Wines of Chateau Montelena

Recently I got to participate in a webcast tasting with Bo Barrett and his daughter Remi, representing Chateau Montelena. This is one of the wineries famous for the big win in the 1976 Judgment of Paris when California wine beat out Old World legends. The story was the focus of the 2008 film Bottle Shock. I asked them what their family thinks about the movie. There was a lot of laughter, then Bo replied, "The movie was meant as a love letter to California wines rather than exactly what happened."

The two had a lot of great stories to share as our group tasted through two wines that have become legends in their own right.

2012 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
Napa Valley, California
100% Chardonnay
$50, 13.8% abv.

Aromas of lychee with a touch of toast and vanilla, mild and round body, gentle, low acidity, soft finish. Great balance and I think it would be wonderful with a simple meal of roast clams and baguettes.

2006 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California
98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc
$150, 13.9% abv.

I allowed this one to breathe for about an hour before tasting. It shows a deep nose of black plum and prune with underlying layers of chocolate and earth. Mellow tannins after eight years allow for a long, complex finish. Truly outstanding. I'd only serve this with the best steak you can possibly afford.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

2012 Edna Valley Vineyard Chardonnay

As much as I love Vietnamese food, I don't eat it as often as I should, especially given the many great restaurants here in the greater Memphis area. Last weekend I stopped by Green Bamboo in my local neighborhood for takeout. Pictured here are hủ tiếu and gỏi cuốn: the former is a savory soup that includes shrimp, squid, and pork, while the latter is a lettuce and shrimp roll dipped in a peanut sauce.

It was my first time ordering hủ tiếu, and I think I've got a new favorite. I've always gone with the beef versions (phở bò viên, phở tái gầu) or the all-seafood implementations (like phở hải sản), but I think that the pork/shellfish/cephalopod model is pretty incredible.

The factor that always brings me back is the use of fresh vegetables. Bright basil, spicy peppers, crisp lettuce, crunchy bean sprouts... It's almost like having salad and soup at the same time and being able to enjoy the best elements of both. Upon arriving home, I decided that I would really enjoy this meal with a Chardonnay...

2012 Edna Valley Vineyard Chardonnay
Central Coast, California
100% Chardonnay
$15, 13.9% abv.

Buttery with a touch of caramel and vanilla on the nose. On the palate it is mild with gentle white peach flavors. Classic California Chardonnay profile. A perfect match with the lunchtime meal and a wine substantial enough to stand up to the bold flavors of the soup.

Note: This wine was provided as a sample for review.

Five Wines from Coppola

Over the years I've tried a lot of wines from Francis Coppola Winery. The names and brands have changed over time, but these five labels appear to be sticking around.

I visited the Sonoma winery back in 2009 and have often recommended these bottles as reliable choices that are widely distributed throughout the United States.

2011 Francis Coppola Diamond Chardonnay
Monterey County
100% Chardonnay
$16, 13.5% abv.

Buttered popcorn, touch of vanilla and caramel. Bright acidity but a fairly round body with a woody aftertaste.

2011 Francis Coppola Diamond Malbec
California
89% Malbec, 7% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah
$18, 13.1% abv.

Bright plum aroma with touches of leather and coffee. Round mouthfeel, low tannins, and a tart finish. Inky black color, but lighter than expected on the palate.

2011 Francis Coppola Diamond Claret
California
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
$21, 13.5% abv.

Blackberries, blueberries, cassis, chocolate, coffee, medium tannins, long dark fruit finish.

2012 Sofia Rosé
Monterey County, California
55% Syrah, 35% Pinot Noir, 10% Grenache
$19, 12.5% abv.

A favorite of mine, and one that I love to give as a gift. Light strawberry flavors with bright acidity and a generally fun wine. Adaptable to a wide range of foods.

2012 Francis Coppola Director's Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast, California
100% Pinot Noir
$21, 13.5% abv.

Very light garnet color, delicate wild strawberry aromas, mild acidity, low tannins, long finish.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

2012 Matchbook The Arsonist

I love this label design, though it pains me that it might be misunderstood. The winery does not endorse arson, but rather their concept is an homage to the Titan Prometheus who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to humanity, allowing them to begin forging metal and, more importantly, enjoying a weekend barbecue.

