2010 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes

2011 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris

2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir Meiomi

2010 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Barrica (Old Vines)

2010 Loring Wine Company Convergence Russell Family Vineyard

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes – $23.74

The Two Hands wines have been favorites in my house for several years.  The Garden series wines are usually excellent, but have escalated in price.  To me, the second level of the Two Hands wines are the real sweet spot in their lineup.  These level offer high quality wines at relatively bargain prices.

 

This wine has 14.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark, inky, purple color. The burly nose has blackberries, smoke, dark chocolate, plums, meat juices, black pepper, Asian spices, minerals, melted licorice, charcoal, and fresh wild flowers. The wine is medium to full body with solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity. On the palate there are loads of spicy, smoky, meaty berries with plums and dark chocolate coming in on the back end to add even more depth. The finish is long, juicy, and flavorful. A seamless, balanced, full flavored Shiraz with no rough edges. Enjoyable now and for the next five years.  (94 pts)

 

 

2011 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris – $29.99

This wine has 14.1% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The awesome nose has blackberries, kirsch, dark chocolate, minerals, dark roast coffee, candied violets and a touch of underbrush.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  This wine is loaded on the palate with up front fruit, minerals and dark chocolate with coffee and some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish is very long and again shows a nice blend of fruit and savory elements.  This wine has exceptional balance and is built to last in the cellar for several years.  This is very enjoyable today but will be even better in a few years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir Meiomi – $21.99

The grapes for this wine are from Monterey County (35%), Santa Barbara County (34%) and Sonoma County (31%).

 

This has 13.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color.  The ripe and giving nose has black cherries, warm baking spices, blueberries, mint, wild flowers and a slight earthiness.  This has medium body, silky smooth tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate this is full of rich fruit and spice with a touch of mint coming in on the back end.  The finish is fairly long with rich fruit carrying the load.  This has a touch of residual sweetness that makes the wine a nice stand alone glass of wine with friends.  (88 pts)

 

 

2010 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Barrica (Old Vines) – $12.82

This is a blend of 85% Garnacha from 70-year-old vines and 15% Syrah from Spain’s Montsant region.

 

This wine has 14.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a synthetic plastic stopper.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The enticing nose has black berries, cherries, baking spices, candied violets, white pepper, crushed stone minerality and some subtle earthiness.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate spicy berries grab your attention initially, slowly allowing minerals and white pepper to sneak in around the edges.  The finish has nice length with a nice candied floral note entering the picture.  This is a stunning bottle of wine for a touch over $10.  (92 pts)

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Convergence Russell Family Vineyard – $66.33

This is one of the non Pinot Noir wines Brian Loring has produced.  Thus far, every one I have tried has been outstanding.  This wine is 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.

 

This wine has 15.7% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red, much lighter at the edge.  The very pleasing nose has blackberries, cherries, earthy underbrush, minerals, plums, baking spices, mint and some dried herbs.  The wine has a full body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity.  The palate is loaded with spicy, juicy berries, but it’s not all about the fruit, there is also nice minerality, dried herbs, and earthiness coming in on the back end adding depth and complexity.  The fairly long finish is a nice continuation of the palate with some additional baking spices, mint, licorice and dried herbs kicking into high gear.  This is on the young side, but absolutely delicious today.  (93 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

Snooth

SPRING TIME IS FOR PAIRING – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/spring-time-is-for-pairing/

 

Balzac

Balzac Communications & Marketing – News & Views

http://balzaccommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/948F113D27729D90/DF475947E7F379DE2A1BF84ACBDD178B

 

Snooth

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DRINKING – News and Reviews from Around the Blogosphere

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-we-yve-been-drinking/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4idw7a

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN FEBRUARY 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4DCh5L

 

Crave Local

California Wine Reviews: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/california-wine-reviews-cline-cellars-and-jacuzzi-family-vineyard/

 

Crave Local

Sample Boutique Wines at Affordable Prices with Tastingroom.com

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/sample-boutique-wines-at-affordable-prices-with-tastingroom-com/

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2008 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée

2011 Brandborg Pinot Noir Bench Lands

2010 Triumph Cellars by Calistoga Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Klinker Brick Zinfandel Old Vine

 

 

 

Due to a death in the family, the wine descriptions are minimal this week.  Hopefully everything will return to normal in the next week or two.

