The Wine Rack

2004 Le Haut-Medoc d'Issan

2009-03-04T18:23:00.000-08:00

I splashed decanted, and let it breathe for an hour. It appears this Cab/Merlot blend is the 3rd label from Chateau d'Issan. The nose is predominated by a dusty minerality over traces of earthy sour cherry. The palate is a wonderful juicy black fruit, blackberry leads the attack and there are some floral/forest hints on the finish. Balanced tannins and nice acidity that brings out the fruits. I'm a novice Bordeaux drinker, this wine was not as complex as some I've tried (like the 2003 Chateau Bernadotte Haut-Medoc or 2005 Chateau de La Dauphine Fronsac) but at $15 I'll buy more and do recommend it.

2007 Borie la Vitarèle Les Terres Blanches

2009-02-26T17:09:00.000-08:00

This Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah blend is a very nice value from the Languedoc, France. I found for around $15. Dark color, the nose is a wonderful old-world style- dark fruit, spice & forest with a faint but lingering earthy, mushroomy presence. Flavors of dark ripe fruit and spicy hints are complimented by savory tannins and a wonderful mid-palate feel, great balance overall.
From the website wines-and-spirits.com-
"Respect for the terroirs, respect for the wines : these are the master words of the family Izarn, owner of this domain implanted under the sun of the Languedoc, not far from Saint-Chinian. The cépages Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah which put together this grape harvest are exercised and vinified according to unsprayed agriculture.
Tannish but very balanced, it will satisfy the lovings of the Languedoc, looking for a generous and fattened up with sun red wine."

2006 Louis Martini Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon

2009-02-21T17:34:00.000-08:00

Pop and pour won't do this wine any favors, very tight on opening. My typical approach to everyday wines is to pour into a decanter and sample small pours as it catches some air. The nose is closed at first but 30 minutes in, the predominate cherry emerges. The cherry dominates the palate with an interesting transition from sweet to tart. Nice structure and tannins here and a decent finish. I'm liking this better than other Cabs I'm easily able to get in this range ($9-$12) like the J. Lohr 7 Oaks or the 2006 Colombia Crest Grand Estates (over oaked for me, earlier vintages were a favorite though). If you can get this for under $12 give it a try.

Wine Advocate, Dec 2008, 90 points:
"One of the finest bargains in California Cabernet Sauvignon must be Louis M. Martini's outstanding 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma. The good news is there are 140,000 cases produced. Fabulously sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, and cedar soar from the glass of this medium to full-bodied wine. With silky tannins as well as surprising concentration, depth, and texture, this 2006 should drink well for 8-10 years."

Winemakers notes:
The 2006 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from several of Sonoma County’s most prestigious appellations and blended seamlessly to bring together the unique characteristics of each, creating a superbly balanced Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine offers many layers, featuring aromas and flavors of red cherry, blackberry and fresh sage with an underlying dry creek dustiness. Subtle herbal notes are complemented by additional layers of chocolate and vanilla, resulting in a complex, yet easy drinking, wine.

2006 Laetitia Reserve Pinot Noir

2008-12-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

Mentioning the velvety Foxen 2007 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir in the previous post reminded me of the Laetitia Pinot Noir (from Arroyo Grande Valley) we had Christmas day.
Wine Enthusiast gave it 95 pts. I don't know about that but it is luscious, delicious and every synonym you can come up with for smooth, silky, soft, velvety...for $20 is this the top price to points deal?
Wine Enthusiast 95pts-
Laetitia’s best reserve ever. In a word, gorgeous. There’s a soft silkiness, a caressingly smooth mouthfeel that just seduces the palate into submission. Then the deliciousness sinks in, all red currants, cherries, mocha, licorice, pepper and smoke, set off with fine acidity and tannins. So compulsively drinkable, you can’t keep your hands off it. Best now through 2010.

Santa Ynez wine tasting- Dec 2008- Foxen and Zaca Mesa

2008-12-30T08:34:00.001-08:00

My wife's off of work this week so we made a day trip to the Santa Ynez Valley. Beautiful weather and stunning views in the back country; sunny, 70 degrees, no wind.
We took the scenic route down Foxen Canyon to Zaca Mesa:
As one of the pioneers in the Santa Barbara County, started in 1972 and the first to plant Syrah in the county! Zaca Mesa was a training ground for many. Ken Brown was the first winemaker and later started Byron in Santa Maria Valley. Jim Clendenen and Bob Lindquist worked at Zaca Mesa before venturing out on their own to start Au Bon Climat and Qupé, respectively.
The tasting line up included:

2007 Estate Z-Gris Rose- A Grenache rose with a dab of Mourvedre. Strawberry & citrus with a snap to it.
2006 Z Cuvee- This is a family favorite (Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah) a great daily drinker that pairs with a wide range of food. Easy drinking, berry fruits with spicy tones and soft tannins.
2005 Z-Three- The big brother of the Z Cuvee, this blend (Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache) more black fruit and tannins but a great mouthfeel.
2004 Estate Syrah- Very nice; dark berries, cassis, spice.

