Cliff's Wine Picks

 

2011 Elyse Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard

2015 Gérard Bertrand Cote des Roses

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc Reserve En Bonbonne

2004 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah

2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Old Vine Rosé

2013 Cosa Obra Pinot Noir

 

 

 

2011 Elyse Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard – $17.31

This was another “steal” from Last Bottle wines, my favorite “flash” wine site.  If you use the provided link and sign up, you get an immediate credit and I get a credit if/when you make a purchase.  Check them out, they have awesome deals and their Marathons are always something special.

 

This wine is a blend of 87% Zinfandel, 13% combination of Alicante Bouschet, Carignane, Durif, Grand Noir, Muscat Hamburg, Négrette, Syrah, and Valdiguié.  Elyse has been making Zinfandel from the Morisoli Vineyard since 1986 and have been the only producer using these grapes since 1988.

 

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The captivating nose has brambly berries, black peppercorns, dusty minerals, scorched earth, baking spices, dark chocolate, cherries, violets and just a hint of roasted leafy herbs.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate brambly berries, baking spices and dusty minerals immediately jump out with spicy oak, black pepper and cherries coming in later.  The finish has nice length with some subtle earthiness joining a floral note and dark chocolate to add solid depth.  This is a well balanced, food friendly Zinfandel to enjoy over the remainder of the decade.  This wine has 14.4% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2015 Gérard Bertrand Cote des Roses – $11.49

This is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah.

 

The three grape varietals are harvested separately when they reach the desired level of ripeness, not all at the same time.  The grapes are machine harvested and contains a built-in sorting system.

 

The wine is a bright pink salmon color.  The tantalizing nose has raspberry, white peach, white pepper, cherries, minerals, orange zest and a hint of leafy herbs.  This has medium body with a creamy texture and nice acidity.  On the palate bright fruit and minerals take control on the front end with white pepper and leafy herbs coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a bit of orange zest providing some depth.  Not a lot of complexity but tasty.  This would be perfect for a light lunch on the deck or patio on a sunny day.  This has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a glass stopper.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Blanc Reserve En Bonbonne – SRP $50

This was a sample provided by the winery or a company working on their behalf.

 

This wine is a blend of 55% Roussanne, 26% Grenache Blanc and 19% Picpoul Blanc and is the winery’s homage to the complex blended wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

 

The wine is a very light yellow color with a slight green tint.  The intriguing nose has apple, honeysuckle, lemon zest, pears, chalky minerals, beeswax, orange blossoms and a hint of leafy herbs.  This is creamy and medium bodied on the palate with enough acidity to keep it lively.  On the palate apples, pears and chalky minerals quickly grab control on the front end with orange blossoms and lemon zest slipping in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with a leafy herb note providing depth.  This is in a very nice drinking window right now and it should hold for another few years.  This has 14.1% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.   (92 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 from a dozen different barrels.

 

This is the winery’s “signature” wine.  It is a blend of several different blocks that surround the winery.  I’ve always felt a winery’s best looking vineyard was the one around the winery and tasting room, this is, in most cases, a person’s first impression of the winery.  Great looking and well maintained vineyards will greatly improve a potential buyer’s impression of the winery.  Conversely, if the vineyard and grapes don’t look appealing, a person’s first impression may be a negative one.

 

The wine is a dark purple to black color with no signs that it’s 13 years old.  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 with a hint of adhesive tape.  The wine does seem to have a touch of brett but only in a good way, like a lot of the Rhone wines.  This still seems to have years of life left if stored in a decent cellar.  This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Old Vine Rosé – $19.00

This rosé comes from vines planted before 1940.  The grapes were picked specifically for rosé and was not created to “beef up” a red wine, a practice at some wineries.  The majority of this wine is old vine Mourvedre with small amounts of Cemetary Vineyard Carignane and fruit from Evangelho Vineyard.  This is one of my Go-To rosé wines every year.

 

The wine is a deep pink salmon color.  The very inviting nose has strawberry, cherry, crushed stone minerals, white pepper, orange blossoms and just a hint of dry earth.  This is barely medium body with very nice acidity.  On the palate nice red fruit and minerals  quickly grab your attention with white pepper and orange blossoms coming in later.  The finish has good length with just a hint of earthiness providing depth.  This is one of my go-to Summer sippers.  This has 12.3% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Cosa Obra Pinot Noir – $22.40

This 100% Pinot Noir is a blend of 56% Carneros and 44% Russian River Valley.  The wine was aged for 12 months in 100% French oak, 30% new.

 

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The slightly shy nose has cherries, baking spices, white pepper, tobacco and dry underbrush.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  This is much more open on the palate with cherries, white pepper and minerals on the front end with tobacco and baking spices coming in later.  The finish has decent length with cranberries and dry underbrush entering the picture.  This wine has 14.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

 

I am a big fan of the “Flash Wine Sale” site Last Bottle.  You probably noticed some of the wines in this post were purchased from the site.  All of these wines were purchased at a big discount.  I highly recommend getting on their e-mail list.  Like most of the flash sale sites, they offer one wine per day until it sells out.  They also have a couple two-day marathons during the year.  Last Bottle is a great site to buy special wines at prices low enough to open any day of the week.

 

If you sign up using this link you will get a $10 credit that can be used on your first purchase.  I will also get a credit if you make a purchase.

 

Other than getting a credit as explained above, I have no financial interest in the site.  After you are on the list, you can also get the same credit by introducing friends to Last Bottle.

 

 

 

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Cheers!

 

 

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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!