 

 

2008 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée – $29.75

This wine has 15.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color. The gorgeous nose is full of blackberries, minerals, licorice, dried herbs, cherries, vanilla, black pepper, smoke, dark chocolate, and earthy underbrush. This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity. On the palate, mineral laden, peppery berries and some earthiness hit first followed by dark chocolate and a smoky, meaty element. The long, lingering finish leans more on the savory spectrum but the fruit provides some outstanding sweetness. This is in a very nice drinking window, which should last another 3 to 4 years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2011 Brandborg Pinot Noir Bench Lands – $18.99

This wine has 12.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a screw top.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, semi-transparent red color.  The very inviting nose has cherries, baking spices, candied violets, crisp apples, subtle earthiness, and a touch of smoke.  This has a light body, soft tannins and good acidity.  On the palate sweet cherries and spice jump out first with a floral note and some earthiness coming in later.  The finish has good length with a touch of oak peeking through the fruit and earthiness.  This seems to have just a touch of residual sweetness that makes it very easy to drink.  This is a good deal for under $20.  (89 pts)

 

 

2010 Triumph Cellars by Calistoga Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – $23.99

This wine has 14.9% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color.  The intense nose is full of cassis, melted licorice, plums, tobacco, dark chocolate, smoke, mint and a touch of cedar.  This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the wine provides nice up front fruit with solid savory notes of dark chocolate and mint coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a healthy dose of cedary oak kicking in.  Hopefully some cellar time will help tone down the oak laden finish.  This is nice now for those not turned off by oak but should be better in another year.  (89 pts)

 

 

2011 Klinker Brick Zinfandel Old Vine – $17.99

This wine has 15.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The big and bold nose has brambly berries, roasted herbs, warm baking spices, road tar, dark bittersweet chocolate and vanilla bean.  This has a very full body with moderate tannins and decent acidity.  This is a rich and jammy style of zinfandel with spicy berries and chocolate up front with more spice and vanilla coming in on the back end.  The finish gets a touch muddled as the body and alcohol over powers the acidity that was trying to hold everything together.  This was better as an after dinner drink where it shined.  Not a lot of subtlety here.  Those who like a big and ripe wine will love it.  (88 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells

2009 Benovia Pinot Noir Bella Una

2007 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses

2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Termes

2011 Austin Hope Grenache Hope Family Vineyard

2000 Château Gloria

 

 

 

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells – $12.99

I’m always on the look out for good, under $15 wines for week night dinners.  I’ve had this in the past and it was always drinkable but lacked anything approaching must buy status.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol by volume and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The inviting nose has cassis, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, eucalyptus and wild flowers.  This has medium body, soft tannins and good acidity.  This has nice up front fruit with spicy oak and a touch of vanilla coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a some eucalyptus coming into the picture.  An acceptable week night Cabernet for south of $15.  (88 pts)

 

 

2009 Benovia Pinot Noir Bella Una – $40.84

The local store brought time in and put it on the shelf at a great price.  On Cellar Tracker, the average cost for this wine was close to $55.  Not one to question great values, I grabbed a few bottles.

 

This has 14.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The very approachable nose has cherry, raspberry, baking spices, licorice, violets, minerals and a touch of earthiness.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  This offers up nice juicy red fruit and spice up front with  minerals and some subtle earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has very good length with tart cherries seeming to last forever.  (93 pts)

 

 

2007 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon – $19.00

Here’s another wine that was purchased at the local store for an outstanding price.  You don’t see too many Napa cabs on a store’s shelf for under $20.  I grabbed 6 bottles and unfortunately this is my last bottle.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, ruby red color.  The very comforting nose has cassis, warm baking spices, tobacco, dried herbs, plum, licorice, and a touch of smoke.  This has medium body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate features bright and juicy berries, baking spices, dried herbs and a touch of oak.  The finish has nice length with the berries and dried herbs joined by a touch of excess spicy oak.  It would be nice if the touch of extra oak would integrate, but I really don’t see that happening.  No hurry on this one, enjoy it over the next several years.  This was a steal for $19.  (90 pts)

 

 

2011 Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses – $12.82

I haven’t had this particular wine in a couple vintages but it used to be one of my go-to values priced wines.  This is a lend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.

 

This wine has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The very outgoing nose has raspberries, cherry, warm baking spices, cocoa powder, minerals, white pepper and dried flowers.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate jammy fruit and spice pops out first with minerals and white pepper kicking in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a touch of dark chocolate joining the party.  Not one to hold onto for too long, open this one over the next few years.  (89 pts)

 

 

2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Termes – $18.99

This is a wine that I generally like in almost all vintages but it’s not a wine I hunt down.  If I can find it at a good price I’ll grab a few bottles.

