2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County

2010 Altesino Rosso di Montalcino

2007 Wild Hog Vineyard Petite Sirah Cache Creek

2002 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Tietjen Vineyard

 

 

2008 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County – $17.50

Year after year one of the greatest values out there.  This is absolutely the best zinfandel you can get for $20 or less, in my opinion.  Mike Officer deserves a mountain of credit for holding the line on price increases even though his wines constantly sell out and get great reviews and ratings.  If you’re on Carlisle’s mailing list you know what I mean, if you aren’t, you need to become friends with someone who is.

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2010 Altesino Rosso di Montalcino – $24.33

I like Altesino’s Brunello wines, when the local store stocked this Rosso on their shelf, I had to grab a few bottles.  When done right, a Rosso is just a half notch below a Brunello in quality but sells for a fraction of the cost.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color with a touch of brick.  The bright nose has cherries, strawberries, raspberries, dried herbs, tobacco, minerals, and a touch of underbrush.  This has medium body, light to moderate tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate the red fruit and spice hit first with dried herbs, minerals, and tobacco coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with the tobacco and minerals closing the show.  Not a wine to contemplate over, but a very tasty Rosso to enjoy over the next few years.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Wild Hog Vineyard Petite Sirah Cache Creek – $9.50

A few years ago the local wine store ran this wine as an e-mail special.  It was a pretty easy decision to grab a case for well under $10 a bottle.  How often can you find a single vineyard Petite at that price?  I don’t know the specifics but according to the winery’s website this was the last vintage for the wine.  I know for a fact they made some in the 2008 vintage, since I have a case in my cellar.  At least I bought a case but I have opened a few bottles.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color.  The very masculine nose is loaded with blackberries, fresh ground black pepper, smoke, vanilla, eucalyptus, cherries, and wild flowers.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate the peppery berries kick off the show with some smoke and vanilla coming in on the back end. A faint herbal note peaks out on the fairly long finish as well as some earthiness.  This tastes marvelous today and should hold for at least a couple more years.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2002 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Tietjen Vineyard – $35.00

Elyse (including their Jacob Franklin label) is one of the wineries on the very short list of my favorites.  Across the board, Elyse churns out some of the most delicious red wines coming out of the Napa Valley at killer prices.  I usually love this wine, but it is actually my third favorite cabernet they make behind the Elyse Morisoli Cab and the Jacob Franklin Hoffman Lane Cab.  If you ever make it to Napa, I highly recommend paying them a visit.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The absolutely stunning nose has cassis, cigar box, warm baking spices, minerals (I’d say Rutherford dust but it’s not quite in Rutherford), black cherries, eucalyptus, dried herbs, rose petals, dark bittersweet chocolate, and melted licorice.  This has medium body, soft, integrated tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the cassis and spice lead off with minerals, dried herbs, and a touch of toasty oak building up in the background.  The finish is long and leans on the savory elements with cassis adding some nice sweetness from the sidelines.  This is in a perfect drinking window and extremely smooth and rich.  Probably one of the best Elyse Tietjen Cabernets I have consumed.  This wine is stunning today and should hold for a few more years, but why wait?  (94 pts)

 

 

 

 

***** 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:

 

 

 

Wines bought or received this week

2010 Altesino Rosso di Montalcino – 3 bottles for $24.33

2011 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc – 6 bottles for $15.78

2010 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard – 3 bottles for $18.16

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

2011 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc

2007 Villa Creek Avenger

2010 King Estate Pinot Gris Signature Collection

2007 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Kraken

2012 Villa Creek Pink

2009 Domaine de Fondrèche Côtes du Ventoux Cuvée Fayard

2012 New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys’ Vineyard

 

 

 

2011 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc – $16.90

Cloudy Bay has been my favorite New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for several years.  When I saw this wine on my local wine store’s shelf and found out the owner/wine maker is Kevin Judd, a decision to grab a few bottles was easy.  Kevin Judd, was the founding wine maker for Cloudy Bay.  After directing 25 vintages at Cloudy Bay, Kevin decided it was time to fulfill his life long dream and set his own course.  Greywacke, which opened in 2009, is the culmination of that dream.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light, pale, straw color.  The crisp and clean nose has grapefruit, minerals, lime, lemon zest, white pepper, gooseberry, and a touch of an herbal note.  This has a light body with tart citrusy acidity.  On the palate tart grapefruit and white pepper lead off with lime and lemon kicking in on the back end.  The finish is long and mouthwatering with minerals and an herbal note joining the citrus and white pepper.  A stunning wine for a warm afternoon with or without food.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Villa Creek Avenger – $35.00

As anyone who has followed me on Twitter or read this blog for very long knows, Villa Creek is one on my top 5 wineries.  Of all the wines offered by the winery, vintage after vintage, The Avenger is my favorite wine they produce.  This is a blend of 75% syrah, 15% mourvedre and 10% grenache.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The absolutely stunning nose has blackberries, cherries, minerals, eucalyptus, violets, Asian spices, licorice, and a touch of earthiness.  This has medium to full body, moderate ripe tannins, and good acidity.  This delivers a mouthful of juicy berries and spice up front with minerals, eucalyptus, and some earthiness kicking in on the back end.  The finish is fairly long with nice lingering sweet fruit, spice, and minerals.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2010 King Estate Pinot Gris Signature Collection – $12.82

The King Estate Pinot Gris is a warm weather favorite in our house.  This wine usually has enough richness to sip on its’ own on a warm day but also has enough acidity to easily stand up to some of the lighter fare we eat on a warm Summer evening.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, golden straw color.  The fresh and inviting nose has apples, minerals, citrus zest, pears, white peaches, and orange blossoms.  This has light to medium body and crisp acidity.  On the palate this is like apples and pears tossed with citrus zest with some minerals sprinkled on top.  The mouthwatering finish has good length and closes with a nice spritz of lime and minerals.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Kraken – $23.75

Treasure Hunter is a “négociant’ label.  The “winery” doesn’t own any vineyards or even a winery.  They buy excess wine from other wineries and either bottle it as is or do some blending and then bottle the finished product.  In most cases Treasure Hunter wines are identical to another, much more expensive, wine in the market place.  During the recent “economic downturn” when a lot of wineries were cutting back on their production, Treasure Hunter was the recipients of some great juice that they sold at killer prices.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color. The outstanding nose has cassis, dried herbs, licorice, cherries, minerals, eucalyptus, baking spices, leather, and some cedar.  This has medium body, fairly solid ripe tannins, and very good acidity.  Nice fruit and spice on the palate with minerals, dried herbs and a bit of earthiness coming in on the backend.  Fairly long finish with the fruit, spice, dried herbs and earthiness all in perfect balance.  A very good Napa Cab no matter the price, but an absolute steal for under $25.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Villa Creek Pink – $12.80

