Report from ... Hillebrand 21st Anniversary Jazz Festvial – July 10, 2010

Attention Hillebrand Shoppers ... at this year’s Jazz Festival (their 21st) Hillebrand had some exciting news to tell.  As you may, or may not, know, 5-year winemaker Darryl Brooker has headed off for the desert of British Columbia; so Hillebrand was left looking for a winemaker to fill some pretty big shoes.  Today it was officially announced that the multi-award winning winemaker Crag McDonald, long time winemaker for Creekside, would be filling those shoes.  In this season of free-agent signings (a reference for all you hockey and basketball fans) this is a coup – it’s like trading one franchise player for another.  Craig takes over the role in late July.  Now on with the rest of the show …


Who Was Playing …

This year’s Hillebrand Jazz Festival had quite the line-up: the performers, the food and the wine were all top notch – a real trifecta for a great afternoon.  On the bill this year were: the Jake Wilkinson Quintet, the Richard Underhill Quintet, Denzal Sinclaire and Emilie-Claire Barlow – if you’re a jazz fan, like my mother is (she accompanied me this year) then these names mean something to you.  If you’re a casual music fan, these names would have meant nothing, but fans and casual listeners were treated to a fantastic afternoon of music that everyone could enjoy.  Hillebrand always seems to amass a great line-up for this event.

The Wines …
Before, and during, the performance, there was a free flowing of recently released, soon-to-be released and even some barrel and tank sampling of wines.  From tank we tried some Artist Series Limited Edition Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, both from the ’09 vintage; and from barrel we got a taste of 2 single barrel Showcase Chardonnays that were in the works.  A barrel-aged icewine finished off our tour of the subterranean level.


Up top, in the winemaker’s tower, the award winning Trius Rosé Brut started us off, then an array of white and red wines were poured.  First, there were six pre-lunch wines and then six more with the meal.  My top three selections were the following:

2008 Showcase Chardonnay – Wild Ferment from Oliveira Vineyard ($30.00 - ****)
2007 Showcase Merlot – Carlton Vineyard ($38.00 - ****½)
and the stunning 2009 Ghost Creek Vineyard Riesling ($25.00 - *****)

Previously Reviewed Wines Also Poured and Not to be Forgotten ...
the 2007 Showcase Cabernet Sauvignon – Clark Farm … previously reviewed and drinking beautifully; and the new Trius 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ... also previously reviewed and a real summer time treat.

The Menu …

Chef Frank Dodd outdid himself again this year, coming up with a menu of delicious local and seasonal ingredients – and I have the pictures to prove it:

Once again another fabulous day of wine, food and song … and that’s the politically correct trifecta these days – the other way is chauvinistic – although we did have a fine Woman of Song in Emilie-Claire.

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