July Wine Time

Just a few wines to talk about

2014 Las Colinas Del Ebro, Terra Alta, Spain

Purity. It’s a desirable quality. People will pay much money for water transported in from an unadulterated Greenlandic cloud and such like, but Las Colinas del Ebro offers something much tastier: fruit purity.

Made solely from the ‘free-run juice’, this wine has fewer tannins and fresh, vibrant blueberry and blackberry fruit. Like cloud-sourced Greenlandic water, ‘tis best enjoyed when young and, possibly unlike cloud-sourced Greenlandic water, has some keen spices and would be a fabulous match for a Catalan lamb stew.

Matthew Jukes in The Daily Mail Christmas Special, 10/12/14: "Goodness me, look what happens in Spain when you combine the Cotes du Rhone grapes garnacha (grenache), syrah and carignan! This is a zany, unhinged, medium-bodied red, which you can drink with turkey and all the trimmings. It will duck and dive beautifully as it negotiates this incredibly diverse palette of flavors."

Las Colinas del Ebro 2014 Syrah Garnacha D.O. Terra Alta
 Grapes: 60% Syrah 20% Garnacha 20% Carinena

 “Aromas of raspberry, blackberry and violet, plus a hint of black pepper. Racy and focused on the palate…with smooth tannins that build slowly and harmoniously with the wine’s fruit”

Got this on close-out – around $10 – a very drinkable and enjoyable wine. Not a traditional Spanish wine, but one worth picking up at a good price, maybe several bottles. The blend was an easy match food wise – not too heavy but with nice red fruits and hints of pepper and spice.

2015 Cicada by Chante Cigale Méditerranée, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France

A blend of 80 percent Grenache and 20 percent Carignan from a family-run winery in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

A wine with lots of cassis, kirsch, pepper, and even an intriguing floral note, the wine is medium to full-bodied , silky smooth, and a truly delicious, hedonistic and intellectually satisfying wine that is a remarkable bargain.

The first bottle of this smelled and tasted like rubber cleaning gloves .Just awful. The second bottle was much better, some tar on the back end but a good food wine. In the $10 – 12 price range, worth a gamble. I’ve had wines with off-putting smells before and sometimes, they blow off. Just didn’t happen with the first bottle.

2016 Sleight of Hand 2016 Magician's Assistant Blackrock Vineyard Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley)

This 100% Cabernet Franc Rosé hails from Blackrock Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. It has a gorgeous, pale salmon-pink color, with aromas and flavors of white flowers, juicy strawberries, red cherries, and wet stones. The minerality and fresh acidity keep this rosé light and bright. It is the perfect pairing for many foods, and will provide year-round enjoyment. 

Sleight of Hand 2016 Magician's Assistant Blackrock Vineyard Rosé of Cabernet Franc (Yakima Valley)

89Points WE       A rare single-vineyard rosé, this wine is rose gold in color. It offers aromas of fresh herb, citrus peel and strawberry. The palate is dry, bright and focused with lively citrus flavors that extend on the finish.

This is a very pleasant and unique rose from our friend(Trey Busch)  in Washington. Lively on the palate, dry with a nice finish. Good with food, as well as by itself. Average retail around $18, buy it if you get it for $15 – well worth it.

2016 La Galatin Rose Bandol, Provence, France

The Domaine Le Galantin Rose is a classic Provencal rose with delightful fresh berry fruit flavors and a crisp finish. It is composed of 50% Cinsault, 25% Mourvedre and 25% Grenache. After the grapes are hand-harvested from their organic vineyards, they cool down the bunches to 50 degress for a two day cold soak in order to extract fruit, color and aromatics. The juice is then racked off and the grapes are pressed to stainless steel tanks. 10% of the wine is Saignee, the rest come from grapes treated as for making white wine.

Vinous: 90 Points

Extremely pale orange-pink. Assertive aromas of orange pith, red berries, jasmine and garrigue show very good clarity and a dusty mineral element. Juicy and sharply focused, offering energetic strawberry and tangerine flavors that spread out nicely with air. Silky and dry on the incisive, very persistent finish, which strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes. I find this wine quite graceful and accessible as young pink Bandols go.-JR

A typical Bandol rose – nice by itself and a great match with lighter summer fare. Average price around $18, I found the flavors crisp, the wine dry and enticing. Good summer wine.

NV Codorniu Cava Anna Blanc de Blanc, DO Cava, Spain

Tasting Notes

• Brilliant yellow color with green reflections. Fine, persistent bubbles forming continuous beads.

• On the nose, it displays citrusy and tropical fruit notes along with more complex ageing aromas (toast, brioche) that enrich the range of aromas.

 • On the palate, it is creamy, wide and long-lasting. These characteristics make it highly versatile and pairable with a great variety of food

Varietals

Chardonnay 70% Parellada 15% Xarel·lo, Macabeo 15%

The Chardonnay really makes this Spanish Cava have a pleasing and heady flavor. Not something that will compare to Vintage Champagne, but a $10 sparkler that will do very nicely. Good small bubbles, nice flavors of citrus and brioche – not a long finish, but a very nice package.

