I once read a quote that said, “if you carry a corkscrew, the wine will present itself.” have done my best to live by these words, carrying a wine opener with me wherever I go (you?d be surprised at how many corkscrews I have had to leave behind at airport security). On occasion, I get very lucky and more than just a bottle of wine will “present itself.” For example, several weeks ago, there was a knock at the door and lo and behold, an entire winemaker appeared.
OK, so maybe Michael Westrick’s arrival wasn’t completely out of the blue. After all, I had been looking forward to my evening with the vice president of winemaking for Napa Valley’s renowned Sterling Vineyards for a long time. Mike’s reputation for making quality Bordeaux and Burgundy-styled, large-production wines is well known throughout the California wine community and he was now coming over to share his knowledge, passion and portfolio with me.
As the evening progressed, with my trusty corkscrew uncorking bottles of his best work, I learned quite a bit about Westrick and his road to Sterling. Mike started his professional life in a parallel field, teaching microbiology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He did this for 10 years following his graduate studies at the same institution. However, several trips to the Napa and Sonoma valleys soon had Mike smitten with the idea of utilizing his extensive education to make wine. So in 1989, Mike traded in his Petri dishes for wine barrels and made the move west where he fell into an internship program at Hanna Winery.
Soon, Mike was attending classes in enology and viticulture at University of California-Davis where he built upon his formal laboratory-based training. Next was a stint at Stonestreet Winery, eventually becoming their head winemaker. Then in 2004, Michael brought his significant talents to Sterling Vineyards, using his small-scale winery techniques to maintain true varietal character on a large-scale basis. But Mike relishes in his role. He believes that the wine’s quality starts in the vineyard. And from this standpoint, he is lucky indeed that he has more than 750 acres spread across 13 different vineyards located throughout Napa Valley.
Mike states his ultimate goal is to “craft wines that people like to drink, with quality they can count on year after year.” Judging from his current portfolio, I say, “mission accomplished.” Retail prices are approximate.
2007 Sterling Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, Calif. ($17)
This bright, fun wine possesses classic aromas of pineapple, tropical fruit and honeydew melon. Abundant acidity keeps the flavors of peach, nectarine, guava and papaya crisp and in balance. Notes of apricot and lemongrass dance on the invigorating finish. Keep a bottle well chilled to help quench the palate on a hot night or enjoy with Asian fare.
2006 Sterling Vineyard Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Calif. ($22)
Even though this wine is barrel-aged in oak for eight months, the pureness of the fruit really shines through. It displays wonderful aromas of pear, apple, papaya and acacia flowers. The partial malolactic fermentation departs a slightly creamy texture that supports flavors of apple, nectarine, brioche and vanilla. With just the right amount of acidity, the crisp finish carries off just a touch of citrus and melon. Lovely with Brie cheese and fresh fruit.
2005 Sterling Vineyards Merlot, Napa Valley, Calif. ($25)
This is not your typical California merlot — this wine has a very concentrated bouquet of black plums, dark cherries, raspberry jam and orange rind. The palate displays more black plum along with dominant flavors of black cherry, mocha, roasted coffee and vanilla bean. The long, luscious finish is well-balanced with just a hint of cocoa at the very end.
2005 Sterling Vineyards SRV Red Wine Blend, Napa Valley, Calif. ($55)
This Bordeaux-style wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot and a touch of non-traditional petite sirah. The wine was produced using the saignée (bleeding the juice off of the grape) method to help concentrate the flavors while keeping the structure stylish and refined. Aromas of black fruit and earth dominate the bouquet. The palate has seductive layers of blackberry, plum, mocha and vanilla on a well-structured frame with excellent depth. The long, persistent finish features notes of cedar and toasty oak.
2005 Sterling Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, Calif. ($75)
In the words of winemaker Mike Westrick, “This wine is built for the cellar.” Scents of blackberry, cassis and ripe black olive intermingle on the full bouquet. Rich, ripe flavors of cassis, blackberry and earthy minerals cascade over the tongue and onto the lengthy finish where additional flavors of toasty oak, espresso and dark chocolate add a further layer of depth that lingers for almost a minute. The soft, sweet tannins provide enjoyment now, but will allow the wine to age five-plus years.
