2012 Mulheimer Sonnenlay Zeppelin Richter

This white wine is from Germany.  I twisted the cap on the 2012 Mulheimer Sonnenlay Zeppelin Richter Riesling many times this past summer. This particular vineyard has been in the same family since 1643.  It is managed by Dr. Dirk Max Ferdinand Richter, the 9^th generation managing the vineyard.  These grapes come from growers in Mülheim an der Mosel, a small and narrow mountainous wine commune Over the Hills and Far Away in Western Germany.  It is said that this is the only mountain in Europe fully dedicated to wine growing.  The label on this wine is rather pretty.  It has a picture of a fanciful airship, a Zeppelin, and the reason being is that Mülheimer Sonnenla was served onboard the Hindenburg.

On the nose: This vino is hitting the air on the snare drum and cymbal like only Bonzo can. “There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold” … this wine follows suit with a perfect shade.  It hits all the high notes like only Mr. Plant can with a little bit of Tangerine* scent as well as lays the line down like John Paul Jones can. OK, so I had Led Zeppelin IV album cover poster above my bed, kill me.  The aromas are rather nice, kind of like The Ocean*.  It kept my attention for the time the bottle was opened. If you grab a bottle, I guarantee you will not feel like a Fool in the Rain.

Palate: Did I forget someone. Oh this smacks the taste of apricot in your mouth like one of Jimmy Page’s guitar hooks. Definitely would be nice with some seafood.  Maybe a salmon filet.  Unfortunately, even though this is a great value for a Riesling, it doesn’t inspire with new tastes as The Song Remains the Same.  Has all the fixings of a Riesling, little residual sugar, punch of acidity, and Custard Pie. This wine doesn’t get All My Love. Let me stop before I Ramble On too much….

*(artistic license taken)

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++

Price: $14

"Nobody’s Fault but Mine…for drinking this wine" 

I did it. 10 Zeppelin song titles in one review….Thank you

2007 Cougar Crest Reserve Syrah

This red wine is from the Southeastern part of Washington State.  I popped the cork on a bottle of the 2007 Cougar Crest Reserve Syrah made by a rather unknown winemaker Deborah Hansen. Deborah’s original calling had nothing to do with the wine business.  Actually, she earned her degree to become a pharmacist. I am happy that she scrapped her dreams of being a friendly smile behind the counter at our local Walgreens® and found her true calling on the craggy soil of Walla Walla Valley. Let’s not try and avoid the obvious and ignore the horrendous name given to this Vineyard.  Cougar plus Crest denotes a very weird, rather peculiar image. Maybe they need a good Advertising and Public Relations guy?  Any takers?  Besides the atrocious nomenclature, this wine has a lot of stuffing.

On the nose: This is like a Tiny Dancer (don’t hold me closer Elton John!) that glides across each nostril and questions each from where such a stupefying concocted scent could be born.  Well the answer to that question is Walla Walla Valley in good ol’ Washington State.  The perfume of this beauty is plentiful. Think of delicate rose pedals being laid out on a Gulf Coast beach to be dried out.  A nice sea breeze hits your face and you breathe in at that exact moment.  A little allspice and some sweet orange bell peppers to round things out.

Palate: Has me wondering why I haven’t had more Syrah from Washington, shame on me.  This can easily pass for a ten year old Côte-Rôtie created by Marcel Guigal that would run into the hundreds of dollars.  Love the length. I actually still think I am tasting some lingering flavors from this wine when I write this review.  Easily in the top 5 wines that I have tasted this year.  I would not bother to lay this bottle down for any time as it’s hitting its stride right now.  Not the easiest bottle to find and most of the bottles are available in the Northwest.  I picked up 4 bottles on a whim from www.wtso.com. Happy Drinking!

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++½

Price: $40 – I got my bottles for $20 apiece.  Keep an eye out, you may get lucky….

