A J B Vineyards

• June 2009

  "When a winemaker harvests grapes with a 30% sugar to water ratio and places those grapes in a fermentation tank with the intention to bleed off (what the French call ‘saigner’) the juice that was created naturally from the sorting, de-stemming and transferring processes before... Read more"When a winemaker harvests grapes with a 30% sugar to water ratio and places those grapes in a fermentation tank with the intention to bleed off (what the French call ‘saigner’) the juice that was created naturally from the sorting, de-stemming and transferring processes before the ‘cold soak’. . .how much of the vineyard’s character is going to remain in the wine? Wait, we’re not done. What usually follows this style of winemaking is the addition of pre-fabricated yeasts, water, tartaric acid and nutrients to promote a healthy fermentation. But is that really healthy - to attempt to put back everything that was taken out of the grape? This process is where the hand of the winemaker comes into play and knowing this, you ask, where’s the Terroir? " Dan - I'm not sure that I follow the logic there. If you bleed off some juice, how does that make the remaining wine less reflective of it's origin? I sell a great rosado that is a bleed from a red wine. That red wine is pretty big stuff, ages well, and I don't think it reflects anything other than Toro, the region it's from. Moreover, if you bleed some juice, do you then add water? And if you use a commercial yeast, I'm not entirely certain how that eliminates the terroir. The whole idea of "wild" yeast is a little tricky because unless you plate the yeasts, how do you know exactly what you have? Is it a feral yeast that escaped from the neighbor, is it something that was brought in by your former winemaker, or what exactly is it? My problem with the idea of terroir is that virtually every decision a winemaker will make, from the choice of grape variety and then clone, to row orientation and planting density to green harvesting (something not really "natural") to picking date to length and temperature of maceration, will affect the final wine. And whatever that wine is, it has to reflect the terroir! If I make a wine in CA, no matter what I do to it, it's not going to reflect the terroir of Burgenland or Patagonia. I'm not sure how someone can say that a wine will only reflect it's terroir if you do A, or B, or C or D, and will not reflect its terroir if you do G and H and I and J. And if the winemaker produces a low-acid fruit bomb, how does that negate the vineyard designation? Is the vineyard only "supposed" to make one specific style of wine? If so, how would anybody ever know that unless they received engraved stone tablets from a burning bush? In any event, I quite like Larkmead wine and it's consistently one of the best quality wines at its price level. Good job there.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Terroir, an Addendum. by GregT

  
  

• December 2008

  The American Wines not from the United States Quiz Answers 1. What is the Zonda (and how does it impact wine)? The Zonda is a fierce, hot wind out of the northwest in the La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza provinces of Argentina. It can cause poor berry set and low crop yield if it... Read moreThe American Wines not from the United States Quiz Answers 1. What is the Zonda (and how does it impact wine)? The Zonda is a fierce, hot wind out of the northwest in the La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza provinces of Argentina. It can cause poor berry set and low crop yield if it blows during flowering. The delectable and rare (fewer than 100 produced to date) Pagani Zonda sportscar with its AMG Mercedes-Benz V-12 engine is named after this wind. 2. Which Canadian province produces the most wine? Ontario produces the majority of Canada’s wine. By the way, wine made in Ontario (from grapes grown in Canada and elsewhere) still has a 40% market share in Ontario. 3. Which three of the following wine regions are not in the Americas? a. Curico Valley Chile b. Cerro Chapeu Uruguay c. Similkameen Valley British Columbia, Canada d. Swan Valley Australia e. Tecate Mexico f. Casablanca Valley Chile g. Mendoza Argentina h. Samson Israel i. Campo de Borja Spain j. Pelee Island Ontario, Canada 4. The oldest winery in the Americas (commercial production started in 1597) is in what country? It is the Casa Madero in Mexico’s Parras Valley. 5. The largest wine company in Chile also. • Gets its name from a title granted by the King of Spain in 1718. • Is listed on the NYSE • Gave up distributing Coca-Cola in Chile because it wasn’t profitable enough! • Produces the Casillero del Diablo line of wines What company is it? Concha Y Toro 6. Argentina is a nation of immigrants. After the First World War, it was the 8th richest nation in the world before things got off course. It has a rich wine culture that is heavily influenced by Italian traditions (where a majority of its immigrants originally came from). To the closest 10%, what percentage of Argentina’s population is of European Ancestry? It is actually 95% to 97% - Argentina and Uruguay are the “whitest” countries in Latin America. 7. Like the US, Canada also suffered from Prohibition in the first third of the 20th century. However, Canada’s version of Prohibition wisely exempted wine from the general ban on alcohol, energizing the country’s nascent wine industry. After Repeal in 1927, the Canadian wine industry languished, producing sweet, alcoholic wines often labeled Sherry or Port. What Ontario producer started Canada’s boutique wine revolution in 1974 when it was granted the first commercial winery license since Prohibition? It is Karl Kaiser and Donald Ziraldo’s Inniskillin. Peller, another Canadian wine pioneer, purchased an existing winery and wine license. 8. The United States is the largest wine producer in the Americas. What nation is number 2? Argentina and no other nation comes close. In fact, Argentina was the top producer (and consumer) in the Americas until the 1980s. 9. Reportedly named for a southern belle and developed in South Carolina, Isabella, a hearty high-yielding grape praised for its disease-resistance, is the most widely planted grape in what South American country? Many of Brazil’s vineyards are in humid, rainy zones. Isabella’s resistance to rot and mildew make it a longtime Brazilian favorite. 10. Who am I? I am a red vinifera grape variety that plays an important role in two American countries (I am extremely important to one’s wine heritage, and more of a background grape to the other). I originally come from Europe and was brought by settlers who speak an unusual language isolate. In the Americas, I am usually plumper and smoother than I am in Europe. Sometimes I am called Harriague, Moustrou, or Bordeleza. I like to play alone, but I can also share as I have been blended with Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet; I am even used in the production of fortified wines. Some people think I might do very well in Virginia, others ,like the UK researcher Roger Corder, think that you would do well to drink my wines if you want to prolong your life. Tannat was brought to Uruguay and Argentina by Basque settlers. Like Argenina’s Malbec and Chile’s Carmenère, Tannat is poised to become Uruguay’s great specialty. ********************************************************************************************** And Gregory shows that he’s not just the community manager for nothing with a clearcut victory. Meanwhile the original Snoothers battle it out to the final questions and John falls short of his target. Get ready to do a mental handstand because we'll be heading down under for the next quiz! Scores Gregory 8 Mark 5 1/3 Philip 5 (giving you 1/3 of a point for the Buenos Aires part of your answer) John 3 2/3    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic The American Wines not from... by RBoulanger

