The Rooftop Winery

California Dreaming: Wines We Drank From The Cellar

It's Monday morning, July 18, 2016 and it's time to catch my flight home to reality. The past week was filled with memories of Institute, family and a variety of grapes from around the world. It’s important to have fruit in your daily diet.

Mike and Mav opened their home and wine collection and the juice did not disappoint! And did I mention the new VIEW?

Some of the wines listed here are also mentioned in the 10th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner blog post which was held the evening of the July 14, and can be found HERE.

In addition to the daily tastings throughout the week, I was able to visit some of my favorite restaurants, including Casa Nostra (to dine on the Branzino), Nagao (to enjoy some sushi), and C&O Trattoria II (for the garlic balls and pasta).

And keeping with tradition, the last evening in California, Raymond makes his spaghetti. This year Alma and Chip joined Raymond, Mike and Mav for a great evening of fellowship and a shared appreciation for wine. By the way, any dinner with these wines would be a great dinner no matter what was served.

Whites

2011 Donkey and Goat Late Harvest Chardonnay, El Dorado (half bottle)

2013 Groth Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley

2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, Golden Slope, Santa Rita Hills

2014 Aubert Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Reds

2002 Salus Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2006 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

2007 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2013 Hunnicutt Cuvee Equite, Napa Valley

The weather was great and the wine was even better! Here’s the list of bottles that were removed from their resting place and consumed over the course of the week. I’m sure I missed a bottle or two or three.

Whites

2005 deiuliis Semillon, Hunter Valley
2006 Chateau Ste Michelle Gewurtztraminer, Columbia Valley
2010 Chateau Montelena Riesling, Napa Valley
2011 Donkey and Goat Late Harvest Chardonnay, El Dorado
2011 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope, Santa Rita Hills
2011 Staglin Chardonnay, Napa Valley
2012 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley
2013 Groth Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
2013 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, Bien Bien, Santa Maria
2014 J Lohr Chardonnay
2014 Ceritas Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains
2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope, Santa Rita Hills
2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, La Hermana (two bottles)
2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills
2014 Aubert Chardonnay, Lauren Vineyard
2014 Aubert Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2014 Aubert Chardonnay, East Coast
2014 Carmenet Chardonnay, Napa Valley
2014 Ceritas Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2015 Liquid Farm Rose, Vogelzang Vineyard (two bottles)

Reds

2002 Salus Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2003 Staglin Family Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2005 Favia, Cerro Sur, Napa Valley
2005 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
2006 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Guigal
2006 Feather Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
2006 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2006 Staglin Family Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2006 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley (two bottles)
2006 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2007 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2010 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2010 Marac Bourdeaux
2012 Torrin Bourdeaux Blend
2013 GeekZ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2013 Hunnicutt Cuvee Equite, Napa Valley (two bottles)

For pictures from the week go HERE.

10th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner

On Thursday, July 14, 2016 the Institute team celebrated 10 years of tasting grape from The Hilltop Winery with a special trip to the Bel Air Bay Club.

This year was special since we were able to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Karyn MacRae, IOM, CMP, CAE, Institute’s Director with a special 2006 Magnum of Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, delivered by one of our favorite Institute faculty members, Brian Baker.

We didn’t taste the wine, we all signed the bottle as a present to Karyn and she will be able to open it at a later date, in Virginia, with Travis and friends.

The wine reception started with a special wine tasting in the Wojo Cabana, just a couple of feet from the Pacific Ocean. After a quick swirl, we retreated to the dining room for a special dinner created by chef David Summers.

Charlie, our waiter, was a great host and treated us like family. Thank you Charlie!

The following wines were consumed by all and we had an enjoyable time at the Bel Air Bay Club.

Whites

2010 Chateau Montelena Riesling, Napa Valley
2011 Liquid Farm Chardonnay Golden Slope, Sta. Rita Hills
2012 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley
2013 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, Bien Bien, Santa Maria
2014 Ceritas Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains
2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, La Hermana (two bottles)
2015 Liquid Farm Rose, Vogelzang Vineyard

Reds

2006 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2006 Staglin Family Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2006 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
2006 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Mike and Mav, thanks again for hosting the Institute team and introducing us to a new venue allowing us to see a different view of the Pacific Ocean, in Southern California.

For pictures of the evening go HERE.

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.

My Week on The Hilltop

It’s July 10, 2015 and I just arrived to enjoy a week at The Hilltop Winery with Sommelier Mike and Chef de Cuisine Mav.

They are the best hosts on the West Coast for wine/food lovers.

