Wine Review: 2007 Katarzyna Estate "Halla" Merlot

Name: 2007 Katarzyna Estate "Halla" Merlot
Producer: Trylinski Family Katarzyna Vineyards
Region: Bulgaria, Svilengrad, Thracian Valley Region
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 100% Merlot
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $14.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: 10/03/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled steak, grilled pork chops
My Rating: 3 Stars

This is my first experience at a Bulgarian wine, and I was fairly pleased with the experience. Dark garnet color with a fairly closed nose, almost to the point of being aromatically challenged. Nice and fruity on the palate, though, with plenty of plum and strawberry jam flavors up front. Moderate tannins, with a short finish. Hints of mild oak and vanilla went well with both the steak and the pork chops.

Wine Review: Name: 2007 Recanati Cabernet-Merlot Yasmin Kosher

Name: 2007 Recanati Cabernet-Merlot Yasmin Kosher
Producer: Vians
Region: Israel, Galilee
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $9.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: 08/30/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled Italian-style Chicken
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Israel isn’t exactly high on the list of hot wine properties, so my expectations were fairly low for this wine that I recently picked up for a fairly cheap price. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised, though. This is a very drinkable, simple wine that delivers plenty of fruit, is fairly well balanced and complements most food with ease. For 10 bucks, it is definitely worth keeping on hand.

Pretty light burgundy in color, reminiscent of a Pinot. Equally light on the palate, with cherry licorice and smoky flavors dominating. Subtle tannins on the back with a smooth but relatively short finish.

Wine Review: 2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

Name: 2006 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
Producer: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Region: USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Syrah, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $13.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: 08/26/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled hamburgers
My Rating: 3 Stars

This is a pretty easy wine to drink, with very concentrated fruit flavors up front and moderate tannins in the back. Dominated by black raspberry and candied cherry fruit flavors, with only a moderate oak lurking in the background. It is on the velvety side of smooth, not overly complex, and better with food than without. Not great, but certainly worth trying. Interesting to note that the "cabernet" is actually a rather complex blend of five different grapes. The winemaker was obviously going after a specific flavor.

2006 Vina Hermosa Cosecha Rioja

Name: 2006 Vina Hermosa Cosecha Rioja
Producer: Vina Hermosa
Region: Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Tempranillo
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $10.98, Wine Library (NJ)
Date Logged: 08/19/2009
Pairing(s): Pizza (Piccolo Forno)
My Rating: 2 Stars

The first thing you notice about this wine is that it is thin…something you don’t generally associate with a Rioja…and generally not a good attribute for a Rioja. It is medium red in the glass with some cloudiness, which I also found a little odd. The nose has some strawberry jam and cherry aromas, with a little smokiness lurking in the back. It is watery on the palate, with some cherry fruit up front that quickly disappears. Not much acid, and even less tannins, and a fairly short finish. Overall, not a delicious wine and definitely not a wine for sipping. However, it gets a little better with food, and did, in fact, compliment the Neapolitan style pizza quite well.

At only a couple of years in the bottle, it is probably one of the youngest Riojas that I’ve ever had. So maybe it needs a little more time in the cellar. We’ll see, since I bought a case of this based on a promotion from Wine Library.

Wine Review: 2005 Viansa Sempre Avanti

Name: 2005 Viansa Sempre Avanti
Producer: Viansa
Region: USA, California, Sonoma County
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 50% Sangiovese, 27% Merlot, 15% Zinfandel, 7% Teroldego & 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $9.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: 08/08/2009
Pairing(s): Pizza
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This is a $30 bottle of wine I got for 10 bucks. Sometimes this kind of markdown at the State Store is a red flag for a wine that has somehow not lived up to expectations. In this case, though, it seems like it IS actually a great value.

The nose is very interesting, with a predominant aroma of cedar and pencil shavings, with some nice dark berry undertones. It is very Italianesque on the palate, with a good complex mixture of spice, leather and raspberries. It follows with a nice smooth dose of tannins and a fairly long lingering finish. We had this with pizza and were not disappointed. It would also go well with heavier pasta dishes, maybe even a steak. I will definitely seek this out and buy again, especially if it is still at $10.

Wine Review: 2004 E. Bodin Cassis Blanc de Blancs

Name: 2004 E. Bodin Cassis Blanc de Blancs

Producer: Château de Fontblanche

Region: France, Provence, Cassis

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Probably one or more of Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc),Clairette Blanche or Marsanne

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: About $20, Marseille Supermarket

Date Logged: 08.01/2009

Pairing(s): Chicken Piccata

My Rating: 5 Stars

Well, there it is…five stars. And for a white wine no less.

I bought this several years ago in France and it has sat in the wine cooler ever since, waiting for a perfect pairing. We teamed it up with Jen’s chicken piccata and it couldn’t have been a better match. The wine’s citrus attack paired perfectly with the lemon zest of the sauce, and the acidity was just right to cut through the saltiness of the capers in the dish. Even by itself, the wine was smooth and delicious, a perfect and refreshing accompaniment to a hot summer day.

