Blog Wine Cellar

2004 Laura Zahtila Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

2012-01-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

I find it fun to taste Napa Valley Cabernet after it's been in bottle for over five years and find out how it's held up. Did it age well? What does the color of the wine look like? Is it getting better or on the decline? These are all questions that define the magic of aging wine and keeps us enthusiasts coming back for more.

The 2004 Laura Zahtila Cabernet Sauvignon starts off with some really brilliant aromas of coco powder, cracked peppercorn, black cherry, tea leaf, tobacco, and dried herb.

On the palate the wine is still showing some firm tannin, however it reveals a special tactile sensation as if this wine at one time was enormously big and tannic and is now just starting to soften up. I get flavors of soft stewed cherry, milk chocolate, leather, sweet tobacco, and subtle earth tones.

The flavors are very well delineated and the wine is showing grace eight years after being made. I do however have to say that the wine is probably drinking at it's peak right now and should be consumed within the next year or so. 88 points

2005 Dr. Loosen Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese

2012-01-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

The four-acre Erdener Prälat vineyard produces some of the greatest wines in the Mosel valley. It has 100 percent south-facing red slate soil and an extraordinarily warm microclimate, yielding wines of unequaled power and nobility. The vineyard’s exposure, combined with the warming effect of the river and the massive, heat-retaining cliffs that surround it, ensures exceptional ripeness in every vintage.

I'm tasting this wine for the second time and actually reviewed the wine a few years ago here on the blog. I scored it 93 points then and can already tell by the aromatics that this wine has drastically improved in terms of complexity and depth. On the nose I get the most incredible honeysuckle, creme brulee, and dried apricot aromas. The petrol notes and mineral nuances beautifully underline those wonderful sweet fruit notes.

On the palate the wine shows beautiful and complex flavors of apricot nectar, white peach, honey, marmalade, and lychee. There are also secondary notes of mineral, petrol, and white pepper that add to the complexity. The finish is clean and medium length. 94 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2008 Stonestreet Gold Run Chardonnay

2011-12-01T10:55:00.000-08:00

The quality of wine coming from Stonestreet winery never surprises me. One, because I've been there and understand how they run their amazing facility.....Two, because I've seen their amazing mountain side vineyards, and three because I've tasted their Chardonnay's for years and have constantly been blown away.

The 2008 Stonestreet Gold Run Chardonnay is sourced from block 27 on the Alexander Mountain Estate.Alexander Mountain Estate stands on the western ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains towering overthe Alexander Valley below. It's a really small 221 case production aged for 11 months in 100% new French oak barrels.

On the nose I get the most amazing aromas of baked apple pie, quince paste, creme brulee, guava, soft citrus, mineral, and just a hint of clove. It's a beautiful bouquet that expresses the essence of the varietal, but it also quite influenced by new and expensive French oak.

On the palate the wine explodes onto the palate with a full and lush texture and expresses flavors of buttered toast, creme brulee, yellow apple, baking spice, and white peach. The wine is rich without being cloying and packs quite a punch with it's big alcohol and stunning acidity.

To be completely honest this is one of the best Chards I've tasted in 2011. It has everything I enjoy with a world class California Chardonnay......texture, fruit, acidity, minerality, and the potential to improve in the bottle. 94 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Chasseur Russian River Pinot Noir

2011-11-29T19:43:00.001-08:00

I'm trying yet another bottle of Chasseur Pinot Noir after previously trying the Sonoma Coast and second label called Cazar. I guess this winery really has made an impression on me and now I'm trying all of the wines! The Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from the Umino and Ferguson vineyards and uses all Dijon clones such as 667, 777, and 459. It's aged in French oak barrels for 10 months.

This is definitely a darker colored wine than the previous Pinot's I tasted from this producer, which to be honest is actually quite common of the appellation.

On the nose I get aromas of pomegranate, red raspberry, black cherry, and subtle hints of orange peel. There are also some secondary aromas of black tea and peppercorn if you search hard enough beneath the fruit.

On the palate the first thing I notice is the wines' seductive and rounded texture. It's a silky wine that glides across the palate, but then pierces down with sharp acidity on the finish. I get beautiful flavors of black cherry that combine with red currant, spice, rhubarb, red raspberry, and just hints of black tea. The tea quality is actually quite intriguing and perhaps has to do with the tactile quality of the tannin that this wine possesses. The finish is quite long and displays very nice fruit flavors and spicy undertones.

