These are the wines I actually bought more of in this price range over the last year, listed by my personal favorites and what I purchased:
1. Worthy Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (OK, so it cost me $26 a bottle - fantastic and drinks like a $50 bottle, however Wine Spectator trashed the 06 and I will probably wait for the 2007) update - tried the 06 at the suggestion of the winery owner and it was very good not as good as the 07 but very good, thanks Wine Spectator for another off the mark review - 12 Bottles
2. Emilio Moro 2006 Ribera Del Duero - 9 Bottles
3. Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - 12 Bottles
4. Landmark Overlook Chardonnay 2007 - 3 Bottles
5. Atteca Old Vines 2007 and 2008 - 6 Bottles
6. Cantina Zaccagnini 2007 (My favorite pizza and pasta wine) - 7 bottles
7. Chateau Des Karantes - 3 Bottles
8. Juan Gill 2007 - 3 Bottles
9. Venta Morales - 6 Bottles
That being said you cannot go wrong with 14 Hands Merlot 2007 (didn't review this but actually liked it better than their cab)or the Louis Martini Sonoma Cab 2007 or Sacred Stone (Cab Blend) Cask #5. For additional whites, I enjoyed the Cuvaison and Gruet 2007 Chardonnay and the Pewsey Vale Riesling.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
King Estate Signature Collection 2008 Pinot Noir
This week’s selection:
Winery : King Estate (Signature Collection)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Price Paid: $23.99 (Normally $29.99)
Vintage: 2008
Area: Oregon
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Meijer (Seen at COSTCO in the past as well.)
Overall: This was my first 2008 Oregon Pinot and we have been hearing that if you couldn’t make good Pinot in Oregon in “08” you shouldn’t be making it period. This wine was delicious and a cherry bomb with cranberry and cola. Classic new world ripe pinot. Excellent wine to hold up to that Thanksgiving stuffing, gravy,... And, if you are going to someone else’s house, a nice gift and you can feel like you are splurging but not breaking the bank.
Reviews
"Medium ruby color, spicy, ripe cherry aromas; nice, bright red cherry flavors with spicy notes; silky texture; good structure and balance; long finish. Bright and spicy, this is a great all-purpose Pinot for the table."
91 Points
PinotReport
"Just released, young and tight, this widely available (25,000 case) Oregon Pinot shows the strengths of the 2008 vintage. The cranberry and raspberry fruit has plenty of supporting acidity, while the barrel regimen—a mix of new, one-, two- and three-year-old French oak—brings in cedar, smoke and caramel highlights. "
90 Points
Wine Enthusiast
Winery : King Estate (Signature Collection)
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Price Paid: $23.99 (Normally $29.99)
Vintage: 2008
Area: Oregon
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Meijer (Seen at COSTCO in the past as well.)
Overall: This was my first 2008 Oregon Pinot and we have been hearing that if you couldn’t make good Pinot in Oregon in “08” you shouldn’t be making it period. This wine was delicious and a cherry bomb with cranberry and cola. Classic new world ripe pinot. Excellent wine to hold up to that Thanksgiving stuffing, gravy,... And, if you are going to someone else’s house, a nice gift and you can feel like you are splurging but not breaking the bank.
Reviews
"Medium ruby color, spicy, ripe cherry aromas; nice, bright red cherry flavors with spicy notes; silky texture; good structure and balance; long finish. Bright and spicy, this is a great all-purpose Pinot for the table."
91 Points
PinotReport
"Just released, young and tight, this widely available (25,000 case) Oregon Pinot shows the strengths of the 2008 vintage. The cranberry and raspberry fruit has plenty of supporting acidity, while the barrel regimen—a mix of new, one-, two- and three-year-old French oak—brings in cedar, smoke and caramel highlights. "
90 Points
Wine Enthusiast
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Emilio Moro Ribera Del Duero 2006
This week’s selection:
Winery : Emilio Moro
Varietal: Tempranillo
Price Paid: $21.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Ribera Del Duero, Spain
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purchased: Plum Market – West Bloomfield, MI
Overall: Absolutely beautiful, mouth wateringly delicious wine. I served this wine on 2 different occasions and everyone literally loved this wine. It was #99 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 and frankly blew away the Lan Reserva Rioja (Lan was good but not as good) that made #52 on the list. Buy this wine!