And if you like/love wine, there’s no better place to go than The Hilltop Winery.

The following wines were consumed over the course of the past week and were thoroughly enjoyed, not just by me, but by guests and family alike.

White

2011 Aubert Chardonnay (two bottles)
2011 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley
2011 Conte della Vipera
2012 Groundwork Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley
2013 Cotes du Coast Rhone Blend, Central Coast, Santa Maria
2013 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, Four, Santa Rita Hills
2013 Liquid Farm Chardonnay, La Hermana, Santa Maria
2013 Sterling Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa County

Red

1992 Hedges Red Mountain Reserve, Columbia Valley
1995 Pietre Rosse, Dalla Valle Vineyards
2000 Downing Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2003 Aventure Estate Cuvee, Paso Robles
2007 Kelley Creek Merlot, Alexander Valley
2007 Renegade Wine Company, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
2009 Ramey Claret, Napa Valley
2010 Salus Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2011 Cerasuolo of Vittori Classico
2011 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2011 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2011 Foley Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills

Port

Pedro Ximenez Robles

By the way, don’t forget to visit the 9th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner party HERE for the incredible evening we had on Thursday, July 16th, with Institute staff, volunteers, staff and special guests who enjoyed an incredible evening of wine, food and fellowship.

A couple pictures of the empty bottles can be found HERE.

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.

The Hilltop: A Must When Conducting Business in California

On Tuesday, September 16, 2014 the business meeting was over and it was time to enjoy an afternoon and evening on The Hilltop.

The Hilltop's resident sommelier Mike Wojo and his lovely chef de cuisine wife Mav hosted three repeat customers from the East Coast.

The only one missing - our great friend and colleague Clinton! We'll get him here next time!

While we've been here before as a group, it must be said that we can never get enough grape and Mike can never seem to thin out the number of bottles that continue to grow inside the cellar.

I'm sure you've heard the saying "it's nothing I need but it's something I gotta have."

That's how we feel about our wine tastings on The Hilltop. We are able to taste wines that we could never dream of in the course of our normal lives.

The wines below were properly pulled from the racks (some of the older ones got a little agitated when we turned them for inspection), decanted when needed, and tasted. You know, after being in the bottle for over 10 years, it just needs to be enjoyed!

In addition, we picked a couple of bottles to go to my favorite Italian restaurant, Casa Nostra, right here in the Highlands.

As always, we did our best to thin the cellar but when you're tasting ten bottles it doesn't put a dent in the thousands of bottles on the racks.

Don't be jealous, just sit back and enjoy the wine and sunset pictures HERE and please note the picture of our toast to our great friend HERE who couldn't make this trip - until next time!

White

2012 Liquid Farm Chardonnay (Magnum)

Red

2001 Joseph Phelps Syrah, Napa Valley
2003 Richard Partridge, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2004 Realm Napa Valley Red Wine, The Tempest
2004 Quinta Tecedeiras Reserva
2005 Araujo Syrah, Eisele Vineyard, Napa Valley
2006 Copain Syrah, Mendocino County
2006 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2013 Sunset Hills Custom Blend, Virginia

For a slideshow of the evenings event go HERE.

Cellar Pruning: A Daunting Task But Someone Has To Do It!

During the week of July 11, 2014 we had two official functions at The Hilltop Winery, A Lawyer Visits The Hilltop and the 8th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner, click the links or scroll down to review those outings.

For those of you who have been to the cellar in the past, you know it could use a good thinning from time to time and when the outlaw from the East Coast comes to town he does his best to play that role.

The wines listed below were pulled throughout the week by the in-house Sommelier, Mike Wojo. Most of these wines were pulled earlier in the week and put on the table for a quick "see something, pull something" mindset.

Please note the table in the middle of the cellar and the amount of wine selected for immediate tasting HERE.

While we tried our best this trip to clear the table, we can never keep up with the new wine that gets delivered each year.

I must also say we didn't have a bad bottle in the list below. May your summer trip/s be enjoyable and may your path/s cross a bottle of white or red of your choosing.

White

2009 Ramey Chardonnnay, Napa Valley
2010 Aubert Chardonnay (multiple bottles)
2011 Staglin Chardonnay, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2012 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay, Carneros

Red

1984 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Hillside Select
1988 Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1990 St Francis Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
1992 Moraga Red Table Wine
2000 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Casanova di Neri, Tenuta Nuova
2002 Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 Araujo Syrah
2005 Hunnicut Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2006 Chateau Les Grans Marechaux
2010 Chateau Haut-Surget Bordeaux

For a slideshow of the wines and random pictures of our week long stay at The Hilltop Winery go HERE.