I guess what I really dig about the wines from Chasseur are their stunning purity. They're wines that perfectly represent the essence of Pinot Noir and express the ripeness and exquisite balance that can only be found in the California sunshine. Major Kudos to Bill Hunter.... 93+ points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Rivers Marie Cabernet Sauvignon

2011-11-27T19:09:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to taste this wine because last time I visited Napa I was lucky enough to taste the 2008 Napa Cab with Thomas Rivers Brown up at Outpost on Howell Mountain, and it turned out to be the best wine I experienced on the entire trip. (Tasted 100+ wines that week).

The 2009 Rivers Marie Cabernet is a 12 barrel blend of fruit sourced from various vineyards and AVA's : (25% Oakville, 42% St Helena and 33% Spring Mountain from the Baconbrook Vineyard.) It was aged in 50% new French Oak.

The color of the wine is indicative of it's ultra-young state and expresses a brilliant dark purple hue along the edges of the glass and a black core.

On the nose the wine is still pretty tight, but does show some very nice black currant and cassis notes, as well as secondary aromas of espresso bean, cedar, black licorice, mineral/crushed stones, and menthol. It's quite obvious that the wine is pretty wound-up and needs plenty of cellar time to release it's full range of complexity on the bouquet.

On the palate the wine opens up with some really delicious black raspberry flavors that combine with melted black licorice and creme de cassis liquor notes. The wine has beautiful balance and a silky smooth tannin structure that seems to melt over your tongue. Red fruits such as raspberry, currant, and red plum actually begin to pop-up on the mid-palate and the finish as well. 92 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir

2011-11-21T21:58:00.000-08:00

Craggy Range is really great winery that makes some remarkable wines that capture the essence of the vineyards from which they're procured. As we all know New Zealand is home to some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, and Craggy Range has always been amongst my favorites in that particular category. What's really exciting as of late is the potential that many New Zealand wineries are now showing with Pinot Noir, and so I'm very interested in sharing my thoughts with you all about this single vineyard Pinot made by Craggy Range.

The 2009 Craggy Range Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir was sourced from a vineyard located in the Martinborough appellation. Like Marlborough, Martinborough benefits from a climate that is closely aligned with the famous cool climate regions of Burgundy and the Loire Valley. This Pinot was aged for 10 months on the less in French oak barrels.

On the nose I get classic Pinot Noir character and fresh aromas of cranberry, red raspberry, red plum, mineral/earth, and wild flowers. It's most definitely defined by a cool climate style and reminds me of smelling a classic red burgundy. It's a vibrant and young bouquet that expresses it's youthful tart-like fruitiness.

On the palate the wine zips across the palate with brisk acidity and tart fruit flavors of red currant, cranberry, spice, mineral, and just a hint of orange peel. The mid-palate is very lush and shows some really nice elegance and body. However, on the finish it also displays just a touch of tactile bitterness that reminds me of citrus rind....very interesting!

I enjoy this wine for it's purity, varietal integrity, and vineyard expression. It has a very unique minerality and spiciness that I believe comes from the soil and micro-climate of the vineyard. The oak treatment has obviously added to the complexity and body of the wine, but it's a very subtle influence that allows the fruit to express it's flavor in a rather unadulterated fashion. 90+ points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Chasseur Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2011-11-17T16:33:00.000-08:00

I had to taste this wine after trying the second label named "Cazar" yesterday and absolutely loving it. This Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast appellation is sourced primarily from the Twin Hill Ranch vineyard and is a blend of several different Dijon Pinot Noir clones. It was aged for 10 months in 60 gallon French oak barrels.

On the nose I get some really nice boysenberry, plum, and black cherry notes, that combine with secondary nuances of coriander, tobacco, and orange peel. It's a very intriguing aroma profile that develops in the glass and has multiple layers of complexity.

On the palate the wine shows remarkable purity and delivers delicious notes of ripe black cherry, boysenberry, and rich homemade strawberry rhubarb pie. Now....I'm talking wild strawberries, the ones that are dark, ripe, and nasty!! There's also a nice touch of toasted oak on the finish.

I really love this wine but, shhhhhhhhhhh........don't tell them that I enjoyed their second label just as much, if not even a bit more. This wine has more complexity and better acidity, but the "Cazar" just had this deliciousness that I couldn't get over and it was about $10 cheaper. 92+ points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Cazar Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

2011-11-16T15:22:00.000-08:00

This wine is the sister label to Bill Hunter's Chasseur label and is a beautiful representation of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in it's purist form. I really haven't tasted purity of fruit like this since last tasting a bottle of Kosta Browne Kanzler a few years back or by tasting the wines made by Chad Melville. This wine is seriously like a bowl of fruit and is absolutely delicious. If you want want unadulterated Pinot Character and you looking for a wine that is vastly underpriced.....then here it is.