Well, that is it for this month.  Keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

June 2017 Wines

It's Gonna get hot!

Well, Summertime is upon us - here are some wines I've been drinking.

2013 Domaine d’Andezon Cotes du Rhone, Rhone, France

Winemaker's Notes

Domaine d'Andezon Cotes du Rhone is violet in color. The Syrah offers a lot of aromas on the nose including black fruit. The mouth is prevalent with spices of licorice and black olive with minerality, especially graphite and soot. This wine will continue to develop over time bringing more complexity and power.

Pairs well with hearty meats, such as game.

Critical Acclaim

RP89

The Wine Advocate - "Solomon’s custom cuvee, the 2013 Cotes du Rhone Andezon, was aged totally in concrete vats. It reveals a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of smoky, frying lard-like notes intermixed with notions of blackberries and cassis. Solomon calls it his “southern Cornas-based” wine. That’s not hyperbole. This medium-bodied effort has been helped by the addition of 10% Grenache, which provides additional flesh."

A very nice Cotes du Rhone with good fruit, nice acidity and more complexity than expected for a bottle that was $10. The nose was nice, the finish with a hint of tar in it. Buy by the case.

2013 Punto Final Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina

Spicy oak, clove and berry and black-plum aromas define the nose on this woody number. The palate is tannic and clampy in feel, while oak-driven flavors of spice overrun the wine's fruit. Clove and cinnamon notes along with heat remain on the finish.    WE 86 points

I found this wine decent – the tannins are beginning to let up, although the fruit is diminished in the flavor. Moderate finish, worth trying for $10, but not buy a case.

2011 Enamore Red Wine Apassimento, Mendoza, Argentina

"Dark ruby red in color, Enamore offers supple aromas of ripe berries, raisin, and plums. Sensual notes of exotic spices, charcoal and chocolate are seamlessly layered with the fruit. Full bodied, rich and complex, with a long finish beautifully framed by fine-grained tannins. This is a very special wine that will surprise many wine lovers."

Technical Notes

"An exciting, innovative wine produced from a blend of Malbec, Syrah, Bonarda and Cabernet Franc uniquely dried and vinified in the Amarone style. A truly unique joint production between Allegrini (renowned Italian producer of Amarone) and Bodega Renacer. The grapes that produce Enamore are sourced from 50+ years old vines located in three distinct high-altitude vineyards from the Mendoza region in Argentina. The grapes are dried on the vines (appassimento), until they lose 1/3 of their weight. After a prolonged fermentation (both alcoholic and malolactic) the wine is aged in new French barriques for 12 months."

This wine was a special purchase at Auburn Spirits, reduced to about $16. The nose hints at the wonderful flavors – red and black fruits and some spice. The flavors fill your mouth – dark fruit, nice acid balance and good, echoing finish.  A splendid wine, worth much more.

2011 Chalk Hill Botrytised Semillion, Sonoma, California

The color of decades-aged Chardonnay, medium-to-dark straw, this dessert wine is rich in toasted almonds and hazelnuts, with secondary flavors of baked apple and stone fruit. Mouthfillingly rich, it remains balanced and complex, lingering on the finish in baking spices.  WE 90 points

This is a bit of a splurge - $30 for a 375-ml bottle. A very good example of a dessert wine – sweet but not too cloying – excellent with fruit dishes. The toasted nut flavors give way to baked fruits and the finish lingers. A very nice wine – well worth the $$.

2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, California

Winemaker's Notes

This beautiful wine is wonderfully consistent vintage after vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of white pear, pineapple and banana spring forward from the glass. On the palate, the wine is refreshing with flavors of ripe tangerine and peaches. The mouthfeel is lively, but rich and has a subtle creaminess.

This is the quintessential wine to pair with fresh oysters, Asian cuisine or just about anything!

Critical Acclaim

WW92

Wilfred Wong of Wine.com - "A standout wine, 2016 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc stands as one of the finest examples of this grape variety in the New World. This wine shows dried citrus peel, lively minerality, and tart melon flavors. Its crisp finish pairs it nicely with yellowtail tuna sashimi. (Tasted: February 10, 2017, San Francisco, CA) "

I used to drink this wine all the time a few years ago. It was a summer staple – fresh and snappy. The 2016 is the first vintage in 4 years for me and I was a little thrown by the touch of sweetness up front. I hadn’t remembered that, but the nose was crisp with tropical fruit. The flavors, after the first sips, mellowed and were uniquely Chenin Blanc – melon, pineapple and some minerals – limestone. I would buy it again, it is under $15 – very good for hot weather and lighter fare.  To me, has better overall feel and textures than sauvignon blanc.

Another month and a few more wines. Hope you enjoy! Remember, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

MAY Flowers

Wines From May 2017

2013 Bodegas Breca Garnacha Del Fuego Old Vine Garnacha  Aragon, Spain

The best vineyards of Aragon are situated high on the hillsides, 3000 ft. above sea level, where, despite the poor gravelly soil, the old gnarled vines produce the finest grapes possible in this arid, desolate region. Only the ripest clusters are chosen, thus producing a wine of considerable depth and finesse. The wine exudes intense aromas of sweet cherries and dark plums with an exotic spicy finish reminiscent of white pepper. - Winery

One of my favorite “school night” wines – available for under $10 – a wine with decent fruit, moderate body and great price point. Bottle is jazzy looking, flames and such, but the wine is a decent old vine Garnarcha from Spain.  Enjoy with pizza, spaghetti or about anything.

