Tempranillo - January 17th, 2012 - Ms. Ardela
Wikipedia: Tempranillo (red wine varietal) The Tempranillo grape is the dominant grape varietal in Spain's Rioja wines. It produces a medium to full-bodied red wine with lower acidity and full fruit flavor characteristics. These wines are grown primarily in the Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions of Spain. The earliest existence of the grape in La Rioja dates to 873.
Classification of Rioja wines: Rioja (youngest), Crianza (aged at least 2 years and at least 1 in oak), Rioja Reserva (aged at least 3 years and at least 1 in oak), and Rioja Gran Reserva (aged at least 2 yrs in oak and 3 yrs in the bottle).
Pairings: tapas, pork, grilled or roasted entrees, Middle Eastern Cuisine, Spanish Food (obviously), blue cheese, aged cheddar, goat cheese, manchego, olives, hamburger, roast lamb, grilled meats
Tasting Notes:
Welcome Wine: 2000 Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo - $7.99 at CostCo
100% Tempranillo
1) 2004 Coto De Imaz Rioja - $21.99 @ Le Caveau
13.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: ruby, translucent, light long legs,
Nose: small whiff of alcohol, sweet cherry, herbal, "peppery goodness"
Palate: light, tart, pepper, tobacco
Other Comments: Our guest visiting from Austria really liked this one. One of Abbie's Faves
2) 2009 Toro - $8.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: garnet, heavier, long grippy legs
Nose: darker, faint pepper, jammier/New World (Leslie's comment)
Palate: dark chocolate, cacao, slight pepper, dark cherry & plum beneath the surface, blackberry, plum/spice,
Other Comments: would be good with meat and sausages
3) 2006 Spanish Vines Crianza - $15.99 @ Total Wine
14% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: garnet, gorgeous, lingering legs
Nose: dark maple syrup, nose like port, tobacco
Palate: hibiscus, honeysuckle, vanilla, sweet floral with slightly bitter end on the tongue
Other Comments: n/a
4) 2008 Artero Crianza - $10.99 @ Total Wine
14% alcohol
50% Merlot, 50% Tempranillo
Color: darker, lingering legs,
Nose: aroma of earthiness, mushroom, dark berry
Palate: tastes of leather, has pucker in the mouth, but also a pucker at the end in the throat, similar to sweet tart candies, raspberry, some pepper
Other Comments: Label says compote, roasted coffee, balsalmic, "I could get a sweet tart necklace outta this" - Deb, Ardela's fave!
5) 2004 De Restia Crianza - Ribera Del Duero - $17.99 @ Minks
100% Tempranillo
Color: garnet, long legs, darker color, lovely legs
Nose: Almost too much alcohol smell, very "in-your-face", bold, takes the breath away, liquor smell not rubbing alcohol, wonderful like raw cinnamon,
Palate: dark chocolate dipped strawberries, some floral/petal at the end, disappointing mouth-feel, maybe needs more air?
Other Comments: "Spoiled-little-bratty-pouty-red" - Deb, "We need a TWIT-er Twitter" - Deb, "day-old-penny-loafers" - Susan
6) 2006 Beronia Reserva - $24.99 @ (liquor store across the way on Windy Ridge Pkwy)
14% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: dark garnet
Nose: earthy, oaky, vanilla, new leather furniture, cigar box
Palate: lingering milky chocolate mouth-feel, smoky, slight pepper, hickory, barbeque
Other Comments: "would be a good "food wine", good with meat, "watery-kool-aid but in a good way", Wolfgang's Fave!
7) 2008 St. Amant California - $19.99 @ Total Wine
15.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: light garnet
Nose: delicious, pepper nose,
Palate: smooth, dry, oaky, goodness, raspberry, compote
Other Comments: "Old World Nose and New World Taste" - Leslie, "Gives me the chills", sits on your tongue, punch in the back of the throat like whisky/bourbon gooey cluster, Deb's Fave, Nickey's Fave!
8) 2009 Creta Roble Ribera Del Duero - $19.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: dark ruby, like it has an oily film on top?
Nose: perfumey nose, strong, BAM, savory, strawberry jam, dark overpowering nose
Palate: young, no complexity in the mouth, cigar-ish, some tobacco, dry-tart finish, flat finish.
Other Comments: Not impressed. doesn't speak to me.
9) Greener Vines La Mancha Vinidela Tierra de Castille - $9.99 @ Sam's Club
13% alcohol
80% Tempranillo, 20% Grenacha
Color: cloudy, dark garnet
Nose: floral nose, some pepper,
Palate: bit of citrus, blood orange or grapefruit, some mint, bubblegum, butter, meaty, tart finish, front-palate-oriented
Other comments: Winemaker: Lorenza Delgado, "more herbal orange, not tasty orange"
10) 2008 Riveray - $12.00 @ Vinings Bottle Shop
13% alcohol
100% Tempranillo
Color: more brownish in color, brick red
Nose: nutty aroma, coconut/walnut, less alcoholic smell
Palate: cherry, plum, dark fruit
Other Comments: One of Abbie's Faves, Love it!
