There is nothing like sharing good wine with family and friends, which is exactly what I did with the bountiful Beauregard Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013, Santa Cruz Mountains ($40). I made a typical Greek meal of stuffed squash, served with a Greek salad, and cracked open the Pinot for everyone to try. It got high marks from all. Made with Ryan Beauregard’s skillful hand, this is a Pinot to be reckoned with.
Grapes were harvested in September 2013 and then aged in 20-percent new French oak until bottling in August 2015. The result is an absolutely stunning ruby-red Pinot.
“The nose is delicate and a touch spicy with oak aromas,” says Beauregard, including “red cherry, fresh-picked strawberry, pomegranate, wet roses, sandalwood, wood chips, and various baking spices” to its flavor notes. Fruit-forward flavors of cranberry and pomegranate seeds linger on the palate, but best of all are the abundant earthy hints of grape stems, wet herbs and spicy French oak.
Beauregard suggests keeping the wine until 2017 to “experience its best moments,” but I will simply buy another bottle next year.
Beauregard Vineyards, 10 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz, 425-7777, beauregardvineyards.com.
Farm to Table Dinner at Chaminade
The next in the farm-to-table dinner series is Friday, Aug. 5, with Storrs as the featured winery, and seafood from Stagnaro’s. A superb alfresco dinner on Chaminade’s beautiful patio is a glorious experience. Visit chaminade.com for more info.
Wrights Station Food & Wine Pairing
Wrights Station is doing a food and wine pairing with delicious food by Tanya De Cell. The event is from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7. Cost is $25 (or $15 for wine club members). Call 408-560-9343 to reserve a spot, and for more info visit wrightsstation.com.