Reviews
"Ripe cherry, fig pudding, vanilla and spice flavors mingle in this firm, lively red. There's plenty of structure, but the red fruit flavors are bright and expressive. Drink now through 2016."
92 Points
Wine Spectator
"The 2006 Emilio Moro was aged in French and American oak for 12 months. It has a superb bouquet of smoke, roasted herbs, scorched earth, and blackberry. Layered on the palate, it has tons of fruit, plenty of spice box notes, a firm structure, and 2-3 years of aging potential. This lengthy effort should provide pleasure through 2026. "
92 Points
The Wine Advocate
"Opaque ruby. Brooding cherry and blackberry aromas are complemented by smoked meat, minerals and anise. Sappy dark berry flavors stain the palate and are braced by zesty minerals and dusty tannins. Gains weight and sweetness on the finish, which repeats the dark berry note and lingers impressively. "
92 Points
International Wine Cellar
Winery : Emilio Moro
Varietal: Tempranillo
Price Paid: $21.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Ribera Del Duero, Spain
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purchased: Plum Market – West Bloomfield, MI
Overall: Absolutely beautiful, mouth wateringly delicious wine. I served this wine on 2 different occasions and everyone literally loved this wine. It was #99 on the Wine Spectator Top 100 and frankly blew away the Lan Reserva Rioja (Lan was good but not as good) that made #52 on the list. Buy this wine!
Reviews
"Ripe cherry, fig pudding, vanilla and spice flavors mingle in this firm, lively red. There's plenty of structure, but the red fruit flavors are bright and expressive. Drink now through 2016."
92 Points
Wine Spectator
"The 2006 Emilio Moro was aged in French and American oak for 12 months. It has a superb bouquet of smoke, roasted herbs, scorched earth, and blackberry. Layered on the palate, it has tons of fruit, plenty of spice box notes, a firm structure, and 2-3 years of aging potential. This lengthy effort should provide pleasure through 2026. "
92 Points
The Wine Advocate
"Opaque ruby. Brooding cherry and blackberry aromas are complemented by smoked meat, minerals and anise. Sappy dark berry flavors stain the palate and are braced by zesty minerals and dusty tannins. Gains weight and sweetness on the finish, which repeats the dark berry note and lingers impressively. "
92 Points
International Wine Cellar
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Vietti 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco
This week’s selection:
Winery : Vietti
Varietal: Nebbiolo Perbacco
Price Paid: $21.00
Vintage: 2008
Area: Langhe, Italy
Alcohol: 14%
Purchased: Whole Foods
Overall: Another very good low-cost Italian red from the noble Nebbiolo grape. This is the grape of my favorite Italian wine, Barolo. I highly recommend that you pick up a bottle of this wine to enjoy for a change of pace. A big wine for the price.
Reviews
Wine Advocate Rating: 90+
2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco
The third and most basic selection goes into the Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco, a wine that Luca Currado created with the intention of offering an affordable, entry-level Nebbiolo. Perbacco is a Barolo in everything but name….and price tag. All of the fruit from these Barolo designated vineyards is vinified and aged in the same fashion as the more important parcels in the estate’s collection. With just one more month in bottle prior to being released, Perbacco could be entitled to carry the Barolo DOCG. At roughly $25 retail, it is one of the finest values readers will come across from any region.
The just-bottled 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco offers up generous fruit along with menthol,spices and hard candy, showing notable intensity while retaining an essentially mid-weight style. Round, suave tannins add to the long and refined finish. This is a wonderful vintage for Perbacco. In 2007 Perbacco is made from parcels in Bricco Boschis, Ginestra and Mosconi (aged together), Liste, Brunella, Crocetta, Pernanno and the youngest vines in Fossati, Ravera (planted in 2000) and Scarrone (planted in 2003). I tasted the 2007 Perbacco from tank in its final blend just prior to bottling and then a few days after it was bottled. Both times it was
outstanding.
Winery : Vietti
Varietal: Nebbiolo Perbacco
Price Paid: $21.00
Vintage: 2008
Area: Langhe, Italy
Alcohol: 14%
Purchased: Whole Foods
Overall: Another very good low-cost Italian red from the noble Nebbiolo grape. This is the grape of my favorite Italian wine, Barolo. I highly recommend that you pick up a bottle of this wine to enjoy for a change of pace. A big wine for the price.