"Those are some real ugly sunglasses" 

2010 Côtes du Rhône Rouge Adissat

Côtes du Rhône

 

This red wine is from the Southeastern part of France, in the Rhone region. I had a rather charming bottle of the 2010 Côtes du Rhône Rouge Adissat by Philippe Cambiea. Philippe, a jovial gentleman of imposing size, had a 15 year stint in the rugby world and I believe he brings the same passion and grit to his winemaking. His skills are usually on display with such stunning Châteauneuf-du-Pape as the 2010 Domaine Giraud "Gallimardes.” That 2010 vintage from the Rhone region was one for the ages, 97 points by Bob, and many believe it will produce some monumental bottles lasting more than three decades. However, this bottle is far more pedestrian and should be consumed in the near term, so I obliged.

 

On the nose: Lovely lavender laced licorice. Let’s liken this to a late lazy Saturday afternoon loafing in the Lily Rose patch. Very floral. For the price, the nose is fairly one dimensional, which is expected. Has a lot of the characteristics you’ve come to know and love from a sub $15 red….Oak, berries, and some more oak.

 

Palate: Sweet figs with beets. Razor focus on the entry. Like Razor Ramon and his crippling finishing move, The Razor’s Edge. I apologize for yet another WWF® (now WWE®) reference (let’s just say I bothered my parents into submission to purchase many pay-per-view events as a 8 year old), the Survivor Series was my favorite. Not the most profound wine I have had in the last 6 months, but I would not hesitate to give this up as a sacrificial bottle in defense of the greater good (your cellar).

 

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

 

++½

 

Price: $12

 

"Say....hello....ToTheBadGuy!"

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Clos Blancheau James Berry Vineyard Chardonnay

Chardonnay

 

This white wine is from Paso Robles on the Central Coast of California. I guzzled the 2010 Clos Blancheau James Berry Vineyard Chardonnay a few nights ago. This wine has an interesting background as James Berry Vineyard is most commonly known for its prized Syrah, which is sold directly from such Vineyards as Saxum to a select few lucky oenophiles. This wine trades in the secondary market at prices well north of $150. So it comes as a surprise to me that a sub $25 chardonnay would be produced in the same area, when they can rip up the vines and replant some red grapes, charging six times the price for the resulting Syrah. However, let's not try to think too hard about why they are producing this white and dive right in.

 

On the nose: This could easily pass as being from France. Stone and rock. Minerality is at the forefront. Not much oak when you get your schnozz deep into the glass, which is a rather pleasant surprise with the new trend of added oakiness in Cali Chardonnays. Trace amounts of melon and butter get an honorable mention.

 

Palate: Star fruit and a hint of lime. Racy acidy that will cut through some fat and would be a darling match with some seafood. Take a nice red Caribbean crab called Sebastian from Disney®'s The Little Mermaid, dump him in a pot of boiling water, add some Old Bay® to your liking and call it a day. Yummy in my tummy. I apologize in advance to all the little 5 year old girls out there who haven't seen this animated classic yet.

 

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++

 

Price: $20

 

Under the Sea…

 

2006 Dancing Hares Red

Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc

 

This red wine is from the Napa Valley, at the bottom of Howell Mountain to be exact. I had a bottle of the 2006 Dancing Hares Red. The blend is made of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, these varietal combinations are typically found in Bordeaux blend. The team that is involved with the creation of this project is a “who’s who” of Napa and the wine consulting world including Michel Rolland (known for turning around many French chateaus and guilty of Parkerizing many wines to gain big scores), Andy Ericson (ever hear of a small little vineyard called Screaming Eagle? Well he was the wine maker there…enough said) and David Abreu (the vineyard manager who has been associated with such respected Cali Cabs as Harlan Estate, Colgin Cellars, Bryant Family Vineyard, and Abreu’s eponymous Vineyard). Only 300 cases were made of this cuvee.

 

On the nose: Daddy likes. This is right up my alley. Very classic Napa fruit with aromas of chocolate shavings and smoke. I would imagine this is probably how a bottle of Inglenook would have smelled way back when. Not overly extracted. Really subtle smell of all the right things. Wood, leather and fresh dirt.

 

Palate: The bottle is very fancy, with little etched rabbits holding hands and looking like they are dancing around a Maypole or something … hence the name. Very, very dusty. Imagine Dusty "The American Dream" Rhodes (for whom polka dots were not very sliming) did a pile driver to some poor merlot grapes. Tannins are sweet and have some backbone. This will easily last 15+ years. Would be a nice addition to anyone’s cellar, if you don’t mind parting with a C-note.

