California Wine Tour – Enjoy Nine Top Wines from the West Coast
Travel along the West Coast with the Woman Around Town “California Wine Tour.” The Golden State is the home to some of the best growing regions in the United States. There are wineries that are producing exquisite award winning, top rated selections. We have collected information for nine delightful wines at a variety of price points that are perfect for the next time you are replenishing your collection or selecting a wine for the upcoming holidays. Click on the wine name to learn more about the wine and where to buy.
Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay 2018 – This crisp, yet elegant wine comprised of 100 percent chardonnay grapes, is blended from some of the region’s finest vineyards. The wine is aged for eight months in 30 percent new French Oak. It has attractive citrus notes of lemon rind and grapefruit present on the nose followed by crisp nectarine, honeydew melon, pressed mint leaves and lemongrass. On the palate, the wine is fresh and crisp with flavors of Meyer lemon, and lime zest along with the more opulent tastes of honey and fresh apricot. Served chilled, this full-bodied wine is ideal with fresh fruit, your favorite seafood dish, and creamy, rich desserts like rice pudding. (SRP $35)
Walking Tree Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – The wine is a favorite of intimate bistros and innovative eateries as it showcases the pleasures of Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. It is composed of 93 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 7 percent Syrah. This wine was the 13th release of Cabernet from Walking Tree’s. The juicy dark red fruit profile is accented by an earthy complexity created by the Syrah. Walking Tree is sourced from the Benchland vineyards, renowned for their top quality grapes. You’ll like this wine with short ribs, spaghetti and meatballs, or serve it with dark chocolate desserts like rich molten lava cake. (SRP $24.99)
Two Angels Petite Sirah 2018 – This wine is the fourth vintage of Two Angels Petite Sirah from the highly recognized Red Hill Appellation in Lake County, an area known for its iron-rich soils. After hand harvesting the grapes and careful destemming and fermentation, this wine is aged for nine months in French Oak. With a deep purple hue, the wine boasts savory aromas of plums, currents, vanilla and subtle hints of toasted herbs. It is a beautifully structured wine with firm tannins and a long luxurious finish. The wine is best served at room temperature and pairs well with meats that include beef, venison, and roasted poultry. Enjoy it with your next cheese platter. (SRP $26.99)
Samuel Charles Oak Knoll Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – This single vineyard wine has a rich purple hue. Its earthy scent also has hints of ripe raspberries and lavender. As a top notch, perfectly balanced Cabernet, the wine has both structure and weight on the palate and boasts a lively, pleasant finish. This is the second vintage of Samuel Charles Cabernet Sauvignon that comes form the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, a sub-appellation that is becoming well known for superb terroir and distinctive grapes. After harvesting and careful destemming and fermentation, this wine is aged for ten months in French Oak. A treasure in your wine collection, it should be served at room temperature with red meats, lamb kabobs, and your favorite cheeses. (SRP $79.99)
Herzog Lineage Choreograph Red Blend 2017 – Choreograph is a field blend of 12 carefully selected varietals. This bold red wine offers tempting scents of candied cherry, rose petal, pear and blackberries. It has a complex and lingering flavor a beautifully textured finish shows hints of leather, anise and toasted pine nut. This wine pairs well with hard cheeses, a charcuterie platter, and well-seasoned meats. (SRP $18.99)
Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2019 – This bright, wonderful wine is delightfully fragrant with aromas of grapefruit and melon. It is crisp and lively with the flavors of lemon, lime, and tangerine. The grapes were sourced from multiple California appellations featuring ones from Sonoma County and Alexander Valley. The fruit was aged in two and three year old French Oak for eight months. This well-balanced Sauvignon Blanc should always be on your wine rack as it is very versatile. Serve it chilled with sushi, Asian dished, grilled chicken, a hummus platter, and Greek dishes. (SRP $13.99)
Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2018 – The wine has a composition of 100 percent Pinot Noir with grapes that have been selected and blended from some of the region’s top vineyards. It is aged for eight months in 30 percent French Oak. This light red wine has a very tempting bouquet of juicy red fruit. On the palate, the wine has a subtle complexity with the tastes of cranberry chutney, vanilla beans with delightful undertones of ginger snap cookies. The wine’s vibrant acidity and silky tannins make it a perfect sip on its own, but can be easily paired with an array of foods that include an appetizer or platter, pasta with a light, fresh tomato sauce, and grilled chicken. (SRP $45)
Eponymous Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – This red wine with its deep purple color has extraordinary complexity with the aromas of ripe plum, blackberries, casis and dark chocolate. This fruit carries over to the palate with the wine’s balanced structure and supple tannins that lead to a very pleasant, lengthy finish. The grapes for this wine come from four distinctly different vineyard sites that include Mt. Vedeer, Howell Mountain, Coombville and Atlas Peak. The hand-harvested fruit was fermented and aged for 20 months in new oak barrels. This wine should be served at room temperature and is well paired with a charcuterie platter, prime rib, and lightly seasoned grilled or roasted vegetables. (SRP $59.99)
Herzog Late Harvest Zinfandel Lodi 2019 – The old vines of Lodi, California, produce intense flavors for this late harvest wine that displays a lovely rich texture and a luscious sweet berry fruit finish. This wine also features a full-bodied mouth feel and a well- balanced structure. Served chilled, this Zinfandel is a real crowd pleaser. It is a wonderful pairing for fresh fruit, pastries and cakes and can be served with brunch dishes. (SRP $19.99)
Top photo: Bigstock
