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

 

2010 Trimbach Riesling

2011 Meyer-Fonné Riesling Reserve

2011 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E

2011 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo

 

 

 

 

The Region of Alsace

Tucked into France’s northeastern corner, Alsace follows the Rhine River through its long, thin strip.  The Vosges Mountains protect and provide Alsace with a backdrop for some of France’s most stunning scenery.

 

Central to this landscape of rolling hills and charming timber villages is the renowned Alsace Wine Route (Route des Vins d’Alsace), a 106 mile journey winding through more than 100 wine villages, 19 of which host 26 Michelin-starred restaurants.  Incomparable weather and scenery, delicious eating and drinking, and generous hospitality make Alsace a feast for all the senses.

 

Loads of information on Alsace is available here.

 

 

 

The lineup for the tasting was:

 

 

 

2010 Trimbach Riesling – SRP $20

To me, Trimbach is the torch bearer for Alsace wines.  You can find their wines in just about every decent wine store in the country.

 

The Trimbach family has been producing wine since 1626 and the 13^th generation of the family, Anne, has recently joined the “family business”.  Trimbach usually harvests their grapes in late October.  The grapes are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks and concrete vats.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow to straw color.  The fresh and Spring like nose has lemon zest, minerals, apples, candied ginger, steamy slate, orange blossoms, white peach, and a touch of pineapple.  This has fairly light body, very crisp acidity, and is dry.  On the palate mouthwatering lemon and minerals kick off the show with candied ginger and a floral note kicking in on the back end.  The finish is very long with a bit of pineapple adding to the lemon and minerals.  This was better as it warmed and got some air.  This is good now, but will reward a few years in the cellar.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Meyer-Fonné Riesling Reserve – SPR $22

This is another old world winery that has been around for a LONG time.  In this case, the winery was founded in 1732.

 

The winery is increasingly getting into organic farming and does not use synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides.  All grapes are hand picked and are fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks or oak barrels using native yeasts.  The wines are aged on their fine lees

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light straw color.  The very open and easy going nose has lemon zest, apples, white peaches, minerals, and honeysuckle.  This has light to medium body, good acidity, and just a touch of sweetness.  On the palate this is very fruit driven with apples and citrus up front with minerals and white peach coming in later.  The finish has nice length and again is fruit driven.  This is a touch softer that most dry Rieslings making it seem a touch sweeter.  This fruit driven wine could easily stand alone on a hot afternoon or evening of pair with a spicy dish.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Vignoble d’E – SRP $24

This is a relatively new winery that was founded in 1966.

 

This wine is a blend of grapes from 15 different plots in and around the village of Epfig.  This wine is made in a style that showcases the fruit with little regard for terroir.  The grapes are whole cluster pressed via a pneumatic press and fermented using wild yeasts and aged in stainless steel tanks for a year.

 

This wine is Certified Organic.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light, pale straw color.  The very nice nose has lemon zest, toast, apples, white flowers, spice, grapefruit, apricots, and minerals.  This has light to medium body, good acidity, and has just a hint of sweetness.  The creamy palate features nice citrus and apples up front with a nice floral note, pices, and minerals coming in on the backend.  The finish has very nice length and again highlights the citrus, apple, and minerals, with a slight saline element coming into play.  This would be a very nice wine to serve to a new comer as an introduction to dry Rieslings.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Cuvée Théo – SRP $30

Talk about a winery with some history!  The winery was established in 1612 and the land has been home to vines since at least the year 890.

 

All Domaine Weinbach wines are estate-grown and bottled.  The vineyards have been cultivated organically for 20 years.

 

After gentle pressing the wines are vinified in ancient 1500 to 6000 liter casks using only native yeasts.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light golden straw color.  The very appealing nose has lemon zest, minerals, anise, white pepper, white peaches, apples, pineapple, lime zest, yeasty bread, and orange blossoms.  This has light to medium body, crisp acidity, and is dry.  Even though this is dry it has nice richness on the palate with a nice mix of fruit and minerals with a very appealing herbal note in the background and a spritz of lime kicking in on the lengthy finish.  Even at the young age, this is already showing nice complexity.  This is one to enjoy now or a few years down the road.  Impressive.  (91 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 JC Cellars Syrah Fess Parker Vineyard

2007 Core Tempranillo C3 Reserve

 

 

This is a much smaller than usual Thursday edition of Cliff’s Wine Picks.  I had online tastings on Monday (3 bottles from Murrieta’s Well) and on Thursday (4 bottles of Rieslings from Alsace).  There are, or will be posts on those events in the next few days.