  
  

• December 2008

  Wines Tasted: Flight 1 _ Sangiovese 2005 J Pedroncelli Alto Vineyard Dry Creek Valley 91pts 2006 Terra d’oro Amador County Sangiovese 86pts 2005 Pietra Santa Cienega Valley Sangiovese 89pts Flight 2 – Other Italians 2006 Montevina Amador County Aglianico 88pts 2006 Bocella... Read moreWines Tasted: Flight 1 _ Sangiovese 2005 J Pedroncelli Alto Vineyard Dry Creek Valley 91pts 2006 Terra d’oro Amador County Sangiovese 86pts 2005 Pietra Santa Cienega Valley Sangiovese 89pts Flight 2 - Other Italians 2006 Montevina Amador County Aglianico 88pts 2006 Bocella Rasott Campi Taurasini 89pts 2004 Pietra Santa Dolcetto Cienega Valley 87pts Flight 3 - Syrah/Shiraz 2005 Shoo Fly South East Australia 84pts 2006 Kilikanoon The Lackey South Australia 88pts 2005 Valley of the Moon Sonoma County NR Flight 4 - Syrah/Shiraz 2004 d’Arenberg The Love Grass McLaren Vale 91pts 2005 Sixth Sense Lodi County Syrah 84pts. 2005 Toasted Head Dunnigan Hills Syrah 86pts This week saw a first for us at Snooth, a split tasting! I had hoped to taste more Cal-Italians together in a large group but it just hasn't worked out quite that way so I cobbled together the samples we did have and made two flights of these Italian varietals. I have long been a fan of Barbera in California but the early examples of Sangiovese that I tried, those late 1980's examples from Atlas Peak, left a lot to be desired. It is surprising since the rolling hills of California have more than a passing similarity to the rolling hills of Italy but it has taken a pair of decades for the winemakers out there to sort out some prime locations for these varieties. I was impressed with each of the Sangiovese we tried, the Pedroncelli was the most typical with a lovely bracing, austere, transparent quality that I associate with the variety. Those seeking more power and depth would be well advised to try the Pietra Santa, a winery turning out compellingly good wines at affordable priced. We moved along from Sangiovese to a random flight that compared two wines from Caliofrnia, another Pietra Santa, their Dolcetto and Montevina's Aglianico with one far out, funky Organic Aglianico from Campania in Italy. This was a fascinating flight and the Campagnian Aglianico did not seem out of place with the Californians, though the nose set it completely apart. It was a pretty even flight without a clear cut winner. We then moved on to a pair of Shiraz/Syrah flights. I am doing a more indepth Shiraz tasting tomorrow but wanted to throw in a few ringers so I pulled out a few wines and included them in todays event. The first flight showed Shiraz in it's most intense iteration. Sadly the Valley of the Moon bottling was slightly corked. There seemed to be very promising raw materials there but the contamination prevented an accurate assessment of the wines. The Shoo Fly was just not my style at all. I felt it was clumsy and monotonous, Kilikanoon's The Lackey on the other hand was classic Shiraz, bright deep and focused. A killer value! Our final flight mixed things up a bit pitting d'Arenbergs Love Grass bottling against two value priced bottlings from California. This Love Grass is Bottled as a Shiraz but the small bit's of other Varieties added to the blend punches up the complexity and yields a wonderful bottle of wine that outclassed the spice bomb Sixth Sense and light but lovely Toasted Head. While I greatly preferred the Love Grass the Toasted Head was a fun, gulpabble style that I could see drinking. The Sixth Sense needs to paired with Chinese Bar B Q or something like it, fatty, smoky and spicy other-wise it's just over the top for my palate. That was the day's work, look out for the follow-up Shiraz event and if the Pietra Santa wines intrigue you you might want to check out AmericanWinery.com. They can get a mixed case shipped directly from the winery for only a penny. It's a great deal and I am writing an email about it to be sent tomorrow! Flight 1 _ Sangiovese 2005 J Pedroncelli Alto Vineyard Dry Creek Valley This has a great raw character, it’s a bit too woody but the light sour cherry,spice, herb and fruit notes are both intense and distinctive. There is a stoniness that is mouth watering and lovely notes of mushroom and watermelon accents the fruit. Lean on entry with great acidity and a nice mineral cut to the cherry pie filling fruit. Impressive length and surprisingly complex with herb and spice notes, Perhaps a touch rustic though the good acids and tannins are well balanced, excellent austerity with a zest cherry finish. This has real Sangiovese character though many might want more body and a bit less herbal character. 91pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/pedroncelli-winery-and-vineyards-alto-vineyards-dry-creek-valley-sangiovese-2005/ 2006 Terra d’oro Amador County Sangiovese A bit woody and reticent on the nose with a sweet, tarry, backing spice tone above the macerated plum fruits, quite spicy and cedar with a gentle tone of milk chocolate that emerges with air. Juicy yet with some fleshiness too, a fair amount of austere fruit tannin adds a bittersweet tone to the cocoa tinged fruit but the obvious wood tannin obscures some of the fruit turning the wine a bit block. Rich and mouthfilling with a very spicy character from both fruit and wood. Finishes a bit short, this needs a bit of time to harmonize but seems to have good raw materials nice wine, ok Sangiovese 86pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/montevina-vineyards-montevina-terra-doro-sangiovese-2006/ 2005 Pietra Santa Cienega Valley Sangiovese Opens with a raw woody note then layers of herbal, mineral, earth, limestone, a touch roasted/fudgy gingerbread, chocolate chip cookie dough, blond tobacco, and medicinal ricola