Wine Among Friends

Pumpkin Beer Round-Up

2011-10-30T17:15:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween! No tricks here -- just a little treat for the beer drinkers. A few weeks ago, Brian and I picked up a six-pack sampler of pumpkin beers. We didn't intend to review the beers, but wanted to know which brew to buy more of so we took some tasting notes. Here is the result of the three head-to-head battles with a special bonus beer at the end! (Ideally, we would have tried them all at the same time, but that would have meant drinking six beers in one sitting. No one wanted to called in "sick" the next day.)

Round #1: Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n vs. Blue Point Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale

(consumed with braised beef and roasted vegetables)

Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n
Salt Lake City, UT
4% ABV, 10 IBU

Appearance: A cloudy, light copper.
Aroma: Lighter, more delicate aroma of cooking spices and bread.
Flavor: More like a brown ale, subtle. Better flavor and more spices than Blue Point.
Bonus: Brewed with renewable power, USDA organic and 2010 Silver Medal in World Beer Championships.
Rating: 4/5

Blue Point Brewing Company Pumpkin Ale

Long Island (Patchogue), NY

6% ABV, 26 IBU

Appearance: Clear copper.

Aroma: Pumpkin, stronger nose of the two.

Flavor: Malty, nice yeasty flavor. No bitterness on finish. Pleasant bitter notes on mid-palate.

Bonus: Sustainable practices at the brewing facility and product packaging.

Rating: 3/5

Winner: Uinta Brewing Company Punk'n

Round #2: Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale vs. Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

(consumed with cheeses: Prima Donna and Brie)

Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale
Wilkes Barre, PA
5.5% ABV, unknown IBU

Appearance: A little cloudy, darker amber color.
Aroma: Gingerbread, cinnamon and sugar. From Brian, "You know it's a pumpkin beer from the nose!" (Not all of the pumpkin beers sampled smelled like their namesake.)
Taste: Gingerbread! Yummy. The ginger flavor really lingers. A sweeter brew that is fun, bright and a true seasonal. Lovely spices. Finish reminds me of sweet tea. Coarser mouthfeel; not as creamy as Dogfish Head. I couldn't drink more than two because of the distinct taste; good to sample. Recommend for the folks who like sweeter pumpkin ales.
Bonus: Second largest brewery in PA.
Rating: 4/5

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale

Milton, DE

7% ABV, 28 IBU

Appearance: Clear copper color.

Aroma: Toasty with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon.

Taste: Just as toasty as the nose with a strong "toasted popcorn" flavor. Great mouthfeel, a good sipping beer that is not heavy. Complex but subtle flavors. This fall beer could easily stretch into winter drinking, if only it didn't sell out so quickly. Deserves to be classified beyond "seasonal" because it is not overtly pumpkin. Toasty nose and flavor are what set it apart from the other sampled beers. (The "toasted popcorn" flavor became very distracting. Brian was blissfully unaware until I pointed it out and that was all he could taste too. I wonder if our batch received higher than usual toast.)

Bonus: Delaware's first brewpub; also distills vodka, rum and gin. Supports local non-profits.

Rating: 3.5/5

Winner: Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale

Round #3: Schlafly Pumpkin Ale vs. River Horse Hipp O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin
(consumed with pizza)

Schlafly Pumpkin Ale

St. Louis, MO
8% ABV, 16 IBU

Appearance: Clear copper, a little dark than the River Horse.
Aroma: Sweeter nose of pumpkin, very aromatic!
Flavor: Tastes like pumpkin pie! Sweet with cinnamon flavor to start, followed by clove then nutmeg. Very complex flavors. Ideal if you like your pumpkin brews on the sweeter side without going too far.
Bonus: Sustainable practices, food for restaurant is either local or grown on premises.
Rating: 3.75/5

River Horse Hipp O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin

Lambertville, NJ

8.5% ABV, unknown IBU

Appearance: Clear copper.

Aroma: Distinct pumpkin.

Flavor: Enjoyable hoppiness (I'm not an IPA drinker), caramel finish, and toast that doesn't overpower (unlike Punkin). Brian really liked this one and couldn't imagine what he'd change to make it better. He said he would order more than one at a bar and, the true testament, would not tire of it if we got a six-pack.

Bonus: Unfiltered, vegan-friendly beers (with some exceptions like the Oatmeal Stout).

Rating: 4.5/5

Winner: River Horse Hipp O Lantern Imperial Pumpkin

Bonus Round: Iron Hill Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale
(consumed with veggies and dip, Cheddar and Brie cheeses)

Iron Hill Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale
9% ABV, unknown IBU

Appearance: Beautiful deep golden amber color, good foamy head.
Aroma: Gingerbread and nutmeg.
Taste: Malty sweetness with a solid body; good toast, long finish with pleasant bitterness. Cooking spice aftertaste. Not sweet. Great average of all the "best" pumpkin beers above.
Bonus: The Great Imperial Pumpkin is a bottled reserve for dine-in or take-out. Iron Hill was the site of our wedding's rehearsal dinner!
Rating: 5/5

Overall winner: Iron Hill Great Imperial Pumpkin Ale (subject to further taste testing)

We are by no means beer afficionados. Tell me, what pumpkin beers should we have tried? What are your favorite fall beers??

