No real links here, but most of the wines came from one Australian producer, Trever Jones. To fill out the list, there were three wines from Marquis Philips, also Australian. All of the info on the Trever Jones wines can be found here, and I came across a page with brief reviews of the Marquis Philips.
Trever Jones was there to promote his wines, and was an incredibly nice chap. Ruddy complexion, big handlebar moustache, and the thick, calloused hands of a farmer who actually gets his hands dirty. I got to sit with him for a spell while trying the wines, and learned a good bit about Australian winemaking. He hails from the Barossa Valley in South Australia.
Wine 1: 2004 Marquis Philips Holly's Blend. 100% Verdelho, this was a great little wine. Great fruit flavors, and a good sipper for the summer. This is an interesting grape, and a good change of pace from Chardonnay or some of the other big whites. Great bargain, too. $10.
Wine 2: 2004 Trevor Jones Boots White. A blend of Muscat and Riesling, this isn't as sweet as you'd expect, though it's not dry either. I had mixed feelings about this wine, but I know a lot of people who would love it. Might be fun with spicy Asian food. $13.
Wine 3: 2003 Trevor Jones Virgin Chardonnay. I'd never heard of "Virgin" Chardonnay, and the guy pouring the wine didn't know what it was either. This is the best thing about having the winemaker right there. "Hey Trevor, what's Virgin Chardonnay?" His explanation: it's 100% pure Chardonnay, made without oak. But putting "unoaked" or "no oak" on a bottle would sound cheap, so he started calling it Virgin. This wine had good fruit, a soft feel in the mouth, and low acids. While I love unoaked Chardonnay, you can get much better deals from Burgundy. $20.
Wine 4: 2002 Trevor Jones Boots Grenache. A favorite of everyone--this is a Spanish-style Grenache with a little Cabernet Franc mixed in. According to Trevor, this was made from vines that are 70-80 years old. I'd love to eat this with roast pork. It screams for a hearty pork sandwich. $14.
Wine 5: 2000 Trevor Jones Cabernet-Merlot. I didn't think this was very well balanced. There was a lemony acidity to the wine that made it difficult to appreciate the fruit. Might be a bit too old. $38.
Wine 6: 2001 Trevor Jones Dry Grown Shiraz. Good black pepper on the nose, and amazing black cherry flavors on the tongue. A great wine, but a bit steep for me. "Dry grown" means that the grapes were grown without any irrigation or watering, just from the natural rainfall, which tends to result in very low, intense yields. $37.
Wine 7: 2003 Marquis Philips Cabernet Sauvignon. I've had this wine a couple of times before, and have always loved it. Amazing complexity for such a young wine. Soft tannins, a short finish, and delicious dark flavors. $18.
Wine 8: 2003 Marquis Philips Shiraz 9. I first saw this wine a few months ago when I was purchasing a bottle of the above cab sav. The guy at the wine shop pointed out the Shiraz 9, and drew my attention to its 16% alcohol content, though due to the wiggle room in Aussie labeling, it may be as much as 17%. Way too much for a wine. It tasted like a thin port. It's not a bad wine, but I don't know if I'd pay for it, and I think it would be difficult to serve. $37.
Wine 9: Trevor Jones Sparkling Red NV. We were all excited about trying this wine. Unlike some of the Italian red sparklers I've tried, this was not sweet. It's 60% Grenache and 40% Shiraz, with a medium level of fizz. Maybe I'd built it up too much, but I found this wine lacking. There was a good flavor, but it tasted watered down, almost as if you'd taken a Rhone-style wine and diluted it with sparkling mineral water. $18.
Wine 10: Trevor Jones Jonsey Tawny Port NV. The Robert Parker review of this wine gave it 93 points, but falsely claimed that it was 46 years old. In fact, it's four to six years old. It looked more like sherry than port, i.e. dark brown like coffee with no red tint. And it tasted a lot like sherry, probably due to the Pedro Ximenez grape, but it also contains Shiraz and Grenache. A good value, but I don't think I'd buy it. $11.
29 May 2005
22 May 2005
2004 House of Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
I know this has been a theme recently, but in the heat of summer (which arrives early here in Memphis), it's really nice to turn to light whites and sparklers that can be chilled and enjoyed early in the meal so that you can cool off. Thus I grabbed a bottle of the 2004 House of Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a great little wine from New Zealand. All you need to know about this is grapefruit, grapefruit, grapefruit. It tastes and smells like unsweetened grapefruit juice, though not as bitter or acidic. I had it with some leftover pizza, and it was a happy combination. $11.
Tasting Notes for May 19, 2005
Wine 1: Domaine Ste. Michelle Cuvée Brut. Now I've tried 3 of the 4 basic sparklers from Domaine Ste. Michelle. I still like the blanc de noirs best. This one didn't impress me--I got mostly yeast aromas on the nose, and it was crisp and dry but with little or no flavors. $11.
Wine 2: San Simone Di Paolo Prosecco. A frizzante style sparkling wine, meaning it's only lightly fizzy. Made in the northeast corner of Italy near Venice, this is a great little sipper--light, dry, and mild citrus flavors. I don't know how well it would go with food, but I enjoyed it the more I drank it. (So there was a spare bottle left over at the end... Always make friends with the people that do the pouring.) I picked up a bottle the following day, and I think it will be great on a hot day this summer. $10.
Wine 3: 2001 Montevina Amador Zinfandel. I tasted this back in January, but liked it a lot better this round. Maybe it was the increased age, maybe it was the individual bottle, but there was something magical here. The wine smelled and tasted like Christmas. Seriously, we were all getting peppermint and pine and gingerbread aromas and flavors. It tasted great, though it felt a little out of place in the heat of May. Doesn't have a lot of strong Zinfandel flavor, but I think it's serviceable. $12.
Wine 4: 2002 A Mano Primitivo. The ancestor of Zinfandel, this wine was made in the bootheel of Italy. Personally, I thought it was a little thin, but for that reason, I think it would make an amazing reduction sauce for grilled pork. $11.
Wine 2: San Simone Di Paolo Prosecco. A frizzante style sparkling wine, meaning it's only lightly fizzy. Made in the northeast corner of Italy near Venice, this is a great little sipper--light, dry, and mild citrus flavors. I don't know how well it would go with food, but I enjoyed it the more I drank it. (So there was a spare bottle left over at the end... Always make friends with the people that do the pouring.) I picked up a bottle the following day, and I think it will be great on a hot day this summer. $10.
Wine 3: 2001 Montevina Amador Zinfandel. I tasted this back in January, but liked it a lot better this round. Maybe it was the increased age, maybe it was the individual bottle, but there was something magical here. The wine smelled and tasted like Christmas. Seriously, we were all getting peppermint and pine and gingerbread aromas and flavors. It tasted great, though it felt a little out of place in the heat of May. Doesn't have a lot of strong Zinfandel flavor, but I think it's serviceable. $12.
Wine 4: 2002 A Mano Primitivo. The ancestor of Zinfandel, this wine was made in the bootheel of Italy. Personally, I thought it was a little thin, but for that reason, I think it would make an amazing reduction sauce for grilled pork. $11.
15 May 2005
Tasting Notes for May 14, 2005
The theme for this tasting was "Sippable Summer Wines", and I think the slate fit that bill fairly well.
Wine 1: Candoni Prosecco NV. Very interesting bottle design. I love this grape, though this sparkler was a little too brut for sipping on its own. Needs food. $14.
Wine 2: 2003 Cavalchina Bianco di Custoza. Fairly boring Italian white, lots of different grapes, but the fruit and acids fell completely flat. Could have been an off bottle. $15.
