Mexicatessen

I just read an article in Los Angeles magazine about  Chef Rick Bayless’ new restaurant in LA, “Red O“. For those of you who haven’t yet met Rick Bayless, he is one of the current “star chefs”, specializing in gourmet Mexican food & he won the Top Chef Masters competition in 2009. He’s a chef superstar; wikipedia him for more info.

However, Rick isn’t the point of this blog entry – gourmet Mexican food is.

Given the plethora of taco trucks, stands, Mexican food cafes and restaurants that abound in the greater LA area, I’ll admit, I’ve wondered about the concept of “gourmet Mexican”. If I can get a $1.25 taco at El Taquito, one of the best tacos in LA (at least according to Yelp and my belly), are any and all more expensive offerings elsewhere simply gringo food, purposed to separate a fool and his money under a heap of guacamole, cheese, sour cream, beans, onions and salsa?

The answer is no. I offer to you, ladies and gentlemen, CaCao Deli (a “Mexicatessen” in Eagle Rock). We landed there two Sunday’s ago, quite by accident. We were cruising for lunch, and looked for inspiration along the Eagle Rock “strips”. When nothing inspired we aimed for Spitz, a reliable and tasty favorite. Sadly (yet fortunately) we couldn’t find parking and so we carried on, tummies rumbling. A little while later, further east on Colorado Blvd, we arrived at CaCao Deli.

I was dubious. $3 tacos! A half hour wait for food! Gringos beware! Right? Right?!

Wrong.

Suppressing my misgivings,  driven by hunger and the desire for family solidarity, I followed my routine and ordered a trifecta (three tacos – any fewer is unmanly). I ordered one each of chorizo con papa, corn truffle, and carnitas de pato tacos, as well as some mole fries.

Oh.

My.

Gawd.

For the first time in my life, I got the concept of gourmet Mexican. The chorizo con papa taco: such a panoply of flavors. Wonderful texture! Corn truffle taco: truffle!!!! Who doesn’t love, love, love truffle? We took our honeymoon in Piedmonte, partially in the pursuit of truffles! Put that on a taco and you’ve found handheld heaven. Carnitas de pato: while slightly fatty (but what duck dish isn’t?), it still presented a wonderful blended sauce and meat combination.

Indeed this was gourmet. Not even comparable to carnitas, pollo or carne asada tacos. Nothing wrong with either – just two very, very, very different experiences.

So  a hearty recommendation for CaCao Deli, and … an endorsement in principle into what Rick Bayless is trying to do. Next time you are considering Taco Bell, think outside the box and dream of  tacos with truffles, duck, chorizo and … heaven.

Spitzer: The Musical

LYRICS:

Spitzer was launched in 2003
The 4th of NASA’s Great Observatories
On an Earth-trailing orbit with its back to the sun
3 eyes to the sky with coolant for one.
Its 66 million miles away
Because the heat from the Earth would affect the display
Were talking sensitive instruments, keep it streaming on course
for its deep space heat-tracing gaze at the Universe

CHORUS
Infrared
Capturing the heat instead
There is light form the sky that we can’t see
In the darkest parts of the galaxy
With Spitzer’s spectrum
We can detect them
Easily

Spitzer’s greatest gift to the viewing community
Is the ability to see through the dust clouds that literally
Block the view of other telescopes
Unless that dust gets busted they stand no hope
Of seeing what we can, Were NASA’s greatest addition
But you didn’t hear it from me ’cause it ain’t a competition,
Yeah, were working together, combining forces for the mission
of a better sense of interstellar cosmic composition

CHORUS

Visible light Visible light
We can only see the stars if the stars shine bright
Infrared, (yeah) infrared
Depends on the energy in heat that’s shed.

Spitzer’s pulling pictures like the paparazzi
Though the coolant ran out, so we cant use all three
We’ve got notable photos, and even bros know it shows
The secrets of Universe are fully exposed
Like some extrasolar planets, does get you a going
‘Cause the heat from those planets has its own faint glowing
If there are half as many planets around the stars weve found
Its a million times more likely they’ve got life spinning ’round
Am I blowing your mind? Are you listening to me?
Were the white coat crew that mapped our galaxy
So you’re joining the team, that’s hot in the head
Hooked on looking for the cooking bits of orange and red.

CHORUS

Central California Wine Tour, October 2009; Here We Go Again

Thursday, October 8, 2009:

I started my annual vacation with a trip to the `dentist. Perfect start to a holiday, right?

Not.

We hit the road around 8:30pm and arrived in Santa Barbara to stay with my sister-in=-law around 10. Bagel (the dog) gave us the gift of barfing in the back of the car, just before we arrived at our destination. That was appreciated.