This wine, along with the Bedrock Rosé, meet most of my Summer rosé requirements.  This is usually a nice, easy drinking, rosé with crisp acidity and just a hit of lingering sweetness.  This is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pink to salmon color.  The fresh and inviting nose has strawberry, cherry, minerals, apples, a touch of orange zest, and a slight herbal note.  This has light body, crisp acidity, and a touch of sweetness.  The palate has tart red fruit, apples, and a distinct streak of minerality.  The finish has nice length with a nice herbal element coming into the picture before some mouthwatering citrus closes the show.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Domaine de Fondrèche Côtes du Ventoux Cuvée Fayard – $9.49

This is another wine I found on the shelf at the local wine store.  In my opinion, even after several fantastic vintages, the wines from the Southern Rhone represent fantastic values.  One of these days enough people are going to recognize these marvelous wines and cause price increases, until that time, I will be stocking up.  This is a blend of 50% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to purple color.  The outstanding nose has blackberries, minerals, cherries, smoke, dried herbs, road tar, vanilla, wild flowers, and a touch of dark chocolate.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very nice acidity.  Nice red and black fruit and a load of minerals coat the palate with some dried herbs, chocolate, and a bit of earthiness coming in on the backend.  The finish has decent length again highlighting the mineral laden fruit and subtle earthiness.  This is drinking very nicely today and should provide a lot of good drinking over the next four to six years.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2012 New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc – $8.54

I had to grab a couple bottles of this to try to see if I need to stock up for the Summer.  It’s hard to pass on a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc when you can grab it for under $9.00 a bottle.  I’m not expecting a Cloudy Bay clone, but for about one third the price, I’m looking for something to enjoy with dinner on the deck on a week night.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light golden straw color, almost colorless.  The clean and refreshing nose has tart apples, grapefruit, lemon zest, spice, and a solid herbal note.  This has light to medium body with crisp acidity and a bit of residual sweetness.  On the palate the wine highlights both the crisp citrus and herbal elements with a touch of spice in the background and some lingering sweetness.  The finish has decent length and closes with tart, mouthwatering citrus, with some lingering sweetness providing nice richness without getting in the way.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Garys’ Vineyard – $33.00

I grabbed a half case of this wine upon release, figuring I’d be able to enjoy these over several years.  At least that was the plan, this will be my last bottle from that purchase.  Every bottle of this wine has been outstanding and I’m looking forward to saying goodbye to this old friend this evening.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The exciting nose has blackberries, licorice, baking spices, charred meat, grapefruit zest, black pepper, dried herbs, earthy underbrush, vanilla, and violets.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate spicy berries, pepper, and a twist of grapefruit dominate the front end with dried herbs and meaty elements coming in on the backend.  The finish is very long and flavorful with some earthy elements and the grapefruit zest seeming to last forever.  This is in a very nice drinking window, but there is no hurry on this one, it should last in the cellar for at least a few more years.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

***** 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 Stefania Haut Tubee

2005 Mitolo Shiraz Reiver

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Rosé

2010 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard

 

 

I’m on vacation so the comments are a bit brief this time.  I also have very wonky internet access which is limiting my ability to do much background research.

 

 

 

2007 Stefania Haut Tubee – $18.00

 

This wine has been a favorite since I grabbed a case from the winery’s mailing list.  This is a wine that changes, often dramatically, every vintage depending on what the winery has available.  Per the winery, this vintage is 50% syrah with cabernet sauvignon, merlot, zinfandel, grenache, and mourvedre.

 

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark garnet to purple color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, smoked meat, black pepper, cedar, cherries, dried herbs, and forest floor.  This has a medium body, moderate tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate is a bit brighter than the nose lead me to expect with the fruit more in the cherry to raspberry range with a load of spice and slowly building earthiness.  The finish has decent length but is losing some of the richness it had in the past.  Tastes good now but I’d advise drinking up over the next year.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Mitolo Shiraz Reiver – $20.59

 

Another Aussie Shiraz that someone lost money on.  The release price was well north of $40 but I bought a case and a half for a touch over $20 a bottle from the local wine store.

 

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color, almost black.  The very deep and inviting nose is locked and loaded with blackberries, smoked meat, baking spices, vanilla, dark chocolate, cherries, charcoal, dried herbs, and black pepper.  This has a fairly full body, solid, velvety tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate big fruit and spice quickly take hold allowing some dried herbs, chocolate, and vanilla to slowly slip into the picture.  The finish is long with cherries and a big blast of black pepper adding considerable interest.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

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

 

This is generally one of my go-to Rosé wines along with the Villa Creek Pink.

 

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 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard – $19.94

 

The owner/winemaker is Cody Wright, the son of well known and popular Oregon winemaker/owner Ken Wright.  This was a new winery to me when the local wine store had an e-mail special on the wine.  In my opinion, any time you can get hold of a good Pinot Noir for under $20, you buy.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright red color with a slight ruby tint. The soft and nuanced nose has black cherries, raspberries, fresh flowers, and subtle earthiness. This is medium body at most, with racy acidity, and soft but persistent tannins. The silky palate has tart, juicy fruit, spice, and a bit of earthiness which carries through on the slightly short finish. This is a nice, light weight style of Pinot with juicy acidity and a touch of earthiness and spice to balance out the fruit. This is a nice change up from the broad shouldered California Pinots.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

 

***** 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 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos

2007 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity

2008 Turley Zinfandel Old Vines

2008 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red

 

 

 

2009 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos – $11.39

 

This Spanish Garnacha (Grenache) is a perennial best buy that always over delivers.  If you are looking for a classically structured, old world style Grenache, this isn’t it.  If you want a wine loaded with fruit and spice, grab a bottle, you will love this one.  This could be slipped into a tasting of California wines that cost a lot more and not stick out as a weak link.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has raspberries, smoke, vanilla, baking spices, cherries, fresh ground espresso beans, white pepper, and some dried herbs.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the fruit and spice lead off with white pepper, dried herbs, and the coffee coming in later.  The finish has nice length with a dark chocolate note joining the party.  This is a very nice wine and an incredible value.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2007 John Duval Wines Shiraz Entity – $20.27

