WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION December Tasting

American Blends

Opening Wine

Peoma Brut Cava NV, Penedes, Spain                                                                    Around $10 (Sale)

Nicely fruity, good acidic balance with hints of apple, biscuit with a clean finish. Nice cava at this price.

Red Wine #1

2010 Cryptic Red Blend, California                                                                             Around $14

Decent color, little thin on the nose. Flavors of red fruit – raspberry, hints of vanilla, a somewhat short finish. Better with food than alone. A blend of zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Red Wine #2

2010 Arizona Stronghold Mandala Red                                                                   Around $18

Nice nose of red berries; big mouthfeel, red berry and blueberry, hints of spices (cedar, pepper and anise). Nice finish. Fruit was sourced from California – Napa and Paso Robles – a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Counoise and other grapes.

Red Wine #3

2010 Orin Swift Abstract, California                                                                          Around $29

Nose was a little closed, but with some red berry hints. Big mouthfeel, blackberries, pomegranate, spices – cedar box, tobacco and anise. Nice long finish with a tannin backwash. A blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah – very Rhone sytyle.

Red Wine #4

2009 Flora Springs Trilogy, Napa Valley, California                                              Around $45

Really nice nose, red berry and herbs. Big mouthfeel with red and dark berries, cigar box, hints of earthiness (the good kind). Good long finish with good acid and tannins to support the wine.  A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.

The top vote getter was the Orin Swift Abstract, followed closely by the Cryptic Red, Flora Springs and the Stronghold Mandala. 70 plus members attended and enjoyed the wine, food and music by the Thacker children.

Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

WWWC November 2012 Tasting

Petite Sirah – Ain’t nothing Petite about it!

All American wine this evening – Petite Sirah, or Durif, if you must. One of those nights where you will stain your teeth!

Opening wine

2010 La Cana Albarino    Rias Baixas, Spain                             Around $15

Nice snappy white with a good acidic balance. Touches of peach and pineapple and lemony hints. Nice wine to drink alone or with lighter fare

2010 Spellbound Petite Sirah      California                             Around $15

Winemaker is Robert Mondavi’s grandson, fourth generation. Dark color with red berry nose. Flavors deep with red berry/red gum, briar patch and a good finish.

2009 Girard Petite Sirah Napa Valley, California                   Around $30

Nice berry nose, hints of floral, dark color. Big chunky wine with broad shoulders – red berry, cola, coffee and hints of anise. Enough tannins to stay with you a while.

2009 Earthquake Petite Sirah      Lodi, California                  Around $22

Really dark color; berry, cola and tar on the nose. Briar patch, red berries, tar, spice, black olive and hints of spice box make a big chunky flavorful mouthful. Tannins and a good backbone ride a long finish. Favorite of the group.

2008 JC Cellars   Eagle Point Petite Sirah                                 Mendicino, California     Around $40

Another dark wine; red berries in the nose, although slightly subdued. Flavors of briar patch, spices, tar, berries – red and black, cola and cedar. Lots of tannins left, really needs a few more years of bottle aging to completely mellow and integrate the flavors.

Sorry the pictures didn't turn out too great this time. Photography is not my hobby.

Hope you enjoyed these - Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

Dr. Wineaux

Just Wining a little more

Remember when Rosemount Shiraz was one of the biggest wine s around? The quality dipped, we got bored with the cough syrup mentality and bottle languished on the shelf. I went ahead and tried a couple bottles from Rosemount and I say that the wines are better – not super, but good for the price. Still very fruit forward, not wines with aging potential, but decent qualities of the grape.  The acid is in balance making them pretty good every day pizza and spaghetti wines.

2010 Rosemount Shiraz Australia                                                                                              $6.99

The Shiraz was better than the last time I tasted it. Moderate nose with jammy, up front fruit and some aftertaste. Went well with a pizza. Not a bad bottle to have around for a weeknight or the after several at a party.

2009 Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet Australia                                                                          $6.99

I always kin of liked the blends better, even though the fruit is sourced from all over Australia. Nose had a tweak of cabernet, bell pepper and cassis. The flavor was dominant with the shiraz but the cab added a nice mouthfeel and slightly longer aftertaste. Was a good wine with pasta and red sauce.

