So little time, So many wines...

2013 La Croisade Vin de Pays d'Oc Reserve Cabernet - Syrah

"With a bright deep red colour this wine is rich and luxurious on the palate. The flavours are very intense and complex with subtle nuances of violet and blackberries well integrated with toasty oak overtones. The mouth is wonderfully smooth and full bodied with an exceptional length. This wine will be the perfect accompaniment to any kind of meat dishes and cheeses or simply as an aperitif." Winemaker's Notes

  OK - not a wine that you would serve as a special occasion, still, a nice blend with balanced flavors and an ability to go with a wide array of foods. Great addition to the $100 case...

2011 Bodegas Ego "Fuerza" Monastrell, Cabernet- Jumilla, Spain

The 2011 Fuerza is mainly Monastrell with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented traditionally and aged 12 months in barriques. The nose shows a mixture of esparto grass, Mediterranean herbs, paprika and tree bark over the core of black cherries. The palate is quite savory, with fine, although abundant tannins that would do better with some powerful meat dishes.

OK - I don't know what Esparto grass smells like, but this was a heavy, nice blend made for big meat dishes. Decent aftertaste and a moderate nose, this is a great weekend bottle for grilled dead stuff.

NV Domaine Ste Michelle Brut

OK - this is a standard in my house. Great inexpensive bubbly with a new remodeled label. This beat a Dom Perignon in the Wine Trials book, in a blind tasting. Inexpensive enough to add OJ, yet tasty without any additions.

2014 Essay, Chenin Blanc/Viognier Swartland, South Africa

Winemaker's Notes:

This is a medium-bodied white made from South Africa’s classic white variety, chenin blanc. The Chenin Blanc gives the wine its bold guava and melon flavours and a refreshing acidity. Some lees contact fleshes out the wine and fills the mouth with flavour and roundness. The Viognier was added for extra body and its intriguing floral notes. 87% Chenin, 13% viognier

I'll admit, I've always liked both Chenin Blanc and Viognier. Almost off dry – great summer sipper. Medium body, light aromatics, best on a hot sunny day.

2012 Zuccardi serie A Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina

A full-bodied, rich red Argentine wine with aromas and flavours black plum, pepper and dark spices on the finish. This muscular wine will elbow its way in beside a rare steak or prime rib. It's strong, but not overpowering like the ideal dinner companion conversation. Malbec is Argentina's flagship red wine grape, and this producer excels at the style of wine. Pair with grilled meats.

Malbec food pairings: pepperoni pizza, radicchio, lamb cutlets, beef tenderloin.

The Zuccardi Serie A range demonstrates the richness and diversity of Argentina's Series" as the way of expressing our most representative grape varieties by recognizing the best growning regions specific to each, and selecting top vineyard sites along the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

 Not a bad little cheapie – typical of Malbec from Argentina – tasty, not too complex but made for meat – even better if grilled…

Chandon Etoile Tete de Cuvee 2004, Napa VAlley, California

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Pale yellow/gold with small steady bubbles.

Aroma/bouquet: Pear, apple, hazelnut, cinnamon and toast.

Palate: Lemon, tangerine, hazelnut and minerality. Creamy mouthfeel.

Additional comments: Rich and structured. Would pair well with a wide variety of food. Could positively compete with higher priced champagne.

When to drink: Chandon Etoile Tete de Cuvee 2004 is ready to drink now through 2018.

Grapes: 61% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir and 5% Pinot Meunier.

Yes, this is not an inexpensive bubbly, although it is cheaper then vintage Champagnes from France. Very structured and wonderful on the palate - I was blown away by the layers and tastes of this wine.  Even my wife thought it was really tasty...

I think I will stop for now, save a few wines for later. Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

Trying to keep up - time slips by so fast...

2005 Hafner Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, California

From the Winery:

2005 was an ideal growing season with our coolest Summer in 25 years. It was a vintage winemakers dream of because moderate temperatures allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. Our Cabernet harvest began on October 11.

Following the Bordeaux tradition of extended maceration, the wine stayed on the skins for another two weeks to soften the young tannins. We then moved the Cabernet into our caves where it was aged in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels. During its first Winter, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation which lowered its acidity and added richness. In its second year, this Cabernet was aged in both oak barrels and tanks. After many blending trials, we added 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec to this Cabernet to increase the wine’s depth and richness. The wine was bottled in August 2007.

At our Annual Vertical Tasting in February 2015, we tasted the 2005 and here are our notes: Lovely, well-balanced. Blueberries, black pepper, mint and spice aromas. Supple on the palate with flavors of dark chocolate and toast that add richness and depth.

