By Rick Riozza
Hey sports fans! We know so much goes on in our desert surrounds as far as wine events, sports & wine combos and restaurant winemaker dinners—many of which we have covered in the first quarter of 2025. I know—it’s been a while since we simply directed our attention to just reviewing wine.
So—Easter dining is just around the corner, and we thought it time to recommend at least three wines that would impress anyone at the table. Indeed, these choices would do well to boast the host’s wine savvy credibility—or, something like that. The wines are some of the best deals in town that showcase wonderful and classic wine flavors and match well with the meal on the dinner table.
And with Easter dining in mind, we’ll keep it simple and straight forward with three well-known and popular California wines: a Cab, a Pinot Noir, and of course for our white wine friends—a classic and delicious Chardonnay (no haters please!)
2021 Stags’ Leap Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($65). I just read a nice blurb on this Stags’ Leap wine. It was titled: A Delux Red Worth Savoring. We’re all in with that notion. Indeed, this is a wonderful wine that brings all the various Cab lovers together to agree that the wine is simply delish! Whether you like your Cab on the fruity side or the savory, this Napa Valley Cab works!
Just prior to the pandemic, we enjoyed the Stags’ Leap 2015 Napa Cab at one of Palm Springs’ enduring restaurants, and, we sat with winemaker Cristophe Paubert to enjoy his Stags’ Leap portfolio: https://coachellavalleyweekly.com/taking-a-stags-leap-at-spencers/ . It’s incredible how deliciously consistent his Cab performs.
Quoting again from the blurb “For those who want an opulent experience, this Cabernet is celebratory from the first sip.” We agree that there is that opulent feel, but this wine is not simply a fruit forward rush. Featuring notes of vibrant black raspberry, blackcurrant, and blackberry preserves this wine is underscored by floral hints of violet and accents of lavender. We also found ripe dark plum, black cherry, classic red currant and hibiscus flower supporting savory Chaparral sagebrush. That’s quite a mouthful!
It shows silky tannins lending to a polished, lingering finish. Pair this wine with a grilled lamb chop or an elegant charcuterie spread.
Our Pinot Noir of choice this month is the fabulous 2021 Etude Winery Heirloom Pinot Noir Grace Benoist Ranch Carneros ($95) “Heirloom Pinot Noir” sounds like an enticing wine that we’d like to showcase on our Easter table. The winery actually comments on the back-label of the bottle: “ETUDE (Fr. ‘study’) has been dedicated to sustainably growing and hand-crafting Pinot Noir for over 40 years. This wine is sourced from rare heirloom selections from across our “Ranch” Estate chosen for their heritage and concentration reflecting the diversity of our most prized wines.”
For all the Pinot Noir lovers out there, surely you adore the great tasting fruit that comes from the area of Carneros, north of the San Pablo Bay, that uniquely embodies both the Napa and Sonoma wine regions. The soils at Grace Benoist Ranch are variations of soils influenced by volcanic origin. Combining these well-drained, rocky upland soils with the extreme western location closer to the Pacific Ocean make this site an ideal place to grow Burgundian varieties.
Founder and self-described winegrower Tony Soter puts it this way: “There’s no better vehicle with which to study or practice the craft of winemaking than Pinot Noir. It is the most challenging, unforgiving and quixotic of all wine grapes, and yet the most delicate and transparent.” “Make no mistake it is a humbling pursuit, but when it’s right, Pinot Noir is a glorious and moving thing. It is in the pursuit of that experience that we all work.”
Winery notes include, “Elegant and expressive, this Heirloom Pinot Noir is a true collector’s gem. Layers of strawberry, pomegranate, and red berries interlace with notes of toasted almond, baking spices, and dried rose petals, creating a wine that is both vibrant and nuanced.”
Ken’s Wine Guide got deep into glass: “This ruby colored Pinot Noir opens with a black raspberry and mild wild strawberry bouquet with hints of cedar, mulling spices, and red cherry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied with integrated medium plus acidity. The mouthfeel is nicely balanced, smooth, supple, and polished. The flavor profile is a stewed plum and mild black raspberry blend with notes of clove, orange peel, and mushroom. We also detected hints of oolong tea, bay leaf, and fine stone dust. The finish is dry, and its flavors, acidity and refined well-managed tannins stick around for a while. With a little aeration, everything comes together nicely. A classic pairing with this Pinot Noir with a fresh sliced Norwegian salmon or roast duck with mushroom risotto. “
And now a white wine masterpiece of a Chardonnay: 2023 Beringer Vineyards’ Private Reserve Chardonnay ($50). For those of you who appreciate a luxuriously layered Chard, this is your April love. The Private Reserve Chardonnay was introduced way back with the 1978 vintage, and has earned three decades of extraordinary accolades, including two “Wine of the Year” awards.
Fresh & vibrant, this shows fragrant notes of lemon zest, tangerine marmalade, and delicate white flowers set the stage for a palate bursting with Asian pear, lemon meringue, Meyer lemon, yuzu, pear and touch of sweet pineapple. Subtle undertones of white tea, jasmine, vanilla, and hazelnut add complexity to ensure a decadent yet fresh finish. Sip happily on its own as an apero; or, dare to pair this Chard with fresh seafood!
Bon Appétit & Cheers!
