This is based on a winery supplied sample.

 

 

 

The Region

Tuscany is one of the main wine producing regions in Italy, and probably the most famous.  The region is located in Central Italy and wine has been produced here as far back as the fifth century BC.

 

Some of the more familiar wines made in the area are Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

 

Sangiovese is the main grape for the region.  The region had very strict regulations on how wines were to be made and what grapes could be used.  Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and other grapes are not indigenous to the area, so their use was not allowed in wines that carried an “official” quality designation.  These other grapes were planted as an “experiment” by a few adventurous wineries that wanted to try and produce the best wine possible.  The use of these varietals lead to the coining of the term “Super Tuscan”.  Since these “Super Tuscans” did not abide by the regulations, they were labeled using the lowest level identifier, simply “Table Wine”.  The problem was that these lowly wines became some of the most sought after wines from the region.  Eventually, the bureaucracy caught on that this type of wine had a future in the region the designation of Toscana IGT was created.  This simply means this is a wine made in any of Tuscany’s 10 provinces and is indicative of the geographical region.

 

There is an outstanding article on the background and origin of the Toscana IGT designation on wine-searcher.  Click here to read more.

 

 

The Winery

Castello Banfi was the “First Winery in the World Recognized for Exceptional Environmental, Social and Ethical Responsibility and Leadership in Customer Satisfaction” by the International Standard Organization (ISO Geneva).

 

Castello Banfi is a family-owned vineyard estate and winery in the Brunello region of Tuscany. Together with its sister estates in Piedmont, Vigne Regali and Principessa Gavia, it has become recognized the world over for its dedication to excellence and sparking a renaissance in the art of Italian winemaking.

 

More information on the estate and their wines is available on their website.  Please click here to read more.

 

 

“It is our fondest desire that this project will be good for the people of Montalcino,

good for Italy, good for America, good for all people who love fine wine.”

John F. Mariani, Jr.

Founder of Castello Banfi · September 12, 1984

 

 

 

2012 Castello Banfi Centine Rose Toscana IGT – SRP $12.99

This wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  After a brief maceration period the wine is fermented.  After malolactic fermentation, the wine is briefly aged in small oak barrels and bottled in the Spring.

 

The final alcohol level is 12.5% and the wine is sealed with a screw cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright and intense pink salmon color.  The fresh and inviting nose has cherries, watermelon, spice, minerals, citrus zest and just a hint of dried earth.  This has light body and crisp acidity.  On the palate the spicy fruit grabs hold, slowly allowing some minerality and citrus to slip through.  The mouthwatering finish has nice length and highlights the spicy, mineral laden fruit.  This would be nice on its own or with a light meal on the patio or deck.  (89 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

2007 Treasure Hunter Wines Petite Sirah The Sweet Trade

2008 Bedrock Syrah Pleine de Chene Hudson Vineyard North

2007 Copain Syrah Tous Ensemble

 

 

 

2007 Treasure Hunter Wines Petite Sirah The Sweet Trade – $16.90

My comments

I’ve been a big fan of the wines being churned out by this Négociant winery.  This winery owns no vineyards and actually isn’t really a winery, in the normal sense.  They buy “wine” from other wineries that have excess.  Usually the wine is in barrels, but on occasion they buy the wine after it has been bottled.  The winery generally does some blending if needed, bottle the wine, and send it on its way to customers around the country.  For the wine lovers, this generally means getting a quality bottle of wine for far less than it would have cost if it was sold by the original winery.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

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 deep, dark purple color.  The soft and friendly nose has blackberry jam, baking spices, licorice, violets, dark bittersweet chocolate, white pepper, and a touch of forest floor.  This has medium body, moderate ripe tannins, and nice acidity.  The palate has jammy fruit and spice with a bit of earthiness and oak creeping in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a touch of dark chocolate entering the picture.  I don’t think this is one to keep for several years in the cellar, open this one over the next few years and enjoy the rich fruit.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Bedrock Syrah Pleine de Chene Hudson Vineyard North – $39.00

In the 2008 vintage Bedrock treated us with three different styles of wine using Syrah grapes from the Hudson Vineyard in Napa’s Carneros region.