If I had a wine label with a guy missing one hand and I only sold that wine on a Tuesday, most people would think me to be insane but a select few would know that the Norse god Týr lost his hand to the Fenris wolf, and the English name for Tuesday is named in his honor. The Latin days of the week are all named after the celestial bodies (and their related gods and goddesses), while the Germanic-Scandinavian convention preserves a few of the stars and planets while adding Teutonic Gods. So everybody is cool with Sunday being the sun day and Monday being the moon day, but Wednesday is Odin's day up north and Mercury's day down south. Thursday is Thor's day or Jupiter's day. Friday belongs to Freya or Venus. Saturday is complicated (mostly focused on Saturn, adapted from Cronus), and rolling back to Tuesday, in southern Europe the name comes from Mars.

Back to the label, I really appreciate the neat linework and clever design. It continues on the back, where the top of the UPC barcode has little flames. You should never buy a wine based on the label alone, but you should always celebrate a decent wine that happens to display an appreciation of design theory.

2012 Matchbook The Arsonist
98% Matchbook Vineyards, Dunnigan Hills; 2% Aquarius Vineyard, Russian River Valley
100% Chardonnay
$22, 14.3% abv.

Ripe and peachy with a bold body and a round mouthfeel. Balanced acidity and a gentle finish. As it warms, you get light touches of vanilla and oak on the nose. Yes, it's summer here in Memphis and I proudly enjoyed this wine with fried chicken, which was delicious. As the season winds down, consider this for your picnics and other informal gatherings where you want a crowd pleaser that will go great with casual fare.

Note: This wine was provided as a sample for review.

Nuvino Wine Pouches

While tasting the wines from Nuvino packaged in foil pouches, I did not think about Capri Sun as much as I did the space program, and how it felt like the kind of beverage packaging that one would need in zero gravity. That took me back to something I made last year for an April Fools post that I ended up scrapping, but I still like the fake label that I made for a hypothetical wine made on board the International Space Station.

On the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, I found myself sipping wine out of a foil/plastic pouch of the sort that would be very convenient on the ISS or other spacecraft. Indeed, fellow Presbyterian Buzz Aldrin celebrated communion on the moon with a little vial of wine, and of course the Russians have had no problem sending up adult libations over the years. (There was an early idea to provide astronauts with sherry on Skylab, but that got nixed and since then the US space program has had a zero alcohol policy.)

These four wines are packaged in 187mL pouches made by PreservPak and marketed by Nuvino. Each pouch is a single serving and retails for $4, which is a fairly good bargain since you're getting a fourth of a bottle versus the traditional fifth in a glass.

2013 Sauvignon Blanc
Maule Valley, Chile
13% abv.

Clean and mild, gentle Meyer lemon flavors. Round body and a quick finish.

2013 Chardonnay
Cape Winelands, South Africa
13.5% abv.

Light apricot, no oak, mild finish. Really very delicate for a Southern hemisphere Chardonnay.

2013 Malbec
Maipu, Argentina
14.5% abv.

Dominant profile of prune and stewed fruits with a little ash and leather.

2013 Red Blend
Swan Hill, Australia
13.9% abv.

Blackberry and chocolate with firm tannins and a long, lingering finish.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Belle Ambiance

Belle Ambiance is a marque under the Delicato Family Vineyards umbrella. Tasting notes and details can be found under the latter website, and I've seen the displays in local wine shops. With the low prices, pastel labels, and simple yet classy presentation, these seem like the perfect wines for weddings, baby showers, and similar occasions. Lest anyone think that I am classifying an entire line of wine as feminine, I would like to point out that I catered a wedding and baby shower within the past year with tremendous success. A classy, French-inspired, Art Deco type label works much better in such an occasion than a Spanish wine label that celebrates bull testicles (more on that in a future post).

2013 Belle Ambiance Pinot Grigio
California
100% Pinot Grigio
$10, 13% abv.

I have a complicated history with Pinot Grigio, and this is not my favorite presentation of the grape, but it has its place as something gentle that a lot of people will enjoy at a big event. Light and crisp, tiny touch of lemon peel, gentle body and an overall refreshing profile. Great for mingling and talking in lieu of a sparkling wine.

2012 Belle Ambiance Chardonnay
California
100% Chardonnay
$10, 13.5% abv.

This California Chardonnay shows a touch of honey and a little sweetness. Firmer body than the Pinot Grigio, with a little oak to provide depth and a hint of vanilla and caramel. A good one to go along with the chicken covered in a creamy mushroom sauce at the wedding reception.