On the nose I get incredible amounts of fresh strawberry and raspberry preserves, subtle hints of mineral and wet pavement, and just a dash of dried herb.

On the palate the wine sings with fresh and tart raspberry preserves, strawberry rhubarb pie, and just a touch of toasted oak on the finish. It's really rather simple wine......but carries a purity and deliciousness that I often find in the higher end selections.

This may be the best priced Pinot Noir in the market and having tasted probably about 150 Pinot's this year, I'd definitely say it's the best value coming in at less than twenty bucks. 93 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2004 Yarra Yering Pinot Noir

2011-11-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

This wine is quite honestly one of the best Pinot's I have ever tasted. Never mind the fact that it's from Australia, it just flat out competes with the best producers of Pinot Noir in the world. Here's a little snippet of history that I copied from their website:

"Wine was grown in Victoria's Yarra Valley from the mid 1800's through to the 1920’s and was a principal export of the new colony. The industry was halted in the 1920’s by the economics of the day, changing tastes and the high price of wool.  It would need a visionary to re-establish winemaking in the Yarra Valley and in 1969 one came along. Dr Bailey Carrodus was ideally qualified to become a great vigneron. A degree in botany, another in winemaking and a doctorate earned at Oxford for research into plant physiology, combined with a passion for great wine, a love of food and art, and a fiercely independent mind equipped him well. In 1969 after a long search for the perfect site Dr Carrodus planted 12 hectares of vines at the foot of the Warramate Hills.  The gentle slope with its northerly aspect and deep grey silty loam shot through with bands of gravel fulfilled all of his requirements. Good drainage, all day exposure to the warm sun, and enough elevation from the valley floor to avoid the spring frosts. He named his vineyard Yarra Yering and in 1973 produced his first vintage of Dry Red Wine No’s 1 & 2." - yarrayering.com

The color of this wine is a very light red that has faded to a soft pink-brick color around the edges of the glass. The wine is also a bit cloudy and suggested that it was unfiltered and unfined.

On the nose the wine exhibits beautiful and complex aromas of stewed cherry, red plum, sandalwood, mineral, loam, cranberry, orange peel, baking spices, and some very interesting game meat notes.

On the palate the wine displays a glorious and luscious texture, sharp acidity, and extraordinary length. Flavors of earthy red raspberry, bing cherry, mineral, earth, tobacco, tea berry, plum, and just a hint of saddle leather touch down on the palate with a soft and elegant refinement.

Ok, lets cut the bullshit.....the wine is absolutely delicious and I've only ever seen complexity and such impeccable balance with the upper echelon of France's Burgundy region. 96 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

ANTICA TERRA NAMED THE #1 INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR

2011-11-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

ANTICA TERRA’S 2009 ESTATE GROWN PINOT NOIR RELEASED TODAY WAS JUST NAMED THE #1 INTERNATIONAL PINOT NOIR IN TASTING LED BY TIM ATKIN IN LONDON

WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON, November 1, 2011 – The Antica Terra 2009 Estate Grown Pinot Noir was just selected as the top wine in a London tasting last week (Oct 28) with 40 Pinots from around the world. Tim Atkin (MW) was the Chairman for the Wines of Germany International Tasting and compiled a list of the top Pinot Noir producers to include. The wines were judged by an esteemed panel of experts including Atkin, Jancis Robinson MW, Hamish Anderson, Xavier Rousset MS, Peter McCombie MW, Gearoid Devaney MS, Neal Martin, Christine Parkinson and Anthony Rose.

The 2009 Estate Grown Pinot ($100, 750ml) is officially being released today and is winemaker Maggie Harrison’s first wine made with grapes grown entirely on the Antica Terra vineyard. The Antica Terra 2009 Chardonnay ($50, 750ml) is Harrison’s first Chardonnay and is also being released today. Both wines are extremely limited production with a total of just 146 of the Estate Pinot and 139 cases of the Chardonnay.

“Winemaking, especially in the Northwest, requires a great deal of flexibility, tolerance of unpredictability – and the enjoyment of things heretofore unknown,” says Harrison, whose approach to winemaking is informed by the notion that beauty is conveyed in the accumulation of minute human actions. She believes the quality of the wine will be determined by her combined interaction with fruit and vine; the more moments spent working with the wine in a thoughtful and sensitive way, the more nuanced, graceful and profound the results will be.

