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

 

 

2012 Fortant de France Viognier Vin de Pays d’Oc Hills Reserve

2013 Gérard Bertrand Vin de Pays d’Oc Gris Blanc

 

 

 Background

The Pays d’Oc, located in the Southeastern corner of France, is characterized by miles of Mediterranean coastline, fertile plains, and the rugged Pyrenees Mountains.  The winemakers of the region have more creative freedom than most because they can work with 56 grape varieties to produce red, white, and rose wines.  Many producers have started incorporating modern techniques, and the result is a number of expertly crafted wines that are familiar to the palate with their elegant fruit flavors, and crisp, refreshing acidity, and yet also have unique, interesting notes.

 

 

6 centuries B.C. – The Languedoc-Roussillon: over 2600 years of vine-growing and winemaking tradition.  Viti-viniculture activity began 6 centuries before Jesus Christ (B.C.).  The Greeks were the first to introduce the vine to the Languedoc-Roussillon creating their first trading post around Agde.

 

A few centuries later, the province of Narbonne rapidly developed under the Roman emperor Auguste.  The veterans of Roman legions were often wine growers from Campanie and were given land in Narbonne or Beziers in recognition for their long years in service.  This is how the first known vineyard in Gaul came into being.  The wine trade became more structured and grew rapidly thanks to the “Voie Domitienne”.  This trade route, built in the Pays d’Oc from Beaucaire to the Perthus, linked Spain and Italy.  Today it is a lasting foundation that witnesses the history of Pays d’Oc’s vineyard.

 

In the 1st century A.D., wines were exported in the Adriatic Sea, to Greece and Upper Egypt.

 

Much more information on the region, grapes and wine is available by clicking here.

 

 

These wines were provided by Sopexa USA, a part of Sopexa Group.  For more information, please click here.

 

 

 

The lineup for this tasting:

 

 

2012 Fortant de France Viognier Vin de Pays d’Oc Hills Reserve – SRP $14.99

This 100% Viognier is from inland, hillside vineyards.  The vineyards are hot and dry during the day but cool nights allow the grapes to ripen slowly and to retain acidity.  The grapes are also subjected to the cool, dry, strong Mistral and Tramontane winds.  These winds help concentrate the flavors that eventually show up in the wine.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium yellow to gold color.  The inviting nose has pear, minerals, white flowers, apricots, vanilla bean and a touch of honey.  This has a medium body with decent acidity and no readily apparent residual sugar.  Minerals and pears coat the palate with a touch of honey and a floral note coming in on the backend.  The finish is a touch short with minerals and pears.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

2013 Gérard Bertrand Vin de Pays d’Oc Gris Blanc – SRP $12.99

This wine is 100% Grenache Gris from the Tautavel area between the Mediterranean Sean and the Pyrenees Mountains.  The hand harvested grapes are pressed immediately.  After a temperature controlled fermentation the wine is aged on the fine lees for several weeks with a weekly pump over.

 

The wine has 13.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a very light pink with an orange tint.  The enticing nose has strawberries, minerals, cherry pit, lemon zest and orange blossoms.  This has a light body with crisp acidity and a touch of residual sweetness.  On the palate, tart strawberries and minerals jump out first with cherry pits and lemon zest coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a nice floral note entering the picture.  This is an extremely easy wine to just sit back and sip on a warm evening before dinner.  (87 pts)

 

 

Conclusion

These were two very reasonably priced wines that should be considered for your dinner table, either before or with your meal.

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2012 Trentadue Winery Zinfandel

2012 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Central Coast

2008 Carlisle Two Acres

 

 

It was another slow week wine wise.  My wife is doing better and as her broken wrist heals, we’ll begin opening more wine, which will give me more to write on this page.

 

 

 

2012 Trentadue Winery Zinfandel – $14.24

I’m always on the lookout for good bottles of wine for week nights.  An Alexander Valley zinfandel on the local wine store’s shelf for around $15 qualifies as a no-brainer.  Trentadue is not a new winery for me, I’ve visited the winery in the past and their Cuvée 32, a California version of a “Super Tuscan”, is one of my favorite wines.  According to the winery’s website, the grapes for this wine come from vines that are over a century old.  The wine has a suggested retail price of $18.00.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a screw top.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The appealing nose has brambly berries, black pepper, vanilla bean, underbrush, dried wildflowers, dusty minerals, black cherries and dried herbs.  This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  Tart cherries, pepper and underbrush hit the palate first with vanilla and minerals coming in later.  The finish has decent length with a nice dried floral note entering the picture.  Not a lot of complexity but very tasty and very good QPR.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2012 MacMurray Ranch Pinot Noir Central Coast – $15.29

