It was an incredibly windy day on our visit to the Calistoga wine area, just north of Napa-proper. The wind knocked out the power to the traffic lights on the main thoroughfare into the Napa Valley, rendering our trip a mild agitation at the outset. However, we persevered and made a quick stop to one of our favorites at the edge of the Napa Valley, Trefethen Family Vineyards. After our visit to Trefethen, we ventured onward. On the list for the day were visits to Chateau Montelena, the famed Judgment of Paris winner, among other smaller wineries near the famed Chateau. This area of the Napa Valley is highly regarded for its production of top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, so the expectation was high for some beautiful fruit. Below are my tasting "thoughts" regarding our visits.
Chateau Montelena ($20 tasting fee, 5-6 wines tasted)
First on the list was the Chateau's Dry Riesling. Available only at the winery, the wine was very light in flavor but strong in bouquet. A strong citrus smells accompanies an almost tart palate. Mildly balanced with a touch of oak, the wine was suitable for spicy foods, with a decent acidity that could cut through meals.
My excitement increased significantly when we got to taste the Chardonnay. Ch. Montelena became famous for their Chardonnay, made in the French-style with light oaky flavors and an overall lack of the stereotypical California style, buttery and oaky Chards. This Chardonnay did not disappoint. A very beautifully balanced white, drinkable with nearly any food or suitable by itself. Just an excellent blend of flavors, hints of vanilla and orange blossoms with just a hint of oak and hazelnut on the finish. Absolutely wonderful. And, for $50 per bottle, it should be.
Other wines were somewhat forgettable at Montelena, such as the Zinfandel. The wine lacked any notes of standard CA Zins, with little depth, fruit concentration and really no flavor. Flabby. The Cabernet Sauv. was decent, although far from transcendent. The Estate Cab. was nice but overpriced ($125 per bottle). Overall, my experience at Montelena was simply that of a museum visit. Great history, but not worth the $20 tasting fee.
Summers Estate Wines
The Summers Estate Winery is located just down the road from Ch. Montelena, in a field surrounding by a horse stable and full-fledged grape vines. A beautiful tasting room with bright sunshine, we were incredibly impressed with the wines and the environment. For a $10 tasting fee (waived with wine purchase), you'll get to taste a variety of wines, mainly reds, with even a variety of styles. The Chardonnay was delightful, nice and light with your standard Chardonnay flavors, touches of citrus and oak. The crowd favorite at Summers is the Charbono, a lighter red wine only produced in CA. I thought this wine lacked considerable flavor depth, but combined with the dark chocolate served with the wine, it improved dramatically.
One of my favorites was the Knights Valley Merlot. This wine does not disappoint. Large, velvety fruit accompanies a light vanilla and toasted oak flavor. The nose is robust and this wine displays considerable complexity. Combine this wine with a dark chocolate dessert and you're evening will be perfection.
The remaining wines at Summers were all quite palatable. My wife thoroughly enjoyed the Muscat Canelli, an apertif with high sugar and orange blossom flavors. Just a touch of carbonation associated with this wine is delightful. This wine would be suitable with spicy foods as well.
The final wine I tasted was a Bordeaux-style blend called the Checkmate. I look forward to aging this particular wine in my cellar for the next 5 years. The taste was wonderfully complex and shows great signs of a wine that will age well.
Envy Wines
A hidden gem in Calistoga, the Envy Wines tasting experience was truly outstanding. We tasted 10-15 wines for a tasting fee of $10. The stars in the crowd were the 3 Petite Sirah wines we tasted in comparison as well as the To Kalon Cab from Carter. Truly outstanding. I highly recommend visiting this winery and plan to enter into their flexible wine club very soon!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
A Visit to Bonny Doon Vineyards Tasting Room in Santa Cruz, CA
I've been a fan of Bonny Doon wines from the first time I tasted the Le Cigare Volant a few years ago at dinner. As such, I've wanted to taste their other wines and what better way to do so than in their newly outfitted tasting room in Santa Cruz. My tasting notes follow below.
2007 Metamorphosis I, Aurora ($22):
The Metamorphosis is a white varietal consisting of 50% Rousanne, 41% Loureira, and 9% Treixadura. The appearance is very light in nature, resembling an Extra Virgin Olive Oil color, perhaps lighter. The nose offers a bouquet of pear and vanilla, very pleasant. The first taste shows signs of high sugar, incredibly sweet then blending a coriander flavor with a heavy mouthfeel. Nice finish with subtle tartness. Overall, this was a pleasant wine, very drinkable with white meats or fish.
