November Wines

Just a few wines to get to the Holidays

No picture - sorry

2013 Patterson Cellars Syrah Sirah, Red Mountain, Washington

Dusty tannins frame this inky purple, full-bodied wine led by characters of blueberry and blackberry with hints of black and white pepper carried on the long finish.

Nicely peppery with lots of red fruit. Nice blend of dusky Petite Sirah and the spicy Syrah. Very enjoyable.

2013 Flora Springs Chardonnay, Napa Valley, California

From the Winery; Our Napa Valley Chardonnay combines the enticing characteristics of three highly renowned sub-appellations within Napa Valley: Oakville, Carneros, and St. Helena. Blending fruit from the warmer appellations on the valley floor and the cool, rolling hills of Carneros allows us to craft a Chardonnay with great intensity and restraint. This bottling balances shimmering bright acidity with the full-bodied, concentrated fruit flavors found in grapes sourced from our sustainably farmed vineyards. Aged 8 months in 15% oak barrels, 22% oak ovals, 63% stainless steel tanks. Our 2013 vintage shows rich aromas of juicy green pear and candied ginger with a hint of crème fraiche and vanilla bean. The palate is bright and crisp, bursting with juicy Granny Smith apples and lemongrass. An underlying creaminess - reminiscent of fresh baked brioche - adds warmth to this crisp, refreshing Chardonnay, which finishes with spicy notes of cinnamon and nutmeg.

A nicely put together Chard – some oak but a lot of juicy green apple and hints of citrus. Nice finish, too. On sale for around $15 makes it even better.

2007 Chateau Larose Trintaudon Cru Bourgeois, Haut Medoc, France

Beautiful ruby color with violet hues. A rich array of aromas from the spicy: black pepper and menthol hints, to the fruity: wild black currant and blackberry scents. Great roundness and fullness as well as superb tannic structure and balance. A fi ne, clear-cut, homogeneous wine where ripe fruit is present from beginning to end. The silky finish with excellent length. A truly enjoyable wine!

2010 Chateau Larose Trintaudon Cru Bourgeois, Haut Medoc, France

Beautiful dark ruby color with quite an intense bouquet bringing together aromas of red ripe berries (raspberry) as well as spicier vanilla notes. On the palate the wine is incredibly round with a dense tannic structure, yet not overly massive. Great freshness finished off by slight mineral undertones and a silky texture. Without a doubt the best Larose Trintaudon of these last 25 years! Please decant two hours before tasting. To be enjoyed by 2020.

OK – got to do a Vintage tasting with the wine group. We had these two years of this wine. The 2007 started out a little chunky and not quite together. The 2010, typical of the vintage, was vewry smooth and well structured. After a day on the counter with a cork in it, the 2007 reallly smoothed out and was a great compliment to a meal. The 2010 stayed about the same, not really getting better, but not worse. The tannin level dipped a little, but it was still there on the finish. Nice to let a large group try something like this and the next two wines.

2009 Chateau Paloumy, Cru Bourgeois, Haut Medoc, France

Wine Enthusiast 92

"With a blend that is half Cabernet Sauvignon, half Merlot, this is as rich as the year. The weight of fruit is borne by sweet tannins and layers of wood toast. There is a very dense dusty texture along with fine acidity and final blackberry fruit. It is for aging over the next 45 years."

2012 Chateau Paloumy, Cru Bourgeois, Haut Medoc, France

In the south of Haut-Médoc, near Bordeaux, Paloumey has been revived as a vineyard in the last 20 years. This 2012 is full of ripe black fruits, aged in new wood with its mint flavors. It has a good tannic structure, so it will age well. Drink from 2017

Another moderate priced Bordeaux trying two vintages side by side. Both were good years – the 2009 was drinking great. The 2012 seemed a little more closed, not seeming to reach its full potential. Several days after opening, the 2009 still shined bright; the 2012 just seemed to stay put. There were some tannins, but neither is a real tannin bomb.  Both of these 2 French wines can be found from $18 to 25 range. Nice little bottles to have with a meal and feel like you are splurging.

