Horizon Portfolio Tasting Next Week

Send me an email for location details, I'll be in Houston, Austin and Dallas showing off the following Vine Connections Superstars...

Ginjo Sake:

Bride of the Fox
Morning Glow
Shadows of Katano
Tozai Well of Wisdom

Argentine Wine:

BenMarco Cabernet
BenMarco Expressivo
Budini Chardonnay
Crios Malbec
Crios Torrontes
La Posta Bonarda
Luca Chardonnay
Susana Balbo Brioso
Tikal Patriota
Mapema Tempranillo
Mapema Primera Zona
Luca Malbec

See ya there - Ali

Ratings or Not

A big shout out to K&L's "online stud" Brian Zucker and Cellar Master at BevMo - Wilford Wong this morning. I opened the Times to read a somewhat controversial article on wine ratings and how retailers across America are reacting and or using the different rating systems to move wine. Here's the link... Wine Ratings Might Not Pass the Sobriety Test (requires login).

I know ratings help "sell" wine, but I honestly prefer my old standby "you either like it...or not!". The scores certainly build mass market credibility up for a winery or importers, but I can't 100% agree that ratings and scores are a necessity. But they sure do help move wine to those who don't have time to consider their own taste or even have one (taste) altogether.

For instance, for years Pellegrini of Sonoma has relied on "word of mouth" and "local wine competitions" to spread the word about how wonderful their wines such as Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet and Olivet Lane Pinot Noir taste. The Pellegrini's have been making and selling wine now for over 30 years!

Something to think about this Sunday morning...Cheers - Ali

Tonight Above San Francisco

So I'm asked almost everyday if I miss living in San Francisco ... of course, who in their right mind wouldn't? The cool thing about missing SF is that it's only a picture, phone call, email or 3.5 hour flight away.

Seeing, feeling, hearing, touching and tasting the beauty of San Francisco and the wine country surround me at all times. I'm totally star-crossed with SF!

Like tonight where I'm reading through a very cool San Fran Blog - Curbed SF and read a quote from my favorite gal in the wine business - Mulan Chan.

Boom - the phone rings and it's Mulan, we end up talking for an hour - catching up and making certain our professional lives (oh and love lives) and dreams continue to move forward. Star-crossed indeed! Mulan is an expert in French wine and food pairings and has made quit a name for herself. Can't wait for her to visit Texas - get ready folks!

So the picture up there tonight is what I missed seeing "live and in person" and something that I would rarely miss while living in California, Mother Nature's show...one of my favorite memories - laying on the roof of my building atop the Fillmore Hill and Pacific Ave. and watching stars rush like waterfalls for minutes at a time. This picture is the top of the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge which appears to cradle the moon at 8:20 p.m. this past Tuesday, as viewed from the Marin Headlands. Ahh, just amazing. Cheers - Ali

Small Production - Big Awards

In today's Press Democrat ....4 Stars for Pellegrini Zin!

2004 Pellegrini Zinfandel, Eight Cousins Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Planted by the Pellegrini family’s fourth generation, the Eight Cousins Vineyard is a seven-acre site adjacent to the Olivet Lane Vineyard in Russian River Valley. Bordered on the south by the Saitone Vineyard planted in 1905, and the old Maffei Vineyard to the north, this region is unique in that it is has a reputation not only for exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but is also home to some early 20th century Zinfandel vineyards that produce wines of exceptional depth and concentration. In an effort to replicate and preserve the character of “old vine” Zinfandel, the Eight Cousins Vineyard was developed in 2000 by taking budwood from the Saitone Vineyard and grafting on to St. George rootstock.

