Santa Barbara Show - Cocktails & Wines
Lemon Drop Martinis
For each person take 1 1/2 oz of premium vodka,1/2 oz of triple sec, 1 teaspoon super fine sugar and 3/4 oz of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Shake it briskly in a martini shaker with ice so the sugar dissolves, then strain it into chilled martini glasses that the rims have been dipped in lemon juice then sugar.
Espresso Martinis
Make ahead of time, for each person take 1 1/2 oz Vanilla vodka, 1 oz straight espresso, 1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream and 1/2 oz Kahlua. Stir it in a pitcher or martini shaker and chill. Just before serving, add a small amount of crushed ice and stir or shake briskly then serve in chilled martini glasses.
Grand Cuvee 2005
Winemaker's Notes:
While we have been fine tuning almost every aspect of our farming over the past twenty five years, it is perhaps the way we manage our vine's shoots and leaves (the canopy) that has undergone the greatest transformation. In the old days, we simply let the vines grow however they wanted. It was a laid-back style called the “California Sprawl”. It was the ‘water it and let it be’ system of farming. It sure was easy.
The Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir comes from the original vines planted in 1971. These 32 year old vines are the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the Santa Ynez Valley. Primarily from the Mt. Eden selection, this wine is always highly aromatic and classically Burgundian. This wine is fermented in 100% new French Oak for 18 months and is not filtered. This is a pedigreed wine that ages well.
Elyse Petit Syrah Port
The 2004 Rutherford Petite Sirah is a wine whose deep, dark purple/black color honestly reflects its intensity and concentration of flavor. It has intoxicating aromas of dark black fruit, cola, coffee, dusty earth and violets. It is immense and broad on the palate, tasting of wild blackberries, espresso, soy sauce, bittersweet chocolate and spicy oak and vanilla. This wine is highly extracted with lengthy tannins and a long pleasing finish. Pair with strong cheeses, wild game, lamb shank or a nicely peppered strip steak. We have had the experience of it going equally well with deep, dark, rich chocolate concoctions.