2008 Paso Robles Viognier ($20):
This 100% Viognier is very traditional for a Rhone-style white. The appearance is, again, very light straw and the nose offers toasted oak and asaparagus. The flavor is very intriguing, with my initial flavor as being a lightly aged cheese (probably from the rind) with sweet orange blossom and hyacinth notes. This wine offers a fantastic rounded finish, one of the best finishes I've found from a Viognier. Overall, my favorite white wine we tasted offering a beautiful bouquet and sweet blended flavors rendering some complexity. I can see this wine paired with a nice grilled fish. I rated this wine very highly, 93.
2007 Imagine ($28):
The Imagine wine is a blend of two Italian grapes, 70% Freisa (meaning strawberry) and 30% Sangiovese (the grape associated with Chianti).The label of this wine shows a caricature of John Lennon walking on what appears to be Abbey Road. Overall, this Italian blend offers a bright ruby/garnet appearance with transparency. Notes of strawberry, cassis and licorice adorn the nose with cherry and tannic flavors dominating the palate. Overall, the finish is quite dry and may benefit from some aging in the bottle. The flavor structure remains fairly straight-forward, with little associated complex. The wine is fine, rating an 83 in my book.
2004 Le Cigare Volant ($30):
Le Cigare Volant is one of my all time favorite red wines. This particular vintage offers a blend of Grenache (38%), Syrah (35%), Mourvedre (12%), Carignane (8%) and Cinsault (7%). The appearance of Le Cigare Volant is a darker, transparent garnet with scents of blackberry and lavender on the nose. The palate offers big fruit up front, with a faint oak flavor in the finish. I also detect a mild spiciness and a nicely rounded, dry finish. My notes indicate this is an excellent wine that could stand to age a bit longer to soften the finish but is ready now as well. Great wine, rated 94.
2007 Cinsault ($22):
It is quite rare to find a Cinsault made in the US and this one does not disappoint. A blend of 85% Cinsault with 15% Pinot Noir, the appearance shows a bright ruby color that fades to the edge and becomes quite dull, showing characteristic signs of pinot noir inclusion. The nose offers a nutty cheese with earthy tones and bright cherries. Upon tasting, the bright cherry comes through along with characteristic pinot flavors. I also detected a faint cedar note. Being a pinot lover, I truly loved this wine. The finish was well rounded and ready for consumption today. Great wine, rated 92.
2007 Angel Paille ($20):
The Angel Paille is a dessert wine that is a combination of Grenache Blanc (92%), Viognier (5.5%), and Rousanne (2.5%). The appearance is a very light orange hue that reminded me of orange gelatin. The nose offers wonderful scents of orange blossoms with a very faint cherry scent. The taste is an immediate shock to the palate after tasting reds, due to the very high sugar flavor. Tastes of honeycomb and orange blossom fit this wine well and the finish is wonderfully rounded. Overall, a very nice dessert wine, rated 89.
Overall, we had a great tasting experience at Bonny Doon and look forward to tasting future wines!
2007 Metamorphosis I, Aurora ($22):
The Metamorphosis is a white varietal consisting of 50% Rousanne, 41% Loureira, and 9% Treixadura. The appearance is very light in nature, resembling an Extra Virgin Olive Oil color, perhaps lighter. The nose offers a bouquet of pear and vanilla, very pleasant. The first taste shows signs of high sugar, incredibly sweet then blending a coriander flavor with a heavy mouthfeel. Nice finish with subtle tartness. Overall, this was a pleasant wine, very drinkable with white meats or fish.
2008 Paso Robles Viognier ($20):
This 100% Viognier is very traditional for a Rhone-style white. The appearance is, again, very light straw and the nose offers toasted oak and asaparagus. The flavor is very intriguing, with my initial flavor as being a lightly aged cheese (probably from the rind) with sweet orange blossom and hyacinth notes. This wine offers a fantastic rounded finish, one of the best finishes I've found from a Viognier. Overall, my favorite white wine we tasted offering a beautiful bouquet and sweet blended flavors rendering some complexity. I can see this wine paired with a nice grilled fish. I rated this wine very highly, 93.
2007 Imagine ($28):
The Imagine wine is a blend of two Italian grapes, 70% Freisa (meaning strawberry) and 30% Sangiovese (the grape associated with Chianti).The label of this wine shows a caricature of John Lennon walking on what appears to be Abbey Road. Overall, this Italian blend offers a bright ruby/garnet appearance with transparency. Notes of strawberry, cassis and licorice adorn the nose with cherry and tannic flavors dominating the palate. Overall, the finish is quite dry and may benefit from some aging in the bottle. The flavor structure remains fairly straight-forward, with little associated complex. The wine is fine, rating an 83 in my book.
2004 Le Cigare Volant ($30):
Le Cigare Volant is one of my all time favorite red wines. This particular vintage offers a blend of Grenache (38%), Syrah (35%), Mourvedre (12%), Carignane (8%) and Cinsault (7%). The appearance of Le Cigare Volant is a darker, transparent garnet with scents of blackberry and lavender on the nose. The palate offers big fruit up front, with a faint oak flavor in the finish. I also detect a mild spiciness and a nicely rounded, dry finish. My notes indicate this is an excellent wine that could stand to age a bit longer to soften the finish but is ready now as well. Great wine, rated 94.