 

Wine #1) Whole Cluster

Fruit from the famous Hudson Vineyard was fermented using 80% whole clusters. The wine was then pressed straight to a neutral 600 Liter Demi-Muid made from French oak where it remained for 20 months. This wine was inspired by the old-school efforts of Clape, Allemand, and Verset.

 

Wine #2) Cofermented

This wine was co-fermented with 5% Viognier and then aged on lees in 100% new oak from particularly finessed and tight-grained barrels for 20 months. Made like new-wave Cote-Rotie, this wine is inspired by the brilliant efforts of Gaillard, Gerin, and the La-Las.

 

Wine #3) This wine, Pleine de Chene

This wine was fermented in new puncheons and barrels. Following completion of fermentation the wine was barreled down to 100% new French oak from particularly high-impact coopers. This is, by far, the most “new world” of the three wines, inspired by new-wave wines of Australia and the Rhone. More oak, more alcohol, more fruit, more everything!

 

As is usually the case, these wines were extremely limited.  For the three wines combined, total production was a measly 230 cases.  Luckily I was able to get a few bottles of each wine.  Last year I had the “Cofermented” version but it was WAY too young to properly evaluate.  I look forward to enjoying these “experiments” over the next several years.

 

This has 15.1% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color.  The savory nose has blackberries, charred meat, black olives, smoke, licorice, black pepper, bacon, violets, and dark bittersweet chocolate.  This full bodied wine has solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate berries, pepper, and meat jump out first, slowly allowing smoke and olives to slip through.  The finish is fairly long and leans heavily on the savory elements with the berries in the background providing some needed sweetness.  On the young side but very tasty, even in its youth.  (94 pts)

 

 

2007 Copain Syrah Tous Ensemble – $25.00

This was Copain’s effort to put out a value priced, mid-level, appellation branded level of wines.  The Copain Tous Ensemble line up has grown to now include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, and a Rosé.  In my opinion, the Copain Tous Ensemble lineup offers stunning quality for the price.  I’ve had and greatly enjoyed multiple vintages of the Syrah, Pinot Noir, and the Rosé.  I believe these wines have some distribution, I highly recommend grabbing a bottle to sample if you see one on your local wine store’s shelf.

 

This Syrah is a blend of grapes from Alder Springs, Eaglepoint Ranch, Hawks Butte and McDowellValley vineyards in MendocinoCounty.

 

This has 14.2% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Wells Guthrie discovered early on that his taste in wine gravitated toward Europe in general and France’s Rhône Valley in particular.  So much so, he picked up and moved with his new bride to the region to learn from the best.  For two years, Wells apprenticed for esteemed winemaker and living legend Michel Chapoutier in France’s Rhone Valley.  During that time, Wells was deeply inspired by the traditions and practices of French winemaking, not to mention the European attitude that wine is an essential part of life. At Copain, he creates wines that are firmly rooted in California, yet with the sensibilities of the European wines that so moved him.  He is as committed to crafting these elegant, nuanced wines as he is to building a legacy that will be passed down to his daughters in the great tradition of European winemakers whose estates have been in the same family for generations.

 

For more information on Copain, visit their website by clicking here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice garnet color.  The easy going and comforting nose has blackberries, red raspberries, minerals, warm baking spices, black pepper, smoked meat, vanilla, and fresh wild flowers.  This has medium body, soft integrated tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate is lead by mineral laden fruit, black pepper, and a meaty element.  The finish has nice length and adds a touch of dark chocolate.  This is in its prime drinking window and I’d recommend opening this one over the next year.  (90 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands

2008 Core Grenache Reserve Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard

2005 Torbreck Shiraz The Struie

2009 One Time Spaceman Reserve Airspace James Berry Vineyard

2003 Cosentino Winery Legends Meritage

 

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands – $25.00

In my opinion, the Loring appellation wines are some of the best bargains out there when it comes to quality California Pinot Noir.  The Loring appellation wines are, at least to me, dialed down a notch compared to their single vineyard siblings.  This and the lower prices, under $25 make them a nice way to kick up a week night dinner several notches without breaking the bank.

 

This has 14.7% alcohol and is closed via a Stelvin+ screw cap.

