Bricoleur Vineyards Winemaker Dinner &
Aperture Champions' Dinner Wine Offer

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a Winemaker Dinner at the Club with Bricoleur Vineyards. Chef Matt created an exceptional series of courses to pair beautifully with the wines. As a side note, if you missed this chance to taste with us here at the Club, Bricoleur offers one of the most impressive culinary programs of any winery I’ve had the pleasure of visiting in Sonoma. Their "Rooted" experience features six wines paired with six seasonally inspired dishes, and it’s truly remarkable. I visited with Robbie, Karina, and a few members of our team, and we were all blown away.

A few standouts from last week’s dinner included:

2024 Viognier, Kick Ranch, Fountaingrove District, Sonoma
Viognier can be a tricky one—sometimes overly aromatic, leaning into the kind of floral intensity that reminds me of the animal-shaped hand soaps at my mother’s house that she insists are “for guests only”. The 2024 Kick Ranch Viognier avoids this pitfall with steel barrel fermentation and a clean, dry finish. The stone-fruit florals are present but perfectly balanced. Don’t worry, mom—your pink bear-shaped soaps are safe.

2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay
Trying to put Chardonnay in a box is as fruitless as trying to put “Baby in a corner”, especially when Patrick Swayze is nearby. (Let’s be honest, you’ve seen the cinematic triumph Dirty Dancing at least once.) Chardonnay resists boundaries; it refuses to adhere to any rules, and is not just here to stay, Chardonnay is here to reign. The 2023 Russian River Valley Chardonnay is balanced and brioche-driven, as bright and innocent as Jennifer Grey before hitting the dance floor—and as triumphant as that famous final lift.

2022 Special Selection Pinot Noir
I’m often asked about the difference between single vineyard and appellation wines, and it’s Pinot Noir that sparks the liveliest debates. A single vineyard can showcase a soloist, but sometimes it’s the choir that raises the hairs on your neck. An appellation wine is often a collection, but here, with the 2022 Special Selection Pinot Noir, just eight barrels were chosen from over 40 to intentionally create a focused cuvée. Think of the choir on The Rolling Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want—that’s the London Bach Choir bringing it all together.

Our Annual Champions’ Dinner was graciously sponsored by Jesse Katz and Aperture Wines. It’s always a treat to taste through Aperture, and believe it or not, I’ve got a story about tasting their Chenin Blanc.

2024 Aperture Chenin Blanc
Jesse Katz knows this story, so I’m not telling tales out of school: when I first moved to Sonoma County in 2020, I kept hearing Aperture, Aperture, Aperture. Naturally, I figured—contrarian that I am—it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype. If a wine is racking up all these scores, surely it’s just an Elvis impersonator: all the moves, but none of the soul. Then I finally visited the winery. The very first wine I tasted—the Chenin Blanc—proved me completely wrong. I had to swallow my pride along with the wine. Of course it would be Chenin to do it. I’ve always felt Chenin Blanc is Sauvignon Blanc’s cooler, older sister: the one who knew how to breakdance, introduced you to Led Zeppelin, snuck you into a concert at 14, and can belt out every word of Bohemian Rhapsody on a crowded Crosstown bus until the entire bus—driver included—is singing along.

2024 Aperture Sauvignon Blanc
This is the only time I’ll refer to a wine by its label. Well, until the next time I do—but really, the Aperture labels make it hard not to. The bright green grape on the label mirrors the brightness inside the glass. This Sauvignon Blanc has crunch, texture, and depth, leaning closer to a Bordeaux Blanc with 10% Semillon and barrel fermentation adding weight and complexity.

2023 Aperture Cabernet Sauvignon
This one was a special Mayacama moment; we got to taste it before anyone else. Not released yet, not even in the tasting room. No notes to copy from the website, just my own glass to guide me (and maybe a second, or third, to be sure). The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon is bright and structured, layered with youthful complexity that will only deepen over time. It’s still young, but patience will be rewarded.

We’re already looking ahead to our next wine gathering. On Friday, September 12 at 6:00pm, we’ll be hosting a special Riesling Study in the Rotunda. This small gathering is limited to eight guests, with a cost of $125 per person. If you are interested in attending, please email me at [email protected].

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the Mayacama wine program. We’re incredibly excited to offer these exceptional wines to our Members, and I encourage you to reach out with any questions or requests—I’m always happy to chat wine.

Cheers!

Jared Hooper, Wine Director

WINES BEING OFFERED: (sold in 3-packs)

2024 Viognier, Bricoleur, Kick Ranch, Fountaingrove District ($120/3-pack)

2023 Chardonnay, Bricoleur, Russian River Valley ($126/3-pack)

2022 Pinot Noir, Bricoleur, Special Selection, Russian River Valley ($255/3-pack)

2024 Chenin Blanc, Aperture, Clarksburg, Sacramento Valley ($105/3-pack)

2024 Sauvignon Blanc, Aperture, Sonoma County ($150/3-pack)

2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Aperture, Sonoma County ($225/3-pack)