Red Oak Vineyard

• November 2009

  Being in Australia, I will recommend you a couple of Australian wines; 1) Tasmanian Pinot Noir - Brands; Tamar Ridge, Ninth Island or Pirie, these wines have enough fruit to pair the food you mentioned and acidity to break the fat and compliment the food without overpowering it...... Read moreBeing in Australia, I will recommend you a couple of Australian wines; 1) Tasmanian Pinot Noir - Brands; Tamar Ridge, Ninth Island or Pirie, these wines have enough fruit to pair the food you mentioned and acidity to break the fat and compliment the food without overpowering it... 2) Margaret River Chardonnay - Brands; Leeuwin Estate or Brookland Valley, these wines are from a 'cool climate' and have a hint of butter and they generally use French Oak. In all the brands above you will find budget wines ($15) to Premium ($80+)... I recommend that you go for a wine of around $25-30... Being more specific... WHITE - Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay ($25) RED - Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard ($35). You won't be disappointed!    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Pairing Help Please by MarioRobles

  
  

• October 2009

  So you don't like even some of the more expensive chardonnays from Burgundy? I am not a 'white OR red' type of drinker, but love many versions of both under the proper respective circumstances. That being said, there are a number of California chardonnays that I definitely do not... Read moreSo you don't like even some of the more expensive chardonnays from Burgundy? I am not a 'white OR red' type of drinker, but love many versions of both under the proper respective circumstances. That being said, there are a number of California chardonnays that I definitely do not like for reasons of too much fruit, too much residual sweetness, too much alcohol, too much oak or any other messy imbalance to the wine. Ravenswood does a good job of marketing in many countries (including Japan, where I am now). What Zins do you like best? I like the single-vineyard Ravenswoods better than their cheaper offerings. Fortunately, they also have Ridge over here, too, even if the pricing is painful....    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic New to Snooth, looking for... by dmcker

  
  

• October 2009

  Poultry and red wine, but which wine? Pinot Noir to the rescue Eric Guido is back this week with a great recipe for Roast Chicken. Long considered the dish to judge a chef by, the simplicity of a Roast Chicken demands attention to detail and a fine... Read more Poultry and red wine, but which wine? Pinot Noir to the rescue Eric Guido is back this week with a great recipe for Roast Chicken. Long considered the dish to judge a chef by, the simplicity of a Roast Chicken demands attention to detail and a fine understanding of technique. Eric lays out each step of the preparation and technique to ensure that your bird is moist, tender and flavorful. Pinot Noir is a classic match for roast poultry. Eric matches his recipe with a terrific example from the Sonoma Coast. Benefitting from the cooling effects of the Pacific Ocean, the Sonoma Coast is home to some of California’s most compelling examples of this fickle grape. His choice of the A. P. Vin Kanzler Vineyard is  wonderful, and works with the dish beautifully, but it is a rare bottle, and not inexpensive. We’ve selected two great examples of Pinot Noir to pair with Eric’s Roast Chicken, one from the Sonoma Coast and another from Northern Italy that should match up perfectly to the flavors and textures of the dish. To read Eric's article and recipe click here. What to expect: Pinot Noir Responsible for some of the greatest wines on earth, the exhaulted red wines of France's Burgundy region, Pinot Noir is a notoriously fickle grape that expresses it's origins like no other. It's a vine that needs to struggle to produce great wines, but when it does the depth of flavors that range from cherry to cola can be explosive. The wine's bright acidity and gentle tannins make it very approachable, giving it broad appeal. Find more affordable Pinot Noir Two Great Examples of Pinot Noir 2005 Macmurray Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir Priced from $19.29 With light oak and toast notes on the nose this starts off on the dark side but adds nice cherry pie fruit tones on the palate that are soft and supple. With a touch of vanilla and baking spice adding complexity on the backend. 2007 Hofstatter Pinot Noir Meczan Priced from $19.99 This just smells lovely, full of forest floor, tea and earth notes that gently frame the fruit. In the mouth it's bright and linear with a soft, fleshy core of red fruits that gain complexity on the finish with notes of incense, stems and tree bark.    (hide)

  From the article Pairing food and wine: Roast Chicken and Pinot Noir

  
  

• September 2009

  Baltimore Bend Vineyard My wife and I visited this winery, east of KC about 50 miles. I see that my notes are not very complete, probably because we were cycling, were carrying full panniers, and were tired. But here goes: 06 Cynthiana Reserve $22 (Cynthina is another name for... Read moreBaltimore Bend Vineyard My wife and I visited this winery, east of KC about 50 miles. I see that my notes are not very complete, probably because we were cycling, were carrying full panniers, and were tired. But here goes: 06 Cynthiana Reserve $22 (Cynthina is another name for Norton.) Nice wine which I purchased. Notes of spice and ripe olive. Their literature says it is aged in French oak 24 months. 05 Cynthiana $17 Smooth flavors, softer than 06 reserve. Probably more ready. 05 Chambourcin $15 Another common red hybrid grown in MO. Lighter bodied than Cynthiana. 06 Cabernet Franc $17. Very light bodied, soft and smooth, with tobacco in nose. I believe this is a MO wine. A quality CF, perhaps similar to that from Loire, or New York State. Definitely without the ripe fruit of a CF from California. I also tasted the 05 Chardonel (white hybrid), which seemed soft, with nice oak and a little spice, and one sweet wine, "Cirrus", which seemed simple. They also have a variety of sweet wines made from American or hybrid varieties,and a couple of fruit wines (apple, peach). I did not try these. There is no harshness or unripe bell pepper flavor in any of these wines. They seem well made, one of the better MO producers I've sampled.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Norton - a brief history of... by schellbe

  
  

• September 2009

  Wine Guerrilla: Defender of Old Vine Zinfandel Wine Guerilla is a specialist operation run by Bruce Patch, who is intent on sourcing great fruit from some of Sonoma’s best vineyard sites to create wines that are true to their origins and that express the... Read more Wine Guerrilla: Defender of Old Vine Zinfandel Wine Guerilla is a specialist operation run by Bruce Patch, who is intent on sourcing great fruit from some of Sonoma’s best vineyard sites to create wines that are true to their origins and that express the intensity and richness that Zinfandel is famous for.The wines are made at the Coffaro Winery and benefit from the decades of experience that the winemaking team of David Coffaro, Bruce Patch and Matt Wilson bring to the sorting table. Wine Guerrilla’s style is to try and capture the forward fruit Zinfandel is famous for without obscuring the subtle character that each vineyard contributes. Drawing on a variety of appellations and sites throughout Sonoma County allows Wine Guerrilla to offer a significant range of styles. In keeping with the traditions of Old Vine Zinfandel production, and in an effort to accentuate some of the trademark characteristics of each site, each wine is blended with varying amounts of other grape varieties. The Forchini Russian River, for example, gains muscular spice and tannin from the 17% of Petite Sirah in the blend, while the Goat Trek, with 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petite Sirah ends up with a more assertive bramble note and just the right balance of tannin. While the Wine Guerilla wines are aged in oak, to help soften a few sharp edges and allow the wine to integrate, they see very little new oak. In fact the fist new barrels used were introduced with the 2008 vintage and represent a tiny percentage of the total, 8 out of 150 barrels. With so little oak influence these wines have a chance to express their terroir like few others. 2007: A Vintage of Strength and Distinction 2007 was a Zinfandel lovers vintage with brilliant wines coming from much of California, but nowhere were the wines as strong as in Sonoma County. The cooler growing season produced wines with lower alcohol and slightly higher acids than usual. A winning combination. 2007 Sonoma County Zinfandel 14.6% $18.00 Just lovely in the mouth, bright wild berry fruits are nicely red and have that slight vegetal/floral edge adding complexity and snap to the cranberry fruit on the backend that leads to a refreshing, transparent finish. This is delicious. The Dry Creek Valley is Famous for Zinfandel One of the greatest sources for old vine Zinfandel in California,  Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is famous for its distinct black fruits and gentle spice tones. 2007 Goat Trek Vineyards Block 6 Dry Creek Valley Zinfadnel 15.5% $25.00 Almost seamless with the acid and tannins just poking through the tobacco tinged black plum and blackberry toned fruit. There’s a nice richness to the wine with it’s slightly chewy texture and a slightly creamy, mocha tinged quality on the back end that leads to a dark, muscular feeling finish. The Russian River Valley, not just great Pinot With it's extended growing season, the Russian river valley is well known for rich, plush boysenberry fruited Zinfandels. A dollop of Petite Sirah can add some spice and structure helping to support all of that fruit. 2007 Forchini Vineyard Russian River Valley Zinfandel 15.4% $35.00 Bright and chewy in the mouth with a slinky, silky feel. Lovely balance and texture to this wine with an earthy core of boysenberry and wild blackberry fruit that leads to a spicy, earthy, slightly licorice tinged finish that features a return of the sweet/sour elements of the fruit, yet with a peppery finale. Other Wine Guerrilla wines that I recently reviewed. Forchini Vineyards 'Old Vine' Dry Creek Valley 2007 Deep, earthy, brownie, a touch malty with dusty earth and rosebush accents to the liquory, orange oil accented raspberry fruit. There’s even a small floral element at play here. Seamless, a touch soft perhaps but this really has a bit of elegance in the mouth with those same orange oil and floral nuances contributing some depth to the black raspberry fruit in the mouth. Really hold its alcohol well though the finish is a bit short. 89pts Wine Guerilla Two Vineyards Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2006 Red fruit, tar and licorice on the nose, with an underlying sweet raspberry tone and nice earthy spiciness are well balanced. Soft tannins and good acidity in a relatively medium weight frame help support nice wild raspberry and wild cherry fruit. This is definitely red fruited and quite fresh in the mouth if a touch simple though the fruit and spice follow through well on the decent length finish that offers up a touch of candied apple. 87pts These are wines that are intended to be enjoyed and shared among friends. All of the wines are finished in screwtops, insuring easy access to the juice in the bottle, whether at home or away The labels are sure to catch the eye, which might be a story in and of itself. In fact they were. There were news storied written about the labels before the wines had even been released!    (hide)

