Archive for Photos
A Wine Dinner with 2 Female French winemakers
Posted by: | CommentsWe were treated to a very invigorating dinner recently at DK Steakhouse, which featured the foods of Chef Jason Miyasaki…..& the wines from TWO visitng, female French winemakers, Catherine Breton & Christine Campadieu. What a treat it was!
Catherine & Pierre own & run an 11 hectare domaine in France’s Loire Valley, with holdings in Vouvray, Chinon & Bourgueil. Amongst a myriad of soil types–gravel, clay, limestone, schist & yellow tufeau, they grow Chenin Blanc & Cabernet Franc. They were certified organic in 1991 & started down the road towards biodynamic in 1994.
Fred Scherrer & His Wines 03-29-13
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As VINO regulars well know by now, we are HUGE fans of winemaker Fred Scherrer & his wines. Fred epitomizes the concept of artisan, handcrafted & boutique, as he is essentially a one man show.
Interestingly, we have found over the years, it is hard to find a winemaker/winery who excels at 1 grape variety…..much less Fred excelling at 5 or 6! Yes, his are wines to search out for…..AND they do get better with age…..even his Zinfandels.
Forman Wines 03-30-13
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Ric Forman is one of the long time, superstar winemakers out of the Napa Valley. I believe his career has now spanned 6 decades. I first tasted his work when he was making the wines at Sterling, starting in 1969. I can tell you first hand his Cabernet based wines were standouts even then.
After a stint at Newton & many different consulting projects, Ric decide to make his own wines under his own label.
Being a highly revered winemaker in the Napa Valley, Ric finally chose his site atop a knoll, just below & contiguous with Howell Mountain.
Old Friends 03-10-13
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From Emme’s Island Moments TV Special–”Local Grinds”
Chefs Russell Siu, Jean Marie Josselin, Alan Wong, Emme Tomimbang & Roy Yamaguchi
Renato Ratti (Barolo)
![th[3]](http://chuckfuruya.com/wp-content/uploads/th3-e1363145705310.jpg)
Chefs Roy Yama
guchi & Nobu Matsuhisa
Chef Celestino Drago
Chef Norman Van Aken
Superstar Farmer, Richard Ha & Chef Alan Wong
Winemaker Fred Scherrer & Superstar Master Sommelier Larry Stone
Gary Burk (Costa de Oro), Nunzio Alioto (Master Sommelier & my best friend), Justin Willett (Tyler/Lieu Dit); Chef DK Kodama, Rich Molino & James Ontiveros (Native9/Alta Maria/Autonom)
It’s always good to see some long time friends
Posted by: | CommentsIsn’t it always a great feeling to see long time friends! here are 3 I ran across over the past few days.
Tawfig Khoury
I first met Tawfig back in the late 70′s/early 80′s. Over the years he & his wife Richel would come to whatever restaurant I was at, to say hello, dine & share a bottle of wine. Being a wine collector, the wines they opened over the years & shared was amazing…the oldest dating as farback as an 1809 Madeira! Theyencouraged a young boy to “dream” …….much mahalo!!!!!!
Chef Jean Marie Josselin
A Winetasting with James Ontiveros of Alta Maria/Native9/Autonom 01-04-13
Posted by: | CommentsLast night we did a tasting with our good friend James Ontiveros, who is from Santa Maria Valley, California. 
Why was I so excited about James being here & doing a tasting with him?
First of all, James works for several top caliber sites in the Central Coast of California….such as Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills, & French Camp vineyards, as well as overseeing his very own vineyard—Rancho Ontiveros. He is therefore a wealth of knowledge on what’s happening in vineyards & with clones & farming.
Secondly, James & his winemaking partner, Paul Wilkins, have THREE top caliber wine labels together….Alta Maria, Native9 & Autonom. Each is some of the very best out of California today.
Some interesting vineyards in California
Posted by: | CommentsThe Old World (France, Italy, Germany, etc) have had centuries to find out which vineyards are the special ones. California, on the other hand is really just getting started.
It is exciting to see, nonetheless, many of the sites now being planted in search of interesting terroir.
Monte Bello Vineyard
In the right forefront is parcel of Mount Eden’s planting. Near the top of the mountain is Monte Bello, which is the home of some of the most compelling Cabernets ever produced out of California.
Stagecoach Vineyard
Carol Shelton
Posted by: | CommentsWithout a doubt, one of our favorite Zinfandel producers out of California is Carol Shelton. 
Carol seeks out some VERY interesting vineyards & crafts some amazing RED Zins which have character, vinosity (old vine-ness), generosity coupled with wonderful texture, balance & surprising delicious-ness. In addition she deftly “frames” each of her wines with a complex matrix of French, Hungarian & American oak barrels, new to old. Her wines are therefore never over oaked. Such an artist…..and a true champion of RED Zinfandel.
Paul Fuerst of Franconia, Germany
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Without a doubt, winemaker extraordinaire Paul Fuerst is producing some of the finest DRY wines out of Germany. His wines deftly showcase amazing purity, class, terroir, nuance with breathtaking elegance, precision, refinement & balance whether he is working with Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Muller Thurgau or Pinot Noir.
My wife Cheryle & I recently went to visit Paul at his home & winery on the western most edge of Franconia, Germany.
It was an added bonus that they had started harvesting grapes.
Where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean
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photograph by Kalei Nuuhiwa, Makakolu Photography
The Pacific Ocean of California is VERY different from the same body of water we experience here in Hawaii. Where our water is warm & inviting, it is real cold & gnarly there. The winds that come of the ocean there are therefore quite chilling….& it follows the cut in the mountains by the various rivers such as this one to create very different climatic conditions, especially during the respective growing seasons.
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