I need this!

2011-09-10T12:03:00.000-04:00

While out to dinner last night at Orillas Tapas Bar with the new husband, I spotted a wine poster I'd never seen before. Throughout dinner, I kept craning my neck to get another look at it. I was smitten. Wine, data and a beautiful graphical display - I'm sold!

source: De Long's Wine Grape Varietal Table
Now I just have to find an empty wall with enough space to display it.

Chilean Syrah & Red Blends

2010-12-13T18:03:00.013-05:00

This is the second part (long overdue) of our guinea pig tasting with a concentration on syrahs and red blends.

Syrahs

Falernia 2006 Syrah Reserva
Elqui Valley, Chile - $11.50
Dusty red fruit, blackberry, hints of barnyard. More rustic aromas and rougher all around initially. Light body. Green, herby aroma somewhere between green pepper and eucalyptus (hay, pot?) faded in/out quickly. Light tannins for just enough structure. Dominated by earthy and green notes.
Note: Elqui Valley is a cooler climate than Colchagua.

Montes Alpha 2007 Syrah
Colchagua Valley, Chile - $20
Sour cherry & leather aromas. Richer, deeper nose than Falernia with darker berry fruit. Smooth, grippy with tip of tongue spices. Dark chocolate joins sour cherry and dark berry flavors. Long finish. Syrupy, condensed aroma. Similar to Cousino-Macul (see below). As a whole, less fruit forward than California syrahs (a relief). Best on its own.

Nose: Montes
Flavor: Falernia (after drinking the heavier wines, Montes edged out the Falernia)
Finish: Montes
Wild card: Falernia
Favorite: Falernia

Blends

Seña 2005
Aconcagua Valley, Chile - $28.50
Blend of Cab Sauv (57%), Merlot (25%), Carmenere (9%), Cab Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%).
Greener, more fruit forward than Montes. Bold with spicy, condensed port-like flavor. Long finish with lighter body. Bolder nose than flavors. Didn't care for the finish as the wine opened up, became bitter. This is a wine for drinking on its own or with food. You're able to continue drinking it after you finish a meal. Brainchild between Chadwick (Viña Errázuriz) and Robert Mondavi, hence the fruit forward approach. Produced by Viña Sena, imported by F. Wildman.

Cousiño-Macul 2007 Finis Terrae
Maipo Valley, Chile - $26
Blend of Cab Sauv (60%) and Malbec (40%)
Unfiltered. Softer nose with lots more everything. Complex! Spicy (cooking spices) with smoother mid-palate. More elegant than the Sena. CS focuses on the US export market. The Finis Terrae label, while tasty, is still not the top label available at CS.

Nose: Cousiño-Macul
Flavor: Cousiño-Macul
Finish: Cousiño-Macul
Wild card: doesn't matter
Favorite: Cousiño-Macul

Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon

2010-10-29T14:04:00.000-04:00

All 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with about 14% alcohol, $15-22 range

(We are guinea pigs and have no qualms about it. We've been helping Brian's dad and step-mom taste, review and select the final wines that will be presented at an upcoming wine group event. It's hard work but we're up for the challenge.)

1. Santa Rita 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva estate grown D.O. Maipo Valley, Chile
First sip revealed juicy red fruit, green pepper (barely there) and a flatness/bitterness that resembled lead pencil. Light body, light tannins. Aroma was nothing outstanding, just expected red fruits. Not steak-ready, better with lighter meats. Priced at $10, this was wasn’t expected to stand up to the wines to follow. For the price, it makes a nice house red but don’t bring it to a BYOB.

2. Cousino-Macul Antiguas Reservas 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley, Chile
Better nose than #1. Great mouth feel. Stronger flavors, more body and tannins. Flavors of brambly red fruit and mocha with pleasant tongue-coating tannins. Lovely on its own, softens with food. Not a tannic monster. Lightly perfumed. Tartness develops as it opens: cranberry flavor, but mostly aroma. This wine was priced at the low end of the range and does well for a $15 bottle. Rated 90 points by Wine Advocate (Parker).

3. Lapostolle 2008 Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Softer aromas and flavors, cedar, red fruits (not brambly), light spice and finely integrated tannins. Really like the tannins in this wine! Better than #2. Subtle and elegant! Balanced, smooth and still powerful. Personality-wise , it is a blend of #2 and #4 (see below). Pleasant to sip on its own. The most expensive bottle of the group at $22 but really delivers. This is the second highest “level” for Casa Lapostolle; top tier wines in this approach $60-70. Normally rated 91-92 by Wine Spectator & Enthusiast, this vintage was in the high 80’s (2008 was not a “great” year).

