Two wonderful Tobin James Cellars wines, courtesy of California Wine Club.
Tobin James does not submit their wines to competitions or for review. It was my pleasure this month to learn why; because they don't need to. This California winery is located in Paso Robles. When Tobin started his winery, there were only 7 wineries in Paso Robles, today there are 250. His commitment to making wine earned him the “Wine Person of the Year 2010” award from the Paso Robles Wine alliance. The longevity of this winery looks bright, Mr. James son is studying winemaking at Fresno State University.
Tobin James Radiance 2010 Monterey County, Chardonnay
This was my first experience tasting Chardonnay from Paso Robles. With a clear gold color, it opened with a toasty nose and a toasty finish. Swirling the wine in my glass, a subtle spice aroma tickled my nose. It had delicate flavors of ginger and fig, with a hint of tartness in the back palate. This wine was almost creamy, not over the top, but balanced and lively. “Versatile” is the word which comes to mind when thinking of this wine. It made for a great sipping wine before and after dinner. My crispy grilled chicken paired well. I have to say that I enjoyed this chardonnay and it held up well over three days, staying bright and tasty. This is a well executed California Chardonnay, with a long, lively finish. Recommended.
Cold-fermented 60 days.
Aged in oak 10 months.
ABV: 13.8%
Closure: Natural cork
Cases produced: 4,000
Suggested reatil price: $18
Titan Hills Vineyards Fiasco, A Reserve Red Wine, Paso Robles 2008
Grilling season is upon us friends, and I've kept my grill busy all month. If you are looking for a wine suitable for grilled foods, this is the wine you want. With Fathers day weekend over, this was my wine of choice, it added a smile to my satiated face Sunday.
On the nose I enjoyed aromas of plum, a touch of smoke, wine barrel, the hint of tarragon, leather, and a subtle candied cherry component. It had good mouth feel, pleasant weight, flavors of dried cherry and plum with gentle tannins and acidity. Medium finish, quite smooth. As I admired the glossy, plum color in my glass, gently swirling it around, inhaling deeply and tasting again, this blended red wine reminded me of a quality Spanish Rioja. Bravo Mr. James. The Fiasco made a good companion with my grilled steak, I suggest selecting a tender cut. I enjoyed this wine and advocate buying some to share with dad. Recommended.
Blend: 55% Syrah, 25% Zinfandel, 20% Barbera
Closure: Natural cork
ABV: 14.9%
Cases produced: 6,000
Suggested retail price: $21
Tobin James Cellars is located in Paso Robles, California. They opened their tasting room in 1994 at the site of an old stagecoach stop on Highway 46 east. Today, their western themed tasting room features an old 1860 mahogany bar from Missouri, wagon wheels amd cowboy cutouts. They promise you'll have a great time too. Stop by this winery the next time you are in Paso Robles.
Tobin James Cellars
8950 Union Road
Paso, Robles, CA 93446
Phone: 805-239-2204
www.tobinjames.com
Last year, I embraced opening myself to explore more wines from places besides Washington. I am of the opinion that I need to expand my palate. Not just to appreciate wines from across the globe, but to appreciate Washington wines in the global context of wine. I'd like to thank the California Wine Club for sending me these premium wines, and for helping me with my ongoing exploration of the wines of California.
The California Wine Club
800-777-4443
www.cawineclub.com
* For my readers, new California Wine Club members or gift givers, can receive 4 bottles of wine for the price of 2 bottles when they sign up. There is no obligation to continue after the first month. At checkout you must use the code: wild12 for this offer.
You can learn more about the California Wine Club by following @cawineclub and @boringwineguy on twitter. If you are not on twitter, you can “like” them on Facebook, The California Wine Club and The Boring Wine Guy.
Cheers!
 |
| Two Wonderful Wines from Tobin James Cellars. |
Tobin James does not submit their wines to competitions or for review. It was my pleasure this month to learn why; because they don't need to. This California winery is located in Paso Robles. When Tobin started his winery, there were only 7 wineries in Paso Robles, today there are 250. His commitment to making wine earned him the “Wine Person of the Year 2010” award from the Paso Robles Wine alliance. The longevity of this winery looks bright, Mr. James son is studying winemaking at Fresno State University.
Tobin James Radiance 2010 Monterey County, Chardonnay
This was my first experience tasting Chardonnay from Paso Robles. With a clear gold color, it opened with a toasty nose and a toasty finish. Swirling the wine in my glass, a subtle spice aroma tickled my nose. It had delicate flavors of ginger and fig, with a hint of tartness in the back palate. This wine was almost creamy, not over the top, but balanced and lively. “Versatile” is the word which comes to mind when thinking of this wine. It made for a great sipping wine before and after dinner. My crispy grilled chicken paired well. I have to say that I enjoyed this chardonnay and it held up well over three days, staying bright and tasty. This is a well executed California Chardonnay, with a long, lively finish. Recommended.
Cold-fermented 60 days.
Aged in oak 10 months.
ABV: 13.8%
Closure: Natural cork
Cases produced: 4,000
Suggested reatil price: $18
 |
| A perfect wine with grilled foods. |
Grilling season is upon us friends, and I've kept my grill busy all month. If you are looking for a wine suitable for grilled foods, this is the wine you want. With Fathers day weekend over, this was my wine of choice, it added a smile to my satiated face Sunday.
On the nose I enjoyed aromas of plum, a touch of smoke, wine barrel, the hint of tarragon, leather, and a subtle candied cherry component. It had good mouth feel, pleasant weight, flavors of dried cherry and plum with gentle tannins and acidity. Medium finish, quite smooth. As I admired the glossy, plum color in my glass, gently swirling it around, inhaling deeply and tasting again, this blended red wine reminded me of a quality Spanish Rioja. Bravo Mr. James. The Fiasco made a good companion with my grilled steak, I suggest selecting a tender cut. I enjoyed this wine and advocate buying some to share with dad. Recommended.
Blend: 55% Syrah, 25% Zinfandel, 20% Barbera
Closure: Natural cork
ABV: 14.9%
Cases produced: 6,000
Suggested retail price: $21
Tobin James Cellars is located in Paso Robles, California. They opened their tasting room in 1994 at the site of an old stagecoach stop on Highway 46 east. Today, their western themed tasting room features an old 1860 mahogany bar from Missouri, wagon wheels amd cowboy cutouts. They promise you'll have a great time too. Stop by this winery the next time you are in Paso Robles.
Tobin James Cellars
8950 Union Road
Paso, Robles, CA 93446
Phone: 805-239-2204
www.tobinjames.com
Last year, I embraced opening myself to explore more wines from places besides Washington. I am of the opinion that I need to expand my palate. Not just to appreciate wines from across the globe, but to appreciate Washington wines in the global context of wine. I'd like to thank the California Wine Club for sending me these premium wines, and for helping me with my ongoing exploration of the wines of California.
The California Wine Club
800-777-4443
www.cawineclub.com
* For my readers, new California Wine Club members or gift givers, can receive 4 bottles of wine for the price of 2 bottles when they sign up. There is no obligation to continue after the first month. At checkout you must use the code: wild12 for this offer.
You can learn more about the California Wine Club by following @cawineclub and @boringwineguy on twitter. If you are not on twitter, you can “like” them on Facebook, The California Wine Club and The Boring Wine Guy.
Cheers!