2012 Belle Ambiance Pinot Noir
California
100% Pinot Noir
$10, 13.5% abv.

This one surprised me with a little more complexity than I was expecting. Classic strawberry profile but there are nutty and earthy undertones on the nose. A mellow body with low tannins contributes to a real crowd pleaser for folks that may not be ready for a strong Cabernet Sauvignon. Obviously the best choice for everyone whose seating card has a red tag.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Davis Bynum Wines

Well, my "day" off stretched into a week, but I wasn't really taking a break from wine writing. In that time I attended three online tastings, submitted four articles for other publications, and caught up on receipts and invoices. Add to that the time spent picking up shipments of samples, photographing and organizing them, clearing out the empties (the neighbors are constantly baffled), and it was one busy week in the life of your humble correspondent.

Time to get back on schedule with a pleasant pair from Sonoma.

Davis Bynum was a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle in 1951 when he bought some Petite Sirah from Robert Mondavi. Twenty years later he would become well known as the first winemaker to produce single vineyard Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley, a subregion now famous for the style.

2012 Davis Bynum River West Chardonnay
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
100% Chardonnay
$30, 14.5% abv.

Pleasantly crisp with a balanced touch of oak. Bright acidity and flavors of overripe peach with a rounder, slightly buttery finish. Should be great with grilled quail and German potato salad this summer.

2012 Davis Bynum Jane's Vineayrd Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
100% Pinot Noir
$40, 14.5% abv.

Classic California Pinot Noir with a gentle profile of wild strawberries and mild tannins. Light hints of earth and spice in the background. Set out a platter of Spanish cheeses, olives, and salumi and enjoy a quiet evening snack.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Chablis

People often ask why I don't review more French wines. I love French wines, particularly from the obscure regions. But I mostly taste and write about the wines that I receive as samples, and not that many French bottles arrive on my door step.

Recently I got a chance to participate in an online tasting of three great bottles from Chablis. The white wines from this region are made from Chardonnay, the world's most popular white wine grape. Sure, I can grab a Chard from Australia or California or South Africa or even Italy, but why is Chablis special? Why does that region have a unique character? It all comes down to terroir.

Sample kits often arrive with bits and bobs of collateral material--pamphlets and maps and corkscrews. But I was really excited by this keychain attached to a chunk of rock from Chablis. This is Kimmeridgian clay, limestone, and lots of shells from the tiny Exogyra virgula oyster that lived 150 million years ago.

I have no idea what creature ate those oysters, or if they merely lived and died on the ocean floor. I wonder if any of my leftover oyster shells will end up on some keychain 150 million years from now, when alien geologists are digging around the remnants of what used to be Memphis.

This type of soil is used for the Premier and Grand Crus, which are the second and third wines listed. The first is an AOC Chablis, and we didn't taste the lower tier Petit Chablis, though those wines can be fantastic bargains.

2011 Chablis La Chablisienne La Pierrelée
Chablis
100% Chardonnay
$20, 12.5% abv.

The first wine we opened was light and mild with a recognizable Chardonnay aroma. On the palate there is a touch of lemon and a slightly mineral finish. Great for salads and appetizers.

2011 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains, William Fèvre
Chablis
100% Chardonnay
$45, 12.5% abv.

This bottle showed a floral nose with touches of earth. The oak is more pronounced, with a little vanilla and a firmer body. I found myself with a strong craving for crêpes filled with béchamel sauce and mushrooms.

2011 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos, Domaine Christian Moreau
Chablis
100% Chardonnay
$80, 13% abv.

This remarkable wine had a mild honey aroma with a little wet stone. Despite the sweet smell, the wine was bone dry and had the strongest minerality of the three. It was delightful and one that should be enjoyed when you have the time to properly appreciate it. And in honor of the soil, I'd suggest breaking out the oysters.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Four Vines Wines

Four Vines Winery celebrates California Zinfandel with an array of rebellious wine names like Maverick and Biker, though they've added a "naked" Chardonnay. As is typically the case, they're not making 100% pure Zinfandel, but rather using creative blends that may surprise you. In the hands of a talented winemaker, adding that 5% Petite Sirah or 8% Tempranillo or some other grape might be just the right thing that brings balance to the strong, sunbaked California Zinfandel grapes.