2014 Dry Creek Fume Blanc. Sonoma County, California

"At first swirl, this beautiful wine emanates the classic Dry Creek Vineyard “house” style of Sauvignon Blanc with crisp lemon-lime citrus characters and a zesty mineral edge. Several more turns of the glass reveal tart green apple, fresh grass and a steely quality that harkens to a good Sancerre. On the palate, the wine dances with wonderful bright fresh fruit notes and juicy acidity. The wine is bone dry but not overly so - it has a lovely intensity that finishes clean and pure. A wonderful wine that is simply delicious!"

Sauvignon Blanc is one of my least favorite wines. It doesn’t do much for me – whether it is oaked, unoaked, from New Zealand or anywhere. That being said, this was a rather nice $13 bottle to have with Turkey. The acidity matched with food very well and the flavors were good; not too much citrus and grass.  I could have this again, only under $10, if possible…

Hope you enjoyed - till next time, Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

A Few October Wines

Still trying to finish some other tasting notes, meanwhile, enjoy these!

2013 The Prisoner Wine Co. Blindfold White Wine Napa Valley, Ca

2013 The Prisoner Wine Co. Blindfold White Wine Napa Valley, Ca

Winemaker's Notes

The wine opens up with alluring aromas of freshly peeled mandarin orange, peach nectar, and honeydew melon. Hints of white citrus blossom, marzipan and toasted hazelnut add a nice layer of complexity. On the palette, the wine has a rich creamy entry that is balanced by bright acidity and minerality. These characteristics carry through to the finish with flavors of lime zest and toasted marshmallow.

RP90

The Wine Advocate - "A blend of 30% Chardonnay, 20% Viognier, 20% Roussanne and the balance Grenache Blanc, Chenin Blanc and a few other grapes, the 2013 Proprietary White Blindfold is close in quality to the brilliant 2012 I reviewed last year. Reminiscent of some of Sine Qua Non's white wines from California’s Central Coast, the 2013 is more zesty, and plays it closer to the vest, but it offers lovely notes of fresh pineapple, tangerine skins, orange marmalade, melon and honeysuckle. I wish more California wineries would consider using such innovative blends as this given the high quality that can result. This beauty should be enjoyed over the next several years."

This was an impressive white wine – surprising balance with great overtones of honeysuckle and melon, and a layer of zest to bring completeness to the mouthfeel.   Nice finish – a “meaty” white wine that is very good. Got it on close out, makes it even better!

2011 Cantina del Nebbiolo Barbaresco

Wine Enthusiast

93 Points

Red rose, balsamic herbs, red berry and baking spice aromas jump out of the glass. The succulent palate weaves together lush black cherry, cinnamon, eucalyptus, licorice and orange peel sensations that are supported by velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Drink 2015 through 2021.

Made from nebbiolo grapes grown on vineyards in Barbaresco, Neive, Treiso and Alba. Fermentations with lengthy stays on the skins followed by ageing in oak casks produce an intensely red wine with slight hints of garnet, a complex nose of ripe red fruit and spicy overtones, and a warm, mouth-filling flavour with soft tannins, great elegance and an excellent finish.

Italian wines seem to be best with food. Alone this was OK, not great. A little light in color, moderate nose – the flavors weren’t as distinct until I had it with dinner. Tannins are very light, but the finish is moderate – available for around $20-25. Worth the money for some good pasta or Italian style meal.

2011 PORTADA Winemakers Selection red, Lisboa, Portugal

Grapes

Tinta Roriz, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caladoc, Castelão, Pinot Noir, Touriga Nacional.

DFJ Vinhos 2011 Portada Winemaker's Selection Tinto Red (Lisboa)

WE         90 Points              Best Buy

A dark colored, dense wine that is rich and firmly structured. Aged in wood, it holds flavors of plum and berry fruits balanced with a fresh acidity. This is a wine for aging, its structure a powerful statement. Drink from 2014.

Tasting Notes: This deep, ruby red, medium-bodied wine has berry fruit flavours and a beautiful balance, very smooth and tasty with notes of matured red fruits, compote of fruits and honey

This is a $10 inexpensive wine that packs a lot of fruit and flavor in a tidy package.  Not a complete fruit bomb, there is some finesse – no real tannins. The finish is not too long, but a very good “school night” wine or a second bottle open type. Can’t beat the price.