 

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++¼

 

Price: $100

 

Watch out for the Polka Dot Drop ...

 

2007 Phillips Hill Oppenlander Vineyard Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir

This wine is from Mendocino County near the northern coast of California.  Pinot Noir is best known for being the primary red grape in the wine region of Burgundy in France.  It gained great popularity in the past decade due to the movie “Sideways” and now it seems that every Tom, Dick & Harry are making a bottle of this varietal.  I had a bottle of the 2007 Phillips Hill Oppenlander Vineyard Pinot Noir.

On the nose: Cigar Smoke and baking Spice and everything nice, fir tree, did I say smoke – lots of it.  Picture this, throw a Norway Spruce into a bonfire and let it burn baby burn and for good measure throw some cinnamon and cloves in there.

Palate: Exceptionally Long finish, attack of red fruit, light color – can see through the wine in the glass, makes you salivate after each sip  - Think if a garden hose was spraying cherry juice and you took it and started to funnel that motha, “Frank the Tank” style.  Awesome flavor profile

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++½

Price:

$30

2006 Clos Galena Galena

Priorat
 

This wine is from España.  Priorat is from the Catalonia region in Spain (Northeast).  This particular wine is made from 35% Garnacha, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 15% Carinen and aged for 12 months in French and American oak. I had the pleasure of quaffing the 2006 Clos Galena Galena.

On the nose: WOW, just plain wow. Thick and heavy dose of strawberry reduction – very sweet smell. Faint pipe smoke (Ron Jon Tweetable style).  Vanilla Bean, smells almost fake or concocted in a lab.  If it tastes like it smells we are in for a treat.  Imagine strawberry drenched vanilla beans being shot out of a cannon.

Palate: Medium to Long finish, good but not great, solid wine, wouldn’t kick it out of bed.  If you can find this for sub $20 a bottle it is an easy case buy. Strawberry definitely dominates.  Take some strawberries & 5 vanilla pods and put them in a Ziploc bag and run them over 2 times in your car.  Take them out of the bag and gobble them down like Pac Man (chomp, chomp)

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++ (the nose alone is worth the price of admission)

Price:

$15

1999 Pierre Peters Les Chetillons Cuvee Speciale

Champagne 

This sparkling wine is from the Champagne region in the Northeast part of France. Most people call sparkling wine from other regions around the world “Champagne”, when the only sparkling wine that can be called this has to come from this region in France. This is known as a “Grower” champagne, very small production and not from one of the conglomerate houses in the region (Moet, Loius Roederer, to name a few).  I had a celebratory bottle of the 1999 Pierre Peters Les Chetillons Cuvee Speciale.

On the nose: Peaches, marzipan, & baked bread that just came out of the oven.  Very nice smelling sparkler, yeasty -  almost dough quality.  Imagine if the Pillsbury doughboy was chopping down a peach tree and all the peaches were hitting him and making a mess.

Palate: Dry mid palate. Really sweet after taste.  Almost cloying characteristics once in the mouth.  With a bottle of bubbly like this you’ll want to find something special to celebrate, not an everyday drinker.  P. Diddy would approve if he saw you poppn’ this in the club.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++½

Price:

$90

2005 Weinbach Pinot Gris Altenbourg Cuvee Laurence

Pinot Gris

This wine is from the Alsace wine region in northeast France on the boarder of Germany that is separated by the Rhine River.  Pinot Grigio is a very popular white varietal here in the U.S., with a large majority being imported from Italy. This wine, although the same varietal, is much different. The Alsace region climate and soil make this a more complex and powerful wine with a higher alcohol level. The wine is 14% alcohol (high for a white wine).  The word Pinot which comes from the word “pine cone” in French resembles the look of the grapes on the vine and “gris” means grey in French as that is the usual color when ripening. I guzzled a bottle of the Weinbach Pinot Gris Altenbourg Cuvee Laurence 2005

On the nose: Very special.  Has a very tropical beach/suntan lotion smell.  Fresh shaved coconut.  Underlying honey and blood oranges.  Imagine you reach into a bees nest to get some honey and a super model walks past all lotioned up for the beach.

