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Mission Codename: The Golden Gate

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Secure a Gold Medal Contra Costa County Cabernet Sauvignon for our operatives.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Bloomfield Vineyards

Wine Subject: 2007 San Francisco Bay Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker: Becky & Tom Bloomfield

Backgrounder:

Contra Costa is technically considered part of California’s Central Coast region and is located east of Oakland and north of Livermore. While not connected geographically to the coastal portions of the region, it shares much of the same climate and soil components that influence the vine growing and resulting wine. Its climate is nearly perfect for new world style winemaking. Winemaking in this region dates back to the 1800s but in 1950s and 60s the region experienced a renaissance and is now home to many of The Wine Spies Operative’s favorite wineries. Today’s selection was grown at Livermore’s Walker Vineyards.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Dark garnet and purple with slightly lighter garnet edges and a dark clear core. When swirled, tightly spaced medium thick legs race down the side of the glass to the wine below.

Smell – Enticingly bold aromas of sweet, ripe and rich black-fruit including black raspberry, blackberry plum, and a touch of tart red and black currant. Add in a some toasted oak, hints of black licorice and green herbal eucalyptus and mint along with sweet spice and soft earth to round out the very approachable nose.

Feel – Rich and smooth, this dry wine is both expansive and generous on the palate with round sweet tannins and soft acidity with a touch of tanginess that hits mid-palate.

Taste – Ripe and fruit forward flavors of mostly black fruit but a touch of red fruit is also incorporated and meld with toasted oak notes. Generous black raspberry jam with sweet spice, sweet green herbs, cedar cigar box and hints of black licorice.

Finish – Medium in length and clean with tangy and ripe fruit gently fading and its round tannins slightly drying the palate inviting another sip.

Conclusion – If you are a fan of ripe, rich and generously fruit forward California Cabs, then the *2007 Bloomfield Vineyards San Francisco Bay Cabernet Sauvignon * is a the perfect wine for you. Plenty of fruit on the nose and palate, a round and pleasant mouthfeel, a touch of complexity that is there but doesn’t overpower the lovely fruit and before you know it the bottle is empty. A great wine to pair with home-made sweet and tangy Bolognese ragu. Enjoy now or for the next three to five years.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Rebecca Bloomfield

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: Producing and making my own wine, Bloomfield Vineyards.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Staying true to the characteristics of the grape.

WINEMAKER QUOTE: “Experiencing wine should never be intimidating.”

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: 2004

WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Becky. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 Pinot Noir today. Our heartiest congratulations on winning the Chronicle award! Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

BECKY BLOOMFIELD: Thank you, and thanks for the opportunity to show my wine to your Operatives!

RED: Was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

BECKY: Well it seemed that I had an interest in wine at a fairly young age, and had great exposure to experience quality wine.

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

BECKY: I’m not sure I could narrow it down that easy. I think that when you first are exposed to wines, you form an opinion pretty quickly on what you like and eventually what you seek in wine. When you grow the grapes it’s easy to direct your style of winemaking to bring out the fruit in your wine. Grapes are amazing, and having the pleasure to farm and produce wine, well is makes your philosophy on winemaking easy.

RED: Who do you make wine for?

BECKY: I make wines for myself and for my customers. It’s a good thing that my tastes are theirs as well!

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

BECKY: We are featuring the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. This is my second vintage of Cabernet. I source these grapes from the Livermore Valley. This wine captured “The Best of California” award from the 2009 California State Fair. Over 370 Cabernets were in contention for this award, so of course I am very proud.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

BECKY: As far as pairing this wine, I would say for sure a beautifully grilled rib eye steak served with saute swisschard, shallot, and Italian white beans.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Livermore Valley so special?

BECKY: The Livermore Valley has the perfect elevation for growing Cabernet. This vineyard has been in production since 2001.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

BECKY: Well, I am taking it easy right now. Just finished bottling my 7th vintage of wine, and I would say be on the look out for the 2009 Cabernet!

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

BECKY: I think that people are much more knowledgeable about wine than they think. I let them tell me what they are “picking up” in my wines, and then expand on that with my input. I love to express my philosophy on wine and how I believe that staying true to the fruit is best.

RED: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

BECKY: Wine is a very social scene, and you should never have a bad experience with it!

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Winery Check:

The location of the Bloomfield Vineyards Tasting Room can be seen in this satellite photo.