We moved up the canyon to the venerable Foxen Winery (started in 1985) tasting barn. Crowded as I expected but polite and friendly folks taking turns rotating from the tasting bar to the patio.
As always the wines were outstanding, in particular:

2007 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir- great nose, wonderful fruit- cherry with asian spice notes, creamy and velvety goodness.
2005 Santa Ynez Cabernet Sauvignon- I always find the idea of a Cab from SY a bit odd, but this is quite good and ready to drink now. Very soft style, low tannins, 12% Merlot.
2005 Range 30 West- A Claret style blend this has more structure than the Cab. Merlot(63%), Cabernet Sauvignon(25%), Malbec(8%) and Petit Verdot(4%). Ripe fruits, earth and smoke.

Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Wines and Best Buys of 2008

2008-12-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Wines of 2008
Wine Enthusiast's Best Buys of 2008

What you will find here are not necessarily the highest-scoring wines. Their numeric scores were just one factor in assembling this list. They also consider price, availability, newsworthiness and the X-factors: excitement, buzz.
You’ll find wines from 11 countries and more than 20 varieties, sparkling and still wines, table,dessert and fortified wines.

Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines of 2008

2008-11-17T17:14:00.000-08:00

Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines of 2008
Four major criteria used in selection:
* quality (represented by score)
* value (reflected by release price)
* availability (measured by case production or cases imported)
* and an X-factor they call excitement.
* But no equation determines the final selections: These choices reflect the editors' judgment and enthusiasm about the wines tasted.

2006 Ancient Peaks Zinfandel

2008-11-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

95% Zinfandel with a touch of Petite Syrah. Ancient Peaks is a family-owned winery specializing in estate-grown wines from Margarita Vineyard, the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles AVA.
Big nose of dark fruit, spice and smoke. Let me say right now you will see references to smoke mentioned for the aroma and flavor profiles of this wine in every review you’ll see, well it’s true- it is a predominate characteristic . It is handled well though, and the caramel/maple hints play off the smokiness very nicely.
This wine gained notoriety for its structure and taste, well described by Wine Spectator below. But it is the amazing complexity and long finish of this wine that rocked me, for $12! It’s nice to see a Zin with the alcohol under 14%; I think both the structure and complexity benefit from that.

93 points Wine Spectator: "Supple and well-structured, yet appealingly briary, with smoky, peppery wild berry aromas and ripe, layered flavors of black cherry, sage and licorice that linger nicely. Drink now through 2012. 491 cases made. (Tasting Highlight 09/08) This is the second vintage of this Paso Robles Zin from winemaker Mike Sinor, formerly of Domain Alfred. Only 491 cases produced.
Winery notes: The 2006 Zinfandel offers rich aromas of red fruits with accents of brambleberry and toast. The palate is broad and jammy, unfolding with juicy flavors of boysenberry, raspberry, and blackberry. Hints of white pepper linger on the finish.
Ancient Peaks is the producer of 2006 Trader Joe's Reserve Petit Verdot another great value.

2005 Terrazas del los Andes Reserva Malbec

2008-10-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

Deep purple color, black fruit, dark chocolate and vegetal aromas with some floral aspects (deep dark chocolate drizzled on celery?).
Compacted black fruits like plums, raisins and licorice flavors, toasty notes not overdone and floral hints. Very nice balance of acidity and round tannins, the 14% alcohol is handled supberly. I liked this very much, it's great on its own or paired with food, great value.
"Terrazas de los Andes Winery grows its grapes at an ideal elevation where each variety develops the maximum expression of aromas and flavors. The grapes used for the Terrazas Reserva Malbec are selected from our finest estate vineyards, located in the best districts of Mendoza, the the ideal elevation of 3,500 feet."-Winery

Some interesting new data on U.S. wine consumption

2008-10-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

An article in Wine Spectator quoting The U.S. Wine Market report, notes that U.S. wine consumption continued to grow for the 15th year in a row.

In 2008 that's 306 million cases/ 18 billion glasses totaling over $25 billion!
The United States now drinks more wine than Italy and in 5 years may be the number one wine consuming nation.
On a per-capita basis in 2007 we consumed 85 servings annually.

