WINES yOu JuST gOTTA OWN…

If you were to have a modest, but very elite, private wine cellar of say, a case and a half…18 bottles of some of the best vine the region has to offer, the following would be a great place to get started. A sampling of the tried and true…the up and coming…the possibly famous and the go to perfect paring choices for local fish, meats and cheeses… or simply sipping on a porch swing. Raise your glass to the following!

All wines available at the Winehound on upper State St. in La Cumbre Plaza.

JONATA 2008 TODOS Wine

Advocate rating: 92 “Bursts from the glass with expressive blackberries, blueberries, smoke, tar and incense. It is an exotic, full-bodied wine supported by considerable freshness and vibrancy.”

TyLER 2010 PINOT ENCANTADA underground

Wineletter: “Dark in color with great blackberry fruit and impressive balance, depth and concentration.” vERDAD 2009 TEMPRANILLO SAWyERLINDquIST vINEyARD has pretty perfume of cardamom and cherries with hints of herbs de Provence. On the palate it is full bodied with pure flavors of sour cherries layered with hard spice, cocoa and a touch of delicious toasted oak.

STOLPMAN SyRAH ESTATE Wine

Advocate rating: 90+...”This is a fabulous entry-level Syrah from Stolpman with tons of immediacy and terrific overall balance.”

PAuL L ATO 2011 PINOT NOIR MATINEE

A multi-vineyard blend of Paul lato’s superb Pinots; lush, elegant and hardto-get

TyLER 2011 PINOT L A ENCANTADA underground Wineletter: “With a deep color this Pinot Noir has a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of spice and berry fruit.”

FOxEN 2011 PINOT SMv

Displays the bright red summer fruit of cherries and strawberries, with notes of cinnamon and clove, a velvety texture and a long lingering finish.

PIEDRASASSI 2009 SyRAH CENTRAL COAST Wine

Advocate rating: 92+...”Black pepper, dark red berries, savory herbs and mint meld together beautifully in this mediumbodied, refined Syrah.”

BECKMEN 2010 gRENACHE

Awash with red fruits (strawberry, cherry and currants) with side notes of lavender and minerality

STAR L ANE 2010

SAuvIgNON BLANC Wine

Enthusiast review: “This is crisp in acidity, tasting slightly sweet in citrus and apricot jam, with notes of green pepper and gooseberry that provide balancing complexity.”

DRAgONETTE 2012

SAuvIgNON BLANC Aromas of mango, guava, cantaloupe, white peaches, fresh pineapple and lemon curd are complicated by chalky minerals, floral notes of honeysuckle

JAFFuRS 2010

SyRAH SANTA BARBARA

COuNTy Wine

Enthusiast rating: 92...”here’s a rich, ripe, opulent Syrah, all jammy blackberry, cherry and currant flavors, sprinkled with black pepper .”

BRANDER Au

NATuREL very loire valley-like, with bright acids and minerality accompanying the citrus and delicate herbal notes

MARgEREuM 2010 M5

International Wine Cellar rating: 90..”Spicy black rasorange aromas are complicated by suave floral and anise nuances.”

TATOMER 2010 RIESLINg KICK ON RANCH

International Wine Cellar rating: 91...”Intense spice- and mineralinflected citrus zest and pear aromas are accented by white pepper and quinine.”

BRIDLEWOOD ESTATE 2009 MONTEREy CHARDONNAy

A medium bodied Chardonnay with a floral and spice nose, and notes of tangerine, citrus and honey with a smooth and sleek vanilla finish