Summer Wines Enjoyed While Building a Fellow Sojourner's Cellar

Well, it was bound to happen. We invite people to travel with us on awesome wine trips, and they, of course, buy wine.  A lot of wine.  Then they are faced with a challenge: Where to put said wine.  We faced that a few years ago ourselves and ended up building our own little cellar.  Now one of our fellow travelers has decided that a simple 28 bottle cooler is not sufficient for the wines she purchased as well as accommodating the numerous shipments she continues to order and receive from wineries.  Thanks to Karen Petersen at Petersen Wine Sales!

Sitting in said friend's library/sitting room, we open a 2012 Grgich Hills Fume Blanc.  Aromas of Meyer lemon with a grassy undertone and essence of wet sage; on the palate the same flavors, but there is a surprising finish of jalapeño.  We revisited the wine after about an hour and noted that the aroma had changed - it resembled the pungent smell of - wait for it - marijuana. Needless to say, this would make the perfect wine to drink with Mexican foods like arroz con pollo, tacos and guacamole. 

Then we opened a 2011 Sancerre - Claude Riffault Les Boucauds - very nice aroma of citrus and basil. Dry, light citrus on the palate. Refreshing and aromatic.

We also enjoyed a 2009 Trius White Blend from Niagara Peninsula - White floral aromas, nice stone fruit flavors.    

Then we moved on to a Victor Hill 2011 Cinsaut Rose, Sonoma Valley Donohue Vineyard. Rich vanilla and strawberries aroma. Flavors of vanilla, soft fruit - strawberries and creme. A surprisingly beautiful rose from a small production (25 cases this vintage).

Our hostess left us a treat: Sojourn 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - Smokey vanilla aromas with a hint of red berries. Flavors of toasted vanilla and oak, ripe strawberries with a little essence of mushrooms. 

Rounding out the evening was a 2012 Orin Swift Abstract - aromas of Mexican vanilla and toasted cedar wood; flavors of dried fruit  -raisin, prune and burnt sugar. 

The cellar is framed, dry-walled and insulated.  Guess we will have to come back tomorrow.