Short and sweet: our list of luscious (and local) dessert wines for the holiday Silicon Valley wineries offer up some fantastic finishes to your feast By Carol Maskus Left Bend: Last Straw Zinfandel Blend In 2015, Left Bend saw a serious drought with their grapes. “The well at the Zinfandel vineyard on Redwood Retreat Road (Santa […]
Left Bend Winery, Los Gatos …a tasting tour It’s not very often that people can combine their work and their passion. Often our hobbies and vocation don’t intersect. But Gary Robinson has the rare privilege of combining his love of cycling, winemaking, and appreciation of Santa Cruz Mountain (SCM) varietals all into one. […]
The ongoing devastation in Napa, Sonoma and Santa Rosa is heart wrenching. We keep getting word of more of our friends Vineyards and wineries threatened, and folks having to evacuate. We will be donating 10% of this weekends sales from our Los Gatos tasting room to appropriate authorities in Napa and Sonoma. Details on giving: http://scmwa.com/ca-wine-strong/
92 Points: Light golden yellow. A touch of oak influence on the nose with notes of honeysuckle, straw, and crème brûlée. Moderate acidity (6/10) and medium bodied. Layers of citrus on the palate like lemon zest with elements of stone fruits and a little toasty. Long and lingering finish. Drink till 2023. Millennial Drinkers: […]
Left Bend Winery will be hosting an open house at the winery on May 6, 2017 from 12 to 5 pm. Gary will be providing barrel samples and pouring our current releases. Club members may also taste the wines Gary makes for Miramar Vineyards. Winery is located at 12255 New Avenue, San Martin.
93 Points: Left Bend 2013 Fellom Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains) A classic Cab in the Santa Cruz Mountains style, this savory bottling shows black pepper, charcoal and grilled blueberries on the nose along with tons of dried herbs. Blackberry, anise, dill, cedar and pencil lead show on the sip, where intriguing depth and a […]
90 Points: Left Bend 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon-Syrah (Santa Clara County) Deep blueberry and coffee notes meet with Christmas spices and gingerbread on the nose of this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah, two grapes that really want to go together. It’s woody on the palate, with cedar spice and cigar-box touches giving depth […]
89 Points: Left Bend 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Cruz Mountains) On this dense, appealing and fruit-driven bottling from Camel Hill Vineyard, fresh-pressed blackberry meets with touches of other red fruits, from dark strawberry to plum, enhanced by cocoa dust. Leather, dark chocolate, red cherry and blackberry flavors show on the palate, where incredibly sticky tannins still […]
Left Bend Winery won the following awards at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Best of Class: Merlot Blends – 2014 Left Bend Sierra Morena (65% Mrlot, 25% Cab Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) Double Gold: Red Dessert – 2015 Left Bend Last Straw Silver: Cabernet Blends – 2013 Left Bend Cabernet Sauvignon – Syrah Blend […]
91 points This fascinating nonvintage solera blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc from five vintages (2010–2014) offers elegant touches of licorice, blackcurrant and lavender on the deep nose. Blackberry, cedar, sandalwood and incense flavors mesh with a dried tea-leaf element on the palate. Wine Enthusiast – MATT KETTMANN @mattkettmann
Left Bend 2013 Brosseau Vineyard Syrah (Chalone) 93POINTS A bit lighter that other Syrahs of this small appellation, this bottling from a Santa Cruz-based producer shows light cherry juice, cinnamon, clove and gingerbread on the nose. Cola, black cherry, cranberry, leather and tobacco arise on the sip, but it’s the intriguing crushed-gravel minerality that sets […]
A recent question to Wine Spectator about foot stomping reminds me that sometimes visitors to our tasting room ask us after seeing one of our photos showing a woman stomping on our grapes. Left Bend has been foot stomping on part of our grapes since 2011. Since we make small lots, it is much easier for […]
Left Bend Winery will be pouring at the Los Gatos Wine Walk on September 10, from 1:30 to 5:30pm. Sip tastings from over 40 local wineries! Walk through Downtown Los Gatos to enjoy wine tasting and food samples at local shops and restaurants. Link/info Hope to see you there.
Left Bend Winery will be pouring at the Mountain View Wine Walk on August 11, from 5:30 to 9pm. info Hope to see you there.
Article regarding our delivery service in Los Gatos. (link) http://www.mercurynews.com/eat-drink-play/ci_30110371/wine-delivery-los-gatos-summer-concerts
Left Bend 2013 Muns Vineyard Pinot Noir (Santa Cruz Mountains) 91POINTS (link) Featuring a unique and intriguingly fresh and floral nose, this shows bright strawberry, fresh-pressed hibiscus flowers, exotic vanilla-cinnamon notes and hints of slate and chaparral. The palate is just a hair less exciting, with raspberry, cranberry, white pepper, white sage and dried mint, […]
Left Bend will be closed June 16 and 17, for installation of a new sliding front window. We will reopen on June 18.
Tasting Note: Second of the two Left Bend reds sent over to us from Gary. Love the labels on these wines and the name of this vineyard, ‘Vanumanutagi’ which is a Samoan word meaning “Vale of the Singing Bird”. Trust us this wine sings! Bright ruby red with purplish hues. Nose started off a little […]
Tasting Note: First of the two Left Bend reds sent over to us from Gary. Very interesting label on the bottle. All the different words have to do with what is in the wine, how it is made, and what to expect from it…It does not disappoint! Deep and dark garnet red. Love the nose […]
Saturday, June 18th, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Fine Art Exhibit, Sale, and Festival and Drawn2Art*, Los Gatos Town Plaza. The public and artists gather at the Los Gatos Town Plaza to view the framed paintings. Admission is free. Enjoy wine tasting from Los Gatos and the Santa Cruz Mountain vineyards and mingle with […]