02/18/09 Los Olivos Dash & Brander Industry Open House

We are heading up to Squaw to go skiing tomorrow with friends so I made a quick run to Los Olivos to buy wine.   Los Olivos is a very small town with many tasting rooms along its two block main drag.  This is very convenient because I only had 45 minutes to choose wines before the tasting rooms close.  First I visit the Qupé tasting room which is entirely run by the Lindquist family.  Ethan (second generation winemaker) is manning the bar today.  He pours me some selections from the Qupé list including the Los Olivos Cuvee (a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre) and the Bien Nacido Syrah.  Both are wonderful!  I buy one Syrah and a couple of the Cuvees.   Next, I visited the Stolpman tasting room, which opened a week ago; they recently moved from their old location in Solvang.  I am a big fan of the beautiful, complex Syrahs that winemaker Sashi Moorman turns out year after year.  I tasted the new release Grenache.  While many other area wineries like Beckman have been making Grenache for years, this is the first year for Stolpman.  Since my husband is obsessed with Grenache, I get a couple bottles to bring home.  Next up, I head for Consilience, best known for its very expressive, big Rhones.  I am here to buy a couple of the single vineyard Syrahs and some Petite Sirah (one of my favorite varietals).  The new release Consilience Hampton Family Vineyard Syrah is really wonderful – great fruit and white pepper spice with a nice long finish.  I also picked up a bottle of the Consilience La Presa Vineyard Petite Sirah.  (What a poorly named varietal – there is nothing petite about it and it is not a Syrah, but I digress.)  Next up I visit Tre Anelli to pick up wines made from Italian and Spanish varietals.   All the wines on the list are great “food” wines, especially the Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Barbera.  I picked up a few of these for the trip and then I headed over to the Brander industry open house event.

It was great fun to catch up with many wine industry friends while enjoying Brander‘s hospitality!  The Brander staff was pouring wine and many people brought along bottles to share.  Before I get too lost in describing the wine, let me first say that the food was amazing.  There was a wonderful mole with chicken, and these thick little tortillas topped with smashed white beans, and Mexican potato pancakes (fabulous with the salsa or guacamole), all homemade by Rachel.  There was also a meat and cheese plate which included salami, double crème brie and an unusual mild wasabi flavored cheese.  For dessert, there were delectable mini-cheesecakes, handmade by Louise Smith, the Brander tasting room manager (who is also an award-winning baker).  If you ever need a cheesecake or food for a special occasion, just call Louise.  Suffice it to say that all the food was wonderful.  The first wine that I tasted was a new release: the Brander 2008 Santa Ynez Valley Sauvignon Blanc.  With a nose of citrus and tropical fruit and a clean minerality, this wine is Brander’s 32^nd vintage of Sauvignon Blanc.  Most of the fermentation was done in stainless steel with “a kiss of barrel” per the tasting notes.  Next I had the 2008 Chateau Neuf du Pink, a dry rosé that would go perfectly with gumbo or a poolside barbeque.  This wine is mostly Syrah with a little bit of Sauvignon Blanc.  Next I tasted the 2006 Bouchet, an unusual Rhone/Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.  One taste – rich and complex – was all it took – I had to buy a bottle to take home.  Janeen (tasting room manager at Tre Anelli) mentioned that she had a 2004 Bouchet that was amazing.  I think I’ll tuck this wine in the cellar for a while before opening it.

Brander's very own Jay and Louise

Fred Brander (a.k.a. Mr. Sauvignon Blanc)

Janeen (Tre Anelli), Jim (Tre Anelli) and Louise (Brander)