 

This has 15% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is an inky ruby red.  The sexy nose has black cherries, tobacco, blackberries, white pepper, dried flowers, mocha, vanilla and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  Intense red and black fruit grabs your palate slowly allowing pepper and mocha to slip in.  On the back end vanilla and some building earthiness enter the picture.  The finish has good length and veers solidly into the earthy spectrum with just a touch of an herbal note coming into play.  (90 pts)

 

 

2011 Austin Hope Grenache Hope Family Vineyard – $28.49

I’ve had the Austin Hope Syrah a few times in the past, so when I saw their Grenache on a local wine store shelf, I had to grab a bottle.  I’m generally a pretty big fan of the Rhone Ranger wines coming out of Paso Robles.

 

This wine has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The slightly reserved nose has cherries, raspberries, baking spices, white pepper and wild flowers.  This has a fairly full body, moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate spicy red fruit hits first with some white pepper and a touch of earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length but loses a bit of its intensity and focus.  (88 pts)

 

 

2000 Château Gloria – $33.24

This was one of my first “go to” bottles of Bordeaux.  I feel they produce a very nice bottle of wine at very consumer friendly prices.  I bought this wine just as it was released, so it has been sleeping untouched in my cellar for over 10 years.

 

This has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The classic nose has cassis, cedar, baking spices, dried herbs, tobacco and a touch of smoke.  This has medium body, mostly integrated tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate spicy fruit leads off with dried herbs and spicy oak coming in on the mid-palate.  The finish has very good length with the sweet fruit and spicy oak sharing the spotlight.  I was hoping for a bit more complexity, but this tastes outstanding.  (92 pts)

 

We didn’t make anything fancy to pair with the Austin Hope Grenache and Château Gloria, but Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and cream gravy is always welcomed on our dinner table.

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2006 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard

2009 August Kesseler Riesling R

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heirloom

2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks

2007 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard

 

 

 

2006 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard – $40.00

It would be hard for me to pick a favorite vineyard source for Copain Syrahs, but Thompson would be in my top three.

 

This has 14.7% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep dark purple color.  The very open and giving nose has blackberries, dying wood embers, smoked meat, vanilla, dried herbs, black olives and earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body, moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the wine is a bit brighter than the nose lead me to expect with cherries and dark chocolate joining the blackberries, meat and vanilla.  The finish has good length with some dried herbs and earthiness coming into the picture.  This still has years of life ahead of it.  (92 pts)

 

 

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard – $15.04

Like a lot of people, Rosenblum was my favorite Zinfandel producer for several years.  After the sale of the winery, the wines have suffered.  I don’t know if this was due to loss of the main people in the operation, bad luck, or more likely the desire of the purchases to cash in on the name quickly and recoup the cost of their investment.

 

I’ve really enjoyed wines produced from the Rockpile area for a few years and actively hunted them down.  The local wine store brought this wine in and offered it at a great price via their weekly e-mail offers.  I grabbed a case.  Unfortunately, the wine has been a disappointment the few times I’ve tried it.  One last chance to see if another years in the cellar has helped.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The fairly straight forward nose has brambly berries, vanilla, black pepper, dark bittersweet chocolate, camphor, and spicy oak.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine seems a touch thin and driven by the oak related elements with sweet berries coming in from the sides providing needed sweetness.  The finish is a touch short and again highlights the spicy oak and sweet berries.  For a Rosenblum wine, especially one from Rockpile, this could use a bit more extraction and depth.  A decent week night Zin to be consumed over the next couple of years.  (87 pts)

 

 

2009 August Kesseler Riesling R – $11.39

Riesling is our favorite white wine, by a wide margin.  When the local wine store brought this one in and had it on the shelf for a touch over $11, I had to grab a few bottles.  This is a Kabinett from the Rheingau region in Germany.

 

This has 10.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow to straw color.  The fresh smelling nose has apples, juicy peaches, minerals, orange blossoms, lemon zest and a touch of petrol.  This has light to medium body, crisp acidity and just a bit of residual sweetness.  On the palate the apples and peaches jump out first with minerals coming into the picture followed by some nice tart citrus zest.  The finish is very tasty but a touch short.  This does not offer a lot of complexity but is still very tasty.  A nice German Riesling for just a touch over $10.  (88 pts)

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heirloom – $35.00

Bedrock is becoming best known for their “field blends” from some of the oldest vineyards in California.  This wine is a blend of 50% Zinfandel 25% Carignane, 20% Petite Sirah, and 5% Alicante Bouschet, Cinsault, and Valdigue.  This Dry Creek vineyard is over 100 years old.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The deep and powerful nose has brambly berries, cherries, black pepper, earthy underbrush, minerals, warm baking spices, dried herbs and violets.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate berries, spice and minerals jump out first with cherries and earthy elements coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with dried herbs and black pepper coming into the picture.  This seems to still be on the young side.  I’d let this one sleep for a couple more years so we can see what is hidden behind the cloak of tannins and acidity.  (92 pts)

 

 

2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks – $39.99

I bought a few bottles of this wine hoping it was going to be a nice Cabernet for weekend dinners.  My first bottle was a bit disappointing since the wine lacked everything that makes a Howell Mountain Cab distinctive and interesting.  I’m hoping the first bottle was a bit off but based on a couple other notes, I’m afraid my initial opinion was right.  I guess I’ll see this evening.

