Hey there! It’s Wine Blog Awards time, and possibly the third is the charm? As I’m up for the “Best Writing” prize for the second year in a row. And two years ago I got a “Best Overall” nod. If you’d like to vote for me (Note: polls close at the end of Thursday) and peruse the other nominees, here’s a link:
Now you might be thinking, “Jeez Jameson, that’s some mighty fine horn-tooting there, but how about some wine picks from you?”
Ok, cool.
“But I want them to be special.”
Got it.
“And from California.”
DONE AND DONE. I have a white and a red for you. 
The first is the 2012 Matthiasson Napa Valley White Wine ($40). Uh, it’s awesome and so’s the label. An unusual, and unusually good, blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Ribolla Gialla, Semillon, and Tocai Fruilano, it has a lovely richness to it comes naturally, unforced. But really refreshing, too. It is so yin and yang-y. Vin and yang! Vang?
How about this: HARMONIOUS!
Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Fruilano are grapes that you’d usually find in Northern Italy and thereabouts, but there’s a bit of it in California that producers like Matthiasson are geeked about. I enjoyed it will pizza but this would really be something with richer seafood dishes, or even pork chops with applesauce.
For the red I turn to a selection provided by none other than my Mom.
Diamonds. So good.
Righteous! I had not had a Cab from Diamond Creek in forever and it’s one of my all-time favorites. An old-school producer founded back in 1968, the 2005 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill ($110+ on WineSearcher) was smokin’ good. Just starting to turn the corner from youth to a life fraught with complexity and mystery. In a good way. A very, very good way.
Be sure to decant it and don’t forget to save a bit to enjoy on day two, at least at this point in its life.
In travel news, I am off to Walla Walla for five days. There is going to be a lot of geology and I even get to visit a creamery.
Bring on the rocks and cheese! And, oh yes, some wine.