cough drop. Intense and complex! Big and broad in the mouth, deep tobacco right up front followed by intense cherry fruit There are very soft tannins and good acidity giving this a rich feel without excess fat but there is a bit of a shapeless feel to the wine, though it is seamless. Intense powerful and complex with a subtle and fruit driven finish, good purity and power, elegant even at this high alcohol - can stand a year or two in the cellar, cleansing finish 89pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/pietra-santa-sangiovese-2005-1/ Flight 2 - Other Italians 2006 Montevina Amador County Aglianico Opening with a very spicy herbal note this gains a flinty, woody note that accents the clean blackberry and dark cherry fruit with a touch of salame and pencil eraser underneath Rich and round with a sweet attack. Very well polished with fine tension between acid and tannin and a deep core of juicy fruit, very boysenberry/blackberry/black plum toned, without much complexity but with big fruit and lovely spice tones offering a fine, fresh finish Delicious if simple 88pts. http://www.snooth.com/wine/montevina-aglianico-2006/ 2006 Bocella Rasott Campi Taurasini Soaring spicy herbs hit the nose, very chinato at first, touch of lurking coffee grinds and powdered milk adds some relief to the very medicinal tones. Elegant and balanced in the mouth with a big, suave entry and a really fresh feel with bright acids and fine tannins that are just a touch drying. Brisk in the mouth and on the finish with sneaky length. The black fruits turn a bit redder on the finish with notes of mint and spice adding complexity. Could be a bit longer and the nose will turn people off but it is an interesting and complex wine with great fruit. 89pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/bocella-rasott-campi-taurasini-2006/ 2004 Pietra Santa Dolcetto Cienega Valley This seems dominated by wood notes on the nose with burnt candle, tarry asphalt and coffee liquor notes. A touch reductive with slow to emerge herbal, clover tones and plum jam fruit. Smooth and plush in the mouth with a solid tannic core but also fairly rich so there is good balance here This could benefit from a few years ageing, deep dark fruit with cocoa, plum, prune, and juniper notes, a bit candied but with a powerful finish that offers up jammy plum and toast tones. 87pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/pietra-santa-dolcetto-2004-1/ Flight 3 - Syrah/Shiraz 2005 Shoo Fly South East Australia This offers up lovely tones of boysenberry and blueberry with just the subtlest roasted edge that contributes to a bit of a jammy quality but the vanilla tones and a honied floral character offer some complexity. With a big sweet entry that promises more than it delivers on the ponderous mid-palate, this offers deep fruit but no finesse and the alcohol sticks out a bit. A bit obvious. 84pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/shoo-fly-shiraz-2005/ 2006 The Lackey South Australia Classic aromas of black pepper, grilled meat and blueberry are joined on the nose by hints of light toast, menthol and wood spice. There is very good focus in the mouth to the meaty, layered fruit with blueberry and blackberry notes backed up with white pepper and spice tones. Really lovely purity and balance here, though one could ask for a little more length, it is still fine drinking. 88pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/kilikanoon-shiraz-lackey/ 2005 Valley of the Moon Sonoma County This suffered from a bit of dreaded TCA. It did show admirable fruit, floral and spice tones on the nose in spite of the contamination and the palate was big yet balanced though typically muted and stripped on the finish. I look forward to trying a clean bottle as this showed the great potential of the wine.NR Flight 4 - Syrah/Shiraz 2004 d’Arenberg The Love Grass McLaren Vale Opening a bit stewy with strong black pepper overtones, this settles down offering great spice tones with light smoke and floral notes over a gentlly plummy core with an appealing touch of cow patty. A big, rich mouthful of wine that is chewy and layered with plum and prune tones that have a gamy edge. Adds notes of dried orchard fruits and freshens up in the glass adding a bit of florality and becoming more boysenberried. Very well balanced with solid length this is both interesting and enjoyable. 91pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/darenberg-love-grass-shiraz-2004/ 2005 Sixth Sense Lodi County This offers up an intensely spicy note of dried ginger and clove on the nose over nuanced rare meat, dried apricot and burnt orange peel tones. With time a touch of violet and white pepper gets added to the mix. A bit fat in the mouth, languid and lacking a center with very loose structure this is relaxed but offers up adequate plum, cocoa and oak spice flavors. Not much on the finish. A spice bomb. 84pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/sixth-sense-syrah-2005/ 2005 Toasted Head Dunnigan Hills CA A bit of reductive funk hits the nose and is slow to dissipate. Light spice and black pepper tones add to the slightly vegetal nose that recalls tomato paste/tomato leaf. Very light in the mouth with a bright, easy quality, if a bit soupy. A green herb top note in the mouth contributes to the fresh feel across the mid-palate with modest but refreshing red cherry fruit that has a crisp jolly rancheresque edge to it that continues through the reasonably long finish. Simple, yet easy to drink with a likeable character. 86pts http://www.snooth.com/wine/toasted-head-shiraz-2005/    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Blind tasting some Cal-Itals... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• September 2007

