An Evening with ecr Vintners (and Friends)

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On Friday, January 23rd, we gathered around the table for one of our favorite kinds of nights: great people, great food, and a whole lot of interesting wine.

Michael Gansl, Matt Plociak, and Stephen Kaupp from Wines of Reason teamed up with Erin Reddan of ecr Vintners to host an intimate tasting for a group of twelve curious (and thirsty) wine lovers. The vibe was relaxed, conversational, and exactly how we like to experience wine—no pressure, no pretense, just discovery.

Michael and Matt first met Erin during their wine wanderings around NYC. It quickly became clear that her wines—and her point of view—were a perfect fit for the kind of tastings we love to host: thoughtful, a little adventurous, and designed to introduce winemakers to people who genuinely want to explore what’s in the glass.

Erin lives in New York, but her wines are rooted in California—Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, and beyond. She arrived well-prepared with tasting notes for her ecr wines, while the Wines of Reason crew added a few comparison bottles and surprises along the way.

What followed was a generous, lively tasting that took us from bubbles to Bordeaux.

The Wines

ecr 2024 Sparkling Rosé

80% Mourvèdre / 20% Tempranillo – Lodi

Made using forced carbonation (CO? instead of sugar), this sparkling rosé stays crisp and light with just a touch of sweetness.

  • Nose: Clean, tropical
  • Palate: Cherry-forward with some body
  • Acidity: Bright and refreshing
  • Style: Dry, with a whisper of sweetness
  • Note: Bubbles fade a bit faster—but the wine more than holds its own

ecr 2021 Blanc de Blancs

Macabeu, Xarello, Parellada – Raventós i Blanc, Catalonia, Spain

A standout bubbly that stayed lively from first pour to last sip.

  • Nose: Funky (always a crowd favorite)
  • Palate: Complex, layered, full of nuance
  • Style: Dry
  • Overall: A terrific sparkling wine with real staying power

ecr 2024 Trousseau Gris

Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard, Russian River Valley

An uncommon grape today, though once widely planted in California.

  • Nose: Clean citrus
  • Palate: Grapefruit and freshness
  • Style: Dry
  • Overall: Bright, distinctive, and a great conversation starter

 

ecr 2022 Chardonnay (Stainless Steel)

Rodgers Creek Vineyard, Petaluma Gap

No oak here—just purity and balance.

  • Nose: Clean, light
  • Acidity: Well-balanced
  • Tannin: Very low (as expected)
  • Style: Dry
  • Overall: Fresh and precise

ecr 2022 Pinot Noir

Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara
Aged 9 months in neutral barrels

  • Nose: Cherry and berry aromas
  • Palate: Lovely spice notes
  • Tannin: Light
  • Style: Dry
  • Overall: Elegant and expressive 

3 Sticks 2019 Pinot Noir – Walala Vineyard

Sonoma Coast

This high-elevation vineyard sits near the Pacific, surrounded by redwoods and cool coastal air.

  • Nose: Berries with a hint of age-driven funk
  • Palate: Berries, pomegranate, and layered secondary notes
  • Tannin: Balanced
  • Body: Smooth and silky
  • Overall: Complex, coastal Pinot at its best

ecr 2023 Red Blend

75% Syrah (Hyde Vineyard, Carneros)
15% Mourvèdre (Alder Springs, Mendocino)
10% Grenache (Windsor Oaks, Sonoma)

  • Nose: Rich, jammy, and intense
  • Palate: Raspberry jam
  • Tannin: Balanced
  • Body: Medium
  • Style: Slightly sweet
  • Overall: Plush and crowd-pleasing

The Surprise Bottles

Because no Wines of Reason tasting is complete without a few curveballs:

  • 2022 Vinous Obscura “Grand Bazaar” (Willamette Valley, OR)
    An orange wine made from 15 co-fermented white grapes. Funky nose, great minerality, unfined and unfiltered—and absolutely delicious.
  • 2018 Alit Wine Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, OR)
    Pleasant fruit and easy drinking, though we found ourselves wishing for a stronger finish given the age.
  • 2005 Château Clerc Milon (Pauillac, Bordeaux)
    A true finale wine. Complex aromatics, real depth, and a reminder of just how beautiful a 20-year-old Bordeaux can be.

The Verdict

Add in great cheeses, fresh bread, fruit, and a surprise chocolate Grenache cake (which really was to die for), and you have the recipe for a perfect evening.

Huge thanks to Erin Reddan for sharing her thoughtful, expressive wines—and to everyone who joined us with open minds and adventurous palates. We loved introducing people to the work of a young, fearless female winemaker, and we can’t wait to do it again.

Click Here to View Tasting Notes (PDF opens in external tab/window)