2007 Zaca Mesa Grenache

Oh Zaca Mesa how I love thee. Not only do you make incredible Rhone varietal wine but your tasting facility is hands down the best I have ever been to.

D and I are part of the Cellar Club. Picture all of those swanky, ultra exclusive clubs in LA, New York, and Vegas. Got a picture in your mind? Good. Not cooler than this one.

We get our own room, we get our own server, we get our own glasses, we get our own table, we get chocolate, we can meander(yes meander) around while we drink, we can drink pretty much whatever we want to try, AND, yes there's an and, we can play on the GIANT chess board.

Our trip to ZM last weekend was highlighted by the beautiful weather we enjoyed all weekend, the beautiful company, at least on D's end(love you), and the incredible experience we had at a soon to be reviewed new winery we found. Oh and of course we had to cap it at ZM.

This 2007 100% grenache was not popped at ZM we pulled it from our fridge but we did taste a 2006 there which caused us to want to pop this one. Sounded like a good idea at the time but it definitely needed another year of aging because it was a bit harsh. A little too much alcohol and a little too much tannin. We drank the rest of the bottle the next night and everything had calmed down considerably. MMMmmmm.

As usual ZM rules.

2007 Zaca Mesa Z Gris

I don't know what comes over me when I get around good wine. I'm normally a really frugal, level headed, non-spender. I still have jeans from high school! Yes they fit, no, they do not have holes in them, no they are not acid washed, no they are not "Hammer Style" with the elastic waist and cuffs. Good wine seems to bring out my inner high roller.

Case in point, this Z Gris. No, it's not an expensive wine by any means but I don't do things like buy a case of wine, 3 bottles, and a wine club membership all in one trip. Not to mention the case of Mosby Wine and a membership to their club too. Which is what I did.

I learned an interesting fact about wine production and sales when I bought this case. ZM had it on fire sale essentially because they had overproduced and they needed room in their storage. If they didn't sell out that weekend the wine would be, cue dark music, DESTROYED! That's right, they would trash this wine for the insurance money is what they told me. I wish I could do that. I mean think about it. I have insurance on my car, if I bought ANOTHER car I wouldn't have room in my garage for the little toaster I have now. BUT, following ZM's lead I could destroy the little toaster car to MAKE room and get money for doing it. Awesome!

Z Gris is a Rose blend of 96% Grenache and 4% Mourvedre. It's only available part of the year and it's not available every year so that's why when you see it you have to jump on it. At least that's what I told myself when I looked at my credit card statement.

Z Gris is a great wine to pair with a light summer salad, poached fish, or a simple roasted chicken. It has a bright acidity up front that gives way to strawberry, some citrus, and a touch of melon. It's easy to drink and should be served slightly chilled. Not cold, slightly chilled.

Zaca Mesa 2006 Mourvedre

I'm just going to jump right in here and say that this Mourvedre from Zaca Mesa was amazing. D and I received this bottle originally as one of our selections from the Zaca Mesa Cellar Club. We enjoyed it so much that I immediately called to hold another bottle to be shipped with our next shipment. This wine was made in limited quantities so I wanted to be sure to get another one before it was sold out, which, at this time, sadly it has.

The shipment of our Cellar Club selections is always a bit problematic since the educational system seems to frown on alcohol being present around minors(although I had a Spanish teacher in high school that, for reasons that have become clear to me, kept a bottle of tequila in her desk) and receiving the shipment requires a signature. Through a series of snafu's our shipment, that was supposed to be sent to D's work, was sent to our house, where nobody was, on a Friday. Which meant that now, our wine, would be sitting who knows where, in who knows what type of conditions, at the UPS loading docks, ALL weekend. I was to say the least, not pleased. 

Like all of ZM's offerings, mourvedre is a classic Rhone varietal, however it is grown internationally. It's often times blended with grenache to soften up the tannins and provide a wider spectrum of flavors and aromas. This bottle however is 100% mourvedre which led to a very classic aroma and taste. The first wiff off the top of the glass was beautiful. Deep, dark, earthy smell, hints of chocolate, a little leather. I literally remarked to D that I could just smell it all night. I haven't had many wines with that much depth of aroma. The taste easily stood up to the aroma. Hints of choclate, soft red fruit, layers of earthiness, granite , and a finish that lasted for what seemed like minutes. Great wine, I wish I could have bought a case. 

Zaca Mesa Viognier 2008

D and I love the Rhone Valley varietals. Syrah is the staple red grape along with Grenache, while Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne make up the bulk of the white wines, with some rare Picpoul or Clairette Blanc as well as Clairette Ronde which is the same as Italian Trebbiano.

Zaca Mesa is without a doubt our favorite winery with Schramsberg in Calistoga a close second since they are, aside from one Cabernet Sauvignon, a sparkling wine producer and are in a category of their own.

I have to take credit for finding ZM in Santa Ynez. D and I try and hit at least one winery we haven't tried whenever we make it up North and I (through dumb luck I will admit) read through ZM's offerings and thought it sounded good with all the Rhone.

ZM is a very approachable winery. Everyone is extremely helpful and accomadating. Their tasting room is top notch and if you are part of their Cellar Club you have access to your own special room, free tastings, as well as bottles not available to non-members. Swanky I know. It makes me feel special to walk through those golden doors. Well, maybe not golden, and maybe a little more like wooden barn doors since it is actually housed in a converted barn. I said it was homey right? D and I fit right in.

D and I opened up this the other night to have with Mabo Tofu, a spicy dish, thinking that the acidity would cut through the heat. This same pairing works well with an IPA where the bitterness is a nice offset to the Cock Sauce(Sriracha) flame. Yes, that's right Cock Sauce Flame, you heard me. Unfortunately, D, who had so wonderfully agreed to cook the Mabo(she hates mabo) found out that we were out of the sauce! I admit I had a brief moment where I thought she had hidden it somewhere but it proved to be untrue. SO what did we do? Well, what did my wonderful fiancee do? She whipped up probably the best Japanese curry we have had yet. Amazing. And the Viognier? Perfect with the dish. It had a really bright opening, effervescent acidity, lemon, lime, lychee, and a little bit of peach. SOOOO good! This could make a possible appearance at our wedding. More on that later, and more on ZM in posts to come. I have stacks of accolades for them. They are a MUST if you are in Santa Ynez.