 

 

 

2009 JC Cellars Syrah Fess Parker Vineyard – $18.99

When the local store brought these in, along with a few other JC Cellars wines and offered them at a killer price, I had to grab a mixed case.  After trying the Roussanne and Petite Sirah from the offer, I grabbed several more bottles.  This will be my first bottle of this wine and I have fairly high expectations.  I loved the Rosenblum wines crafted by Jeff Cohn and have never been disappointed by the ones he has produced under his own label.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The inviting nose has smoky, earthy berries, dark bittersweet chocolate, minerals, meat juices, black pepper, dried herbs, warm baking spices, and just a touch of road tar.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to full tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the juicy, smoky berries grab hold, slowly allowing dried herbs, black pepper, and meaty elements to slip through.  The finish has nice length with some earthiness and dark chocolate being added to the mix.  This is still very young but already showing well with some air.  This will be much better down the road.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Core Tempranillo C3 Reserve – $17.06

I’ve been a fan of Dave Corey’s Core Wines since I grabbed a six pack of his 2004 Core Red Blend 163 several years ago.  Those six bottles didn’t last very long in my cellar but over the years I have had the good fortune of being able to grab some bottles either online or when I ventured down to Chicago where the wine was (is?) distributed.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a slightly hazy ruby red color.  The stunning nose has cherries, black raspberries, minerals, Asian spices, worn leather, melted licorice, earthy underbrush, tobacco, and some dried herbs.  This has medium body, moderate ripe tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate has tart cherries, minerals, and a load of spices up front with dried herbs and slowly building earthiness on the back end.  The long, lingering finish is a continuation of the tart cherries, spice, and earthiness from the palate.  This is on the young side but drinking very nicely today with a bit of air.  An outstanding California Tempranillo.  (93 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.

 

 

2012 Murrieta’s Well the Whip (White Blend)

2011 Murrieta’s Well Los Tesoros White Meritage

2011 Murrieta’s Well the Spur (Red Blend)

 

 

 

Murrieta’s Well was named after the legendary bandito Joaquin Murrieta.  Joaquin roamed California during the Gold Rush era rounding up wild cattle and horses.  He would then “drive” them down to Mexico to sell to the Mexican Army.  The bubbling artesian well on the site that now is the winery was one of his popular watering spots on his journeys.  More information on this historical location is available on the Historical Marker database.

 

With a deeply rooted history, unsurpassed terroir and rich winemaking heritage, Murrieta’s Well is one of California’s original treasures.  The 92-acre Estate was originally propagated by Louis Mel in 1883 with vineyard cuttings from Chateau d’Yquem and Chateau Margaux.  During the same era, he built a gravity-flow winery into the hillside adjacent to the property’s artesian well.  In 1990, Philip Wente and Sergio

Traverso realized a lifelong dream to revive the historic property, and since then, the two have been crafting Estate blends that highlight the best attributes of the terroir.

 

Murrieta’s Well is part of Wente Family Estates along with Wente Vineyards and Tamás Estates.  The winery produces approximately 12,000 cases a vintage

 

Much more of the winery’s history and additional information on these wines and others are available on their website.   The winery also has a Wine Club with nice discounts and other benefits.  Additional information is available here.

 

 

The lineup for this tasting:

 

I didn’t know what to expect from these wines since this was a new winery for me.  The White Meritage was a straight forward white Bordeaux blend but the Whip and the Spur were fairly exotic blends, especially The Whip, which is a white blend.

 

All three wines were very good and distinctive and would be a welcome addition to anyone’s dinner table.  The white blend, The Whip, would also make a nice afternoon or evening sipper on a warm day.

 

 

 

2012 Murrieta’s Well the Whip (White Blend) – SRP $19

This wine is an unusual blend of 43% Chardonnay, 15% Gewurztraminer, 13% Sauvignon Blanc, 9% Orange Muscat, 8% Viognier, 5% Pinot Blanc, 4% Semillon, and 3% Muscat Canelli.  The blend for this wine changes every vintage.  This is closed with a screw cap.

 

There were 277 barrels produced of this wine.  The alcohol level in the wine is a low octane 13%, perfect to sip on a warm afternoon.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pale straw color with some yellow highlights.  This is like a fruit salad in a glass on the nose with melon, apples, orange, spice, honey, white peach, green leafy herbs, figs, and a big floral component.  This has medium body, a touch of sweetness, and nice closing acidity.  This is rich and luscious on the palate with sweet fruit and spice balanced by some nice acidity that kicks in on the back end.  The finish has good length and is a continuation of the balanced fruit, spice, and citrusy acidity from the palate.  I would have liked a touch more acidity but this would be a nice wine to sip on a warm afternoon.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Murrieta’s Well Los Tesoros White Meritage Livermore Valley – SRP $28

This wine is a blend of 63% Sauvignon Blanc and 37% Semillon.  The wine was fermented in a combination of French and Eastern European oak and was barrel aged for 11 months.

 

This small lot wine is available only at the winery or online.  The final alcohol level is 13.4%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light straw color.  The fresh and exciting nose has melons, spice, fresh cut grass, earthy minerals, toast, white pepper, lemon zest, vanilla bean, and a big floral note.  This has medium body, tart acidity, and seems to be bone dry.  On the palate this opens with a big herbal and melon component with minerals, vanilla bean, and a toasty note entering the picture fairly quickly, followed by a jolt of lemony acidity.  This has a long, lingering finish with nice citrus, herbs, and minerals seeming to linger forever.  This was my favorite wine of the tasting and would show well against its French peers.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Murrieta’s Well the Spur (Red Blend) – SRP $25.00

This wine is a blend of 31% Petite Sirah, 29% Petit Verdot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, and 5% Cabernet Franc.  Like the Whip, the Spur is closed with a screw cap.

 

Each varietal was fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 14 months in a combination of American, French, Eastern European, and neutral oak barrels.