  From the article Wine Guerrilla

  
  

• August 2009

  Benziger – Making a difference one vine at a time. When you visit the Benziger Estate vineyards you know something special is going on. The sight of so many vineyard blocks carefully eased into each contour of this beautiful slice of Sonoma Valley, just west of the hamlet of Glen... Read moreBenziger - Making a difference one vine at a time. When you visit the Benziger Estate vineyards you know something special is going on. The sight of so many vineyard blocks carefully eased into each contour of this beautiful slice of Sonoma Valley, just west of the hamlet of Glen Ellen, is only the first indication of how much thought and care is going into the cultivation of these grapes. What sets Benziger apart? Family Owned There is one simple reason for all this care and deliberation: Benziger remains a family owned and operated winery. From the first day Mike and Mary Benziger drove up London Ranch Road and discovered the overgrown land that was to be transformed into the Benziger Estate on Sonoma Mountain, to the present day, the family has remained intimately involved with the day-to-day operations of the winery. The fact is that three generations of Benzigers have worked to make the winery what it is today. The youngest, embodied by Mike and Mary’s daughter Erinn, is as determined as any to continue to curate this land to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the natural beauty of Sonoma Mountain and make wines that will live up to the proud reputation that the currant generations have established for the Benziger Family Winery. Biodynamic Farming Mike Benziger was one of the pioneering winemakers in California’s biodynamic movement. Biodynamics is a philosophy that treats all parts of an agricultural enterprise like elements of a single living, breathing entity. The theory posits that by fostering the health of the environment one can increase the vibrancy and quality of the production of that environment. In many ways a return to a simpler, more intuitive style of farming that abandons much of the commercial “progress” of the past century in favor of traditional methods that deliver unique, site-specific flavors, and more importantly, are sustainable. Gone, for example, are the monoculture vineyards, replaced by vines inter-planted with species that foster the development of vibrant populations of beneficial, predatory animals. These outposts are linked via pathways to allow these animals free access to all of the estate. Simple changes such as the re-introduction of these natural predators can have profound effects on the landscape that extends beyond the immediate benefits of crop diversification. To help further attract these beneficial predators, owl boxes and bat houses where placed within these oasis creating wildlife sanctuaries. The combined effect of harnessing these symbiotic animals and their ferocious appetite was the elimination of commercial pesticides, yet another tenet of Biodynamics. Adhering to the principles of Biodynamics requires the elimination of commercial fertilizers. The Benzigers use composted materials from the farm, grape canes from annual pruning, pomace from the previous years harvest, as well as manure from the farm’s goats and cattle, to replace nutrients that have pulled from the ground. This effort to “close the loop” extends to the estate’s water management system as well. Waste water from the wineries operations is captured and feed through a series of reclamation ponds were the water is filtered so that it can be used for irrigation, lowering the impact the winery makes on it’s surrounding. While much of Biodynamics is focused on maintaining the health of the estate as a distinct entity, the Benziger family is well aware of the impact they may have on the world around them and are working to limit that impact. While much of the fruit used to produce Benziger wines comes from the Estate, the family also relies on contract growers to supply fruit. In an effort to extend their impact beyond the confines of the Sonoma Mountain Estate the Benziger family has helped myriad growers move away from commercial farming techniques by incentivizing a switch to less impactful farming methods. Sustainable and Organic Benziger encourages its partner growers to move gradually from commercial farming to sustainable farming through a program they call Farming for Flavors™. The hope and goal is that each grower will eventually adopt the ever more stringent rules of organic and ultimately biodynamic farming. While the environmental impact is always at the forefront of these efforts, the simple fact is that the quality of the fruit improves as growers move away from commercial techniques. That exceptional grape quality makes the effort profitable, thus attracting and motivating growers to participate in the program. While this may extend beyond the recognized principles of Biodynamics, the effort to move people away from chemical pesticides and commercial fertilizers embodies the spirit of Biodynamics and illustrates the commitment the family has to the impact their winemaking leaves on the world around them. Winemaking plays its part The Benziger philosophy starts, not surprisingly, in the vineyards. Their faith in Biodynamics not only represents their belief that it is better for the soil, but also their belief that as a farming system it produces better, more site specific wines. They strive to capture this specificity, or terroir as it is frequently referred to, by practicing a low impact form of winemaking that begins among the vines. Grapes are harvested early in the day while still cool, and sorted before being crushed. Each block of the vineyard is fermented separately and with it’s own natural yeasts, a further allowing each site to fully express its unique traits. These individual lots are then aged and eventually blended to produce the wines that define the Benziger Estate style: Bold yet balanced, complex and elegant expressions of a people, a place and a time captured and to be shared with friends and, above all, family. Great Wines, Better pricing I was fortunate to be able to spend some time at Benziger during my recent visit to Sonoma, and got the opportunity to taste through several of their wines with winemaker Rodrigo Soto. Rodrigo is a recent addition to the Benziger team charged with further developing their Farming for Flavors™ program. His passion for wine was as obvious as his commitment to improving the program that has established Benziger as a leader in the return to intelligent, sustainable, low impact farming. If you are not familiar with Benziger this is your chance to get to know them. They should not only be admired for their efforts at improving the health of their vineyards, and the world around them, but also for the wines they produce. For a limited time they are extending fantastic discounts to Snooth members. I urge you to take advantage of this compelling offer. As a further incentive Benziger will upgrade your shipping from ground to 2nd day air when you buy a case of wines, 12 bottles solid or mixed. This deal expires Saturday, September 26, 2009 so make sure and get your order in before then and enjoy great saving and that free upgrade to 2nd day air shipping. It’s a deal that can’t be beat! 2005 Benziger Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County Normally: $49.00Exclusive Snooth pricing: $24.50 Distinctly ripe on the nose with a light overlay of subtle oak and spicy, licorice nuances. This is full bodied and chunky in the mouth with a jammy, blackberry core and light notes of vanilla and cedary spice adding complexity. 89pts View Details 2006 San Remo Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Normally: $49.00Exclusive Snooth pricing: $34.00 With lovely red fruits on the nose edged with cola, balsamic and dried meat tones this is open knit and attractively perfumed. Very fresh in the mouth with a soft texture that is so perfectly balanced by the slightly candied cranberry fruit tones that this fairly slides down the throat. There are nice nuances of sassafras and Mexican chocolate spice tones on the finish. This is perfect for current consumption and while it may not be the biggest, baddest Pinot on the block it makes up for it by being a simply delicious and fresh bottle. 91pts View Details 2005 Benziger 'Oonapais' Estate Sonoma Mountain Red, Sonoma Mountain Normally: $50.00Exclusive Snooth pricing: $30.00 Initially revealing subtle smoky scents over sweet, dark, earthy fruit lightly threaded with woodspice, green herb, and seaweed tones this gains intensity that follows through on the palate. Big and polished in the mouth with a deep, velvety texture that features well-integrated acids contributing volume in the mouth. Rich and very fruity with notes of coffee, pine, and earth framing the dark wild berry fruits that lead to a great, mouthwatering finish full of dark cherry flavors and edged with cedar and spicy peppery nuances. This is a great value. It includes some of the wine that was intended to be part of Benziger’s top of the line bottling, Tribute, but just didn’t make the final cut. Already drinking very well this has definite upside potential over the next 3-5 years. 93pts View Details 2006 Benziger 'Obsidian Point' Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Mountain Normally: $65.00Exclusive Snooth pricing: $49.00 Clear and high toned aromatics greet the nose with well integrated oak tones juxtaposed against complex green coffee bean, herb, cocoa tones with a light suggest of underbrush. This is seamless in the mouth with superb ripe tannins and plenty of acidity to add brightness to the dark, spicy fruit on the palate. The purity of the black currant fruit is admirable with a really well defined mineral note that powers through the back end and leads to a tapering, long finish. This is wonderfully balanced and really transparent if a little tight at this point. Better to leave this for 2-3 years allowing it to blossom and fulfill all it’s potential. 94pts View Details   Summer Shipping Alert Due to warm weather across the nation, Benziger will upgrade all orders of 12 bottles or more to 2-Day Air shipping for no extra charge. (Except orders within Calif.) Also while the warm weather persists, Benziger will only ship wines on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Benziger ships to the following states: AK, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NV, NY, OR, SC, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY For shipping to CT, IN, LA & MI, please call Benziger's offices at: 800-989-8890 The offer also includes free upgraded from UPS Ground to 2nd Day air on Case purchases (can be mixed). This special promotion expires September 26, 2009    (hide)

