WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION March Tasting 2013

Oregon – on the Western American Wine Trail

Opening Wine

2009 Argyle Brut, Willamette Valley, Oregon                                                       Around $24

Very nice sparkler, well balanced with acidity and nice fruit flavors. 46% Pinot Noir, 54% Chardonnay.

Red Wine #1

2009 R Stuart Big Fire Pinot Noir, Oregon                                                               Around $20

Nice cherry nose, touch astringent. Light berry flavors, hints of spice - decent aftertaste.

 

Red Wine #2

2011 Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon                               Around $22

Nose was a little subdued, flavors were very berry, cherry and fruit compote. Long finish, with a good acidic balance.

Red Wine #3

2010 Adelshiem                Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon                                   Around $25

Nice nose – cherry and raspberry. Silky flavors of cherry and raspberry with hints of spices (nutmeg?). Smooth finish, very little tannins.

Red Wine #4

2010 Soter Vines North Valley Pinot Noir, Wilamette, Oregon                     Around $25

Nice berry, cherry nose with good flavors of cherry, blueberry and spices. Finish slightly tangy, a rhubarb taste.

The top vote getter was the Argyle Brut, the greeting wine – a first I believe. Second was the Soter Vines, followed by the Big Fire, Adelsheim and Raptor Ridge.

Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

 

WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION February 2013 Tasting

Sorry for the little vacation - but I'm back and will work on getting things posted regularly

Washington State            Part 1 of the West Coast Wine Country Tour

Opening Wine

2010 Chateau Ste Michelle-Dr Loosen  Eroica Riesling                      Around $21

Wonderful fruit nose, with pineapple and star fruit. Big mouth feel – lush with pineapple, pear and other tropical fruits. A hint of sweetness, but not cloying; good lasting aftertaste.

2008 Nine Hats Syrah                                                                                      Around $26 

Moderate nose, a little closed in. Nice flavors – blackberry and gooseberry, with a nice structure.A bit like black fruit cobbler in a glass. Decent length aftertaste.

2009 Columbia Crest Horse Heaven Hills (H3) Merlot                        Around $16 

Nose a little closed in, some berry hints.  Dark fruit undertones, a little bit of astringency with tannins poking in on the flavor. Hints of tobacco and mocha – was better with the food.

2010 Charles Smith Chateau Smith Cabernet Sauvignon                 Around $ 21 

Nice big fruit nose – berries and plum. Good fruit, dark berries, hints of cassis and tobacco on the finish. Good length on the end – very nice wine.

2010 Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend                           Around $20 

Nice fruity nose – drinks well with dark berry flavor and hints of spices. Not a very long aftertaste, ends a little short.

The group’s top vote getter was the Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend, followed closely by the Nine Hats Syrah, Chateau Smith and the H3 Merlot.

Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION December Tasting

American Blends

Opening Wine

Peoma Brut Cava NV, Penedes, Spain                                                                    Around $10 (Sale)

Nicely fruity, good acidic balance with hints of apple, biscuit with a clean finish. Nice cava at this price.

Red Wine #1

2010 Cryptic Red Blend, California                                                                             Around $14

Decent color, little thin on the nose. Flavors of red fruit – raspberry, hints of vanilla, a somewhat short finish. Better with food than alone. A blend of zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Red Wine #2

2010 Arizona Stronghold Mandala Red                                                                   Around $18

Nice nose of red berries; big mouthfeel, red berry and blueberry, hints of spices (cedar, pepper and anise). Nice finish. Fruit was sourced from California – Napa and Paso Robles – a blend of Cinsault, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Counoise and other grapes.

Red Wine #3

2010 Orin Swift Abstract, California                                                                          Around $29

Nose was a little closed, but with some red berry hints. Big mouthfeel, blackberries, pomegranate, spices – cedar box, tobacco and anise. Nice long finish with a tannin backwash. A blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah – very Rhone sytyle.