A Wine Club in Atlanta, GA, founded in 2008. We meet to taste wine, gab, snack, and learn. TWITs is all about having fun, trying wines, and growing your palate.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Le Caveau - First Tasting of 2012 - 1/14/2012
Le Caveau - First Tasting of 2012 - 1/14/2012
Tasting notes compiled by Dan Crawford of Le Caveau
"1) 2009 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County - $24.99
100 % Chardonnay
This Chardonnay is all about citrus, stone fruit, smooth and integrated flavors, creamy and tense, with apricot, apple, and lemon nuances. Barrel fermented and aged in French oak. 65% Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay and 35% Rancho Vinedo Vineyard.
Jim Clendenden’s goal is to establish guidelines and practices that will sustain the American wine growing culture. More specifically, he produces wines with a lower alcohol content and higher acidic quality that expresses the nuances of terroir, which is in contrast to the mass produced, point seekers that litter the Cali landscape.
2) 2009 Friedrich Becker Estate Pinot Noir Pfalz - $22.99
100% Pinot Noir
This Estate Pinot Noir is a lovely, clear, bright garnet color with a fantastic aroma of spicy strawberry, black plums, dried tobacco and a bit of chalkiness (a direct result of Pfalz’s limestone soil – perfect for Pinot Noir). On the palate those spicy strawberries are just as brilliant, as is the peppery dustiness that I love so much in a well-made Pinot Noir, and the spiciness lingers for what seems like forever on the tongue.
Hailing from the Pfalz region on the French-German border, Friedrich Becker is widely considered to be one of the great Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) producers in Germany. Indeed, Friedrich Becker’s single vineyard bottling from its Kammerberg vineyard is thought by some to be one of the best expressions of Pinot Noir in all the world (hence the $100+ price tag). Luckily for us, however, the winery saves plenty of their Kammerberg grapes to include in their much more reasonably priced Estate bottling.
3) 2009 Domaine de Fontenille Côtes du Luberon - $13.99
50% Grenache 50% Syrah
This blend displays a complex array of aromas and flavors, ranging from black cherry to black olive and from clove to licorice. It’s richly structured, yet juicy, with a velvety feel. Drink now-2018
The Leveque brothers, Jean and Pierre, make the most Chateauneuf-like wine of the Luberon. Pierre did his apprenticeship with Paul Avril at Clos du Pape, which might explain in part why Robert Parker described the ’92 Fontenille as "resembles Beaucastel". Another reason could be the cepages (varietals) - nearly 50% each Grenache and Syrah, for the cuvee we have selected. Yet another reason might be the extremely low yields - at the levels of appellation Chateauneuf. Lastly, of course, our selection was bottled unfiltered. The result, a fabulous wine...like Chateauneuf for much less money, but also a wine with its own unique character.
4) 2009 Cuvée de Peña VDP des Pyrénées-Orientales - $14.99
40%Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan
90 Points: "The as usual Carignan-based red 2009 Cuvee de Peña is simply the finest of its illustrious bargain-priced breed that I have tasted, which also makes it a mind-boggling value! Clean and polished, concentrated but unexaggerated, this delivers sweet fruit with soil and soul. Ripe cherry, black raspberry, and purple plum are shadowed by their distilled counterparts in a high-toned nose and practically gush on the palate. Pungent, resinous herbs, smoky black tea, toasted pecan, brown spices, and crushed stone all serve for aromatic and gustatory interest, leading to a brightly juicy yet deeply rich finish." - David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate
The heart and soul of Peña is winemaker Joseph "Tony" Gonzalez, who has 20+ years’ experience at Peña, a brilliant flair for winemaking, and an instinctive and profound knowledge of the vineyards and terroir. He has been offered more money by private producers, but loves his job working with the growers and crafting the wines of Peña.
5) 2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard 'Patelin de Tablas' Paso Robles - $19.99
39% Syrah 36% Grenache 22% Mouvedre 3% Counoise
This offering displays ripe blackberries, dark strawberries, subtle black licorice and minerality on the nose. Dusty tannins linger on the palate with a juicy acidity that balances this wine. The wine incorporates fruit from seven top vineyards in Paso Robles, each vineyard selected for its quality. Like many red wines from the Rhône Valley, it is based on the dark fruit, mineral and spice of Syrah, with the brightness and fresh acidity of Grenache, the structure and meatiness of Mourvèdre and a small addition of Counoise for complexity.