4. Marques de Casa Concha 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon D.O. Puente Alto, Chile
Amazing nose, very strong. Similar to Lapostolle initially but bolder, more tannins, and a little more heat (less balanced, alcohol). Medium tannins. More like a CA Cab (out of the 4) but still not as tannic. Better suited for steak and heavier meats. Lots of personality. A portion of their Puente vineyard is sourced for the higher tier Don Melchor; Casa Concha is the third highest tier in the Concha y Tora line-up. Price varies by a few dollars if you shop around: $17 at Costco, $20 other retailers. Rated 90 points by Wine Advocate (Parker) and 91 points by Wine Spectator.

The results:
-No one liked the Santa Rita against the others but fine on its own. Not fair to compare.
- Cousino-Macul isn’t bad but wasn’t anyone’s favorite; in third position.
- The ladies preferred Lapostolle. The guys liked it as an alternative to the bolder Marques.
- For lamb/steak dinners, go with the Marques de Casa Concha. It’s heavier in body and style.

Pour me some of that "Steve" wine...

2010-10-10T18:06:00.005-04:00

Our buddy Steve loves a good Zin. So much so that I've started calling (red) Zinfandel "Steve" - partly in honor, partly in jest. While I was at Moore Bros. Saturday, I made sure to pick up a bottle. We opened it last night. Yes, Steve was in attendance. It was a hit because the contents disappeared pretty quickly.

Three 2007 Old Vines Zinfandel - California, $18

What I sampled I liked: great berry aromas, full body, decently long finish, fruit-forward flavors, spice (but nothing nearly as spicy as Wilson's Tori) and easy drinking. A buy again. Produced by Cline (Matt Cline). Shhhh.

We also opened a great wine from last October's Finger Lakes trip: Ravines 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. Perfect with guacamole!

Terrain at Styer's birthday dinner

2010-09-29T20:59:00.004-04:00

Brian and I dined at Terrain last night for my real birthday dinner. Uncorked a wine from our 2008 California trip: Arista 2006 Longbow Pinot Noir. We were so relieved it was better than we remembered and had yet to peak. After our first sip, we just sat there with eyes closed savoring it and the memory of the trip.

Our second bottle should be beautiful in about six months.

Birthday dinner

2010-09-29T20:51:00.004-04:00

Sampled at Dom. Hudson on 9/27/10 at a true "wine with friends" dinner.

Praxis Pinot Noir Monterrey, CA 08
Great nose. Lots of rich berry. Smoky nose. Slow start but stronger mid-palate pulls through to long finish. Bittersweet chocolate flavors barely there. Reserved fruit. Strong aroma was my favorite part of this wine, best of the three here. 7 of 10

Le Cadeau "Red Label" Pinot Noir willamette valley, OR '07
More delicate nose. Restrained. Odd bitter mid-palate but not unpleasant. Fades slowly. Better with food. 5 of 10, 6 of 10 with food

Daniel Rion Bourgogne, Burgundy, FR '08
Vegetal, sweet nose. More vegetal and definitely more tannic than the le cadeau. Sour cherry flavor. Light body. Probably too light for food; nuances disappear.

Food:
1st: Polenta with shirred egg and truffle oil
2nd: Wild mushroom risotto
Dessert: Poached peaches (plus fourth drink - a lovely tawny port)

The unofficial drink of Dewey

2010-08-21T20:21:00.003-04:00

Orange Crush (because you know you want one)
Fill pint glass with ice.
1 part Vodka
1 part Triple Sec
Fill up 3/4 full with Sprite (or lemon-lime beverage of your choice)
Top with juice of 1 freshly squeezed orange.
Shake or stir.

Be prepared. Buy a crate of oranges in advance. You're going to need it.

- Brian

Hot hot heat calls for white, crisp wine

2010-08-10T17:55:00.003-04:00

Poured myself a big glass of Ravines Dry Riesling moments after getting home. Less steely than I remembered. Absolutely fine on its own. Waiting on the sweet potato fries to finish baking and then all will be good. Or at least better than it was before the wine happened.

Random Summer Beer #1 (found in cooler)

2010-07-14T21:27:00.010-04:00

So we had an idea for a last minute 4th of July weekend BBQ. Apparently none of my friends had plans, because about 25 people showed up. The plan? BYOB + side dishes and we'll provide the main course as well as fresh Orange Crushes. The results, a good night with friends and a cooler full of 10 different types of summer beers. The benefit for Nic? Summer beer taste-off for the blog!

Spaten Franziskaner Weissbier
Hefe-Weissbier
Munich, Germany
$1.99/bottle, $39/20-pack

Appearance: Cloudy with amber hue
Aroma: Yeasty sweetness dominates with light herbal hints
Flavor: Mild & mellow, yeasty, touch of sweetness and citrus notes. No bitter bite.
Mouthfeel: Light body. Fine carbonation/no discernable bubbles. Texture is a little too "Miller High Life champagney". Wouldn't reach for this as a thirst quencher because of the carbonation and yeastiness. Would be a good food beer.
Overall: An easy pick when paired against domestics. Not as much personality as locally produced Hefeweizens.