2012 Four Vines Naked Unoaked Chardonnay
Santa Barbara County
100% Chardonnay
$11, 13.9% abv.

Big ripe peach flavors, firm acidity, big mouthfeel. Another affordable unoaked Chardonnay that I would recommend for a nice weekend lunch here in this mild spring we're having.

2011 Four Vines Truant Old Vine Zinfandel
California
90% Zinfandel, 7% Barbera, 3% Other Red Grapes
$11, 14.4% abv.

Deep black cherry and blueberry. Medium tannins and a tart acidity with a long finish. The notes mention that some of the fruit was sourced from Lodi, which means that I may have walked through the gnarled old vines that contributed to this particular bottling.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

2012 Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay "Francine's Selection"

It's always fun to taste another wine from Toad Hollow Vineyards. The names and labels are whimsical, but underneath the corks lie serious wines. The winery was founded in 1993 by Todd Williams and Rod Strong, and their first product was an unoaked Chardonnay. This bottling represents their 20th anniversary, and with a wink to the concept that "no trees were harmed in the production of this wine", the company is making a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation in the form of one tree planted for every case that is sold. Lots of people talk about saving trees by not printing out e-mails or using old envelopes to take notes, but now you can also join in by drinking unoaked Chardonnay.

I'm not against oak in Chardonnay, and indeed it is integral to proper aging of some of the best white wines in the world. But there are also other occasions where you don't need such a huge presence on the table, but rather want something lighter and easier drinking to match with more delicate food or dinner companions who have been burned on rough wines in the past. This particular grape can be expressed so many ways, in so many different places, that I cringe whenever someone tells me that they hate Chardonnay. You don't hate all Chardonnay, just that one that left a bad taste in your mouth. I've seen more than one person be surprised at a blind tasting with a good unoaked Chard.

2012 Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay "Francine's Selection"
Mendocino County
100% Chardonnay
$15, 13.9% abv.

The wine starts off with light apricot and peach aromas. Great ripe white fruit flavors and a big round body. On the palate it has low acidity and a brief finish, making it perfect for enjoying with that spring salad incorporating fresh fruit, grilled chicken, and nuts.

Note: This wine was provided as a sample for review.

Votre Santé Wines from Coppola

A lot of the wines from Coppola have some connection to family, whether the bottle is named after a relative or there's a story going back generations. The Votre Santé marque is named in honor of his French grandmother who would toast in her native tongue at every meal.

In the spirit of family, I brought these wines (along with many others) to the baby shower for The Former Roommate. She was there with her husband and her mother, but my parents hosted, my brother and sister-in-law were there, Julia, Sally and Terry, Grace, and my cousin and her husband. This was the Memphis baby shower, occurring after her own family shower in her small West Tennessee town, but having lived with her for fifteen years, she's family as far as we're all concerned, and I'm looking forward to being an honorary uncle soon.

Here I take a look at the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and you can also read about the red blend in a previous post.

2011 Votre Santé Chardonnay
California
100% Chardonnay
$14, 13.5% abv.

Creamy and oaky with some of that classic California buttered popcorn aroma. Good acidity with a full mouthfeel. I haven't had a wine in this style in a while, and it was fun to enjoy with appetizers while catching up with friends and family.

2011 Votre Santé Pinot Noir
California
100% Pinot Noir
$14, 13.5% abv.

Bright and tart with a dominant aroma of strawberries. Just a little touch of brambles underneath it all, though certainly a bold New World Pinot Noir. Excellent with the smoked chicken wings that Dad was pulling off of his Big Green Egg smoker.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Jamieson Ranch Vineyards

Jamieson Ranch is the southernmost winery in Napa, and was formerly known as Reata (Spanish for "lariat"). I've covered their wines in the past, and even with the new name, several of the bottles will continue to carry the Reata marque. These three wines provide you with a great tour of classic Napa wines at reasonable prices.

2012 Reata Carneros Chardonnay
Carneros, California
100% Chardonnay
$20, 14.3% abv.
11,000 cases made

Bright apricot with a touch of vanilla, little touches of cream on the mild, round, and low acid body. Gentle mouthfeel, and one that would be great with a nice lobster roll.