 

There were 425 barrels of the wine produced and the final alcohol level is 13.5%.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a nice ruby red color.  The nose is big, dark, and serious with smoke, loamy earth, berries, black cherries, minerals, plums, black pepper, licorice, dried herbs, and some underbrush.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the berries, smoke, and earthy elements hit first with plums and dried herbs coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length and closes with a big dash of black pepper.  To me, this seems to need some cellar time.  I think with six months to a year in the cellar the wine will add some weight, the finish will fill out, and some complexity will develop.  At present, this is enjoyable but there seems to be “more under the hood” than it is showing today, give this one 6 months and check back at that time.  (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!

 

 

 

2007 Westerhold Family Vineyards Syrah Westerhold Vineyard

2011 Bedrock Wine Co. Casa Santinamaria

2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Blanc Sta. Rita Hills

2011 Villa Creek Pink

2005 Carlisle Two Acres

 

 

2007 Westerhold Family Syrah Westerhold Vineyard – $42.00

This is a wine I tried due to Russell Bevan being the winemaker.  It absolutely blew me away.  I quickly ordered more and put the word out on Twitter.  I suggested to Jeb Dunnuck that he should track down a bottle to try, he then gave it 95+ on his The Rhone Report.  A wine store owner friend from Napa (yes, you Carrie) bought some for the store based on my recommendation, and had to restock since it became very popular.  I’m not sure the status of the winery’s mailing list, but I’d recommend checking to see if it is still open.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The intense nose has blackberries, smoked meat, black pepper, charcoal, dark bittersweet chocolate, dried herbs, minerals, melted licorice, baking spices, and a nice floral note.  This has a fairly full body, solid ripe tannins and very good acidity.  This is lush and ripe on the palate but not really pushing the ripeness to the edge.  The palate shows nice peppery berries, licorice, and some smoked meat with baking spices and dried herbs in the background.  The finish is very long and highlights the fruit initially but as the fruit slowly fades, the savory elements keep going.  Still extremely young but already outstanding.  (95 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Bedrock Wine Co. Casa Santinamaria – $17.50

I love the Bedrock white wines, like I have mentioned several times in earlier blogs.  This is from a vineyard that was planted in 1905.  This is a “field blend” comprised of Muscadelle, Chasselas, Zinfandel, Semillon, and even a little bit of Chardonnay.  That wasn’t a mistake, some old vine red Zinfandel grapes from the vineyard are in the blend.  Everything was picked together and whole-cluster pressed into old French oak and stainless steel barrels.  This was fermented with native yeasts and malolactic fermentation was inhibited.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow/straw color. A very intriguing nose with apples, pears, peach, minerals, white pepper, citrus zest, a very nice floral note and just a bit of an herbal note. Medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of lingering sweetness. This has luscious, juicy fruit on the palate with citrus, herbal notes and a bit of white pepper in the background. This very unusual blend is very unique and delicious. Another winning white wine from Bedrock.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Blanc Sta. Rita Hills – $4.75

The owner at the local wine store saw this on the close out list from the distributor.  Supposedly the cases were misplaced in storage and forgotten about for a few years.  The distributor brought in a bottle for the store to try and the owner grabbed everything they had.  I also figured a 6 year old Pinot Blanc would be tired if not dead, but still grabbed a bottle for the under $5 close out price.  I got home and we opened the bottle at room temperature and were blown away.  I immediately sent off an e-mail to stash me a half case.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow to straw color. The light and refreshing nose has lemon curd, apples, stony/flinty minerals, orange blossoms, a touch of spice and a bit of pineapple. This has light to medium body, is dry and has crisp, citrusy acidity. This is very bright and lively on the palate with crisp apples, lemon zest, and flinty minerals, on the backend a touch of spice and orange zest add some depth. The finish has nice length with the citrus, apples, and minerals holding on nicely. This was an absolute steal on closeout for under $5.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Villa Creek Pink – $12.80

This wine as well as the one from Bedrock are our go-to Summer rosés.  I usually supplement my supply of rosés with other labels from the local wine store, but these two are our most consumed ones.  This is a “leftover” from last year and I want to consume these before dipping into my stash of 2012s.  This is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 10% Carignan from Paso Robles.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright salmon color with just a touch of a pink tint. The fresh and relaxing nose has strawberries, white peaches, crushed stones, citrus zest, and some cherries. This has light body, crisp acidity, and just a touch of lingering sweetness. The palates features juicy fruit and minerals with lemon zest coming in on the back end. The finish is long and full of sweet fruit and minerals with just enough citrusy acidity to leave your mouth watering for another sip.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Carlisle Two Acres – $32.50

If you are on the Carlisle mailing list, congratulations, you are on one of the best lists out there.  If you are not on their mailing list, I highly recommend you upgrade your circle of friends to include someone on the list that shares their good stuff.

 

This is a blend of 85% Mourvèdre, 7% Petite Sirah, 4% Syrah and 4% Carignane from a two acre (hence the name) vineyard planted in 1910.  There is also some alicante bouschet in the vineyard, but for some reason it did not produce any fruit in this vintage.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The stunning nose has blackberries, warm baking spices, melted licorice, eucalyptus, graphite, minerals, dark bittersweet chocolate, scorched earth, and some underbrush.  This has a fairly full body, mostly integrated tannins, and good acidity.  This is rich and lush on the palate with layers of fruit, spice, and earthy elements that take turns leading the show.  The finish is very long and flavorful.  This wine is in a fantastic place and is rich and smooth.  No hurry on this one, it should hold for at least a few more years.  (93 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!

