Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Angeline Winery - 2005 Estate Merlot

I must start by stating, I am not a fan of Merlot. With that said, I recently tasted the 2005 Angeline Winery Estate Merlot while enjoying a wine flight of other red varietals. This winery is a part of the Martin Ray Winery located in Sonoma County, California - recently ranked as the American Value Brand of the year in 2007 & 2006 by Wine & Spirits Magazine. The tasting notes for this 2005 Estate Merlot suggest a wonderfully structured wine with a nose of plum and cherry followed by rich fruit flavors and a hint of leather. My tasting notes suggest that there is a strong taste of leather and earthy tones with very little structure. Even at the dirt cheap price of $10 a bottle, I still wouldn't spend the money. With that said, if you like an earthy wine and taste of leather, you may enjoy this bottle. To be fair, if you try this one, post your comments, let us hear what you have to say about this one.

Two Angels Winery - 2006 Petite Sirah

Rated 92 points by Wilfred Wong, this 2006 Petite Sirah comes from the Shannon Ridge Vineyards located in Lake County California (North of the Napa Valley). This was a dark Petite Sirah, with aromas of berry and pomegranate and described as having aromas of roasted game integrated with toasted oak and roasted coffee undertones. This was a well balanced, bigger Petite Sirah.

We had the pleasure of tasting the wine with Steve Kreps whose family owns Two Angels Winery and Steve is also the President of Quintessential Wines (http://www.quintessentialwines.com/quintessential/index.jsp), who imports and markets family-owned wineries in Napa. According to Steve, this 2006 Petite Sirah is the best Petite Sirah they have produced at Two Angels. Put this one on your list to try, you will not be disappointed. You may have to do some internet searching to find this, or contact Quintessntial Wines to find out how to buy this for your cellar (707-226-8300).

Thank you, Steve for the tasting and conversation. We look forward to the opportunity to try more great wines from Two Angels Winery, and the other family-owned wineries you represent.

Roots Run Deep Winery - Educated Guess 2005 Cab/Syrah

As the name suggests, and their website describes, Roots Run Deep Winery uses their "...knowledge, intuition, and years of experience to make the best possible decisions, however at the end of the day it still remains an "Educated Guess"." Only 18,000 Cases of this 2005 Cabernet/Syrah were produced. This is an organically grown Cab with cherry on the nose, vanilla in the middle and a rich berry and smoky finish. This was a lighter cab with very little tannins for a Napa Cab, but for the price of $20 it is one worth trying. It may not be an easy wine to find, but check out their website for distributors that may be near you (http://www.rootsrundeep.com/index.html).

Trinitas Cellars - 2006 Old Vine Zinfandel

A must try and a good price. This Zin is produced from nearly 100 year old vines located in Oakley, CA (Contra Costa County). A blend of 87% Zin, 8% Petite Sirah, 4% Mataro and 1% Alicante Bouschet produces this rich zin, with a fairly complex raspberry, blackberry, and pepper tone. Per their website, Trinitas (http://www.trinitascellars.com/) is Latin for Trinity the fundamental principle of Christianity and also symbolizes Sun, Soil & Humanity. I was able to find the 2002 and 2003 variety at BevMo for $17 & $18. You can find the 2006 on the Trinitas Cellars website for $18. Give this one a try, you will enjoy it.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

2004 Conn Creek Anthology

A few nights ago, we opened the 2004 Conn Creek Anthology for our St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) dinner and this wine lived up to its reputation. Since the original Anthology in 1991, Wine Spectator has scored this wine 90+ every year. I did not find a rating for this vintage. Wine maker Jeff McBride describes this wine as "having red and black fruit aromas and spicy flavors with nuanced expressions of creamy oak and berry cobbler. A robust wine balanced with silky tanins." This is a full-bodied wine made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petite Verdot. Be sure to decant this wine for 1-2 hours. If you can wait, I would keep it for another 3-5 years. I think the $50-$60 price tag is a little high for this bordeaux-style blend as you are now into some true Italian wines that are better.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Bodega Norton Malbec

