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

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.

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

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.

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."

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.

14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

This week’s selection:

Winery: 14 Hands Winery
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cab Franc
Price Paid: $12.99
Vintage: 2008
Area: Washington State
Alcohol: 13.5%
Purchased: Papa Joe’s

Overall: Had a glass of this wine two nights in a row at a hotel I recently stayed at. Enjoyed it so much the first night that I looked forward to another glass the 2nd night. Good with hearty food and a nice bargain in a cab blend.

Reviews
Wine Maker

The vintage
Delayed by cool weather in the spring and a moderate summer, harvest began 10 days later than previous years. Hot temperatures in August ripened the fruit, and harvest was quickly ramped up in order to obtain fruit at its optimum ripeness. The cooler than normal growing season and full crop loads led to flavorful fruit with restrained sugar levels and ample acidity.

winemaking
Grapes were sourced from vineyards throughout Washington State, including the Horse Heaven Hills, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope and the Yakima Valley. Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Franc were added to create a fruit-forward blend and to enhance mouth feel. The wine was aged for 12 months in a combination of American and French oak barrels to build structure and complexity in the blend.

flavor profile
“14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon features aromas of sweet cassis and black cherries with subtle hints of spice and dried herbs. Dark stone fruit flavors are joined by notes of cocoa and complemented by fine, velvety tannins.”

recommended food pairings
Tomato-basil bruschetta, eggplant parmesan, herb crusted prime rib, grilled beef steak, hearty venison stew.

Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

This week’s selection:

Winery: Beringer
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price Paid: $18.00 - $20.00
Vintage: 2007
Area: Sonoma, CA
Alcohol: 14.3%
Purchased: Costco

Overall: Simply the best Cab in this price range I have ever had in almost 20 years of drinking mainly Cabs. Right now I am drinking the late 90’s vintages out of my cellar. I learned the aging potential of this gem from Ron Edwards, Master Sommelier. Serve this to company with grilled meats, roast beef, etc. and no one will be disappointed. I poured this 2007 through an aerator before drinking and found the 2007 outstanding and delicious. If you don’t have an aerator you may want to decant.

Reviews
K & L Wines
According to Robert Parker: "Several other great values emerge from Beringer, including the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight’s Valley. A major sleeper of the vintage, this $27 wine will probably be marked down at discounters, making it a terrific value. This sexy North Coast Cabernet offers copious quantities of black cherry and black currant fruit intermixed with smoky barbecue, roasted herb, sweet cassis, and blackberry scents. Round and gentle with silky tannins, this is a plush red to drink over the next 5-8 years." (12/09)

89 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Good deep, bright ruby. Black cherry, licorice and fresh herbs on the slightly medicinal nose. At once dense and juicy, with lively acidity and a firm tannic spine keeping the bright dark berry and licorice flavors under wraps today. This has good weight and balance and finishes with broad, serious, building tannins that call for a year or two of patience. Already showing a bit of flesh, but give this another year or two to round out in bottle." (May/June 10)

Airfield Estates 2008 Riesling

This week’s selection:

Winery: Airfield Estates

Varietal: Riesling

Price Paid: $15.99

Vintage: 2008

Area: Yakima, WA

Alcohol: 14.1%

Purchased: Colasanti’s Market

Overall: I like my Rieslings on the dry side but this had a pleasant sweetness with enough acid to balance it out. Apple, citrus and a good Riesling to have with Chinese or Curry in particular.

Reviews

Winemaker’s Notes:

A family owned and operated winery located in Prosser, Washington -- in the heart of the Yakima Valley AVA. Great wines begin in the vineyard! Airfield Estates uses 100% estate grown fruit. Our first vines were planted in 1968 by Don Miller. Today, the estate vineyard spans over 860 acres and includes 26 different varieties.

The vineyard is located at the foot of the Rattlesnake Mountains in the Yakima Valley. All of the vineyard blocks are situated within a 3 mile radius of the original WWII airbase. Within this range, there is a considerable amount of diversity of soil and microclimatic conditions. To maximize quality, we carefully match grape varietals to the most suitable sites.

Well balanced with impressive acidity, this slightly sweet Riesling offers a bouquet of citrus and apple with a touch of minerality. It begs for Asian inspired foods, oysters, shellfish, and salads.

