This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2012 Ledge California Soul (Mother Hips) White

2012 Ledge Catacombs White

 

 

 

About the winery:

The Adams Ranch is in the Willow Creek region on the west side of Paso Robles and rests on a plateau with the Santa Lucia Mountains as a backdrop, with a steep drop to Vineyard Drive in the foreground.  The vineyard is almost entirely Syrah, with some Grenache and Mourvedre peppered in.  They expand every year at a snail’s pace, with 25 dry farmed acres as the ultimate goal.  The vines are own rooted and reared in the home nursery after pruning each year.  Once established, the vines are dry farmed, field-blended and co-fermented using only native yeasts and are aged in neutral oak barrels.

 

The winery’s site and mailing list sign up is available by clicking here.

 

If desired, you can order wine directly from the winery or just check out their current releases by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

About the winemaker:

Mark Adams – Paso Robles musician and Winemaker

Mark is mister do-it-all, farmer, winemaker, musician, husband, father and formerly a sound effects editor for Sony.  Mark is also the assistant winemaker for the renowned Saxum Winery with his childhood pal, Justin Smith.

 

“Adams offers a bridge between Paso’s lavish ways and a more cerebral effort”

Jon Bonné – THE NEW CALIFORNIA WINE – A Guide to the Producers and Wines Behind A Revolution in Taste

 

 

Much more information about Mark, both wine/beer and music related is available here.  I highly recommend giving a listen to some of Mark’s music available on this site.

 

There is an outstanding over view of Mark on the San Francisco Chronicle’s site in a story titled “Winemakers to Watch 2014: Mixing tradition and pioneering spirit by Jon Bonné.  The story is available here.

 

 

 

About the wines:

I received several bottles of wines to sample.  There were three different “labels”, California Soul (Mother Hips), Catacombs and Kazoo.  The first two labels included a white, red and rosé each.  Instead of trying to sample all seven wines at once I had to choose between sampling based on label or style.  I opted to sample the wines by style.  This post will cover the white wines.  I had previously posted about the red and rosé wines.

 

These wines may be available at your local wine store; I know my local store carries both of these wines.  If not these wines are available on the Ledge website by clicking here.

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

2012 Ledge California Soul (Mother Hips) White – SRP $20

The Mother Hips is a rock band that is known for a style of west coast music that came to be referred to as California Soul.  Upon their 20^th anniversary, Ledge paid tribute to them by blending 60 cases of wine, which to our surprise sold out in a few weeks.  This was never intended to be a “lasting” label, but the brand and the wines continue to attract new fans every day.  They expanded the line to include white and rose wines in addition to the red blends.

 

This is a blend of Viognier and Marsanne.  This vintage uses grapes sourced from west Paso Robles, but is designed to eventually be sourced from all over California.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright golden straw color.  The open and inviting nose has honeysuckle, green apples, stony minerals, pineapple, orange blossoms and lime zest.  This has medium body with decent acidity and a touch of residual sweetness.  On the palate ripe, juicy apples and minerals pop out first with pineapple and a floral note coming in later.  The finish has decent length with tart lime zest entering the picture.  The lingering sweetness would make this a hit at a friendly gathering.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Ledge Catacombs White – SRP $25

The concept of Ledge Catacombs is simply that it is farmed in close proximity to the family estate. The vines are sustainably farmed and offer us some insight with regard to our planting decisions at the Adams Ranch.  This wine is a blend of Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright straw to yellow color.  The inviting nose has apples, white peaches, flinty minerals, lime zest and orange blossoms.  This has medium body with an oily texture and good acidity.  On the palate apples, minerals and peach hit up front with citrus and a floral note coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with just a hint of sweetness ading a touch or richness.  This is very easy to sip on its own but would also pair nicely with food.  (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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

 

Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut

Gustave Lorentz Crémant d’Alsace

Dopff & Irion Crémant d’Alsace Rosé

Charles Baur Crémant d’Alsace

 

 

 

 

Overview:

Not too long after writing about four Crémant d’Alsace wines, I was invited to participate in an online Wines of Alsace Twitter Taste & Chat featuring four different Crémants d’Alsace sparklers.  Since I loved the first four wines, this was a very easy invitation to accept.  For this event, Wines of Alsace teamed up with Binny’s.  Binny’s had all Alsace wines on sale.

 

 

 

 

About the region:

AOC Crémant d’Alsace is the jewel in the crown of the sparkling wines produced in Alsace.  Fresh and elegant, Crémant d’Alsace is developed by secondary fermentation, and predominately made from Pinot Blanc, but also from Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling or Chardonnay.  These varietals are in general picked at the very beginning of the harvest, an auspicious moment when the grapes offer the best balance and harmony for vinification.

 

As early as the late 19th century, several companies in Alsace were producing sparkling wines by the traditional method, not only in the vineyard area but also in the cities of Strasbourg and Mulhouse.  This tradition, while less commonplace during the first half of the 20th Century, was continued until the creation of AOC Crémant d’Alsace, by the decree of August 24, 1976.  For the wine houses of Alsace, this decree produced the new framework necessary for the production of a high-quality sparkling wine, applying similar, strict demands to those applied in the Champagne region.  Today, more than 500 producers are united under the Syndicate of Producers of Crémant d’Alsace.

Because of its unique personality and outstanding quality, Crémant d’Alsace is currently the top AOC sparkling wine to be consumed in homes across France.  It has also earned considerable international recognition.

 

AOC Crémant d’Alsace represents 22% of the region’s wine production.

 

For more information on Crémant d’Alsace please click here.

 

To follow the key players on Twitter, consider the following:

@drinkAlsace – Wines of Alsace

@binnysbev – Binny’s Beverage, largest Chicago retailer and co-­‐host of the tasting

@teuwencomm – Teuwen Communications, agency of record for Wines of Alsace

@dopffirion  – Dopff & Irion

@quintwines – Quintessential Wines, importer of Gustave Lorentz

@pasternakwine – Pasternak Wine, importer of Lucien Albrecht

 

 

 

I want to thank the wineries and especially Teuwen Communications for providing me with this opportunity to try these wines.  For more information on Teuwen Communications, please click here.

