2011 Wine By Joe Pinot Gris Really Good

2010 Domaine Philippe Girard Savigny-lès-Beaune Vieilles Vignes

2007 Von Hövel Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese

N.V. Locations E-2

2012 Kilikanoon Shiraz Killerman’s Run

N.V. Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Blue Top Brut

2005 Falesco Montiano Lazio IGT

N.V. Schramsberg Vineyards Mirabelle Brut Rose

 

 

 

2011 Wine By Joe Pinot Gris Really Good – $9.49

Pinot Gris wines, especially those from Oregon are a Summer staple in my house.  These are usually fresh and rich enough to enjoy chilled on the deck while something is on the grill cooking or to just kick back and enjoy on its own while relaxing.  These wines also usually have plenty of closing acidity to pair up nicely with warm weather, leisurely meals.

 

This was a new one for me.  Samples of this were being poured at the local wine store and for under $10, this was a winner.  I had to grab a few bottles for the upcoming “deck season”.

 

Winery history

Joe Dobbes, owner and winemaker at Dobbes Family Estate, is a pretty laid-back guy, but he couldn’t be more serious about making really excellent wine. This bodes well for the world as we know it, because these dueling demeanors bring forth a true gem: Wine By Joe.

 

This is your go-to wine. Delicious, but never pretentious. A high-quality bottle at a no-nonsense price, meant to be shared with people who make you happy.

 

See, it’s smooth and “drinkable,” as they say. But it’s rich and complex, too. Wine By Joe, priced at less than 20 bucks, is as comfortable at a dinner party as it is on a Thursday evening in your backyard. And its consistency from bottle to bottle ensures you’re going to be happy every time you pour it.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow color. The fresh smelling nose has apples, pears, lemon zest, honeysuckle, and a hint of white pepper. This has light to medium body, crisp acidity, just a touch of sweetness. The palate has nice, tart green apples, pears, and lemon zest. The crisp, mouthwatering finish has nice length from the juicy apples and lemon zest.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Domaine Philippe Girard Savigny-lès-Beaune Vieilles Vignes – $19.99

When a wine loving friend let me know the local Costco had this wine for $20, I had to grab a bottle to check it out.  The price seemed almost too good to be true, so I decided to just grab one bottle to ensure there was no problems with the wine before stocking up.  After trying this bottle, I had to make a Costco run to grab a few more bottles to enjoy over the next couple of years.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The fresh smelling nose has cherries, tea leaves, baking spices, candied violets and some earthy underbrush.  The wine has light to medium body with silky tannins and good acidity.  Bright cherry and baking spices great the palate up front with tea leaves coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a touch of underbrush adding some depth.  This is a nicely balanced wine that tastes very nice even though it lacks some complexity.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Von Hövel Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese – $13.29

We love German Riesling.  To me they offer some of the best values you can find on a store’s shelf.  These are very versatile wines that go great with a wide range of foods.  If you ever have the opportunity to sample or buy a German Riesling with a decade or two of age on it, jump for it.

 

This has 8.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a clear, pale yellow with a very slight green tint. The very fresh and inviting nose has apples, minerals, lime, orange zest, peaches, and a touch of petrol and white pepper. This has light to medium body with nice residual sweetness and very good balancing acidity. This is rich and luscious on the palate with juicy fruit, minerals, citrus, and nice sweetness. The finish is fairly long and very flavorful. This has the complete package and is very nicely balanced. This is enjoyable now but will last in the cellar for at least another decade and improve along the way.  (94 pts)

 

 

N. V. Locations E-2 – $15.38

This evening’s wine is the controversial N.V. Locations E-2 from Orin Swift.  This breaks all the “old world” wine rules.  This is a multi-vintage blend of Grenache/Garnacha, Tempranillo, Monastrell and Carignan/Cariñena from all across Spain.  The grapes are from Priorat, Jumilla, Toro, Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The very open and impressive nose has blackberries, dark chocolate, vanilla, dried herbs, licorice, crushed stones, white pepper, baking spices and earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  Layers of fruit and spice coat the palate, slowly giving way enough for white pepper, dried herbs and crushed stones to slip into the picture.  The finish has good length with dark chocolate and vanilla adding depth.  This could use some additional acidity on the back end to help support the massive flavors.  This is big and bold and is not a wine for those looking for subtlety.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Kilikanoon Shiraz Killerman’s Run – $14.99

Starting with this vintage, this wine is now 100% sourced from vineyards in Australia’s Clare Valley.  This valley offers warm days and cool nights with very little rain during the growing season.