 

Even though they are out of vogue, we still love a nice Australian Shiraz.  Those of us that still drink these wines are usually rewarded with great pricing.  I was able to stock up on this gem for about half the suggested price when the local wine store brought in a fair amount.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The open and satisfying nose has blackberries, warm baking spices, dark bittersweet chocolate, black pepper, licorice, fresh ground dark roast coffee, dried herbs, some earthiness, and a floral note.  This has a fairly full body, solid ripe tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the berries and dark chocolate take center stage with dried herbs, pepper, and some earthiness coming in on the sidelines.  The finish is very long with berries, dark chocolate, and dried herbs leading the way with a hit of cherries coming through in the background.  This is delicious today but can easily be cellared for several years.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Turley Zinfandel Old Vines – $25.00

 

Turley was one of the original “cult” zinfandel producers.  Even though they may have been eclipsed by a few of the young guns like Carlisle and Bedrock, their Juvenile and Old Vines Zins are still very nice bottles of wine for the price.  I have actually dropped off the Turley mailing list since I have been able to buy most of the wines from my local wine store who actually has a very nice selection on their shelves.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The spicy nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla, minerals, baking spices, smoke, and some earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  Brighter on the palate than the nose lead me to expect with the fruit more in the cherry and raspberry arena with a load of black pepper and spice poured on top.  The finish has decent length and adds a touch of earthiness.  This doesn’t offer much complexity but still very tasty.  Not your typical rich and velvety Turley zinfandel.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Tamarack Cellars Firehouse Red – $13.29

 

This is a kitchen sink blend that changes every vintage.  This vintage is a blend of 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 16% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc, 3% Malbec, 3% Sangiovese, 3% Petite Verdot, and 1% Carmenere from the ColumbiaValley in Washington.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby to maroon color. The enticing nose has blackberries, smoldering charcoal, vanilla, meat juices, dried herbs, baking spices, licorice, and a bit of earthiness. This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity. The palate has a nice mix of fruity and savory elements that play well off of each other. The finish has decent length leaning a bit more on the savory elements. This is in a very nice drinking window and is a nice change of pace from the bigger, riper California wines.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

 

***** 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!

 

 

 

2011 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Riesling California

2011 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot California

 

 

This review is based on samples supplied by the winery or an organization acting on their behalf.

 

 

 

Now that most of the country, even those of us in the upper Midwest, is finally enjoying some warmer weather it’s time to start looking for wines to enjoy at outdoors gatherings and parties.

 

I was sent these two wines to sample and I think they would be perfect for sharing with friends or providing something fun and tasty when you just want something to sip on the deck or patio in the evening.

 

 

 

“To succeed and have a happy life, you need common sense, a commitment to hard work and the courage to go your own way.” – Robert Mondavi

 

 

The Beginning

In the early 1900’s, Cesare and Rosa Mondavi, newlyweds from Sassoferrato in northern Italy, settled in Minnesota.  In 1919, the National Prohibition Act was passed, banning the sale of alcohol.  This seemed incomprehensible to Italian families, to whom wine was a staple of daily life.  Luckily, a loophole in the law allowed people to make 200 gallons of wine each year for family consumption.

 

Cesare became involved in shipping wine grapes from California for home winemaking, and noticed that the majority of the grapes were coming from a place called “Lodi” in California.  Sensing an opportunity, he moved his family, which now included a young Robert Mondavi and started his own business shipping grapes back east to Italian-American families.  Robert’s first job was nailing crates together to hold the grapes.

 

Robert’s parents instilled in him the virtues of hard work and encouraged him to explore the growing wine industry.  After studying business and chemistry at Stanford University and taking a crash course in viticulture and enology at the University of California at Berkeley, Robert Mondavi immersed himself in all aspects of the wine industry.

 

Creating A Legacy

Robert Mondavi felt confident that the Napa Valley and California could ultimately create wines that would stand shoulder to shoulder with the great wines of the world.  He founded the iconic Robert Mondavi Winery in 1966 near Oakville, California; the first major winery to be built in the Napa Valley since Prohibition.

 

After the outstanding success of his Napa Valley winery, Robert Mondavi pursued his second vision of creating delicious wines for everyday enjoyment.  Having grown up in Lodi, Robert knew the region was ideal for growing wine grapes from which he could produce quality wines at affordable prices.  In 1979, he acquired a local cooperative of grape growers, naming the winery after a nearby town – the Woodbridge Winery was born.

 

 

 

Today’s lineup:

 

2011 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Riesling California – SRP $7.99

 

My comments

Who doesn’t love an off dry, crisp, white wine to sip on a warm evening over some conversation with friends?  The nice sweetness provided by the Riesling grape with just enough acidity to keep the wine from getting too syrupy makes it a perfect, easy, sipper.  With a suggested price of $8, it also won’t break the bank.  The low 11.5% alcohol helps keep the wine light and refreshing and won’t make you feel guilty about a second glass.  After all, who can stop at only one glass of Riesling?

 

This wine is a blend of 76% Riesling and 24% other dry white wine varietals.  Fermentation was stopped with about 2% residual sugar which provides nice sweetness without it being too sugary sweet.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, golden yellow color.  The fresh smelling nose has crisp apples, lime, lemon zest, honey, pear, orange blossoms, and just a hint of petrol.  This has medium body, nice sweetness, and enough acidity to provide balance.  On the palate this tastes like apples dipped in honey with some spice and lime.  The finish is crisp with decent length and a lingering sweetness.  This is a wine to sip and enjoy, not one to over think and analyze.

 

This would be nice by itself or with a crisp apple tart.

 

 

 

2011 Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot California – SRP $7.99

 

My comments

Sideways may have struck a blow against Merlot, but its fans know it can be an easy drinking, smooth red wine to pair with food or to sip with friends over a platter of cured meats and cheese.

 

This wine is a blend of 76% Merlot, 13% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah, and 6% other complementary varieties.  Most of the grapes are from the Lodi region and the final alcohol is a relatively light 13.6%

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The smooth and inviting nose has blackberries, cherries, baking spices, dark chocolate, vanilla, and some toasty oak.  This has medium body with soft tannins and acidity with just a hint of sweetness.  The palate has berries, cherries, and enough spicy oak to add some depth.  The wine has decent length on the finish with nice fruit and spicy oak.  This leaves a sweet closing impression making you want to grab another sip.

