2010 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes

2011 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris

2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir Meiomi

2010 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Barrica (Old Vines)

2010 Loring Wine Company Convergence Russell Family Vineyard

 

 

 

2010 Two Hands Shiraz Gnarly Dudes – $23.74

The Two Hands wines have been favorites in my house for several years.  The Garden series wines are usually excellent, but have escalated in price.  To me, the second level of the Two Hands wines are the real sweet spot in their lineup.  These level offer high quality wines at relatively bargain prices.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a dark, inky, purple color. The burly nose has blackberries, smoke, dark chocolate, plums, meat juices, black pepper, Asian spices, minerals, melted licorice, charcoal, and fresh wild flowers. The wine is medium to full body with solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity. On the palate there are loads of spicy, smoky, meaty berries with plums and dark chocolate coming in on the back end to add even more depth. The finish is long, juicy, and flavorful. A seamless, balanced, full flavored Shiraz with no rough edges. Enjoyable now and for the next five years.  (94 pts)

 

 

2011 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris – $29.99

This wine has 14.1% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The awesome nose has blackberries, kirsch, dark chocolate, minerals, dark roast coffee, candied violets and a touch of underbrush.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  This wine is loaded on the palate with up front fruit, minerals and dark chocolate with coffee and some earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish is very long and again shows a nice blend of fruit and savory elements.  This wine has exceptional balance and is built to last in the cellar for several years.  This is very enjoyable today but will be even better in a few years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2012 Meiomi Pinot Noir Meiomi – $21.99

The grapes for this wine are from Monterey County (35%), Santa Barbara County (34%) and Sonoma County (31%).

 

This has 13.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby to maroon color.  The ripe and giving nose has black cherries, warm baking spices, blueberries, mint, wild flowers and a slight earthiness.  This has medium body, silky smooth tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate this is full of rich fruit and spice with a touch of mint coming in on the back end.  The finish is fairly long with rich fruit carrying the load.  This has a touch of residual sweetness that makes the wine a nice stand alone glass of wine with friends.  (88 pts)

 

 

2010 Celler de Capçanes Montsant Mas Donís Barrica (Old Vines) – $12.82

This is a blend of 85% Garnacha from 70-year-old vines and 15% Syrah from Spain’s Montsant region.

 

This wine has 14.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a synthetic plastic stopper.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep purple color.  The enticing nose has black berries, cherries, baking spices, candied violets, white pepper, crushed stone minerality and some subtle earthiness.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate spicy berries grab your attention initially, slowly allowing minerals and white pepper to sneak in around the edges.  The finish has nice length with a nice candied floral note entering the picture.  This is a stunning bottle of wine for a touch over $10.  (92 pts)

 

 

2010 Loring Wine Company Convergence Russell Family Vineyard – $66.33

This is one of the non Pinot Noir wines Brian Loring has produced.  Thus far, every one I have tried has been outstanding.  This wine is 75% Grenache and 25% Mourvedre from Paso Robles.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby red, much lighter at the edge.  The very pleasing nose has blackberries, cherries, earthy underbrush, minerals, plums, baking spices, mint and some dried herbs.  The wine has a full body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and good acidity.  The palate is loaded with spicy, juicy berries, but it’s not all about the fruit, there is also nice minerality, dried herbs, and earthiness coming in on the back end adding depth and complexity.  The fairly long finish is a nice continuation of the palate with some additional baking spices, mint, licorice and dried herbs kicking into high gear.  This is on the young side, but absolutely delicious today.  (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 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Cliff’s Wine Picks mentions or other posts

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

 

Snooth

SPRING TIME IS FOR PAIRING – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/spring-time-is-for-pairing/

 

Balzac

Balzac Communications & Marketing – News & Views

http://balzaccommunications.createsend1.com/t/ViewEmail/y/948F113D27729D90/DF475947E7F379DE2A1BF84ACBDD178B

 

Snooth

WHAT WE’VE BEEN DRINKING – News and Reviews from Around the Blogosphere

http://www.snooth.com/articles/what-we-yve-been-drinking/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4idw7a

 

Snooth

WINES THAT RANG OUR BELL IN FEBRUARY 2014 – Our Favorite Wine Writers Share Their Picks

http://www.snooth.com/articles/wines-that-rang-our-bell-in-february-2014/?viewall=1#ixzz2vy4DCh5L

 

Crave Local

California Wine Reviews: Cline Cellars and Jacuzzi Family Vineyard

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/california-wine-reviews-cline-cellars-and-jacuzzi-family-vineyard/