Tablas Creek Vineyard is the result of a decades-long friendship between the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and Robert Haas, longtime importer and founder of Vineyard Brands. The families created a partnership in 1985 and in 1989 purchased a 120-acre property in the hilly Las Tablas district of west Paso Robles for its similarities to Châteauneuf du Pape: limestone soils, a favorable climate, and rugged terrain. "
Tasting notes compiled by Dan Crawford of Le Caveau
"1) 2009 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay Santa Barbara County - $24.99
100 % Chardonnay
This Chardonnay is all about citrus, stone fruit, smooth and integrated flavors, creamy and tense, with apricot, apple, and lemon nuances. Barrel fermented and aged in French oak. 65% Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay and 35% Rancho Vinedo Vineyard.
Jim Clendenden’s goal is to establish guidelines and practices that will sustain the American wine growing culture. More specifically, he produces wines with a lower alcohol content and higher acidic quality that expresses the nuances of terroir, which is in contrast to the mass produced, point seekers that litter the Cali landscape.
2) 2009 Friedrich Becker Estate Pinot Noir Pfalz - $22.99
100% Pinot Noir
This Estate Pinot Noir is a lovely, clear, bright garnet color with a fantastic aroma of spicy strawberry, black plums, dried tobacco and a bit of chalkiness (a direct result of Pfalz’s limestone soil – perfect for Pinot Noir). On the palate those spicy strawberries are just as brilliant, as is the peppery dustiness that I love so much in a well-made Pinot Noir, and the spiciness lingers for what seems like forever on the tongue.
Hailing from the Pfalz region on the French-German border, Friedrich Becker is widely considered to be one of the great Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir) producers in Germany. Indeed, Friedrich Becker’s single vineyard bottling from its Kammerberg vineyard is thought by some to be one of the best expressions of Pinot Noir in all the world (hence the $100+ price tag). Luckily for us, however, the winery saves plenty of their Kammerberg grapes to include in their much more reasonably priced Estate bottling.
3) 2009 Domaine de Fontenille Côtes du Luberon - $13.99
50% Grenache 50% Syrah
This blend displays a complex array of aromas and flavors, ranging from black cherry to black olive and from clove to licorice. It’s richly structured, yet juicy, with a velvety feel. Drink now-2018
The Leveque brothers, Jean and Pierre, make the most Chateauneuf-like wine of the Luberon. Pierre did his apprenticeship with Paul Avril at Clos du Pape, which might explain in part why Robert Parker described the ’92 Fontenille as "resembles Beaucastel". Another reason could be the cepages (varietals) - nearly 50% each Grenache and Syrah, for the cuvee we have selected. Yet another reason might be the extremely low yields - at the levels of appellation Chateauneuf. Lastly, of course, our selection was bottled unfiltered. The result, a fabulous wine...like Chateauneuf for much less money, but also a wine with its own unique character.
4) 2009 Cuvée de Peña VDP des Pyrénées-Orientales - $14.99
40%Grenache, 40% Syrah, 20% Carignan
90 Points: "The as usual Carignan-based red 2009 Cuvee de Peña is simply the finest of its illustrious bargain-priced breed that I have tasted, which also makes it a mind-boggling value! Clean and polished, concentrated but unexaggerated, this delivers sweet fruit with soil and soul. Ripe cherry, black raspberry, and purple plum are shadowed by their distilled counterparts in a high-toned nose and practically gush on the palate. Pungent, resinous herbs, smoky black tea, toasted pecan, brown spices, and crushed stone all serve for aromatic and gustatory interest, leading to a brightly juicy yet deeply rich finish." - David Schildknecht - The Wine Advocate
The heart and soul of Peña is winemaker Joseph "Tony" Gonzalez, who has 20+ years’ experience at Peña, a brilliant flair for winemaking, and an instinctive and profound knowledge of the vineyards and terroir. He has been offered more money by private producers, but loves his job working with the growers and crafting the wines of Peña.
5) 2010 Tablas Creek Vineyard 'Patelin de Tablas' Paso Robles - $19.99
39% Syrah 36% Grenache 22% Mouvedre 3% Counoise
This offering displays ripe blackberries, dark strawberries, subtle black licorice and minerality on the nose. Dusty tannins linger on the palate with a juicy acidity that balances this wine. The wine incorporates fruit from seven top vineyards in Paso Robles, each vineyard selected for its quality. Like many red wines from the Rhône Valley, it is based on the dark fruit, mineral and spice of Syrah, with the brightness and fresh acidity of Grenache, the structure and meatiness of Mourvèdre and a small addition of Counoise for complexity.