In the Antica Terra process, clusters and individual berries are meticulously hand sorted at less than one ton per hour. The wines are fermented naturally, manually punched down and tread by foot, siphoned and bucketed into barrel by hand, never settled and aged on the lees before being bottled without fining or filtration.

About Antica Terra
Antica Terra is located on 40 acres of rocky hillside in the Eola-Amity Hills. Vines were first planted here in 1989 in a clearing within the oak savannah, a place carefully prepared amid the fractured mixture of sandstone and alluvium sown with fossilized oyster shells. Antica Terra’s recent history started with the arrival of co-owner and winemaker Maggie Harrison, who moved to Oregon in 2005 from Ventura County where she had spent the previous eight years (1998-2005) making syrah at the iconic Sine Qua Non winery.

Consumers can join the mailing list to purchase wines directly via www.anticaterra.com or by calling 503-244-1748.

Tips to Ensure Safe Transport of Your Wine Collection When You Move

2011-11-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Have too much wine to drink it all before you move? You don’t have to whine about it, you can move it to your new home safely by following these few tips:

First, check with the local alcohol beverage control board in the state where you are moving to find out if there are any restrictions on how much wine you can bring into the state for personal use.
Now that you know how much you can move and how much you might have to drink before you move, the two issues you face with moving it are: maintaining a consistent temperature and breakage. Temperature fluctuations are devastating to wine. The older the wine the more the flavor is affected by extreme temperature changes. And obviously, if not packed properly, bottles are easily broken.
So let’s get it moved safely so the cheese doesn’t stand alone!
Tips:
    •    While it’s not always in your control, if at all possible, try to avoid moving your wine collection during the hot, summer months. If you have to move it during the hot months, make sure to the mover has temperature controlled trucks.
    •    If your collection is not too large, try and transport it yourself ensuring you can maintain the wine at a temperature of about 55 degrees and try to prevent the container from being shaken too much as it could result in loss of flavor.
    •    Pack the wine in double wall cartons with dividers and wrap each bottle individually with bubble wrap. The last thing you want is glass vibrating against glass. You want to have your wine explode with taste – not from having two bottles hit each other!
    •    Ensure that you have extra cushioning/padding at the bottom of the box to absorb the impact in case the container is dropped. Use packing/styrofoam peanuts to fill all voids in the container as settling will occur during transit. Here are a few examples of wine shipping containers:
    •    Uline - Corrugated Wine Carriers
    •    Universal Form Products - Wine Shipper Coolers
    •    The Spirited Shipper - Wine Shipping Boxes
    •    Label the container with FRAGILE on all sides and the top.   Use extra tape to secure the bottom of the container.
    •    It goes without saying, do not move opened bottles of wine.

Did you know?
    •    It generally takes months for a cork to dry out so don’t worry whether the bottles are upright or on their side. Your domestic move should take weeks, not months so dry corks shouldn’t be an issue. Also, the more modern synthetic corks don’t generally dry out.
    •    While you will be anxious to open the container once it arrives and celebrate your new home, do that with a NEW bottle of wine! Give your wine collection time to rest after its journey. Plan for one week to rest for each day it was in transit. 
Now that you have your wine collection secure and ready to go, you can focus on moving or shipping your furniture and household items and of course your wine glasses, safely and securely as well.

Cheers!

This guest post was contributed by Transit Systems, a nationwide moving and shipping company. Transit specializes in shipping furniture, but can offer tips to help with any of your small move needs - from wine to antiques, or even an entire household move! If you're starting to plan for a future move, check out the Transit site to get a free shipping quote today.

2007 Stonestreet Upper Barn Chardonnay

2011-10-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

This small 385 case production of Chardonnay is made with the "old Wente clone" Chardonnay clone and is sourced from vineyards located 1800 ft above sea level. The soil there is rocky and shallow and produces a wine of amazing texture and complexity. Helen Turley actually used to make this wine for her now famous Marcassin label.

On the nose I get amazingly delicious aromas of caramel, baked apple, buttered cinnamon-toast, nectarine, and lemon blossom. It's definitely a California-style wine with it big, audacious, and buttery characteristics.

On the palate the wine explodes with rich layers of caramel apple, butter, ribbon candy, and mineral. The acidity holds the wine in check and cleans it all up on the finish, where it displays very nice toasted oak and baked apple flavors.