  From the article Benziger - Leading the way on Sonoma Mountain

  
  

• July 2009

  California’s Sierra foothills appellation spans across some of the least heralded great wine producing regions of the state. Unlike Napa and Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon did not serve as a historic touchstone here, though the history of wine production is almost as long. In contrast... Read moreCalifornia’s Sierra foothills appellation spans across some of the least heralded great wine producing regions of the state. Unlike Napa and Sonoma, Cabernet Sauvignon did not serve as a historic touchstone here, though the history of wine production is almost as long. In contrast to the hype and glitter of “newer” regions propelled to fame by faddish whims, the Sierra Foothills continue to stake their claim to fame on old vine Zinfandel, as they did during the gold rush, as well as newer plantings of grapes from across Europe that adapt well to the favorable climate of the region. photo courtesy of: El Dorado Winery Association The fact that these counties, eight in total, three in particular, from north to south El Dorado, Amador and Calaveras counties, are leading the way in planting exciting, new to the state, varieties, captures the pioneer spirit that continues to infuse not only the people of these beautiful hills but also the wine they produce. For example, as opposed to competing with the so much of the state, not to mention the world, by planting Cabernet Sauvignon (not that Cabernet doesn’t have it’s spots in this ranging AVA) one finds Rhone style blends based on Grenache and Syrah, Vermentino, Sangiovese, and even Tempranillo!  This “prospecting for riches” carries over a long tradition, going back to Sutter’s mill and the original 49er’s, that’s 1849, who braved the variable climate of this rugged region in search of gold. Today’s gold comes more frequently in a bottle, and some is even of the golden persuasion. All the wines of the region share a certain character that expresses the unique terroir of this interesting AVA that admittedly crosses many county borders as it travels from meso-climate to meso-climate.  One reason for such an extensive AVA is that the rolling foothills here are the key to providing welcome relief from the heat of California’s central valley. This slice of the foothills, where vines thrive in the moderate climate between 1400 and 3000 feet of elevation, is double blessed. Not only do the warm days and cool night preserve the acidity in the grapes but these conditions also extend the growing season by slowing down the ripening during the final days of the growing season. This is especially beneficial with Zinfandel since the grape clusters on many Zinfandel vines tend to have berries of varying ripeness as harvest approaches. These hillsides are also blessed with a variety of soil types that give the wines produced here a distinctive character.  Around the 2000-foot level many patches of decomposed granite are to be found. These poor soils offer great drainage forcing the vines to struggle a bit for their survival, yielding fruit that, when mature, gives rich, rugged flavors and balanced structure to the wines they produce. At higher elevations several regions have soils of volcanic origin that can add a spicy tone to the wines and a crispness to the tannins that makes them distinct and unique additions to the pantheon of California wine. Situated as they are between the heavily populated coastal areas of northern California and the rich beauty of the Sierra Nevada range, the foothill wineries are ideally located to be part of a true California adventure. Escaping from the herd mentality that drive tourists to Napa, Sonoma and San Francisco provides that savvy wine tripper not only a chance to taste great wines at a pace more akin to that of 1950 but serves as a gateway to some of the most impressive natural beauty one is able to find in the vast land of ours. So next time you’re thinking of a California vacation consider adding the Sierra Foothills and visits to Yosemite to your plans.  I know I will. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Amador Foothill Winery -  Leading the way with innovative wines! With plantings that range from Aglianico to Zinfandel, it should come as no surprise that Amador Foothill Winery is leading the way with innovative wines from the Sierra Foothills. From Rose to Rhone Blend, and never forgetting the Zinfandel, this is a winery that delivers. Amador Foothill 2008 Rosato of Sangiovese Amador  13.5%  Soil, oil, dusty earth, pollen, wild raspberry, lovely subtle spice ad herb tones,  a tuch of leather, a bit of Swedish fish, wild cherry+,  A touch sweet up front then the wash of acid cuts through the weight leaving very pure wild berry fruit tones, great interplay of acid/fruit on the palte, really zippy style with duge refreshing acids that lead to a brick finish full or wild raspberry tones with hints of earth and spice.  A lighter style in the mouth and a great rose that may lack a touch of complexity but more than makes up for it with it’s extremely pretty pure fruit and texture that makes you want to drink more. A great rose 92pts ~ ~~ ~ Amador Foothill  Winery 2006 Katies Cote Shenandoah Valley  14.4% Lots of cigar box and sweet vanilla laced tones on the nose dominate the blackberry and black plum note though intriguing notes of violet, black pepper and thyme slowly emerge from the glass.  Slinky entry is immediately delicious with crisp herb inflected black fruits that have great intensity yet are not clumsy or thick. The wood adds a bit too much sweetness here yet the ample spice tones with hints of cinnamon, black pepper and juniper add a nice contrast on the back end. This finishes with a touch too much wood induced sweetness again but the tannins are lovely and crisp so this should take another year or two of age well, allowing the wood tones to soften and integrate. Very aromatic and cedary in the mouth at times, this is a rich, gutsy wine with good promise. 51% Syrah/49% Grenache 88pts ~ Bantam Cellars - A new winery making Shenandoah wine scene. With only 3 vintages under their belt bantam Cellars are the new kids on the block. Following in the path blazed before them they are offering an array of Mediterranean varieties yet continue the great tradition that Zinfandel has developed in the region. Bantam cellars 2008 Vermentino  Amador County12.5% Quite intense mineral, almond, pear and light spiced white peach fruit on the nose. This is lovely and balanced on the nose. Good acids, a touch grapey fruit, quite grapey fruity in fact but with lemon shaded juicy Asian pear notes that are rich and satisfying.  Finishes with a touch of raspy mineral, a hint of gooseberry and surprising length. A delicious wine perfect for casual sipping and light fair. 88pts ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ C. G. di Arie - From the creator of Cap’n Crunch, no kidding! Set to celebrate their first decade in business C.G di Arie makes the most of their estate fruit. With the major red varieties planted here at 1700 feet the focus here is on getting a consistent expression from these vines while relying on partner grower sto provide top-quality fruit for their non-estate wines. G D di Arie 2008 Sauvignon Banc Shenandoah valley 13.8% Starts out with sweetish notes of powdered sugar a sage that are joined by tropical fruit notes.  Soft and broad in the mouth with a velvety texture and juicy orchard fruit tones. A simple wine in an easy to drink style 85pts ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ G D Di Arie 2008 Rose Di Arie  Sierra Foothills 13.7% Earthy sweet raspberries and fleshy black grape tones right off the bat are joined by a touch of herbs, black pepper and peach fruit.  A rich, soft style with tones of sweet red currant and plum fruit tones that are a touch spicy and hold a nice earthy center. Rich and fruity with a touch of RS yet also a nice hint of tannin to add some contrast to the texture. A touch sticky on the finish but with lingering jammy blackberry tones. If you love a fruity rose this is for you.  50% Syrah/40% Tempranillo/10% Zinfandel 86pts  ~ ~~ ~ Cooper Vineyards - Offering a complete array of wines Cooper Vineyards produces and impressive line-up of wines encompassing 17 varieties. From Pinot Grigio and Roussanne to Cabernet and Zinfandel, naturally, there is a wine for every palate. And in that inclusive spirit one can also find a pair of dessert wines, one white, and one red to tempt your taste buds. Cooper vineyards 2008 Pinot Grigio Amador 14.9% Rather intense citrus zest and ripe herb notes with lovely floral top notes some alcohol shows but surprising well-balanced nose.  Lots of sweet fruit up front, green berries and green plum combine with a rich, plush mouthfeel to produce a rather unusual wine. One that feels over-ripe yet maintains surprisingly good freshness of flavor; inner mouth perfume is very sweet with notes of green tea and jasmine. The wine lacks some freshening acidity but is bursting with apricot and almost guava tones. The alcohol is more apparent in the mouth but this still manages to pull it off. The finish is a touch short but this is quite an interesting wine, though certainly not for everyone. 88pts ~ Deaver Vineyards -  Four generations and 150 years later still going strong! If any name should be associated with the wines of the Sierra Foothills it should be Deaver. With a proud lineage extending back to the first years of wine production in the region it’s no surprise that Deaver continues to be at the forefront with great new Italian and Rhone varietals as well as the classics. Deaver Vineyards 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Amador 13.3% Light kiwi and grassy notes on the nose, fresh almost earthy clumps of sod tones that are less herbal than manner SB. Bright zesty and fresh on entry with a very lively and refreshing mouthfeel. Classic medium bodied Sauvignon Blanc feel with modestly fruity flavors and a nice hint of lemon pith and sweet grapefruit that leads to a medium length finish. Actually has good persistence to the modest flavors but the appeal here is drinkability. 86pts ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ Deaver Vineyards 2007 Sierra Foothills Chardonnay with an ATTITUDE 14.5% Smells lemony and floral like some Muscat or Viognier made it into the blend.  The fruit is citrussy and the nose quite high pitched with salty undertones and a touch of honey, toasted spices and green anise seed.  Rich yet lively in the mouth with an impression of sweetness accentuating the deep fruit yellow fruit tones. A mouthfilling wine but well balanced with interesting layers of citrus and peach fruit.. Very clean and crisp on the finish with a touch of lingering almost coffee like toasted spice 88pts ~ ~~ ~ Deaver Viognier 2007 Amador County 14% Smells sweet with a leather fruit tone that recalls dried apricot, a hint of lanolin and a touch of water chestnut add some complexity. This gains a nice pale honey note with hints of pollen and light tobacco. Very light with an attractive airy quality even though the wine is noticeably viscous with obvious RS., but it is well balanced by the integrated acidity. Lovely honied flavors of quince, candied lime and peach round out thee mouth. The finish is a bit gentle but with nice feathery complexity and a very friendly disposition. The sweetness is a bit much for a table wine but this finishes fairly read more...dryly so it can work but is better suited as a very light dessert wine particularly well structured for a cheese course. 