Reviews
Wine Advocate Rating: 90+
2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco
The third and most basic selection goes into the Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco, a wine that Luca Currado created with the intention of offering an affordable, entry-level Nebbiolo. Perbacco is a Barolo in everything but name….and price tag. All of the fruit from these Barolo designated vineyards is vinified and aged in the same fashion as the more important parcels in the estate’s collection. With just one more month in bottle prior to being released, Perbacco could be entitled to carry the Barolo DOCG. At roughly $25 retail, it is one of the finest values readers will come across from any region.
The just-bottled 2007 Langhe Nebbiolo Perbacco offers up generous fruit along with menthol,spices and hard candy, showing notable intensity while retaining an essentially mid-weight style. Round, suave tannins add to the long and refined finish. This is a wonderful vintage for Perbacco. In 2007 Perbacco is made from parcels in Bricco Boschis, Ginestra and Mosconi (aged together), Liste, Brunella, Crocetta, Pernanno and the youngest vines in Fossati, Ravera (planted in 2000) and Scarrone (planted in 2003). I tasted the 2007 Perbacco from tank in its final blend just prior to bottling and then a few days after it was bottled. Both times it was
outstanding.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Wine Tasting Suggestion
The White & Rose Wines of the Evening
Burgans Albariño Rias Baixas ($15): 90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Burgans is a custom cuvee made for importer Eric Solomon. While it’s not the best Albarino on the market, in terms of bang for the buck, it has no challenger. The 2007 Burgans Albarino is light gold-colored with a sprightly nose of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon peel. Ripe, balanced, and concentrated, this is an ideal match for flaky fish courses.
From Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light yellow-gold. Exotically perfumed nose displays smoky peach, mango and papaya, plus a strong floral accent. Deep and chewy, with more power than I usually find in this wine. Tropical fruit flavors coat the palate and pick up a subtle herbal note on the back end. This could handle richer foods." (Sept/Oct '08) Dr. Jay Miller, the gentleman that reviews Spanish wines for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, nailed it on this one. I agree with him that this is simply the best inexpensive Albariño made on a yearly basis. Notes of white peach mingle with wet stone and Meyer lemon on the nose. The freshness and vigor here is impressive with more of the notes of stone and layers of sprightly apricot and lime on the palate. This is a wine that instantly gets your stomach growling and your mouth watering. You want oysters, lightly fried white fish or even roast chicken and a glass that can somehow hold this whole bottle at once. (Bryan Brick, K&L)
Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc 2007($36): Food & Wine American Wine Awards, Best Sauvignon Blanc over $20 Spottswoode made its mark in Cabernet but also produces sensational Sauvignon Blancs like this one, mingling grapefruit-rind notes with melon and fig, and finishing clean and dry. Winemaker Jennifer Williams blends in a portion of fragrant Sauvignon Musque to give the firm white an exotic note. (October, 2009)
The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Spottswoode produces one of the finest Sauvignon Blancs in Northern California. The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (nearly 100% Sauvignon from two clones, the classic clone and the more fragrant Musque clone, and a small dollop of Semillon) is so popular that it is now a cross county blend, with about 60% of the fruit from Napa and the rest from Sonoma. This melon, fig, and honeyed grapefruit-scented and flavored white sees some oak aging. Crisp, elegant, medium-bodied, intense yet classic flavors emerge from this food-friendly wine.
