2007 JC Cellars Smoke and Mirrors – $15.19

 

My comments

I grabbed a few bottles of this wine at the local store when they had it on sale.  The blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Zinfandel sounded right up my alley and the $15 price sealed the deal.  The first few bottles were consistent, really big wines that could use a jolt of acidity to help hold them together.  This is my last bottle from the purchase and since we went out for dinner and were just looking for a bottle to relax at home, this seemed like a good one to pull, since to me, this falls into the category of a cocktail wine.

 

Winery history

Jeff Cohn, the winemaker, president, and “JC” of JC Cellars got his start in the industry almost 20 years ago. As an intern at Boordy Vineyards in Maryland, he drove an hour and half each way to prune vines in frigid weather, pick grapes in stifling heat, and scrub everything from barrels to floors.

 

Long before he began his winemaking career he received an associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson & WalesUniversity, and a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from FloridaInternationalUniversity.

 

Cohn had always loved the hospitality industry, and as he worked through several high profile positions after college he found his passion for wine steadily growing. The more he learned, the more he wanted to learn, until he realized that becoming a winemaker was his ultimate goal. The job at Boordy was a deciding factor in the trajectory of his career — in spite of all the scrubbing.

 

With the encouragement and support of his family, Cohn moved to California in 1993 to follow his dream. He earned his master’s degree in agriculture chemistry, with an emphasis on enology, from CaliforniaStateUniversity, Fresno in 1996. It was here that Cohn discovered French winemaking techniques and the concept of terroir. “The flavor profile was so different than anything else I had ever tried,” he says of the first Chateauneuf-du-Pape he tried in school. “It was a shocker. To go from tasting only single varietals to a blend really opened my eyes.”

 

For more info, visit http://www.jccellars.com/about-jeff-cohn.html

My Tasting Note

The wine is an inky maroon color.  The deep and dark nose has blackberries, blueberries, smoke, charcoal, baking spices, black pepper, vanilla, plums, smoked meat, and some earthiness.  This is fairly full bodied with solid tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate the tannins struggle to hold the wine together and could use a bit more acidity to be successful.  The wine gets a bit too big an unwieldy at times but is loaded with fruit and spice.  This is more of a cocktail wine than something to serve with dinner.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Sexy Beast – $28.49

 

My comments

The Two Hands line of wines are a favorite in my house.  This will be my first Two Hands Cabernet since all past bottles have been Shiraz, Grenache, or blends.  I was able to grab a couple bottles of this at a close out sale at the local wine store.  I’m looking forward to seeing (tasting) what Michael Twelftree can do with Cabernet.

 

Winery history (Core Values)

Quality without compromise is central to the Two Hands philosophy, driving all the decisions from fruit and oak selection to packaging and promotion.

 

We strive to differentiate ourselves; to be unique, fun and innovative in our business approach while maintaining a high degree of professionalism and integrity.

 

Our wines are made by a process of barrel classification – selecting the very best barrels for the Flagship range followed by Garden Series then our Picture Series.  This is achieved by sourcing the best parcels of fruit available to us from six premium regions within Australia.

 

We handle every parcel of fruit, however small, separately from crushing through to fermentation and oak maturation to ensure complexity and personality in the finished wines.

 

Fruit will be the primary feature of all our wines, with oak playing a supporting role.

 

Much more information available at:  http://www.twohandswines.com/

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The outstanding nose features blackberries, black plums, Asian spices, black pepper, melted licorice, eucalyptus, earthy elements, and vanilla.  This is medium to full bodied with fairly solid, ripe tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the mouth filling palate, loads of fruit and spice fill the mouth with a solid wall of unrelenting flavor right through the long, lingering finish.  This is a big, flavor filled wine that has enough tannin and acidity to deftly hold everything together.  Not a delicate and nuanced wine.  This is a love it or hate it wine, I’m on the love it side.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock – $49.00

 

My comments

I’ve been a big fan of BigBasin for a few years now.  I should say up front, I have only had their non Pinot Noir wines.  Their big reds are generally fairly full bodied but very balanced.  I think they are one big score from a major wine publication away from hitting the big time.

