Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Graffigna' (San Juan Argentina) 2013 Pinot Grigio Reserve




 
Graffigna Centenario (San Juan Argentina) 2013 Pinot Grigio Reserve, $11.99, 85+ points, was a light glossy brass color trending gray toward the glass shallows.
If I had smelled this blind, I would have guessed Sauvignon Blanc, as this Pinot Grigio had aromas of grass, cantaloupe, and a hint of flowers (just okay for me).
Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity, quite dry, and flavors reflective of the aromas, but with a slightly burnt vanilla late palate.
Finished fair with a ginger note, tart citrus, and the 13.5% alcohol.
Paired fine with my broccoli in cheddar-cheese soup.
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Monday, March 30, 2015

Tommasi Vigneto Le Rosse 2013 Pinot Grigio




Tommasi Vigneto Le Rosse 2013 Pinot Grigio, $14.99-$16.99, 90 points, poured a light gold color trending near water clear at the glass shallows.
Smells of sweet beech-wood and subtle melon with a floral component were good.
Light-bodied, crisp, dry, and with good acidity carried by flavors reflective of the nose in addition to lime notes.
Finished quite long on expressive ginger and a well integrated 12% alcohol.
Food friendly as is typical of Italian wines; pair with fish, lobster or shrimp, oysters, pasta in white sauce or butter (this is a more robust PG than many I've had).


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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Panther Creek Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris





 

Panther Creek Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris, $15.99, 88 points, appeared to be a light brass color with flecks of orange reflected.
Different and interesting nose of tangerine and subtle orchard blossoms.
The light body was refreshing as it carried fair acidity and flavors reflective of the nose with a more citrusy profile than the others, almost similar to a near bite-less Sauvignon Blanc.
Finished unremarkably on the trailing palate with a hint of the 13.5% alcohol.

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

Domaine Gérard Metz Alsace 2013 Pinot Gris

 
 



Domaine Gérard Metz Alsace 2013 Pinot Gris, $16.99-$18.99, 89 points, was a bold polished gold color.
Aromatic pear, flowers, and Lychee were beautiful.
The light-plus body was full of subterranean magic, notes of pear and subtle apple flavors with a slightly oily texture and fair acidity were quite good.
Finished well on the 13% alcohol and white pepper.
Though not a quaffing white wine (typical of many PG), its complexity was conducive to sipping, while it paired well with fried whole clams, chef-salad, and a baked potato.
Noticeably drier than the "Flight Song" from New Zealand.

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Friday, March 27, 2015

Brancott Estate Flight Song 2013 Pinot Grigio






Brancott Estate Flight Song 2013 Pinot Grigio, $11.99-$13.99, 88 points, poured a light glossy brass color trending gray toward the glass shallows.
Orchard fruit on the nose was soft and inconspicuous.
Light-bodied with fair-plus acidity, bright and quaffable with subtle, but good flavors of quince and lemon.
Finished okay with a well integrated 13% alcohol and slightly sweet citrus notes.
This was the only New Zealand Pinot Grigio I could find, but I wanted (not disappointed at all) to get a sense of just what the people down-under were doing with this varietal.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Rosenblum Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley 2010 Zinfandel Reserve




Rosenblum Monte Rosso Vineyard Sonoma Valley 2010 Zinfandel Reserve, $21.99-$43.99, 91+ points, was a deep rectory red with a clear rim at the heavily draped glass wall.
Aromatic smoky blackberry, juniper-berry, oak, clove, truffle, and a whiff of the 15.9% alcohol were outstanding!
Medium-plus body managed good acidity with tight, yet comfortable tannin.
Flavors paralleled the aromas faithfully with the addition of licorice notes.
Finished long on an acceptable alcohol heat with good spiciness.

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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Greg Norman Estates Eden Valley Australia 2013 Chardonnay





 
Greg Norman Estates Eden Valley Australia 2013 Chardonnay, $10.99-$14.99, 91+ points, poured a light polished gold color.
Smells like Chardonnay, but brighter-lighter, with just a hint of citrus and butter with a wet stoniness; was one of the best I've experienced.
The body was Chablis-like light to medium having better acidity than most, and with lovely flavors of lemon meringue, pineapple, hazel nut, minerality, and a kiss of oak.
Finished fair on the trailing palate, a well integrated 13% alcohol, and a touch of ginger.
 

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Punto y Coma Calatayud 2009 Old Vine Garnacha






Punto y Coma Calatayud 2009 Old Vine Garnacha, $7.99-$12.99, 87+ points, was a very dark maroon with a crystal clear rim-ring with a fair amount of draping.
Aromatic mushrooms, chocolate, blackberries, and a whiff of the 14% alcohol were good.
Medium-plus body carried fair acidity, mellow to moderate tannin, and straight-forward flavors reflective of the aromas.
Finished okay on the trailing palate and mild spice notes.

This is a good table wine, and for the price you won't break the bank!

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Tuck Beckstoffer The Seventy Five Wine Company, The Sum Red Wine






Tuck Beckstoffer The Seventy Five Wine Company, The Sum Red Wine, $10.34-$22.99, 88 points, poured deep ruby trending burgundy red with a broad clear rim-ring.
Smells of black current with a hint of bell pepper were just okay for me.

Medium-plus body carried good acidity and a mellow underlayment of tannin.
Flavors were grape, boysenberry, and a hint of pomegranate.
Finished long on a well integrated 13.9% alcohol, spearmint, and paprika spiciness.
Paired perfectly with my rare porterhouse, butternut squash, and red-skinned mash potatoes with gravy.