In 2004, the first wine made from these vines was awarded a Gold Medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. This Zinfandel was aged for nine months in a combination of French and American oak, one-third of which was new barrels. This wine shows classic Russian River Valley traits: deep, dark fruit aromas with flavors of blackberry and spice. The palate shows a smooth texture that is rich and inviting, with a full body, leading to a lingering finish. Drink now or over the next three to five years. And yes, this bottle shot is of the 2003, but the 2004 label is the same - happy wine hunting! Cheers - Ali

Dallas Uncorked Tasting Notes

Thanks to all of you who came out for the Dallas Uncorked and TexaCali Wine Co. Boutique Tasting last night at Kitchen 1924. An amazing group of old and new friends of TexaCali paired with a beautiful showing of wines from Argentina and California...oh and a BIG THANK YOU to Hayley of Dallas Uncorked for organizing and to Shawn for creating incredible food nibbles throughout the night! Pictures are posted at the end of this page - http://www.texacaliwine.com/abouttexacali/2006pics.html

2005 Handley Gewürztraminer - Just sweet enough for a Texan who prefers a little sugar, but enough beautiful fruit clarity and balance for serious lovers of the Alsace. Wine and Spirits Magazine gave it 93 points. This vintage will not last long in Texas!

2005 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontes – so I pulled the last of the 2005 for the event. This wine is just eye-popping good! Floral elegance is what comes to mind each and every time I open a bottle. The intensity is greatness – jasmine, lychee fruit, cherry blossoms, and apricots. It’s so hard to describe! I swear I could dab it behind my ears and receive complements on my “scent”.

2003 Handley Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – I read this review awhile back, couldn’t agree more! “Crisp like a Grüner, but heavier in structure, like a Mâconnais Chardonnay. Fruits highlight the landscape of this wine, which shows green apple, peach and tangerine with hints of ruby red grapefruit rind and stones. Well balanced and lovely”. Perfect of course!

2005 Pellegrini Russian River Unoaked Chardonnay – A great example of clear and lovely Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The nose always reminds me of a soft bartlett pear. I overheard a few guys saying “I could get use to this no-oak thing!”. Slight creamy lemony finish – perfect for summer seafood in Texas.

2002 Fort Ross Chardonnay – this bottle of Fort Ross Chardonnay should be called “The Charmer”, it absolutely reminds you of why you fell for wine in the first place. Creamy, lovely Chardonnay, not too heavy in body - heavenly indeed!

2003 Fort Ross Pinot Noir – WOW! Such an elegant bottle of Pinot Noir. Crushed red cherries on the nose that magically pull your lips towards the glass. Not a big and over-extracted pinot whatsoever, vibrant berry flavors with hints of baking spices on the finish. My WOTN (wine of the night).

2004 Pellegrini Carignan – always a favorite at tastings. The color is the first thing you notice when pouring – deep garnet and blackberry with an incredibly crimson rose petal nose. This carignan is sooo easy to sip – pairs perfectly with our TexMex year round.

2004 BenMarco Malbec – the Wine Spectator just gave this one 90pts. for very strong reasons. Susana Balbo and her husband Pedro Marchevsky are behind this full-bodied Malbec. It has 12% Bonarda and 1% Cab Franc to add to the savory flavors. Perfect for anything beefy on the grill or for the grillmaster alone!

2002 Fort Ross Pinotage – listen here, this is not your average –run-of-mill Pinotage from South Africa, this one is grown and produced right along the Pacific Ocean high above most of Sonoma County. Racy, sexy, brambly – too good to be believed without sipping on a little yourself.

2002 Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon – my favorite Sonoma Cabernet producer, this Alexander Valley monster gets the job done every time! Full of dark peppery Alexander Valley fruit – but it’s a tease – the finish always ends with an incredible burst of wild cherry. This should always be your cab-by-the-case at home!

2001 Susana Balbo Brioso – love LOVED this wine! She only produced 595 cases of the 2001 so I;ve only had a few glasses. Intense, rich and powerful. A true Argentine meritage – I walked a bottle over to some Francophiles sitting at the bar – they swore it’s the best they’ve ever tasted from South America. Delicious. Cheers - Ali

Austin Texas Right this Very Minute...

A toast to my favorite time of day & to Crios Rose of Malbec BACK IN THE HOUSE! Oh Yeah - Ali

D Magazine's Best of...

Cool. My phone and email account are BLOWIN' UP this week due to the TexaCali Wine Co. #1 Food and Wine Best Bet in the August Issue of D Magazine. I'm uncorking some old favorites and brand new releases - don't miss this one folks!