A gift, bought from the cellar collection, this wine was drinking wonderfully. Decent nose, real nice flavors with layers. Nice finish – wasn’t even close to its end time.  Small family winery that produces Cabernet and Chardonnay. Worth seeking out.

2012 Perseverance Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Winemaker's Notes:

Rich and full with black cherry flavors followed by hints of exotic spices and plums. Nicely balanced with backbone. The finish is full and satisfying allowing it work well with red meats, red-sauced pasta dishes and chicken sausages with sautéed onions and green peppers.

 Pretty nice for a 10 buck cabernet. Decent flavors, some backbone and a modest followthru on the flavors.  Good BBQ/Pizza wine, school night wine. Not something you’d seek out, but OK in a package deal.

2012 SPICE BLOCK CABERNET  Mendoza, Argentina

Spice Block Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from individual selected vineyard blocks to exemplify the structured fruit flavors of an artisan Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza. This wine exhibits robust flavors of black fruits, cassis and cherry compote with a hint of vanilla mocha yielding a velvety finish of very fine and supple tannins refined by oak aging for 7 months.

Another typical inexpensive Cabernet, this one has nice fruit, some aftertaste.  Adequate school night wine, wouldn’t go hunting for it…

2008 Lagar de Robla  Mencia Robla Catilla Y Leon, Spain 

Robert Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate:  Rated as An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. "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."  Jun 2011

New York Times:  "Most wine drinkers, I suspect, have never heard of Bierzo, but word is getting around. And if you get the oppurtunity to taste a good bottle, with its haunting, exotic wildflower, licorice and fruit flavors, you can't help but remenber it." Eric Asminov

Winery:  "The 2008 Lagar de Robla Premium is made with 100% Mencía grapes produced by old vines in the region of Bierzo with an average age of 50 years. This big red spent 18 months in American oak and a year in the bottle before its release.  This is the most complex wine made by Vinos de Arganza. "

Yes, another Mencia from Bierzo – this was another great example of a wine made from grapes that used to make only rustic, harsh, local swill; the wine is made in a modern style and shows good fruit, nice balance and a good finish.  Really nice…

1999 St Supery Meritage, Elu,  Napa Valley Ca                   

Very well made wine – holding up very well, with layers of flavor and nice aftertaste. Berry and cigar box, without the vegetal green pepper. Very nice, touch of browning around the edges but still drinking well.

•           Winemaker's Notes

The deep reds and purples in this Cabernet Sauvignon reflect the wines depth and rich character. The bold aromas offer classic blackberry and currant Cabernet character, complemented by an undercurrant of oak and cedar with wisps of vanillin. The inticing flavors of briar and berry, toasted oak and a hint of licorice, combine with well-intergrated tannin for a complete and fulfilling wine. This wine will only get better with time in the bottle.

Napa Valley

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

54% New French Oak, 41% New American Oak

Bottled March 13-15, 2002

2014 Copain  Rose of Pinot Noir       Tous Ensemble North Coast ,CA

Very enjoyable Rose, with good Pinot flavors, hints of cherry and raspberry.  A pink for red wine drinkers

Winemaker's Notes:

With a gorgeous hue of pale pink, our 2014 Rosé jumps out of the glass with crisp red fruit flavors. The supple texture is backed by a vibrant freshness and appealing acidity, making this a wonderfully versatile food wine. The 2014 vintage started dry but abundant February rain came just in time to break the winter draught. Warm spring temperatures encouraged an early budbreak that kept vineyard development ahead of schedule through the entire season. Our harvest was condensed beginning September 3rd and concluding on September 24th. For the first time our Pinot Noir and Syrah harvest overlapped. Abundant sunshine and cool evenings created near ideal conditions for ripe and balanced wines with yields falling in the normal range. As the name, “all together”, suggests, Copain’s Tous Ensemble series offers a perfect complement to any gathering, from a casual meal to an impromptu party. Approachable, balanced and ready to drink, these wines pair beautifully with almost any food, any day of the week. Tous Ensemble wines reflect a classic blend of fruit sourced from select vineyards throughout Mendocino County.

2011 Nickel & Nickel Syrah Darien Vineyard, Russian River Valley, CA

SENSORY EVALUATION

The 2011 Darien Vineyard Syrah opens with lovely violet and floral notes along with the juicy meatiness inherent to the varietal. Flavors of berry and plum blend beautifully with earth and spice, creating a well-rounded medley of flavors on the palate. The wine’s texture is rich and balanced allowing for a satisfying progression from front to finish.