Day one…

Friday, October 9, 2009:

Woke up to discover Bagel had peed all over  a carpet that K’s sister-in-law brought home from Turkey. After cleaning-up, we made breakfast. Discovered even more pee under the dining room table. Thanks, puppy.

So, with this auspicious start to our vacation, we decided to press on all the way to Cambria. Stopped in San Luis Obispo and grabbed some lunch at Linnaea’s Cafe (spanikopita, lentil soup, arborio rice salad – very tasty).

Stopped also briefly in Cayucos and did the annual tasting at Cayucos Cellars. Always an early stop on the tasting tour. A family run operation (the son of the winemaker was once again in the tasting room), the vibe is friendly. Other tasters had apparently been enjoying some … green, smokable appetizers, so the tasting was vibrant. For the cellar, one bottle of 2000 Estate Pinot Noir ($26; a later release – interesting), and one bottle of 2004 Syrah ($26). Nothing fancy, but a very fun and rewarding stop.

Saturday, October 10, 2009:

Harmony Cellars: for the cellar, 2 bottles of 2006 Diamond Reserve Pinot Noir (Monterey County, $28.80 each); 1 bottle of Santa’s Reserve Red Table Wine ($13.40) and 3 bottles of 2007 Zinfandel ($15.20 each). Also picked up a bag of wine casket wood chips – great for smoking in the BBQ. We got some last year and they were fantastic – added a lovely flavor to BBQ meats. This was the very last bag they had, however (discontinued).

Black Hand Cellars: neat tasting room on the west side of Cambria. The vineyards are near Paso, but the competition in Paso for tasting is fierce. So … here they are in Cambria. The labels and wine names are neat: each bottling is named for a gangster theme – predecessors of the winemaker apparently had a gangster past. And each label sports a hidden “black hand” print, symbolizing the imprint of a vineyard worker. For the cellar, one bottle of 2005 Hit n’ Run Rhone ($32; 63% Syrah, 22% Mourvedre, 15% Grenache).

Sunday, October 11, 2009:

Jack Creek: Tasted while talking to wine tour leaders who arrived a day early to “prepare” for their tour, They tipped me to Stephan Cellars, which became our next stop.

Stephan Cellars: went here based on the recommendation of the tour guides we met at Jack Creek. The vineyard/tasting room is open only occasionally (7d per year). For the cellar: two bottles of 2006 Pinor Noir (Encell Vineyard, SLO; $30 each); 2006 Pinot Noir (York Mountain Estate; $47)

Hug Cellars: Enjoyed a tasting with the owner/winemaker Augie Hug. An oilman, Augie nevertheless has found the magic touch in making wines. We’ve tried for the last 3 years to come to his tasting room – got close last year, but the tasting room was suddenly closed for a funeral.

For the cellar: 3 x Hug Cellars 2007 Mourvedre Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard ($29 each); 3 x Hug Cellars 2007 Pinor Noir Arroyo Seco (Cedar Valley Vineyards; $30 each).

Barrel 27: Didn’t have a great experience returning to Barrel 27. A new location (they claimed they had always been there – not), and uninformed tasting staff. For the cellar, one bottle of 2006 “zotovich” Pinot Noir ($38, Santa Rita Hills).

AJB Vineyard: slow day in the tasting room. 2 bottles of 2005 Sangiovese Estate ($21 each), and one bottle of 2002 Nebbiolo ($24).

and the culinary part … Pier 46 (fish tacos!) in Templeton.

Monday, October 12, 2009:

Traveled along the coast – marveled at the elephant seals near San Simeon.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009:

Heavy rain and fog. Didn’t venture out today. The front window of the house leaked, and kept us changing towels to collect the water every 30 minutes (at most). Fortunately the worst of the storm was over by bedtime and we were able to sleep through the night.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009:

Recovering from the storm, we felt adventurous and decided to venture into Paso Robles. I chose 3 wineries to target, and 2 knitting/quilting shops somehow made it onto the menu as well. Driving along the 46, we immediately started to encounter fog. First a little, then a little more, then … a lot. About 10 miles in we decided it just wasn’t worth it, and turned around.Returning to the coast, we turned south to Morro Bay. The drive along the 1 was much clearer and we had an uneventful drive.Parking at the north end of the strip, we walked from Giovanni’s to the other end of the strand. Highlights included the sea lions basking and barking on a buoy; a pelican atop a mast of a rusting fishing boat; Bagel pooping right in front of the door to a cafe.  Wonderful weather in the bay, though. Lovely stop.Returning north, we stopped in Cayucos for fish tacos at Ruddell’s Smokehouse. Smoked ahi and smoked ono were the order of the day, and remained the absolute bomb. Ever since we’ve started to come here, the tacos have remained unique, flavorful and an explosion of flavor. Wonderful smoked fish topped with an abundance of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, apples and a lovely sweet sauce.  Yummy. Truly a unique experience.We returned home, buying 5 pies from Linn’s for the year ahead.At time of writing, it is just before sunset, but the house is shrouded in fog. We’re waiting for Alex who is driving from Davis, and for dinner, Sea Chest awaits.