2012 Reata Three County Pinot Noir
Monterey, Sonoma, San Benito, California
100% Pinot Noir
$30, 14.3% abv.
13,000 cases made

Chocolate covered strawberry aroma, with with deep berry flavors on the palate, firm tannins and a rich, deep finish. I recently had a duck molé dish and think that this would be the perfect match for it.

2011 Jamieson Ranch "Double Lariat" Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
$45, 14.7% abv.
3,000 cases made

This wine opened up early with rich cassis and blackberry aromas, accompanied by full fruit flavors and medium tannins. While excellent with a steak right now, this one is sure to improve and develop over the next few years.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

William Hill Estate Winery

William Hill Estate Winery was founded in Napa in 1978, but these two wines represent the introductory Coastal Collection with grapes sourced from the Central and North Coast regions (I wrote about two of the Napa reds in September).

2012 William Hill Chardonnay
North Coast, California
100% Chardonnay
$14, 13.5% abv.

Creamy mouthfeel with a dominate profile of pear, low acidity, round body, and a gentle finish. Little touches of butter and oak more in the French style than your standard $14 California Chardonnay. A great bargain that turned out to be the perfect match for the seafood dish described below.

2011 William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
North Coast, California
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
$14, 13.6% abv.

Black cherry aromas with a touch of anise and undertones of spice. Medium tannins contribute to a light body with a soft finish. Outstanding companion to a patty melt on a quite spring afternoon.

I paired the Chardonnay with Portuguese-style mussels. There are a lot of recipes out there but the idea is pretty basic: sauté chopped shallots, bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and chorizo, add wine, steam until the mussels open up, and serve with good crusty bread. There are two layers to the meal, meaning that you eat the mussels first and then sop up the savory sauce with pieces of bread. The salty, savory notes of the dish contrasted nicely against the mellow profile of the Chardonnay.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Σοφοσ Greek Organic Wine

Σοφοσ Greek Organic Wine is a new product line from established Greek producer Κτήμα Γκιούλη (Domaine Gioulis). The word for wisdom is usually transliterated as sophos, but these wines are promoted under the name Sofos. I think I've covered all the different ways that someone could find this post through a Google search.

The wines are certified organic in Greece and the United States, and "vegan friendly"--made without any animal products but not formally certified. This was something that I encountered with a lot of the "sustainable" winemakers in Sonoma, who often produced wines that exceeded the USDA organic regulations but who chose not to go through the added expense of a certification.

Both of these feature half and half blends of native Greek grapes with traditional French varieties, something that has been going on in Italy for decades and seems to be spreading (I've even seen the practice in Spanish wines). While I'm certainly interested in tasting many different kinds of grapes and appreciate native terroir, at the end of the day if you're selling wine it doesn't hurt to have some recognizable names on the label.

2013 Sofos White
Korinthos Protected Geographical Indication, Peloponnese
50% Moschofilero, 50% Chardonnay
$12, 12% abv.

Nice and fruity with an overripe peach profile, hint of honey and lemon but dry. Tart acidity and a short clean finish. I poured it to go along with a spinach lasagna.

2010 Sofos Red
Korinthos Protected Geographical Indication, Peloponnese
50% Agiorgitiko, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
$12, 12% abv.

Lots of berries and a lighter body than you'd initially expect. Cherries and blackberries dominate, with a few vegetal elements on the slightly tannic finish. Quite good with a roast pork sandwich.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Australia Day with Hardys Wines

Sunday was Australia Day for my dear friends in the antipodes. I was going to post something on Sunday morning, but by that point it was already Monday down there, so I figured a delay of a few more days wouldn't hurt. In honor of the holiday that celebrates the arrival of the first British fleet to reach the continent, I've got 70 prior posts about Australian wines for your reading pleasure.

Today we'll be looking at Hardys Wines, still run by the descendants of Thomas Hardy who bottled his first South Australia wine in 1857. The Chardonnay is named after William Hardy, a fifth-generation winemaker. Both of these wines are affordable bargains that are enclosed with convenient screwcaps.

2012 William Hardy Chardonnay
South Australia (57.2% Padthaway, 30.1% Riverland, 7.5% Wrattonbully, 3.8% McLaren Vale, 1% Langhorn Creek, .4% Other)
100% Chardonnay
$17, 13.5% abv.

Peach and floral aromas with deep white fruit flavors, clean and bright with medium acidity and a soft finish. I found it to go well with fried chicken and cole slaw.