Wine Review: 2003 Château Garraud Lalande de Pomerol

Name: 2003 Château Garraud Lalande de Pomerol
Producer: Château Garraud
Region: France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Merlot blend
Year/Vintage: 2003
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $19.99, Claymont Total Wine & More
Date Logged: 07/30/2009
Pairing(s): 1) Pasta, 2) Pizza
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

A nice wine with classic Bordeaux elements. Surprisingly, this was a Alfio Mariconi import, which I have typically had poor luck with. I was pleasantly surprised with this one, though.

Nice fruit components of plum and cherry followed by raisin and cinnamon on the mid-palate and a nice earthy, mushroom-like complexity coming afterwards. Mild tannic finish, but long. It was light enough to go quite well with both the pasta and the pizza, but I think would have been great with a steak as well.

Wine Review: 2005 Castello d'Albola Chianti Classico

Name: 2005 Castello d'Albola Chianti Classico
Producer: Castello d'Albola
Region: Italy, Tuscany, Chianti
Classification: Chianti Classico
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Sangiovese
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $13.99, Claymont Total Wine & More
Date Logged: 07/22/2009
Pairing(s): Pasta with olive oil, cherry tomatoes and basil
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This is a great value Chianti...worth a bit more than the $14 that I paid. Light red color with plum and cherry aromas on the nose. Very smooth on the palate and nice mid-weight feel. Cherry and strawberry flavor profiles with just a faint bit of earthiness. Well balanced acidity and mild tannic finish. Perfect with the light pasta we had on a warm evening. Pretty much what you want in a summer Chianti.

Wine Review: 2005 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva

Name: 2005 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva
Producer: Ruffino
Region: Italy, Tuscany, Chianti
Classification: Chianti Classico
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Sangiovese
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $22, Kroger
Date Logged: 07/15/2009
Pairing(s): Spaghetti Marinara
My Rating: 1 Star

This was a sad bottle of wine. I found it aromatically challenged, thin as water in the mouth, had a metallic and vinyl flavor profile, and a disjointed bitter finish.

Wine Review: 2005 Havens Wine Cellars Bourriquot

Name: 2005 Havens Wine Cellars Bourriquot
Producer: Havens Wine Cellars
Region: USA, California, Napa Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 67% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $29.98, Wine Library
Date Logged: July 12, 2009
Pairing(s): Hamburgers and Hotdogs
My Rating: 4 Stars

We got this on sale from Wine Library, and it was our first time buying anything from them (this is Gary Vaynerchuk’s store). The wine was touted as a California Bordeaux blend, and it pretty much fulfilled that promise. Very nice red and black berry fruit on the front end, followed by smoky, meaty complexity in the middle, and ending with a stiff dose of tannins through a long finish. We had this with grilled hamburgers (at the beach!), and it was a perfect match. The wine itself could almost pass as a bacon cheeseburger with the red meat textures in the mid-palate. There’s also hints of mint and perfume mixed in for good measure. Nice!

Wine Review: 2005 Schubert Estate Shiraz Goose-yard Block

Name: 2005 Schubert Estate Shiraz Goose-yard Block
Producer: Schubert Estate
Region: Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley, Roennfeldt Road
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Shiraz
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $29.99, PA Wine Store, May 2009
Date Logged: 07/05/2009
Pairing(s): Buffalo Chicken Salad
My Rating: 4 Stars

This is one of those wines that supposedly retails for around $60+ but somehow the PA Wine Store is able to sell it at half that price. Still expensive, but Wine Advocate gave it 95 points, so definitely worth a whirl.

BIG fruit here, and thick, velvety jam texture to boot. If you’re after a liqueur-like, mouth-coating fruit bomb, this wine is the ticket. It does also have a fair amount of complexity hiding behind the initial wave of fruit, with coffee, nutmeg, red licorice and some nice vanilla tones creeping in during the LONG finish (about a minute or more). Although the label says that it was aged 12-15 months in new and used French oak, the oak was very subtle in the finish, and the tannins were all but hidden behind the fruit.

We had this wine with Buffalo Chicken Salad, which was a bad match…the chicken was a little too spicy for this kind of wine. It was much better just drinking it by itself or with some chocolate cake I had afterwards. Although this wine is not something I’m looking for every day, I think it’s pretty well put together and deserves my rating of 4 stars. I also think a few more years in the bottle may do a lot to tame the fruit and bring some of the more complex tones to the forefront.

Wine Review: 2007 Vina Robles RED4 Huerhuero

Name: 2007 Vina Robles RED4 Huerhuero
Producer: Vina Robles
Region: USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 51% Petite Sirah, 43% Syrah, 4% Tannat, 2% Touriga Nacional
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, Kroger, March 2009
Date Logged: 06/30/2009
Pairing(s): 1) Spaghetti, 2) Chicken Sausage
My Rating: 2-1/2 Stars

Not sure what to make of this wine. At first, I was fairly impressed by it…nice complexity, good mix of plum fruit and vegetal characteristics, decent balance of tannins and acidity, medium-weight mouthfeel, sort of reminded me of a typical Rhone Valley or Chinon wine. It paired up fairly well with the spaghetti, and drank well by itself afterwards. Although it wasn’t exactly a remarkable wine, it was certainly quaffable at this point. The next day, though, it seemed to have become much less so. The alcohol seemed a lot more pronounced, and it had a distinct vinegar aroma and taste to it. I guess it could have just fallen apart overnight in the bottle…sort of a disappointment, for sure. I’m giving it 2-1/2 stars based on its initial impression upon opening. By the time 24 hours had passed, it would have been lucky to garner one star.

