A great double tasting Saturday noon-4pm. You’ll be very glad you came!
You’ll love meeting winemaker Daniel Callan this Saturday from noon-4pm as he shares his story and two vintages if the remarkable Slamdance Kooperatieve Wines Wine Of California.
Slamdance Red takes you back to the time before Cabernet and Chardonnay ruled California’s vineyards. And brings together old, heritage, grapes like Napa Gamay (aka Valdiguie), Cabernet Pfeffer (Mourtaou), Pinot St George (Negrette), Black Malvoisie (Cinsault), Crabb’s Black Burgundy (Mondeuse Noir) and more into a groundbreaking, 340-390 case production, really delicious wine.
And before or after you taste with Daniel, you’ll want to stop by the main tasting table downstairs for an exploration of winter-friendly whites and reds that very much share the Slamdance “tradition” theme. You’ll taste:
Dom De La Croix St Laurent Sancerre Caillottes 2023 – Look, most 2024 Sancerre is a disaster (not all, but most). So you’ll want to snag some of this late-arriving 2023 gem while it lasts. Gunflint, lime, green peach aromas and flavors with a nicely mineral finish.
Dom du Piaugier VdF Blanc La Grange du Piaugier 2024 – You scofflaw, you! Drinking a clearly illegal (not to mention certifiably insane) Sablet Cotes du Rhone that’s 100% red Grenache made as a white wine! The stone fruit, white strawberry and honeysuckle flavors and grippy feel make this almost illegally delicious, too.
Ch La Caminade Cahors Mission La Cominade 2023 - If you're looking for a dry red for January and a bargain to boot, you've found it. There’s some classic Cahors Malbec grip here and a nicely juicy softness from the 20% Merlot. Kind of in-between Bordeaux and Cotes du Rhone and crazy good value.
Francois Chidaine Touraine Rouge 2023 – If you were a master of Loire Chenin Blanc, maker of wines often allocated, always highly praised, what would you make for a red? Francois Chidaine opted for a "country red" from equal parts Cabernet Franc, Cot (Malbec) and Pinot d'Aunis. It's overtly herbal and earthy, borderline funky, and loads of fun.
Bedrock Zinfandel Old Vine 2022 – Old-vine Zin and friends at it’s best. As Spectator says in the 93 point review, "Dynamic and generous, this Zin combines old-school briar with sleek suppleness, serving up stylish flavors of raspberry and cherry accented by savory pepper, cinnamon and garrigue tones that sail on the rich finish."
And once you take a nibble, you’ll be fascinated by Jose’s featured Deer Creek 7 Year Proprietor’s Grand Reserve Specialty. Over seven years aging this rich cheddar has turned dry, crumbly, crunchy with salt crystals and utterly irresistible. | 
