#santamariavalley
Sans Liege
The Offering Syrah Blend 2012
Showing well. Very alcoholic and big but some wonderful complexity developed over an hour or so. Blue and black fruit dominated with some orange in the background. Firm structure and nice length. Very delicious. #sansliege #grenache #syrah #mourvedre #viognier #santamariavalley #california #usa #ctbucklinwine — 9 years ago
Storm Wines
Slide Hill Vineyard Syrah 2014
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
Deep violet, med+ aromas, stemmy, black currant, intense flavors, high body, a bit astringent. Smokey as well. #ednavalley #santamariavalley #syrah — 10 years ago
Cambria Estate Winery
Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2012
Picked up at Von's on a lark. I've visited Cambria a few times, and you typically get what you pay for. The Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay is one of their larger production bottles. Cambria was established in 1987. Cambria estate primarily grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with a smattering of Rhône varietals. Decent table white, actually drinks better at Red Wine Temp (60 degrees or so). ~$16 | #cambria #chardonnay #santamariavalley
On the eyes: Straw Yellow, Star Bright, Med Legs, Light Stain, No Gas/Floc.
On the nose: Med Alcohol, Oakey Vanilla nose combines with unripe Pineapple and Peach, bit of Cork Fault unfortunately.
On the tongue: Med+ Acid, Med Tannin, Med+ Alcohol, Buttery Malolactic flavor that yields to Guava, Vanilla, and Oakey Spiciness, Med Body/Structure, Med Finish.
— 11 years ago
Foxen
Block UU-Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay 2013
As a member of Foxen's wine club, it's always a welcomed sight when a shipment arrives! This came in my last shipment, and I couldn't resist. Big tropical fruit that's not too buttery or oaky with great balance make this Chardonnay a winner. ~$32 | #foxen #santamariavalley #chardonnay
On the eyes:
Clear Star Bright
Med Straw-Yellow
Light Stain, Med Tears
No Gas/Floc
On the nose:
Powerful Tropical fruit
Citrus Peel and Salt
Mineralty, French Oak
Med Alcohol
On the tongue:
Sweet, Med Tannin
Med Acid, Med Alcohol
Med Round Body
Honey soaked Pineapple
Hint of Citrus and Herb
Good Balance, Med+ Finish
Good Complexity
— 11 years ago
Au Bon Climat
Nuits-Blanches au Bouge Estate Bottled Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2001
Incredible, my first aged CA #chardonnay #santamariavalley from a famous producer. A magnum aged 21 years onsite at the winery proved spectacular. Golden yellow in glass. Nose explodes with honeysuckle, marizpan, quince paste, preserved lemon. Opulent texture on palate, honeyed apple & citrus, vibrant acidity and wet stone finish. — 4 years ago
Sanguis
Bossman Syrah 2013
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
Deep ruby, med+ intensity of aromas, mint chocolate, black currant, on the palate, rich, some cinnamon and Christmas spice, pumpkin and nutmeg. Loving it. Rich. #syrah #viognier #centralcoastwine #californianwine #staritahills #santamariavalley — 10 years ago
Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
Reserve Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2011
Received the 2011 Reserve Chardonnay from Riverbench in a member shipment a while back and drank it about a week ago. Riverbench, founded in 1973, has long held a very favorable reputation for producing high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay out of the Santa Maria Valley. Their winemaker, Clarissa Nagy, has all the tools to make great wine and this is a great example. ~32$ | #riverbench #chardonnay #santamariavalley
On the eyes: starbright, yellow-gold with light stain and med tears. No gas/floc.
On the nose: very buttery with an oaky nuttiness rounded by melon, guava, and pear.