Tablas Creek Vineyard is the result of a decades-long friendship between the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and Robert Haas, longtime importer and founder of Vineyard Brands. The families created a partnership in 1985 and in 1989 purchased a 120-acre property in the hilly Las Tablas district of west Paso Robles for its similarities to Châteauneuf du Pape: limestone soils, a favorable climate, and rugged terrain. "
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Le Caveau - Last Tasting of 2011 - 12/17/2011
Le Caveau - Last Tasting of 2011 - 12/17/2011
1) 2010 Domaine Du Vieux Chene - Viognier - 14% alcohol
sweet and lemony
2) 2009 François Chidaine Vouvray Clos Baudoin Sec - $28.99
94 Points Fine Wine Review: With each passing vintage the Clos Baudoin bottling from Domaine Chidaine gets better and better and the 2009 is an exceptional bottle. The ripeness here is even a tad higher than in the les
Argiles, as this just tops fourteen percent alcohol, but again there are no overt signs of this additional ripeness in the finished wine. This is by a fair measure the most concentrated bottling from Clos Baudoin that I have yet
tasted since the Chidaines took over this great vineyard, as the wine soars from the glass in a mélange of lemon, apple, delicate notes of honeycomb, a complex, chalky signature of soil, a hint of pineapple and a lovely, floral
topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and really rock solid at the core, with fine framing acids, impeccable focus and depth and simply stunning length and grip on the reserved and classy finish. Great juice. 2015-
2040+." - John Gilman
3) 2007 François Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire "Les Tuffeaux" Demi Sec - $24.99
François Chidaine got his fame from making wine out of the Montlouis appellation, which is 400 hectares and only a river separates it and Vouvray. It actually used to be a part of Vouvray until 1937, when it was granted AOC status. The soils are very similar in Montlouis and Vouvray with sand and a base of tuffeau (marine sedimentary rock unique to the Loire Valley of France). There is a slightly higher percentage of sand and rocks in Montlouis which many say gives the wine a more lean character. These are stunning values as the world has not quite caught up to the magic that the Chidaine's produce every year.
92 Points Wine Spectator: Still a touch tight, with a core of Bosc pear and Jonagold apple notes in reserve, finishing with hints of orange blossom, quince, cardamom and green almond. -James Molesworth
4) 2009 Chateau du Hureau Saumur-Champigny "Tuffe" - $22.99
This Cabernet Franc-based wine is crafted from 15 different batches of old and young vines grown on the distinctive free-draining "tuffeau" soils of the Loire. Scents of wild flowers and thyme meld with sweet mulberry fruit to produce a flavorful palate and a lingering finish. Deeply colored yet almost without tannin, this is a soft, sumptuous and thoroughly enjoyable wine that should age for up to 6 years.
5) 2008 Agnès et René Mosse Anjou Rouge - $23.99
A red blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Very nice fruit, dark mixed berries, and tangy minerality from the schistous soils. Very structured, yet very accessible. This is a fresh, clean, terroir-driven red wine to enjoy any time. Organic and unfiltered.
Prior to purchasing the estate in Anjou, Rene Mosse had a wine bar/bistro in
Tours with his wife, Agnès where you could drink a bottle in house or take it to go. This led to meeting a bunch of vignerons from the Loire, most notably François Chidaine . They became friends, hung out and eventually Rene
was inspired to attend an oenology program for adults and eventually worked in Burgundy for a year and a half.
6) 2004 Bodega y Cavas de Weinert Gran Vino - $26.99
40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot
With nice dark garnet color, the nose shows black currant, tobacco, and smoked meat. The seamless palate is echoes the dark fruit on the nose with silky tannins, nice acidity and a persistent finish.
Weinert was founded in 1890 by a Spanish Immigrant family and to say they make wine in traditional ways may be understating the case. This is one of the few wineries in Mendoza (Argentina) where you will find no stainless steel tanks for fermentation. All the wines are fermented either in epoxy lined concrete tanks, or in large oak casks. If wines are aged in oak, they are really aged in oak – typically 3+ years and only in large old oak barrels ranging from 800 gallons to 3000 gallons in capacity.
