In “Sideways,” Paul Giamatti plays Miles Raymond, a deeply devoted wine lover, aspiring writer and morbidly depressed middle-school English teacher. Thomas Haden Church plays Jack Cole, an over-the-hill bit actor, who joins Raymond for a week- long wine-quaffing trip to Santa Barbara County’s wine country. The journey becomes a metaphor for their mid-life crises.
“Sideways” refers to the proper way to age wine, with bottles resting on their sides. Miles and Jack have to go sideways in life to mend their ways and find their way out of the cul de sac life has left them in.
And so it happened, joining me on my very own “Sideways” journey, was my University of Missouri “Mizzou” rugby teammate and lifelong friend Kurush Jeffrey Homayouni (Jeff Homan) – the Jack Cole to my Miles Raymond. We shared some of the best wine anyone has ever tasted. We were also able to take in some of the most beautiful rolling hills of vineyards anywhere.I have been to some of the world’s premier wineries, from Rhone and Burgundy, France to Rioja and Navarre, Spain and, indeed, California’s Sonoma and Napa Valleys. Among them all, the most impressive growing season belongs to wineries in California’s Santa Barbara County.
The highlight of our tour was the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, named after botanist Michael Benedict and partner Richard Sanford, who in 1971 started planting the grafted vine-stock for these amazing, sustainably farmed wines.
2014 Sanford “Dominio del Falcon” Pinot Noir ($80) Meaning “Domain of the Falcon” in Spanish, this is Sanford’s best- selling wine. The majestic wine gets its name from the falcons that live along the ridge overlooking the vineyard. Hints of raspberry, cinnamon, and anise add depth to this 14.5 percent alcohol red. This is a strictly limited bottling that’s ready to drink. It also has a fabulous structure that assures it will drink as well, or even better, for many years to come.
2013 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir ($55) was sourced from the estate vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. A light floral aroma completes the spectacular package. It has a silky palate and is framed nicely by balanced acidity and ripe tannins.
2013 Sanford Pinot Noir La Rinconada ($30) contains grapes first planted in 1997 and adjoining the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. With 14.3 percent alcohol, its palate delivers red fruits and spices with vibrant acidity.
Wine Question?
If you have a wine question, email it to wine@swspotlight.com and Stephen Simms will answer it in this column.
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