 

Crave Local

Sample Boutique Wines at Affordable Prices with Tastingroom.com

http://www.cravelocal.com/all-favorites/sample-boutique-wines-at-affordable-prices-with-tastingroom-com/

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

The Winery

Aalto is a joint project founded by Mariano García, chief winemarker of thirty years at perhaps the most famous Ribera del Duero brand, Vega Sicilia, and Javier Zaccagnini, former head of Consejo Regulador de Ribera del Duero.  The cooperation that started in 1998 has in the meantime received tremendous attention of the wine enthusiasts of the world and a multitude of praise from the experts.  Ribera del Duero, next to Rioja, is one of the distinguished wine appellations of Spain, specializing in producing excellent wines using the local variety called Tinto Fino (resembling Tempranillo).  Aalto manages over 40 hectares of old vineyards (between 50 and 100 years of age) in the at the altitude of 700 to 850 meters.

 

After 10 years, the winery is considered a leader in the Ribera del Duero and has obtained the highest reviews in many tastings.  Top scores include three 98 point-ratings from The Wine Advocate, and twice being named Best Wine of Spain, as selected by Michel Bettane and Thiery Dessauve’s book of the Best 100 Wineries of the World.

 

 

2004 Bodegas AAlto Ribera del Duero AAlto – $31.67

This wine is 100% Tempranillo from my favorite wine region in Spain, Ribera Del Duero.

 

This has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon, dark color.  The stunning nose has blackberry liqueur, melted licorice, warm baking spices, cedar, dark bittersweet chocolate, some earthy underbrush, and a nice floral note.  This has medium to full body, fairly solid tannins, and good acidity.  On the palate the wine is rich and plush with spicy berries, dark chocolate, and some earthiness.  The finish is long and loaded with spicy fruit and dark chocolate.  This tastes outstanding today, but may get even better with some additional cellar time.  (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 2013 Cliff’s Wine Picks.

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2008 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée

2011 Brandborg Pinot Noir Bench Lands

2010 Triumph Cellars by Calistoga Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Klinker Brick Zinfandel Old Vine

 

 

 

Due to a death in the family, the wine descriptions are minimal this week.  Hopefully everything will return to normal in the next week or two.

 

 

2008 Villa Creek Willow Creek Cuvée – $29.75

This wine has 15.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

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 is in a very nice drinking window, which should last another 3 to 4 years.  (93 pts)

 

 

2011 Brandborg Pinot Noir Bench Lands – $18.99

This wine has 12.8% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a screw top.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light, semi-transparent red color.  The very inviting nose has cherries, baking spices, candied violets, crisp apples, subtle earthiness, and a touch of smoke.  This has a light body, soft tannins and good acidity.  On the palate sweet cherries and spice jump out first with a floral note and some earthiness coming in later.  The finish has good length with a touch of oak peeking through the fruit and earthiness.  This seems to have just a touch of residual sweetness that makes it very easy to drink.  This is a good deal for under $20.  (89 pts)

 

 

2010 Triumph Cellars by Calistoga Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon – $23.99

This wine has 14.9% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep ruby color.  The intense nose is full of cassis, melted licorice, plums, tobacco, dark chocolate, smoke, mint and a touch of cedar.  This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the wine provides nice up front fruit with solid savory notes of dark chocolate and mint coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with a healthy dose of cedary oak kicking in.  Hopefully some cellar time will help tone down the oak laden finish.  This is nice now for those not turned off by oak but should be better in another year.  (89 pts)

 

 

2011 Klinker Brick Zinfandel Old Vine – $17.99

This wine has 15.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark maroon color.  The big and bold nose has brambly berries, roasted herbs, warm baking spices, road tar, dark bittersweet chocolate and vanilla bean.  This has a very full body with moderate tannins and decent acidity.  This is a rich and jammy style of zinfandel with spicy berries and chocolate up front with more spice and vanilla coming in on the back end.  The finish gets a touch muddled as the body and alcohol over powers the acidity that was trying to hold everything together.  This was better as an after dinner drink where it shined.  Not a lot of subtlety here.  Those who like a big and ripe wine will love it.  (88 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

The Winery

In the winery’s words – We are a small Sonoma County winery specializing in the production of old-vine, vineyard designated zinfandels and red Rhone varieties (syrah, grenache, mourvèdre, and petite sirah).  While we like our wines to be bold, rich, and intensely flavored, each reflecting a sense of place, its origins in the vineyard, we also strive to create wines of balance, complexity, and perhaps most importantly, pleasure.