Wine Review: 2002 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: 2002 St. Supéry Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: St. Supéry Vineyards

Region: USA, California, Napa Valley

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Year/Vintage: 2002

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $22.99, Total Wine & More (June 2007)

Date Logged: 06/27/2009

Pairing(s): Grilled Filet Mignon

My Rating: 4 Stars

Delicious! Perfect pairing with a steak. Inky black color, strawberry and cherry cola nose with vegetable overtones. Complex palate with lots of fruit still left up front, some bell pepper, chocolate and vanilla in the middle, and some nice smoke and earthiness mixed in on the finish. Well balanced overall and worth every cent. I plan to look for this one again.

Wine Review: 2005 Kilikanoon Shiraz M Reserve

Name: 2005 Kilikanoon Shiraz M Reserve

Producer: Kilikanoon (Kevin Mitchell)

Region: Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

Classification: Reserve

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Shiraz

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $24.99, PA Wine Store

Date Logged: 05/29/2009

Pairing(s): Pizza

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is a good one. I had high expectations for it…Wine Spectator score of 94, retail price of $60-$70 (we got it on sale at a great price), and lately we’ve been on a Shiraz kick. Fortunately, it delivered.

The color was deep purple, almost black. The nose was complex, with plenty of red and black ripe fruit aromas, but also lots of complex undertones of pencil lead, tar and chocolate. The palate was also complex, with strong vanilla and crème flavors up front and a nice, structured tannic finish. It went well with the pizza, but would have also been great with a burger or steak. It’s also great just by itself. I will definitely seek this out again, especially if we can get it at $25.

Notes from the winery: “Our pinnacle Mclaren Vale Shiraz, a wine sourced from a forty year old vineyard in Mclaren Vale. This small cuvee' was created traditionally using small open topped fermenters, a basket press and twenty six months maturation in small French oak cases.This extended time spent in oak has allowed the 'M' Reserve to be bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2006, thus preserving the vineyards uniquely individual flavours and characters.”

Name: 2005 Château de Sales

Producer: Château de Sales

Region: France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot blend

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $29.99, February, 2008

Date Logged: 05/17/2009

Pairing(s): Stuffed peppers

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

2005 is considered THE vintage for Bordeaux, and this mid-priced wine did not dissapoint.

This was a surprisingly mellow wine for being such a young Bordeaux. It had a funky, barnyard meets leather couch and cigar nose, with just a hint of red fruit. The color was dark red, almost black. The wine had a nice weight on the palate, with a relatively complex spectrum of flavors, including chocolate, campfire and dark cherry. The tannins were obvious but not overwhelming, providing a medium length finish. Overall, a well rounded wine that went very well with the stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes that we paired with it.

2005 West Cape Howe 'Two Steps' Shiraz Viognier

Name: 2005 West Cape Howe 'Two Steps' Shiraz Viognier

Producer: Great Southern

Region: Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Denmark

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Shiraz 93% / Viognier 7%

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $20.99, January, 2008

Date Logged: 05/16/2009

Pairing(s): Buffalo Chicken Salad

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This is a very easy-drinking and delicious wine, with lots of fruit and a nice balance of medium tannins and acidity. Very dark, almost inky color in the glass. Black cherry and plum on the nose, with the same on the palate plus some cedar and green pepper overtones. Great with grilled meat, or by itself.

Wine Review: 2005 Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot

Name: 2005 Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot

Producer: Rutherford Hill

Region: USA, California, Napa Valley

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 375ml

Purchased: $13.99, FREE (from Thundercruise)

Date Logged: 05/08/2009

Pairing(s): Buffalo Chicken Salad

My Rating: 3 Stars

I haven’t had a merlot in awhile. We decided to break out one of the two half-bottles of Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot that we were given on the Thundercruise. I had heard several remarks on the cruise that this one wasn’t very good, but I wanted to see for myself.

Personally, I thought it was pretty good. It had lots of good dark cherry fruit on the nose and palate, and filled in with hints of chocolate and some spiciness on the mid-palate. It had good balance of oak and tannins, and ended with a nice mellow finish. Good by itself and with the grilled chicken and salad. Proof that you should always make up your own mind about whether you will like a wine or not.

