2006 Mitolo Shiraz Savitar

2011 Calera Pinot Noir

2010 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks

 

 

 

2006 Mitolo Shiraz Savitar – $29.99

Mitolo is one of the premiere wineries in Australia.  The wine maker, Ben Glaetzer, is one of the Australia superstars in the wine business.  I’m a big fan of their lower priced Reiver Shiraz but jumped on an opportunity to take a few bottles of this wine off a friend’s hands after they bought a case at a very special price.  This wine had a release price of $65 but I was able to grab a few at less than half that price.  That’s only a win if you like the wine.  Based on a bottle I had several months ago, this is a win!

 

This wine is a blend of only the best barrels of Shiraz and will provide serious enjoyment for anyone that is a fan of big, rich, Aussie Shiraz.

 

Winery history

For such a young winery, Mitolo’s history is rich.  It’s one studded with success, wide acclaim, and – most importantly – truly memorable wines.  But that’s only to be expected from a winery which, since the very first day, has been motivated by three potent words:

 

Purity. Elegance. Power.

 

Those were the guiding principles Frank Mitolo wrote down when he created the winery in 1999.  With his Italian heritage and a family history of working the land, Frank was only interested in pursuing excellence.  And the results were there immediately in the release of the first Mitolo wine – the 2000 G.A.M. – named after Frank’s children Gemma, Alexander and Marco.

 

Attracted by this commitment to only create wines of outstanding quality, acclaimed winemaker Ben Glaetzer joined Mitolo as a partner in 2001.  With grapes sourced from two of Australia’s premier wine regions, McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley, Frank and Ben now work tirelessly to surpass their already impressive achievements.  Mitolo Wines, praised by some of the world’s toughest critics, are now enjoyed in more than 20 countries around the world.

 

And that is just the start.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color. The rich and luxurious nose has blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, vanilla, smoked meat, dried herbs, warm baking spices and some earthiness. This has a full body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity. This is a massive wine on the palate with loads of spicy, peppery berries with a nice smoked meat element followed by spicy oak and dried herbs. The finish is very long and like the palate, packed with flavor. No subtlety and not the most complex wine out there, but very balanced and tasty. Not a wine for everyone nor an everyday wine, but on occasion, this one will rock.  This is still on the young side, it should improve with additional cellar time.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Calera Pinot Noir – $24.69

I’m a big fan of the single vineyard offerings of Calera Pinot Noir wines.  Unfortunately, most of these single vineyard offerings are a bit pricey to open on a week night.  That’s where their appellation wines come into play.  These are generally very nice, varietally correct Pinots, that can be found for south of $25.

 

This wine is made of fruit purchased from over a dozen vineyard sources in California’s Central Coast region.  In this vintage, grapes from seven different vineyards were blended for the final product.

 

Winery history

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.”

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color, much lighter at the rim. The fresh smelling nose has cherries, flowers, baking spice, eucalyptus, crushed stone minerals, and a touch of forest floor. This has medium body, soft tannins, and nice acidity. Nice red fruit on the palate with spice and just a touch of earthiness. The finish has nice length with the eucalyptus and minerals making an appearance to go with the sweet fruit. A very nice, easy drinking, under $25 Pinot Noir.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc – $15.19

Cloudy Bay has been my favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for several years.  Obviously that opinion is shared by a lot of wine drinkers.  This is not the lowest priced Sauvignon Blanc in the marketplace, at times it is a challenge to find it for under $25.  A couple years ago, when my local store had it on sale for under $16, I loaded up.  Unfortunately, this is my last bottle from that buy.

 

If you are a fan of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc and want to find a lower priced alternative, try to source some Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc.  The owner/winemaker for Greywacke is Kevin Judd, the founding winemaker for Cloudy Bay.  After 25 vintages at Cloudy Bay, Kevin set out on his own.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, pale yellow to straw color.  The fresh and tropical nose has lime, grapefruit, minerals, fresh cut grass, and orange blossoms.  This has light body with tart, citrusy acidity.  On the palate the crisp fruit and minerals steal the show with the grapefruit notes giving way to lime with a nice herbal edge.  The finish has very good length with the lime and grapefruit allowing minerals and herbal elements to poke through.  As usual, another outstanding offering from Cloudy Bay.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks – $39.99

I’ve had and loved the Ladera Howell Mountain Cabernet for a number of years.  This is the first vintage of this specific wine.  This wine was actually created mainly for restaurants to have on their wine list as an earlier drinking, Howell Mountain cab, that could be listed for under $100.  Since this is a new wine and I bought it without tasting it, I didn’t know if it needed a bit of cellar time.  Luckily, the local store had a big wine tasting yesterday and this was one of the wines being poured.  I was lucky enough to grab a taste and decided it was good to go now.

 

This is a blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot from Napa Valley’s Howell Mountain.

 

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 back end.  The finish has good length and shows jammy fruit and spice with an oaky over lay 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)

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

2009 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec

2011 Wine By Joe Pinot Gris Really Good

2007 Big Basin Vineyards Mandala

2009 Domaine Roche Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne

 

 

It was a nice first part of the week both weather and wine wise.  We were able to have dinner on the deck a couple days but Wednesday was hot and a bit too humid to eat outside.  We were able to relax on the deck with a glass of wine after dishes were cleaned up and a coming storm brought a nice breeze.

