This is my last post about my visit to California. I can honestly say going through my notes and reflecting on what I tasted I am already eager to go back. There is so much to see, taste and eat in California that I am convinced even if I had given myself a couple of weeks to do this trip it still wouldn’t have been enough.
My wine adventures during this trip did not begin in Napa. During a day of sightseeing in San Francisco I happened upon the Winery Collective located at 485 Jefferson St. This part of San Francisco looks and feels a lot like Niagara Falls but if you’re going to go to Alcatraz you are going to be in the neighborhood.
The Winery Collective is a group of wineries that have pooled together to open up this shop. Basically … it’s the sort of shop that is missing from Toronto and will never happen with the current system in place.
2013 Winery SF Sauvignon Blanc – $15.99USD – **** – Flavours of lime and gooseberry with a nice grassiness on the finish and good mineral notes. The finish is nice and clean, and this wine is perfectly balanced.
2012 SF Winery Chardonnay – $24.99USD – **** – Buttered Popcorn on the nose lets you know that we are looking at textbook California Chardonnay. The flavours on this wine are very ripe tangerine and roasted pineapple. While remaining textbook California there is beautifully balanced acidity on the finish of this wine.
2006 Morningwood Chardonnay – $24.00USD – **** – The nose is funky with hints of vanilla. There is a nice creamy mouthfeel with lots of tangerine and vanilla on the finish. The mid palate has floral qualities like white flowers. This wine is has great balance.
2009 Sol Rouge Mourvedre – $29.00USD – **** – Slightly floral with strawberry on the nose. The flavours are raisin, and plum with a nice finish.
2010 Vie Syrah Los Madres Vineyard – $39.00USD – ****+ – Smoky, Chocolaty with Licorice hints on the nose and in the glass. There is a lot of very dark fruit in this wine lots of plum, cassis, and blackberry. With just a whisper of pepper on the finish.