- Brian (first guest post!)

We interrupt this wine blog...

2010-07-10T13:19:00.000-04:00

Have to apologize for being MIA again! My goal of a post/week has been difficult with extremely busy work load, vacation, visiting family, wedding planning and all things summer. Even my photos still haven't been downloaded from my camera so you know it's nuts around here.

Good news! The boy will be out of town for a few days so I am hoping and planning on getting caught up on posts.

Rose Month

2010-06-13T20:13:00.006-04:00

As the temperature and humidity climbs, we're naturally reaching for something refreshing. To kick off the week-long Italian Festival, we stocked up on a few rose wines (plus a case of Modelo Especial and a Smuttynose summer six pack). The first few bottles of rose have been poured and consensus is in. It is a tad difficult to remember wines in a social setting, so the notes on these bottles are a little spare.

Jaboulet Parallele 45 Rose 2008
Cote du Rhone, $12
Favorite rose wine of the summer - so far! Lovely salmon color. Bright, intense fruit aromas. Fresh, light and easy drinking with pleasantly long finish. Half grenache (plus 40% cinsault; 10% syrah).

Bonny Doon 2008 Vin Gris de Cigare
Santa Cruz, CA, $11
Strawberry aromas dominate. Dry and lean with light body. More grenache in blend than cinsault or roussanne.

Lopez de Heredia - Gran Reserva Rosado 1998

2010-05-19T22:25:00.005-04:00

A trip into NYC usually means a show and dinner. We were in town this time to see Amy dance in a ballet. Caught a light dinner at Buceo 95 with nine of my future in-laws and had a tasty (and unusually colored rose) with our assorted tapas. The running list... mushroom croquettes (good, but a touch salty), grilled asparagus, roasted mushrooms in sweet sherry sauce, grilled calamari, garlic shrimp, bacon wrapped dates (always good and everyone's favorite), chicken kabobs with cumin, skirt steak, chorizo and grilled duck breast.

Lopez de Heredia - 1998 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Rosado
Rioja Alta, Spain

Honeyed nose with dried apricot and a richness reminiscent of sauternes. Insane orange color! Color comes from extended aging (4 years) in oak. Great acidity, light body. Light dusty strawberry flavors with vanilla finish. Tempranillo, Garnacha (Grenache), and Viura grapes. Lots more info here.

Polished off a bottle quite easily between the three of us.

Canary in the coal mine

2010-04-30T15:29:00.004-04:00

Just read a great article on climate change and winemaking. The takeaway for me is which winemaking regions will emerge as the new standard as the temperature climbs in historical wine-making regions (Champagne, Napa, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer)? Also, which varietals will become the new workhorses and darlings when adaptability is key?

I'm very interested in what the future holds for our local Brandywine Valley as well as the Finger Lakes, Oregon and Washington state, in the revised wine world.

Restaurant Week: Domaine Hudson

2010-04-27T22:12:00.004-04:00

Four of us dined at Domaine Hudson (or Wilmington) last night to kick off Wilmington's Restaurant week. Since the reservation was later in the evening, I had a chance to look over the prixe fixe menu online and research any wines ahead of time. Sadly, the favored main course, short ribs, was not available when we were seated which left us in a lurch for a second choice. Happy to report that whatever course we chose was well paired with one of the 40+ by the glass wines thanks to our server's recommendations.

My appetizer choice of spiced carrot soup presented a bit of a pairing challenge: red or white. I tried the Domaine Corsin "Vieilles Vignes" Saint-Veran Burgundy 2007 (Chardonnay). This French Chardonnay is a refreshing change from being bonked over the head with oak and vanilla anytime Chardonnay is involved. Balanced flavors, good acidity and restrained use of oak. It seems I need to seek out smaller production French wine if this is to continue. That said, I preferred Brian's light red choice - a fruity Rhone blend (grenache, syrah, carignan, mourvedre) from Chateau Signac ("Cuvee Tradition" Cotes du Rhone Villages 2007").

Main course was the flat iron steak, an easy out when I took too long deciding between entrees. Initially tried the Chateau Viella "Tradition" 2007 from Madiran, France simply because I'd never had a wine with the Tannat grape before. This is a blend of 80% Tannat and 20% Cab Franc. Enjoyed it, though not a do again when I have all the other wines to choose from. I was searching for something with a touch more fruit and fewer tannins. Sampled my way through most of the glass before the steak arrived. I told our server I was open to suggestions and didn't mind being surprised. With that, he disappeared into the kitchen then returned with our next round. My glass was missing its usual number marked on the foot - a true surprise then! It was a big red that took some investigative sips to pin down. By the third sip, I had picked up the characteristic roundness of the Merlot grape but needed him to confirm what it was. Turns out it is the current house favorite, the Merlot that doesn't feel like a Merlot, the Code Noir Merlot 2007 from Rattlesnake Hills, WA.