 

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut

Domaine Lucien Albrecht is one of the oldest and leading Alsace family owned estate, tracing its roots back to 1425.  Through the Albrecht eighteen generations, they have become one of the largest owners of prime Alsace hillside vineyards.  In the early 70’s, Lucien Albrecht, the father of Jean, the current proprietor and winemaker, was one of the three founding fathers of the regulated Crémant d’Alsace.  In 2004, Lucien Albrecht Crémants made history.  At the 14th Concours National des Crémants de France (Crémant Wine Challenge), they stole the show, winning an unprecedented Four Gold Medals.

 

This wine is a blend of 80% Pinot Auxerrois, 10% Pinot Blanc and 10% Chardonnay.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow to straw color with persistent pinpoint sized bubbles.  The very inviting nose has apples, lemon zest, minerals, orange blossoms and a hint of yeasty bread.  This has a light body and a mouthful of bubbles with crisp lemony acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate lemon, apples and minerals take charge with a light floral note coming in on the back end.  The finish is a touch short with lemon zest, minerals and a yeasty note carrying the load.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

Gustave Lorentz Crémant d’Alsace

The grapes are carefully selected and vinified according to the “Methode Champenoise.” After traditional fermentation “vin de base” in tanks, a second fermentation (“prise de mousse”) takes place in the cool cellars.  Ageing is done “sur lattes” with daily bottle rotation, going from a horizontal to vertical position, in order for the yeast deposit to accumulate in the neck of the bottle.   At the time of “degorgement,” the neck is frozen and, enclosed in ice, the sediment is ejected by natural pressure, after which the bottle is corked and wired.

 

This wine is a blend of equal amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow to straw color with abundant very small bubbles after a nice frothy mousse.  The refreshing nose has apples, cherry skin, orange blossoms, peach pit and lemon zest.  This has a light body with crisp acidity and just a touch of lingering sweetness.  On the palate tart green apples and lemon zest grab hold initially, eventually allowing cherry skin, peach pit and stony minerals to come in on the back end.  The finish has good length with apples and lemon zest taking control.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Dopff & Irion Crémant d’Alsace Rosé – SRP $17

The Irion and the Dopff families were already wine connoisseurs in the 16th century and have been closely involved in the fortunes of the village of Riquewihr throughout the ages.  The firm of Dopff & Irion was established when Rene Dopff joined fortunes with the widowed Madame Irion.  Rene Dopff was the first to have faith in the concept of “terroir,” the restructuring of the vineyard by dividing it into five “domains” or estates, and then planting each one with the most suitable grape variety.

 

This is made from 100% Pinot Noir.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pink salmon color with abundant pinpoint bubbles after a foamy mousse.  The enticing nose has red currants, orange blossoms, minerals and a touch of yeasty bread.  The wine has light body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  Red fruit and orange zest greet the palate with minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with nice the orange zest leaving your mouth watering for another sip.  This is a very tasty and easy drinking sparkler to start off an evening or to pour for friends.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

Charles Baur Crémant d’Alsace

Wine at Domaine Charles Baur has been made by many generations of the Baur family.  Armand Baur took over the property from his father, Charles, who began selling the property’s own wine in bottles beginning in 1946.  Today, Armand Baur and his son Arnaud produce wine from 30 acres of vines of which 7 acres are in the Grand Cru Eichberg and Pfersigberg.  The property is located in the village of Eguisheim, which is just west of the city of Colmar, in the southern portion of Alsace.  The terroir is composed mainly of clay and old limestone and marl which give the wines of Domain Baur a rich creaminess and depth of flavor as well as an interesting complexity in both the aromas and flavors.

 

This wine is 100% Pinot Noir.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light salmon color with small persistent bubbles.  The enticing nose has cherry skins, strawberry, minerals, yeasty bread, orange blossoms and lemon zest.  This has a light body with crisp acidity and just a slight hint of sweetness.  On the palate the bright fruit and minerals jump out first with more minerals and citrus coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with some orange and a yeasty note joining the fruit and minerals.  This is a nice, easy drinking sparkling wine that would be a hit with light appetizers at a party.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Closing Thoughts

These sparkling wines were all delicious.  Some may have lacked some complexity but that did not hurt the taste.  These had just a touch of closing sweetness but also had plenty of acidity to make your mouth water for another sip.

 

If you are looking for an easy to drink sparkling wine, I would wholeheartedly recommend checking out one of these wines or another Crémant d’Alsace.  These offer outstanding value when compared to a bottle of Champagne.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2014 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin

2013 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection

 

 

 

 

Overview:

In mid-May I received an invite to participate in this online tasting event.  It was easy to accept the offer since Sauvignon Blanc, especially ones from New Zealand, are enjoyed in copious amounts over the Summer in my house.  Then something caught my eye, one of the wines was Villa Maria’s 2014 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc.  It’s only May and I’ll be able to get a taste of the 2014 vintage.  I avoid the Northern Hemisphere’s attempt to get the current year’s wine in consumer’s hands immediately, namely Beaujolais Nouveau, but a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, let me at it.

 

 

 

 

About the region:

Grapes were first brought into New Zealand in 1836 British resident and amateur winemaker James Busby.  For the next 100+ years, most of the wine produced in the country was for religious use or family consumption.  This began to change in the 1960’s.  As more people immigrated into New Zealand and residents began traveling, the wine industry started to grow and blossom.  By the early 1980’s experience led the growers to replace the originally planter Muller Thurgau grape with Sauvignon Blanc.  It didn’t take long for the UK and then the rest of the world to take notice.

 

One of my favorite descriptions of a wine came from a critic describing a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wine, describing the wine as the experience of being strapped naked to Elle McPherson while bungy-jumping into a bottomless pit of fresh Gooseberry leaves!

 

The Winery

The winery’s history starts in 1961.  George Fistonich leased five acres of land, one with vines, from his father.  He harvested his first grapes in 1962 and made his first wine calling it Villa Maria.  For several years, Villa Maria was a one man operation.  George made both white and red wines, sourcing grapes from the greater Aukland region.  By the early 1970’s the operation was getting too big for one person so George started to employ a staff.  The company quickly expanded.  Today Villa Maria has over 250 employees and exports wine to over 50 countries.

