Wine Tasting with Robert Kamen – Kamen Estate Wines

Have you ever had one of “those” experiences that you know you will never forget?  An occurrence that isn’t planned or even thought of.  For me it’s the “sweet spot” of life.  Drinking wine with American screenwriter Robert Kamen at his vineyard on our “Tour de California”, was unequivocally the highlight of our tour!  Totally unplanned, unforeseen  and unforgettable!

Kamen Estate Wines was the third stop on our first day of “Tour de California”. We began this tour at the downtown Sonoma tasting room where we picked up Miss Juliette, a Kamen hospitality ambassador, her picnic basket and a box full of wine!  A beautiful young lady with a smile bigger than big!  She climbed into the BBV with the rest of us and off we went for an excursion not to be forgotten.  As we made the long climb to the top of the southwestern slopes of the Macaymas Mountain Range the views opened up before us.  It was for the most part a dusty, dirt road, one where you hoped you didn’t meet another car.  Rough and rugged hillsides, Sonoma County’s newest American Viticultural Area (AVA or wine region) designation, known as“Moon Mountain District.”  The road ends at Kamen’s property line, a prehistoric terrain gleaming with ebony colored volcanic rocks, monster oak trees, huge boulders scattered about, rocky soil deemed arduous to work, yet breathtaking.

Here is the tale of how Robert acquired this magnificent property as told by him in Wine News & Features.  When asked, “how did you end up a California winemaker?’ he replied; “I sold my first screenplay to Warner for $135,000 in 1979. I called my friend to celebrate and came down to Sonoma to meet him. We bought some wine, rolled some joints and came up here [to the vineyard]. There was no road or anything – we hiked for an hour and a half. I was an urban rat, I moaned the whole way until I got up here and saw that view. I sat here and said I could sit here forever, and he said: “You can, it’s for sale.” The next brilliant step was to hire a viticulturist and he found the best, one who would grow organic grapes and not allow any chemicals to be used in the process.  So the story begins…

Kamen Estate Wines pride themselves on ripe fruit, low yields and high quality!  It was evident as we gathered around a shady picnic spot complete with “the view” and a lovely tray of cheeses, fruits and olives.  We were about to begin tasting 4 wines, 2014 Sauvignon Blanc, 2012 Grenache, 2012 Syrah, 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon. Our driver, John had positioned himself with guitar in hand to liven up the party and Juliette poured the first glass for each of us.

The vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, truly my favorite wine of the day, I admit white wine is my wine of choice and this one hit the mark.  Aromatic notes of honeyed wildflowers, kiwi, lychee, green melon, exotic citrus and crushed granite.  Freshly grated ginger, wild strawberries, ripe papaya, and spearmint add a fresh complexity to the aromatic profile.  Exceptionally balanced, fleshy, textured with a fresh acidity.  More please….

The air was beginning to cool, a floaty breeze brushed our faces and the company – well it was perfect!  It was about to get better but at this time I hadn’t a clue who would be joining us shortly.  Next up, the Grenache, sensual and expressive, this was my favorite Kamen red. The glass croons flavors of mountain cheeries, boysenberries, cranberries, red raspberries, violets, red currants and dried wild flowers.  Concentrated, decadent yet balanced with velvety tannins.

Here is our charming group – I’m sure you can’t help but notice the, uhmmm, porta potty in the background.  It is possibly the only unsightly article on this mountain but boy is it a necessity.

2012 Syrah known as the glass staining powerhouse of Kamen…I suspect that is because this wine has “legs”. After tilting then swirling wine it sticks to the sides of a glass, and slowly slides back down, This is a good indicator that it’s made with high-quality alcohol and not watered down, which is something everyone should be seeking with their wine.  I know I am – are you?

See the alluring legs on this glass of Syrah?  Unbelievably fragrant with pure aromas of candied black cherries, roasted blackberries, black raspberries, wet granite, creme de cassis, blueberry pie and black pepper.  The palate is immensely concentrated with lush black and red fruit flavors, abundant, yet fine well-integrated tannins.

We thoroughly enjoyed noshing on delicious fruits and cheeses before us as we waited for our hostess to pour the final taste, Cabernet Sauvignon.

I wish you could realize how utopian the afternoon is at this point…the views are sweeping, the music moving, the company entertaining and the wine…intense, complex, balanced.  As we tasted the final wine and were commenting on the elegant, seamless flavors in our glasses I heard footsteps coming from behind, I turned and there was the best entertainment of the day, strolling up to our table, giving hugs to the women and strong handshakes to the guys, decked in a TB Hawaiian shirt, Mr. Robert Kamen.  Let’s get this party started!

Sharing stories of his life past and present, a true storyteller!  What a special treat it was to gaze out over his gorgeous property, mellifluous guitar sounds filling the air, savoring his fine wines, (yes Robert, they are fine) listening to a day in the life of, Robert Kamen as told like no one else could tell it!