Cliff's Wine Picks

 

2014 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County

2007 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity

Locations WA-4

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Bedrock Vineyard

2007 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah

2014 Macchia Sangiovese Amorous Lodi

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select

2014 Vignerons de Bel Air Morgon Le Py

2011 Elyse Zinfandel Morisoli Vineyard

 

 

 

2014 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County – $18.89

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 is a blend of Syrah from assorted vineyards in Santa Barbara County that provide diverse microclimates.

 

I will preface this review by noting there was a touch of leakage visible on the end of the cork.  I was able to see a small groove in the cork that allowed a drop of wine to escape.  Generally if wine can seep out, a bit of air can seep in.  I have additional bottles of this in the cellar so this review may be replaced when I open the next bottle if the wine has discernible differences.  The bottle doesn’t seem to be damaged in any way.  The wine is a deep maroon color.  The sexy nose is full of blackberries, blueberries, road tar, black pepper, dark chocolate, violets and warm baking spices.  This has a full body with soft to moderate tannins and nice acidity.  Juicy berries and blueberries coat the palate on the front end with black pepper and baking spices coming in later.  The finish has very good length with dark chocolate and violets providing nice depth.  This is really walking a fine line in regards to the ripeness, as is, it seems to have a bit of residual sweetness.  This isn’t for everyone, but for me, it was very enjoyable.  This has 14.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2007 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity – $20.27

Even though they are out of vogue, we still love a nice Australian Shiraz.  Those of us who still drink these wines are usually rewarded with great pricing.  I was able to stock up on this gem for about half the suggested price when the local wine store brought in a fair amount several years ago.

 

2007 was a very challenging vintage, the effects of the ongoing drought and frosty weather greatly reduced yields.  This vintage some fruit from the Eden Valley to help maintain the elegance and style of Entity.

 

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The open and satisfying nose has blackberries, warm baking spices, dark bittersweet chocolate, black pepper, licorice, fresh ground dark roast coffee, dried herbs, a touch of earthiness and a floral note.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the berries and dark chocolate take center stage with dried herbs, pepper and some earthiness coming in on the sidelines.  The finish is very long with berries, dark chocolate, and dried herbs leading the way with a hit of cherries coming through in the background.  This is at its peak and should be opened in the next couple of years.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

Locations WA-4 – $20

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.

 

Even though this is a “non-vintage” wine, most, if not all the grapes, were from the 2014 vintage.  This is a blend of Syrah, Merlot and Petit Sirah that was barrel aged 10 months in French and American oak barrels.

 

The owner and winemaker for Locations is Dave Phinney, better known for his esteemed Orin Swift wines.  The idea behind this label was “what can we do if we break the rules and blend grapes from regions that are normally not blended together”?  Why not make a wine blending grapes from both Bordeaux and the Rhone and throw in some from Roussillon?  The original concept has expanded to now include unique blends from different states in the US.  Besides the normal states, I noticed a Texas blend is now being produced.

 

The wine is a deep purple color.  The enticing nose has blackberries, blueberries, dry underbrush, white pepper, dark chocolate, dried wildflowers, warm baking spices and a hint of crushed stones.  This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate dark fruit, spice and underbrush quickly grab control with white pepper, dark chocolate and crushed stone minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a dried floral note providing nice depth.  This isn’t a wine to stash away in the cellar, open it over the next 4 to 5 years and enjoy the layers of fruit and spice the wine readily offers up.  This has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Bedrock Vineyard – $39.00

Only made four barrels of this wine was produced in 2009.  The wine is 92% Cabernet with 8% co-fermented Petit Verdot.

 

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The impressive nose has cassis, pencil shavings, plums, charred meat, black cherries, scorched earth, violets, baking spices and crushed stone minerals.  This has a full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate cassis, pencil shavings, minerals and a meaty note jump out on the front end with plums, scorched earth and baking spices coming in later.  The finish has very good length with a nice violet note providing some depth.  This still seems to be on the young side, I’ll hold off opening another bottle for a couple years.  This just kept getting better in the glass with every sip.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah – $28.80

This is from one of my long term favorite Petite Sirahs producers.  I have visited the winery a few times over the years and have been enjoying their wines since the 1999 vintage.

 

The wine is a deep purple color.  The nose is full of blackberries, crushed stone minerals, vanilla, fresh ground espresso beans, white pepper and a touch of barnyard.  This has medium to full body with good acidity and moderate solid tannins.  On the palate blackberries, espresso beans, stony minerals and vanilla grab hold first with white pepper coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with some barnyard entering the picture.  This wine is in a nice drinking period and can be enjoyed over the couple of years.  This has 13.77% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2014 Macchia Sangiovese Amorous Lodi – $20.39

I love that the Total Wine in Columbia, SC carries a nice selection of wines from Lodi.  I loved my visit to Macchia last September and highly recommend trying any you may see on a shelf.

 

This wine is a fairly deep ruby color.  The sexy nose has cherries, warm baking spices, raspberries, dry earthy underbrush, violets, dusty minerals and a touch of licorice.  This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate this wine is full of rich fruit, spices and earthiness on the front end with minerals and a nice floral note on the back end.  The long, lingering finish closes with a hint of orange zest.  This is nothing like an Italian Sangiovese but the wine world would be a boring place if every wine made from a specific grape tasted the same no matter where it was grown.  This demands a hearty meal, think pasta with a meat sauce or a pizza with plenty of pepperoni and sausage.  This has 16.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select – $23.11

From the winery – The Vintner’s Select is just that.  The best barrel was selected from each vineyard site, and then blended to create a very special wine.  The flavors and aromatics are much richer and more mysterious than the Willamette Valley.  It demonstrates great depth and elegance with a touch more toast and a greater potential for aging.  The wine was aged for ten and a half months in French oak barrels and has 36% new oak influence.  The grapes were from Apolloni Vineyard (42%), Veeman Vineyard (42%) and Lia’s Vineyard (16%).

 

Just 49 cases were produced.  Wholesale $25.00 Magnums $53

 

The wine is a very light ruby red color.  The very enticing nose has cherries, strawberries, baking spices, dry underbrush, wildflowers and a nice herbal note.  This has medium body, great acidity and subtle tannins.  On the palate there is a very nice balance between the fruit and spice with the herbal note coming in late.  The finish has nice length and again shows very nice balance.  This isn’t a big, ultra ripe, highly extracted Pinot, this is much more feminine and nuanced.  This is tasting very nice today and should hold for a few years.  This has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork. (92 pts)

 

 

 

2014 Vignerons de Bel Air Morgon Le Py – $15

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 specific bottle was included in a “mystery case” I bought from Last Bottle during one of their Marathons.

 

Vignerons de Bel Air was established in 1929 by a small group of local produces.  It was these passionate producers goal to create the best Beaujolais possible from their vineyards.

 

The wine is a medium ruby color.  The slightly subdued nose has black raspberries, cherries, underbrush and stony minerals.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and nice acidity.  This is much more open on the palate with nice up front fruit and spice with a vein of underbrush coming in later.  The finish has good length with spices and fruit again taking center stage.  This is a tasty Beaujolais that is currently a little light on complexity, I’d give it another year in the cellar.  This has 13% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

 

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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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!