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Saturday, March 21, 2015

Bodegas Breca Calatayud 2011 100% Garnacha Red Wine








Bodegas Breca Calatayud 2011 100% Garnacha Red Wine, $10.79-$14.99, 90+ points, poured a deep ruby with flashes of maroon and a clear rim at the heavily draped glass wall.
Cinnamon, clove, cedar, violets, blueberry, and blackberry on the nose were excellent.
Medium-plus body carried good acidity, accelerating firm tannin, flavors reflective of the nose with mint, pomegranate, licorice, and kirsch.
Finished long on the trailing palate, spice, and a noticeable 14.5% alcohol.

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Friday, March 20, 2015

Tomaiolo 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva (I love a surprise)





Tomaiolo 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva, $7.99-$14.99, 88+ points, poured a cranberry red with flashes of maroon toward the broad clear rim-ring.
Aromatic strawberry, blackberry, mint, oregano, with a hint of carnation were outstanding.
Medium-bodied with good acidity, moderately supportive tannin (dry red wine), and flavors that mirrored the aromas were quite good.
Finished a bit oaky on the fading palate, an almost unnoticeable 12% alcohol, and mellow spice notes all of which topped-off a remarkable $8 bottle of Chianti Riserva.
I must admit that I had expected to be disappointed, but just the opposite, and do I love a surprise.

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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Viognier My Global list


Viognier
My Global list

 
 
 
 

Cline North Coast 2011 Viognier,  $7.64-$11.99, 89 points (USA)

Graff Family Vineyards Chalone 2009 Viognier, $12.74-$22.99, 88 points (USA)



 
 
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Yalumba South Australia 2013 Viognier






Yalumba South Australia 2013 Viognier,  $10.19-$13.99, 88 points, was a straw yellow color.
Smells of melon with hints of smoky nuttiness were pretty good.
The near full body carried amazingly good acidity with complex flavors that not only reflected the aromas, but added notes of bacon fat, cantaloupe, lemon oil and finished with loads of ginger, a well integrated 14.1% alcohol, and black pepper.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Two Hands Bella's Garden 2009 Shiraz


Bella's (Beautiful) Garden of the vine is always wonderful!
If there is one wine that always stands out as remarkable, it is Bella's Garden from Two Hands vineyards.




Two Hands Bella's Garden 2009 Shiraz,  $57.79-$,67.99, 95 points, poured black at the core with a brilliant purple/red toward the clear rim and leggy glass wall.
The nose was a bit saline with rich blackberries, cedar, and dried cooking herbs.
The near medium body carried good acidity with layered, grainy, and persistent sweet tannin.
Flavors of truffle, black fruit, licorice, and plum were well balanced and delicious.
Finished long on the trailing palate, mint, eucalyptus, spice, and a bit of heat from the 14.8% alcohol.
Paired perfectly with my rack of Australian lamb and even the pecan pie for dessert!

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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Steele 2013 Chardonnay





Steele 2013 Chardonnay,  $15.99-$17.99, 90 points, poured a bright straw yellow.
A soft toasty melon on the nose was quite good.
Just over the threshold of a medium body with fair to good acidity and managing a tightrope-balance of a soft texture with a remarkable crispness, as well as moderate buttery oak notes with melon flavors.
Finished long on the trailing palate, black pepper, mint, and a well integrated 14.5% alcohol.

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Monday, March 16, 2015

Kenneth Volk Santa Barbara 2008 Chardonnay





Kenneth Volk Santa Barbara 2008 Chardonnay, $17.99-$22.99, 87 points,
was a glossy gold color.
Smells of butter, oak, and a slightly sour cantaloupe were just okay for me.
Medium-bodied with fair acidity, early flavors of sweet apples and late palate aroma-reflective notes were good, but the highlight was the fair finish of black pepper, the trailing palate, and a well integrated 14.2% alcohol.  


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Sunday, March 15, 2015

Sterling Vineyards 2011 Platinum Red Wine (Meritage)





Sterling Vineyards 2011 Platinum Red Wine (Meritage), $34.99-$45.99, 91 points, poured inky black at the core and trended a lovely purple/red toward the clear rim-ring.
Mulling spices and toasty black fruit on the nose were rich and full.
Full-bodied with a slight astringency, firm, but manageable tannin, good acidity and plentiful aroma-mirrored flavors with a floral component were complex and interesting.
Finished long on the trailing palate, mint, warm spices, and a well integrated 14.6% alcohol.
Varietals were 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec.

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Saturday, March 14, 2015

Château Tour de Mirambeau 2012 Bordeaux Blanc




 
Château Tour de Mirambeau 2012 Bordeaux Blanc, $11.29-$15.99, 89+ points, poured a light straw yellow.
Gentle and lovely citrus aromas were subtle and pleasant.
Light-bodied with good acidity and stony minerality accented by straight-forward flavors of lemon/lime and a squirt of grapefruit had their own charm.
Just as the singularly most notable characteristic of the North American mature forest is quiet (???), so the most noticeable aspect of this wine is a pristine cleanness; it is easy drinking, but not simple.
Finished fair on the trailing palate with a hint of black pepper and an almost unnoticeable 12% alcohol.
Varietals were Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle.
Paired well with a steamed white fish in a cheddar-cheese sauce.





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