Wine Review: 2004 Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Vigna Montersino

Name: 2004 Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Vigna Montersino
Producer: Orlando Abrigo
Region: Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Nebbiolo
Year/Vintage: 2004
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $40.00, FREE (obtained on a cruise)
Date Logged: 5/2/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled steaks
My Rating: 5 Stars

I believe this is my first 5-star wine that I have put on this site…and it is very well-deserved. We snagged this bottle on the Thundercruise, a 7-day wine tasting tour on board a Caribbean cruise ship. We tasted it first while on the cruise and immediately fell in love with it. We were lucky enough to bring an entire bottle home with us.

I generally have a hard time finding a memorable Italian wine in the local wine store. This wine may make me look a little harder. The color was beautiful in the glass, with a nice clear, light ruby color. The nose was floral and fruity, with hints of licorice, smoke and grilled meat. It had a perfect mid-weight in the mouth, and gave up lots of cherry and black fruits, along with more complex flavors of vanilla, earth and minerals. The acidity and integrated tannins were very well balanced. It carried plenty of punch with the tannins, but wasn’t overwhelming and paired perfectly with the grilled steak. The finish was nice and long, with some lingering spicy flavors well after the other flavors faded.

It’s not a cheap wine by any means, but definitely worth having around for a special occasion. I hope to find some more soon.

April 23rd Grand Tasting on the Thundercruise

We participated in a truly spectacular event on the fifth night of our Thundercruise - a Grand Tasting put on by Wine Library's Gary Vaynerchuk. The tasting, held on board the MSC Orchestra while en route from Antigua to Nassau, included over 250 different wines from all over the world. We could sample any that we wanted as frequently as we wanted for a period of over four hours.

Needless to say, we didn't make it through all 250 wines, but we did get through about 60 or so before our palates (and our ability to stand) were completely overwhelmed. Gary promised an over-the-top event, and he delivered big time. We also got to take a couple of bottles back to our rooms after it was over, so this event by itself was almost worth the price of the cruise. Add in the fact that we had several other smaller tasting events prior to this, and more food than anyone ever should be allowed to eat, and there is no doubt that this cruise lived up to its name.

A couple of our favorite wines included a 2004 Barbaresco Montersino and a 2003 Brunello di Montalcino from Italy, a 2001 Chateau Cabanne from Pomerol, and a 2004 San Roman Toro from Spain. Our entire list, along with a crude scoring system, is shown below. The more ♥ signs, the more we liked it. No ♥'s means either it was unremarkable, or we were too far gone to make an honest assessment when we tasted it.

Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2002
Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2003 ♥
Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2004 ♥
Argentina, Bodegas Poesia, Poesia 2005 ♥
Argentina, Melipal Res Malbec 2006
Chile, Cantus Carmanere 2007
Portugal, VT Douro Red 2005
Portugal, Fojo Douro 2000
Portugal, Esporao Reserva White 2007
Portugal, Chryseia Douro 2005 ♥
Spain, San Roman Toro 2004 ♥♥♥
Spain, Bodegas Artadi Vinas de Gain Rioja 2006 ♥♥
Washington State, Ex Libris Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ♥
California, Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
California, Simi Russian River Chardonnay 2006 ♥
California, Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ♥♥
California, Frank Family Napa Zinfandel 2006 ♥
California, Kunde Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
California, Duckhorn Merlot
California, Daniel Gehrs Chenin Blanc 2005 ♥
California, Coniglio Cabernet Franc 2005 ♥
California, Coniglio Spring Mt. District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 ♥
California, White Rock Claret 2004
California, White Rock Cabernet “Laureate” 2004
California, Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
California, Philips Hill Toulouse Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007
Italy, Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Montersino 2004 ♥♥♥♥
Italy, Orlando Abrigo Barbera D alba Vigno Roreto 2006 ♥
Italy, Ruffino Aziano Chianti 2006
Italy, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2005 ♥♥♥
Italy, Tenuta Silvio Nardi Brunello di Montalcino 2003 ♥♥♥♥
Germany, Pfalz, Dr. von Basserman-Jordan Riesling QbA 2007
Germany, Mosel, St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Kabinett, Ockfener Bockstein 2007
Germany, Rheingau, Schloss Johannisberg Riesling Spatlese “Grunlack” 2007
Germany, Von Hovel “Balduin” Estate Riesling 2007
Germany, Monchhof Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett 2007
Germany, Gunderloch Estate Kabinett “Jean Baptiste” 2007
Germany, Dr. F. Weins-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2007 ♥♥♥
New Zealand, Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc 2008
New Zealand, Mt. Difficulty Estate Pinot Noir 2007 ♥
New Zealand, Daniel Schuster Twin Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006/7
Hungary, Monarchia Winery Chardonnay Eger 2006 ♥♥
Hungary, Monarchia Winery Bazilika 2004 ♥♥
Hungary, Chateau Dereszla Tokaji 6 Puttonyos 2003 ♥♥♥
France, Languedoc, Chateau Puech-Haut Clos du Pic 2004
France, Languedoc, Mas de la Barben Calices 2003 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Grand Mayne 1999 ♥♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 1999 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2001 ♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2002 ♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Cabanne 2001 ♥♥♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau La Fleur de Bouard 2004 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Brane Cantenac 2004 ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Du Tertre 2004 ♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Giscours 2004
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Beychevelle 2004 ♥♥♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Franc Maillet 2005 (Kosher)
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Quinault 2005 (Kosher) ♥
France, Bordeaux, Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc 2005

