Nugent Vineyard - Robert Stemmler

Robert Stemmler

2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Nugent Vineyard

11 acres in the heart of the Russian River Valley; tightly spaced vines of Dijon 115 and 667 clones. This Pinot is consistently light, very little pepper and stable fruit. Excellent to sip with friends or to enhance a pork meal and perhaps seabass. You can't go wrong with this forty dollar bottle which was found at Trader Joes for Twenty Dollars. Good luck finding a bottle, and look for it at special restaurants. Even though this is not a value priced wine, it is a must share announcement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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