2009 Pennywise Petite Sirah California                                                                                   $7.99

I’m a sucker for Petite sirah, can’t help myself. However, this is not one of the better examples. For about the same price as consistent Bogle or Concannon, this wine lacked the big mouthfeel you expect from PS. Wasn’t a bad wine, but just not very fulfilling, almost a little hollow in the mid palate.  Almost forgot about the wine before I finished it. Can’t really recommend it, even at this price.

2010 Casa LaPostelle Cabernet Sauvignon Rapel Valley, Chile                                       $9.99

Since Argentina made such noise in recent years, people forget how good some of the wines are from Chile. This was a well made Cabernet, with nice aromas and a good mouthfeel of dark red berry, cassis and hints of vegetable. Decent aftertaste, went very well with a steak dish.  Very good producer, I’d pick this up any time.

2007 Onix Priorat Spain                                                                                                                  $11.99

This used to be my favorite ten dollar wine from Priorat. It’s gone up, but still affordable.  Great tempanillo, dark in color with a fragrant nose. The flavors were long and the mouthfeel was fulfilling. Red berries, hints of tar and spice, I would serve this wine in most any Spanish tasting.  Priorat is an up and coming area but most of the wines are over my price range.

OK, I'll be back - keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION October Tasting

Australia, Mate!

Opening Wine

2012 Frisk Prickly Riesling, Victoria                                            Around $12

Light and fruity, with a nose of pear and cactus. Lightly sweet, but not cloying, good refreshing acidity to balance the flavors. Has a bit of fizz, nice little opening wine

2007 Oliver Hill Shiraz, Clarendon                                              Around $16

Nice deep color, fruity nose with a little bubble gum mixed in. Broad red fruit flavor, jammy with cherry cola hints. Nice balance, not much tannin left in the mix.

Red Wine #2

2008 Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage, Barossa                    Around $20

Good dark color and a red fruit nose. Flavors of red berry, violets and hints of tobacco and herbs. A  Claret styled wine with nice balance but not much tannin, slightly short aftertaste. Blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Shiraz.

2006 Elderton Cabernet, Barossa                                              Around $22

More mature Cabernet, color lighter than the other wines. Nice nose of red berry; somewhat laid back style of cab with red berry, hints of cherry, gun metal and tinges of green pepper. Nice balance ut not much tannin left; decent length aftertaste.

2008 Penfolds Cabernet –Shiraz South Australia Bin 389 Around $36

Deep dark color, slightly closed nose of dark berry and loamy earth. Almost astringent on first taste, weighty in the mouth, with flavors of dark berry fruit, gun metal, herbs and tar. Long finish with compacted tannins, took a while to open up in the glass – I’d wait another year or five on this one.

Great tasting, enjoyed with 60 of my close friends. Keep popping corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

WWWC September 2012

The September tasting was Italian wines paired with steak simmered in Chianti with orzo pasta. Great meal, topped off with tiramisu dessert. Here are the wines we enjoyed (selected by yours truly).

Gathering wine

2010 Uvaggio Vermintino, Lodi, California                                        around $12

This is an Italian variety that has taken root in Central California. The wine is fruity with hints of citrus, melon and a good acidic balance. Pleasant wine for just sipping or with lighter repasts, like seafood.

Red wines with dinner and dessert

1.      2010 La Cryma Christi del Vesuvio (Mastroberndino)                       around $20

Colorful red wine in the glass, with bright red fruit nose. Flavor echoed the nose with red fruits – raspberry, cherry and strawberry, with hints of spice. Moderate length aftertaste, nice Italian wine for classic dishes. Made from the piedirosso grape, without a lot of oak influence.

2.      2010 Banfi Rossi Di Montalcino                                                         around $19

A different style of sangiovese; nice nose of red fruits. Flavors of red berry and cherry, followed by hints of anise flavors. Good acid balance, decent aftertaste; a real food friendly wine.

