1999 Senhora do
Convento Port, Oporto, Portugal
90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Concentrated fruit and spice embrace the tannins in this
impressively ripe, full wine. It's not from a major Port vintage, but it shows
good structure and mature red fruits. It's ready to drink now and very
enjoyable.
Designation Vintage
Variety Port, Port Blend
Appellation Port, Portugal
Winery Senhora do Convento
This is a close out I
got for $20 – a vintage port. The cork was a bitch, it crumbled while pulling,
but the wine is quality stuff. Reddish tint, the flavor is broad, with a nice
finish. Well worth the price…
2013 Hafner Next Red,
Alexander Valley, California
In 1997, we planted three acres of Malbec and Petit Verdot
to blend with our Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Having enjoyed Malbec wines from the
Cahors region of France, we decided to create a Malbec based wine and named it
Next Red. This is our tenth vintage.
After many tastings in the Spring of 2015, we blended 13%
Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot with 84% Malbec. We continued to
barrel-age the wine until it was bottled in August 2015.
Young and fruit-forward, the 2013 Next Red opens with notes
of cola spice, licorice and forest floor. The liveliness and spice from the
Malbec is complemented by the elegant complexity of the Cabernet and the Petit
Verdot. Bright and complex on the palate, it has notes of dark chocolate,
carpaccio, violets and toasted bread that add richness and length to the wine.
Like its predecessors, the 2013 has the balance and complexity to age well for
at least an additional fifteen years.
This is a smaller
family vineyard in Sonoma that my brother buys from. This was a gift – not a
bad little wine but the Malbec was a bit subdued. Moderate finish, decent
balance but not great. Good, but…When you’re growing grapes in California, I
wouldn’t make a wine like Cahors.
NV Mandard Touraine
Brut, France
Tasting : Touraine presents a fine foam and a beautiful
cord. Pale yellow color, this wine offers a fruity (quince, honey) and a smooth
and harmonious mouth. This wine is to consume within two years after the
purchase.
Drinking temperature : 8 ° C.
Food/wine: this wine is ideal for an aperitif at a
reasonable price, it can also be served to the why not on a meal for those who
love and wine of honor (communions, weddings, municipalities...) fine bubbles.
This wine is made
primarily from the somewhat obscure grape Arbois. A light, crisp and refreshing
sparkler that will work well with anything as an aperitif to popping a bottle
because the day ends in “Y”!
A very refreshing
sparkling wine, imported by Roche-Mere. The obscure grape makes it unique, but
the flavors are very familiar and welcome. Nice buy around $20.
2014 Three Wine
Company Old Vines Field Blend, Contra Costa, CA
Our Old Vines Field
Blend is sourced from ancient vineyards in Contra Costa County, and include
Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Mataro (Mourvèdre), Carignane, and Alicante Bouschet.
All the grapes in this blend come from vineyard blocks with extremely sandy
soils called Delhi Sandy Loam.
This Old Vines Field Blend is luscious combination of
ancient-vine Carignane (44%), Zinfandel (17%) Petite Sirah (14%), Mataro
(19%), Alicante Bouschet (4%), and Black
Malvoisie (2%). Each of these varietals contribute to the deep purple/black
color and piercing, high-toned aromas of boysenberry violets and dark plum.
Massive on the attack, showing off all of its 100+ year-old-vine pedigree.
Packed with crushed black fruits and black cherry liquer, the finish remains
firm and vibrant. Drink now (hard not to), or lay down for up to a decade. As
with all these ancient-vine reds, oxygen is its friends.
Very good fruity
aroma with good berry mouthfeel – moderate finish. A great example of “field
blends” – wine has good balance to be a sipper or go with nice hardy meals.
Under $20 – good buy!
2014 Three Wine
Company Mazzoni “Live Oak” Zinfandel, Contra Costa, CA
The Live Oak was planted in 1885 by Italian immigrants; it
produces a mere 2.35 tons per acre. The Live Oak vineyard is made up of predominately
Zinfandel vines (81%) but is a field blend with Petite Sirah (11%), Carignane
(6%), Alicante Bouschet (1%), and Mataro (1%).
The wine is dark black and blue color to the edge, with
boysenberry, violets, supple tannins and perfect acidity. The wine shows
staggering ancient vine concentration with a briary density and silken
chewiness with a velour-like texture which is classic Live Oak.
92 Points Wine
Enthusiast
Harvested late but not sweet, this decadently rich and
fruity wine pairs well with cheese or an equally opulent dish such as osso
bucco or red wine risotto. It has grapey, jammy aromas and late-picked flavors
like fig, plum and black raisin that glide along the palate. The alcohol is
high, tempered by a velvety texture and moderate tannins.