2012 Hardys Nottage Hill Shiraz
South Eastern Australia
100% Shiraz
$13, 13.5% abv.

Deep scents of black currant and pepper, with dark plum on the palate and a cherry pie finish. Tart raspberry acidity. I enjoyed this one with an assortment of cheeses, nuts, dried fruits... Just a casual snack on a rainy weekend afternoon. Perfect sipper for curling up with a book for a few hours.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Mandolin Wines

Mandolin Wines specializes in vineyards from the large Central Coast AVA that stretches through a agriculturally rich swath of California.

Both of these are great values, and were produced at sufficient quantities that they should be easy to find as you begin the new year with a stack of holiday bills waiting for you.

2012 Mandolin Chardonnay
Monterey
100% Chardonnay
$10, 13.4% abv.
1,248 cases produced

This Chardonnay was aged on French oak for 10 months, but did not go through malolactic fermentation, so it's not a stereotypical California Chard. The result is a fruit-forward wine with elements of apricot and peach, light acidity, and a slightly nutty finish. I found it to be delightful with snacks like roasted pistachios and smoked cheddar.

2012 Mandolin Pinot Noir
Monterey
100% Pinot Noir
$12, 14.6% abv.
6,954 cases produced

Light strawberry aroma with touches of pencil shavings and cedar, tart acidity, long cherry finish. An excellent pairing for roast duck and roasted winter vegetables.


Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Smith-Madrone Wines

I had the blessed fortune to attend two Thanksgiving dinners this year, though nothing will quite match 1995 when circumstances collided to provide me four Thanksgiving meals within 48 hours. (I was also at the height of my bread baking phase, and made two dozen loaves of various classic European styles.)

The second harvest festival this year was held at the home of my parents along with Julia, The Roommate, my brother, and his wife and daughter. For the occasion, I brought along a trio of wines from Smith-Madrone Vineyards. There's a long tradition of serving American wines at the Thanksgiving table, and I was particularly excited to serve the small batch bottles of a classic Napa producer.

2012 Smith-Madrone Riesling
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
100% Riesling
$27, 12.5% abv.
798 cases made

Napa Riesling in tall green bottles was an early favorite of the Carter family back in the 90s. This one had gentle notes of green apple and was lightly sweet with earthy undertones and firm acidity. Really a spectacular balance of elements that could stand up to selections from Germany, and one that went particularly well with the side dishes like green bean casserole and my mother's rich sweet potato casserole.

2011 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
100% Chardonnay
$30, 14.2% abv.
463 cases made

100% fermentation in French oak gave this California Chardonnay a nose of buttered popcorn with a touch of vanilla. Beneath that are scents of warm roasted peaches. Mild acidity and a round mouthfeel lead to a long finish. I found that it was a great match for Dad's pecan-smoked turkey.

2009 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon
Spring Mountain District, Napa Valley
84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc
$45, 13.9% abv.
1,302 cases made

Dad also slow smoked a full, grass-fed, Hereford tenderloin that was rubbed down with a spice mix and cooked to a perfect medium rare. I was excited to pour this wine with the delicate beef flavors, and it did not disappoint. Rich cassis aromas with nice elements of bell pepper and tobacco. Berries show up on the aftertaste. The wine shows medium tannins and a long, lingering finish, and should continue to improve for a few more years. Highly recommended, and make sure that you have friends and family around to enjoy it.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Hickory Farms Gift Box with 2012 La Crema Chardonnay

When I was a kid, the family was always excited when a Hickory Farms gift box showed up at the house during the holiday season. Dad was crazy about the smoked cheese, Mom loved the little strawberry candies, and my brother and I would argue over the summer sausage. Even better were the occasional boxes that featured little mustards and sauces, which Dad and I would enjoy trying out in various combinations late at night while watching reruns of M*A*S*H.

During a weekend in which Memphis was hit by an ice storm (that proved to be far milder than in other parts of the nation), I received a sample of a Hickory Farms gift box that included a bottle of wine, with treats aimed at the wine lover. Let's talk about the wine first.

2012 La Crema Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast, California
100% Chardonnay
$23, 13.8% abv.

On the palate it shows bright acidity while the nose shows hints of pineapple and tropical fruits. A brassy California Chard with a gentle finish that goes well with the salty starters of the box but would be a great pairing for smoked salmon and other savory goodies that tend to show up on the table during the holidays. Like honey-roasted ham. This would be divine with a few slices of that and a dollop of Dijon mustard on the side.