 

The nice weather allowed me to open a nice variety of wines, everything from a lighter bodied Oregon Pinot Gris to a burly Syrah-Cabernet blend from California.

 

 

 

2009 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec – $16.14

When I’m in the mood for something “different”, my mind generally gravitates to either a Spanish Ribera del Duero or, as in this case, a Malbec from Argentina.  These are two wines I just don’t open often enough.

 

Malbecs from Argentina are still very value priced based on the quality they put in the bottle.  You need to be a little selective when choosing one of these wines because they are made in vastly different styles.  Some are fruit forward, easy drinking wines but others, like this one are more serious and need some hearty food.  If you’ve never had a Malbec from Argentina, you owe it to yourself, and wallet, to check them out. 

 

This wine was bestowed the number 58 rating on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2011.

 

Winery history

It is part of our family’s folklore that our forefather Nicola Catena, who sailed from Italy to Argentina in 1898, celebrated leaving the famine in Europe for this plentiful new land by eating a piece of virtually raw steak for breakfast each morning.  Best described as a tireless optimist, he firmly believed that he had found the promised land in Mendoza, where he planted his first Malbec vineyard in 1902.  Malbec had been a blending grape in Bordeaux.  But Nicola suspected it would find its hidden splendour in the Argentine Andes.  Domingo, his son, inherited that dream and took the family winery to the next level, becoming one of the largest vineyard holders in Mendoza.

 

By the 1960s, however, Familia Catena was struggling.  The Argentine economy was in shambles and inflation rates were soaring.  One year, Domingo realized that it would cost him more to harvest than to leave the fruit on the vines.  He asked his twenty-two year old son Nicolás, a recent PhD graduate in economics, what to do about such a dilemma.  Nicolás advised him not to harvest.  Domingo could not follow his son’s advice with a clear conscience and picked anyway. Nicolás still remembers the sadness he felt for his father that year.

 

Much more information available at:  http://www.catenawines.com/eng/family.html

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The nose is dark and brooding with earthy blackberries, dark chocolate, vanilla, raspberries, eucalyptus, minerals, spice box, fresh ground dark roast coffee, and lavender.  This is medium to full bodied with fairly solid tannins and very nice acidity.  This is big and bold on the palate with spicy, peppery berries up front and more spice, chocolate, and coffee on the back end along with some slowly building earthiness.  The finish is fairly long with a bit of cherry joining the party.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

 

2011 Wine By Joe Pinot Gris Really Good – $9.49

Pinot Gris wines, especially those from Oregon are a Summer staple in my house.  These are usually fresh and rich enough to enjoy chilled on the deck while something is on the grill cooking or to just kick back and enjoy on its own while relaxing.  These wines also usually have plenty of closing acidity to pair up nicely with warm weather, leisurely meals.

 

This was a new one for me.  Samples of this were being poured at the local wine store and for under $10, this was a winner.  I had to grab a few bottles for the upcoming “deck season”.

 

Winery history

Joe Dobbes, owner and winemaker at Dobbes Family Estate, is a pretty laid-back guy, but he couldn’t be more serious about making really excellent wine. This bodes well for the world as we know it, because these dueling demeanors bring forth a true gem: Wine By Joe.

 

This is your go-to wine. Delicious, but never pretentious. A high-quality bottle at a no-nonsense price, meant to be shared with people who make you happy.

 

See, it’s smooth and “drinkable,” as they say. But it’s rich and complex, too. Wine By Joe, priced at less than 20 bucks, is as comfortable at a dinner party as it is on a Thursday evening in your backyard. And its consistency from bottle to bottle ensures you’re going to be happy every time you pour it.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow color. The fresh smelling nose has apples, pears, lemon zest, honeysuckle, and a hint of white pepper. This has light to medium body, crisp acidity, just a touch of sweetness. The palate has nice, tart green apples, pears, and lemon zest. The crisp, mouthwatering finish has nice length from the juicy apples and lemon zest.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

 

2007 Big Basin Vineyards Mandala – $35.00

I opened this wine to participate in an online winechat about the wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains of California.  Everyone has heard of Ridge, but there are loads of other wineries in the region making outstanding wines.

 

As I’ve said in the past, I think Big Basin is one big score from one of the major wine reviewing periodicals away from appearing everyone’s radar.  I’ve been a big fan of Big Basin’s Syrah wines and blends for a few years.  I would highly recommend checking them out.  This is mainly Syrah with a small percentage of Cabernet in the blend. I believe I read this is made up of 6.5 barrels of Syrah and 1 barrel of Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Winery history

Big Basin Vineyards was founded in 1998 in the Santa Cruz Mountains next to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, with a new winery building completed in 2003.  Proprietor and wine maker Bradley Brown sources his wines from three Estate Vineyards – Rattlesnake Rock, Old Corral Block and Homestead Block.  All of the Estate vineyards are planted to Alban Selections on steep hillsides with mudstone and shale soils – 7 acres of Syrah, 2 acres of Grenache and 1 acre of Roussanne – and are farmed organically.  Additionally, Bradley works closely with Coastview Vineyard located at 2400 ft on a mountain top in the Gabilan Mountains overlooking the Salinas Valley and Monterey Bay (several miles due south of Mt. Harlan).  He has contracted with the vineyard to purchase Syrah planted in 1998 and to bud over certain sections of the vineyard to Pinot Noir and Grenache (in 2008) and plant a new block to an Alban selection of Syrah.  This vineyard is also farmed organically and managed according to Bradley’s direction.  Beginning in 2006, BigBasin started making Pinot Noir sourced from the Santa Cruz Mountains.  As of 2009, Big Basin is making three different single vineyard Pinots from the Santa Cruz Mountains (Alfaro Family, Lester Family and Woodruff Family Vineyards), plus the Pinot from Coastview Vineyard in the Gabilan Mountains.