Thursday, October 15, 2009:

Four Vines A favorite stop, Four Vines was fun yet again. Love the O glasses for tasting and am working to complete the collection. For the cellar, one bottle 2007 Zinfandel (Dusi Vineyards; $35), and one bottle 2006 Syrah (One Tree Hill Block; $40).

Turley: Another favorite stop, I very much enjoyed our chat about favorite places to eat, and the tasting room manager’s desire to not drive on busy roads. Tricky business. Very much enjoyed chatting about staying close to home. For the cellar, one bottle 2006 Zinfandel (Pesenti Vineyard; $40).

Vina Robles: located on the eastern outskirts of the city of Pasa Robles, Vina Robles boasts atruly massive tasting complex, also used for weddings, corporate events. I felt very removed from the vineyards here. For the cellar, one bottle of 2006 Syree (84% Syrah, 16% Petite Sirah; $39) and one bottle of 2008 Penman Springs Petite Syrah ($42).

Maloy O’Neill: an extremely unique vineyard. The winemaker produces something like over 30 different wines, and seems to enjoy the most unconventional blends (cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir!). Certainly the most unique winery I’ve ever visited, and among the most fun. I settled for something trending towards more conventional: 3 bottles of 2005 Gioi (65% Sangiovese, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot; $28 each).

Friday, October 16, 2009:

Day of tasting with Alex.

L’Aventure: one of Paso’s “fancy” vineyards. For us … it was loud, and the tasting staff was trying hard to pick up on some young girls visiting from Texas. He did set-up a “date” for Saturday, but we had our doubts whether those hot, young girls would actually show. Such is the life, and part of the motivation, of the tasting room staff…

For the cellar, 2 bottles of L’Aventure 2007 “Cote a Cote Estate” (40% Mourvedre, 40% Grenache, 20% Syrah; $85 each)

Fratelli Perata: very … unique place. Specializing in “big” wines that will age, the tasting room seemed genuinely surprised to see us! They may not always get a crowd, but given this was day one of the Harvest Wine Festival, the room quickly filled. We enjoyed a special place as the taster was from LA and a member of FOTR for Griffith. As a huge astronomy fan, he gave us “special tastes” and generally instilled in the other patrons a sense of “what do we need to do to get that?!”. Even Alex was unimpressive, for a change, when saying he was a particle physicist – this was an astronomer’s lair.

For the cellar: two bottles of Fratelli Perata 2005 “Bambino Grande” ($28 each; Sangiovese blend)

Windward: revisited an old friend, and found that their Pinots continue to improve and impress. Paso is not Pinot country, by and large, but Windward has found a microclimate that seems to work. Unlike most tastings where I decline to take home the winery glass, I made sure to get my Windward (Riedel) tasting glass – it is a “third generation” glass since the last two have been lost to my granite counters. For the cellar: Windward Estate 2007 Pinot Noir ($38 – 15th vintage bottling), and Windward Estate 2005 “Gold” Pinot Noir ($60)

Saturday, October 17, 2009:

Last day of tasting with Alex.

Justin: my guest’s request. Parking was tricky, but we endured. Enjoyed a nice tasting, and got another Riedel glass. Enjoyed at dinner 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($26.25), and for the cellar, one bottle of 2007 Justification ($45).

Sunday, October 18, 2009:

Breakfast tacos in Morro Bay at Chapala (2 tacos al pastor, 1 carnitas taco). Bought a neat dresser/nightstand at the craft fair in Cayucos. Fretted considerably aobut how to fit it, and all the wine, in the car for the drive home. The solution turned out to be to pack stuff in the drawers – little extra space was thus required for the dresser. Clever us.

Monday, October 19, 2009:

Last day of tasting! Hit an old favorite, Adelaida, and got 2 bottles of Version (91 points from Robert Parker; 38% Mourvedre, 28% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 7% Counoise, and 5% Cinsault – $30 per bottle), and 2 bottles of 2006 Syrah Anna’s Estate (90 points from Robert Parker, $28 each).

On the way to Santa Barbara, and home, stopped in the extremely wonderful town of Los Olivos. Tasted at Qupe and, ironically, brought home a 2006 Ethan Santa Ynez Valley Syrah (Purisima Mountain Vineyard) at $39.99.