 

This would be nice on its own, with a party platter, or something hot off the grill.

 

 

 

 

***** 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!

 

 

 

2011 Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast

2005 Copain Syrah Garys’ Vineyard

2011 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente

2008 Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

 

 

2011 Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast – $21.97

 

My comments

I’ve been a fan of the single vineyard Pinot Noirs from Calera for a few years.  This will actually be my first appellation labeled wine from them.

 

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)

 

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah Garys’ Vineyard – $50.00

 

My comments

I’m a fan of both Copain’s Syrahs and the wines made with grapes from Garys’ Vineyard, but this wine always left me scratching my head.  This wine included a high percentage of stems and the resulting vegetal notes always were too prominent.  I kept hoping they would better integrate, but I think we just have to accept this will always have a stemmy note.  It’s been about two years since my last bottle, I’m hoping for the best but feel otherwise.

 

Winery history

Wells Guthrie discovered early on that his taste in wine gravitated toward Europe in general and France’s Rhône Valley in particular.  So much so, he picked up and moved with his new bride to the region to learn from the best.  For two years, Wells apprenticed for esteemed winemaker and living legend Michel Chapoutier in France’s Rhone Valley.  During that time, Wells was deeply inspired by the traditions and practices of French winemaking, not to mention the European attitude that wine is an essential part of life.  At Copain, he creates wines that are firmly rooted in California, yet with the sensibilities of the European wines that so moved him.  He is as committed to crafting these elegant, nuanced wines as he is to building a legacy that will be passed down to his daughters in the great tradition of European winemakers whose estates have been in the same family for generations.

 

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby to purple color.  The deep and dark nose has blackberries, smoked meat, black pepper, blueberries, dried herbs, dark chocolate, fresh ground espresso, earthy underbrush, and a bit of stems.  On the palate this leans on the savory elements with smoked meat, dark chocolate, dried herbs, and pepper taking control and driving the fruit into the background where it adds some needed sweetness.  The finish is long and meaty with a touch of stems peaking through.  I doubt the stems will ever totally integrate but at this point they are at least mostly under control.  I found this very enjoyable but some will object to the excessive stems.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente – $19.00

 

My comments

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.

 

Winery history

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 very light golden, straw color.  The fresh and appealing nose has apples, lemon zest, flinty minerality, white peach, orange blossoms, and a touch of spice including white pepper.  This has light body with very crisp citrusy acidity.  The citrus explodes on the palate with apples, minerals, and spice quickly building on the back end.  The finish is long and mouthwatering leaving a distinct citrus and white pepper element.  This is a perfect sunny day wine.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – $65.00

 

My comments

I’ve been a big fan of Jeff Ames’ Rudius label since the beginning.  I don’t know the status of Jeff’s mailing list, but if you like very special wines at good prices, you should check them out at http://www.rudiuswines.com/.  Besides Cabernets, Jeff has produced several outstanding wines with Rhone grapes.

 

Winery history

Growing up in Memphis and Mobile, Alabama in a family of lawyers, the thought of becoming a winemaker never occurred to Jeff Ames.  But after deciding not to pursue his law degree, a part time job in a local wine shop in Memphis sparked his passion for wine.  Soon after, in 1998, Jeff moved to Oregon on a whim—with no guarantee of a job—and lucked out when Lynn Penner-Ash gave him his first harvest job at Rex Hill.  What started as a much-needed mental break from his Masters program, soon turned into an exciting new career.  After harvest, Jeff couldn’t get enough of the wine business, and made the big move to the Napa Valley in 1999.  After bouncing around the industry from tasting room jobs at Freemark Abbey, Flora Springs and Duckhorn, to freelance writing for Decanter Magazine, to sales at WineBid, Jeff finally got the break he was waiting for.  In 2001, he was able to return to production—the side of the industry he has always loved most—when he became Thomas Brown’s assistant winemaker at brands including Schrader, Maybach, Outpost, and Tor.

 

Two short years later, he took over as head winemaker at Tor, where he continues to make extraordinary wines from some of California’s most notable vineyards.  Everything really came together for Jeff in 2005, when, after years of penny-pinching, he finally achieved his ultimate goal of starting his own wine brand—Rudius Wines.  And the result, my friends, is what you have in your cellar!

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The exciting and inviting nose has cassis, mint, warm baking spices, tobacco, black cherries, crushed stone minerals, dark bittersweet chocolate, dried herbs, and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate spices, cassis, cherries, and dark chocolate hit first followed by minerals and dried herbs on the back end.  The finish is very long and seems to linger forever, with the minty note making a brief but appealing appearance.  On the young side, but already drinking very nicely.  I’m sure additional cellar time will be handsomely rewarded.  (94 pts)

 

***** 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:

 

 

 

 

Wines bought or received this week

2012 New Harbor Sauvignon Blanc 1 bottle for $8.54

2011 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc 1 bottle for $16.90

2010 Peay Vineyards Syrah La Bruma 4 bottles for $38.04

 

 

 

 

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 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains

2010 Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage

2009 Loring Wine Company Pinot NoirSantaLuciaHighlands

2007 Elyse Zinfandel A.K.A.

 

 

2007 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains – $22.79

 

My comments

I grabbed this wine a few years ago when the winery had a tasting at the local store.  The 2002 vintage of this wine was one the best purchases I have ever made.  That vintage took a few years to fill out and open up, so I’m hoping I allowed this vintage to rest in the cellar long enough.

 

Winery history

Martin Ray Winery was established in 1943 in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Martin Ray’s mission was to make 100% varietal wines in California that could rival great French Bordeaux and Burgundy wines.  Today, we continue the tradition of making 100% varietal wines from premium mountain vineyards using the same winemaking practices that made Ray a legendary figure in the wine business.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  Cassis and blackberries jump from the glass with vanilla, dried herbs, wild flowers, cherries, licorice, cedar, and a bit of eucalyptus.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and good acidity.  This isn’t as big and rich on the palate as the nose lead me to expect.  The slightly restrained palate has cassis, spicy oak, vanilla, and a floral quality.  The finish has decent length with the minty eucalyptus note making a closing statement along with the cassis, and spicy oak.  The palate was a bit of a letdown after the build up from the exuberant nose, but on the whole, this is a very nice wine.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage – $18.71

 

My comments

This was another of my Garagiste Wine purchases.  Sometimes I hate having to wait up to a year to get my wine from them, but generally I either order older Rieslings and ensure I have plenty to ship during one of their shipping windows or order wines I don’t plan on opening for a while.  I grabbed a few bottles of this wine and want to try one to gauge how long to sit on the remaining bottles so I can drink most of them in a prime drinking window.

