Well I wasn't planning on posting today... I like to give some time between each so hopefully its not too much. However after an interesting bit of education today I thought even for my own sake I needed to post on the blog.
The wine shop I frequent was having a Saturday tasting of Italian wines. In the past Italian wines, as well as even some Bordeaux or some Cahors are to dry for me. I equate them to funky dirt, rubber, and wood alcohol flavors, and they literally make my tongue feel dry or chalky. That's what we call tannins or tanic I was told today. :) I told the shop's owner I am finding I am not as big a fan of such wines but have really fallen for and prefer the silky feeling, fruit influnced but not sweet Chardonnay grapes and Pinot Noir grapes of Burgundy. He laughed and told me I was destined to a life of heartache. :)
To my surprise I did find one wine today that was both confusing as well as something I quite liked.
Ognissole Primitivo Di Mandura 2005 (Italia) - Deep garnet or even sanguine colored in the glass, I found this wine had thick legs and it is 14% Alc. The aroma is of cherries & currants, and is nicely fruit forward with an alcohol waft at end. Its a bold wine up front and big on the palate. It reminds me of biting into a full bodied plump cherry all the way through down to sucking on the pit to get all the flesh. Chewy cherries on the start, to a black tea feeling and flavor in the middle, with a cherry pit/pith flavor left in the mouth at end.
Its wine that confused me a bit becasue I am used to smelling cherries in Pinot Noir and not much else. I love that in a Pinot Noir too. But the feel and size of this wine is definitely not Pinot Noir. Its a 10 dollar quaffer of dry unsweetened fruit. If you like big wines that are moderately dry but not to the intesity of some big reds you should try to find and taste this.
All this and for only $10 its a worthwhile wine for with food. Cant wait to try it with some rosemary pork, ossombuco, or braised lamb chops. $ another good value
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Couch cushion change wine
What the last set of wines wasn't value oriented enough for you?!? The next two may do it. They aren't trully spare change cheap but they are very afforadble and both are interesting additions.
If you are looking for good less expensive wine (as most are) look south. No not to Australia but South America! There are some very tasty wines at very reasonable costs. Here are two that caught my notice.
Norton 2006 Torrontes - I had never even heard of Torrontes when I tried this. The importer told me to think of white grapefruit. When I smelled the wine it definitely had that aroma plus other green or unripe citrus. It smelled like it might even be a sweet wine but really it was not. This is not an auspicous wine. Its a quaffer for sitting and drinking on a hot summers day. It probably wont make you think or take you some place sublime. Its simply a citrus noted, moderately dry, pale, easy drinking wine and had buzz going about it at the tasting. I think it would appeal to non wine drinkers as well. And at $8/bottle its no wonder that at the tasting one woman bought all the cases before I could even take a bottle or two home. :) $
Montes 2006 Malbec (Chile) - say it with me now mmmm - albec, mmmm;aalbec, mmmmMalbec. This was a dark deep plum colored wine with aromas of chocolate, smoke, and plums. It made me hungry smelling it! Like a few good Zinfandel I've had but done better, this is a plummy, jammy, fruity, warm bodied wine. It would pair well with similar food pairings too. Braised pork, BBQ ribs, Phily cheesteak are all foods I would think would go well. Even smoked tuna or salmon. This is a full bodied wine that I described as fun to drink at the tasting. It didnt have mouthfeel of racy burgundy or vevlet of deep Cab but kept me interested and enjoying so that I wanted more. Again a real value wine too. $ 13/bottle
If you are looking for good less expensive wine (as most are) look south. No not to Australia but South America! There are some very tasty wines at very reasonable costs. Here are two that caught my notice.