Rating 91 Points
Landmark Overlook California Chardonnay 2007($23): 92 points from Wine Spectator: "Green apple, floral, lime and citrus blossom scents give this full-bodied Chardonnay a distinctive edge. Crisp and flinty, ending with wet stone. Drink now through 2012. 18,000 cases made." (06/09) 91 points and two stars from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "Its pulpy apple and pear aromas are nicely mated to creme brulee oak in a nose that is both juicy and energetic at the same time. It is quite ripe without bowing to excess, and while it is full and even a tad on the fleshy side on the palate, it finds its bright fruit and brisk acid keeping things in balance. Try serving it with cracked crab, sauteed scallops or one of the sweeter white fishes to allow both its fruit and its vitality to show off." (04/09) 90 points Robert Parker: "The 2007 Chardonnay Overlook (most from Sonoma County with about 20% from Santa Barbara and Monterey) offers a beautiful bouquet of peaches, pineapples, and other tropical fruits along with super-purity and focus. Medium to full-bodied, crisp, and pure, with the oak pushed to the background, this beautiful Chardonnay can be enjoyed over the next several years. The always reliable Landmark winery continues to turn out a bevy of Burgundian-styled Pinot Noirs and impressive Chardonnays. One of the best Chardonnay values in the marketplace is their Overlook." (12/08) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Rating 90 to 92 Points
Sofia Rose – Monterey County 2009 ($16): From the Top 5 Inexpensive Rose List - 1.) Francis Coppola Sofia Rose - Monterey County $15.99: This wine is like no other, because the owner of this winery is the famed film director best known for "The Godfather" sagas and "Apocalypse Now". His rose of unparallel beauty is named after his daughter Sofia, who is an Academy-Award winning film director in her own right. When the rose is chilled its refreshing style is a savory summer wine you can serve hors d'oeuvres with.
Grown in the vineyards of Monterey County the 2008 Sofia Rose has a bright pink hue and an enticing perfume of crushed raspberries, rose petals, and tea leaves. It's bright and refreshing on the palate. The Sofia Rose offers delicate flavors of strawberries, red cherries, ginger, and candied orange peel. Some say the wine is reminiscent of the lovely dry rosés served in seaside cafés along the French Riviera.
Winemaker Notes A blend of Grenache and Syrah, the fruit for our Rosè is grown in the cool vineyards of Monterey County, where the growing seasons are typically long and the soils impart upon the grapes bright red fruit flavors and nuances of violets. The 2009 Sofia Rosè displays a luminous magenta hue and beautiful perfume of wild strawberries, tea leaves, and violets. Luscious flavors of raspberries, cherries, candied orange, and cloves enliven the palate, making this year's vintage richly fruited yet graceful and lightly textured.
The Red Wines This Evening
Flora Springs 2004 Trilogy, Napa Valley ($69): Flora Springs has never had a heavy hand with Trilogy, always choosing elegance over power and never trying to force the wine to be more than the vintage could deliver. That philosophy allowed winemaker Ken Deis to make a superb Trilogy despite erratic weather in 2003, but the '04, from a more predictable vintage, is even better. The classic aroma of cassis is the first clue. This is an elegant, complex Meritage, beautifully structured and delicate despite its many layers, including a coffee-chocolate-spice nuance that is especially appealing. Still very young, this wine will only improve over the next dozen years of so. It's not inexpensive, but it's a bargain compared to other Napa Valley reds of equal quality.
Rating: 94 Points
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($40): Wine Enthusiast - "A beautiful Cabernet, rich and mellow, and drinking well now. Shows soft tannins and smoky oak framing blackberry, cherry, cocoa, herb and spice flavors."
Rating 90 Points
Winemaker's Notes: The 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon weaves warm aromas of cassis and tobacco into a bright canvas of raspberry, plum, and currant notes. On the palate, flavors of black cherry and boysenberry meet hints of vanilla, bay, and mocha beneath a generous structure of round, mouth-filling tannins. This big, brambly wine with bold mountain character is richly expressed with layers evolving through the full, lingering finish. "85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot, 2% Syrah and 1% Malbec. Deep garnet. Concentrated aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate, anise, and bay, highlighted with notes of coffee and currants. Very full-bodied, plushy and dense. Rich and round mouthfeel with intense flavors of cassis and black cherry. Good structure and well-balanced, with fine-grained tannins and a long finish of sweet vanilla, mocha, and berries. 14.5% alcohol."
Bodegas Juan Gil 2007 ($15.00): International Wine Cellar "Opaque purple. Blueberry, boysenberry and smoky Indian spices on the nose, with a sexy floral quality coming on with air. Juicy, sweet dark berry flavors are framed by velvety tannins and enlivened by zesty minerality. Gains depth and fleshiness with air, finishing on a strong boysenberry note, with excellent sappy persistence. This is delicious right now."