I was given a bottle of the 2006 Malbec the other night and opened while our guests were here. I am now back to try it again after a few days of opening. It has a strawberry nose with a little smokiness. Upon first taste, it hits you like cough syrup. This is a quick pass.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

2006 Ranch Zabaco Zinfandel

The week before Thanksgiving I picked up a few bottles of Rancho Zabaco's Sonoma Heritage Zin from a distributor while he was at my favorite wine store (BevMax). I served it last night to some guests and they all said how good it was. Like many of the CA Zinfandels, it has a 15% alcohol content. This wine is a classic full-bodied zinfandel with big blackberry aroma followed by a cherry and blackberry taste. In addition, there is some spicy/peppery taste along with a hint of chocolate. I offered up some chocolate to the guests at the end and it was a good match. There was a pretty long finish to this wine but could stand some more time in the cellar. Be sure to decant this wine for 1-2 hours. Overall a nice Zinfandel for $12. Wine Enthusiast rates this 89 points.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Rosenblum - 2006 Black Muscat

When deciding on an after dinner drink, one to go with our pies at Thanksgiving, we chose to try the 2006 California Rosenblum Cellars Black Muscat Gallagher Reserve. This dessert wine was produced from the rare Black Hamburg grape. A rich chocolate and cherry flavor made for a nice dessert wine. This is a small sipper, as a little will do you with this 16.8% wine. I am not one for a sweet wine, but this was a nice way to end the night with our dessert. If you haven't already, try this Muscat and enjoy.

Stone Wolf Vineyards - 2006 Pinot Noir

For those who have not heard of, or tried any wine from, the Willamette Valley of Oregon is the up and coming Napa Valley (still in its infancy). Willamette Valley actually made a top 10 list, ranked number 6, destinations for 2009. A destination for wine lovers to try before it is the next high priced, tourist destination.

Along with our BBQ Turkey for Thanksgiving (which turned out fabulous), we enjoyed the Stone Wolf Vineyards (http://www.stonewolfvineyards.com/) 2006 Pinot Noir. I am not a big fan of Pinot as they tend to be very simple red wines. This Pinot was a complex, medium bodied red that paired well with our turkey. Priced at $18-$20, this is a wonderful wine, one to be enjoyed as a starter to the night or with your dinner - or just to drink for no other reason. I was surprised by this one, and would recommend trying this along with others from the Willamette Valley.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Da Vinci Chianti Riserva 2004

The 2004 Riserva is an exceptional medium bodied wine made up of 100% Sangiovese grapes. The nose is very fruity, although somewhat smokey, along with a slight hint of cinnamon. The taste is very fruit forward with plum and cherry and nice soft tannins that give this wine great balance. No need to cellar. Enjoy it now. Would pair nicely with grilled meats, but bettter with lasagna. Wine Spectator gave this a 91 pint rating. I have to agree with them. This wine retails for about $23. If you have never been to Tuscany in October for grape harvesting, put it on your things to do.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Peju - 2003 Cab

If you haven't had a chance, I recommend trying Peju Winery...this family owned, boutique winery in the Rutherford area of Napa produces a very nice Cab, along with a zin and their Provence which is a nice every day wine.
We opened a 2003 Cab this weekend with our friends for an early Thanksgiving dinner. The 2003 Cab is a library wine, currently on Peju's website at $65/bottle (although it is sold out). The website describes this wine as having aromas of bing cherry, vanilla, clove, blackberry, black pepper, creme de cassis, toast, roasted coffee, fresh herbs and green olive. big, rich and round on the palate, displaying flavors of black cherry accented with toast and campfire notes.
This was a smooth cab that was full of flavor. Put this on your list of wines to try.
If you are in Napa, this is also a nice winery to visit. They have a beautiful tasting room and an area to enjoy a picnic. For more on Peju, visit their website at http://www.peju.com/.