Norton 2006 Torrontes - I had never even heard of Torrontes when I tried this. The importer told me to think of white grapefruit. When I smelled the wine it definitely had that aroma plus other green or unripe citrus. It smelled like it might even be a sweet wine but really it was not. This is not an auspicous wine. Its a quaffer for sitting and drinking on a hot summers day. It probably wont make you think or take you some place sublime. Its simply a citrus noted, moderately dry, pale, easy drinking wine and had buzz going about it at the tasting. I think it would appeal to non wine drinkers as well. And at $8/bottle its no wonder that at the tasting one woman bought all the cases before I could even take a bottle or two home. :) $
Montes 2006 Malbec (Chile) - say it with me now mmmm - albec, mmmm;aalbec, mmmmMalbec. This was a dark deep plum colored wine with aromas of chocolate, smoke, and plums. It made me hungry smelling it! Like a few good Zinfandel I've had but done better, this is a plummy, jammy, fruity, warm bodied wine. It would pair well with similar food pairings too. Braised pork, BBQ ribs, Phily cheesteak are all foods I would think would go well. Even smoked tuna or salmon. This is a full bodied wine that I described as fun to drink at the tasting. It didnt have mouthfeel of racy burgundy or vevlet of deep Cab but kept me interested and enjoying so that I wanted more. Again a real value wine too. $ 13/bottle
Thursday, February 28, 2008
5 Fab West Coast wines that wont break the bank
Give yourself a pat on the back if you know or like any of the following 5 west coast wines. These are all a good value and not so known so if you have a chance to taste them, do.
Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Blanc (Oregon) - I really noted the meyer lemon scent of this wine right off the first note and vintner Todd Hamina also pointed out a great apricot smell lying in wait as well. There is even a light floral quality. Simply put it has an amazing nose. I am not a big fan of Pinot Blanc but have had this wine 3 times and once lined up against other old world Pinot Blanc. It stood up to the test too. Its young and lean, with definite flavors of meyer lemons and some apricot, with an evaporative finish that both surprised me and that I enjoyed. Easy to drink this seems like a good summer wine, crisp and light, straw gold, and with flavors easy to enjoy but that don't linger. Two great additional qualities to this wine - the label looks lke a 60's or 70's formica floor :) and its a real value - $ 15/bottle
J. Christopher Cristo Irresisto 2006 Oregon Pink Wine (Oregon) - Don't turn up your nose to pink wine is the lesson with this to me. This was a very limited production wine of only Pinot Noir grapes not allowed to stay with the skins. The result, an exciting and sophisiticated Rose style wine that has the depth of scent and legs of a Pinot Noir but with flavors of strawberries and dry minerals. This wine is not colored like a pink wine either but golden in color with a pinkish tinge to it. When describing this wine to a friend I told her "its easy like Sunday morning". I think you should hum a few bars of that song while tasting this wine done Very right. If you are lucky enough to find any left call me at 503-555-5555 so I can buy it before you. ;) Perfect with that Sunday omelette or even some BBQ steelhead. A complete find for the tastes and value - $ 13/bottle
Maysara 2006 Roseena Rose (Oregon) - Like the prior wine a lesson learned here too. I grew up thinking Rose was a blend from Sutter Home sticky sweet wimpy wine from a box. Now I am eager to try Rose from France or from Vintners who can do it right. This Rose is actually from Todd Hamina before he left to start his own vineyard. It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. The color could best be described as watermelon juice pink (and yes I am stealing that description from the local wine shop as it fits well). I had this wine with a brunch of a Jack Cheese and spinach omelette with baked shallot strings and fresh diced tomato. The wine was warm bodied and had a relaxed drink of rasberries and strawberries with floral tones and a straw tasting lean lift at the finish. Try it with BBQ spare ribs too - I did and oh yeah! Very fun and a value again $ 13/bottle
Switching gears here...
Cana (pronounced Kane-ah) 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabs can hit or miss with me easily; sometimes being too full or over flavored in my opinion with leather, chocolate, smoke, et al. That is why I was glad to taste this wine from Contra Costa County CA. Plenty of plums with a taste of cedar in the finish this wine really left its mark on me. I thought it had a subtle but deep nose of fruit and something more I couldn't pick out. Good structure, full body, with a smooth deep mouthfeel to it of dark silk. The real suprise in this wine to me was again the value - $ 17-18/bottle. It certainly tasted like a wine at higher cost.
Farella Park 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - I'm throwing in a bit of a heavy hitter here in my opinion . Its not a value wine as the others at around $32/bottle. However this inky dark Cab from California is one that if you like the style of Cabs of the 70's & 80's you should find a way to taste. Its black velvet feel, deep forest tannins, plus currant and very ripe fruit flavors. It has great finish too with a peppery woodsy leave in the mouth. Big and full bodied its one I feel will really show you a strong contender in a California Cab. If you find a tasting I recommend trying. $$
I hope you enjoyed reading about this fab value 5. More to come soon and after next week I might even be almost or competely caught up!
