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

 

 

2011 Four Vines Naked Chardonnay

2010 Four Vines Truant Old Vine

2011 Alto Cinco Garnacha Cariñena

 

About the company:

Purple Wine Company was founded in 2002 by Derek Benham and is based in Graton, California.  Its mission is to create high quality wines that offer outstanding value and are consistent in style from vintage to vintage.  The wines made via its sister production company, Sonoma Wine Company, are produced using water and energy conservation practices, while reducing Green House Gas emissions.

 

The Purple Wine Company portfolio includes Avalon, BEX, Four Vines, Cryptic and the newest addition to the PWC family, Alto Cinco.  While distinctly different, all brands maintain committed to producing the best possible wine in an environmentally conscious way.

 

More information about Purple Wine Company and their portfolio of wines is available on their website.

 

 

The PWC Green Initiative

The Purple Wine Company has a successful “Green Initiative” that includes just about every facet of their business from growing grapes to distributing their wines.  Much more information and details of their model is available here.

 

The Purple Wine Company maintains a social media presence on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Here is the line up for this evening’s online tasting:

 

 

 

2011 Four Vines Naked Chardonnay – SRP $12.00

The Naked Chardonnay is from the El Camino, Los Alamos, and Loma Verde vineyards in the Cat Canyon of Santa Barbara County.

 

This wine was fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel tanks.  A small percentage (4%) was allowed to go through malolactic fermentation.  This as well as sur lies aging added a slight creaminess to the front end on the palate.

 

There were 56,000 cases of this wine produced.  The final alcohol is 13.9%

 

Even though unoaked Chardonnay wines are growing in popularity, especially in my house, it is a long shot it will ever over throw the Chardonnay wines that are aged in oak.  That category of wine is still one of the most popular out there with a ton of devoted followers.  I’m just thankful there are a growing number of wineries thinking outside of the norm and producing wines that highlight the nice fruit, minerality, and tangy acidity the Chardonnay grape has to offer.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright straw to yellow color.  The impressive and inviting nose has apples, stony minerals, white peach, lemon zest, lime, and a touch of almond from the sur lies aging.  This dry white has light to medium body, and tart acidity.  On the palate crisp apples, minerals and a touch of creaminess hit first with citrusy acidity kicking in on the back end.  This has a nice finish, featuring minerals, lime, and mouthwatering acidity.  (89 pts)

 

This is a real value for the money.  If you like wines like a Sauvignon Blanc, you should give an unoaked Chardonnay a shot.

 

 

 

2010 Four Vines Truant Old Vine – SRP $12.00

The Truant Old Vine is a blend of 77% Zinfandel, 13% Syrah, 5% Petite Sirah, 3% Barbera, and 2% Sangiovese from vineyards in Paso Robles, Mendocino County, Cucamonga Valley, Lodi, Amador County and Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.

 

There were 50,000 cases of this 14.5% alcohol wine produced.

 

Even though there is enough Zinfandel in the wine to be labeled as a Zin, the winery simply lists the wines as being Old Vine.  This is a smart move, in upcoming vintages the percentages may change and leave Zinfandel with a low enough percentage to not allow it to be listed on the front label.  Not listing a specific grape on the front of the bottle does not mean a lower quality wine, it just allows the winery to adjust the blend each vintage allowing them to produce the best blend possible.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly dark ruby red color.  The deep and dark nose has earthy, blackberries, black pepper, warm baking spices, plums, earthiness, and meaty notes.  This has medium to full body, light to moderate ripe tannins, and decent acidity.  The palate features nice berries, spice and earthiness.  The finish has decent length.  (86 pts)

 

This tasty, value priced gem is a rich but not jammy style of wine with good spice, perfect with something off the grill or sipping on its own.

 

 

 

2011 Alto Cinco Garnacha Cariñena – SRP $16.00

The Alto Cinco is a blend of 94% Garnacha and 6% Tempranillo from the Cariñena region in Spain.  The grapes used in this wine were harvested from vineyards both in higher and lower elevations.  The elevation of the vineyards imparts different characteristics to the finished wine.  In this case the grapes from the lower elevations added increased aromatics and berry flavors while the grapes from higher elevations added intensity and old vine spice to the blend.