From Fullpullwines:

http://fullpullwines.wordpress.com/2010/01/06/2008-airfield-states-riesling/

This Riesling comes from a block of 30-year-old vines that also goes into Ste Michelle’s Eroica Riesling program, routinely recognized as one of the state’s premier Riesling bottlings. Lots of citrus notes on the nose, with just the barest hint of petrol adding attractive complexity. On the palate, there is zingy acid that immediately hits the sides of the tongue, bringing flavors of lemon, flower, and clay. The 1.7% residual sugar is almost imperceptible, balanced beautifully by all that acid.

Maipe 2008 Malbec

This week’s selection:

Winery: Maipe

Varietal: Malbec

Price Paid: $11.19

Vintage: 2008

Area: Mendoza, Argentina

Alcohol: 14%

Purchased: Bella Vino Fine Wines

Overall: Another enjoyable bottle of wine at a good price point. As my friend Rinart has said, this varietal when from Argentina (originated in Cahors, France as Auxerroix not Malbec, the grape does so well in Argentina that they have made it the up and coming wine that it is today) seems to have more consistency than most and he really hasn’t had a bad one. Pour in the glass and let sit for at least 20 minutes. Calls out for grilled meats. The Pascual Toso Malbec reviewed several months ago was even more enjoyable.

Reviews

From the K & L Wines Website: (www.klwines.com)

90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Malbec is a glass-coating purple color with a striking perfume of violets, black cherry, and black raspberry. Exhibiting surprising complexity for its price category, the wine has gobs of fruit, savory flavors, and excellent depth and length. It is an outstanding value for drinking over the next 3-4 years. Alberto Antonini (think Altos Las Hormigas) is a consultant at Maipe which in and of itself is an indicator that the winery is focused on quality." (12/08)

The largest selling wine in the history of K&L, in terms of bottles sold, was the 2006 Pascual Toso Malbec for $8.99. I'm sure many of you remember this spectacular value. Well, I think I've found the next Toso. For the same price here is another Malbec that you can afford by the case and drink on a nightly basis. With its big nose chock full of cacao, espresso, violet, bitter root and gobs of wild berry fruit, this is aromatically packed for a wine at this price point. With air the nose becomes brighter and more high-toned, expressing more of a raspberry and cinnamon note. Full weight and with a plush feel, this is full of ever-so-slightly jammy blackberry fruit laced with cedar, chocolate cream and coffee bean flavors. Bursting with flavor, the finish is packed with black pepper, tar and mocha. Inexpensive, full of character, ready to drink, what more can you ask for? (Bryan Brick, K&L)

CUVAISON 2008 Chardonnay

This week’s selection:

Winery: CUVAISON
Varietal: Chardonnay
Price Paid: $21.59
Vintage: 2008
Area: Carneros, CA
Alcohol: 14.2%
Purchased: Bella Vino Fine Wines

Overall: Delicious Chardonnay, not overly oaked, overly sweet or overly anything. I like drier, less oaky styles and this has a nice balance of fruit, oak and acidity to make this a wonderful wine to pair with food.

Reviews
Winemaker Comments:
Cuvaison's Carneros Chardonnay comes from the winery's own estate in the southern part of Napa Valley. This cool climate vineyard allows nearly perfect conditions year after year to produce world class Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Syrah. Controlling all farming aspects within their own vineyard gives Cuvaison an advantage in producing the best quality fruit therefore minimizing over manipulation at the winery. This 2008 offers an aroma of kiwi, clove spice, nectarine and lime zest with a hint of toasty oak. On the palate this exquisite Chardonnay is chock full of lush, mouth filling flavors of peach, apricot and papaya backed by vanilla and allspice.

