I jotted down June 25 as the opening salvo for Pinot Days 2009 but when I checked the program realized that it actually kicked off a day earlier with Newcomers in Pinot.
It gave those attending a chance to try 16 different pinots (from 16 'young turks') in flights of four in a blind tasting.
Maybe a chance to discover future stars?
The New Kids on The Pinot Noir Block were:
Thomas George Estates, Kokomo Wines,
Couloir Wines, Spell,
Expression Pinot Noir, Zepaltas Wines,
Baxter Winery, Richard Berridge Wines,
Bjornstad Cellars, Kendric Vineyards,
Suacci Carciere Wines, Périple Wines,
Sand Hill Wines – Durell Vineyard, Black Kite Cellar
I have not tried any of them yet.
I picked Couloir Wines (label below) to see who these Young Turks were and discovered that it is not a newbie operation.
Its founder and winewaker Jon Grant I realized upon visiting the Couloir site is also the Assistant Winemaker at
Turley Wine Cellars. The name Couloir means "a steep mountainside gorge,
appeals to Jon's predilection for ski mountaineering.
Couloir Wines delivers handcrafted wines with a sense of
place and time", these are single vineyard pinot noirs.
Mirroring this New Kids program and using the same format of 16 wines blind tasted in flights of 4 will be 2 Events on Saturday, June 27.
First the Gems from Southern AVAS Areas (Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Lucia, Santa Barbara and Central Coast) from 1 to 3pm featuring:
Tudor Wines, Landmark Vineyards,
Tantara Winery, Hope & Grace Wines,
Clos Pepe Vineyards, Testarossa Vineyards,
Native9 Wine, Paraiso Vineyards,
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards, Gainey Vineyard,
Arcadian Winery, Melville,
Failla.
You get an hour break before the Gems from Northern AVAS Areas (Russian River Valley, Carneros, Anderson Valley, Santa Cruz and the Sonoma Coast…) from 4 to 6pm with:
WesMar Winery, Adastra Wines,
Shandel's Oppenlander Vineyard, Clos Saron
Abiouness Wines, Tudor Wines,
Dutton-Goldfield Winery, Picket Fence,
Kosta Browne Winery, Sojourn Cellars,
Lynmar Winery, Olson Ogden Wines,
Paul Mathew Vineyards, Keller Estate.
Tickets for each of these Saturday events are $80 a piece.
As for the rest of the program, check the Event Details Page.
Happy Pinot Days.