Rating 90 Points
Personal, a delicious wine made from a different varietal, dark fruit, spicy, a bit of herb and high alcohol that in spite of the alcohol went down very easily. Very balanced as the winemaker statejavascript:void(0)s. It went beautifully with the Pork Saltimbocca recipe below that was incredibly simple to make.
Pork Saltimbocca (courtesy of the Williams-Sonoma Catalog)
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/pork-saltimbocca.html
• 4 Boneless Pork Loin Chops 1 inch thick
• Fresh Sage Leaves
• 8 slices of Prosciutto
• Balsalmic Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Freshly Ground Pepper
Salt and Pepper chops, then lay 2 sage leaves on top of each chop and wrap with 2 slices of prosciutto. Brush with olive oil and grill approximately 6 minutes on each side until internal temperature registers 140 degrees. Cover loosely with foil and let sit for 10 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve it is simple and delicious.
Winemaker's notes: We selected the Monastrell grapes for this wine from 40-year old parcels in our estate vineyards. Here shallow, chalky soils on a bed of limestone and rock, combined with an arid climate, produce the low yields (1,8 ton per acre) required for wine of this complexity. After harvesting, the deep purple grapes are whole-cluster macerated "sur lie" for 25 days, and then pressed and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It has a very dark cherry color with purple tones. In the nose it has powerful aromas of red berries, toasted and smoked notes from their aging in the oak barriques.
It has good structure with ripe and sweet tannins. In the mouth it is very long, and with a perfect balance between fruit, alcohol and the oak tones, which make it very pleasant and easy to drink.
Pair with meat, stewed meat, stewed vegetable, mushroom, poultry, sauces fish, smoked seafood, blue and cured cheese, red meat, roast and baked meat (lamb, pig, ox).
Burgans Albariño Rias Baixas ($15): 90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Burgans is a custom cuvee made for importer Eric Solomon. While it’s not the best Albarino on the market, in terms of bang for the buck, it has no challenger. The 2007 Burgans Albarino is light gold-colored with a sprightly nose of mineral, spring flowers, and lemon peel. Ripe, balanced, and concentrated, this is an ideal match for flaky fish courses.
From Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Light yellow-gold. Exotically perfumed nose displays smoky peach, mango and papaya, plus a strong floral accent. Deep and chewy, with more power than I usually find in this wine. Tropical fruit flavors coat the palate and pick up a subtle herbal note on the back end. This could handle richer foods." (Sept/Oct '08) Dr. Jay Miller, the gentleman that reviews Spanish wines for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, nailed it on this one. I agree with him that this is simply the best inexpensive Albariño made on a yearly basis. Notes of white peach mingle with wet stone and Meyer lemon on the nose. The freshness and vigor here is impressive with more of the notes of stone and layers of sprightly apricot and lime on the palate. This is a wine that instantly gets your stomach growling and your mouth watering. You want oysters, lightly fried white fish or even roast chicken and a glass that can somehow hold this whole bottle at once. (Bryan Brick, K&L)
Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc 2007($36): Food & Wine American Wine Awards, Best Sauvignon Blanc over $20 Spottswoode made its mark in Cabernet but also produces sensational Sauvignon Blancs like this one, mingling grapefruit-rind notes with melon and fig, and finishing clean and dry. Winemaker Jennifer Williams blends in a portion of fragrant Sauvignon Musque to give the firm white an exotic note. (October, 2009)
The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Spottswoode produces one of the finest Sauvignon Blancs in Northern California. The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (nearly 100% Sauvignon from two clones, the classic clone and the more fragrant Musque clone, and a small dollop of Semillon) is so popular that it is now a cross county blend, with about 60% of the fruit from Napa and the rest from Sonoma. This melon, fig, and honeyed grapefruit-scented and flavored white sees some oak aging. Crisp, elegant, medium-bodied, intense yet classic flavors emerge from this food-friendly wine.