Wine 3: 2003 Domaine Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet. Great basic white wine from the south of France. Good acid levels and light citrus flavors. $13.
Wine 4: 2003 Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc. I got a lot of pine aromas on top, though it's a reasonably rounded wine. That pine scent really lingered--I had to rinse my glass twice before the next pour. $10.
Wine 5: 2004 Paringa Chardonnay-Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc. Too much going on in this wine. Firm acids, but too many competing flavors. $12.
Wine 6: 2003 Pepi Pinot Grigio. A flat pinot grigio, nothing spectacular. Surprise, surprise. $12.
Wine 7: 2004 Don Rudolpho Torrentes. (No web info found.) The first time I'd ever had the Torrentes grape, which is the big white of Argentina. Very enjoyable--great fruit and balance, with just a bit of dusky flavor that reminded me of muscadines. $12.
Wine 8: 2004 Saint M Riesling. Made by Ste. Michelle in Washington, this isn't a bad riesling. Nothing special, but a good basic wine for introductory wine drinkers. $13.
Wine 9: 2004 Bonny Doon Big House Pink. A bood basic Italian-style rosé, ought to be perfect with fish or chicken, though it drinks smoothly enough for casual sipping. Also comes with a screwcap, making it perfect for impromptu occasions. $13.
Wine 10: 2003 Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais-Villages. From the famous "Vintage of the Sun" in 2003, this is holding up quite well. More tannins than you'd expect, but there's still that lovely aroma of bananas on top. Another great one for the introductory wine drinker, as well as something to show more experienced drinkers that there's life beyond Beaujolais Nouveau. $10.
Wine 11: 2003 Jumilla "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Monastrell. From the Jumilla region in Spain, this is a hearty red that takes its name from the famous quote from Noel Coward, that "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun." Herbal and grassy, but I think it needs a little time to soften. $10.
Wine 12: 2002 Ravenswood California Zinfandel. Firm tannins, not much in the way of good Zinfandel flavor. Take it or leave it. $13.
Wine 1: Candoni Prosecco NV. Very interesting bottle design. I love this grape, though this sparkler was a little too brut for sipping on its own. Needs food. $14.
Wine 2: 2003 Cavalchina Bianco di Custoza. Fairly boring Italian white, lots of different grapes, but the fruit and acids fell completely flat. Could have been an off bottle. $15.
Wine 3: 2003 Domaine Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet. Great basic white wine from the south of France. Good acid levels and light citrus flavors. $13.
Wine 4: 2003 Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc. I got a lot of pine aromas on top, though it's a reasonably rounded wine. That pine scent really lingered--I had to rinse my glass twice before the next pour. $10.
Wine 5: 2004 Paringa Chardonnay-Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc. Too much going on in this wine. Firm acids, but too many competing flavors. $12.
Wine 6: 2003 Pepi Pinot Grigio. A flat pinot grigio, nothing spectacular. Surprise, surprise. $12.
Wine 7: 2004 Don Rudolpho Torrentes. (No web info found.) The first time I'd ever had the Torrentes grape, which is the big white of Argentina. Very enjoyable--great fruit and balance, with just a bit of dusky flavor that reminded me of muscadines. $12.
Wine 8: 2004 Saint M Riesling. Made by Ste. Michelle in Washington, this isn't a bad riesling. Nothing special, but a good basic wine for introductory wine drinkers. $13.
Wine 9: 2004 Bonny Doon Big House Pink. A bood basic Italian-style rosé, ought to be perfect with fish or chicken, though it drinks smoothly enough for casual sipping. Also comes with a screwcap, making it perfect for impromptu occasions. $13.
Wine 10: 2003 Georges Dubœuf Beaujolais-Villages. From the famous "Vintage of the Sun" in 2003, this is holding up quite well. More tannins than you'd expect, but there's still that lovely aroma of bananas on top. Another great one for the introductory wine drinker, as well as something to show more experienced drinkers that there's life beyond Beaujolais Nouveau. $10.
Wine 11: 2003 Jumilla "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon-Monastrell. From the Jumilla region in Spain, this is a hearty red that takes its name from the famous quote from Noel Coward, that "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun." Herbal and grassy, but I think it needs a little time to soften. $10.
Wine 12: 2002 Ravenswood California Zinfandel. Firm tannins, not much in the way of good Zinfandel flavor. Take it or leave it. $13.
01 May 2005
On Wine Websites and Names
Consider this an addendum to the manifesto... I'm deeply annoyed by the number of wine-related websites that make you jump through an age verification hurdle in order to just read about the wine. Because we all know that if kids read about malolactic fermentation, they'll become drug addicts and cook a baby in a microwave. One of the big arguments against online sales of wine in certain states is that kids will order wine over the internet. Yep, a kid will take a credit card and order a case of $350 a bottle Montrachet (plus tax and shipping) and ditch school in order to meet the UPS man at the door and wear a false beard and glasses in order to fool the delivery driver. Puh-leeze. Any kid that wants a drink will do one of three things: 1) steal sips from Mom and Dad's stash; 2) get an older friend to buy it; or 3) pay a homeless guy to buy something for them. Meanwhile in the state of Tennessee, there's no way for me to legally consume the products of many smaller wineries. I'm anxious to try some of the creative offerings of Virginia and Texas, but I can't unless I beg one of my distributor friends to get it for me. Which is basically just like #2 above, except that I'm an adult now and refuse to engage in such behavior.
Unrelated, but I guess it's part of the manifesto: In these reviews, I attempt to properly spell all elements of the wine's name. I realize I probably don't get everything 100% correct, but I do make the attempt. And since they influence pronunciation, I dig up all the ASCII codes to properly display letters with the proper diacritical marks above or below them. In a few cases, I think that going to the trouble of spelling these wines properly will actually reduce the number of Google hits that show up. Also, why do I always put the year first? It's a habit. It's also pretty much the only wine label info that's standard across the entire globe, and if a wine is non-vintage, you can generally assume it's of table quality or fairly informal. Generally I try to do Year - Producer - Grape, simplifying everything to the vaguely Californian label convention. Naturally for Old World wines, I stick to region or family or whatever is appropriate. And a lot of domestic wines tend to place the subregion on the label, but I don't typically include that unless the producer has a line of similar products from slightly different regions.
Unrelated, but I guess it's part of the manifesto: In these reviews, I attempt to properly spell all elements of the wine's name. I realize I probably don't get everything 100% correct, but I do make the attempt. And since they influence pronunciation, I dig up all the ASCII codes to properly display letters with the proper diacritical marks above or below them. In a few cases, I think that going to the trouble of spelling these wines properly will actually reduce the number of Google hits that show up. Also, why do I always put the year first? It's a habit. It's also pretty much the only wine label info that's standard across the entire globe, and if a wine is non-vintage, you can generally assume it's of table quality or fairly informal. Generally I try to do Year - Producer - Grape, simplifying everything to the vaguely Californian label convention. Naturally for Old World wines, I stick to region or family or whatever is appropriate. And a lot of domestic wines tend to place the subregion on the label, but I don't typically include that unless the producer has a line of similar products from slightly different regions.
2002 Don Miguel Gascón Mendoza Malbec
The proprietor of one of my local haunts pressed this bottle into my hand the other day... It wasn't on the shelf, and there's not much of it in town: 2002 Don Miguel Gascón Mendoza Malbec. It's a $10 Malbec, which is a grape that I've been loving lately. This is kind of an odd wine, it's what I tend to think of as backwards--smooth on the front, high tannins and acid as you swallow. Not much on the nose, but the flavor is pleasant enough. Definitely better with food. I had a glass with another BBQ pork sandwich, where it matched beautifully. The second glass on its own, not as good.