Wine Review: 1996 Miguel Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana

Name: 1996 Miguel Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana

Producer: Miguel Torres

Region: Spain, Catalunya, Penedès

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Year/Vintage: 1996

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $29.99, PA Wine and Spirits (December 2008)

Date Logged: 04/04/2009

Pairing(s): Filet Mignon

My Rating: 4 Stars

I’ve been eagerly anticipating getting my lips on a Mas La Plana for quite some time. I have a $50 bottle of the 2001 that I’ve had for a few years in the cellar, just waiting for a special occasion. So, when I saw the 1996 on sale last December for $30, I snapped it up, thinking I would try it should the less than “special” occasion arrive. In celebration of our official fireplace christening, we did just that.

This is a perfect wine for a steak. The nose is subtle, but earthy and woodsy, with some nice dark cherry coming through. The palate is complex, with plenty of smoke, pencil shavings and cigar box flavors. It’s got strong tannins but not to the point where they dominate, and the fruit still shows through nicely. A great wine to sit in front of a new, or old, fireplace and enjoy the warmth.

Wine Review: 2004 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Le Pousseur

Name: 2004 Bonny Doon Vineyard Syrah Le Pousseur

Producer: Bonny Doon Vineyard

Region: USA, California, Central Coast

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Syrah

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $18.99, Kroger (March 2009)

Date Logged: 04/03/2009

Pairing(s): pizza

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

An interesting wine and a bit surprising. The nose was full of spice, especially bell peppers and sort of an orange-curry mixture. A little hot on the palate, and really big tannins. Unfortunately, it sort of overwhelmed the pizza I paired with it. I think it would have much better matched against a beef stew or steak. Be that as it may, it had enough subtle textures of leather and minty spice to be interesting enough on its own. A little pricey, but then again it could indeed be compared to a $25-30 Chateauneuf de Pape, and the bottle has a really nice label, so maybe worth the dollars.

Wine Review: 2006 Anakena Carménère, Single Vineyard

Name: 2006 Anakena Carménère, Single Vineyard

Producer: Anakena

Region: Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley

Classification: Single Vinyard

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Carménère

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $9.99, Claymont Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 03/29/2009

Pairing(s): 1) Chicken Salad, 2) Stuffed Peppers

My Rating: 4 Stars

Buy this wine. At $10, this is a steal. We tried the chardonnay from Anakena a few weeks ago, and I wasn’t very impressed, so I was expecting this bottle of Carménère to be ordinary at best. In fact, it is one of the more interesting wines I’ve had from Chile. Lots of berry aromas and spices on the nose, with an almost curry undertone. The palate is full of cherry and raspberry flavors, with green pepper and cooked cabbage mixed in, along with a few cedar-like components. Velvety feel in the mouth with a smooth but short finish. It was smooth enough to pair well with the chicken salad, but rich enough to hold up to the stuffed peppers. I’ll be buying more of this one.

Wine Review: 2006 Nando Chianti Classico

Name: 2006 Nando Chianti Classico

Producer: Nando

Region: Italy, Tuscany, Chianti

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Sangiovese

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $14.99, Total Wine & More (February 2008)

Date Logged: 03/21/2009

Pairing(s): 1) Spaghetti marinara with meatballs, 2) fried chicken

My Rating: 3 Stars

This is an easy-drinking Chianti that seems like it would pair with just about anything, working well with both the spaghetti & meatballs and the fried chicken that I had with it. A nice cherry cola and leather aroma on the nose was followed through with cherry and cedar box flavors on the palate. It had a fairly light feel in the mouth, with a nice balance of acidity that cut through the spaghetti marinara sauce with ease. It ended with a medium length, very slightly tannic finish. For $15, this wine makes a nice dinner wine to have plenty of on hand.

Wine Review: 2005 Klinker Brick Farráh Syrah

Name: 2005 Klinker Brick Farráh Syrah
Producer: Klinker Brick
Region: USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Syrah
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $18.99 (Kroger, 3/2009)
Date Logged: 03/17/2009
Pairing(s): Pizza
My Rating: 4 Stars

This is an interesting wine. The nose is dominated by strong paint and phenolic aromas, with a hint of cherry licorice and minty spices. The palate is rich and earthy, with a very distinctive vanilla custard flavor that I really liked. It also had some cherry candy flavors working for it up front. It had a nice, medium tannic finish that lasted plenty long. All in all, this is one of the more interesting wines I’ve had in awhile, and it paired really well with the pizza. It’s not cheap, but well worth the price.