On the tongue: slightly effervescent with med acid, med tannin, and med+ alcohol, floral notes yielding to lemon, melon, and pear on a nice creamy mouthfeel. There's a bit of spice and unmistakable buttery oakiness on the much appreciated long finish. — 11 years ago
Sierra Madre Vineyard
Pinot Noir 2007
Picked this one up from total wine cuz it's a Santa Maria Valley Pinot. Decant this one and drink it now! I was pleasantly surprised! ~25 bucks | #sierramadre #pinotnoir #santamariavalley
On the eyes:
Brownish Garnet
Med+ stain/legs
No gas/floc
On the nose:
Med Acid
Med Alcohol
Raisin and Violet
Orange Peel and Earth
On the tongue:
Med Acid
Med Alcohol
Jammy currant and cola
Vegetal, violet
Med+ body, gets chewy
Good complexity, evolves nicely
Decant for an hour — 11 years ago
Whitcraft Winery
"My Friend Matt's Vineyard" Los Olivos District Syrah 2017
Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com
There are a lot of seriously amazing #syrah that is coming out of #sbcounty from #santamariavalley and #staritahills like #storm #dragonette and #holusbolus #zotovich yet this seems like an antithesis to what I love about those wines. This smells and tastes like chocolate milk on acid. Where’s the crushed pepper? Where’s the rich black fruit and herbs? Reminds me of the Wendy’s commercial “where’s the meat?” For me the oak isn’t noble. Seems like staves or chips. This is a 2017 it should be showing complexity and tertiary but it’s just one-dimension fruity raspberries, milk chocolate and acid. Not my thing #losolivos #overrated — 6 years ago
Riverbench Vineyard & Winery
One Palm Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
Ah, that Riverbench Pinot Noir....nestled in the Santa Maria Valley, Riverbench specializes in mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The One Palm vintage is made from a single clone, 667, which is typically a blending Pinot for estate cuvées. Per usual, the clone is a finicky one, showing wide variability depending on climate - Too warm? Sugars concentrate and odd flavors emerge, (think apple). Too cold? Tight, spiciness emerges, (think all spice). Riverbench farms the Santa Maria AVA which benefits from an excellent marine influence and a wonderful stewed red cabbage terroir flavor point. Always a favorite of mine - (I did get married there) - and paired with a Chirashi Style rice bowl. Delish! ~$42 | #riverbench #pinotnoir #santamariavalley
On the eyes: Clear, light ruby, quite bright, med stain, med tears, no gas/floc.
On the nose: Stewed cranberry, tart cherry, cedar, slate, hints of braised red cabbage, med alcohol.
On the tongue: med acid, med tannin, med alcohol, med body, smooth. Sharp cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, hint of red cabbage, finishing with clove and star anise. Nice long pleasant finish, benefits from room temperature (began drinking at 60 degrees), and decanting. — 9 years ago
Tavistock
Reserve Collection Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
2013 - Easily one of the worst Cali Pinots I've had in a while. Which is surprising considering it's predominantly from Bien Nacido and from a good vintage - 2013. Almost no aromatics, zero acidity, flat, and boring. Truly awful stuff. #pinotnoir #biennacido #santamariavalley #wine #awful — 11 years ago
Summerland
Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009
Had a tour of California Pinot Noirs that I picked up from Total Wine last weekend. This was the only one I felt compelled to share. The Bien Nacido vineyard consistently produces excellent harvests of Pinot Noir due to it being a maritime influenced desert. It has such a reputation that wine using grapes grown and/or sourced there often label their bottles with the Bien Nacido "brand". ~$45 (~26 at Total Wine) | #biennacido #santamariavalley #pinotnoir #summerland
On the eyes: Rusty, Bright Ruby, Med Opacity, Med Stain, Legs, No Gas/Floc.
On the nose: Strawberry and Unripe Cherry, Vinuous with a Hint of Forest Floor, Med Alcohol
On the tongue: Med Acid, Med Tannin, Med Alcohol, Light-Med Body. Cranberry, Unripe Strawberry with Hints of Oak and Chocolate. — 11 years ago
Vasanth Balakrishnan
Apple, apricot, some buttery notes on nose. Admirably restrained on palate, medium plus body, good acidity, green apple and touch of spice on the finish from the oak. Tasty #santamariavalley with good QPR. — 3 years ago