Rating 91 Points
Landmark Overlook California Chardonnay 2007($23): 92 points from Wine Spectator: "Green apple, floral, lime and citrus blossom scents give this full-bodied Chardonnay a distinctive edge. Crisp and flinty, ending with wet stone. Drink now through 2012. 18,000 cases made." (06/09) 91 points and two stars from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "Its pulpy apple and pear aromas are nicely mated to creme brulee oak in a nose that is both juicy and energetic at the same time. It is quite ripe without bowing to excess, and while it is full and even a tad on the fleshy side on the palate, it finds its bright fruit and brisk acid keeping things in balance. Try serving it with cracked crab, sauteed scallops or one of the sweeter white fishes to allow both its fruit and its vitality to show off." (04/09) 90 points Robert Parker: "The 2007 Chardonnay Overlook (most from Sonoma County with about 20% from Santa Barbara and Monterey) offers a beautiful bouquet of peaches, pineapples, and other tropical fruits along with super-purity and focus. Medium to full-bodied, crisp, and pure, with the oak pushed to the background, this beautiful Chardonnay can be enjoyed over the next several years. The always reliable Landmark winery continues to turn out a bevy of Burgundian-styled Pinot Noirs and impressive Chardonnays. One of the best Chardonnay values in the marketplace is their Overlook." (12/08) 90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Rating 90 to 92 Points
Sofia Rose – Monterey County 2009 ($16): From the Top 5 Inexpensive Rose List - 1.) Francis Coppola Sofia Rose - Monterey County $15.99: This wine is like no other, because the owner of this winery is the famed film director best known for "The Godfather" sagas and "Apocalypse Now". His rose of unparallel beauty is named after his daughter Sofia, who is an Academy-Award winning film director in her own right. When the rose is chilled its refreshing style is a savory summer wine you can serve hors d'oeuvres with.
Grown in the vineyards of Monterey County the 2008 Sofia Rose has a bright pink hue and an enticing perfume of crushed raspberries, rose petals, and tea leaves. It's bright and refreshing on the palate. The Sofia Rose offers delicate flavors of strawberries, red cherries, ginger, and candied orange peel. Some say the wine is reminiscent of the lovely dry rosés served in seaside cafés along the French Riviera.
Winemaker Notes A blend of Grenache and Syrah, the fruit for our Rosè is grown in the cool vineyards of Monterey County, where the growing seasons are typically long and the soils impart upon the grapes bright red fruit flavors and nuances of violets. The 2009 Sofia Rosè displays a luminous magenta hue and beautiful perfume of wild strawberries, tea leaves, and violets. Luscious flavors of raspberries, cherries, candied orange, and cloves enliven the palate, making this year's vintage richly fruited yet graceful and lightly textured.
The Red Wines This Evening
Flora Springs 2004 Trilogy, Napa Valley ($69): Flora Springs has never had a heavy hand with Trilogy, always choosing elegance over power and never trying to force the wine to be more than the vintage could deliver. That philosophy allowed winemaker Ken Deis to make a superb Trilogy despite erratic weather in 2003, but the '04, from a more predictable vintage, is even better. The classic aroma of cassis is the first clue. This is an elegant, complex Meritage, beautifully structured and delicate despite its many layers, including a coffee-chocolate-spice nuance that is especially appealing. Still very young, this wine will only improve over the next dozen years of so. It's not inexpensive, but it's a bargain compared to other Napa Valley reds of equal quality.
Rating: 94 Points
Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($40): Wine Enthusiast - "A beautiful Cabernet, rich and mellow, and drinking well now. Shows soft tannins and smoky oak framing blackberry, cherry, cocoa, herb and spice flavors."
Rating 90 Points
Winemaker's Notes: The 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon weaves warm aromas of cassis and tobacco into a bright canvas of raspberry, plum, and currant notes. On the palate, flavors of black cherry and boysenberry meet hints of vanilla, bay, and mocha beneath a generous structure of round, mouth-filling tannins. This big, brambly wine with bold mountain character is richly expressed with layers evolving through the full, lingering finish. "85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot, 2% Syrah and 1% Malbec. Deep garnet. Concentrated aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate, anise, and bay, highlighted with notes of coffee and currants. Very full-bodied, plushy and dense. Rich and round mouthfeel with intense flavors of cassis and black cherry. Good structure and well-balanced, with fine-grained tannins and a long finish of sweet vanilla, mocha, and berries. 14.5% alcohol."
Bodegas Juan Gil 2007 ($15.00): International Wine Cellar "Opaque purple. Blueberry, boysenberry and smoky Indian spices on the nose, with a sexy floral quality coming on with air. Juicy, sweet dark berry flavors are framed by velvety tannins and enlivened by zesty minerality. Gains depth and fleshiness with air, finishing on a strong boysenberry note, with excellent sappy persistence. This is delicious right now."