The Zin Man dining partner raved about his big, bold, juicy red simply described as "the bomb." The Carl Roy “East Side Cuvee” Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Napa Valley was tasty and an easy read, but not overly fruited. I was relieved to drink a Cab that wasn't a tannic monster. I felt the use of oak was a little heavy-handed due to the strong vanilla note with a persistent finish. I bet it went well with the flat iron steak!

Finished the meal with chocolate mousse and the Sauternes-like Domaine du Petit Paris Monbazillac 2007. I'm always a sucker for a dessert wine bring back the memories of the once sampled, now unattainable Chateau d'Yquem. This blend of botrytized Semillon, Muscadelle and Sauvignon Blanc grapes was an acceptable substitute and worth seeking out for the price (~$15).

(No photos as is dark inside the restaurant. If we can locate some of the bottles locally, there will be an extended review with photos.)

Wilson Wine on its way

2010-04-18T23:52:00.003-04:00

Placed an order of three of Wilson's 2007 Tori Zinfandel this evening as part of a group order. We've gone through all our bottles of older Tori vintages. Looking forward to opening the first bottle soon after the shipment arrives to assess how long we'll hold the other two.

Currently sipping

2010-04-14T23:44:00.004-04:00

Glazebrook Sauvignon Blanc - Great buy ($11) from Costco. Love it with guacamole; could be a favorite summer wine.
Ravines Meritage 2006 - a Finger Lakes trip wine, $25. Great on its own, but held up to prime rib and horseradish mashed potatoes thanks in part to the acidity and restrained fruit flavors.
Clos Pegase Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - a "ready to drink" California trip wine. Not as good as I remembered, but that means nothing since I build up anything from that trip. Paired it with a nice tenderloin last night. (We are eating well lately.)
Goats do Roam Rose - tasty little $10 gem from South Africa. The weather was beautiful mid-week around the beginning of the month so we had an inspired, unplanned dinner of cured meat, cheeses, olives, bread and olive oil. I felt a rose was needed to celebrate the warming weather and unconventional dinner al fresco. Enjoyed it more than the French rose that was poured second.

Signs of Spring

2010-04-01T15:27:00.005-04:00

Over the weekend, we grabbed an afternoon bite at Harry's Seafood Grill on the Riverfront. It was one of those days where I was craving seviche and a crisp, white wine. A glass of 2008 Buitenverwachting Beyond Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa was the perfect foil for the scallop and poblano seviche. Lunchmate/fiance felt it worked well with his oysters from Oregon and British Columbia. Pleasant, grassy aroma and fresh lemon and lime flavors dominate with glimpses of green pear and lemongrass to create a bright, clean wine with balanced acidity with a medium range finish. At $7.50 a glass, it is one of the less expensive white wine options on the menu and still delivers. (Wine Enthusiast gave the 2007 vintage 90 points.) It retails for around $11 so next time I'm out with my wine shopping list, you can bet it will be on the list.

Finger Lakes - Best of the Whites

2010-03-10T20:00:00.012-05:00

Best Whites
1. Anthony Road
2. Atwater

Best Riesling
1. Ravines 2007 Dry
2. Wiemer 2007 Dry
3. Lamoreaux Landing 2008 Dry
4. Atwater 2008 Dry

Best Gewurztraminer
1. Anthony Road 2008
(Lamoreaux Landing 2007, Penguin Bay 2007)

Best Chardonnay
Ravines

Best Pinot Gris/Grigio
Anthony Road Pinot Gris 2007

Best Sauvignon Blanc
Ravines 2008

Best Sparkling
1. Swedish Hill (Penguin Bay) - "Blanc de Blanc"
2. Weimer - "Blanc de Noir 2003"

Best Dessert/Sweet
1. Anthony Road - "Sweet Dream"
(Standing Stone - "Vidal Ice" or "Chardonnay Ice", Wiemer - "Late Harvest Riesling 2008", Wagner - "Vidal Ice")

Best White: Other
Lamoreaux Landing - "Estate White"

Finger Lakes in the news

2010-03-10T18:29:00.005-05:00

In celebration of Wine Spectator's recent article highlighting the Finger Lakes ("Single Vineyard Craze in the Finger Lakes" by James Molesworth, 3/31/10 issue), a bottle of Heron Hill's Ingle Vineyard Cab Franc '06 is decanting for dinner tonight. I was beside myself with giddiness when I read the article last week. Some of my favorite Finger Lakes wineries were mentioned (Wiemer, Ravines!, Lamoreaux Landing) and the publicity makes me oddly proud (and excited for their well deserved publicity).

The best thing about opening a bottle from a wine trip is the memories that resurface. Conversations with winemakers and winery staff, visuals of the countryside, connections with fellow wine lovers and, of course, thoughts of all those bottles you wish you could have brought home.

Cheers!