I grabbed a bottle of this wine to see how well they did with the exceptional 2012 vintage.  The fact the wine was just a touch over $15 didn’t make my buying decision too tough.  This wine is produced from grapes harvested on California’s Central Coast including Olson Ranch in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to dark ruby color.  The nice nose has cherries, baking spices, earthy underbrush, cranberry and wildflowers.  This has medium body with soft tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cherries and spice pop out first with some earthiness coming in on the backend.  The finish has nice length with a nice floral note and cranberries entering the picture.  Not a lot of complexity but a nice, reasonably priced Pinot Noir.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Carlisle Two Acres – $28.75

This vintage of this wine is a blend of 79% Mourvedre, 7% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, 5% Carignane and 3% Alicante Bouschet.  The grapes are from the Two Acres Vineyard  in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.  The vineyard was planted in 1910.  According to the winery, “This vineyard was on the brink of death when we took it over in 1996 but slowly and surely we have brought it back to life.  We completed its renovation in 2003 by replacing all missing vines.  Most of the replants were Mourvèdre but we did include a few syrah vines.”

 

This wine has 14.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  There were 296 cases of the wine produced.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The intoxicating nose has blackberries, fresh cracked black pepper, charred wood, cherries, Asian spices, dried violets, dusty minerals, dry earth and some subtle smoked meat.  This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate this provides a big upfront dose of dark fruit, minerals and spice with black pepper and dried earth on the back end.  The finish has outstanding length with cherries and charred wood entering the picture.  This is drinking very nicely at this time but should hold for several years.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

Overview

Novy is the “sister” winery of Adam and Dianna (Novy) Lee’s Siduri Winery.  All things Pinot Noir carry the Siduri label, everything else gets Novy.  If you see a wine with either label, I recommend grabbing a bottle (or a case).  You are guaranteed a quality wine at an exceptional price.

 

 

The Winery (Adam’s Reflections)

Welcome to 2014!  For us, 2014 is a year to celebrate and also to reflect, as it was 20 years ago that we started Siduri Wines.  Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine that we’d end up where we are, two decades later, doing what we do.  In the introduction to this year’s newsletters, we will share some of the stories that brought us to where we are now.

 

It was actually in 1993 that we first met, at Neiman-Marcus in Dallas.  I had taken a job as one of the Wine Buyers there while Dianna had started in the Epicure Department.  We worked right next to each other and, soon after, we started dating.  Dianna likes to tell people that she went out with me because I had good wine and because I was the only straight guy that worked at Neimans.

 

We soon started talking about moving out to California (specifically the Russian River Valley) and getting involved in the wine business, though I initially considered being a wine writer rather than a winemaker.  I moved out first and even started a publication called “Vintages, Vines, and Wines” and Dianna followed several months later.  The idea of actually making wine was largely hers.  Funded with $24,000 (our combined savings) we placed an advertisement in a publication called “Wine County Classifieds” looking for Pinot Noir grapes.  We visited three different sites and eventually chose one site, that allowed us to buy an acre’s worth of grapes and do much of the farming ourselves, and we were on our way.

 

It is fitting that in this newsletter, three of the four wines come from the Russian River Valley, the place we have called our home for the past two decades.  The Russian River Valley is a special place, both for us and for producing remarkable wines.  Both the vintage and the wines produced in 2012 are proving to be truly remarkable.  We hope that you enjoy them and enjoy this first trip down memory lane.

 

More information about Novy is available on their website by clicking here.  The site could use an update, the site lists the 2010 vintage of this wine as the current release.  The Siduri site is much more current and contains a ton of great information.

 

 

 

 

2012 Novy Family Wines Zinfandel Russian River Valley – $18.99

This wine uses grapes from three vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley.  Elsbree Vineyards supplies 63% of the grapes with Papera Ranch (25%) and Carlisle Vineyard (12%) supplying the remaining fruit.  The younger vines from the Elsbree Vineyard supplies good fruit characteristics with the fruit from the two older vineyards providing darker fruit and adding complexity.

 

The lots were fermented separately and after the final blend was chosen, the wines were racked into oak barrels for additional aging.  There were 1084 cases produced and the wine has a suggested retail price of $22.

 

This wine has 15.7% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright, deep ruby color.  The familiar smelling nose has brambly berries, mocha, dusty minerals, candied cherries, vanilla, spicy oak, licorice and black pepper.  This has a full body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  Spicy berries, pepper and dusty minerals pop out first on the palate with vanilla and mocha coming in later.  The finish has good length with some spicy oak coming in late.  This is on the young side but is still very tasty.  This is a steal if you can grab it for under $20 a bottle.  (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 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2011 Treasure Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2007 Core Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa Vineyard

2004 Château La Vieille Cure

 

 

It was a light week, wine wise.  My wife was was hurt in a fall so I had to pick up my work around the house.  I also didn’t like drinking wine in front of her when she couldn’t enjoy a glass due to the pain killers.

