Vina Robles - Great People, and Generous Too!!!

I would like to say Thank You to Mark Laderriere at Vina Robles - http://www.vinarobles.com/index.php.

Recently I was introduced to Mark through the author of 'Corked Wine Blog'. Along with many other community activities that I am involved in, I am a board member for my children's local public school. For those not already aware, California is having its fair share of economic problems, and our public schools are struggling because of it. Mark, and Vina Robles, generously donated wine to an upcoming fundraising event for our school. The generosity of Mark and Vina Robles is truly appreciated. These are the kind of generous people that we should all model ourselves after. Please take a moment to support Vina Robles as they have supported our cause. Among their wines, the Petite Sirah is one I am told is one to try. Please view their website and look for their label - please support them as they have chosen to support our school.

Thank you Mark and Thank you Vina Robles!

McManis Family Vineyards

At a recent wine tasting event, I learned about McManis Family Vineyards. The charity wine tasting event featured many local Napa and Foothill wineries, including Jeff Runquist's Winery. As I commented back in July, I am a new fan of Jeff Runquist's zinfandel - the Z is excellent and I like the R as well. What I learned was Jeff is a winemaker for McManis Family Vineyards out of Ripon, CA. I understand this is a larger production winery. McManis was not pouring wines, so I have nothing more to post. I will seek out the label and post at a later date. However, if you have tried Jeff Runquist, and enjoyed it as I did, seek McManis - who knows, maybe it will be as good. http://www.mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com/

Genuine Risk 2005 Merlot

Several authors got together to try the Genuine Risk 2005 Merlot out of the Snata Ynez Valley. This wine was noted as having a leathery quality, a hint of mocha and soft tannins with a mineral finish. The aroma was amazing right out of the bottle, it really caught their attention. The price point is $26 per bottle. Try it and let us know what you think.

Yoakim Bridge Winery 2005 Merlot

The Yoakim Bridge Winery is located in Healdsburg, CA (www.yoakimbridge.com) in the wonderful Sonoma County wine region. After a recent tasting, several authors on this page felt that this was a nice merlot, leathery & fruit forward, with sharper tannins and more oak hints.

Yoakim Bridge describes it as "Yoakim Bridge 2005 Dry Creek Valley Merlot: Gallaway VineyardSourced from Brian Gallaways' West Dry Creek vineyard, the same as our renowned Merlot from 1999. This cherry scented fruit is more tropical and less herbal, or Cabernet like, than the 1999, probably because at David's suggestion Brian removed some of the surrounding forest to increase the amount of total sunlight. It is unlike any Merlot that we have ever tasted and is more reminiscent of a fine Pinot Noir. It should age extremely well, but is delicious today with salmon, sea bass, shellfish, and roast duck. We dare the character Miles from the movie Sideways to try this wine!!"

Our authors suggest the same, try this wine. The price shows at $36 per bottle on Yoakim Bridge Wineries website.

Enjoy!

Napa Cellars 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

This was a post provided to me by Vin De Valeur who asked that I post this review.

The Napa Cellars 2006 Cab ranked 87 points with Wilfred Wong. Notes on this cab suggest ripe blackberry and cherry hints. This red wine is "Super Good" says Vin De Valeur who continues describing this as a full bodied cab with oak notes.

The Napa Cellars '06 Cab can be purchased in the grocery store for approximately $20. Give it a try and let us hear your comments.

Chateau Chevalier 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

I decided to open a bottle a couple nights ago, and was looking forward to a nice Cab. I chose the Chateau Chevalier 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley. This bottle was given to me as a gift, and has been waiting for nearly 2 years to be opened. This bottle can be found online for $30, but you may want to save your money for something else. After opening for a while, this Cab lacked structure, body and finish. At best, this was a medium bodied Cab, a hint of fruit upfront, with a bit of earth or tobacco in the middle and nothing on the finish. It may have been my state of mind, looking forward to a bigger cab, however, this wine still disappointed the second night. Save your money and move on to something else...maybe a good stand by with a Frank Family Vineyards.