 

Winery history

My name is Brian Loring and my obsession is Pinot Noir.  OK, I’m also pretty crazy about Champagne, but that’s another story.  While in college, I worked at a wine shop in Hollywood (Victor’s), where one of the owners was a Burgundy fanatic.  So, my very first experiences with Pinot Noir were from producers like Domaine Dujac, Henri Jayer, and DRC.  Needless to say, I found subsequent tasting safaris into the domestic Pinot Noir jungle less than satisfying.  It wasn’t until I literally stumbled into Calera (I tripped over a case of their wine in the store room) that I found a California Pinot Noir that I could love.  But it would be quite a while before I found someone else that lived up to the standard that Josh Jensen had established.  I eventually came to understand and enjoy Pinots from Williams Selyem, Chalone, and Sanford, but I really got excited about California Pinot Noir when I met Norm Beko from Cottonwood Canyon at an Orange County Wine Society tasting.

 

For more information, to buy wine, or to join the mailing list, visit their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a ruby red color.  The alluring nose has raspberries, warm baring spices, cola, cherries, wild flowers, plums, eucalyptus, and some earthiness.  This has medium body, soft tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the baking spices and fruit jump out and take hold slowly allowing a touch of eucalyptus and earthiness to break through on the back end.  The finish has good length and adds some minerality to the fruit and spice.  (91 pts)

 

 

2008 Core Grenache Reserve Santa Barbara Highlands – $20.59

The regular 2008 Core Santa Barbara Grenache found a spot on my Top 10 QPR Wines of 2012.   The reserve adds a fair amount of savory/spicy elements leaving it nicely positioned somewhere between a normal California Grenache and their French Rhone brethren.

 

Core is quickly becoming one of my “go to” wineries when I want something a little different.  Dave Corey is making several straight varietal wines that are outstanding, but he also shines with his blends.   I’ve been a big fan of the wines Dave Corey produces for quite a while.  These highly expressive wines are top notch and very reasonably priced.  I highly recommend tracking down some Core wines and settling in for a couple hours of pleasure.

 

This has 14.9% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Dave Corey’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in Biology from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in Entomology and Plant Physiology from Kansas State University, which was completed in 1995.

 

Prior to entering the wine industry in 1996, Dave worked in Salinas and the Central Valley in agricultural fields including cole crops, cotton, almonds, citrus, walnuts, kiwi, table grapes, apples and stone fruit.  His first position in the wine industry was as a Pest Control Advisor with Cambria Winery and Vineyards and later at Kendall-Jackson Vineyards of Santa Barbara County.

 

Dave left Kendall Jackson Vineyards in 1999 to begin Vital Vines, a viticultural company providing technical support for vineyard property owners, vineyard managers and winemaking personnel in the promotion of sustainable agriculture.  He has worked with clients that include Laetitia, Barnwood, Beckman, Melville, Stolpman, Gainey, Zaca Mesa, Sea Smoke, Le Bon Climat, Sine Qua Non, Rideau, Carhartt, Rusack, Westerly, Fiddlestix, Vogelzang, Andrew Murray, Evergreen, Arita Hills and Royal Oaks.

 

With a major commitment and a second mortgage, Dave gradually decreased his vineyard consulting work to focus on vineyard sourcing, winemaking duties and winery direct sales for CORE wine company which he started in 2001 with his wife, Becky.  Dave passionately continues working in the same capacity today in addition to several new wine projects with family members.  He can also be found pouring wine for customers at the CORE wine company tasting room in Old Orcutt, California.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red, much lighter at the edge. The very nice nose has cherries, dried herbs, black raspberries, baking spices, black pepper, and a touch of licorice. This has a medium body with fairly solid, ripe tannins and very good acidity. On the palate this initially tastes like cherry pie, then the dried herbs and more spice kick in adding depth and balancing out the fruity elements. This has very nice length with the spicy cherries and dried herbs very slowly fading. This is a very nice California Grenache that may not appeal to someone looking for a Southern Rhone styled wine, but for the rest, this will have considerable appeal.  (91 pts)

 

 

2005 Torbreck Shiraz The Struie – $37.99

I’ve been a fan of some of the lower end Torbreck wines for a number of years first getting hooked on a bottle of their Woodcutter Shiraz a number of years ago.