 

Rich.  Lusty.  Hedonistic.  These are some of the descriptors we often hear applied to our wines.  However, we also hear the words elegant, balanced, complex.  Yes, through hard work in the vineyard and winery, we believe you can have it all, the best of both worlds.  Our approach to winemaking is simple, yet difficult.  We prefer to intervene in nature’s process as little as possible but we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to maximize the quality of each wine we produce.

 

In my words – This is the one mailing list you have to join.  Mike Officer makes some of the best wines coming out of California and sells them at incredibly reasonable prices.  I was lucky to be an early fan of the winery and was able to join the mailing list immediately.  For the unlucky people who were not able to jump on early, the mailing list is full.  The winery actually has a waiting list to get on the mailing list.  No one can accurately say how long it will actually take to move from the waiting list to the mailing list for one very good reason…no one, or probably more accurately, very few people drop off the list.  These are usually outstanding wines and with their pricing, these are some of the best QPR wines out there.

 

 

The Wine

Mother Nature blessed Papera Ranch with both quality and quantity in 2009, providing us with a wine that rivals our much-lauded 2007.  If you are a fan of what we have done with this vineyard the last few years, I encourage you to take advantage of the quantity available.  The grapes were picked October 10^th, fermented indigenously and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

 

Papera Ranch® (Formerly Carlo’s Ranch) – RussianRiverValley

Just a stone’s throw from Carlisle Vineyard, this “grand dame” of the Russian River Valley was planted in 1934 by Charley (Carlo) Papera.  Given its cool location, this vineyard is typically picked in late October.

 

If you would like to join the waiting list to get on the Carlisle mailing list, click here.

 

 

Here is what an “old vine” Zinfandel looks like:

 

 

2009 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch – $37.00

Papera, Montafi and the Carlisle Vineyards are my favorite sources of Carlisle Zinfandels.  This vineyard was planted in 1934 and is unusual for an old vineyard in that it is planted to over 95% Zinfandel.  Most old vineyards have a much higher percentage of other grapes planted.

 

This 100% Zinfandel has 15.4% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  There were 779 cases of the wine produced.

 

There is no need to try and find the 2010 vintage of this wine.  After a few months of cool weather, a day of sweltering heat on August 24^th wiped out the entire crop.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, opaque purple color.  The nose is absolutely stunning on this wine, it’s full of brambly berries, warm baking spices, licorice, minerals, roasted herbs, dried wild flowers, plums, well worn leather and freshly cracked black peppercorns.  This has a full body, moderate ripe tannins and good acidity.  On the palate this is balanced, dense, rich and full of layers that slowly fade so the next one can take over.  The flavor profile is loaded on this wine with a very nice mixture of fruit and savory elements.  The finish is very long and again full of flavor.  There are absolutely no rough edges or over powering elements on this wine.  It is drinking wonderfully today and will continue to do so for a few more years.  Stunning!  (95 pts)

 

 

We paired the Carlisle Zin with a fairly simple meal, grilled barbecue chicken, potato salad and at my insistence, deviled eggs.

 

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

2009 La Rochelle Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2012 La Rochelle Pinot Meunier Saralee’s Vineyard

2010 La Rochelle Pinot Noir Deer Meadows Vineyard

 

 

(Based on bottles supplied by the winery or organization acting on their behalf)

 

 

 

 

La Rochelle is part of the Steven Kent Portfolio of wine.

 

Our mission at La Rochelle is a simple one:  to make California’s best, most interesting, most collectable Pinot Noir.

 

My family introduced the Pinot Noir grape to California in the 1850s.  Today, we partner with the state’s most renowned Pinot Noir vineyards – Garys’. Sleepy Hollow. Rosella’s. Londer. Paraiso. Tondre. Ferrington. Deer Park.  We craft Pinot Noir grown on these famed estates that let the individual vineyard’s terroir, its special sense of place, shine through.

 

My great-great-great grandfather left the French port of La Rochelle one hundred and sixty years ago on a voyage of possibilities.  Our journey at La Rochelle Winery is an equally exciting one:  to discover the best Pinot Noir vineyards and translate those exceptional estates into limited releases worthy of our heritage.

