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...
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Mount Veeder Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
This week’s selection:
Winery : Mount Veeder WInery
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price Paid: $20.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Napa Valley, CA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purchased: Costco
Overall: This is as good a bottle of wine as you can buy for around $20. It is a “Mountain Cab” and I particularly like mountain cabs in ripe years like 2007. I had the 2004 (another ripe year) in a restaurant and went on to drink 5 more bottles over the next 18 months. I paid $34.99 retail a bottle for the 2004.
I was in Trader Joe’s a week or so ago and saw the 2007 for $28.99 and thought it was a great deal and bought 3. I drank one and thought it was fantastic. It just got better over the 3 days it was open. Then I saw it at Costco for $20.99 and bought 9 more bottles. I will enjoy this over the next 2 - 3 years. It is available in many places.
Reviews
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. 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."
Winery : Mount Veeder WInery
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price Paid: $20.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Napa Valley, CA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purchased: Costco
Overall: This is as good a bottle of wine as you can buy for around $20. It is a “Mountain Cab” and I particularly like mountain cabs in ripe years like 2007. I had the 2004 (another ripe year) in a restaurant and went on to drink 5 more bottles over the next 18 months. I paid $34.99 retail a bottle for the 2004.
I was in Trader Joe’s a week or so ago and saw the 2007 for $28.99 and thought it was a great deal and bought 3. I drank one and thought it was fantastic. It just got better over the 3 days it was open. Then I saw it at Costco for $20.99 and bought 9 more bottles. I will enjoy this over the next 2 - 3 years. It is available in many places.
Reviews
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. 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."
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Masi Masianco White Blend 2008
This week’s selection:
Winery : Masi (Masianco)
Varietal: Pinot Grigio & Verduzzo
Price Paid: $17.00
Vintage: 2008
Area: Friuli, Italy
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Papa Joe’s
Overall: OK, I am not a big Pinot Grigio fan. But, this is a delicious wine! It is 75% Pinot Grigio and 25% Verduzzo (which adds a bit of peach, apricot, honey…). The Verduzzo is picked slightly overripe to provide more body and a bit more sweetness but this is not an overly sweet wine. I bought this wine for my wife's "Girls Night Out" and they loved it. This is one of my favorite wineries and I have never had a Masi wine that I did not like, I enjoy their appassimento style (ancient process of drying grapes to make wine dating back 3,00 years), they have simply one of my favorite Amarone’s and even their Campofiorin is excellent (they have it at Maggiano’s Restaurant chain).
Reviews
Shoppers Wine
Golden straw color. Ripe lemon and orchid aromas. Soft entry. Light-to medium bodied palate of ripe lemon, tangerine, and apple flavors with a crisp, stylish finish. Great balance and flavor. 89 Pts. Shoppers Wines
WineChateau.com
Tasting notes
The wine has a bright pale straw color with golden reflections. The complex and appealing bouquet shows fresh notes of white fruit and citrus, as well as warmer aromas of apricot, honey and dried figs. On the palate it is full, overwhelming and smooth, with a delicate vanilla note on the finish.
Winemaker notes
Fermented separately then assembled. Fermented 25 days for Pinot Grigio, 30 days for Verduzzo. Stainless steel aging for 4 months for Pinot Grigio, 4 months in barriques for Verduzzo.
Food pairing
Masianco is an ideal aperitif. It is perfect with hors d’oeuvres, fish and white meats.
Winery : Masi (Masianco)
Varietal: Pinot Grigio & Verduzzo
Price Paid: $17.00
Vintage: 2008
Area: Friuli, Italy
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Papa Joe’s
Overall: OK, I am not a big Pinot Grigio fan. But, this is a delicious wine! It is 75% Pinot Grigio and 25% Verduzzo (which adds a bit of peach, apricot, honey…). The Verduzzo is picked slightly overripe to provide more body and a bit more sweetness but this is not an overly sweet wine. I bought this wine for my wife's "Girls Night Out" and they loved it. This is one of my favorite wineries and I have never had a Masi wine that I did not like, I enjoy their appassimento style (ancient process of drying grapes to make wine dating back 3,00 years), they have simply one of my favorite Amarone’s and even their Campofiorin is excellent (they have it at Maggiano’s Restaurant chain).
Reviews
Shoppers Wine
Golden straw color. Ripe lemon and orchid aromas. Soft entry. Light-to medium bodied palate of ripe lemon, tangerine, and apple flavors with a crisp, stylish finish. Great balance and flavor. 89 Pts. Shoppers Wines
WineChateau.com
Tasting notes
The wine has a bright pale straw color with golden reflections. The complex and appealing bouquet shows fresh notes of white fruit and citrus, as well as warmer aromas of apricot, honey and dried figs. On the palate it is full, overwhelming and smooth, with a delicate vanilla note on the finish.
Winemaker notes
Fermented separately then assembled. Fermented 25 days for Pinot Grigio, 30 days for Verduzzo. Stainless steel aging for 4 months for Pinot Grigio, 4 months in barriques for Verduzzo.
Food pairing
Masianco is an ideal aperitif. It is perfect with hors d’oeuvres, fish and white meats.
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