Clos du Val Chardonnay

We truly enjoyed this 2005 Chardonnay from the Carneros region of Napa Valley. Clos du Val produced a nice Chardonnay here. This is 100% Chardonnay from Carneros fruit with hints of melon, peach and citrus. This wine has nice balance with a long, crisp finish. I have had this for a couple years now, but see that you can buy it online between $20 and $25. Very nice Chardonnay, pick one up and enjoy it on its own, or with a nice light meal.

Simonsig Stellenbosch 2007 Chenin Blanc

We enjoyed this South African Chenin Blanc this weekend while camping. I have read a lot of positive reviews of this wine which I acquired through a wine club with 'Wine Styles'. I was not expecting much from this wine, but was pleasantly surprised by the nice light fruit notes and pleasant finish. There was a hint of apple and pear, very light and refreshing. This is not an outstanding Chenin Blanc, but is a nice everyday white. The price point appears $10 to $15 online at various locations. This is one I would pick up and have on hand for a casual glass with the neighbors or friends who drop by unexpectedly.

On a side note, after reading the bottle further, I noticed that this wine was distributed by our friend Steve Krepps at Quintessential Wines in Napa, CA. Nice job Steve!

Ondarre Rioja Reserve 2004

While in Europe, I had the good fortune of buying the 2004 Ondarre Rioja Reserve from Viana, Spain. This historic town, which is the burial spot of Lord Cesar Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI, is located in the heart of the Rioja region. The Ondarre vineyards are strongly influenced by the hot, dry Mediterranean climate. This medium-bodied reserva is a mix of 75% Tempranillo, 10% Grenacha and 15% Mazeulo with incredible aromas of fresh-picked blackberries and raspberries along with a handful of spices. On the palate were lush raspberries and strawberries combined with some vanilla. The acidity and tannins were perfect and the flavors never ended. It is aged in French and American oak for 16 months before bottling. This is an exceptional wine! It could even be held for a few more years. I will be on the search for the Ondarre wines in the States. I served it with a spice rubbed wood-fired chicken and grilled vegetables and it was the perfect match.

Castello di Farnetella Sauvignon Blanc 2006

This beautiful Sauvignon Blanc also comes from the Felsina winery. The wine is made from 100% sauvignon blanc grapes that were picked from a vineyard in the Sinalunga region just south of Siena. This pale yellow colored wine has rich fruitiness on the nose with a small amount of pepper. The fruit flavors are not as fruity and flowery as a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but just as good and the acidity was perfect. We were shocked to have such good sauvignon blanc in the Chianti region. Another must buy.

Felsina also has some excellent olive oils for sale. Our favorite was the Raggiolo, a smooth rich olive oil with mild hazelnut flavors and spicy black pepper infused. It is a fantastic dipping oil or used over a salad without adding vinegar. This could also be drizzled over grilled meats after coming off the fire. This oil did come back to the States with us.

Felsina Fontalloro 2004

While in Tuscany 2 weeks ago, we had a very enjoyable visit to the Felsina winery located just outside of Siena. We were welcomed by their staff who shared the history of the family owned winery and then poured their outstanding wines, along with some wonderful olive oils. The 2004 Fontalloro was our favorite. This ruby red colored Chianti is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes, but is not a Galo Nero (black rooster seal) because some of the grapes were grown outside the Chianti Classico region. It opens with a spicy cherry aroma along with a hint of vanilla and then followed by some tobacco. On the palate, there was an abundance of raspberry flavor along with wonderful earthiness and mild spices and a touch of oak. This medium-bodied Chianti has extremely smooth tannins and would pair nicely with grilled meats or even pasta. It was aged in barriques for 18 months. This is a MUST buy!! It set the bar for other Chianti's. Since we could not fly it home, we have stored some in the family wine cellar in Switzerland for future visits. It retails for about $35. Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated this vintage 94 points. Wine Spectator gave a 91 point rating. Be sure to stop at this winery if you are in Tuscany.