Biggio Hamina 2007 Pinot Blanc (Oregon) - I really noted the meyer lemon scent of this wine right off the first note and vintner Todd Hamina also pointed out a great apricot smell lying in wait as well. There is even a light floral quality. Simply put it has an amazing nose. I am not a big fan of Pinot Blanc but have had this wine 3 times and once lined up against other old world Pinot Blanc. It stood up to the test too. Its young and lean, with definite flavors of meyer lemons and some apricot, with an evaporative finish that both surprised me and that I enjoyed. Easy to drink this seems like a good summer wine, crisp and light, straw gold, and with flavors easy to enjoy but that don't linger. Two great additional qualities to this wine - the label looks lke a 60's or 70's formica floor :) and its a real value - $ 15/bottle
J. Christopher Cristo Irresisto 2006 Oregon Pink Wine (Oregon) - Don't turn up your nose to pink wine is the lesson with this to me. This was a very limited production wine of only Pinot Noir grapes not allowed to stay with the skins. The result, an exciting and sophisiticated Rose style wine that has the depth of scent and legs of a Pinot Noir but with flavors of strawberries and dry minerals. This wine is not colored like a pink wine either but golden in color with a pinkish tinge to it. When describing this wine to a friend I told her "its easy like Sunday morning". I think you should hum a few bars of that song while tasting this wine done Very right. If you are lucky enough to find any left call me at 503-555-5555 so I can buy it before you. ;) Perfect with that Sunday omelette or even some BBQ steelhead. A complete find for the tastes and value - $ 13/bottle
Maysara 2006 Roseena Rose (Oregon) - Like the prior wine a lesson learned here too. I grew up thinking Rose was a blend from Sutter Home sticky sweet wimpy wine from a box. Now I am eager to try Rose from France or from Vintners who can do it right. This Rose is actually from Todd Hamina before he left to start his own vineyard. It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. The color could best be described as watermelon juice pink (and yes I am stealing that description from the local wine shop as it fits well). I had this wine with a brunch of a Jack Cheese and spinach omelette with baked shallot strings and fresh diced tomato. The wine was warm bodied and had a relaxed drink of rasberries and strawberries with floral tones and a straw tasting lean lift at the finish. Try it with BBQ spare ribs too - I did and oh yeah! Very fun and a value again $ 13/bottle
Switching gears here...
Cana (pronounced Kane-ah) 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabs can hit or miss with me easily; sometimes being too full or over flavored in my opinion with leather, chocolate, smoke, et al. That is why I was glad to taste this wine from Contra Costa County CA. Plenty of plums with a taste of cedar in the finish this wine really left its mark on me. I thought it had a subtle but deep nose of fruit and something more I couldn't pick out. Good structure, full body, with a smooth deep mouthfeel to it of dark silk. The real suprise in this wine to me was again the value - $ 17-18/bottle. It certainly tasted like a wine at higher cost.
Farella Park 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - I'm throwing in a bit of a heavy hitter here in my opinion . Its not a value wine as the others at around $32/bottle. However this inky dark Cab from California is one that if you like the style of Cabs of the 70's & 80's you should find a way to taste. Its black velvet feel, deep forest tannins, plus currant and very ripe fruit flavors. It has great finish too with a peppery woodsy leave in the mouth. Big and full bodied its one I feel will really show you a strong contender in a California Cab. If you find a tasting I recommend trying. $$
I hope you enjoyed reading about this fab value 5. More to come soon and after next week I might even be almost or competely caught up!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
In Defense of Oregon Grape
After mentioning how much I have liked the wines of Burgundy one might think I have simply dismissed my home and state I love. Not so, there are many Oregon wines I am also ecstatic about. I think in being new to Burgundian wine it intrigues me and attracts my attention with an old word palate. Oregon soil simply is not the same. That does not however mean you have to search abroad for quality wine.
