Tom Simoneau 2022 Wines of the Year

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Tom Simoneau, co-owner of Simoneau Vineyards is here with his annual Wines of the Year show for 2022, on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon, Harry Duke and Dan Berger. Every year, Tom Simoneau brings us his favorite wines of the year at the end of December. You can hear the episodes for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 here on the CWC website and you can read about the years 2016 and 2015 on Tom’s website.

Book of the Year

Food IQ, 100 Questions, Answers, and Recipes to Raise Your Cooking Smarts by Daniel Holzman & Matt Rodbard. ($35)

You’re probably thinking Food IQ? Is that a wine book? Well, wine is food, sans aucune doute, e senza dubbio! The more you become involved with wine, you will tend to choose wine to match what you’re serving for dinner. So this fun and informative cookbook will help even the most timid cook take a walk on the wild side! The extensive website is a bonus, www.foodiq.co

On the following list of Tom Simoneau’s Wines of the Year for 2022, the wines are listed with their approximate retail price, and those available at Bottle Barn are marked with @BB after the price.

Best Whites

Sparkling Wine

Caraccioli Cellars 2016 Blanc de Blancs, Escolle Vineyards, Santa Lucia Highlands, $85. I love my job! Every year I discover something new. This year it’s Caraccioli Cellars. This sparkler took my breath away. Tiny, tiny bubbles that tickle the tongue. Can a glass smile? With this wine in it, it does. Winemaker Scott Caraccioli says all the wines he makes are estate grown, so he has complete control. And it shows up in the glass. They make small lots, so their wine club is highly recommended. caracciolicellars.com

Chardonnay

Cuvaison 2020 Coeurtina, Napa Valley, Los Carneros, $60. We recently learned that there are now 8 billion people in the world today. That’s almost as many Chardonnay brands on the market! But, I’m up to the challenge. I’ll taste them all so you don’t have to. This Cuvaison Coeurtina Chard is one you do not want to miss. From its shimmering gold color, to its floral aroma and complex mouth feel, what else do you need? Maybe a nice piece of salmon? Check out their beautiful facility in Carneros. cuvaison.com

Sauvignon Blanc

Dry Creek Vineyards 50th Anniversary 2021 Fume Blanc, Sonoma County, $16, @ BB All together now – Celebration now, come on, du ta du da du du.  Not much of a singer but Dry Creek Vineyards brings me to song. Celebrating 50 years, that’s a long time! 50 years ago founder Dave Stare planted Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley. Today his daughter, Kim and her husband, Don Wallace, run the winery. Can I call them the first family of Dry Creek Valley? Why not! Here’s to the next 50! drycreekvineyard.com

Off Dry White

Morgan 2021 Double L Vineyard Riesling, Santa Lucia Highlands, $24, @BB. Morgan opened their doors in 1982 after Dan Morgan Lee met a banker that shared his vision of starting a winery. That banker would eventually become his wife. Wondering what a really good California Riesling tastes like, wonder no more. From grapes grown on the only certified organic vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highland. These foot stomped grapes made a 10.6% alc. wine showing apple and white peach, more fruity than sweet. Kabinett style. Bright and dry. morganwinery.com

Most Fun Wine

19 Crimes, Martha’s Chard, California Chardonnay, $11.99, @BB Can you ever have too much of a good thing? Now, a Martha Stewart Wine. Let’s see, Martha’s name appears on cookbooks, magazines, TV shows, home wares, restaurants, mail order meal kits, she’s also a home designer and now wine! Martha, what took you so long? With a click from the back of the bottle, Martha tells you all about it. Who knew? Even her bottle talks. Click and hear her for yourself. Martha’s Chard, it’s a good thing.  https://19crimes.com/products/19-crimes-marthas-chard

Sweet White

Ferrari Carano 2018 Eldorado Gold, Dry Creek Valley, Botrytised Semillon, $30 for the 375ml. Late harvest wines are probably the most disrespected and under-appreciated of all wines. If a late harvest wine could talk, it would say “I get no respect.” The famous noble rot (Botrytis cinerea, read about it here) is responsible for the invisible sweetness in the nose, delicate and rich in the mouth. Did anyone say dessert? After tasting, Amy, my niece said think crème brulee or apple pie and I second that. Enjoy your Christmas dessert with Ferrari Carano’s Eldorado Gold. ferrari-carano.com

Alternative White

Emeritus Vineyards 2021 Hallberg Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, $42. Emeritus was founded in 1999 by legendary vintner Brice Cutrer Jones after he sold Sonoma-Cutrer. The baton is now being passed to the capable hands of his daughter, Mari Jones, a rising young star in wine country who was featured on California Wine Country on this episode, last September. This Hallberg Blanc is 100% Pinot Noir with no blush to it. A great alternative to Chardonnay, all white peach, strawberry, and a hint of pineapple. emeritusvineyards.com

Luxury Wine

Stonestreet Estate Vineyards, Upper Barn 2019 Chardonnay, Alexander Valley, $150, @BB So here’s the question: what is the best vineyard in California? You could argue Beckstoffer’s George III, Mondavi’s To Kalon I Block, you could go on and on and on. I’m here to talk about what I call a hero Chardonnay. From the 40 year old Upper Barn Vineyard from Stonestreet. 25 acres on multiple blocks planted on AXR 1 rootstock producing less that a ton per acre of the most outrageously flavored, complex, take your breath away Chardonnay you’ll ever taste. I know it’s expensive, but worth the splurge! stonestreetwines.com