90pts   Deaver Vineyards NV Orange Muscat Amador 12.5% Gorgeously fragrant nose full of black tea, orange blossom, light passion fruit and pink grapefruit tones. Really intense and fresh and gently frizzante with a honied tone to the warm citrus fruit tones and  an easy appeal. Some tea notes add a bit of depth but this is a rather sweet and slightly rich style of Moscato with long honied flavors yet not much detail. 85pts ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ Ironestone Vineyards - A pioneer growing premium grapes in the Foothills. Ironstone Vineyards is one of the Sierra Foothill’s premium producers of Bordeaux blends. By intelligently adding small amounts of blending grapes and allowing the wines time to age in barrel in the deep, cool caverns under the winery, Ironstone has created nuanced wines in a satisfyingly smooth style. Ironstone 2006 Cabernet Franc Reserve Sierra Foothills 14.5% Dark, toasty, grilled fruit notes with spicy herbs lurking, and something very meaty about this wine, Nicely gamy smells like grilling lamb over eucalyptus. Lush in the mouth with lots of rich fruit, plums, cassis, black cherry with hints of dried tomato, herb, mint, and oak,. Very nicely balanced both texturally and favor wise with there is a touch of barbq sauciness on the backend but the bright cherry tones and light vanilla note power through and dominate the long finish. A big velvety richly fruited yet fresh wine with a touch of earth at its core, and just a hint of mint chocolate shavings helping read more...to frame the fruit. Certainly is ripe Cab France 89pts ~ Ironstone 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Sierra Foothills 14.5% Reticent and minty with an interesting mineral edge to the nose, smells granitic.  A touch leaner and more transparent than the CF with a redder fruit profile. Bright acids and nicely measured tannin yield a firmly medium plus bodied wine with a touch of cola/root beer spice helping to frame the astringent red fruits. The wood is really well integrated here and while this is neither super complex or super rich (a good thing) it is very well behaved in the mouth. Not particularly varietal either but rich, polished and fruity. A well-made and enjoyably drinkable wine that finishes a touch short with a Mexican cocoa note.87pts. ~ ~~ ~ Morse Wines -  A leader in Rhone varieties from the Sierra Foothills Morse Wines is a new label being utilized by the Il Gioiello Winery to differential their Rhone Varietals from their Italian bottlings. Determined to make a name for both schools in the Foothills, Morse offer carefully crafted small lots of wines that offer a new interpretation of French Classics. Morse 2007 Ensemble Blanc 55% Viognier/45% Roussanne Sierra Foothills 15.1% A bit slow to open with soft floral tones married to deep, almost honied, quite smoky baked banana peel, and preserved lemon tones, Gains a big acacia tone with air. Rich with good acidity and a nice mineral edge to the deep orchard fruit tones. Real snap to the flavors and fine balance with rather restrained kwi and goosebbery notes that gain the upper hand on the back end with an interesting candied floral top note and lingering sweet/mineral tension on the moderate finish. Excellent complexity and balance in this very solid wine. 90pts  ~ ~~ ~ Shenandoah Vineyards- A pioneering winery in California’s Shenandoah Valley With a broad array of small lot reserve wines, Shenandoah Vineyards offers a complimentary line-up to the Sobon family’s eponymous winery. Actually the first of the 2 brands Shenandoah Vineyards continues as a leading producer of wines that represent a classic style that can only be associated with California’s Shenandoah Valley. Shenandoah Vineyards 2007 Special Reserve Zinfandel Amador 14.4% Subtle and soft blackberries, peach and black plum skins contrast with a hint of baking spice and coconutty oak tones on the nose.   Very sweetly fruited entry, nice balance with good acidity and very soft tannins give the moderately spicy but very fruity style with a soft, friendly feel.  Full of sweet, vanilla toned black plum and blackberry fruit, on the short finish. Classic Amador Zin though. 86 pts ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ Sobon - a family affair dedicated to sustainable farming, and great wine! The Sierra Foothill’s forte has always been their deep, flavorful old vine Zinfandel. Many of these hillside vineyards were originally planted to supply the 49ers and now are gloriously mature. Sobon has consistently captured the wonderful fruit of these vines, allowing them to express themselves in classic style. Sobon Estate 2008 Roussanne Amador 14.1% Great nose, lots of boiled chestnuts and toasted chestnut shells, intense with a noticeable yet integrated oak backdrop. Lilacs, white pepper and very light mangosteen fruit.  Decidedly soft in the mouth with a rich, viscous feel and initial honied fruit note that yields to an almost strawberry tinged mid-palate with rich orange tones and a touch of butter cream.  The finish returns to a more citrussy vein with a nicely floral inner mouth perfume of almost tropical orange blossoms. Big rich balanced and different this is a winner 90pts ~ ~~ ~ Sobon Estate ReZerve 2008 Rose Amador 13.6% Mineral, strawberry, herb and roast pork with a hint of rosemary and a hint of flowers on the nose give this a succulent and savory appeal.  Dry and crisp with good focus in the mouth. This is a touch tight even with a subtle richness and lovely, slightly tannic red berry and sweet pomegranate tones with a touch of papaya and papaya seed spice. Wonderful fruit and subtle spice tones linger on the moderately long finish. Great balance and freshness here make this really lovely. Grenache/Syrah/Carignan 90pts ~ ~~ Sobon Estate 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel Amador 14.9% A touch of fudge and moist earth with lovely brambly notes of sapwood, herb and wild black raspberry fruit edged with a touch of pipe tobacco. Pure black raspberry fruit on entry, very good acids, lots of sweet fruit here, nice top notes of briar and bramble. Nice purity of well-expressed yet uncomplicated fruit. A wine for drinking, not for thinking about. Finishes with a slightly jammier tone and more wood spice but still nicely balanced and fresh 87pts ~ ~~ ~ Story Winery - A lovely white surprise from a great Zin producer. Story Winery has made a name for themselves producing small lots of old-vine Zinfandel from great vineyard sites in Amador county.  In true pioneer spirit they have also explored several white wines enjoying the fruit from these unusual head-pruned and dry farmed vineyards. Story Winery 2007 Chenin Blanc Shenandoah  15% A touch funky right out of the bottle with notes of caramel, butterscotch and quince paste over a funky chalky earth, seashell and herb base. Deceptively light bodied with gentle flavors of apple, apple butter and pressed flowers slowly building in the glass. Holds its 15% amazing well. The subtle flavors power through on the medium length finish adding notes or biter orange marmalade and a light cashew brittle tone. Before gaining a nice mouth grabbing chalky tone again. A very subtle wine that will rise to the occasion pairing well with a wide variety of foods. 87pts ~ ~~ Story Winery 2006 Picnic Hill Old Vines Zinfandel Shenandoah  Valley 16% Light vanilla tones are backed by lots of astringent red fruits, red currant and pomegranate, with a hint of herb and roast meatiness.  Enters with sweet red fruits, slightly exotic berries fruits, fruit di bosco, nice freshness and good balance that help to hide it’s 16% Very candied but in a fresh way, sugared raspberries with a peppery cinnamon edge for balance, Nice crisp tannins and a lovely stemmy tone add length to the finish.  88pts ~ ~~ ~ Story Winery 2006 Creekside Vineyard Old Vines Zinfandel 16% Really briary aromas in the glass are joined by smoky earth tones and reduced wild raspberry notes with hints of lightly spiced cranberry and orange rind.  Rich and velvety, this has power and depth with a slightly sweet character that accentuates the rich wild cherry and astringent, spicy red fruit tones. A mouthfilling wine that is a touch minty and medicinal on the finish with a nice tannic bite that helps balance the RS. This is a monster wine; serve it with cheese or instead of dessert. Really spicy notes gain prominence on the midpalate.  Finishes with a really intense red hots tone. A divisive wine for sure but it’s pretty cool. 90pts ~ ~~ ~ Story Winery 2006 Alitia Vineyard Zinfandel Shenandoah Valley 16% Smells like leather and ass and not in a bad way. Slow to open, with slightly buttery licorice tinged tight black fruit. Tight concentrated and velvety with a deep savory core folded up with black currant and dry, not terrible sweet mulberry fruit. This is reticent yet with excellent balance that gives it an elegance that their other wines lack. Shares a touch of that peppery cinnamon with lovely dried herb notes and lots of potential but this needs another year to express itself. 88pts ~ ~~ Vino Noceto - This Tuscan styled estate is a relative newcomer to the region. Recognizing that the climate of Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley was Mediterranean in nature, family owned Vino Noceto took a brave and unique path, choosing to focus on premium Sangiovese based wine as opposed to sticking to the Zinfandel roots of the region. Noceto 2008 Pinot Grigio Clarksburg/Amador 13% Light rainwater, clay and floral tones on the nose give this an airy note before they are joined by fragrant pear fruit with a hint of dried pineapple.  Round and soft but not flabby, in fact nicely balanced on a rich if medium bodied frame that supports soft, juicy fruit flavors with grace notes of mint and almond and herb that lead to a slightly sweet finish that hints at baked apple with a nice almond tone. 86 ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ Noceto 2006 Sangiovese Shenandoah Valley 14% Very intense sweet cherry, vanilla and soft toast notes greet the nose.  There is a slight medicinal note that combines with the black cherry fruit to give this a slight cough lozenge note. A nice hint of herb adds complexity.  Big, rich sweet cherry fruit with just a hint of oak is well supported by tannins are a touch astringent, as they should be, and good acidity giving this a refreshing feel. Very medium bodied and with lightness that keeps this centered in the mouth despite the intensity of the rather simple yet pure cherry fruit. On the backend it turns a bit spice with a nice flourish of strawberry and herb adding to the long finish.  Very solid wine and great for the bar-b-q this summer. 90pts   Noceto 2008 Frivolo Moscato Bianco California 7.1% Delicious smelling with note of lemon, lime leaf, powder sugar and hints of angelica root and white tea, with a gently biscuit note. Just ever so softly frizzante with good acidity balancing the rather light, fresh citrus driven flavors. Plenty sweet but with a touch of lightness on the palate, really attractive flavors of subtle ginger inflected candied citrus fruits, with good length, lovely and freaking delicious 88pts  ~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ Gregory Dal Piaz Community Manager Snooth    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Strike it rich in the Sierra... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• July 2009