 

Winery history

Domaine du Colombier is located in the Northern Rhône Valley, in the left bank of the Rhône River.  The estate has been part of the family since the First World War.  The owners gradually moved from a sharecroppers status to that of owners.  Florent Viale joined his father in 1990 and decided to bottle part of their production in 1991.  Now they sell 80% in bottle, 20% in bulk.

 

This 12 hectare (30 acres) Domaine spreads over the two communes of Tain l’Hermitage and Mercurol and is comprised of:

 

1.6 hectares (4 acres) of Hermitage

1.2 hectares (3 acres) of white Crozes-Hermitage

9.2 hectares (23 acres) of red Crozes-Hermitage.

Total: 12 hectares (30 acres)

 

The vineyard, located on stony hillside, is planted with old vines (50-55 years of age): Syrah for the red and Marsanne for the white.  The grapes are harvested by hand.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, cherries, dried herbs, minerals, smoked meat, black pepper, and some forest floor.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the nicely layered palate spicy fruit is joined by minerals and smoked meat with dried herbs and some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length and leans on the savory elements with the fruit providing a touch of sweetness in the background.  This is drinking very nicely today but there is absolutely no need to drink these soon.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands – $24.00

 

My comments

To me, the Loring appellation wines are some of the biggest bargains available.  I always grab at least a mixed case when these wines are offered.  These are generally very good to outstanding California Pinot Noirs that cost under $25.

 

Winery history

My philosophy on making wine is that the fruit is EVERYTHING.  What happens in the vineyard determines the quality of the wine – I can’t make it better – I can only screw it up!  That’s why I’m extremely picky when choosing vineyards to buy grapes from.  Not only am I looking for the right soil, micro-climate, and clones, I’m also looking for a grower with the same passion and dedication to producing great wine that I have.  In other words, a total Pinot Freak!  My part in the vineyard equation is to throw heaping piles of money at the vineyard owners (so that they can limit yields and still make a profit) and then stay out of the way!  Since most, if not all of the growers keep some fruit to make their own wine, I tell them to farm my acre(s) the same way they do theirs – since they’ll obviously be doing whatever is necessary to get the best possible fruit.  One of the most important decisions made in the vineyard is when to pick.  Some people go by the numbers (brix, pH, TA, etc) and some go by taste.  Once again, I trust the decision to the vineyard people.  The day they pick the fruit for their wine is the day I’m there with a truck to pick mine.  Given this approach, the wine that I produce is as much a reflection of the vineyard owner as it is of my winemaking skills.  I figure that I’m extending the concept of terroir a bit to include the vineyard owner/manager… but it seems to make sense to me.  The added benefit is that I’ll be producing a wide variety of Pinots.  It’d be boring if everything I made tasted the same.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to garnet color.  The very enticing nose has black cherries, baking spices, raspberries, minerals, white pepper, forest floor, and fresh wild flowers.  This has medium to full body, silky tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the fairly straight forward palate, spices and fruit kick off the show with white pepper and earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish is fairly long again highlighting the spicy fruit and some earthiness.  The Loring appellation Pinot Noirs are some of the best values in the marketplace.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Elyse Zinfandel A.K.A. – $20.00

 

My comments

Elyse has been one of my favorite wineries since my first visit there in 2001.  I was talking to an employee at Merryvale about the style of wines I liked and that I was on the lookout for leads to some nice Petite Sirah based wines.  All he said was, “You have to checkout Elyse”.  As soon as we got back in the car, I pulled out my guidebook of wineries, and looked them up.  According to the guide, they required a reservation so I called them.  About 30 minutes later we were met by a very gracious and inviting tasting room employee.  We spent the next hour trying just about everything they made.  We left with several bottles for the week and ordered a case to be shipped back home.

 

Since that day, Elyse has always been the first winery we visit when we make it to Napa.  I always have several bottles of Elyse wine in my cellar.  A quick check of my cellar on Cellar Tracker shows I currently have 22 bottles of Elyse wines and 12 from their other label, Jacob Franklin in stock.

 

Winery history

In 1983, Nancy and Ray arrived in California from Cape Cod to fulfill Ray’s dream of making wine and Nancy’s taste for adventure.  After working harvest at Mt. Eden Winery in Saratoga, they moved to NapaValley and became innkeepers for a bed &breakfast. Ray then spent formative time at Tonella Vineyard Management, where he gained philosophical perspective and practical knowledge working in the vineyards.  Ray’s nine year tenure at Whitehall Lane Winery under the tutelage of Art Finkelstein first as a cellar worker and then as head winemaker honed his skills in the art of blending and was the inspiration for Ray’s winemaking style today.

 

In 1987, Ray & Nancy started Elyse Winery with 286 cases of Zinfandel from the Morisoli Vineyard, which is still a cornerstone vineyard source for the winery. After a decade of nomadic winemaking at various custom crush facilities, in 1997 they purchased a small winery and vineyard on Hoffman Lane, the home of Elyse Winery and tasting room.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color with some bricking at the edge.  The very satisfying nose has brambly berries, black pepper, wood smoke, warm baking spices, leather, minerals, vanilla, and a meaty element.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate this isn’t a typical, big, jammy, in your face style of zinfandel, this is much more graceful and elegant.  The palate has spicy, peppery berries, minerals, and just a touch of earthiness.  The finish has very nice length and leans a bit more on the savory end with the fruit in the background adding nice sweetness.  This is in a very nice place and should hold for another year or two.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

***** 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!

 

 

 

This is based on samples supplied by the winery or another organization on their behalf.

 

 

Murai Family Tokubetsu Honjozo

SakeMoto

Yoshinogawa Winter Warrior

G fifty

 

 

I was invited to participate in an online saké tasting, which was very easy to accept.  I have enjoyed saké in the past, but my knowledge on the beverage is VERY limited.  I usually rely on the suggestions from the server and never remember which ones I have liked or the ones I could barely tolerate.  This will be a great opportunity to try four different examples and allow me to note differences and figure out what I like based on side by side comparisons.

 

 

Visit the SakéOne website.

 

 

The selections were provided by Charles Communications for the SakéOne brand tasting and participation was limited to 12 people.

