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!

June Wines 2016

A few more wines to taste

2010 Montevina Zinfandel

Vibrantly fruity red wine with juicy coffee and cherry aromas, then zingy raspberry and redcurrant fruit on the palate. Subtle sweet oak notes give way to gentle caramel and clove tones on the finish. Ripe, rounded red wine, combining bold fruitiness with spicy complexity.

About this bottle: The rocky granite soils of the Sierra Foothills are perfect for big, deep red wines – Zinfandel in particular. Montevina’s Zins are from vineyards planted in the mid-1800s and as winemaker Chris Leamy explains, ‘this gives them a deep sense of place’. The region’s gold prospectors are known to have brought the vines and planted them here, so they could quench their thirst with wine after a day hunting for gold.

Grape Variety: 90% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah

 Region: California, Amador County, Sierra Foothills

The zins from the Sierra Mountains are not the big fruit bombs made in other regions. The vines are usually older and are more nuanced in their development of flavors. There is usually spice and some pepper but the fruit flavors are more balanced, hence the winemaker note of rounded red wine. This was near the end of its useful life, but was a good school night wine for under $10. Newer vintages would be better now.

2013 Fog Mountain Field Blend, California

Sonoma County, California -  Varietal Red Blend 

"Elegantly brings together 5 core varietals: Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah for a wine that is layered and complex. Aromas of ripe red fruit and exotic spices lift from the glass and immediately capture your attention. Flavors of tangy raspberries, fresh-picked strawberries, and red currant coat the palate with a delightfully rich flavor profile. This wine is well balanced with smooth, juicy tannins that make it an approachable, food-friendly wine." Winemaker's Notes

The Field Blend brings together seven distinct varietals, delivering exquisite aromas of raspberry and bing cherry. Soft and supple on the mouth, strawberry notes intermingle with hints of cedar and culminate in a subtle tobacco finish.

This is a hard wine to track down – obviously a third label type thing or extra juice producer with no web site.  The quotes came from different retailers selling the product for about $11. Not an overpowering wine, but decent fruit flavor and balance to make it very drinkable. Not something to age, no tannins and the finish is fairly short. Above average school night wine – I caught the zin, syrah and cabernet in the flavors.

2013 Gabriel Meffre Terre de Galets, Cotes du Rhone, France

The name comes from the smooth, white pebble stones called “galets” that are found in the vineyards. They reflect the heat and light of the sun to help ripen the grapes and create a rich and concentrated wine. Deep crimson and purple color leads to the flavors of ripe, red fruits and blackberries with spice notes. Full bodied with a spicy finish.

Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault grapes that make up this cuvée are vinified separately in order to preserve their specificities.

I happen to really like wines from the Rhone region of France – I’m even a “sidekick” in the Rhone Rangers in the US. Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras and simple Cotes du Rhone are wines that are simply wonderful food wines that can stand alone. Some are very age-worthy, while the simpler ones deserve to have a meal and friends.  Made from the Grenache and Syrah, most widely grown, with additions of Cinsault, Carignane, Counoise and Mourvèdre make wines that are firmly structured and well rounded.  This wine, a little light in color was a nice every day wine that went very well with several meals.  Not ageworthy but should drink well for a couple more years. Great buy for around $10.

2012 Kendall Jackson Syrah, California

Winemaker's Notes

Richly layered with flavors of plum, jammy blackberry, cola and just the right amount of spice followed by velvety, lingering tannins.

Critical Acclaim                  WE91 

It's impressive for a wine this good to be made in rather large quantities. Deep in color, it has mouthcoating fruit and rich tannins, with minty notes adding to the deep, dark cherry and blackberry flavors. Full-bodied and full-flavored, it relies on fruit concentration rather than overt oak for personality and is smooth in texture. It may come out of its dense phase and be even better by 2016.

KJ can put together some nice wines – they are more than the eponymous Vinter’s Reserve Chardonnay that made them a big player in the wine world. This wine was a very tasty product, except for the cork implosion that left the first pour with a fine cover of cork.  It didn’t have deep tannins, but nice body with blackberry and cherry flavor intertwined with a nice herb nuance. This is much more of a French syrah style, not the fruit bomb Aussie Shiraz style. I’ll say I really enjoyed this wine – the price was around $14, made even better by being in my $100 case. A wine you should try at the right price.