Tasting Notes for April 30, 2005
Yesterday's wine tasting had a fun theme, the "Anti-Miles Merlot Tasting". As a retort against the declining Merlot sales sparked by Sideways, we ran through eleven decent Merlots from around the world. Since this grape tends to have a short aftertaste, it was possible to still appreciate flavors in the last couple of wines.
Wine 1: 2001 Christian Moueix Merlot. From Bordeaux, this had a pretty agressive start. Not sure that I liked it, but a good bargain. $11.
Wine 2: 2001 Mirassou Merlot. California, but not as fruit-forward as you'd think. Apparently it's got Pinot Noir in there too. Well balanced, but not exciting. I just haven't had great luck with this winery. $10.
Wine 3: 2001 Recanati Merlot. With a vaguely Italian name and an Old World label, I thought this was from Italy or the south of France. But the region name at the bottom of the label said "Galilee". I picked up the bottle and read the back, only to discover that it was made in Israel. L'chaim! With firm tannins and a bright flavor, this would be a fun substitute for Chianti or other Italian wines. $16.
Wine 4: 2003 Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Merlot. This particular product line, at the bottom of the Penfolds offerings, can be fun, but I wasn't really happy with this wine. There was a musky aroma and fairly harsh tannins. Could have been an off bottle. $8.
Wine 5: 2002 Castle Rock Napa Valley Merlot. Great fruit flavors, soft tannins, everything that you're supposed to hate about California merlot, but I like it. $10.
Wine 6: 2001 Red Diamond Merlot. From Washington state, supposedly owned by Ste. Michelle. It's soft and rounded, easily drinkable. $11.
Wine 7: 2001 Crane Family Merlot. Great black cherry flavors, don't know if it's worth the price. $40.
Wine 8: 2000 Chappellet Napa Valley Merlot. Good plum flavors, strong tannins. Could probably age for a while longer. $27.
Wine 9: 2001 Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot. Amazing balance, it's always nice to find a wine that feels perfectly put together. $30.
Wine 10: 2003 Bookwalter Columbia Valley Merlot. Great fruit on the nose, but not so much on the tongue. $25.
Wine 11: 2000 Chateau Jean Voisin St. Emilion Grand Cru 2000. (Couldn't find a website with good info in English.) And now we're back to Bordeaux. I loved this wine, I mean really loved it. You wouldn't think that it's a Merlot, as it's rich and complex. It has a great herbal, freshly chopped vegetation aroma, with good spice on the tongue. So nice, but out of my range. $40.
Wine 1: 2001 Christian Moueix Merlot. From Bordeaux, this had a pretty agressive start. Not sure that I liked it, but a good bargain. $11.
Wine 2: 2001 Mirassou Merlot. California, but not as fruit-forward as you'd think. Apparently it's got Pinot Noir in there too. Well balanced, but not exciting. I just haven't had great luck with this winery. $10.
Wine 3: 2001 Recanati Merlot. With a vaguely Italian name and an Old World label, I thought this was from Italy or the south of France. But the region name at the bottom of the label said "Galilee". I picked up the bottle and read the back, only to discover that it was made in Israel. L'chaim! With firm tannins and a bright flavor, this would be a fun substitute for Chianti or other Italian wines. $16.
Wine 4: 2003 Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Merlot. This particular product line, at the bottom of the Penfolds offerings, can be fun, but I wasn't really happy with this wine. There was a musky aroma and fairly harsh tannins. Could have been an off bottle. $8.
Wine 5: 2002 Castle Rock Napa Valley Merlot. Great fruit flavors, soft tannins, everything that you're supposed to hate about California merlot, but I like it. $10.
Wine 6: 2001 Red Diamond Merlot. From Washington state, supposedly owned by Ste. Michelle. It's soft and rounded, easily drinkable. $11.
Wine 7: 2001 Crane Family Merlot. Great black cherry flavors, don't know if it's worth the price. $40.
Wine 8: 2000 Chappellet Napa Valley Merlot. Good plum flavors, strong tannins. Could probably age for a while longer. $27.
Wine 9: 2001 Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot. Amazing balance, it's always nice to find a wine that feels perfectly put together. $30.
Wine 10: 2003 Bookwalter Columbia Valley Merlot. Great fruit on the nose, but not so much on the tongue. $25.
Wine 11: 2000 Chateau Jean Voisin St. Emilion Grand Cru 2000. (Couldn't find a website with good info in English.) And now we're back to Bordeaux. I loved this wine, I mean really loved it. You wouldn't think that it's a Merlot, as it's rich and complex. It has a great herbal, freshly chopped vegetation aroma, with good spice on the tongue. So nice, but out of my range. $40.
Korbel Extra Dry
In my continuing quest for an inexpensive (but tasty) sparkling wine to use for my brother's wedding, I decided to try the Korbel Extra Dry. Made from Chenin Blanc and Colombard, there's some decent citrus flavors, but it's not spectacular. I served it with pulled pork sandwiches and baked beans, where it performed admirably, so think about it as a good picnic or cookout wine rather than one to enjoy on its own. $10.
Even though it's called "Extra Dry", it's actually in the middle range of sweetness. For marketing reasons that go back centuries and have to do with differing French and English tastes, here's the range of sweetness, listed here from driest to sweetest:
Even though it's called "Extra Dry", it's actually in the middle range of sweetness. For marketing reasons that go back centuries and have to do with differing French and English tastes, here's the range of sweetness, listed here from driest to sweetest:
- Extra Brut - probably the driest you'll see, though there are sparklers out there with no sugar at all (Brut Nature, Pas Dosé or Dosage Zero)
- Brut - considered the proper choice for serious Champagne
- Extra Dry - sometimes called Extra Sec, it's actually not that dry
- Sec - the word means "dry", but it's actually sweet
- Demi Sec - ditto
- Doux - sweet like soda
29 April 2005
2002 Fusée Cabernet Sauvignon
Grabbed a bottle of the 2002 Fusée Cabernet Sauvignon at Costco today. It was only four bucks and came with a rebate coupon for $1.50. Of course, I have to mail it in, which would cost me 37¢... I don't think it's worth the effort.
The above link goes to the winery's fact sheet for the 2000, but apparently the 2002 was awarded 85 points by Wine Spectator. And I've got to say, it's deserving. This is surprisingly soft and easy drinking for a cabernet sauvignon, and with such a short finish it seems like it's got more than 6% merlot in there. Cheap wines usually have a sour aroma that can be smelled from across a table, and a taste that will haunt your tongue for hours afterwards. This one has a mild tobacco and leather nose and great fruit flavors.
Not a complicated wine, but a steal at the price. Also, since it's got a screwcap, you don't have to worry about cork taint or having a corkscrew on hand. Thus, it's a great wine for taking to a BBQ or other informal gathering.
The above link goes to the winery's fact sheet for the 2000, but apparently the 2002 was awarded 85 points by Wine Spectator. And I've got to say, it's deserving. This is surprisingly soft and easy drinking for a cabernet sauvignon, and with such a short finish it seems like it's got more than 6% merlot in there. Cheap wines usually have a sour aroma that can be smelled from across a table, and a taste that will haunt your tongue for hours afterwards. This one has a mild tobacco and leather nose and great fruit flavors.
Not a complicated wine, but a steal at the price. Also, since it's got a screwcap, you don't have to worry about cork taint or having a corkscrew on hand. Thus, it's a great wine for taking to a BBQ or other informal gathering.