8th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 Mike and Mav hosted the Institute team at The Hilltop Winery for another great evening of fun and fellowship after a great week at Loyola Marymount University.

We mixed it up a bit this year and decided to stay on The Hilltop for a special pizza party using the relatively new wood fired oven in the backyard. Our friend Edgardo, a specialist when it comes to making pizzas, was making everyone smile with his creations.

And of course, since we didn't make our annual trip to Sam's by the Beach to see our friend Sam and his wonderful staff for dinner, we brought Sam to The Hilltop Winery. He provided us with a Caesar Salad, passed appetizers and a wonderful assortment of dessert items.

Now let's get to the good stuff!

Our very own faculty member and industry wine expert Brian Baker from Chateau Montelena Winery brought three Estate Bottled Cabs from the winery that The Hilltop Winery Sommelier, Mike Wojo, matched with three bottles of Bordeaux from his cellar. Let the comparisons begin.

But before we get to that we obviously had to start with a few white's. So sit back, don't get jealous and enjoy the ride we took on this beautiful Thursday evening with friends and family.

White

2005 Puligny-Montrachet, Domaine Henri Boillot
2010 Julien ColloVray, Saint-Veran
2011 Aubert Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2011 Staglin Chardonnay, Rutherford Estate

Red

1986 Chateau Olivier, Pessac-Leognan
1989 Caymus Special Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1989 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2004 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (Magnum)
2006 Chase Zinfandel, Napa Valley
2009 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa Valley
2010 Pedestal Merlot, Columbia Valley

Special Cabernet Sauvignon vs Bordeaux Tasting

1989 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled
1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled
2002 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled

1989 Chateau Montrose, Saint-Estephe Bordeaux
1995 Chateau Cantenac Brown, Margaux Bordeaux
2002 Chateau Leoville Barton, Saint-Julien Bordeaux

As we all know, all good things must come to an end. So as we packed up, said our goodbyes and took a couple of last minute photos, we got on the bus and returned to the hotel for our trip home in the morning.

Mike and Mav hopes that Brian, the Institute staff and volunteers had a great time at The Hilltop Winery.

A great evening wouldn't be complete unless we captured the memories to hold us over until next year.

Feel free to download any pictures from the entire evening HERE.

A Lawyer Visits The Hilltop

On Tuesday, July 15, 2014 The Hilltop Winery hosted a special tasting for one of Institute's favorite lawyers - and you know who you are, right?

We started in the early afternoon in the wine cellar!

We were allowed to compare a number of Cabernet Sauvignon's and then moved on to dinner at Sam's by the Beach to try the new pre-fixe dinner advertised in the local Pacific Palisades paper.

Before we left the cellar for Sam's, we lifted two magnums and they were the bomb!

After a perfect dinner with our friend Sam, we put the lawyer in the cab and told him to have a safe trip to the East Coast on the red-eye.

We retreated back to The Hilltop for a little clean-up, the wine of course. Tough life!

Here's the list of wines we tasted in the cellar before dinner at Sam's:

1980 Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1986 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Estate Bottled
1986 Caymus Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley Cuvee
1986 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
2005 Meursault, Henri Boillot

Here's the two magnums we took to Sam’s by the Beach:

2006 Pedestal Merlot, Washington State
2011 Liquid Farms Chardonnay, Santa Barbara

For a complete slide show of the evenings events go HERE.

California to France: Two Great Venues on The Hilltop!

On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 The Hilltop Winery, once again hosted the wayward relative from the East Coast, and you know the deal, he brought the old and some new folks to enjoy the latest grape to hit the market (the old timers know who you are).

And obviously, they got carried away and went deep into the cellar, and with the Sommelier's permission, were allowed to pull some incredible wines from around the world dating back to 1979.

The evening also reunited the wayward relative with Monrose Catering. Thank you Richard and your staff for taking care of us again with an excellent selection of appetizers for all to enjoy!

Mav was the bomb with her incredible chocolate flour-less tart/cake. I'm not sure what it was or where it came from but it was delicious!

From a Ph.D. on the East Coast to a Ph.D. on the West Coast, "while the economy may go up and down, a visit to The Hilltop Winery is always an up day!"

So from all the East Coast folks Mike, all we can say is thank you for allowing us to enjoy the following wines from your cellar.