It's wonderful to taste a wine made with the "old Wente Clone" A new friend of mine named George has been drinking wine for 40+ years and says it's one of the best Chardonnay clones out there. I agree.....thx George. 92 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Gerard Raphet Morey-Saint-Denis

2011-10-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here's another dynamite red Burgundy from what is becoming one of my favorite producers, Gerard Raphet. The following is the information given on the importers website:

"This outstanding older-vine blend is always one of our favorites from Raphet; not only does it sum up everything we love about this often-overlooked yet outstanding Cote de Nuits village but also it has proven again and again a treasure for the cellar—there have been many times where this “village” wine has outshone many a grand cru. The pleasure parallels between 2009 and 1990 are very evident here; the depth of this wine is just phenomenal. Blackberry syrup and chocolate dust, crushed cumin seeds and licorice seduce on the nose; the mouth is sweet, long and stunningly pure, with beautiful tannins and length. One to treasure; just three barrels selected." - North Berkley Imports

On the nose I get beautiful aromas of coco powder, bing cherry, raspberry syrup, cumin, cinnamon toast, mineral, and wet soil. It's an intoxicating aroma profile that unfolds in the glass with grace and complex elegance. It has a perfume that is filling my whole office full of fruit and spice notes!

On the palate I get flavors of red raspberry, bing cherry, mineral, strawberry rhubarb, and spice. It's a wine with superb acidity, that cut through the palate and delivers a core of pure red fruit. This wine displays the essence of the varietal with a transparency that exhibits the beautiful fruit flavors and the essence of the soil were the vines are rooted. 93 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

Wines of Chile - Carmenere Blogger Tasting

2011-10-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

Wines of Chile is an organization committed to promoting the quality and image of Chilean wine throughout the world. It has offices in Santiago, London, and New York, as well as representatives in Canada, Ireland, and Denmark, and also works closely with ProChile to develop and offer promotional and educational programs in Asia, Latin America and Europe. Wines of Chile’s 76 member wineries belong to Vinos de Chile and represent 85% of Chile’s bottled wine exports.

2010 Emiliana Natura Carmenere - Colchagua Valley

Nose: black currant, eucalyptus, scorched earth, and hints of dried herb

Flavors: black fruit, coffee grind, soil, dried herb, mineral

Notes: simple, dry tannin, black fruit, good steak wine

Score: 86 points

2008 Casa Silva Los Lingues Carmenere Gran Reserva - Colchagua Valley

Nose: brambly fruit, eucalyptus leaf, hint of soil and mineral

Flavors: blackberry, licorice, spice, eucalyptus

Notes: smooth texture, nice long finish, fruit driven

Score: 88 points

2008 Santa Rita Medalla Real Carmenere - Colchagua Valley

Nose: red licorice rope, raspberry, vanilla, anise, noticeable oak spice

Flavors: Cassis, licorice, coco, cedar

Notes: round texture, long finish, big tannin, dry

Score: 90 Points

2008 Montes Alpha Carmenere - Colchagua Valley

Nose: dried herb, black currant, vanilla, cedar, spice

Flavors: voluptuous red and black fruit, cherry, black berry, cola, cedar-spice

Notes: nice fruit character, good balance fruit-to-wood, very approachable style

Score: 89 points

2009 Carmen Carmenere Gran Reserva - Apalta Valley

Nose: beautiful black berry, cassis, eucalyptus, chocolate truffle, and hints of anise

Flavors: ripe cassis, blackberry jam, dark chocolate, cedar

Notes: rich, luxurious texture, jammy, firm tannin on finish, great expression of Carmenere

Score: 91 points

2009 Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carmenere - Rapel Valley

Nose: boysenberry, raspberry dark chocolate sticks, chambord, black fruit preserves

Flavors: deliciously ripe blackberry, blackberry pie filling, chocolate,

Notes: ripe tannin, beautiful fruit, very refined, amazing stuff!

Score: 93+ Points

2009 Concho y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Carmenere - Rapel Valley

Nose: black currant, dried herb, sage, black licorice, vanilla, cedar

Flavors: spicy black currant, ripe cassis, chalky and dry tannin, graphite, soil

Notes: dry, chunky tannin, aggressive on the palate, needs bottle age, well made though

Score: 87+ Points

2007 Haras de Pirque Cabernet/Carmenere - Maipo Valley

Nose: dried sage, sulfur, black currant, cedar box, mineral, scorched earth

Flavors: big and bold black currant, cassis, dark chocolate

Notes: firm and dry tannin, good fruit, strange aromatics,

Score: 85 points

WINES THAT ROCK RELEASES GRATEFUL DEAD RED BLEND

2011-10-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

New York, NY — October 10, 2011 — Wines That Rock, innovators of rock inspired wines, announced today the launch of the Grateful Dead “Steal Your Face Red Blend” to join the brand’s four established rock ‘n’ roll varietals; Rolling Stones “Forty Licks Merlot,” “Woodstock Chardonnay,” The Police “Synchronicity Red Blend” and Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon Cabernet Sauvignon.” Wines That Rock began releasing the labels in 2009 and a portion of the proceeds from every bottle sold are donated to the T.J. Martell Foundation.

