"Wine a little bit and you'll feel better"

November 2015 wines

2011 Domaine de la Janasse, Cotes du Rhone (Reserve), Rhone region France

Domaine de la Janasse Description

Strawberry, black cherry, a tinge of minerality and spices. While Aime works in the vineyards, his son, Christophe Sabon, is in charge of wine production. Christophe is a self-proclaimed "great defender of Grenache," which still represents 75% of their vines. He manages the common rusticity of Grenache-based wines through meticulous work in the vineyards and cellar. The result is a wide range of lavishly ripe, extracted Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes-du-Rhône that are complex and yet balanced with acidity -- often in contradiction to an appellation better known for sheer exuberance and power.

Wine Spectator: 90 Points

Lively, with lots of briar, raspberry and licorice notes framed by a roasted apple wood edge. The juicy, energetic finish brings you back for more. Drink now through 2014. 1,500 cases imported.

I didn’t obtain this wine and drink it until 2015. Despite the Wine Spectator, I would buy and drink this again – a somewhat simple, but tasty Cotes du Rhone; well made and balanced.  Came in my $100 case…

2013 Ticket to Chile, Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Deep red, well structured, cabernet sauvignon from colchagua valley. 100% estate grown and bottled.

Ticket to chile is our invitation for you to relax, close your eyes, and experience Chiles unique aromas

and tastes through its wines.  Let your senses savor and enjoy this wonderful journey

to the heart of the colchagua valley. We hope you will come back soon all aboard!

OK – not a highly recommended ticket, passable but not memorable. No obvious flaws, but underwhelming on the palate.

2012 The Great American Wine Company Zinfandel , USA (California)

Winemaker Notes

Rosenblum Cellars is recognized as one of North America’s most acclaimed producers of Zinfandel and Rhone varietal wines. Rosenblum is guided by commitment, craft and a blend of traditional and innovative winemaking techniques to showcase sumptuous wines from the best vineyards and regions in California. Our urban winery has evolved from a passionate home-winemaking operation founded in 1978 into a world-class winery, with numerous gold medals and 90-plus scores. Even with very highly regarded wines, Rosenblum maintains a down-to-earth approachable attitude. According to Wine Spectator, Rosenblum is a "Mecca for Zin-Fanatics."

Vintage - 2012 Varietal Composition -95% Zinfandel 5% Petite Sirah

Barrel Aging - 10 months American oak European oak 25% new oak

Appellation - California Alcohol - 13.5 % Acidity -6.5 g/L pH - 3.75 Ageability - 2014 to 2016

Actually, this was not a bad little zinfandel – not great, but possessed good red fruit flavors and some spice.

2009 Three Rivers Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, WA

Three Rivers Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2009

 Winemaker's Notes:

97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot Captures the concentration and character of the vintage. The bouquet is explosive with blueberry, cherry, chocolate, currant and smoked meat aromas. The palate is rich, luscious and supple. This is a wonderful example of Eastern Washington Cabernet. Try this wine with marinated skirt steak, filet mignon with a balsamic glaze or beef stew. A true Columbia Valley blend, sourced from top vineyards throughout the AVA: 39% Clifton, 18% Gamache, 18% Wallula Gap, 10% Martinez, 10% Minnick Estate, 3% Seven Hills, 2% Bacchus

It’s been six years since the Foley Wine Group purchased this Walla Walla property, and it wisely has kept winemaker Holly Turner at the helm. She worked with seven vineyards on this vibrant Cab — Clifton, Gamache, Wallula Gap, Martinez, Minnick, Seven Hills and Bacchus — and kept the focus on the fruit. The aromas bring black cherry, red currant and milk chocolate with spice notes of black pepper and clove. Those cherry and currant notes play through on to the palate, which is well balanced with sturdy tannins and good acidity. This wine received a silver medal at the 2014 Seattle Wine and Food Experience Wine Competition.

This was a real keeper out of the $100 case. Very nicely made, good nose of red fruits and a good long palate and aftertaste.  I lingered over this bottle, it was really good.

2011 Mustiguillo ‘Finca Terrerazo’ Bobal, Tierra El Terrarazo (Pago), Spain

Bodegas Mustiguillo

The growers

Consider this a reintroduction to Bobal, and its champion, Toni Sarrion. In the late 1990’s, Toni began a one man crusade to save this indigenous variety and coax it from obscurity and rusticity to the forefront of truly world class wines. Ever evolving and pushing the quality level forward, the NEW releases from Mustiguillo show their recent move in the cellar away from the use of overt American oak as seen in previous vintages in favor of concrete and French oak for wines of finesse & balance, realizing the potential of Bobal from the unique terroir of El Terrerazo. Mustiguillo has been recently recognized for their extraordinary efforts by Wine & Spirits as one of the Top 100 Wineries of 2012.

Their land

Spain | El Terrerazo

One of only fourteen Vino de Pagos in Spain, El Terrerazo was granted DOP status in 2010. At an altitude of 800-824 meters, the estate is comprised of 89 hectares of contiguous vineyards on primarily limestone soils. The climate is Mediterranean with a strong continental influence with drastic diurnal shifts in temperature and contrasting winds from the sea to the east and hot La Mancha to the west.

The wine

 100% Bobal - Toni Sarrion champions the variety Bobal, working on clonal selections and strict vineyard management for smaller and looser clusters.   Finca Terrerazo is from two plots, planted in 1945 and 1970 and spends 18 months in French oak.  

Press

 2010 vintage - 91 points, Tanzer's International Wine Cellar “Sexy, floral black and blue fruits on the nose, with a spicy nuance adding lift.  Plush and broad on entry, then tighter in the the mid-palate, offering lively boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of sweet vanillin oak.  Supple tannins shape the finish, which lingers with impressive tenacity.” - Josh Raynolds  

Bobal was a grape that used to be made for local consumption in Spain.  Finally, serious wine folks realized the grape had potential as a great wine – grown in an area where land wasn’t overpriced.  I have had several Bobal’s – they have been good, but this one was incredible. Matt, my wine guy, found this and put it into our Spanish wine meal at West Wichita Wine Connection.  It was a runaway hit – the wine is dark and deep, with excellent fruits on the palate. It was super with our meal. Pricier then my cheapo case, but well worth the money.

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