Cliff's Wine Picks

 

2015 Jean Edwards Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Dalla Gasperina Vineyard

2013 La Crema Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2012 Bokisch Vineyards Graciano Lodi

2013 Scriani Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore

2015 Bieler Père et Fils Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé Sabine

2011 Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drezery Prestige

 

 

 

2015 Jean Edwards Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Dalla Gasperina Vineyard – SRP $32

This is the second vintage of the first white wine produced by Jean Edwards Cellars.  Dalla Gasperina Vineyard is on the northern end of the Rutherford Bench, down the road from Franciscan Winery.   This vintage is a blend of 95% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon that was fermented in stainless and barrel aged in neutral French Oak..  I highly recommend getting on the winery’s mailing list to get first shot at these limited production wines and to enjoy discounted mailing list prices.  Check out the mailing list by clicking here.

 

Note:  Opening this bottle made me open another bottle of the inaugural 2014 vintage of this wine.  That review will appear in the next post.  I actually liked that vintage a touch more but that may have been related to another year of bottle age in the cellar.

 

The wine is a pale yellow with a slight green tint.  The vibrant nose has tart green apples, dusty minerals, lime zest, orange blossoms, under ripe pineapple and melon.  This has medium body with crisp acidity.  On the palate tart apples, minerals and pineapple quickly jump out on the front end with melon and orange blossoms coming in later.  The finish has very nice length with mouth watering lime zest providing good depth.  This has great balance and will last in the cellar for at least a few years but it is hard to resist right now.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2013 La Crema Pinot Noir Russian River Valley – $29.69

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir.  After fermentation the wine was aged for 9 months in 100% French oak with 33% being new barrels.

 

The wine is a medium to deep ruby color.  The sensuous nose has raspberries, plums, charred wood, underbrush, cherries, wildflowers, white pepper and crushed stone minerals.  This has medium to full body with soft to moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate berries, plums and white pepper jump out on the front end with underbrush and cherries coming in later.  The finish has decent length with a floral note providing some depth.  This is an easy drinking Pinot that could use a bit more complexity and zip.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Bokisch Vineyards Graciano Lodi – $20.70

This is a blend of 98% Graciano and 2% Tempranillo from the Las Cerezas & Terra Alta Vineyards in the Mokelumne River & Clements Hills regions in Lodi.  Graciano is thought to be the oldest variety commercially grown in Spain its origins predate the arrival of the Romans.  The grape is a hard one to grow successfully, due to its late start, uneven growth and poor yields.  There is very little Graciano planted and even fewer bottlings that can be found.

 

You can read more about this innovative winery on their website by clicking here.

 

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color.  the brooding nose has blueberries, black raspberries, white pepper, dark roast coffee beans, dark chocolate, dry underbrush, baking spices and violets.  This has a full body with moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate layers of dark fruit, white pepper and dark roast coffee beans quickly grab your attention with dry underbrush slipping in later.  The finish has good length with dark chocolate and a nice floral note providing depth.  This is something a little different, which is a good thing.  I wouldn’t sit on this one too much longer, open it in the next year or two.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Scriani Ripasso della Valpolicella Classico Superiore – $20.69

This is a blend of 60% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella, 7% Croatina and 3% Oseleta.  I picked up a couple bottle of this wine when the importer had a small tasting at a local wine shop.

 

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The very inviting nose has blackberries, dusty minerals, baking spices, dried flowers, underbrush and a touch of licorice.  This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate crushed berries, spices and minerals jump out on the front end with underbrush coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with a dried floral note providing some depth.  This is a classic, easy drinking Ripasso.  Nicely done!  This has 14.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2015 Bieler Père et Fils Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence Rosé Sabine – $11.04

This wine is a blend of 40% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cinsault and 3% Rolle.  The winery does not own the vineyard sources for these grapes they have worked very closely with the growers since the beginning.  The winery and growers look at each other as partners in producing world-class wine.

 

The wine is a light salmon pink color.  The clean and fresh nose has strawberries, cherries, dusty minerals, orange zest and white flowers.  This dry wine has medium body and crisp acidity.  On the palate tart strawberries, minerals and cherries quickly provide nice up front flavor with mouth watering orange zest coming in on the back end.  The nice finish adds a pleasing floral note.  This is perfect on a sunny day.  This has 13.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drezery Prestige – $15.99

This wine is a custom cuvee produced by Château Puech-Haut, Philippe Cambie and Eric Soloman, exclusively for the United States.  This is a blend of 55% Grenache from 60 to 75 year old vines and 45% Syrah from 40 year old vines.  After fermentation, the wine was aged in concrete vats.

 

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The very open and giving nose is full of black raspberries, chalky minerals, potpourri, cherries, earthy underbrush, pencil shavings and dried herbs.  This has a fairly full body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  Chalky minerals and berries immediately coat the palate, slowly allowing dried herbs, pencil shavings and dried herbs to slip in.  The long finish adds a nice dried floral note.  This does show just a touch of alcohol on the finish but that is a minor quibble.  This has 15.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

 

I am a big fan of the “Flash Wine Sale” site Last Bottle.  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 your existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99.9% 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!