24 April 2005
Tasting Notes for April 23, 2005 (Part 2)
After a late lunch and a quiet couple of hours, it was time for the evening's tasting. Ostensibly an Oktoberfest in April celebration, I was looking forward to tasting a lot of German wines. Alas, there were very few, and the remainder of the wines weren't much to get excited about. But a lot of money was raised for charity, and it was good to see friends and family. No idea on the prices of these wines, but I wouldn't recommend most of them. None of the German wines were marked with the VDP stamp of quality, and I'd assume that all of them were of QbA or Estate quality.
For a variety of reasons, I didn't really taste these in a proper order, but had enough space between each one to let the palate recover.
Wine 1: 2002 Schmitt-Sohne Dornfelder Rotwein Trocken. A rare German red. Not many red grapes are planted in Germany, and very little of that is exported. I found it sort of sour. Curiosity satisfied!
Wine 2: 2003 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett. Good smooth Riesling, not overly sweet. A decent wine, but certainly of the table variety.
Wine 3: 2001 Covey Run Syrah. Washington State, not terrible, but not really that enjoyable either.
Wine 4: 2001 Toni Mor Pinot Noir. Hey, another Oregon Pinot Noir. I think this was a bad bottle--sour, unbalanced, almost vinegary.
Wine 5: 2000 Leonard Kreusch Niersteiner Gutes Domtal Kabinett. Tasted almost like apple cider. Really quite delicious, but maybe a little too sweet for some. Has held up well for its age.
Wine 6: 2002 Leonard Kreusch Late Harvest Riesling. A Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wine, musky and sweet as you'd expect from the late harvest.
Wine 7: 1999 Twisted River Gewürztraminer. If the person pouring the wine--who is either paid to serve the wine or otherwise profits from the sale of said wine--tells you not to try something, don't. This is an inexpensive table wine that had apparently been forgotten in the back of a warehouse, and was never meant for aging. All the fruit was gone, and it was really quite flat.
Wine 8: 2000 Eugene Wine Cellars Oregon Melon. That's not Melon like a watermelon, it's Melon de Bourgogne, a French grape used to make Muscadet in the Loire Valley. It comes in sweet and dry varieties, and this was a sweeter one. Curiously, the website for that vineyard doesn't display the varietal, and I'm guessing that this is another attempt to unload some old stock by a local warehouse. Not a bad little wine, but I bet it was really spectacular in its youth.
Wine 9: 2002 Fife Vineyards Redhead Rosé. A real crowd pleaser, this is a North California wine made entirely from Carignane, normally used as a blending grape in Rhône. Should suit a wide range of palates and foods. It's also a dry wine; people tend to assume that rosés are sweet, but most of the good ones aren't.
Wine 10: 2001 Turner Road Lodi Shiraz. From California, just a basic shiraz/syrah. Not spectacular or disappointing.
For a variety of reasons, I didn't really taste these in a proper order, but had enough space between each one to let the palate recover.
Wine 1: 2002 Schmitt-Sohne Dornfelder Rotwein Trocken. A rare German red. Not many red grapes are planted in Germany, and very little of that is exported. I found it sort of sour. Curiosity satisfied!
Wine 2: 2003 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett. Good smooth Riesling, not overly sweet. A decent wine, but certainly of the table variety.
Wine 3: 2001 Covey Run Syrah. Washington State, not terrible, but not really that enjoyable either.
Wine 4: 2001 Toni Mor Pinot Noir. Hey, another Oregon Pinot Noir. I think this was a bad bottle--sour, unbalanced, almost vinegary.
Wine 5: 2000 Leonard Kreusch Niersteiner Gutes Domtal Kabinett. Tasted almost like apple cider. Really quite delicious, but maybe a little too sweet for some. Has held up well for its age.
Wine 6: 2002 Leonard Kreusch Late Harvest Riesling. A Mosel-Saar-Ruwer wine, musky and sweet as you'd expect from the late harvest.
Wine 7: 1999 Twisted River Gewürztraminer. If the person pouring the wine--who is either paid to serve the wine or otherwise profits from the sale of said wine--tells you not to try something, don't. This is an inexpensive table wine that had apparently been forgotten in the back of a warehouse, and was never meant for aging. All the fruit was gone, and it was really quite flat.
Wine 8: 2000 Eugene Wine Cellars Oregon Melon. That's not Melon like a watermelon, it's Melon de Bourgogne, a French grape used to make Muscadet in the Loire Valley. It comes in sweet and dry varieties, and this was a sweeter one. Curiously, the website for that vineyard doesn't display the varietal, and I'm guessing that this is another attempt to unload some old stock by a local warehouse. Not a bad little wine, but I bet it was really spectacular in its youth.
Wine 9: 2002 Fife Vineyards Redhead Rosé. A real crowd pleaser, this is a North California wine made entirely from Carignane, normally used as a blending grape in Rhône. Should suit a wide range of palates and foods. It's also a dry wine; people tend to assume that rosés are sweet, but most of the good ones aren't.
Wine 10: 2001 Turner Road Lodi Shiraz. From California, just a basic shiraz/syrah. Not spectacular or disappointing.
Tasting Notes for April 23, 2005 (Part 1)
Nothing like two wine tastings in a single day... The Saturday marathon tasting in the small crowded room featured wines solely from the Bianchi winery of Argentina. I loved their Malbec from last Sunday, and in addition to trying their entire product line, I got to talk to Valentin Bianchi, the grandson of the founder who now runs the company. Nice guy. Note: all of these wines can be found here or here. The Elsa wines are the cheaper table wines, the Famiglia Bianchi wines are better and pricier, and the Particular wines are more expensive and made for longer cellaring.
Also, these are young wines, but you can add about six months to each to compare with Northern Hemisphere wines.
Wine 1: 2004 Elsa Chardonnay-Semillion. I've never understood why this combination isn't more popular. Usually made with little or no oak, and the Semillon gives a lot of bright and lively citrus flavors to the Chardonnay. Excellent choice for grilled chicken or heartier fish dishes. $9.
Wine 2: 2004 Famiglia Bianchi Chardonnay. Heavy mineral flavor, not bad, but there wasn't a lot in this wine that grabbed my attention. $17.
Wine 3: 2004 Famiglia Bianchi Sauvignon Blanc. Smooth, with very soft fruit flavors. A solid Sauvignon Blanc, though I'm still probably inclined to go with the Coppola or one of the fun New Zealand bottles when I'm in the mood for that grape. $15.
Wine 4: 2003 Elsa Cabernet Sauvignon. Heavy on the tannins, short on flavor, but probably won't age well. Reminds me a lot of some of the inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignons from Australia. $9.
Wine 5: 2003 Elsa Malbec. Lovely. Great Malbec for the price--soft flavors, balanced tannins, a bit of spice on the finish. Great bargain. $9.
Wine 6: 2003 Elsa Syrah. Very restrained like a classic Rhône, easy drinking, not big and brassy like an Australian Shiraz. $9.
Wine 7: 2003 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon. Great black cherry flavors, but needs some time to mellow out the tannins. $17.
Wine 8: 2003 Famiglia Bianchi Malbec. Previously reviewed, but still impressive. Classy wine, good accompaniment for beef or lamb. $17.
Wine 9: 2003 Bianchi Particular Merlot. Another wine that no one would have guessed was a Merlot. This was a bold wine with a heavy tannin structure. $30.
Wine 10: 2003 Bianchi Particular Cabernet Sauvignon. Surprisingly smoother than the Merlot, with some good chocolate flavors. $30.