 

 

2011 Treasure Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – $28.49

This is a new purchase from this “négociant’ label.  The “winery” buys excess wine from traditional wineries, bottles it, and turns over their inventory fairly quickly.  The wineries are generally eager to sell off their unwanted wines so Treasure Hunter gets the juice at a VERY big discount.  One of the usual stipulations is that the source of the grapes/wine remains anonymous.  In this case, the name of the original winery was “accidently” slipped, so I know who supposedly made the wine, but I’m sworn to secrecy.

 

Here is the info from Treasure Hunter’s website:

Occasionally we find a wine that is so special, it deserves its own label. This is one of those wines. It is a cult wine from a cult winery it just happens to cost a whole lot less. Lucky you.

 

If the source is accurate, the winery produces two cabernet sauvignons, the least expensive costs north of $100 a bottle.  The other cabernet produced by the winery has a community average cost on Cellar Tracker of well over $300 a bottle.

 

This wine is available for sell on the Treasure Cellars website for $45.00 a bottle, click here for more info.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has cassis, dark bittersweet chocolate, dried herbs, eucalyptus, cherries, minerals, cigar box, and some “Rutherford Dust” (if this is from Rutherford).  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate big cassis and eucalyptus grab hold eventually allowing cherries, dark chocolate, and some dried herbs enter into the mix.  The finish has very good length with a very slight green herbaceous element creeping in on the back end.  This is extremely young and has a very bright future.  Even at this early stage in its development, the wine has impeccable balance.  I’m sure with some cellar time the slight green element will integrate.  This rating is totally out the window in another couple years.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

2004 Château La Vieille Cure – $15.83

The local wine store brought this in as an e-mail offer to their mailing list.  I decided under $16 a bottle for a case was just too hard to pass, so I grabbed a case.  My first bottle had something wrong and just tasted horrible.  It didn’t have an easily identifiable flaw, it was just bad.  I opened a second bottle a couple weeks later, and it was decent.  A third bottle about a year ago was pretty much like the first bottle.  I don’t know the exact break down of the grapes in this vintage, but this wine has historically been around 74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to purple color.  The nose has dried herbs, cigar box, minerals, baking spices, black cherries, a minty note and a fair amount of earthiness.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins, and very good acidity.  On the palate the wine is lean and tart with very little fruit and an overload of acidity on the front end, on the back end a touch of fruit makes a brief appearance before being beaten into submission by the overbearing acidity.  The finish shows some dried herbs and earthiness.  This makes three of four bottles that does not merit a score.

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

Overview

This wine is a perennial best buy for a top notch Zinfandel for well under $20.  If you do some digging or have a decent local wine store, you should be able to find this one for a touch over $15.  The Easton Amador County Zin is usually not a wine that pushes the ripeness to the limit.  This is generally a balanced, food friendly Zinfandel that would be a welcome addition to your week night dinner.

 

 

The Winery

Easton is the “sister” winery to Terre Rouge.  The Terre Rouge label is used for wines made from Rhone grapes including Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne and Marsanne.  Easton, named after the winemaker Bill Easton, on all wines from non-Rhone grapes.

 

More information on the wineries is available by clicking here.

 

Terre Rouge and Easton are located on the West Slope of the Sierra Nevada in Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley.

 

The winery farms all their vineyards sustainably and most of the needed power used comes from solar power generated by solar panels on the roof of the main winery building.

 

Much more information on the winery’s “Green” efforts is available by clicking here.

 

Bill Easton is active on Twitter, follow @rhonist.  The winey is also on Facebook

 

 

 

2012 Easton Zinfandel – $15.29

The grapes for this wine come from the winery’s Amador County vineyards.  These vineyards are planted on rolling mountain sites comprised of decomposed granite soil.

 

The winery rightfully calls this wine a “serious cru Beaujolais-styled/Rioja crianza-styled Zinfandel.”  After fermentation, the wine is aged in 100% French oak for 10 months.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to deep ruby color.  The appealing nose has cherries, crushed stones, blackberries, white pepper, dried herbs, dried wildflowers and a touch of cedar.  This has a medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate tart cherries and minerals jump out first with white pepper and dried herbs coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with some spicy, cedary oak coming in.  Not a lot of complexity has developed yet, but has outstanding balance.  This is a food friendly zin that will be easy to enjoy over the next few years.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2010 The Lucky Country Shiraz

2009 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino

2008 Long Shadows Wineries Chester-Kidder

 

 

 

2010 The Lucky Country Shiraz – $9.90

It’s been a while since I opened a bottle of this wine.  When I opened one not long after picking up a case at my local store, the wine was decent, but seemed to be a bit below the previous vintage.  I felt a bit of cellar time should help the wine settle down a bit.  It’s time to check in to see how it is doing.  This is made by the team behind Two Hands, and the general thought is this is the declassified fruit from Two Hands.

