Enobytes Wine Blog

If you have not seen or heard of Eric Guerra wines, you soon will. Inspired by passion, his new line offers prestige small-lot artisan wines that represent the diversity of what Sonoma County wines have to offer. In his lineup, he offers wines that balance between elegance and intensity.

Guerra’s 2005 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, also released this month, is rich and complex with fruit picked from Demattei Vineyards on Pine Mountain. The estate is located on the southwestern slop of the Mayacamas Mountain Range. The Pinot Noir eludes delicate yet complex characteristics, which displays how this varietal can thrive in a microclimate produced at JMT Vineyards in Russian River. The Pinot Noir is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2008.

Entering into the professional wine business as the Brand Manager at Kendall-Jackson, it was there where Eric gained a phenomenal amount of experience in the wine industry. It was also there where he experienced a moment of inspiration; a revelation that would change his life forever. His journey leads him to an ever-challenging venture of opening his own winery and creating wines that inspire.

In this interview, Guerra answered questions about his journey leading up to building his own brand as he shares his passion for his new endeavor. Read the rest of this entry »

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January 2008 Wine Picks

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The driving question going into 2008 about wine, for me, revolves around integrity. Wine producers have surprised me this year in their ability to market wines that happened by mistake or the cellar rat mixed two tanks. Oreana’s Red Table Wine, from Santa Barbara (available at Trader Joe’s), the label reads mistake or fate, and then they launch into a tale of two tanks being mixed. Wasn’t that the story behind the Non-vintage Chardonnay from the Paso Robles Winery "Eos" (Novella)?

Regardless of the story behind the wine, the bottom line becomes, is it good wine at a price-point that represents value? The value of integrity continues to be challenged regarding consumers and wine producers. It does not only reflect on the producers. Consumers have their own concept of marketing integrity now believing the best quality can be mirrored at any level. A good example would be this scenario; the most asked for wine this year was Rombauer Chardonnay. Well not actually - the question usually goes like this, “My favorite wine is Rombauer Chardonnay”. I always reply, “Regrettably, we do not carry that wine” and most often the customer replies with “what do you have at less than $10 that will taste like Rombauer”? My response is always the same, “nothing", at its current asking price of $30 there is a reason I do not sell anything as good at less than $10. The wine is phenomenal and undervalued. Rombauer continues to make wines that represent integrity year after year.

Hands down, the favorite Cab people ask you to mirror would be Silver Oak “Napa
Valley” Cabernet Sauvignon again at less than $10. Read the rest of this entry »

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I think it’s safe to say that most of us collect and covet special wines for various reasons, whether for their pedigree, or our loyalty to a favorite vineyard, or that elusive, sensual, ‘je ne se qua’ of a great wine at its prime.

But when do we decide ‘This is a good time to open "That" ‘ ?! (With respect to Victor Borge - We’d have fun listening to him vocalize THOSE punctuation marks!) Well let me tell you a story…. Read the rest of this entry »

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The 17th Annual Boston Wine Expo is taking place February 8 - 10, 2008. The event is the largest trade and consumer wine event in the country and it offers wine enthusiasts an unparalleled experience in wine and food. This year, the Grand Tasting will offer over 450 international and domestic wineries from 13 countries pouring over 1,800 different wines. Read the rest of this entry »

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To commemorate a great year we’ve released our top 25 wines for 2007. The list showcases the best wines we tasted with a particular emphasis on quality products that represent outstanding values. Making the list for 2007 are the following wines, which scored a 90+ rating based on a 100-point scale in order of points received.

Designation: West Face Vineyard: LookOut Mountain Region: California - Sonoma Value: $50 Score: 94

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I was at my local wine store when I overheard a customer berating the wine steward about why they didn’t carry the box wine which contained Champagne equipped with a drinking straw. Baffled and amazed, I had to investigate what this was all about.

Come to find out, it’s not a box wine at all; California vintner and Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is producing a 6 ounce Blanc De Blancs named "Sofia" packaged in a raspberry-colored can with a straw attached to the side like a juice box. Unfortunately, most articles reporting on the libation grossly misrepresent the product as Champagne. I guess we can equally blame Coppola as well, for Blanc De Blancs should be made entirely out of Chardonnay grapes but his product is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat Canelli.

Now I know I might not be as cool as I use to be, but I just don’t get it. I can’t speak for everyone, but I have no interest drinking a sparkling wine (heaven forbid if it was real champagne) through a straw; but then again, I don’t like drinking espresso out of a Styrofoam cup either. What’s disturbing me equally are those consumers that seem to care more about how cool they look drinking the product more than they do about what’s inside the can. Frank Greve from the Knight Ridder Newspaper wrote a story about the product and reported out that Washington D.C.’s restaurant Mie N Yu’s beverage manager Saeed Bennani said, "You’re drinking champagne out of a can with a straw. It’s different. So you’re different," Bennani said. "What’s in the can almost doesn’t matter." So if it doesn’t matter what’s in the can, why not simply fill the container with Budweiser? I guess this is one of those stories that I simply have to let go - to each his own, right?

~ Pamela Heiligenthal

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Download Enobytes Free Vintage Chart (1987 – 2007)

In recent years, some critics assert that vintage charts are obsolete, affirming winemakers have the technology and skills to make great wines even in the worst of years.

The quandary with this line of reasoning is that a great wine begins with a superior grape. As grapes are extremely sensitive to weather conditions, severe weather can directly damage a vineyard, resulting in disease and infestation. The weather also influences the flavor and character of the final product; that is why climate and weather conditions play a major part in making a great wine.

Read the rest of this entry »

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We’ve released our top wine surprises for 2007. These wines may or may not still be available for purchase. If you laid some of these down for consumption later, you are a savvy enophile.

Designation: N/A Vineyard: N/A Region: Mendoza Value: $5.00 Score: 87

Designation: N/A Vineyard: N/A Region: Washington Value: $15 Score: 94

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