White

2011 Golden Slope Liquid Farms Chardonnay
2011 Four Liquid Farms Chardonnay
2012 Kobalt Sauvignon Blanc

Red

1979 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
1982 William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1982 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley (bottled 1986)
1986 Chateau LaGrange, Saint-Julien
1988 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1989 Clos du Bois Marlstone Vineyard
1994 Chateau Lynch Bages
1996 Araujo Syrah, Eisele Vineyards
2001 Fratelli Revello Barolo, Vigna Giachini
2002 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
2003 Clarendon Hills Merlot, Brookman
2005 Hunnicutt Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2008 Arns Syrah, Napa Valley
2011 Bjornstad Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Port

1983 Dow's Vintage Port

For pictures of the evening swirl click HERE.

"I Should Have Drank It By Now" Party

On Saturday, August 17, 2013 The Hilltop Winery hosted two-dozen of their friends and family in an effort to thin out the cellar of bottles of wine that should have already been consumed.

Everyone did their best to thin out the 4,000+ bottles that are housed in a cellar, on top of a hill, buried in a backyard!

The outdoor wood fired pizza oven was once again a major hit with the attendees. Pizza’s made to order was a nice touch to a perfect evening of wine and fellowship.

The sunset was spectacular and we have the pictures to prove it!

The following wines were tasted:

White

1991 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay
1997 Batar Agricola Querciabella
2005 Chassagne-Montrachet
2006 Staglin Chardonnay
2006 Jayson Chardonnay
2006 Les Corbins Meursault
2007 Macon-Chaintre White Burgundy (two bottles)
2008 Bjornstad Chardonnay
2008 Hubert Lamy Saint Aubin
2009 La Follette Chardonnay, Sangiacomo Vineyard
2009 Luis Felipe Edwards Chardonnay

Rose

2005 Stagliano Rosato di Sangiovese (three bottles)
2011 Bandol La Bastide Blanche

Red

1974 Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
1985 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon
1985 Chateau Olivier Graves Leognan
1986 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
1987 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1988 Chateau Bouscaut Pessac-Leognan
1990 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Bosquet des Papes
1990 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
1994 Talley Pinot Noir
1994 Maya
1995 Chateau Marguex, Premier Grand Cru Classe
1996 Rubino della Plazzola
1997 Turkey Flat Shiraz
1998 Spottswode Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2000 Maya
2001 Serpico Del Feudi Di San Gregorio
2003 Duckhorn Merlot, Napa Valley
2003 Clos du Val Pinot Noir, Carneros Vineyard
2003 Fess Parker Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County
2007 Pets Petite Sirah
2007 Roc Du Bel Air Bordeaux Superieur
2008 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert Wine

2005 Chateau De Cosse, Sauternes

For a complete slideshow of the event go HERE.

7th Annual West Institute Wine Reception and Dinner

On Thursday, July 18, 2013 The Hilltop Winery hosted 26 Institute staff, faculty and volunteer wine enthusiasts to a great wine tasting event.

We even worked with the local chamber of commerce to make sure the weather was as great as the wine. And it was a chamber of commerce kind of day!

This year we had a dozen newbies to the hilltop. The other 14 (and you know who you are) are seasoned veterans who made the annual pilgrimage, once again, to the hilltop. We enjoyed the following wines:

White

2009 Luis Felipe Edwards Chardonnay

2011 Muirwood Chardonnay

2011 Rombauer Chardonnay

2012 Natalie Brander Cuvee Chardonnay

Red

2003 Araujo Eisele Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain

2003 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

2003 Frasier Cabernet Sauvignon, Momento

2003 Hunnicut Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Kobalt Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon

2003 Surh Luchtel Cabernet Sauvignon

And once again, our special guest and faculty member Brian Baker from Chateau Montelena Winery brought three special bottles to taste.

1985 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled

1990 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled

1999 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Bottled

We couldn't help ourselves and then we did a see something, pull something! These wines were added to the list of magnums we took to Sam's by the Beach.

1970 Barolo Marcheri de Barolo

1979 BV Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled

1989 Chateau Lynch-Bages Bordeaux

1993 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon

Now it was finally time to pull the magnums and head off to our favorite restaurant, Sam's by The Beach in Santa Monica, CA with proprietor Sam Elias. He always takes great care of us each year.

The Magnums lifted from the cellar and taken for a ride to Sam's included:

1993 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum

1996 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum

2007 Domaine de Saint Siffrein Chateauneuf-Du-Pape (Magnum - two bottles)

2007 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Magnum

Sam and his incredible staff served us a wonderful three course meal that complimented the wines.

As the evening came to a close we said our goodbyes, piled into our cabs, headed back to the hotel, and were off to LAX airport in the morning.

For a complete slideshow of the event click HERE.