Palate: Long finish, Exotic and complex.  Sweet ripened peaches picked by your Aunt Trudy in the garden.  Butter city here folks.  Begging for some foie gras. Take a stick of butter and melt it over a peach and then shove it down your dome piece.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++

Price:

$45

Check out these coconuts…

2010 Hedonist Rosé

Rosé 

This rosé is from the McLaren Vale area of Australia.  This particular wine is made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. Rosé has gotten a bad reputation in the States.  Many believe that these wines are of lower quality and denotes middling class. To the contrary, the French hold these wines in high esteem.  In the South of France, rosé is treasured and can be viewed being ingested by many locals casually in open aired cafés and bistros.  This being a rosé from Australia, I wanted to see if the producer held true to the tradition of the French rosés I have enjoyed in the past. I had a bottle of the 2010 Hedonist Rosé.

On the nose: Gardenia for days, Floral almost to a fault.  Not much else coming out. Imagine walking into the Bronx Botanical Garden in the Fordham section of the “Boogie Down” and there is a Gardenia show, and you are the only one invited.

Palate: Very dry for a rosé.  Close your eyes and imagine you are in Provence, in a village somewhere along the Côte d'Azur to be exact, and while wondering the narrow medieval streets you stumble upon a market with fresh cut flowers and a gentleman is preparing the best cranberry sauce you ever had. You cannot help but taste.  The color of this wine is majestic.  Bright Pink, kind of like one of those florescent ties that Donald Trump wears on “The Apprentice” ™ NBC.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++ (lives up to the French contemporaries)

Price:

$15

“This Wine is Hired”

2003 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale

Chianti

This Chianti is from the sub-area called Rufina in the Chianti region of Tuscany in Italy.  This particular wine is made from 100% Sangiovese, bottled for the first time in 1979 by Fattoria Selvapiana. The word fattoria means wine farm/wine estate in Italian.  Chianti became well known in our daily lives due to a very popular and scary movie called “Silence of the Lambs,” during which Dr. Hannibal Lecter advised that he had enjoyed a bottle of chianti with some liver and fava beans.  I took down a bottle of the 2003 Fattoria Selvapiana Chianti Rùfina Riserva Bucerchiale.

On the nose: Cherry & Cherry and more cherry. Meaty.  I love Chianti, especially a nice riserva.  Can be held up in the same regard with the king of Tuscan wines, Brunello, if you are directed to a good bottle.  Color of orange on the rim, very pretty.  Take a sour cherry and put it in a meat grinder and take a deep breath.  In through the nose – out through the mouth.

Palate: Sun dried tomato.  At first it seems light but once in the mouth it takes over.  Easy 45 minute finish.  This is begging for some red sauce that a balding, ginger & fat chef with orange Crocs can only make.  Little Bolognese anyone? Take a tomato and leave it out on the porch for 2 days and take it back in the kitchen and put in the pot that Grandma was cooking in for at least a day.  Make sure to give it a little taste with a big wooden spoon. Mangia!

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++½  (You can most likely find the most recent vintage, which is the 2007)

Price:

$25

“Brave Clarice. You will let me know when those lambs stop screaming, won't you?”

2009 Bodegas El Nido Clio

Jumilla

This Red Blend is from the wine region inside the Murcia district of Jumilla situated in the Southeast region of Spain.  This particular wine is made a blend of 70% old vines Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Monastrell varietal is also known as Mourvèdre and is most commonly found in Rhone-style blends.  This wine is a collaboration between Jorge Ordonez (a visionary in importing Spanish wines to America) and Chris Ringland (best known for his $1,000 Australian/100pt Robert Parker Shiraz he produced in the mid/late 90’s).  I partook in the libation of a bottle of 2009 Bodegas El Nido Clio.

On the nose: Black Berry. Godiva hot dark chocolate, the one that costs $10 a cup that will make you feel guilty for getting.  In the glass the color is black, no sense of redness.  If it wasn’t in a wine glass it would be hard to tell it is wine.  Thick texture.  Motor oil consistency.