Wine Review: 2007 Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz/Cabernet

Name: 2007 Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz/Cabernet
Producer: Jip Jip Rocks Vinyard
Region: Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Padthaway
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 55% Shiraz, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $14.99, Total Wine & More (February, 2009)
Date Logged: 03/03/2009
Pairing(s): 1) Grilled hamburgers, 2) grilled pork chops
My Rating: 3 Stars

This was a decent wine that could probably benefit from a couple of years in the cellar to give it some complexity. The nose was very pleasant, with an abundance of nice red and black berry tones. It was surprisingly less fruit-forward than I expected, although there were plenty of black raspberry and cherry flavors to qualify it as jammy. Hiding beneath the fruit, though, was an interesting peppery and raw meat profile that really paired well with both of the grilled meat dishes we had with this. The finish was a little harsh and relatively long. The tannins were obvious but the oak was subtle and just about right. It would be interesting to cellar this and come back in two or three years to see how the interesting flavor profile evolves. A good wine for the price.

Wine Review: 2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon H3

Name: 2005 Columbia Crest Cabernet Sauvignon H3
Producer: Columbia Crest
Region: USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot; 6% Cabernet Franc
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99 (Gift, 12/2008)
Date Logged: 02/25/2009
Pairing(s): Pork sausage and kraut
My Rating: 3 Stars

My first impression of this wine was that it seemed a little round and soft for a cabernet. I don’t drink a lot of cabs from Washington, though, so I didn’t dwell on it. A little more research, though, and I found out that it’s blended with merlot and cab franc…so there you go, first impressions do mean something.

That being said, this is a pretty nice wine. The nose is nice and spicy, with black pepper and blueberries dominating. There was also a touch of Testors model paint aroma hiding in the background that seemed to fade after being open for awhile. The palate was simple but good…very much fruit-forward, with blueberry and cherry cola flavors hitting first, followed by a little bit of a rare red meat taste that took awhile to figure out, but paired up really well with the pork sausage and kraut combo. The back end is supple, with a mild tannic finish and a slight coffee-ground aftertaste.

I noticed that the area that this wine comes from is nearly the same latitude as Bordeaux. It’s not quite as interesting as your typical Haut Medoc offering, but at $12.99 it’s a great value and well worth seeking out.

Wine Review: 2005 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino

Name: 2005 Castello Banfi Rosso di Montalcino

Producer: Castello Banfi

Region: Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Sangiovese Grosso

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $19.99, PA Wine & Spirits (January 2008)

Date Logged: 02/22/2009

Pairing(s): 1) Sphagetti marinara with meatballs, 2) pizza

My Rating: 2-1/2 Stars

Rosso di Montalcino is the junior wine to the much more prestigious Brunello di Montalcino. The family owned Castello Banfi vineyard estate is the Brunello zone’s leading producer and has been described as a “constellation of single vineyards,” with a medieval castle crowning the estate. 2005 was supposedly a rough year for all growers in this region due to a very damp late summer. That may show in this particular bottle.

This wine wasn’t bad but was more or less forgettable. It had a really nice cherry nose after first opening that soon diminished after standing an hour or so. It maintained some decent cherry fruit on the palate, with a few earth tones hiding in the background, but nothing overly exciting. It opened up a little the second day and had a few more woody flavors, and a little bit of a bayberry component that I liked. It was easy-drinking and complemented the food reasonably well, and might benefit with another year or so in the cellar. For now, though, it just isn’t much to write home about, and a little over-priced at 20 bucks a bottle.

Wine Review: 2004 Château Saint-Robert Blanc Cuvee Poncet Deville

Name: 2004 Château Saint-Robert Blanc Cuvee Poncet Deville

Producer: Château Saint-Robert

Region: France, Bordeaux, Graves

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $17.99, PA Wine & Spirits (2007)

Date Logged: 02/20/2009

Pairing(s): Greek Chicken Wraps

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

The Saint-Robert estate, located in the Graves region of Bordeaux, dates back to 1686. It is named after one of the original owner’s mother, Dame Anne Robert. It was not until the 19th century that the estate of Saint Robert became a real wine-growing château. This transformation was the work of one of its owners, the younger Monsieur Poncet Deville, who was largely responsible for the improvements made in the vineyard, known at that time as Clos Saint Robert. For both Saint Robert red and white wines, two blends are made: the Château Saint Robert itself, and the Cuvée Poncet Deville, which is made from a hand-picked selection of the best terroirs and the oldest vines.

Up until today, I had only had the generic Saint-Robert wines, which I have always enjoyed. The Poncet Deville was different right out of the glass, with a much more golden and chardonnay-look to it than the standard Saint-Robert. The nose was quite grassy, with a little bit of a vinyl component to it as well. The first thing you notice on the palate is the acidity, which completely rips at your tongue the first couple of sips. After you get used to it, though, the lemon and other citrus components come through, as does a fair amount of oak. It’s not quite buttery, but it’s close. The combination of acidity, citrus and oak turn out to be really well balanced, and make for a very interesting and enjoyable sauvignon blanc. The pairing with the lemon-based Greek dressing of our dinner was nearly perfect.

This wine is a few dollars more than the standard Saint-Robert, but given the added complexity of this one I would say it is worth it. Overall, it is quite delicious, interesting, and a really good value.

