Just another day at the office. I’m working on renewing licenses for all the states that run on a fiscal year, (and let me tell you there are a lot) while Mia is tasting the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2008 Merlot, so she can finish up the tasting notes for both wines.

I know what you’re thinking, she gets all the good jobs, but in her defense she’s been pretty busy with Barrel orders and getting ready for another bottling. I tell ya, getting these tasting notes out of her hasn’t been easy!

The timing of the release of the latest Podcast from the 3 Wine Guys couldn’t have been more perfect! I downloaded it and we sat in the office working while we listened to it.

If you haven’t checked these 3 Wine Guys (Terry, Stevo and Scott) out, here’s your chance! For this podcast they did the entire lineup of Selene Wines!

2008 Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Merlot
2006 Dead Fred Cabernet
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Chesler

You can download it from their website, or if you prefer, you can get it from their ITunes page.

The cool thing about their podcasts is Terry, Stevo and Scott each have their own likes and dislikes in wine (different flavor profiles/varietals). Listening to them describe a wine as they are tasting it gives you a much better idea of what the wine really tastes like. I don’t know about you, but it’s always been more difficult for me to read a written review of a wine and get a sense of what the wine really tastes like and if I’m even going to like it.

Keep up the good work guys! – Skippy

Once or twice a year, Mia and I do vertical tastings of our wines. This is pretty important for a number of reasons.

Mia wants to see how the wines are evolving in bottle. Once in a while we get asked how an older vintage of Selene is doing, and where it is at now. Should it be consumed now, is it at it’s peak or should it be held, and if so, how long will it age? Vertical tastings help us answer these questions, so we can give a pretty good description of where the wine is, and where it’s going.

As a winemaker, Mia wants to make the best wine she can for that vintage, without straying from the flavor profile that she likes, and that our customers have come to know. In other words, when you open a Selene wine, it should be the Selene wine you have always loved, even vintage to vintage.

Tastings like this one is also a good time to include the vintages that are in barrel (haven’t been bottled yet) to see how they compare to the previous vintages of the same wine.

For this Merlot tasting, we only included the Merlot from Frediani Vineyards in Calistoga.

Here is what we tasted, and our thoughts:

2005 Selene Merlot Frediani Vineyards – Hold/Drink – This is showing like a big wine right now. Blackberry Jam and Molasses. Lots of life left.

2006 Selene Merlot Frediani Vineyards – Drink/Hold – Nice integration of blue fruits and oak. Smooth and good length. This is in a pretty spot, but will last.

2007 Selene Merlot Frediani Vineyards – Drink/Hold – Chewy and Jammy with good balance and length of fruit on finish. Yummy now!

2008 Selene Merlot Frediani Vineyards – Not released – Boysenberry cobbler, long powerful finish. Almost ready for release, should be great by summer/fall.

2009 Selene Merlot Frediani Vineyards (in barrel) – Youthfull blackberry jam, and red fruits. Tasty!

There has been some recent press on the Selene Merlot from Frediani Vineyards. The Iowa Wino gave his thoughts on the 2007 Selene Merlot, thanks Dan!

During Mia’s recent trip to Ohio, Burke Morton gave his impressions of the entire Selene lineup (current releases) on Wine Think. Thanks Burke!

I’m happy to report the 2009 Selene Sauvignon Blanc was bottled in March, and it’s mighty tasty! The blend from this year’s yeast trials came together nicely!

You might remember that Mia used three different yeasts for the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc in stainless steel barrels, and three different French Coopers, so she had six lots to work with for blending.

We do have some 2008 Selene Sauvignon Blanc left, but it’s been flying out the door since spring has finally arrived.

The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc has received some great press lately. Check out Cellarmistress’ Cellar Talk, and The Iowa Wino for their take on the 2008 Selene Sauvignon Blanc. Thanks Grace and Dan!

Happy Spring! – Skippy

It’s great to be in good company. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy an evening than a great lineup of Merlots.

Check out this Merlot tasting on “For My Love of Wine” blog.

Mia and I are going to do a Selene Vertical Merlot tasting this week. We are going to focus the tasting all the vintages of Selene that came from Frediani Vineyard.

So our line up will be 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 which are all in bottle and the 2009 from barrel.

I’ll report back our tasting notes and how the vintages are showing! – Skippy

As many of you know, Mia is a consulting winemaker, meaning she not only makes wine for her label, Selene, but also for a few clients.

One of Mia’s clients is Boyanci Wine. The owners Kevin Boyer, Tom Steffanci and Sarah Steffanci Murray take volunteers on a trip to Peru each year to help Coprodeli. Boyanci supports Coprodeli by donating 10% of it’s profits each year, and by taking these volunteer trips.