Behind the Scenes: When Galaxies Collide – Nasa Spitzer Space Telescope

Behind the Scenes: When Galaxies Collide – Nasa Spitzer Space Telescope

Felicia Day explains some of the science behind galactic “collisions,” including the upcoming collision between the galaxy Andromeda and our own galaxy, in this mock behind-the-scenes look at the making of an educational video. Sean Astin also stars.

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NASA Space Telescope Discovers Largest Ring Around Saturn – NASA Spitzer Space Telescope

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope Discovers Huge Ring Around Saturn

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered an enormous ring around Saturn — by far the largest of the giant planet’s many rings.

The new belt lies at the far reaches of the Saturnian system, with an orbit tilted 27 degrees from the main ring plane. The bulk of its material starts about six million kilometers (3.7 million miles) away from the planet and extends outward roughly another 12 million kilometers (7.4 million miles). One of Saturn’s farthest moons, Phoebe, circles within the newfound ring, and is likely the source of its material.

Saturn’s newest halo is thick, too — its vertical height is about 20 times the diameter of the planet. It would take about one billion Earths stacked together to fill the ring.

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered an enormous ring around Saturn — by far the largest of the giant planet’s many rings.

The new belt lies at the far reaches of the Saturnian system, with an orbit tilted 27 degrees from the main ring plane. The bulk of its material starts about six million kilometers (3.7 million miles) away from the planet and extends outward roughly another 12 million kilometers (7.4 million miles). One of Saturn’s farthest moons, Phoebe, circles within the newfound ring, and is likely the source of its material.

Saturn’s newest halo is thick, too — its vertical height is about 20 times the diameter of the planet. It would take about one billion Earths stacked together to fill the ring.

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The First Ever (Again) Pasadena Marathon

November 16, 2008:

“It’s on.”

“What’s on?”

“The Pasadena Marathon”

“No, it isn’t”

“Why not?”

“SoCal is on fire, baby. It’s burnin’. You can’t breathe, and if you can’t breathe, you can’t run.”

March 22, 2009

“It’s on”

“What’s on?”

“The first ever Pasadena Marathon, for the second time”

“Really this time?”

“Really, and this time the runners will be on fire, baby. Don’t miss it. You can run, but you can’t hide.”

Curry House

We were attempting to go to the grand opening of Spitz in Little Tokyo (371 E. Second Street, LA) last night (half price food; $2 beer) but the line out the door looked intimidating (not to mention we were hungry and decided we just couldn’t wait!) So …  after a karmic parking spot appeared, we trouped over to Curry House (123 S. Onizuka St., #204, LA). What a fortunate circumstance! Although I love Spitz (great doner kebab, and air-free gelato to die for), I can, and do, easily  and frequently go to the location in Eagle Rock. But I’d never been to Curry House before. Never even heard of it.

I understand now that Curry House is one of those many, many, many classic LA gems that make life living in the City of Angels so fun and worthwhile. What do I mean by an “LA gem”? Some of the very best places to eat in the greater Los Angeles satisfy the following interesting criteria:

• has been around forever (25 years in this case)
• is located in a nondescript strip mall, often in the middle of nowhere (Curry House is on the second floor of the Weller Court Shopping Center)
• doesn’t look particularly pretty or atmospheric (Curry House is brightly lit, with fake examples of the main courses in the front window)
• is at least a 30 minute drive from home (in good traffic)

But … if you can find said gems (and if traffic permits, and you can get parking), you probably will have a life-changing meal.

Curry House delivers on all counts. It advertises itself by: “Welcome to Curry House, the Japanese-style Curry and Spaghetti Restaurant!” I’m not sure I can say it better.

I enjoyed the curry ginger chicken (the spiciest item on the menu, but a bargain at $11.05). It was to blog for. Yum, yum, yum-O! I have leftovers and I’m drooling as I type, thinking of my lunch ahead. Other promising menu items included anything katsu (not for the weak of heart – it’ll stick to your ribs), seafood tofu shirataki fettucine ($11.45), and the eel don ($16.50). I chose the curry dish because, hey, it is the Curry House after all, but just about everything looked good. And just to make it easier on the gringos, there are pics of all the items on the menu.

Bottom line: Curry House is a prime example of what makes LA great. Los Angeles isn’t easy. Who would have thought that a brightly lit restaurant in a strip mall, with fake examples of main courses in the window at the front of the restaurant, would provide a tasty and memorable experience? I’m sure Michelin would cringe, but it all works in LA. 3.5/5 stars from me.

