Bucket List Wines: California

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Special Burgundy

I’m going to wrap things up here with another California specialty: jug wine! Say, what? That is correct, sort of. The generic jug wines of our past always went by names like Burgundy, Chablis and the like. In fact, many still do. Every so often, there are outstanding wines made under these generic labels.

Case in point is Beaulieu Vineyard’s Special Burgundy, produced only a few times that I can recall (1968, 1973, 1979 and 1990). I’ve tried the 1990 many times and am down to the last two or three bottles of a case purchased on release. It’s not a profound wine but it is a very good wine, one that can trace its lineage right back to the earliest days of California wine making.

Back in the day, most wines made were blends. The 1990 BV Special Burgundy was composed of 50 percent Petite Sirah, 40 percent Charbono and 5 percent each Early Burgundy (Abouriou) and Napa Gamay (Valdiguie). This is very likely to be typical of many California blends produced throughout the past century. My bucket list wine here is the 1968, probably over the hill but such a great vintage in California at such a pivotal time. This jug wine turned Special Burgundy seems to represent the era so well, mirroring California as it began its move into the upper echelons of wine regions!

Photo courtesy of Christopher Chan via Flickr/cc

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tomglip

502946 25

MY BUCKET LIST - CHOSEN FROM WINES I HAVE HAD BUT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AGAIN, IF THE WINE AND I WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION:

1970 BV GEORGES DE LaTOUR RESERVE CABERNET
1982 OR 1991 BERINGER RESERVE CABERNET
1985 INGLENOOK REUNION
LONG VINEYARDS LATE HARVEST RIESLING (any vintage from the 90s)
1992 SUMMIT LAKE EMILY KESTREL CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1990 RUBICON
1983 DUNN HOWELL MOUNTAIN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1978 RIDGE YORK CREEK PETITE SIRAH
1987 BERINGER BANCROFT RANCH MERLOT
1978 OR 1985 INGLENOOK CHARBONO

Jul 12, 2012 at 4:47 PM
pinot N

1035167 18

Y piensan dejar fuera de la lista a Robert Mondavi y su famoso fume Blanc ?

Jul 12, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Howie-
Schwartz

1119421 33

Jordan Cab 78
Marcaisson any year
Ch. Neuf d'Pape Beaucastel any year
Turley Zinf when she made it. Old vines.
Mt. Veeder Cab 89
Silver Oak 89 99 2001

Jul 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM
homestar

512161 83

Have you done a piece on Petite Sirah? My apologies if I missed it, but given your comments it would seem odd if you haven't. I have had several I enjoy a great deal, but they tend to be huge wines and probably overpowering for many people and many occasions. Would love to read about your wider tastings from California.

Jul 15, 2012 at 7:44 AM
DOCTOR T

152537 36

I AGREE I HAD THE 1978 AT BURNS STEAK HOUSE BACK IN AROUND 1999. IT WAS FABULOUS.

Jul 16, 2012 at 2:41 PM
gmatt01

298451 1

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard

Jul 18, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Sherrie-
Perkovich

1120360 41

A MUST try Petite Sirah in California comes from Concannon Vineyard...they have a whole flight.. after all, they were the first to produce it 50+ years ago! Be sure to try Captain Joe's PS. Cheers.

Jul 19, 2012 at 3:16 PM

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1. Ridge Petite Sirah Spring Mountain District York Creek (1975)	List It
2. Stony Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay (1978)	List It
3. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (1978)	List It
4. Beaulieu Vineyard Special Burgundy (1968)	List It

Bucket List Wines: California

Sometimes the best wines are the hardest to find