I also noticed another wine related story in the WSJ that made sense after seeing this data, about a wine blogging convention in Sonoma. The number of wine blogs has increased from less than 50 four years ago to over 500 today.
Hey nobody called me! Anyone want to sponsor me to go?

2006 Fontanafredda Briccotondo Barbera

2008-10-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

90 points Wine Spectator and number 74 in their Top 100 Wines of 2007. The best part is this jewel can be found for $15 or less.
I'm becoming a big Barbera fan, I guess I'm a sucker for the snappy acidity, low tannins and fruity characteristics of the variety.
Like other Barbera's I've tried the aromas & flavor profile are not as prominent as some other varietals but none the less you will be rewarded for your patience with this wine. Behind the black fruit there are traces of nutmeg/cinnamon on the nose and the slightest cocoa hint on the finish. Overall extremely well balanced with lively acidity, sleek tannins and nice texture.
Winemaker's notes:
The grapes for this wine are grown on estate-owned vineyards located on hillsides in the Monferrato and Langhe region of Piemonte. Ruby-red in color with purple highlights. The nose is packed with black fruit, especially blackberries and plums, with slight spicy overtones hinting at black pepper and cinnamon. Sweet, soft tannins come together in a closely-woven texture that merges with the fruit, while a crisp freshness provides a long, tasty finish.

Wine Spectator 90pts:
"Very plummy and grapey on the nose, with hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, soft and succulent, with lots of flavor and a long, long finish. Delicious."

2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet

2008-10-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

This is such a nice wine and shows that sometimes the big name reviewers get it right- an under $10 wine, rated 91pts. by Robert Parker. This is a nicely balanced and flavorful blend- rich & ripe fruit nose, long satisfying mouthfeel. Good balance of acidity and tannins, just a perfect pairing for a grilled steak or roast chicken.

91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The Cabernet and Shiraz blends begin with the 2006 Shiraz (70%) – Cabernet Sauvignon (22%) “Koonunga Hill”. Purple-colored, the wine offers meaty black currant, blackberry, and blueberry aromas. On the palate the wine exhibits remarkable focus and structure for its humble price. The fruit is grapy and primary as well as intensely flavored. It should evolve for several years and drink well through 2022 if not longer. It is a fantastic value.

2005 Celler Cecilio Negre Priorat

2008-10-16T16:11:00.000-07:00

Another outstanding Spanish QPR, I picked it up for $13 with free shipping. Made from a blend of Garnacha, Carinena and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in French oak barrels.
The nose hits you with rich dark fruit and a crushed gravel component followed by floral (violet)and herbal notes. These aromas are very lively and meet you on the way to glass, just wonderful! Ripe black fruits, earthy leather, a bit of toasty vanilla and maybe a trace of cinnamon. Great mid-palate feel of red berries. This wine puts it all together in a long finish with dusty tannins and an interesting play of refined & rustic (is this terroir?).
Winery Notes: Dark cherry color with violet overtones which remind us of this wine's youth. Powerful aroma with delicate mineral touches and spicy foliage. In the mouth it is powerful with marked tannins and excellent structure. Great expression of minerals in a young wine.

2006 Trader Joe's Reserve Petit Verdot

2008-10-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

A friend brought over a bottle and we were quite surprised. 100% Petit Verdot is hard to find, especially at $10, and it's always fun to try something out of the ordinary.
I liked this wine, it has some good acidity which will help it pair with a wide range of food. It exhibits some exotic floral and spicy notes, less tannic than expected but the acidity helps with the structure. Juicy dark plum and blackberry flavors.
This was produced for TJ's by Ancient Peaks Winery in Paso Robles.
Give it a try, you might be surprised and discovery a new Saturday bar-b-que wine.

2006 Monteforche Carantina

2008-10-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

100% Cabernet Franc from Veneto (yes Italian!), this shows all the great character of the varietal. Beautifully aromatic with great fruit and flowers, the palate is loaded with dark fruits and slight floral and herbal hints with a lush and smooth feel. This is an organic producer with very small distribution. Aged in concrete vats for 1 year. Total Production: 6000 bottles.
Alfono Soranzo was a horn player who left that career behind to make music with his vineyards and wine. His philosophy- The sole thing that make a producer different is the place where he grows the vines. Wine must express the aromas that result from the interaction between grape variety and place. Beside soil and micro climate, a place is characterized also by flora and fauna, like the native yeasts that grow on the grape skins. That’s the reason why the vineyards are cultivated without any chemicals and the wines are made without selected yeasts and any kind of biotechnology.

