These pictures are from last weekend...Obviously, as we are currently in the midst of a BLIZZARD!
Nonetheless...
What better way to spend the afternoon? Cupcake Weekends continue at Breckenridge Cheese & Chocolate! Minis are our specialty...little bites of bliss on a snowy afternoon. Paired with the perfect wine...how can one resist?
Yes...it is a SNOWY afternoon (yes, I am repeating myself for effect!) Not too many people milling the streets. Thus I have time to chat...
I was on wine patrol for Wine in the Pines last night, one of the few occasions to get dressed up in the county. I poured for Synergy Fine Wines (my part time job) who donated wine for the event that benefits Cerebral Palsy of Colorado. A familiar cast of characters dressed up and mingled...wine reps from Summit County and locals just out for some good wine and good times. I found my perch, directly across from the outstanding Chocolate Fantasy Table (a creation of Ned Archibald from Vail Resorts). Ned never ceases to amaze. Chocolate Fantasy...an in insane assortment of gorgeous delights! The whole room wafted of intoxicating chocolate.
I arrived early to chill down the whites, open the reds and make sure all were tasting up to snuff (i.e. no corked bottles...whew) and used the time to brush up on the wines and winemakers I was representing. Turns out I chose some pretty cool stuff and my table was revisited often!
Manifesto Sauvignon Blanc California, all stainless steel, crisp and clean was a predictable crowd pleaser. Manifesto is a Jamey Whetstone project. He also makes some killer small production Pinots under his namesake label Whetstone Wine Cellars. He started working a Turley Wine Cellars in 1998 (which becomes apparent when you take one look at the Whetstone labels...as they look very similar). He worked for a summer at Domaine Dujac (impressive and endearingly romantic in my book) in Burgundy where he furthered his understanding of life as a small production winemaker. Personally, this European, architypical, winemaking stint successfully furthers his mystique and cool as well. Jamey, with that laidback, suntanned, surfer-boy look, produces some outstanding Pinot, Syrah, Viognier and Chardonnay...you should check them out!
Foxglove Chardonnay also showed quite well last night. Many bon vivants returned for an encore...proclaiming that they don't normally like Chardonnay but that really enjoyed the Foxglove. They aren't alone. Robert Parker loves this wine, calling it an "absolute spectacular value" and gave it 91points. I concur that it is one of the top domestic Chardonnays under $20. The Foxglove line is a less expensive/ bigger production tier for Varner Family Vineyards. They source the fruit for this label...the Chardonnay from the Central Coast appellation. It sees no oak or malolactic fermentation, tho is remarkably rich from sur-lie aging and is definitely a Chardonnay to please even the most Chardonnay-phobic.
I poured some fun reds too...the BIG WOOP red (an Aussie Grenache, Shiraz, Petit Verdot blend in a funky/fashion forward 1ltr bottle), Crios Malbec from Susana Balbo (a member of the small sorority of great, female winemakers), and Volver (a rich and lusty Tempranillo from La Mancha, Spain). But the red that stood apart from the masses last night (much of the wine was unremarkable, as is generally the deal at large scale wine events...you've got to weed thru to find the token gem) was The Table California Cabernet. It hails from The Once label umbrella of wines. It stood apart for it's flavor profile...but mostly for it's story. It is the summation of ideas... a brainchild wine from the minds of a handful of high profile sommeliers (Raj Parr, Eric Lilavois COO of the Thomas Keller empire, Danny Meyer of Union Square Cafe, Mark Williamson of Willi's Wine Bar in Paris, Larry Stone of Rubicon, Daniel Johnnes of Daniel in NY and Bernie Sun of Jean-Georges NY). These taste makers/winemakers have come together with a united vision and have created The Once. They are propelled by a premise/a philosophy/ an ideal: "to blend their version of a perfect wine for their restaurant's specific cuisine." They are ringleaders of The New Renaissance Wine Movement (my moniker) to bring back lower alcohol, more food friendly wines of yesteryear. An impressive cast with a laudable mission! And thereby...a cool wine for the times...and I had it at my table.
Proud pourer of inspired vino!
Then, of course, I had to drive home thru the white, swirling blizzard to my much desired bed.