 

The wine was aged for 6 months in a mix of French and American oak barrels.  The final alcohol level is 14%.

 

Wines from Spain, especially Garnacha, which is known as Grenache in other parts of the world, is a growing category, gaining devotees every day.  The Grenache grape is grown all over the world and produces varying styles of wines depending on where it is grown.  I’d advise everyone to check out wines made from this versatile grape.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The inviting nose has black cherry, raspberry, spice, minerals, licorice, dried herbs, plums, and a bit of earthiness.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate, cherries, berries, loads of spice dominate with a bit of earthiness slowly building on the back end.  This has good length on the finish with nice balance between fruit and savory elements, nice closing acidity invites another sip.  (90 pts)

 

This wine would be wonderful paired with something hot off the grill, especially some chicken or pork.

 

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2009 Cellers Can Blau Montsant Can Blau

2007 McPrice Myers Syrah Les Galets

2001 Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Faset

2009 Clayhouse Vineyard Cuvée Blanc Red Cedar Vineyard

2005 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard

 

 

 

2009 Cellers Can Blau Montsant Can Blau – $12.34

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

 

Winery history

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2007 McPrice Myers Syrah Les Galets – $34.50

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2001 Castello di Verduno Barbaresco Faset – $28.74

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2005 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard – $40.25

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

Something new and exciting

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

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2009 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile

2010 Villa Creek “White”

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select

 

 

 

2009 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile – $16.00

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2010 Villa Creek “White” – $20.80

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select – $23.11

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

 

Winery history

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The very enticing nose has cherries, strawberries, baking spices, some earthiness, and a nice herbal note.  This has light to medium body, great acidity, and some subtle tannins.  On the palate there is a very nice balance between the fruit and savory elements.  The finish has nice length and again shows very nice balance.  This isn’t a big, ripe, highly extracted Pinot, this is much more feminine and nuanced.  This is tasting very nice but is still on the young side.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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

 

 

2011 Wente Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Louis Mel Livermore Valley

2011 Wente Vineyards Riesling Riverbank Arroyo Seco

2012 Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Eric’s Small Lot

2010 Wente Vineyards Merlot Sandstone

 

 

This is from an online wine tasting in conjunction with an upcoming Front Porch Music Series concert.  More information on Wente Vineyards and their concerts is available on their website.

 

 

Wente Vineyards History

Wente Vineyards, founded 130 years ago, is the oldest, continuously operated family owned winery in the country.  The Livermore Valley based facility is owned and managed by the fourth and fifth generations of the family.  The family has approximately 3,000 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards at their disposal.  These grapes are used to create the single grape wines and unique blends the winery has in their diverse portfolio.

 

 

In addition to being a world class winemaker, Karl Wente is also a serious musician.  For this special tasting, Karl will be pairing the wines with up and coming indie bands performing during his Front Porch Music Series.  In a way to support emerging talent, Wente Vineyards holds 3 performances at their property every summer featuring local and up and coming bands.  As a prelude to the second concert on August 3rd, Karl will team up with one of the members of the rockin’ Stone Foxes to discuss music and wine pairings.

 

Note about Stone Foxes: they performed at last year’s music series and based in the region, are big supporters of “homegrown” bands from the Bay Area.  They’ve also performed at the Wente Foundation for Arts Educations Auction.

 

 

The line up of wines for this tasting:

 

 

 

2011 Wente Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Louis Mel Livermore Valley – SRP $15

This is a tank fermented and aged Sauvignon Blanc from the Estate owned vineyards in the Livermore Valley.  The alcohol in this win is 13%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light straw color.  The fresh and crisp nose has nice apple, melon, citrus, minerals, and a slight herbal note.  This has light to medium body with crisp, citrusy acidity.  On the palate the orchard fruit and minerals hit first with a nice grassy component and tart citrus kicking in on the back end.  The juicy finish leans on the minerals, herbal notes, and mouthwatering citrus.  This is a very nice, food friendly glass of wine.  The minerality on the nose is like cold rain hitting hot rocks. (89 pts)

 

 

