The history of California winemaking is inexorably intertwined with the history of Buena Vista Winery.
When you talk about California wine history, the name Agoston Haraszthy must be included. It was this self-styled Hungarian count who is considered to be the father of California grape culture.
In 1857, Haraszthy founded Buena Vista, and then proceeded to import every conceivable European grape variety that could be found. It is speculated that he was personally responsible for introducing the zinfandel grape to this country, but due to poor bookkeeping, there is no definite proof.
Almost at once, the winery began to produce above-average wines, which tend to be judged the equal of the best from the old world. The fortunes of Buena Vista rose and fell with the times, but, by employing some very creative winemakers, the winery has continued throughout the years to produce a product that has always been in the forefront of the California wine industry.
Buena Vista 2010 Carneros Estate Merlot ($14.99) This wine is big, full-bodied and showcases the aromas of black fruit with notes of tobacco, clove, black pepper and spice. The flavor features cherries, plums, cassis and a background of oak and vanilla. The finish, which lingers in the mouth for a very long time, is also something special.
This wine serves as a perfect accompaniment for heavier red meats or cheese wedges. For those of our readers who specifically enjoy a merlot wine, we suggest this offering from Buena Vista as one of the best you can buy.
Buena Vista 2010 Sonoma Estate Pinot Noir ($14.99)This wine is a good example of what the Buena Vista style of winemaking is capable of.
It is a wine with a medium body and a bright, clear ruby color. The aroma is a melange of red raspberries and black cherries mingled with oak. Black cherries dominate the flavor, with hints of vanilla, soft oak and chocolate in the background.
This is one of the better pinot noir wines of the 2010 vintage.
Buena Vista's 2011 Sonoma Chardonnay ($14.99) Here is a perfect example of a modern California chardonnay.
The aroma stresses oak, tropical fruits and almonds. In the flavor department, it is alive with sweet apple, with pineapple, coconut and banana bringing up the rear. The finish remains true to the Buena Vista style and is long, complex, full of fruit and illustrates the winery's continuing commitment to quality.
Buena Vista 2011 Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc ($14.99) This wine is a fine example of a well-made sauvignon blanc.
Both the aroma and the flavor stress the melon and grapefruit characteristics of the grape, while maintaining a slight fruit sweetness.
The 2011 Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect accompaniment to shell fish and other lightly prepared seafood dishes, but it is also a wine to serve with mild cheese and pasta dishes.
Buena Vista 2010 Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon ($14.99) Cabernet sauvignon is what gave Buena Vista its place in wine history, and this cab shows you why.
It is a deep, ruby red wine with a flavor dominated by black and red wild berries and a hint of mint and tobacco in the background, all held together by a suggestion of oak. The tannins - the component in wine that makes the mouth pucker - are soft and assure the wine a long life so that it can be safely cellared for as long as 10 years.
Buena Vista 2010 Sonoma Zinfandel ($14)This is a rich, full-flavored zinfandel that glorifies the grape and the style.
It offers a whopping 14.5 percent alcohol content, near perfect acid level and an intense berry aroma, all of which mark this wine as something special.
In the mouth, the wine encompasses a full range of summer red berry flavors and ripe cherries, and it is topped off with an undertone of oak. If you like zinfandel, you can't help but love this wine.
Nixa resident Bennet Bodenstein is a wine columnist and helps manage ArticlesOnWine.com with his wife, Sheila. He can be reached at frojhe@suddenlink.net.[[In-content Ad]]