Rating 90 Points
Personal, a delicious wine made from a different varietal, dark fruit, spicy, a bit of herb and high alcohol that in spite of the alcohol went down very easily. Very balanced as the winemaker statejavascript:void(0)s. It went beautifully with the Pork Saltimbocca recipe below that was incredibly simple to make.
Pork Saltimbocca (courtesy of the Williams-Sonoma Catalog)
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/pork-saltimbocca.html
• 4 Boneless Pork Loin Chops 1 inch thick
• Fresh Sage Leaves
• 8 slices of Prosciutto
• Balsalmic Vinegar
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Freshly Ground Pepper
Salt and Pepper chops, then lay 2 sage leaves on top of each chop and wrap with 2 slices of prosciutto. Brush with olive oil and grill approximately 6 minutes on each side until internal temperature registers 140 degrees. Cover loosely with foil and let sit for 10 minutes. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve it is simple and delicious.
Winemaker's notes: We selected the Monastrell grapes for this wine from 40-year old parcels in our estate vineyards. Here shallow, chalky soils on a bed of limestone and rock, combined with an arid climate, produce the low yields (1,8 ton per acre) required for wine of this complexity. After harvesting, the deep purple grapes are whole-cluster macerated "sur lie" for 25 days, and then pressed and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. It has a very dark cherry color with purple tones. In the nose it has powerful aromas of red berries, toasted and smoked notes from their aging in the oak barriques.
It has good structure with ripe and sweet tannins. In the mouth it is very long, and with a perfect balance between fruit, alcohol and the oak tones, which make it very pleasant and easy to drink.
Pair with meat, stewed meat, stewed vegetable, mushroom, poultry, sauces fish, smoked seafood, blue and cured cheese, red meat, roast and baked meat (lamb, pig, ox).
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Osoyoos Larose 2003 Le Grand Vin
This week’s selection:
Winery : Osoyoos Larose
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Price Paid: $14.97
Vintage: 2003
Area: British Columbia, CAN
Alcohol: 13.4%
Purchased: Plum Market – West Bloomfield, MI
Overall: A Canadian Bordeaux… If you didn’t tell me what this was, I would have blind tasted this and guessed it was a nice mid-priced Bordeaux. I really enjoyed this wine and will buy a couple more bottles. Seriously the first word that came to my mind when I tasted it was the classic Bordeaux “earthiness”. It has the lead pencil, earth, tobacco, and dark fruit characteristics with significant tannins and I can’t believe I paid $14.97 on sale for this wine. My advice “Go buy 1 now and see if it fits your tastes”.
Reviews
Wine Maker
Osoyoos Larose
Groupe Taillan of Bordeaux, France (Gruaud-Larose), and Vincor International, based in Ontario, Canada, formed a joint venture partnership in 1998 to develop vineyards and a small winery dedicated to the production of Canadian VQA* wines, that would meet if not exceed the quality standards of their Bordeaux counterparts. The wines would be made from the classic Bordeaux varietals: merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec. The partners believed that the unique terroir of Canada’s western wine-growing region, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and, in particular, the southern part of the Valley, was capable of producing fruit of sufficiently high quality to achieve their goal.
Read more about Canada's Okanagan Valley
HERE
The wine’s name, Osoyoos Larose, reflects the partners’ roots in France and Canada. Osoyoos refers to the location of the vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, on the mountain slopes above Lake Osoyoos. Larose is derived from one of Groupe Taillan’s most prestigious estates in Bordeaux, the Deuxième Cru, or second growth, Château Gruaud-Larose, which reflects the centuries-old winemaking traditions of the world-famous wine region.
The Osoyoos Larose Joint Venture Partners Groupe Taillan owns six world-renowned winemaking estates that have been defining international standards of quality for over two centuries. Located in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, three carry the outstanding Grand Cru Classé designation: Château Gruaud-Larose of St-Julien, Château Ferrière of Margaux and Château Haut Bages Libéral of Pauillac. Groupe Taillan’s three other estates, Château Chasse-Spleen of Moulis, Château La Gurgue of Margaux, and Château Citran of Avensan are all equally well regarded as exceptional Cru Bourgeois. Groupe Taillan is also the largest producer of Appellation Contrôlée wines in France, with large scale négociant operations in most of the country’s leading wine regions: Bordeaux, the Côtes du Rhône, the Loire Valley...