Red Wine #4

2009 Flora Springs Trilogy, Napa Valley, California                                              Around $45

Really nice nose, red berry and herbs. Big mouthfeel with red and dark berries, cigar box, hints of earthiness (the good kind). Good long finish with good acid and tannins to support the wine.  A Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.

The top vote getter was the Orin Swift Abstract, followed closely by the Cryptic Red, Flora Springs and the Stronghold Mandala. 70 plus members attended and enjoyed the wine, food and music by the Thacker children.

Until next time, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grape vines.

WWWC November 2012 Tasting

Petite Sirah – Ain’t nothing Petite about it!

All American wine this evening – Petite Sirah, or Durif, if you must. One of those nights where you will stain your teeth!

Opening wine

2010 La Cana Albarino    Rias Baixas, Spain                             Around $15

Nice snappy white with a good acidic balance. Touches of peach and pineapple and lemony hints. Nice wine to drink alone or with lighter fare

2010 Spellbound Petite Sirah      California                             Around $15

Winemaker is Robert Mondavi’s grandson, fourth generation. Dark color with red berry nose. Flavors deep with red berry/red gum, briar patch and a good finish.

2009 Girard Petite Sirah Napa Valley, California                   Around $30

Nice berry nose, hints of floral, dark color. Big chunky wine with broad shoulders – red berry, cola, coffee and hints of anise. Enough tannins to stay with you a while.

2009 Earthquake Petite Sirah      Lodi, California                  Around $22

Really dark color; berry, cola and tar on the nose. Briar patch, red berries, tar, spice, black olive and hints of spice box make a big chunky flavorful mouthful. Tannins and a good backbone ride a long finish. Favorite of the group.

2008 JC Cellars   Eagle Point Petite Sirah                                 Mendicino, California     Around $40

Another dark wine; red berries in the nose, although slightly subdued. Flavors of briar patch, spices, tar, berries – red and black, cola and cedar. Lots of tannins left, really needs a few more years of bottle aging to completely mellow and integrate the flavors.

Sorry the pictures didn't turn out too great this time. Photography is not my hobby.

Hope you enjoyed these - Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

Dr. Wineaux

Just Wining a little more

Remember when Rosemount Shiraz was one of the biggest wine s around? The quality dipped, we got bored with the cough syrup mentality and bottle languished on the shelf. I went ahead and tried a couple bottles from Rosemount and I say that the wines are better – not super, but good for the price. Still very fruit forward, not wines with aging potential, but decent qualities of the grape.  The acid is in balance making them pretty good every day pizza and spaghetti wines.

2010 Rosemount Shiraz Australia                                                                                              $6.99

The Shiraz was better than the last time I tasted it. Moderate nose with jammy, up front fruit and some aftertaste. Went well with a pizza. Not a bad bottle to have around for a weeknight or the after several at a party.

2009 Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet Australia                                                                          $6.99

I always kin of liked the blends better, even though the fruit is sourced from all over Australia. Nose had a tweak of cabernet, bell pepper and cassis. The flavor was dominant with the shiraz but the cab added a nice mouthfeel and slightly longer aftertaste. Was a good wine with pasta and red sauce.

2009 Pennywise Petite Sirah California                                                                                   $7.99

I’m a sucker for Petite sirah, can’t help myself. However, this is not one of the better examples. For about the same price as consistent Bogle or Concannon, this wine lacked the big mouthfeel you expect from PS. Wasn’t a bad wine, but just not very fulfilling, almost a little hollow in the mid palate.  Almost forgot about the wine before I finished it. Can’t really recommend it, even at this price.

2010 Casa LaPostelle Cabernet Sauvignon Rapel Valley, Chile                                       $9.99

Since Argentina made such noise in recent years, people forget how good some of the wines are from Chile. This was a well made Cabernet, with nice aromas and a good mouthfeel of dark red berry, cassis and hints of vegetable. Decent aftertaste, went very well with a steak dish.  Very good producer, I’d pick this up any time.