Aging 8 months in small French oak barrels, 25% new French oak
Fermentation 14-28 days
Residual Sugar Dry

K and L Wines
2008 Cuvaison Carneros Chardonnay

By: Jim Barr | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 1/29/2010 | Send Email
One of my major complaints about most Chardonnays being produced in California is that they are way overdone with too much oak and alcohol, and too much creaminess. Moreover, many producers of that ilk also leave a bit of residual sugar in the finish wine to make it "bigger and richer." The theory, as it was expressed to me some years ago by one winemaker, is that the average American wine consumer will tell everyone that they like their white wines dry, but in reality they do not - or there wouldn't have been the off-dry to sweet White Zinfandel craze that took place nearly 30years ago. More importantly, it is almost impossible to match food (other than cheese) to that style of Chardonnay. That is why it is so refreshing to discover a Chardonnay that is dry, has good acidity and structure, and the emphasis is totally on the presentation of varietal fruit, as with the Cuvaison 2008 Carneros Charonnay. Eby has informed me that this Gem will be one of our house Chardonnays for the month. (Jim Barr)


By: Christie Cartwright | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/14/2009 | Send Email
This is a cool climate Carneros Chardonnay that is exploding with wonderful fruit and winter spice. On the nose are bright kiwi, peach and apricot flavors, followed by a mouthful of rich minerals and spice like nutmeg and cloves. It finishes with toasty oak and great acidity. Perfect for the winter season with its medium to full bodied expression, this is a for-sure hit for any occasion, party, or anyone you want to please, just pour them a glass and smiles will begin to shine.


By: Mike Parres | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 12/1/2009 | Send Email
Opens with appetizing oak flavors, then focuses its attention on its intensely wound core of vanilla, mineral, pear and fig-laced flavors, all of which are rich and concentrated. Draws you back for another sip.

Pewsey Vale 2008 Riesling

This week’s selection:

Winery: Pewsey Vale
Varietal: Riesling
Price Paid: $13.41
Vintage: 2008
Area: Eden Valley, Australia
Alcohol: 12.5%
Purchased: Sam’s Club

Overall: OK, we are on a roll. Like last week, this once again is a very good inexpensive wine that I would buy a case of. There have been probably only 4 out of the 25 so far that I would even think of buying a case of. This is a dry Riesling (if you like sweet Riesling this is not it and you may not like it) with just a touch of sweetness and the right amount of acidity. Rieslings are very versatile with food from seafood to pork.

Reviews
Winemaker's Notes:
The 2008 Pewsey Vale Riesling is a rich and intensely flavored wine. Classic fruit aromas of talcum, lemons and limes, with a hint of overlaying dried herb are present, along with a palate showing great length and depth with limes, and a hint of tropical fruit. The wine finishes with a soft but fresh natural acidity which balances the flavour intensity, and will reward with medium to long-term cellaring.

Critical Acclaim:
"The 2008 Dry Riesling is light straw-colored with an alluring bouquet of honeysuckle, citrus, and apple. Medium-bodied with crisp, ripe, succulent fruit and buttressing acidity, this dry, tasty effort will evolve for 3-4 years and provide pleasure through 2018."
90 Points
The Wine Advocate

"Strong color; a powerful, complex bouquet leads into a palate bursting with lime juice fruit; has thrust and length. "
94 Points
James Halliday

Wine Star (Australian Reviews)
One of the many lovely Rieslings from this vintage, ripened in the cool January and February, and picked before the March heat. Strong green tinges foretell a powerful, complex bouquet leading into a palate bursting with regional lime juice fruit; has great vibrancy, thrust and length. From Eden Valley, SA Drink now-2015 with gazpacho 94 points, $17.95, S, 12.5° alc Halliday’s Top 100 – The Weekend Australian November 8-9, 2008
Lively lime and lemon juice aromas, pristine and focussed, abundant florals and ripe lime citrus. The palate's a ball of fresh minerals and fine lemon/lime citrus flavours, pushing deep, long and flavoursome on a piercing acid line. 96 points; Nick Stock, WBM100 (Aus), December 2008
There is so much going for Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling. Here are just some of the descriptors that we brainstormed in less than a second. World-class, historic, stylish, reliable, classis, racy, exciting, gripping, pure, beautiful, age-worthy but immediately enjoyable, bargain-priced . . . we could go on. The 2008 adds finesse, very fine, ethereal, delicate and exceedingly long and minerally to this list of notes, making this our favourable release in a decade. Matthew Jukes & Tyson Stelzer, Taste: Food & Wine 2009 (Aus), October 2008
Rich yet bracing with minerality, citrus, unripe pineapple flavours and an elegance that works as an aperitif and at the table. Steve Spurrier, Decanter Magazine (UK), August 2008