 

 

 

2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente

2008 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT

2009 Novy Family Wines Four Mile Creek

2010 Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

 

 

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)

 

 

 

2008 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT – $14.24

I had this wine on my list of the Top Value Wines of 2012.  This is still a favorite with week night Italian fare, like tonight’s Veal Parmesan.  I like the extra body and richness imparted by the drying of the grapes but the wine generally retains enough acidity to stand up to the tomato based sauces.  This is also a personal favorite with a nice, meaty pizza.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color. The very appealing nose has blackberries, smoke, dried herbs, plums, warm baking spices, minerals, vanilla, and dried flowers. The wine has a medium body with soft, ripe tannins and good acidity. The wine is rich and plush on the palate with the spicy berries and dried herbs up front and some earthiness and dark chocolate coming in later. The finish has very nice length with the spicy berries and dried herbs carrying the load. If you can find this for $15 or less, load up, I did.  (92 pts)

(Repost of a note from January; my current note was very similar)

 

 

 

2009 Novy Family Wines Four Mile Creek – $9.50

Perennially a value priced favorite.  In this vintage, it seems to have a bit more oomph than most vintages.  Perhaps there was a surplus of very good grapes from some of the better vineyards or some grapes headed for single vineyard wines were declassified.  Either way, we’re the winners.  This is a jammy, fruity blend of Zinfandel, Grenache, Syrah and Nebbiolo.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The easy going nose has blackberries, black cherries, baking spices, vanilla, wild flowers, and a touch of earthiness.  This has medium body, soft, ripe tannins, and good acidity.  The wine provides a mouthful of jammy fruit with some earthiness and spicy oak coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with the spicy, earthy fruit.  Not a lot of complexity but a very tasty week night wine.  This offers an outstanding “quality to price ratio” if you can find it for under $10, like I did.  (88 pts)

(This is a repost of my note from March, since my new note was very similar)

 

 

 

2010 Cupcake Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc – $7.12

What more can you ask for in a low cost, week night wine?  This one has nice juicy acidity and just a touch of sweetness to help it pair with a lighter, slightly spicy Summer meal on the deck or patio.  We’ll be having this with a Crawfish Salad using a recipe from my Dutch friend, Hanneke Eerden.  If you’re interested, the recipe and a link to Hanneke’s “The Dutchess Cooks” website are in an earlier post on this site.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright golden yellow color.  The fresh and enticing nose has fresh cut grass, lemon zest, apples, grapefruit, minerals, and lime.  This has light body, crisp acidity, and just a touch of sweetness.  On the palate citrus and minerals hit first with nice herbal note coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with nice sweetness coming in to balance out the lime and minerals.  Not very complex but tasty.  This was a steal for a touch over $7.  (87 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.

 

 

2012 McCay Cellars Rosé

2012 Heritage Oak Grenache Rosé

2012 Onesta Cinsault Rosé

2012 Sorelle Winery Bella e Rosa

 

The lineup:

 

 

I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality and diversity of these wines.  Every one of them would be a welcome addition to my dinner table with some lighter warm weather food.  These were all well made and unique wines.  Even the wine I liked the least was still very enjoyable.  Don’t do as I have done in the past and discount Lodi wines as being big, ripe, and fairly one dimensional.  These rosés were a revelation.  I highly recommend grabbing one and enjoying it on your deck or patio on a warm afternoon or evening.

 

 

2012 McCay Cellars Rosé – SRP $18.00

This is Carignane from 102 year old vines blended with some Grenache.  There were 211 cases of this dry Rosé produced by Winemaker Michael J. McCay.  The final alcohol level is 12.4%.

 

To learn more about McCay Cellars, visit this link here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light salmon to pink color.  The fresh smelling nose had strawberries, white peach, spice, minerals, ruby red grapefruit, and lemon zest.  This has a fairly light body, nice richness, and crisp acidity.  To me this seemed to have spent at least a short amount of time in oak since there was a slight smoky element and a touch of extra spice to it.  On the palate the fruit and spice grabbed center stage but minerals and a touch of ruby red grapefruit came in on the back end.  The finish had nice length.  This would pair nicely with some lighter Summer fare on a warm evening.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Heritage Oak Grenache Rosé – SRP $16.00

This is a blend of 75% Grenache, 12.5% Chardonnay, and 12.5% Sauvignon Blanc from the Silvaspoons Vineyard.  Total production was a meager 80 cases and the final alcohol level is 13.12%.