2011 Wente Vineyards Riesling Riverbank Arroyo Seco – SRP $15

This wine was cold fermented in stainless steel tanks to help highlight the natural fruit flavors in the Riesling grape.  The wine was aged in stainless tanks and there was no malolactic fermentation to help retain the crisp acidity.  The final alcohol is 12%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light straw color with some yellow highlights.  The nose smells like a tropical fruit salad with honey dipped apples, orange blossoms, pineapple, lime zest, grapefruit, minerals, and a nice floral note.  This has medium body, decent acidity, and nice residual sweetness.  On the palate the apples, honey, and lime zest kick off the show with minerals and a touch of mouthwatering grapefruit coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length and closes with some nice lime and good sweetness.  This would work well with spicy food, but would shine on its own on a warm evening.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Wente Vineyards Chardonnay Eric’s Small Lot – SRP $25

I’m a big fan of stainless steel tank fermented and aged Chardonnay wines that also did not go through malolactic fermentation.  This process lets the fruit and minerality shine through without oak and buttery notes getting in the way and maintains the food friendly acidity.  The final alcohol level in this wine is 13.7%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow to straw color.  The Spring time like nose has apples, pineapples, minerals, orange blossoms, pears, and white peaches.  This has medium body with good acidity.  On the palate the orchard fruit hits first with building minerality and pineapple coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length and closes with mouthwatering lemon zest.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Wente Vineyards Merlot Sandstone – SRP $18

This Merlot is from the gently sloping vineyards in the southeastern corner of Livermore Valley.  The area generally has warm days and cool nights due to its proximity to the San Francisco Bay.  The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks before being aged for 16 months in a mix of American, French, Eastern European, and neutral oak barrels.  The final alcohol is 13.5%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The very appealing nose had plums, berries, baking spices, vanilla, minerals, and a bit of earthiness.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine has a nice mix of fruit and savory elements with some building minerality kicking in on the back end.  The finish has good length with the fruit slowly giving way to minerals and a solid earthiness.  This is a very nice, food friendly, week night Merlot.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Shiraz Angels Share

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente

2010 Treasure Hunter Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Panjanatan Paso Robles

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvedre Ode to Lulu Rosé

2010 Turley Cabernet Sauvignon The Label

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Shiraz Angels Share – $23.74

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente – $22.00

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

2010 Turley Cabernet Sauvignon The Label – $40.00

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The very nice nose has cassis, baking spices, violets, cherry, dried herbs, and a touch of dark bittersweet chocolate.  This has medium body moderate tannins, and good acidity.  The creamy palate has nice up front berries, cherries, and spice with dried herbs and some building dark chocolate coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a touch of earthiness joining the components from the palate.  This may not have a ton of complexity but is an enjoyable wine and seems to be in a very nice drinking window.  The QPR at $40 open for debate, but I’m glad I have more in the cellar.  (91 pts)

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Everyone knows, you have to serve wine at an acceptable temperature for it to taste its best.  It’s not that hard to get the wine to the right temperature for that first glass, but how about the second?

 

There are some decent options out there, but most are a bit messy.  An ice bucket works great, but if not monitored, will get the wine too cold, and a bucket of ice just doesn’t look good on your dining room table.  There are bottle wraps you throw in the freezer and slip around the bottle.  Again, they work great and are better looking, but they can cause a puddle of water from the bottle sweating.

 

Enter the Angle33 Thermal.

 

 

 

 

This is a block of cement that is nicely finished with a hole in the middle for your bottle of wine.  The Thermal retains its temperature very nicely, even on a warm day on your deck or patio.

 

 

 

The process is simple, the Thermal will retain its temperature ensuring the bottle inside also maintains the proper temperature.  You can keep your thermal in your wine cellar, pop it in the refrigerator, or even pop it in the freezer to get it to the desire temperature.

 

After opening your bottle, simply put it in the Thermal and it will maintain the desired serving temperature for well over an hour.

 

We’ve put the Thermal in the freezer for an hour and been able to enjoy a cold and crisp Sauvignon Blanc for over an hour and a half on our deck using the Thermal.

 

The same goes for a bottle of red wine.  I popped the Thermal in the refrigerator for 30 minutes and it kept our wine at a proper temperature for over an hour.  In a side by side comparison, another bottle of wine was too warm after only 15 minutes on the sunny 80 degree day.

 

 

I know, who wants a chunk of concrete on their table?  These are nicely finished and smooth.  They are available in 5 colors and have a nice cork bottom to ensure your table or bar doesn’t get scratched.

