Raymond, Raj and Andrew Storm The Hilltop

On January 8, 2016 Raymond invited himself and a few friends (he has a habit of doing that) to The Hilltop Winery for a wine reception hosted by Mike and Mav and then off to one of his favorite restaurants in the Pacific Palisades, Casa Nostra.

The weather that particular Friday was stunning!

The evening wouldn’t be complete unless his favorite mother-in-law (he only has one by the way) joined us on The Hilltop Winery for the festivities.  Oh, she also just happened to be his transportation from the airport to the house or should I say Villa.

The festivities began promptly at 4:00 p.m. with a twist this visit, Mike made everyone a specialty cocktail to start the party!  He made tangerine martini’s using freshly picked produce from his backyard as well as his favorite vodka, Tito’s.

Once we all settled down and said our hello’s, finished our martini’s, we proceeded to the cellar where the real party began.  Hold that thought, the special guests were given a second specialty cocktail, a burnt grapefruit vodka soda!

Now settled, in the cellar, and in honor of Andrew’s birth year, and the fact that Raymond got married that same year, the Sommelier (Mike) pulled a very nice 1991 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon.

We couldn't stop there so we had to pull a wine in celebration of Raj’s birth year and Mike pulled a 1990 Chateau Clerc Milon Bordeaux.

Both needed a little time to breath and then both were consumed and enjoyed by all.

Well it was now time to go to Casa Nostra for our 6:30 p.m. reservation so we took an Aubert Chardonnay, a Brander Cabernet Sauvignon and rounded it out by taking a Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon.

Here’s the entire list of wines we drank throughout the weekend on The Hilltop Winery. Thanks Mike and Mav for another wonderful weekend!

White

• 2013 Aubert Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast (2 bottles)
• 2014 Carmenet Chardonnay Reserve (2 bottles)

Red

• 1990 Chateau Clerc Milon Bordeaux
• 1991 Staglin Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 2002 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 2009 Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 2010 La Follette Pinot Noir, Dunah Vineyard, Russian River
• 2011 Alto Moncayo Garnacha, Spain
• 2011 La Follette Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
• 2014 Brander Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Ynez Valley

For pictures of the evening go HERE.

9th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner

On Thursday, July 16, 2015 Mike and Mav once again hosted the Institute team, its volunteers, a favorite faculty member with a wine connection of his own and a few special guests at The Hilltop Winery for another great evening of fun and fellowship after a great week at Loyola Marymount University.

Our friend Edgardo, a specialist when it comes to making pizzas, was making everyone smile with his creations and we added a new twist this year and brought Casa Nostra into the fold.

Brian Baker from Chateau Montelena Winery and Institute faculty member brought a selection of aged Chardonnay’s to The Hilltop Winery and gave us a special presentation/education on the finer points of Chardonnay and how to rate them based on growing seasons and profiles of other white wines from around the world.

The Hilltop Winery’s sommelier, Mike Wojo, matched those bottles of Chardonnay with white Burgundy's and one Sonoma Coast selection from his cellar.  Let the comparisons begin!

Conducted Tasting

• 2006 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley
• 2006 Les Corbins Meursault

• 2010 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley
• 2010 Julien ColloVray, Saint-Veran

• 2011 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley
• 2011 Aubert Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

In addition to the initial conducted tasting above, we had the opportunity to also try the following list of wines throughout the evening.

White

• 2011 Conte della Vipera (two bottles)
• 2013 Brander Sauvignon Gris, Santa Ynez Valley

Red

• 1989 Chateau Lynch Bages
• 1991 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 1991 Kenwood Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley
• 1991 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 1993 Pommard Burgundy
• 2005 Alto Moncayo Garnacha
• 2008 Altos De La Hoya
• 2008 Frazier Memento Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 2008 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
• 2008 Ramey Claret, Napa Valley
• 2008 Saggi, Columbia Valley
• 2008 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
• 2011 Cerasuolo di Vittoria (two bottles)

The California sun is getting ready to set, pictures need to be taken and the wine is flowing, what else does one need?

We live a charmed life and I appreciate the largess of Mike and Mav as they open their home and wine cellar for the Institute team to enjoy!

For pictures of the evening go HERE.

The Hilltop

On June 29, 2010, the Sweede family and a few special friends from work came to visit The Hilltop Winery.

Our time is always too short, but we made the most of the time we have with our friends.

Amongst the many wines we tasted the following stood out:

• 1990 Chateau Grand Mayne, Grand Cru Classe
• 2003 Surh Luchtel Mosaique, Red Wine, Napa Valley
• 2004 Staglin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
• 2005 Alcina, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
• 2006 Kosta Browne, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

The weather was intense to say the least, sometimes you couldn’t see across the pool. That’s life when you’re up in the clouds, literally and figuratively speaking.

For more information on Alcina click HERE.
For more information on Chateau Grand Mayne click HERE.
For more information on Kosta Browne click HERE.
For more information on Staglin click HERE.
For more information on Surh Luchtel click HERE.

For a slideshow of the actual bottles tasted and the rest of the evening click HERE.