  You’ve heard it before I’m sure. Anything but Chardonnay, and I mean anything, or do I? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but all the cool kids have left that club and formed a new club. You should come and join us in the Anything But (crappy) Chardonnay Club! Fortunately in... Read more You’ve heard it before I’m sure. Anything but Chardonnay, and I mean anything, or do I? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but all the cool kids have left that club and formed a new club. You should come and join us in the Anything But (crappy) Chardonnay Club! Fortunately in this club we are allowed our dalliances with Chablis and Montrachet, not to mention Hanzell, Stony Hill and Aubert. OK I won’t mention them. While wine snobs have chosen to ignore Chardonnay, perhaps revealing a bit of ignorance n their own part, the wine drinking public has continued to embrace Chardonnay. I am all for ignoring wines that made in a style that doesn’t suit you but throwing the baby out with the bathwater is just nuts. So much great Chardonnay is made around the globe that it would take several tasting just to touch on all the main regions. This past week we at Snooth took a look at a few examples of the styles now in the marketplace and came up with a few recommendations for almost every palate. Well that may actually be a bit of a reach. A funny think happened to California Chardonnay over the years. Chardonnay, like Pinot Noir, came to fame in France’s Burgundy region, a place fart less sunny, warm and hospitable than much of California. The wines that put California Chardonnay on the map came from places like the Sonoma Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains. Places that had growing conditions similar to those of Burgundy. The fruit of these vines was very well adapted to the traditional techniques used in Burgundy. The use of French oak to add spice, Malolactic fermentation to tame the hard acids of cool climate grapes, and long ageing on the lees with frequent stirrings to impart a creamy texture and subtle layer of complexity to these sleek beauties that rarely topped 14% alcohol, heck many barely topped 13%. Well once Chardonnay became a viable wine in California vineyard creep set in. That’s that insidious habits growers have of planting grapes farther and farther from their ideal terroir. Vineyards first crept down those hillsides and eventually onto the rich soils of the easy to farm valley floors. Warm, luxurious valley floors were grapes got RIPE, yielding wines that routinely topped 14% alcohol, and 15% was certainly not a stretch. With these wines, rich, fruity and soft the affects of the traditional winemaking techniques used to such advantage in Chardonnays’ earliest years was to create big, tropical fruit laden, buttery wines with little form, or function for that matter. But people liked them, well some did, while others then began to found their own little ABC clubs. The tipping point for Chardonnay, not coincidentally, came when it finally established itself as the market leader.  Some say it was an accident, a stuck fermentation that gave the world the first taste of what was to become this nation’s most popular Chardonnay. That stuck fermentation left the wine with just enough sugar to make it taste remarkably fruity without being cloying, and ushered in an era of populist plonk that created a backlash like no one had ever seen. A huge, raucous, vocal backlash that had virtually no effect on the sales of Chardonnay! So what exactly happened one is left to ask. I guess a few vocal people let off a lot of steam while more and more consumer were lulled into believing those slightly sweet, oaky, spicy, butter chardonnays represented Chardonnay at its finest. A true American original. Now I am being a bit too harsh here, both on the producers of these wines and certainly on their consumers. I am a firm believer in to each his own and that just barely trumps my desire to like all wine. I think we have gotten to a point in our collective American viticultural experience where the idea of terroir, not necessarily that lands speak through the grapes but rather that certain plots of land are better suited to Chardonnay or Zinfandel ,or even almonds and plums! We have moved beyond the application of certain techniques as fixed recipes. Winemakers are coming of age with both the fruit grown where it should be and the understanding of the impact of each technique on what will become their finished wine. Chardonnay is emerging from its angry adolescence, all pimply and oily, covered with cream, and hair gel (or residual sugar and oak chips) in a desperate attempt to hide what it was while it searched for what it may become. We are witnessing, if we choose to taste with an open mind, the emergence from it’s cocoon of a beautiful new Chardonnay. One capable of being big, bold and buttery on the one hand while remaining cool crisp and composed on the other. Wine is an art, winemakers are the artists, growers create the paints and history has prepared the canvasses. The question cannot be simply do you like the results. One must first answer the question: Is this the best that could have been done with the raw materials? That is where we are. We have some of the finest artists working with brilliant raw materials. Join the ABcC Club and experience what Chardonnay can be in its range of expressions, then decide if one is right for you. Perhaps, in the end, you will not find one that is right for you. That is as valid a conclusion as any that can be drawn, but making that conclusion on old experiences, or worse on not much more than a fad or fancy is simply, well, it’s simply stupid. Anyway, onto the tasting and our notes! Flight 1 - Better Budget Wines Good Daughter CA 2007 13.5%                    $14.00 Has some nuanced smoky oak tones light a light lemon curd and cut nectarine fruit tones. In the mouth this is a touch sweet and round with a fleshy, friendly feel. A bit soft but shows a sense of restraint as well. 85pts Both Cheryl and Evan found this to be a bit grassy though Didi and Paul both found nice citrus tones on the palate. Michael David Vineyards 7 Heavenly Lodi 2006  14.5%        $15.00 A fairly raw woody nose is a touch blunt. There is good acidity here but the wine needs it to balance out the sweetness. A bit of Fruit Stripes gum, artificial banana flavor on the round palate that turns a bit spicy with a bitter, pithy edge to it on the angular finish. 83pts Eddie thought this was "over the top" and Cheryl and Paul both found this to be typically oaky and indistinctly fruity. Toasted Head Russian River Valley 2006 13.5%             $14.00 Not particularly aromatic with integrated spice tones and hints of floral, pear, and pineapple. In the mouth this is smooth and balanced with a touch of mineral cut and a dry leanness across the mid-palate that keeps the subtle fruit and spices tones in harmony. This finishes with a hint of refreshing minerality. 