Chardonnay 2008
Denis Hoey, winemaker and owner of Odonata, is having no trouble at all in selling his wines. Talking with him about his recent release of Rose, I had set my sights on getting a bottle, but he emailed me to say he had sold the whole lot. I’ll have to wait now until his next release. Ever since he opened up in the Surf City Vintners complex on Ingalls Street on the Westside of Santa Cruz, he has been very successful with his intriguing wines.
The 2008 Chardonnay, Peter Martin Ray Vineyard ($24), is full of crisp minerality with aromas of stone fruits and pear. It’s just a beautiful wine—with grapes coming from a very historic vineyard high in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The winemaker suggests it would pair well with anything that is lightly smoked—as well as with chicken, seafood and spicy food. Personally, I would drink it with anything!
Hoey tells me that the only store with some 2008 Chardonnay left (only 100 cases were made) is New Leaf—at least they still had some at the time of this writing. If there’s none of the Chardonnay 2008, then my advice is to get some of Hoey’s 2009—just about to be released. This talented winemaker is producing some really good wines, so head to Odonata’s tasting room in the Surf City Vintners complex on the Westside of Santa Cruz and try some.
Odonata, 334A Ingalls St., Santa Cruz, 566-5147, odonatawines.com.
Wine Events
Pleasant Valley Vineyards is hosting a very special Bordeaux Release Day on Saturday, May 7 from noon to 3:30 p.m. Their three Bordeaux varietals will be on sale, complete with a celebratory day of wine, music, food by SmoQe BBQ of Aptos, and much more. Cost: $35 ($20 for wine club members). What a good way to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Pleasant Valley Vineyards, 600 Pleasant Valley Rd., Aptos,728-2826, pvvines.com.
Sones Cellars and Chowhound Cooking Classes
Sones Cellars is the featured winery at a special hands-on cooking class given by Denise Ward. Help prepare a delicious four-course dinner, and then join winemaker Michael Sones and his wife Lois as they present their wines with each course. Date: Friday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m. Cost: $75. Info: chowhoundcooks.com.
Vinocruz Up for Sale
We must bid a fond farewell to J-P Correa and Jeffrey Kongslie-Correa as they head to New York to start a new phase of their lives. Meantime, their wonderful wine store in Downtown Santa Cruz is up for sale.
Vinocruz, 725 Front St., Santa Cruz, 426-8466, vinocruz.com.