1) 2010 Domaine Du Vieux Chene - Viognier - 14% alcohol
sweet and lemony
2) 2009 François Chidaine Vouvray Clos Baudoin Sec - $28.99
94 Points Fine Wine Review: With each passing vintage the Clos Baudoin bottling from Domaine Chidaine gets better and better and the 2009 is an exceptional bottle. The ripeness here is even a tad higher than in the les
Argiles, as this just tops fourteen percent alcohol, but again there are no overt signs of this additional ripeness in the finished wine. This is by a fair measure the most concentrated bottling from Clos Baudoin that I have yet
tasted since the Chidaines took over this great vineyard, as the wine soars from the glass in a mélange of lemon, apple, delicate notes of honeycomb, a complex, chalky signature of soil, a hint of pineapple and a lovely, floral
topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and really rock solid at the core, with fine framing acids, impeccable focus and depth and simply stunning length and grip on the reserved and classy finish. Great juice. 2015-
2040+." - John Gilman
3) 2007 François Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire "Les Tuffeaux" Demi Sec - $24.99
François Chidaine got his fame from making wine out of the Montlouis appellation, which is 400 hectares and only a river separates it and Vouvray. It actually used to be a part of Vouvray until 1937, when it was granted AOC status. The soils are very similar in Montlouis and Vouvray with sand and a base of tuffeau (marine sedimentary rock unique to the Loire Valley of France). There is a slightly higher percentage of sand and rocks in Montlouis which many say gives the wine a more lean character. These are stunning values as the world has not quite caught up to the magic that the Chidaine's produce every year.
92 Points Wine Spectator: Still a touch tight, with a core of Bosc pear and Jonagold apple notes in reserve, finishing with hints of orange blossom, quince, cardamom and green almond. -James Molesworth
4) 2009 Chateau du Hureau Saumur-Champigny "Tuffe" - $22.99
This Cabernet Franc-based wine is crafted from 15 different batches of old and young vines grown on the distinctive free-draining "tuffeau" soils of the Loire. Scents of wild flowers and thyme meld with sweet mulberry fruit to produce a flavorful palate and a lingering finish. Deeply colored yet almost without tannin, this is a soft, sumptuous and thoroughly enjoyable wine that should age for up to 6 years.
5) 2008 Agnès et René Mosse Anjou Rouge - $23.99
A red blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Very nice fruit, dark mixed berries, and tangy minerality from the schistous soils. Very structured, yet very accessible. This is a fresh, clean, terroir-driven red wine to enjoy any time. Organic and unfiltered.
Prior to purchasing the estate in Anjou, Rene Mosse had a wine bar/bistro in
Tours with his wife, Agnès where you could drink a bottle in house or take it to go. This led to meeting a bunch of vignerons from the Loire, most notably François Chidaine . They became friends, hung out and eventually Rene
was inspired to attend an oenology program for adults and eventually worked in Burgundy for a year and a half.
6) 2004 Bodega y Cavas de Weinert Gran Vino - $26.99
40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot
With nice dark garnet color, the nose shows black currant, tobacco, and smoked meat. The seamless palate is echoes the dark fruit on the nose with silky tannins, nice acidity and a persistent finish.
Weinert was founded in 1890 by a Spanish Immigrant family and to say they make wine in traditional ways may be understating the case. This is one of the few wineries in Mendoza (Argentina) where you will find no stainless steel tanks for fermentation. All the wines are fermented either in epoxy lined concrete tanks, or in large oak casks. If wines are aged in oak, they are really aged in oak – typically 3+ years and only in large old oak barrels ranging from 800 gallons to 3000 gallons in capacity.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Australian Shiraz - December 14th, 2011 - Ms. Marilyn
Australian or South African Shiraz/Syrah - December 14th, 2011 - Ms. Marilyn
Wikipedia: Syrah/Shiraz Syrah or Shiraz (Not to be confused with Petite Sirah which is a different varietal.) is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines.
Pairings: Shiraz is great for grilled meats or veggies, wild game, richly flavored red meats, beef stew and meat lover's pizza. Cheese Pairing ideas.
Tasting Notes:
The Welcome Wine - Chook Chinook Shiraz - $5.99 @ Trader Joes
1) 2009 Shotfire Shiraz, Austrailia, Barossa Valley, Thorne-Clarke - $17.99 @ Total Wine
14.8% alcohol
Color: dark purple-red, mostly opaque, nice thick legs
Nose: dark fruit, plum, sweetness, reminds me of Port, high alcohol on nose
Palate: a bit of pepper, some blackberry, tart, very dense, tannic
Other comments: the name Shotfire originated from the hazerdous job of lighting charges in the mines. On the bottle it says it has chocolate and plum with oak and vanilla flavors
*this was one of my favorites of the evening.
2) 2010 Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz, South Africa, Western Cape - $9.99 @ the Liquor Store on corner of 17th & Northside Drive by IKEA.
12.5% alcohol
Color: clear ruby red, light, translucent, almost no legs
Nose: earthy (graphite/caulky),
Palate: sweeter, cherry wine, cola, tastes like a lighter Port, jelly/jam, cherry jam soda, like a red white zin,
Other: Pairs well with spicy food, but can't drink an entire bottle alone, too sweet, Leslie correctly guessed this was Jam Jar, summertime-dessert wine, on bottle says juicy-berry with hints of dark chocolate
3) 2006 Torbreck, Woodcutters Shiraz, Barossa Valley - $20.00 @ small liquor store on Terrell Mill
14.5% alcohol
Color: dark purple red, opaque
Nose: nice and pleasant at first, then tinge of kitty litter or dirty socks. Olive perhaps? earthy, no fruit, smells of pine or evergreen bark.