Finger Lakes - Best of the Reds

2010-03-10T16:04:00.005-05:00

Best Reds
1. Standing Stone
2. Lamoreaux Landing

Best Pinot Noir
1. Ravines 2007
2. Lamoreaux 2007
3. Wiemer 2006

Best Cab Franc
1. Ravines 2007
(Atwater 2006, Lamoreaux Landing - "Barrel Aged" & Heron Hill - "Ingle Vineyard")

Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Penguin Bay (blend, no vintage)

Best Merlot
Standing Stone

Best Lemberger (blend)
1. Anthony Road 2007
2. Rooster Hill 2007

Best Red: Other
1. Lamoreaux Landing - "76 West"
(Anthony Road - "Devonian Red", Atwater - "Stone Bridge Red", Prejean - "Marechal Foch 2008")

Rooster Hill

2010-03-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

Keuka Lake (West - Penn Yan)
489 Route 54 South
Penn Yan, NY 14527

315-536-4773
roosterhill.com
info@roosterhill.com

Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 11-5 Sun
Tasting Fee: $6

Our last winery! We drove out of the way late Sunday afternoon to reach Rooster Hill. A friend's mother had been a year before and recommended it. Heck, after the last winery, I was determined to leave on a positive note.

The Rooster Hill tasting room sits halfway up the steep hillside with views of Keuka Lake. Homey, comfortable tasting room with helpful, knowledgeable staff. Our wine pourer guided us in the right direction with suggestions from the tasting menu. Overall, it was a positive experience with average wines. It was such a hike from our temporary home base that only out of my stubbornness and a desire to visit as many wineries as possible did it make it onto the itinerary.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2008 - $15.99. Crisp, lime and light apple. Light body, high acid. Smooth. Prefer the Gewurzt. "Luscious, dry crisp wine... flavors of tangerine, lemon and white pepper. Dusty hint of slate and minerals. Citrus fruit keeps it fresh and vibrant."
Estate Gewurztraminer 2007 - $19.99. Delicate, dry style with solid acid to bring it through to finish. "Ripe with intense spice... floral bouquet is prominent. Layered with fruit."
Estate Pinot Noir 2007 - $15.99. Tannins and spice without a lot of fruit; still tight. "Delicate... cherry fruit and strawberry... soft tannins. Finish is crisp and clean."
Estate Cabernet Franc-Lemberger 2007 -$19.99. Blend of 70% Cab Franc, 30% Lemberger. Lovely nose of herbal fruit, vanilla finish; nice tannins. "Lush wine... bold blackberry, cherry... complexity and depth... layers of spice, hint of mint. Oak adds touch of vanilla and smoky bacon."
Estate Cabernet Franc 2007 - $19.99. Smoky and meaty. Nice weight and balanced tannins. "Open and easy-going, medium-weight mix of tobacco, black cherry and spice notes."
NV Port - $15.99. Cab Franc blended with brandy. Chocolate-y, sweeter than expected and a touch hot. "Dark fruit aroma... plum and black cherry."

Other wines from the tasting menu:
Chardonnay 2008
Estate Gewurztraminer 2008
Estate Semi-Dry Riesling 2007
Silver Pencil 2008
Traminette 2007
Rosecomb Red
Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Meritage 2005

Fox Run

2010-02-24T17:59:00.000-05:00

Seneca Lake (West - Penn Yan)
670 Rt 14
Penn Yan, NY 14527

800-636-9786
foxrunvineyards.com
info@foxrunvineyards.com

Hours: 10am-6pm Mon-Sat, 11-6 Sun
Tasting Fee: $2, Tours: hourly until 4pm, Reservations: not required

On paper, Fox Run's tasting room looks like an ideal stop for the western shore of Seneca Lake. Wine & Spirits gave it a "Top 100 2008 Winery of the Year" and the cafe food smells great. The Dutch Colonial-style building has good views of the lake and a rear patio with vineyard views. (We took advantage of the patio with a quick snack of cheese, cured meats and bread after our tasting.) The tasting menu offers lots of selection and even includes a Ruby Port. All these things weren't enough to score it a spot on our list to revisit.

The winery was very busy. (Remember, this is a Sunday afternoon in late October.) A large busload of tourists had just unloaded - talk about crummy timing! Fortunately, they were milling about without much direction and hadn't found the tasting bar. Although busy, we didn't have to wait long for a spot at the bar. Our wine ambassadors were working hard at pouring for the crowd three deep in some spots, so efficiency was king. Fox Run's best-selling wine is a sweet, local white varietal. We were pleased when our host was flexible with the tasting menu and allowed us to pick alternatives from the drier side.

