The California Wines tasting event was back in Montreal June 29 in the stunning King Edward Belvedere venue in the Old Port of Montreal. The event started with a Masterclass featuring 10 emerging California wines presented by Elaine Chukan.
We started with the 2020 Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant from Central Coast - an interesting blend of 42% Grenache, 31% Cinsaut, 24% Syrah, 2% Petite Sirah and 1% Counoise. We then moved on to the 2017 Schug Cabernet Franc from Sonoma County. This was also a red blend but with 78% Cabernet Franc, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. The third wine tasted was the 2019 Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Santa Cruz Mountains - a great secret in California. Big WOW for this blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. This wine made my Top 5 of the Masterclass and is available at the SAQ liquor store at the price of $103.
The next wine tasted was the 2019 Cline Carignane from Contra Costa Country full of flavour, which offered an interesting and unusual minty aroma - it was special, but perhaps disturbing and distracting. The fifth wine tasted was the 2020 Oak Ridge Maggio Petite Sirah from Lodi. A huge WOW for me with the explosion of cherries in the mouth. With 90% Petite Sirah and 10% Zinfandel - it made my Top 5. We then moved on to a bubbly, the Schramsberg Brut Rosé from North Coast, with 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay, it offered a fun flavour of watermelon. The next wine tasted was a rosé, the 2021 DAOU Discovery Rosé from Paso Robles which offered aromas and flavours of lychee. With 95% Grenache Noir and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, it made my Top 5 of the Masterclass.
The last three wines were whites. The first white tasted was the 2019 Inglenook Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley with 76% Sauvignon Blanc and 24% Semillon. This was a classic Sauvignon Blanc. The next tasted was the 2020 Bogle Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg which I loved and made my Top 5. The final wine tasted was a Chardonnay which was incredible and made my Top 5. It was the 2018 Calera Mt. Harlan Chardonnay from Certified Organic Farmed Vineyards.
It was a really good Masterclass with 10 good wines! Do you know any of these?
