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!

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.