This week’s selection:
Winery: Thurston Wolfe
Varietal: Port made of Touriga, Souzao, Petite Sirah and
Cabernet Sauvignon.
Price Paid: $10.00 (375 ml)
Vintage: 2007
Area: Washington State
Alcohol: 19%
Purchased: Papa Joe’s in Birmingham, MI
Overall: In my limited port experience, in the world of port to get a lower priced port that is still enjoyable generally means a tawny port. This port defied that conventional wisdom and was delightful and delicious. A true bargain. It will go extremly well with any chocolate dessert (had it with dark chocolate cake with bits of orange), blue cheese...
Reviews:
Great Article in the Seattle Metropolitan: The Port Man of Prosser
http://www.seattlemet.com/eat-and-drink/articles/0209-pour-crush/
Winemaker’s Description
Our 2007 JTW PORT is a blend of TOURIGA (39%) and SOUZAO (10%) from the Lonesome Springs Vineyard, PETITE SIRAH (20%) from the Zephyr Ridge Vineyard and CABERNET SAUVIGNON (25%) from the Crawford Vineyard. Touriga and Souzao are Portuguese Port varieties that produce aromatic wines with deep ruby color. Petite Sirah adds color and structure and Cabernet contributes bright fruit aromas to the blend. The final blend was prepared on September 2008 and bottled July 2009. Descriptors: Black cherry, boysenberry, chocolate, spice and black pepper. Enjoy with anything chocolate, Stilton cheese and Bartlett pears, or curled up next to a winter fire. This wine is 19% alcohol, 10% residual sugar.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2006
This week’s selection:
Winery: Bodega Norton Reserva
Varietal: Malbec
Price Paid: $13.33
Vintage: 2006
Area: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 14%
Purchased: Sam’s Club
Overall: This was underwhelming to me with a bit of an edge on the finish that I just did not like. I am definitely in the minority when you look at Snooth, the consumer ratings are quite good. Sometimes, I wonder how influenced people are by Wine Spectator (which I frankly disagree with as much as I agree with). I had 3 bottles of the Broquel Malbec in the past year that I enjoyed much more than this (granted a different vintage).
Reviews:
Wine Spectator awarded 90 points and reported, "Very toasty offering, showy mocha and spice aromatics, but there's also plenty of flesh, with lush raspberry, fig and plum notes that follow through on the long, polished finish. Drink now through 2010. 52,000 cases made."
A consumer review that I couldn’t resist sharing from Cork’d:
87/100 Earthy on the nose along with notes of blackberry and blueberry. A little funkiness along with dark fruit and a fairly spicy finish. A little bit of a rubber ball element coming through. A bit hollow on the mid palate but the tannins are soft and round giving this wine a quality mouthfeel. A solid effort at this price point but I find myself wanting the fruit to be a bit more forward.
Winery: Bodega Norton Reserva
Varietal: Malbec
Price Paid: $13.33
Vintage: 2006
Area: Mendoza, Argentina
Alcohol: 14%
Purchased: Sam’s Club
Overall: This was underwhelming to me with a bit of an edge on the finish that I just did not like. I am definitely in the minority when you look at Snooth, the consumer ratings are quite good. Sometimes, I wonder how influenced people are by Wine Spectator (which I frankly disagree with as much as I agree with). I had 3 bottles of the Broquel Malbec in the past year that I enjoyed much more than this (granted a different vintage).
Reviews:
Wine Spectator awarded 90 points and reported, "Very toasty offering, showy mocha and spice aromatics, but there's also plenty of flesh, with lush raspberry, fig and plum notes that follow through on the long, polished finish. Drink now through 2010. 52,000 cases made."
A consumer review that I couldn’t resist sharing from Cork’d:
87/100 Earthy on the nose along with notes of blackberry and blueberry. A little funkiness along with dark fruit and a fairly spicy finish. A little bit of a rubber ball element coming through. A bit hollow on the mid palate but the tannins are soft and round giving this wine a quality mouthfeel. A solid effort at this price point but I find myself wanting the fruit to be a bit more forward.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Petite Petit 2006 Red Rhone Varietal
This week’s selection:
Winery: Michael - David
Varietal: Petite Sirah and Peitit Verdot
Price Paid: $19.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Lodi, CA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purchased: First Tasted at Leaf, Barley and Vine Wine Bar also available at Meijer
Overall: This is a kick-butt in your face red wine and you expect it from these two varietals. Jammy, spicy, and sweet fruit with a good finish. I loved it. Don’t notice the alcohol even at 14.5%.