Best Value White

J Lohr Winery, 2021 Riverstone Chardonnay, Arroyo Seco Monterey County, $14, @BB Classic cool region Chardonnay flavors at any price never mind 14 bucks and often discounted. Floral with citrus and white peach. Only 62% malolactic. At J. Lohr they say they make REAL Chardonnay. I say amen to that. j.lohr.com

Rosé

Ultimate Provence, 2021 AOP Cotes de Provence, $21.99, @BB Not since White Zinfandel and Merlot exploded on the wine scene has a category of wine taken off like Rosé.  But unlike White Zin and Merlot, Rosés are still gaining market share. Winemakers have embraced “the pink”. Long gone are the out of balance, high alcohol after thoughts. The best are getting better. Now not only do you see high end California Rosés, but more from the birthplace of Rosés, Provence. High quality Rosés are much easier to find. This Ultimate Provence is a stunner. Packed with flavor and a show stopping package. provencerose.com

Best Reds

Cabernet Sauvignon

Jordan 2018 Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, $60, @BB From the winery that helped define Alexander Valley as one of California’s premier growing regions for Cabernet Sauvignon. 2022 marks the fiftieth Anniversary since Tom & Sally Jordan founded the Jordan property. Through those fifty years and all the ups and downs of the wine business, Jordan has always held true to making wines of elegance and balance. This 2018 is an example of just that. jordanwinery.com

Zinfandel

Pezzi King 2019 The Jester, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, $30. From 1 of the 11 boutique wineries in the portfolio of Wilson Artisan Wineries, The Jester is a Zin that comes with directions. Check the back label, which reads, “Caution: Consuming this wine with your family and friends may cause one to recite ballads and indulge in witty repartee!” It goes on. You’ll have to buy a bottle, if you want more of The Jester, from the Zin master Chris Barrett. pezziking.com

Merlot

Freemark Abbey, 2018 Napa Valley Merlot, $45, @BB The history of Freemark Abbey reads like a Hollywood script. Established in 1886 it has weathered bankruptcy, phyloxera, prohibition and more owners that you can imagine, including a guy named Freeman, a guy named Mark, and a guy named Abbey, Freemark Abbey. Today the owners Jackson Family Wines have stabilized things. With a taste of this Merlot, you’ll know what I mean, fruit forward and balanced. A trip to Freemark Abbey in St. Helena is highly recommended. freemarkabbey.com

Rhone Wine

Kobler Estate Winery 2019 Syrah Cuvee du Brouillard, $58. Remember Little Red Riding Hood, Grandma’s house? Well, the Kobler story begins when Grandma Kobler planted three acres of wine grapes. Fast forward to today and it’s still all in the family. Syrah is their flagship wine. This 2019, a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier is a California Cote-Rotie. Kobler, tiny lots from a little piece of paradise in Green Valley. koblerestatewinery.com

Best Buy Red

Bogle Family Vineyards 2019 Essential Red, California, $11, @BB If you don’t know the Bogle story, you need to check it out. It all started in 1870 when Captain AJ Bogle moved to the California Delta from his family’s homestead in Tennessee. I’ll let you take it from there. Today with 6 generations of farming and 50 years of wine growing, Bogle runs under the radar as a top notch California Winery. This Essential Red is worth twice the $11 price. Big and bold, begging for pepperoni pizza. Do check out their website, it’s quite a story. boglewinery.com

Pinot Noir

Calera 2019 de Villiers Vineyard, Mt. Harlan, $85, @BB Calera’s Mt. Harlan Vineyards are located in the Gavilan Mountains 25 miles east of Monterey Bay at an average elevation of 2200 feet. It is among the highest and coolest vineyard sites in California. Taking his cue from the great domains of Burgundy, Central Coast wine pioneer, Josh Jensen searched for unique limestone soils to plant his vineyards. He found them on Mt. Harlan and named his winery Calera, the Spanish word for limekiln. A limekiln still stands on the property. This is my new favorite Pinot Noir. calerawine.com

Alternative Red

Fort Ross 2016 Pinotage, Fort Ross Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, $62, @BB Not familiar with Pinotage? Welcome to the club. First developed in South Africa in 1925, by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault, which was called Hermitage at the time. Don’t guess this is Pinot like, it’s more Rhone than Burgundy. Big and bold, savory and spicy, smoky and brambly. Our sensory system exists to be stimulated and this wine will do the trick. By far the most interesting wine I’ve tasted all year. fortrossvineyard.com

Blended Red

Chateau St. Jean 2018 Cinq Cepages, Sonoma County, Red Wine, $90, @BB The signature wine of Château St. Jean, Cinq Cepages, is French for five grapes. It is a blend of all five of the Bordeaux varietals. This 2018 is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cab Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. Chateau St. Jean’s Cinq Cepages, the French should be so lucky. chateaustjean.com

Winery of the Year

Chateau St. Jean! Extra! Extra! Start the presses… Start the presses! Wait a minute, shouldn’t that be stop the presses? I’m not talking about newspaper here. I’m talking about a winery. Foley Family Wines purchased Chateau St. Jean in 2021. The previous owners stopped making wine at the facility in 2016. New winemaker, Niki Williams, was charged with the task of setting up the winery for crush of 2022. She did it, a complete success! Look for big things at the Chateau as the remodel continues.

Tom Simoneau can be reached at: tom @ simoneau vineyards dot com.