You can't drink wine all the time

We were having spicy chicken burritos for dinner...a tough pairing for wine. I looked in the fridge and (gasp!) NO BEER! But I did have limes. So, despite the fact that it was 25 degrees and snowing outside, I broke out the tequila. I had just enough Patron to make two really fine winter margaritas. I spiked them with a shot of Chambord to give them that girly pink look. It's amazing how powerful that aromas and flavors like this can be - for a few minutes tonight it felt like summer. But alas...

Wine Review: 2006 Sauvion Chinon

Name: 2006 Sauvion Chinon
Producer: Sauvion
Region: France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Cabernet Franc
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, Wine & More (Feb 2007)
Date Logged: 02/15/2009
Pairing(s): 1) Pizza, 2) Grilled pork loin
My Rating: 3.5 to 4 Stars

If you like green vegetables, this is the wine for you. Lots of bell pepper flavors on the nose and palate, but not overpowering, It paired perfectly with the pizza we had with it the first night. Chinons are definitely becoming a favorite of mine to have with pizza.

The wine was initially a little out of balance, with a slightly hot finish (almost like rubbing alcohol). A couple of days on the counter, though, and it seemed much better rounded and easier drinking. The vegetable components evolved between the first and second tastings, with more of the broccoli and asparagus flavors evident after sitting a couple of days. It also picked up a little more smokiness on the palate, which made the second pairing with grilled pork quite nice. The way that the wine changed over time caused me to give the dual scoring, since it definitely seemed to improve after opening. Overall, a very interesting wine and a fantastic value.

Wine Review: 2004 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

Name: 2004 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay
Producer: Landmark
Region: USA, California
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2004
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $15.99, PA Wine & Spirits (April 2007)
Date Logged: 02/14/2009
Pairing(s): Chicken Piccata
My Rating: 3 Stars

A good but not great chardonnay from Landmark that may be a little past its prime. This was a little oakier than I remember from other vintages of the same wine. Because of that, it’s not exactly my style, but a reasonably good wine nevertheless. The grapes are a blend from Sonoma, Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties in California. Not surprisingly, it tastes a little on the generic California chardonnay side. It is crisp with some citrus, tropical and apple flavors on the nose and palate, with a decent kick of alcohol and a fairly bitter finish. Not as buttery as I expected, based on other Landmark efforts that I’ve had. It paired nicely with the salty, lemon base of the chicken piccata. It's a good value at $16...maybe not so good at $25, which is what I seem to remember paying for it at some time in the past.

Wine Review: 2005 Landmark Grand Detour Pinot Noir

Name: 2005 Landmark Grand Detour Pinot Noir

Producer: Landmark
Region: USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Pinot Noir

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $29.99, PA Wine & Spirits (April 2007)

Date Logged: 02/13/2009

Pairing(s): 1) Grilled Salmon, 2) Grilled pork chop (Café Du Jour)

My Rating: 4-1/2 Stars

I am very seldom disappointed by Landmark, and this was no exception. We brought this with us to Café Du Jour on the Southside and I had it with a thick, juicy pork chop while Jen had it with her favorite sea salt-rubbed seared salmon. Both pairings were superb.

The wine was lip-smackingly delicious, with nice berry and cherry fruit that was somewhat subtle and nicely balanced out with the mild tannins. Very smooth and easy-drinking. This wine lived up to Pinot’s seductive and understated reputation. No single flavor component was overpowering, which really allowed the best characteristics of the food to shine through. It effortlessly earns the 4-1/2 star rating I gave it. It is not an inexpensive wine, but worth the price for special occasions that you want to remember.

Wine Review: 2002 Renwood Zinfandel Old Vine

Name: 2002 Renwood Zinfandel Old Vine
Producer: Renwood
Region: USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Zinfandel
Year/Vintage: 2002
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $16.99, PA Wine & Spirits (several years ago)
Date Logged: 02/08/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled pork loin
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

We drank this wine quite a bit in 2005 but it’s been awhile since I’ve had it. I remember it as a jammy fruit bomb from back then. After a few years in the cellar, it has settled down a little and picked up some nice complexity to go with the fruit. It’s still pretty jammy, with blackberry and cranberry flavors being the most discernable. But now it has some cigar and cedar components as well. This wine was always a little hot and spicy in the past, and that still is the case. It has big tannins, is a little on the acidic side, and has an astringent and medium finish. The color is medium red and seemed a little browner than before, so I think some oxidation has definitely taken place. It paired very nicely with the grilled pork, and is quaffable by itself despite the astringent finish. I think the price point of the more recent vintages has pushed over $20. If they are similar to this, they’re still a decent buy and can be drunk now or put away for several years.

Wine Review: 2000 Frank Phélan

Name: 2000 Frank Phélan

Producer: Chateau Phelan Segur

Region: France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Year/Vintage: 2000

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $28.99, PA Wine & Spirits

Date Logged: 02/06/2009

Pairing(s): Pizza

My Rating: 3 Stars

This is the second wine of the renowned St.Estephe estate Ch.Phelan-Segur. The Grand Vin goes for around $150 a bottle. The vines for this wine have rather illustrious neighbors, namely Chateau Montrose and Chateau Calon-Ségur.