 

In 2001 George decided, for quality reasons, Villa Maria would be a “cork free zone”.  All wines starting with 2002 would be sealed with a screw cap.  In those days, this was a very risky decision; a lot of people only wanted wine sealed with a cork.  Needless to say now, the decision was a good one.

 

 

Much more about the winery and its history is available on their website by clicking here.

 

 

On twitter, you can get additional insight by following the winery @villamaria_wine or the General Manager of Winemaking and Viticulture, Alastair Mailing MW @alastairmailing.  The winery also has an active presence on Facebook, consider checking them out there by clicking here.

 

 

 

I want to thank the winery and especially Tatu Digital Media for providing me with this opportunity to try these wines.

 

About Tatu Digital Media

We are not trend chasers.  If it doesn’t serve the needs of our clients what’s the point?  As we have watched the Internet mature certain features have developed naturally in our service line.  What was once called online community is now social media, and as consumers demand more from a business online we’re here to help you make the most of your online presence.

 

For more information on Tatu, please click here.

 

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

2014 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin- SRP $14.99

The grapes for this wine were harvested between early March and mid-April from vineyards in the Wairau and Awatere valleys in the Marlborough region.  The wine was slowly cool fermented in stainless steel tanks.

 

The wine has 12.5% alcohol by volume and as usual for the winery; the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light yellow with a slight greenish tint.  The nose has fresh cut grass, grapefruit, apples, minerals and orange blossoms.  The wine has light to medium body with tart acidity.  On the palate apples, grapefruit zest and a soft herbal element coat the palate with minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a touch of sweetness and very good mouthwatering grapefruit providing the perfect balance.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Cellar Selection – SRP $19.99

The grapes for this wine were split evenly between the Awatere and Wairau valley in Marlborough.  A portion of the grapes received some skin contact to enhance the flavor and intensity before being pressed.  After a slow, cool fermentation the wine was aged on the lees for several months to build a bit more depth and mouth feel.  Afterwards, the lots were racked, blended, gently fined, filtered and bottled.

 

The wine has 13.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is again sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light yellow with a slight green tint.  The crisp and fresh nose has apples, fresh cut grass, grapefruit zest, stony minerals, melon and a touch of baking spices from the lees aging.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity and just a touch of sweetness.  On the palate ripe apples and grapefruit coat the palate, eventually allowing melon and minerals to come into the picture.  The finish has good length with some spice coming into play.  This has a touch of residual sweetness but enough crisp, citrusy acidity to keep it in check.  (89 pts)

 

  

Closing Thoughts

This was a very nice introduction to the different styles of Sauvignon Blanc the winery produces.  One was bright, fresh and tart and would be perfect on a hot day.  The other, due to the skin contact and extended aging on the lees was a bit fuller with more depth and richness.

 

I recommend grabbing a bottle of each and conducting your own comparison.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

 

This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary

 

 

 

 

Overview:

On Saturday June 14^th, Total Wine hosted a live tasting and webcast with Chuck Wagner, his sons and daughter.  They discussed a few of their other labels including Belle Glos, Mer Soleil and Emmolo.  People fortunate enough to live near a Total Wine were able to also taste the wines.  Unfortunately, I do not live near a Total Wine store.  Charles Communications solved the problem by sending me a bottle of the featured wine, the 2012 Caymus 40^th Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  This was the last wine to be discussed during the webcast.  Along with other bloggers from around the country, we were to taste and Tweet our opinions and comments.

 

The webcast for the event is available, at least for now, by clicking here.

 

 

About the company:

Caymus is part of the Wagner Family of Wine along with Mer Soleil, Conundrum, Belle Glos and the newest label, Emmolo.  The winery takes the “Family” part of the name very seriously.  This is truly a family business with most of the family involved in some way.  If you check out the webcast I mentioned above, you will meet and hear about most of the family.

 

It’s been over 40 years since the family founded Caymus in the Napa Valley.  The winery produced their first vintage in 1972, a whopping 240 cases.  The wine sold for the paltry sum of $4.50 a bottle.

 

For more information on the Wagner Family of wine, please click here.  For more information on just Caymus, click here.

 

 

 

 

Their Wines in their words

Caymus Vineyards produces two Cabernets Sauvignons – a “Napa Valley” and the venerable “Special Selection”.  Both Cabernet bottlings have aromas and flavors which can only be achieved through “hang time” – a technique which chances the loss of crop if early winter sets in.  Leaving the fruit to “hang” on the vine unusually long develops suppleness, increases color, and matures the tannins of the grapes.  The wines are abundant in textural tannins yet soft as velvet. Crop thinning, allowing measured sunlight to reach the vine’s fruit zone, and waiting for increased ripeness are all part of our viticultural practices.  Caymus Cabernets offer a wide array of aromas and flavors including cocoa, cassis and vanilla.

 

Caymus Special Selection is the flagship wine of the Wagner family and is comprised of the very best barrels of the vintage.  This wine is not produced in difficult years.  Caymus Napa Valley is more representative of a standard Cabernet of Napa Valley, as it is a bit less precocious than the Special Selection, but still delivers big.  Caymus prides itself on producing wines that are as approachable in youth as well at maturity. Both the “Napa Valley” and “Special Selection” Cabernets are produced under the winemaking hand of Chuck Wagner.

 

 

 

 

About Balzac

BALZAC is a marketing communications agency with a no-nonsense approach to combining the strategies and tactics of marketing, public relations, advertising and graphic design to achieve the marketing goals of our clients.

 

The experience, creativity and determination of our staff distinguish BALZAC from our competition. We use these assets to develop and execute cost-effective campaigns which have won international communications awards.

 

The results speak for themselves.

 

The agency is located in Napa, California, and provides services to national, regional, and local companies based in Northern California and throughout the world.

 

For more information on Balzac, please click here.

 

 

 

2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary

Caymus isn’t a Cabernet for everyone, but who cares.  If there was only one style of wine made in the world, it would get very boring pretty fast.  The winery wants their wine to be big and rich with velvety tannins and for it to be loaded with flavor.  In this regard, this wine is a 100% success.  The winery allows their grapes to “hang” on the vine for an extended period for the tannins to soften and the flavors to fully develop.

