SLO Down with Rob

February 2023 Club Shipment Tasting

We sat down with Winemaker Rob Takigawa to taste the wines featured in our February 2023 wine club shipment. Not a member of our wine club? There's no time like the present to join and get first access to new releases, plus enjoy a slew of members-only perks. Learn more here.

2021 Baileyana El Gordo Chardonnay

2021 Tangent Clone 530 Sauvignon Blanc

2020 Baileyana Architects Pinot Noir

2018 True Myth Mosaico

2020 Baileyana Chardonnay Musqué

2018 Baileyana Syrah

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2018 Halcon Rojo Pinot Noir Re-Release Tasting

Tasting Room Manager Amanda Brown sat down with Winemaker Rob Takigawa to taste our 2018 Baileyana Halcon Rojo Pinot Noir. This light, fruit-forward Pinot Noir has developed a more linear style where the tannins and red fruit flavors are much more integrated.

We're releasing just a few cases of this wine from our library stash as an exclusive treat for our celebration of Pinot Noir all month!

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Miso Chicken

While some might not think red wine and chicken go hand-in-hand, that is certainly not the case for a Pinot Noir! The light body and sharp acidity of a Pinot Noir are the perfect match for a savory and delicious chicken dish. For this Miso Chicken, our El Pico Pinot Noir's crisp fruit notes, balanced by its silky sweet oak tannins enhance the saltiness of the miso glaze, while the acidity cuts through the richer flavors. The shiitake mushrooms are perfectly complemented by the earthy elegance found in the wine, which also elevates the bright flavors from the watercress and snow peas. Pure umami heaven!

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
  • ½ c. white miso paste
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 2-inch piece ginger (peeled and minced)
  • 1 c. jasmine rice
  • ½ c. shiitake mushrooms (caps thinly sliced, stems removed)
  • 1 c. watercress
  • ½ c. snow peas
  • 1 c. sugar snap peas
  • 4 tbsp cashews (chopped)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 475 F
  2. In a small bowl, combine miso paste, 1/3 of the garlic, 1/3 of the ginger & 2 tablespoons water; stir to thoroughly combine. Line a sheet pan with foil. Pat chicken breasts dry; season with salt & pepper. Place on the sheet pan and spread miso mixture on top. Cook 20-25 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
  3. While chicken roasts, in a small pot, bring rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 ¼ c. water to a boil. Once boiling, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed and rice is tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
  4. Once the chicken has roasted for 10 minutes, in a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, 3-5 minutes. Add the remaining garlic and ginger, cook, stirring occasionally, about 1 minute, until softened and fragrant.
  5. Add watercress, snow peas and sugar snap peas to mushrooms; season with salt & pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 2-3 minutes, or until bright green.
  6. Plate cooked rice, topping with vegetables & chicken breast. Garnish with cashews.

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One Pan Salmon & Veggies

Pinot Noir and salmon are one of those delightfully surprising pairings. Normally, you think of white wine and fish (which, truth be told, works incredibly well too), but an earthy, light Pinot Noir with vibrant acidity helps to balance salmon’s natural richness and savory flavors. In this pairing, our Firepeak Pinot Noir’s expressive dark fruits and currants with light spice imparted from oak aging are the perfect match to enhance the warm spice notes in the maple syrup glaze while accentuating the salmon’s buttery-ness. It's a true match made in heaven!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb salmon (fresh or thawed)
  • ½ lb baby potatoes, halved
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Olive oil for drizzling
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
  • ¼ tsp paprika
  • ½ lb asparagus spears
  • 1 c. cherry tomatoes
  • 1-2 Meyer lemons, thinly sliced into coins
  • Salt & pepper
  1. Preheat the oven to 450 F and grease a baking sheet.
  2. Add the halved baby potatoes to a large bowl. Add garlic and drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt & pepper. Gently toss until coated and scatter evenly onto a greased baking sheet.
  3. Bake potatoes in the oven until fork tender, 10-15 min. Remove from oven.
  4. While the potatoes are baking, mix together the maple syrup, whole grain mustard, paprika, and a dash of salt & pepper.
  5. In the same bowl used for potatoes, add the asparagus spears and cherry tomatoes. Toss with olive oil, salt & pepper until coated. Move potatoes to one side of the baking sheet and lay the asparagus and tomatoes on the other. Top both sides with lemon slices.
  6. Place the salmon in the center of the baking pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper. Pour the maple glaze over the top of the salmon.
  7. Place the pan back in the oven until the salmon is tender and flakes with a fork, 10-15 min. Turn the broiler on low for the last 2 minutes to caramelize the top of the maple glaze. Serve hot.

Recipes

Sea Bass Ceviche

This ceviche served on tortilla chips is an effortless summer snack, perfect for lazy days lounging outside on the patio or by the pool. Match acidity with acidity by pairing it with our Clone 530 Sauvignon Blanc that shows notes and flavors of tropical fruit, citrus, apple, and juicy passionfruit which help accentuate the citrus and ocean flavors in the dish. As another pairing option, try our Block 163 Albariño.

Ingredients

  • 1lb white sea bass (or any other fish), diced small
  • 3 oz fresh lime juice
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tomatoes sliced
  • 1 jalapeño deseeded and finely chopped
  • 1/2 bunch cilantro finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Diced avocado and tortilla chips for serving

Directions

Add the diced sea bass to a small mixing bowl and season with salt and pepper.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the lime and lemon juice with all other ingredients and pour over diced fish.

Mix together so that all ingredients are well combined.

Layer the top with plastic wrap, cover, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours.

Serve with fresh diced avocado and tortilla chips.

Recipes

Pork Loin Tonnato

A classic Northern Italian dish, this Pork Loin Tonnato comes together in about an hour and is a delicious dinner to enjoy any night of the week.

Pair it with our 2020 Musqué Chardonnay for a vibrant, palate-pleasing indulgence. With the Musqué’s aging in both concrete and oak, it nicely complements the tangy and slight brininess of the sauce while still offering a tad of richness to pair with the pork. Our La Pristina Chardonnay is also an excellent match for this dish if you’re looking for a wine with a rounder mouthfeel. 

Ingredients:

For the pork:

  • 2 celery stalks
  • 2lbs of pork loin
  • 1 onion
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1 qt white wine
  • 2 carrots

For the sauce:

  • 8oz canned tuna
  • 10 anchovy filets
  • 2 tbsp capers
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Lemon slices to garnish
  • Parsley to garnish

Directions:

Bring wine, vinegar, and liter of water to boil. Add vegetables and pork. Cook on low for 1 hour or until firm. Keep pork in liquid and let cool.

For the sauce: in a food processor, combine tuna, anchovies, capers, vinegar, lemon juice and olive oil. Blend until smooth. Place the mixture in a bowl and add mayonnaise. Salt and pepper to taste. Slice pork very thin and layer on platter. Spread the sauce on the pork and garnish with lemon slices and parsley.