(NOTE: Images used here are uploaded directly from the winery website, and will be updated as soon as I have time to get back to take my own.)
This weekend I had the (increasingly) rare privilege of two consecutive days off (of course hubby was off on day two, but we take what we can get). We had some wine pickups to do, so we ventured out to Livermore for some much needed family time (yes, wine tasting counts as family time round here). On this particular trip, we decided to try three new (to us) spots, two of which I will talk about later:
* Bent Creek
* Big White House
* The Singing Wine Maker
This weekend I had the (increasingly) rare privilege of two consecutive days off (of course hubby was off on day two, but we take what we can get). We had some wine pickups to do, so we ventured out to Livermore for some much needed family time (yes, wine tasting counts as family time round here). On this particular trip, we decided to try three new (to us) spots, two of which I will talk about later:
* Bent Creek
* Big White House
* The Singing Wine Maker
About the Winery:
Big White House is my kind of winery. Small lot, big flavor wines in a very unpretentious tasting room with servers who know their stuff and enjoy what they do. They host two labels: Big White House and John Evan Cellars, Big White House carrying their traditional wines, and John Evan Cellars carrying their premium, small lot wines.
It is worth noting that there is no “big white house” on the premises, so don’t be looking for one. The Big White House of its name is the house in which they started making wine.
It is worth noting that there is no “big white house” on the premises, so don’t be looking for one. The Big White House of its name is the house in which they started making wine.
Tasting:
Tasting at BWH is $5 for 6 wines, served by people who know and like the wines they are pouring and the pours are generous. The tasting menu includes a white, three Big White House reds, a John Evan red, and a port. The Big White House wines served were around $25 for the white, while the reds all hovered around the $30 range. The John Evan wine was $55 per bottle and $34 for the port. My only issue with this tasting was the order in which the tasting menu was presented.
- BWH 2013 Roussanne, California. This was a white wine reminiscent of a pinot grigio. Light, fruity, and (I assume) stainless steel aged. If there was any oak it was an extremely neutral one and on it for a very short time. White wine isn’t my thing at all, so I don’t think its fair for me to judge this particular wine because even if it was a perfect wine, I likely wouldn’t recognize it.
- BWH 2009 Syrah, Clark Vineyard, Livermore Valley. This is where I take issue with the menu. An excellent Syrah (of which I happily brought home a bottle). This wine was big, leathery, and earthy. All of the things that a Syrah should be, but not after a bright and fruity white. Any wine that came after this one would be a come-down in flavor and many subtle tastes would be lost. This is a wine you put before a dessert wine, not after a creamy white.
- BWH 2013 Zinfandel, Sblendorio Vineyard, Livermore Valley. A pleasantly spicy zinfandel without being overpowering or sweet; this would go much better after the Roussanne than the Syrah.
- BWH 2012 Syrah, Dante Robere Vineyard, Livermore Valley. This is a very good, young Syrah, that will be outstanding in the next 3-5 years. This is a little lighter on flavor, but only because it is still young.
- John Evan The Debonaire 2010 Cabernet, Livermore. I have to admit. I am over Cabernet. I feel like when people stopped drinking Merlot because the movie Sideways told them to, they started drinking Cabernet and killed it. People will order it whenever they see it on a menu, and winemakers have taken notice and stopped making interesting Cabs. John Evan has taken the bold step to make a really excellent cab, and I certainly hope others follow suit. I make it a point to not buy wine that retails over $50 a bottle, because it just isn’t in my budget (as much as I wish it were), and this wine seriously had me thinking about breaking my rule. It is rare that I would say a wine is worth more than $50 a bottle, but this one most certainly is.
- John Evan 2011 Late Harvest Syrah, Clark Vineyard. I am not a port drinker, but my hubby is, so I gave him my glass and let him enjoy it in all its glory. He loved this port, but I will refrain from comment, not because I subscribe to the "if you can't say something nice, than don't say anything at all" theory, but because, like the Roussanne, I don't have a palate for port and wouldn't be able to add anything to any sort of conversation on the matter.