Until later, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

2005 Bordeaux

A Review of 4 different 2005 Bordeaux wines

Wonderful tasting at Stockemeyer's farm courtesy of Chris "Anton" Kowalski

A white Bordeaux as a gathering wine

Clos Des Lunes Lune D'Argent Bordeaux 2015

"The 2015 Lune d'Argent is a blend of one-third Semillon and two-thirds Sauvignon Blanc that had been bottled in March 2016. It was cropped at 25 hectoliters per hectare. It has quite a forward, rich, generous bouquet with subtle honeysuckle and apricot notes merging with the apply aromas. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, a little grassiness at first, gently opening up to a gooseberry, nettle and green apple-flavored finish. This might be my pick of Olivier Bernard's three 2015 offerings under the Clos des Lunes label and it comes highly recommended." -Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com #224, Apr 2016
Reviewed by: The Wine Advocate - 90 pts

This was a very nice White from France. Nice nose of honeysuckle – bright fresh flavors of some citrus, a touch of grass, apricots and green apple. Good clean finish.

Now the wonderful four from 2005

Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2005

Bordeaux Red Blends from St. Julien, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Notes  Elegant, refined, complex and well-balanced wine. Intense color and velvety texture. They are excellent keeping wines.

W&S95

Wine & Spirits - "This wine's heady rush of flavor gave one taster goosebumps. She called it sexy. "Formidable." Other technical descriptions included "the shazam," "has zazz," and "unprintable. That's some serious s#¡†." At the en primeur tastings, this appeared to be chunky and superripe. Now it's massive, with dark extract and exotic spice, a sophisticated wine that ends on sweetness, bitter chocolate and dark berry fruit. With all the flash, it will give a lot of pleasure as a young wine, but it has the plump Poyferré terroir drive to sustain that pleasure for years to come."

WE94

Wine Enthusiast - "Hugely concentrated and packed with tannins, this wine shows considerable amounts of dark, extracted fruit. It wins out on impressive power, driving the fruit through the tannins, giving great richness."

Château Léoville-Poyferré is a winery in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. Château Léoville-Poyferré is also the name of the red wine produced by this property. The wine produced here was classified as one of fifteen Deuxièmes Crus (Second Growths) in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

Léoville-Poyferré was once part of the much larger Léoville estate until the time of the French Revolution when it was separated into Château Léoville-Las Cases and Château Léoville-Barton. In 1840, Château Léoville-Las Cases was again divided and Château Léoville-Poyferré created from a piece of the land.

The color is still dark and deep, moderate nose of dark fruits.  Broad red and black fruit; some bramble and dried fig. Fairly long  finish with a little tannin.  Very nice.

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2005

Winemaker's Notes

Château Smith Haut Lafitte's great terroir of deep Gunzian gravel, with old vines sinking several metres into the soil, produced stupendous results: the wines have a concentration, texture, and class never before seen.

Blend: 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet franc, 1% Petit Verdot.

RP95

The Wine Advocate - "One can’t say enough about the accomplishments the Cathiards have achieved at this property since 1990. Prior to their purchase of the property, appallingly diluted, vegetal, fruitless, charmless wines were produced, but they have turned Smith-Haut-Lafitte into a showcase Pessac-Leognan. The inky/blue/purple-tinged 2005's extraordinary nose reeks of charcoal, incense, scorched earth, abundant blackberry, blueberry, and cherry fruit, toast, and spice. Good acidity, huge but sweet tannin, and fabulous precision as well as definition characterize this full-bodied, super-concentrated effort. It should prove to be among the longest-lived wines yet made by the Cathiards. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+."

W&S94

Wine & Spirits - "The Cathiards have invested heavily in this property since they purchased it in the early 1990s. It is one of the great terroirs of the Graves, a raised plateau of gravel where the vines produce a rich and powerful wine. That power is amplified in a vintage like 2005 into a huge, cassis-driven red with the velvet feel of a favorite childhood pillow. The Cathiards do not spare the new oak, a character that dominates this young wine, while the fruit underneath feels healthy and clean, vibrating with tension, set for a long life ahead."