Palate: Really, really good.  Very modern (no sense of terroir like old world wines). Usually not the type of wine I lean toward liking.  Every type of berry you can imagine in this (Sweet, sour, and very ripe).  Wonderful mouth feel, almost milk like texture.  It comes across very nicely with its approach.  Oak and alcohol (15.5%) is in check, but you can taste some wood chips.  Nothing off-putting though.  Skittles®, go ahead and taste the rainbow. This I believe will not benefit from any cellaring, best consumed in the short term, 1-2 yrs.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++½

Price:

$35-$40

2007 Val de Sil ‘Peras de Potela

Godello
 

This white grape varietal is from the northwest part of Spain in the Galicia region.  It is 100% Godello.  The sub region is called Valdeorras, which name means “Valley of Gold.” Godello has become a popular grape in recent years and is a varietal I would suggest you try as it’s characteristics range for a light quaffing wine to a serious structured whites which could rival a white burgundy at 3 times the price. The 2007 Val de Sil ‘Peras de Potela is on the higher end of the spectrum, but gives you a great example of how this wine is versatile and can be produced to appease all oenophiles.

On the nose: Smell of lime and brown sugar, some sweet baking spices. Goldilocks color, deep yellow/gold.  Staring at this wine in the glass, I can’t help but think of Hulk Hogan’s hair circa Wrestlemania III where the Hulk scoop slammed Andre the Giant to the mat and later finished him off with his signature move, the infamous leg drop (“I am a Real American” playing in the background after every sip).

Palate: Crème fresh.  Whipped cream on top of Key Lime pie.  Really digging this.  For a white wine, it really has a long finish.  Acidity is in check and mucho vanilla – the type of vanilla you taste with a really expensive top quality Cali Cab which may sound weird, but makes this wine that much more exciting.  Good juice.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++½

Price:

$50

“Whatcha ya gonna do brother, when the 24" pythons and Hulkamania run wild on you!?

1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon
 

This red is from Napa Valley California.  It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  This winery was founded in 1882, making it one of the oldest California wine producers.  The winery was featured in the movie “Bottle Shock” in 2008 (movie kinda sucked).  The movie documents the Judgment of Paris which pitted French wines against California wines in 1976 in Paris. The 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay was in competition against four White Burgundies from France and took home first prize, receiving six first place votes out of 11 possible votes among the white wines.  This was a monumental victory as many believed that California wines were viewed as bourgeois by the French. The wine I tasted was their Cabernet, but as this is from the same vintners, there is a definite pedigree implied.  I was given the great honor by a close family friend two weekends ago (you know who you are) to taste the 1995 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon.

On the nose: Right out of the bottle, pop and pour, not getting much. Really tight.  If you were stuck in a bottle for 17 years, would you smell good?  Left it alone for a bit, came back to it 45 minutes later and it was really singing.  Macerated Cherries.  Tobacco leaves and fresh potting soil.  Really Different.  This is what you get when you have an older Cabernet from Napa that had some time to chill.  Think if you were making a sundae of dirt and put some cigar flavored whipped cream over that and added 10 cherries on top (the ones they put in a Shirley Temple).

Palate: Again, upon opening, the taste was a bit sour and had a menthol flavor.  Really thought it may have lost a little.  One hour later, could have mistaken this for a different wine all together.  Mint & Eucalyptus.  You do not get to taste this flavor profile that often, but when you do it’s a real treat.  Plums are there too.  Almost 30 second finish.  Light tannins.  If you have this in your cellar, I would recommend drinking it, as I feel it’s at its peak. Take some Thin Mints that you spend $15 a box (inflation?) because you must support your local Girl Scout troop and a plum, shove them both in a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer and enjoy.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++½

Price:

$70-100 (if you can find it – best bet is a wine auction online)

2008 Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Selecion de Familia Crianza

Rioja 

This Spanish wine is 100% Tempranillo.  This bodega is in the town of Briones which is in an enclave of the Rioja Alta. The location has a wine museum dedicated to educate any wine enthusiast if so inclined and hosts one of the largest corkscrew collections in the world.  This particular wine received many accolades, one in specific was being named #59 of Wine Specator’s top 100 in 2010.  The bottle has an old school feel and really gives off the look that the wine comes from a long tradition (4 generations of winemaking to be precise). This particular wine is labeled as a Crianza, which means it was aged for 2 years with at least 1 of those years in oak barrels. I tasted the 2008 Bodegas Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Selecion de Familia Crianza on two occasions, once at the bodega/winery last September and once again 2 weeks ago.