2007 Cinsault ($22):
It is quite rare to find a Cinsault made in the US and this one does not disappoint. A blend of 85% Cinsault with 15% Pinot Noir, the appearance shows a bright ruby color that fades to the edge and becomes quite dull, showing characteristic signs of pinot noir inclusion. The nose offers a nutty cheese with earthy tones and bright cherries. Upon tasting, the bright cherry comes through along with characteristic pinot flavors. I also detected a faint cedar note. Being a pinot lover, I truly loved this wine. The finish was well rounded and ready for consumption today. Great wine, rated 92.
2007 Angel Paille ($20):
The Angel Paille is a dessert wine that is a combination of Grenache Blanc (92%), Viognier (5.5%), and Rousanne (2.5%). The appearance is a very light orange hue that reminded me of orange gelatin. The nose offers wonderful scents of orange blossoms with a very faint cherry scent. The taste is an immediate shock to the palate after tasting reds, due to the very high sugar flavor. Tastes of honeycomb and orange blossom fit this wine well and the finish is wonderfully rounded. Overall, a very nice dessert wine, rated 89.
Overall, we had a great tasting experience at Bonny Doon and look forward to tasting future wines!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tasting Notes: Frog's Leap Vineyards
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Napa Valley wine country and took some notes at the tasting rooms that I visited. Here are my notes for Frog's Leap. Overall, the experience at the winery is truly fantastic. The surrounding gardens provide a very beautiful environment in which to sample the wines of the vineyard. The tasting experience itself includes a seated tasting of 4 wines, paired with a small plate of cheese, crackers, California almonds and dried fruits.
Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc (Rutherford) 2008 ($18): The Sauv. Blanc offers a very light olive oil appearance and served chilled. The nose provides fruits such as grapefruit and a touch of lime mixed with lemongrass. On the palate, the wine was slightly salty with very little depth. Strangely, the finish was instant and slightly bitter, offering stronger lime flavors. Overall, this was a simple wine with a bright nose but little complexity. The flavors, as is often the case, do not closely resemble the nose. Rating: 84.
Frog's Leap Zinfandel (Napa Valley) 2007 ($27): This wine was not 100% Zin, but offered in a blend of Zin (76%), Petite Sirah (19%) and Carignane (5%). The blended wine leads to a dark, lush velvety appearance with a faint leading edge. The nose provides smoky scents with hints of butter, spice and ground pepper with big, jammy fruit after aeration. The palate receives big fruit such as black cheery and a light oak-driven smoke flavor and beautiful velvety mouthfeel. This wine was very nice and resembles what I remember of very good recent vintages of Ridge Geyserville. Rating: 89.
Frog's Leap Merlot (Rutherford) 2006 ($34): I must issue a statement regarding my lack of preference for Merlot. Nonetheless, I am attempting to be objective regarding this review. The appearance is a wonderful dark plum offering with some fragmentation. The nose offers a touch of oak complemented with eucalyptus and green pepper. The flavor offering is a blended set of currant and black cherry with an oaky underlying flavor. The finish was rounded and pleasant with a faint smoky flavor. I enjoyed this merlot, although the price puts it far outside a range of contemplation for me. Rating: 86.
Frog's Leap Rutherford 2005 ($75): The Rutherford is Frog's Leap version of a Meritage-like blend of grapes (96% Cab. Sauv, 4% Cab. Franc). The appearance is very dark but still transparent. The nose offers vanilla with an earthy scent and a hint of green pepper. Significant depth on the nose suggests that the wine would age wonderfully for 5-10 years. The taste writhes of tobacco and dried cherry with a cedar flavor laced throughout. The finish was a nice silky mouthfeel with a light tannic touch. The nose of this wine is very distinct. I rate this wine very highly but the price is a deterrent. Rating: 87.
Frog's Leap Sauvignon Blanc (Rutherford) 2008 ($18): The Sauv. Blanc offers a very light olive oil appearance and served chilled. The nose provides fruits such as grapefruit and a touch of lime mixed with lemongrass. On the palate, the wine was slightly salty with very little depth. Strangely, the finish was instant and slightly bitter, offering stronger lime flavors. Overall, this was a simple wine with a bright nose but little complexity. The flavors, as is often the case, do not closely resemble the nose. Rating: 84.