3.      2008 Gabbiano Chinati Classico                                                         around $14

Smooth and pretty wine, typical red fruit nose. Flavors were red berry, strawberry and a hint of anise. Similar to the Banfi, but different in the flavors – no cherry and less spice influence. Slightly more oak influence, although not overly done. Aftertaste had some length, a very nice styled Chianti.

4.      2007 Sartori Regolo                                                                            around $21

Nose is slightly modest red fruits. Good flavors of red berry, cherry and cherry cola notes. Bigger wine than the other ones; well made and long on the finish. Made from corvine in the repasso style where the lees from Amarone wines are added to the barrels to soak In some of the expensive older brother flavor. Wine was the groups selection of favorite of the night.

We had 66 folks attend that evening. Hope you enjoyed it – keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grapevines.

A few more Wines

2006 Concannon Syrah, Central Coast California                                                                 $6.99

A bargain wine that doesn’t measure up to the Petite Sirah from the same producer.  Color was OK although the nose wasn’t much to speak about - some red berry upfront. Flavor was red fruit and dull spice on the mid-palate. Adequate, based on the structure (acid balance) but not one that you’d rush back to stock up on.

2010 Protocolo de Castilla, Bodega Eugenen                        Sale 6.99, reg about 8-9

The next vintage of the favorite Spanish sipper – very similar to the 2009, bright flavors, hints of cherry and easy to drink. Even at seven dollars, a wine to buy in quantity for every day drinking or after the good bottles when friends can no longer tell the difference in the wines.

2008 Estancia Meritage, Paso Robles, California                                                                  $20’ish

A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. Very bright purple color. Open, fruity nose, with cherry and red berry tones. Flavor of red and dark berries, hints of graphite and bell pepper. Well balanced with a few tannins and nice acid backbone. Very nice bottle of wine, not overly big, but well balanced and good quality. Wish I would have kept it longer and drank with friends.

All right - I'll tell you about the WWWC Italian tasting shortly, I've got to type up the notes. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

Just a few little wines

Here are some notes on some other wines I've enjoyed recently.

Troublemaker NV, Blend 2, Austin Hope, Paso Robles     about $12

Real nice blend from the folks that bring you Liberty School and Treanna in the Paso area.  Nice fruity, jammy nose, with expressive red berries. Nice full mouth feel, with the fruit and hints of smoke and spice echo with the red and black fruit.  Somewhat along the lines a Chateaunuf-de-pape – maybe not as long a finish as a real god one, but very nice and tasty for the price. This was 65% 2009 vintage, with some 2008 and 2010 added in. Nice idea, have seen later blends as well.

2009 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet                      around $12

Nice deep purple color – the nose has red fruit and cherry cola. Upfront red berry fruit, with a deeper dark fruit on the backside. Decent finish, nice length without much tannin. Nice balance in the wine, excellent with grilled food.  Definitely  worth buying again. I'll tell you more about Penfolds after I finish the book I have on them.

2009 Tres Ojo Garnarcha Catalyud, Spain                               $10

Pleasant little wine, with bright red fruit on the nose and simple, yet filling berry flavors in the mouth. Not a wine that you would store, but a real nice little weeknight (school night) wine to enjoy with pasta or pizza. Typical of my under $10 treasures from Spain.

OK, that's all for now. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you behind the grapevines.

Wine Tasting Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah

 I was invited on December 21, 2011 to my friend Chris (Anton) Kowalski’s house, along with Joe McLeland and his wife and his friend Ryan Maderak.  Ryan recently defended his Doctorate dissertation in Astronomy at the University of Indiana in Bloomington.  Drinking four bottling from the 2004 vintage, we had a hedonistic, teeth staining evening of splendid wines.

I was the only “Vincent” virgin, as Ryan had a small collection of bottles given b to him by his faculty advisor, who could afford a lot of wine and liked to share with a young enthusiast.  Joe and his wife had visited the winery several years ago and have purchased a case or so every year via the email list.  Chris has snagged bottles from the McClelland’s cellar almost every time he has been to their house.