 

This special vintage called to a new label, even the cork bears the 40^th Anniversary insignia.  This is a special vintage for a special wine.  This is the only wine to be twice named as Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year”.  Is that special enough?

 

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, dark, inky ruby red color.  The hypnotizing nose has rich cassis, licorice, warm baking spices, dried herbs, tobacco, blackberries, dried violets and dark chocolate.  This has a fairly full body with moderate velvety tannins and slightly soft acidity.  On the palate rich cassis, dark chocolate and spice jump out first with dried herbs and a floral note coming in on the back end.  The finish is extremely long and full of cassis, chocolate, spice and dried herbs.  This is extremely young but already stunning, give it a couple years in the cellar and be prepared to be wowed.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

Closing Thoughts

This was a momentous event to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of an iconic Napa Valley wine.  The family should be proud of their heritage and the pleasure they have brought to the people who have savored their wines.

 

Speaking about proud, you could easily see the pride in their papa’s eyes when the children talked about their wines.

 

Here’s to a great 40 years, I for one am looking forward to helping you celebrate number 50.

 

Cheers to the Wagner family.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

N.V. Austin Hope Troublemaker Blend 7

2012 Liberty School Pinot Noir

2010 Treana Red

 

 

 

 

Overview:

I’ve been a fan of the “Rhone Ranger” wines being produced by the winery for a few years.  When I was given the opportunity to sample a few of their “family” of wines, it took about a half second to say, SURE!

 

The Hope Family Wines line-up includes 5 labels, Liberty School, Austin Hope, Treana, Candor and Troublemaker.

 

 

About the company:

The Hope family arrived in Paso Robles in 1978 in search of land and new opportunity.  As they’ve planted vineyards, grown grapes and made wine over the past 30 years, Paso Robles has become a viticulture region of significance, capable of producing world-class wines.  As one of the pioneering families of this distinctive wine community, the Hope family is dedicated to sustainable farming and making wines that are delicious, accessible and memorable.  Still family-owned and operated, Hope Family Wines now makes five individual brands: Liberty School, Treana, Candor, Troublemaker and Austin Hope.

 

Much more information on the winery, the brands and the wines is available by clicking here.

 

The winery has a fantastic video online.  This “Office” parody involves their Troublemaker wine.  I highly recommend checking it out by clicking here.

 

 

 

Who is Austin Hope?

Austin Hope arrived in Paso Robles in 1978, when his family moved to the small farming town in search of new opportunity.  His parents bought land and planted both vineyards and apple orchards.  He was just eight years old when the grapes came on line in the 1980s and began learning in the vineyards alongside his father, Chuck Hope.

 

In 1995 he graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in fruit science.  Beginning in the 1980s, the Hope family sold Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to Caymus for its Liberty School label, and Austin followed his father’s advice to seek out an opportunity to work with Caymus founder Chuck Wagner.

 

Austin worked with Wagner in Napa, both inside the winery and the administrative offices, learning the nuts and bolts of the wine business from one of California’s most respected producers.  “That was probably my a-ha moment,” says Austin.  “I realized that I not only wanted to grow grapes, but to manage our own label to bring our fruit directly to the market,” he says.

 

The Hope family began producing Liberty School wines and founded Treana in 1996.  After beginning as the assistant winemaker, Austin became winemaker for the Hope portfolio in 1998.   Hope Family Wines now makes Treana, Liberty School, Candor, Troubelmaker and Austin Hope wines.  In 2009, Austin Hope was named “Winemaker of the Year” at the California Mid-State Fair.

 

When he’s not in the lab tasting or on the road promoting his wines, Austin enjoys duck hunting with Spartacus, his Labrador retriever, and staying ahead of the curve on the indie music scene by attending as many rock-n-roll concerts as possible.  He’s also a dedicated dad who enjoys spending time with his two young daughters.

 

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

N.V. Austin Hope Troublemaker Blend 7 – SRP $20

“Wine is best made when a winemaker has choices.  This philosophy is evident in the Troublemaker, a blend crafted from multiple varietals and vintages.  The majority of wine comes from 2012 vintage, with a remaining portion coming from 2011 and 2010.  The younger wine brings forth a youthful vibrancy and freshness while the base vintage (2012) adds complexity and structure that completes the wine.”

 

This wine is a blend of 54% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 13% Mourvedre and 11% Zinfandel.  All the grapes for this wine come from Paso Robles, San Benito County and Santa Ynez in California’s Central Coast region.  There were 34,872 cases produced.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The intriguing nose has blackberries, baking spices, white pepper, cherries, crushed stone minerals, cocoa powder, earthy underbrush, blueberries and candied violets.  This has medium to full body with soft to moderate tannins and decent acidity.  Spicy berries and white pepper coat the palate, slowly allowing some cherries, minerals and dark chocolate to slip through.  The finish has good length with some earthiness and a candied floral note coming into focus.  This is an easy drinking wine that would be a hit at a friendly gathering.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Liberty School Pinot Noir – SRP $20

The grapes for this wine come from three different parts of California’s Central Coast.  The primary region is the Arroyo Seco section of Monterey.  This provides the wine with acidity and length.  Grapes also come from the cooler parts of Paso Robles, just east of the Santa Lucia Range.  These grapes enhance the bright berry flavors in the finished wine.  The last grape source area is one of the oldest growing areas in California, Paicines in San Benito County.  This area, east of Monterey is not as heavily influenced by the maritime breezes.  These grapes help balance the final blend and make the wine complete.

 

There were 39,895 cases of this wine produced.  This wine has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The inviting nose has black cherries, warm baking spice, blackberries, tobacco, white pepper, dark chocolate and dried violets.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate black cherries and baking spice jump out first with white pepper and a floral note coming in later.  The finish has good length with dark chocolate entering the picture.  This is very tasty but doesn’t taste like a typical Pinot Noir.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Treana Red – SRP $45

This wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah.  All the grapes are from Paso Robles.

