Wagner Family Wines

     Thursday May 16, 2013

Reservations Closed
Course Pairing / Description Wine
Hors D' Oeuvres Prosciutto and Basil Melon Wedges Honey and lemon aioli and micro arugula Mediterranean Ratatouille Tartlet Tomatoes and Provence herbs with fresh vegetables
Conundrum is a white wine, a blend of 5 varietals that symbolize the very expression of California. With the help of Jon Bolta the winemaker, they believe they have successfully produced a white table wine that can be paired with just about any meal. Conundrum stands out as a distinctly different, non-traditional white wine blend. It is a true California wine, with five white grape varietals- Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Canelli, Viognier and Semillon- sourced from Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Tulare counties. “A real conundrum that people have is what cheese to pair with white wines. Well, when it comes to Conundrum white wine, I personally like harder / aged cheeses, but it’s important to note that cheese is so subjective. With crackers or bread you can’t go wrong with Brie type cheeses with their buttery and mushroomy flavors. Camembert, Blue Cheese and goat milk cheeses are fun too. Everyone has a different palate and I like to encourage my friends to embrace what flavors they prefer regardless of what critics suggest. Don’t be afraid to break the rules in your wine pairing. In fact it was that type of thinking that created Conundrum in the first place. Is there a particular cheese that you think pairs best with Conundrum?”~ Jon Bolta, Conundrum Winemaker
Wagner California Conundrum White Blend 2011
Appetizer Grilled Seafood Gazpacho Grilled shrimp, scallop and calamari with tomato-cucumber gazpacho, crème fraiche and snipped chives
Wagner saw that the market was interested in unoaked Chardonnay. That’s when they decided to seize the moment and make Chardonnay named “SILVER” that would remain free of oak and made in a classic Chablis style with tropical elements and crisp, pure, mineral essence. Furthermore they decided to age and ferment this wine in stainless steel and natural cement tanks imported from France. Wagner believes that the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation in Monterey County is the best appellation in the world for producing Chardonnay. This region benefits from cool morning fog and afternoon breezes that result in a long growing season, producing intense tropical fruit flavors balanced with vibrant acidity. In 2011, the cool weather pattern throughout spring and summer brought about an extended growing season which resulted in slow ripening, lighter yields and smaller berries – perfect conditions to produce Chardonnay grapes with concentrated fruit characters and nice, bright acidity. Bright minerality and fresh-cut hay qualities are apparent on the nose, followed by zesty citrus and stone-fruit notes. Seamless fruit flavors of grapefruit, lemon and gooseberry shine through on the mid-palate, complemented by a crisp acidity that carries through from start to finish. The higher acidity in this wine makes it a perfect accompaniment to a wide array of food, particularly fresh summer salads, grilled seafood, tomato-based dishes and guacamole.
Wagner Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay 2011
Fowl Course Grilled Portobello and Duck Breast Stack Green and white asparagus and port wine reduction
Meiomi (May-oh-mee) is a Pinot Noir that gets its fruit from the most noteworthy coastal areas in California. The wine is crafted, lush, balanced and luxurious. Three of the California's most sought after coastal growing regions brilliantly meld together in this deeply flavored, stylish and truly balanced Pinot Noir; at its most fundamental core, it is an approachable, food friendly wine with a style and place all its own. Wine Spectator has named the 2011 Meiomi Pinot Noir one of the 14 Outstanding Wines from Santa Barbara. 92 points Wine Spectator
Wagner Meiomi Pinot Noir 2012
Beef Course Rosemary Grilled Flat Iron Steak Boursin mashed potatoes, red wine and shallot reduction and crispy fried haricot verts
Winemaker Joseph Wagner chose the name Belle Glos (pronounced BELL GLOSS) to honor his grandmother, Lorna Belle Glos Wagner, a co-founder of Caymus Vineyards. Clark & Telephone is one of three Belle Glos single-vineyard labels. This vineyard is located near the intersection of two lonely roads in the Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara County) hence the name "Clark and Telephone". This maritime site yields loose clusters with small, intensely-flavored berries. Once the fruit arrived at the winery the clusters were destemmed and the must underwent an extended cold soak. The maceration process took place during fermentation with a combination of punch-down and pump-over techniques. The trick is to find the perfect middle ground between under and over extraction, something they carefully monitor each day, tailoring their approach in order to achieve the optimal extraction level. The wine was then aged for nine months in French oak (60% new) and racked twice, once after malolactic fermentation, and then again when it came time to make the final blend. Deep scarlet red in color, this wine leaves little to the imagination with rich, expansive aromas of blackberry raspberry, plum and sweet baking spices like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The palate is similarly intense with flavors of ripe blackberries, raspberries, warm cherry pie, blueberry and fresh cranberry, perfectly balanced with velvety tannins and a smooth toasty oak finish. Best described as “Christmas in your mouth!” Joseph Wagner, Winemaker
Wagner Belle Glos Clark and Telephone 2011
Dessert Dark Chocolate and Blackberry Bomb Cake Cinnamon and coffee caramel and clove scented whipped cream
Conundrum Red Blend 2010 has a nose that is almost floral, with tones of lavender, dried berries, baking chocolate, bacon bits. Aromas are rich, velvety and wonderfully appealing. This wine is silky round entry with acid to balance and high fruit concentration. The nose leaves no doubt about the seriousness of this wine. The palate is fruit driven both before and after the high tannin middle core. The finish is long, not drying of tannin, and beckons a second sip. Conundrum Red is a non-traditional blend of California red grapes. What are the varietals used? It's proprietary and we believe the fun is exploring this intriguing wine. I am proud to be able to continue my grandfather's practices...for three generations we have been breaking the rules." Charlie Wagner II, Winemaker
Wagner California Conundrum Red Blend 2010
Special
Please note: In addition to our regular selection, as the result of a special arrangement with vintners, you will be able to purchase separately by the glass or bottle Caymus Special Select 2010. Caymus Special Select Cabernet Sauvignon is the only wine in the world twice honored as "Number one wine in the world" by the Wine Spectator magazine.
Wagner Caymus Special Select 2010