 

Much more information is available on their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to purple color.  The explosive nose is full of blackberries, cassis, smoke, dark bittersweet chocolate, charred meat, melted licorice, vanilla, warm baking spices, and violets.  This is full bodied with moderate to solid ripe tannins and good acidity.  The wine grabs hold of your palate unleashing wave after wave of lush fruit, spice, and savory notes in unrelenting layers.  The finish is very long, almost seeming to never end with very nice fruit slowly giving way to dark chocolate and then nice meaty elements and earthiness.  The extra time in the cellar has been rewarded in this case.  There is no hurry on this one, it should hold for at least a few more years.  (95 pts)

 

 

 

 

2009 Domaine Roche Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne – $16.14

There’s nothing, in my opinion, better than a nice Côtes du Rhône when you want something interesting without dropping a load of money.  Any time I put a piece of pork on the grill, my first thought is something from France’s Southern Rhone region.  These wines generally have an abundance of spice and dried herbs (garrigue), as well as great acidity.  This specific wine is a step up from a basic Côtes du Rhône since the grapes come from a specific village in the region.  A wine labeled simply as Côtes du Rhône can be a blend of grapes from different parts of the region.  In California terms, compare this to a Cabernet from Rutherford instead of the generic Napa Valley.  This is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah that aged in mostly cement, with a small portion in older barrels. 

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to garnet color.  The interesting and inviting nose has cherries, dried herbs, minerals, meat juices, black pepper, raspberries, baking spices, and some scorched earth.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate fruit, spice and minerals hit first with dried herbs and pepper on the back end with some slowly building earthiness coming into play.  The finish is fairly long with the savory notes of minerals and dried herbs leading the way with the fruit providing nice sweetness in the background.  Tastes wonderful today but will last in the cellar for a few more years.  (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!

 

 

 

2001 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Rosé

2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard

2008 Foris Gewürztraminer

2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Montecastro y Llanahermosa Ribera delDuero

 

 

 

2001 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Saarburger Rausch Riesling Kabinett – $21.83

We’re big fans of German Rieslings with a bit of age on them.  We’ve been know to open 20 to 25 year old ones, so at only 12 years old, this one is on the young side.  I bought a few bottles of this wine several years ago, and this is our last bottle.  To me, a good Riesling is a revelation.  Unencumbered by oak, the fruit and minerality are allowed to grab the spotlight and shine.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light golden yellow to straw color.  The slightly shy nose has apples, honey, minerals, orange blossoms, and a hint of petrol.  This has medium body, crisp acidity, and some nice closing sweetness.  On the palate apples and pineapples hit first with a nice streak of minerality and orange zest coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with very nice balance between the acidity and sweetness.  This is drinking wonderfully today and could last in the cellar for a few years, but why wait?  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Rosé – $19.00

This rosé from Bedrock as well as Villa Creek’s offering, form the nucleus of my warm weather  rosé wines.  I mix in a few others I buy at the local store, but these two make up well over 50% of the rosés we drink during the year.  If you aren’t on the Bedrock mailing list, I highly recommend getting on their waiting list.  They are producing some of the best white wines coming out of California and their reds, after some cellar time are outstanding.  This rosé completes the loop making Bedrock one of the better wineries making a wide variety of wines.  As a bonus, their pricing is very consumer friendly with a lot of wines under $25.

 

For more information on the winery or to get on their mailing list, visit their website here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light pink to salmon color. The fresh and clean nose has strawberries, minerals, white peaches, cherries, and some subtle earthiness. This has light body with crisp acidity and maybe just a touch of residual sugar. Crisp, juicy fruit and minerals dominate the palate with a touch of earthiness in the background. The finish has nice length and leaves a very slightly sweet and crisp final impression. The perfect wine to enjoy on a warm Summer afternoon with or without food.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard – $38.00

I decided to make this an all Bedrock day.  This will by my first bottle of wine from the winery using grapes from the outstanding Monte Rosso Vineyard.  Owner/wine maker, Morgan Twain-Peterson was able to secure grapes from the same block his father Joel used to create the outstanding wines for his old winery, Ravenswood.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The stunning nose is full of brambly berries, minerals, violets, fresh ground black pepper, toasty oak, vanilla, melted licorice, freshly ground dark roast coffee, and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate.  This full bodied gem has moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate, layers of fruit, spice, and savory elements take turns engulfing the taste buds, trying to out do each other.  The finish is extremely long and again reveals new layers every few seconds.  This is obviously on the young side and even though it will last in the cellar through the end of the decade, it is absolutely stunning right now.  (95 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Foris Gewürztraminer – $13.29