2013 Franciscan Stylus Cabernet Sauvignon  Napa Valley, California

Tasting Notes

Deep garnet in color with aromas of cassis and ripe blackberry layered with dark cocoa, dried herbs, and black peppercorn. Dense and well-structured, the broad palate and firm tannins are hallmarks of the powerful 2013 vintage. Dark plum and cassis flavors are highlighted by spicy notes of anise and clove and hints of vanilla and espresso. Long and layered finish of black cherry, dark chocolate, and baking spices.

91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot

Stylus represents our highest expression Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and is our signature bottling of this noble variety. We create wine in hundreds of small lots, keeping each vineyard block separate to maximize its potential, and then blend to achieve harmony and perfection. Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most interesting and complex grape varieties. I love its body and texture, and its ability to express power and intensity with finesse. Stylus is a joy to make because of the extraordinary fruit that comes from our vineyards; my role is to shepherd the wine through to the bottle, bringing out its potential and allowing the fruit to express itself fully. - Janet Myers, Winemaker

A nice Napa Cabernet, although maybe not as good at over $100 price point. The bottle could use a couple more years in the cellar, and the fruit would meld with the tannic frame. Certainly not a bad bottle, but too young at this point to really say it was great. A Birthday wine…

2014 Scarpetta Sauvignon Fruilli Coli Venezia, Italy

Aromatics: Kaffir Lime, apricot and quince. The hidden element of Colli Orientali Sauvignon Blanc is its overly herbaceous notes and beautiful stone fruit aromatics.

 Palate: Medium bodied Sauvignon Blanc with big attack of citrus - lime, candied lemon with stone fruits (apricot and peach). A firm spine from the medium + acidity.

Not many reviews of this wine and that’s a shame. This Sauvignon Blanc from Italy has great citrus fruit, minerality and a pleasing finish. Matches many foods – from fish to fowl – price range is around $20. Nice change from the NZ wines. Gotta love the pig on the label!

Shooting Star Scarlet Red Wine, Lake County, California

Our harvest procedures are consistent throughout each harvest season with grapes arriving as quickly as possible to the winery post picking.  The red grapes are crushed upon arrival and allowed to soak for 24-48 hours before inoculation. 

We will age the red wine for this blend in neutral American oak, older Hungarian and French barrels. Typically, the wine will age 8-18 months, depending on the varietal.

This sinfully delicious blend is amazingly balanced with lively cherry and dark berry notes, cloaked in dark chocolate tannins.  A clean acidity runs through the finish.  A single glass is not possible.   

The blend consists mainly of Cabernet Franc (~40%), Syrah (~20%), Zinfandel (~10%), Pinot Noir (~10%) with the remaining 20% consisting of various varietals. This bottling is not vintage specific. 

From the winery: "This sinfully delicious blend is amazingly balanced with lively cherry and dark berry notes, cloaked in dark chocolate tannins. A clean acidity runs through the finish. Pair this wine with eggplant parmesan, dry rubbed New York Strip or an assorted cheese and charcuterie plate."

From the winemaker Jed Steele, who loves Lake County, a non-vintage red wine that is a wide ranging blend of grapes. The blend works well, there is good acidity to match to foods as well as good fruit and hints of tannins. Around $12, this is a great addition for “School Night” wines.

2015 Farnese Fantini  Montepulciano d’abruzzo, Italy

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC: 100% Montepulciano from vineyards located within the townships of Ortona, San Salvo, and Pollutri and covering a total of 825 acres. The grapes undergo soft pressing and de-stalking, before maceration on the skins and fermentation for 15 days. Ruby red with garnet reflections, the bouquet is fruity and quite persistent, reminiscent of red fruits, marasca cherries, and plums with vanilla nuances; full-bodied, with good balance and firm tannins, flavorful and long on the palate, immediately appealing and versatile.

Another bargain – for around $10, you get a nice fruit, hints of smokiness, nice acidic balance with only modest tannins. Very good food wine – great with grilled items – this is a good wine to keep on hand at all times.

Well, another month has flown by! Hope to talk to you again soon, but in the meantime, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.

Wines of April

April Showers bring...Flooding?

2014 J Lohr Syrah South Ridge Paso Robles, California 

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS

Varietal aromas of plum, black tea and blueberry are lifted by barrel aging on the lees in a mix of American and French oak barrels. A touch of spicy white pepper on the palate opens up slowly to reveal baking spice and pomegranate fruit.

Pretty nice little syrah, pleasant fruit notes with a touch of spice. Not bad for the price – around $12.

