Buena Vista Tasting with The Count Agoston Haraszthy At Wine Watch Thursday March 29th

I am falser than vows made in wine.
William Shakespeare 1564 - 1616
As You Like It [1599 - 1600], act III, sc. v, l. 73

Buena Vista Tasting with "The Count" Agoston Haraszthy back from the Dead
At Wine Watch Thursday March 29th
7pm

Buena Vista Winery has a rich, delicious heritage as the first premium-and certainly the most colorful-of all of the wineries in California. And its founder, the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista,” Agoston Haraszthy (Harris-tee), was a vivacious and eccentric pioneer with a veritable love and unending commitment to California wine.

Surrounded by his own tales of intrigue and political exile, The Count immigrated from Europe in 1840 in pursuit of opportunity and freedom in the burgeoning American West. Following the forty-niners in search of gold in the hills of Northern California, Haraszthy sought “purple gold”-the perfect ‘terroir’ for exceptional wine. He ultimately settled in Sonoma, birthplace of California and capital of the short-lived California Republic, where he founded Buena Vista Winery in 1857.

A committed farmer, an experimental innovator and vintner, a respected author, a shrewd businessman-and a brilliant and incredibly zealous promoter, The Count is considered California’s most acclaimed and flamboyant vinicultural pioneer and evangelist.

Despite his abrupt death in 1869-in an alligator-infested river in the jungles of Nicaragua-and following the challenges of the depression, prohibition, and phylloxera-infestation-his beloved Buena Vista Winery has not only endured but also prospered.   Boisset Family Estates-a family with a true love and respect for Buena Vista-is passionately committed to continue the imaginative vision and unrivaled legacy first created by The Count 150 years ago.

Please join us in celebrating the rebirth of Buena Vista as we bring the Count back to life for this special appearance here at the Wine Watch.  Jean Charles Boisset has not only resurrected this great winery but he has also brought Agoston back from the dead and is sending him around the country to tell the story of this landmark winery and its founder.  Jean Charles has contracted a professional actor to play the part of Agoston and tell the story of this famous person and landmark winery.  This is one of the most creative ideas that I have heard of in my 25+ years in the wine business and I am not surprised that this came from Jean Charles Boisset. 

This transplant from Burgundy came to the U.S. for the first time in 1981 and has been buying wineries and seducing women until finally landing Gina Gallo making this merger the largest family owned wine group in the world.  Both the 2006 Buena Vista Chardonnay Carneros and the Buena Vista Carneros Pinot Noir 2007 are the best values that I have had this year in these two varietals from California and both are also almost 1/2 their regular price.

In addition to the Buena Vista wines, I have also included a few wines from the other labels that Jean Charles owns in California like the JCB label made at the Deloach winery which is making outstanding Chardonnay and the Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2006 which was included in our gift box selections for 2011.

Buena Vista Tasting with The Count Agoston Haraszthy back from the Dead
Thursday, March 29th
7pm

Tasting Line-up:

2008 Buena Vista Chardonnay Carneros               
Price: $18                             Sale $9.75           

This is one of the best values that I have had this year in the California Chardonnay section Carmel corn and butterscotch candy like aromas to the peach and ripe tropical fruit on the nose.  Juicy fruit on the palate with a good amount of that butterscotch candy and caramel corn like notes.  A GREAT Value!! Finish 35+       Very Good

2010 JCB Chardonnay #81Sonoma Coast 
Price: $18                             Sale $15.84          Case $184

Crème caramel and ripe apple and pear fruit, white peach very seductive with hints of vanilla bean spice and light mineral notes to the nose.  Nice bright acidity accompanying the Asian pear and ripe green apple fruit those vanilla spice notes coming through nicely at the finish along with nice lemon citrus leaving the tongue refreshed.  Finish 35+             Very Good +

2007 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Carneros
Price: $21.50       Sale $11.25         

A hint of smoke and all-spice to the black raspberry and cherry fruit on the nose along with a strong earthy character.  Still has nice light red raspberry like fruit on the tongue with silky smooth tannins, a lighter style Pinot Noir with nice freshness and a good bit of spice on the finish with just a bit of that earthy quality from the nose showing on the finish.  Finish 35+  Very Good

2010 Buena Vista Zinfandel Sonoma
Price: $14.25       Sale $12.54          Case $145

The Buena Vista Vinicultural Society, formed in 1863 by the winery's founder, Count Agoston Haraszthy, to further improve its winemaking prowess and expand its vineyards, has been restored as a collection of unique, small-production wines that honor the winery's pioneering spirit and contribution to California winemaking. Available only at the winery and for club-members, the diverse selection of Vinicultural Society wines explores clonal selections, varietals, vineyards and the incredible terroir of Sonoma County.

2010 Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma
Price: $14.25       Sale $12.54          Case $145

With its roots so deeply ensconced in the foundations of Sonoma as one of California's leading wine appellations, Buena Vista Winery is again introducing wines from Sonoma. The Sonoma wines include an array of varietals that celebrate the diversity of Sonoma's terroir and the contribution of Buena Vista to establishing the California wine world.

2008 Buena Vista Red Wine Sonoma County      
Price: $21.75       Sale $19.14          Case $222

The Count Agoston Haraszthy founder of Buena Vista, California's first premium winery, founded in 1857.  He laid the foundation for fine wine production in California by bringing hundreds of grape vines with him from Europe.  This is a blend of Merlot, Zinfandel and Syrah, a real crowd pleaser with ripe currant and cassis berry fruit notes of dark chocolate and fresh earth, tobacco spice notes.  Sweet berry and currant plum like fruit on the tongue with smooth silky tannins and notes of espresso and dark chocolate spice, a real crowd pleaser.  Finish 35+       Very Good         

2006 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Napa
Price: $49.50       Sale $24.50
Quantity in Stock: 117

All organic and biodynamic farming as are all of the Boisset's vineyards all estate fruit here currant and plum like fruit on the nose with a nice hand of fresh plowed earth and cigar box spice. Classic Rutherford dust and firm tannins starting to mellow a bit but has nice stuffing with nicely balanced spice and notes of fresh earth and mineral on the finish, needs a bit of time to open up, but a nice example of Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. Only 700 cases produced. Finish 40+ Excellent

Menu

Lamb Sausage with honey mustard curry dipping sauce

Mushroom Truffle Kobe sliders with gruyere cheese

Tomato motz with balsamic drizzle

Shrimp and avocado ceviche

The Fee for this tasting is $35 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463.