Catavino - Latest Comments in WBW 50: Hiking with La Vicalanda 2001 Gran Reserva and Casa de la Ermita 2005 Petite Verdot

Re: WBW 50: Hiking with La Vicalanda 2001 Gran Reserva and Casa de la Ermita 2005 Petite Verdot

Dylan — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:24:06 -0000

I go hiking really often here in the states. I do big climbs on the weekends and I take my father out for short 1-hour hikes in the early mornings (it keeps his health up and gives us time to talk).

I find hiking to be a great experience, but I have never tried it with wine due to its physical demands. I figure the more hydrated I can stay, the better and as you said, you may be better off taking a nap at the top. However, I feel inspired by your story. I think I may plan an adventure with friends this weekend and try for a lunch at the top of a nearby mountain. Of course, the irony in the vineyard I work with now is that you would have to hike in order to REACH the wine. That's what you get for a mountain top vineyard such as Tin Cross.

Re: WBW 50: Hiking with La Vicalanda 2001 Gran Reserva and Casa de la Ermita 2005 Petite Verdot

ryanopaz — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:40:31 -0000

Lar, to tell you the truth most wines I've had from them have been big and jammy. This one though after we got past the initial tightness was pure fruit, and softness. Really a fun wine in the sense that you got that rich fruit character without the overly jammy quality that wines from this area usually possess.

Casa de la Ermita is a bit of a legend, and their wines are usually of high caliber. Both of these were part of the Keynote tasting at the EWBC, and as I remember, enjoyed by many.

Re: WBW 50: Hiking with La Vicalanda 2001 Gran Reserva and Casa de la Ermita 2005 Petite Verdot

Lar Veale — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:30:04 -0000

Hi Ryan, never got my act together for WBW50 - I don't really do hiking, I really should I suppose.

What piqued my interest was the Casa de la Ermita PV as I just opened the Reserva 2003 (Monastrell, Cab. Sauvignon and Syrah) last night (and video tasted it, cringe)

Really liked it and sounds similar to the PV in "elegance and delicate". Is that the style of the vineyard?

Re: WBW 50: Hiking with La Vicalanda 2001 Gran Reserva and Casa de la Ermita 2005 Petite Verdot

winehiker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:15:59 -0000

Hey you two,

We must be hardcore winehikers to want to take a bottle on the trail rather than later, after the boots are off. But I'd sure be happy to help you both get down that mountain - or at least do some of the required elbow-bending to prepare for it! :) Both those wines sound like good picks, and in fact I chose a wine local to you for my WBW50 bottle! http://www.californiawinehikes.com/winehiker/1/...

Thanks for participating, Ryan y Gabriella!

Russ