2011 Balthus Tempranillo Rioja, Spain  

Very bright color of dark cherry red with brilliant flecks. In the nose it is fresh, clean with aromas of wild berries and also hints of nuts, spices, minerals, very complex and elegant. Full-bodied in the mouth, structured, powerful with a good balance between alcohol and acidity, between the fruit and the oak. Pleasing lingering finish.

Not a bad little wine, but not the best either. Made a best value selection, the fruit was decent, nice acidity – typical of Spanish Tempranillo- but not one I would stock – around $13.

2014 Southern Right Pinotage Hemel-en-arde, South Africa

Southern Right is re-defining Pinotage with this intense classically styled, clay-grown wine, packed with complex berry fruit, beautiful tannins and subtle wood spice.  Full ripeness and the longer hang-time afforded by cooler sites, combined with the complex, more classic fruit aromas and structure resulting from clay-rich soil, make this wine a highly individual expression of South Africa’s unique grape variety.

Nice Pinotage – this wine did not have that rubber tire aftertaste that often happens with the varietal. Turns out that extended maceration causes that, so modern wine makers are watching how long they leave the fruit and skins in the vat. Moderate nose, decent red berry fruit and a mild but pleasant aftertaste. Priced around $24.

2014 Kasteelberg Shiraz, Swartland, South Africa

A complex wine offering the upfront black fruit/berries of a New World Shiraz with spicy nuances on the nose. The palate is concentrated and balanced, showing dark fruit, sweet vanilla and spice.

New world style, but not over the top with berry flavors and aromas. Nicely balanced for food, but plenty of fruit to carry the wine. Available for under $20.

2014 Mulderbosch “Faithful Hound” Western Cape, South Africa

The wine’s appearance is marked by a vibrant, dense and purple hue. The nose exhibits berry fruit aromas of mulberries and blueberries, subtly framed by vanilla spice and earthy notes. Gentle structure and finesse combine to make the 2014 so attractive. It has good weight and richness, with layers of flavor, yet there is a really classic element to the fine grained tannins, providing a moreish, savory finish.

Blend: 32% Cabernet Franc, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 16% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot

Enjoyable Bordeaux blend from South Africa. A little restrained at the moment, but a pleasant wine that would grow with a few years bottle ageing. At a $20 price, a bottle you could keep or serve to your friends – the structure goes well with foods and has enough fruit and finesse to please the palate.

2014 Klein Constantia Estate Red, Western Cape, South Africa

Due to the warm and dry conditions we experienced in 2014, this vintage has great fruit expression. A lot of work and effort has been put into fine tuning our oak programme which is displayed in the delicate balance between fruit and oak in this wine.  2014 also sees the reintroduction of Shiraz to the Estate Red blend.

Intense red and black fruit with elegant notes of cinnamon spice on the nose. The palate is full bodied and savoury with a well-integrated oak component, ending with a long and rich finish.

A very nice Cabernet blend, the shiraz adds an extra layer to an intense wine. The nose indicates the red fruit core and the taste follows through with additional notes of mocha and vanilla. The tannins are integrated – there but not intrusive – allowing for several years of ageing, or enjoying right now. The wine that Napoleon drank on Elba is back and very enjoyable. Available under $30, a bottle worth buying and showing to you wineaux friends.

2015 Goru VerdeOrganic Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain

mouthfeel. Very soft and generous, with distinct notes of overripe blackberry, chocolate, violet and scrubland thyme. Levante sunshine in a glass!

Monastrell is originally from Spain but is now grown widely in France, where it is known as Mourvedre, and in Australia and California, where it is sometimes called Mataro. Its high tannins led the French to christen it, 'Etrangle-Chien' - the dog-strangler. As a variety it is drought-tolerant, late ripening and fickle. Unblended examples are rare outside of SE Spain.

This wine is all organic, but doesn’t carry the “greenness/earthiness” that often goes with the Spanish organic wines. Big broad flavors of dark fruit and mild tannins. Needs a hardy food or it will overpower an entrée. I enjoyed this wine and it was under $10 – buy a couple bottles for weeknight wine.

Well, another month has flown by - keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!

March Wines - No Time for "Madness"

Another Month and More Wines

Here are the wines I enjoyed this last month

2011 Masi Campofiorin Rosso Del Veronese Italy

Winemaker's Notes

Fruity cherry and plum aromas, with vanilla, cinnamon and spice notes. Shows sublime, soft tannins on the palate, with fresh acidity. Finish is long and persistent, with ripe fruit flavors and a touch of sweet spiciness. This very versatile wine is perfect with various foods, including pasta with rich meat- or mushroom-based sauces, grilled or roasted red meats, game and mature cheeses.

Blend: 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara.

Critical Acclaim  RP91

The Wine Advocate - "The 2011 Campofiorin is an IGT Rosso del Veronese executed in a Ripasso style that sees a double fermentation on Amarone skins. Campofiorin is a wine that is dear to my heart because it has long been one of my top drinking choices while sitting by the fireplace on a cold winter's night. It offers Ripasso intensity with brooding dark fruit nuances followed by a dense, chewy build. "

Points of distinction

Created in 1964 using what Hugh Johnson called an “ingenious technique,” Masi's original interpretation of ancient Veronese “refermentation”

Masi’s double fermentation process enriches the wine’s color, extract, tannins and alcohol to bring new aromas and flavors

The orginal "Supervenetian," can age 15-20 years

I got this on close out around $13 – what can I say. I love the Ripasso style wine – where the must from the Amarone wine is put in with the Corvina blend to add extra depth of flavor. I didn’t age it more than a week in my cellar because it called to me, with a pasta meat dish I made for dinner. Very good, still had considerable length and hearty fruit. Nice finish – one of my Italian favorites for deep red wine.

