. Wines made from the estate vineyards are labeled as “Heritage Selection,” while wines from other vineyards go into the “Signature Selection” bottlings. This week’s picks include one of each, as well as a merlot from Wild Horse Winery in Templeton.
Alfred Terry Speizer bought Chamisal Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards in Edna Valley, in 1994 and a few years later started producing wines under the Domaine Alfred label. Chamisal, which had fallen into disrepair, was planted mostly with chardonnay. When Speizer, who goes by Terry, started replanting it, he branched out into pinot noir; a little syrah, grenache and pinot gris were added later. But chardonnay is still prominent at Domaine Alfred. This week’s picks includes two chardonnays from Chamisal Vineyard, as well as an estate rosé.
San Luis Obispo County produces syrah in a variety of styles because the area has such a diversity of climate. This week’s picks focus on some wines made from grapes grown in warmer parts of the county.
Planning a romantic meal for Valentine’s Day? Local wineries can provide the vino. That’s especially true if you’re looking for a big red to pair with something hearty like steak, rack of lamb or boeuf bourguignon. This week’s picks include two such reds from Paso Robles, as well as a dessert wine to finish the evening.
There were a couple of interesting dessert wines from Paso Robles — a port-style wine made from zinfandel and a late-harvest petite sirah — among the entries at last month’s San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Either would be a good choice to share with your sweetie on Valentine’s Day. And if you’re starting the meal with seafood (Dungeness crab, perhaps?), how about an inexpensive chardonnay that took best-of-class honors?
At the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, local wines of all sorts (in addition to the viogniers I told you about last week) performed well. This week’s picks include a pair of pinot noirs, as well as a Bordeaux-style red blend.
A number of Paso Robles wineries entered viogniers in the recent San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Though not all of them hit home runs, several wineries scored well on my judging sheets. Here are three that struck my fancy.
If you’re usually a chardonnay or merlot drinker, why not try something new in 2008? This week’s picks include a variety of wine types (and colors), as well as a range of prices. Any of these bottles from local wineries can help you expand your horizons.
Whalebone Vineyard on the west side of Paso Robles takes its name from the many fossils of whales and other marine life unearthed among the calcareous rocks that are abundant in the vineyard. The 10-acre cabernet sauvignon vineyard is nearly 20 years old now, and it’s yielding some intense wine. At first, the grapes were sold, but the Simpsons, who own Whalebone, now are producing their own wine. This week’s picks include two of those bottlings, as well as a more moderately priced cab from another Paso Robles producer.
I eat a lot of seafood year-round (this time of year, it’s Dungeness crab), so I’m always on the hunt for fresh, crisp white wines. This week’s picks include two such whites, as well as a tasty dessert wine. Two of the wines are from French Camp Vineyards on the east side of Paso Robles, a vineyard with a remarkable diversity of grapes, including varieties such as valdiguie, muscat canelli and lagrein.
Cooler weather, hearty foods – it’s a good time of year for full-bodied red blends from Paso Robles. This week’s picks encompass three such blends.