Central California Wine Tour, October 2008; PART THREE

The denoument:

• Day Eleven (Sunday, 10/19/2008): no wine today. Car broke down along the CA-1 (while gazing at the Elephant seals), and we needed AAA to get us back to Cambria…
• Day Twelve (Monday, 10/20/2008): waiting for a fuel pump; no wine (and no car to go to wine!) today…
• Day Thirteen (Tuesday, 10/21/2008): the mechanic ordered the wrong fuel pump (Volvo’s need a Volvo fuel pump – a fact that I, a completely non-expert mechanic, learned quickly after an internet search on Monday, but somehow this basic concept was missed by our “expert” mechanic (Cambria Tire & Auto; 2421 Village Ln; Cambria, CA 93428-3433).
• Day Fourteen (Wednesday, 10/22/2008): on the road home! Abridged wine tasting was comprised of:
  • Melville: nothing memorable tasted. Mostly 2006 “leftovers” available at time of tasting. The staff in the tasting room were memorable, however. Despite the fascist views of the winemaker, which  are decidedly non-dog friendly, the staff were more open-minded, and came to visit our puppy in the car, the only place where she was allowed. Nothing at all for the cellar, neither from this visit, nor ever in the future. Granted, Melville doesn’t need us, but I encourage all pet owners to consider other winemakers nevertheless.
  • Foley (6121 E Highway 246, Lompoc, CA 93436; 805.737.6222; tasting daily 10am-5pm; $10): last tasting on our vacation. Based on my recounting of the vacation to date, the tasters brought out wines off the tasting list (which, parenthetically, was thin – Foley makes great wines, and they sell out quickly). For the cellar, 2 bottles of “2006 ‘Clone 2A’ Pinot Noir” ($40).
• Day Fifteen (Thursday, 10/23/2008): back to work, alas. No more wine tasting notes for the immediate future, except for gems from the cellar…

Central California Wine Tour, October 2008; PART TWO

The pay-off:

