By Syndicated Columnists
Sheila & Bennet Bodenstein
Wine related questions from our readers
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The Questions
Can you please tell if there is a winery in Northern California called
"Sarah"? I have searched sites high and low and can't seem to find them
anywhere. I am told that they are a very small vineyard and make wonderful
Chardonnays. Do you know anything about this winery? (e.g. Where it is located
and where I might find their Chardonnays?
Sincerely,
Suzanne Dunham
Answer
The Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of wines to the rescue: We believe the vineyard that you are looking for is:
SARAH'S VINEYARD
4005 Hecker Pass Hwy.
Gilroy, CA 95020
Telephone: (408) 842-4278
Fax:(408) 848.3895
Founded 1978.
Bonded Premises-BW 4868.
Principals-Ptnrs., Marilyn Clark, Steve
Hicks, Craig McManigal.
Vineyards-10 acres.
Annual Casegoods Production-2,000.
Capacity-Storage, 8,000 gals-including
fermenting; bottling, 100 cases per day;
crush, 10 tons per day.
Product-Table wine.
Top Varietals-Chardonnay, Merlot.
Brand-Sarah's Vineyard.
Distribution-Casegoods, wholesale, retail.
Hello. My wife and I have two daughters, one born in 1983 and one born in
1987. We are wine lovers and have long wished that we had bought a case of red
wine in the year each was born to put away and share with them on special
occasions as they get older. We are financially able to spend much more now, but
are not sure how best to find just the right wine for each. We are also not sure
which wines were best in those years. Do you have any recommendations. We'd sure
appreciate your help. Thanks, Tom Hart
Answer
Your daughters must be wonderful but their birth years were not so hot for most wine. For the young lady born in 1983, look for a French Burgundy or Bordeaux. They will not be too easy to find but they are out there.There is also Port, 83 was a great year for Port. 1987 was also not too swift in the wine department. Look for a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. You will not probably find it, but the Lyeth Vineyards 1987 Cab was outstanding.
Richard Gurekas of Montreal Canada asked
I have been graciously given a bottle of chateau La Tour 1975 as a gift for an
anniversary, with the instruction ' keep it for many years', before you drink it
". It has been maintained in a cellar for about 10 years now, and I am wondering
when should I start considering tasting it. Or, have I waited too long.
Answer
1975 was a fine year for Bordeaux wines. Every year is a fine year for Chateau Latour. The wine should be at its peak right now. If you wait any longer, the cork will start to go and you may loose it all. Drink it now or send it back to the winery in France for recorking ... but we opt for the drinking. Wine is to be enjoyed, not worshipped
Ciaran Flanagan sent the following question: I'm looking to buy some real
good spanish wine to put down for say 5 years, up to $40 per bottle...any
suggestions...
Answer
A difficult question to answer. Of course the wine must be a
Rioja. Unfortunately mot of the Spanish wines sell for far less than their true
value so a top price tag if $40 leaves a good bit of room. There are Spanish
wines that sell for some high dollars but in most cases they are good wines that
have been rated high by some guru or other and the "true believers" ran out and
bought them up.
Your best bet is to find a good year and look for wines from some of the better
producers. The best years for Rioja wines are, in order of quality, 1994 (the
best in many years),1995, 1982, 1983, 1988-1991. As you can see, the most recent
vintages are the best in a long time so almost any decent producer would have
made some superb wines. Among our favorite producers are Frederico Paternina,
Bodegas Beronia, Marques del Puerto and Bodegas Palacio. There are others but
you asked for our choices. We hope this helps.
Paul Hoffman asked
I have a very simple request. My father in law had a taste of some wine under
the "Myers" label. He liked it very much and would like to aquire some of the
same. However, this is all I know about it and I would like to gethim a couple
of bottles for a gift. Do you know of such a vineyard ?
Thank you very much.
PS. Love your page !
Paul Hoffman
hoffmiser@aol.com
Answer
We love a mystery but this one is a beauty. There is no
brand or winery with the name of Myer's or Meyer's. the closest that we can come
are two wineries in Ohio.
Meier's Wine Cellars
6955 Plainfield Pike
Silverton, Cincinnati Oh. 45236
(513) 891--2900
Moyer Vineyards
3859 U.S. Route 52
Manchester Ohio 45144
(513) 549-2957
Write or call them for a label and see if that is it. If not try seeing if your
father-in law can tell you anything else about the label or wine.
Was it domestic or foreign?
Sweet or Dry?
Color?
Where did he have it?
How long ago?
and anything else that you can think to ask.
We hope this helps. Please let us know of your progress.
A recent question asked
I have 2 bottles, label reads: select rare, mission 1773, the 200 year old 100%
pure mission grape, angelica antigua, a rare wine from the first california
grapes, made & bottled by Royal Host Cellars, Lodi, California.
Does anyone have any information on this vintage? These bottles were in an
inheritance from my grandmother. I would appreciate any help.
Answer
(Our first answer)
Interesting.... We don't think that you have an ancient
bottle of wine but we do believe it is interesting for two reasons; 1. there is
almost no wine made from the mission grape any more and 2. there is very little
angelica made these days. We guess that the wine came from the 1960's or 70's
but that's just a guess. We would sure like to get a look at the bottles and the
label.