Grateful Dead Productions and Rhino Entertainment have partnered with Wines That Rock to create the “Steal Your Face Red Blend.” Wines That Rock is a partnership between legendary rock business managers RZO and award-winning winemakers Mendocino Wine Co., to capture the quality and spirit of rock ‘n’ roll mythology in its portfolio of great tasting wines, iconic album art for labels, earth friendly production and great consumer value.

Wines That Rock are crafted from the hands and vision of Mendocino Wine Co. winemaker Mark Beaman, whose talent and passions are quality, sustainability and pure rock ‘n’ roll. The process for making “Steal Your Face” began by listening and discovering the vibe and intricacies of the band during their legendary multi-night performance at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom in 1974.

“To capture the essence of the live energy for Grateful Dead’s ‘Steal Your Face,’ we chose to meld several varietals into one,” said Beaman. “Just as the band members would segue through various musical styles, this wine’s far reaching flavors melt seamlessly from one to the next. In honor of the Grateful Dead’s famous improvisational concerts that have brought joy to so many, this wine celebrates diversity and freedom of experimentation.”

Wines That Rock takes its respect for music very seriously, with founders that have been at the forefront of bringing rock ‘n’ roll to millions of fans for decades. Co-founders Ron Roy and Howard Jackowitz originally partnered with RZO and David Bowie in 1997 to create UltraStar Entertainment, the world’s largest online fan club company pioneering fan club ticketing and online artist communities. UltraStar’s clients range from the New York Yankees to AC/DC, Madonna and The Who.

“As Wines That Rock continues to grow its portfolio of well-priced, award-winning wines and expanding retail distribution throughout North America and Europe, we felt it was only appropriate to introduce a varietal that represents one of the most important moments in our music history and celebrate one of that era’s most influential bands,” said Roy. “Grateful Dead encompass so much of what the 60’s and 70’s meant to our culture through music, and were truly the first band to establish a worldwide sense of community through their live shows – they were really all about the experience. With Grateful Dead, we have found the perfect partner.”

"We love the idea of using the Grateful Dead’s music to guide the winemaking process,” said Mark Pinkus, GM of Grateful Dead Properties at Rhino Entertainment. “Wines That Rock’s passion for the band really shows in how hard they worked to reflect the mood and essence of the recordings.”

The Grateful Dead “Steal Your Face Red Blend” made its official public debut October 6th, 2011 and is currently available for order at www.winesthatrock.com and at more than 1,500 retail locations worldwide.

Available directly from its website, Wines That Rock offers variety packs of all current varietals and a collectors T-Shirt ($69), as well as three-bottle packs ($49). Wines That Rock will offer the Grateful Dead “Steal Your Face Red Blend” in three, six and 12-bottle packs at around $16.99 per bottle. Individual bottles are competitively priced at your local retailer.

For more information, please visit www.winesthatrock.com.

For more information on consumer products and brand licensing opportunities with Grateful Dead Properties, please contact Sara Nemerov at sara.nemerov@wmg.com

2009 Gérard Raphet Gevrey-Chambertin Champs Chenys Vieilles Vignes

2011-10-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

This wine is essentially an extension of grand cru Charmes, “Champs Chenys” and many of winemaker Gerard Raphet’s vines in “Champs Chenys” are pushing 110 years old. Thus the expression "Vielles Vignes" on the label, which of course translates to "old vines". The 2009 vintage in Burgundy is one of exceptional quality and the more I taste from this vintage, the more I realize how classic it really is. The wines are deeply complex, rich and structured, and perfectly balanced.

2009 Gérard Raphet Gevrey-Chambertin Champs Chenys has a nose that expresses beautiful aromas of red raspberry, red currant, cranberry, tamarind, mineral, and a hint of smoke.

On the palate the wine shows lovely flavors of red raspberries and cream, white pepper, crushed stone and mineral, and a touch of baking spice. The acidity is perfectly in balance with the fruit and tannin structure of the wine, making for an impeccably seamless effort that glides gracefully across the palate.

