Bella Grace Brut Sparkling Wine

2013 Bella Grace Montagñaro

2010 Martinelli Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2011 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino

2012 Miner Family Grenache Hudson Vineyard

2008 Cairdean Vineyards Zinfandel

2013 Giacomo Montresor Ripasso della Valpolicella Capitel della Crosara

2011 Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County

2012 Viña El Huique Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Colchagua Valley

 

 

 

Bella Grace Brut Sparkling Wine – $16.80

The winery was named for the owner’s two grandmother’s, Bella and Grace.

 

This wine is from Mendocino County and was bottled at Roederrer Estates.  It is a blend of 73% Chardonnay and 27% Pinot Noir.  This wine was purchased directly from the winery when they were having a sale over the holiday season, the SRP on this wine is $24.

 

The wine is a light golden straw color with abundant pinpoint sized bubbles.  The fresh smelling nose has apples, light toast, lemon curd, lime zest, chalky minerals and white flowers.  This is light and crisp on the palate with tart lemon, creamy apples, minerals and closing lime zest.  The finish has nice length with mouthwatering citrus prompting you to reach for another sip.  (90 pts)

 

 

2013 Bella Grace Montagñaro – SRP $23

This unique Amador County wine is a blend of 50% Zinfandel and 50% Barbera.  This bottle of wine was a free sample from the winery that was added to a case purchase.  To learn more about the winery or to pick up some great wine visit the winery’s site by clicking here.

 

The wine is a medium garnet color.  The exotic nose has blackberries, scorched earth, black cherries, dusty minerals, licorice, white pepper, dried violets and a hint of eucalyptus.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate dusty, earthy fruit and spice jump out quickly with white pepper and dried flowers coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with the savory elements in the front with fruit supplying nice background sweetness.  This intriguing blend has very nice balance.  (91 pts)

 

 

2010 Martinelli Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – $18.61

This wine was purchased during the latest Last Bottle Wines marathon.  After having an unpleasant experience at the winery several years ago, I pretty much swore off buying any of their wines until this killer bargain popped up.  Maybe the tasting room personnel were having a bad day but totally ignoring customers and talking down to them is not the right way to increase customer loyalty.

 

This wine has 15.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The pleasing nose has cherries, earthy underbrush, baking spices, wildflowers, cranberries and a hint of smoke.  This has medium to full body with soft to moderate tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate spicy cherries and underbrush jump out first with a nice floral note and a touch of tart cranberries coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with cherries and white pepper slowly bringing the curtain down.  This has surprising balance and is light on its feet for having 15.5% alcohol.  The alcohol never pops out so it is well hidden behind a wall of fruit and spice.  (92 pts)

 

 

2011 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino – $18.99

This 100% Sangiovese comes from vineyards in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, at elevations of 150-350 metres on well-exposed hillslopes south-east of Montalcino.  The wine was aged in a mix of Slavonian and French oak barrels for a minimum of 8 months followed by a minimum of 3 months of bottle aging before it is released.

 

This wine has 14.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The intriguing nose has cherries, dusty minerals, dried thyme, baking spices, raspberry, leather and a touch of underbrush.  This is barely medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very good acidity.  Cherries, minerals and spice initially take hold on the palate with dried thyme and leather coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with just a touch of earthiness entering the picture.  This is on the young side but already showing very nicely.  (91 pts)

 

 

2012 Miner Family Grenache Hudson Vineyard – $17.91

This is another wine that I purchased from Last Bottle Wines during their last marathon.  If you like great wines at great prices, I highly recommend checking them out.  By clicking here you can sign up for their e-mail offers.  As a special bonus, we both get a credit in our account after your first purchase.

 

This wine has 14.3% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The slightly shy nose has cherries, dusty minerals, white pepper, dried flowers, plums and baking spices.  This is barely medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  This is much more open on the palate than it was on the nose with spicy, tart cherries, white pepper and dusty minerals with dried flowers and plums coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with cherries and white pepper holding down the fort.  Not your typical, push the ripeness limit, California Grenache.  This has nice balance and finesse.  (89 pts)

 

 

2008 Cairdean Vineyards Zinfandel – $13.49

This was a steal of a purchase from Invino around Labor Day.  I was able to grab a 6 pack each of this wine as well as the winery’s 2010 Napa Valley Petite Sirah for about $150 delivered.

 

Cairdean Vineyards was a new one for me in 2014.  I was involved in a couple online chats featuring a few of their wines and I immediately fell in love with them.  For those of you who have been following me for a while, you know I’m not a big California Merlot fan, but I flipped over one of Cairdean’s.  I highly recommend checking out this up and coming winery.

 

This wine has 15.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is ruby red with just a touch of brick at the edge.  The slightly shy nose has cherries, brambly berries, baking spices, eucalyptus, white pepper and a hint of wood smoke.  On the palate berries, tart cherries and spices jump out first with white pepper and eucalyptus coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with cherries, baking spices and white pepper carrying the bulk of the load.  Contrary to the 15.2% alcohol on the label, this is not a big and syrupy Zin.  This will last in the cellar through the end of the decade.  (92 pts)

 

 

2013 Giacomo Montresor Ripasso della Valpolicella Capitel della Crosara – $16.99

I took a flier on a bottle of this wine when I saw it on the shelf at the local Total Wine.

 

This wine has 14.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

The wine is a deep garnet red color.  The soothing nose has cherries, dusty minerals, baking spices, earthy underbrush and a hint of eucalyptus.  This has medium body with moderate smooth tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate juicy cherries, baking spice and dusty minerals jump out on the front end with a nice vein of earthy elements coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a hint of eucalyptus coming into the picture.  (88 pts)

 

 

2011 Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County – $18.81

This is another bottle that popped up on the latest Last Bottle marathon.  Even though I had heard of the winery, this was my first purchase of any of their wines.

 

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

 

The wine is a medium to deep ruby red color.  The inviting nose has ripe cherries, raspberries, baking spices, underbrush, white pepper, lemon zest and crushed stones.  This has medium body with moderate silky tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cherries, raspberries, baking spices and white pepper jump out quickly with crushed stones coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a touch of citrus acidity leaving your mouth watering for another sip.  This shows nice balance and depth.  (91 pts)

 

 

2012 Viña El Huique Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Colchagua Valley – $15.29

I bought this at a wine shop here in South Carolina when I had a tasting with the owner of the importing company that handles the wines from small wineries in Spain, Portugal and Chile among others.  As we tasted through the portfolio he could tell my expectations were low when we got to this wine.  He asked if I had ever had it, which I had not.  I mentioned my dislike of the green pepper element in a lot of the Chilean wines I’ve had over the years.  He agreed with me and stated he was very sensitive to those same aromas and he won’t carry them.

 

Needless to say, there is no green pepper aromas in this wine.

 

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

 

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The appealing nose has cassis, cedar, cherries, earthy underbrush, baking spices and a hint of grapefruit zest.  This has medium body with moderate to solid tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate cassis, tart cherries and spice jump out quickly with cedar and dry earth coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with spicy fruit and a touch of mouthwatering grapefruit zest lingering nicely.  (90 pts)

 

 

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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 always check out the sale and close out items when in a store.  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!