A very likable
Zinfandel from Winemaker Matt Cline; rich with a bit of heat to it (the
alcohol) but an overall outstanding effort to blend into a great texture,
flavor profile. Tannins are there but muted; drink now or cellar for a few
years – this Zin can handle it. Cost is around $30.
2014 Three Winery
Company “Bigelow” Zinfandel, Contra Costa, CA
93 Points Editors’
Choice Wine Enthusiast
Big, powerful and confidently ripe, this full-bodied wine
oozes with luscious blackberry, wild sage and blueberry flavors that seemingly
melt in the mouth. A great example of the late harvest style without being
sweet, it's dry, concentrated and persistent on the finish.
Marcus James Bigelow was a gentleman farmer and hoedown
fiddler who enjoyed playing cards with friends more than farming. While he
moved and worked slowly, he was reported to have been a very fast driver.
Originally planted in the mid 1880's, his vineyard on Neroly Road in Oakley is
still producing a minuscule quantity of small berry Mataro, Carignane, and
Zinfandel. This 130 year-old vineyard is dry-farmed and grown in Delhi Sand
series loam soil, which is similar to beach sand. These vines produce a mere
1.5 to 2.5 tons of fruit per acre and are some of the first grapes to arrive
into the winery.
This Bigelow Zinfandel is made up of predominately Zinfandel
(77%) and is blend with Petite Sirah (14%), Alicante Bouschet (1%), Carignane
(6%), and Mataro (2%). The wine is dark black and blue color to the edge, with
boysenberry, violets, supple tannins, and perfect acidity. The wine shows
staggering ancient vine concentration with a briary density, and silken
chewiness with a velour-like texture which is classic Bigelow.
A really big, broad
shouldered Zinfandel, this wine has outstanding fruit and herb flavors that
meld into a wonderful experience. This wine needs serious food, no back-yard
sipper here. This wine compares well to other high end zinfandels and the cost
is around $30-35. Buy one and try it, it is really something!
2014 Three Winery
Company Petite Sirah, Contra Costa, CA
92 Points Cellar
Selection Wine Enthusiast
This is a classy, dry and firmly structured wine from the
warm climate and sandy soils of Contra Costa County. It has an extremely dark
color, tight aromas of just-ripe fruit and black pepper, and focused,
concentrated flavors of black berry and cherry. Balanced and full yet not
overpowering in body, it is a great candidate for further aging. Best after
2022.
Our Petite Sirah vineyard has vine rows running east to west
with a high of about 20’ elevation on the east side to about sea level on the
west end. Due to the soil type and moderate growing conditions, the vineyard
produces low yielding small berry clusters with intense color, structure and
fruit flavors. Explosive aromas of blueberry preserves and sweet herbs and
packed with blueberry flavors and firm tannins, accentuate this
ultra-concentrated Petite Sirah. Drink now for its primary fruit plushness or
age 5 to 7 years to help soften the tannins.
I love a well made
Petite Sirah and this is one. Intense and deep, brooding color and concentrated
flavors that linger on the finish. Balanced, not overpowering but has some
tannins to allow for aging. Best part – this retails at $25, can be found for
as low as $20. Awesome wine – Matt Cline the winemaker was here and he said he
loved being able to use the old vines to make this wine.
So, until we meet
again, Keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines.
Oh, Happy New Year and many more.
Double Shot - I never got November loaded, so here they are
2015 Vina Estampa
Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon/Petite Verdot,
Colchagua Valley, Chile
"Powerful, structured and full of rich dark fruit
flavors, dominated by plum pudding, blackberry and roasted cherry." Wine Spectator: 91 Points
Not a lot of press on
this wine, but it was a very tasty buy. Nicely balanced with good fruit flavor,
a nice blend. Under $15, well worth the money.
2014 Domaine LaFage
Cuvee Nicolas Grenache Noir, Catalanes, France
Wine Advocate
– 90-92 points -Aged in 25% demi-muids, the 2014 Cotes Catalanes Nicolas comes
all from the rolling hills and gravel soils in the Aspres region and is made
from 100% Grenache. What should represent an incredible value, it boasts
fabulous notes of black raspberry, licorice and crushed violets to go with
medium+-bodied richness, fine tannin and a supple, pretty profile on the
palate. This is far from an over-the-top fruit bomb and it has real class and
elegance. Buy it by the case and drink it over the coming 2-3 years.
This was an awesome
wine at around $10. Good balance, acidity to pair with foods and excellent
fruit flavors. Worth buying a bunch, it won’t bore you.
2013 Chateau D’Arcole
Grand Cru, Saint-Emilion, France
The following wines from France are imported by a Wichita
company – Roche-Mere. The wines are very good.