This wine was deep, dark and almost brooding. The nose was a big – fruit and floral and hints of the spice. The flavor was real big, red fruits, spice and some herbs popping in. Stayed with you for some time; quite a follow-thru of flavor. What a real nice bottle of wine – it could have been kept for several years without losing any of its flavors.

Just a few more notes

2013 Honoro Vera Rueda

They have 2500 acres under vine, since 1916, this is one of the Gil Family Estates. 100% Verdejo from younger vines Pretty orange blossom like floral notes to the green melon and green apple fruit, a note of salty mineral and a mustard like note nuance. A bright zesty wine on the tongue with juicy fruit and a tongue tingly minerality leaving you salivating for food. Finish 35+ Very Good

This is what I found online - I must say it is close. Not a lot of orange but citrus with a great underpinning of acidity and minerality. For an under $10 bottle of white, I was very impressed.  Not oaky like Chard, not boring like Sauv blanc and better than Rioja whites.

 

2013 Ink Monster The Original Zinfandel

"This gem is an inky dark and richly concentrated wine with notes of blackberry spices and vanilla. Enjoy it with game stews braised short ribs and veal shanks with mushroom risotto." 92 Points Wine & Spirits Guild of America

 

OK - it is Primitivo, basically the same grape as Zinfandel.

I find a lot of red fruits, in a fruit bomb style, little layering of flavors and an aftertaste that reminds you of the berry flavored syrups in pancake houses. OK for the price, but not a Cali zin with the spice and depth…

2013 Marques de Somera Garnacha

Selected from old bush vines around the town of Longares by Covinca, at an altitude of 530 meters on soils of limestone and decomposed chalk. Vinification and aging done strictly in tank to accentuate the pure essence of old vine Garnacha - no oak! Violets, bluberries, and wild strawberries burst from the glass. Easy drinking deliciously smooth red. Bang for the buck!

This was another cheapy - not overwhelming but a pretty good quaff, with BBQ and grilled items.

El Jamon Garnarcha

El Jamon An introduction El Jamon is named after Spanish Jamón Serrano (literally mountain ham), a type of dry-cured ham traditionally served thinly sliced with olives, cheese and a glass of wine. The grapes sourced for El Jamon come from the region of Cariñena Denominaciόn de Origen (DO) located in northern Spain, at the base of Sierra de La Virgen. The Cariñena DO is one of Spain's oldest areas to be demarcated, in 1932. The continental climate, high altitudes of the DO and reddish-brown limestone topsoil over slate and alluvial soils is an excellent combination for growing Tempranillo

Now, to go along with our popular El Jamon Tempranillo, a new El Jamon from the other great native grape of Spain, Garnacha. Fuller and rounder, with a lower acid level, this is a soft and easy wine to sip with your meal.

 

Must be 2012 but could find no date on the label

Katherine Able: March, 2015 5/5 stars

One of the more versatile red grapes in the world, Garnacha (Grenache) thrives in Spain. This gem has flavors of black raspberry and cherry fruit, with earthy notes of spice, leather, vanilla and mocha. Medium-bodied with fine, soft tannins and well-balanced acidity. Serve with roast pork loin or chicken with yellow rice.

I know, I really do like Garnacha. This is another cheapy, but made well enough to be a dinner wine. Won't impress your wine snob friends, but a pleasant drinking, fairly low alcohol red to drink in the summer. Nice with pork.

I have to go - will try to get more done soon - got a killer Cabernet and a great Syrah to tell you about. Until later, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

 

 

Just a few notes

Just got a bottle of the Honora Vera Rueda White - the same wonderful artwork but on a white. Will let you know what I think in about a week.

I thought, since I had done a lot of notes on previous wine trips, I would share sopme of my copious notes with you.  Last trip - 2008; but I've had plenty of time to edit my notes. Here is our trip to Palmaz - a very nice winery - very state of the art. Prices keep me from being a regular consumer, but I hope they do well. Visit if you get the chance.
http://www.palmazvineyards.com/

We headed off to find Palmaz, which included going up Silverado to Hagen road and following the sign that says not a through road. We followed the trail (narrow dirt road) until we went over a cattle guard and stopped at a black gate.  We then proceeded to drive up a small mountain to level 4, near the top. We walked up a long flight of steps (handicapped parking was on level 3, where they had an elevator) and came out in front of a beautiful building that housed a winery.

            We met the owners son, Chris Palmaz and then found out we were on the tour with his wife, Jennifer.  Chris was giving a tour to the Bonaducci winery (I think that was the name).  From the front lawn, you could look down the hillside to see a large portion of the vineyards. They also have a vineyard on the other side of the mountain, but it wasn’t visible.  They were harvesting one block of the vineyard, some cabernet sauvignon. The activity was winding down in the field, but would be ramping up in the winery.