Great label, textured with two elephants on the cover (Petite Sirah 85%/PetiteVerdot 15%), a mouse juggling grapes... Circus motif, hilarious. Yes, Sirah is actually the proper spelling, I looked it up.
Seriously, if you can, go to Leaf, Barley and Vine and taste it otherwise look for it at your local retailer. You will not be disappointed. http://www.leafbarleyvine.com/about_us.html
Made by Michael and David Phillips the makers of “Seven Deadly Zins” out of Lodi.
http://www.lodivineyards.com/index.htm
Reviews:
All I could find online were user reviews but check them out these are the first four reviews by individuals on Snooth:
1. At the price, this wine is phenomenal. really tasty, gets better after it sits a bit.
2. Love this! Thick and rich.
3. Totally fabulous, especially at this price.
4. Wonderful!
Winery: Michael - David
Varietal: Petite Sirah and Peitit Verdot
Price Paid: $19.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Lodi, CA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Purchased: First Tasted at Leaf, Barley and Vine Wine Bar also available at Meijer
Overall: This is a kick-butt in your face red wine and you expect it from these two varietals. Jammy, spicy, and sweet fruit with a good finish. I loved it. Don’t notice the alcohol even at 14.5%.
Great label, textured with two elephants on the cover (Petite Sirah 85%/PetiteVerdot 15%), a mouse juggling grapes... Circus motif, hilarious. Yes, Sirah is actually the proper spelling, I looked it up.
Seriously, if you can, go to Leaf, Barley and Vine and taste it otherwise look for it at your local retailer. You will not be disappointed. http://www.leafbarleyvine.com/about_us.html
Made by Michael and David Phillips the makers of “Seven Deadly Zins” out of Lodi.
http://www.lodivineyards.com/index.htm
Reviews:
All I could find online were user reviews but check them out these are the first four reviews by individuals on Snooth:
1. At the price, this wine is phenomenal. really tasty, gets better after it sits a bit.
2. Love this! Thick and rich.
3. Totally fabulous, especially at this price.
4. Wonderful!
Trefethen 2006 Double T Bordeaux Blend
This week’s selection:
Winery: Trefethen
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Price Paid: $19.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Napa Valley, CA
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Bella Vino Fine Wines
Overall: Popular wine with customers according to Ronnie at Bella Vino. Honestly, it was a good bottle of wine and you wouldn’t be disappointed but it just didn’t stand out for me. And, I am looking for wines that stand out in the price range…
Reviews:
From the Flemings Steakhouse website -
TREFETHEN Double T Napa Valley, 2006
"A lot of wine," says Wine and Spirits magazine of this Bordeaux blend, with its plummy, jammy nose, its cherry-berry flavor profile, and its smooth, chocolate-covered finish. Its name, Double T, derives from the configuration of the vines on their trellises, but with a bit of imagination, one begins to envision it as the brand of an old-time California cattle ranch. "Order a glass at a steakhouse," the magazine goes on to suggest. We couldn't agree more. Sustainable
Winery: Trefethen
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend
Price Paid: $19.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Napa Valley, CA
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Bella Vino Fine Wines
Overall: Popular wine with customers according to Ronnie at Bella Vino. Honestly, it was a good bottle of wine and you wouldn’t be disappointed but it just didn’t stand out for me. And, I am looking for wines that stand out in the price range…
Reviews:
From the Flemings Steakhouse website -
TREFETHEN Double T Napa Valley, 2006
"A lot of wine," says Wine and Spirits magazine of this Bordeaux blend, with its plummy, jammy nose, its cherry-berry flavor profile, and its smooth, chocolate-covered finish. Its name, Double T, derives from the configuration of the vines on their trellises, but with a bit of imagination, one begins to envision it as the brand of an old-time California cattle ranch. "Order a glass at a steakhouse," the magazine goes on to suggest. We couldn't agree more. Sustainable
Thursday, December 31, 2009
King Estate 2007 Pinot Gris
This week’s selection:
Winery: King Estate
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Price Paid: $14.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Oregon
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Meijer
Overall: What a great wine for the price! Citrus, peach, melon, mineral, acidity - delightful. Still drank well after 3-4 days. If you are not familiar with Pinot Gris it is of the Pinot family and can make full-bodies whites that are soft and aromatic and can also be heavily extracted. Think pink skin grape version of Pinot Noir. It does extremely well in Oregon (obviously as does Pinot Noir). Known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, Malvoisie in the Loire,… Seriously, get away from Chardonnay for a moment and try this.
