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Napa’s Best: Wine and Food Pairing at Kuleto Estate

JR — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:43:35 +0000

In our exploration for the best that Napa has to offer, we found the wine and food pairing at the Kuleto Estate. Usually, wine and food pairings at wineries mean a hunk of cheese, dry bread, and a slice of salami. That is far from the case at Kuleto. With his restaurant background, this is the most exquisite pairing we have ever witnessed. Executive Chef Janelle Weaver gathers almost all the ingredienst from the estate’s organic gardens and ranch, then assembles a three-course collection of delicacies designed to complement and contrast the range of Kuleto wines. This is a foodie’s dream come true. Here’s a quick look at what goes down each Thursday afternoon starting at 11:45. For more info go to www.KuletoEstate.com.

Tasting: Little Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

JR — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:52:45 +0000

We just received another shipment of our Little Vineyards club selection. Popped the Cab the other night and it was awesome. From our notes:
Color: Deep pomegranate.
Nose: Ripe notes of sumac and wild black currant with undertones of oak. A bit of alcohol still on this youngster, but nothing to be afraid of.
Palate: Explosive dark and red fruit on the mid-palate that is balanced by firm, almost chalky sweet tannins and a lingering finish of blueberry and sweet wood. Leaves the gums comfortably numb. Give this one five years (if you can) and you will have one hell of a bottle to open. We were sad when this baby was gone.
Our rating: 90 points
Food friendliness: Rich and fruity, but dry enough to be a fine accompaniment to heavier foods. We paired it up with a grilled steak with home-made Colorado black currant jam and red wine reduction. Oh yeah.

Notes on the winery:
Little Vineyards is one of the tucked-away secret spots on Highway 12 in the heart of Sonoma’s beautiful Valley of the Moon. If you’re heading north towards Santa Rosa it’s just before BR Cohn on the left, and the driveway can be hard to nail. But don’t miss it - it’s a great stop on your tour and one of those enigmatic places that set the Sonoma wine country apart from its neighbors. Intimate and tiny, you’ll most likely find the owners Joan and Rich behind the bar. Rich is a professional musician, and often breaks out some of his unusual instruments for a little jam session. Just like their larger neighbor at BR Cohn, rock’n'roll is a big part of the scene here when you taste. So are the classic cars. They have a great story, and the unusual distinction of natural thermal under much of their vineyards. This is one of the favorite stops in Sonoma, and while a few of the house blends can be awkward, for the most part the juice here is top notch. We loved the Center Stage (Bordeaux Blend); that beauty ended up being our favorite of the tasting. Go to www.littlevineyards.com for more info.

The Kuleto Estate

JR — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:12:40 +0000

We just did a bunch of work at the Kuleto Estate and it’s definitely our new favorite winery in Napa. We are just blown away by the beauty and laid back, friendly atmosphere up there. It’s a ways off the beaten path, up on a mountain overlooking Lake Hennessey and Rutherford on the eastern side of the Napa Valley. You need an appointment to visit and tours are $35/person but it’s definitely worth it. The founder and vintner is, of course, Pat Kuleto, the legendary restaurant designer and culinary entrepreneur (Martini House in St. Helena; Nick’s Cove over in Tomales Bay; Farallon, Kuleto’s, and Boulevard in San Fran to name just a few). Pat is a kindred spirit - loves people, food, wine, and good times. This welcoming attitude is evident in the vibe up there; everyone who works at Kuleto is super friendly. Pat, with his design background, has created a masterpiece that has to be seen to be appreciated. But the vineyards are really the centerpiece: almost 100 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards with over 100 individual blocks, which is pretty amazing for a vineyard that size. The wines are phenomenal, and have racked up some nice scores (if that’s your bag). The winemaker Dave Lattin is one of the nicest guys in wine country, and his style leans towards food friendly. Which they take very seriously. The Estate has a working ranch and vast gardens, which supply the full-time executive chef, Janelle Weaver, with an abundant supply of fresh, organic ingredients for her amazing culinary creations. She does a weekly wine and food pairing on Thursday afternoons that is the most extravagant (and fun) that we’ve seen at ANY winery. The place is off the hook, off the beaten path, and a heck of a lot of fun. It’s still kind of a secret. Don’t miss it.

Watch the video
More info: Kuleto Estate website

Surf Fish

JR — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:29:13 +0000

We visited our old friends and neighbors recently for a great meal back in our old “Hood” - the West Side of Sonoma (city). Geordie Carr, head winemaker for Enkidu, broke out a newly bottled ‘07 Sonoma Valley zinfandel from his own label: Bump. He whipped up some local surf fish to go with it. Ali ‘cued up some awesome organic sausages from the Sonoma market and free vegetables that someone threw down on the bar at the Wine Exchange (plus a few tomatoes from Pat Kuleto’s villa garden). Mieko provided some unbelievably huge collard greens and fresh meyer lemon from her mom’s garden in Santa Cruz. We thought it would be fun to videotape a typical California bounty with locally produced artisanal wine. We call this “Surf Fish.” For food and wine lovers, the Golden State is hard to beat.

More info: Geordie is the head winemaker for Enkidu, plus seven other labels out of their 8th St. winery. He and Mieko are now launching their own label, Bump Wine, which currently consists of a Sonoma Valley Zin and a Syrah. Their Zin is big, bold, and beautiful, a powerful wine made with minimal manipulation. The Syrah is medium dark, exhibits lush fruit, firm but silky tannins, and a gorgeous lingering finish of exotic spices. It’s an elegant example of how good Sonoma Valley Syrah can be. Stay tuned for these great, limited production hand-made Sonoma wines, and check in on www.bumpwine.com soon. We wish you well, Geordie and Mieko!