Candid Wines Features Scherrer Winery

Damien Casten of Candid Wines, a fine retail wine store in Chicago, Illinois has developed a special relationship with Fred Scherrer of Scherrer Winery in the Russian River Valley. Damien spent some time at Fred’s winery during the recent 2006 harvest and he has documented photographically the making of Scherrer 2006 Helfer Russian River Valley Chardonnay from harvest to wine. This is a terrific series of photographs and the accompanying running commentary is quite informative. To view go to www.candidwines.com.

Damien has launched a contest to win a private tasting dinner with Fred at one sixtyblue restaurant in Chicago on January 29th. The event will be limited to six people. Fred will be bringing a vertical or horizontal of his wines. To participate in the drawing to attend, fill out the form on the Candid Wines website.

I have been a fan of Scherrer Pinot Noirs for some time. Last year, an Executive Wine Seminar blind tasting of 13 North Coast (California) Pinot Noirs was held in New York, and posted on www.erobertparker.com in September, 2006. Several of the wines were rare, hard to find ’cult” wines which have garnered high scores from top wine critics in the past including J. Rochioli West Block, Marcassin, Kosta Browne Kanzler Vineyard, Dehlinger Goldridge Vineyard, Williams Selyem, Kistler, Failla, Hartford Court, Paul Hobbs, Martinelli, Patz & Hall. Opinions were varied, but the consensus was as follows: The top wine was the 2003 J. Rochioli West Block Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, but in second place and trailing the J. Rochioli by only one total point was the 2002 Scherrer Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. ’Nough said.