 

 

If your passion is Pinot, then your journey has led you to the right place… –  Steven Kent Mirassou

 

 

Sign up for the La Rochelle Mailing List

 

 

More Winery Information

 

The wines for this tasting:

 

 

2009 La Rochelle Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (SRP $38.00)

This 100% Pinot Noir uses grapes sourced from two vineyards, Spring Hill Vineyard (located on the West side of the Petaluma River) and La Cruz Vineyard (located on the East side).  In the past both vineyards were sources for single vineyard Pinot Noirs exclusively for members of the winery’s Pinot Noir Program.

 

Technical info

After destemming and crushing the fruit was allowed to cold soak for four days.  After barrel fermentation, the wine was barrel aged for 18 months.  The barrels were 88% French oak, 12% American; 50% new, 36% second-use, 14% third use.

 

Total production was 326 cases and the final alcohol is 14.9%.

 

Tasting note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The enchanting nose has cherries, warm baking spices, raspberries, minerals, vanilla, spicy oak and a touch of earthiness.  This has medium body, soft ripe tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the baking spices and cherries jump out first with vanilla and minerals coming in on the back end.  The finish has very nice length with raspberries and a touch of toasty oak entering the picture.  This tastes wonderful today but can easily last in the cellar for a few more years.  (92 pts)

 

 

2012 La Rochelle Pinot Meunier Saralee’s Vineyard (SRP $38.00)

Pinot Meunier is part of the Pinot family of grapes.    Pinot Meunier thrives in its home region of Champagne in France.  It is thought the Pinot Meunier grape is a genetic mutation of Pinot Noir.  Besides France, the grape is grown in Germany and Australia as well as small quantities in California.  This wine is 100% Pinot Meunier.

 

Technical info

After destemming and crushing the fruit was cold soaked and barrel fermented.  The wine was barrel aged for 8 months.  The barrels were 29.5% new oak, 38% second use, 32.5 third-use or neutral, 50% American oak from Virginia.

 

Total production was 866 cases and the final alcohol is 13.9%.

 

Tasting note

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The enticing nose has cherries, earthy underbrush, strawberries, warm baking spices, vanilla and dusty minerals.  This is barely medium body with good acidity and is silky smooth.  On the palate this has nice fruit up front with spice and minerals coming in around the sides.  On the backend some nice earthiness and vanilla enter the picture.  The finish has nice length with a slight and pleasing herbal note coming into focus.  This is smooth and delicious with no rough edges but probably not one to hold onto long term.   Enjoy this one over the next couple of years.  (91 pts)

 

 

2010 La Rochelle Pinot Noir Deer Meadows Vineyard (SRP $75.00)

This wine is part of La Rochelle’s Grand Cru Collection.  These extremely limited wines are sourced only from the finest vineyards in California.  These wines represent the winery’s greatest winemaking achievement each vintage.  This is the winery’s first use of grapes from this Anderson Valley vineyard.

 

Technical info

After destemming and crushing the fruit was allowed to cold soak for four days.  After barrel fermentation, the wine was barrel aged for 18 months in 100% French oak.  There were 5 barrels of wine produced, 3 barrels were new and the other 2 were second use.

 

Total production was 235 six-packs and the final alcohol is 14.3%.

 

Tasting note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The stunning nose has cherries, baking spices, peach pit, vanilla, strawberries, earthy underbrush, stony minerals and candied violets.  This has medium body with moderate ripe tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the cherries and spice grab hold initially, slowly allowing some minerals and earthy elements to slip through.  On the back end a nice floral note comes into focus.  The finish has very good length with a touch of peach joining the spice and cherries.  This is on the young side, a year or two in the cellar will be rewarded.   (94 pts)

 

 

Pairing Suggestion

We decided to pair these very food friendly wines with a recipe I found on MyRecipes.com via Cooking Light.

 

Penne and Chicken Tenderloins with Spiced Tomato Sauce

 

Ingredients

1 teaspoon ground fennel seed

1 teaspoon dried basil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 pound chicken breast tenders, cut into (1-inch) pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 cups canned diced tomatoes, undrained

1 cup white wine

8 ounces uncooked penne

1/4 cup (1 ounce) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

 

Preparation

Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl; rub over chicken.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 4 minutes, turning once. Remove from heat; set aside.

Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic; sauté 30 seconds or until garlic is soft. Add tomatoes and wine, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Add chicken, and simmer 5 minutes.

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain. Toss pasta with sauce in a large bowl. Sprinkle with cheese and basil.

Note:

Any small pasta will work in this quick, easy entree. Ground fennel and coriander bring a welcome complexity to the chicken and impart their flavor to the sauce.