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Bordeaux wine from the Pessac-Léognan appellation, ranked among the Crus Classés for red wine in the Classification of Graves wine of 1953 and 1959.^[1] The winery and vineyards are located south of the city of Bordeaux, in the commune of Martillac.

The estate originates in the 14th century with the house of Verrier Du Boscq who planted vines on a gravelly plateau named Lafitte already in 1365. In 1720 it was bought by the Scotsman Georges Smith who added his name to the lieu-dit (English: place-name), and who built the manor house of the property.

The Louis Eschenauer company bought estate in 1958, after having already distributed the wine from the early 20th century. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard bought Smith Haut Lafitte and embarked on an investment programme, including the building of a new cellar.

Big nose of red fruit, cassis and gunpowder.  Mouth feel has a good acid balance with some tannin still remaining; black cherry, black currant power to a chunky finish – compared to the St Julien wine.

Chateau Clerc Milon 2005

Bordeaux Red Blends from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

11 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2008

The wine has a deep color with a violet tint.The nose opens on pleasant smoky notes, followed by intense and powerful ripe berry fruit aromas, especially cassis and wild strawberry. Full-bodied and expansive on the palate, it displays close-knit tannins and a range of generous, varied flavors including blackberry, cherry, spice and licorice. The ample and well-balanced finish combines the solidity of a well-defined structure with the charm and fullness of rich flavours enfolded in refined and judicious oak.

WS95

Wine Spectator - "Offers fabulous aromas of currant, tar, lead pencil and mineral. Full-bodied, with supersoft tannins that caress the palate. Beautiful and impressive. A fabulous wine. The best Clerc in a very long time. Best after 2014. 10,000 cases made."

W&S93

Wine & Spirits - "On a 107-acre site between Mouton and Lafite, Clerc Milon is part of G.F.A. Baronne Philippine de Rothschild, a group of properties including Mouton and managed by the same team. In 2005, the team produced a great performance from this vineyard, a clean, pure wine with delicacy and energy rather than tannic overload. Not that it isn't laden with tannins, but the bright, wild cherry fruit flavor is a formidable partner, lasting for minutes through a buoyant finish. A supple, lovely wine that will go the distance with some of its more powerful neighbors."

Château Clerc Milon is a property in the Pauillac appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced here was classified as one of eighteen Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.^[1]

Château Clerc Milon is located in the northern part of the Pauillac appellation, with its winery building in the village of Mousset. Clerc Milon is surrounded by two first growth including Château Mouton Rothschild.

The name of the estate is derived from its former owner Jean-Baptiste Clerc, who owned it at the time of the 1855 classification, and the village of Milon. Once Jacques Mondon had come into possession of some vineyards that had previously been part of the Clerc-Milon estate, and after Clerc's death in 1863, he mounted a successful legal challenge to be allowed to use the Clerc-Milon name for his vineyards, which became the origin of the current-day Château Clerc Milon. Mondon subsequently adopted the name Clerc-Milon-Mondon for his estate.

In 1970, Château Clerc-Milon-Mondon was purchased by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the owner of Château Mouton Rothschild. At this time, the property was in poor shape and consisted of 16.5 hectares (41 acres) of vineyards. Rothschild removed the Mondon part of the name, and subsequently expanded the estate by purchasing additional vineyards that had previously been part of Clerc Milon.

Château Clerc Milon's label is illustrated by a pair of dancers made of precious stones which is displayed in the Museum of Wine in Art at Château Mouton Rothschild. This decorative work belonged to Catherine II, the Empress of Russia and is inspired by characters of the Commedia dell'Arte. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild chose it as the Clerc Milon emblem because of her love of the theatre.

Lighter nose – little lighter in color than previous ones. Smooth flavors of red berries, currants with less tannins and a modest aftertaste.  Silky, but less of a wine than the others.

Chateau Rauzan-Segla 2005

Bordeaux Red Blends from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

An elegant fragrant bouquet, lots of taste on the palate, a well-balanced structure and very great elegance. For this vintage we took our time and were able to be even more meticulous than usual really taking advantage of the sorting tables and competence of the people we have trained.

