The Canadian Invasion: Round 3

On Saturday, February 7, 2015 The Hilltop Winery hosted 23 wine enthusiasts from Canada and the United States.

The Hilltop Winery always enjoys hosting this annual event before the Grammy's not just for the great wine and food but also for the fellowship of our WPO friends from Canada.

We kicked off the evening with a quick taste of the Collard-Picard Champagne with Hibiscus liquor, a Chardonnay from Hunnicutt Wines or the Cabernet Sauvignon in Magnum also from Hunnicutt Wines.  Then we made our way to the cellar for a special tasting of Italian wines.

After our initial toast, Sommelier Mike Wojo pulled a special selection of Italian wines from 1982 to 2001 for comparison and slipped in two younger American Italian wines just to shake it up.

After the official Italian wine tasting, we moved on to a select group of reds that were just out of this world (see list below).  This is also where we went back to taste a late entrant, a 2012 Morlet Chardonnay Magnum brought to the party by our local YPO friend Brad.

Monrose Catering Company out of Malibu, CA, once again provided the food.  Thank you Richard and your staff for a wonderful evening of treats.  And let’s not forget our pizza chef de cuisine Edgardo.  His pizzas are the best!

Enough about the food, let’s get on to the wines.

Champagne

  • Collard-Picard, Cuvee Dom. Picard Grand Cru (2 Magnums)

White

  • 2012 Hunnicutt Chardonnay (2 bottles)
  • 2012 Morlet Chardonnay (Magnum)

Italian Conducted Tasting

Wines from Italy
  • 1982 Marchesi di Barolo
  • 1988 Marchesi di Barolo
  • 2000 Pieve Santa Restituta, Brunello di Montachino
  • 2000 Trunotto Barbaresco
  • 2000 Gaja- Larghe Costa Russi
  • 2000 Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido
  • 2000 Brunello di Montalcino, Castel Giocondo
  • 2001 Siro Pacenti Brunnello di Montacino
  • 2001 Fratelli Revello Barolo
  • 2001 Paolo Scavino Barolo
  • 2001 Fanti Brunello di Montalcino

Wines from America
  • 2007 Col Solare, Columbia Valley
  • 2011 Saggi, Columbia Valley

Red

  • 1998 Domaine du Saillou Chateauneuf du Pape
  • 2007 Hunnicutt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Magnum)
  • 2007 Kolbalt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
  • 2008 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
  • 2010 Justice Fantesca Red Wine, Napa Valley

Port

  • 1977 Fonseca's Vintage Port

So as the say, all good things must come to an end and as we bid farewell to our Canadian and local YPO/WPO friends, we look forward to seeing you again.

In the meantime, feel free to go HERE for pictures to remember our evening together.