 

Winery history

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The very Australian nose features blackberries, blueberries, black pepper, vanilla, baking spices, and wild flowers.  This has a medium body with soft, ripe tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate the big fruit and peppery spice carries the load with a touch of chocolate and earthiness in the background.  The finish has decent length with sweet berries and spice.  This carries a touch of residual sugar but not enough to really stick out.  This would be a nice holiday or party wine.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon – $22.79

This is a blend of 78.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.3% Merlot, 5.2% Malbec and 2.6% Petite Verdot.  From these Napa Valley vineyards, 51.5% Round Pond-Rutherford, 21.5% Stagecoach-Atlas Peak, 13.3% Keyes-Howell Mountain, 5.2% Huichica-Napa Carneros, 4.1% Bosché-Rutherford, 2.9% Veeder Peak-Mt. Veeder, 1.5% Potelle-Mt. Veeder.

 

The wine has an alcohol level of 14.8% and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The slightly shy nose has cassis, baking spices, cherries, roasted leafy herbs, roses, licorice and a touch of mint.  This has medium body, moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate berries and cherries add nice sweetness and are balanced by roasted herbs and spice.  The finish has nice length with the fruit stepping into the background, allowing the savory elements to shine.  This is on the young side with a touch of oak poking through at times.  If you are not a fan of oak let this sleep for a couple years, other wise, open a bottle and enjoy it after it gets a bit of air.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino – $18.99

This 100% Sangiovese comes from vineyards in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, at elevations of 150-350 metres on well-exposed hillslopes south-east of Montalcino.  The wine was aged in a mix of Slavonian and French oak barrels for a minimum of 8 months followed by a minimum of 3 months of bottle aging before it is released.

 

This wine has 14.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The intriguing nose has cherries, dusty minerals, dried thyme, baking spices, raspberry, leather and a touch of underbrush.  This is barely medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very good acidity.  Cherries, minerals and spice initially take hold on the palate with dried thyme and leather coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with just a touch of earthiness entering the picture.  This is on the young side but already showing very nicely.  (91 pts)

 

 

 

2008 Long Shadows Wineries Chester-Kidder – $28.49

The local wine store brought in a few of the Long Shadow wines from past vintages and offered them at close-out prices via their e-mail list.  With a suggested retail price around $50, the price was almost 50% off.  This vintage is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc from assorted vineyards in Washington.

 

This has 14.7% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The comforting nose has cassis, minerals, cedar, blackberries, baking spices, tobacco, dark chocolate, leather, dried herbs and dried wildflowers.  This has a medium body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate spicy cassis and minerals jump out first with cedar, dried herbs and a dried floral note coming in later.  The finish has very good length with dark chocolate and leather coming in to add even more complexity.  This is an outstanding effort from this unusual blend.  (94 pts)

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

Each week I pick out one wine to highlight as my wine of the week.  This wine may be an outstanding wine, a great value or just something very interesting.

 

 

 

Overview

This wine has been a personal favorite for several years.  Relentless is generally a big, full bodied wine filled with berries and spice.  The availability of the wine at retail was generally spotty, at best, at least where I have lived.  Finding it at a discounted price was also like looking for a four leaf clover.  I’m sure it will be even harder to locate for a few years since the 2008 vintage was named Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year.

 

The family owned winery produces around 32,000 cases a year using mainly Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

 

The Winery

John Shafer purchased the 210 acre estate in 1972 after leaving his 23 year career in the publishing industry.  After moving his family to the Napa Valley, John set out to begin his new career in wine.  The family replanted the existing vineyards which had been originally planted in the 1920s.  The family also terraced the steep and rocky hillsides for additional vineyards.  These hillside vineyards brought the family up to 50 acres of vineyards.

 

As the vines matured, the family transitioned from growers to vintners and crushed their first Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in 1978.  They began building their winery a year later.

 

The first Shafer Cabernet became a benchmark, winning the acclaimed San Francisco Vintners Club taste-off upon release and, over a decade later taking first place in an international blind tasting held in Germany, where it outranked such wines as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour and Chateau Palmer.