That's all I've got for now, busy, busy at work. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

May WInes 2016

May wines

Just a quick review of my May wines

Vinos de Arganza Lagar de Robla Premium Mencia 2008

·         Critical Acclaim

o    RP91

The Wine Advocate - "The 2008 Lagar de Robla Premium Mencia spent 18 months in American oak. It is the most complex of these Mencia offerings displaying density, opulence, and length. This pleasure-bent effort can be enjoyed now but will drink well for a decade. "

I may have mentioned this wine before, but it is even better at close-out pricing.  Mencia from Bierzo - still fun to say and good to drink. Once a left over grape that has become a Spanish darling in the hands of skilled winemakers and growers. Dense, plenty of pitted fruit flavor, not too heavy, no tannins, but good round mouth-feel and a nice finish. Under $10, should buy a case.

Bodegas Castano Hecula 2012

·         Winemaker's Notes

Intense and shiny cherry red color, clean. Outstanding fruity expression of plum, fig, berries with intense balsamic aromas and perfectly integrated wooden notes. Soft and silky on the palate, embodying, with elegant ripe tannins and a wide pleasant aftertaste.

Critical Acclaim

o    RP91

The Wine Advocate - "The basic offering from proprietor Ramon Castano Santa, who owns a whopping 1,000 acres in Yecla, is the 2012 Hecula, which is sourced from a non-irrigated, single vineyard planted with 100% Monastrell. Aged in both tank and French oak, it comes from 60-80-year-old vines planted in limestone soils at a relatively high elevation of over 1,600 feet. Its opaque purple color is followed by copious aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, camphor, licorice, white flowers and a chalky limestone/dusty character. Full-bodied, rich and well-balanced, it is an incredible value. "

Monastrell, also known as Mouvredre, is a dark, inky wine that carries a lot of black fruit and herbs and spices in it. A bottle that is around $10 - $12 retail, this is a great value wine. Serve it with beef, or it could overpower your meal. Real nice value bottle (Spain, again).

2012 Li Veli Passamate, Salice Salentino Negroamoro

Color The wine has a dense ruby color with a purple tint.

TasteThe taste of wine is balanced, comprehensive, powerful, soft, fresh and fragrant, with bright acidity and velvety tannins, notes of black fruit and very long finish.

Aroma Intense aroma of wine is filled with tones of ripe and juicy red berries, especially cherries and plums, spicy notes of nutmeg and cinnamon, hints of sage.

Gastronomy The wine goes well with grilled meats, pizza, pasta, vegetable soups and cheese.

I know, Italian wine from me? This was a nice example of Salice Salentino - I used to drink a lot more of it when it was a bargain. This was a new producer to me, but was a very good food wine at the price ($12). Flavors meld well and it can go with a wide variety of foods - not too overpowering with nice balanced fruit and spices echoing in a decent finish.

2009 Bodegas Sierra Salinas "Puerto Salinas" Alicante

92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

There are 5,000 cases of this remarkable value, another stunning example of the astonishing palate of Eric Solomon and his ability to ferret out exceptional wines at such ridiculously low prices that most consumers will never guess how good they are based on the price alone. Composed of 66% Monastrell, 19% Garnacha and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for one year in both new and 2-year-old French oak, it displays an inky/purple color along with notes of road tar, melted asphalt, blackberry liqueur, camphor, graphite and forest floor. The wine is complex, full-bodied, rich and intense with terrific purity and wonderful overall balance. It is one more example of a wine that completely over-delivers. (RP)  (6/2012)

91 points Wine & Spirits

 Lush and exuberantly ripe, this wine develops in the glass, gaining notes of spice and fresher fruit. It’s a tight web of tannins, completely filling the mouth with their energy and power. A wine to cellar for five years or more.  (10/2012)

Another Spanish wine - this was in my $100 case from Jacob's Liquor. Great blend, a wine that should cost a lot more.  My first taste was a little disappointing. As it stayed open and the bottle took in air (and my glass), the flavors really developed. Nicely balanced, good food wine - not too overpowering, but still meaty. Black fruit and spices, a surprising blend that really is as good as the critics said. If you see it, buy it!

2012 Cambridge & Sunset Pinot Noir, California

Ripe red raspberry and cherry aromas carry through to the palate, balanced by a crisp yet silky finish. 

VINTAGE: 

California’s 2012 vintage has been described by winemakers across the state as ideal, having produced generous amounts of high quality fruits. The threat of frost passed early on, allowing vines to bud earlier than usual. A mild, even summer season and dry, cool fall allowed growers to keep their grapes on the vine longer to ripen sugars, while still keeping an above average acidity. These outstanding growing conditions resulted in many wines embodying their terroir, reminiscent of the best Bordeaux years, with the flavor concentration and fruit characteristics that exemplify California.