 

This wine has 14.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The deep and dark nose has blackberries, charred wood, dark chocolate, blueberries, black pepper, dried flowers, vanilla and dusty minerals.  This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate, dark fruit and charred wood jump out first with black pepper, minerals and dark chocolate coming in on the back end.  The finish has very good length with the dark fruit, black pepper and charred wood carrying the load.  This could use a jolt of acidity to help hold the back end and finish together; right now they are getting a bit muddled.  Perhaps some cellar time will help but I’d lean towards drinking this over the next year or two before it loses any acidity. (87 pts)

 

 

 

N. V. Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Blue Top Brut – $24.99

This multi-vintage Champagne is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier.  The number of cases imported changes annually, it looks like this release had about 8,000 cases imported into the US. In 2007, this wine was on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wine of the Year, coming in at number 77.

 

This wine has 12.0% alcohol by volume.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow to straw color with an abundance of persistent, pinpoint sized bubbles.  The refreshing nose has apples, fresh baked bread, roasted nuts, lemon zest, cherry skin and vanilla.  This has a light body with crisp citrusy acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate tart apples, roasted nuts and stony minerals hit first with yeasty bread and lemon zest coming in later.  The finish has nice length with just a hint of cherry skins joining the tart apples and lemon zest.  This is easy to sip and enjoy with a light meal.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Falesco Montiano Lazio IGT – $28.49

This 100% Merlot is Falesco’s flagship product and is the result of a blend of Merlot planted by grafters of Montpellier in a land traditionally suited to white grapes.

 

This wine had 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle was sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The enticing nose has black cherries, leather, cedar, dusty minerals, dried herbs and baking spices.  This has medium body with fairly resolved tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy black cherries and minerals pop out first with cedar and dried herbs coming in later.  The finish is long and smooth with a nice blend of fruit and savory elements.  This is drinking very nicely right now but should hold for another year, maybe two.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

N. V. Schramsberg Vineyards Mirabelle Brut Rose – $18.99

This sparkling wine is a blend of 53% Chardonnay and 47% Pinot Noir.  The grapes come from Sonoma 29%, Monterey 20%, Napa 19%, Mendocino 15%, Santa Barbara 12% and Marin counties 5%.

 

There were 11,298 cases of this multi-vintage wine released on January 1, 2014.  The suggested retail price is $28, but the price I paid at the local Costco was considerably lower.

 

This has 12.8% alcohol by volume.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pink to salmon color with very persistent pinpoint sized bubbles.  The inviting nose has cherries, strawberries, minerals, white peach, yeasty bread and rose water.  This has light body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate bright fruit and minerals grab hold slowly allowing a yeasty note and lemon zest to slip through.  The crisp finish has nice length with lemon zest, minerals and red fruit carrying the load.  This is a nice, easy drinking sparkling wine to enjoy on its own or with lighter fare.  (91 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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2013 Elena Walch Gewürztraminer

2012 Elena Walch Gewürztraminer Kastelaz

 

 

 

 

 “the Queen of Gewurztraminer”

prominent Italian wine magazine, Gambero Rosso

 

 

Overview:

When I was approached about getting a few samples from Elena Walch based on a suggestion of mine on a Snooth post, I quickly accepted.  I have enjoyed some of the winery’s lower end wines in the past, but this would include one of their single vineyard offerings.

 

Even though I had previously enjoyed their wines, I didn’t know much about the winery or people, especially the owner/winemaker Elena Walch.  The brief bio included with the sample offer piqued my interest:

“The winemaker Elena has a really amazing story.  She married into a winemaking family in the 80s with no wine background and started ripping up and replanting the vineyards.  Many of her neighbors thought she was insane, but her determination paid off.  She is now considered one of the best producers in the region and is credited with being one of the first to start the quality revolution in Alto Adige.”

 

 

About the winery:

Elena Walch – the wine style is as elegant as the name.  Encouraging quality and innovation, Elena Walch stood at the head of the Alto Adige quality revolution and has gained local and international esteem for her efforts.  An architect by trade, Elena Walch married into one of the oldest and most significant wine families of the region and brought new, modern concepts to the traditional establishment.  Now, the responsibility for the family business is being put into the hands of the daughters, Julia and Karoline Walch, already the fifth generation.