Wine 11: 2003 Bianchi Particular Malbec. I'm really biased towards this grape, but damn this was a great bottle. Everything that you love about Malbec but set to age gracefully. $30.
Wine 12: 1997 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon. This one isn't for sale, but was an old bottle he'd brought along for the fun of it. Amazing dark fruit and plum flavors, smooth finish, and probably a good example of how these wines will age over time.
Also, these are young wines, but you can add about six months to each to compare with Northern Hemisphere wines.
Wine 1: 2004 Elsa Chardonnay-Semillion. I've never understood why this combination isn't more popular. Usually made with little or no oak, and the Semillon gives a lot of bright and lively citrus flavors to the Chardonnay. Excellent choice for grilled chicken or heartier fish dishes. $9.
Wine 2: 2004 Famiglia Bianchi Chardonnay. Heavy mineral flavor, not bad, but there wasn't a lot in this wine that grabbed my attention. $17.
Wine 3: 2004 Famiglia Bianchi Sauvignon Blanc. Smooth, with very soft fruit flavors. A solid Sauvignon Blanc, though I'm still probably inclined to go with the Coppola or one of the fun New Zealand bottles when I'm in the mood for that grape. $15.
Wine 4: 2003 Elsa Cabernet Sauvignon. Heavy on the tannins, short on flavor, but probably won't age well. Reminds me a lot of some of the inexpensive Cabernet Sauvignons from Australia. $9.
Wine 5: 2003 Elsa Malbec. Lovely. Great Malbec for the price--soft flavors, balanced tannins, a bit of spice on the finish. Great bargain. $9.
Wine 6: 2003 Elsa Syrah. Very restrained like a classic Rhône, easy drinking, not big and brassy like an Australian Shiraz. $9.
Wine 7: 2003 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon. Great black cherry flavors, but needs some time to mellow out the tannins. $17.
Wine 8: 2003 Famiglia Bianchi Malbec. Previously reviewed, but still impressive. Classy wine, good accompaniment for beef or lamb. $17.
Wine 9: 2003 Bianchi Particular Merlot. Another wine that no one would have guessed was a Merlot. This was a bold wine with a heavy tannin structure. $30.
Wine 10: 2003 Bianchi Particular Cabernet Sauvignon. Surprisingly smoother than the Merlot, with some good chocolate flavors. $30.
Wine 11: 2003 Bianchi Particular Malbec. I'm really biased towards this grape, but damn this was a great bottle. Everything that you love about Malbec but set to age gracefully. $30.
Wine 12: 1997 Famiglia Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon. This one isn't for sale, but was an old bottle he'd brought along for the fun of it. Amazing dark fruit and plum flavors, smooth finish, and probably a good example of how these wines will age over time.
Tasting Notes for April 21, 2005
The tasting that I used to go to every Saturday has returned in a slightly amended form; it's held on a Thursday evening and is presented as more of a class, with each wine tasted blind and then identified before moving to the next one. Not sure how I like it, but we had some interesting wines, most of which hailed from the Pacific Northwest.
Wine 1: 2004 Kiona Late Harvest White Riesling. Sweet dessert wine from the Yakima Valley in Washington state. Good fruit flavors, excellent introductory wine for those just getting started. $10.
Wine 2: 2001 Meridian Chardonnay. I knew right away that it was a California chard. This one was used as an example of a wine served past its prime; the fruit had disappeared, leaving only acidic and alcohol flavors, plus some off-putting oak. It probably wasn't bad last year or the year before that. $10.
Wine 3: 2003 R. Stuart Big Fire Pinot Gris. Basically the same thing as Pinot Grigio, but finished in a French style rather than an Italian one. Good grapefruit flavors, but a little bitter on the finish. Probably a good match for seafood with mild cream sauces. $15.
Wine 4: 2003 Erath Pinot Noir. Nailed it right away as an Oregon Pinot Noir. Fairly mild, but I've had better. Nothing to get too excited about. $15.
Wine 5: 2002 Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot. (This one isn't listed on the website yet, but it's one of their single vineyard offerings.) Nobody guessed this was a merlot, because it was an intense dark purple, and had a fairly powerful flavor. Quite good, not sure if I would buy it. $17.
Wine 1: 2004 Kiona Late Harvest White Riesling. Sweet dessert wine from the Yakima Valley in Washington state. Good fruit flavors, excellent introductory wine for those just getting started. $10.
Wine 2: 2001 Meridian Chardonnay. I knew right away that it was a California chard. This one was used as an example of a wine served past its prime; the fruit had disappeared, leaving only acidic and alcohol flavors, plus some off-putting oak. It probably wasn't bad last year or the year before that. $10.
Wine 3: 2003 R. Stuart Big Fire Pinot Gris. Basically the same thing as Pinot Grigio, but finished in a French style rather than an Italian one. Good grapefruit flavors, but a little bitter on the finish. Probably a good match for seafood with mild cream sauces. $15.
Wine 4: 2003 Erath Pinot Noir. Nailed it right away as an Oregon Pinot Noir. Fairly mild, but I've had better. Nothing to get too excited about. $15.
Wine 5: 2002 Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Merlot. (This one isn't listed on the website yet, but it's one of their single vineyard offerings.) Nobody guessed this was a merlot, because it was an intense dark purple, and had a fairly powerful flavor. Quite good, not sure if I would buy it. $17.
20 April 2005
2002 Cline Cellars Syrah
Had this bottle of the 2002 Cline Cellars Syrah rattling around in the back of the cupboard, decided to give it a go tonight. Much softer than I expected--this is satiny smooth for a California syrah, though it's got a little grenache and mourvedre in there as well. Let's hear it for another CDR GSM!
For $10, I think it's a damned good bottle. It's priced about the same as their Red Truck wine, but I think it's a much better blend.
For $10, I think it's a damned good bottle. It's priced about the same as their Red Truck wine, but I think it's a much better blend.
18 April 2005
Tasting Notes for April 17, 2005
Got invited to a private wine tasting... A couple of people were studying for their sommolier certification. No real theme here, but all wines were in the $10-15 range. Everything was evaluated blind in about two dozen different categories. I maintained my ususally bad track record with blind tasting--recently my guesses have been worse than random chance.
Wine 1: 2004 Kendall Jackson Riesling. Almost tasted like a moscato, didn't have that crisp riesling flavor. A decent wine for KJ.
Wine 2: 1999 Toasted Head Chardonnay. California chardonnay--fall fruit, oak.
Wine 3: 2002 Rodney Strong Chardonnay. Another California chardonnay, but this one had a much cleaner and brighter flavor.
Wine 4: 2001 Jekel Pinot Noir. I thought it was a syrah--lots of pepper and dried fruit flavors. Not bad, not spectacular.
Wine 5: 2003 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages. I like Beaujolais, but think this probably tasted better last year. It had that fun banana Laffy-Taffy smell on top.
Wine 6: 2003 Turner Road Cabernet Sauvignon. Good dark fruit flavors, surprisingly low tannins for such a young cab sav.
Wine 7: 2001 Mas de Guiot Grenache-Syrah. A favorite from Saturday's tasting, I was curious to see how it would go over. Well-liked, but probably not appropriate for a blind tasting.
Wine 8: 2003 Famigilia Bianchi Malbec. The second wine that I brought, a French grape grown by Italian immigrants in Argentina. It's a big, full-bodied wine, with almost 15% alcohol. Good, but might mess you up for tasting something afterwards.
Wine 1: 2004 Kendall Jackson Riesling. Almost tasted like a moscato, didn't have that crisp riesling flavor. A decent wine for KJ.
Wine 2: 1999 Toasted Head Chardonnay. California chardonnay--fall fruit, oak.
