There we sat, perched on a patio a stone’s throw from the inviting aquamarine edge of Lake Tahoe: Uncle Mike, Aunt Cindy, hard-partying “Uncle” Wayne, and a cast of other characters, including my God Son “Smilin’ Jack” Pasha. Actually, Jack was crawling, and not from drinking too much wine; he’s a happy-go-lucky 11-month-old who prefers gnawing on blueberries and chugging sparkling water from a sippy cup.

Back to the vino. Inside, the kitchen was overflowing with empty wine bottles from an afternoon of informal tasting during our Richardson Family Reunion and Foodfest. (Aren’t all reunions food-focused?)

Mike had somehow managed to fit a small cellar’s worth of wine in his vehicle for the roadtrip to Tahoe. He kept toting in mixed-brand cases, teaming with the Grocery Outlet (see Do Not Pass GO post at winememoirs.com) bargain discoveries that have become his signature, and we rewarded the effort by lightening his load for the return trip to Oregon. By early evening, we’d polished off his Riddoch Merlot, a Louis Eschenauer Pinot Noir, my own forgetable contribution, a bottle of Lava Cap Merlot (I wish that the volcanic earth that birthed its grapes would erupt and spit back a refund), and a variety of other decent red and white wine.

Now it was time for something even better. As it turns out, Aunt Cindy came prepared, revealing two interesting bottles hidden in her tiger-striped wine bag. The first was a ‘91 Storybook Mountain Zinfadel that we guessed was past its prime, but being in an experimental mood, we decided to give it a try anyway (especially since Wayne was ready, willing, and able to be our guinea pig).

When the Zin’s rotten cork broke in half, I didn’t give up, replanting the screw and tugging it out. After a man-sized sip, Wayne didn’t chuck his glass, grimace, or fall to the floor, so Aunt Cindy and I figured we’d give it a try. We quickly found that the wine had morphed into something other than a Zinfandel… maybe more along the lines of a Sinfandel. It was drinkable, but on the path to becoming something other than wine, maybe a pickling agent. We all three passed, and moved on to one of the many other options available…

Specifically, the second intriguing bottle in Aunt Cindy’s stylish bag, a 1998 Justin Isosceles. With the exception of the red hot chili that my sister Dawniele painstakingly slaved over for many hours (our late dad’s world championship-winning recipe), the 65% Cab, 19% Cab Franc, and 16% Merlot mix was my flavor of the day. The well-balanced, slightly berry-tart Isosceles was as smooth as the lake’s surface, and worth whatever price Auntie paid for it (a well kept secret). The Bordeaux-style blend made for a fine last glass, capping another beautiful evening in the mountains and a memorable family reunion. 

If you plan on heading to your own gathering or are just cruising north/south on Highway 101 this summer, Justin Vineyards and Winery might be worth a look. JV&W is located in the Paso Robles appellation of California’s Central Coast, where the region’s first grapes were planted in 1779 by Franciscan missionaries. Today the area is home to the third highest concentration of wineries in the United States. Visit www.justinwine.com for visitor info, including Bed & Breakfast details, or to buy wine online.

For those vacationing in the Tahoe area, it’s unlikely Uncle Mike, Aunt Cindy, or I will be around town, so you might consider the short drive to the Truckee River Winery. Truckee offers a variety of wines, ranging from 2005 Clarksburg Sauvignon Blanc and 2002 Lodi Zinfandel to big bold 2003 Best Man Pinot Noir (all as of 7/21/07). The Best Man is not for the faint of heart (it’s very spicy, with a hint of pepper) or the light of wallet (it’s $50 per bottle). For more information, including directions, visit www.truckeeriverwinery.com

Filed under Wine — Subscribe, Trackback,