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.