Wine 3: 2002 Rodney Strong Chardonnay. Another California chardonnay, but this one had a much cleaner and brighter flavor.
Wine 4: 2001 Jekel Pinot Noir. I thought it was a syrah--lots of pepper and dried fruit flavors. Not bad, not spectacular.
Wine 5: 2003 Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages. I like Beaujolais, but think this probably tasted better last year. It had that fun banana Laffy-Taffy smell on top.
Wine 6: 2003 Turner Road Cabernet Sauvignon. Good dark fruit flavors, surprisingly low tannins for such a young cab sav.
Wine 7: 2001 Mas de Guiot Grenache-Syrah. A favorite from Saturday's tasting, I was curious to see how it would go over. Well-liked, but probably not appropriate for a blind tasting.
Wine 8: 2003 Famigilia Bianchi Malbec. The second wine that I brought, a French grape grown by Italian immigrants in Argentina. It's a big, full-bodied wine, with almost 15% alcohol. Good, but might mess you up for tasting something afterwards.
17 April 2005
Tasting Notes for April 16, 2005
I actually enjoyed this tasting... The theme was good wines under $15 in honor of tax day, and upon arrival I discovered a heavy southern French slate (all of which happened to come from importer Robert Kacher). Hurrah!
Wine 1: 2003 Robert's Rock Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay. From South Africa, this was a fun surprise. Soft and fruity, no oak. Great balance and an amazing value at $6.
Wine 2: 2003 Cline Pinot Gris/Chardonnay. Cline Cellars produces a lot of interesting wines, including the beloved Red Truck brand. I felt this wine was unbalanced; too much fall fruit, and a weird aftertaste that I couldn't pin down. I'm not sure how much the Pinot Gris (Grigio) was helping--it really tasted like bad California Chardonnay. $10.
Wine 3: 2003 Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Chardonnay. Another standard California Chardonnay. Nothing special. $13.
Wine 4: 2003 Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc. A nice sampling of Rhône white grapes. I love this region, and the wines don't disappoint. Light and easily drinkable, but with good flavor. $12.
Wine 5: 2002 Hope Estate Hunter Valley Verdelho. A big surprise here, and my first tasting of this native Portuguese grape. Good balance of fruit, acid, and crispness without being sweet. I'd love to try it with Mexican food. $9.
Wine 6: 2003 Mirassou Pinot Noir. It was interesting to revisit this wine. It tasted better this time--not sure if it was a breathing or temperature issue, or if I just had an off bottle earlier. Still not overly excited about it, though. $10.
Wine 7: 2003 Cline Cashmere. This is a GSM Côtes du Rhône style wine. Quite good, and I've always loved that combination. However, this wine was shipped to the store by mistake, and is only available to club members. A dollar from each bottle of this wine sold goes to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. $16.
Wine 8: 2001 Mas de Guiot Grenache-Syrah. A good combination from Languedoc, just south and west of Côtes du Rhône. This wine should be a big hit among Americans, but it's not marketed like that. In fact, it's a pretty serious looking label, austere white with black text in Shelley Allegro. The one nod to American audiences is the simple "40% Grenache/60% Syrah" below the vineyard name. $13.
Wine 9: 2001 Domaine Saint-Antoine Syrah. I think this bottle was off, but no one wanted to step up and say it. Brett maybe? I thought it tasted like running the lawnmower through a patch of slightly rotten and noxious weeds. $13.
Wine 10: 2001 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot. My second tasting of this Washington wine that scored in the Wine Spectator Top 100 last year. I thought it was better this time around, and I may even grab a bottle at some point. Well balanced without that candy flavor you get in California. I still prefer the Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon from that year. $13.
Wine 11: 2000 Mas de Guiot Cabernet-Syrah. Another great blend from Languedoc. If you didn't see the label, you might even think this was a restrained offering from Australia. $14.
Wine 12: 2002 Paul Hobbs Cocodrilo Cabernet Sauvignon. Good for the price, this Argentine wine is smooth with good dark fruit flavors. With a name like Cocodrilo it's certainly something unique to put on the table. $15.
Wine 1: 2003 Robert's Rock Chenin Blanc/Chardonnay. From South Africa, this was a fun surprise. Soft and fruity, no oak. Great balance and an amazing value at $6.
Wine 2: 2003 Cline Pinot Gris/Chardonnay. Cline Cellars produces a lot of interesting wines, including the beloved Red Truck brand. I felt this wine was unbalanced; too much fall fruit, and a weird aftertaste that I couldn't pin down. I'm not sure how much the Pinot Gris (Grigio) was helping--it really tasted like bad California Chardonnay. $10.
Wine 3: 2003 Geyser Peak Alexander Valley Chardonnay. Another standard California Chardonnay. Nothing special. $13.
Wine 4: 2003 Guigal Côtes du Rhône Blanc. A nice sampling of Rhône white grapes. I love this region, and the wines don't disappoint. Light and easily drinkable, but with good flavor. $12.
Wine 5: 2002 Hope Estate Hunter Valley Verdelho. A big surprise here, and my first tasting of this native Portuguese grape. Good balance of fruit, acid, and crispness without being sweet. I'd love to try it with Mexican food. $9.
Wine 6: 2003 Mirassou Pinot Noir. It was interesting to revisit this wine. It tasted better this time--not sure if it was a breathing or temperature issue, or if I just had an off bottle earlier. Still not overly excited about it, though. $10.
Wine 7: 2003 Cline Cashmere. This is a GSM Côtes du Rhône style wine. Quite good, and I've always loved that combination. However, this wine was shipped to the store by mistake, and is only available to club members. A dollar from each bottle of this wine sold goes to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. $16.
Wine 8: 2001 Mas de Guiot Grenache-Syrah. A good combination from Languedoc, just south and west of Côtes du Rhône. This wine should be a big hit among Americans, but it's not marketed like that. In fact, it's a pretty serious looking label, austere white with black text in Shelley Allegro. The one nod to American audiences is the simple "40% Grenache/60% Syrah" below the vineyard name. $13.
Wine 9: 2001 Domaine Saint-Antoine Syrah. I think this bottle was off, but no one wanted to step up and say it. Brett maybe? I thought it tasted like running the lawnmower through a patch of slightly rotten and noxious weeds. $13.
Wine 10: 2001 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot. My second tasting of this Washington wine that scored in the Wine Spectator Top 100 last year. I thought it was better this time around, and I may even grab a bottle at some point. Well balanced without that candy flavor you get in California. I still prefer the Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon from that year. $13.
Wine 11: 2000 Mas de Guiot Cabernet-Syrah. Another great blend from Languedoc. If you didn't see the label, you might even think this was a restrained offering from Australia. $14.
Wine 12: 2002 Paul Hobbs Cocodrilo Cabernet Sauvignon. Good for the price, this Argentine wine is smooth with good dark fruit flavors. With a name like Cocodrilo it's certainly something unique to put on the table. $15.
15 April 2005
Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs
On a lark, I picked up a bottle of Domaine Ste. Michelle Blanc de Noirs (non-vintage, $10). Made in Washington state, it follows the traditional Méthode Champenoise for making sparkling wine. It's mostly pinot noir, with some chardonnay as well, which leads me into something...
The scene at the beginning of Sideways when you see a bottle of Champagne poured and it's a clear gold color? And it's all pinot noir? A friend asked me about this before I saw the movie, and I was confused. My previous limited experience with blanc de noirs wines was that they were fairly pink, almost like white zinfandel. But those were cheap wines and I was wrong, and more research on the Champagne region has helped tremendously. (Though you won't really see one of these wines labeled as pinot noir, and it may not even list the grape on the back.)