• Day Eight (Thursday):
  • Harmony Cellars: another old friend. We love the town of Harmony (pop 18), and always make sure to visit! The glassworks are amazing! There is some evidence a small cafe may be opening – it would be most welcome. Post Office has closed, due to worries about the structural integrity of the building!
  • Sea Chest: no wine here, but an absolutely fantastic dinner. One of our very favorite places along the central coast. I had the seafood marinara. YUM! Beautiful views of sunset. No reservations accepted, and there is a line at opening time of 5:30pm. The best seats are at the bar, where you can watch the chefs do their magic, and yet keep an eye to the beach and sunset.
• Day Nine (Friday):
  • no wine today
• Day Ten (Saturday): our first foray into the Harvest Wine Festival. Our strategy has been to do our main tastings before the festival began, and primarily hit unique opportunities (e.g., wineries only open during regional events) during the festival. Good plan!
  • Jack Creek Cellars (5265 Jack Creek Road, Templeton, CA 93465; 805-226-8283; tasting Fri-Sun 11am-4:30pm; $7): we’ve been looking for this vineyard all week! First, we were told they were sharing a space with Pasolivo. Nope. Then we were told they were somewhere on York Mountain Road. Nope again. Today we were heading elsewhere when, what should we see, but a sign on Vineyard Road  that “Jack Creek” was open for tasting today! Hooray! And was it worth the wait? Unfortunately … not really. We tasted “2006 Pinot”, “2006 Reserve Pinot”, and “2006 Syrah”. Sadly nothing was memorable… I’m told the 2005 Pinot was sumlime, but they are long sold-out. If we can find this vineyard one more, we will try it again in the years to come. Nothing for the cellar from here.
  • Starr Ranch (9320 Chimney Rock Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805 227-0144: currently offering tasting only during regional events): our second stop, and who should we see there but … our friends from Pasadena Pat and Melissa! This winery is only open a few weekends per year (during Paso festivals), so this offered a unique tasting opportunity that brought us all together. We tried “2004 ‘Crooked Road” Cabernet Franc”, “2005 ‘Crooked Road’ Odysseus”, “2006 Windfall Gypsy Road” and three pre-release wines:  “2006 Windfall Tempranillo”, “2006 ‘Crooked Road’ Odysseus”, and “2006 Starr Ranch Syrah”. Very cool site – the “crooked road” leading up to the winery is lined with walnuts and persimmons, both of which are a significant part of the activities at Starr Ranch. The wines were fun. To be honest, I am not an expert on pseudo-barrel tasting (the pre-release wines were bottled earlier this week!), but I was not blown away. I did really enjoy the “2005 Odysseus” ($45) and added one bottle to the cellar.
  • Thunderbolt (2740 Hidden Mountain Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-226-9907; tasting Fri-Sun 11am-5pm): the biggest disappointment of our tasting tour. I was tempted to visit, not because of their reputation, whatever that may be, but rather since they pair wines with food as part of the tasting experience. For me, that’s where the magic begins. To be certain, finding and enjoying a great wine  is fun, but when you can transform a wine by complimenting its extraordinary flavors with the right food, then, my friend, you have achieved alchemy. Having said that, Thunderbolt achieved nothing. If I may be policitically incorrect, I would say this is white trash wine. I enjoyed nothing. My tasting experience was mixed – I was passed-over for two of my food pairings (which, to be fair, may be understandable given that the tasting rooms over Harvest Weekend were busy), and was glad to leave. Nothing even remotely considered for my cellar from here.
  • Wild Coyote (3775 Adelaida Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-610-1311; daily 11am-5pm; $5): an unexpected stop! The winery looked really cool from the road, so we made an impulse stop. Very fun! The owner/winemaker gave the tasting; his wife provided homemade carnitas. Yum-o! Tasted “2006 Rose ‘White Owl’”, “2006 Zinfandel ‘Shaman’”, “2005 Merlot ‘Black Elk’”, “2006 Syrah ‘Big Chief’”, “2006 Blend ‘House of Reds’”, and “2007 Zin Port”. All very interesting. For the cellar, 2 bottles of “2006 Syrah ‘Big Chief’” ($25), and one bottle of  “2006 Blend ‘House of Reds’” ($25).
  • Carina (3525 Adelaida Roadm, Paso Robles, 93446): a new edition to Paso Robles!  Moving from Santa Barbara, this weekend was supposed to mark their “grand opening”. In reality, it was more of a grand preview, as only the shell of the cellar was completed! We tasted outdoors, on planks set across barrels. It was fun, and one of my favorite spots so far! Tasted “2006 Viognier Central Coast”, “2004 Syrah Santa Barbara County”, “2006 ‘Sybilline’”, “2006 ‘Clairvoyant’”, and 2005 Petite Syrah Sunset Ridge”. For the cellar, 2 bottles of “2004 Syrah” ($11 each – half price discount!) “2006 Clairvoyant”($25).
  • Sylvester (5115 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805- 227-4000; tasting is free, or $5 for ‘gourmet’ pairing; daily 11am-5pm in winter): OK, Sylvester doesn’t really count as a boutique winery, or something particularly special, in the conventional sense of the word. However, it is extremely dog-friendly, and, as one of the first wineries we visited in Paso many, many years ago, it holds a special place in our heart. Tasted for the barrel  2006 and 2007 merlot, cabernet sauvignon and meritage. All good. Also paired cheese with “2006 Kiara Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon” (with Pecorino Toscano), “2004 Le Vigne Cabernet Franc” (with Campo de Motealban), “2004 Le Vigne Merlot” (with Hirtenkase), “2005 Le Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon” (with Comte), and “2003 Kiara Reserve Sangiovese Port” (with Roaring Forties blue cheese). For the cellar, 2 bottles of “2003 Kiara Reserve Sangiovese Port” ($25, WE 94). The tasting and recipe for “Saganaki” was amazing.
  • Brian Benson (2985 Anderson Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-296-9463): another impulse stop. Brian is a young star in Paso, starting his own line as an offshoot from the family business at Dark Star. The wines were … fine (great labels, following Brian’s passion for cars!). My experience was tainted as the “2006 Syrah” was corked (tried it twice to make sure) but the pourers were too lubricated to be able to discern this. A real shame. RP gave a 90 to that wine, and I wanted to try it in its glory, but no luck… Nothing for the cellar.

Central California Wine Tour, October 2008; PART ONE

The Plan:

• Day One (Thursday):
  • Fiddlehead Cellars: (tasting at FiddleHeadquarters in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto; tasting Thurs-Sun 11am-4pm; tasting fee $10). Ohmiblog! I (re)fell in love with Pinot’s at Fiddlehead! The tasting room itself was fun – a simple room in an industrial park; warehouse tasting of amazing wines! Got two bottles of “2005 Oldsville Reserve Pinor Noir” (Willamette Valley, $48).
  • Palmina: (also in the Lompoc Wine ghetto – 1520 East Chestnut Court, Lompoc, CA; 805-735-2030; tasting Thurs-Sun 11am-4pm; tasting is $10, but I paid $5, I think because I was nice to the host!). Italian varieties, and presented in an off-road style. The winemaker, Steve Clifton, is certainly marching to the beat of his own drummer in original presentations of classic Italian wines. Interesting…