  Open call for guest bloggers! Tomorrow we have Jason Baker, Winemaker for Corda Wines in Marin County, California answering some questions posted by you, our readers. All well and good, but I want to go the next step. If you're a Snooth fan, or just a hater who likes to read the... Read moreOpen call for guest bloggers! Tomorrow we have Jason Baker, Winemaker for Corda Wines in Marin County, California answering some questions posted by you, our readers. All well and good, but I want to go the next step. If you're a Snooth fan, or just a hater who likes to read the blog, this is your chance to gain (some rather localized) fame. If you have some expertise - maybe you're a retailer, winemaker, or just know a lot about Long Island Chardonnay - then drop me a line and we'll have you post as a guest of Snooth. In other news... Here's this weeks 25 new partners. We welcome: Wente Vineyards Adelaida Columbia Crest Winery King Estate Winery Groth Vineyards and Winery Newton Vineyard J. Lohr Winery Chimney Rock Winery Sutter Home Winery Barefoot Cellars Westport Rivers Winery  and  Buzzards Bay Brewing Charles Creek Winery Nine North Wine Company Andrew Murray Vineyards Cliff Lede Vineyards B.R. Cohn Winery White Cottage Ranch Mayo Family Winery Bonny Doon Vineyard Schramsberg Vineyards  and  J. Davies Vineyards California Wine Creations Bugay Vineyards Hartwell Vineyards Miner Family Vineyards Fitzpatrick Winery  and  Lodge    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic This week's new partners by Philip

  
  

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