My California Wine Appellation Specialist course continued this week with the content focusing on the appellations within Monterey and San Benito counties. One of the advantages of studying appellations is tasting wines from those particular areas. Prior to this class, I have not tasted a wine from either San Benito or Monterey counties.

The 2012 Muirwood Arroyo Seco AVA Chardonnay was fermented and aged sur lie in French and American oak barrels. The 13.8% alcohol wine had a price $12.99 at Total Wine in Laurel, Maryland. Muirwood is a private label wine brand owned and operated by Arroyo Seco Vineyards in San Martin, in Central Coast, California. These are limited production reserve wines grown and produced in Monterey. 

The medium yellow wine had no sediment in the glass or bottle. The aroma and taste reminded me of melon, citrus, hints of freshly baked bread and a caramel finish. Although the Arroyo Seco AVA is a cool terroir, this wine has a profile of a Chardonnay that benefited from longer hang time. The medium to full bodied wine was dry with medium acidity. There were no tannins. I would give this wine a 3.5/5 rating. It is screaming for risotto but will be paired with barbecued pizza with only fresh tomatoes, basil and grated Parmesan cheese toppings.

The 2012 Line Shack Petite Sirah, San Antonio Valley AVA was a 14.8% alcohol wine and cost $15.99 at Total Wine in Laurel, Maryland. The dark ruby wine had no sediment in the glass or bottle. It offered plums, black cherries, black raspberries and a hint of leather on the aroma and taste. The full-bodied wine was dry, but there was a perceived sweetness due to the fruit and alcohol. Acid was medium and the tannins were medium-high. I would give this wine a personal rating of 4 out of 5. It was the third Petite Sirah I have had from California for this course and the one I liked the best. It complimented last evenings dinner of barbecued hamburgers.

The San Francisco Wine School offers the California Wine Appellation Specialist course online and in San Francisco. The school just added The French Wine Scholar course that meets on Tuesdays in San Francisco from July 29th – October 14th, 2014.

Cheers,
Terry