 

To read more about Heritage Oak Winery, visit this link here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light salmon color.  The unusual nose has fresh cut grass, lemon zest, cherries, strawberries, minerals, spice, white pepper, and some tart apples.  This has medium body, a touch of sweetness, and crisp acidity.  Even though it only makes up 12.5% of the blend the grassy/herbal notes from the Sauvignon Blanc takes center stage with the red fruit, spice, minerals, and a touch of citrus coming in from the sides.  The finish has decent length and again seems to be dominated by the Sauvignon Blanc component.  This is something very different and unusual.  Not my favorite, but distinct enough to be enjoyable.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Onesta Cinsault Rosé

This Cinsault based Rosé is a blend of 50% saignée and 50% from grapes picked specifically for the Rosé.  Saignée is simply the process of draining some of the juice out of the tank after limited skin contact.  This method is utilized to increase the body and concentration of the remaining red wine in the tank.

 

There were 300 cases produced of this wine and the alcohol is 13.5%.

 

To read more about Onesta, visit this link here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pink to salmon color.  The outstanding nose has cherries, strawberries, candied ginger, minerals, spice, and a slight herbal note as well as a slight hint of toast.  This has medium body, nice richness, and crisp acidity.  On the palate the fresh, crisp fruit shares the spotlight with nice minerals, ginger, and a nice herbal note.  The finish is long and lingering with some nice spice and the herbal note hanging around.  It seems like at least some whole clusters were utilized to add the nice herbal note which didn’t come from under ripe fruit.  This was my favorite wine from the tasting by a fairly wide margin.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Sorelle Winery Bella e Rosa

This is a blend of 50% Sangiovese and 50% Barbera from the Sorelle Vineyard that was aged 6 months in neutral oak barrels.  There were 200 cases of the wine produced and its final alcohol level is 14%.

 

This was the wine I was most looking forward to sampling.

 

To learn more about Sorelle Winery, visit this link here.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a pinkish salmon color.  The very fresh and inviting nose was full of strawberries, cherries, minerals, and some subtle earthiness.  This has medium body, a touch of richness, and decent acidity.  On the palate this is full of cherries and strawberries with some minerals sprinkled on top.  The finish has very nice length with some subtle earthiness adding complexity.  The fairly big fruit, richness, and slightly softer acidity makes his a very easy sipper on a hot afternoon.  This would be a first class “patio pounder”.  (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!

 

 

 

2005 Lyrique Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard

2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Blanc Sta. Rita Hills

2000 Azienda Pier Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo

2007 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard

2006 Elyse Zinfandel Korte Ranch

2009 Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend

 

 

2005 Lyrique Syrah Watch Hill Vineyard – $17.25

This is an old friend.  I bought three bottles of this from Garagiste Wine back in mid 2008.  I had a bottle not long after it was delivered and was knocked over.  This was a stunner for under $25.  I searched the web and could not find anyone with the wine available for sell.  I slowly killed off my remaining two bottles over the next year and a half.  One day in early 2011, four bottles showed up on Wine Bid.  The initial bid was well below the original price I had paid.  I put in the minimum bid and waited to be out bid.  Needless to say, I won with my minimum offer and after paying the “buyer’s premium” these four bottles were mine at a steal of only $17.25 a bottle.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The very open and inviting nose has juicy blackberries, smoked meat, black pepper, almost dead wood embers, melted licorice, dark bittersweet chocolate, and some scorched earth.  This has a fairly full body, integrated tannins, and nice acidity.  On the palate the ripe, juicy fruit is joined with smoked meat and black pepper up front with some nice earthiness building on the back end.  The finish is fairly long with dark chocolate joining the party in my mouth.  This is drinking very nicely but a touch of alcohol is starting to peak through the wall of flavor.  Probably needs to be consumed over the next year.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Alma Rosa Pinot Blanc Sta. Rita Hills – $4.75

The owner at the local wine store saw this on the close out list from the distributor.  Supposedly the cases were misplaced in storage and forgotten about for a few years.  The distributor brought in a bottle for the store to try and the owner grabbed everything they had.  I also figured a 6 year old Pinot Blanc would be tired if not dead, but still grabbed a bottle for the under $5 close out price.  I got home and we opened the bottle at room temperature and were blown away.  I immediately sent off an e-mail to stash me a half case.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright yellow to straw color. The light and refreshing nose has lemon curd, apples, stony/flinty minerals, orange blossoms, a touch of spice and a bit of pineapple. This has light to medium body, is dry and has crisp, citrusy acidity. This is very bright and lively on the palate with crisp apples, lemon zest, and flinty minerals, on the backend a touch of spice and orange zest add some depth. The finish has nice length with the citrus, apples, and minerals holding on nicely. This was an absolute steal on closeout for under $5.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2000 Azienda Pier Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo – $29.71

This is another purchase from Garagiste Wine, in this case from late 2007.  I’m a big fan of Italian Barbaresco.  I may be in the minority, but I even prefer a Barbaresco over an Italian Barolo.  Both Barbaresco and Barolo wines are made from the same grape, the Nebbiolo.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red with some brick, especially at the edge.  The elegant and appealing nose has cherries, damp earthy underbrush, minerals, plums, dried herbs, Asian spices, dark chocolate, roses, and a touch of mint.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate there is a nice balance with the fruit and savory elements sharing the stage.  The finish has very nice length with the fruit adding nice sweetness to the savory notes.  This seems to be in a prime drinking window but should hold a couple of years.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard (375ml) – $17.10