 

Doug Shafer became winemaker in 1983 after graduating from the University of California at Davis with a degree in enology and viticulture, a year later Elias Fernandez joined the winery as assistant winemaker.  Together Doug and Elias have worked closely to forge the Shafer style of quality, consistency and elegance.

 

New vineyards have been added over the years, with acreage acquired in the Oak Knoll, Stags Leap and Carneros districts, bringing the total Shafer vineyard acreage to over 200 acres.  Winery facilities have been expanded and extensive caves carved into the hillside for aging wine.

 

In 1994, Elias was appointed winemaker, and Doug took over the reins as president when John became chairman of the board.

 

 

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

The Wine

Relentless is born on a remote ridgetop vineyard in the southern foothills of Napa Valley’s Vaca Mountain range.  The wine is a field blend of approximately 80 percent Syrah and 20 percent Petite Sirah, which means that these two grape varietals grow side by side, and are picked and crushed together.

 

In the first vintages of this wine the Petite Sirah dominated with its purple-midnight color and solid black-fruit, smoke, and black pepper flavors. In the more recent vintages the

Syrah has moved into the forefront with its flavors of spice and meatiness, bringing a touch of elegance to this otherwise bold, flamboyant wine.

 

The wine is named to honor long-time Shafer Winemaker Elias Fernandez and his relentless pursuit of quality in the vineyard and cellar.

 

 

There is a video, “The Spirit of Relentless” available on Shafer’s website by clicking here.

 

 

 

2006 Shafer Relentless – $42.74

This has been a personal favorite for several years.  The higher price and limited availability around here cut into my purchases.  When the local store secured a nice stash of the wine and put it on sale at a killer price, I had to stock up.  This vintage is a blend of 84% Syrah and 16% Petite Sirah.

 

This has 14.9% alcohol and is sealed with a natural cork.

 

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, inky purple color.  The exotic and enticing nose has blackberries, fresh ground espresso beans, crushed stone minerals, dark chocolate, melted licorice, black pepper, smoke, black cherries, tar, and violets.  This is full bodied with solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate there are layers of fruit and savory elements that thoroughly coat your mouth, like the wine’s name, the flavors are “relentless”.  The finish is fairly long and again is loaded with flavor.  Not a lot of subtlety here, just massive amounts of flavors that are held in check by the outstanding tannic backbone and acidity.  This is still a baby, but one that will swat you up side the head with their rattle.  This still has plenty of upside potential.  (93 pts)

 

 

 

Here in the upper Midwest, we cooled down very quickly over the last week or two.  This cool down was the perfect reason to make up a batch of slow cooked short ribs to pair with the wine.  This was a perfect pairing since the short ribs provided plenty of flavors to stand up to the burly Relentless.

 

 

Underground Cellars Contest

Want to win a $3,000 “Carbon Fiber” Champagne bottle or one of 100 other prizes?

 

They just announced that they raised $1,000,000 in seed funding from investors.  The most recent investment came from famous ‘Shark Tank’ investor Barbara Corcoran

 

Here is the press release announcing Barbara Corcoran’s new backing of the company.

 

If you are already a customer of the Underground Cellar, all you have to do is sign in and click the entry button.  To sign up with Underground Cellars and enter the drawing, click here, or the picture below.

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

This post was contributed by site supporter, Jennifer Bowen.  Jennifer used to work within the healthcare sector – working to help people with their diet, fitness and nutrition. After a short career break to become a mom she decided to turn to writing instead and now pens articles on the topics she knows most about.

 

(Picture is a Hiking Boot Wine Bottle Holder Sculpture available from Amazon.)

 

 

Wine Trails and Hiking: Enjoying the Great Outdoors

It’s good news for wine lovers; studies show that a glass of vino can increase your heart health by increasing levels of ‘good’ cholesterol to guard against thickening of the arteries, as well as improving your mental health.  In moderation (as in all things), red wine can be good for you.  This really complements the idea of the wine tour, and of drinking in the glorious sunshine, surrounded by rolling hills of vines.  Wine, combined with outdoor exercise, is an ideal way of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

 

Wine Vacations

A vacation centered around wine tours can actually be the perfect way to enjoy the sights and culture of a country and often combines quality tasting with solid exercise amid the verdant landscape.  As vines tend to be grown on high hillsides that offer the best drainage and sunshine, you will be walking a significant amount during your wine tour.