Jeff Runquist Wines

Ranking in my top 5 local wineries, Jeff Runquist Wines are amazing. I will caveat that with, you must be a zin lover to really appreciate his wines. Jeff Runquist is an Artisan, working for a larger winery, his private label is more of an art to him, and if he is not happy with the end result - well he won't put his name on it. This small winery produces less than 5,000 cases of wine per year. You will find them under two lables, either R or Z. Where to begin with this one...I loved the 2006 Z, a Zin with a nice balance of jam, earth and spice. My wife, on the other hand, enjoyed the 2007 R (I am guessing on the year but pretty sure it was 2007). This was a nice zin, which I enjoyed, however it lacked some of the spice making it a bit smoother Zin, which is what my wife enjoys. We were also both surprised, as Pop Runquist poured us one after another, with the 2006 Pinot Noir. A blind tasting, I thought this was closer to a zin than a Pinot, a nice one to try. Check out their website to learn more - http://www.jeffrunquistwines.com/

Cooper Vineyards - Amador Wine Region

A must try winery, Cooper Vineyards ranks in my top 3 wineries for sure. I was surprised by their Sauvignon Blanc, a great wine with a citrus and floral aroma, and melon and citrus flavors. A light wine that would be great for starting the evening off with light appetizers or just sitting out on a hot evening and sipping. I also enjoyed what they call Dicembre (pronounce D-Ch-m-bray). This was a blend of late harvest Zinfandel and Barbera. This was a sweet wine, perfect for capping off the evening with. Not too sweet, and not syrupy, just a great dessert wine. I recommend trying this one.

Amador Wine Region

My wife and I went this past weekend for a wine tasting tour of the Amador County wine region in Northern California. If you haven't experienced it, this is what Napa used to be...quality wines, great atmosphere, friendly proprietors pouring their own wine, and in a tough economy they are still serving it all for free. Not to mention, they were pouring 8 to 10 wines as opposed to Napa who charges to taste 3 or 4 wines, and they aren't willing to open anything else to let you try. Take the time to go, it is a beautiful drive, great scenery with rolling hills, oak trees and grapes, and the wines won't disappoint you.

La Linda Torrontes 2008

The Finca La Linda Torrontes wine bottled by Luigi Bosca in Argentina is a great summer wine made of 100% Torrontes grapes. It has a nice sweet aroma of honey, orange blossoms and lavender and is followed by a nice fruity (peachy, apricot) taste along with some tartness of green apples. The wine has great acidity and reminds me a little bit of a Muscat, but not as sweet, or a Gewurztraminer. Be sure to keep this COLD between glasses. Would go well with most white meats, seafood or even a spicy indian or asian dish. This is a very nice wine for about $10. Give this a try.

La Corte 2006

We recently tried two wines from La Corte winery in Puglia Italy (the heel of the boot). The 2006 Salice Salentino and the 2006 Solyss. These wines, made by acclaimed winemaker Chris Ringland, both use the negroamaro grape as the predominant grape but have different tastes. The Salentino was a medium to full bodied wine with mixed berry (raspberry) aromas along with tobacco. It has a nice sweet berry taste along with the Italian earthiness. The Solyss, mixed with Primitivo, was more of a fuller bodied wine with spicy blackberry aromas and plum and blueberry tastes. This also had the earthiness. The Salentino was rated 91 points and I have to agree that it was the better wine, although the cheaper wine ($11 and $16).

Renieri Rosso di Montalcino 2004

This is a nice medium-bodied italian wine made from 100% Sangiovese with aromas of cherry and blackberry and a hint of oak. The spicy berry taste is well accented by the earthiness that nice italian wines have. Manageable tannins. Robert Parker rated this 88 points and I would agree. Easy drinking wine.

Ruberte Tresor 2007

This Spanish wine is made from old vine garnacha and has a ripe berry nose along with a little peppery/spice. The taste is very fruity and sweet, like cotton candy. Garnacha is typically blended, which this wine should have been. The taste got worse by the minute instead of better. This is a BIG PASS!!!!