 

This has 13.6% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep maroon color.  The big and fully open nose is full of cassis, licorice, warm baking spices, black pepper, leather, dried herbs, and a touch of cedar.  This has medium to full body with soft, ripe tannins, and decent acidity.  On the palate this is soft and jammy for a Howell Mountain wine.  Big, ripe, juicy, berries and spice hit the front end of the palate coating it in flavor with dried herbs and spicy oak coming in on the backend.  The finish has good length and shows jammy fruit and spice with an oaky overlay but could use some additional complexity.  This is an easier drinking wine than I expected, this isn’t one to stash in the cellar for an extended time.  (89 pts)

 

 

2007 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard – $17.10

This is a 375ml half bottle.

 

I needed a cup of wine for a recipe and decided to use my last half bottle of this wine.  This will leave me a bit for the cook to sample.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a golden straw color.  The very inviting nose has apples, pears, flinty minerality, baking spices, citrus zest, and buttered popcorn.  This has medium body and crisp acidity.  On the palate the apples, spice, and lemon zest grab the thunder with nice minerality slowly building on the back end.  The fairly long finish leans more on the spice and minerals with just a touch of oak coming into the picture.  This is a very nice Chardonnay in its prime.  This was from a 375ml bottle.  (92 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2000 Château de Carles

2008 Treasure Hunter Wines Helen’s Helm

2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

2008 Colognole Chianti Rùfina

2009 Patel Proprietary Red

 

 

 

2000 Château de Carles – $17.49

I tried this one at a store tasting not long after it was released.  I don’t have the specific grape make up of this wine, but the winery’s vineyard is planted to 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec.

 

This has 13.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color with just a touch of brick at the edge.  The very tempting nose has black cherries, tobacco, cedar, dried herbs, earthy underbrush, minerals and violets.  This has medium body with integrated tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the savory notes rule with the fruit providing a touch of needed background sweetness.  The finish has decent length with cherries and oak dominating the show.  Probably at peak or slightly past peak but drinking nicely.  (89 pts)

 

 

2008 Treasure Hunter Wines Helen’s Helm – $17.52

This negotiant wine is a blend of 59% Syrah, 18% Grenache, 18% Mourvedre and 5% Tempranillo from Paso Robles.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

This is a deep, dark maroon color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, minerals, baking spices, charred meat, vanilla, cherries, dark bittersweet chocolate, and some earthiness.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate a loads of juicy berries, tart cherries, and minerals hit first with nice spice and a meaty element coming in on the back end.  The finish is long and lingering with some dark chocolate joining the spice and berries.  This is a very impressive wine that drinks several notches above its price point.  (93 pts)

 

 

2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County – $17.50

From the winery – In 2008, the zinfandel was sourced from four appellations, Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, and Sonoma Valley, to create this delicious zinfandel.  Four percent Dry Creek Petite Sirah from Teldeschi Ranch seemed to bring the components together, rounding out the palate nicely.  Think of our 2007 Sonoma County Zinfandel blended with our 2006. Aged in French oak, 20% new, and based upon our experiment last year, bottled completely in screw cap.

 

This has 15.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle was sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, ruby color.  The sexy and inviting nose has black raspberries, white pepper, melted licorice, violets, dried herbs, and lesser notes of baking spice, dark bittersweet chocolate, and underbrush.  This has fairly full body, moderate ripe tannins, and outstanding acidity.  The palate starts off with solid black raspberries and pepper with the dried herbs and dark chocolate building quickly, on the back end a floral note and some earthiness come into the picture adding even more depth and complexity.  The long, lingering finish showcases the juicy berries, chocolate, and earthiness with the acidity giving a lot of lift and brightness.  This is in a nice drinking window, and the tannins and acidity will keep this alive and kicking through most of the decade.  (92 pts)

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard – $46.00

In most vintages, this is my favorite vineyard in the Loring Pinot Noir offerings.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol and as usual for Loring, the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep maroon color.  The very appealing nose has black cherries, roasted herbs, white pepper, minerals, vanilla bean, crushed berries, earthy underbrush and violets.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate this is lighter on its feet than I expected with nice up front fruit and spice followed by minerals and some earthiness, but then the crisp acidity kicks in and cleans up leaving some white pepper and your mouth watering for more.  On the finish the berries re-enter the picture offsetting the acidity with sweet, juicy fruit.  This is not a light bodied Burgundy styled Pinot but it is also not overly ripe and plodding.  A very nice job with a high “yum” factor.  (93 pts)

 

 

2008 Colognole Chianti Rùfina – $9.49

The local store offered this wine at a close out price via their e-mail list.  Since, like a lot of people, we love pizza and Italian food, I had to grab a six pack.