• Day Two (Friday):
  • Taste SLO (1003 Osos St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401; 805-269-TASTE; tasting Mon-Sat 11am – 9pm, Sun 11am – 5pm; Taste’s  Enomatic Wine Pouring System lets you sample up to approximately 72 different wines from producers in San Luis Obispo’s Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande, Avila Beach and Nipomo Regions. Pay per automated pour with a prepaid, pre-selected amount, card). Tasted 2006 Laetitia Reserve Pinot Noir, 2006 Laetitia “777″ Pinot Noir, 2004 Javadi Sangiovese, 2006 Ortman Sangiovese, 2005 Wild Wood “Tipsy Dog” Pinot.
  • Cayucos Cellars (131 North Ocean Ave., Cayucos, CA 93430; 805-995-3036; tasting daily 11am-5:30pm – closed Tuesdays & some holidays). “Cayucos” means “canoe”, and this is reflected on the family-made label design. An entirely family-run winery, the owner’s son has presented our tasting both on this trip, and from two years ago! Cayucos has a new tasting room on “main street” Cayucos (leaving their spot on the side of a thrift shop!), and it is lovely. For the cellar, one bottle of “2003 Syrah” ($26), and one bottle of “2003 Pinot Noir” ($24).
  • Barrel 27 (2323 Tuley Ct., Suite 110, Paso Robles, CA, 93446): For the cellar, two bottles of “2005 Syrah” (WS 89; $18).
• Day Three (Saturday):
  • Bella Luna Winery (1850 Templeton Road, Templeton, CA 93465; 805-434-5477; Fri-Sun 10am-5pm). For the cellar, one bottle of “2006 ‘Lot One’ San Benito Barbera ($38). One of the two partners gave the tasting, after a night of light frost. His partner was a fighter pilot in Vietnam, and hence they offer a “Fighter Pilot Red”.
  • Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards (1437 Wild Horse Winery Ct., Templeton, CA 93465; 805-434-2541 ext. 10; tasting daily 11am to 5pm). For the cellar, one bottle of “2006 Pinot Noir ‘Bien Nacido’ Vineyard” ($50)
  • August Ridge (8790 E. Highway 41, Creston, CA 93432; 805-239-2455; tasting room hours are Fri 12noon-5pm and Sat-Sun 11am-5pm or by appointment). A relatively new winery and vineyard (I think this is of order their 3rd year). Owners from the SF Bay Area, and still struggling with country music. Me too! For the cellar, one bottle of “2005 Sangiovese” ($33). Tasted 2007 Arneis, 2006 Nebbiolo, 2005 Sangiovese, and 2006 Barbera.
  • Still Waters Vineyards (2750 Old Grove Lane, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-237-9231; tasting Thurs-Mon 11am-5pm). No tasting and nothing for the cellar here; very offputting welcome, and we walked (drove) away. G’bye.
  • Cass Winery & Vineyard (7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805.239.1730; info@casswines.com; tasting Mon-Fri 12noon-5 pm, Sat-Sun – 11 am to 6 pm, Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas). Had lunch (which, despite the hype, was extraordinarily average; I had the Cuban Pork sandwich which was mediocre covered with cheese; K had the Crab Cakes, which were small and unmemorable); nothing for the cellar.
  • Pretty Smith Vineyards & Winery (13350 River Road, San Miguel, CA 93451; 805-467-3104; tasting Fri-Sun 10 am-5 pm). A truly one-person show! Even the labels are designed by the grower/owner/winemaker, who also presided over my tasting. And the best part … she is Canadian, eh! Rock on. For the cellar, “2006 Estate Sauvignon Blanc” ($16).

