Lee Barczak

I recently had the great pleasure of tasting the current releases of several of the Stag’s Leap wines. All a pleasure to be introduced to. They speak volumes to the care with which this vineyard and its winemaker tend to business. The Cask 23 Cabernet Sauvignon, of recent film fame, was amazing in the layers of bouquet and flavor that unfolded as I enjoyed it. There were several layers of aroma and an equal number of flavors; each announcing itself after the others. Imagine what this wine will taste like after a reasonable amount of time in the bottle!  The S.L.V. Cab was equally enjoyable, perhaps only overshadowed by reputation. We will soon have the Artemis Cabernet in the wine shop and I am sure you will find it delightful. Sadly, quantities are VERY limited even in this market. If you have interest, call for pricing and we can special order for only three days. Oh, and the Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay were also a treat…both very different from their usual California cousins.

Don’t assume you like one varietal and don’t like another varietal. When people come into my shop saying something like “I only drink Pinot Noirs,” I will always challenge them.

First of all, if they’re drinking Pinot Noir because it is a medium body wine and not very tannic (that’s the sticky residue left in your mouth after sipping some “dry” wines) I’ll try them out on a Grenache or a Tempranillo because it’s a shame to limit one’s self to such a narrow experience when the fun of wine tasting is the HUGE variety.

Second, there is an enormous selection of flavor profiles within each varietal so that a Cabernet Sauvignon could have that same soft, medium body that those people were looking for in the Pinot Noir.

Third, it could just be they have not yet had a really good wine in another varietal. When starting out in wine drinking, we tend to start out buying cheap. That’s understandable because you don’t want to plunk down a ton of money on something you’re not going to like. Unfortunately, it’s difficult (not impossible) to find really good cheap wines. They are out there. They’re just few and far between.

I’ve told people for years to find a wine guy and a wine shop they can trust and stay there. These are the guys who have tasted the wines you want to buy. Next time, tell your wine guy the flavors you like and see what’s suggested.