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells

2009 Benovia Pinot Noir Bella Una

2007 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses

2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Termes

2011 Austin Hope Grenache Hope Family Vineyard

2000 Château Gloria

 

 

 

2008 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Indian Wells – $12.99

I’m always on the look out for good, under $15 wines for week night dinners.  I’ve had this in the past and it was always drinkable but lacked anything approaching must buy status.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The inviting nose has cassis, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, eucalyptus and wild flowers.  This has medium body, soft tannins and good acidity.  This has nice up front fruit with spicy oak and a touch of vanilla coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a some eucalyptus coming into the picture.  An acceptable week night Cabernet for south of $15.  (88 pts)

 

 

2009 Benovia Pinot Noir Bella Una – $40.84

The local store brought time in and put it on the shelf at a great price.  On Cellar Tracker, the average cost for this wine was close to $55.  Not one to question great values, I grabbed a few bottles.

 

This has 14.2% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The very approachable nose has cherry, raspberry, baking spices, licorice, violets, minerals and a touch of earthiness.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  This offers up nice juicy red fruit and spice up front with  minerals and some subtle earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has very good length with tart cherries seeming to last forever.  (93 pts)

 

 

2007 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon – $19.00

Here’s another wine that was purchased at the local store for an outstanding price.  You don’t see too many Napa cabs on a store’s shelf for under $20.  I grabbed 6 bottles and unfortunately this is my last bottle.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark, ruby red color.  The very comforting nose has cassis, warm baking spices, tobacco, dried herbs, plum, licorice, and a touch of smoke.  This has medium body, fairly solid, ripe tannins, and very nice acidity.  The palate features bright and juicy berries, baking spices, dried herbs and a touch of oak.  The finish has nice length with the berries and dried herbs joined by a touch of excess spicy oak.  It would be nice if the touch of extra oak would integrate, but I really don’t see that happening.  No hurry on this one, enjoy it over the next several years.  This was a steal for $19.  (90 pts)

 

 

2011 Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses – $12.82

I haven’t had this particular wine in a couple vintages but it used to be one of my go-to values priced wines.  This is a lend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.

 

This wine has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark ruby color.  The very outgoing nose has raspberries, cherry, warm baking spices, cocoa powder, minerals, white pepper and dried flowers.  This has medium body, soft to moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate jammy fruit and spice pops out first with minerals and white pepper kicking in on the back end.  The finish has decent length with a touch of dark chocolate joining the party.  Not one to hold onto for too long, open this one over the next few years.  (89 pts)

 

 

2009 Bodega Numanthia Termes Toro Termes – $18.99

This is a wine that I generally like in almost all vintages but it’s not a wine I hunt down.  If I can find it at a good price I’ll grab a few bottles.

 

This has 15% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is an inky ruby red.  The sexy nose has black cherries, tobacco, blackberries, white pepper, dried flowers, mocha, vanilla and a touch of earthy underbrush.  This has a fairly full body, moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  Intense red and black fruit grabs your palate slowly allowing pepper and mocha to slip in.  On the back end vanilla and some building earthiness enter the picture.  The finish has good length and veers solidly into the earthy spectrum with just a touch of an herbal note coming into play.  (90 pts)

 

 

2011 Austin Hope Grenache Hope Family Vineyard – $28.49

I’ve had the Austin Hope Syrah a few times in the past, so when I saw their Grenache on a local wine store shelf, I had to grab a bottle.  I’m generally a pretty big fan of the Rhone Ranger wines coming out of Paso Robles.

 

This wine has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light to medium ruby red color.  The slightly reserved nose has cherries, raspberries, baking spices, white pepper and wild flowers.  This has a fairly full body, moderate tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate spicy red fruit hits first with some white pepper and a touch of earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has decent length but loses a bit of its intensity and focus.  (88 pts)

 

 

2000 Château Gloria – $33.24

This was one of my first “go to” bottles of Bordeaux.  I feel they produce a very nice bottle of wine at very consumer friendly prices.  I bought this wine just as it was released, so it has been sleeping untouched in my cellar for over 10 years.

 

This has 12.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep ruby red color.  The classic nose has cassis, cedar, baking spices, dried herbs, tobacco and a touch of smoke.  This has medium body, mostly integrated tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate spicy fruit leads off with dried herbs and spicy oak coming in on the mid-palate.  The finish has very good length with the sweet fruit and spicy oak sharing the spotlight.  I was hoping for a bit more complexity, but this tastes outstanding.  (92 pts)

 

We didn’t make anything fancy to pair with the Austin Hope Grenache and Château Gloria, but Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and cream gravy is always welcomed on our dinner table.