Friday, November 21, 2008

2007 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc - Viognier

Pine Ridge winery was the first CA winery to develop this blend (80% chenin blanc and 20% viognier) several years ago and the 2007 is excellent. It is a medium bodied wine with nice pear, melon and citrus aromas and pear, green apple and citrus taste. There is a hint of grapefruit on the back with nice refreshing acidity. This is a great wine for appetizers or a salad. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave this a 90 point rating. I may have to go slightly higher. This is a $10-$12 wine that is better than some of the $20-$25 wines I have had. Highly recommend this wine, especially at this price.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Plenum Quartus 2001

This summer while having dinner in Porlezza Italy overlooking Lake Lugano, the sommelier recommended a bottle of 2001 Plenum Quartus by Dievolo. It is a 50% sangiovese and 50% Touringa Franca mix that is medium to full bodied with an intense plum aroma and a berry taste with some light spices and soft tannins. This is a very nice wine if you can find it. We specially ordered it for $35/bottle and enjoyed the first bottle this weekend from the wood box that every 6 bottles come in. This wine would pair nicely with grilled meats or an italian risotto.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Firiatta Chiaramonte 2005

The Chiaramonte is a Sicilian wine made of 100% Nero D'Avolo and is a medium bodied wine that has a nice deep purple color with a nose of prunes and raisins. On the palate, I picked up some peppery cherries and some chocolate on the back with some really soft tannins. I paired this with a grilled chicken and herbs. It would go well with most grilled meats and would also go nicely with pasta. It retails for about $15. Give this one a try. We really enjoyed this wine.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Domaine De Fenouillet

We had a bottle of the 2005 Cotes Du Ventoux from Domaine De Fenouillet this weekend and it received two thumbs down at our house. It is a medium bodied Pinot Noir from France that had a fresh berry nose but lacked taste and substance. Retails for about $12. PASS!!!!

Friday, November 7, 2008

Castle Vineyards - 2003 Zinfandel

Castle Vineyards is located in the town of Sonoma, CA. The winery is a small boutique winery. I received this bottle more than a year ago through a wine club. The wine was pale in color compared to most Zin's. There was no definition in flavors. Just a bland red wine. I was not impressed. This may work in a pinch for cooking wine, but not worth drinking at roughly $20. Go on to the next bottle.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Girard Chardonnay 2006

We are not big Chardonnay drinkers but are VERY BIG Girard fans. Their Petite Sirah is fantastic and the sauvignon blanc is very good. Bill, from BevMax, had ordered some after I told him how much I liked Girard. Suprisingly, I liked the Chardonnay also. It is a light to medium bodied wine from the Russian River Valley in CA and has a peach (white peach) aroma with soft citrus flavors and a hint of oak. Nice with appetizers or just by itself. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it a 90 point rating in August. It is currently sold out at the winery. Girard wines are hard to find but are worth the search. If you are a chardonnay drinker, give it a try. It retails for about $22.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

2007 Alamos Seleccion Malbec

Argentina has been getting a lot of press about the nice Malbecs they have been producing. This weekend we served the 2007 Alamos Seleccion Malbec which is a nice medium to full bodied wine that has a spicy blueberry nose with a hint of vanilla. The wine has rich blackberry and cassis flavors along with soft tannins. We have served this numerous times and it has been consistantly good. Our favorite malbec. Wine Spectator scored this a 90. Retails for $13. We highly recommend the 2007 Alamos Seleccion Malbec.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

2003 Carema

Last night I tried a bottle of the 2003 Carema from Cantina Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema. This wine is from the northwest region of the Piedmont section of northern Italy. This area is mainly known for its outstanding Barolos and Barbarescos. The grape for all of these wines is the nebbiolo. While the Barolo and Barbaresco are fuller wines, the Carema is a medium bodied, less tannic wine that is grown higher in the Italian Alps. The aroma is sweet like strawberries and roses. A very fruit forward wine with tastes of raspberries and plum. It had a long enjoyable finish. For half the price of a nice Barolo,try this Carema 2003. This will cellar nicely and only get better. Paired very nicely with pork but will be great with most meats and pasta.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Sula Sauvignon Blanc 2007

This weekend we had dinner with our friends to celebrate their Indian Christmas and they introduced us to Sula, meaning sun. We drank the 2007 sauvignon blanc and boy were we surprised. The wine had great floral aromas and crisp citrus flavors like a nice Californian Sauvingon Blanc. The acidic finish was refreshing and long. I would not have thought of India as a wine region. This winery was started by a Stanford grad who left his job at Oracle in Silicon Valley and moved back to India to build a winery. In fact, it was the first winery in India. Today there are 30 wineries in India. Give this a try if you can find it. Look for the sun on the label.