 

After harvest, vineyard lots were fermented individually in stainless steel tanks for 14 to 20 days.  Extended macerations and carefully managed pump-overs enhanced the extraction of color and tannin.  The varietals were aged separately in French oak barrels, 70% of which are new, for six months.  The initial blend was assembled in summer of 2011 and aged an additional twelve months in barrel.  The wine was racked only twice during its cellar life, with the final racking occurring just prior to bottling.

 

The total production of this wine was 5,330 cases.  The 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 enticing nose has cherries, cassis, cola, stony minerals, smoke, Asian spices, wildflowers and a touch of mint.  This has a full body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the cherries, minerals and cola jump out first with smoke and spice coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a nice floral note and a hint of mint seeping into the picture.  The back end and finish are very powerful indicating a bit of cellar time will be greatly rewarded.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

Closing Thoughts

These wines provided a very nice snapshot of the range of wines Hope Family Wines produces.  All three of these wines were full of lush fruit flavor with ripe, velvety tannins.  These wines will never be mistaken as coming from an “old world” European winery which is a good thing since they are 100% Californian.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

 

 

2009 Bodegas y Vinedos Montecastro Alconte

2007 Bodegas Valdubon Reserva

 

 

 

Overview

I was invited to participate in a Virtual Tasting exploring the wines of Ribera del Duero.  This was perfect for me since I actually prefer this region over the other “famous” Spanish region, Rioja.  New technology and modern techniques, along with respect for tradition, have driven the quality of Ribera del Duero to its highest accomplishments in over two millennia of winemaking history.

 

Snooth’s Editor-in-Chief, Gregory dal Piaz, and Sommelier Roger Kugler led the discussion of Ribera’s rich history and amazing wines.

 

There were four wines to be discussed during the tasting.  Besides the two wines that were sent to me, 2013 Bodegas y Vinedos Monteabellon Avaniel Rose and 2010 Bodegas Montebaco Semele were also enjoyed by other participants.

 

 

 

 

About the region

The Ribera del Duero is about a two hour drive north of Madrid.  Even though wine has been made in the region for over 2000 years, the region did not receive official Denominación de Origen (DO) status until 1982.

 

The area takes its name from the Duero River that cuts through the region.  The region is about 70 miles long and over 20 miles wide and is home over 250 wineries.

 

The main wine grape in the region is Tempranillo which also answers to Tinto del País and Tinto Fino.

 

This is a large, dry area that receives very little rain.  This dry climate forces the vines to dig deep into the ground to find water and nutrients.  This “struggle” reduces the yield but ensures the grapes produced are full of flavor and minerals.  These wines are generally on the rustic side with rugged tannins and good acidity, perfect with a piece of juicy meat hot off the grill.

 

Much more information on the region and wineries is available by clicking here.

 

 

 

 

This presentation and the wines were provided by Greg Dal Piaz and Snooth.

 

Snooth is the world’s most comprehensive wine site, hosts the largest online wine community & features reviews & local prices for millions of wines.

 

Mission

Snooth is a revolutionary web-based social shopping experience that is simplifying how people select, learn about, and purchase their favorite wines.

 

Company Overview

Philip James launched Snooth in 2007 with one goal: to make wine info clear, accessible, and freely available.

The idea for Snooth first came to Philip when he began working in the wine industry and realized just how complex wine was — if even the most seasoned wine collectors could become confused, what hope was there for the casual wine lover?

He realized that the wine industry was hopelessly fragmented — with neither a standardized naming system nor a centralized repository of information — and created Snooth to change all of that.

 

Visit Snooth by by clicking here.

 

 

 

My Line Up

Here is my line up for this online tasting event:

 

 

 

2009 Bodegas y Vinedos Montecastro Alconte

2009 was considered to be a near perfect vintage, comparable in quality to 2004.

 

This was aged for 14 months in a mix of French and American oak.  The total production was 13,345 bottles.  The grapes for this wine came from younger vines.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark ruby color.  The outstanding nose has plums, blackberries, minerals, licorice, earthy underbrush, dark chocolate, baking spices and white pepper.  This has medium body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate, spicy fruit and minerals jump out first with earthy elements and dark chocolate coming out on the back end.  The finish has decent length but does get a touch rustic.  A year in the cellar may help smooth out the back end and perhaps add a bit more oomph on the finish.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Bodegas Valdubon Reserva – $25

2007 was considered to be a lighter, weaker vintage for the region.

 

This wine is 100% Tempranillo (Tinto del Pais).  The total production for the vintage was 35,868 bottles, mine was number 16,974.

 

The wine has 13% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark violet color.  The enticing nose has black plums, berries, tobacco, baking spices, minerals and a touch of mint.  This wine is barely medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate, spicy fruit and minerals jump out first with spicy oak coming in later.  The finish has good length with some subtle earthiness entering the picture.  I wouldn’t stash this in the cellar to too long, open the bottle and enjoy it over the next year or two.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Conclusion

These were both easy to like wines full of character.  Even though 2007 was considered to be a weaker vintage, the Valdubon was very nice.  The Valdubon is nearing the end of its life but the Alconte has a couple years to go before it even reaches its full potential.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2013 Charles Krug Winery (Peter Mondavi Family) Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release Charles Krug Vineyard Estate

2011 Charles Krug Winery (Peter Mondavi Family) Merlot

2011 Charles Krug Winery (Peter Mondavi Family) Family Reserve Generations

2011 Charles Krug Winery (Peter Mondavi Family) Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Howell Mountain

 

 

 

Overview

I had the extreme honor of being selected to participate in an online tasting to celebrate Charles Krug’s 150^th vintage.  This tasting featured three red wines from this monumental vintage.  The tasting also included one white wine, a Sauvignon Blanc from the 2013 vintage.

 

The wines produced still carry the historical Charles Krug name, but also carry the moniker of Peter Mondavi Family.

 

If you would like to view the recorded webcast of the event, please click here.

 

 

 

 

The Winery

The Charles Krug Winery, Napa Valley’s oldest winery, was established by Prussian immigrant Charles Krug in 1861.  In 1943, Italian immigrants Cesare and Rosa Mondavi purchased the historic property, which remains a family-owned winery producing estate-driven Napa Valley wines.  Built on a foundation of family values, hard work and European winemaking tradition, the winery offers a portfolio of Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-styled wines.  The winery is under the direction of Peter Mondavi Jr., who along with his brother Marc Mondavi, stewards the family business passed to them by their father, legendary Napa Valley wine icon Peter Mondavi Sr., who continues to serve as President and CEO.  The family is now proudly welcoming members of the fourth generation to the business, continuing a legacy started almost 70 years ago and setting a foundation for generations to come.

