Cliff's Wine Picks

 

2014 La Clarine Farm Syrah Sumu Kaw Vineyard

2015 Domaines Arnaud Cuvee Finesse South of France Rosé

2014 Two Hands Shiraz Angels Share

2013 La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2012 Casey Flat Ranch Capay Valley

2012 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

 

 

 

2014 La Clarine Farm Syrah Sumu Kaw Vineyard – $25

This wine comes from a ridgetop vineyard at an elevation of 3000′ planted in volcanic loam soil.  The grapes were harvested in two passes to ensure good ripeness.  After 100% “foot crushing” of the whole clusters, the wine was fermented in open top vats.

 

The wine is a medium garnet color.  The open and giving nose has blackberries, crushed stones, scorched earth, dark roast coffee beans, plums, white pepper, Asian spices and potpourri.  This has medium body with soft tannins and tart acidity.  On the palate tart berries, minerals and plums come through on the front end with white pepper, scorched earth and tart cherries coming in later.  The finish has nice length with dark roast coffee beans and Asian spice providing some depth.  This is lacking some richness and body on the back end and finish, perhaps another year in the cellar will allow the wine to fill out and put on some weight.  This starts out promising but comes up a bit short at this time.  Give this one another year or two in the cellar.  This has 14.3% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2015 Domaines Arnaud Cuvee Finesse South of France Rosé – $10.19

I can’t find any information on this wine.  This may be a special one time offering with very limited distribution.

 

The wine is a light pink salmon color.  The bright and refreshing nose has strawberries, cherries, crushed stones, white pepper, melon and a touch of green herbs.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity and seems to be almost totally dry.  On the palate tart cherries, strawberries and minerals jump out immediately with melon and white pepper coming through later.  The finish has decent length with a hint of green leafy herbs and lime zest providing some depth.  The great acidity makes this a perfect companion to a lighter dinner preferably in a sunny location on a warm day.  This has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2014 Two Hands Shiraz Angels Share – $22.99

Two Hands wines are a “house favorite” around here.  Unfortunately the prices have rapidly increased, almost to the point the “Garden Series” wines are now special occasion wines.  This wine is still fairly reasonably priced as log as you shop around.  The price I paid is several dollars below the usual price for this wine.  Its a good value at this price, but for over $30 the value starts to get a bit iffy.

 

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The hypnotic nose has blackberries, plums, white pepper, crushed stone minerals, charred wood, dark chocolate, baking spices, wild flowers and dried herbs.  This has a full body with moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate crushed berries, minerals, baking spices and white pepper quickly take control with wild flowers and charred wood coming in later.  The finish has nice length with dark chocolate and a floral note providing depth.  This is a big, rich Shiraz that doesn’t offer a lot of complexity but is loaded with fruit and spice.  This has 14.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2013 La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – $16.99

This 100% Pinot Noir is sourced from several vineyards in the Sonoma Coast region.  The coastal region’s boundary begins at the Mendocino County border, continues along the western coastal edge of Sonoma County through the mouth of the Russian River Valley; and extends to the Los Carneros region on the southern Sonoma/Napa border.

 

The wine is a light to medium ruby color.  The expressive nose has cherries, baking spices, minerals, raspberries, underbrush, white pepper, slight herbal note and cola.  This has a medium body, soft to moderate ripe tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate tart cherries, spice and minerals carry the majority of the load.  There is good length on the finish with some earthiness entering the picture.  This doesn’t offer much in the complexity department but it is a tasty week night pinot.  This wine has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Casey Flat Ranch Capay Valley – $11.50

It was a sad day when I heard the winery closed their doors.  The only saving grace was that Last Bottle Wines swooped in and bout everything that had.  Besides the bottled wines (like this one) they also bought the barrels that were aging at the winery.  Being able to stock up at great prices will allow me to follow the wines in the coming years.

 

This wine is a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The very open and inviting nose has blackberries, crushed stone minerals, dark roasted coffee beans, dark chocolate, scorched earth, cassis, baking spices, cedar and dried violets.  This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  The mouth filling palate has spicy blackberries, minerals and dark roast coffee on the front end with scorched earth, cassis and dark chocolate coming in later.  The finish has good length with cedar, baking spices and a dried floral note providing great depth.  This was an absolute steal from Last Bottle.  I would have been happy to get this wine for triple the price.  I will enjoy following this wine over the next several years.  This has 14.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  This has 14.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard – $46

This wine is a blend of three Pinot Noir clones, 115, 667, 777.  The wine was aged for 10 months in 100% French oak, 33% new.

 

The wine is a dark ruby red color.  The voluptuous nose is full of black cherries, plums, flinty minerals, black tea leaves, dried wildflowers, blueberries, white pepper and dry earth.  This has a full body with moderate silky tannins and nice acidity.  On the palate waves of fruit and white pepper quickly take control with tea leaves and dried flowers coming in later.  The finish has very good length with blueberries and dry earth providing great depth.  As always, Brian provides his unique interpretation of the Pinot Noir grape.  I know his style turns off some of the purists, but personally, I love his wines…in moderation.  This has 14.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.  (93 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!