Northside SF  
     
   

October '09

Wine Report from the Fort
Best wines of 2010

By Fred McMillin

We taste a lot of wine at our Fort Mason classes, and here are last year’s favorites by color, type, varietal, and price.

Whites, pinks and sparklers

Chardonnay
Under $20: Steele Wines California “Steele Cuvee” 2008, $18
Over $20: Grgich Hills Estate Napa Valley 2007, $42

Chenin Blanc
Under $20: Ballentine Vineyards Napa Valley 2009, $15

Pink
Under $20: Pedroncelli Vineyards Sonoma County Dry Rosé of Zinfandel 2008, $10

Pinot Gris
Under $20: King Estate Oregon “Acrobat” 2008, $12

Riesling
Under $20: Steele Wines Shooting Star Lake County 2008, $14

Sauvignon Blanc
Under $20: Vini Wines Black Sea (Bulgaria) 2009, $8
Over $20: Peju Province Winery Napa Valley 2008, $22

Sparklers
Under $20: Tiamo Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Veneto (Italy) NV, $15

Traminer
Under $20: Targovishte Winery Black Sea (Bulgaria) 2009, $11

Viognier

Maximum $20: Handley Cellars Dry Creek Valley 2007, $20

White dessert
Under $20: Shenandoah Vineyards California White Port “ReZerve” 2002, $12


Reds

Barbera
Under $20: Story Winery Shenandoah Valley California 2004, $19
Over $20: Deaver Vineyards Amador County 2005, $25

Cabernet Franc
Under $20: Steele Wines Lake County “Writer’s Block” 2007, $16
Over $20: Jarvis Wines Napa Valley 2004, $70

Cabernet Sauvignon
Under $20: Fetzer Vineyards California 2008, $12
Over $20: Corison Winery Napa Valley 2005, $70

Grenache
Over $20: Daniel Gehrs Wines Santa Ynez Valley 2008, $28

Merlot
Under $20: Frick Winery Sonoma County 2005, $12
Over $20: Williamson Wines Dry Creek Valley “Amour” 2002, $42

Petite Sirah
Under $20: Masked Rider Winery California 2007, $10
Over $20: Ballentine Vineyards St. Helena 2007, $24

Pinot Noir
Under $20: Kenwood Vineyards Russian River Valley 2007, $18
Over $20: King Estate Oregon 2008, $27

Primitivo
Over $20: Deaver Vineyards Amador County 2007, $22

Red blend
Over $20: Jarvis Wines Napa Valley “Lake William” 2003, $75

Red dessert
Under $20: Sunset Cellars Suisun Valley Late Harvest Barbera 2008, $19 (500ml)
Over $20: Quady Winery California Orange Muscat “Deviation” NV, $28 (375ml)

Sangiovese
Under $20: Bonny Doon Vineyards San Benito County 2006, $12
Over $20: Daniel Gehrs Wines Santa Ynez Valley 2006, $29

Syrah
Under $20: Sunset Cellars Solano County 2007, $18
Over $20: Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley 2007, $50

Zinfandel
Under $20: EOS Estate Winery Paso Robles 2009, $18
Over $20: Story Winery Amador County 2006, $25

Save gas, take a class
Instead of using gas to drive to the wine country, go to Fort Mason, take a class, and taste 20 wines on the following Saturdays, 1 p.m.
                 
Feb. 5: California’s Five Wine Districts – Learn the distinct wine districts and how their wines differ.
                 
Feb. 26: Basics for Beginners – Learn the five basic types of wines and how they are made.
                 
To enroll or wait-list, phone San Francisco City College at 415-561-1840, or visit www.ccsf.edu/services/continuing_education. Register one week before classes begin to receive a $10 discount.

Credits: Edgar Vogt (tastings); Ophie Mercado (statistics)

Fred McMillin has taught wine history for 30 years on three continents and was voted one of the 22 best wine writers in America by Academy of Wine Communications. E-mail: fred@northsidesf.com; fax: 415-567-4468

Browse Column Archive

Bookmark and Share Print Page

     
September 2011 Issue

 

Horse Shoe Tavern Amici's East Coast Pizzeria

 

Alfreds Alfred's Steakhouse

Bobos Bobo's

Franciscan The Franciscan

WE OLIVE
 
       

Getting to know the Reillys June Top Picks
HOMEspacerADVERTISEspacerCONTACTspacerARCHIVESspacerMEDIA KITspacerSEARCH

Copyright © 2005 - 2008 NorthSide San Francisco