2001 Soligamar Reserva

2008-10-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

Made from a blend of 75% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% Mazuelo grapes from old, low-yielding, high altitude vines in Rioja Spain. The tasting group was mixed on this one, either hated it or loved it. I liked it, especially the aromas; eucalyptus, cedar, dark fruit, traces of spice, juniper berry & leather.
Believing that there was a lack of authenticity among many of the new and the more well-known Rioja wines, the Ortega family created Soligamar. Head winemaker Carmelo Ortega is one of Rioja's most outstanding oenologists. A natural talent he believes that a great wine is made through hard work in the vineyard where 'quantity is the enemy of quality'. His goal is wines that are incomparable when it comes to authenticity and character.

"The 2001 Reserva reflects just how good this vintage is. Medium ruby colored, the nose is already complex with notes of cedar, spice box, black cherry, and blackberry which roar from the glass. This is followed by an elegant wine with very intense, richly fruity flavors, excellent depth, and enough ripe tannin for several years of further evolution. Drink this superb Rioja through 2020." Robert Parker 92 Points

2005 Zarus Ribera del Duero Joven

2008-10-07T19:04:00.000-07:00

The key words for this beauty are; fresh and vibrant. Made from 100% unoaked Tempranillo, the aromas translate to the palate- vibrant ripe fruit, fresh juicy flavors with excellent acidity create a nice mouthfeel. A smooth and persistent finish.
87 Points - Jay Miller - The Wine Advocate The unoaked 2005 Joven is a terrific value in Ribera del Duero. Dark ruby-colored, it has an attractive black cherry scented nose and crunchy blue fruits on the palate. With excellent depth of flavor, this is an easy-drinking wine to consume over the next 1-2 years.

2005 Collemattoni Rosso di Montalcino

2008-10-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

2005 Collemattoni Rosso di Montalcino, my rating- very good
This is a warm, round, and food friendly red. The winemakers notes-
Sensuous magenta/garnet color. Nose of wonderfully ripe fruit featuring strawberry preserves commingled with new leather, rose water, and a slight smokiness. The palate is mouthwateringly juicy with a broad-shouldered, but elegant tannic structure carrying smooth cherry fruit through a delicate but admirably long finish.

2004 Domaine Faurmarie Grès de Montpellier L'Ecrit

2008-10-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

2004 Domaine Faurmarie Grès de Montpellier L'Ecrit Vin $16, my rating- good/very good
Mourvedre-Syrah-Grenache blend from the Coteaux du Languedoc. Very intricate; predominate meat/beefiness, herbals, dark ripe plum. Interestingly the "salty tang" , mentioned in the review below, reminded me of the after taste of seawater (I surf & love the ocean so that's a good thing).
90 Points - David Schildknecht (Wine Advocate) "...smells of beef blood, plums, and bay leaf in Mourvedre-typical fashion. Juicy and intense in fruit on the palate, with notes of tar, resin, black tea, and bay adding complexity, this excellent value finishes with a long satisfying amalgam of juicy fruit, resinous herbal character, and salty tang."

2004 Alvear Palacio Quemado

2008-10-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

2004 Alvear Palacio Quemado $12, my rating- very good
91 Point Kim Clougherty- Richly layered harmonious bouquet featuring black cherry and cassis with notes of mineral, spice, licorice. and a hint of vanilla. The dense core of blackberry and plum fruit is supported by supple tannins and balanced by lively acidity. A beautifully made elegant wine with great aging potential.
Ribera del Guadiana is a young DO in Extremadura (western central Spain). It was granted its official status in 1999, taking its name from the river that runs through the vineyards from east to west. It’s a region of gently rolling hills with a warm climate and lots of sunlight. The continental climate is influenced by ocean breezes. Harvest starts at the end of August, a month earlier than most of the rest of Spain, because the vegetative cycle in the region is further advanced. Palacio Quemado Crianza is made from Tempranillo grapes from old vineyards. Fermentation takes place in small volume, temperature controlled stainless steel tanks where the grapes undergo a long maceration. The wine was aged for six months in new American oak barrels.

2002 Palandri Estate Shiraz

2008-10-07T14:47:00.001-07:00

2002 Palandri Estate Shiraz, my rating- very good
This was a very interesting wine and popular at Joanne & Amanda's graduation party, even the beer drinkers went back for more. The bottle was a 3 liter double magnum and likely contributed to the wine keeping so well for a 2002. Not an over the top Aussie Shiraz, moderate 13.5% alcohol, ripe dark fruit upfront followed with complex secondary aromas & flavors; cracked pepper and traces of smoke, vanilla and mineral. Nice mouth feel and finish.