WS97

Wine Spectator - "Very beautiful aromas of crushed berry, flowers, currant and Indian spices follow through to a full body, with ultrafine tannins and a long, long finish. Extremely polished and beautiful, with a seamless texture. Best after 2014."

WE96

Wine Enthusiast - "A wine with a beautiful mouthfeel and shape. This is rich, gleaming in the ripe black fruits, the touch of spice and mint, as well as the sweet blackberry flavors. The acidity is balanced, showing off the fruit. There is weight and density as well. "

Château Rauzan-Ségla, or Château Rausan-Ségla, is a winery in the Margaux appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. Château Rauzan-Ségla is also the name of the red wine produced by this property. The wine produced here was classified as one of fifteen Deuxièmes Crus (Second Growths) in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The alternate name "Rausan-Ségla" was also frequently used until 1994 when the original "Rauzan-Ségla" again became the official name.

Rauzan-Ségla was once part of the vast Rausan estate owned by Pierre de Mesures de Rauzan in the mid-17th century. Over time, this estate was divided, and by the time of the 1855 Classification, had been separated into the estates of Château Rauzan-Gassies, Château Rauzan-Ségla, Château Desmirail, and Château Marquis de Terme.

After a long ownership by the Durand-Dasier family, the estate was acquired by Frédéric Cruse of the Cruse family in 1903 who held ownership until 1957, and until 1989 it belonged to Liverpool shipping magnate John Holt. By 1982 the estate had hired the consultant services of Émile Peynaud, and in 1989 the property was purchased by Brent Walker. In 1994 he sold the estate on to the Wertheimer family of Chanel, who installed a winemaking team led by David Orr and John Kolasa (both from Chateau Latour). Chanel remain the current owners, and they are credited with continuing to push the quality ever higher. In 2014, Nicolas Audebert, the former winemaker at Cheval des Andes, the LVMH property in Mendoza Argentina, was hired to replace John Kolasa.

Nice nose of red and black fruits. Flavor powered by blackberry, black cherry and nuances of spice- cardamom or curry like. Nice length of finish with some tannins remaining. Heavier weight than previous wines – very nice.

The wines were ranked by the attendees in this order:

1. 2005 Chateau Rauzan-Segla Margaux

2. 2005 Chateau Clerc-Milon Pauillac
3. 2005 Chateau Leoville Poyferre Saint Julien
4. 2005 Chateau Smith-Haut Lafitte Graves
All were formidable wines drinking in excellent shape for 11 years of age. Should have then again in a another 5 years or so.  Hope you enjoyed – I’ve included my presentation of the wines as well as my notes.
Till later, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grape vines.

September Wines

Just a few before I describe the 2 verticals I had on Oct 1

2011 Atalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA

2011 Atalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA

Brilliant, dark garnet in color. Rich black cherry, blackberry, plum and currant with hints of spice and toast. Sweet oak and cocoa nib integrates into the juicy black fruit. Soft and velvety texture accentuates a luscious, round mouth feel. Great depth of fruit and spice with hints of mineral, dried herbs, milk chocolate and rose petal. Great on its own, but better with grilled meats.

Critical Acclaim

TP91  Tasting Panel - "Juicy and bright with deep plum and earth; spicy, intense and neatly structured; balanced and stylish with finesse and a long finish. "

A Bordeaux-style blend, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, from vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. This red is made in a more robust style, the tannins still a tad dry, the fruit earthy in sage and cedar with black cherry and chocolaty spice at the fore.

87 points, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2014)

Very nice bottle of Cabernet from Napa. Not overly big, very approachable with good fruit balance and a good finish. 2011 was a tough year and this wine needs to be drunk over the next two years. Got a good deal, can be found for around $20.

2009 San Pedro de Yaco chuya, Malbec, Salta, Argentina

Winemaker's Notes

Notes of ripe plum, spice and and light toasty oak. The body is medium with good structure and a long finish.

Coquena Malbec is sourced from high altitude Malbec vines (5400 ft) coming from the Tolombon Estate, just 7 miles south of Cafayate. This was the last estate acquired by the Etchart family in Cafayate.

