Wine Down Wednesday at DCC

Artiste-A Unique Wine and Art-Pairing Experience!

Two bottles of wine that we have shared on Wine Down Wednesday at the DCC were a Cabernet Franc and a Merlot. Not necessarily on the same Wednesday night, but I wanted to write about them together. Remember, it's half-price bottle night on Wednesdays at DCC.

The first is from the Central Coast wine region of California in the little town of Los Olivos. We've been to Los Olivos, but not to this tasting room. I've read that it is well worth the stop, especially for those artistically talented. There are paints, canvases, and easels available for anyone who feels inclined to leave their mark during their visit. Each bottle of wine is a masterpiece with works of art on the labels. The wines are named after the artwork that graces its label. The bottles are topped with a hand dipped and colorful wax seal. If you desire to keep your bottle and most people do, they have classes to teach you how to reseal the bottle with wax.

Pic via the internet

The wine I'm speaking of is a 2012 Artiste "Midtown" ($40), a Right Bank Bordeaux style blend. The label on this bottle was painted by neo-impressionist James-Paul Brown. The wine is a young wine blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Very drinkable now!

The other bottle is a 2011 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc from St. Helena, Napa Valley. This wine is a beautiful example of what can be accomplished when a harvest takes place in two days instead of the usual three weeks, due to the heaviest rainfall they can remember at this estate. Only 500 cases of this wine was bottled. I don't have a price for it and it is sold out now.

Enjoy these wines soon!