It’s a nice Summer day that calls for a light lunch on the deck and a crisp, white wine.  I haven’t had one of these for a several months but prior bottles have been very nice.  Even though it is labeled as being dry, it does seem to have just a hint of sweetness which adds a touch of body and depth.  I would have preferred to have consumed this bottle last year, but as always, a bottle or two gets missed before the weather deteriorates with the changing seasons.  I remember this wine having such nice acidity and balance that I’m not even considering chilling off a back up bottle.  Let’s see how well this bottle survived some extended cellar time.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pale yellowish straw color.  The fresh and exotic smelling nose has lychee, apple, pineapple, orange zest, nice spice, and rose petals.  This is light to medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness, even though it is labeled as dry.  An almost oily texture on the palate accompanies nice spicy, fruit laced, lychee with come citrus in the background.  The finish shows nice length with the spicy citrus hanging on and slowly dissipating.  This is as good as this one will get, so I’d advise drinking up before the colder seasons roll around since this started fading after a couple hours.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2004 Bodegas y Viñedos Montecastro y Llanahermosa Ribera del Duero – $28.73

I was in the mood for something a little different today.  It hasn’t been all that long since I opened an Aalto Ribera del Duero, but that bottle just “primed the pump” causing me to want another.  A lot of people prefer a Rioja from Spain, but to me the Ribera del Duero is THE destination for outstanding Spanish wines.

 

I bought several of these a number of years ago and opened one WAY too young.  It was enjoyable but needed a couple more years in the cellar.  It’s time to see if I was able to keep my hands off it long enough.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The open and inviting nose is full of black cherries, dark bittersweet chocolate, smoke, well worn leather, blackberries, warm baking spices, and violets.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate spicy berries and cherries fly out of the gate with some building dark chocolate coming in on the back end.  The finish is very long and full of spicy cherries and dark chocolate.  Very tasty today but absolutely no hurry on this one.  (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!

 

 

 

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Sonoma County

2005 Meritxell Palleja Priorat Nita

2008 Carlisle Three Birds

 

 

 

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Sonoma County – $16.14

Novy Wines is the non Pinot Noir wing of Adam Lee’s winery empire.  I think Novy is much underrated as a Syrah producer.  Generally Novy Syrahs lean more towards the savory side of the spectrum, which to me, is where most of the better Syrahs reside.  Novy’s single vineyard offerings are generally very good to outstanding.  The appellation wines like this one are generally very good and offer outstanding value.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby to maroon color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, smoked meat, black pepper, baking spices, charcoal, vanilla, forest floor, and a touch of stems.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the spicy, peppery berries hit first followed by smoked meat and vanilla.  The finish has good length but does show a touch of stems that sticks out a touch too prominently.  This would merit a higher score if the stems didn’t leave a lingering greenish note.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Meritxell Palleja Priorat Nita – $16.74

I’m a pretty big fan of wines from the Priorat region in Spain.  These wines are generally, like the region, on the rugged and rustic side.  You will just about never hear one of these wines described as smooth and subtle.

 

This is a blend of 45% Garnacha, 35% Carinena, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Syrah.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color, almost purple.  The very nice nose is full of minerals, cherries, blackberries, dried herbs, dried earth, well worn leather, vanilla, black pepper, licorice, and wild flowers.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the cherries and minerals hit first, followed by dried herbs, crushed berries, and black pepper.  On the back end and finish dried earth elements emerge and take center stage, especially on the fairly long finish.  This is drinking very nicely, but should last for at least a few more years in the cellar.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Carlisle Three Birds – $23.00

This wine is Mike Officer’s “homage to Châteauneuf-du-Pape”.  This is a blend of 78% Grenache, 16% Mourvèdre and 6% Syrah, with most of the fruit coming from the Rossi Ranch in the Sonoma Valley.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice ruby red color.  The very interesting and inviting nose had cherries, kirsch, minerals, black pepper, dry earth, underbrush, violets, and baking spices.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the spicy cherries and minerals hit first, quickly followed by black pepper and a nice earthy edge.  The wine has a fairly long finish leaning on the spices and minerals with the fruit providing some background sweetness.  Not a big and rich wine like most of the Carlisle offerings, this has very little excess weight.  This tastes outstanding today and should and potentially improve over the next several years.  (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!

 

 

 

2009 Cellers Can Blau Montsant Can Blau

2007 McPrice Myers Syrah Les Galets

2001 Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Faset

2009 Clayhouse Vineyard Cuvée Blanc Red Cedar Vineyard

2005 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard

 

 

 

2009 Cellers Can Blau Montsant Can Blau – $12.34

This is consistently a very nice, affordably priced blend from the Montsant region of Spain.  This is a blend of 40% Carinena, 40% Syrah, and 20% Garnacha.