 

This has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright red with a slight ruby tint.  The very inviting nose has black cherry, baking spices, vanilla, strawberry, earthy underbrush, minerals and dried flowers.  This has medium body, moderate ripe tannins and very nice acidity.  Cherries and spice jump out first on the palate with minerals and earthy elements coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with the cherries and spice closing the show.  This was a steal at under $10.  (91 pts)

 

 

2009 Patel Proprietary Red – $60.00

This is a blend of 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec.  I just found out the wine maker for Patel is the consulting winemaker for Jean Edwards, which is a winery I really enjoy.  I bought this wine based on a suggestion from a wine loving friend.

 

This has 14.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color.  The inviting nose has black cherries, cedar, dark chocolate, black currants, tobacco and wild flowers.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins and good acidity.  Tart cherries and spicy oak pop out first on the palate with dark chocolate and minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish is dominated by the cherries and spicy oak.  A nice bottle of wine, but not a QPR star at the price.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

 The Winery

Calera is a vision, and Calera’s wines truly express the sense of place.  Rather than follow the recommended path, Josh Jensen became a pioneer in search of the perfect spot on the globe to grow grapes.  Taking his cue from the great domaines of Burgundy which have grown grapes in limestone soil for centuries, he set out in search of the perfect spot in California to create wines unique to the world but in the style of the greatest wines of France.  Site selection was vital as he ventured off the grid to plant on the site of an old limekiln in the Gavilan Mountains of California.  Today Calera wines still express that pioneer spirit and are revered the world over.  We are proud to report that even Robert Parker is convinced: “Calera is one of the most compelling Pinot Noir specialists of not only the New World, but of Planet Earth.”

 

The Wine

This 100% Pinot Noir is a blend of grapes from the following Central Coast vineyards:

Laetitia Vineyard- San Luis Obispo County

Sierra Madre Vineyard- Santa Barbara County

Antle Vineyard – Monterey County

Bien Nacido Vineyard- Santa Barbara County

Doctor’s Vineyard- Monterey County

Pedregal Vineyard – San Benito County

Chula Vina Vineyard- Monterey County

Besson Vineyard- Santa Clara County

Flint Vineyard- San Benito County

Idyll Times Vineyard- San Benito County

 

 

 

2012 Calera Pinot Noir – $23.93

I’ve enjoyed previous vintages of this wine, so I’m interested in seeing how this wine turned out in the highly acclaimed 2012 vintage.  This is usually a very nice middle of the road style of Pinot Noir.  It usually has some richness but is not overly ripe.

 

The wine has 14.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The tempting and inviting nose has black cherries, baking spices, earthy underbrush, wild flowers, cola and a touch of spicy oak.  This has medium body, soft to moderate ripe tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit is a bit brighter than the nose lead me to expect with tart cherries and baking spices up front with some building earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with fruit and spice carrying the load.  This is very nice for an entry level Pinot and a keeper for a touch over $20.  (90 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2004 Kaesler Shiraz The Bogan

2007 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Chaine d’ Or Vineyard

2005 Terre del Marchesato Emilio Primo Toscana IGT

2007 Keplinger Grenache N=1

 

 

 

2004 Kaesler Shiraz The Bogan – $36.99

This wine has 2% Viognier blended in with the Shiraz.  I was a bit surprised to see this wine was aged in Pennsylvanian oak barrels.  I did not even know there were oak barrels produced in PA, let alone exported to Australia.

 

This wine has 15.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The stunning nose has cassis, wood smoke, cedar, blackberries, warm baking spices, dark chocolate, dusty minerals, dried flowers and a touch of freshly ground dark roasted coffee.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the rich fruit is buffered with solid spice, minerals and dark chocolate.  On the back end dark roasted coffee and a floral note come into the picture.  This is big and ripe but held together nicely with solid acidity and a good tannic backbone.  The finish shows the rich fruit with a nice overlay of spicy oak.  This is nicely balanced and seems to be entering a good drinking window and should hold for several more years.  A rock solid effort.  (94 pts)

 

 

2007 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Chaine d’ Or Vineyard – $30.00

I’ve been a big fan of the Rhone Ranger wines and blends produced by Stefania.  I grabbed a three pack of this wine a few years ago, but until now have yet to open one.