2006 Chiusa Grande Tommolo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

2008-10-05T19:35:00.000-07:00

While the 2006 vintage is a little rougher around the edges than the
2004 Chiusa Grande Tommolo Montepulciano, I reviewed earlier, it still is an incredible bargain. Still only $5.00 at Trader Joe's and made from hand picked organically grown grapes. Similarities with the 2004 are the nose of fresh cherry and violets, the cherry/blueberry flavors and the long finish. However this vintage carries a bit of heat on finish and a trace of alcohol/heat at the end of the aromas. Disregarding the comparison to 2004 this is still a nice wine and a sweet value.

2006 Andrew Murray Watch Hill Vineyard Syrah

2008-10-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

Sigh...just another 90pt. Syrah from AM...
The Watch Hill Vineyard lies in the cool reaches of the Los Alamos Valley, a region that deserves its own AVA because of the uniqueness of its soils and climate. The grapes are allowed to reach very high maturity levels, while retaining a stunning natural acidity due to warm, sunny days and cool nights and soils rich in sand an calcareous material. This results in a very full-bodied syrah that is refreshing, rather than heavy or cloying. The aromas and flavors lean toward bright red fruits…cherries, raspberries, currants, and cranberries, with a spicy note dominated by fresh black pepper and a dose of sweet French Oak. This wine is quite drinkable now, but you will be rewarded if you wait 2-5 years to drink this one.
Only 450 cases produced. Rated 90pts by Wine Advocate.

2006 San Silvestro Barbera del Piemonte

2008-09-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

Dark ruby red, nice plum and dark red berry nose and palate, lively acidity with good structure and a long finish. Wonderful value and highly recommended.
Produced by the famous Costa di Bussia vineyard in Piemonte, this blend of Asti and Alba Barbera is one of the best value Barberas available from the area. Barbera production extends to 55% of the total turnover from this region, and a producer such as Costa di Bussia puts a lot of effort into working with their growers with this grape variety.
Brooklynpaper.com- rated Best Buy This is one of those “delicious with anything” wines! Intense ruby red color with garnet at the edge. Plenty of ripe aromas of fruit, but with a wild herb note. Full bodied and well balanced, clean dry with a lip-smacking finish. This red is a real charmer!

Barbera is a wine that features lively red berry flavors and superb acidity and usually carries a deep ruby color, low tannins and medium to full bodied. Barbera's lively acidity and low tannins make it especially friendly to a wide variety of foods. It is believed to have originated in the hills of Monferrato in central Piedmont. In Italy the chief varietal wines made from it are Barbera d'Asti, Barbera di Alba and Barbera di Monferato.

2005 Koehler Santa Ynez Valley Syrah

2008-09-28T17:18:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to Santa Ynez Valley for fresh apples (Yes, besides being a great area for grapes, Santa Ynez produces wonderful apples) we stopped into Koehler for another tasting. This confirmed that I really like the 2005 Magia Nera and think it may be the real sleeper in their lineup. But about the Syrah...I grabbed a bottle of to take home. I like to decant and start tasting immediately to experience a wines evolution as it opens over a few hours.
The 2005 Santa Ynez Valley Syrah has complex layering throughout.
The nose has ripe blackberry & plum, pepper, traces of smokey oak, leather and interestingly a suggestion of wet earth/barnyard reminding me of some French wines.
The barnyard aroma recedes with time allowing some of the other trace smells forward.
In your mouth there is a lot going on- dark ripe berries, mocha, pepper, toast and hints of tart cherry and caramel. The feel is juicy with good tannic structure moving to a bit of creaminess as it sits.
A beautiful wine and a great expression of Santa Barbara County & Santa Ynez Valley Syrah.

A blend of three clones grown here on the estate, this Syrah is ripe and focused, generous with its blackberry and white pepper aromas and flavors, which echo nicely on the firm finish. Serve with Cassoulet or any other rich dish.
-From the Winemaker

"A Hermitage look-alike from Santa Ynez, Koehler's full-bodied 2005 Syrah possesses notes of...spring flowers, blueberries, crushed rocks, and creme de cassis. With high tannin, layers of flavor, and superb purity as well as depth, it represents a beautiful combination of Santa Ynez's ripe, pure fruit and the structure and muscle of a great Hermitage from France's Rhone Valley. I'll be anxious to see how this cuvee evolves over the next decade or more."93 points from Robert Parker.