 

When the local wine store brought in this wine and put it on the shelf at a great price, I had to grab several bottles.  I had one not long after purchase and decided this need some extended cellar time.  It’s been well over 4 years, so it’s time to see how it is progressing.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The Winery

Torbreck Vintners was founded by David Powell in 1994.  The roots go back to 1992 when Dave, who was then working at Rockford, began to discover and clean up a few sections of dry-grown old vines.

 

Much more information on this prestigious winery is available on their website.

 

The Wine

This 100% Shiraz is a blend of grapes from Eden Valley (46 year old vines) & Barossa Valley (64-110 year old vines).

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to purple color.  The stunning nose has blackberries, cherry, violets, smoke, Asian spices, minerals black pepper, black brined olives, dark bittersweet chocolate and licorice.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the spicy berries and black pepper lead things off with minerals and a floral note coming in on the back end.  The finish is very long with a nice mix of fruit and savory elements.  This is a perfectly balanced Barossa Shiraz.  (94 pts)

 

 

We paired the Torbreck Shiraz with a family favorite on a cool, rainy, Fall day, some Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes all covered in a creamy gravy.  It’s nothing fancy but delicious.

 

 

 

2009 One Time Spaceman Reserve Airspace James Berry Vineyard – $49.39

I’m not really having much luck finding the break down of the blend used in this wine.  I’m sure it’s out there somewhere but I haven’t found it.  I guess all you really need to know is the grapes came from Saxum’s James Berry Vineyard.  The winemaker should know what to do with the grapes since his “day job” is Saxum’s Assistant Winemaker.

 

The winemaker and One Time Spaceman is Mark Adams, a rising star in my opinion.  Besides the One Time Spaceman label, he has another label called Ledge.  I recommend doing a Google search for them and joining the mailing list.  Mark is also the assistant winemaker for a small Paso Robles winery you may have heard of, Saxum.  In his spare time, he is also a musician.  Check out his latest offering, Panjanatan, I know it’s available on Amazon, that’s where I bought it, and probably other places as well.

 

The wine has 15.5% alcohol and is closed with a natural cork and sealed by a nice wax coating.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The enticing nose has cherries, blackberries, minerals, dried herbs, licorice, roasted herbs, meat juices, baking spices, dark chocolate and violets.  This has a full body, solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the fruit and spices are joined by solid minerality up front with herbs and chocolate coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length but gets a bit thin and ragged, with the tannins getting a bit chalky and drying.  This is very young and should improve with some cellar time, for the time being, let this one sleep since it doesn’t provide a lot of drinking pleasure at this time.  (86 pts now, check in again in a couple years for an accurate read)

 

 

2003 Cosentino Winery Legends Meritage – $29.99

Cosentino was a winery we always visited when we were in wine country.  After suffering through some hard times, the winery was eventually sold.  I, for one, am hoping the new owners will get the winery back on course.

 

The “Legends” wine was a joint project between Mitch Cosentino and Larry Bird.  This wine is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc using grapes sourced from various vineyards in Oakville, St. Helena, and Carneros.

 

This has 14.4% alcohol and is closed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has cherries, cassis, dried herbs, tobacco, minerals, cedar and baking spices.  This has medium body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  Nice spicy fruit and dried herbs great the palate with a touch of cedar coming in late.  The finish has nice length but does lose a bit of oomph.  A very nice wine that is just a touch short of being memorable.  (89 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

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!

 

 

 

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard

2009 Girard Petite Sirah

2008 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Prologue

2007 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Coastview Vineyard

 

 

 

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard – $15.04

There was a period of time, not that long ago, when Rosenblum Cellars was on top of the wine world.  As it always seems to happen, a successful, smaller winery gets enticed into selling to a large corporation.  To me, the transition has net been a smooth one.  Perhaps it was a cost cutting move to recoup the money paid or just the transition to a new winemaking team, the quality has slipped noticeably.  Hopefully the corporation can right the ship and get the line back to the previous level of quality.  Time will tell.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork

 

Winery history

In 1978, Rosenblum Cellars opened its now-legendary home in Alameda, California; a place known more for its docks and shipyards than for winemaking.  But then again, Kent Rosenblum, “The King of Zin,” always did things a little differently from the status quo.

 

When most of the established wineries in California were focused on their estate-grown wines, Kent chose to explore some of the unrecognized and under appreciated grape-growing areas of Northern California.  He met families who had been growing grapes for generations; dedicated growers passionate about their vineyards, who worked tirelessly to grow the best grapes possible from old vines their families had planted years before.