 

Our cellar was built sustainably – from natural stone, underground – nearly 150 years ago in Tramin, and has since then been continually modernized and remodeled to become what it is today: one of Alto Adige’s longest-standing private cellars.  The most modern wines are all handcrafted here, with respect for the environment and in harmony with nature and in the spirit of ongoing sustainability, using grapes from the best vineyards.  The size of the production facilities and the vineyards owned by the family render the estate one of the most productive wine establishments in the region.

 

The Elena Walch Portfolio is divided into five collections:

• Selezione: Mostly monovarietal wines; from our own vineyards and from leased vineyards.
• The Favorites: Prime estate blends, exclusively from our own vineyards, excluded Ludwig
• Single Vineyard Castel Ringberg: Monovarietal wines from the Castel Ringberg estate above Lake Caldaro. The production here concentrates on family owned vineyards, separate ageing of grapes from the individual vineyards and special attention to the terroir characteristics of the wine lots.
• Single Vineyard Kastelaz: Monovarietal wines from the Kastelaz estate above Tramin village. The production here concentrates on family owned vineyards, separate ageing of grapes from the individual vineyards and special attention to the terroir characteristics of the wine lots.
• Grande Cuvée: Our great cuvée wines are born from the idea of blending the best, but at the same time very diverse grapes from our own various vineyards. Extreme selection of the grapes and precisely determined harvest times are critical to obtaining the best quality.

 

 

Sustainability:

I would list all the goals and precedents the winery have established and follow in the name of sustainability, but this post would get WAY too long.  If you are interested in this valuable aspect in the growing of grapes and production of wine, I highly recommend clicking here to read about the winery’s accomplishments.

 

 

 

 

 

Teuwen Communications is a full-service public relations agency in NYC that specializes in marketing and brand strategies for the wine and food industries.  Led by Stephanie Teuwen, the agency provides high-energy, client-focused services across multiple platforms such as media and trade relations, event production, website building, social media management as well as creative and visual services.

 

I want to thank the wineries and especially Teuwen Communications for providing me with this opportunity to try these wines.  For more information on Teuwen Communications, please click here.

 

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

2013 Elena Walch Gewürztraminer – SRP $20

This 100% Gewürztraminer is made from grapes coming from small vineyards around the villages of Tramin and Caldaro that were two to five years old.  After harvest the grapes were carefully crushed and pressed.  The fresh must was clarified at low temperatures then fermented at 68° F in stainless steel tanks.  The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks on its fine lees for several months.

 

The wine has 14.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow/straw color.  The intoxicating nose has lychee, anise, minerals, spice, citrus zest, ripe pears, cloves, honey and orange blossoms.  This has medium body with good acidity and just a touch of residual sweetness.  On the palate lychee, spice and minerals grab hold first with pears and a touch of honey coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with cloves and a floral note entering the picture.  This is very nice for their entry level wine and well worth the asking price.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Elena Walch Gewürztraminer Kastelaz – SRP $32

This wine is 100% Gewürztraminer from grapes grown in the 15 acre Kastelaz Vineyard.  This vineyard has been regarded as a classic site for Gewürztraminer for many generations.

 

This vineyard is situated on a very steep hillside above Tramin, the birthplace of Gewürztraminer.  The grapes are very carefully selected for ripeness during two harvests.  Before pressing, the crushed berries are cold macerated for 6 hours, after which the juice is clarified.  Temperature-controlled fermentation is in steel tanks with selected, inoculated yeasts.  The wine remains on its lees, with lees stirring, until bottling the following spring.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow with a golden tint.  The very appealing nose has lychee, apples, warm baking spices, rose water, minerals and a touch of orange zest.  This has medium body with crisp acidity and a bit of residual sweetness.  Lychee and spice jump out first on the palate with minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish had great length with apples and orange zest taking over.  This does have a bit of residual sweetness but the wine has the acidity and body to easily keep it in check.  This one of the better Gewürztraminer wines I have ever had the good fortune to drink.  (93 pts)

 

 

Closing Thoughts

After enjoying these two wines, I have to agree with the prominent Italian wine magazine Gambero Rosso, Elena Walch is truly the Queen of Gewurztraminer.   These wines are special and at the suggested prices, these both offer outstanding value.  The winery suggested serving these wines with Asian cuisine and I agree with their suggestion.  With the touch of residual sweetness, these wines would also be very easy to sip on their own either before or after a meal.

 

 

 

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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!