 

This has 14.1% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color.  The distinct and appealing nose has cassis, mint, cedar, tobacco, baking spices, minerals, tomato leaf and dark chocolate.  This has medium body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate a nice core of cassis, mint and cedar hit up front with spice, minerals and a green herbal streak coming in on the back end.  The green element lingers through the fairly long finish and takes a turn towards jalapeño pepper.  If the green element integrates over the next couple of years, this will be an outstanding bottle of wine.  For now it’s good but not much more.  (87 pts)

 

 

2005 Terre del Marchesato Emilio Primo Toscana IGT – $18.83

This is a blend of  Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and a small amount of Petit Verdot from Tuscany.

 

The wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red with a touch of brick at the edge.  The luscious nose has cassis, cherries, baking spices, cedar, dried herbs, violets, minerals, dark chocolate and a touch of mint.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate rich fruit and spicy oak immediately grab your attention.  On the mid palate to back end dried herbs and minerals kick in.  The finish has very nice length with dark chocolate and a touch of mint entering the picture.  This seems to be at its peak right now but should easily last a few more years in the cellar.  Note, this wine threw a ton of sediment, so a quick decant is advised.  (92 pts)

 

 

2007 Keplinger Grenache N=1 – $70.00

Here’s the background on the wine’s name, N=1:

Always game for experimentation, we relented, selecting one 600L barrel to age for another year. This wine is the first iteration of this experiment, hence the name “N=1,” and it will only be repeated in truly exceptional vintages.

 

Production was a minuscule 60 cases, luckily 3 bottles were able to find a home in my cellar.

 

The wine has 15% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep dark red color.  The stunning nose has cherries, white pepper, warm baking spices, minerals, roasted herbs, cola and dried flowers.  This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the tart cherries, white pepper and spices jump out first with roasted herbs and cola coming in on the back end.  The finish is extremely long and nicely layered.  This is absolutely stunning today but has not reached its peak.  Enjoy it with plenty of air or let it sleep in the cellar for a couple more years.  This would fit in nicely as a sleeper in a high end CdP tasting.  (95 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2012 Block Nine Pinot Noir Caiden’s Vineyards

2008 Water Wheel Shiraz Plus (+)

2003 Château Potensac

2003 La Carraia Fobiano Umbria IGT

2009 Syncline Grenache-Carignan

2005 Cosentino Winery M. Coz Meritage Red

 

 

 

2012 Block Nine Pinot Noir Caiden’s Vineyards – $12.82

I grabbed a bottle of this wine from the local store as part of my search for an acceptable under $15 Pinot Noir to accompany a casual week night dinner.  I’ve actually been able to find a few keepers in the price range but I’m always on the lookout for more.

 

This has 13.1% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright red, almost transparent.  The slightly shy nose eventually shows cherries, earthy underbrush, strawberries, wild flowers and a little spice.  The wine has medium body, soft to moderate tannins and decent acidity.  This is much more open on the palate with tart cherries and nice earthiness up front with some spice and a faint herbal note coming in on the back end.  The finish is a touch short but with nice red fruit and a reappearance of the herbal note.  The wine offers no complexity but is crisp and clean with no flaws and no lingering sweetness.   For under $15 this isn’t bad for a week night family dinner, but not much more.  (86 pts)

 

 

2008 Water Wheel Shiraz Plus (+) – $10.44

The Plus in this wine’s name comes from 7% Malbec and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon being blended in with the Shiraz.  This is usually an easy drinking Aussie wine that pairs nicely with comfort foods on a week night.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is closed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby color.  The very nice nose has cherries, blackberries, baking spices, dried herbs, vanilla, dried flowers and some earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy cherries and juicy berries jump out first with some vanilla and spicy oak coming in later.  The finish has decent length with some earthiness coming into the picture.  This is a nice, easy going wine that is not very complex but tasty.  (88 pts)

 

 

2003 Château Potensac – $19.99

This is one of my favorite economically priced Bordeaux wines.  In good vintages this wine usually represents a great value.  In this vintage the wine is a blend of 43.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 23.5% Cabernet Franc.

