Winery – Stage Left Cellars

Winery review- Stage Left Cellars

I knew Stage Left Cellars was special when owner/winemaker Rich Williams told me he follows MC Hammer on Twitter. Of course, I had just served as a pourer at the 2nd annual “Passport to East Bay Wine Trail”, and had sipped on Stage Left’s “Scenic Route” Oregon Syrah (Rogue Valley) for about 5 straight hours and thought just about anything was impressive. The wine event consisted of 15 wineries in Oakland, California participating in open houses to showcase Oakland based wineries.

The name on the label connotates making an exit “Stage Left” out of a boring, dispassionate life, and entering into the world of one’s dreams. The label on the Grenache (each varietal has a separate but equally motivating message):

“Do you think with your tongue? I can’t or I can? I can’t afford it, or how can I afford it? I can’t do that or will I do that? What words come out of your mouth? Insightful language creates direction and possibility. Maybe even a stage left. This is your time. Open your mind to the tremendous possibilities. Opportunity awaits you.”

Having known the vintners for years, Rich Williams and Melinda Doty asked Eva and I to pour for the event. Stage Left Cellars started bottling with the 2004 vintage, and are ready to release their new lineup in a week, which is only available to wine list subscribers via the website. Rich and Melinda source their grapes from vineyards all over California, and one vineyard in the Rogue Valley, Oregon.

Three wines were tasted at the event: The Viognier, the Grenache and the “Scenic Route” Oregon Syrah. All were unique, delicious, and in a word- spectacular. Rich and Melinda love Rhone style wines, and clearly they express the old world earthiness and spice with a new world twist of fresh fruit and clarity. Rich does not filter the red wines, and the wines pop with life and freshness. Rarely have I been to a winery tasting and enjoyed all of the wines as much as these.

Tasting Notes:

2006 Stage Left Cellars Viognier: Big, powerful white wine that packs a punch. Well balanced, spicy with hints of pineapple and exotic fruits. Perfect pairing with pasta and chanterelle mushrooms in a butter sauce.

Price: $34

2006 Stage Left Cellars Grenache: Rustic, well-balanced; the wine immediately seems solid, but over time revealed more and more layers of herbs, lots of cherry (but not a fruit bomb) and a long finish. It contains good acidity due to the cooler vinyard, which kept the Grenache from being flat. A fabulous and interesting wine which keeps you coming back.

Price: $48
Production: 132 cases

2006 Stage Left Cellars “The Scenic Route” Oregon Syrah: Full bodied, long finish, combines old world earth with new world fruit, it could be called “Best of Both Worlds”. Some northwest syrahs are sweet, almost syrupy, with an over reliance on french vanilla. Not this one! Perfectly balanced, dry, yet contains strong blackberry fruit. This wine made you keep coming to the glass asking: “What is that?” and being happily surprised there was always something new!

Price: $38
Production: 110 cases

How purchase: Go to the website: www.stageleftcellars.com and sign up on “the list” for future offerings. The winery focuses on high quality with limited production, so act fast before they take off as they are truly delicious.