 

Winery history

Cellers Can Blau was founded in 2003.  The winery produces about 300 barrels of wine a year from their 34 hectares of vineyards.  70% of the wine they produce is exported.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The very intriguing nose has plums, minerals, dying wood embers, blackberries, cherry, baking spices, melted licorice, and dried herbs.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate spicy plums and berries lead the show with dried herbs and spicy oak coming in on the back end.  The finish is fairly long with some nice minerality coming into the picture and ends with a smoky note that just seems to hang on forever.  This is now in a very nice drinking window and it should hold for a few years.  A steal for south of $15.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2007 McPrice Myers Syrah Les Galets – $34.50

I don’t think McPrice Myers makes a wine that isn’t pedal to the metal.  These are generally massive, distinctive wines.  Before opening a bottle of their wine, you have to be in the mood to get hit over the head.  I have moved away from this style of wines and left the McPrice Myers mailing list, but I have enough in the cellar that I can open one to share or just want something big and rich that requires no contemplation.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The massive nose is full of blackberries, blueberries, minerals, dark chocolate, black pepper, charred meat, hot asphalt, vanilla, and violets.  This has a very full body, solid tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate there is a load of peppery, crushed berries and stony minerals up front with some meaty elements and vanilla coming in on the back end.  The finish is long and lush with some dark chocolate entering the picture as well as a touch of alcohol.  This is a big boy with little in the way of subtlety or nuance.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2001 Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Faset – $28.74

I’m a big fan of Italian Barbaresco.  I’m probably in the minority, but I prefer a nice Barbaresco over a Barolo.  Both wines are made with the same grape, the Nebbiolo, but are totally different styles of wine.  If you’ve never had either wine, I highly encourage you to try both and let me know your favorite.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color with a fair amount of brick, mainly at the rim.  The inviting nose has earthy underbrush, cherries, fresh ground espresso, road tar, baking spices, rose water, and a soft herbal note.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  Tart, earthy cherries hit the palate first, quickly followed by espresso grounds and spices.  The finish has nice length and has a slight, interesting, herbal note.  This is drinking very nicely today.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Clayhouse Vineyard Cuvée Blanc Red Cedar Vineyard – SRP $23.00

About a year ago, I received a sampler set from TastingRoom.com to review.  Of the six wines that were included, this was my favorite.  As part of the sampler set, I was able to select two full sized bottles of wine for free.  I liked this wine enough that I elected to get two bottles of this instead of selecting two different bottles.  This is a white Rhone style blend from Paso Robles made from Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier.

 

To see my post on the TastingRoom.com sampler set, see the post here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, pale, straw to yellow color.  The very appealing nose has apples, minerals, white peaches, white pepper, pears, orange blossoms, and a touch of lime zest.  This has medium body with mouthwatering acidity.  On the palate the wine is creamy and supple with apples, white peach and spice on the front end, on the back end, the acidity kicks in and wipes the palate clean leaving mouthwatering citrus.  The finish has nice length with some spice and white pepper peaking through the lemon/lime citrus.  This is a very nice white Rhone style blend from California.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard – $40.25

This is a long time personal favorite, unfortunately at the current price of over $70, I don’t get to partake very often.  I lucked into getting a couple bottles last year on WineBid for a touch over $40 a bottle.  Someone must have not liked the wine to dump it at that price.  I’m still shocked my low ball bid won the lot.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color.  The stunning nose has blackberries, smoky wood embers, black pepper, dark bittersweet chocolate, well worn leather, warm baking spices, and a touch of cedar.  This has a full body, solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate this has big, juicy berries, chocolate, spices, and nice oak and possesses excellent balance between the richness and power.  The long, lingering finish is again very rich and plush with a nice blend of fruit and savory elements.  This is drinking very nicely right now but this has the backbone and stuffing to last in the cellar for a long time.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

Something new and exciting

Fellow wine lover and social media friend, Dan Goderis, started a Blog Talk Radio show.  Dan’s first guest was another friend, Karen Troisi from Jean Edwards Cellars.  The first “episode” is available here.  I highly recommend checking out this entertaining new venture for Dan.  This episode was sponsored by Carrie and Randy Bowman from Napa Valley Wine and Cigar.  Everyone involved is a friend, so check it out!

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

2009 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile

2010 Villa Creek “White”

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select

 

 

 

2009 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile – $16.00

I think this is one of the better bargains out there for a top notch California Zinfandel.  For this vintage, I was able to grab a few extra bottles from the local wine store when they had a special promotion on Turley wines.  For the winery’s $20 release price, this is an incredible bargain, at the $16 I paid, this is an absolute steal.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color. The very appealing nose has brambly berries, black pepper, warm baking spices, cherries, caramel, and a touch of earthiness. This has a full body, moderate ripe tannins, and nice acidity. One the palate the jammy fruit, spice and pepper grab hold and grudgingly give way to some cherry. The finish has nice length and leans on the savory notes with the fruit providing nice background sweetness. This does show a touch of alcohol but not really enough to be a distraction, at least to me. Seems to be hitting its stride.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Villa Creek “White” – $20.80

Year after year this is one of my favorite white Rhone style blends coming out of California.  Every Spring I grab a mixed case of this wine and the Villa Creek Pink when the winery puts out their e-mail offer.  To me, this wine is drinkable upon release, but with a year or two in the cellar, it shows much more complexity and richness.

 

This is a blend of 65% Grenache Blanc, 30% Roussane from the James Berry Vineyard, and 5% Picpoul Blanc.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pale yellow color with golden highlights.  The crisp and clean nose has apples, minerals, white peach, orange blossoms, lemon zest, and pineapple.  This has medium body with crisp, citrusy, acidity.  A big mineral component hits the palate first, quickly followed by crisp apples and creamy white peaches.  On the backend, a jolt of citrus driven acidity clears away the creaminess, leaving your mouth watering for another sip.  The finish is loaded with citrus and minerals and has very nice length.  This is in a very nice place right now, but should hold for another year or two.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select – $23.11

This was a new winery for me last year.  Since that time, I met the owner/wine maker Anne Hubatch when she returned to her home state of Wisconsin.  After tasting through close to a dozen of her wines, I became convinced this is an up and coming winery to keep an eye on.