 

This wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby to purple color. The very open and inviting nose has cassis, minerals, tobacco, licorice, baking spices, leather, dried herbs, cherries, and cedar. This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very nice acidity. Nice fruit, spice and minerals take center stage on the palate with some spicy oak coming in on the back end. The finish has decent length but the oak does pop out a touch and the tannins get a touch chalky. This is a nice value priced Bordeaux.  (89 pts)

 

 

2003 La Carraia Fobiano Umbria IGT – $19.99

This wine is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Umbria region of Italy.  The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in a mix of old and new oak barrels.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The classic nose has cassis, tobacco, leather, cedar, cherries, baking spices, cocoa powder and minerals.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit and cedar jump out initially with baking spices, cocoa powder and cherries coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a bit of earthiness coming into the picture.  The tannins do get a touch chalky on the finish.  This is probably as good as it will get with this one, which isn’t too bad.  (89 pts)

 

 

2009 Syncline Grenache-Carignan – $19.94

If you’ve been reading my posts for more than just a couple of weeks, you’ll see I love just about all wines.  That said, my heart belongs to the grapes from the Rhone region in France.  I think these are some of the most versatile grapes in the world.  These grapes seem to be able to adapt to where ever they are planted and can produce many different styles of wine.  I found this specific wine when a  friend tweeted he had this in his glass one evening.  I was able to track down a few bottles from a store in Washington.  A few days later, they were in my cellar.

 

This is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Carignan from the Columbia Valley in Washington.  I’ve had a couple bottles of this wine last year, but felt it would be better with a bit of cellar time.  I guess it’s time to check in to see how it’s going.  As an added bonus, the wine is closed with a glass stopper.  In my opinion the best stopper for wines that will be consumed in three to eight years.  I need to see some research before I can extend the top end of that range.  I think these stoppers are a bit too costly to use on wines meant to be consumed not long after release.

 

The wine has 14.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a glass stopper.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a shade lighter than a medium ruby red color.  The bright and cheerful nose has raspberries, cherries, minerals, baking spices, licorice, wild flowers, and just a touch of underbrush.  This has medium body, moderate to solid  ripe tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate this has nice red fruits, spice and some earthiness with no rough edges.  The finish has decent length and again features the red fruit, spice and a touch of earthiness.  This should hold for a couple more years, but is very tasty today.  (90 pts)

 

 

2005 Cosentino Winery M. Coz Meritage Red – $39.99

This was the “flagship” wine from Cosentino and was priced accordingly.  The release price on this wine $150.  As you can see, I was able to grab several bottles from Invino for about 25% of that price.  This is a blend of blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, and 2% Petite Verdot from Yountville, St. Helena, PopeValley and Oakville.

 

This wine has 14.6% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color.  The enticing nose has cassis, cedar, mocha, dried herbs, minerals, licorice, leather and dark chocolate.  This has medium body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  This still tastes a bit young.  The palate features sweet, ripe fruit  and spicy oak up front with minerals and dried herbs coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with the rich fruit and spicy oak carrying the load.  This should drink nicely through the end of the decade.  (91 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2004 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino

2005 Carlisle Syrah Bennett Valley

2007 Von Hövel Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Old Vine

 

 

 

2004 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino – $25.34

This wine is a prime example of why you should support your local wine store.  Sometimes a distributor for whatever reason, has excess stock they would like to clear out.  If you are on good terms with a local store, you can get a heads up of a great close out deal.  I bought this Brunello for a touch over $25 the community average cost on Cellar Tracker is over $32 and this wine sells at auction for over $37.  Of course, a great price is only great if you like the wine.  Time to see if I got this one at a great price.

 

This wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a red to ruby color with a touch of brick at the edge.  The slightly different but appealing nose has raspberries, cherries, baking spice, earthy underbrush, dried flowers, roasted herbs, minerals, mushrooms, and a touch of mint.  This has medium body, slightly chalky tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the baking spices, red fruit and earthiness kick in first with oak, minerals and more earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a touch of mint add a nice closing element.  This is on the young side but came around nicely with some air.  (92 pts)

 

 

2005 Carlisle Syrah Bennett Valley – $36.00

I sure am glad I jumped on the Carlisle mailing list before they became a big name.  Mike Officer produces some of the best wines in California and sells them at very wallet friendly prices.

 

This wine has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The show stopping nose had blackberries, black olives, charred meat, cherries, bacon fat, licorice, roasted herbs and violets.  This has a fairly full body with moderate to solid ripe tannins and good acidity.  Berries, meat and cherries coat the palate slowly allowing black olives and roasted herbs to share the stage.  The long and lingering finish displays ever evolving layers of flavors.  This wine seems to be just entering a nice drinking window and should hold for several years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2007 Von Hövel Scharzhofberger Riesling Spätlese – $13.29

We love German Riesling.  To me they offer some of the best values you can find on a store’s shelf.  These are very versatile wines that go great with a wide range of foods.  If you ever have the opportunity to sample or buy a German Riesling with a decade or two of age on it, jump for it.