Rivera Il Falcone 2003

This is a very well structured Italian wine from the Puglia region (the heel of the Italian boot)that is a mix of 70% Nero di Troia, 30% Montepulciano. The nose consists of cherries and currants with tobacco and pepper aromas as well. The spicy fruit flavors combined with oakiness and licorice along with some acidity and a nice long finish. Open this early or decant. The label (a picture of a falcon) is homage to Emperor Fredrick II of Swabia who liked to hunt with his falcon. Wine Advocate gave this wine a 92 point rating and I would absolutely agree.

Isolda 2007

This is a medium-bodied Spanish red wine made up of Tempranillo, Granacha, Merlot and Cabernet. It is VERY fruit forward of red berries and jam. However, there is no finish to it. Was like drinking Kool-Aid. Was OK but I would not run out and buy it again. Retails for about $7.

Valentin Bianchi New Age

After my meeting with Robert Pepi, noted in a previous post, I found the New Age white wine by Valentin Bianchi in a local store. Tonight, we served it with one of our many Swiss meals, raclette, which is made with a semi-soft cow's milk cheese. With the salty cheese, potatoes, pickles, baby corns and pickled onions, it was a good pairing. The New Age is a citrusy blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Malvasia. It starts with a citrus and flowery nose followed by a crisp fruity taste of lime and lemon. This is a sweet wine with only 9.5% alcohol. Great summer drink. The New Age can also be served on the rocks with a slice of lime. Would be a great fit for seafood appetizers. Retails for $10. Imported by Quintessential Wines in Napa.

Las Lenas Malbec

We were given a bottle of the 2008 Las Lenas Malbec from Mendoza. With so many nice malbecs in the market, don't waste your time and money with this one.

Montecillo Rioja 2006

This is a white Rioja. PASS!!!!! Don't waste the $5.

Bianchi and Two Angels

I recently had the opportunity to meet and speak with Robert Pepi, the master wine maker for Valentin Bianchi wines from Argentina and Two Angels wines from Napa, CA. We did a comparison of 5 wines from each country, of which some were the same grape but had completely different tastes. For a warm summer day, try the "New Age White" from Bianchi. The Eponymous Cabernet from Napa and the Enzo Cabernet from Bianchi are excellent wines. I highly recommend you tracking down wines from both of these wineries.

Da Vinci Chianti Reserva 2005

Following the 2004 DaVinci Chianti Reserva which I posted previously, I purchased some of 2005 Reserva with the hopes of a similar quality wine. Although there were lots of similarities as the medium-bodied 2004 with the aromas of smokey fruit and the cherry and plum tastes, I was a little disappointed in this vintage. It had a little more dried herb taste to it. Additionally, the tannins were a little more chewy, but I'm not surprised since it was a 2005. Wine Spectator gave this an 87 point rating. I would tend to agree. Certainly drinkable but not as enjoyable as the 2004 Reserva.

2008 Viu Manent Secreto

Yes, a 2008!! According to the bottle, Viu Manent is a family owned winery in Chile that has been in operation since 1935. This particular sauvignon blanc, Secreto, has a light straw color with soft citrus, pear and melon aroma. Flavors include peach and passion fruit with a touch of kiwi. A crisp wine with good acidity and a long finish. Secreto was recommended by BevMax and I would recommend you trying this too. Very nice wine that retails for about $10-$12. Nice pairing for appetizers.

Molly Dooker Two Left Feet

Last night we made a goulash with lots of spices and paprika so we decided on the 2007 Molly Dooker Two Left Feet. This is an Australian Shiraz mix with Cabernet and Merlot. The Molly Dooker wines are hard to come by and don't last in the stores long. This full bodied wine is almost black in color and has an aroma of smokey oak along with black cherry and blueberries. You will have to decant for several hours to get these aromas. The flavors are spicy blue and black fruits. As with many of the MD wines, the alcohol content is 16%. This is a hard wine to pair with foods unless it is a bold, spicy dish that can hold its own ground. I would cellar this for about 5 more years and then try it. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated this 93 points and the Wine Spectator rated it 88 points. I would have to agree with the Wine Spectator.