 

Their efforts showcased the difference between mountainside and valley floor grapes, the importance of soil types and their influence on the taste of a wine.  Kent was fascinated by the character and complexity of the Zin grapes produced by these old vines, and was determined to capture this spirit in a bottle.

 

Kent took grapes back to Alameda and began to make wines, acknowledging the contributions of his friends by placing the vineyard’s name on the bottle.  Working out of a factory building near the docks, Kent and his crew looked more like longshoremen than winemakers.  But the wine they made spoke for itself.

 

Rosenblum Cellars has become one the most-awarded and highly rated California Zinfandel portfolios.  Our head winemaker, John Kane, and his team still travel all over California to find exceptional grapes – working to make bold, delicious wines.  And if you’re ever in the neighborhood, we invite you to come visit us next to the docks in Alameda.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The fairly straight forward nose has brambly berries, vanilla, black pepper, dark bittersweet chocolate, camphor, and spicy oak.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine seems a touch thin and driven by the oak related elements with sweet berries coming in from the sides providing needed sweetness.  The finish is a touch short and again highlights the spicy oak and sweet berries.  For a Rosenblum wine, this could use a bit more extraction and depth.  This is a decent week night Zin to be consumed over the next couple of years.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

 2009 Girard Petite Sirah – $17.09

This has been a long time favorite of mine.  My consumption has declined over the last few vintages as the price escalated.  My local store loaded up and offered the wine at a killer price via their e-mail list, so I had to “back up the truck”.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

Winery History

Thirty years after first planting its vineyards, Girard continues to produce wines reflecting the quality that has made Napa Valley the most famous New World wine-growing region in the world. Napa Valley’s rise to fame was punctuated by a renaissance that began at the same time Girard was setting down its own roots.

 

As it has been in the past, Girard’s goal is to highlight the flavors of Napa Valley and its rich, ripe grapes. A small portion of the winery’s portfolio also comes from grapes grown in Sonoma’s upscale Russian River Valley, where cool weather offers ideal conditions for Chardonnay.

 

With the right grapes from the right locations, Girard offers a lineup that features both power and finesse–key words in California wine.

 

For more information, check out their website by clicking here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The outstanding nose has blackberries, black pepper, smoke, caramel, wild flowers, cherries, dark chocolate, earthy underbrush, and vanilla.  This has medium to full body, moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the berries, pepper, and vanilla leap out first with some nice earthiness and a floral element coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with some dark bittersweet chocolate entering the picture.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

 2008 Anderson’s Conn Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Prologue – $17.09

As with a lot of wines, even though it is labeled as a Cabernet Sauvignon, it is actually a blend of blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Cabernet Franc.

 

This is the “entry level” Cabernet from Anderson’s Conn Valley.  This wine is usually available for under $25.  The other Cabs produced by the winery are generally two to three times that price.

 

This has 14.4% alcohol and is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

Winery History

Since 1983 we have been family owned and operated by the Anderson’s, and since our first release in 1987, Conn Valley Vineyards has been dedicated to producing world class wines. Our 40 acre Estate is located just south of Howell Mountain in Conn Valley. When you visit, we provide a personal and highly educational experience. Located just 3 miles or 10 minutes east of downtown Saint Helena, you’ll feel worlds away from the hustle and bustle of busy tasting rooms. Come get a slice of Napa use to be, meet the owners and wine team, and most importantly taste fantastic wines in our cave.

 

Visit the Anderson’s Conn Valley site for more information.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby to purple color.  The fairly typical nose has cassis, baking spices, tobacco, dried herbs, cedar, and dark bittersweet chocolate.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  The palate has nice berry, spicy oak and dried herbs.  The finish has nice length but is dominated by the oak with the fruit buried in the background.  Nice for under $20 but it does show too much oak at this time.  I don’t think the wine has enough body and extraction to be able to absorb the excess oak.  (89 pts)

 

 

2007 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Coastview Vineyard – $43.00

For the last few years I’ve felt Big Basin was one of the wineries to keep an eye on.  I think they are one big score away from popping onto most wine drinker’s radar.  Could they become the next Saxum?  In my opinion, the sky is the limit for this winery.