On the nose: Fresh strawberries.  Little stinky, chanterelle mushrooms – very fungi-ish. The appearance is light red, not many tears or legs when you give it a couple swirls in the glass. Think if you are cooking some ‘shrooms with some butter in a sauce pan and a couple of cut strawberries make their way in and then you flambé those suckers with some strawberry brandy.

Palate: Ocean Spray Craisins ™– really feel like you are in the bog somewhere in Southeastern Massachusetts in the fall during the harvest.  Tart, mouth puckering. It has a short finish, but I can see this wine being really good with some red meat.  I am thinking summer BBQ and skirt steak. Would keep a half case to full case for the summer as a cellar defender.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++½

Price:

$15

2006 Elyse Tietjen Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon

 

This wine is from California. I purchased the wine on sale from Wine Library in the dirty Jerz.  It is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. Even though there are trace amounts of Petit Verdot (4%) in this blend, I thought that it would be a good opportunity to discuss the virtues of the varietal.  Mainly used in Bordeaux, it adds tannins to the blend and stiffens the mid palate of Cabernet Sauvignon blends.  Most vintners use the old adage that less is more with Petit Verdot. It is almost never the main grape used and ripens later on in the season, which makes it rather unpredictable in its quality.  This wine has an alcohol content of 14.6%. I partook in the consumption of the 2006 Elyse Tietjen Cabernet Sauvignon.

On the nose: Oak. Very one dimensional.  Smells like candy. Exactly like the Grape “Big League Chew” I used to get after East Yonkers Little League games from a broken down ratty old hot dog truck in Coyne Park (flashbacks of my childhood). Smells nice, but lacks complexity.  Can get the same nose from a $10 cabernet and not pay the premium for this wine.

Palate: First thing I noticed is the alcohol.  Maybe this is little too young to dive into at the moment.  Purple Gatorade taste. Too much make-up.  Harsh tannins.  Finish is rather short. I would be real pissed at myself if I bought this for the retail price of $60 or $120 on a restaurant list. Was hoping for a lot more.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+½ (better luck next time)

Price:

$28

2006 Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Vigna Montersino

Barbaresco 

This wine is from the Piemonte region of Italia. Piedmont is tucked away in the Northwest part of Italy. Produced with 100% Nebbiolo grapes exclusively from the Montersino single vineyard in Treiso. Nebbiolo is thought to derive its name from the Italian word nebbia which means "fog." During harvest, which generally takes place late in October, a deep, intense fog sets into the Langhe region where many Nebbiolo vineyards are located. Nebbiolo is usually very tannic and can take some time to unwind in the bottle. Some bottles never do unwind, the tannins outlast the fruit and nothing is to be enjoyed.  That is why it is important when you are tasting a younger Barbaresco or Barolo to make sure that the underlying fruit is there.  This wine has an alcohol content of 13.5%. I popped the top on the 2006 Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Vigna Montersino.

On the nose: Rose pedals. Road Tar. Very perfumy scent with a little soil on the side. Imagine a week after Valentine’s Day when all those flowers are being thrown in a dumpster, and in that dumpster is some tar that they have been using to repair the roads on Interstate 287 in NY (God…when is the road work gonna be done on 287 – it’s been like 10 years now!)

Palate: Metallic in a good way.  Iron minerality.  Sexy.  Smooth as silk texture.  Gobs of white truffles too.  Makes you want to fly to Piedmont for truffle season in October and get one of those dogs (Lagotto Romagnolo) that can sniff those ugly suckers outta the holes that they live in.  This wine would be great with a wild boar ragu, gnocchi and some Pecorino Romano.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++

Price:

$32.99

“Where those truffles at?…Woof Woof"

2005 Château Lascombes

Bordeaux

This wine is from the Bordeaux region of France. The appellation d'origine, Margaux, is nestled in the Southwest part of France. The village of Margaux is a sub region of the Haut-Médoc which is located on "the left bank," situated on the left bank of the Garonne river. This wine has an alcohol content of 13.5%. I thoroughly enjoyed tasting the 2005 Chataeu Lascombes over a two day period. Lascombes was originally classified as a deuxième cru (Second Growth Estate), but has had a long a troubled past.  Not until the beginning to late 2000’s has the château really started to turn out exemplary efforts of this lofty classification.  The 2005 blend is of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.

