Lateral 2007
Although Kathryn Kennedy died in August 2009, aged 82, her winemaking legacy lives on. Marty Mathis, Kennedy’s son, has been the winemaker at Kathryn Kennedy Winery since 1981, and now runs the business. We have him to thank for continuing the tradition of making superb wines at the estate winery in Saratoga.
At the Evening of Wine & Roses event last November, a fundraiser put on annually by the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, I tasted the 2007 Lateral, and I well remembered the 2005 Lateral as being a well-made complex wine that was full of flavor.
The 2007 Lateral is equally good, although it has a slightly different blend of wines–the majority of Merlot and Cabernet Franc being the heart and soul of the wine. The 2007 Lateral ($29) is a blend of 40 percent Merlot, 20 percent Cabernet Franc, 15 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 12 percent Malbec and 4 percent Petit Verdot. Malbec is known for its good blending qualities because it is rich, lush and it adds deeply concentrated flavor.
The inspiration for Kathryn Kennedy’s Lateral wine comes from the famous wines of the St. Emilion district of Bordeaux, and we all know how fabulous most of those wines are. The winery states that it’s a “go-to wine for 
the dinner table,” meaning that it pairs pretty well with every dish. It’s a full-bodied blend with a bold fruit-forward complexity and lovely mouthfeel.
Kathryn Kennedy Winery also makes estate Cabernet; Small Lot Cabernet; Reserve Syrah, Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s really unfortunate for us that the winery is not open to the public. The view from their property in the Saratoga hills must be amazing–not to mention the wonderful wines that await.
Kathryn Kennedy Winery, 13180 Pierce Road, Saratoga. Tel:
(408) 867-4170. kathrynkennedywinery.com. Closed to all visitors.
Wine Events:
Passport Day: Saturday, Jan. 15
Passport Day comes around every three months, and it’s a good opportunity to go wine tasting. This is the day when you can visit wineries belonging to the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association (SCMWA), providing you have a Passport, which will cost you $40 and can be purchased at any winery. When you visit each winery, you get your Passport (which doesn’t expire) stamped–and with more than 70 wineries belonging to SCMWA, it will take you a very long time to fill it up. Passport Day takes place four times a year on the third Saturday of January, April, July and November. Info: 685-8464, or scmwa.com or in**@sc***.com.