Wines were hit or miss. A few were good but not for the price. I think that if we were there during a slower day, the winery staff would have been able to make more accurate recommendations.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Reserve Chardonnay 2006 - $14.99. A traditional Chardonnay with strong peach fruit and vanilla. Odd cheese flavor at finish. "Barrel maturation," 0.5% RS.
Dry Riesling 2008 - $15.99. Focus is on citrus fruit for this wine. Heavy on the lemon and acidity. Not balanced. 0.9% RS
Arctic Fox - $8.99. The Best-Seller! Very light, sweet white wine blend. Did not have strong flavors. Citrus and apples. 2.1% RS
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $14.99. Smoky with violets. Tart, interesting; not my favorite version of the varietal. No residual sugar.
Merlot 2006 - $14.99. More tannic than the Cab Franc. Tight, needed more time to open than the tasting allowed. "Velvety plum and wild blueberry flavors."
Lemberger 2007 - $14.99. Really smooth and soft; light tannins in balance. Doesn't have the green pepper spice of Anthony Road's Lemberger blend. "Intense berries, plums and dried sage... full-bodied, moderately tannic." No residual sugar.
Reserve Riesling 2008 - $30.00. The same issues I had with the regular Riesling are present here: too much acid, not balanced and lots of lemon. From the description of "intense aromas of kiwi, jasmine, red raspberries, lemon, mango and nectarine," I was very interested. Felt like I wasted a higher-end pick on this wine. 1% RS
Reserve Cabernet Franc 2005 - $40.00. Pleasant nose, herbal flavors with vanilla finish. No residual sugar. A good wine, but not $40 good. Best of the tasting. Here's to finishing on a strong note!

Other wines from the tasting menu:
Ruby Vixen
Gewurztraminer 2008
Semi-Dry Riesling 2008
Reserve & regular Pinot Noir 2007
Sable
Fox Trot Red
Ruby Port
Meritage 2007

Anthony Road

2010-02-17T17:54:00.000-05:00

Seneca Lake (West - Penn Yan)
1020 Anthony Road
Penn Yan, NY 14527

800-559-2182
anthonyroadwine.com
info@anthonyroadwine.com

Hours: 10am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5 Sun
Tasting Fee: $1, Reservations: not required, but recommended during peak hours/season

At the time of our visit in October 2009, Anthony Road had been producing wines for 20 years. It is still family-owned and operated with on-site control over the many aspects of winery operations (winemaking, bottling, labeling, storage). The final product is a roster of excellent wines in a full range of styles priced at a great value. The winery was only second in number of bottles purchased (just behind Ravines). To say we were pleased with the accuracy of the Wine Spectator recommendations is not enough. You really ought to visit yourself.

The tasting room is in an impressive building of with hints of Classical (Greek/Roman architecture with a soaring ceiling, airy atmosphere, and lots of marble and fresco-styled decorative painting. Our host was alert, able to answer specific questions abou the winery and wines as well as guiding our selections.

Anthony Road definitely deserves a return visit, possibly paired with a picnic under the deep porch overlooking the vineyards.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2008 - $U. "Apple & lemon peel with hints of lime." 0.7% RS.
Pinot Gris 2007 - $12.99. Rose florals with crisp citrus flavors followed with a hint of toasted walnut. Really nice. 0.6% RS.
Gewurztraminer 2008 - $15.99. Balanced and beautiful. Lots of florals with easily detected ginger; tangerine and lychee in supporting roles. Nice weight with a long finish. 1.1% RS
Rose of Cab Franc 2008 - $U. Crisp; lighter and less personality than the most recent Rose (Peju in Napa Valley) we tasted, but still good. A great summer appetizer wine. 0.4% RS
Devonian Red - $9.99. Possibly the best value wine of the whole trip. An easy-drinking red blend with distinctive green pepper spice flavors.
Sweet Dream 2007 - $15.99. Simply delicious. This dessert wine is made with 75% raisined Vignoles grapes (via botrytis) at harvest. Decadent with just the right amount of acidity and weight. 8.6% RS

Other wines from the tasting menu:
Devonian White
Chardonnay 2007
Dry Riesling 2008
Cab Franc/Lemberger 2007
Tony's White
Tony's Blush
Tony's Red
Semi-Sweet Riesling 2008
Vignoles 2008

Prejean Winery

2010-02-09T16:57:00.010-05:00

Seneca Lake (West - Penn Yan)
2634 Route 14
Penn Yan, NY 14527

315-536-7524
prejeanwinery.com
info@prejeanwinery.com

Hours: 10am-5:30pm Mon-Sat, 10-5:30 Sun
Reservations: not required

Prejean's tasting room is surrounded by vineyards just off the main road. This winery made my list because I'd heard the Late Harvest Vignoles and Riesling were worth checking out. The location of this winery between Heron Hill and some highly recommended wineries to the north made it an easy choice for a quick stop.

Our visit was on a late Sunday morning. We figured by this time most of the weekend wine drinkers would be long gone. Our host's weariness indicated they had in fact come and gone. The tasting room was fairly empty save for a small, but rowdy group of middle-aged folks who left in a small party bus. The room has lots of merchandise, heavy on the puns, dotted between the wine bins. The wines really deliver for this crowd. For us, the wines were (overall) not complex enough, thin or too similar to other wineries. I think having visited once, we can pass next time to try out a new winery.

