Ten days later, captions have been added to the ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producer's) 2007 Trade Tasting event photo album. While a picture is worth 1000 words, having a bit more text with the photos is a good thing, as is being able to put faces together with names.
For the pictures and the captions, click here or the picture above, and see who was doing what at ZAP this year.
Kix Brooks, who along with partner Ronnie Dunn host the 2006 CMA Awards this evening, is in the process of building Arrington Vineyards, a winery and plantings in Arrington, Tennessee. The venture also includes partners Fred Minderman and Winemaker Kip Summers. Brooks, half of the ever-popular country music duo Brooks & Dunn, became obsessed with wine after staying in Napa Valley and spending time at Robert Mondavi in Oakville, and apparently felt called to make wine in Tennessee. An interview with Brooks has been published by the Nashville Wine Press.
Jeff Hall, Arrington resident and pilot of an ultralight aircraft called an "airbike" recently flew over the vineyard and winery property and captured this "pilot" video. You can see the timber frame winery building is nearing completion. Pending approvals and finishing touches, Arrington Vineyards plans to be selling wine by the end of the year.
Arrington is a farming crossroads community in Williamson County, just east of Franklin, which is in the midst of fast-paced transition to upscale planned community developments.
Brooks & Dunn were nominated this year for 7 CMA Awards.
Hartley Ostini* Hitching Post Wines were made famous in the 2004 wine/road film "Sideways". The Hitching Post Restaurant in the small Santa Barbara County town of Buellton served as a location for several scenes in the film, including this one (see trailer "Windmill").
Besides having been a movie location, the Hitching Post restaurant is the genuine article, centered around the grill and the wines. The cozy bar really is the place to park yourself for dinner if you want to catch up on local news.
Cork Dancer refers to the action of salmon in the sea jumping over the "cork line" of partner and ex-fisherman Hartley. 5.1 is the 1st edition of the 2005 vintage, and was sourced from Santa Rita Hills (Fiddlestix & Rio Vista) and Bien Nacido in Santa Maria.
Tasting Notes: Color: Deep ruby translucent. Aromas: Complex spicy with cassis liqueur and black cherry fruit, forest and bourbon. This is a bold agrarian Pinot Noir with plenty of tart acidity, dark fruit, cedary spice, lean muscular tannins, very warm and dry on the finish.
Very nice value ($29). Closure: Real cork. Alcohol content: 14.5%.
Winewaves reviewed Cork Dancer 2004 Pinot Noir.
*Hartley Ostini is the winemaking partnership of Gary Hartley (former commercial fisherman) and Frank Ostini (restaurant proprietor).
Sparky Marquis, who together with wife Sarah are introducing Mollydooker wines, escorted their first vintage into the Nashville market this past week. Mollydooker means "left-handed", which is how Sparky invites a handshake. Included in the 4-item line is the first 2006 wine spotted in Nashville, a white wine, a Verdelho called "The Violinist". Reds are the main focus however, with a 2005 Shiraz called "The Boxer", a 2005 Cabernet called "The Maitre' D", and a 2005 Shiraz-Cab-Merlot blend called "Two Left Feet". The clever labels, which play on the awkwardness of being left-handed, and which contain multiple levels of 1930's-rooted visual interest, are the idea of left-handed Sarah Marquis.
My first impression was strongly positive for all these wines. Look for full reviews and label shots of these wines, upcoming on Winewaves.
A rapid sellout of their first vintage is likely given that The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) blessed the lineup with all 92+ ratings, the prices are affordable ($15 white, $20 reds), and the first year's release is only 30,000 cases.
Pictured left to right, above: Jeff Warzynski, Wine Manager, Frugal MacDoogal Wine Warehouse in Nashville; Sparky Marquis, co-Owner and Winemaker at Mollydooker. Jeff is holding a bottle of "The Boxer" Shiraz, as Sparky holds a bottle of "The Violinist" Verdelho.
Winewaves recently reviewed the Marquis' previously released Marquis-Philips Shiraz 2004. The Marquis-Philips label was the joint project of California importer Dan Philips and Sparky and Sarah Philips. Philips now owns the Marquis-Philips label, while the Marquis' Grapes International imports Mollydooker to the USA.