The grapes are 100% hand-harvested and sorted. The yields are dramatically limited by the extreme conditions. The wine has just a light touch through oak casks previously used for Yacochuya.

The wines are bottled with minimum fining and filtration.  Only 1600 cs made.

Critical Acclaim

RP90  The Wine Advocate - "Good Malbec is grown in the north too; roasted character, dense black fruits, drink now – 8 years. "

Nice bottle of Malbec – still a little tight, though not really very tannic.  Loosened up to have very good fruit and an expressive finish.  Good buy from Argentina. Available around $20.

2007 Vitanza "Tradizione" Brunello di Montalcino

93 points James Suckling

 Rose petals and plums on the nose. Full body, with round and chewy tannins and a ripe finish. Tannic, yet polished texture. Give it two to three years of bottle age. This wine is clearly better in 2007 than 2006.  (1/2012)

93 points Wine Enthusiast

 Thick and dark, with generous fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. This is a wine that does not hold back from an aromatic point of view. Mouthfeel is tight, firm and ends with polished tannins.  (5/2012)

92 points Wine Spectator

 A sinewy, muscular red, hinting at mint and licorice, with a core of cherry and plum flavors. Stiff tannins corral everything on the moderately long finish. Best from 2014 through 2026. B.S.  (6/2012)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Tradizione saturates the palate with layers of dark red cherries, rose petals, spices and licorice. It shows gorgeous mid-palate pliancy and depth all the way through to the finish. The Vitanza wines always have an element of rusticity, but the 2007 Brunello is especially polished. This will always be a fairly full-bodied wine marked by firm, incisive tannins. The 2007 spent 36 months in Slavonian oak. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.  (4/2012)

This wine could age longer, but is in a good place right now. Not a lot of tannins, but the black and red fruit make it a sumptuous wine – finish is still long. Well balanced, goes wonderful with a meal or by itself. You can find it for about $30...

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Washington

The Columbia Valley blend is made from numerous vineyard lots resulting in a complex, layered Chardonnay.  Malolactic fermentation follows yeast fermentation for added richness and complexity.  47% tank fermented Chardonnay was added to the blend to make a fresh style of Chardonnay.

 Sur lie aged for more than six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels (15% new) with regular stirring to soften the wine and integrate fruit and oak flavors.

“The Columbia Valley Chardonnay is a pleasurable, food-friendly Chardonnay. This is a fresh, soft style of Chardonnay with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex, interesting wine. The sur lie aging gives it an appealing softness.”

Just a cheap bottle of Chardonnay (my sister-in-laws favorite grape) that was really a very nice little white wine. It was very smooth and creamy, with hints of citrus and green apple without being a big old butterball.  Worth the $10-12 spent on it.

Also had another bottle of 2011 Terra Prima Red from Spain - had it last in February. Last bottle of my $100 case from Jacobs.  Hope you enjoy - I've got to write up notes from a vertical tasting of Kathryn Hall and Chimney Rock - years 2009 - 2012. Until then, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

August Wines 2016

Just a few wines during the summer

2013 Maipe Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza, Argentina

100% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35 years old vines.

 This Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense ruby red color with aromas and flavors of ripe blackcurrant, red pepper, mint, chocolate and vanilla hints. The fruit and tannins are perfectly balanced to give a wine of excellent structure making it ideal for grilled meats, game, pasta or pizza.-Winery Notes.

Not a bad wine – not anything to make you get too excited about. Not badly made, just not the best source – fine for a $100 case.  The Reserve would be better for about $10 more.

2015 Fog Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon California

Opens with lush aromas of floral potpourri, bright red fruits, and cloves that are complimented with subtle notes of blueberry and a hint of minerality. On the palate, this Cabernet is round and lush with flavors of red currant, Bing cherry and orange pekoe tea. Beautifully balanced, it displays well-integrated tannins and a smooth texture that leads to a long, silky finish." Winemaker's Notes

Had the field blend earlier, this is an adequate wine, good for the price but not something to seek out. Another one in the $100 case.