J. Christopher 2005 Sandra Adele Pinot Noir - This is a wonderful representation of an Oregon Pinot Noir from a Vintner I had not had before. When I took my first initial nasal inhale it warmed me to scents of old tractor axel, farmyard, and wonderful ripe cherries and berries drug through leaves. I loved the interesting layered nose! It has good structure and alcohol from start through finish, with a wonderful taste of ripe fruit/berries and perhaps even a bit of smokeyness or summer blooms? This is a wine drinking very well right now and if you want a local wine sure to impress I am hard pressed to think of an '05 that you could do better with. Buy now and drink now before its gone. $$ 30-36/bottle
Erath 2006 Estate Select Pinot Noir - I tried this wine up at Erath next to their more standard store sold Pinot Noir as well as two premier more expensive Select Erath Pinot Noirs. This one easily out did its other Erath Pinot Noirs. This wine is what I would call a standard bearer of many Oregon Pinot Noir. It has the qualities I think of... Black cherries on the nose, nice color but with a deep hue, bold ripe full cherries, raspberries, and garden herbs in the taste, with solid structure, and nice moderate finish. If you had a person you wanted to describe Oregon Pinot Noir to this would be a good way to go. No unusual scent or tastes here, just a quality wine ready for the glass. After my tasting I also found out that this wine was rated 99th/100 of the top 2006 wines of the world. Now I dont know which rating system so take such for what its worth - personally I buy from what I like not from a number (unless its cost). $$ 30-35/bottle.
J. Christopher 2005 Sandra Adele Pinot Noir - This is a wonderful representation of an Oregon Pinot Noir from a Vintner I had not had before. When I took my first initial nasal inhale it warmed me to scents of old tractor axel, farmyard, and wonderful ripe cherries and berries drug through leaves. I loved the interesting layered nose! It has good structure and alcohol from start through finish, with a wonderful taste of ripe fruit/berries and perhaps even a bit of smokeyness or summer blooms? This is a wine drinking very well right now and if you want a local wine sure to impress I am hard pressed to think of an '05 that you could do better with. Buy now and drink now before its gone. $$ 30-36/bottle
Erath 2006 Estate Select Pinot Noir - I tried this wine up at Erath next to their more standard store sold Pinot Noir as well as two premier more expensive Select Erath Pinot Noirs. This one easily out did its other Erath Pinot Noirs. This wine is what I would call a standard bearer of many Oregon Pinot Noir. It has the qualities I think of... Black cherries on the nose, nice color but with a deep hue, bold ripe full cherries, raspberries, and garden herbs in the taste, with solid structure, and nice moderate finish. If you had a person you wanted to describe Oregon Pinot Noir to this would be a good way to go. No unusual scent or tastes here, just a quality wine ready for the glass. After my tasting I also found out that this wine was rated 99th/100 of the top 2006 wines of the world. Now I dont know which rating system so take such for what its worth - personally I buy from what I like not from a number (unless its cost). $$ 30-35/bottle.
Ruby Red Sippers
To continue with my tastings of Burgundy I wanted to recommend a couple of red Burgundy. Fortunately these two do not have the cost of the prior white Burgundy. Burgundy can run ya deep into your pocket book! These are both very good value for the cost however and I prefer them both to many Northwest Pinot Noir and also over later Oregon Pinot that I will list.
Guillemot Savigny Serpentier 1er Cru 2005 - Wow this is an athletic wine I thought when I first tried it. It really gives a big berry forward push into the mouth. It has a very nice moderate body and wonderful Burgundian mineral nature with a mouthfeel of silky smooth garnet colored silk sheets. Great flavors with lingering cherries and kirsch on the tongue but a bit gravelly at the finish. I would think cellaring this wine for a few years or so and it should be quite outstanding. On the high side of $$ around 40/bottle
Regis Bouvier 2005 En Montre Cul Burgogne - When I took my initial aroma hit of this wine I was hit over the head with a soft giant blackberry! Then as my senses calmed I noted a wonderful brambly smell of leaves and tannins like being deep in a brier. This wine is certainly cellarable and in 5-15 years should develop further, but it is approachable now and at the low side of $$ (20-25/bottle) its a real steal of a wine!
I have now had this wine 4 times since Christmas and only was disapointed once when it took forever to open up. Its great with a whole roasted thyme chicken and is a foodie wine that makes me feel like I am sitting in the french countryside with a provincial meal and glass of happiness. This is another wine brought in through Kermitt Lynch by the way.
(If you speak French yes that is the real name on the bottle of the wine) :)
Guillemot Savigny Serpentier 1er Cru 2005 - Wow this is an athletic wine I thought when I first tried it. It really gives a big berry forward push into the mouth. It has a very nice moderate body and wonderful Burgundian mineral nature with a mouthfeel of silky smooth garnet colored silk sheets. Great flavors with lingering cherries and kirsch on the tongue but a bit gravelly at the finish. I would think cellaring this wine for a few years or so and it should be quite outstanding. On the high side of $$ around 40/bottle
Regis Bouvier 2005 En Montre Cul Burgogne - When I took my initial aroma hit of this wine I was hit over the head with a soft giant blackberry! Then as my senses calmed I noted a wonderful brambly smell of leaves and tannins like being deep in a brier. This wine is certainly cellarable and in 5-15 years should develop further, but it is approachable now and at the low side of $$ (20-25/bottle) its a real steal of a wine!