Reviews:
K & L Wines (Out of San Francisco, one of my favorite wine shops in the world. I ordered off of them often before Michigan outlawed it.)
92 points Wine & Spirits: "This elegant Gris leads with a leesy pear scent, accented by a floral note that recalls lilac. Its flavors fall between pear and pear skin, with a faint bitter almond note that gives it the firmness for pork loin." (06/09)
90 points Wine Spectator: "Light and silky, shining a vivid beam of lemon, melon and pear flavors through the persistent finish. Drink now through 2011." (05/09)
Rich and honeyed like an Alsatian Pinot Gris, Oregon's 2007 King Estate Pinot Gris is flaxen-hued with a nose redolent of melon, pineapple, pear, sweet white flowers and baking spice. In the mouth it is like morning dew, with tropical and stone fruit flavors and clean, refreshing acidity.
Winemaker’s Notes:
Appearance: Golden straw with brilliant highlights. Aroma: Ripe peach, sweet grapefruit, blood orange and tropical fruits. Mouthfeel: Lively flavors of Rio Star grapefruit, orange zest, kiwi and pear.
Winery: King Estate
Varietal: Pinot Gris
Price Paid: $14.99
Vintage: 2007
Area: Oregon
Alcohol: 13%
Purchased: Meijer
Overall: What a great wine for the price! Citrus, peach, melon, mineral, acidity - delightful. Still drank well after 3-4 days. If you are not familiar with Pinot Gris it is of the Pinot family and can make full-bodies whites that are soft and aromatic and can also be heavily extracted. Think pink skin grape version of Pinot Noir. It does extremely well in Oregon (obviously as does Pinot Noir). Known as Pinot Grigio in Italy, Malvoisie in the Loire,… Seriously, get away from Chardonnay for a moment and try this.
Reviews:
K & L Wines (Out of San Francisco, one of my favorite wine shops in the world. I ordered off of them often before Michigan outlawed it.)
92 points Wine & Spirits: "This elegant Gris leads with a leesy pear scent, accented by a floral note that recalls lilac. Its flavors fall between pear and pear skin, with a faint bitter almond note that gives it the firmness for pork loin." (06/09)
90 points Wine Spectator: "Light and silky, shining a vivid beam of lemon, melon and pear flavors through the persistent finish. Drink now through 2011." (05/09)
Rich and honeyed like an Alsatian Pinot Gris, Oregon's 2007 King Estate Pinot Gris is flaxen-hued with a nose redolent of melon, pineapple, pear, sweet white flowers and baking spice. In the mouth it is like morning dew, with tropical and stone fruit flavors and clean, refreshing acidity.
Winemaker’s Notes:
Appearance: Golden straw with brilliant highlights. Aroma: Ripe peach, sweet grapefruit, blood orange and tropical fruits. Mouthfeel: Lively flavors of Rio Star grapefruit, orange zest, kiwi and pear.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Panarroz Jumilla 2006
This week’s selection:
Winery: Panarroz
Varietal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Price Paid: $9.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Murcia Region, Jumilla Appellation, Spain
Alcohol: 14%
Purchased: Whole Foods Market
Overall: I am still amazed that you can get real wine for under $10. This is real wine - Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (also know as GSM) blend with an unusual nose (a little electric motor smell), spice, tannins and some acidity.
I would buy the Venta Morales at $8.99 or the Sacred Stone # 5 Cab before this but this is not a bad wine for the price. Will absolutely not be for everyone. Try it for something different. 90 points as reviewed below seems a bit ridiculous. By the way pan means bread and arroz means rice… Spain, Argentina, New Zealand and Montepulciano in Italy have some great bargains.