2012 Trivento Amado Sur, Mendoza, Argentina

This pitch black colored Malbec based blend from Argentina is consistently very good every vintage. This year is no exception. It is also a very good wine for the money. It opens with an appealing black raspberry and blackberry bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced, juicy and very easy to drink. The flavor profile is a tasty blackberry with notes of nicely integrated mild oak and hint of gentle minerality. I also detected to a touch of black licorice and dark chocolate. The finish is dry and its flavors and moderate tannins stick around for a while after the wine is gone. This very nice wine would pair well with barbecue steak tips. Enjoy

Grape blend: 70% Malbec, 18% Bonardo, & 12% Syrah

This was an email special from my wine friends. Cost was around $10 – rated over 90 points by several of the wine magazines. Interesting combination of grapes and it really works.  Good acidity for foods and a decent aftertaste, this is a great bargain.  Worth finding and stocking up on a few bottles.

Color: Straw yellow with gold reflections.

 Aroma: Sweet scents of elder and pear tree flowers followed by ripe apricots, pineapple and

melon.

 Taste: Flavors of pineapple and melon with a good mid-palate weight and a long, mellow and

harmonious finish.

GRAPE VARIETIES 100% Garganega

If you are old like me, you remember Soave as a tasteless thin wine, not unlike much of the pinot grigio craze today.  This wine was very good – I never guessed it was a Soave. Very food friendly, easy drinking but with distinct flavors that kept lingering. Price is under $20, a great summertime wine.

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

July Wines

Hot time in the city!

2011 Rios de Chile Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley, Chile

Rios de Chile Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 – On the nose, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was a jar of jam with ripe red fruit and a dash of earth and herbs.  Plenty of tannins, spice, and more red fruit added up to a robust red wine with more earthy spice on the finish.  The cost is $10 or so.

The fruit was very upfront, the tannins had faded quite a bit in my bottle. Decent little quaffer for the $10 range, not something I would search out.

2013 El Miracle by Mariscal, Old Vine Garnarcha, Valencia, Spain

Super Value! 90 Points Wine Advocate!

"The Spanglish-sounding 2013 El Miracle by Mariscal is named after the barrels designed by Valencian artist Javier Mariscal, that appear on the label. Against all odds, it is 100% Garnacha Tintorera matured for eight months in second-use French oak barrels. The wine is surprisingly aromatic with notes of red cherries, not as dark as you'd expect from a grape that has so much coloring matter with perhaps some herbal hints that add freshness. The palate is medium-bodied, with dusty tannins and good acidity, slightly rustic but with character and in need of food. A nice Garnacha Tintorera at very good price. 32,000 bottles produced."

I’m always a sucker for cheap old vine Garnacha – this was a good example of good things sometimes coming cheap.  The fruit was good, the acid balance made it very good with different foods. Worth buying and it is in the $10 range.

2013 Falesco Tellus Merlot, Umbria, Italy

For this 100% Merlot, Falesco hand-harvests grapes from the Orvieto estate's best hillside vineyards, where the exposure, setting, and soil are perfect for grape ripening. The grapes are fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak barriques for just six months in order to preserve the wine's rich organoleptic character.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby-red in color, sensual aromas of blackberry and purple fruits complement undertones of tobacco and vanilla. On the palate, velvety tannins and a full body make for a balanced wine with a long, lingering finish.

Merlot gets a bad rap for a bunch of mediocre wines produced from the wrong areas to grow Merlot.  In my humble opinion, some of the best priced and tasting Merlot is grown in Italy.  It is clean, has a nice fruit balance with a great acidity to match a wide variety of foods. The finish was fairly long and I found this a most pleasurable wine.  This one is in the $15 range, but worth its price.

2011 Marquese de Grinon Caliza, Valdepena, Spain

About This Winery:

"Caliza" means limestone in Spanish, used in naming this wine so as to pay homage to the unique soil profile at this Dominio de Valdepusa estate. The moderate layer of clay topsoil over rocky limestone leads to elegantly structured wines. Caliza is a blend of Syrah and Petit Verdot which are fermented in stainless steel followed by one year in new and second passage French oak.

Tasting Notes:

Deep purple in color with ruby reflections, this wine shows alluring notes of blackberries and cassis with undertones of cinnamon and minerality. On the palate, it is beautifully full-bodied and silky with refreshing acidity and flavors that unfold into the long-lasting finish.

