2018 December Quarterly Choices

Just the other day, someone mentioned to me of all the things that I’ve written about I’ve never actually shared a little bit about Reyes Winery‘s wine club. It consists of four shipments are year. They are march, June, September and December. There is no fee to become a member, only a commitment that you will remain a member for at least four shipments. Every shipment you have an option of either having it shipped to you or picking it up at the winery. For instance, this weekend is our member pick up party which we offer to all our members free of charge. It allows two members to have lunch and a glass of wine each. If they wish to invite friends, it’s $15 a person. Every lunch that I do is always paired with the wine of the selections we have chosen. I always choose one white wine and two red wines, and one of the three always being a new release. This quarter my three wines are 2009 Syrah, 2009 Sweet Serenity (white wine) and 2013 Merlot (Which is the new release).

The two older wines have not been a “quarterly choice” in more than four years. So, I like to make sure that if you do keep the options you will not have seen them for a very long time. Our 2009 Syrah has won silver medals in the 2011 Los Angeles International Wine Competition and the 2011 O.C. Fair Commercial Wine Competition, plus it received 85

points from the Wine Enthusiast Magazine (03/2014 Edition). It has smoky blackberry flavors this “member only” wine holds its own with robust flavors and spices. Pairs with rack of lamb, drunken goat cheese, or bread pudding with blackberries.

Our new release, the 2013 Merlot has a silver medal from the  2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition. This fruity Merlot exhibits a delightful fragrance of ripe blueberries and cassis, complemented by Ceylon cinnamon and toasted oak. We aged this wine in French oak for 23 months. On the palate you will perceive black plums, mixed berries and Ceylon cinnamon.  Savor this estate produced gem with a skirt steak or a juicy hamburger.

Our 2009 Sweet Serenity has won a Gold & Best in Class in the 2014 Long Beach Grand Cru, plus a bronze in the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine Competition. Our 2009 Muscat dessert wine has been aged into an old-world style dessert wine and has just the right touch of wood. It has aromas of burnt caramel, dried apricots and candied ginger. Pairs with soft cheeses after dinner or cinnamon sugared zeppolli.

This weekend, I am serving for lunch, meatballs with a rosemary Syrah sauce, cranberry chicken, pasta with steamed vegetables, plus mixed green salad and for dessert blueberry spiced chocolate cupcakes and a few other goodies. We are open this weekend for lunch from 12pm-4pm.