Frog's Leap Zinfandel (Napa Valley) 2007 ($27): This wine was not 100% Zin, but offered in a blend of Zin (76%), Petite Sirah (19%) and Carignane (5%). The blended wine leads to a dark, lush velvety appearance with a faint leading edge. The nose provides smoky scents with hints of butter, spice and ground pepper with big, jammy fruit after aeration. The palate receives big fruit such as black cheery and a light oak-driven smoke flavor and beautiful velvety mouthfeel. This wine was very nice and resembles what I remember of very good recent vintages of Ridge Geyserville. Rating: 89.
Frog's Leap Merlot (Rutherford) 2006 ($34): I must issue a statement regarding my lack of preference for Merlot. Nonetheless, I am attempting to be objective regarding this review. The appearance is a wonderful dark plum offering with some fragmentation. The nose offers a touch of oak complemented with eucalyptus and green pepper. The flavor offering is a blended set of currant and black cherry with an oaky underlying flavor. The finish was rounded and pleasant with a faint smoky flavor. I enjoyed this merlot, although the price puts it far outside a range of contemplation for me. Rating: 86.
Frog's Leap Rutherford 2005 ($75): The Rutherford is Frog's Leap version of a Meritage-like blend of grapes (96% Cab. Sauv, 4% Cab. Franc). The appearance is very dark but still transparent. The nose offers vanilla with an earthy scent and a hint of green pepper. Significant depth on the nose suggests that the wine would age wonderfully for 5-10 years. The taste writhes of tobacco and dried cherry with a cedar flavor laced throughout. The finish was a nice silky mouthfeel with a light tannic touch. The nose of this wine is very distinct. I rate this wine very highly but the price is a deterrent. Rating: 87.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Day 2: 1990 Pio Cesare Barolo
After allowing the wine to decant overnight, I tried it again. Some sediment still exists in the wine lending a bit more texture. It's interesting to note the major changes in wine, not only with time but also with temperature. The wine was previously tasted around 65-68 degrees F. This temperature allowed the nose of the wine to be fully expressed. Today, the wine is a bit cooler. The initial scents from this wine are faint. Bright cherry and some medjool fig scents accompany a brown sugar smell.The wine continues to smell clean, with touches of slate and mint. Faint hints of cloves and nutmeg appear in this wine.
The overwhelmingly predominant flavor remains kalamata olives. The underlying texture is incredibly velvety and generously thick in nature.Very short aftertaste accompanies this wine rendering it suitable for consumption with well-balanced meals in terms of spice. This wine will pair well with pasta dishes with olive oil based sauces. Red sauces may overwhelm this wine and lead to awkward flavors with tomatoes. Pork dishes will also hold up nicely with this wine, perhaps inclusive of bbq pork.
The overwhelmingly predominant flavor remains kalamata olives. The underlying texture is incredibly velvety and generously thick in nature.Very short aftertaste accompanies this wine rendering it suitable for consumption with well-balanced meals in terms of spice. This wine will pair well with pasta dishes with olive oil based sauces. Red sauces may overwhelm this wine and lead to awkward flavors with tomatoes. Pork dishes will also hold up nicely with this wine, perhaps inclusive of bbq pork.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
1990 Pio Cesare Barolo Tasting
As a gift, I received a bottle of 1990 Pio Cesare Barolo. I'm a lover of Italian wines, yet they are so expensive that I rarely have an opportunity to taste a premier bottle. I cracked the bottle today and decanted, but needed to sneak a taste. The bottle had considerable sediment in the bottom of the bottle and as such I was sure to be careful while decanting. Here are my initial thoughts based on the tasting right after opening.
The wine opens with a nice bouquet of smoke and bright cherry. Displaying an earthy smell that gives an impression of a strong Cab seems low in alcohol, as would be expected with a wine of this age. Interestingly, I also get hints of hyacinth, lilac and asparagus with this wine at the early stage. I'm anxious to see what this wine is like after some time exposed to air. The velvety texture gives way to a wine that has almost a salty flavor like kalamata olives. The smoke directly complements this flavor and makes me think of a Mediterranean meal. The color of the wine is now a duller maroon color, almost fading to brown at the very edge. Otherwise, the wine appears somewhat transparent.
Overall, I'm incredibly excited to taste this wine after some time and with a dinner. I tasted this wine without food, so I'm certain it will change quite a bit.
The wine opens with a nice bouquet of smoke and bright cherry. Displaying an earthy smell that gives an impression of a strong Cab seems low in alcohol, as would be expected with a wine of this age. Interestingly, I also get hints of hyacinth, lilac and asparagus with this wine at the early stage. I'm anxious to see what this wine is like after some time exposed to air. The velvety texture gives way to a wine that has almost a salty flavor like kalamata olives. The smoke directly complements this flavor and makes me think of a Mediterranean meal. The color of the wine is now a duller maroon color, almost fading to brown at the very edge. Otherwise, the wine appears somewhat transparent.