Villalta Amarone Della Palpolicella

The 1999 Vilalta Amarone was a very nice medium to full bodied wine with some raisin and prune aromas and a blackberry and raisin taste. Nice long finish with smooth tannins. Grapes include corvina, rondinella, molinara and rossignola. Great for grilled meats. It is best to decanter this wine for up to 2 hours before serving. I have had this in my cellar for a few years so I'm not sure what it retails for today ($70-$80). It is stored in oak barrels for 4 years and in the bottle for 1 year before being released to the stores. I have a few more bottles of this wine to finish.

Domaine Ostertag

The 2004 Fronholz Muscat by Domaine Ostertag in France was disappointing. It had a very pale color with a small amount of lime smell. Not the typical Muscat. There was very little fruit flavor and quite dry with NO finish. Some oak present. PASS!!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Bleasdale Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2005 Bleasdale Cabernet from Australia is a medium bodied cabernet that has aromas of currants, cranberry and cedar. The vintner also says mint and eucalyptus. The wine is fruit forward with blackberrys and and has subtle tannins with a decent finish. My wife and I both felt it was ok, but would not run out to buy it any time soon. Retails for about $16. Rated 90 points by the International Wine Cellar and 89 points by the Wine Advocate. These are generous ratings.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Liberty School Cabernet

The 2005 Liberty School cabernet sauvignon from Paso Robles, CA is a medium-bodied cab that has a subtle chocolate covered cherries aroma with a hint of spices. The fruity cherry and blackberry taste along with a peppery back-end taste is nicely combined with soft tanins. No need to cellar. This is nothing spectacular but if you are looking for an easy-drinking cab, give this a try. I prefer big cabs but this one is OK. I would drink it with burgers, pork or cheeses. I would not pair it with a nice grilled steak. Retails for about $14.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Lois Gruner Veltliner

As I mentioned in my Zweigelt write-up, Austria has been producing some very good wines. The 2007 Lois Gruner Veltliner by the Loimer winery is one of my favorite Gruner Veltliners. It has a very crisp aroma of green apples, pineapple and honey dew. Along with the citrus, there is a spicy/peppery taste. This is a wonderful summer wine that can be paired with many foods or just enjoyed with some appetizers. Retails for about $15. GREAT VALUE for this wine. We have been a big fan and buyer of the Lois.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Chappellet Mountain Cuvee

The 2005 Mountain Cuvee by Cappellet is a blend of 57% cabernet, 41% merlot and 2% petit verdote. The nose was blackberry, cherry, vanilla and coffee. This was a fruit forward blend with flavors of cherry, blackberry and plum. There is some oakiness to this ink colored wine as well. It is a full-bodied and complex wine, but the finish is not very exciting. This wine is similar to the Bordeaux blends and needs to open up, BUT FAR FROM A TRUE BORDEAUX. Wine Enthusiast gave this a 90 point rating and I would tend to agree, although it's agressive. Put it away for a few more years.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Baron De Magana 2004

The 2004 Baron De Magana is a red wine from northern Spain that is a blend of 40% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 20% tempranillo. It has a dark sherry red color with aromas of flowers and roasted coffee beans according to the vintner. I also picked up some smokey toast and currants. My first tastes were cherrys and blackberries, followed up with some spicy currants. The climate in this region makes for richer, fuller wines with sweeter and more polished tannins. Open this wine early as it really needs to open up. An interesting wine that I will try again. I think this wine could be stored away for another 5 years and it will be an outstanding wine. The 2004 Baron De Magana retails for about $17. The Wine Advocate rated this a 90.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Leo Hillinger Zweigelt