With all of this hype, I may have expected too much of this wine. Although I wasn’t disappointed by it (it is a very nice wine), I can’t say that I was blown away by it either. It is typical of a decent Bordeaux, with all of the tannins and complexity you would expect – old leather, musty basement and pencil shaving components dominate. There is a little fruit left, with a hint of cherries coming through on the nose and mid-palate. There is also a subtle vegetal character, but I couldn’t quite nail the exact flavor component. None of the flavors really stood out, though, and the wine seemed a bit closed – it may have opened up if I had decanted it longer.

I paired this with pizza, which certainly wasn’t perfect…a nice charcoal-grilled steak would have been ideal. I wish I had a second bottle to give it another try with a red meat after decanting. Unfortunately, at almost $30 a bottle, that may have to wait.

Wine Review: A Homebrew from Chateau de Kephart

Name: 2007 Chateau de Kephart

Producer: Allen Kephart
Region: Italy

Classification: Homemade Kit Wine

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Sangiovese/Merlot

Year/Vintage: 2007

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: Free, November 2008

Date Logged: 1/29/2009

Pairing(s): Grilled burgers

My Rating: 2.5 Stars

A friend of mine made this wine from a kit and asked me to give it a whirl. It was his first shot at winemaking. The juice came from Italy and is reportedly a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, so I’m guessing the style is intended to be sort of “Super-Tuscan”.

As far as homebrews go, I thought this came out pretty well, and in fact I think it would stand up against a lot of the Kendall Jackson-like wines I’ve paid as much as $10 for. The wine was beautiful in the glass, with a deep ruby color that reminded me of Syrah. The nose was a little closed but was definitely dominated with plenty of cherry cola-like aromas. However, it also had some vegetal characteristics lurking in the background that were reminiscent of pickled beets and green peppers - a little more complex than I expected, and reminded me a little bit of Italian salad dressing...unusual to say the least.

It was pure fruit-bomb on the front palate, with cherry once again playing the dominant role. The mid-palate was attacked with some uneven acidity that gave it a little bit of a vinegary impression, but it was quickly replaced with a firm but very short tannic finish.

We paired this with classic grilled American hamburgers, which it supported fairly well. The acidity actually seemed to balance out a little better when put up beside the pickle relish and mustard, and the tannins had just enough umph to cut through the grilled flavor without lingering too long at the end. All in all, a very drinkable effort. Given the elements present in it now, it is likely to evolve over the next year or so into a more complex profile that could prove interesting.

Wine Review: 2001 Gloria Ferrar Carneros Syrah

Name: 2001 Gloria Ferrar Carneros Syrah

Producer: Gloria Ferrar

Region: USA, California, Sonoma, Carneros

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Syrah

Year/Vintage: 2001

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $9.99, PA Wine Store, December 2007

Date Logged: 1/23/2009

Pairing(s): Grilled burgers

My Rating: 4 Stars

A pleasant surprise from the cellar. This wine is a dark, dark garnet color, almost black. It has a really nice, Frenchy nose of dark fruit, cherry cola and hints of leather and smoke. It has a smooth and full feel in the mouth, with complex flavors reminiscent of some much more expensive Rhone valley wines. The front palate is hit with a full spectrum of dark berry fruits, followed by coffee, smoke and peppery flavors. It finishes with some nice strong tannins and lingering fruit that complemented our grilled burgers quite well.

For 10 bucks, this is an excellent buy (a steal actually). The more recent vintages are currently going for around $20. If they are anywhere as nice as this one, then they’re still worth seeking out even at twice the price I paid.

Wine Review: 2004 Loimer Grüner Veltliner

Name: 2004 Loimer Grüner Veltliner

Producer: Loimer

Region: Austria, Käferberg

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Grüner Veltliner

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $17.99, PA Wine Store, January 2009

Date Logged: 1/19/2009

Pairing(s): Grilled Pork Loin

My Rating: 2.5 Stars

This was my first experience with a Grüner Veltliner. Unfortunately, it was a little boring. There’s nothing wrong with this wine; it’s just not much to it. It is fairly lightweight, with some citrus (mainly grapefruit), a little grass, and some faint minerality. It was fairly well balanced, with a short, slightly astringent finish. Although light overall, it did manage to stand up to the pork, and may become more exciting with grilled seafood or maybe sushi. For $18, though, I doubt if I give it a second chance.

Wine Review: 2004 Olek-Mery Cuvee Des Tireaux

Name: 2004 Olek-Mery Cuvee Des Tireaux Chinon

Producer: Olek-Mery

Region: France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Cabernet Franc

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $21.99, PA Wine Store, February, 2008

Date Logged: 1/17/2009

Pairing(s): Pizza

My Rating: 4 Stars

A very nice food-friendly wine. Beautiful color and nice red berry-rich nose. It followed up on the palate with raspberry and cherry fruit, and loads of green peppers. The latter really made it go well with the classic pepperoni and vegetable pizza that we paired with it. It finished with a mild dose of tannins and a slightly metallic aftertaste. A little pricey, but different and tasty enough to get again.