After buying and tasting La Mozza Morellino di Scansano, you learn that Celebrity Chefs Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich are partners in the label*. You may have stumbled onto a very reasonably priced cross-cultural Tuscan-born red with super taste.
Scansano is a village is in southern Tuscany, southwest of Montalcino. The La Mozza Vineyard is near Scansano, about 10 miles in from the sea.
Morellino is most frequently called Sangiovese, but it is also referred to as a clone or cousin of Sangiovese. The name originated as a reference to the very dark "blackish" color of the grape. Wines from Morellino Di Scansano must be 85+% Morellino/Sangiovese. Tasting Notes. Color: Deep ruby translucent. Raspberry and sour cherry aromas are forward, with hints of licorice and rock supporting. This is a medium bodied Italian red, with nice acidity and polished tannins. Cherry berry and cocoa flavors evolve in the lengthy finish. Closure: Real cork. Excellent value ($15) |
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*Partners Lidia Bastianich**, her son Joe***, and Mario purchased the 75 acre La Mozza estate in Maremma, Tuscany, according to The Wine Report's October 2005 cover story. That story also explained the "Il Perazzi" part of the label; "Wild pear trees known as perazzi in Italian,” says Mario. Read the story by San Francisco based writer Deborah Grossman.
**Lidia is a Chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and host of "Lidia's Family Table", distributed by American Public Television.
***Joe and Mario are also partners in NYC's Italian Wine Merchants with Sergio Esposito. Sergio claims to have starting drinking wine at age 6.
Vince Vineyards "V" Chardonnay 2003 was the inaugural bottling of Vince Neil's (Motley Crue fame) side project in the wine business. Vince is acting as part celebrity marketer, part wine negociant, in bringing out this Chardonnay. Vince definitely enjoys good wine, and worked with Adler Fels* Winery to produce his own label.
There was also a Cabernet, which sold out in Nashville. New releases and a website are expected to be introduced soon.
Vince was in attendance along with MÖTLEY CRÜE band members Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx, as the they received the 2,301st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Wednesday (January 25th). The ceremony was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the band's founding. Their star is apparently across the street from the Erotica Museum and Frederick‘s of Hollywood, a fitting location. (see Photos by Wire Image)
| Tasting Notes. The light golden straw color is an indication of the style of Chardonnay. Rich, buttery, spicy and lightly smoky nectarine, peach, apple and candied lemon aromas make a statement. On the tongue, "V" is medium-bodied, creamy and round, with good acidity and nutty oaky structure. Elegant tree fruit flavors, somewhat buttery and pie-spiced, balanced with tartness, lead to a smooth finish which reverberates oak and fruit.
Closure: Artificial composite cork. Nice value ($17) in a rich style Chardonnay. Surprise, you're not being overcharged for the celebrity label. |
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*Adler Fels Winery, located in Santa Rosa, also brings Yellow Bird California wines ($6-7), Leaping Lizard Napa wines ($10), Big Ass Cab ($15) and Big Ass Zin ($15) to market. Adler Fels is also a producer of several other private label wines produced from purchased grapes. The winery was purchased in late 2004 by Adams Wine Group. Harry Parducci stayed on board as Winemaker.
Winewaves published a picture of Motley Crue's Vince Neil back in September, 2005. That picture has been popular, so here are a few more. The Vince Vineyards website is apparently under construction, and there is word that a new wine announcement is coming soon. Meanwhile, Vince and the Crue are headed back out on tour in February, starting with a Valentine's Day concert in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Vince Neil as he arrives at Frugal MacDoogal's on September 8, 2005 (above).
Vince autographs a copy of the Nashville Scene (above).
Vince Neil posed with Charles Sonnenberg, of Frugal MacDoogal's (above). Meanwhile, fans lined up before 8:00 AM, to get in to see Vince at 3:00 PM.
A crowd of well over 100 fans waited up to eight hours for a brief meeting with Vince Neil, plus an autograph of one or more bottles of his new wine label "V", sale priced at $16.99. The wine saw record sales of course, with many fans not necessarily wine drinkers. One shouted at Vince: "Which one goes with chicken!?"
Also shown in the picture are Vince's Assistant and Bob Schmitt of Frugal MacDoogal's.
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