This wine is drinking really amazing right now, but I feel that with at least five more years in bottle it will improve dramatically. The wine needs time to develop secondary layers of complexity and depth. 92 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2008 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Unique

2011-10-05T17:27:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Unique is very special because winemaker Thierry Sabon decided not to make his top blend, “Cuvee du Papet.” Instead, a large percentage of that great, limited old-vine fruit found its way into the “Cuvee Unique” blend. It's composed of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.

On the nose I get the most intoxicating and complex aromas of stewed black cherry, plum, ground cayenne pepper, Kalamata olive, earth, savory chocolate, and game-like meat nuances.

On the palate the wine exhibits the same intense complexity and is superbly thought provoking. Flavors of stewed cherry, roasted gamebird, plum, earth/mineral/chalk, rust-blood, Kalamata olive, and white pepper.

This wine is quite honestly the most complex and thought provoking Chateauneuf-du-Pape I have ever tasted in my wine career. In my humble opinion it's the most perfect example of the region I can think of, and is incredibly balanced, deeply complex, mind-blowingly thought provoking, and just flat out delicious. 100 points

Yes, one hundred people.

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Melville Pinot Noir Verna's

2011-09-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Verna's Vineyard Pinot Noir is 100% Estate fruit from Melville's Los Alamos estate. From the press, the wine was transferred directly into barrel (10% new Sirugue French oak, 90% neutral). It's a classic representation of the hands off approach that Melville is famous for. The wine is delicate, soft, and expresses the true essence of the varietal.

On the nose I get pure fruit aromas of wild strawberry, strawberry rhubarb pie, mineral, chalk, and the unmistakable wildness of Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara. The wine shows amazing varietal integrity....

On the palate the purity of fruit continues to shine through as the wine was only aged in neutral oak barrels and is unadulterated. Flavors of red raspberry, strawberry jam, spice, and mineral touch down in a lightly strewn texture that glides across the palate effortlessly. This is Melville at it's best, soft and elegant wine with little or no influence of excessive oak or winemaking technique. It's almost like it's straight from the vineyard into the glass. 90 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard

2011-09-24T23:52:00.000-07:00

Tensley Wines is a family owned and operated winery focusing on vineyard designated Syrah within Santa Barbara County.

On the nose I get enchanting aromas of crushed black currant, gravel, blackberry paste, espresso, and beautiful hints of fresh lavender. It's really a stunning bouquet that exudes the intoxicating essence that's found in the best Syrah's from Santa Barbara.

On the palate the wine shows intense flavors of black currant, ripe blackberry, subtle hints of kalamata olive, mineral, loam, and bacon fat. The tannins are super-ripe and polished and the wine finishes ultra-long and with delicious fervour.

There is real fruit purity here and the delineation of flavor and character make this wine quite breathtaking. It's actually quite a revelation for California Syrah in that it's balanced, deliciously ripe, structured, and a screaming value for the price. 93+ points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Robert Foley Vineyards Griffin

2011-09-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

This little gem is a proprietary red blend that Robert Foley Vineyards releases every year with a different blend. The 2009 is composed of 50% Petite Sirah, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Merlot. It's ultra dark in color and displays everything that we've become accustom to with the wines of Robert Foley. That is, super rich and concentrated, fruit driven, and superbly balanced wines.

On the nose I get beautiful aromas of creme de cassis, blackberry pie filling, melted black licorice, graphite, dark chocolate brownie, camphor, tar, sarsaparilla, and hints of violet. Yes, I know that's quite a load of descriptors......However, the wine is super complex on the nose.

On the palate the wine shows big blackberry, cassis, and dark chocolate flavors, that combine with hints of graphite and mineral. The tannins are still quite aggressive as would be expected from such a youthful wine. The alcohol is definitely large and in-charge on the finish, but I can see the wine improving balance-wise with a year or so more in the bottle. 91 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2008 Beckmen Vineyards Estate Grenache

2011-09-19T12:48:00.000-07:00

Beckmen Vineyards is a family-run estate winery located in Santa Barbara County's Santa Ynez Valley. It's truly in my opinion one of the better producers of Rhone varietals in all of California. Their Estate Grenache is 100% Estate fruit from their Purisima Mountain Vineyard. It's also 100% Grenache and was aged for 15 months in neutral French oak.

On the nose I get aromas of red raspberry, strawberry rhubarb pie, graphite and mineral, and wet asphalt. The wine is actually quite terrior-driven on the nose and shows lots of mineral and stone character. There is a just a pinch of alcohol that peeks through on the bouquet as well, which is actually quite unfortunate.

