My guest is Charles Olken, co-author with Joseph Furstenthal of “The New Connoisseurs’ Guidebook to California Wine & Wineries.”
For this powerful successor to his best-selling guide to California wine, Charles E. Olken has joined forces with Joseph Furstenthal to craft The New Connoisseurs’ Guidebook to California Wine and Wineries. An encyclopedia, atlas, and buying guide combined in one comprehensive, authoritative work, this new guide delivers information and guidance that is not available in any other place. From first page to last, it is geared towards a wide range of consumers, yet also offers the depth and detail that made its predecessor one of the most frequently referenced works by wine educators and industry insiders. Now organized geographically into eight wine regions, the guide has been completely rewritten and expanded to provide the most current information on the state’s evolving wine industry–its history, grapes, winemaking, terminology, geography, and leading wineries.
Charles E. Olken is the publisher and editor of the monthly Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine, described by the Los Angeles Times as the “oldest, most prestigious reviewer of California wines.” Joseph Furstenthal is a writer, wine collector, and marketing specialist. Get a copy NOW!
In the second half I’ll be talking to Clos Du Val winemaker Kristy Melton. A biologist by trade Kristy Melton’s career as a research scientist at the prestigious National Institutes of Health was cut short when a family trip to Napa Valley inspired her to trade in her beakers for barrels in 2004.
Clos Du Val winemaker Kristy Melton
Kristy attended University of California at Davis where she earned her MS in Viticulture and Enology in 2007. She joined Clos Du Val as Assistant Winemaker in August of 2010 after having held several key enology and winemaking positions at high profile wineries. In January 2012, Kristy was promoted to Winemaker, the only woman and one of very few men to ever hold that title in the iconic winery’s 40 year history. She will report to COO and Head Winemaker, John Clew who has overseen Clos Du Val winemaking since 1999.
Good Life Guy’s Wine of the Week:
2008 Clos du Val Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Characteristic of Clos Du Val’s world-class Cabernet Sauvignon since 1972, this latest vintage continues the winery’s tradition of balanced, complex and elegant wines. Deep garnet-black in color, the 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of black fruit, complex spices, and hints of toast. Rich and intense flavors of black fruit, and wood spices fill the mouth. The wine has a powerful, solid middle palate and lingering finish. Expect this Cabernet Sauvignon to age gracefully for an additional 5-10 years.
Can’t wait to taste this on the air! On my recent visit to Napa, I was impressed with all the 2008 Cabernet tasted. Many of the wines I tasted were as good or better than the 2007 “vintage of the decade” wines that preceded them.
Pick up a bottle at Jacob Liquor Exchange or your favorite wine shop and join me!