Palate: smooth, medium bodied, slight bitterness, some citrus notes, licorice/fennel
Other: bottle says to pair with hearty meal
*this was one of my favorites of the evening.
4) 2010 Layer Cake Shiraz - South Australia - $15.98 @ Kroger in Sandy Springs
14.1% alcohol
Color: Midnight Purple, almost black, long legs
Nose: perfumey
Palate: smooth, faintly sweet, jammy, dry finish, slightly tart, a sweet jam then pucker, savory
Other: would pair well with game, recommend the 2008 Layer Cake (supposedly tastes better than the 2010), bottle says it has fruit/mocha/chocolate - spice - rich.
5) 2010 Terra Barossa Shiraz - Thorne & Clarke - $12.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
Color: red purple, jam, dark, slow legs
Nose: herb/earth, peaty, damp spice, musty
Palate: tart, pucker, pepper, cranberry, dry finish, a bit of alcohol burn going down.
Other: This is apparently the #2 selling Shiraz at Total Wine. Bottle says plum, soft tannins, appealing spiciness
6) 2007 Le Pousseur Syrah- Bonny Dune vineyards - Santa Cruz California ~$16.00 @ CostCo (?)
13.5% alcohol
Color: lighter, clearer, magenta, more pink,
Nose: layered nose, pepper, vanilla-clove-coffee
Palate: smooth, full flavor but surprisingly light finish
7) 2010 Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz, Southeast Australia - $7.99 @ Trader Joes
13.5% alcohol
Color: clear-ish, claret-red
Nose: dark cherry, dark chocolate, alcohol, cocoa powder, caramel
Palate: approachable, drinkable, almost too easy to drink, butterscotch,
Other: pairs well with chocolate, definitely needs food with it. bottle says plum and spice and to pair with pasta or red meat.
My fave quote of the evening was from Aubrey "You can feel this in your teeth, and some of them aren't even mine!"
8) 2009 Villa San Juliette - Petite Sirah - Paso Robles, San Miguel, California ~ $17.00 @ Costco or Le Caveau (she couldn't remember which)
Color: dark violet
Nose: violets, oak
Palate: jammy, lingering then abrupt dry finish, "it's good but...not?"
Other: Leslie says this is the wine from the makers of American Idol. bottle says "Blueberry motor oil" and mocha, pairs well with meats and cajun cuisine. Another recommendation from same winemaker is Chorum
9) 2010 MollyDooker - Shiraz - The Boxer - McLaren Vale Australia - $21.99 @ CostCo
16% alcohol
Color: dark purple/red, high alcohol
Nose: red fruit, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, butter
Palate: dry, deep cranberry, pepper at the end, oak, full-bodied
Other: This is Abbie's favorite Australian Winemaker, she tried it for the first time at Morrell's Wine Bar in NYC Rockafeller Center. Matt remarked on his first look "It has legs like a Rockette up in here!" The legs are so lovely, lingering, and slow, they practically stain the glass.
**NOTE: Sometimes you can find this for $19.99 at Kroger, but it goes fast so you have to snatch it up quick**
MollyDooker is slang for "Left-Hander"
Another recommendation is MollyDooker - Shiraz- Blue Eyed Boy, but this one runs about $45/bottle. however it is worth it if you can splurge.
Other notes:
Recommended - 2002 The Prisoner by Orin Swift Cellars (label photo is lovely):
Wikipedia: Syrah/Shiraz Syrah or Shiraz (Not to be confused with Petite Sirah which is a different varietal.) is a dark-skinned grape grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce powerful red wines.
Pairings: Shiraz is great for grilled meats or veggies, wild game, richly flavored red meats, beef stew and meat lover's pizza. Cheese Pairing ideas.
Tasting Notes:
The Welcome Wine - Chook Chinook Shiraz - $5.99 @ Trader Joes
1) 2009 Shotfire Shiraz, Austrailia, Barossa Valley, Thorne-Clarke - $17.99 @ Total Wine
14.8% alcohol
Color: dark purple-red, mostly opaque, nice thick legs
Nose: dark fruit, plum, sweetness, reminds me of Port, high alcohol on nose
Palate: a bit of pepper, some blackberry, tart, very dense, tannic
Other comments: the name Shotfire originated from the hazerdous job of lighting charges in the mines. On the bottle it says it has chocolate and plum with oak and vanilla flavors
*this was one of my favorites of the evening.