Food Pairing: Pair this wine with Spanish-style sirloin, prime rib, rich terrines, or pisto manchego.

Varietal composition: 70% Syrah and 30% Petit Verdot

Type of oak: French

Length of aging before bottling: 9-12 months

91 Points - James Suckling:

"Aromas of blueberry, blackberry and mineral follow through to full body, firm tannins and a clean finish. Very refined and silky. Drink now." - (July 16th, 2015)

89 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:

"Caliza is the name given to calcareous, chalky soils in Spanish, and it's the dominant soil in The Dominio de Valdepusa vineyards in Malpica de Tajo that gave name to the 2011 Caliza, a blend of Syrah, Petit Verdot and Graciano. Most of the wines are produced with a long maceration (four weeks), ten months aging in French oak barrels and bottled unfiltered and unfined. Quite dark-colored, the nose shows quite unusual aromas of biscuits, olive skin, mint, Mediterranean herbs, paprika and a touch of leather. The palate is medium to full-bodied with balsamic flavors and abundant, slightly dusty tannins. Good value. 88,000 bottles." - Luis Gutierrez (Feb 2015)

This was a delicious, big wine we had for a summer tasting. Probably too big for that, but great fruit, tannins that were there but not overpowering. Really good wine that needs some fairly hardy foods to make it sing.  Syrah and Petit Verdot from Spain – surprising but well done on that chalky soil.  Price is around $20 - $25, well worth the money.

NV Torre Oria Cava Brut, Requina, Spain

TASTING NOTES

Pale yellow color with golden highlights, it has a full floral bouquet of wild flowers and berries and abundant fine bubbles. On the palate it has a magnificent presence, it is complex, full-bodied and fresh with a lovely enduring flavors of peaches, tropical fruits and flowers

For some reason, this Cava Brut didn’t hit my fancy like they normally do.  The peach was there but it seemed a little dull on the palate.  Maybe it was just me, the heat or something else. Price is fair, around $10, may try again later to see if it was me, that bottle or the way I think of it.

2014 Diversion Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, USA

Vintage: 2014

Alcohol: 13.2%

Blend: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cab Franc

Tasting Notes: Eucalyptus, fresh summer berries, cassis and cookie crumb nose, cinnamon palate with big, velvety mouth, great length with molten chocolate, round medium tannins.

Accolades: 90 Points – Beverage Testing Institute, 2013 Gold Medal & Cellar Selection & Best Buy (2013 vintage)

A young cabernet that offers pretty nice refreshment, matched well with lots of foods. Not something to keep for too many years, the tannins are non-existent, but a decent little bottle for the price. OK –I got it in my $100 case – Amazon offers it for $28.  Fine for about $15, wouldn’t spend over $25 for it.

2013 Fallegro

What undoubtedly made the difference was making the right choice on when to take action on the basis of climate, variety and pedoclimatic conditions. Wherever green harvesting and stripping of the leaves were carried out at the right time and in the right way, well-structured, long-lasting wines will be obtained to make 2013 an excellent vintage.     

Winemaking 

The grapes for Fallegro are hand picked very carefully and carried to the cellar in small baskets to be pressed within 5 hours from the harvest. The grapes selection is carried out directly in the vineyard. After the pressing the must undergoes the natural cold clearing and then, upon racking, it is left to ferment at a temperature of about 16-18°C. Each parcel is vinified separately, depending on the soil, the special handling of certain parcels, or the type of wine that we intend to perform. After the fermentation and racking the wine is blended and undergoes the malolactic fermentation. After an aging period in stainless steel of about 4 months the Fallegro is put in the bottle, where it rests for a few months before being released.

Varietal composition: 100% favorita  (Vermentino)

Harvest:  September Vineyards: Piedmont, Roero 

Maceration:  partly MLF: 80% Ageing: initially “sur lie”, then 4 months in stainless steel before being bottled 

A surprising white wine that runs about $10, very nice wine with weight for food and clean flavors for sipping. Could have hints of spritz, but not bubbly – one I would serve to many friends.

Well another month has flown by - keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grape vines!