Vincent Arroyo is not available retail, only through the winery and the mailing list.  The signature wine is Petite Sirah, although they also make Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and several red blends.  Often the Petite Sirah will sell out by the time they are bottled.  The family winery produces about 8,000 cases of wine each year. 

Following are the four wines and the tasting notes.  There was the regular bottling, two vineyard specific bottles and the Winemaker’s Reserve.  The last three numbered under five hundred bottles produced.  Prices are for current release of these wines. See VincentArroyo.com for details.

1)      2004 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah (Regular Bottling), Calistoga, Napa

Current Price: About $32

            The wine has beautiful dark edges and deep purple hues throughout the glass.  The nose has broad dark berry fruit, but not in the fruit forward way of typical California sirah’s.  Somewhat restrained, yet holding a layer of spice, hints of orange peel and a touch of floral, mostly roses.  The mouthfeel is deeply concentrated, delivering much of what the nose promised. Very dark berry flavors, touches of leather and graphite in a nicely knitted package. The finish was long, with a berry tang that lasted for minutes. The bottle has a nice acid backbone, not overtly tannic, but a wine that would hold up for several years of aging. A great match for any big meat dish, like grilled steak and mushrooms.

2)      2004 Vincent Arroyo Greenwood Ranch Petite Sirah, Calistoga, Napa

Current Price: about $45

            Another dark purple hued wine, maybe a little lighter on the edges then the other bottle.  The nose has dark fruit, more spice layers in a broad tone. It opened more as it set in the glass, and it added hints of “forest floor” – an earthiness that is appealing.  The mouthfeel is broad with dark berry, leather and spices, There is another level of currants as it opens. Wine is still constrained and concentrated, with an after taste that lingers for minutes.  With a backbone like this, the wine should be cellared for about three years and kept up for about 10 years.  Another wine to match with hardy fare – grilled items and such.

3)      2004 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah Rattlesnake Acres, Calistoga, Napa

Current Price: about $50

            The dark purple goes throughout the wine, even on the edges. I mention this because it is the 2004 and this is 2011 – a 7 year old wine that shows virtually no signs of aging or getting old.  The nose is restrained with dark berry fruit, graphite and a thin layer of spice.  As the wine opens with time, the fruit still stays laid back but hints of floral peek out, though more like lilac than rose.  The mouthfeel is dark berry with hints of eastern spices and leather. AS it opens in the glass, there is a hint of iron “file”ings instead of leather. The berry finish is very long lasting.  The wine seems still closed after time in the glass.  Suggested cellaring is easily five years and you could go ten to fifteen without losing much in this bottle.

4)      2004 Vincent Arroyo Petite Sirah Winemaker’s Reserve Napa

Current Price: about $45

            The color is dark purple hued throughout the glass. A somewhat inhibited nose, but dark berry, leather and a hint of floaral, more lavender than rose. There is less spice undertone than the other bottling.  The mouthfeel is deep, but almost hot in a way. While the dark berry flavors lead, there is more earthiness in this bottle. A slightly higher alcohol level creates the “hot” flavor that adds to the berry.  This being a blend, it is different from the regular bottling and the single vineyard bottles.  The “terrior” comes through in the other bottling, while this mixture makes it a little more convoluted.  This being said, it is still an outstanding bottle of Petite Sirah, just different from the others.  Same great length of after taste, ability to go with big meat and ability to age for six to ten years.

How about some Zinfandel?

Time to talk about some Zinfandel – one of my favorite wines.
This was an average bottle of zin, decent nose, good red fruits and spiciness, moderate aftertaste. OK for the price, like $12, but not one you’d seek out for a special occasion.

Here is another from Coppola, one named after an uncle or something. Better class of zinfandel, but the 2007 was near the end of its best days. It had a limited nose, but a good palate of red and dark berry flavor. Decent aftertaste, but it was on sale for $17, so a bit pricey for what it was.

This was a surprise for $16 – Primitivo is the same basic grape as Zinfandel, but usually is grown in Italy.  This wine has a nice nose of red fruit and good red berry and spice in the mouth. It was restrained, lower in alcohol and better balanced in acid then many Lodi Zinfandels. It would be a good match with food, since it is better balanced then other Zinfandels.

