Had the chance to taste through several Placer County Wines recently at the Eggplant Festival in Loomis. I'm still enamored with Casque wines but I found several others that were quite good as well!
Cristaldi Vineyards had two wines that are worth seeking out--the 2008 Albarino (a Spanish grape varietal) which was nice and clean with great acidity and a nutty finish ($16.00) and the Fruit Shed Red, a blend of Grenache and Tempranillo with lots of fruit and a smooth finish ($18.) The owners named the latter wine as a tribute to the agricultural heritage of the old fruit sheds in Loomis and Newcastle. In fact, they're giving 25% of the price of each purchased bottle to a local agricultural charity to help preserve agriculture in the foothills area. Best place to purchase these wines are through the winery website--www.cristaldivineyards.com.
My favorite wine of the tasting, though, was the Pescatore 2007 Petite Syrah--full-bodied, fruit forward, good structure and enough tannin to last for several more years. With the fall weather at hand, this is the wine to uncork for dinner! You can find these wines at the local Raley's and Bel Air as well as Newcastle Produce in Newcastle. www.pescatorewines.com
Cristaldi Vineyards had two wines that are worth seeking out--the 2008 Albarino (a Spanish grape varietal) which was nice and clean with great acidity and a nutty finish ($16.00) and the Fruit Shed Red, a blend of Grenache and Tempranillo with lots of fruit and a smooth finish ($18.) The owners named the latter wine as a tribute to the agricultural heritage of the old fruit sheds in Loomis and Newcastle. In fact, they're giving 25% of the price of each purchased bottle to a local agricultural charity to help preserve agriculture in the foothills area. Best place to purchase these wines are through the winery website--www.cristaldivineyards.com.
My favorite wine of the tasting, though, was the Pescatore 2007 Petite Syrah--full-bodied, fruit forward, good structure and enough tannin to last for several more years. With the fall weather at hand, this is the wine to uncork for dinner! You can find these wines at the local Raley's and Bel Air as well as Newcastle Produce in Newcastle. www.pescatorewines.com