 

 

Generally, saké is best served is a white wine glass.  For some reason, several of us opted for a stemless wine glass like the Riedel O line.  I chose the glass since it seemed to be a nice middle of the road melding of the small traditional saké glass and a larger, stemmed wine glass.

Though saké can be served slightly warmed, it is better served chilled; I had mine at a cool room temperature.

 

It was pointed out that the American saké producers prefer to be called “craft” saké, or American, but don’t call them “domestic”.

An open bottle of saké will last for weeks in the refrigerator since it is pasteurized.

 

 

SakéOne is one of six saké breweries in America and the only saké brewery in Oregon. It has promoted quality saké in America for over two decades, both as an importer and as a domestic craft brewer, focusing on quality, heritage and innovation. SakéOne imports a boutique portfolio of Japanese regional saké including the brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa and SakéMoto, a premium Japanese saké developed specifically for the American market. Greg also produces award-winning saké for the Momokawa, G Saké, and the fruit-infused Moonstone brands at SakéOne’s own Kura in Forest Grove, Oregon.

 

Saké’s presence in the American market is rapidly increasing; in the past ten years, saké has seen a 100% increase in the US Beverage alcohol market. However, most premium saké is still imported from Japan.

 

 

The video from the online tasting, graphics dealing with saké terminology and the brewing process, as well as the participant’s posts can be found here:

http://sakeone.yourbrandlive.com/c/sakeonenewreleasemay2013/

 

 

 

Here was our lineup for the evening:

 

 

 

 

The beverages are listed in the tasting sequence.

 

 

 

Murai Family Tokubetsu Honjozo (Imported) – SRP $25.00

 

Importer/Distributor comments

Tokubetsu means special, Honjozo defines that there is added alcohol in a saké.  This special brew has a little added alcohol used to highlight aromas and flavors that would otherwise more subtle.  This is a long time favorite of the SakéOne team.

 

Profile: Layered herbal notes with anise highlights set the tone for this dynamic honjozo.  This is clean and complex with an incredible amount of aroma and flavor to explore.  This is one of the all time favorites from Murai Family.  This took first place in the Japan National Saké Contest for the Honjozo category.

 

Enjoyment: Exceptional chilled where the aromas and flavors are maximized but also easy going when served warm.

 

Style: Special Honjozo

Rice: Miyamanishiki          Polish: 60%

Alc: 15.5%                         SMV: +2

Sulfites: 0                          Gluten: 0

 

Serve: Chilled or warm (up to 114 degrees F)

 

For more information or to order some for yourself.

 

 

My Tasting Note

This is very clear, as are “most” sakés.  The nose had smoky peat moss, mushrooms, earthy, lemongrass, apples, touch of tropical fruit, and a floral element.  On the palate this was slightly creamy with a touch of crispness.  On the palate there was some up front fruit with a load of earthy elements coming in quickly.  This had nice length on the finish, again leaning on the earthy elements especially mushrooms with just a touch of sweet apples.

 

 

 

SakeMoto Junmai (Imported) – SRP $11.00

 

Importer/Distributor comments

Imported from Japan and created by a brewer with over 270 years of experience, SakéMoto Junmai Saké delivers quality and value in a taste profile that is finely tuned to the American palate.

 

Profile: Upfront fruit in the nose, a rich texture, and a long, smooth finish that will appeal to both new and seasoned saké drinkers.

 

Enjoyment: Beautifully on its own, chilled and served in an all purpose white wine glass or pairs nicely with savory sensations, such as dried mushrooms, parmesan cheese, aged beef, tomatoes, and more.

 

Style: Junmai                   Polish: 70%

Alc: 14.7%                       SMV: +3.9

Sulfites: 0                       Gluten: 0            Serve: Chilled

 

For more information or to order some for yourself.

 

 

My Tasting Note

This has a slight yellow tint.  On the fruitier nose, tropical fruit, floral, fennel, apples, and pears. This has sweet fruit on the palate with fennel and some subtle earthiness that slowly builds.  This has nice length on the sweet finish with just a touch of a bitter element adding some depth and some complexity.

 

 

 

Yoshinogawa Winter Warrior (Imported) – SRP $27.00

 

Importer/Distributor comments

A fresh expression of Niigata style saké, Winter Warrior is crafted for today’s imbiber who seeks something refreshing, fruit-forward and overall elegantly decadent. The layered tropical aromas and lush fruit flavors of Winter Warrior make it an easy transition for wine enthusiasts and cocktail fans. Clean, complex and ready to lead your saké adventure. There are few, very few, Junmai sake imported with this depth of character.

 

Profile: Easy going, lush, fruit-forward with lots of tropical notes like guava, mango and fresh rain falling on a deep forest.

 

Enjoyment: Pour a glass and enjoy with fresh fruit, lightly spicy foods, and hearty sushi rolls and hearty Izakaya faire.

 

Style: Junmai Ginjo

Rice: Gohyakumangoku           Polish: 60%

Yeast: No. 18                            Acidity: 1.3

SMV: -1                                    Alc: 14%

Gluten: 0                                  Sulfites: 0                 Serve: Chilled

 

For more information or to order some for yourself.

 

 

My Tasting Note

This is very clean and clear and absolutely colorless.  The very intriguing nose has musky tropical melons, smoke, fennel, pears, flowers, mushrooms, and a touch of mint.  This has medium body and has a creamy mouth feel.  The long finish really highlights the minty note and toasty smoke.  This was my favorite of the event.

 

 

 

G fifty (American Craft) SRP $25.00

 

Importer/Distributor comments

This is a brand new saké that has not been released so there is no information on the website.

 

 

My Tasting Note

This has a clear and watery appearance.  The soft and fruity nose had pineapple, flowers, and mint.  On the palate this is big, fruity, and round.  The long finish is filled with mint and pineapple with just a hint of earthiness.  This was obviously produced for an American palate wanting a fuller body full of sweet, ripe fruit.  If he reviewed saké, I’m sure people would call this “Parkerized”.    🙂

 

 

 

 

 

***** 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!  Or in this case Kanpai! 

 

 

2008 Schild Estate Shiraz

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. The Bedrock Heirloom

2011 Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes

2003 Château Pontet-Canet

 

 

2008 Schild Estate Shiraz – $19.00

 

My comments

This has been a very erratic bottle, a couple bottles have been very nice, almost worthy of the lofty position it was anointed by Wine Spectator, this was number 7 on the Wine Spectator, Top 100 Wines of 2010.  The other bottles have been thin, tart, and slightly green.  This was a controversial wine from the start.  After getting the lofty score and its inclusion in the top 10 on WS’s wine of the year list, the winery “made” more of the wine.  Supposedly the wine was made from purchased wine and was purely for consumption in Australia.  The contents of most of the bottles in my case leave me wondering if some of the wine ended up not staying in Australia.