 

Napa Valley is an impressive region of California’s wine country, with its tiered hills and striking seasonal colors.  There is a plethora of wineries here to choose from and Calistoga is a particularly popular choice for visitors from around the world with its strong tradition of hospitality and superior wine tasting.  There are many recreational activities for wine lovers here and throughout Napa Valley, from hiking to biking and kayaking as well as hot air balloon rides.  Wine tasting and recreational activities combined create a vacation that is extremely healthy and in Napa Valley there are many towns and parks to visit to ensure you maintain that healthy workout.  The writer Robert Louis Stevenson visited the region in the 1880s and announced ‘wine is bottled poetry’.  Napa Valley is a highly respected area for wine making and this coupled with its breathtaking scenery has created a vision of wine tasting and walking in the foothills that is quite unrivalled.

 

Charlottesville, Virginia is a significant wine trail destination, as well as offering cultural history.  The Jefferson Vineyards is one of the wineries to discover, its land sold by Thomas Jefferson to an Italian viticulturist many years ago.  There are many vineyards to stroll through in this picturesque setting, where visitors absorb the heritage of the region.  The Monticello Artisan Trail connects many points of interest in the Nelson and Albemarle Counties, such as galleries, restaurants and farms against a backdrop of hazy mountains.  Monticello, the home of Jefferson, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a major attraction within Charlottesville for those exploring the region.  There are also hiking and horse riding opportunities, kayaking and rafting as well as high ropes adventures and skydiving.  The Rivanna Trail and the Appalachian Trail are ideal hikes close to Shenandoah National Park.

 

Outdoor Exercise

Hiking remains a popular outdoor activity, according to the paper Healthy Exercise for All Campaign – Physical Fitness Test for the Community.  Hiking demands a level of cardiovascular fitness, as it is a moderate aerobic exercise, and participating in 30 minutes or so of this type of physical activity each day brings health benefits to the participant.  Blood circulation is improved as well as cardiopulmonary function and heart disease, stroke, hypertension and certain cancers are reduced in risk.

 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that bone health also benefits from exercise.  Bone density and strength can be improved from exercise such as hiking, which is seen as one of the best bone building exercises as it is weight-bearing.

 

Physical activity such as hiking offers a moderate level of exercise to help you maintain a healthy weight and to increase your breathing and heart rate and thus give you a cardiovascular workout, but at a gentle pace.  Hiking can burn 185 calories in just half an hour and 370 calories in an hour.

 

Advice for Hiking through Wine Country

Walking is the most popular form of exercise, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with 30% of people preferring this over running, cycling or using cardiovascular equipment.

 

Whether you opt for sunny California, cultural Virginia, mystical Oregon or perhaps further afield to Tuscany in Italy, wine country is an ideal setting for a hiking vacation.  Because the terrain among vineyards is naturally hilly, you will find yourself burning an ample amount of calories as you walk.  The wine tour experience is one to be savored and it can be a heady one too; remember to drink responsibly as you traverse through the vineyards.  You may burn off the calories you absorb, but wine should always be treated with respect and tasted rather than gulped down.  It should complement your inner strength and help you maintain that healthy lifestyle, and this is only achieved if wine is drunk in moderation, according to government advice.  The beauty of hiking while you enjoy these wine tours is that you will be exercising for recreation, rather than focusing on your workout.

 

Wine and outdoor exercise complements each other significantly and ensures that you maintain an appropriate level of physical activity during your tour through wine country.

 

Citations and Further Reading

http://napavalley.com/wineries/ accessed September 2014

http://travel.usnews.com/Napa_Valley_CA/Travel_Tips/ accessed September 2014

http://www.visitcharlottesville.org/visitors/things-to-do/outdoors/ accessed September 2014

http://www.niams.nih.gov/health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/default.asp accessed September 2014

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hike-tips.htm accessed September 2014

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html?s_cid=govD_dnpao_006 accessed September 2014

http://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2008/sports/ accessed September 2014

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23904 accessed September 2014

http://www.fitness.gov accessed September 2014

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

 

 

2012 Emiliana Sauvignon Blanc Novas Gran Reserva

2012 Emiliana Cabernet Sauvignon Natura

 

 

 

Overview:

These wines, while not produced by Banfi, were imported into the United States by the company.  Banfi is the importer/distributor of over 30 different labels from around the world.  While the majority of these labels are from Italy, they also work with wineries in Australia, Chile, Spain and even a couple of American wineries.

 

 

 

About the winery:

The Emiliana winery firmly believes that using sustainable, organic, and biodynamic agricultural practices results in better-balanced, healthier, and more productive vineyards, which in turn results in better quality grapes and therefore better wines.

 

Our mission is to provide our consumers with the highest quality wines with a unique expression of terroir achieved through the benefits of using organic and biodynamic agriculture.

 

To meet this objective, we at Emiliana base our work on two essential principles: care for the environment and respect for our workers and community.

 

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

 

There is a very informative interactive presentation on the winery’s website that shows the Organic & Biodynamic practices being utilized that I highly recommend checking out by clicking here.