2010 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages, Sonoma County, California

Winemaker's Notes

The 2010 Cinq Cépages is a stunning color in the glass, deep ruby with a subtle violet colored rim. Layered aromas are vivid; black plum, blackberry compote, clove spice, tanned leather and a hint of fresh tobacco leaf. Secondary aromas of raspberry and spiced cherry mingle with notes of violet and pomegranate. The aromas lead to an incredibly juicy palate with flavors of blueberry, cherry and blackberry. Nuanced flavors of espresso and a distinct mocha component add to the complexity. The full-bodied wine has smooth, silky tannins that offer solid structure but do not overwhelm. The wine is plush and approachable yet complex and appealing in the glass. In signature Cinq Cépages form, this wine combines the strength of the diverse Sonoma County region to create a well-balanced, complex and powerful wine.

Blend: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec

Critical Acclaim  WS93  Wine Spectator - "An authentic Bordeaux-style expression from Sonoma. Firm, dense and muscular, with a tight core of vivid blackberry, spice, cedar, loamy earth, black olive and cigar box notes, framed by tight, ripe, gripping tannins that extend the flavors. The finish impresses with purity, focus and complexity. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Drink now through 2026."

RP92 The Wine Advocate - "Far superior is their flagship offering for Bordeaux varietal blends, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cepages, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot. It possesses a deep ruby/purple color along with notes of cranberry sauce, black cherries, black currants, dusty, loamy soil, unsmoked cigar tobacco and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied and rich with light tannins as well as a textured mouthfeel, there are 7,000 cases of this beauty that can be enjoyed over the next 10-12 years"

A gift for the Holidays, I held onto this bottle a while. It would have held for a number of years – there was still some tannic grip in the bottle. The nose opened nicely while the French style blend was a mouth full of fruits, spice, cedar – many nuanced flavors that changed as the bottle stayed open. Well worth the acclaim, though out of my usual price range. A good bottle for special occasions and friends.

2013 Renegade Wine Company Red Wine Columbia Valley, Washington

glad to know that we made enough this year to last more than 5 months! We could have called this wine a Cabernet, since it is 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, and 2% Petit Verdot. It certainly drinks like a Washington State Cabernet based blend, with lots of red and black fruits, scents of loamy minerality, and fine grained tannins that are matched with balanced acidity. Like all the Renegade wines, this drinks as well as something twice as expensive. Certainly a candidate to buy by the case! Don’t hesitate, be a Renegade!

The lesser priced offerings from the Sleight of Hand Cellar folks. Price is under $13, not bad for an inexpensive wine. Fruit holds up pretty well, light finish – I think they are changing the labels on upcoming vintages. Worth a try as a school night wine.

2015 Sleight of Hand The Spellbinder, Columbia Valley, Washington

Our 2015 Spellbinder is a dark, stunning, mouth coating blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 21% Cabernet Franc, sourced from some of the most sought after vineyards in Washington State, including some of our Estate Vineyards. Elegant and full bodied, while still approachable, it boasts fresh fruit aromas and flavors of black cherries, raspberries, and currants, with just a hint of cedar from older French oak barrels in which it was aged.

The winemaker made a visit to Kansas (Trey Busch - see below) and we sampled the wines with dinrer. This Cabernet blend was a very nice wine – full bodied but no heavy tannic grip. The touch of cedar/oak from older barrels really added to a moderate finish. Priced in the low to mid-20’s, a nice bottle of wine.

2014 Sleight of Hand The Conjurer Red Wine Columbia Valley, Washington

The 2014 Conjurer is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot. It was aged 12 months in 15% new French oak. Hailing mostly from Red Mountain Vineyard, Blue Mountain Vineyard, and Phinny Hill Vineyard, it shows tremendous weight and concentration from the warm vintage. With a gorgeous nose and flavor profile of red and black cherries, herbal notes from the Cabernet Franc, as well as savory spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, this Washington State Bordeaux-style blend will age gracefully over the next decade, but like most of our wines, will be delicious young. Like anything in life, The Conjurer is certainly best enjoyed with friends.

Another Cabernet based wine from SoH, this one is more intense and heavier. The tannins are well behaved, but the depth of this one is apparent from the first taste. The Cab Franc adds a nice note to the flavors – a very good blend of good fruit. Excellent buy for under $30. Oh, that is Neil Patrick Harris on the label!