A few years ago, I got an offer from Scherrer that included a lot of half bottles.  Needless to say, I stocked up.  I probably bought a couple of cases mixed between this Chardonnay and their Pinot Noir and Zinfandel.  I try to keep a nice variety of half bottles for my wife to enjoy when I am traveling.  That way she can grab a bottle and not have to drink the same wine the next night.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a golden straw color.  The very inviting nose has apples, pears, flinty minerality, baking spices, citrus zest, and buttered popcorn.  This has medium body and crisp acidity.  On the palate the apples, spice, and lemon zest grab the thunder with nice minerality slowly building on the back end.  The fairly long finish leans more on the spice and minerals with just a touch of oak coming into the picture.  This was a very nice Chardonnay in its prime.  This was from a 375ml bottle.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2006 Elyse Zinfandel Korte Ranch (375ml) – $15.07

The local wine store used to stock this wine in half bottles but I don’t know if anyone other than me bought it.  A quick check of my purchase history in Cellar Tracker show I bought well over 2 cases of this wine.  I know the last case was the last one the distributor had in stock.  I’m not seeing as much Elyse on wine store shelves here in Wisconsin, which is a loss for the normal consumer.  I keep the Elyse (and Jacob Franklin) part of my cellar stocked with purchases direct from the winery.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color showing just a touch of brick, mainly at the edge.  The very appealing nose reminded me more of a Claret than a zinfandel.  There was some brambly berries and pepper, but they were joined with tobacco, cedar, dried herbs, cassis, and warm baking spices.  This has a medium body, soft integrated tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate this has lost most of its early “baby fat” and is a smooth, nuanced Zinfandel that again could be easily mistaken for a quality Claret.  The finish is fairly long with nice fruit, spice, and a touch of earthiness.  To some people, this may be over the hill, to me it is in a wonderful spot.  This was from a 375ml bottle.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

The Scherrer Chardonnay and Elyse Zinfandel were served to go with a platter we put together for lunch.  Most of the items were provided by Elyse Winery.  The winery supplied cheeses were:

1 – St Andre Triple Cream from Normandy – This cow’s milk cheese was creamy and rich leaving a lingering sweet note.  It needs a white with with crisp acidity.

2 – Sapore del Plave from Trevisio, Italy – This hard, cow’s milk cheese was aged 15 to 16 months.  This nutty, aged cheese had a nice crumbly texture and had the nice “crunchy” bits and subtle saltiness typical in a quality aged cheese.

3 – Tourmalet from The Laruns Valley in France – This is a semi-hard sheep’s milk cheese.  This had a nice nutty, butter taste and paired marvelously with the slightly aged zinfandel.

 

The winery also supplied some Castelvetrano Olives, which I loved and I’m not a big olive fan.  These had a nice meaty texture, a buttery flavor with subtle salt and slight sweetness.

 

Also included in the package from Elyse were some absolutely delicious Spanish Marcona almonds.  My wife is the almond connoisseur in the family and she flipped over these comparing them to a cross between a normal almond and a macadamia nut.  A comparison which I absolutely agree.

 

This Goody Sampler was sent to members of the Elyse wine club.  I highly recommend checking them out.  My platter only included a small percentage of the contents of the package.  Other than the soft cheese, I only included what we’d need for a lunch for two on the deck.

 

We added some butter crackers and a Boar’s Head Salami to complete the delicious lunch.

 

 

 

2009 Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend – $37.99

I like the wines being produced by Lewis, but I’m not part of their cult-like following.  When I can grab a few bottles at a great price, I stock up but generally pass at the release price.  In this case, the community average price for this wine is over $55 on Cellar Tracker, at that price I think there are better options.  When I was able to get this for under $40, I felt it was worthy of opening my wallet.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color.  The big, bold, and rich nose is full of crushed blackberries, blueberries, smoke, charred meat, black pepper, dark bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, fresh ground coffee, and scorched earth.  This has a full body, fairly solid tannins, and decent acidity.  On the palate the spicy berries, pepper, and meaty elements hit first followed by vanilla, dark chocolate, and some earthiness.  The finish is fairly long and is highlighted by dark chocolate, vanilla, and berries.  This is a big and ripe wine made in a take no prisoners style.  (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!

 

 

 

2003 Château Potensac

2008 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée

2007 Jean Edwards Cellars Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard Mendocino County

 

 

The lineup is a bit light this time.  I participated in an online tasting of four Rosé wines from Lodi on Wednesday evening.  I will post a blog on those wines early next week.  A preview – I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the wines.

 

 

2003 Château Potensac – $19.99

Over the years Château Potensac has been my “go to” winery for a week night Bordeaux.  Though this is not a sexy or super exciting wine, it is generally a well priced, enjoyable Bordeaux blend.  This vintage is a blend of 43.5% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot and 23.5% cab franc.