 

Winery history

The winery’s website is “under construction” so I am posting information from James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion website.  You should visit his wonderful site.

 

Ed Schild is a BarossaValley grapegrower who first planted a small vineyard at Rowland Flat in 1952, steadily increasing his vineyard holdings over the next 50 years to their present level. The flagship wine is made from 150-year-old shiraz vines on the Moorooroo Block. The cellar door is in the old ANZ Bank at Lyndoch, and provides the sort of ambience that can only be found in the BarossaValley. A $4 million winery was constructed and opened in time for the 2010 vintage. Schild Estate was caught up in a PR storm in early 11 after its 08 Shiraz was ranked no. 8 in the Top 100 Wines of the Wine Spectator. All of its stock had to be sent to the US, and a separate blend was made for Australian distribution with a slip label stating it was blend no. 2. The event has not stopped production increasing from 20 000 to 45 000 dozen. Exports to all major markets.

 

Author: James Halliday

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The very nice nose has blackberries, smoke, melted licorice, dark chocolate, vanilla, baking spices, white pepper, and some earthy underbrush.  This is medium to full body with fairly solid tannins and tart acidity.  On the palate tart berries and spice hit first followed by dark chocolate, earthy elements, and cherries.  The finish has nice length with a green herbal note creeping in.  I’ve encountered some rather extreme bottle variation on this wine.  This one lacks some of the richness found on the better bottles and the acidity is a touch over blown.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. The Bedrock Heirloom – $35.00

 

My comments

Bedrock has quickly turned to a major provider of white wines in my house.  I generally have a hard time limiting my purchases of Morgan’s white wines to a couple cases.

 

That said, I joined this e-mail list to get access to the old vine red wines the winery produces.  This wine is mainly Zinfandel (50%) with a healthy amount of Carignane (30%).  The remainder is a mix of the other two dozen varieties interspersed in the vineyard.

 

Winery history

Bedrock is an itsy-bitsy winery making wine in a converted chicken coop.  Fruit from only the most excellent vineyard sites is hand pitch-forked into the destemmer, fermented in open top redwood and stainless vats using only native yeasts, and are manually basket pressed by winemaker Morgan Twain-Peterson into the sexiest oak from the coldest French forests.

 

The winery’s objectives are:

 

To channel the fruit of ancient vines into powerful, elegant, and distinctly Californian wines.

To spread the gospel of Syrah in California by sourcing fruit from great terroirs throughout the NorthCoast.

To proclaim the greatness of Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by sparing no expense on wines of uniqueness and personality.

To reclaim rose’ from the excesses of saignee and focus on precision, delicacy, aromatics, and food friendliness.

To make fascinating and quixotic white wines from unique sites and interesting varietals.

To make California Pinot Noir that ages as well as ’74 Swan.

To dream big but keep production low!

 

 

The 2009 Heirloom is a more poised and elegant expression of the red soils found at my family’s Bedrock Vineyard.  Though perhaps not as brooding as the 2008, I find the aromatics of black fruits, pungent orange oil, and exotic spices quite compelling.  On the palate the wine is dense and vibrant and surprisingly open given the normally tannic structure imbued into Zinfandel based wines from Bedrock.  As always, the wine is a blend of the 26 varieties interplanted from the 121-year-old vines at the ranch.  This year’s blend is approximately 50% Zinfandel, 30% Carignane, with the balance being the other 24 or so varieties. 10 barrels and one puncheon made. 60% new, tight-grain, French oak from Ermitage, Rousseau, and Cadus.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright purple color.  The very appealing nose has blackberries, baking spices, mocha, fresh ground espresso, cherries, licorice, and wild flowers.  This has medium to fully body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate the wine slowly reveals multiple layers of fruit, spice, and subtle earthiness.  The finish is very long and full of berries and spice with a nice floral note making a closing appearance as well as a touch of dark chocolate.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors Vieilles Vignes – $13.29

 

My comments

Generally I am not a point chaser, but when the local wine store puts a new wine of the shelf with a “talker” noting a 93 point score from Robert Parker and the wine is under $15, I had to grab a bottle.  This is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache that was aged in concrete.  This will be my first exposure to this wine and if it approaches the level of the Wine Advocate review, I’ll be stocking up.

 

Winery history

One of the oldest viticultural areas of France, vines in the Roussillon were cultivated by the Romans, and perhaps even before that.  With some of the most dramatic topography in France, many of the zones are composed of extremely steep hillsides – resembling the Priorat in Spain in many ways.

 

One of the most sought-after winemakers of Europe at the moment, Jean-Marc Lafage lends his expertise with Southern European varietals to several top estates in both France and Spain (he makes Evodia with Eric Solomon among other custom cuvee projects) and also in South America.  However, his best work is perhaps at home at his estate in the hills of the Roussillon with his wife, Eliane, also a highly accomplished winemaker.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium garnet color, much lighter at the edge.  The clean and refreshing nose has cherries, baking spices, eucalyptus, forest floor, tobacco, blackberries, and wild flowers.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate has spicy fruit, a touch of eucalyptus, and some earthiness.  The finish has nice length and closes with a touch of dark chocolate.  Not a lot of complexity but a very tasty glass of wine to enjoy over the next few years.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2003 Château Pontet-Canet – $67.99

 

My comments

I attended a tasting of 2003 Bordeaux wines at a local wine store several years ago.  Even though I liked Bordeaux wines, I wasn’t all that experienced tasting these wines soon after release when they are generally still very tight and unyielding.  A few of the wines poured were so tight it was hard to get them to reveal very much with the usual small pours at this type of event.  That said, this wine was very tight but you could easily taste the power and depth on the palate.  It was a very easy decision to grab a few bottles to stash in the cellar.  Seven years later, it’s time to open one to see how it is doing.  Thankfully, I have enough in the cellar to not worry too much about opening this one on the young side.