2013 Sleight of Hand The Illusionist Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, Washington

89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

The 2013 Illusionist is everything we dream of when we dream of Cabernet, it is dark, savory, and full bodied, while remaining balanced and elegant. This wine is aromatically compelling, filled with aromas of cedar, tobacco, graphite, and a hint of fennel and vanilla. Dark fruit notes of blackberry and cassis explode on entry, and are quickly followed up with dark cherry and savory herbal flavors that linger throughout the extended finish. The tannins are fine-grained and well integrated and provide structure that will reward an extended period in the cellar.

The full Cab from SoH. The nose took a little time to open but was very good with red fruits, oak and nuances of fennel (I know, I miss some of this a lot, but that stuck in my mind). The dark fruits in the mouth were big and broad, while the finish was moderately long and refined. There were tannins but they were well integrated into the fruit. A bottle that could be cellared for several years, it still drank very nicely with our meal. I can recommend this wine – price is around mid-40’s to mid-50’s and well worth that price.

Trey Busch          Co-Owner and Winemaker          Sleight of Hand Cellars

Trey remembers his very first concert like if was yesterday (Helix, Keel, and Accept at the Omni in Atlanta in 1984 if you are wondering). His love of music, especially Pearl Jam, is one of the reasons he ended up in the Pacific NW. After moving to Seattle in 1992 and working for Nordstrom for 8 years, Trey was offered the chance to move his family to Walla Walla and get into the wine business with the Dunham Cellars family. Eric Dunham, the winemaker and owner of Dunham Cellars, gave Trey the foundation for his winemaking and philosophy. Trey fell in love with the winemaking process on the first day of crush in September of 2000, and that journey led him to Sleight of Hand Cellars.

Trey is in charge of, and oversees, the winemaking, keeping his finger on the pulse of what is happening in the vineyards and cellar. He also shares the sales and marketing duties with Jerry, traveling to far-away places to spread the Sleight of Hand love around the country. Trey also is a world renowned Air Guitar player, and will often be found at a local karaoke bar belting out Tom Petty or Pearl Jam. He has two amazing daughters that he loves more than anything, and can't believe how lucky he is to have ended up in this business with Jerry and Sandy.

Very neat dude – Trey is a great guy to meet. He’d rather be home working than jetting around the country-side, but he is gracious and fun winemaker. Had to give him a plug…

2014 Cabriz Red Wine Doa Portugal

"Limpid, intense ruby. Fruity on the nose, being predominant in fresh red fruits, forest fruits jam, spices and toasted notes. Fruity palate smooth, elegant and harmonious." —winemaker

Wine Anthology review:

With just six months spent in French oak to give this 2014 a touch of spice box and cedar, this 2014 is all about the fruit, dropping in with perfumed, complex aromas of ripe black fruits and spiced redcurrant. It's suave and well-structured in the mouth with a dash of zesty white pepper to liven up the fruit to a super polished sheen. The juicy, spiced finish features a closing touch of tannin to wrap up each tasty sip.

Critic' Notes  #46, Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2016

"A crisp and minerally red, with concentrated flavors of dark cherry, roasted plum and dried raspberry, layered with rich, spicy notes. White chocolate details show on the finish, accented by hints of pepper. Drink now through 2020. 208,000 cases made. Best Value." —Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator

When you can get a bottle of the “Top 100” for $9, you jump at it. That is the good news. The rest of the news is that it isn’t bad, but lacks the depth you would expect. There was dark fruit flavors – I got no white chocolate – some toasted flavor but a pretty short finish. Decent acidity but best with a pork loin instead of a big chunk of steak. Yea, it’s worth the $10 price, just don’t expect miracles.

Well, that’s another month – Times flies while you’re having toast! I see you next time, until then keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines!

That was one short Month - February

Time for a little Wine!

2013 St Paul’s Pinot Grigio Alto Adige, Italy

90 Points

This full-bodied wine is loaded with sensations of fragrant white flowers, ripe tropical fruit, juicy yellow peach and tart green apple. The creamy palate is brightened by fresh acidity and energizing mineral notes. It's well balanced, with more depth than most other Pinot Grigios.

Variety  Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio/Gris

Appellation  Alto Adige, Northeastern Italy, Italy

Winery  St. Pauls

I don’t drink a lot of whites and I usually steer away from what’s the current rage. This wine is a very good Pinot Grigio (or Pinot Gris) with a lot of body, a full palate and very nice depth. I got it on close-out at $10 – well worth buying several bottles to have on hand for guests. Perfect for spring and summer sipping.

2013 Ludovicus Garnacha Terra Alta, Spain

This mineral, spicy Mediterranean red drinks like a wine two times its price. It is produced from organically grown grapes in the high elevation Terra Alta region. These high lands are located just 45 minutes south of Barcelona in the mountains of Tarragona overlooking the Mediterranean. Ludovicus pays tribute to the roman heritage of this region. The Romans planted vineyards in this area during the 3rd century. Terra Alta neighbors the acclaimed Priorat region. Just like in Priorat, Garnacha and Mazuelo (aka Cariñena, or Samsó) are the most commonly planted grapes. The Garnachas that grow in Terra Alta are among the finest in Spain due to three factors: the elevation, the limestone soil and the plethora of old vine that Terra Alta possesses.