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

 

2008 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée – $29.75

As I’ve mentioned in the past, Villa Creek is one of my favorite California wineries.  I love all the delicious blends they produce every year.  This wine is a blend of 50% grenache, 30% mourvedre and 20% syrah from the Denner and James Berry Vineyards in Paso Robles.  This, as well as The Avenger and Mas de Maha are my top three wines Villa Creek makes.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color.  The gorgeous nose is full of blackberries, minerals, licorice, dried herbs, cherries, vanilla, black pepper, smoke, dark chocolate, and earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate, mineral laden, peppery berries and some earthiness hit first followed by dark chocolate and a smoky, meaty element.  The long, lingering finish leans more on the savory spectrum but the fruit provides some outstanding sweetness.  This seems to be just entering a very nice drinking window, which should last another 5 to 7 years.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Jean Edwards Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard – $30.00

I was sent a bottle of this wine by the winery to sample about a year ago.  I loved it and immediately ordered 4 bottles.  After having another bottle, I had to order a few more.  If you like reasonably priced Cabernet and Syrah based wines from California, I highly recommend checking them out.  More information and a mailing list sign up is available on their website.  Mailing list members get advance notice of new releases and exceptional pricing.  Why are you still reading this, you can come back after checking them out.   🙂

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color, almost purple. The very nice nose has blackberries, charred meat, smoke, roasted herbs, licorice, black pepper, minerals, brined olives, wild flowers, and a touch of mint. This has medium to full body with fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity. The palate has a nice blend between the juicy, crushed berries, and the savory elements of black pepper, roasted herbs, and charred meat. The finish is long and layered with nice juicy berries adding sweetness to the savory elements. This is drinking nicely, but will reward some additional cellar time.  (93 pts)

 

(This is a repost of my note from a couple months ago, it is still very accurate)

 

 

 

***** 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 Core Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa Vineyard

2002 Serafini & Vidotto Phigaia

2002 T-Vine Cellars Petite Sirah NapaValley

2008 Melville Pinot Noir Terraces

2005 Rudius Syrah Russian River Valley

 

 

2007 Core Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa Vineyard – $27.73

I’ve been a big fan of the wines Dave Corey produces for quite a while.  These highly expressive wines are top notch and very reasonably priced.  Most of the wines are delicious blends.  In this case, Elevation Sensation is a blend of 62% Grenache and 38% Mourvedre from Santa Barbara County.  I highly recommend tracking down some Core wines and settling in for a couple hours of pleasure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby red color.  The big and flamboyant nose is full of kirsch, minerals, incense, blackberries, eucalyptus, earthy underbrush, dark bittersweet chocolate, and warm baking spices.  This has medium to full body, moderate ripe tannins and nice acidity.  This is “stacked” on the palate with layers of fruit, spice, minerals, and earthiness that slowly peal away revealing the next layer.  The finish has very nice length with some eucalyptus, dark chocolate and cherries closing the show.  This is in a prime drinking window now and should hold for a couple of years.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2002 Serafini & Vidotto Phigaia – $9.99

And now for something totally different.  I know a very high percentage of the wines I open are either from California or based on grapes native to the Rhone region in France.  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from the Veneto region in Italy.  I grabbed six bottles of this from Garagiste Wine a few (several?) years ago.  I opened one not long after delivery and felt it needed some serious cellar time.  Five years later, it’s time to try another.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby with a fair amount of brick especially at the edge.  The intriguing nose has blackberries, dusty minerals, tobacco, cherries, plums, baking spices, earthy underbrush, and some leafy green herbs.  This is barely medium body with fairly integrated tannins and tart acidity.  On the palate tart cherries, herbs, and minerals dominate the front end with spices and earthiness coming into play later.  The finish has decent length which leans on the savory elements with tart acidity poking through.  This wasn’t really what I expected but it was still very enjoyable.  A great value at $9.99.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2002 T-Vine Cellars Petite Sirah Napa Valley – $33.00

I bought this several years ago during a visit to Napa.  I only bought one bottle so I wanted to give it plenty of cellar time.  I hate only having one bottle of a wine and opening it too early.  I think after laying untouched for 8 years, tonight is the perfect time to open the bottle.  It’s a Saturday evening and I’m grilling thick, juicy burgers.  This should (hopefully) make a nice dinner on the deck.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color.  The outstanding nose is full of blackberries, black pepper, dark chocolate, road tar, well worn leather, licorice, and earthy underbrush.  This has a fairly full body, integrated tannins, and decent acidity.  This is plush and velvety on the palate with lush, ripe berries, black pepper, and chocolate up front.  On the back end some spice, licorice, and earthiness add considerable depth.  The finish is very long and full of juicy, sweet, spicy, peppery berries.  This is delicious today but should hold in the cellar for at least a few more years.  I wouldn’t hold this long term since the tannins have pretty well integrated and the acidity is a touch on the low side.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2005 Rudius Syrah Russian River Valley – $19.99

If you have never heard of Jeff Ames’ Rudius wines, you’re missing something special, very special.  Rudius produces mainly wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and the Rhone varietals, but also has released a Chardonnay.  I’ve opened a fair amount of these wines and have never had one that was less than outstanding.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The intense nose is full of blackberries, Asian spices, charred meat, dark chocolate, fresh cracked black pepper, vanilla, and earthy underbrush.  This has a full body, fairly solid ripe tannins, and moderate acidity.  The palate is absolutely loaded with spicy, peppery berries, vanilla, and chocolate.  The finish is fairly long and adds a meaty element and increased pepper and spice.  This is a big, ripe, bold wine that does show some alcohol but nothing too off-putting.  This may not be for everyone, but it works for me.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Melville Pinot Noir Terraces – $37.14