            This winery, if built on top of the ground, would be eighteen stories high.  The concept is gravity flow, the only upward movement is in an elevator that brings up barrels to be mixed into lots for bottling. (This makes sense, bottling from a barrel would be time consuming and difficult).  There were some Cabernet grapes that had been picked that morning – they started at 4 am to avoid the heat – totaling about 6 tons of grapes.  Wine grapes are small and compact – they have a higher concentration of sugar than table grapes, tougher skins and large seeds.  There is a double triage of the grapes before they go into the tanks.  First is when the tubs are being dumped in to the destemmer – where large flawed grapes are tossed into buckets.  The second is when the destemmed grapes are dropped onto a vibrating conveyor belt and a number of people grab unripe or bad looking grapes and toss them into the trash buckets on the floor.  They can also grab any loose leafs, stems and non-organic materials that slip through the process.

            The grapes fall from the belt into a tank for maceration. The tanks actually rotate under the belt. The grapes are crushed, cold stabilized to kill wild yeasts and then set into fermentation.  The wines are then moved to French Oak, mostly new, very little over two years old.  The barrels are lined up in halls off the main cave, not stacked but lined up side by side.  Tony noted this was very similar to the old French Chateaus he had toured.

            Very nice, newer winery – tasting takes place back on the ground level.  You taste five wines with a small plate of appetizers – 4 savory and one sweet.  The first wine is only available at the winery. They made 150 cases of the 2007 Riesling has nice fruit, very dry edge with a somewhat stoney flavor. A cross of German and Alsatian styles for $45 a bottle. 

            The Chardonnay was sold out. Next was the Cabernets. First was the current release, a 2004 Napa Valley Cab, with 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Beautiful nose, with deep berry fruit. Not overly tannic, but a backbone to give it some years to age. Probably a wine that would go 5 years, but not ten.  Next was the 2003 wine, with 86% Cabernet sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc. First wine made in the current facility.  Very nice blend, more accessible than the 2004. Good fruit flavor but not a “killer” wine.

            The 2002 Cabernet was the last red, made by Randy Dunn. Deep like the ’04 but smoother. Some tannins to provide backbone with deep berry fruit and cherry cola nuances. A blend of 87% Cabernet sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.  The best of the reds we tried.

            Finally, a 2006 Muscat Canelli was served. A nice dessert wine, not too sweet or cloying, but good flavors.  All the wines were good, but at the price, not as good as you would expect.  They also have olive trees on the property and they make a fruity olive oil out of the crop. Well made and very tasty, nice fruity characteristics. 

            Very nice winery but they compete in the $150 plus range for Cabernet. Not sold on the history yet, I wish them success. (Sept, 2008)

 Until later, with more wine notes and trip reviews, keep popping those corks (unscrewing that stelvin) and I'll meet you out behind the grape vines.

 

Just some more wines

2011 Honoro Vera Garnacha

Very nice and a really cool bottle – around $10-11 retail

Released for the first time in 2011, Honoro Vera Garnacha comes from old vine vineyards planted at 3,000' elevations. The slate and gravely clay loam soils of these 60-80 year old vineyards produce wines with an attractive cherry not embraced with minerality of the old vines vineyards.

 

 

Winemaker's notes: The Honoro Vera Garnacha is a ripe cherry color. It has an intense nose with dominating notes of red ripe fruits, such as raspberry and red currant, balsamic sensations and mineral aromas. It is a fruity wine, very fresh and easy to drink.

 

 

 

 

The Royal Chenin Blanc Old Vines Steen 2013

Robert Parker 90
"One of the greatest buys I have tasted this year is this under $10, 100% Chenin Blanc from the Western Cape. A super flowery-scented nose includes notions of ripe honeydew melons and pears. This medium-weight, fresh, fruity, crisp, dry, textbook Chenin Blanc will provide immense pleasure over the next 12 months."

" As the unofficial drink of the Riebeek Valley, Chenin Blanc is the perfect every day wine that offers uncomplicated quality for the novice and connoisseur alike. Packed with upfront melon fruit, the nose charms with an abundance of guava and gooseberries as well as the signature hint of honey. The palate follows through with fruit flavors balanced by a crisp acid to ensure a fresh and fruity style of wine. Enjoy well-chilled as a lovely crisp glass on its own but ideal for al fresco dining and with light summer fare. Beautiful with salads, anti pasti and seafood. " ~ Winery notes

I like Chenin blanc and this is a good cheap version of steen - South African Chenin.

