Tom Simoneau 2021 Wines of the Year

Tom Simoneau Tom Simoneau joins Steve Jaxon, Dan Berger and Harry Duke on California Wine Country today, to present his 2021 Wines of the Year, including the book of the year and winery of the year. Best Whites Sparkling Wine: Domaine Carneros 2014 Le Rêve Blanc De Blancs, Estate Grown, $120. Every now and then we all need to do something special for ourselves, a new car or a pair of earrings for your beautiful wife. Well that’s what this Sparkling wine is all about – something special. French for “the dream,” Le Rêve is a wine that once you taste it, you’ll dream about it. What’s the best wine you’ve ever tasted? If you haven’t tasted Le Rêve, you haven’t had it yet. www.domainecarenos.com Chardonnay: MacRostie Winery and Vineyards 2019 Sonoma Coast, $25. While single vineyard bottlings are all the rage, sometimes the blended wines lead the pack. This Sonoma Coast bottling is a blend of seven different vineyards including Sangiacomo, Dutton and Martinelli. Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen has done a masterful job to create a wine with layers of complexity. And to top it all off, only a partial secondary (ML) fermentation was completed. Did I say food friendly? www.macrostiewinery.com Book of the Year Big Macs & Burgundy, Wine Pairings for the Real World by Vanessa Price with Adam Laukhuf, published by Abrams Publishing, $24.99. Vanessa Price is a sommelier with a sense of humor. She was born in Kentucky, the granddaughter of evangelical ministers. So how did she get into the wine business and come to write this book? You didn’t think I was going to tell ya? You’re going to have to read this book. And Vanessa if you’re listening, I’m sorry about your sister.  [email protected] Sauvignon Blanc: Ladera Vineyards 2020 Napa Valley, $36. They say that great wine is made in the vineyard and this Sauvignon Blanc is a shining example. Organically grown on Ryan’s Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District AVA, the wine is 58% Sauvignon Blanc and 42% Sauvignon Musque. And yes, winemaker Jade Barrett did his thing in the winery but, with one sniff and a taste, you can tell these grapes are special. www.laderavineyards.com Click the logo to visit our sponsor Bottle Barn online for the best prices on wine, beer and spirits. Off Dry White: Swanson Vineyards 2019 Pinot Grigio, San Benito, $21. Best known for its Napa Valley Merlot, Swanson is not a one trick pony. The perfect alternative to Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, this well made Pinot Grigio comes from San Benito which is a sub appellation of the Central Coast AVA. Think Monterey Bay and Santa Lucia Highlands, a refreshingly, aromatic, light white wine – delish. www.swansonvineyards.com Alternative White: Orsi Family 2020 Biancolella d’lschia, Filomena’s Block, Dry Creek Valley, $28. Never heard of the grape Biancolella? Its roots can be traced to Campania in Southern Italy – near Naples. At Orsi, their family motto is Italian roots in Sonoma County soil. The vineyards are in the hills of Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. Their tasting room is just outside of Healdsburg. (For you locals, the old Alderbrook Winery.) But it may as well be just outside of Naples because if your palate swings toward Italian wine, Orsi is an incredible find. Whites and reds will blow your mind. www.orsifamilyvineyards.com Best Value White: Korbel Wine Cellars 2018 Natural, Russian River Valley Champagne, $17. How do they do this at Korbel year in and year out? Sparkling wine is not easy to produce. It’s costly as you have to ferment it twice. And this Champagne is made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, also not cheap.