 

Winery history

Jean-François de Pontet, royal governor of the Médoc, combined several vineyard plots in Pauillac in the early 18th century.  Years later, his descendants added neighbouring vines in a place named Canet.  This was the beginning of one of the largest estates in the Médoc, which quite naturally added the name of its founder to that of the land registry reference.

 

A century later, Pontet-Canet was included in the famous 1855 classification, thereby confirming its membership among the elite of the Médoc.  This privileged position did not go unnoticed by one of the most important Bordeaux shippers of the time, Herman Cruse, who bought the estate in 1865.  He built new cellars, modernised the winemaking facilities, and established the wine’s reputation around the world.  The Cruse family owned Pontet-Canet for 110 years, until another shipper (from Cognac this time), Guy Tesseron, acquired it in 1975.

 

Over two centuries Pontet-Canet has been owned by three different families.  Today it is run by Alfred Tesseron with his niece Melanie (daughter of Gerard Tesseron) who is the descendant of Guy Tesseron.  Thirty years after their arrival in Pauillac the Tesseron have the satisfaction of knowing that they have gradually replanted some of the vineyard and renovated the buildings and the wine making facilities.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby to purple color.  The intoxicating nose has cassis, cigar box, mint, dried herbs, minerals, warm baking spices, vanilla, well worn leather, and a bit of earthiness.  This is a wine you can sit and smell for hours and “almost” be satisfied.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate features spicy fruit with touches of oak, dried herbs, and some subtle earthiness.  The finish is extremely long and full of fruit, spice, and some oak, which is noticeable but not obtrusive.  This is still very young but with some air, it rounded into shape very nicely.  I decanted my bottle about two hours.  (95 pts)

 

 

 

***** 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!

 

 

 

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Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but 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 The Lucky Country Shiraz

2010 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County

2011 La Crema Pinot Noir

 

 

2009 The Lucky Country Shiraz – $11.88

 

My comments

The Lucky Country is a smaller project of Michael Twelftree from Two Hands.  This was created to provide a reasonably priced “artisanal” wine to contrast the growing ocean of mass produced “critter wine” coming out of Australia.  In my opinion, Michael achieved his goals.  You can taste the “Two Hands” lineage and upbringing in the bottle.

 

Winery history

The Lucky Country Wines offers quality wines packaged with iconic Australian photography, representing the lively spirit of Australia.

 

The name is taken from the 1964 book, The Lucky Country, written by social critic Donald Horne and was originally written to be ironic, as an indictment of 1960’s Australia.  Donald believed that the economic success of 60’s Australia was derived from luck rather than skill.

 

But over the years, this phrase has taken on new meaning and is now proudly used by many to describe what is great about Australia.

 

The Lucky Country Wines is the result of hard work combined with vision, creative acumen and business ‘smarts’, and maybe just a little bit of luck to help bring it all together.  The wines are already proving a hit, available in several markets around the world and with the brand continuing to grow every day.

 

The Lucky Country Wines were created to deliver great value, stylish wines to drinkers at a reasonable price.  People everywhere can now share and enjoy the experience of what makes Australia the Lucky Country.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby to purple color.  The very open and inviting nose has blackberries, licorice, dark chocolate, wild flowers, and a touch of cedar.  This has medium to full body, ripe tannins, and decent acidity.  Loads of sweet up front fruit with dark chocolate and spice coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length and leaves a sweet, fruity, closing statement.  This is not very complex but a tasty week night easy drinker.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County – $20.28

 

My comments

Au Bon Climat and owner/winemaker Jim Clendenen were two of the original stars in the California Pinot Noir movement in the mid to late 1980s.  Just about every publication that featured wine bestowed well deserved honors and awards on Jim and Au Bon Climat.  The winery now produces over 30,000 cases of wine a year and is still one of the leading produces of “classically styled” wines.

 

Winery history

Founded in 1982, Au Bon Climat (which means “a well-exposed vineyard”) produces internationally-recognized Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc wine from grapes grown in California’s Santa Barbara County.

 

The Au Bon Climat winery is located on the world-famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, and is owned by winemaker Jim Clendenen.  Au Bon Climat was listed on Robert Parker’s Best Wineries of the World in both 1989 and 1990, while Jim Clendenen has been named Winemaker of the Year in 1992 by the Los Angeles Times, and Winemaker of the Year in 2001 by Food and Wine Magazine.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The very promising nose has a musky edge to the cherries, and raspberries with warm baking spices, earthy underbrush, meat juices, licorice, and a touch of dark chocolate.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the fruit has nice spice up front with a meaty note and earthiness building on the back end.  The finish has very nice length filled with sweet fruit, spice with an earthy, musky edge.  This may not be the most complex Pinot out there, but it is a very nice bottle of wine to upgrade a week night or a casual weekend dinner.  Drink over the next few years.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2011 La Crema Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast- $18.99

 

My comments

We had a couple glasses of this wine a few weeks ago at a local restaurant.  When I saw it on the shelf at the local wines store, I had to grab a couple bottles.  I didn’t take notes on the wine at the restaurant, but I remembered it having nice red fruit and some subtle earthiness.  It will be nice spending a bit of time with a bottle to see how it performs over the course of an evening.

 

Winery history

Winemaking Philosophy

 

For more than 30 years, La Crema has explored California’s coastal appellations, a voyage of varietals that started here at our estate in the foggy vineyards of the RussianRiverValley.  On our journey, we have found exciting cool-climate vineyards north in the rugged hills of Mendocino, and south along the wind-swept slopes of Los Carneros.  Most recently, our exploration has taken us to the wind-swept hillside vineyards of Monterey.  Centered always on the dual lens of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, we look for one unifying factor at these exceptional sites: coastal wind and fog that allow the grapes ripen slowly on the vine, developing intensely complex aromas and flavors while retaining firm acid structure.

 

Naturally, our winemaking team seeks to express the essence of the terroir in our wines, capturing the unique personality and flavor profile of the vineyards.  Elizabeth Grant-Douglas infuses our winemaking regime with a highly personal touch that combines the best of traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques with a contemporary California style.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright red to ruby color.  The very enjoyable nose has cherries, baking spices, strawberry, lilac flowers, and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This has medium body, moderate ripe tannins, and very good acidity.  Spicy red fruit kicks off the palate with more spice and some earthiness coming in afterwards adding depth.  The bright fruit carries no excess weight or overly ripe notes.  The finish has decent length and again highlights the spice laden red fruit.  This very nice week night Pinot Noir offers great QPR if you can find it for under $20.  (89 pts)

 

 

***** 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!