Just wanted to update some info - maybe another time we can talk about the Zinfandel Olympics - looking for a new place to hold them this year!

Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

Books and more books

I went on a little vacation trip to Kansas City and scored some “new” wine books for my collection. If I can’t be drinking wine, then I’ll gladly read about it. I nabbed Adventures on the Wine Route by Kermit Lynch for $8. Oh, it’s a signed copy (to a doctor) and had his business card in it, with both the Berkley address and the France address. I scored a gently used copy of 1,001 Wines you must taste before you die, although I’ll be lucky to taste 100 of them.  I also got Penfolds, the Rewards of Patience, the history of the Australian winery and Bordeaux/Burgundy, a Vintage Rivalry, a story of the history between these famous French viticulture areas.

This adds to my 40 or 50 wine books, including Matt Kramer on Wine, which I also bought and finished recently. This excludes my cookbooks, because that is a different category. I’ve also suffered with a brief encounter with an upper respiratory affliction, and that limited me tasting anything. The coughing left me weak and the stuff in my nose stopped smelling. I’m on the mend and will post some tasting notes shortly, along with a brief discussion about what an AVA is. Later … Meanwhile, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

Justin Night at WWWC

Tuesday night, July 10, 2012, was Justin night at the West Wichita Wine Connection (WWWC).  Michael Garcia, representing Justin was our guest speaker for the evening.  Our meal was started with a splendid Moroccan salad, with artichoke hearts and chick-peas marinated in olive oil and spices.  Forget about problems matching artichoke with wine, both the white and the syrah went well with the salad. The entrée was a Moroccan beef dish, with carrots, summer squash, onions and couscous. Dessert was a jipna with teen, which is a cheese type confection with a fig sauce (the “teen”).  Now for the wine!

The greeting wine was a 2011 Justin Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit was from Preston Vineyards, near the Templeton gap in Paso Robles, California. There was a lot of grapefruit, some tropical flavors and a tang on the aftertaste. No wood or oak flavors, as it is kept in stainless steel.

The four table wines started with the 2009 Justin Syrah, the Rhone Ranger entry from the winery. Grapes are sourced from Hastings Ranch, with a production of around 3,900 cases. The aroma is not overly forward, some oak and berry fruit. Hint of earth on the initial taste, nice fruit carry through – red berries at the front. Good mouthfeel and lasting aftertaste - very good with the meal.

Second was the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, the regular bottling. Nice nose with red and blackberry fruit. Flavor was deep with black and red berry fruit – hint of green pepper and smoky spice in the aftertaste. Aftertaste lingered, very nice California cabernet for a decent price. (I have at least one bottle of the 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon in my wine vault.)

Third wine was the 2009 Justification, a real surprising wine. Made of Cabernet Franc and Merlot (not a common blend, by any stretch of the imagination) the color was dark. Big berry nose grabbed you at the first sniff. Great raspberry and blackberry flavors with some plum and hints of spice, follow through with a long aftertaste. Really nice bottle of wine, one I would recommend for a different bottle.

Lastly, though not in flavor, was the 2008 Isoceles, one of the top wines of the vineyard. Always a great wine (I’ve had at least 4 different vintages), this bottle was typical of the class. Great berry nose, some oak lurking in the aroma. Broad mouthfeel, with red and black berry fruit with hints of cedar spice box. Easily a bottle that could age well, but is drinking very nice at this time. Less fruit forward than the Justification, but a wine that would stand to a test of time.

Actually, lastly was the fortified wine, Obtuse, a cabernet sauvignon pert style wine poured for dessert. A sweet wine, with some depth, but not like a typical Port. Very grapey, but a pleasant little item to end a meal.

All 58 folks in attendance enjoyed themselves - meanwhile, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

A Case for “Petite”

            There is a red that I just love to drink. It is almost always big, chewy and something you don’t worry about aging. No, not Zinfandel, the Petite one – Petite Sirah. Once a mystery grape, it has been genetically mapped to be a descendent of Syrah, where once it was considered to be an entirely different variety.  It turns out that Petite Sirah (also spelled with the y in place of the i – syrah) is a cross of Syrah and Peloursin and is known as Durif. The grape variety doesn’t do all that well in areas of high humidity where it develops grey rot. California has many growing areas that suit the growth of this variety.