This wine is just barely pink, somewhere between light gold and salmon. In fact, in a flute you're not going to see a lot of the tint. The marketing materials will show this as a much pinker wine, but it's not like that in person.
It's a medium dry wine, with mild yeasty aromas and an amazing flavor of very ripe, small strawberries. So crisp it almost makes you want to pucker. Fortunately there's a short aftertaste, so it won't hamper your palate before a heartier meal.
I was going to serve this with some sort of fish tonight, but as dinner plans became confused, I decided to pop it open and have a glass or two in the afternoon. I think this would be a great wine to serve with sushi. Also, at the price, it would probably work well for a large wedding or New Year's Eve gathering if you weren't surrounded by wine fanatics.
The scene at the beginning of Sideways when you see a bottle of Champagne poured and it's a clear gold color? And it's all pinot noir? A friend asked me about this before I saw the movie, and I was confused. My previous limited experience with blanc de noirs wines was that they were fairly pink, almost like white zinfandel. But those were cheap wines and I was wrong, and more research on the Champagne region has helped tremendously. (Though you won't really see one of these wines labeled as pinot noir, and it may not even list the grape on the back.)
This wine is just barely pink, somewhere between light gold and salmon. In fact, in a flute you're not going to see a lot of the tint. The marketing materials will show this as a much pinker wine, but it's not like that in person.
It's a medium dry wine, with mild yeasty aromas and an amazing flavor of very ripe, small strawberries. So crisp it almost makes you want to pucker. Fortunately there's a short aftertaste, so it won't hamper your palate before a heartier meal.
I was going to serve this with some sort of fish tonight, but as dinner plans became confused, I decided to pop it open and have a glass or two in the afternoon. I think this would be a great wine to serve with sushi. Also, at the price, it would probably work well for a large wedding or New Year's Eve gathering if you weren't surrounded by wine fanatics.
10 April 2005
Sideways
I finally saw Sideways Friday evening. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but fear that the hullabaloo over the wine scenes and pinot noir good--merlot bad obscures a pleasantly depressing story about middle age and failed dreams. In that sense it reminded me a bit of Freak Talks About Sex, an unfortunately titled movie that focuses on guys in a similar situation around the age of thirty, though there was no wine or other obvious hook on which the story hung.
I would hope that people don't take the main character's behavior as a template for attending tastings. If you don't like a wine, there's no reason to insult it in front of the person serving. (Obviously I've said bad things about wines here, but that's to help avoid those in the future.) At a tasting, the person doing the pouring either works for the winery, works for the distributor, or works for the shop that's selling the wine, and is certainly aware of the quality of that wine. Besides, once you get away from obvious flaws, it's all a matter of taste anyway, and opinions are like... well, you know. Anyway, there's no reason to be rude to the person who is, in many cases, providing you a free sample of a luxury product.
One thing I focused on in the movie was that I felt the true wine lovers were the two main female characters. They adored wine, but didn't take it to obsessive levels, and had the rest of their lives in order. For Giamatti's character, it seemed like he could have fallen into old record collecting, rose growing, or any other activity that would provide him with lots of misery and only occasional flashes of pleasure. (I used to know some fanatical rose growers, and they hated 99% of the roses they saw in public or in print. I've never understood the attraction to a hobby that keeps you miserable most of the time.)
It's a complicated film, and I'm looking forward to watching it again and with the director's commentary.
I would hope that people don't take the main character's behavior as a template for attending tastings. If you don't like a wine, there's no reason to insult it in front of the person serving. (Obviously I've said bad things about wines here, but that's to help avoid those in the future.) At a tasting, the person doing the pouring either works for the winery, works for the distributor, or works for the shop that's selling the wine, and is certainly aware of the quality of that wine. Besides, once you get away from obvious flaws, it's all a matter of taste anyway, and opinions are like... well, you know. Anyway, there's no reason to be rude to the person who is, in many cases, providing you a free sample of a luxury product.
One thing I focused on in the movie was that I felt the true wine lovers were the two main female characters. They adored wine, but didn't take it to obsessive levels, and had the rest of their lives in order. For Giamatti's character, it seemed like he could have fallen into old record collecting, rose growing, or any other activity that would provide him with lots of misery and only occasional flashes of pleasure. (I used to know some fanatical rose growers, and they hated 99% of the roses they saw in public or in print. I've never understood the attraction to a hobby that keeps you miserable most of the time.)
It's a complicated film, and I'm looking forward to watching it again and with the director's commentary.
Weekend Roundup
Time to catch up on some wines tried over the past week...
Wine 1: 2002 Dancing Bull Zinfandel. Lighter than you'd expect for a zin. A good bargain, but nothing to get too excited about. $7.
Wine 2: 2003 Twin Fin Pinot Noir. After my great experience with the cab sav from this producer, I was excited to try the pinot. I was less enthusiastic here--the wine had a sharp feel to it, and low complexity in the flavor and smell. $7.
Wine 3: 2003 Alamos Malbec. A fun red from Argentina. Please let it breathe a bit, otherwise the first glass will be off-putting. Once it airs out, there's lovely aromas of leather and good dark fruit flavors. I find this wine tastes much better with food, particularly something with a hearty tomato sauce. $10.
Wine 1: 2002 Dancing Bull Zinfandel. Lighter than you'd expect for a zin. A good bargain, but nothing to get too excited about. $7.
Wine 2: 2003 Twin Fin Pinot Noir. After my great experience with the cab sav from this producer, I was excited to try the pinot. I was less enthusiastic here--the wine had a sharp feel to it, and low complexity in the flavor and smell. $7.
Wine 3: 2003 Alamos Malbec. A fun red from Argentina. Please let it breathe a bit, otherwise the first glass will be off-putting. Once it airs out, there's lovely aromas of leather and good dark fruit flavors. I find this wine tastes much better with food, particularly something with a hearty tomato sauce. $10.
03 April 2005
Tasting Notes for April 2, 2005
My secondary wine tasting establishment (the one with the long lists and crowded room) had an unusual tasting Saturday. Since the local Memphis in May festival is honoring Ireland this year, they did a focus on Irish beverages, plus a couple of California wines and some other oddballs. I don't normally review anything other than wine here, but I'm going to make an exception today for the heck of it.
They had the tasting structured in a really odd way--a bunch of sweet liqueurs, followed by Irish whiskey, then a slate of wines, and finally a coffee liqueur. I thought this was ridiculous, as you wouldn't be able to taste the wine after the whiskey, and the early placement of an Irish cream meant that everyone's glasses were cloudy for the remainder of the tasting. So these are presented in the order that I chose to drink them, which several others soon imitated.
Wine 1: 2002 Raymond Valley Chardonnay. Light and fruity, with some hints of citrus on the nose. Not a bad Chardonnay, though I don't know if it justifies the price. $16.
Wine 2: 2002 Clos du Val Carneros Chardonnay. This was much drier than the first wine, with a crisp flavor and low oak. Quite nice. $22.
Wine 3: 1999 Domaine Bertrand Ambroise Bourgogne Rouge. With all the fuss about pinot noir these days, is anyone buying red Burgundy? This was slightly tart, with soft tannins. It had a rougher aftertaste than I was expecting. I need more experience with Burgundy. Given the age and region, the price is pretty decent. $20.
Wine 4: 2001 Artesa Elements Napa Red Blend. I was pleasantly surprised by this wine, even though at the time we had no info on what grapes were used. It's a pleasant red mix that has a lot of forward fruit flavors. I'd happily recommend this, though for what is basically a fun table wine, I think it's overpriced. $20.