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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

 

 

2011 Andis Wines Primitivo

2010 Andis Wines Painted Fields

 

 

 

 

 

About Winestyr

Winestyr is a new way to buy wine.  The company finds the best wines from the wineries that are too small for the big distributors to handle.

 

Our online marketplace helps wine lovers discover amazing lesser, known wines, while also helping small wineries reach new customers. Here’s a quick rundown of how it works:

Curation – We taste every wine we put on our site and turn down wines that are overpriced or poorly made.

Cost – There are no upfront costs or monthly fees. You learn about new wines and buy the ones you want.

 

BUY

We’ve curated over 300 wines from over 50 of the best craft wine producers in the country. We’ve tasted every wine and stand behind their quality so you can buy with confidence. We’re adding new wines and vintages all the time and continue to be blown away by the range of style and beauty of these wines.

 

DRINK

When you pop the cork, make sure to take the time to truly enjoy every sip. Focus on the experience – from the intensity of color in the glass, the aromas emanating from the rim, and the flavors and textures of the wine from the moment it hits your lips, through your palate, and after you’ve swallowed.

 

RATE

This is the fun part. We’ll automatically keep track of every wine you purchase through Winestyr and make it easy for you to keep track of wines you’ve liked and disliked along with your tasting notes. It’s like a virtual wine journal.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

We’ll look at your ratings and help you learn your palate and preferences over time. Along with making expert recommendations based on your palate, we’ll also tell you why we’ve made our suggestions so you can learn about wine in the process. It’s like having a wine expert at your fingertips.

 

Some of the wineries available through Winestyr

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, McGah Family Cellars, Hand of God Wines, Desert Wind Winery, Outcast Wines, Joullian Vineyards, Old Shore Vineyards, Deep Sea Wines, Nichelini Family Winery, David Family Wines, Frisby Cellars, Naked Winery, Piccola Wine Company, Sojourn Cellars, Buoncristiani Family Winery, White Oak Vineyards & Winery, McFadden Vineyard, Wine Guerrilla, H-G Vineyards, Mill Creek Vineyards & Winery, Anaba Wines, Windsor Oaks Vineyards, Colcanyon Estate, Andis Wines, Charles Creek Vineyard, Rocca Family Vineyards, Lacuna Wines, Toccata Wines, Ground Effect Wine Co., Fore Family Vineyards, Reid Family Vineyards, Jim Ball Vineyards, Ehret Family Winery, Tallulah Wines, Big Fish Wines, Optima Winery

 

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

 

If you are interested in trying out Winestyr, use code “TRYWINESTYR” to take $10 off your next Winestyr purchase.

 

 

  

 

 

About Andis Wines

Opened in November of 2010, Andis Wines is a modern boutique winery located in historic Amador County in the heart of California’s beautiful Sierra Foothills.  Our focus: seeking out the best vineyards in the Sierra Foothills to craft delicious wines with balance, character and complexity.  All of our fruit is hand sorted and fermented in small lots to promote diversity of style and varietal correctness.  Using both traditional and innovative winemaking approaches, Andis Wines have quickly garnered 90+ point scores in Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, glowing reviews in print and online media, and placements in some of the finest restaurants in Northern California and Hawaii.

 

Our building is a state-of-the-art winemaking facility built with a “green” design.  The spacious tasting room offers picturesque vineyard views of surrounding Amador wine country with comfortable picnic areas to spend time with family and friends.  Our contemporary design, gracious staff, and commitment to making superior wines make Andis a must-stop on your Amador wine tasting adventure.

 

Much more information on Andis Wines is available on their website by clicking here.

 

 

 

The lineup for this tasting:

 

 