On the nose: Pencil lead/shavings is probably one of the most predominant smells that you get from a wine from Bordeaux, it’s here in spades. Cannot be mistaken. Love it. Forest, a little stinky. Take a long walk in the woods and there are some wet leaves all over the place – it just rained actually.  Moss has formed along the old oak tree.  Smells like the “Moss Man” action figure from the “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” cartoon series circa 1986.

Palate: Liquorice & black jelly beans. Exactly like the soft eating Australian black liquorice that you get from one of those fancy organic supermarkets. So smooth.  60+ second finish. Wow. Plums for days with some undertones of black currant. This wine has the potential to last for 30+ years.  I can only imagine what type of claret Château Marguax and Château Palmer churned out in 2005 compared to this lesser class beauty.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++½

Price:

$89.99

"By the power of Grayskull...this wine has it all”

2009 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon - Grand Estates

Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is from the state of Washington in the good ol’ US of A. It is from the Columbia Valley. The Columbia Valley is a huge AVA (American Viticultural Area) consisting of 11 million acres of land.  Most of the valley lies in Washington state, but there are some sections that stretch into Oregon. Columbia Crest is one of the most popular wineries from Washington, accounting for more than half the wine produced in Washington, and in 2009 the “Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005” received the coveted #1 spot of “Wine of the Year” by Wine Spectator. I shared a bottle of the 2009 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon - Grand Estates. The blend is of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 6% Syrah. This wine has an alcohol content of 13.5%. 

On the nose: Strawberry & shortbread, very extracted.  For a wine under $10, I think it smells rather nice. Soil and funk. Think if “Strawberry Shortcake” (the doll made by Hasbro) were driving a 1946 Ford Super Deluxe, like the one Biff drove in “Back to the Future,” and she did the same thing he did, running into a dump truck full of manure.

Palate: Strawberries again with little bit of tang. Very light.  Not too complex, but I can see myself popping this with some pizza on a Friday. Oak is definitely there.  Could be over bearing for some, but if you know what you are getting into, this can be very enjoyable. Quality to price ratio is just right.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++

Price: $9

“McFly!!”

Disclaimer: Reason for knowledge of “Strawberry Shortcake Doll” is that I grew up with 3 older sisters.

2008 Villa Antinori Toscano Rosso

Super Tuscan

This wine is from Italy, the Tuscany region to be exact. Villa Antinori  is classified as a IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) or otherwise referred to a “Super Tuscan.”  IGT wines do not meet strict DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) or DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) designations while such wines as Brunello, Barolo & Chianti do.  Some IGT wines, or “Super Tuscans” have, however, been put into a high quality category. Antinori is a huge conglomerate in the Italian wine industry and produces very high end wines such as the Tignanello & Solaia.  In 2001, the Villa Antinori red wine changed from the Chianti Classico denomination to IGT.  I guzzled a bottle of the 2008 Villa Antinori Toscano Rosso. Villa Antinori is predominantly Sangiovese, with some Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. This wine has an alcohol content of 13.5%. 

On the nose: Oak, lots of it.  Would not peg this as being Italian off the bat.  Little Cali sunshine here.  Can’t get past the smell of wood chips (maybe not a good thing).  Imagine if you are taking a long leisurely walk along Central Park on the west side near Strawberry Fields and “Hacksaw Jim Duggan” jumps out and whacks you over the head with his 2x4 (Ouch!).

Palate: First impression is nothing special on the initial attack, but picks up a little in the mid palate and comes along nicely on the finish.  All the characteristics you would expect from a wine from Tuscany – cherry, drying tannins and high acidy.  Needs to be paired with food.  Have this with a some Vitello alla Milanese and some broccoli rabe sautéed with garlic and call it a night.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++½

Price: $18

“HOOOO!!!”