Arcole Castle is deep purple in color. The nose is
characterized by intense aromas of red fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), and
warm toasted bread and vanilla notes. The palate is rich and elegant with silky
tannins. It can be appreciated for its fruit when young, but its robust
structure will allow it to age in the cellar for several years.
The property is certified organic and now is biodynamic
certified (since 2012).
A very interesting
wine – Bordeaux all the way with a 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon blend.
A little young, has nice aging potential. Lots of red and black fruits and
moderate tannins. Went well with the meal – a little pricey at around $40, but
comparable to much higher priced wines from the same area.
2014 Domaine de
L’Arnesque Cotes du Rhone, France
Grape varieties 70%
Grenache, 30% Syrah
Average age of vineyard 20
years
Wine making 21
days traditional vinification with total destemmed grapes and several
“delestages” (rack and return)
Ageing 1 year in raw
concrete
Decanter Magazine
87 points
Delicate aromas of ripe strawberries, raspberries and
redcurrants flow across the light, fragrant palate where they are sprinkled
with the merest hint of nutmeg. Well-made and very drinkable with a long, dry
finish.
This was a very good
CDR – nose started a little closed but the flavors were bright fruit with herbs
and pepper on a moderate finish. This was excellent with our meal, a stuffed
pork chop. Retails for about $20, a real good buy.
2015 Justin Girardin
Bourgogne, Burgundy, France
White Wine by Justin Girardin from Burgundy, France. An
expansive, complex bouquet evokes fresh pear, white peach and honey, with a
hint of iodine in the background. Dry and stony on the palate, offering intense
citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a touch of anise. Closes with building
smokiness, a touch of bitter pear skin and very good persistence.
This wine sees about
20% in new oak and the remainder in steel. Adds a nice complexity to a very dry
white with subtle fruit flavors. Very drinkable and went with an excellent
salad. Price is $20-25; a very good price for a white Burgundy of this quality.
2014 Domain Gaget
Chateau du Py Morgon, France
90 Points Wine
Enthusiast
This ripe and smooth wood-aged cru wine from small parcels
on the south slope of 1,174-foot Côte du Py is now very approachable. It has
generous tannins that are mature and with fine acidity and black-cherry fruits.
The wine, concentrated and rich, is ready to drink.
Very pleasant sipper,
great fruit nose – a little lighter than the other wines offered, but a real
palate pleaser, Gamay is not given the due it should. Wine is priced around $25
and worth the 90 points awarded by the magazine.
2015 Chateau de
Montmirail Cuvee de Duex Freres, Vacqueyras, France
This Vacqueyras is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and
10% Mourvedre bottled unfiltered. It's classic southern Rhône. It's leathery
and gamy, with voluptuous berry fruit and white pepper. The palate is fresh,
with crunchy fruit and ripe, well-integrated tannins.
This was a crowd
pleaser – decent nose of red fruits followed by a complex mouthfeel of red
fruits, spices and some leather. A nice long finish with integrated tannins.
Priced right at $25 – 29, you will really like this wine.
Our Reserve Chardonnay is made following techniques I
learned during my internship at Domaine des Comtes Lafon in Meursault, France.
We begin in the vineyard by using a Burgundian-bred Chardonnay clone (Dijon 76)
for our grapes. At the winery, we inoculated the juice with two Burgundian
yeasts (Montrachet and CY 3079), then barrel-fermented the juice in new and
one-year-old French oak barrels to give the wine a roasted nuts aroma and a richness
on the palate. After primary fermentation, we moved half of this wine and its
lees (yeast sediment) to older French oak barrels to allow the wine to develop
and mature without becoming too oaky. Like at Lafon, all of the wine underwent
malolactic fermentation. This traditional Burgundian technique converted the
grapes’ natural malic acid to the softer lactic acid, adding richness and
complexity to the palate.
The 2014 Reserve Chardonnay is fruit-focused and youthful
with aromas of grapefruit blossoms, candied lemon peel and ripe pears. Lively,
fresh on the entry, it has a rich mid-palate with notes of sweet cream; the
toasty vanilla flavors from barrel-fermentation and extended barrel-aging
enhance its bouquet. Lovely now, the 2014 Reserve has the structure and
excellent balance to allow it to age for at least three more years.
A Thanksgiving wine
gift from by my brother, this wine is more California than the White Burgundy
above. That being said, it was a very nice white, with the nice dry edge and
bright tropical fruits showing. Moderate aftertaste, a nice wine. Only
available from the winery,a small Sonoma family operation that has been there
since 1967. Priced at around $30.
Hope you enjoyed the
wines, the Holidays are around the corner. Keep popping those corks and I’ll
meet you out behind the grapevines.
"
