Tom Simoneau 2022 Wines of the Year
Tom Simoneau, co-owner of Simoneau Vineyards is here with his annual Wines of the Year show for 2022, on California Wine Country with Steve Jaxon, Harry Duke and Dan Berger. Every year, Tom Simoneau brings us his favorite wines of the year at the end of December. You can hear the episodes for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 here on the CWC website and you can read about the years 2016 and 2015 on Tom's website. Book of the Year Food IQ, 100 Questions, Answers, and Recipes to Raise Your Cooking Smarts by Daniel Holzman & Matt Rodbard. ($35) You’re probably thinking Food IQ? Is that a wine book? Well, wine is food, sans aucune doute, e senza dubbio! The more you become involved with wine, you will tend to choose wine to match what you’re serving for dinner. So this fun and informative cookbook will help even the most timid cook take a walk on the wild side! The extensive website is a bonus, www.foodiq.co On the following list of Tom Simoneau's Wines of the Year for 2022, the wines are listed with their approximate retail price, and those available at Bottle Barn are marked with @BB after the price. Best Whites Sparkling Wine Caraccioli Cellars 2016 Blanc de Blancs, Escolle Vineyards, Santa Lucia Highlands, $85. I love my job! Every year I discover something new. This year it’s Caraccioli Cellars. This sparkler took my breath away. Tiny, tiny bubbles that tickle the tongue. Can a glass smile? With this wine in it, it does. Winemaker Scott Caraccioli says all the wines he makes are estate grown, so he has complete control. And it shows up in the glass. They make small lots, so their wine club is highly recommended. caracciolicellars.com Chardonnay Cuvaison 2020 Coeurtina, Napa Valley, Los Carneros, $60. We recently learned that there are now 8 billion people in the world today. That’s almost as many Chardonnay brands on the market! But, I’m up to the challenge. I’ll taste them all so you don’t have to. This Cuvaison Coeurtina Chard is one you do not want to miss. From its shimmering gold color, to its floral aroma and complex mouth feel, what else do you need? Maybe a nice piece of salmon? Check out their beautiful facility in Carneros. cuvaison.com Click the logo to visit our sponsor Bottle Barn online for the coolest bargains on wine, beer and spirits. Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Vineyards 50th Anniversary 2021 Fume Blanc, Sonoma County, $16, @ BB All together now - Celebration now, come on, du ta du da du du. Not much of a singer but Dry Creek Vineyards brings me to song. Celebrating 50 years, that’s a long time! 50 years ago founder Dave Stare planted Sauvignon Blanc in Dry Creek Valley. Today his daughter, Kim and her husband, Don Wallace, run the winery. Can I call them the first family of Dry Creek Valley? Why not! Here’s to the next 50! drycreekvineyard.com Off Dry White Morgan 2021 Double L Vineyard Riesling, Santa Lucia Highlands, $24, @BB. Morgan opened their doors in 1982 after Dan Morgan Lee met a banker that shared his vision of starting a winery. That banker would eventually become his wife. Wondering what a really good California Riesling tastes like, wonder no more. From grapes grown on the only certified organic vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highland. These foot stomped grapes made a 10.6% alc. wine showing apple and white peach, more fruity than sweet. Kabinett style. Bright and dry. morganwinery.com Most Fun Wine Harry, Tom, Dan & Steve. 19 Crimes, Martha’s Chard, California Chardonnay, $11.99, @BB Can you ever have too much of a good thing? Now, a Martha Stewart Wine. Let’s see, Martha’s name appears on cookbooks, magazines, TV shows, home wares, restaurants, mail order meal kits, she’s also a home designer and now wine! Martha, what took you so long? With a click from the back of the bottle, Martha tells you all about it. Who knew? Even her bottle talks.