Another of the $100 case - this was what you expect for a cheap Pinot Noir. Decent cherry, red fruit but not a full mouth-feel. Finish was short, not what I call silky. Keep the meal light - chicken, pizza or pasta. Not highly recommended...

Hope you enjoy and remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grape vines.

MidWest WineFest

Premier Charity Event in Wichita, Kansas

Notes from the MidWest Winefest Grand Tasting

April, 2016

Here are my tasting notes from the Grand Tasting of the Midwest Winefest in April at Century Two in Wichita, Kansas. There were plenty of restaurants serving small quantities of appetizers, main dishes and desserts – a whole lot of bite size goodness throughout the hall.  Wine stations were staggered through the hall, although the lines became problems when several were stuck together. Here is what I tasted and made notes.

NV Domaine Chandon Brut Classic

A tasty light bubbly which started the night perfectly. Hints of yeast with fresh apple, and pear profiles and a bit of citrus on the end. Very refreshing.

2012 Justin Justification

A nice Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend from one of our favorite wineries from the Paso Robles area.  Good dark color and a round nose of red berries. Balanced mouth-feel, dominated with red and black fruit with hints of toasty spices. A touch soft in the mid-palate but a nice finish. Little tannins, drinkable now or could hold a few years.

2014 Hahn GSM – Grenache-Syrah-Mouvedre

Moderate nose of red fruits, but not a big mouth-feel. There is strawberry, a little spice but not much of a finish. Could ber it is young, or just may never flesh out. Probably better with food – nothing too heavy, maybe pork roast.

2013 Hess Collection, Allomi Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Good deep color with a nose of deep, dark colored fruits. Dark berry with hints of graphite give a broad taste and a full finish with integrated tannins. Very nice now, better in a couple years.

2013 The Crusher, Petite Sirah

Light in color for a Petite – a grape I think is overlooked in the wine world. Nose was decent, with red and black berry nuances. Flavor seemed almost hollow – hints of something but not really following through. Finish just disappeared – overall disappointing. (Maybe the wines before wiped out my objectivity, but, maybe not)

2014 Cosentino The Cigar Zin (Zinfandel)

Color a little light for Zin – a grape I’ve enjoyed in all of its styles – and the nose seemed a little short, without much aroma. The taste had some berry and pepper, but they lacked much depth. The finish ended short, as well – I have memories of older Cosentino wines being better…

2012 Girard Artistry

This wine had great deep color and has all 5 Bordeaux blending grapes in the wine. A deep nose of red and black fruit tailed into the taste. A broad flavor with good balance of the fruits (red raspberry and blackberry) with hints of graphite and cocoa. Nice tannic backbone for a long finish and good aging potential.

2012 Duckhorn Merlot

Good color with a modest nose of red fruits. The red fruit has a touch of vegetable in it – could be the bottle or its dumb phase. Nice finish with some tannins – a wine that really would excel with food.

2013 Frog’s Leap Zinfandel

Nice color – modest nose of red berries. Good flavors of red fruits (raspberry and strawberry) with nice spice and cedar notes. Moderate aftertaste with a few tannins. Commendable zinfandel.

2012 Rombauer Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Selection (Reserve)

Very deep dark wine with a good nose of red berry and hints of floral aromas. Big upfront red fruits, followed by a broad mid-palate of berry, cigar box and shades of spices. Aftertaste lingered with firm but not overwhelming tannins. Very nice wine.

2012 Justin Isosceles

Nice deep color; broad nose of red and black fruits. Broad mouth-feel with red and black fruits, with smoky overtones (cumin?). Very long aftertaste with moderate tannins. Approachable now but better a few years down the road. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

2013 Haraszthy Bearitage Red Blend

Light color; modest nose of red fruits. Taste like soda pop – red strawberry – with sweetness included. Very disappointing – obviously a wine only for beginners needing something sweet and quaffable.

2012 Spur Red Blend

From the folks at Wente vineyards – moderate color. Nose was mostly red fruit. The flavor had red fruit, plums and overtones of cigar box. Pleasant blend with a moderate aftertaste –drink now as the tannins disappear. 

2014 Chalk Hill Sonoma County Chardonnay

Golden Green tinted color – nice fruity nose of citrus and apple. Not too oaky, but a little butter and citrus flavors with a hint of floral notes. Good finish, surprisingly long – very nice chardonnay.

2013 Artezin Mendicino Zinfandel

Dusky dark color – modest fruit nose, mostly red and blackberry. Good broad mouth-feel, red fruits, pepper and cardamom with a long finish. A very nicely styled zinfandel.