Cigales Museum Real Reserva 2003

Our good friends, Tanya & Geoff Smith, introduced us to this outstanding wine from Northern Spain. It is a medium to full-bodied red wine made from 100% tempranillo grapes that have been picked from 50+ year old vines and aged in oak barrels for 2 years. The nose was very interesting with earthy red fruits and vanilla along with hints of spices and herbs. The flavors were more black fruits along with currants, licorice and chocolate. The oakiness and acidity were well balanced. Great finish with cassis (my boys favorite syrup). Wine Spectator rated this 86, but I would rate it 92+. OUTSTANDING wine!! Will add this to my collection in the cellar. Was an absolute perfect match for their incredible marinated lamb and vegetable dinner along with a dessert of chocolate ice cream balls covered with toasted coconut and cinnamon.

Terrabianca Campaccio 2004

This weekend we ordered a bottle of the Terrabianca Campaciio 2004 for a dinner party. The Campaccio is a "super-tuscan" wine from Italy that is a mix of 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet. This medium-bodied wine had a deep red color and aromas of strawberry, plum and cocoa with a hint of leather. The structure was excellent with the fruit and some oakiness and a finish of cherries and vanilla. Nice long finish!! The wine got better as it opened. Highly recommend this wine. I will be looking to put some away for a few more years. This wine retails for about $26.

Quote - Wine Vs. Water

Enjoy a glass of wine...

As Ben Franklin said: "In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria".

In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia ia coli, (E. coli) - bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop. However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health. Therefore, it is better to drink wine and talk stupid than to drink water and be full of sh*t.

Quote provided by a local Napa area winery proprietor. Thank you!

Girard Petite Sirah

As mentioned in an earlier post, Girard Winery from Napa, CA produces outstanding Petite Sirah wines. We were introduced to this wine with the 2002 and 2003 vintages, which are both 90+ rated wines. The 2004 was once again a very nice full-bodied wine with aromas of blueberry, coffee, black cherry and some lilac. The taste was a combination of blackberry, blueberry, plum and spices. Was a perfect wine with our beef tenderloin dinner. This wine is made from 100% petite sirah grapes. If you can find any vintage of the Girard Petite Sirah, BUY IT!!! Hard to find. Retails for $28-$35. Girard Petite Sirah's are one of our favorites. Looking forward to opening the 2005 and 2006.

Joseph Drouhin Laforet Chardonnay

This past weekend we had a bottle of the 2006 Joseph Drouhin Laforet Bourgogne Chardonnay. The Joseph Drouhin Vineyard is a family owned winery in France that dates back to the 1880's. This golden wine is made from 100% chardonnay grapes picked from all over the burgundy area. It has a pear and apple aroma along with subtle citrus and the flavors are much the same along with some almond. This wine is fermented in stainless steel so a little crisper than whites fermented in wood. It was a nice match to our sole (fish). Would also be nice with cheese or white meats. Give this wine a try.

2005 Black Pearl

The 2005 Black Pearl Oro is a Shiraz (57%) and Cabernet (43%) blend from South Africa. This wine is full-bodied but the structure was lacking. It has a black fruit aroma with a hint of chocolate. Later in the evening, I noticed a slight eucalyptus smell like an herbal medicine. The taste is bursting with fruit, particularly blackberry and plum, with some licorice and spice. Not overly impressed with this wine. With a $19 retail price tag, I probably would not buy anymore.

The Phantom 2005

Don't be afraid of this Phantom (by Bogle), in fact you should invite it in!! The 2005 Phantom is a wonderful full-bodied wine made up of 55% petite sirah, 42% zinfandel and 3% mourvedre. It has a dark inky color with an aroma that changes by the hour. Initially, I picked up some plum and cherry along with pepper. Then a little later I also picked up a blueberry and blackberry aroma with a hint of chocolate. The taste is very fruit forward with some spices including anise which is common to CA zins. Great wine for a rack of ribs or other meats. Open and decant for a hour before serving. For our palates, we rate this at 90+ and I will be looking to buy more to cellar.