Overall, I'm incredibly excited to taste this wine after some time and with a dinner. I tasted this wine without food, so I'm certain it will change quite a bit.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
A California Syrah that Evokes the Rhone | James Molesworth | What We'
A California Syrah that Evokes the Rhône | James Molesworth | What We'
Shared via AddThis
This wine is great! I'm a member of Qupe, we get some pretty cool stuff, including some cellar dweller wines they've kept in the library. Check them out at: http://www.qupe.com/
Shared via AddThis
This wine is great! I'm a member of Qupe, we get some pretty cool stuff, including some cellar dweller wines they've kept in the library. Check them out at: http://www.qupe.com/
Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2007
I happened upon a cheap wine that I thought might be a nice addition to our dinner plans for the evening (which changed anyhow), the Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2007. The blend offers supple fruit, cinnamon tones, and a touch of smoke on the nose. This overly juicy wine is suitable for drinking with pasta dishes (as I found out tonight, see http://adnsplace.blogspot.com for my meal this evening) and may be good with meats such as pork and beef. With a velvety mouthfeel, this wine is certainly an easy drinking wine, one I would keep on hand for parties. Points: 84-86.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Cicchitti Malbec-Cab Blend
For those that enjoy a bit of depth in their Malbec, you may enjoy the Cicchitti Malbec-Cabernet blend. This wine has the unique flavors of malbec ( a touch of mint, nice berry structure and sweetness) with the increased depth from Cab. The tobacco flavor really fits nicely with the malbec flavors and leads to a nice, drinkable wine today. I paired this with a puerco cubano (cuban pork) from Cascal Restaurant (http://www.cascalrestaurant.com/index.asp) combined with an awesome set of sides, cuban black beans with rice and mashed sweet potato-plantain mixtures. Very sweet! Overall, I would suggest pairing the Cicchitti with meats the bring out the excellent flavors from the cab (black cherry and tobacco). Pork seemed to be an excellent match, as the mint and tobacco combined together with the underlying spice in the wine to form a nice bouquet in the mouth. Overall, I rate this wine 88+ points.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Meridian Chardonnay
Long ago, when I was a graduate student, I was just getting into wine. Most people start with white wines (or perhaps White Zin). I had an opportunity to visit a wine festival and tasted a large number of wines, including wines from Meridian. One wine has stuck with me over the years as a favorite, cheap wine that really tastes great.
The Meridian Chardonnay is an excellent bargain purchase. Its flavors are consistently light, crisp and sweet with tones of citrus, creamy vanilla, and light oaky tones. I'm not a huge fan of oak-driven chardonnay, so this light oak chard fits well in my repertoire. The light straw color and dampened alcohol flavors really make this wine enjoyable for an anytime drinking wine, especially refreshing on hot days. The Meridian Chardonnay is easily found at most stores for a price under $10. Visit Meridian here.
The Meridian Chardonnay is an excellent bargain purchase. Its flavors are consistently light, crisp and sweet with tones of citrus, creamy vanilla, and light oaky tones. I'm not a huge fan of oak-driven chardonnay, so this light oak chard fits well in my repertoire. The light straw color and dampened alcohol flavors really make this wine enjoyable for an anytime drinking wine, especially refreshing on hot days. The Meridian Chardonnay is easily found at most stores for a price under $10. Visit Meridian here.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A Tasting at Scheid in Monterey
We visited the Scheid Vineyards tasting room at Cannery Row in Monterey, CA. I've found a few wines that I really enjoy from Monterey county, mainly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but was open to trying the offerings at Scheid. Our tasting consisted of the following wines: Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Rose, Estate Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Petite Sirah. My tasting notes follow here.
Pinot Gris
Very light in texture, like extra light virgin olive oil, with flavors of lemon zest, mineral tones, and a nice creamy flavor. Overall, an ok wine (~83 points) that would be great for a very hot day that calls for a clean white wine.
Chardonnay
A light colored chardonnay, lacking the normal "straw color" for chardonnay. I did not prefer this wine, as it seemed to lack considerable flavor depths and was flabby for structure. (60 points).
Rose (Syrah-Grenache blend)
The Rose was a nice surprise. The nose had strong flavors of broccoli and strawberry, quite a conundrum, but hardly indicative of the flavor. A darker Rose, the flavors consisted of elegant strawberry and raspberry mixtures with a nice mouthfeel. I rated this wine very highly, with points in the high 80s-low 90s (~87).
Pinot Noir (2005)
I expected the Pinot Noir to be this winery's best offering, as the Monterey County vineyards have started producing some excellent wines. Unfortunately, my expectations may have been too high. While this Pinot exhibited a nice mouthfeel and stereotypical black cherry and vanilla flavors, the blend did not come together. Individual flavors could be tasted but the combined flavors did not play off of each other. Perhaps more time in the bottle is necessary for this wine to fully develop its flavors. Points: 80-84
Merlot
I must confess, I am not a Merlot fan, and as such, I'm not able to provide a great description of merlot. The wine from Scheid displayed a nice mouthfeel, very velvety with very dark fruits (black cherry and currants) with a touch of tannin flavor. This wine, certainly drinkable, could have used a bit more time in oak to develop a greater structure. Nontheless, I'd rate this wine in the 80s. (Points: 83-85).