 

Winery history

Our mission is to create wines that reveal the complex nuances of the vineyards that inspire them – cool climate, ocean-influenced, mountain vineyards.  To this end, we spend long hours in our vineyard to insure that the grapes we grow represent the fullest expression of the vineyard and vintage.  We believe in and employ sustainable and organic farming practices.  The steep hillsides, cooling ocean breezes and fog, and mountain soils promote the development of color and complex flavors.  By keeping the yields very low and harvesting small sections of the vineyard at perfect ripeness, we strive to achieve the most important part of winemaking – great fruit.

 

Much more information available at:  http://bigbasinvineyards.com/

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color, almost black.  The very appealing nose has blackberries, plums, minerals, dying charcoal embers, smoked meat, black pepper, dark chocolate, vanilla, and violets.  This is full bodied with solid, ripe tannins and very good acidity.  The palate is highlighted by nice, mineral laden, spicy, fruit with a touch of earthiness.  The long finish has the fruit slowly giving way to the minerals, spice, and a touch of dark chocolate.  This will probably be better in a few years, but it is delicious today, as long as solid, ripe tannins don’t bother you.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

*** Breaking News ***

I was honored a couple days ago by being named “The Nicest Person in Social Media”.  This was a promotion sponsored by Kingsford Charcoal.  They worked with Sysomos Monitoring to find the “nicest” person and present them with “coal” for Christmas.

 

Here is a shot of me getting my “coal” from Santa as well as a new grill and accessories.

 

The promotion includes a way to enter yourself or a friend into a drawing to also win “coal”.

 

The story and more information is available at:  http://www.grilling.com/benicegetcoal/

 

 

 

Mailing Lists

 

Nothing new to report in this area.  This is generally the quiet time.  Activity will pick up in early January.

 

 

 

Wines bought or received this week

 

The following winery direct wines arrived this week:

2010 Loring Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon Russell Family Vineyard

2011 Loring Wine Company Grenache Russell Family Vineyard

2010 Sandler Wine Company Grenache Chalone Boer Vineyard

2010 Sandler Wine Company Syrah Connell Vineyard

2010 Saxum James Berry Vineyard

 

This one was a gift from a friend:

2008 Westerhold Family Vineyards Syrah White Label (extended barrel age) Westerhold Vineyard

 

Purchased from a local wine store:

2006 Clarendon Hills Syrah Liandra

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2003 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – $14.99

 

My comments

I remember back when the Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet was one of the most consistent, affordably priced, quality wines from the region.  For a while, due to turmoil and struggles at the winery, the quality fell off.  We’ll have to see if the current owners strive to bring the label back to mean a quality bottle of wine.  For now, I’ll enjoy my few remaining bottles from the glory days of the past.

 

Winery history

With its legacy of more than 40 years of fine winemaking, the Robert Mondavi Winery is a shining symbol of NapaValley.  Founded in 1966, the winery’s beautiful architecture by Cliff May reflects the missions of early California history.  When you come to visit us at Robert Mondavi Winery, you will experience our commitment to education and the arts, pursuit of innovation, and dedication to producing fine wines that stand in the company of the great wines of the world.  Come learn about the history of winemaking in California and share in our philosophy of integrating wine, food and the arts into gracious living.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice ruby red color with just a touch of lightening at the edge.  The slightly subdued nose shows cassis, leather, dried herbs, baking spices, tobacco, and hints of cedar and cherry.  This has medium body with mostly integrated tannins and very good acidity.  The palate is very smooth and polished with a nice blend of fruit, spices, and dried herbs.  The finish has medium length and again is very smooth.  This is a Napa cab at a perfect drinking window with no rough edges or stray, unexpected elements.  This is very food friendly and enjoyable.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Riviera – $19.45

 

My comments

This wine has turned out to be a nice week night Pinot Noir that can be found for around $20.  This isn’t a typical big, lush, California Pinot, but instead a lighter bodied, very tasty, food friendly version.

 

Winery history

In 2005, entrepreneurs Tim Perr and Scott Knight pooled their resources and their passions to found a winery dedicated to producing small lots of artisan Pinot Noir that they loved to drink.

 

We established a state-of-the-art winery and tasting room in the town of Lompoc, CA and named the winery “Pali,” after our hometown Pacific Palisades on the coast just west of Los Angeles.  Today, Pali Wine Co. produces a Cuvee series of wines defined by their appellation of origin and named for different neighborhoods in the Pacific Palisades.  We also produce a very limited amount of vineyard-designate wines.

