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I just wanted to thank Vin Village for the opportunity to attend the Save Angel Island Wine Festival yesterday. There’s something about small lot boutique wineries that just enhances the wine experiences. I look for uniqueness along with good quality presentations when I attend such events, and there was no shortage of that yesterday. Besides the Golden Gate, sunshine, and the San Francisco bay as a backdrop, it was a field day for the taste buds. I just wanted to mention two wines, one that was so very unique, and one that exemplified a winemaker’s talent. First was the Naumann ’05 Estate Merlot. After taking a sniff and a sip, I had to just stand there and wonder what had just happened. I told Don Naumaan that something’s not right. He noted that he likes to be a little different in his wine making, at which point I agreed whole heartedly. There was big fruit up front but ended with, as I told Don, a pepper and almost chili powder Zin finish. He noted that I was right on the money. Probably the most unique, pushing the envelope wine at the event and should definitely be on anybody’s list if they want to see what winemakers can do when they stray away form the norm. Definitely not your Sideways merlot! Another wine that stood out to me as being a family’s devotion to the presentation of wine was the 122 West Winery’s Petit Syrah. A husband and wife team working together to not only produce a quality and personal take on the varietal, but also producing various infused chocolate products to pare with their specific wines. The wine itself was rich, extremely dark, and had a fruit explosion accompanied with just a tad of heat on the finish to give it that extra kick, but not overwhelming. Stephanie Marcon, who is behind the chocolate end of the business, noted that she and her husband enjoy their new winery, and I say that anybody that has the opportunity should give this hidden jewel a look-see.

Tom Orsat

El Dorado Hills