• Day Four (Sunday):
  • Hansen Vineyard (575 El Pomar Dr., Templeton, CA 93465; 805-239-8412; tasting Fri-Sun 11am-5pm). For the cellar, one bottle of “2007 Estate Viognier” ($18). Family run winery (the winemaker/grower gave the tasting). B&B on-site.
  • Justin Vineyards & Winery (11680 Chimney Rock Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-238-6932; tasting 10am-6pm). For the cellar, one bottle of “2006 Cabernet Sauvignon” ($26).
  • Adelaida Cellars (5805 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 800-676-1232; tasting daily 10am-5pm). For the cellar, 6 bottles of “2006 Pinot Noir” ($25; HMR Estate Vineyard), 6 bottles of “2005 Schoolhouse Crush” (RP: “One of the top CA wines under $20; $14) and 1 bottle of “2004 Nebbiolo” ($35 – first release of this vintage; had to try it!).
• Day Five (Monday):
  • York Mountain Winery (7505 York Mountain Road, Templeton, CA; 805-238-3925; tasting daily 11am-4pm). Even though we tasted at the opening, I think the hostess was stoned. Well, good for her. Bagel got a treat!
  • Turley Wine Cellars (2900 Vineyard Drive, Templeton, CA 93465; 805-434–1030; daily 11am-5pm; $10). For the cellar, one bottle each of “2006 Dusi Vineyard Zinfandel” ($48); and “2005 ‘Dogtown’ Zinfandel” (WE: 89; Lodi; $52).
  • Four Vines Winery (3750 Highway 46 West, Templeton, CA 93465; 805-237-0055; tasting daily 11am-5pm daily; $10, including etched winery Riedel “O” glass). For the cellar, 3 bottles of “2006 Maverick Zinfandel Amador County” ($25), and 3 bottles of “2006 Biker Zinfandel Amador County” ($25).
  • Chumeia Vineyards (8331 Highway 46 East, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-226-0102; tasting daily 10am-5pm; free). Pronounced “koo-may-a”, Greek for alchemy. Tasting hosted by the owner/winemaker, who was having a bad day – his Syrah froze the night before, and he was scrambling to get everything else off. Plus the women’s washroom toilet was plugged… Dog-friendly vineyard. For the cellar, 1 bottle of “2006 Zinfandel” (Dante Dusi vineyard; $32), and 1 bottle of “2006 Viognier” (WS 86, WE 82; $16)
  • Martin & Weyrich Winery (2610 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-238-2520; tasting 10am-5pm). For the cellar, 2 bottles of “2003 Zinfandel” (Dante Dusi Vineyards; WE 85; $18); 2 bottles of “2006 Pinot Noir” ($18); 1 bottle of “2003 Nebbiolo Vecchio” (WE 82; $20); 1 bottle of “2002 Flamenco Rojo” (WE 90; $18)
  • Silver Stone Winery: (827 13th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-226-2788; tasting daily, hours vary). For the cellar, 3 bottles of “2005 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley” ($16), 1 bottle of “2005 Onyx” ($40; 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 7% Syrah)
  • Orchid Hill Winery (1140 Pine Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-237-7525; tasting 11:30am-6pm). For the cellar, 2 half-bottles of “2005 Estate Pinot Noir” (WE 90; $12.50 per half); 1 bottle of “2005 Estate Zinfandel Primi” (WS 82; $28)
• Day Six (Tuesday): “Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day”.
  The heavens and earth may have been made in six days, but I needed a break after five. No wine tasting today…
• Day Seven (Wednesday) : “Back in the saddle again…”
  • Windward Vineyard: (1380 Live Oak Road, Paso Robles, CA 93466; 805-239-2565; tasting daily 10:30am-5pm; $10). Tasted 2006 and 2007 Monopole and Reserve estate pinot noir. I have always been intrigued by pinots in Paso Robles! Windward claims a micro-climate that supports this cooler weather grape. Personally, I enjoyed these wines, and congratulate Windward for continuing to sail into the wind.
  • Grey Wolf Cellars: (2174 Highway 46 West, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-237-0771; tasting daily 11am-5:30pm; $5). A wonderful, family owned vineyard. The owner claims to be primarily a grower, yet has made some fantastic wines. Earlier forays into Rhone blends were well received by the critics, especially Robert Parker (and by me!). Current efforts are more Zin based. For the cellar, one bottle of “2006 ‘Preditor’ Syrah” (RP 91; $36), and one bottle of “2006 Chanticleer Cuvee” (RP 93; $36; 63% Syrah, 25% Petit Syrah, 12% Zinfandel).
  • Hunt Cellars (2875 Oakdale Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-237-1600): for the cellar, one bottle of “2001 ‘Cab-Ovation’ Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve” ($65)
  • Linne Calodo: (3030 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-227-0797; tasting daily 11am-5pm; $10). For the cellar, I added one bottle of “2006 ‘Sticks and Stones’” (WS 91; $65; composition: 65% Grenache, 24% Mourvedre, 11% Syrah). The tasting area/cellar is currently under massive construction. I am guessing these are the fruits of the very positive reviews of many Linne Calodo 2004-2006 wines by e.g., Wine Spectator and others. If I am correct, it seems the views of the pundits matter… The tasting menu included 2007 “Pale Flowers”, 2006 “Outsider”, 2006 “Cherry Red”, 2006 “Rising Tides” and 2006 “Sticks and Stones”.
  • Opolo (7110 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446; 805-238-9593; tasting daily 10am-5pm). An old friend (one of the first vineyards I visited on my first trip to Paso, many years ago). Bagel got a treat! For the cellar, “2004 ‘Rhapsody’” (Best of Show - Twin Cities Food & Wine Expo in Minneapolis; $45)