Our good friend Sweet Lou (pictured above) came by with some wines from Santa Barbara’s Firestone Vineyards:

Firestone Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley 2008.  Grade=Outstanding.  A really nice 100% Sauvignon Blanc with juicy pineapple, grapefruit, guava and lemongrass notes.  Crisp, clean and an amazing showcase of balanced acidity.

Firestone Discoveries Chardonnay California 2008.  Grade=CORKED!  Shit.

Firestone Riesling Central Coast 2008.  Grade=Outstanding+.  This is definitely the best Riesling I’ve had from California in a long, long time.  With just the slightest hint of sweet peaches, the overall impression is that of a dry, harmonious display Rainier cherries, lime zest, pears, white spices, mineral and lychee nut.

Firestone Gewurtztraminer Santa Ynez Valley 2008.  Grade=Outstanding.  Spicy and zesty, one of the benchmarks for California Gewurtztraminer.  Shows off some apricot, lime, honeysuckle, orange blossom and pink grapefruit.

Firestone Discoveries Merlot California 2007.  Grade=Outstanding.  A medium-bodied style with soft notes of black cherries, blackberries, cigar smoke and baking spices.

Firestone Discoveries Cabernet Sauvignon California 2008.  Grade=Outstanding.  Pretty killer value in Cab with its black and red fruits, mocha, cedar smoke, and baking spices.

Firestone Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Ynez Valley 2006.  Grade=Outstanding+.  Red and black cherries, dark plums and chocolate pie are just some of the characteristics you’ll find in this pretty surprising Cab (blended with 16% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc).  Undertones of hickory smoke, mocha powder, espresso beans, black pepper and brown spices add to the complexity of this great value.