Petite Sirah
In stark contrast to Merlot, I love Petite Sirah. It's flavors can be complex while also offering wonderful bright cherry flavors and a nice firm texture with appropriate tannin levels, a great aging wine. The Scheid offering certainly had a nice texture and some bright cherry flavors. I thought the wine seemed a bit tired during our tasting, but this may have been the bottle. I'd expected greater tannin flavor to come through, but the wine did not meet my expectations. Points: 83-85.
Pinot Gris
Very light in texture, like extra light virgin olive oil, with flavors of lemon zest, mineral tones, and a nice creamy flavor. Overall, an ok wine (~83 points) that would be great for a very hot day that calls for a clean white wine.
Chardonnay
A light colored chardonnay, lacking the normal "straw color" for chardonnay. I did not prefer this wine, as it seemed to lack considerable flavor depths and was flabby for structure. (60 points).
Rose (Syrah-Grenache blend)
The Rose was a nice surprise. The nose had strong flavors of broccoli and strawberry, quite a conundrum, but hardly indicative of the flavor. A darker Rose, the flavors consisted of elegant strawberry and raspberry mixtures with a nice mouthfeel. I rated this wine very highly, with points in the high 80s-low 90s (~87).
Pinot Noir (2005)
I expected the Pinot Noir to be this winery's best offering, as the Monterey County vineyards have started producing some excellent wines. Unfortunately, my expectations may have been too high. While this Pinot exhibited a nice mouthfeel and stereotypical black cherry and vanilla flavors, the blend did not come together. Individual flavors could be tasted but the combined flavors did not play off of each other. Perhaps more time in the bottle is necessary for this wine to fully develop its flavors. Points: 80-84
Merlot
I must confess, I am not a Merlot fan, and as such, I'm not able to provide a great description of merlot. The wine from Scheid displayed a nice mouthfeel, very velvety with very dark fruits (black cherry and currants) with a touch of tannin flavor. This wine, certainly drinkable, could have used a bit more time in oak to develop a greater structure. Nontheless, I'd rate this wine in the 80s. (Points: 83-85).
Petite Sirah
In stark contrast to Merlot, I love Petite Sirah. It's flavors can be complex while also offering wonderful bright cherry flavors and a nice firm texture with appropriate tannin levels, a great aging wine. The Scheid offering certainly had a nice texture and some bright cherry flavors. I thought the wine seemed a bit tired during our tasting, but this may have been the bottle. I'd expected greater tannin flavor to come through, but the wine did not meet my expectations. Points: 83-85.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wines Under $20: Wine Spectator List
The Oct. 15, 2009 issue of Wine Spectator is a great pick-up for folks who enjoy drinking wines that fall in the "bargain" territory of the wine world. I, for one, really get a little thrill out of trying to find high quality wine for a reasonable (sometimes cheap) price. This issue reads really well, with a comprehensive list of not only California wines, but international wines (yes, French wines are included). So, if you're looking for great tasting bargains that rated highly with the "pros", check this issue out:
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
2004 Ridge Oltranti-Day 2
Today's assessment of the Oltranti doesn't really change much from yesterday. The only major difference is that the "alcohol" flavor has certainly been reduced. The flavors of the wine still remain somewhat hidden but I am starting to get some true blending of black cherry, leather, and currants. No real spiciness can be detected at this point as the tannins continue to dominate this wine. I'll check again tomorrow in hopes of a brighter wine.
2004 Ridge Oltranti
I know it may seem as though I only drink Ridge wines, but I happened to move across the country without my wine, so soon I'll be tasting many others! Nonetheless, last night I opened the 2004 RidgeOltranti. The Oltranti is 88% Zin, 10% Carignane, and 2% Petite Sirah. This unique grape combination leads to a somewhat overpowering smell at opening, with some serious tannin presence. The alcohol smell and flavor were incredibly strong in the beginning but began to subside over the course of an hour. Interestingly, this wine has incredibly complex flavor structure which could not be deciphered immediately. I will report on the tasting for Day 2 soon! At that point, I hope the wine has calmed enough to detect individual flavors. As of now, the only flavors immediately discernible were strong currant and light leather undertones. I anticipate that this wine will be great this evening. Meal: grilled pork tenderloin medallions with Galena Street Seasoning (Penzey's Spices, http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/p-penzeysgalena.html), grilled sweet corn, and caprese orzo.
