There was much jubilation when the 2024 Sunset Wine Competition awards were announced and the 2023 Boathouse Pinot Noir Rosé from Kings Mountain Vineyards in Woodside received a Double Gold and 97 points.
You can taste this new rosé, made by legendary vintner Nate Kandler of Thomas Fogarty and Precedent, at a pop-up party at The Tasting House in Los Gatos, June 22, 1-3 p.m. Taste four exceptional Santa Cruz Mountains wines from Kings Mountain Vineyards, including the 2021 Clone 13 and 2021 Bacchus Pinot Noir, both of which were awarded Gold at Sunset. The $50 ticket price includes a bottle of the limited-edition Boathouse rosé. https://www.tastinghouse.com/events
Speaking of rosés, we recently tasted the new Rhys Sparkling Brut Rosé, which has an annoying habit of evaporating from the glass. A sure winner. The 2021 Rhys Horseshoe Chardonnay is stunning in its minerality, and the 2021 Rhys Pajaro Pinot Noir fires on all cylinders. Rhys just added Sunday hours to its tasting room on Skyline Boulevard in Los Gatos, so appointments are now available Wednesdays-Sundays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., in advance only to https://rhysvineyards.com.
Gali Wines just released three new wines made by Ridge’s former winemaker Eric Baugher. The 2023 Gali Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir is crisp, clean and precise. The 2022 Gali Estate Chardonnay, made from an old Wente clone, was barrel-fermented and stirred frequently while aging in 11 percent new Francois Frere barrels. The 2022 Gali Estate Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir has carefully tamed tannins make this wine enjoyable right now. These wines are available at Gali’s tasting room, 21 W. Main St. in Los Gatos.
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The third annual Half Moon Bay Jaz & Wine Festival featured wines from Napa, Lodi, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and the Sierra Foothills, with a heavy concentration on Paso Robles. The big finds were several excellent examples of albarino, including Klinker Brick’s unbeatably priced $17 version that’s a convincing stunt double for Spain. Richer and more peachy, the 2023 End of The Day Albarino from Carl Bowser of Caliza in Paso Robles, won our hearts for its artful label and composed, sophisticated flavors. The “taste like juicy peaches” award goes to the 2023 Hendry Albarino from Napa.
Just two wineries from the Santa Cruz Mountains participated. Clos de La Tec poured oodles of versions of their 2018 pinot noirs plus a serviceable Nebbiolo (quite varietally correct and tannic). Newcomer 3P, based in Soquel where their estate vineyard is located, was constantly crowded with people seeking a taste of their excellent 2022 3P Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir Rosé, along with their 2021 3P Estate Pinot Noir.
Ridge is holding the first event in its summer food truck series, “Rays & Reds,” on June 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Lytton Springs in Healdsburg. There will be live music, delicious Greek food from Dino’s food truck and beautiful views of the historic vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. Tickets are $50 per person at https://www.ridgewine.com/visit/events/rays-reds-a-summer-wine-celebration.
Saturday, July 14, marks Testarossa’s highly anticipated barrel tasting, where previews of the long, cool 2023 vintage will be presented, accompanied by a workshop where you’ll be introduced to the various aromas and flavors derived from barrels and the winemaking process. Bill Brosseau, director of winemaking, will share tastes directly from barrel, followed by a Q&A. Guests will then enjoy a comparative tasting, with verticals from two vineyards featuring both library and pre-bottled (barrel sample) wines. The first of four sessions begins at 11 a.m. at the Los Gatos winery. Tickets are $95 at https://www.exploretock.com/testarossawinery.