2) 2010 Jam Jar Sweet Shiraz, South Africa, Western Cape - $9.99 @ the Liquor Store on corner of 17th & Northside Drive by IKEA.
12.5% alcohol
Color: clear ruby red, light, translucent, almost no legs
Nose: earthy (graphite/caulky),
Palate: sweeter, cherry wine, cola, tastes like a lighter Port, jelly/jam, cherry jam soda, like a red white zin,
Other: Pairs well with spicy food, but can't drink an entire bottle alone, too sweet, Leslie correctly guessed this was Jam Jar, summertime-dessert wine, on bottle says juicy-berry with hints of dark chocolate
3) 2006 Torbreck, Woodcutters Shiraz, Barossa Valley - $20.00 @ small liquor store on Terrell Mill
14.5% alcohol
Color: dark purple red, opaque
Nose: nice and pleasant at first, then tinge of kitty litter or dirty socks. Olive perhaps? earthy, no fruit, smells of pine or evergreen bark.
Palate: smooth, medium bodied, slight bitterness, some citrus notes, licorice/fennel
Other: bottle says to pair with hearty meal
*this was one of my favorites of the evening.
4) 2010 Layer Cake Shiraz - South Australia - $15.98 @ Kroger in Sandy Springs
14.1% alcohol
Color: Midnight Purple, almost black, long legs
Nose: perfumey
Palate: smooth, faintly sweet, jammy, dry finish, slightly tart, a sweet jam then pucker, savory
Other: would pair well with game, recommend the 2008 Layer Cake (supposedly tastes better than the 2010), bottle says it has fruit/mocha/chocolate - spice - rich.
5) 2010 Terra Barossa Shiraz - Thorne & Clarke - $12.99 @ Total Wine
14.5% alcohol
Color: red purple, jam, dark, slow legs
Nose: herb/earth, peaty, damp spice, musty
Palate: tart, pucker, pepper, cranberry, dry finish, a bit of alcohol burn going down.
Other: This is apparently the #2 selling Shiraz at Total Wine. Bottle says plum, soft tannins, appealing spiciness
6) 2007 Le Pousseur Syrah- Bonny Dune vineyards - Santa Cruz California ~$16.00 @ CostCo (?)
13.5% alcohol
Color: lighter, clearer, magenta, more pink,
Nose: layered nose, pepper, vanilla-clove-coffee
Palate: smooth, full flavor but surprisingly light finish
7) 2010 Lindemans Bin 50 Shiraz, Southeast Australia - $7.99 @ Trader Joes
13.5% alcohol
Color: clear-ish, claret-red
Nose: dark cherry, dark chocolate, alcohol, cocoa powder, caramel
Palate: approachable, drinkable, almost too easy to drink, butterscotch,
Other: pairs well with chocolate, definitely needs food with it. bottle says plum and spice and to pair with pasta or red meat.
My fave quote of the evening was from Aubrey "You can feel this in your teeth, and some of them aren't even mine!"
8) 2009 Villa San Juliette - Petite Sirah - Paso Robles, San Miguel, California ~ $17.00 @ Costco or Le Caveau (she couldn't remember which)
Color: dark violet
Nose: violets, oak
Palate: jammy, lingering then abrupt dry finish, "it's good but...not?"
Other: Leslie says this is the wine from the makers of American Idol. bottle says "Blueberry motor oil" and mocha, pairs well with meats and cajun cuisine. Another recommendation from same winemaker is Chorum
9) 2010 MollyDooker - Shiraz - The Boxer - McLaren Vale Australia - $21.99 @ CostCo
16% alcohol
Color: dark purple/red, high alcohol
Nose: red fruit, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, butter
Palate: dry, deep cranberry, pepper at the end, oak, full-bodied
Other: This is Abbie's favorite Australian Winemaker, she tried it for the first time at Morrell's Wine Bar in NYC Rockafeller Center. Matt remarked on his first look "It has legs like a Rockette up in here!" The legs are so lovely, lingering, and slow, they practically stain the glass.
**NOTE: Sometimes you can find this for $19.99 at Kroger, but it goes fast so you have to snatch it up quick**
MollyDooker is slang for "Left-Hander"
Another recommendation is MollyDooker - Shiraz- Blue Eyed Boy, but this one runs about $45/bottle. however it is worth it if you can splurge.
