2010 Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage

2006 Shane Syrah Valenti Ranch

2000 Vino Bambino Pinot Noir (Bedrock)

2009 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos

2004 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah

2003 Domaine de Chevalier

 

 

 

2010 Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage – $18.71

The Crozes-Hermitage is my go to region for value priced wines from the Northern Rhone.

 

This has 12.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, cherries, dried herbs, minerals, smoked meat, black pepper, and some forest floor.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the nicely layered palate spicy fruit is joined by minerals and smoked meat with dried herbs and some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length and leans on the savory elements with the fruit providing a touch of sweetness in the background.  This is drinking very nicely today but there is absolutely no need to drink these soon.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Shane Syrah Valenti Ranch – $38.00

The Shane for this wine is Shane Finley.  Shane has worked for Torbreck in Australia, Domaine Pierre Gaillard in the Northern Rhone, Copain Custom Crush, Kosta Browne, and Lynmar Estate before starting his winery.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark purple to black color.  The very inviting nose has blackberries, cherries, warm baking spices, creosote, black pepper, underbrush, licorice and violets.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the baking spices and cherries jump out first with blackberries, black pepper and charred oak coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with some dark chocolate and violets coming into the picture.  The charred oak element at times pops out a little too hard but other wise this has good balance and is very tasty.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2000 Vino Bambino Pinot Noir (Bedrock) – $20.00

This wine was made my Morgan Twain-Peterson, currently of Bedrock, when he was 19 years old.  This was stashed away in their cellar and forgotten about for many years.  Upon finding it and trying it, this was released as part of a Bedrock offer.

 

The bottle does not seem to have the alcohol listed.  This was closed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

I should note, my wine was just delivered last week.  It looks like all the sediment and “gunk” that had settled was mixed back into the wine during shipping.  I’m sure that is the reason for my color note.

 

The wine is a murky/cloudy ruby to brick color.  The very inviting and sensual nose has cherries, baking spices, raspberries, earthy underbrush, and a touch of “Pinot funk”.  This has medium body, fully integrated tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate tart cherries and baking spice hit first, slowly allowing nice earthiness to slip into focus.  The finish has very good length with the tart fruit, spice and earthiness to take turns leading the show.  This is a stunning, aged California Pinot Noir.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos – $11.39

Vintage after vintage, this is a favorite week night wine in my house.  This may not have the most complexity out there, but it is generally loaded with flavor.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has raspberries, smoke, vanilla, baking spices, cherries, fresh ground espresso beans, white pepper, and some dried herbs.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit and spice lead off with white pepper, dried herbs, and the coffee coming in later.  The finish has nice length with a dark chocolate note joining the party.  A very nice wine and an incredible value.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2004 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah – $28.80

This has been a favorite Petite Sirah since I first visited the winery well over a decade ago.  I always encourage friends to visit the winery since a visit usually includes barrel tasting at least a few of their wines.  On one visit, we must have tasted wines for a dozen different barrels.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark purple to black color.  The intoxicating nose has blackberries, black pepper, warm baking spices, cedar, well worn leather and just a hint of adhesive tape.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  The palate is dominated by spicy, peppery berries on the front end with a touch of cedar coming in late.  The finish has very good length and is a continuation of the palate.  The wine does seem to have a touch of brett but only in a good way.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2003 Domaine de Chevalier – $49.99

Many years ago, my wife accompanied my sister on a trip to France.  One day they visited the Domaine for a wine tasting, which quickly made the winery #1 on my wife’s Bordeaux list.  Any time I see this wine on a store’s shelf, I have to grab a bottle.

 

The wine has 13.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice ruby red color.  The calming and inviting nose has cassis, baking spices, tobacco, cedar, dried herbs, scorched earth, minerals and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the spicy cassis and dried herbs coat the mouth, slowly allowing tobacco, cedar, minerals and a bit of earthiness to slip into the picture.  The finish has nice length with the savory notes taking control and the fruit pushed into the background providing nice sweetness.  This seems to be in a prime drinking window with just a touch of air.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

Win an All-inclusive VIP Sonoma Winecation

 

 

Underground Cellar is offering you a chance to win an all-inclusive VIP weekend in Sonoma wine country.

 

The winner will get the following with a value of $6,500:

• Weekend getaway for 4 to California’s exclusive Sonoma wine country
• Stay at the luxurious 5,500 sq. ft. Villa Terra Nova Retreat
• Behind-the-scenes private tour of Iron Horse Vineyards, by winemaker David Munskgard
• VIP chef’s dinner at award-winning “the girl and the fig” restaurant
• Rountrip airfare, luxury transportation, and many other surprises!

Click here to enter.   If you win, you can even include me as one of your friends.

Even if you don’t win the grand prize, there is over $3,000 of gift cards with a value of up to $200 to be given away.

 

While you’re there, check out Underground Cellar unique wine selling model.  You can “buy” a lower cost wine and get upgraded to a much more expensive bottle for free.  For example, one of their current offers is $42 for a 2008 Balboa Brioso.  If you buy this wine, you could get “upgraded” to 2007 Stonestreet Monument Ridge Cabernet ($60 value), 2009 Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet ($85 value), 2007 Anderson’s Conn Valley Reserve Cabernet ($130 value), 1994 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon ($150 value), or even a 1985 BR Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Olive Hill (Helen Turley) with a value of $220.

 

The shipping is also incredible, at 6 bottles, shipping cost $5! Buy 6 more bottles and ship for FREE.

 

 

 

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:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Snooth

OUR FAVORITE REDS FOR SPRING – The Wine Cognoscenti Recommend

http://www.snooth.com/articles/our-favorite-reds-for-spring/?viewall=1#ixzz2xkH0dfSj

 

Snooth

WHAT’S A GREAT GRENACHE? – Our Friendly Wine Experts Share Their Favorites!

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-ys-a-great-grenache-5209/

 

Snooth

SPRING TIME IS FOR PAIRING – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/spring-time-is-for-pairing/

 

Balzac

Balzac Communications & Marketing – News & Views

http://balzaccommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/948F113D27729D90/DF475947E7F379DE2A1BF84ACBDD178B

 

Snooth

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DRINKING – News and Reviews from Around the Blogosphere

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-we-yve-been-drinking/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4idw7a

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN FEBRUARY 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4DCh5L

 

Crave Local

California Wine Reviews: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/california-wine-reviews-cline-cellars-and-jacuzzi-family-vineyard/

 

Crave Local

Sample Boutique Wines at Affordable Prices with Tastingroom.com

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/sample-boutique-wines-at-affordable-prices-with-tastingroom-com/

 

 

 

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!