 

This wine is from a 2600 foot mountaintop vineyard in the Gabilan Mountains with decomposed granite and limestone soils.

 

The wine has 15.7% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

Winery history

Big Basin Vineyards was founded in 1998 in the Santa Cruz Mountains next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, with a new winery building completed in 2003.  Proprietor and wine maker Bradley Brown sources his wines from three Estate Vineyards – Rattlesnake Rock, Old Corral Block and Homestead Block.  All of the Estate vineyards are planted to Alban Selections on steep hillsides with mudstone and shale soils – 7 acres of Syrah, 2 acres of Grenache and 1 acre of Roussanne – and are farmed organically.  Additionally, Bradley works closely with Coastview Vineyard located at 2400 ft on a mountain top in the Gabilan Mountains overlooking the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay (several miles due south of Mt. Harlan).  He has contracted with the vineyard to purchase Syrah planted in 1998 and to bud over certain sections of the vineyard to Pinot Noir and Grenache (in 2008) and plant a new block to an Alban selection of Syrah.  This vineyard is also farmed organically and managed according to Bradley’s direction.  Beginning in 2006, Big Basin started making Pinot Noir sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountains.  As of 2009, Big Basin is making three different single vineyard Pinots from the Santa Cruz Mountains (Alfaro Family, Lester Family and Woodruff Family Vineyards), plus the Pinot from Coastview Vineyard in the Gabilan Mountains.

 

Much more information is available on their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The stunning nose is full of crushed blackberries, smoke, plums, dark chocolate, vanilla, minerals, black pepper, creosote, eucalyptus, Asian spices and violets.  This full bodied wine has fairly solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate smoke, berries and plums hit hard slowly giving way to black pepper and vanilla with some building minerality and vanilla coming in on the back end.  The long, luxurious finish has a nice mix of the fruit and savory elements with minerals closing the show.  This still seems to be on the young side but this intense gem shines even today with some air.  (93 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

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!

 

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

New York’s Finger Lakes

North America’s premier cool-climate winegrowing region

 

 

2012 Knapp Vineyards Riesling Dry Finger Lakes

2012 Lakewood Vineyards Riesling Dry Riesling Seneca Lake

2012 Lucas Vineyards Riesling Semi-Dry Cayuga Lake

2012 Fulkerson Riesling Ice Wine Finger Lakes

 

 

It was my good fortune to be able to participate in an online tasting of wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York.  The event was the final online event celebrating the release of the 2012 Rieslings from the area.  The event was dubbed “Riesling Hour”, even though the event lasted for hours.

 

To follow ongoing conversations on the wines from the Finger Lakes region, check out the hashtag #FLXWine or follow @FLXwine on Twitter or give a “Like” to Finger Lakes Wine on Facebook.

 

 

I want to thank the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance and the wineries for providing these wines for me to sample.

 

 

 

About the region

The Finger Lakes became an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1982 but its history goes back much further.  The first vineyard in the region was planted by Reverend William Bostwick in his rectory garden in Hammondsport, NY in 1829.

 

The region is now home to over 115 wineries with about 9,200 acres of vineyards.  The region produces about 220,000 cases of Riesling wine from the 848 acres of Riesling grapes.

 

In 1998 the region was brought to the forefront in the wine world when Semi-Dry Rieslings from Dr. Konstantin Frank’s and Fox Run Vineyards each won a Gold medal in Strasbourg’s Rieslings of the World Competition in Alsace.

 

The major varieties of grapes planted in the region are Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer.  Each of these has over 100 acres of vines in the AVA.

 

 

Much more information about the region is available on the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance website.

 

 

 

My Line Up

There were a lot of different wines opened for the event; my line up included everything from dry wines through a very sweet Iced wine.

 

 

 

2012 Knapp Vineyards Riesling Dry Finger Lakes – SRP $15.95

 

The Winery

Knapp Winery’s 40 acre estate is about a mile west of the shores of Cayuga Lake.  Besides Riesling, the winery also grows Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lemberger, and Vignoles.

 

The winery was started in 1984 and sold to the current owners Gene Pierce and Scott Welliver in 2000.

 

The winery was the first one in the Finger Lakes to plant and vinify Cabernet Franc.

 

For more information on Knapp Winery & Vineyard Restaurant, visit their website by clicking here.