Reviews:
90 points from Robert Parker: "An amazing bargain from Spain, this blend of mourvèdre, grenache, and syrah bursts with plum, blackberry, and licorice-infused fruit. There is a bit of pepper as well, and the wine is silky, soft, and opulent. Serve it at a barbecue... Years ago I wrote in The Wine Advocate that Dan Kravitz was perhaps the top U.S. importer of wines priced under $10 a bottle. Even though the dollar bought a lot more then, Kravitz still has a knack for finding good wines at great prices."
Winery: Panarroz
Varietal: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre,
Price Paid: $9.99
Vintage: 2006
Area: Murcia Region, Jumilla Appellation, Spain
Alcohol: 14%
Purchased: Whole Foods Market
Overall: I am still amazed that you can get real wine for under $10. This is real wine - Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (also know as GSM) blend with an unusual nose (a little electric motor smell), spice, tannins and some acidity.
I would buy the Venta Morales at $8.99 or the Sacred Stone # 5 Cab before this but this is not a bad wine for the price. Will absolutely not be for everyone. Try it for something different. 90 points as reviewed below seems a bit ridiculous. By the way pan means bread and arroz means rice… Spain, Argentina, New Zealand and Montepulciano in Italy have some great bargains.
Reviews:
90 points from Robert Parker: "An amazing bargain from Spain, this blend of mourvèdre, grenache, and syrah bursts with plum, blackberry, and licorice-infused fruit. There is a bit of pepper as well, and the wine is silky, soft, and opulent. Serve it at a barbecue... Years ago I wrote in The Wine Advocate that Dan Kravitz was perhaps the top U.S. importer of wines priced under $10 a bottle. Even though the dollar bought a lot more then, Kravitz still has a knack for finding good wines at great prices."
Monday, December 14, 2009
Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price Paid: $22
Vintage: 2006
Area: Oakville, Napa Valley
Alcohol: 15%
Purchased: Meijer
Overall: Nice Cab, would go well with red meat, I think it will get better with age. Actually liked better the second day which bodes well for aging. Would absolutely decant. Still not a big fan of high alcohol 15%+ cabs (with a few exceptions).
Reviews:
Wine Advocate December 2008 issue
Rated 90 points
"Slightly superior to the 2005, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as a creme de cassis, spice box, and floral-scented bouquet, and a medium to full-bodied finish. A strong effort, it should drink nicely for 12-15 years."
Tasting Notes - Deep and dense with seamless layers of blackberry, black plum, cassis, and cedar and soft, well-integrated tannins. Spicy oak accents from barrel aging.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Rated 89 points
"Medium red-ruby. Aromas of black cherry, currant, menthol, licorice, minerals and tobacco, plus a whiff of super-ripeness. Plump, broad and smooth, with an early sweetness making this accessible from the outset. Combines good weight and freshness."
Wine Spectator - November 15, 2009 issue
Rated 88 points
"Elegant, mixing ripe currant, herb, anise and mineral notes."
Winery: Robert Mondavi Winery
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Price Paid: $22
Vintage: 2006
Area: Oakville, Napa Valley
Alcohol: 15%
Purchased: Meijer
Overall: Nice Cab, would go well with red meat, I think it will get better with age. Actually liked better the second day which bodes well for aging. Would absolutely decant. Still not a big fan of high alcohol 15%+ cabs (with a few exceptions).
Reviews:
Wine Advocate December 2008 issue
Rated 90 points
"Slightly superior to the 2005, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as a creme de cassis, spice box, and floral-scented bouquet, and a medium to full-bodied finish. A strong effort, it should drink nicely for 12-15 years."
Tasting Notes - Deep and dense with seamless layers of blackberry, black plum, cassis, and cedar and soft, well-integrated tannins. Spicy oak accents from barrel aging.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Rated 89 points
"Medium red-ruby. Aromas of black cherry, currant, menthol, licorice, minerals and tobacco, plus a whiff of super-ripeness. Plump, broad and smooth, with an early sweetness making this accessible from the outset. Combines good weight and freshness."
Wine Spectator - November 15, 2009 issue
Rated 88 points
"Elegant, mixing ripe currant, herb, anise and mineral notes."
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