Other notes:
Recommended - 2002 The Prisoner by Orin Swift Cellars (label photo is lovely):
Monday, December 12, 2011
Le Caveau - Artisan Wines Portugal Tasting - 12/10/2011
Le Caveau - Artisan Wines Portugal Tasting - 12/10/2011
Today was a special tasting featuring Gail Lawing and Paul Hearn of Artisan Vines - conducting a Portuguese tasting with the following:
1) 2009 Vale d'Algares Seleccion White - $21.99
55% Viognier, 30% Alvarinho, 15% Verdelho
"The vineyard is located in the Tejo DO of Portugal. Tejo (Tey-joo) is the main Iberian river, called Tagus in Latin and English. The Tejo region has been known as a wine producing region since the middle ages. This wine offers aromas of citrus and green plum with a hint of peach and fig on a palate. It has a touch of smoke due to aging in 90% French oak and a fine acidity that brings balance to the finished product."
2) 2008 Quinta Nova Touriga Nacional - $79.99
100% Touriga Nacional (the main varietal in Port)
"very aromatic, perfumed nose: floral with some blackberry and dark cherry fruit. The palate is beautifully expressive with lovely fresh dark fruits. Very expressive with some grippy tannin on the finish. Ripe and lush but not at all jammy." It is recommended to decant this one for at least 1.5 hrs, but you can have it open in the bottle for up to 1 week, it will open very nicely.
3) 2006 Sanguinhal Touriga Aragonez - $13.99
100% Aragonez (Tempranillo) - another varietal in Port.
4) 2009 Quinta Nova Pomares - $18.99
40% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Roriz - port blend
pretty ripe berry flavors.
5) 2009 Monte da Ravasquiera "Fonte de Serrana" - $14.99
Aragonez, Alicante Bochet, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
I liked this one, it had Braille on the bottle label, for a blind tasting (pun).
6) 2009 Quinta Nova Colheita Duoro - $21.99
Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinto Cao Blend
"An unoaked cuvee. Spicy and chocolatey with a slightly balsalmic edge to the ripe blackberry and berry fruits. The palate is ripe, dense, and sweetly fruited with some spiciness and chocolatey richness"
I really enjoyed this one.
7) 2006 Quinta Nova LBV Port - $29.99
LBV means Late Bottled Vintage. This one had an amazing nose, very perfumed wine, but it was a bit too sweet on the palate for my taste. I have not yet found a port that I adored, but I tasted this one just in case it was that one special port for me.
8) NV Quinta Nova CLA Port - $28.99
Same as above for me. I could inhale the nose all day long, but the palate just doesn't do it for me. The other folks at the tasting seemed to like these Ports however. I much preferred the other red wines mentioned above.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Moo- some interesting Cow News
Cows Fed Wine Dregs, emit less methane?
"HOW do you feel after imbibing a bit of red wine? Euphoric, excited, or perhaps simply cheery? Or are you one of those drinkers prone to suffering a nagging feeling of guilt, combined with an uncomfortable sensation inside your head?
Well now, thanks to new research by Victorian scientists, you could instead simply feel content that you are doing your bit for the environment, as well as for the nation's dairy herd.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/gone-with-the-wind-study-finds-cows-fed-wine-dregs-emit-less-methane-20111207-1ojbl.html#ixzz1g2ssuu91"
------------
Jazz for Cows?
"http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/lXKDu6cdXLI?rel=0"
"HOW do you feel after imbibing a bit of red wine? Euphoric, excited, or perhaps simply cheery? Or are you one of those drinkers prone to suffering a nagging feeling of guilt, combined with an uncomfortable sensation inside your head?
Well now, thanks to new research by Victorian scientists, you could instead simply feel content that you are doing your bit for the environment, as well as for the nation's dairy herd.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/gone-with-the-wind-study-finds-cows-fed-wine-dregs-emit-less-methane-20111207-1ojbl.html#ixzz1g2ssuu91"
------------
Jazz for Cows?
"http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/lXKDu6cdXLI?rel=0"
Tip for Saving on Wine
Tip for Saving on Wine purchases from RealSimple magazine.
article link
"How to Make the Holidays More Affordable -Save on Wine
article link
"How to Make the Holidays More Affordable -Save on Wine
Tips from an anonymous sommelier
People tend to stock up on wine and spirits at the closest store, but that place may not have the best deals. Go to wine-searcher.com (an inventory database of several thousand stores nationwide) and enter the vintage or the wine’s name and your ZIP code to find the cheapest retailer in your area. Or fill your “cellar” with wines from affordable online retailers, like Zachys.com and Winelibrary.com. Both have a huge inventory and e-mail specials to customers on a weekly basis; you may be able to get discounts of up to 40 percent off or free shipping.
Also consider buying bottles from somewhat less prestigious wine-growing regions, such as Oregon; Santa Barbara, California; and France’s Loire Valley. These wines are priced up to 50 percent less than their more famous counterparts. A high-quality Bordeaux, for example, costs between $20 and $50, whereas a comparable bottle from the Loire Valley might cost as little as $10."
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