 

 

 

The only catch is to order the proper size.  My Thermal was the standard size and most bottles fit nicely.  Some of the bigger bottles used by some wineries would not fit.  It wouldn’t accommodate a bottle of Saxum or a bottle of Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc.  Forget about trying to put a Turley Zin in this size Thermal.  Luckily, the Thermal is available in three sizes.  Standard, Pinot, and Champagne.

 

The price for the Standard and Pinot (for larger bottles) models are $64.99, the Champagne model, which also holds magnums is $69.99.

 

Much more information, videos, testimonials, and their other products are available on their website.

 

 

These are environmentally friendly and virtually indestructible.

 

 

These are available in the following colors:

Mineral, Pepper, Plum, Tobacco, and my color, Butter.

 

They will imprint your Thermal with artwork or a logo if desired.

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2010 Don Sebastiani & Sons Sauvignon Blanc Project Paso

2009 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

2007 Anthill Farms Syrah Windsor Oaks Vineyard

 

 

 

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

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2007 Anthill Farms Syrah Windsor Oaks Vineyard – $25.00

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The slightly shy nose eventually shows raspberries, blackberries, dark chocolate, black pepper, minerals, road tar, and some earthiness.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the bright berries and pepper dominate the front end with dark chocolate, more pepper, and some earthiness coming in on the back end along with a big blast of mouthwatering acidity.   The finish shows a touch of stems but otherwise is a continuation of the fruit and pepper.  The finish is a touch clipped when the acidity kicks in.  This could easily sit in the cellar for several more years and may improve if some of the acidity would integrate.  This wine needs food and shines in that role.  (90 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

 

 

2012 The Seeker Pinot Grigio

2012 The Seeker Riesling

2012 The Seeker Rosé

2012 The Seeker Red Blend

 

All wines have a suggested retail price of $10 to $15.

 

 

 

I was given the opportunity to sample some new wines from The Seeker.  Earlier I had the opportunity to sample some other wines from them.  My write up on those wines is available here.

 

 

This group of wines is perfect to enjoy during the warmer weather this Summer with lighter meals on the deck or patio or to share with friends on a warm evening over good conversation.

 

 

 

Winery Information (winery supplied)

Do you have a taste for risk, a curious nature, and a daring spirit?  Then come, join The Seeker on a singular wine adventure!  The Seeker is a lively line of wines from all over the world.  Our wanderings yielded distinct wines from disparate lands, delighting the senses on a global taste journey.  It is a carefully curated collection of the best wines from where they grow best, each wine lovingly crafted by a different family winery.

 

For The Seeker, it’s all about the journey.  Simply glance at the labels and you’ll see; the mid-19th century flying machines embody an era of wonder and mystery, of explorers out to conquer the known world… and beyond.  The Seeker speaks to the unknown, the unknowable, and the thrill of discovery. Cheers!

 

The Seeker Wines were created by a family company that called on its 65+ years of experience to source from the best family-owned wineries in the world at an affordable price.  With a dedication to reducing our carbon footprint, The Seeker Wines extends our eco-friendly philosophy from our immediate family to our global family.  So whether by land, sea, or air, take flight with us and seek more information at http://theseekerwines.com

 

The line up for this tasting:

 

2012 The Seeker Pinot Grigio (Italy, Veneto)

This is 100% Pinot Grigio from the Veneto region in Italy.  The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks on light lees.  This unoaked wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation to retain the fresh acidity and to maintain the varietal character.

 

The final alcohol in the wine is 12.5%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light yellow color with a slight green tint.  The crisp and refreshing nose has apples, lemon zest, pears, minerals, orange blossoms, and a touch of spice.  This has light to medium body, citrusy acidity, and has just a touch of sweetness.  On the palate the bright, juicy fruit is joined by a touch of almond before the mouthwatering citrus kicks in.  The finish has nice length and closes on a slightly sweet pear/citrus note.  (87 pts)

 

This easy drinking Pinot Grigio would be a fine partner with just about any lighter, warm weather dish.  I think this would shine if served with some grilled shrimp.  This has more body and depth than your typical Italian Pinot Grigio.