            For a long time in California viticulture, the Petite grape was just labeled syrah. There are obvious differences, but no one ever worried about it.  Many were replanted over time, but it seems many may have been a blend of both grapes. Testing from the good people at UC-Davis found many vineyards thought to be Petite Sirah were mostly Durif, some Syrah and even one a type of Pinot Noir.  From the samples Dr. Carole Meredith – who also identified from the DNA the origin of zinfandel – that the Durif was a child of Syrah and therefore, related.

            Can I tell in a blind tasting which is syrah and which is Petite Sirah? I’m doubtful, although I really, really like my Petite to be as chunky and fruit forward as possible. I recently tasted a Rosenblum San Francisco Bay area Petite Sirah and it was outstanding. The color was deep and dark purple. The nose was raspberry and a touch of blackberry. The flavor had overtones of blueberry and had a wonderful “mouthfeel” that stayed with you.

            There are a couple of value priced Petite’s that you can count on for value and flavor. First is the Bogle Petite Syrah – year in and year out a best buy in the big glossy wine mag’s. It has risen to about $12 to $14 a bottle, but consistently good. The area that Bogle makes the wine is in Solano County, near Clarksburg. Worth asking for at your retailer.

Concannon is another vineyard that has started produced the variety for years and has one that is affordable and very big and chunky. Same price range, it has a silver label. They also make higher priced ones of the same variety, but if your just trying, go for the one I mentioned. This winery claims to be the first to put out a wine labeled Petite Sirah in California and has a rich history. They are across the bay from San Francisco in Livermore Valley. If you like the bottom of the line, then try the higher priced ones. Line 39 is another inexpensive favorite to try, I wrote about it recently.

The higher end petite’s are also tasty, though when I say higher end, I mean bottles in the $30 - $45 range. One such wine, available only from the winery is Vincent Arroyo, in Napa. I had an experience of tasting four different bottling (different vineyards and a reserve) of the 2004 vintage in December of 2011. These are wines that will stand up to bottle aging and provide the gutsy taste you really look for in this grape. I’ll detail that tasting later.

Any way, there is my case for Petite.  Let me know what you think at Drwineaux@gmail.com. Meanwhile, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

Weeknight Wines

                Doesn’t matter if you call them “bargain” wines, weeknight wines, spaghetti and pizza wines or the stuff you swill after you’ve opened the good bottles at a party, there is always a need for less expensive, yet drinkable wines. I’m talking about wines under about 12 bucks – you know the ones. My friends at Jacob liquor offer a case of wine for $100 bucks each month – red, white or mixed. Not wines you are planning on holding for several years before popping open, ones you even open for the gulping in-laws or guzzling friends.

                I found a brand that I like – simply called Line 39 – a winery that makes wine north of latitude 39 (or is it longitude). This means the north end of Sonoma, Napa, Mendicino and Lake Counties in California.  The average retail is about $10 and I get it for 6 or 7 bucks on sale. They have two whites, but I haven’t been able to try them. They just released a Merlot, it isn’t available here. The main ones I like (and have tried again and again) are the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Petite Sirah. Surprisingly, the got a mid-80 score from the Wine spectator.

                The Cabernet is pretty standard fare, not a long lasting aftertaste, modest fruit – berry and hints of cola and bell pepper, with no tannins. What you want from a pizza wine – straightforward, and in your face. Serve it with grilled meat and no one will complain, except the wine snobs, when they hear the price.

                The Petite Sirah is the real treasure. Now, Bogle makes a good Petite, as well as Concannon. But for an under $10 bottle, you won’t find a better Petite. It is big and jammy, full of unctuous fruit – red and black berries, as well as a touch of tar. No real tannins, but a surprising aftertaste that lingers. I have always thought that this grape is under rated, but the good news is you can try some cheap and enjoy it!

