Following a few weeks back in the office, I am leaving at the end of next week for sunny Santa Barbara to take in the 19th annual Santa Barbara Wine Cask Futures tasting on March 29th It is the one place to taste through over fifty producers and close to 200 wines in an afternoon, meet the principals of the wineries and get a first look at what will be coming out over the next twelve months.
I am excited to see several new producers that will be there:
Alta Maria Grenache - This is possibly my favorite variety currently and their Pinot Noir at WOPN was one of the top three wines i tasted there.
Arcadian - Will be there with a full slate of 2006 Pinot Noir including the ever popular Dierberg!
Blair Fox - Somebody whispered this name to me when I was in Shell Beach that it was a "must stop". OK I look forward to it - Viognier and Syrah.
C3 - Is a new Dave Corey project, made with his sisters; a three grape blend. Is there a theme here?
Carlson: I look forward to these again. My visit last year to the winery has us on track to get some wines soon from this excellent producer of Pinot Noir
Cimarone: A new producer of high end Cabernet Franc from Happy Canyon
Coquelicot - The new owner of Wine Cask, Bernard Rosenson, and Louis van Tonder, former assistant winemaker at Margerum. Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah hold the most interest here.
Dara: From Gary Burk of Costa de Oro; Larner Grenache/Syrah blend!
Dragonette: 125 cases of Pinot from Ashley's and Fiddlestix? Gotta check this out!
Kaena: Been wanting to try these for a while - a Larner Grenache may very well be my first stop!
Noble Storm: Three barrels of Le Bon Climat Pinot Noir from a new producer? Enough already!
P2: Another name whispered to me recently. possibly out of the same mold as Waltzing Bear.
Turchi: A blank sheet of paper for me; Malbec from Dave Corey
There will be several dozen more producers I am more familiar with but these will be the wineries I explore in detail.
I will report back my findings when I return,