 

Our goal is to make wines that speak well of their origin and their varietal, and to bring those wines to the consumer at the best price we can without compromising quality.  While Pinot Noir remains our first love and a significant part of our production, we also produce a few other varietals when we have the opportunity to make a wine we think is worthy of sharing.

 

More information available at:  http://www.paliwineco.com/

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color, much lighter at the edge.  The very appealing nose has cherries, raspberries, baking spices, white pepper, underbrush, smoke, and a bit of licorice.  This is barely medium body with silky tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate there are spicy, tart cherries with just a touch of earthiness and some raspberries coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length but does show a touch of excess oak, but not enough to be too bothersome.  A very nice Sonoma Coast Pinot, especially for around $20.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône Les Abeilles – $15.99

 

My comments

I’m continuing my trend of drinking wines that kept being the runner-up when picking a wine for dinner.  I grabbed a few bottles of from a tasting at a local store.  We enjoyed a couple bottles, but for some reason never got around to opening another one.  From memory, the wine was well made and good, but was left in the cellar for a few years.

 

Winery history

Jean-Luc Colombo is a man of warmth, energy, passion, and an insatiable appetite for the Good Things in Life.  His dedication to the “plaisirs de la table” (pleasures of the table) took root early, stemming from many long and happy hours spent as a small boy, assisting his mother, a talented restaurateur in Marseille, in the kitchen.  Jean-Luc’s subsequent decision to pursue the study of oenology was inevitable, in order to create wines which would match his mother’s cuisine!  With his wife Anne, Jean-Luc created the “Centre Oenologique des Côtes du Rhône” in Cornas, and for the past 25 years, he has been a consulting winemaker for some of the best domaines in the Rhône Valley, Provence and Bordeaux.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is just a shade lighter than a medium ruby red color.  The slightly subdued nose has cherries, dried herbs, baking spices, a touch of earthiness, and just a hint of eucalyptus.  This has medium body with soft, mainly integrated tannins and very nice acidity.  The palate has the spicy, red fruit with a shot of earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish is a touch short but the spicy fruit and earthiness are good while they last.  Probably starting to fade a touch but very enjoyable.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain – $18.21

 

My comments

This wine was one of my first purchases for the Treasure Hunter line of wines.  The company buys excess juice from wineries, blends as needed, bottles the wine, and blows through them at bargain prices.  These wines generally sell for 33% to 50% of comparable wines from the regions.  Most of the wines have very low production numbers, only a couple hundred cases at most.

 

Winery history

Treasure Hunter is a label under the 3 Finger Wine Company family of wines.

 

Each Treasure Hunter wine goes through a pain-staking process of examination from our panel of nine called The De-Vine Nine. Made up of top sommeliers, winemakers and restaurateurs, they are the best of the best and they pour through hundreds of wines before they are deemed worthy.

 

Each wine is a small one-time offering and represents an extraordinary opportunity to drink seminal wines of great importance.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The outstanding nose features cassis, dried herbs, and cigar box, with less prominent notes of cherry, vanilla, and white pepper.  The wine has medium body with fairly solid, ripe tannins and very good acidity.  This is very refined and polished on the palate with no excess weight or ripeness.  The palate shows nice cassis and cherry with spice, dried herbs, and a touch of earthiness adding considerable depth, which lingers through the fairly long finish.  This is a very nice Howell Mountain Cabernet that seems to be just entering a nice drinking window.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

BREAKING NEWS:

 

I have been notified that I have won the title of “Nicest Person in Social Media”.

 

Sysomos, a social media analyzing company, was contracted by Kingsford Charcoal to find them the nicest person.  They analyzed over 100 billion tweets from the United States and Canada and determined I was the nicest.

 

I will be receiving coal for Christmas.

 

Actually, a years supply of Kingsford Charcoal, a new grill, and assorted grilling tools.

 

I’m sure there are some Merlot produces out there who don’t think I’m very nice…

 

I’ll probably have a better link in my next posting on Sunday.

 

 

 

Mailing Lists

 

Nothing new to report

 

 

 

Wines bought or received this week

I received a delivery from Loring and have a couple more shipments that are due to hit.  I’ll list the wines in my next post on Sunday.

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!