Cocktail 1: Mancini's Apple Martini. Think a so-so vodka with a green apple Jolly Rancher dissolved in it. This has nothing to do with Ireland, though it is a green beverage. I've largely avoided the novelty martini trend, and for some reason hearing the word "chocotini" makes my skin crawl. Give me cold gin, a splash of vermouth, and a nice olive. At home, I'll happily tip a bit of the olive brine in for a "dirty martini", though that's something you drink out of a tumbler rather than a martini glass. I am also not generally fond of premixed cocktails; you don't have any control over the quality of the individual elements, and more delicate flavors are going to be lost over time. $15.
Whiskey 1: Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. These whiskey reviews are not going to be of much to anyone; I'm not an expert, and while I've had some amazing whiskeys in my time, I still haven't developed a taste for Scotch-like beverages. This is thin, pale gold, and has a harsh aroma and taste to it, almost chemical. $21.
Whiskey 2: Powers Irish Whiskey. The best-selling whiskey in Ireland, obviously they're doing something right. I got a lot of earth and spice flavors. $22.
Whiskey 3: Black Bush Irish Whiskey. Like a punch in the stomach. Really strong, and I think this would need to be consumed slowly over a longer period of time. A quick sip is a bit of a shock. $40.
Whiskey 4: Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey. I enjoyed this one, though again, I think that might have more to do with getting my tongue acclimated to whiskey. This was much smoother than the first three whiskeys, and it appears as though this is a well-respected distillery. For the price, I suppose it would make a good gift for a whiskey lover. $25.
Liqueur 1: Celtic Crossing. A honey-based liqeuer. About 60 proof, and the honey flavor is very delicate and restrained. I think this would be amazing for soaking a cake (or babas au rhum or any similar spirit-soaked dessert). Probably great over ice cream as well. $22.
Liqueur 2. Irish Mist. Spicy, smooth, and sweet. Made me think of Christmas for some reason. Also contains honey. $30.
Liqueurs 3&4. Bushmill's Irish Cream and Starbucks Coffee Liqueur. I've had both of these at previous tastings, and my main problem with the Starbucks liqueur was what to mix it with. I didn't think it tasted all that great on its own, and obviously it would be overkill to add it to coffee (though I understand that this is an increasingly popular choice). So I just took both of these samples together, and they blended beautifully. The Starbucks toned down the sweetness of the Irish cream and the cream softened the bitter edge of the coffee. The combination looks like dark chocolate milk, and hangs on the glass like cough syrup. $20 and $30, respectively.
They had the tasting structured in a really odd way--a bunch of sweet liqueurs, followed by Irish whiskey, then a slate of wines, and finally a coffee liqueur. I thought this was ridiculous, as you wouldn't be able to taste the wine after the whiskey, and the early placement of an Irish cream meant that everyone's glasses were cloudy for the remainder of the tasting. So these are presented in the order that I chose to drink them, which several others soon imitated.
Wine 1: 2002 Raymond Valley Chardonnay. Light and fruity, with some hints of citrus on the nose. Not a bad Chardonnay, though I don't know if it justifies the price. $16.
Wine 2: 2002 Clos du Val Carneros Chardonnay. This was much drier than the first wine, with a crisp flavor and low oak. Quite nice. $22.
Wine 3: 1999 Domaine Bertrand Ambroise Bourgogne Rouge. With all the fuss about pinot noir these days, is anyone buying red Burgundy? This was slightly tart, with soft tannins. It had a rougher aftertaste than I was expecting. I need more experience with Burgundy. Given the age and region, the price is pretty decent. $20.
Wine 4: 2001 Artesa Elements Napa Red Blend. I was pleasantly surprised by this wine, even though at the time we had no info on what grapes were used. It's a pleasant red mix that has a lot of forward fruit flavors. I'd happily recommend this, though for what is basically a fun table wine, I think it's overpriced. $20.
Cocktail 1: Mancini's Apple Martini. Think a so-so vodka with a green apple Jolly Rancher dissolved in it. This has nothing to do with Ireland, though it is a green beverage. I've largely avoided the novelty martini trend, and for some reason hearing the word "chocotini" makes my skin crawl. Give me cold gin, a splash of vermouth, and a nice olive. At home, I'll happily tip a bit of the olive brine in for a "dirty martini", though that's something you drink out of a tumbler rather than a martini glass. I am also not generally fond of premixed cocktails; you don't have any control over the quality of the individual elements, and more delicate flavors are going to be lost over time. $15.
Whiskey 1: Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. These whiskey reviews are not going to be of much to anyone; I'm not an expert, and while I've had some amazing whiskeys in my time, I still haven't developed a taste for Scotch-like beverages. This is thin, pale gold, and has a harsh aroma and taste to it, almost chemical. $21.
Whiskey 2: Powers Irish Whiskey. The best-selling whiskey in Ireland, obviously they're doing something right. I got a lot of earth and spice flavors. $22.
Whiskey 3: Black Bush Irish Whiskey. Like a punch in the stomach. Really strong, and I think this would need to be consumed slowly over a longer period of time. A quick sip is a bit of a shock. $40.
Whiskey 4: Tyrconnell Single Malt Irish Whiskey. I enjoyed this one, though again, I think that might have more to do with getting my tongue acclimated to whiskey. This was much smoother than the first three whiskeys, and it appears as though this is a well-respected distillery. For the price, I suppose it would make a good gift for a whiskey lover. $25.
Liqueur 1: Celtic Crossing. A honey-based liqeuer. About 60 proof, and the honey flavor is very delicate and restrained. I think this would be amazing for soaking a cake (or babas au rhum or any similar spirit-soaked dessert). Probably great over ice cream as well. $22.
Liqueur 2. Irish Mist. Spicy, smooth, and sweet. Made me think of Christmas for some reason. Also contains honey. $30.
Liqueurs 3&4. Bushmill's Irish Cream and Starbucks Coffee Liqueur. I've had both of these at previous tastings, and my main problem with the Starbucks liqueur was what to mix it with. I didn't think it tasted all that great on its own, and obviously it would be overkill to add it to coffee (though I understand that this is an increasingly popular choice). So I just took both of these samples together, and they blended beautifully. The Starbucks toned down the sweetness of the Irish cream and the cream softened the bitter edge of the coffee. The combination looks like dark chocolate milk, and hangs on the glass like cough syrup. $20 and $30, respectively.
01 April 2005
2002 Twin Fin Cabernet Sauvignon
I'm a sucker for good packaging. The 2002 Twin Fin Cabernet Sauvignon is an inexpensive, screwcap-enclosed table wine that features a stylized picture of a 50s era convertible at the beach, with a surfboard sticking out of the back seat. (The board has two fins, hence "twin fin".) 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. This is a fruit bomb, so you get a lot of bright grape and cherry flavors at first. The tannins are thankfully low, and the finish is short. What does all that mean?
With zero complexity and a taste that doesn't linger, you could match this with just about any food. I'm always hesitant about cheap Cabernet Sauvignon, but this seems to be simple and well balanced (I can't wait to try their Syrah). I was really surprised by this wine, and I hope that its fun marketing will convince more non-wine drinkers to pick up a bottle now and then. $6.
With zero complexity and a taste that doesn't linger, you could match this with just about any food. I'm always hesitant about cheap Cabernet Sauvignon, but this seems to be simple and well balanced (I can't wait to try their Syrah). I was really surprised by this wine, and I hope that its fun marketing will convince more non-wine drinkers to pick up a bottle now and then. $6.
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