Californian wines

[Steady]

I'm off to the LOTFAP with my family later in the year thanks to QF's recent fuel surcharge glitch. I am interested in experiencing some Californian reds while I'm there - and maybe bringing half a doz good examples home (instead of the spirits that I usually bring in.

Like Aussie regions I am sure there are a small number of better / more reliable labels and many more average ones - but I will be short of time and sampling from restaurants / purchasing from bottle shops etc. (no cellar door visits planned)

Anyone care to comment on what floats their boat from this region / state as a starting point, I like pretty well most reds...

 

[RooFlyer]

Russian River zinfandels . Total swoons-ville (especially for some-one from Tasmania )

 

[Steady]

Thanks RooFlyer

 

[JohnM]

Agree with RF. Here's one particularly good producer with vineyards in several areas: Turley Wine Cellars

The softness that they get into the tannins of those big Zins is amazing - somewhat similar sensation to the top Mendoza Malbecs.

What's your planned itinerary in LOTFAP?

 

[Steady]

Anaheim 9 days - 3xDisney, Knott's Berry farm, universal, Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Science centre, shopping etc
San Diego 3 days - Sea World, Zoo, shopping
Los Vegas 3 days - show, mnm, Hersys, Coke, fountain, shopping etc

It will be a full blown tourist attraction Holliday with 3 teenagers....

 

[JohnM]

Anaheim 9 days - 3xDisney, Knott's Berry farm, universal, Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Science centre, shopping etc
San Diego 3 days - Sea World, Zoo, shopping
Los Vegas 3 days - show, mnm, Hersys, Coke, fountain, shopping etc

It will be a full blown tourist attraction Holliday with 3 teenagers....

We want pics of you doing the splash roller-coasters at Disneyland and Universal Studios - as well as splashing down a Zin or 5 :mrgreen:.

 

[RooFlyer]

We want pics of you doing the splash roller-coasters at Disneyland and Universal Studios - as well as splashing down a Zin or 5 :mrgreen:.

I want to see pics of the entire family going the full Animal Fries at in 'n Out Burger :shock:

 

[Steady]

We want pics of you doing the splash roller-coasters at Disneyland and Universal Studios - as well as splashing down a Zin or 5 :mrgreen:.

Im sure I will post some wine pic's but as for the others I think I will leave that to wooley

View attachment 52930
And some whales hiding in the water..

 

[cove]

The Zins are lovely. My favourite wine is Silver Oak Cab Sav and I bought some on the Internet from San Diego Wine Company. Delivery to Los Angeles did not break the bank and I think it was around $56 a bottle. It is $28 a glass at Ruth's Chris (plus tip).

 

[tehuringa]

For Napa.... the mountain wines, stuff from Howell mountain, Spring mountain, etc... La Jota by Chris Carpenter (he does vintage in McLaren Vale every year too) is amazing though pretty xx'y.

Also a fan of Turley, Faialia, Sanderson, Scholium Project, La Clarine and bunch of others.

 

[JohnM]

All that should cover Steady's first 24 h...

 

[amaroo]

Email received this morning Best Wineries in Napa Valley

 

[RooFlyer]

Email received this morning Best Wineries in Napa Valley

Good to see Four Seasons looking after you. I looked really hard at your recommendation for the FS in HKG but just couldn't get it over the line in front of the Langham.

 

[amaroo]

Good to see Four Seasons looking after you. I looked really hard at your recommendation for the FS in HKG but just couldn't get it over the line in front of the Langham.

Horses for Courses! Our next HKG visit is mid Dec. Far too cold for pool fun ... so we'll be staying in club rooms at Langham Place. The other 60 rooms (30 nights X 2 connecting rooms) in Europe will be pretty nice though.

 

[Steady]

I want to see pics of the entire family going the full Animal Fries at in 'n Out Burger :shock:

We did the animal fries - this is the closest you will get to a photo though...

.

 

[Steady]

I ended up sampling a few Malbec's, a Silver Oak Cab Sauv at Ruth Chris's and some cheap White Zins offered at the Buffet's - that seemed to be more of a Rose to me.

I loved the Malbec's
I loved the SO Alexander Valley 2011
I enjoyed the White Zins - the ones I had were more of a "lolly water" type of drink - I suspect the ones recommended from the Russian River region would be entirely different....

I came home with these (3x of the 2010 to make up my allowance of 6 bottles)

 

[cove]

Steady you have my taste in mind. If you add Penfolds 707 and an occasional Hill Of Grace you would have me fully covered.
Now I have that Silver Oak in a wine storage cabinet in Los Angeles. That wine truly impressed me.
I really only drink wine when we get together with others but my cardiologist recommends that I drink a bit more red wine.

 

[cove]

I could even go a Rockford,St Hallett and a Bethany as I have been a fan of big reds since the seventies. Most of our friends would not drink those as they said they would have a headache the following day.

 

[Steady]

Steady you have my taste in mind. If you add Penfolds 707

Cove, (and anyone else who has drunk their share of 707) would you pick a '96 or '04 707 magnum - a small bottle shop in my area have one of each collecting dust that I could pickup for $330- that I have been eyeing off for a few years

 

[cove]

Yes buy the magnum and bring it to Perth.