On the palate the wine carries a round and full texture and exhibits flavors of spicy red raspberry, red currant, rhubarb, mineral, and all spice. The wine has good acidity and nice fruit character, but becomes just a tad bit disjointed on the finish because of the alcohol. The wine has good purity and is representative of the growing region, but is still perhaps in need of additional bottle age. 87 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2006 Jax Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

2011-09-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

This relatively small production Cabernet (974 cases) was produced from grapes harvested from a very special dry-farmed vineyard in Northern Calistoga. The winemaker at Jax Vineyards that makes this particular wine is Kirk Venge, son of Napa Valley legend and winemaker Nils Venge. The Wine is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Petit Verdot, and 2.5% Cabernet Franc and was aged in 100% French oak for 21 months.

On the nose the wine shows some very nice and intense aromas of cassis, licorice, dark chocolate, ripe plum, and spice. It has just a touch of earth and a very classic Napa Valley soil-meets-fruit complexity.

On the palate the wine touches down with the same dark and ripe fruits that were displayed on the nose, and also shows some really nice black cherry fruit. The tannins are firm, but well integrated, and the wine appears to be very well-made and in balance. 90 Points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2007 Abadía Retuerta Rívola Sardon de Duero

2011-09-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

The spectacular estate of Abadía Retuerta is situated just outside the border of the Ribera del Duero region in Spain’s north central province of Castilla y León, near the village of Sardón. It's actually just a few miles away from the uber-famous Vega Sicilia, producer of one of Spain's most revered and expensive wines.

The Rívola is composed of 60% Tempranillo and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and is aged in American and French oak barrels for a period of 12 months.

On the nose the wine exhibits aromas of ripe black cherry, plum, sandalwood, spice, and subtle hints of vanilla and cedar. When the wine begins to open up it also shows some really nice jasmine notes.

On the palate the plum flavors continue to impress along with beautiful impressions of red raspberry, black cherry, and spice. What's really impressive about this wine is the smooth texture and silky tannin structure. It's seems as though they're able to get the fruit pretty darn ripe and even at Abadía Retuerta. Very nice stuff. 90 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2009 Pascual Toso Reserve Malbec

2011-09-11T00:25:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that it's been quite a while since I've written up a Malbec here on the Blog Wine Cellar. To be honest, I kind of got tired of the category temporarily, but now for some strange reason I'm finding that I want to start exploring the nuances of the varietal once again.

This 100% Malbec from Argentina's Maipú district in Mendoza, is aged for 12 months in 8o% French oak barrels and 20% American oak.

On the nose I get aromas of rustic black currant, scorched earth, black licorice, dried blueberries, and just a touch of vanilla. It has a good balance of earth and wild black fruits. It's also a touch musky.... or has a damp forest floor effect.

On the palate the wine touches down with flavors of black currant, spice, vanilla, cedar, and hints of unsweetened coco powder. I also get some seconday notes of black licorice or anise on the finish, along with some nice blackberry flavors.

This is simple everyday table wine folks....It won't blow your socks off, but it's very serviceable and it's a nice change of pace for the typical Cab drinker. I can see it paring well with a Burger or a cheap piece of beef thrown on the grill! 85 points

Click here to find out more about this wine

2008 Halter Ranch Cotes De Paso

2011-09-01T21:44:00.000-07:00

I'm generally not a huge fan of the wines from Paso Robles. Yes, I know that all of you wonderful enthusiasts that have been there are probably scoffing at that remark, but in all honesty I believe the majority of wines made in the region are uninspiring. What I generally find are wines that are big, ripe, fruit-driven, and high in alcohol. That being said, I will keep an open mind and keep searching for the wine(s) that will prove me wrong.

The Halter Rantes Cotes De Paso is a tribute to the France's Rhone Valley and is composed of 41% Grenache, 30% Mourvédre, 18% Syrah, 7% Counoise, and 4% Cinsault. It's a small production wine with only 650 cases produced in the 08' vintage.

This lightly colored red has a bouquet that expresses aromas of fresh wild raspberry, soil, dried herb, and subtle hints of coffee grind. The alcohol is unfortunately already noticeable on the nose.....

On the palate I get flavors of red raspberry, spice, raspberry jello, coco, and hints of oak. The wine is definitely fruit forward and very serviceable. However, the alcohol spikes on the finish and throws off the balance of the wine. This is something that just wouldn't happen with about 90% of the producers in the Rhone, and in particular Chateauneuf-du-Pape (which is what I think they were shooting for with this wine). 84 points

Click here to find out more about this wine