 

Above all else, Charles Krug Winery is a family winery.  Peter Sr. and his sons Marc and Peter Jr. continue their dedication to producing the finest Bordeaux style wines in the Napa Valley.  To achieve this, they initiated a nine-year, $22 million investment program completed in 2010.  Over 400 of the winery’s 850 prime acres in Napa Valley have been re-planted and state-of-the-art winemaking equipment is now in use.

 

Much more information on the winery, its history and wines is available by clicking here.

 

 

 

The wines for this event were provided to me by Charles Communications.

 

About Charles Communications Associates

CCA is an independent creative marketing firm that employs traditional public relations and new media strategies to assist companies, organizations and non-profits in the creation, development and marketing of interesting and compelling brands.  Recognized as one of the most effective PR firms in the wine industry, we have an exceptional track record of promoting products in the gourmet, natural and organic food and beverage categories, from wine and tea to top shelf spirits and luxury goods.  We consider ourselves fortunate to work with clients who share our philosophy of social responsibility in work and everyday life.

 

For more information, visit the CCA website.

 

 

 

 

The  Wines

Here was the line up for this tasting.

 

 

 

2013 Limited Release Estate Sauvignon Blanc – SRP $35

This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the winery’s Estate Vineyard.  This was the third release of this “Limited Release” wine.  The total production was only 340 cases.

 

This wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged Sur lie for seven months.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow with a slight green tint.  The lively nose has grapefruit, mint, minerals, spice and a touch of smoke.  This has a medium body with crisp citrusy acidity and just a touch of creaminess.  On the palate tart grapefruit, mint and minerals hit up front with a touch of spice coming in later.  The finish has good length with the mouthwatering grapefruit leading the way.  This is a very nice and serious Sauvignon Blanc.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Napa Valley Merlot – SRP $25

This wine is a blend of 84% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Sirah, 3% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot.

 

Due to below average temperatures and late Spring rains the yield was down about 30% from usual and the grapes were harvested in early September instead of the usual mid-August.  The area received a few heat spikes to help ripening.  There was also some rain while the grapes were still on the vines.  The winery performed hand thinning of the leaves and adjusted shoot positioning to provide better sun exposure and to maximize air flow to deter the development of mold.

 

The wine was aged for 18 months in a mix of French and American oak.  The 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 enticing nose has crushed berries, plums, minerals, cocoa powder, vanilla, red currants and a touch of white pepper.  This has a medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate berries, plums, mocha and vanilla hit first with some spicy cedar coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a nice kick of spice. One of the best Merlot wines I have tasted in a few years.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Family Reserve ‘Generations’ – SRP $50

This wine is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec and 3% Merlot.

 

The first vintage of Generations in 1991 was a blend crafted by Marc Mondavi and was suspect by Peter Mondavi Sr. who was partial to single varietal wines.  Marc demonstrated to his father that a wine of this nature could hold its own against the growing popularity of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Napa Valley.

 

The wine was aged for 20 months in a new French oak.  The wine has 13.9% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to purple color.  The nose has cassis, blackberries, baking spices, dark chocolate, minerals and jalapeno pepper.  This has medium body and moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  Spicy berries, mocha and cedar coat the palate with minerals and jalapeno coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length but I wish the jalapeno wasn’t so prominent.  After a couple of hours the jalapeno notes were still present but pushed into the background.  This could use a couple of years in the cellar.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Family Reserve ‘Howell Mountain’ Cabernet Sauvignon – SRP $75

This wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.

 

This is the inaugural release of the Family Reserve Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

The wine was aged for 19 months in a new French oak.  The wine has 13.7% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark ruby red to purple color.  The outstanding nose has cassis, cherries, cedar, mint, dried herbs, baking spices, dark chocolate, black pepper and vanilla.  This has medium body moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  This is nicely layered on the palate with the fruit, spice, dried herbs and oak taking turns strutting their stuff.  The finish has very good length with “chewy” tannins kicking in.  This is a very serious wine that deserves a few years in the cellar.  Ignore this one until the end of the decade if possible.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

Closing comments

If I had to choose one word to describe this line up of wines, it would be “serious”.  These are not easy-drinking wines to open and sip, these are made to accompany a good meal.  Bravo to the Peter Mondavi Family for putting out such an outstanding group of wines.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

 

2013 Domaine du Tariquet Côtes de Gascogne Classic

2012 Domaine Chiroulet Côtes de Gascogne Les Terres Blanches

2010 Producteurs Plaimont Côtes de Saint-Mont Les Bastions

2011 Producteurs Plaimont Côtes de Saint-Mont Tableaux

 

 

 

 

Overview

I was invited by Greg Dal Piaz to participate in a Snooth blogger roundtable tasting of the Wines of Southwest France.  Since this was a region I did not know a lot about, this received a pretty quick, “count me in.”

 

A few days before the tasting, I had to schedule a business trip to visit a couple facilities in Alabama.  I figured, no problem, I can catch the early flight and make it to the hotel in the early afternoon.  Not so fast, the early flight from Atlanta to Birmingham was full.  This meant I wouldn’t be able to make it into Birmingham until the tasting was starting.  Unfortunately, I still had to get my checked luggage, pick up the rental car and drive 45 minutes to the hotel.  Drats!  Once again, not so fast.  I still booked the early flight from Milwaukee to Atlanta, this would give me time to figure out my options during the 5 hour layover.  The problem was magically solved when some open seats on the early flight became available.  Some quick re-ticketing and I made it to the hotel in time to quickly chill my wines in time for the tasting.

 

 

I’m not sure if this will work for everyone or not but the link to a video of our “roundtable” is available by clicking here.  This didn’t work out as originally planned since we were all Google+ Hangout newbies.  The goal was to have everyone online via audio and video but instead we received mainly the “Greg Show” with guest star Fred Dexheimer.  That said, if you want to learn about this region and its wines, I highly recommend checking out the roundtable, it will be an hour well spent.

