Pia Vodder fra Vinens hus, der er California Wine Institutes danske repræsentant arrangerede den 22. marts en digital præsentation af en ny stor vidensbank Capstone California, som de californiske vinproducenter står bag. Det er et stort frit tilgængeligt opslagsværk om californisk vin, druetyper, AVA’er, historie, jordbundsforhold, statistisk m.v., men også en digital uddannelsesplatform med et uddannelsesforløb der har fire niveauer, som man betaler for. I Danmark tilmelder man sig det certificerede uddannelsesforløb gennem Vinakademiet, hvis underviser i Californisk vin, René Langdahl Jørgensen, står for de smagesessioner, der er tilknyttet online-kurserne.
Capstoneprogrammet er opdelt i fire niveauer: Introductory Level, Intermediate Level, Advanced Level og Expert Level. Studietid, sværhedsgrad og priser stiger for hvert niveau. Introductory Level er på 6 timers selvstudie og en smagesession med 8 vine til 560,00. Intermediate Level omfatter 20 timer og en smagesession med 15 vine til 930,00. Advanced Level og Expert Level er endnu ikke lanceret, men priser følger snarest.
Alle har nu mulighed for at se presselanceringen fra den 22. marts med masser af god information om Capstone California hvor René Langdahl Jørgensen også gennemfører en smagesession med de 8 vine, der ses på indledningsbilledet. Det kan opleves her. Vinbladet har smagt med og bringer her Peter Windings smagsnotater med eksempler på hvilke oplysninger man kan finde på Capstone California.
De Loach Pinot Noir Russian River 2018
Fin duft med vis sødme, hindbær og kirsebær, mandel og fin grapefrugtagtig tone. Silket smag, moden tannin, fyldig med fin eftersmag med lyse, røde bær. 92
Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Knox Alexander Santa Maria Valley 2016
Meget frisk duft med lyse, modne frugter, meget ren. Rank struktur med frisk syrebid, frisk eftersmag med lys frugt, godt syrebid. 92
Overview
The Lodi AVA is America’s largest in terms of plantings, hovering just over 100,000 acres (40,469 ha) of winegrapes, approximately as much as all of Napa Valley and Sonoma County combined, or all of Washington and Oregon plus another 30%. Lodi is defined by a Mediterranean climate (dry, warm summers naturally conducive to over 100 varieties of commercially grown Vitis vinifera) and well-drained soils, ranging from deep sandy loam soils to shallow sandy clay loam terraces and rolling hillsides of gravelly or cobbled (with stones mixed in) clay.
While Lodi is located east of San Francisco Bay in California’s Central Valley, between the cities of Sacramento to the north and Stockton to the south, it is the unimpeded marine air, or “Delta Breeze,” flowing through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, lying below sea level in the only large gap in the entire California Coast Ranges, that gives Lodi a climate classification similar to the north end of Napa Valley and the north-east corner of Sonoma County. In terms of Winkler degree-days, approximately 78% of the Lodi AVA consistently falls within Region IV, with its 22% variance veering into Region V in the region’s northeast corner and dipping into Region III in cooler vintages.
Winegrapes have been planted in Lodi since the 1850s, although more than half of Lodi’s current acreage was planted after the region was established as an AVA in 1986.
Today Lodi functions primarily as the California wine industry’s leading supplier of popular grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot gris/grigio, Pinot noir, etc.). There is, however, a steadily growing number of small, handcraft wineries specializing in heritage grapes such as Zinfandel, Carignan and Cinsaut, as well as a diverse range of varieties from Albariño to Zweigelt, Teroldego to Tempranillo, Piquepoul to Pinotage, Verdejo to Vermentino. Many Lodi wineries and vineyards are owned and operated by third- to sixth-generation farming families. This multi-generational factor is also a primary reason why Lodi developed the world’s first formal system of certified sustainability (LODI RULES for Sustainable Winegrowing, evolving from the Lodi Winegrower’s Workbook introduced in 1999), since duplicated and utilized all around the world.
Gnarly Head Zinfandel Lodi 2018
Mørk duft, sødmefuld, god fylde, virker let oxideret, dårlig flaskeprøve.
Ironstone Reserve Ancient Vine Zinfandel Rous Vineyard Lodi 2018
Parfumeret duft, mørke, sødmefulde bær. Fyldig smag, godt tanninbid som kontrast til vinens sødme, der går igen i eftersmag sammen med koncentreret, mørk frugt. 91
Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2019
Oxideret flaskeprøve.
Louis M. Martini Winery
In June of 1933 Louis M. Martini purchased a property south of St. Helena and built a winery—one of the first in the region to open its doors after the repeal of Prohibition. For over 80 years the winery has been home to outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2019 a significant restoration of the original winery is completed, introducing an array of world-class tasting and culinary experiences.
Louis Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2017
Elegant duft med friske solbær, røget tone med fine nuancer fra fad. Lækker smag, moden, cremet tannin, fyldig med lang eftersmag med modne solbær. 91
Ridge Vineyards
Founded by three Stanford scientists in 1959, the estate was not dubbed Ridge Vineyards until 1962; Paul Draper took over as winemaker in 1969. Ridge’s Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon is a true icon, but the estate’s rare Chardonnay and old vine Zinfandel also merit attention.
Ridge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Montebello Santa Cruz Mountains 2018
Elegant, rig duft, kompleks med modne solbær, røget med fine nuancer fra fad. Fyldig smag, moden tannin, lang eftersmag med mørke solbær og fine nuancer fra fad, der lige nu trænger lidt for meget igennem. Behøver tid. 94
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2016
Meget elegant duft, solbær, mørke kirsebær, fine nuancer fra fad. Meget elegant smag, luftig og fyldig, blid tannin, lang eftersmag med moden frugt. Afbalanceret, harmonisk, helt drikkemoden. 93
