Beckmen Futures Tasting

On Saturday we went up to Santa Ynez for the annual Beckmen Futures tasting at their winery. This year it was held in the barrel room at the winery, as opposed to previous years at the vineyard off Ballard Canyon. Think they learned from it being around 95 degrees the last year. The tasting wasn't until 5:30pm so we were able to stop at a few places beforehand. Up first was Foxen to pick up our shipment and taste.

2007 Foxen Chenin Blanc, Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard
2007 Foxen Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Block UU
2008 Foxen Rose of Mourvedre
2006 Foxen Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Block 8
2007 Foxen Pinot Noir, Julia's Vineyard
2007 Foxen Chenin Blanc "Late Harvest", Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard

Really liked the Bien Nacido Pinot as well as the Chardonnay and the Rose. The Chardonnay was aged in neutral oak and had partial malolactic fermenation, so it was not overwhelmingly oaky or buttery, seemed just right.

After lunch at Patrick's in Los Olivos we ventured into Stolpman to taste their lineup.

2006 Stolpman "L'Avion"
? Stoplman "La Coppa Blanc"
2005 Stolpman Sangiovese, Estate
2006 Stolpman Grenache
2006 Stolpman Syrah, Estate
2006 Stolpman Syrah, "Hilltops"
2006 Stolpman "La Croce"

This will definitely be the next wine club that we join. I think it has officially moved ahead of Tablas Creek, everything is just so damn good. Bought a bottle of the "L'Avion" and a bottle of the Estate Syrah. Really wanted to love the Grenache, but it was just missing something for me. Hard to compete with Beckmen I guess. Our last stop before heading off to Beckmen was D'Alfonso-Curran in Solvang.

2007 Curran Grenache Blanc
2007 Curran Grenache Rose
2007 Di Bruno Pinot Grigio
2006 Badge Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills, Rancho Santa Rosa
2006 Badge Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
2006 Di Bruno Merlot, Grassini Vineyard
2004 Di Bruno Sangiovese, Stolpman Vineyards
2005 Curran Sangiovese
2005 Curran Sangiovese, Bruce Vandale Reserve
2005 Curran Syrah, Black Oak Reserve

All great stuff here as well. The new Badge Pinot was good and will only get better over the next year I am sure. And finally to Beckmen...

2008 Beckmen Grenache, Purisima Mountain Vineyard
2008 Beckmen Grenache "Block Eight" Purisima Mountain Vineyard
2007 Beckmen Syrah, Purisima Mountain Vineyard
2008 Beckmen Syrah, "Clone #1" Purisima Mountain Vineyard
2007 Beckmen Syrah, "Block Six" Purisima Mountain Vineyard
2008 Beckmen "TLB Estate Cuvee"

This marks the end of Beckmen's 3-4 year experiment with Whole Cluster Grenache. While I definitely enjoyed it, I hope to like the Block Eight Grenache even more. I purchased bottles of the Syrah Block Six, Grenache Block Eight, and Syrah Clone #1. I really enjoyed the experience in the barrel room as each pour was taken from the barrel via a wine thief, just made for a better experience (and probably better wine) than the carafe's that were transported the vineyard in years past. Also missed the tractor ride up to the Block Six Syrah with Tom Beckmen.