 

This has 8.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a clear, pale yellow with a very slight green tint. The very fresh and inviting nose has apples, minerals, lime, orange zest, peaches, and a touch of petrol and white pepper. This has light to medium body with nice residual sweetness and very good balancing acidity. This is rich and luscious on the palate with juicy fruit, minerals, citrus, and nice sweetness. The finish is fairly long and very flavorful. This has the complete package and is very nicely balanced. This is enjoyable now but will last in the cellar for at least another decade and improve along the way.  (94 pts)

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Old Vine – $22.50

Morgan Twain-Peterson has followed the lead of Carlisle’s Mike Officer, make very good fines from old vines and sell them for great prices.  I’m not sure of the status of Bedrock’s mailing list, but I recommend either getting on the list or accepting a spot on their waiting list.  Besides very good red wines, Bedrock produces some truly outstanding white wines.

 

This has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The very open and expressive nose has brambly berries, plums, warm baking spices, vanilla, minerals, dried flowers, white pepper and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate.  This has a medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  Tart berries and spice initially grab the palate with white pepper, vanilla and minerals breaking through on the back end.  The finish has nice length with dark chocolate and some earthiness coming into the picture.  I don’t remember past bottles showing as much acidity so there may be a bit of bottle variation.  (90 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!

 

 

 

2007 Scherrer Winery Syrah ‘Sasha’

2006 Pasanau Priorat Ceps Nous

2009 Reyneke Capstone

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard

 

 

2007 Scherrer Winery Syrah ‘Sasha’ – $31.99

I’m a long time fan of Scherrer Zinfandels and Pinot Noirs.  When I saw this bottle of Scherrer Syrah on a store’s shelf, I had to grab a bottle.  It will be nice to see what Fred can do with one of my favorite grapes.

This has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The slightly shy nose smells like a warm berry pie with dried flowers, minerals, dark chocolate and some subtle earthiness.  This is barely medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the berry pie flavors hit first with minerals and some earthiness coming in later.  The finish has good length and picks up a nice floral note and bittersweet chocolate.  This is somewhere between your typical California Syrah and one from the France’s Rhone Valley.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Pasanau Priorat Ceps Nous – $18.99

This wine is a blend of Garnacha, Merlot, Mazuelo, and Syrah.  This was purchased a few years ago from Garagiste Wine.  I had a bottle about a year ago that was outstanding but I felt it would improve with some additional cellar time, time to check in again.

The wine was 14.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The sensuous nose has black cherries, minerals, dried herbs, raspberries, vanilla, wildflowers, blueberries, black pepper, and a slight hit of eucalyptus.  This has medium body, moderate ripe tannins, and very good acidity.  The wine is rich and velvety on the palate with lush fruit up front and minerals, dried herbs, spicy oak, and pepper kicking in on the back end and carrying through the long finish.  This is an outstanding bottle of wine, not as rough and tumble as I was expecting.  This can be enjoyed over the next half decade, perhaps longer.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Reyneke Capstone – 25.69

This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Shiraz and 10% Merlot from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa.  I’ve never been a big fan of South African wines, to me they always seem to be looking for an identity.  This one received a high score and a great review from Wine Advocate.

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The exotic nose has cherries, raspberries, mint, black pepper, dried herbs, minerals and dried flowers.  This is barely medium body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the red fruit and chalky minerals start the show with dried herbs and black pepper coming through on the back end.  The finish get a touch lean but adds a nice floral note.  This just seems to be missing a few parts and comes up a bit short on providing an enjoyable glass of wine.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Rosella’s Vineyard – $46.00

If you follow this blog, you already know I’m a big fan of Brian Loring’s wines.  His Rosella’s Vineyard is generally my second favorite wine behind the Clos Pepe wines.  These are generally made in a bigger riper style, very Californian.  If you’re looking for a Burgundian style of wine, look elsewhere.  If you are looking for a rich and flavorful Pinot Noir, welcome home.

This has 14.9% alcohol by volume and is closed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice deep garnet red color.  The easy to enjoy nose has black raspberries, black cherries, minerals, wild flowers, baking spices, earthy underbrush and a touch of mint.  This has medium to full body, soft to moderate ripe tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy dark fruit and some earthiness hit first, followed by minerals and a hint of mint.  The finish has great length and full of nicely layered fruit, spice and earthiness.  May be a touch on the young side but this tastes marvelous.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

You can follow me on Twitter for more wine info, potential food pairings, and an occasional recipe or two.  Be warned, I’m also a sports fan and there are occasional Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers, and Pirates tweets.  I attended the University of South Carolina, so during football season, there will also be some Gamecock posts.

 

If you like this post, consider joining Cliffs Wine Picks Wine Blog on Facebook and giving me a Like.

 

Cheers!

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

***** Shameless Self Promotion *****

 

 

Here is a link to a YouTube video of me getting “coal” from Santa for being named the “Nicest Person in Social Media” in 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOvQTeGR3-c

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

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 my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  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!