                OK – so here’s my latest report, I’ll try to be back in a week or so with more information and opinions. Meanwhile, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

A Tale of Two Wines

This is a story about two wines, both purchased at the respective winery in about 2004, on a trip to California Wine country with my brothers.  I purchased a bottle at Heitz Cellars and one at Plumpjack. We tried the cabernet at Plumpjack, it was outstanding.  The other bottle was older and not available for tasting.  Below are the Wine Spectator reviews of each bottle.

PLUMPJACK

Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2001

Score: 93                                          Release Price: $58

Country: California         Region: Napa    Issue: Jun 15, 2004

A rich, elegant, sophisticated style, built around a concentrated core of spicy blackberry, currant and plum flavors that run deep and earthy. This full-blown wine is packed with dense, opulent flavors and a long, lingering aftertaste. Best from 2005 through 2012. 9,000 cases made. –JL

HEITZ

Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Bella Oaks Vineyard 1995

Score: 86                                          Release Price: $45

Country: California         Region: Napa    Issue: Jun 15, 2000

Medium in weight, with pretty black cherry, wild berry and plum notes. Turns elegant, with smooth tannins. Drink now through 2006. 4,529 cases made. –JL

Both bottles were carried back to Wichita and stored together in my wine storage unit (originally a 12 bottle unit, I’ve upgraded to a 36 bottle unit.

I popped open the Heitz over Easter weekend with my brother Tony, this year (2012). It was elegant and well structured with nice black cherry and berry notes. Had a great body and mouthfeel, like it would last another few years in the bottle. Really good – wish I had a couple more bottles.

The Plumpjack was opened over Memorial day, this year(2012) with my Brother J.  It tasted tired and rather simple, the fruit was mild dark berry, with little aftertaste and short mouthfeel. Disappointing to say the least.

I realize that there are bottle variations, but the point is that sometimes a bottle you think will age well, doesn’t always live up to expectations, while others exceed the expert opinions. Not every bottle of red wine gets better after ten years, and some will surprise you.  I’ll talk about aging zinfandel another time – that’s a story in it’s self. Let me know if you’ve had similar experiences.

Winew from the Turn of the Century

The first weekend of April this year did Easter and a little wine tasting in Wichita. My older brother, Tony, sent a few items from his cellar for the folks I know in town to taste and enjoy.  The line up, graciously hosted by John and Jane at their picturesque home, is listed below. My brother and his wife had come to visit from Kingman, Arizona and were in attendance as well.

·         1996 Chateau Lafon-Rochet, St. Estephe, France (Bordeaux)

·         1995 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, France (Bordeaux)

·         1999 Carruades de Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France (Bordeaux)

·         1998 Reserva Seleccion Especial, Rioja, Spain (from my cellar)

·         1998 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley,  California

·         2000 Swanson Alexis, Napa Valley, California

·         2000 St. Supery Elu Meritage, Napa Valley, California

·         2001 Joseph Phelps Hdr Auction reserve, California (Magnum – from my cellar)

The wines were opened and tried in the order listed above. I played “master of Ceremonies” and chatted about the wines as I poured for the 16 or so guests. Below are my notes, scribbled during tasting and rewritten after the event. I will follow with the Wine spectator ratings and note on the wines that were available on the web site.

1996 Chateau Lafon-Rochet, St. Estephe, France (Bordeaux)

            The wine had a slight brick color, a moderate nose of berry and fruit. In the mouth, it had decent upfront fruit, cassis and blackberry, with a nice backbone to balance. Not an overpowering wine, but nice and at or just beyond its prime.

1995 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, France (Bordeaux)

            Nice dark color with a nice nose that continued to get better with time in the glass. Hints of graphite with the fruit in the aroma. Good body wine, deep dark fruit including blackberry and plum with an overtone of spices. A wine that could age 5 more years and still be drinking this well.

1999 Carruades de Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France (Bordeaux)

            Big, dark color in this wine – the nose jumped right out of this one – with dark fruits and stone (really, like a big smooth type of stone). Big body with enough acid to balance the light remaining tannins and fruit. Dark berry, cassis and hints of vanilla and mocha were the flavor structures, and the wine had a deep lasting aftertaste. A very good bottle of wine.