2007 Onix Priorat Spain                                                                                                                  $11.99

This used to be my favorite ten dollar wine from Priorat. It’s gone up, but still affordable.  Great tempanillo, dark in color with a fragrant nose. The flavors were long and the mouthfeel was fulfilling. Red berries, hints of tar and spice, I would serve this wine in most any Spanish tasting.  Priorat is an up and coming area but most of the wines are over my price range.

OK, I'll be back - keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION October Tasting

Australia, Mate!

Opening Wine

2012 Frisk Prickly Riesling, Victoria                                            Around $12

Light and fruity, with a nose of pear and cactus. Lightly sweet, but not cloying, good refreshing acidity to balance the flavors. Has a bit of fizz, nice little opening wine

2007 Oliver Hill Shiraz, Clarendon                                              Around $16

Nice deep color, fruity nose with a little bubble gum mixed in. Broad red fruit flavor, jammy with cherry cola hints. Nice balance, not much tannin left in the mix.

Red Wine #2

2008 Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage, Barossa                    Around $20

Good dark color and a red fruit nose. Flavors of red berry, violets and hints of tobacco and herbs. A  Claret styled wine with nice balance but not much tannin, slightly short aftertaste. Blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Shiraz.

2006 Elderton Cabernet, Barossa                                              Around $22

More mature Cabernet, color lighter than the other wines. Nice nose of red berry; somewhat laid back style of cab with red berry, hints of cherry, gun metal and tinges of green pepper. Nice balance ut not much tannin left; decent length aftertaste.

2008 Penfolds Cabernet –Shiraz South Australia Bin 389 Around $36

Deep dark color, slightly closed nose of dark berry and loamy earth. Almost astringent on first taste, weighty in the mouth, with flavors of dark berry fruit, gun metal, herbs and tar. Long finish with compacted tannins, took a while to open up in the glass – I’d wait another year or five on this one.

Great tasting, enjoyed with 60 of my close friends. Keep popping corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

WWWC September 2012

The September tasting was Italian wines paired with steak simmered in Chianti with orzo pasta. Great meal, topped off with tiramisu dessert. Here are the wines we enjoyed (selected by yours truly).

Gathering wine

2010 Uvaggio Vermintino, Lodi, California                                        around $12

This is an Italian variety that has taken root in Central California. The wine is fruity with hints of citrus, melon and a good acidic balance. Pleasant wine for just sipping or with lighter repasts, like seafood.

Red wines with dinner and dessert

1.      2010 La Cryma Christi del Vesuvio (Mastroberndino)                       around $20

Colorful red wine in the glass, with bright red fruit nose. Flavor echoed the nose with red fruits – raspberry, cherry and strawberry, with hints of spice. Moderate length aftertaste, nice Italian wine for classic dishes. Made from the piedirosso grape, without a lot of oak influence.

2.      2010 Banfi Rossi Di Montalcino                                                         around $19

A different style of sangiovese; nice nose of red fruits. Flavors of red berry and cherry, followed by hints of anise flavors. Good acid balance, decent aftertaste; a real food friendly wine.

3.      2008 Gabbiano Chinati Classico                                                         around $14

Smooth and pretty wine, typical red fruit nose. Flavors were red berry, strawberry and a hint of anise. Similar to the Banfi, but different in the flavors – no cherry and less spice influence. Slightly more oak influence, although not overly done. Aftertaste had some length, a very nice styled Chianti.

4.      2007 Sartori Regolo                                                                            around $21

Nose is slightly modest red fruits. Good flavors of red berry, cherry and cherry cola notes. Bigger wine than the other ones; well made and long on the finish. Made from corvine in the repasso style where the lees from Amarone wines are added to the barrels to soak In some of the expensive older brother flavor. Wine was the groups selection of favorite of the night.

We had 66 folks attend that evening. Hope you enjoyed it – keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you behind the grapevines.