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.