2011 Andis Wines Primitivo – SRP $25

While recent research has indicated Primitivo is genetically identical to Zinfandel, what we see in the winemaking process is a grape that behaves like Zinfandel’s more mature and sophisticated cousin.  Rich with all the attributes we love about Zin, dense fruit, big structure, complex finish, it also consistently has spectacular color and very silky tannins.  Quickly becoming one of our favorites, we’ve found there are few occasions or pairings where this Primitivo doesn’t shine.  The 2011 vintage was sourced from the wonderful Shenandoah Valley vineyard farmed by Art Toy.  It possesses aromas of blueberry and black cherry, accented by a hint of mint and cedar.  Medium bodied with a core of jammy fruit and soft silky tannins, it finishes with just a touch of pepper and spice.  Best decanted prior to serving.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep red color.  The appealing nose has brambly berries, cherries, baking spices, cedar, white pepper, minerals, roasted herbs, earthy underbrush, eucalyptus, vanilla and dried flowers.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate the juicy, tart fruit gets spiced up with a small dollop of spicy oak on the front end, with a touch of eucalyptus, roasted herbs and subtle earthiness coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with some pepper and a floral note entering the picture.  If you like a restrained, balanced Zinfandel, grab a bottle of this wine, it will make you smile.  This is one to hunt down.  (91 pts)

 

 

2010 Andis Wines Painted Fields – SRP $28

Each season we harvest a few extra tons from some of our favorite fields and pull in some grapes from vineyards we think might be promising with the intent of finding just the right mix for Painted Fields.  As we set worthy lots aside, we begin experimenting with various blends until we find just the right mix for that vintage.  By not limiting ourselves to a specific varietal or predetermined blend, we allow tremendous latitude to make a simply delicious red wine.

 

This is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Syrah and 10% Petite Sirah.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a medium ruby red color.  The nose is a touch reserved and shy but eventually has black cherry, baking spices, minerals, dark chocolate and a touch of vanilla.  This has medium body, moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  This is much more open and giving on the palate with layers of fruit and spice upfront with minerals and dark chocolate coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a touch of earthiness coming into play.  This may be one to sit on for another year or two.  (90 pts)

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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 new or interesting.

 

 

 

Overview

This was a new winery for me.  A couple years ago, during an online Berserker Day on the Wine Berserkers Forum, an online friend, Beau Carufel, told me I should check out this winery.  I always like to acknowledge when a wine friend gives me great advice.  You can check out Beau’s blog site at Beau’s Barrel Room.

 

 

The Winery

Helioterra Wines is a small, artisan producer of Northwest wines made at the SE Wine Collective in SE Portland, Oregon.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

The Wine

The Vintner’s Select is just that.  The best barrel was selected from each vineyard site, and then blended to create a very special wine.  The flavors and aromatics are much richer and more mysterious than the Willamette Valley.  It demonstrates great depth and elegance with a touch more toast and a greater potential for aging.  The wine was aged for ten and a half months in French oak barrels and has 36% new oak influence.  The grapes were from Apolloni Vineyard (42%), Veeman Vineyard (42%) and Lia’s Vineyard (16%).

 

Just 49 cases were produced.  Wholesale $25.00 Magnums $53

 

The current release of this wine is the 2012 vintage.  More information on the current wines and the winery’s upcoming Sprint release is available on their website.

 

 

2010 Helioterra Pinot Noir Vintner’s Select

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

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

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

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

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

 

 

Momokawa Diamond

Momokawa Pearl

SakéMoto Junmai

 

 

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

 

Visit the SakéOne website.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

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

 

The lineup for this tasting:

 

 

 

Momokawa Diamond – SRP $13

This saké is classified as a Junmai Ginjo.  Among other things, this means the rice was “polished” down to 60%.

 

This is considered to be a “starting point” sake, meaning it not too dry but also not overly “fruity”.  The final alcohol is 14.8%.

 

My Tasting Note

This is totally clear and colorless.  On the nose this offers an herbal note, earthy mushrooms, peat moss, apples, cherries and white flowers.  On the palate this is slightly creamy with chalky minerality, spice, apples and cherry skin.  This has decent length on the finish.

 

 

Momokawa Pearl – SRP $13

This saké is classified as a Junmai Ginjo Nigori Genhu.  Among other things, this means the rice was “polished” down to 60%.  This sake is undiluted so it retains the base alcohol of 18%.  It is also not filtered so it contains rice “sediment”.  Before drinking, the bottle must be turned over multiple times to allow for this sediment to be redistributed in the liquid.

 

This was originally produced even though they were told it would never be popular because “no one drinks nigori.” More than fourteen years later it is their most popular saké and one that they must take to festivals and tastings everywhere they go.

 

My Tasting Note

This is a cloudy white color, like low fat milk.  The nose offers apples, tropical fruit, and earthy peat moss.  This is creamy and slightly sweet on the palate.  The finish is fairly long.  This one was very different in looks and the creaminess.

 

 

SakéMoto Junmai – SRP $11

This saké is classified as a Junmai.  Among other things, this means the rice was “polished” down to 70%.  This was the one imported sake included in the tasting.