86pts Several people commented on the stinky aspect of this with Didi noting that it was sulfury and Evan added that the buttery. apple flavors grew on him. Flight 2 -  Cooler Climates, than Napa at least. Kunde Estate Sonoma Valley 2007 13.8%                $18.00 Earthy and slightly minerally on the nose with dried apple, pineapple and dried floral tones that have a sage like edge. In the mouth this is focused with a big acid spine that keeps this fresh and juicy but not weighty. The flavors are a touch soft and subtle but recall nectarines and apples in a creamy, creamsicle style that grows on the long finish which has a delightfully sneaky return of sweet orchard fruits. Eminently drinkable 91pts Everyone enjoyed this wine though Paul wanted to see more acidity  and Didi noted a "chemical" scent the consensus was that this was something to go out buy and share with friends. Stuhlmuller SV Estate Alexander Valley 2007 14.2%        $22.00 A lovely nose with nuanced honey, toasted wood, nutmeat, yellow flowers and dusty earth tone. In the mouth the texture is just fantastic, bright and balanced with intense yet tense and focused mandarin orange, apricot and fig notes that are framed with just a hint of almond and measured oak notes. The finish is fruity, clean and crisp with refreshing acids and a delicacy to the flavors that makes this a winner for geek and novice alike. 93pts Cheryl liked the "oily texture" of this wine and both Paul and Evan commented on the " caramel and hazelnut" oak tones. Didi found it "tinny and metallic". Bouchaine Carneros 2006 13.9%                    $20.00 This is laden with sweet fruit aromas but has a raw wood note that adds an acrid edge. In the mouth this is very fruit driven with a hint of wood derived honeyed sweetness up front that yields to a chemical vanilla tone on the diffuse mid-palate. This does gain a little bit of creamy intensity on the backend and has good length but the finish feels a little stripped and spoofed. 85pts Eddie went back and forth on this one, finding that the wine alternated between " a bit skunky" and "exotic fruit".  Cheryl and Evan both noted off aromas but then went on to say that they enjoyed both the texture and the flavors of the wine. Flight 3 - Napa Valley Duck Shack Napa Valley 2007 14.2%                 $24.00 A touch of vanilla on the nose but this is driven by lime, apricot, and pineapple fruit tones that seem fresh and bright. Zesty acid on entry is followed by cool, crisp flavors of green fruits, pineapple and peach with creamy vanilla undertones and light wood spice notes. The texture is lovely and shows excellent integration. This is refreshing yet doesn’t lack power or richness and finishes with an absolute flourish of lime, starfruit, and peach fruit salad notes with even a hint of blueberry. Delicious 92pts Nearly everyone loved this wine, though Didi felt the palate was a let down after the nose. Paul notes that this was a "big lemon bomb" and Cheryl added it"like Goldilocks, just right!" LaTour Mt. Veeder 2006 14.5%                    $25.00 Very oaky on the nose with buttery, nutty, vanilla candy notes that almost become tarry in the glass. Big and soft with lots of flavor but not much focus. This is not fruit driven and while made and in a way Burgundian, with a touch of rocky minerality on the mid-palate, seems a bit to aggressive and lacks a sense of elegance. In it’s own way it is intriguing with a smoky, hazelnut scented finish that has a certain allure but this is not for everyone. Given time I can see this emerging into something distinct and enjoyable.88pts Both Eddie and Evan found a lot of oak on the nose here with "coconut oil" and "strong toast flavors".  Paul found the nose to be "the most complex so far with orange blossoms, fig and fresh cream then oak, oak, oak on the palate." Frank Family Napa Valley 2007 14.4%                $28.00 This has a nice dominated by spicy French oak with dried apple fruit and a bit of lemon oil. In the mouth this is very bright up front with big citrus tones that yield to a rich, viscous, powerfully built mid-palate full of pineapple, peach and apricot tones with plenty of acid backing it up yet it still becomes cloying and sticky on the backend. The finish is also sweet with big, pure notes of cinnamon toast with cream and vanilla. A lot of wine that’s not my style but should find many admirers. 90pts For the most part everyone enjoyed the "rich, oily, full, dense" mouthfeel of this wine but the intensity was off-putting to some as was the "spintry oak that paul found though Didi enjoyed the "caramelized, molasses  flavors." Flight 4 - Up and down the coast Ch St Michelle Caone Ridge Estate WA 14.1%            $20.00 The nose here is subtle and seductive with notes of eggshell, lime leaf, butchers wax, and a wildflower sweetness tat is seductive. A leaner style in the mouth, really taut and focused with intense notes of very fresh orange, peach, pear and papaya fruits that even have a suggestion of red berry. A bit soft on the backend yet with great freshness to the slightly exotic tropical fruit flavors. The finish is a little light with a hint of mineral and hazelnut adding complexity. Very nice stuff 92pts This wine split the crowd with Eddie noting that this was " big, full and seductive, caressing and bold like Naginsky." while Paul felt it was "full of black tea, too simple and no fun." Ojai Solomon Hills CA 2007   14.0%                $30.00 This smells very hard yet has intense and pure chardonnay fruit with background notes of saffron, honeycomb, and forest floor. Very bright and full of malic acid in the mouth that supports the intense lemon, peach and grapefruit oil fruits in the mouth. The huge acidity keeps this large scaled wine remarkably focused and highlights the wonderful purity of the fruit. The finish is snappy and as refreshing as can be with a gentle almond tone and a hint of toasted coconut. This retains a tightly coiled feeling and I expect this might get even better in the cellar. Not for everyone but a brilliant style of Chardonnay. 92pts This was not liked by the group. Paul though it was simply "bad" and Didi felt it had a "strong, bitter, pungent taste." With time some of the group fund more to like though with Cheryl noting that " it did a 180 going from dirty and funky to clean and and pleasant with a bite." Eddie added, "this was probelmatic but ended up tieing for my number 2." Stoller Estate Dundee Hills OR 2006 14.1%                $31.00 This smells heavy like white chocolate pudding with lots of caramel notes from the wood and not much fruit. In the mouth this is lush and chewy yet feels a bit to fat with good fruit but not much follow through and finishes with over-ripe tropical fruits and movie theatre popcorn. 86pts The oak on this wine was noted by all with most tasters finding it to be, as Evan put it, "creamy and spicy." Paul liked it's "creamy white raisin and mango" flavors while Cheryl found it to be "  astringent and oaky" but still enjoyed the caramel and fruit flavors. Well that was it. I was actually very surprised by how much I enjoyed several of these. It's been too long since i took a look at West Coast Chardonnay and I am glad I took the time to give these a test drive. I found a few for my summertime drinking. How about you? Ready to join us in the ABcC club? Gregory Dal Piaz Community Manager Snooth    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Join the ABcC Club! by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• April 2009