2013 St. Francis Old Vine Zinfandel (Sonoma)

Deep color with a bright raspberry nose. The full flavor had red fruits and hints of spice and tobacco with a nice long aftertaste. The pepper is understated, but does show up while sipping. As usual, a well made zinfandel.

2013 Petite Petit – Michael David Winery

Moderate color – a blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot. Modest fruit nose with some unusual mid-palate flavors – either sulfur or vegetable. The reviews called it camphor – I call it off-putting. Decent body but the aftertaste was pretty short. Not what I had hoped for in this wine.

2013 7 Deadly Zins Zinfandel

Decent nose with good color. Flavor had a soft mid-palate, with red fruits but lacking much spice or pepper. Aftertaste came up a little short – an average zinfandel

2013 Zac Brown Uncaged Red Blend

Had this in our Celebrity Wine tasting – it did pretty well in the voting. Decent color with a very fruity nose – raspberry and cherry. The flavor is a full frontal assault of the red fruits, maybe a little too forward. The aftertaste is moderate, not carrying too much with it. No real tannins, a wine to drink soon.

I also tasted the 2013 Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon, but it was near the end of the evening and it was OK, but not notable.  I finished with a light dry Riesling, I thought was a Schmitt Sohne Riesling, but they aren’t listed on the wines available. They had a sweeter one, but I drank all of the dry one as an end to a fun night. I saw many old and new friends. A great charity event.

Hope you enjoy - keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

April Wining

April was a great wine month. I only have a few bottles for now; I spent a weekend in Napa, California and the Midwest Winefest was held in Wichita in April. I will be posting tasting notes from the Winefest soon. Tee Napa trip will be coming also, got to finish typing notes and sorting pictures.

2014 Bodegas Filion Garnarcha, Calatayud, Spain.

"The 2010 Filon was sourced from 30- to 40-year-old vineyards. It offers up notes of smoke, mineral, and wild cherry that mingle with layers of ripe cherry fruit on the palate. A bit more elegant than the Retorno bottling but no less pleasurable, this savory offering over-delivers in a big way. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.". Stephen Tanzer, 90 Points. Producer The winery is located in Villarroya de la Sierra, one of the highest areas of the Do made of Paleolithic materials, mainly quartzite and slate. In addition the soils have the right organic content, which provide sufficient nutrients to the plant with proper aeration. The climate offers little rain and large temperature fluctuations between day and night.

Real nice little sipper, went well with foods. Still young, but not something I would age very long. Good acid balance but no tannins.

2011 George DuBoeuf Fleurie Gamay, Beaujolias, France

The name of the wine "Fleurie" evokes the flowers, which the company "Duboeuf" adorns the labels of its wines. Perfectly balanced cuvée "Fleurie", one-eighth of which matures in new oak barrels, has flavor, characteristic of classical Gamay - with hints of wild strawberries and rose petals, cedar nuances.

Wine Spectator: 90 Points

Well-focused and fresh, this stylish red offers creamy flavors of blackberry puree, plum pudding, graphite, anise and smoke. Well-knit, with supple tannins. Drink now through 2020. 5,000 cases made

Stephen Tanzer: 87 Points

Brilliant ruby.  Raspberry and candied flowers on the fragrant nose.  On the jammy side, offering plush red fruit flavors that spread out to coat the palate.  Comes up a bit short on the finish but offers plenty of appealing, straightforward fruit.

You usually don’t drink anything from this region after a few years. I got this on close out and it still stood up nicely, with the fragrant nose and nice fruit flavors and balance. I wouldn’t keep it very long, but great for Spring and Summer drinking.

2014 Simone Scalletta Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy

Red ruby brilliant color with violet reflections, it opens on the nose with fresh and fruity aromas of blueberry and violet and velvet notes of almond. In the mouth it expresses harmony and pleasantness, with an almond note at the end. Even if it may be drunk when still young, it doesn’t fear ageing for some years.

Dolcetto is not a real common Italian wine for most Americans, but I have had a number of nice ones. This wine showed very well with the Italian meal served with it – could have stood to even heartier fare like lasagna.

2012 Vietti Tre Vigne Barbera d’Asti, Piedmont, Italy

Ruby purple color with ripe red cherry aromas with hints of mineral and vanilla. A dry, medium bodied red wine with refreshing acidity (making it perfect to pair with food) and soft tannins, the Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne is well balanced with good integration of oak, good complexity and a finish of more red cherries.

I have had many Barbera’s – some god, some not. This is one of the better ones I’ve had – always stick to Italian ones, California ones have always disappointed. Went well with the meal and was very popular at the tasting/meal. Perfect for a true Italian dinner.