I have now had this wine 4 times since Christmas and only was disapointed once when it took forever to open up. Its great with a whole roasted thyme chicken and is a foodie wine that makes me feel like I am sitting in the french countryside with a provincial meal and glass of happiness. This is another wine brought in through Kermitt Lynch by the way.
(If you speak French yes that is the real name on the bottle of the wine) :)
Blanc or Rouge Its all Beautiful Burgundy to me
My first White Burgundy were from vintner Francois Jobard. I have to say I have yet to have tasting from this vintner I did not flip over. Welcome to heaven on the palate!!
Francois Jobard 2004 Burgogne Blanc (White Burgundy) - This is a classic Chardonnay. Not like what some may think of the Australian or Oregon Chardonnay. There are many complex layers of various swirled citrus, vanilla, oak, and with a wonderfully minerally nature to the wine much NW wine lacks. I have often found Chardonnay to be acrid, chalky, and uneven but this was wonderful. This makes US Chardonnay I have had seem like a cousin thrice removed. However its not inexpensive - $$$$
Next the 2005 Francois Jobard Meursault en la Barre - my oh my! - with flavors and aroma of wet gravel, sour mash, crisp golden apples, mild vanilla, oak, & heaven in a bottle; this one is gonna cost ya - I'd sell my soul for a case of this wine and it would cost that much to get one! $$$$
Both of these wines are imported through Kermitt Lynch Wine Importer - you can look them up online to find a dealer in your area to ask if they have or will be doing tastings of these wonderful burgundy chardonnay grapes done oh so right. Find them and taste them soon before they are all bought up!
Francois Jobard 2004 Burgogne Blanc (White Burgundy) - This is a classic Chardonnay. Not like what some may think of the Australian or Oregon Chardonnay. There are many complex layers of various swirled citrus, vanilla, oak, and with a wonderfully minerally nature to the wine much NW wine lacks. I have often found Chardonnay to be acrid, chalky, and uneven but this was wonderful. This makes US Chardonnay I have had seem like a cousin thrice removed. However its not inexpensive - $$$$
Next the 2005 Francois Jobard Meursault en la Barre - my oh my! - with flavors and aroma of wet gravel, sour mash, crisp golden apples, mild vanilla, oak, & heaven in a bottle; this one is gonna cost ya - I'd sell my soul for a case of this wine and it would cost that much to get one! $$$$
Both of these wines are imported through Kermitt Lynch Wine Importer - you can look them up online to find a dealer in your area to ask if they have or will be doing tastings of these wonderful burgundy chardonnay grapes done oh so right. Find them and taste them soon before they are all bought up!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Getting caught up
I am getting so behind in getting posts up - apologies. The longer I wait the more people will have to read to catch up. I hope you take the time to do so though and I will try to keep posts short and pertinent.
To start I will venture to the wines of Burgundy. The tastings I have been attending have really opened my palate to Burgundies both white and red. There are some Tremendous wines from this region. They can unfortunately be costly but not all are and in some instances I have found what I consider much superior wines to Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the same or less cost. I was a firm believer in NW wines for a long time but take note Oregon Vintners many of you still just miss the mark.
A brief note for those not familiar with wines from this region. Red Burgundy is Pinot Noir grapes and White Burgundies are Chardonnay grapes. Oregon Vinters have traditionally labeled their bottles with the grape but in Burgundy you will typically see vintage, vintner, and region information. Kind of fun once you realize you know what you are drinking. :)
On to the tastings...
To start I will venture to the wines of Burgundy. The tastings I have been attending have really opened my palate to Burgundies both white and red. There are some Tremendous wines from this region. They can unfortunately be costly but not all are and in some instances I have found what I consider much superior wines to Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for the same or less cost. I was a firm believer in NW wines for a long time but take note Oregon Vintners many of you still just miss the mark.
A brief note for those not familiar with wines from this region. Red Burgundy is Pinot Noir grapes and White Burgundies are Chardonnay grapes. Oregon Vinters have traditionally labeled their bottles with the grape but in Burgundy you will typically see vintage, vintner, and region information. Kind of fun once you realize you know what you are drinking. :)
On to the tastings...
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