BEST BET Dallas Uncorked This month, Dallas Uncorked joins forces with TexaCali Wine Co. for an exceptional night of wine featuring boutique producers such as Susana Balbo, Pellegrini Family Vineyards, Fort Ross, and Handley Cellars. Kitchen 1924 provides lovely appetizers to boot. Aug 8, 6:30–8:30 pm. Kitchen 1924. 214-999-0820. www.dallasuncorked.org. Cheers - Ali

Highest Award Ever Given...

Best of Nation
& Double Gold Medal

Given to KANBARA
"Bride of the Fox" by the San Francisco International Wine Competition.

This is a BIG DEAL people, this competition has the most comprehensive sake category among all wine competitions! I was fortunate along with a few other Texans to visit the brewery in Japan last February - way cool! Also, for those of you who attend the Live from Japan sake seminar last April, Dr. Sato was one of our visiting guests and is the mastermind behnd Kanbara.

A few facts about Bride of the Fox...

Quality Grade: Junmai Daiginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Rice: Gohyakumangoku
Alcohol: 16.5%

Tasting Notes: Intense aromas of grilled nuts, pistachio and a hint of warm liquid cocoa. In the mouth, the flavors follow through with nuts and melon as it heads for a crisp finish, and then just a hint of lingering sweetness. It is at once savory and sweet, and has enough power to make it a great match with a wide variety of food pairings. A truly distinctive sake.

Brewery Name: Kaetsu Shuzo (founded in 1880) Brewery Location: Niigata Prefecture

Toji (Master Brewer): Mr. Yamaga Kenichiro - he has been brew master there for 6 decades.

The story behind the name: This wonderful sake was inspired by local legends about mysterious lights that appeared on nearby Mt. Kirin in the distant past. Locals claim the lights are paper lanterns carried in the fox-bride procession. This mysterious event is celebrated in Niigata every year in the fox-bride festival. Kaetsu uses rice grown on the high plains and pure mountain water to brew superior sake, both rich in aroma and clean in taste.

Cheers - Ali

Pellegrini Tasting on Saturday

at Beeman's on I-10 in San Antonio! Please stop by to try all the current releases of the Pellegrini Family wines of Sononma.

The NY Times recently awarded Cloverdale Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon the "best value" cabernet in Sonoma County!

I'll be there pouring and chatting it up from Noon to 6pm....see you tomorrow! Cheers - Ali

Snoop Doggin' Wines

Check out TexaCali Wine Co. according to the words of Snoop...

http://sites.gizoogle.com/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.texacaliwine.com%2F


Fo shizzle the funniest thing I've seen in weeks! Cheers - Ali

Where is TexaCali Ali?

Well, the signs on the left signify a flat tire change at midnight after a day with Pellegrini Wines in San Antonio. Yes, this DAMN HOT summer is kicking my 1999 Acura's ASS. I don't want to even think about all the miles I've put on my poor old companion this month alone...soon - soon a new vehicle will come - a real knight in shining armor to swiftly carry me around (and my bag of wines).

So what do I do driving around Texas each week? For those of you in the wine trade, well - you see me.

But for those of you that simply enjoy wine, just think of the entire supply chain - how that grape is turned into wine, bottled, aged, sold, delivered, stored, sold to a retailer and put on a wine list. Well, it takes a lot of something special to shine through all the mass (and mess) of wine these days. And there's a whole lot of Texas highways and backroads that I must travel to make sure Texans are getting the good stuff!

That's right where I come in, unfortunately for my old car Texas can only be covered one day at a time, one buyer at a time, one wine at a time...one mile at a time in between.

Cheers to Sterling Acura of Austin, where my old companion is currently undergoing a bit of reconstructive surgery - Ali

Tasting Today in Austin

Please stop by Grape Vine Market on W. Anderson from 12noon to 6pm today. I'll be there chatting it up about my favorite Argentine sippers this summer. The following wines are featured:

Budini Chardonnay
Crios Torrontes
Crios Syrah Bonarda
Mapema Tempranillo
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon

See you later! Ali

San Antonio Express News

published last Wednesday in the Express News "Wine Matters Column"...

Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec 2005 Argentina
Rich, well-balanced, spicy malbec rosé made by the traditional method. Dry.
$12-$14, Western Beverage,Central Market

This is available many other places, just ask your favorite retailer for Crios! Cheers - Ali

Wine and the Backrows...

Baptists and drinking: Drunkenness, not alcohol, is the real problem...article published today in the Dallas Morning News. Finally. Cheers - Ali (Baylor Class of '94)

When remembering the Alamo...

you may now sip on the wines of Pellegrini. Cloverdale Ranch, Olivet Lane and Pellegrini Family bottles can now be found throughout San Antonio!

From Boudros on the Riverwalk to Beemans out on I-10, just ask your favorite retailer or restaurant for a bottle! In fact, Peter Beeman himself has selected the entire Pellegrini line-up as his values wines of the week. According to the crowd at his tasting bar last night, each wine is showing beautifully! Cheers - Ali

Valdez Family Winery Release Party

Pictures are posted here on my site

Enjoy! Ali

The Money Shot

From the top of Rockpile Road Vineyard last Saturday afternoon...NICE!

California

A few notes and pictures from my weekend in Northern California ...

Storrs Winery in Santa Cruz was my first stop, which I was lucky enough to catch Steve and Pamela Storrs at the winery, meet Mrs. Christie of "ChristieVineyards" and spend some quality time with their national sales manager, Terry while he drove me around vineyards and the land where Storrs is building a beautiful winery...did you know that Christie Chardonnay vines are over 80 years old? I don't think I've seen Chardonnay vines this old in California before!

Next I drove up HWY 1 to San Francisco and was off to meet with Daniel Donahoe in his family's ROCKIN' house in Cole Valley. I tasted his new Teira Sauvignon Blanc and 2004 Zinfandel. Both wines where quite beautiful and the Sauv Blanc is going to be especially good for us Texans in this long summer heat! After a few sips of Teira I was off to the Mission to meet a dear friend for dinner at Range. Just an incredible day in the Bay Area.

Friday morning was full of meetings and tastings in Dry Creek (big annoucements coming soon!) then had a wonderful time with Guy and Judy Davis of Davis Family Vineyards. Guy busted out a brand new bottle of Gusto Sauvignon Blanc he makes from New Zealand which was soo lovely, bright and crisp with a smooth mid-palate. A terrific pairing with goat cheese by the way! We wrapped up Friday over dinner a local favorite Zazu while sipping on Davis Family Pinot Noir, which of course just AMAZING.

Saturday's big event was the Valdez Family Wines release party on Rockpile Road Vineyard - and I mean BIG EVENT. No doubt this takes a place among my top wine experiences so far...an afternoon full of family, friends, food and extremely killer wine. All details will be posted soon (including pictures) on TexaCali Wine. The evening finished up with an incredible dinner with the Handal family at Zin, right down the street from The Cheese Shop in Healdsburg.

Sunday was spent with friends in Dry Creek and ended with a gorgeous evening at Duchamp Winery with dear Pat and Peter Lenz. They paired the Duchamp wines with grilled Tuna and greens, then with fresh strawberries, and lovely little bites of sweet cookies and cheese and soo many other nibbles on the table! Their syrah's are fascinating in every way a solid syrah should taste - look out Texas - we are awaiting TABC approval - make room on your dinner table now!

California was breathtaking as usual, but glad to be back in Austin and share the stories and enthusiasm of so many wine producers!! Cheers - Ali

One more thought today...

Prosecco is my sparkling of choice today in honor of Luca Toni...

the one reason I watched the

2006 World Cup this year. GO ITALY !!!

Only Sparkling and Bubbles Tonight

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

I'm offline until Monday July 10th - stay tuned for a full report of my quick trip to California. Exciting week(end) ahead for TexaCali Wine Co.

Austin fireworks show pictured above...

Cheers - Ali