 

 

 

About the region

Southwest France is a lush, hilly wine region that occupies the corner bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, and Spain and the Pyrenees Mountains on the south. The region is home to a string of more than two dozen winemaking appellations whose producers are united by a passion for place. Some of the world’s great grape varieties originated here and many of the area’s lesser-known varieties are grown nowhere else.

 

Inviting, authentic, and brimming with character, the quality wines of Southwest France await your discovery!

 

Tons of information on the region, the Appellations, grapes, etc. is available on their website by clicking here.

 

I highly recommend checking out the site and getting to know more about the region.

 

 

 

This presentation and the wines were provided by Greg Dal Piaz and Snooth.

 

Snooth is the world’s most comprehensive wine site, hosts the largest online wine community & features reviews & local prices for millions of wines.

 

Mission

Snooth is a revolutionary web-based social shopping experience that is simplifying how people select, learn about, and purchase their favorite wines.

 

Company Overview

Philip James launched Snooth in 2007 with one goal: to make wine info clear, accessible, and freely available.

The idea for Snooth first came to Philip when he began working in the wine industry and realized just how complex wine was — if even the most seasoned wine collectors could become confused, what hope was there for the casual wine lover?

He realized that the wine industry was hopelessly fragmented — with neither a standardized naming system nor a centralized repository of information — and created Snooth to change all of that.

 

Visit Snooth by by clicking here.

 

 

 

My Line Up

Here is my line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

2013 Domaine du Tariquet Côtes de Gascogne Classic

This wine is a blend of 45% Ugni Blanc, 35% Columbard, 10% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Gros Manseng.

 

The wine has 10.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, pale straw color.  The outstanding nose has apples, pineapples, flinty minerals, melon and a touch of spice.  This has light to medium body with good acidity and just a bit of sweetness.  On the palate rich fruit and minerals coat the palate with a touch of spice coming in later.  The finish has decent length and leaves a bit of lingering sweetness that is nicely balanced with tart, citrusy acidity.  This is an extremely easy drinking bottle of wine for a hot Summer evening.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Domaine Chiroulet Côtes de Gascogne Les Terres Blanches         

This wine is a blend of Gros Manseng, Sauvignon Blanc and Ugni Blanc.

 

Skin maceration of the Ugni Blanc and the Sauvignon Blanc was utilized.  Long, direct pressing (as in the Champagne region) of the Gros Manseng, was used to extract as much minerality as possible.  Low-temperature fermentation was utilized to retain the wine’s floral taste.  The wine was aged 8 months on fine lees with regular stirring.

 

The wine has 12.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light, pale yellow color with flecks of green.  The inviting nose has apples, flinty minerals, citrus zest, cantaloupe and white flowers.  This has medium body, crisp acidity and seems totally dry.  On the palate apples and minerals hit first with lime zest coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with the minerals leading the way and the fruit providing nice background sweetness.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Producteurs Plaimont Côtes de Saint-Mont Tableaux – $14

This wine is a blend of 80% Gros Manseng, 15% Petit Courbu and 5% Arrufiac.

 

The wine has 13.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow with a slight green tint.  The nose has apples, minerals, roasted nuts, orange blossoms and a touch of smokiness.  The wine has medium body with crisp acidity and seems to be totally dry.  On the palate tart apples and minerals pop out first with a nutty quality coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with tart apples and citrus carrying the load until a touch of minerals come into the picture.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Producteurs Plaimont Côtes de Saint-Mont Les Bastions

This wine is a blend of Arrufiac, Petit Courbu, and Gros Manseng.

 

The wine has 13.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice yellow color with a green tint.  The nose has apples, flinty minerals, melon, white flowers and roasted nuts.  This has medium body with good acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  Apple and minerals kick off the show on the palate with melons and a floral note coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a roasted nut element coming into the picture.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Conclusion

The specific grapes used in the production of these wines may sound odd and unusual, but the wines are far from odd.  These all had nice up front fruit with solid minerality and crisp, citrusy acidity.  These ranged from the easy drinking, off dry Domaine du Tariquet Côtes de Gascogne Classic to the much more serious Saint-Mont wines.  All the wines are priced well enough that you can grab a case to sip during the hot weather that lies ahead and not break the bank.  I believe all these wines are well under $15 and could be under $10 a bottle if you shop wisely.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

This is based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

2012 Montes Twins

2011 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Alpha

 

 

 

About the winery:

Founded in 1988, Viña Montes is the brainchild of Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, both veterans of the wine industry.  Along with partners Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, they created Viña Montes with the goal of elevating the quality and reputation of Chilean wines – both in Chile and around the world.  In the quarter century since, Viña Montes has played a pivotal role in enhancing awareness, affinity, and acclaim for Chilean wines in more than 100 countries worldwide.  In essence, Viña Montes has become the benchmark for premium Chilean wines.

 

The winery produces 950,000 cases of wine a year under the following “labels”:

Montes Alpha “M” – Ultra-premium Bordeaux-variety blend

Montes Folly – Super-premium, limited-production Syrah

Purple Angel – Super-premium Carménère

Montes Alpha – Label that pioneered Chile’s first “premium” wines

          This label includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Chardonnay,   Malbec, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Syrah

Limited Selection – Small-lot wines, limited distribution

          This labels includes Cabernet Sauvignon / Carménère, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc

Montes Classic Series – Value wines, broad distribution

          This label includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc

Montes Cherub – Rosé of Syrah

Montes Twins – Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec

Montes Late Harvest: Botrytised Gewurztraminer

 

 

 

These wines were provided to me by feast PR.  For more information, check out their site by clicking here.  As of this posting, the site was still under construction.  Information can also be received by e-mailing Jennifer O’Flanagan at jen.oflanagan@feastpr.com.

 

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

 

2012 Montes Twins – SRP $17

This wine is a blend of 50% Malbec from the Marchigüe vineyard and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon Apalta vineyard.  The yields were 3.6 tons per acre.  After fermentation, 60% of the wine was aged for 10 months in new French oak barrels.