 

 

 

2012 The Seeker Riesling (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)

This is 100% hand harvested Riesling is from the Trittenheim and Piesport Vineyards in the Mosel region in Germany.  The wine was fermented in stainless steel and oak casks.  The wine was aged 3 to 8 months in a mix of stainless steel and oak casks.

 

The final alcohol in the wine is 8.5%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow color with a slight green tint.  The slightly shy nose eventually shows honey dipped apples, pineapple, white pepper, minerals, and a very faint petrol note.  This has medium body, crisp acidity, and nice residual sweetness.  On the palate this has tart apples, honey, and crisp citrus with nice sweetness coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length and closes with a sweet note.  The sweetness and acidity are very nicely balanced.  (91 pts)

 

This would excel if paired with a spicy Asian dish.  I love an off dry Riesling with spicy Cajun food and this would be outstanding with seafood gumbo.  This would also be a nice glass of wine to sip on a warm evening over good conversation with friends.

 

 

 

2012 The Seeker Rosé (France, Provence)

This is a blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Cinsault from vineyards in the AOC Côtes de Provence.  The grape varieties were vinified separately before blending.  The wine was aged in tanks (no oak).

 

The final alcohol in the wine is 12.5%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very nice pink salmon color.  The inviting nose has watermelon, white peach, minerals, red raspberries, orange zest, a touch of spice, and a slightly salty sea breeze element.  This has light to medium body, with good acidity, and is dry.  On the palate the fruit steps to the forefront with spice and building minerality supporting the back end.  The finish has nice length and closes on a distinct mineral note with just a touch of sweetness from the red fruit.  (89 pts)

 

This dry Rosé would pair very nicely with a mixed greens salad with a light berry infused vinaigrette dressing.  This would also drink very nicely on its own on a warm Summer day.

 

 

 

2012 The Seeker Red Blend (Chile, Central Valley)

This is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 25% Syrah from vineyards in the Maipo and Colchagua Valleys in Chile.  Half of the wine was aged in stainless steel tanks; the remaining 50% was aged for 6 months in a mix of 60% American and 40% French oak barrels with 25% being new.

 

The final alcohol in the wine is 13.5%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The nose has blackberries, plums, vanilla, dill, black pepper, cherry, and some earthiness.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins, and slightly soft acidity.  On the palate the dark fruit and earthiness take center stage with vanilla and the dill coming in late.  The finish has decent length but gets a touch muddled and earthy as it warms up.  I would recommend giving this a slight chill.  (85 pts)

 

This needs some juicy meat hot off the grill or some fairly hearty appetizers.

 

 

 

Closing thoughts

On the whole, I think these are all very drinkable, reasonably priced wines that would work with warm weather food or stand on their own as a cocktail wine.  The Seeker is unique in that they source their wines from the part of the world where that varietal calls home.

 

Photo Contest

Want to win a great new camera to help you capture memories when you SEEK out new adventures?

 

The seeker is giving away a new La Sardina Camera and Flash Belle Star with 35mm film.  All you have to do to enter is submit your most disappointing picture and if your entry is selected, The Seeker will help you avoid future disappointments.

 

Click here for more information.

 

Good Luck, I hope one of my readers wins the contest.

Connect with The Seeker Wines

You can connect with The Seeker on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or Foodspotting by clicking on the social media channel of your choice.

 

 

 

Connect with me

 

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2008 JC Cellars The Impostor

2009 McPrice Myers Roussanne No Mas James Berry Vineyard

2006 Cosentino Winery The Poet

2005 Copain Syrah McDowell Valley

2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 

 

 

2008 JC Cellars The Impostor – $25.73

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2006 Cosentino Winery The Poet – $28.49

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

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2005 Copain Syrah McDowell Valley – $35.00

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

Connect with me

 

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2007 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Judge Family Vineyard

2007 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett

2007 Burgess Grenache Napa Valley

 

 

 

2007 Alma Rosa Pinot Noir La Encantada Vineyard – $14.99

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Judge Family Vineyard – $15.00

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2007 Markus Molitor Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett – $19.00

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2007 Burgess Grenache Napa Valley – $6.00

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

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

 

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Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but my local store is usually VERY competitive.  I generally get case discounts, and since I work there part time, I get a 5% discount.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!