They have a blog, so you can follow along and find out what it’s like to be a volunteer there in Peru. Check it out on their Blog:

Be Uplifting

They are all in Peru now! Their stories are not only incredible and life changing, but inspirational.

For this years trip, they opened up the comments section, so all the volunteers can make an entry on the blog comments.

We are proud of you Boyanci!

Big shout out to our Fans in Ohio! Mia is in town, join her at Winds Cafe on Wednesday!

Dinner & Wine Tasting with Mia Klein of Selene Wines at Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs, Ohio. (30 min from Dayton, 45 min from Columbus)

www.windscafe.com

For more information and reservations, call 937-767-9441.

Where are our Kentucky Fans!?! Mia is loose in Louisville, you’ve been warned!

Join Mia Klein of Selene Wines on Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. as Corbett’s continues the tradition of fine wine and food with a special dinner.

Mia Klein will join Corbett’s director of wine and spirits J. Troy Ritchie as her small-batch Napa Valley wines are paired with four courses prepared by executive chef Chris Howerton and his culinary team.

www.corbettsrestaurant.com

Reservations are required and can be made by calling (502) 327-5058.

Mia Klein and Tracy Hall of Selene Wines will be at BarBers’Q in Napa, California from 5:30pm to 9:00pm on Thursday, February 18th to help celebrate Premiere Napa Valley.

Selene Wines has been paired up with Elizabeth Spencer Wines for the evening. Both wineries will be pouring wines by the glass, or in flights!

The regular menu will be available and these Specials:

Roasted Dungeness Crab
2 Pound Crab, Chili-Lime Butter, Garlic, Lemon

Seafood Tower for 2
Alaskan King Crab, Dungeness Crab
Wild Pink Shrimp, Drakes Bay Oysters
Mustard Crema, Mignonette, House-made Cocktail Sauce

Florida Keys Stone Crab

Somerston Ranch Roasted Lamb
Slow Roasted Shoulder, Rancho Gordo Cannellini Beans, Braised Greens

Niman Ranch Rib-eye Steak
Potato & Artichoke Gratin, Sautéed Bloomsdale Spinach

We want to pack this place with Selene Fans! They will have the Tent up on the Patio, just like last year, so there will be plenty of tables!

Mia and I hope to see you there!

Make your reservations.

In Slidell Louisiana there is a Mardi Gras parade that Mia and I want to attend some year. It’s put on by the Krewe of Selene.

My father has lived in Louisiana since I was a teenager, and while Mardi Gras is a little too crazy for me, I have always loved the parades put on by the different Krewes.

The parades happen the week or two before Mardi Gras and are geared more towards family. Kids sit on shoulders yelling for people on the floats to throw them candy, beads, doubloons, and stuffed animals. I still have a couple Doubloons from parades in the early 80’s. If you have never been, you don’t know what you are missing. I’m taking Mia next year for sure.

This is a video from the Krewe of Selene Parade this year:

This year the King in the Krewe of Bacchus Parade in New Orleans was Drew Brees.

In this video of the Bacchus Parade, the reporter shows the Doubloon from the King Float of the parade, and the special gift from the King:

 Happy Mardi Gras Y’all! – Skippy

Join Mia Klein, winemaker of Selene Wines, for the first winemaker dinner of the New Year!

Mia will be at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks Nevada at Restaurant Orozko, where Selene Wines will be paired for a memorable dinner!

This will be awesome! Check out the Menu Created and Prepared by Executive Chef Michael Norton and His Award Winning Culinary Team

Reception
2008 Selene Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon

First Course
Salmon Wrapped Diver Scallop with Grilled Figs, Asparagus Tips, and Watercress Grand Marnier Crème Fraiche
2008 Selene Hyde Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Second Course
Seared Muscovy Duck Pizza
Grilled Flatbread, Arugula, Vine Ripe Tomato, Garlic Aioli and Cambozola Cheese
2006 Selene Frediani Vineyard Merlot
1996 Selene Napa Valley Merlot

Third Course
Garlic Roasted Pork Tenderloin on Shaved Fennel and Kalamata Olives with Pork Jus
2004 ‘Chesler’ Napa Valley Red Wine

Intermezzo
Black Currant Sorbet

Main Course
Grilled Peppercorn Lamb Chop, Eggplant-Wild Rice Flan with Rosemary Lamb Jus Lie
2005 Selene Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Dessert
Pistachio Raspberry Chiffon
Freshly Brewed Coffee

Details and reservations here: Winemaker Dinner.