Monday, September 7, 2009
A Tasting at Monte Bello (Ridge Vineyards)
The Fall Release tasting of Ridge Wines was an excellent opportunity to taste new wines from Ridge. Unfortunately, some of the wines are not up to the wineries standards at this point. The first wine on the tasting list was the 2006 Monte Bello Chardonnay ($60). This wine had a nice light olive oil color with nice mouthfeel. The wine lacked any significant structure, even though it had spent time in American Oak, both young (1-2 years old) and old (4-5 years old). I believe this wine is at it's peak right now and cellaring may actually extract flavor rather than enhance it. The flavors of this wine are very characteristic of chardonnay. Nice citrus undertones and a clean smell of sweettarts. Overall, this wine rates as a pretty average Chardonnay in my book, definitely not worth the $60 list price.
The next wine on the tasting list was the 2007 Lytton Springs ($35). Here, Ridge returns to it's roots and produces an excellent quality wine with definite cellaring capability. With a whopping 22% Petite Sirah, this wine has beautiful velvety structure and definite cellar strength. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and believe the purchase price of $35 is merited if you intend to cellar. The tasting exuded the standard petite sirah flavors when blended with zinfandel. Nice dark fruity flavors with a touch of dark chocolate and vanilla top off this wine. Overall, an excellent red.
The 2007 Pagani Ranch ($35) appeared to be a fan-favorite in the tasting room. This may have been due to the wine pourer indicating her preference for the Pagani Ranch wines over time. I find that when I'm in a tasting room, the opinions of the wine pourer should not be readily given, as it directly influences the perception and flavors perceived by wine tasters. Nonetheless, the dramatic difference in sweetness from the Lytton Springs wine to the Pagani Ranch were notable. At 92% Zin, it is no surprise that this wine consisted of the stereotypical "jammy" flavors intrinsic to zinfandel. Having tasted many vintages of Pagani Ranch from Ridge, I do believe this vintage is drinkable now and may have a year or two in cellar prior to reaching it's maximum. Overall, a quaffable wine at this point in time but may enhance with time in the bottle.
The 2007 York Creek ($30) was one of my favorites. The beautiful blend of dark chocolate, pipe tobacco and vanilla made this wine an excellent, drinkable wine right now. This wine has the cellaring capability of some great cabs, but it seems irresistible right now. An elegant pour, with a bit of oxygen to break the wine, led to a fantastic tasting wine. I was quite fortunate though, as during my visit, the other York Creek bottle being poured from was half gone and "corked". Nonetheless, if you can get your hands on a bottle of the 2007 York Creek, I highly suggest it. Again, another wine blended with 22% Petite Sirah shines and display excellent strength but velvety elegance. My favorite wine of the day!
We diverged from the tasting list at this point, and tasted the 2007 East Bench ($30). The East Bench was also a fan-favorite in the tasting room. To me, this wine lacked in cellar strength and overall had poor flavor structure. I'd pass on this wine.
The 2007 Paso Robles ($30) is an interesting wine. Of all of the wines being tasted at Ridge today, this is the only real hot temperatured wine. As such, the flavor structure is significantly different (especially after tasting the East Bench). I've tasted a few vintages of Paso Robles and the flavors of very stereotypical. A taste of dry, woodiness blended with jammy, big dark fruits leads to an appealing flavor. Ovreall, an ok wine with suitable drinkability today and perhaps in the future.
Prior to tasting the Monte Bello Cab, we were permitted to try the 50/50 2005 Syrah/Grenache ($35). I'm a lover of these blends and was very excited to try Ridge's take on the wine. However, I was disappointed as this wine lacked the normal tones present in these types of wine blends. My first take through smell was that of Mac & Cheese with deli ham, not the most appealing smell. Then the taste lacked in complexity normally inherent to wine blends. I'd focus my energies on Syrah/Grenache blends from the Santa Barabara wine country, an area well-known to produce excellent Rhone Varietals.
Ah, the 2006 Monte Bello Cabernet ($145). This wine blew my mind. I had never tasted a Monte Bello at this young age and was incredibly surprised to find it incredibly drinkable today. An overall excellent blend of a wide variety of grapes will allow this wine to be drinkable today but can definitely be laid down for 10-20 years or more and still retain excellent flavors. This wine begs for a nice juicy steak (cooked medium) and some nice garlic accents. Overall, an excellent wine!
The next wine on the tasting list was the 2007 Lytton Springs ($35). Here, Ridge returns to it's roots and produces an excellent quality wine with definite cellaring capability. With a whopping 22% Petite Sirah, this wine has beautiful velvety structure and definite cellar strength. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine and believe the purchase price of $35 is merited if you intend to cellar. The tasting exuded the standard petite sirah flavors when blended with zinfandel. Nice dark fruity flavors with a touch of dark chocolate and vanilla top off this wine. Overall, an excellent red.
