The drive from home to Tahoe goes through the town of Auburn. Just off the freeway is a store called Ikedas Country Market. Famous for their pies, they also have a great selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. Adjacent to the market is their burger shack that is equally famous.
I stopped at Ikedas on a recent trip to Tahoe to pick up a few things. Since this is a small country market, I never paid much attention to their wine section. On this recent trip I did take a look and was really impressed. They carry some top quality high-end wines like Caymus, Silver Oak, Cakebread and others. They also have some affordable wines from all over the world. It’s an excellent selection for such a small place. I bought several Zinfandels and one Cabernet Sauvignon. The Zinfandels are especially relevant because in my opinion they go great with Thanksgiving dinner. Here are my notes.
Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon
The first that jumped out at me was 2007 Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon. The name alone meant I had to buy it, and the price was a very reasonable $18 (reasonable for a wine from Napa Valley, anyway). This is a good wine that reflects what a Napa Cab should be, but without having to pay $30-$50 to get it. And I love the name. The label explains that most wine shopping and the process of making the wine itself is an educated guess. Thus the name of the wine! Humility, taste, and humor … gotta like the combination.
The 2008 Robert Biale Vineyards “Black Chicken” Zinfandel is a real find. I’ve had this before but buying a bottle at Ikeda’s reminded me just how good it really is. The Biale family focus on Zinfandel and it really pays off. Oh, and why “Black Chicken”? It’s the old code word used during prohibition! Gotta love a wine with such a history.
A bit sweeter than the Biale is the 2007 Napa Cellars Zinfandel. It finds the middle ground between sweetness, dryness, and spicy. I’m not crazy about this wine because it’s schizophrenic in some ways … but then my tastes on Zin are clearly biased. Most people will drink this wine and love it. And at $18, it’s a great buy for a Napa wine.
The 2007 Chateau Montelena Estate Zinfandel was a nice surprise. Chateau Montelena is famous for their chardonnay that outscored the French in the famous Judgment of Paris of 1976. I’ve also had their delicous Cabernet Sauvignon before. But this was the first time I tried their Zinfandel, and it was really wonderful. The 2007 season was great for Zin’s because the Napa weather was mild, which is ideal for Zinfandel. This is a wine that is probably overpriced at $30, but it’s definitely an excellent example of the variety and well worth trying.
Finally, I tried the 2008 Jelly Jar Old Vine Zinfandel. As the name implies, it’s sweet! D’Aun took one sip and said, “This is way too sweet for you.” But if you like Zin that way, you’ll love this wine. Lots of fruit taste. I’m told the grapes are grown organically. It’s priced at about $23, which I think is on the high side.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving! And be sure to stop at Ikedas on your way to Tahoe!