 

Winery history

Helioterra Wines is a small, artisan producer of Northwest wines made at an urban winery in SE Portland, Oregon.

 

Our wines are pretty, elegant and graceful in style.  Winemaker Anne Ebenretier Hubatch partners with exceptional regional vineyard growers to craft wines that demonstrate the best that the Northwest offers.

 

The name draws on geological inspirations, symbolizing Heliolite, the Oregon state gemstone (more commonly known as Sun Stone.)  Helio and Terra combine the Greek words for sun and earth, natural partners for grape growing.

 

For more information, I highly recommend checking out their website.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The very enticing nose has cherries, strawberries, baking spices, some earthiness, and a nice herbal note.  This has light to medium body, great acidity, and some subtle tannins.  On the palate there is a very nice balance between the fruit and savory elements.  The finish has nice length and again shows very nice balance.  This isn’t a big, ripe, highly extracted Pinot, this is much more feminine and nuanced.  This is tasting very nice but is still on the young side.  (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!

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Shiraz Angels Share

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente

2010 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Panjanatan Paso Robles

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Rosé

2010 Turley Cabernet Sauvignon The Label

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Shiraz Angels Share – $23.74

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.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to purple color.  The very inviting nose has blackberry, smoldering charcoal, minerals, vanilla, white pepper, road tar, and a slight herbal note.  This has fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the berries, minerals, and white pepper hit first with a nice herbal note coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with some building smokiness and dark chocolate.  This is on the young side and will probably improve with another year in the cellar.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente – $22.00

Though this wine is offered on the Bedrock mailing list (and listed in Cellar Tracker) as made by Bedrock, the wine is actually the result of a partnership between winemakers Michael Havens (the first person to make Albariño in the New World) and Morgan Twain-Peterson.

 

Like I noted above this is not really made by Bedrock, but is actually a “side project” for Morgan Twain-Peterson.  I think this is the only wine being made by this partnership, but I, for one, would love to see them expand the portfolio.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright and vibrant yellow to light gold color.  The crisp and refreshing nose has apples, lime, lemon zest, orange blossoms, minerals, melon, and a very slight herbal note.  This has light to medium body, crisp acidity, and just a touch of residual sweetness.  The orchard fruit and citrus play off each other very nicely on the palate with a streak of minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish is fairly long with a mouthwatering lime note and minerals slowly fading away leaving you to grab the glass for another sip.  This will really shine on a warm Summer evening over a light meal.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Panjanatan Paso Robles – $19.79

I grabbed several bottles of this wine, since a social media friend, Mark Adams, was the wine maker.  I’m glad I loaded up since the past few bottles have all be very good.  It’s always nice to get a good Cabernet for around $20.  Mark Adams is also the owner/wine maker of Ledge Vineyards.  He is also the Assistant Wine Maker for Saxum.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to maroon color. The deep and dark nose has blackberries, cassis, cedar, dried herbs, minerals, smoke, licorice, baking spices, and violets. This has medium to full body with fairly solid, ripe tannins and good acidity. The wine is rich and velvety on the palate with spicy fruit, dried herbs, and minerals leading the way. The finish is fairly long with nice spicy fruit, dried herbs, and a touch of earthiness. A nice, rich, but not over the top Cabernet from Paso Robles.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Rosé – $19.00

This rosé from Bedrock as well as Villa Creek’s offering, form the nucleus of my warm weather  rosé wines.  I mix in a few others I buy at the local store, but these two make up well over 50% of the rosés we drink during the year.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light pink to salmon color. The fresh and clean nose has strawberries, minerals, white peaches, cherries, and some subtle earthiness. This has light body with crisp acidity and maybe just a touch of residual sugar. Crisp, juicy fruit and minerals dominate the palate with a touch of earthiness in the background. The finish has nice length and leaves a very slightly sweet and crisp final impression. The perfect wine to enjoy on a warm Summer afternoon with or without food.  (90 pts)

 

 

2010 Turley Cabernet Sauvignon The Label – $40.00

When I received the offer from Turley for this Cabernet, I had to grab a few bottles.  I’ve read some mixed reviews on this wine so it seems like a perfect time give it a try.  I’m hoping the negative reviews are from the people that were expecting a big, ripe, overly rich wine.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The very nice nose has cassis, baking spices, violets, cherry, dried herbs, and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate.  This has medium body moderate tannins, and good acidity.  The creamy palate has nice up front berries, cherries, and spice with dried herbs and some building dark chocolate coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a touch of earthiness joining the components from the palate.  This may not have a ton of complexity but is an enjoyable wine and seems to be in a very nice drinking window.  The QPR at $40 open for debate, but I’m glad I have more in the cellar.  (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!