2000 Lopez de Heredia "Viña Tondonia" Gran Reserva Rosado

Rosado

This wine is from the Rioja region of Spain. Rosado (or rosé wine from Spain) is very food friendly and, similar to the French rosés, rosado is a part of life in the local enclaves (especially during lunch time). Not many bottles of this rosado are imported into the United States and it is also unheard of for a rosé to be held in bottle 6 years prior to release. I enjoyed a bottle of the 2000 Lopez de Heredia "Viña Tondonia" Gran Reserva Rosado Rioja. This wine is a blend of 60% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and 10% Viura aged for 4.5 years in oak and 6 years in bottle, as stated before. This wine has an alcohol content of 12.5%. 

On the nose: The color on this is crazy.  Orange, rust and copper.  The color reminds me of a dawn sun where the sun is trying to peek out of the clouds and the sky changes to the most amazing colors.  Smell of nuts, almonds and macadamia nuts. Also smells like a piggy bank full of pennies.  Can’t say I ever smelt this in a wine.  Worth the price of admission just to smell some of these scents in a wine.

Palate: Sour Patch Kids.  The acidity is off the charts.  It would be almost unbearable to drink without any sort of food.  Think this would go great with some loin of lamb over swiss chard and beet salad topped with a little tzadziki sauce.  It almost has an oxidized taste, but then you realize that this rosado was in the bottle for so long.  This wine is for the adventurous and not for the faint of heart.  Could be off putting to some.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++¾

Price: $20

2009 Torrin Akasha

Syrah
 

This wine is from the Paso Robles wine region in California and is a good representation of what California is doing with Rhone Blends.  The Rhone Rangers are a group of winemakers in the US, mostly in California, who embrace the techniques and blending of Rhone varietals.  The style I drank is more in the vein of a Northern Rhone wines blend, which is heavy on the Syrah.  I enjoyed a bottle of the 2009 Torrin Akasha. This wine is a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Grenache with only 158 cases being produced. It has an alcohol content of 16%, very high for a red table wine. 

On the nose: White pepper.  Strong smell of a dried black berry elixir.  Beautiful color of inky deep dark magenta.  I am almost getting a high off the smell, queue up Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album.  Fills the room.  Very small amount of alcohol when swirled, but that blows off with an hour in the decanter.  Smell is unreal.

Palate: Rich and Spicy.  Blueberry pie.  Think of the movie “Stand by Me” and the Great Tri-County Pie Eat and throw your face right into that pie, Davie (?#@*&%!) Hogan style.  Very messy.  Long finish, 30+ seconds.  Would pair this with Sweet Pete’s Sticky Skirt Steak (please inquire).

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

++++

Price: $62

“Shine on You Crazy Diamond”

 

2004 Marion Valpolicella Classico Superiore

Valpolicella

This wine is from Veneto, a wine region located in the Northeastern part of Italy.  This Valpolicella is a corvina blend. Corvina usually includes such varietals as Rondinella and other lesser known grapes from the region.  I joyfully imbibed a bottle of the 2004 Marion Valpolicella Classico Superiore. The corvina vines ripen late, which can be challenging for the winemaker. Marion uses highly traditional techniques for drying its grapes in the Veronese Ripasso style. This wine is a blend of 10% Corvina Gentile, 60% Corvina Grossa, 20% Rondinella, 10% Teroldego and other varieties.

On the nose: California dried raisins – hear them singing in the background? Sweet spicy cinnamon. Dehydrated dates. This comes across very reserved in the beginning but gets going in terms of smell an hour in.  No oakiness at all. Very nice, entry level Amarone/ Valpolicella. Would recommend this to someone who has never had this style before.

Palate: Nesquik chocolate milk. Espresso beans. Powerful wine. Walk into a Starbucks and order a Double Ristretto Venti Half-Soy Nonfat Decaf Organic Chocolate Brownie Iced Vanilla Double-Shot Gingerbread Frappuccino Extra Hot with Foam Whipped Cream … tastes exactly like that (just kidding). Pair this with some pork spare ribs that have some nice ground coffee seasoning and it will be a hit.

Rating Scale (out of 5 +):

+++½

Price: $30

“I Heard it Through the Grapevine”