The 2007 Pagani Ranch ($35) appeared to be a fan-favorite in the tasting room. This may have been due to the wine pourer indicating her preference for the Pagani Ranch wines over time. I find that when I'm in a tasting room, the opinions of the wine pourer should not be readily given, as it directly influences the perception and flavors perceived by wine tasters. Nonetheless, the dramatic difference in sweetness from the Lytton Springs wine to the Pagani Ranch were notable. At 92% Zin, it is no surprise that this wine consisted of the stereotypical "jammy" flavors intrinsic to zinfandel. Having tasted many vintages of Pagani Ranch from Ridge, I do believe this vintage is drinkable now and may have a year or two in cellar prior to reaching it's maximum. Overall, a quaffable wine at this point in time but may enhance with time in the bottle.
The 2007 York Creek ($30) was one of my favorites. The beautiful blend of dark chocolate, pipe tobacco and vanilla made this wine an excellent, drinkable wine right now. This wine has the cellaring capability of some great cabs, but it seems irresistible right now. An elegant pour, with a bit of oxygen to break the wine, led to a fantastic tasting wine. I was quite fortunate though, as during my visit, the other York Creek bottle being poured from was half gone and "corked". Nonetheless, if you can get your hands on a bottle of the 2007 York Creek, I highly suggest it. Again, another wine blended with 22% Petite Sirah shines and display excellent strength but velvety elegance. My favorite wine of the day!
We diverged from the tasting list at this point, and tasted the 2007 East Bench ($30). The East Bench was also a fan-favorite in the tasting room. To me, this wine lacked in cellar strength and overall had poor flavor structure. I'd pass on this wine.
The 2007 Paso Robles ($30) is an interesting wine. Of all of the wines being tasted at Ridge today, this is the only real hot temperatured wine. As such, the flavor structure is significantly different (especially after tasting the East Bench). I've tasted a few vintages of Paso Robles and the flavors of very stereotypical. A taste of dry, woodiness blended with jammy, big dark fruits leads to an appealing flavor. Ovreall, an ok wine with suitable drinkability today and perhaps in the future.
Prior to tasting the Monte Bello Cab, we were permitted to try the 50/50 2005 Syrah/Grenache ($35). I'm a lover of these blends and was very excited to try Ridge's take on the wine. However, I was disappointed as this wine lacked the normal tones present in these types of wine blends. My first take through smell was that of Mac & Cheese with deli ham, not the most appealing smell. Then the taste lacked in complexity normally inherent to wine blends. I'd focus my energies on Syrah/Grenache blends from the Santa Barabara wine country, an area well-known to produce excellent Rhone Varietals.
Ah, the 2006 Monte Bello Cabernet ($145). This wine blew my mind. I had never tasted a Monte Bello at this young age and was incredibly surprised to find it incredibly drinkable today. An overall excellent blend of a wide variety of grapes will allow this wine to be drinkable today but can definitely be laid down for 10-20 years or more and still retain excellent flavors. This wine begs for a nice juicy steak (cooked medium) and some nice garlic accents. Overall, an excellent wine!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Revisiting Geyserville 2004
After allowing the Ridge Geyserville 2004 vintage to rest (after opening), I tasted it 3 days later. The flavors have now changed dramatically. The alcoholic flavor has subsided and blended into the big fruity background. This wine continues to gain "jammy" flavors as it is exposed to air. Overall, the best time to have this wine appears to be 1 day after opening and allowing exposure.
Friday, August 28, 2009
CA Tasting Update-Ridge Geyserville 2004
I opened a bottle of the Ridge Geyserville 2004 two evenings ago. My initial reaction was, "Wow, this stuff is potent!". Geyserville has a tendency to require some aging to draw out the complexities inherent to the wine and grape composition. After tasting the first few sips and letting some air permeate the wine, it improved, rendering flavors of oak tannins, big dark fruits, and a bit of cloves.
The next evening, after having left the cork out overnight, I tried the wine again. WOW!! Incredibly different, with a nice, velvety texture and beautiful round flavors. Tannins appeared somewhat reduced and the jammy flavors that Ridge Zins are known for really came through. I can't wait to try the wine tonight!
Oh, by the way, the Ridge 2004 Oltranti is incredibly tasty right now. I just attended the Ridge Saturday Tasting Series for August. Great wines abound, ATP members.
The next evening, after having left the cork out overnight, I tried the wine again. WOW!! Incredibly different, with a nice, velvety texture and beautiful round flavors. Tannins appeared somewhat reduced and the jammy flavors that Ridge Zins are known for really came through. I can't wait to try the wine tonight!
Oh, by the way, the Ridge 2004 Oltranti is incredibly tasty right now. I just attended the Ridge Saturday Tasting Series for August. Great wines abound, ATP members.
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