  My notes from last weeks Greachy tasting! Flight 1 – Grenache more or less 2005 Kreydenweiss Perrieres Costiere de Nimes 20% Syrah 20% Grenache 60% Carignan 13.4% $18.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/marc-kreydenweiss-costieres-de-nimes-domaine-des-perrieres-2005/ A touch... Read moreMy notes from last weeks Greachy tasting! Flight 1 - Grenache more or less 2005 Kreydenweiss Perrieres Costiere de Nimes 20% Syrah 20% Grenache 60% Carignan 13.4% $18.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/marc-kreydenweiss-costieres-de-nimes-domaine-des-perrieres-2005/ A touch acetic, certainly earthy and gamy with some tobacco, leather, earth, slight reductive funk edge. Aromatic and complex if deicedly organic smelling. Round at first then turning quite sharp with cutting acids supporting cranberry, raspberry, unripe strawberry fruit with a raw beefy edge and some background earth and spice notes that gain a bit of an herbal edge on the backend. Finishes fresh and brisk with a bit more green strawberry tones, moderate length. Fresh and relatively complex. 87pts 2005 Edmunds St. John Rocks and Gravel California Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre in unknown % 14.2% 18.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/edmunds-st-john-rocks-gravel-2005/ A piercing nose of blueberry and black raspberry candy, soil, mineral, slate, pressed flowers/violet, a slight citrus peel tone, very fresh nose with an energetic fruity/savory synergy. Really delightful to smell. Fairly velvety right up front then brightening somewhat with a strong acidic push that is held in check by the ripe balanced fruit. A bit spicy up front with tobacco, bitter cocoa, and forest floor notes to the black tinged plum and berry fruit. The tannins are really well managed here offering great support to the fruit without being intrusive, or even noticeable for that mater. Very refreshing on the backend and finishing with good thrust and length to the mineral tinged black fruits, with a lovely flourish of spice on the finale. Great value 91pts 2005 Babich Mantra Grenache North Dalmatia, Croatia 13.5% $20.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/bibich-mantra-2005/ Very pencil leady and chalky on the nose with a narrow, focused note of earthy strawberry fruit and a touch of wet dog and seaweed. There is an underlying jammy warmth here and gentle notes of faded backing spices/middle eastern spice, turmeric, cardamom, green anise seed. Sweetly fruited right up front with a nice old vine feel in the mouth. Great acidity balanced all that fruit and while the wine is fresh with a golden raspberry tone there is a curious under current of baked fruit/ clay/ oxidation that recalls some old school Rioja. Tannins are very soft. A nice juicy red with flavors that are a touch indistinct. 87pts Flight 2 Global Grenache 2005 Mathis Grenache Sonoma Valley 14.8% $30.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/mathis-sonoma-valley-grenache-2005/ A fairly subtle nose with a nice layered appearance that combines gently jammy raspberry fruit with a touch of leather, dried earth, a little dried orange peel, a floral tone and a fair sprinkling of talc like minerality and a little cigarette smoke and white pepper. Big yet pretty well balanced with bright, juicy red berry fruit, ripe, chewy tannins and nice spice tones that range from licorice to mint, sage and earth. Holds its alcohol well and feels big but balanced in the mouth with lots of strawberry and red currant fruit but held in check enough so that it never goes over to the bomb end of the spectrum. Very well done. 91pts 2007 Tres Picos Garnacha Borsao, Spain 15% $18.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/bodegas-borsao-garnacha-campo-de-borja-tres-picos-2007/ Smells like blackberry pie. A bit zinfandel like with brambly dark fruits and lots of oak induced baking spices. Smells sweet on the nose with lots of layered vanilla, spice and roasted fruit notes. Big and think on entry with dense, chewy brambly blackberry fruit. A lot of wine with a soft, approachable character. There is sufficient structure to carry the wine but the appeal is the rich, dark coffee cream tinged blackberry pie fruits. The finish lacks the harmony of the midpalate with acidity sticking out and coming completely unintegrated on the caustic finish. 84pts 2006 Ferruccio Deiana Sileno Cannonau de Sardinia, Italy 13.5% $18.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/ferruccio-deiana-cannonau-sileno-2006/ A nose full of smoldering herbs, hay, earth, pencil eraser, oysters, strawberry liquor, chamomile, with a hint of mint and forest floor sets this apart. Round then quickly turning a touch more aggressive with tannins that just grab the mouth and are a hint drying yet offer great contrast to the rich, dark, roasted strawberry fruit in the mouth. There is a bit of vegetal character here that carries over from the nose repeating the chamomile and slight mint notes with a bit of gamy savoryness floating low in the fruit. Very fresh and honest feel to the wine. The finish shows a touch of wood up front and could use a bit more length but does offer a nice coffee bean note and refreshing fruit tones. Finishes with a zesty, bracing quality. 90pts Flight 3 - Grenache of California 2006 Margerum Grenache Santa Barbara County 14.5% $36.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/margerum-grenache-2006/ A subtle note of raw wood greets the nose and is quickly joined by bright candied cherry fruit, floral and hay tones with vanilla crème, and balsamic/roast beef accents. Silky and superbly integrated with bright acids and fine tannins lurking just under the sheen of bright red berry fruit that has a melony/canteloup note adding complexity. This gains some dried green herb and vanilla notes on the backend but never becomes ponderous or heavy. A bit of apple adds to the mix, round and very friendly. The finish continues the theme but gains a firmness one misses on the palate offering vanilla tinged strawberries and spice and a hint of medicinal licorice. 91pts 2006 Broc Cellars Grenache, Dry Stack Vineyard, Bennet Valley California 15.4% $35.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/broc-cellars-grenache-dry-stack-bennet-valley-2006/ A really meaty, game nose with black earth, coal and spice tones greeting the nose. There some sweetness from wood here but also lots of intriguing herb and spice notes all over a bed of gamy, dried meats and salame notes and a touch of chlorine. Very smooth and polished with a spicy green cardamon note right up front that is joined by layers of dark cherry fruit, bitter chocolate, fairly intense herbal driven spice notes, a really different expression of Grenache. Feels fine, nice tannins with a bit of bite to loose, solid acids, a touch of black tea across the mid-palate, finishes long with a complex layering of spice, herbal, medicinal and dried plummy fruit notes that are a bit tarry and exceptionally long. Wow this is really different not for everyone but a special wine. 93pts 2005 Core Grenache Alta Mesa Vineyards Santa Barbara County 15.5% $35.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/core-alta-mesa-vineyard-grenache-2005/ Earthy, jammy, alcoholic nose. Lot’s of raw beef, cocoa powder+, garrigue+, apricot, bitter cherry, watermelon, pollen notes. Vivid in the mouth with a lithe feel that belies it’s formidable alcoholic content. A full blown wine but not heavy or extracted, just ripe and alcoholic. This is freshly fruited with notes of apricot, watermelon and cherry on the palate, not the most complex but well balanced and showing excellent integration and balance and a real sense of harmony in the mouth once you get over the initial alcoholic shock. Finishes very abruptly . Eminently fun to drink but without follow through. 88pts Flight 4 - Mostly Grenache 2006 Core Elevation Sensation Alta Mesa Vineyard - Santa Barbara Co. 61% Grenache 39% Mourvedre 15.1% Syrah $42.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/core-elevation-sensation-2006-1/ Sweet blackberry fruit on the nose with some pencil lead, smoke, brownie, chocolate, game, and black pepper notes that gain an intense leather, show polish tone and spicy truffle nuances. Silken on the palate with wonderfully bright acidity and superb tannin that keep this tight and focused. Just slightly dense and chewy and certainly not fully open this has deep, rich fruit with notes of plum, black cherry, black currant and a hint of roasted pecan adding a savory edge. There are soft background notes of vanilla and bay leaf and a subtle menthol top note . Very zesty in the mouth and finishing with intense inner mouth perfume of violet pastille, cinnamon, mint, and licorice. A delicious wine with significant upside potential and the most penetratingly aromatic finish! 93pts 2006 Bois de Boursan Chateauneuf du Pape 65% Grenache 15% Syrah 15% Mourvedre 5% other 14% $50.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/bois-de-boursan-chateauneuf-du-pape-tradition-2006/ A bit gamy on the nose with a big dose of brett that obscures a lot of the bright berry fruit and spice notes. Leather with a barnyard edge that veers closely to the band-aid end of the spectrum though nice notes of kirsch, herb, dried grasses and dried raspberries battle back. Sweetly fruited with a lovely natural brightness and moderate, yet chewy tannins make this very lively in the mouth. Plenty of earthy fruit on the palate with a menthol and tar edge but the brett tamps the fruit down. The tannins are a bit drying and will benefit from some brief cellaring and really pop on the moderately long yet drying finish. 86pts 2005 Kaesler Avignon Barossa Valley Grenache 41% Shiraz 40% Mourvedre 19% 15.5% $25.00 http://www.snooth.com/wine/kaesler-avignon-2005/ Deep nose is marked by a dried fruit character and moist earth/forest floor tones and a buttery overlay. Smells a little mineral water like with a bit of alcoholic burn. There is a pleasant yet mysterious sweetness to the nose like a box of candied fruit. A bit chunky and chewy in the mouth with real presence, lots of polished tannins, well integrated acidity. The flavors are a touch dark and extracted with notes of coffee liquor, roast beef juices, fig and date complimenting the roasted red berry fruit. Finishes a touch short. 88pts    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Post your Grenache GTi notes... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• April 2009