 

2013 Atance Bobal, Valencia

This is a lighter more restrained wine than one would expect from the wild Bobal grape. Organic viticulture at 800 meters altitude where traditional farming meets modern techniques. Vinification in stainless steel and concrete tank followed by very brief aging in oak – 2-3 months in a 35hl Radoux cask. Deep in color with an intriguing nose of black fruits, violets, cedar and black pepper. The fleshy dark fruit flavors of blackberry and black currant are lifted by mineral driven acidity and fine tannins.

Organic viticulture at 800 meters altitude where traditional farming meets modern techniques in this young wine from Bodegas Mustiguillo. Vinification in stainless steel and concrete tank folowed by very brief aging in oak – 2-3 months in a 35hl Radoux cask.

Deep in color with an intriguing nose of black fruits, violets, cedar and black pepper. The fleshy dark fruit flavors of blackberry and black currant are lifted by mineral driven acidity and fine tannins

This is a decent wine, a little rustic, not something you'd serve to company of wine drinkers, but a good pasta night wine. Also, you can say you've had Bobal!

That's it for now - will add some old wine trip notes to keep things interesting.
Meet you out behind the grapevines!

2010 The Culprit Red Wine, North Coast Sonoma, California

Indicative blend: 32% Syrah, 28% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah, 9% Sangiovese, 7% Grenache, 5% Barbera, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Primitivo and 1% Merlot.

Interesting blend – you guess the syrah, then the zinfandel creeps in and the rest just mystifies you.  Moderate berry nose, with some confusing mid palate flavors. Drinking nicely, no tannins to indicate a much longer life, but well made enough to hold up to nice meat dishes, or as a sipper.  One of those “what do we do with the remaining amounts of wine” blends that actually works.  The gargoyle completes the effect, great buy in my $100 case of wine.

2013 Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec, Mendoza Argentina

Here is a review by GIL LEMPERT-SCHWARZ LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

In the glass: Los Cardos Malbec is an opaque dense purplish color with a pitch-black core going out into a deep violet rim definition with high viscosity.

On the nose: Many pungent notes jump out of the glass, but predominantly black fruit character with crushed black cherries, bramble, warm blueberry pie, spices, licorice, pepper and hints of coffee grounds, mocha and dark chocolate over soft minerals.

On the palate: This wine makes an entrance with a massive concentration of black peppered fruit, cherry crush, sloe fruit and loads of licorice-laden berries. The acidity is striking. It creates a great melange with the fruit and the tannins through the midpalate, thereby giving the wine a powerful backbone and a good sense of balance. It carries through to the finish that lingers for a good 20-plus seconds with hints of toast, coffee and anise.

This is a good description – I was amazed at the depth of flavor for a cheap wine. I think you could cellar for a couple years and still be fine – although at about 7 -10 dollars, you could by it by the case. Needs a big chunk of meat or heavy red sauce, will overpower anything that isn’t big.

WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION March, 2014 Tasting

WEST WICHITA WINE CONNECTION  

      March, 2014 Tasting

Argentina versus Chile – South American Throwdown

Gathering  Wine

2011 Loma Larga Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Pale green and golden color; pleasant fruit forward nose;nicely crisp with hints of green apple and apricot.

Dinner Wines

2007 Aduentus Mediterraneo, Red Blend, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Complex blend of 40% Malbec, 30% Syrah and 30% Tempranillo,; polished tannins with a nice long finish. Malbec contributes silkiness, the tempranillo the structure and syrah a hint of spiciness.

2009 Flechas de Los Andes Gran Malbec, Uco Valley, Argentina

Partially owned by Lafitte Rothschild, this dense wine has aromas and flavors of blackberries, minerals and violets. Nice acid balance with hints of dark chocolate on the aftertaste.

2009 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carmenere, Rapel Valley, Chile

Good nose of red and black fruit; full bodied wine with red and black fruits along with some spice, tobacco and a nice aftertaste.  Really good example of carmenere.

2010 Casa LaPostolle Canto de Apalta, Rapel Valley, Chile

A unique blend from the same people that own Grand Marnier; 45% carmenere, 16% cabernet sauvignon and 14% syrah. Decent nose that opened more as the evening progressed – concentrated flavors of plum, blackberry and dark currant and black fig. Moderate tannins on the finish, and hints of spice and mocha.

Top vote getter was the La Postolle and the Chilean red wines outscored the Argentinian wines. Very nice group of wines – good job, Matt.

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