 

This comes from a brewer that has been producing sake for over 270 years and was produced with the American palate in mind, which makes it a bit richer and fruitier.  This has a final alcohol of 14.7%.

 

My Tasting Note

This is a very light yellow to straw color.  The nose has melon, peat moss, earthy, apples, white flowers and tropical fruit.  On the palate this is crisp and clean with good acidity and just a touch of sweetness.  This has good length with an herbal note coming in.  This was my favorite of the tasting.

 

 

Connect with me

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

 

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

 

Cheers!

 

 

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

All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Breaking news from Klout:

 

 

 

Remember to support your local wine store!

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

Cheers!

 

 

 

2006 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard

2008 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Rockpile Road Vineyard

2009 August Kesseler Riesling R

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heirloom

2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks

2007 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard

 

 

 

2006 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard – $40.00

It would be hard for me to pick a favorite vineyard source for Copain Syrahs, but Thompson would be in my top three.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep dark purple color.  The very open and giving nose has blackberries, dying wood embers, smoked meat, vanilla, dried herbs, black olives and earthy underbrush.  This has medium to full body, moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate the wine is a bit brighter than the nose lead me to expect with cherries and dark chocolate joining the blackberries, meat and vanilla.  The finish has good length with some dried herbs and earthiness coming into the picture.  This still has years of life ahead of it.  (92 pts)

 

 

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)

 

 

2009 August Kesseler Riesling R – $11.39

Riesling is our favorite white wine, by a wide margin.  When the local wine store brought this one in and had it on the shelf for a touch over $11, I had to grab a few bottles.  This is a Kabinett from the Rheingau region in Germany.

 

This has 10.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a light yellow to straw color.  The fresh smelling nose has apples, juicy peaches, minerals, orange blossoms, lemon zest and a touch of petrol.  This has light to medium body, crisp acidity and just a bit of residual sweetness.  On the palate the apples and peaches jump out first with minerals coming into the picture followed by some nice tart citrus zest.  The finish is very tasty but a touch short.  This does not offer a lot of complexity but is still very tasty.  A nice German Riesling for just a touch over $10.  (88 pts)

 

 

2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heirloom – $35.00

Bedrock is becoming best known for their “field blends” from some of the oldest vineyards in California.  This wine is a blend of 50% Zinfandel 25% Carignane, 20% Petite Sirah, and 5% Alicante Bouschet, Cinsault, and Valdigue.  This Dry Creek vineyard is over 100 years old.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a deep, dark purple color.  The deep and powerful nose has brambly berries, cherries, black pepper, earthy underbrush, minerals, warm baking spices, dried herbs and violets.  This has medium body, fairly solid tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate berries, spice and minerals jump out first with cherries and earthy elements coming in on the back end.  The finish has good length with dried herbs and black pepper coming into the picture.  This seems to still be on the young side.  I’d let this one sleep for a couple more years so we can see what is hidden behind the cloak of tannins and acidity.  (92 pts)

 

 

2010 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Stile Blocks – $39.99

I bought a few bottles of this wine hoping it was going to be a nice Cabernet for weekend dinners.  My first bottle was a bit disappointing since the wine lacked everything that makes a Howell Mountain Cab distinctive and interesting.  I’m hoping the first bottle was a bit off but based on a couple other notes, I’m afraid my initial opinion was right.  I guess I’ll see this evening.

 

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

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a fairly deep maroon color.  The big and fully open nose is full of cassis, licorice, warm baking spices, black pepper, leather, dried herbs, and a touch of cedar.  This has medium to full body with soft, ripe tannins, and decent acidity.  On the palate this is soft and jammy for a Howell Mountain wine.  Big, ripe, juicy, berries and spice hit the front end of the palate coating it in flavor with dried herbs and spicy oak coming in on the backend.  The finish has good length and shows jammy fruit and spice with an oaky overlay but could use some additional complexity.  This is an easier drinking wine than I expected, this isn’t one to stash in the cellar for an extended time.  (89 pts)

 

 

2007 Scherrer Winery Chardonnay Helfer Vineyard – $17.10

This is a 375ml half bottle.

 

I needed a cup of wine for a recipe and decided to use my last half bottle of this wine.  This will leave me a bit for the cook to sample.

 

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

 

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 is a very nice Chardonnay in its prime.  This was from a 375ml bottle.  (92 pts)

 

 

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

 

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Cheers!

 

 

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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!