Here's what you'll find in the Hickory Farms "Toast the Traditions" Gift Box
$99.99

• 2 Red D'Anjou Pears
  
• 1 Crown Comice Pears
  
• 2 Fuji Apples
  
• Our Signature Beef Summer Sausage 5 oz.
  
• Farmhouse Cheddar
  
• Smoked Cheddar Blend 4 oz.
  
• Mixed Nuts 4 oz.
  
• Roasted & Salted Pistachios 4 oz.
  
• Chocolate Covered Cashews 4 oz.
  
• Le Crema Chardonnay
  
• Net Weight 5.7 lbs.

Everything was delicious, and I'm still nibbling on the contents. Would you like to try this? Leave a comment below stating that you'd like to win this gift box, and I'll pick one winner at random in the next week. The only restriction from the company is that the winner needs to reside in the United States or Canada. Just let me know why you enjoy reading this blog, and next Wednesday I'll announce the winner and provide instructions on how to redeem your prize. Note: This gift box was provided as a sample for review.

Snooth Argentina Tasting with Doña Paula

A while back, I got the chance to rejoin my friends from Snooth.com for an online tasting of wines from Doña Paula of Argentina. Founded in 1990, the winery offers a range of about a dozen wines.

2012 Doña Paula Estate Chardonnay
Valle de Uco
100% Chardonnay
$15, 14.1% abv.

The white wine has peach and floral notes, a round body, and brassy acidity. It would be great with roast duck, where the acidity would cut through the rich fat of the skin.

2011 Doña Paula Estate Torrontés
Valle de Cafayate
100% Torrontés
$15, 13.5% abv.

Tropical fruits, nice hint of pineapple, mineral base, medium acidity, stony. Dried fruit finish. Torrontés is an interesting grape and one that deserves a lot more attention. This one would be perfect with a nice crisp salad that included fresh fruits and walnuts along with bleu cheese.

2011 Doña Paula Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Luján de Cuyo
100% Cabernet Sauvignon
$15, 14.1% abv.

Major notes of blackberry and blueberry, round dark fruit flavors, and a medium tannic finish. Definitely one to pair with savory roast pork loin.

2011 Doña Paula Estate Malbec
Valle de Uco
100% Malbec
$15, 14.1% abv.

Quite bright for a Malbec, with lots of tart red cherry aromas and flavors and a biting tannic structure. I would be anxious to try this one after another two or three years of aging to let it soften out a bit. For the moment, it would be a good choice for serving with a grilled burger topped with lots of onions, a dish that would fight back against the wine.

Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.

Mini-Post of Rutherford Wines for Thanksgiving

I've had the pleasure of trying the products of the Rutherford Wine Company multiple times over the years, and have found them to be a consistent and affordable producer of California wines.

The company produces wines under a number of marques, and since I've covered these in some depth in previous years, I will be linking to those reviews. But a sampling reveals that the quality of the wines has remained stable over time, and the wide distribution of these wines should make them easy choices for your Thanksgiving table this year.

Round Hill Wines, first reviewed in January 2013.

2012 Round Hill Chardonnay
$8
18,000 cases made

2012 Round Hill White Zinfandel
$8
5,000 cases made

2011 Round Hill Merlot
$8
6,000 cases made

2011 Cabernet Sauvignon
$8
14,000 cases made

Silver Buckle Cellars, tasted and sampled in November 2012.

2011 Silver Buckle Cellars Chardonnay
Lodi, California
$18

2010 Silver Buckle Cellars Ranchero Red
Central Coast, California
$20

BONUS!

There's a lot of other classic information on the holidays here at BWR. Remember that you can always scroll down the left margin and search by topic. For instance, there are 9 posts tagged with "Thanksgiving", and a slightly overlapping category of Turkey that covers leftovers as well as one wine from the nation of turkey.

As time goes on, I'm sure that I will find new and interesting ways to make all of these many articles (1,342 as of this posting) more readily available and searchable for you dear readers.

I wrote about the Predator Zin back in November 2011

2012 Predator Old Vine Zinfandel
$15
36,000 cases made

And the Rhiannon red blend in April 2012, during which I rambled in Welsh for a while.

2012 Rhiannon Red Wine
$13
19,000 cases made


Note: These wines were provided as samples for review.