12 Jul Live Wine Blogging – 10 wines, 50 minutes, 300 bloggers #WBC14

Speed tasting for bloggers and wine What happens when 300 bloggers sit in a banquet room and wineries one by one have 5 minutes to introduce their wine and pour it for the table? Frantic tasting ensues! On Day 2 of the Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Barbara, we focused on red wines. While yesterday, for white wines, I went the route of social media posts, today I thought it would be fun to see what happens if I try to live blog. Here it goes: Carr 2011 Cabernet Franc, Camp Four Vineayrd, Santa Ynez Husband and wife team Ryan and Jessica Carr have set up their winery in downtown Santa Barbara in an old WWII Quonsett Hut. Their first vintage was in 2000 and they produce 4500 cases per year. This Cabernet Franc spends 20 months in French oak (25% new) and is 20% whole cluster. The wine has notes of black cherry and blueberry, as well as earth, tobacco and spice. On the palate there are good tannin and a long finish. $30 Grassini Family Vineyards 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Happy Canyon Based in Santa Barbara, Grassini is doing all Bordeaux varietals from grapes grown in  the Happy Canyon AVA. Their vineyard is 35 acres and is 100% sustainable, using reclaimed wood and solar powered. Planted 2001, their first vintage was in 2007. The wine is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot and is spicy with notes of fruit and caramel. It is a rich wine with medium body. 400 cases are produces. Maryhill Winery 2011 Syrah, Columbia Valley From Washington State, this vineyards is located in the high desert and gets little rain. The wins is a dark ruby red with notes of earth, blueberry and white pepper on the nose. The wine is elegant and supple. Urban Legend 2010 Teroldego Urban Legend is located in Oakland, CA, sourcing grapes from Mendocino, Napa and Sonoma to the Sierra Foothills. Teroldego is an ancient grape, considered an ancestor to syrah. Similar in texture to syrah, this wine is very earthy with notes of lavender and blackberries. Only 70 acres of Teroldego are grown throughout California. Alexander Valley Vineyards 2012 Sin Zin Sin Zin has been made by Alexander Valley Vineyards for 35 years. The nose of the wine is dark fruits Iike plum and black cherry, as well as vanilla and good acidity on the palate. Davis Bynum 2012 Dijon Clone 115, Jane’s Vuneyard, Russian River Today owned by Rodney Strong, Davis Bynum produced the first single vineyard Pinot Noir in Russian River in 1973. The 2012 is a single vineyard, single clone wine that has floral notes, with lavender and bright fruit. The wine will be release September 1st. $55 J Lohr 2012 Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir, Monterey County This Pinot Noir is made in stainless steel, with 15% oak. It is a bright, fruity, easy to drink Pinot with notes of milk chocolate. This is a wine that was recommended with sea salt chocolate. $17 Westerly 2010 Fletcher’s Red, Happy Canyon Adam Hinkle, formerly of Harlan Estate in Napa, is the current winemaker. The grapes come from Happy Canyon where there is a perfect match for Bordeaux varietals. The wine is juicy, almost jammy, lush and ripe with beautiful salinity on the finish. $60 Main & Geary 2011 Zinfandel,  Dry Creek Valley A private label wine from BevMo, this zinfandel is rather light.  The nose has aromas of dark fruits but cherry on the palate. $19.95 (except watch out for the 5 cents sale) Cornerstone Cellars 2011 Napa Valley 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot from the Tokalan Vineyard. A classic style Cabernet that is elegant with bright acids and soft tannin. $150 A whirlwind tasting of 10 wines, it was quite exhausting to listen, taste and take notes on each wine with less than 5 minutes. But, we did it! Of course, we took a few extra minutes to check for typos.