July 2014

Last month I was fortunate to once again participate as a wine judge at the California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Thanks Mike Dunne and Rick Kushman. Over the course of three days we swirled, sniffed, sipped, and spit many, many wines. The last day was special....we voted on the Best of the Best. As this event is strictly a blind tasting, the judges are informed of the wine varietal (chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, etc) and the vintage year, but judges are never told who produced the wine or the price of the wine. Now that the results of this wine competition have been released, I want to focus on one local winery that won a very important gold medal and a Best of California

It had been sweltering hot with temperatures above 100 degrees for several days, with no relief at night....the Delta breeze just wasn�t there. So, on Thursday July 17, 2014, I headed east on Highway 50 for about 40 miles, turned left on Schnell School Road (exit 48), then right at the T-intersection with Carson Road. Less than half a mile down the road is the entrance to Boeger Winery. A pleasant 45 minute drive from Sacramento.

One often hears the term "a family winery". Well, Boeger winery is truly a family winery. Let me explain. Boeger winery sits on an 1850s site that was homesteaded by the Fossati-Lombardo family. Greg and Sue Boeger purchased the ranch in 1972 (it was mainly a pear ranch at that time), planted 10 acres of grapes, and in 1974 built a winery. What started as a small husband and wife operation has steadily grown over the past 40 years. The winery now has 85 acres of estate vineyards and an annual production of 20,000 cases. Greg is still quite active managing the vineyards (as well as repairing tractors and all things mechanical), Sue handles the business end of the winery, son Justin is now winemaker, and daughter Lexi has an artistic flare for label production. And the Boeger commitment to quality and value has never wavered. Grow the grapes best suited to the location (terroir) and tend the vineyards meticulously. As Greg says, "it all starts in the vineyard, the rest is easy".

Barbera represents a major portion of the wine production at Boeger, and it was a Barbera that prompted this visit. As I have stated many times in the past, Barbera is the Rodney Dangerfield of wines.."it gets no respect". But people keep on drinking it.

Boeger Barbera 2011 - This full-bodied, luscious wine won a Double Gold Medal, was voted Best Barbera of California, and Best of Region at the Cal Expo State Fair Wine Competition. Congratulations to the entire Boeger family and team. And at Biba Restaurant we can attest to its popularity....we have been serving it as a Wine by the Glass for many months. Barbera is a very versatile wine...you can serve it with a pasta, or a steak, or a hamburger. I often have stated "A Burger at Biba with a Boeger Barbera".

Here are some of my other favorites:

• Boeger Estate Zinfandel 2012 - This soft, easy drinking Zinfandel with great mouthfeel and gentle tannins is always a winner.
• Boeger Walker Vineyard Zinfandel 2012 - a fuller, more structured, complex, and tannic Zinfandel. One of the best.
• Boeger Cabernet Franc 2012 - I am a fan of Cab Franc. Often overlooked by the big and brawny Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is understated, has firm tannins, and will age beautifully. Also a very versatile wine.
• Boeger Milagro 2012 - A blend of 78% Graciano, 17% Tempranillo, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, this inky dark wine with chocolate overtones is simply delicious. I was a bit skeptical at first but I liked this wine very much.
• Boeger Pinot Noir "Pinot Grande" 2011 and the just bottled 2012 - Greg Boeger found the right area within the estate vineyards at an elevation of about 2800 to 3000 feet, and with the help of consultant Hugh Chappelle, has been making an Estate Pinot Noir now in its 4th vintage. With clones 2A, 114, 115, 667, and 777, Greg is serious. And he is getting there. The latest vintage is a bit darker, fuller in mouthfeel, and has a nice nose and good acidity. I admire Greg for his determination to go against the grain and try something different. Keep it up.
• Boeger Moscato 2012 - a dessert wine, Muscat Canelli, that is naturally fermented and not fortified. This was the surprize wine of the day. Not overly sweet with a typical Moscato nose this will be a sure hit.

I limited my tasting to a few other wines that I will briefly mention. However, all were excellent.

• Chardonnay 2013
• Pinot Gris 2013
• Sauvignon Blanc 2013
• Tempranillo 2011
• Merlot 2012
  

As you can surmise, Boeger makes a wide variety of wines. We have been serving Boeger wines for many years and are proud to do so, in the currently in vogue Farm-to-Fork tradition. Remember, it all starts in the vineyard.

Boeger Winery is located at 1709 Carson Road, Placerville, CA 95667. Tel: 800-655-2634. The Tasting Room is open daily from 10 am until 5 pm. It is simply gorgeous this time of year. Web site is: www.boegerwinery.com

That is all for this month. Remember, wine is best with food and company. Wine in moderation may be healthful, but wine in excess may be harmful to you as well as others. Ciao.

Comments and criticisms are welcome. You may email me at:
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