Melville is one of the big name Pinot producers on California’s central coast.  This family owned winery produces some of the best Pinot Noirs coming out of California that are fairly widely distributed and very fairly priced.  In recent years they have begun producing very nice Syrah based wines that I have enjoyed.  They also produce Chardonnay and Viognier wines, but I have not tried one of them up to now.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a ruby red color.  The enticing nose has black raspberries, earthy underbrush, minerals, baking spices, cherries, wild flowers, cola, and a touch of licorice.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate, tart, juicy berries and sweet cherries are joined by minerals, baking spices, and some earthiness.  The finish is very long and full of layers that slowly fade allowing the next wave to wash over the palate.  This is an exceptional Central Coast Pinot Noir that will hold and perhaps improve over the next several years, but it it stunning today.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

We had a slow simmered corned beef with potatoes, carrots, and some onion for dinner with the Melville Pinot.  It may be almost the middle of June, but Summer hasn’t made an appearance in the upper Midwest.  At least it was nice enough we could enjoy our dinner and wine on the deck.

 

 

 

 

***** 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 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks – 3 bottles at $39.99

 

I also received these wine samples to review down the road:

2012 The Seeker Rosé (France, Provence)

2012 The Seeker Red Blend (Chile, Central Valley)

2012 The Seeker Riesling (Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer)

2012 The Seeker Pinot Grigio (Italy, Veneto)

 

I received these for an online tasting of Lodi Rosé wines next week:

2012 McCay Cellars Rosé

2012 Heritage Oak Grenache Rosé

2012 Onesta Cinsault Rosé

2012 Sorelle Winery Bella e Rosa

Check out the Twitter based tasting on Wednesday evening.

 

 

 

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 Domaine de l’Hortus Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Classique

2009 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile

2010 Loring Pinot Noir Cargasacchi Vineyard

2009 Hobo Wine Company Zinfandel Branham Vineyard Rockpile

 

 

2007 Domaine de l’Hortus Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Classique – $14.53

This a blend of about 60% Syrah and 30% Grenache which were tank vinified, with 10% barrel aged Mourvedre.  I’m a big fan of the impressive, value priced, wine from the Languedoc region in France.  These are exceptional wines to pair with a piece of juicy meat hot off the grill.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a ruby red color.  The very nice and outgoing nose has blackberries, plums, smoke, roasted herbs, warm baking spices, minerals, meat juices, a touch of licorice, and some nice earthiness.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  The fruit and spice immediately grab the palate, eventually allowing smoky roasted herbs and some earthiness to break through.  The finish has nice length with the berries slowly giving way to meat juices, roasted herbs, minerals, and some subtle earthiness.  This is drinking very nicely today and should hold for at least a few more years.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile – $16.00

The Turley Juvenile Zinfandel is a blend of grapes from younger vines in the vineyards from around the state the winery uses for their single vineyard Zinfandels.  These vineyards include some of my favorites, Hayne and Ueberroth, among others.  The vines range from 6 to 25 years old.  To me, this is one of Turley’s better value wines.  This is generally a wine to drink on the younger side while giving the single vineyard Zinfandels some cellar time.

 

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.  This seems to be hitting its stride.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Loring Pinot Noir Cargasacchi Vineyard – $46.00

I love Brian Loring’s Pinot Noirs, actually I love all the wines of his that I have tried.  That said, this will be my first Cargasacchi Vineyard Pinot Noir from Loring.  I don’t know how this wine fell through the cracks, but this was the first time I bought the wine.  Loring’s Pinot Noirs are very Californian in style, which I do not say in a bad way.  Brian’s pinots are usually ripe and bold and very tasty.  If you are looking for a Burgundy, look elsewhere, if you are looking for a very tasty bottle of wine you’re in the right place.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The intoxicating nose has blackberries, minerals, baking spices, black cherries, licorice, raspberries, a touch of smoke, and some subtle earthiness.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and very good acidity.  Loads of spicy berries and minerals dominate the front end with black cherries and earthy elements coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length but does show just a touch of alcohol, but not enough to take away from the wine.  This is a very nice combination of a big, rich California Pinot but with plenty of tannins and acidity to provide support and balance.  This is an outstanding effort.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Hobo Wine Company Zinfandel Branham Vineyard Rockpile – $22.32

I’ve been a big fan of the red wines coming out of the rugged Rockpile appellation in Sonoma for several years.  These are generally big, burly wines due to the area’s proximity to the cooling breezes off of the Pacific Ocean.

 

Tim Fish from Wine Spectator had a very nice piece on the area about a year ago.  I’m not sure if you have to be a subscriber or not to follow this link, but it’s well worth checking out.  I think the writer’s blogs are free with no subscription required.

Between a Rockpile and a Zin Place

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The outstanding nose has brambly berries, fresh ground black pepper, minerals, freshly ground dark roast coffee, melted licorice, and a touch of charred meat.  This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the wine is a bit brighter than the nose lead me to expect with peppery berries and cherries leading the way with a nice jolt of minerals following closely.  The finish has decent length but gets a touch lean.  This has a pretty big acidity component that will integrate with some cellar time, perhaps allowing the finish to fill out.  This is good today, but I think it will improve with another year in the cellar.  (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!

 

 

 

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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!