It will take us about a week or so to get you the information that you want so
be patient the Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson of wines are on the job.
(The final answer after some research)
Well we have the information but we don't think it's what you want to hear. The
wine dates from 1980 and was produced as an eye grabber rather than a serious
wine. The producer won't even guarantee that the wine in the bottle is made from
the mission grape.
Mary Wilson asked
I was recently at a VA vineyard with my boyfriend. He is a big wine lover. There
was a print hanging on the wall of a vineyard with a label of a Chateau Haut
Brion underneath it. My question is where would you suggest me finding such an
item. My boyfriend's name is Bryan and I'd love to get him such a print for
Christmas. If not that, could you tell me a good vintage Chateau Haut-Brion to
buy him?
Answer
Try contacting Chateau Haut-Brion directly. Their web address
is http://haut-brion.com/
As far as what vintage ... All of the Haut-Brion wines are exceptional. There
are of course some vintages that are better than others so check our vintage
chart for the best years. One thing, Chateau Haut-Brion will not be an
inexpensive wine. It is one of the best wines from France and priced
accordingly.
Jose Amador asked
I have heard that there is a wine on the market called Amador. The wine Label
says 'Amador Wine' and no other name to it. This is what I have Been told. If
this is true could you tell me where I can purchase this Wine? I have no other
information on this..
Answer
Not only is there a winery out there. there is an entire county in California with the name Amador. The winery is the Amador Foothill Winery and they have an Internet site at http://www.rainbow-mall.com/afw/index.html
I recieved as a gift from a friend a bottle of spanish red wine called Coronas. The vineyard's name is torres. I can't read the label because it's in Spanish. So maybe you can shed some lightfor me on this wine, when should I drink it, the type of grapes and so on. Thank you in advance, Gidon Studinski
Answer
Tores Coronas is an excelent and very typical Spanish wine. It is made from the Grenache grape. Here we call that grape Grenach and we use it mostly for rose' wines. As far as the cost of the wine it is within the $10 class. Do not save this wine. Drink and enjoy it now.
Many years ago my father gave me a bottle of '76 Georges De Latour Private Reserve Napa Vally Cabernet. I recently found it when cleaning out the cellar. I cannot find any info on it. Could you tell me anything about it? Thanks in advance, Ron
Answer
The 1976 Georges De Latour was a very good wine from a very good vintage. It s worth about $150-$175 per bottle. The wine took very high ratings in both competitions and tastings and is considered to be outstanding. If stored properly the wine should still be "alive" and full of fruit.
Could you help me locate the 1993 Clos Du Val Merlot. I had no idea that a wine could be so hard to locate. I had a class in a resturant in Vermont earlier this summer. It was one of the most enjoyable wines I have ever had. I would appreciate any help you might be able to offer. thank you Jon Grald
Answer
Your best bet is to contact Clos Du Val directly and ask them
if they have any of that wonderful Merlot on hand to sell to you or if they know
where in your area it can be found. Sorry, I do not have an email adress for
them. Contact them at:
Clos Du Val
P.O. Box 4350
Napa Ca. 94558
1--707-259-2200
From Van & Wayne Crawford
Thanks very much for your insight into wines. There many of us out here who just
enjoy a good glass of wine and, in most cases, know the difference. or----little
expertise, but pretty good palate.
On a recent trip (March '96) to Napa Valley, we "discovered" Trefethen. We were
impressed by their approach to the product and, upon our return to New
Hampshire, my wife and I have enjoyed it many times.
Question: Do you know whether they have a site or home page on internet? I have
tried a number of approaches without finding them.
Thanks again for your excellent presentations.
Answer
Trefethen Vineyards can be found at:
http://www.napavalley.com/napavalley/winetxt/trefethn/trefethn.html
Their Email address is:
trefethn@napanet.net
bg wrote:
I understand that Montevina has its own home page, can you tell me where to find
it?
Answer
Try http//www.montevina.com
Susan Bunker asked
I'd like to know how full to fill a wine glass. Does it differ for red or white? Thank you.
Answer
Great question. There is definitely a difference in filling glasses between red wines and white. Red wine glasses should only be filled to the halfway point or even a bit less. This allows the aroma room to build and gives it a place to collect. Since a white wine is served cool, the aroma vapors do not escape too fast so 2/3 or3/4 full will be perfect. One does not have to fill the glass to near capacity, that leads to gulping as one would a soda.
Mary Katherine Bishop asked: What are the main grape varieties in a Chateaunuef du Pape? Why is this called a "kitchen sink" wine?
Answer
Chateauneauef-du-pape is a grand blending of many of the grape varieties that grow in the lower Rhone Valley. The wine is a blend of as many as thirteen different varieties of grape. Because of its antiquity, the rules for the making of this wine are somewhat relaxed. The main constituant of Chateauneauef-du-pape is the Grenache grape with the aromatic and flavorfull Mouredre also playing an important part. Some of the other grapes used are Syrah, Muscardin, Vaccarese, Picpoul, Terret Noir, Cinsaut, and Counoise. Thus the title "kitchen sink" wine, because the only thing missing is ........
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