 

 

 

About Banfi:

Banfi is a private concern, founded in New York in 1919 by John Mariani, Sr. and today owned and operated by his grandchildren.  The company is focused on the production and import of wine.

 

Banfi Vintners is the sole U.S. importer of the Mariani family’s internationally renowned wine estates in Italy: Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany, and Banfi Piemonte of Strevi, Piedmont.  Banfi also imports the wines of several other producers, including category leaders Bolla, Cecchi, Florio, Fontana Candida, Placido, Riunite, and Sartori from Italy, Concha y Toro and Emiliana from Chile, and Trivento from Argentina, Wisdom & Warter Sherries from Spain and Stone’s Ginger wine from England.  The company has ranked as North America’s leading wine importer for more than three decades.

 

Banfi’s success has enabled the company to play a broad philanthropic role through the Banfi Foundation.  The Foundation provided seed money to help Catholic Relief Services build a technical school and an orphanage as well as an 800-unit housing project in Potenza, Italy, where thousands were left homeless after a devastating earthquake in the early 1980s.  It also generously endows select charities and universities around the world, and sponsors annual scholastic tours to study the food and wine culture of Italy.

 

Banfi is led today by two grandchildren of the founder: James Mariani and Cristina Mariani-May, who share the title of co-CEO.  Their fathers, Chairman Emeritus Dr. John F. Mariani and President Emeritus Harry F. Mariani, continue as active counsel to the executive committee and are members of the firm’s advisory board. Banfi’s world headquarters is a 60-room Elizabethan manor located on a 127-acre estate and vineyard in Old Brookville, New York.

 

 

 

Here is the line up for this tasting:

 

 

2012 Emiliana Sauvignon Blanc Novas Gran Reserva

The grapes for this 100% Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Fundo Rosario Vineyard in Lagunilla.  The vineyard, located 250m above sea level, was planted from 1999 to 2005 primarily on the hillsides.

 

After chilling, the grapes were fermented in temperature controlled tanks using selected yeasts.  After fermentation, the wine was aged 4 months in stainless steel tanks before bottling.  There were 2,200 cases produced.

 

Organic Agriculture Certified by IMO, Switzerland.

 

The wine has 13.0% alcohol by volume and the bottle was sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow with a green tint.  The fresh smelling nose has fresh cut grass, grapefruit zest, crushed stones, white pepper and a touch of smoke.  This has medium body with crisp acidity and just a hint of sweetness.  On the palate fresh cut grass and green herbs dominate initially until the grapefruit zest takes over.  The finish has nice length with crushed stone minerals entering the picture.  If you are looking for a Sauvignon Blanc loaded with grass and green herbs, look no further.  (88 pts)

 

 

 

2012 Emiliana Cabernet Sauvignon Natura

This wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot from vineyards in the Rapel Valley.

 

After fermentation, 20% of the wine was aged for 6 months in French oak barrels.

 

Organic Agriculture Certified – IMO, Switzerland.

Social Responsibility Certified – IMO, Switzerland.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The pleasing nose has cassis, cherries, vanilla, chalky minerals and a slight herbal note.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate cherries and minerals jump out first with vanilla and herbs coming in on the back end.  The finish is a touch short but tasty.  This has a slight herbal note and could use some complexity but it will work as a week night or with friends over a platter of cheese.  (86 pts)

 

 

 

Closing Thoughts

The winery is very conscious and shows considerable respect for the planet and deserves the awards and recognition they have received.

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

This is original to CliffsWinePicks.com.  Copyright 2014 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

Here are posts, newsletters, blogs or other articles that either mention this site or that I have written:

 

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

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

 

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard

2011 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit

N.V. Locations F-2

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

2009 Waterbrook Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Villa Creek “White”

2007 Villa Creek Avenger

N.V. Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial

 

 

 

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard – $15.04

Like a lot of people, Rosenblum was my favorite Zinfandel producer for several years.  After the sale of the winery, the wines have suffered.  I don’t know if this was due to loss of the main people in the operation, bad luck, or more likely the desire of the purchases to cash in on the name quickly and recoup the cost of their investment.

 

I’ve really enjoyed wines produced from the Rockpile area for a few years and actively hunted them down.  The local wine store brought this wine in and offered it at a great price via their weekly e-mail offers.  I grabbed a case.  Unfortunately, the wine has been a disappointment the few times I’ve tried it.  One last chance to see if another years in the cellar has helped.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The fairly straight forward nose has brambly berries, vanilla, black pepper, dark bittersweet chocolate, camphor, and spicy oak.  This has medium to full body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine seems a touch thin and driven by the oak related elements with sweet berries coming in from the sides providing needed sweetness.  The finish is a touch short and again highlights the spicy oak and sweet berries.  For a Rosenblum wine, especially one from Rockpile, this could use a bit more extraction and depth.  A decent week night Zin to be consumed over the next couple of years.  (87 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Saint-Esprit – $10.99

This is a 50/50 blend of Syrah and Grenache.