 

The Wine

This 100% Riesling is classified as Dry but does have a touch of residual sugar, 1.1%.  There were 401 cases produced.  The final alcohol is 12% and this is closed with a synthetic cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, pale straw color.  The crisp and clean nose has apples, lemon zest, minerals, white peaches and lime.  This has light body, crisp acidity, and just a touch of sweetness.  There is nice fruit on the front end on the palate with minerals and a slight saline element coming in on the back end and medium length finish.  This is a solid and very food friendly Riesling.  (Rated B+)

 

 

 

2012 Lakewood Vineyards Riesling Dry Riesling Seneca Lake – SRP $12.99

 

The Winery

Lakewood Vineyards is on the west side of Seneca Lake.  The winery has 75 acres of grapes planted, which includes 10 acres of Riesling.  Besides Riesling, the winery has 13 other varieties of grapes planted.

 

The Stamp family has owned Lakewood Farm since 1952 when Frank Stamp bought the run down peach and apple orchard.  Over time, the family planted some grapes before opening the winery in 1989.

 

For more information on the winery, visit their website by clicking here.

 

The Wine

This wine is 100% estate grown Riesling.  The wine is dry, with just a hint of sweetness from the .78% residual sugar.  There were 810 cases produced and the wine has a final alcohol level of 11.7%.  The bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light golden yellow color.  The fresh smelling nose has apples, citrus, minerals and lemongrass.  This has a light body and is dry with mouth watering, citrusy acidity.  This is bright and lively on the palate with nice citrus and minerality.  The finish has decent length shows nice key limes and minerals.  This is a nice wine that is very tasty but lacks a bit in the complexity department.  (Rated B+)

 

 

 

2012 Lucas Vineyards Riesling Semi-Dry Cayuga Lake – SRP $13.99

 

The Winery

The Lucas Vineyards history began in 1974 when Ruth Lucas and her family made the move out of the Bronx to a 60 acre farm in Interlaken, New York.  After selling their grapes to another winery for a few years, the family decided to start making their own wine.  Their first vintage was 1980 and consisted of under 500 cases of Cayuga White and Estate Red.

 

Today the winery produces 25 different wines with a total production of 26,000 cases a year from the 14 grapes varieties they grow.

 

For more information on the winery, please click here.

 

The Wine

This 100% Riesling has 2.2% residual sugar which earns it the classification of Semi-Dry.

 

This wine has 11.4% alcohol and is closed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a yellow to straw color.  The rich and juicy smelling nose is full of apples, peaches, flinty minerals, citrus, and some spice.  This has light to medium body, good acidity, and nice lingering sweetness.  Apples, minerals, juicy peaches and citrus zest coat the palate with some slow building spice coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length and is crisp and clean with lingering citrus and ripe apple sweetness.  I’d love to try this with a few years in the cellar.  (Rated B)

 

 

 

2012 Fulkerson Riesling Ice Wine Finger Lakes – SRP $29.99

 

The Winery

The Fulkerson family has been farming this land, on the west side of Seneca Lake, since 1805.  Caleb Fulkerson, a veteran of the Revolutionary War settled in the area.  The land has stayed in the family’s hands by being passed down through the generations.

 

Some grapes were planted in the 1830s but in the 1970s the family greatly expanded the vineyards.  The winery currently has over 100 acres cultivated with Riesling occupying 22 acres.  The winery has grown from 1,000 cases produced in 1989 to 30,000 cases a year.

 

For much more information on the winery, please visit their website by clicking here.

 

The Wine

Due to forecasted heavy rain, the winery decided to harvest the optimally ripened grapes and freeze them prior to pressing.  After fermentation the wine was aged 6 months in new oak barrels.

 

There were 127 cases of this 375ml bottle produced.  The final alcohol is 11% with 19.7% residual sugar.  The bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a golden yellow color.  The extremely rich smelling nose is full of honey, apples, petrol, ripe peaches, spice and orange zest.  This has a full body, good acidity, and a “boat load” of residual sweetness.  This is very rich and luscious on the palate.  The long and lingering finish is loaded with juicy peaches, honey, and citrus.  Even though this could be paired with something for dessert, I think it would be best to simply savor this on its’ own instead of dessert.  (Rated A-)

 

 

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

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!