 

The wine has 14.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The exotic nose has blackberries, earthy underbrush, fresh ground espresso, vanilla, tomato leaf, dark chocolate and dried wildflowers.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate berries, espresso and earthiness jump out first with dark chocolate coming in on the back end.  A slight dried floral note comes through on the decent length finish.  This is a touch soft and seems to have a hint of residual sweetness which means the wine would work in a party setting.  This could use a bit more structure and complexity to reach the next level.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon Alpha – SRP $25

This wine is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot.  After fermentation, the wine was aged for 12 months in a mix of new and used French oak barrels.  The total production was 109,000 cases.

 

This 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 color.  The nose has cassis, dark chocolate, cedar, mint and a green herbal note.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cassis and chocolaty oak grab hold, slowly allowing some earthiness and an herbal note to slip in.  The finish has good length with nice fruit and chocolate along with the lingering green pepper note.  If you don’t mind a green pepper note, you will like this more than I do.  (85 pts)

 

 

 

Closing Thoughts

These are two nicely priced wines that can be easily found for well under the suggested retail price.  The average price I saw for the Twins was under $12.  At that price this can be served at a party without breaking the bank.

 

 

 

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 2014 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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!

 

These reviews are based on samples provided by the winery or organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

New York’s Finger Lakes

North America’s premier cool-climate winegrowing region

 

 

 

2012 Red Newt Cellars Riesling Semi-Dry

2011 Heron Hill Vineyards Cabernet Franc

 

 

 

It was my good fortune to be able to participate in an online tasting of wines from the Finger Lakes region of New York.  The event was called the “Finger Lakes Wine Hour” but actually lasted 4 hours.  Unfortunately for me, we got a late start returning from a vacation in South Carolina and arrived home just after the event ended.  That didn’t stop me from kicking back after the long drive and sampling the wines.  Thanks to the “Save as a Stream” feature in HootSuite, I was able to bring up the entire chat session and read along as I sampled my wines.

 

To follow ongoing conversations on the wines from the Finger Lakes region, check out the hashtag #FLXWine or follow @FLXwine on Twitter or give a “Like” to Finger Lakes Wine on Facebook.

 

 

I want to thank the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance and the wineries for providing these wines for me to sample.

 

 

About the region

The Finger Lakes became an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1982 but its history goes back much further.  The first vineyard in the region was planted by Reverend William Bostwick in his rectory garden in Hammondsport, NY in 1829.

 

The region is now home to over 115 wineries with about 9,200 acres of vineyards.  The region produces about 220,000 cases of Riesling wine from the 848 acres of Riesling grapes.

 

In 1998 the region was brought to the forefront in the wine world when Semi-Dry Rieslings from Dr. Konstantin Frank’s and Fox Run Vineyards each won a Gold medal in Strasbourg’s Rieslings of the World Competition in Alsace.

 

The major varieties of grapes planted in the region are Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer.  Each of these has over 100 acres of vines in the AVA.

 

Much more information about the region is available on the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance website.

 

 

My Line Up

This event revolved around the red wines of the Finger Lakes.  There were many different and varied wines opened for the event.  Here is my line up for the event:

 

 

2012 Red Newt Cellars Riesling Semi-Dry – SRP $15

Red Newt Cellars was founded in 1998 by David and the late Debra Whiting in the hamlet of Hector on the east side of Seneca Lake.

 

Wine production started with the 1998 vintage.  The total production was only 1,200 cases of Chardonnay, Riesling, Vidal, Cayuga, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  The first white wines were released at the grand opening of the winery and restaurant in July of 1999.  Two years later, Red Newt Cellars was celebrated and honored with the Governor’s Cup for Riesling.  In 2011 the winery was a recipient of Wine & Spirits Magazine’s 2011 Winery of the Year.

 

Much more information on the winery and their bistro is available by clicking here.

 

The Wine

Riesling production at Red Newt Cellars is straightforward and elegant. Fermentation is in stainless steel, mostly with Epernay II yeast at moderate temperatures. Fermentation is stopped with some residual sweetness. The wine is then fine-tuned and finished using the traditional method of adding back small amounts of unfermented Riesling juice reserve to the wine after fermentation.

This wine has 10.3% alcohol by volume and 2.1% residual sugar.  The bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright golden yellow color.  The enticing nose has apples, honey, minerals, petrol and lime zest.  This barely has medium body with good acidity and nice lingering sweetness.  On the palate ripe apples, honey and minerals coat the palate with nice citrusy acidity coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with nice balance between the sweetness and acidity.  This isn’t the most complex Riesling out there but that doesn’t detract from the overall “yum” factor.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Heron Hill Vineyards Cabernet Franc – SRP $15      

Heron Hill has grown from a 5,000 case, white wine only winery in 1977 to now producing 17,000 cases.  The days of white wines only is now in the distant past.  The winery now produces almost 20 different wine varieties.  The winery greets more than 50,000 visitors a year at its location on scenic Keuka Lake.

 

Heron Hill uses only careful processes and state of the art equipment in order to produce the best quality wines possible.  The vineyard is built into the side of a hill allowing Heron Hill’s team to gravity feed the juice instead of pumping, whenever possible.

 

Much more information about the winery and their wines is available by clicking here.  You can also buy wine and gifts on their website.

 

The Wine

This 100% Cabernet Franc uses grapes that were harvested over a week in late October.  After fermentation, the wine was aged for 13 months in French, Eastern European and American oak barrels.

 

The wine has 12.5% alcohol and .03% residual sugar. The bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The appealing nose has cassis, minerals, white pepper, dried herbs, cherries, tobacco, candied violets and a touch of dark chocolate.  This is barely medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cassis and white pepper jump out first with dried herbs and candied violets coming in later.  The finish has good length with the fruit leaning more towards cherries and some nice minerality entering the picture.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Conclusion

Once again New York’s Finger Lakes region showed that it produces world class wines that are sold for very consumer friendly prices.  Riesling is the star of the region but their red wines can also shine brightly.  I highly encourage readers to check out wines from this region.

 

 

 

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:

 

Click here or on the “Cliff’s Wine Picks On Other Sites” link in the top right corner to see links to other sites that either have my reviews, my thoughts or other posts I have written.

 

 

 

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!