 

 

 

2010 Don Sebastiani & Sons Sauvignon Blanc Project Paso

2009 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

2007 Anthill Farms Syrah Windsor Oaks Vineyard

 

 

 

2010 Don Sebastiani & Sons Sauvignon Blanc Project Paso – $7.59

Project Paso is a venture by Don Sebastiani & Sons in an attempt to highlight the wines coming out of the Paso Robles area.  In 1990 there were fewer than 20 wineries in Paso Robles, there are now over 200.  The area is now the fastest rowing AVA in California.  The Project Paso wines are meant to provide quality, distinctive, wallet friendly wines that can be enjoyed any time.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, pale straw yellow color.  The tropical smelling nose has citrus zest, apples, minerals, pineapple, lime, white pepper, and fresh cut grass.  Light body with tart acidity and just a touch of sweetness.  This shows crisp citrus on the palate with some grassy notes and apple.  There is decent length on the finish with a bit of white pepper coming in on the back end.  This is nothing too special but nice on a hot afternoon or with a light meal on the deck or patio.  What more could you want in a $8 wine?  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills – $24.00

In my opinion, the Loring appellation wines are some of the best bargains out there when it comes to quality California Pinot Noir.  The Loring appellation wines are, at least to me, dialed down a notch compared to their single vineyard siblings.  This and the lower prices, under $25 make them a nice way to kick up a week night dinner several notches without breaking the bank.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The very sexy and open nose has raspberries, black cherries, cola, baking spices, vanilla, smoke, wild flowers, white pepper, earthiness, and a faint herbal note.  This has a medium body, silky tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate the wine shows juicy, spicy berries, and just a hint of an herbal element that adds to the taste in a positive way, with some building pepper and citrus zest coming in on the back end.  On the fairly long finish the juicy berries, spice and white pepper are joined by some earthiness.  This is an very good wine and a great value for under $25.   (91 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Anthill Farms Syrah Windsor Oaks Vineyard – $25.00

Anthill Farms likes to make a “one off” wine.  In 2005, they made a Syrah with grapes from the Windsor Oaks Vineyard that turned out so well, it was quickly made part of their line up.  This is a classic cool climate Syrah that shows tart acidity and good savory elements.  The vineyard is only 10 miles from the coast and the grapes struggle to ripen in this area, resulting in longer “hang times”.  This is not a fruit forward, fruit driven, fruit bomb.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The slightly shy nose eventually shows raspberries, blackberries, dark chocolate, black pepper, minerals, road tar, and some earthiness.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the bright berries and pepper dominate the front end with dark chocolate, more pepper, and some earthiness coming in on the back end along with a big blast of mouthwatering acidity.   The finish shows a touch of stems but otherwise is a continuation of the fruit and pepper.  The finish is a touch clipped when the acidity kicks in.  This could easily sit in the cellar for several more years and may improve if some of the acidity would integrate.  This wine needs food and shines in that role.  (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!

 

 

 

2008 JC Cellars The Impostor

2009 McPrice Myers Roussanne No Mas James Berry Vineyard

2006 Cosentino Winery The Poet

2005 Copain Syrah McDowell Valley

2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 

 

 

2008 JC Cellars The Impostor – $25.73

Jeff Cohn just keeps cranking out the hits.  Since his earlier days making outstanding wines for Rosenblum, Jeff is now making the same style of wines for his own label.  These are generally full throttle, distinctive wines.

 

This wine is a blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, Carignane, Grenache and Viognier.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color. The very open and nice nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, dark chocolate, violets, licorice, meat juices, and a touch of earthiness. This has a full body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity. On the palate the wine is a mouth full of juicy, peppery, berries with dark chocolate and earthy elements coming in on the back end providing extra depth. The finish is fairly long but a touch of excess oak does pop out. This is a big and rich wine that is not sweet or syrupy and has no raisiny notes.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2009 McPrice Myers Roussanne No Mas James Berry Vineyard – $25.60

This wine comes from the now famous James Berry Vineyard in Paso Robles.  This is a new wine to me.  I received this wine for the short period I belonged to the McPrice Myers mailing list.  I don’t know what to expect with their white wines, but their reds are massive and lack enough acidity to provide enough balance to suit my tastes.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright, vivid yellow color.  The very clean and fresh nose has white peach, honeysuckle, minerals, lemon zest, melon, spice, and a touch of petrol.  This has medium body, nice acidity, and maybe just a hint of sweetness.  This has good fruit on the palate up front with spice, chalky minerals, and citrus on the back end.  The finish has decent length but it did leave me wanting just a touch more.  Overall, a very nice California Roussanne with a good balance between the fruit and savory elements.  It could have used a touch more acidity mainly on the midpalate, but the finish shows good acidity.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Cosentino Winery The Poet – $28.49

Cosentino was a winery we always visited when we were in wine country.  After falling suffering through some hard times, the winery was eventually sold.  I, for one, am hoping the new owners will get the winery back on course.

This is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color.  The very appealing nose has cassis, cigar box, dried herbs, licorice, cherries, baking spice, and some minerality.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate spicy fruit and toasty oak lead off the show with some cherries and dried herbs coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length and again is supported by the fruit and oak.  This is drinking nicely today as long as a bit of oak doesn’t bother you.  This is not made in a big rich style that has become popular with a lot of California Cabernets and blends, this wine needs food.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah McDowell Valley – $35.00

This wine was a one off wine for Copain.  I’m sure this fell victim to a change in philosophy.  A few years ago, the winery made a stylistic change away from big, ripe wines to ones that were lower alcohol and more nuanced.  I was a big fan of their old style and am glad I still have a healthy stash of these older wines.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The stunning nose is full of blackberries, minerals, roasted herbs, white pepper, warm baking spices, smoked meat, violets, blueberries, and a healthy dose of earthiness.  This has fairly full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit and spice jump out first, quickly followed by roasted herbs, pepper, and meaty elements.  On the back end some nice earthiness comes into the picture.  The finish has very good length and showcases the minerality.  This is a big and rich wine showing a lot of ripeness but it also has nice tannins and acidity to give it good balance.  Not a lot of subtlety but a very tasty glass of wine.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape – $26.99

I’m looking forward to trying this wine again.  I sampled it soon after it was released and liked it enough to grab a couple bottles, figuring I could stock up down the road.  That plan was blasted when the wine was named #32 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2007.  I guess I’ll just have to be thankful I was able to grab a couple bottles before it disappeared from store shelves.