 

This has 14% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color.  The inviting nose has crushed berries, stony minerals, smoke, cherry pits, licorice and dried flowers.  This has medium body, moderate silky tannins and good acidity.  Crushed berries and minerals coat the palate on the front end with smoke and cherry pits coming in later.  The finish has nice length with more smoke and a dried floral note adding depth.  Not as rustic as some Côtes du Rhône wines, much smoother and easy going.  Probably not one to sit on for too long, enjoy this one over the next year or two.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

N.V. Locations F-2 – $15.38

Even though this is labeled as non vintage, all the grapes are from 2012. This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and assorted Bordeaux varietals from various regions in France.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep dark ruby to purple color.  The very open nose has blackberries, currants, dried herbs, licorice, charred wood and dried flowers.  This has a fairly full body with moderate ripe tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate an overload of ripe fruit and spicy oak jump out first with licorice and dried herbs slipping into the picture on the back end.  The finish has good length and is very fruit driven.  This doesn’t offer much complexity but that doesn’t make it any less tasty.  This would be a big hit at a party with a platter of meats and cheeses.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills – $25.00

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.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The very enticing nose has raspberries, cherries, baking spices, cola, and some nice earthiness.  This has medium body, moderate tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine is rich but reigned in and it stays in focus.  The finish is fairly long with a nice blend of fruit and savory elements.  This shows nice balance and the closing acidity provides very nice lift.  This is a great value for the price.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2009 Waterbrook Cabernet Sauvignon – $9.49

This is one of the better, value priced, Cabernets out there.  This won’t rock your world, but it is generally a very nice, varietally correct, dry, structured, Cabernet that can be found for under $10.

 

This has 13.5% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

Winery history

 

Waterbrook Winery was founded in 1984 by Eric and Janet Rindal and is located in Washington State’s lovely Walla Walla Valley.

 

Waterbrook continues to be one of the Walla Walla Valley’s largest producers of premium Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Melange wines.  Production is around 35,000 cases a year.  Waterbrook was selected by the editors of Wine Spectator as one of 50 great producers every wine lover should know for smart buys.  The tasting room in downtown Walla Walla pairs fine wine with fine art, providing a destination point of distinctive style.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium to deep ruby red color.  The very nice nose features plums, cassis, dried herbs, earthy elements, baking spices, minerals, and cherries.  This has a medium body with soft tannins and good acidity.  There is a nice mix of savory and fruity elements on the palate with the savory elements up front and the fruit coming in on the back end.  Decent length on the finish which again has nice fruit, but the savory elements carry the load.  A very nice change of pace if you are tired of fruit forward California Cabernets.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

2011 Villa Creek “White” – $20.80

This is one of my favorite White California Rhone Ranger wines.  This is a blend of 70% stainless steel fermented Grenache Blanc and 30% James Berry Vineyard Roussanne that was fermented in concrete and neutral oak.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light golden yellow color.  The light and summery nose has melon, peach pit, minerals, white flowers, orange zest and a touch of spice.  This dry wine has medium body and very nice acidity.  On the palate melon and apricot flavors occupy the front end with some building minerality and citrus coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with minerals and some spice seeming to linger forever.  This tastes very good now and will last in the cellar for a couple more years.  (90 pts)

 

 

 

2007 Villa Creek Avenger – $35.00

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

 

This has 14.7% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

We paired the Avenger with a personal favorite meal from our prior life living in Texas, Chicken Fried Steak.  If properly prepared, the meat is tender and juicy with a the breading adding nice flavor and texture.  The cream gravy provides nice richness.

 

 

 

N.V. Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial – $36.99

This is roughly a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier and 25% Chardonnay.

 

This has 12% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork Champagne stopper.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light golden straw color with very persistent, pinpoint bubbles.  The very inviting nose has baked apples, pears, lemon zest, fresh baked bread and a touch or nuttiness.  This has a light body with considerable effervescence, tart citrusy acidity and is just about bone dry.  On the palate baked apple with nutmeg and cinnamon pops out first with yeasty notes and lemon zest coming in later.  The finish is crisp with a touch of nuttiness joining the yeasty notes and lemon zest.  This is very easy to sip while just sitting back and relaxing.  (89 pts)

 

 

 

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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!