1998 Reserva Seleccion Especial, Rioja, Spain

            I should never have put a tempranillo right after the best French wine of the evening. It fell flat in comparison, although it still had a decent nose and nice tempranillo flavors with cherry and plum on a slightly dusty flavor profile. Color was slightly brick, not too many years left in the tank for it, but not really a bad wine.

1998 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California

            The harvest of 1998 in California was plagued by rain and a difficult growing season. Many wineries churned out weak, inconsistent cabernets, sold them off cheap and fast. This wine was an example of a producer trying to make the best possible result form a tough year. Nice color, with only a slight amount of brick. The flavor profile was typical Napa – hints of bell pepper but dark jammy fruits like raspberry and blackberry. Nicely balanced, no tannins left but a moderate aftertaste. Probably as good as it will get.

2000 Swanson Alexis, Napa Valley, California

            Nicely dark in the glass, this wine had dark fruits in the nose with hints of spice in it. The wine is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and syrah. The fruits meld well together, with the syrah adding a different dimension, compared to the California cabernets. The dark fruit was fairly bright in the mouth and there was a nice aftertaste. This was a crowd pleaser.

2000 St. Supery Elu Meritage, Napa Valley, California

            This wine had the most sediment of the group. Nice nose but a little subdued didn’t really grow like some of the others. The flavors blended nicely, dark fruits with hints of herbs and spice in a nicely wound package. Not much tannin remains, but the acid kept it balanced. Very nice wine that could still go a few years before petering out.

2001 Joseph Phelps Hdr Auction reserve, California

            Unknown blend, probably cabernet sauvignon and merlot and maybe others. Lighter in color than the other wines, moderate nose of dark fruits, cherry and plum. Flavor profile similar to the nose, nicely balanced with the fruits and maybe some anise. At its peak, extra aging would rob it of the brightness of the fruit. Crowd pleaser for the group.

Wine spectator notes on the following wines.

1996 Chateau Lafon-Rochet, St. Estephe, France (Bordeaux)

Score: 90           Release Price: $30      Country: France            Region: Bordeaux

Blackberry and licorice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Clearly better in 1996 than in 1995.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. Best after 2008. –JS Issue: Web Only - 2007

1995 Chateau Lynch Bages, Pauillac, France (Bordeaux)

Score: 94           Release Price: $40      Current Auction Price: $152 Country: France  Region: Bordeaux Issue: Web Only - 2007

A wine that continues to improve with age. Shows loads of ripe plum, almost prune, with hints of vanilla and mineral. Full, chewy and tight. Still needs time.--Lynch-Bages non-blind vertical. Best after 2008.

1999 Carruades de Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France (Bordeaux)

Score: 89           Release Price: $31     Current Auction Price: $332   Country: France Region: Bordeaux Issue: Mar 31, 2002

Lovely aromas of sweet, ripe berries with hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, with silky, caressing tannins and a long, fruity aftertaste. Very impressive for a second wine. Best after 2004. 25,000 cases made. –JS

1998 Reserva Seleccion Especial, Rioja, Spain

Score: 88           Release Price: $31      Country: Spain              Issue: Oct 31, 2003

Harmonious, with a nice balance of ripe plum and cherry fruit, spicy oak and maturing notes of leather and game. The tannins are round, the acidity bright. Drink now through 2009. 2,000 cases made. –TM

2000 Swanson Alexis, Napa Valley, California

Score: 90           Release Price: $50      Country: California     Region: Napa Issue: Sep 15, 2003

A stylish wine, with layers of rich currant, blackberry, coffee, toasty oak and spicy anise notes. It firms up midpalate, picking up chewy tannins and a peppery edge. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2009. 4,635 cases made. –JL

2000 St. Supery Elu Meritage, Napa Valley, California

Score: 88           Release Price: $50      Country: California     Region: Napa Issue: Nov 15, 2004

Well-made, firm, intense and concentrated, with smoky currant, anise, sage and cedar notes that are well-proportioned, ending with ripe, integrated tannins and a burst of dark berry fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2010. 2,367 cases made. –JL