  “Lots of Interest” Morrell Wine Auctions Live Internet Auction http://auction.morrellwineauctions.com/248/index.jsp?auctionId=248 Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 Auction starts at 11:00 a.m. (EST) ~~~ Editor’s note: First off I humbly apologize for any (and all) grammatical... Read more “Lots of Interest” Morrell Wine Auctions Live Internet Auction http://auction.morrellwineauctions.com/248/index.jsp?auctionId=248 Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 Auction starts at 11:00 a.m. (EST) ~~~ Editor’s note: First off I humbly apologize for any (and all) grammatical and/or spelling errors- had to bang this one out in quick-time and whilst drinking copious amounts of Folgers (of the de-decaffeinated kind). Don't let my sloppy writing style disuade you in any way from heading over to Morrell's website to check out the catalog for yourself. There’s some interesting stuff in this sale, the second of the year from Morrell, including some lowered prices for some of the typically higher (and thereby “out of my reach”) end items from Bordeaux, California, and Italy. Bit of white Burgundy too at the end there that has me thinking summer. So head over if any of these sound interesting to you, and browse around. As Wall Street begins to recover, the prices for wine are at a buying point as I type. Go get something to share & imbibe, and have fun with it. That's where I'm headed. Sincerely, Christopher ~~~ Lot 15 10 bottles, early & mid-80’s Cali cabs... Burgess Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vintage Selection - Vintage 1981 Napa Valley, Excellent Appearance. 1 Bottle Diamond Creek Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Rock Terrace - Vintage 1982 Napa Valley, Excellent Appearance. 1 Bottle Diamond Creek Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Volcanic Hill - Vintage 1984 Napa Valley, Level is neck-shoulder. 1 Bottle "The 1984s appear to be the last of the big, bold, full-bodied, super-concentrated Diamond Creek. The wines produced after 1984 have been more polite and oenologically correct. What a shame! The enormous 1984 displays no signs of age in its dark, saturated ruby/purple color. The nose exhibits some evolution, with cedar, leather, and jammy fruit scents beginning to emerge. Still frightfully tannic, full-bodied, and highly extracted, this backward, chewy wine is one of the slowest evolving 1984s." 94 points, RMP. Fisher Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coach Insignia - Vintage 1985 Sonoma County, Two levels are neck-shoulder. Labels: one is wet stained, one is bin soiled. 2 Bottles Navarro Correas, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coleccion Privada - Vintage 1985 Mendoza, Level is high shoulder. 1 Bottle Quivira, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley - Vintage 1990 Dry Creek Valley, Two levels are high-mid shoulder. 2 Bottles Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon - Vintage 1985 Napa Valley, Level is neck-shoulder. 1 Bottle Sterling Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve - Vintage 1983 Napa Valley, Level is neck-shoulder. Capsule is corroded. 1 Bottle Above 10 bottles $320 - 500 Opening at $260 Lot #18 Château Chasse-Spleen - Vintage 1989 Moulis-en-Médoc, Six levels are neck-shoulder or better. 6 Bottles "Make no mistake about it, the 1989 Chasse-Spleen is the finest wine this property has produced since their great 1949. This is a spectacularly rich, powerful, authoritative example of the vintage that can compete with and even surpass many of the most famous names. Layer upon layer of concentrated, sweet, expansive, blackcurrant fruit is wrapped in a frame of toasty new oak and decent acidity. An awesome wine!" 91 points, RMP. Above 6 bottles Opening at $240 Lot #39 Château Léoville-Barton - Vintage 1989 St.-Julien, Deuxième Cru Classé Excellent Appearance. (*92 pts, Wine Spectator) 6 Bottles $380 - $700 Lot #117 Far Niente, Cabernet Sauvignon - Vintage 1990 Napa Valley, Two capsules are slightly corroded. 2 Magnums $160 - $300 Lot # 160 Silver Oak Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander - Vintage 1992 Alexander Valley, Two labels are scuffed. 5 Bottles "It possesses that tell-tale Silver Oak, lavishly oaky, Provencal herb, sweet, smoky, jammy black-cherry and cassis-scented nose. Full-bodied, opulent, and succulent..." 92 points, RMP. Above 5 Bottles $200 - $400 Lot # 200 Chassagne-Montrachet, L. Latour - Vintage 1989 Côte de Beaune, Seven levels are 1" below cork or better. Five labels are lightly bin soiled. 7 Bottles $110 - $220 Lot # 221 Behrens & Hitchcock, Syrah, Homage to Ed Oliveira, Alder Springs Vineyard - Vintage 2002 Mendocino County, Excellent Appearance. 5 Bottles Behrens & Hitchcock, Syrah, Homage to Ed Olivera, Alder Springs Vineyard - Vintage 2003 Napa Valley, Excellent Appearance. 3 Bottles Above 8 bottles $190 - $300 Lot # 268 Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Insignia - Vintage 2005 Napa Valley, (92 points, WS, even higher from Parker) Excellent Appearance. 2 Bottles $180 - $280 Lot # 388 Château Meyney - Vintage 1979 St.-Estèphe, Level is high shoulder. Label is lightly bin soiled. 1 Magnum Dominus Estate - Vintage 1989 Napa Valley, Label is badly torn, wet stained, bin soiled. Capsule is slightly corroded. 1 Magnum Above 2 magnums $120 - $240 Lot # 478 Hourglass, Cabernet Sauvignon - Vintage 2003 Napa Valley, Excellent Appearance. 6 Bottles $220 - $400 Lot # 562 Château Léoville-Barton - Vintage 1996 St.-Julien, Deuxième Cru Classé Excellent Appearance. 1 Bottle "This impressive wine is a classic. Although backward, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to abundant black currant fruit intertwined with spicy oak and truffle-like scents. The wine is brilliantly made, full-bodied, and tightly-structured with plenty of muscle and outstanding concentration and purity." 92 points, RMP. Château Léoville-Poyferré - Vintage 1995 St.-Julien, Deuxième Cru Classé Two labels are lightly bin soiled. 2 Bottles Clos du Marquis - Vintage 1990 St.-Julien, Three levels are very high shoulder or better. Three labels are bin soiled. 3 Bottles Above 6 bottles $280 - $520 Lot # 567 Bonny Doon Vineyard, Le Cigare Volant - Vintage 1999 Santa Cruz, Label is bin soiled. 1 Bottle Miner, Cabernet Sauvignon - Vintage 1998 Napa Valley, One capsule is nicked. 3 Bottles Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Vineyard Reserve, Proprietary Red - Vintage 1999 Napa Valley, Four labels are scuffed. 4 Bottles Steele Wines, Syrah, Stymie - Vintage 2000 Lake County, Excellent Appearance. 4 Bottles Above 12 bottles $160 - $320 Lot # 610 Château St. Jean, Cinq Cépages - Vintage 1994 Sonoma County, Three labels are lightly bin soiled. 7 Bottles Paradigm, Cabernet Sauvignon - Vintage 2000 Napa Valley, Label is lightly bin soiled. 1 Bottle Above 8 bottles $260 - $500 Lot # 618 Turley Wine Cellars, Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard - Vintage 2001 Paso Robles, Excellent Appearance. 4 Bottles Turley Wine Cellars, Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard - Vintage 2002 Paso Robles, Excellent Appearance. 2 Bottles Turley Wine Cellars, Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard - Vintage 2003 Paso Robles, Excellent Appearance. 2 Bottles Turley Wine Cellars, Zinfandel, Pesenti Vineyard - Vintage 2004 Paso Robles, Excellent Appearance. 2 Bottles Above 10 bottles $220 - $420 Lot # 655 J. Rochioli Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Estate - Vintage 1996 Russian River Valley, Excellent Appearance. 1 Bottle J. Rochioli Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Estate - Vintage 1997 Russian River Valley, Excellent Appearance. 1 Bottle J. Rochioli Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Estate - Vintage 2000 Russian River Valley, Excellent Appearance. 2 Bottles J. Rochioli Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Estate - Vintage 2001 Russian River Valley, Excellent Appearance. 1 Bottle J. Rochioli Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Estate - Vintage 2002 Russian River Valley, Excellent Appearance. 3 Bottles (89, Steven Tanzer: As reviewed by International Wine Cellar in Issue 114, May/June 2004 ($41) Dark, bright red. Very ripe but sappy aromas of strawberry, raspberry and tangy baking spices. Dense but juicy and firm-edged, with refreshing flavors of red berries, cherry pit, chocolate, spices and earth complicated by a note of underbrush. Not especially pliant, but nuanced, persistent and firmly built.) Above 8 bottles $260 - $450 Lot # 669 Lokoya, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain - Vintage 1999 Napa Valley, One label is nicked. 3 Bottles Lokoya, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain - Vintage 2000 Napa Valley, Excellent Appearance. 2 Bottles Above 5 bottles $280 - $480 Lot # 730 Carillon de l'Angélus - Vintage 2000 St.-Emilion, Excellent Appearance. (***Editor’s note: This is the second label of Chateau Angelus- which received a whopping 96 point rating (RMP) for their first label, 2000 Chateau Angelus. Think about it.) Above 10 Bottles $160 - $300 Lot # 737 Château Gruaud-Larose - Vintage 1986 St.-Julien, Deuxième Cru Classé Level is neck-shoulder. Label is lightly bin soiled. Capsule is slightly corroded, has evidence of slight past seepage. 1 Bottle "From the first time I tasted this wine in cask, I have thought it to be among the blockbusters of the vintage. It has a black/purple color, mammoth structure, a fabulous wealth of fruit, and a finish that seems to last several minutes. This is indeed first-growth quality, but then, when, in the last decade, has a Gruaud-Larose not matched the quality of the first-growths?" 94 points, RMP. Château Talbot - Vintage 1985 St.-Julien, Quatrième Cru Classé Two levels are neck-shoulder. Two labels are lightly bin soiled. 2 Bottles Château Talbot - Vintage 1986 St.-Julien, Quatrième Cru Classé Level is high-mid shoulder. Label is lightly bin soiled. Capsule is slightly corroded, has evidence of slight past seepage. 1 Bottle "It's my gut feeling that the 1986 is, along with the 1982, the finest Talbot made at this estate since the legendary 1945. The fact that there are 40,000 cases of this wine is good news for the consumer, as there will be plenty to go around. The wine, which has been so special since the first taste from cask, is classically structured, with a penetrating fragrance of peppery, spicy, weedy black currants and tar, an enormous concentration of flavor on the palate, and staggering length." 96 points, RMP. La Croix du Casse - Vintage 1995 Pomerol, Excellent Appearance. 4 Bottles Above 8 bottles $280 - $520 Lot # 772 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes - Vintage 2000 Rhône, Excellent Appearance, owc. 12 Bottles $380 - $700 Lot # 828 Bahans-Haut-Brion - Vintage 2000 Pessac-Léognan, (Ed. Note: Second label of Chateau Haut-Brion, which received a 96 pt. review from Tanzer for the 2000 vintage. Food for thought). Excellent Appearance, owc. 12 Bottles $480 - $850 Lot # 864 Puligny-Montrachet, L. Latour - Vintage 2005 Côte de Beaune, Excellent Appearance. 12 Bottles $190 - $350 And those are just a few Lots of Interest. ~~~ Disclaimer: “Lots of Interest” should only be used as an introduction, or guide to buying wine at auction. I would encourage anyone interested in purchasing wine at auction - ANY AUCTION- to fully read the rules and regulations posed by each auction house respectively.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic "Lots of Interest", Morrell... by ChipDWood

  
  

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