Austria has been producing some very nice wines lately. On the white side, try the Gruner Veltliners. I really like the Lois. On the red side, try the Zweigelts. While traveling in Europe, we got turned onto this type of grape and wine. The Heinrich Zeigelt is a terrific wine. But last night we had a bottle of the 2005 Leo Hillinger Zweigelt. This is the second time we have opened a Hillinger and was very pleased both times. The wine has a ruby red color and has a spicy cherry and raspberry berry nose, which is common in the Zweigelts. The taste is fruity with the berries and I picked up a hint of blackberry on the back. The tannins were smooth and overall a very vivacious wine. No need to cellar. Great value for $18-$20. High recommendation for Austrian wines.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Oceana Riesling 2007

Last night I decided to try something new. I paired a bottle of wine with spicy Chinese food. Your first thought might be tea or Tsing Tao (beer). I was thinking a gewurztraminer because of the spicy peach and ginger flavors. However, the 2007 Oceana Riesling from the Oceana Estates Winery in Monterey County was suggested by my local wine store. It also had some peach aroma but it was being overpowered by a fig newton cookie smell. The wine was quite dry and sweet with the peach and citrus flavors. Interesting blue bottle with a mermaid logo but it will not entice me to buy another bottle, especially at $20. I think the Gewurz would have been a better selection, or a French Riesling or an Alsace. Don't be afraid to try wine with spicy ethnic foods.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Honig Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Honig is a small family-run solar-powered winery in Napa Valley CA that specializes in Sauvignon Blanc. The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is a nice light-medium bodied white wine that has a mango and grapefruit nose with a small scent of lemon. The citrus flavors are combined nicely along with some lemongrass and melon. Although we served this with appetizers, this would go nicely with fish. There are better sauvignon blancs, but try this for a change-up. Not as crisp and light as most sauvignon blancs, but still refreshing on a warm day. Sells for about $14.

Esperance Soleil Colombard 2007

This is a cheap ($10) white wine from South Western France that is made from 100% colombard grapes. This flowery grape is typically used for materials to be distilled for Cognac or for mixing with other varietals. Don't waste your money. PASS!!!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Mirassou, 2005 Chardonnary (Monterey Cty, CA)

This wine was just what I was looking for on a warm summer evening set for some relaxation. This is a very light, fruity wine. I think this wine would be great for the amateur wine drinkers like myself. It's described as "offering crisp flavors of peach, apricot, and green apple with hints of tropical fruit and vanilla". For me, it tasted perfect on the first sip. I'm not sure where we picked this bottle up, but their website priced it at a low $11/bottle. When I found that out, it made the bottle all the more enjoyable!

Luigi Bosca Reserve Pinot Noir

The 2006 Pinot Noir is a medium-bodied wine that has smokey cherries and raspberries on the nose with red berries, cinnamon and chocolate in taste. I also had a minty taste on the back. It is very dry and the tannins are firm. The Bosca reserve was aged 6-8 months in French oak barrels. Jay Miller from the Wine Advocate rated this 89 points. I think it is a decent pinot but he was generous. I would say 87 may be a safer score. Pair this with some light foods or cheeses.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Nine Gables Barbera

Last night we enjoyed a bottle of the Nine Gables 2006 Barbera (Ottimista Vineyard) that I picked up on a recent trip thru Amador County, CA. This region of the Sierra Foothills is warmer than the napa region and is know for producing some nice zinfandels. The Barbera grape is the second most planted variety in Italy, next to the Sangiovese. The Nine Gables Barbera had a nice dark red color and a nose of red and black berries. Upon tasting, the berries were predominant with a hint of cherries and even some blueberries. I decanted this wine for 2 hours and it went from a fair wine to a very nice wine. This is a nice medium bodied wine with little tannins. We paired this with pasta and it was the perfect combination. Would also be great with pizza. I will definitely try to get more of the 2006 Barbera.