2000 Paul Jaboulet Aine

Last night we had a very nice wine from the Paul Jaboulet Aine winery in the Rhone region of France. This is a family winery that has been around since 1834. The wine was the Gigondas Pierre Aiguillo 2000 and is made from a mix of 80% grenache, 10% syrah and 10% mourvedre greapes. This is a medium-full bodied red with a pale red color and a nose of currants, chocolate and cherry. On the palate, I picked up some peppery yet sweet fruits and some tobacco with nice ripe tannins. This was rated 87 by Steven Tanzer (2003) and 88 by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (2001). I would have to rate this more in the 90-92 point range. I wonder how they would rate it after another 6-8 years in the bottle?? Since it is not a big hearty wine, it can be served with just about any food. We served it with a pasta dish and it was a very good compliment to the meal. I highly recommend this wine.

2007 Martin Codax

The Albarino wine from Bodegas Martin Codax in Spain is a white wine made from 100% albarino grapes. This medium bodied white wine has a yellowish green color with a floral aroma along with citrus and herbs. This reminds you of a Viognier. It has an acidity like a Riesling and the taste of peaches, pear and mellons. Very nice wine to combine with a seafood meal. Nice wine. Will buy more.

La Mascota Malbec

We purchased 2 bottles of the La Mascota Malbec but accidentally picked a 2004 and a 2005. However, it was a great opportunity to try two vintages side-by-side. The 2004, although a year older, was not as intense and tasty as the 2005. The 2005 had a blackberry, plum taste with a hint of licorice along with the spicy/peppery taste found in most malbecs. This is a full-bodied wine that you could cellar for a few more years. Be sure to decant this prior to serving. We served these wines with a coconut curry chicken dish that complemented the spices well. Pass on the 2004.

2005 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva

The 2005 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Riserva Rocca Guicciarda is a nice medium-bodied chianti made from the Sangiovese grapes. It has a fruity nose with some berry, plum and chocolate flavors with a nice long finish. There is some earthiness to this wine, like many tuscan wines. Wine Advocate gave this an 87 point rating. This is a nice wine to serve with cheeses and lighter foods. We had a memorable visit to this estate in Tuscany a few years ago. You may want to hold this wine for another 2 years.

Punto Final 2007

The Punto Final Clasico is a Malbec produced by Bodega Renacer in Argentina. The grapes come from 50+ year old vines and are hand picked. This wine is unfiltered so you might see some sediments in the bottle. I had very little. This wine has a very dark appearance with smokey cherry and blueberry aromas. The taste was overpowering of black fruits along with some pepper and earthiness. Be sure to decant this wine. I tried it again the following day and it did not get any better. The previous vintages were better so give this wine another couple of years. Retails for about $11. I prefer the Alamos over the Punto Final.

Tinto Figuero 4 2006

The Tinto Figuero 4 wine was produced by Vinedos y Bodegas Garcia Figuero, a small family owned and operated winery that was started in 2001 in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. The Tinto Figuero is made from 100% tempranillo grapes harvested from 10-20 year old vines and then aged in new oak barrels (85% American 15% French oak) for only 4 months, hence the 4. It has a nice dark red color with strawberry and cherry aromas but more of a blackberry taste. It had a relatively long finish to it with smooth tannins. My wife's sister and brother-in-law in Switzerland served this with a fondue chinoise (thinly sliced beef, pork and veal dipped into a hot broth to cook) and it was the perfect pairing. The Wine Advocate gave this wine an 88 point rating. I would agree with this rating. It retails for $20. According to Steve Kreps, Jr. from Quintessential Wines (see ad in side bar), the Tinto Figuero 15 is outstanding. If I can't find it locally, I will call Mr. Kreps and have it shipped. Give these wines a try.