"An amazing wine, it shows boisterous and exuberant black cherry/kirsch liqeur notes, medium to full body, terific purity and exuberance."

Region: Catalunya, Spain
Grapes: 100% Garnacha
Vintage: 2013

Another real nice inexpensive Spanish wine. For my money, old vine garnacha is hard to beat. Good body, lively acidity to go with lots of different foods and nice juicy red fruit flavors in a bottle priced around $10-11.

2015 Left Coast Cellar White Pinot Noir Willamette Valley, Oregon

Famed for its diversity to complement nearly any food pairing, our White Pinot Noir is a peoples favorite. Limited skin contact gives the White Pinot Noir its pristine clarity. The wine itself is perfumed with fresh scents and mirrored flavors of Ranier cherry, peach and poached pear.  Rich and broad with bright, balancing acidity on the palate and a lingering mineral finish.

A surprising white wine – we had this as a salad wine at a tasting of Pinot Noir. Nice body, good fruit, kinda like a red wine without color. Little pricy in the $20-25 range, but a fun wine to try if you get the chance.

2014 Zorzal Eggo Pinot Noir Tupangato, Argentina

This hand harvested, single vineyard from Gualtallary is 100% Pinot Noir and is completely un-oaked to let the fruit driven quality of the wine shine. Bright red fruits, predominantly raspberry, jump out of the glass with gamey notes, cola, dried leaves, and forest floor. The mouthfeel is rich, soft, and supple with light tannin and medium acidity. The chalky soil comes through in the long finish, great with or without food.

This was decent, but had a bit of earth with it. Not real bad sweat sox, but enough that it carried over into the aftertaste. The wine is aged in concrete eggs (hence the Eggo) and isn’t bad, but a little much at $18-25 range.

2015 Jules Taylor Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand

This Pinot Noir is very generous on the nose, showing vibrant aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and plum combined with spicy oak notes. It has an impressive concentration of flavour and a nice acid backbone. The finish is dry with a nice touch of dark chocolate and subtle French oak coming through.

Fragrant and ebullient, with caramel and vanilla bean accents to the core of ripe black cherry and plum flavors, balanced by velvety tannins and dark chocolate nuances. Expressive and generous on the long finish. Drink now through 2026. 93/100 Points. Wine Spectator

This was a good New Zealand pinot – dark cherry flavors –aged in oak and stainless steel to give a hint of oak, but not overpowering the finesse of the pinot grape. Priced in the $18-20 range, this was the winner of the evening of Pinot noirs. Of course, it has a screw cap.

2015 Refugio Pinot Noir Casablanca Valley, Chile

93 points James Suckling

 Cedar, strawberry, flower, light iodine, and oyster shell. Medium to full body, silk tannins and a juicy finish. Shows soul. From Alsace's Andrew Ostertag and Julio Donoso... Made from biodynamic grown grapes.  (5/2016)

If you found your way to this product description, let's say accidentally, and you're not one of the people hip to this project, here is some quick info: Andre Ostertag helps to make the wine. Vineyards are composed of granite. Professional photographer/proprietor Julio Donoso is putting some truly interesting cooler climate Pinot Noir out there, and we strongly recommend you try it. Fermentation and ageing takes place in concrete eggs. No steel, no barrels, just huevos concretos.

This Pinot noir has a lot of Chile style “funk” with it. Suckling says light iodine, it’s a lot heavier to me. It blows off after a while (from the nose) but there is a bit of barnyard on the back end.  Some strawberry and cherry flavors but not a real great wine for my money. ($25 range…)

2014 Saracco Pinot Noir Piedmonte, Italy

Saracco Pinot Nero combines the traditional delicate bouquet of red berries and a velvety taste with good acidity, round body, complex structure and high persistence on the palate.

Vinification is in stainless steel tanks, refining in 225 liter barriques and then in big barrels for 12-14 months. After bottling, the wine is aged for an additional 6 months before releasing. 13.5 Alcohol

Recommended Food: Goes well with grilled salmon, braised rabbit, pasta with porcini mushrooms as well as roasted duck

Pinot Nero is Italian for Pinot Noir – this little bottle was very tasty – showed red berries and dark cherry on the palate and had a nice nose with moderate aftertaste. Not a bad wine for the $20 range – again, Pinot is not my grape.

2014 Fatum Bobal Tempranillo LaMancha, Spain

Grapes: 50% Bobal, 50% Tempranillo

Vintage: 2014

Color: Red

Vinous             89

(raised entirely in stainless steel tanks): Bright violet color. Lively redcurrant and cherry on the nose and palate, with a mineral nuance emerging as the wine opens in the glass. Conveys good depth and focus without any excess fat; a spicy note contributes back-end cut. Notes of fresh red berries and spices carry through a zesty, gently tannic finish that's sharpened by juicy acidity. 2016 – 2019

Another fun wine from Spain – Bobal is a formerly rustic grape that they kept for themselves – made cheaply, overcropped and quickly made. Then someone decided the grape could make a nice wine and here we are. This example is half anf half – a very good example of affordable and tasty wine. Cherry and red fruits cut through the flavor – good acidity and the hints of mineral make it go well with a variety of foods. Well worth the $14-16 you can spend on it.