 

The usual blend for this wine is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, 4% Cinsault, and minute amounts of Counoise, Vaccarèse, Muscardin, Terret Noir, and Picpoul Noir.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep and dark ruby color.  The very inviting nose has raspberry, cherry, minerals, roasted herbs, smoked meat, baking spices, dried earth, white pepper, and brined black olives.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate red and black fruit, minerals, and roasted herbs carry the load early with meaty elements, pepper, and some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish is long and layered.  This is drinking very nicely right now,  but is still on the young side with plenty of upside potential.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

I grilled a bacon wrapped Pork Tenderloin to go with the Olivet CdP.  This made a wonderful pairing with the smoky bacon and juicy pork matching up nicely with the wine.  The secret is to cook the meat on indirect heat until it is about 140 degrees.  Putting it over the hot coals to crisp up the bacon will raise the temperature of the pork to about 155 to 160 degrees leaving it very flavorful and juicy.

 

 

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 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Judge Family Vineyard

2007 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett

2007 Burgess Grenache Napa Valley

 

 

 

2007 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard – $14.99

This is my third and last bottle of this wine.  The first two bottles have been too oaky for my tastes.  I don’t mind a bit of oak, but when it becomes a focal point of the wine, it has crossed the line.  We’re having grilled chicken breasts for dinner, so instead of trying to mask the excess oak, I figured this may help keep it in check.  The excess oak is a shame since I remember this wine being very nice other wise.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color. The big and bold nose has cherries, black raspberries, baking spices, cedar, wild flowers, smoke, and some earthy underbrush. This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and tart acidity. Tart cherries hit the palate first, followed by some spices and earthiness before the oak takes over, which it does in a big way. The finish is fairly long but just about totally oak driven. If you like oak dominated wine, you’ll like this a lot more than I do.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Judge Family Vineyard – $15.00

I’m a big fan of both the Novy and Siduri wines made by Adam Lee.  I buy a fair amount of their wines and just about always stock up when they have special pricing around an open house or other event.  Based on the price I paid, I’m sure this wine was on sale and I bought enough cases to get an additional 25% off.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color.  The very open and nice wine has plums, blackberries, black pepper, wood smoke, melted licorice, dried herbs, minerals, and a slight herbal note.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate smoky, peppery fruit and minerals slowly adds dried herbs and a nice herbal element.  The finish has good length and leans more towards the savory elements with the fruit in the background adding a touch of welcome sweetness.  I normally don’t like herbal notes in red wines, but on this wine it adds a nice counter point to the dark, smoky, elements.  I assume this included at least some whole clusters which added the herbal note.  I really like this wine.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett – $19.00

I bought a six pack of this wine during a tasting at the local wine store.  I remember it being fairly sweet but loaded with acidity.  I swore I’d keep my hands off the wine for at least 5 years.  Well, it will be 5 years the end of next month, so I almost made it.  I’m looking forward to seeing how the wine has evolved in the cellar.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly bright golden yellow color.  The very alluring nose has apples, honeydew melon, spice, minerals, vanilla, citrus zest, orange blossoms, and a touch of petrol.  This has light to medium body, crisp acidity, and solid residual sweetness.  The rich and creamy palate has ripe apples dipped in honey, minerals and melon up front with vanilla and lime coming in on the back end.  The finish is very long and full of sweet fruit, minerals, and bit of closing citrus.  Definitely on the sweet side for a Kabinett, but the acidity does a valiant job holding everything together.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Burgess Grenache Napa Valley – $6.00

A Twitter friend alerted me that the winery was blowing this wine out in their tasting room.  I called to see if the price was available without physically being in the tasting room.  They told me I could order over the phone and that they could ship the wine to me immediately.  I happily grabbed a case for the ridiculous price f $6 a bottle.  The case arrived in perfect condition, so I immediately opened a bottle.  The next morning I called again to see if they had any more available.  It turned out they were down to one case.  Needless to say, the case arrived at my door a few days later.  I shared several bottles with wine loving friends and have been enjoying the wine for the last year and a half.  After opening this bottle, I will be down to only 3 bottles.

 

This isn’t a big, ripe, fruit forward style of California Grenache.  The fruit is there, but shares top billing with some nice savory elements.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has cherries, melted licorice, warm baking spices, dried herbs, some earthiness, blackberries, and minerals.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  The red fruit and spice dominate the front end on the palate with dried herbs and earthiness coming in later.  The finish has decent length with some building minerality adding a nice dimension.  This was an absolute steal for $6 direct from the winery’s tasting room.  (90 pts)

 

 

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!