Winery : Osoyoos Larose
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Price Paid: $14.97
Vintage: 2003
Area: British Columbia, CAN
Alcohol: 13.4%
Purchased: Plum Market – West Bloomfield, MI
Overall: A Canadian Bordeaux… If you didn’t tell me what this was, I would have blind tasted this and guessed it was a nice mid-priced Bordeaux. I really enjoyed this wine and will buy a couple more bottles. Seriously the first word that came to my mind when I tasted it was the classic Bordeaux “earthiness”. It has the lead pencil, earth, tobacco, and dark fruit characteristics with significant tannins and I can’t believe I paid $14.97 on sale for this wine. My advice “Go buy 1 now and see if it fits your tastes”.
Reviews
Wine Maker
Osoyoos Larose
Groupe Taillan of Bordeaux, France (Gruaud-Larose), and Vincor International, based in Ontario, Canada, formed a joint venture partnership in 1998 to develop vineyards and a small winery dedicated to the production of Canadian VQA* wines, that would meet if not exceed the quality standards of their Bordeaux counterparts. The wines would be made from the classic Bordeaux varietals: merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec. The partners believed that the unique terroir of Canada’s western wine-growing region, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia and, in particular, the southern part of the Valley, was capable of producing fruit of sufficiently high quality to achieve their goal.
Read more about Canada's Okanagan Valley
HERE
The wine’s name, Osoyoos Larose, reflects the partners’ roots in France and Canada. Osoyoos refers to the location of the vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, on the mountain slopes above Lake Osoyoos. Larose is derived from one of Groupe Taillan’s most prestigious estates in Bordeaux, the Deuxième Cru, or second growth, Château Gruaud-Larose, which reflects the centuries-old winemaking traditions of the world-famous wine region.
The Osoyoos Larose Joint Venture Partners Groupe Taillan owns six world-renowned winemaking estates that have been defining international standards of quality for over two centuries. Located in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, three carry the outstanding Grand Cru Classé designation: Château Gruaud-Larose of St-Julien, Château Ferrière of Margaux and Château Haut Bages Libéral of Pauillac. Groupe Taillan’s three other estates, Château Chasse-Spleen of Moulis, Château La Gurgue of Margaux, and Château Citran of Avensan are all equally well regarded as exceptional Cru Bourgeois. Groupe Taillan is also the largest producer of Appellation Contrôlée wines in France, with large scale négociant operations in most of the country’s leading wine regions: Bordeaux, the Côtes du Rhône, the Loire Valley...
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Michele Chiarlo 2007 Barbera D'Asti
This week’s selection:
Winery: Michele Chiarlo
Varietal: Barbera
Price Paid: $15.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Alcohol: 13.5%
Purchased: Colasanti’s Market
Overall: This was recommended as a bargain. I like Barbera but honestly this didn’t thrill me. It was ok, dry with a nice touch of acidity. But would not buy again.
Reviews:
The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker):
"The estate’s 2007 Barbera d’Asti Superiore Le Orme is a mid-weight offering with good definition and focus in its perfumed red berries. This refined, subtle wine offers good balance in an approachable, feminine style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. "
88 Points
Winery: Michele Chiarlo
Varietal: Barbera
Price Paid: $15.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Asti, Piedmont, Italy
Alcohol: 13.5%
Purchased: Colasanti’s Market
Overall: This was recommended as a bargain. I like Barbera but honestly this didn’t thrill me. It was ok, dry with a nice touch of acidity. But would not buy again.
Reviews:
The Wine Advocate (Robert Parker):
"The estate’s 2007 Barbera d’Asti Superiore Le Orme is a mid-weight offering with good definition and focus in its perfumed red berries. This refined, subtle wine offers good balance in an approachable, feminine style. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012. "
88 Points
Winemaker notes:
Michele Chiarlo selects his Barbera d’Asti from the best of these vineyards planted in older vines and harvested at peak maturity. Vinified at the Chiarlo cellars in Calamandrana, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation and is then aged a least one year in oak.
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