That’s it – until later, keep popping those corks and I’ll meet you out behind the grapevines!

January 2017 Wines

What was that? January just flew by!!

How about some wines?

2003 Chateau Lascombes, Bordeaux, France

In less than five years this property has emerged as one of the appellation’s up and coming stars thanks to the infusion of money from the American conglomerate, Colony Capital, as well as the braintrust that now oversees the winemaking, Yves Vatelot (of Reignac fame) and the internationally renowned oenologist, Michel Rolland. The dark plum/ruby-hued, open-knit 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of barbecue smoke, plum liqueur, creme de cassis, flowers, new saddle leather, and damp earth. Loads of black fruits, a full-bodied palate impression, low acidity, and a savory, expansive mouthfeel suggest it can be drunk in 2-3 years, or cellared for 15+.

Robert Parker score        92

This was a half bottle my brother sent me. It is drinking wonderfully, smaller bottles tend not to age as well as bigger bottles. It has enough acidity to be very good with food, but was a pleasure to drink on its own. The black fruits were tantalizing, a full mouth feel with a nice long finish.  What a great bottle of wine. Thanks T man!

2012 Domaine du Gros “Nore”, Red blend Bandol, France

Wine Spectator: 93 Points

This has a dark leathery frame but remains sleek and pure overall, with a dense core of currant preserves, steeped plum and lightly mulled blackberry fruit, studded with dried anise and singed juniper notes. A bolt of iron is buried deeply on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2025. 

“This has a dark leathery frame but remains sleek and pure overall, with a dense core of currant preserves, steeped plum and lightly mulled blackberry fruit, studded with dried anise and singed juniper notes. A bolt of iron is buried deeply on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2025.  93 points. #94 Top 100 wines of 2015” Wine Spectator Oct 2015

Really nice wine – a blend of 80% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 5% Cinsault from the Bandol region of France.  Very good with food, yet a substantial sipper as well. The wonderful spice note made the fruits stand out – a very good bottle. Normal retail $35-40, can be found for around $25-30.

2014 Chilcas Cinsault Valle del Itata, Chile

If you are looking to try something a little different, give this slightly cloudy dark red colored Cinsualt from Chile. It opens with a fragrant strawberry and craisin bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and juicy. The flavor profile is a red plum, craisin and pomegranate blend with notes of mild minerality and faint oak. The finish is dry and its fruit flavors are slightly prolonged. This Cinsault is food friendly and would pair well with a barbecue meatloaf.

A single vineyard Cinsault – the usual blending grape gets its own bottle. And this Rhone varietal comes from Chile (!). This was a fun, enjoyable wine that would go with a lot of different foods.  Probably not to heavy, but would hold up to a lot of different meats and sauces. The fruit is nice, not overwhelming but a nice harmonious nose and on the palate . Really fun – price is around $20, can find for $15 probably. Well worth trying and make your friends guess the grape.

2014 Cooper & Thief Red Blend, California

“ Dark and dense with aromas of fennel, vanilla, spice, black plum, and tobacco. A full-bodied wine that handles the whiskey well, with an impression that is potent with sweet star anise and Port-like power.”

This is a new trend, aging wine in Bourbon barrels. Adds a layer on the nose and extra alcohol – this came in at 17% (Oy). For me – the underlaying wine was not great – too fruity without any nuance, aftertaste or real appeal. The spirit makes it almost seem port like, but not nearly as good. New trend, but I’ll stick to something else.  Retails around $34, even at a sale price, I’ll pass.

2013 Hayman and Hill Meritage, Monterrey County, California

Winemaker's Notes

Hayman & Hill are firm believers that sometimes the sum of the parts are greater than the individual components. Meritage blends are just that, the perfect marriage of several varieties, each grape bringing out the best in each other and representing the region with the utmost quality.

Blend:  34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Malbec, 16% Merlot, 14% Petite Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc

Accolades

"Shows great improvement over last year’s so-so bottling. This  Meritage displays a nice balance of firm tannins, acidity and currant-licorice flavors, with well-integrated oak. Feels elegant and subdued, and will be a good companion to anything that wants a dry, full-bodied red wine.

Very nice little Meritage that I got on a close out around $10. Should have bought more – it had good fruit, balanced acidity and a decent finish. Went well with beef dishes and pizza – pick this one up for anything under $15 – you won’t regret it.

2014 Rio Madre, Graciano, Rioja, Spain

"An unusual Rioja, the 2014 Rio Madre Graciano is 100% Graciano grape. The wine shows relatively decent acidity, dried cherries and underbrush, a medium-bodied mouthfeel, dark ruby color and some old, slightly musty oak, but otherwise is attractive. Drink it over the next 2-3 years." -Wine Advocate

I really likes this wine – similar to the usual tempranillo, but not the same.  Plenty of acidity to match manyfgoods, the flavors were more subtle but lingered nicely. At $10 – 15 a bottle, this is a wine you should buy a number of bottles – good value for a good wine.

Well, that's another month - until we meet again, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.