Waterstone 2003 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

This Napa Valley Cab offers a great nose, with hints of oak and chocolate. The label suggests hints of cherry, currant and blackberry...however, not something I picked up on. The Wine Spectator gave this 90 points, and they may have been a bit generous in my opinion. This Cab lacked body, at best it was a medium bodied Cab...and I was in the mood for a full bodied Cab...so it let me down a bit. The Waterstone Cab hits at the back of the tongue and lingers for a while...a silky, oak finish that was enjoyable. I bought this one for $30 and after getting over my initial disappointment, I enjoyed this wine. However, it did not pair well with my BBQ, but was a nice sipping wine to finish the evening. This was a slightly above average Cab, and at $30 was worth the try. However, I can't find this bottle online for less than +/-$70. At this price point, there are better Cab's to be tried and enjoyed.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Drylands Sauvignon Blanc

The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc BURSTS with peach, passion fruit, honeydew and green apple. In fact, there is too much citrus on the nose. The exotic fruits on the initial taste is overbearing. It is a fuller bodied sauvignon blanc with heavy acidity, but not a long finish. The wine was less expressive after being open for awhile (2nd glass). Wine Enthusiast gave this a 91 point rating. For my palate, I would have to say closer to 87-88. Worth the try at $15 but I would pick the Villa Maria, Seresin or Kim Crawford savignon blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand instead.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Vizcarra Roble Senda del Oro

This wine is made from the tempranillo grape that is found in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Suprisingly, Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world. The 2006 Vizcarra Roble Senda del Oro had received a 90 point rating from Jay Miller (Wine Advocate) and an 88 from Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar. This wine is dark ruby red in color and has a shocking smokey cherry and blackberry nose. Don't let the oak scare you. LET THIS WINE OPEN UP!!! The earthy dark berry tastes with the minimal oak and soft tannins is common to the tempranillo wines. The Roble has a long finish on the palate. Can be enjoyed now but I would hold this wine till 2011 or later. This is a small winery founded in 1991 with only 3,000 cases of the 2006 Roble bottled. We enjoyed this bottle and will put some away for our wood-fired grilling.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Raymond Reserve

The 2004 Raymond Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a nice full-bodied cab made up of 91% cabernet sauvignon, 8% cabernet franc and 1% merlot. It starts with a spicy blackberry and cherry nose followed by a blueberry and blackberry taste with some pepper at the end. This wine could pair nicely with ribs or burgers on the grill. We enjoyed this wine and concur with the 90 point rating by Connoisseur's Guide. Put this wine away for a few more years and it will be even better.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Tres Sabores Winery - Porque No?

Tres Sabores is a Napa winery located out of Rutherford, CA. They have a nice red wine called Porque No? This was a complex, spicy and heavier zinfandel blend. Consists of mostly zin with cab, petit verdot and petit syrah. The first smell of this wine showed its complexity. First sip was nice, but unsure. Second sip was better and required more. This one got better with each sip. Cost is approximately $20 and worth it if you enjoy a complex Zinfandel. This one is worth trying.

Fenestra Winery - Alvarelhao

A few weeks ago, my wife and I enjoyed a weekend away in Truckee, CA. There is a new wine tasting room in Truckee by the name of Bacchus & Venus...founded in Sausalito, CA and supposedly a big success there.

We tasted several wines and really enjoyed one from Fenestra Winery out of Livermore, CA. It was a Portuguese grape grown in Lodi, CA called Alvarelhao. This was a nice fruity forward wine with a bit of spice and smokiness that lingered in the finish. This would be great with BBQ or just sipping with friends.. Cost about $20. This can be ordered and shipped from the tasting room we went to if you can't find it. Website http://www.blogger.com/www.bacchusandvenus.com or 530-550-9800

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Carneros Creek Pinot Noir

Today we served several bottles of the 2005 Pinot Noir Reserve from the Carneros Creek Winery. Our guests all enjoyed this wine and said they had never heard of this winery. Surprisingly, two of the guests were from CA. It is a mild wine with soft tannins and very little oak. It starts with a very nice fruity, cherry and plum nose and has an earthy cherry, red licorice taste. It got more expressive as it opened. The winery was purchased in 2006 by Michael Mondavi, son of the late Robert Mondavi. This is their specialty at Carneros Creek. A nice $22 Pinot.

Monday, September 15, 2008

The Prisoner

The 2006 Prisoner by Orin Swift Cellars (www.orinswift.com) in CA is a Zinfandel mix with 51 % Zin, 23% cabernet and a mix of other varietals. It has an upfront jammy taste with blackberry and plum and some coffee to mix. It is a medium bodied wine with smooth tannins. The back end taste was chocolate and spices. Really enjoyed this wine but I think putting it in the cellar for another 2-3 years would bring out the best. Nice wine for grilled meats. We cannot grill without a nice sauce for the meat. I think this is a very good wine, although a little pricey ($35). Getting into a range where there are better wines available. Wine Spectator gave this wine a 91 point rating. I recommend buying this wine as well.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Frank Family Vineyards

My wife and I are big fans of Frank Family Vineyards (http://www.frankfamilyvineyards.com/). This winery is the last of the old style Napa wineries, where you can enjoy free wine tasting of their entire lineup, and enjoy great conversation with the family. Rich Frank is an ex-Disney Executive who connected with the Rombauer family to start Frank Family Vineyards. Frank Family has been on their own now for several years and creating wonderful wines.

Our favorites include the 2006 Chardonnay and the 2004 Zinfandel (if you can find it, otherwise the 2006 is available and a nice Zin).

The 2006 Frank Family Chardonnay is a light, buttery Chardonnay with a smooth finish. Frank Family suggests serving this Chardonnay at room temperature as it stands on its own. They suggest chilling a white wine is a way to hide its flaws...and I highly recommend listening to them on this one. I have served this wine to many people at room temperature, and they have all loved it. A bit pricey, but worth the money at $32 a bottle. Check their website to find out where you buy this as they have limited distribution.

The 2004 Zinfandel, and their Zin in general, is a full bodied Zin, rich and dark in color. Frank Family describes it as leading with a sweet blackberry jam and finishing with hints of white and black pepper and clove spice. This is a great wine to serve with your upcoming Thanksgiving Turkey. Price is roughly $37 a bottle, and worth it.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Las Brisas

Tonight we enjoyed a bottle of 2007 Las Brisas by Bodegas Naia winery. Las Brisas is a wine that comes from Rueda, the famous white wine region in the heart of north-central Spain. This wine is comprised of 50% verdejo, 25% sauvignon blanc and 25% viura. It is a medium bodied white with a crisp citrus taste and traces of grapefruit, honeysuckle and melon. It was the perfect pairing for our grilled shrimp and fish. A great value wine at $12. Will definitely buy more.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Vino Noceto Dos Oakies

Tonight we opened the bottle of Dos Oakies from Vino Noceto that we visited last month. It is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes which is most commonly known as the main grape in Italian Chianti wines. It is a smooth and easy drinking wine with a light fruity finish. Reasonably priced at $20. It should get better with another year or two of aging. Decent everyday wine but nothing spectacular. Would not run out and purchase it again. Would go back to the traditional italian chiantis.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Marquis Philips 2007 Shiraz

My wife and I enjoyed the Marquis Philips 2007 Shiraz. This Australian Shiraz was excellent right out of the bottle. Don't be scared away, as this bottle comes with a screw top. The shiraz was a dark, rich wine, with a hint of blackberry aroma, vanilla and spice. This was right up my alley, with a nice fruit forward taste, full body and soft finish. We enjoyed this while spending a warm evening on the back patio with family and friends. The wine went well with an appetizer that was Goat Cheese covered in Balsamic Vinegar, toasted Pine Nut, basil, and halved cherry tomato scooped onto slices of french bread (much like a Bruschetta). The winery does not appear to have a website, but the wine is available online at $15-20 per bottle. Our host serving the wine bought this one at Costco just under $20. Hope you enjoy.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Silver Fox 2002 Zinfandel

We opened a bottle of Silver Fox ( http://www.silverfoxwine.com/Index.html ) this past weekend. Silver Fox is located near Yosemite at an elevation of 3,000 ft. We enjoyed the 2002 Zinfandel which is a blend of mostly Zin with a bit of Syrah. The wine had a nice berry taste and spicy finish. We enjoyed this while camping and eating BBQ Tri Tip…it went well together. I don’t know where I got this bottle, but I see it online for $11 at the winery. Well worth the $. I would encourage you to let this breathe for 20-30 minutes before drinking, as the first taste hit me a bit hard, but it really opened up after a short time. We had a bit left over the next day, and it was not as good, so drink this one in one sitting.

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