The tasting menu covers five wines. Since there were two of us, we didn't duplicate selections to maximize our exposure to as many of Prejean's wines as possible. The tasting fee is refunded incrementally with purchases.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $11.99. The whites we sampled were all considered dry or medium dry, but there is a sweet/semi-sweet menu as well. My notes for this wine just read, "Don't like" without further elaboration. I was expecting a wine that more closely matched the description of a "crisp wine with aromas of lime and orange peel... flavors of tropical fruit." Pretty sure that is not what I found.
Pinot Gris 2007 - $14.99. This bottling leaned more toward the sweet side of the tasting menu. Pineapple flavors dominated.
Dry Gewurztraminer 2006 - $16.99. This pretty, yellow wine is actually crisp and lean although the description says it has a "floral, creamy nose... with a rich mouthfeel." Lots of pineapple aromas. I liked it better than the Pinot Gris, but felt it was thin/watery. Barrel-fermented.
Marechal Foch 2008 - $10.99. Our lone purchase. I felt this was a good example of the varietal. The wine was interesting, featured pleasant flavors and good tannins for the price. Marechal Foch is a cold-hardy varietal hailing from the Loire Valley (FR), so you can understand why it enjoys some degree of popularity in the Finger Lakes. The wine we sampled featured chocolate and cherry flavors and a dry, berry finish with a body reminiscent of Beaujolais.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $15.99. Another one with minimal notes. Found this one to be sour, not in a good way.
Cabernet Franc 2007 - $15.99. Cherry, plum and toasty oak. Not a winner. Still thin, but better than the Cab Sauv.
Merlot 2006 - $17.99. This was one of the few wines I didn't think was watery, thin or flat. This one was just "meh" with some fruit. I'm enjoying revisiting my tasting notes even if the wines weren't a hit.
Pinot Noir 2006 - $14.99. No scribbles on this wine. I'm sure it fit in with the rest of the bunch.
Late Harvest Vignoles 2008 - $12.99. Ah, the long-awaited and heralded dessert wine. High hopes were checked by the previous wines, but still keeping an open mind. The notes just keep getting more amusing - "Woah, sweet but checked by acidity. Prefer thicker style. Refreshing." Drinking companion, who is not a white or dessert wine devotee, found "sweet and sour sauce... no wait, more like orange sauce." *sigh*

Other wines from the tasting menu:
Riesling 2007
Gewurztraminer 2006
Cayuga 2007
Semi-Sweet Riesling 2008
Bird of Paradise (Chardonnay Port)
Cabernet Port 2006
Reserve & non-Reserve Chardonnay 2007
Proprietor's Red

Silence

2010-02-09T16:30:00.000-05:00

I have to apologize for the extended period of no posts. Between the holiday season, getting engaged, a heavy workload and a dying Mac... it's been difficult finding time to write about wine - although I have been drinking it.

But the blog should be back to bi-monthly posts at least! The unusual amount of snow has created some much-appreciated snow days home from work and I've caught up on some posts.

See you soon!

Heron Hill

2010-01-14T21:33:00.002-05:00

Seneca Lake (West - Himrod)
3586 Route 14
Himrod, NY 14842

607-243-7109
heronhill.com

Hours: 10am-6pm Sun-Thurs, 10-7 Fri & Sat
Fee: $5, Reservations: not required

Heron Hill was the first winery of the last day. I was excited that we had an extra day of tastings ahead of us; some of the wineries were highly regarded. Heron Hill was one of them. They're noted for being green winery using organic methods whenever possible and always keeping sustainable farming practices in mind.

For convenience's sake, we visited the tasting room on Rt. 14. Their beautiful Keuka Lake site was just too far - next time! The tasting fee covers 6 wines; we shared our tastes so for two people it's more like 12 wines. Heron Hill prorates the fee back with a purchase. We found the wine room host to be knowledgeable and friendly. He gave good advice and direction toward certain wines based on our disclosed preferences, giving a bonus pour of a similar style or different vintage. It was a quiet, slow start to a Sunday. The tasting room had a few more visitors by the time we left, but had the room to ourselves almost the whole time. Definitely focus on off-peak hours or days if you want the intimate, intellectual conversations.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Reserve Chardonnay Unoaked 2007 - $18.99. Crisp with clean finish. "Light peach and apricot aromas." 0.15% RS
Eclipse White 2007 - $13.99. Blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. Toasty and ideal for someone on our gift list. 0.66% RS
Reserve Old Vines Riesling 2007 - $22.99. Love the nose. Clean finish. Like it but not at this price point. "Light citrus aromas with tart steel, mineral finish." 0.8% RS
Ingle Vineyard Riesling 2006 - $14.99. Very nice wine; represents a great value. "Crisp wine... apple and lemon." 1.76% RS
Ingle Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 - $14.99. Woodsy, berries and touch of spice. Light body. Prefer this style over the Reserve. "Small European oak barrel aging... floral aromas of strawberries." 0.02% RS
Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 - $27.99. More body, stronger aroma, markedly stronger tannins. Longer vanilla finish. Oak and vanilla dominate. Needs time to calm down and present other flavors. "Fruit forward... deep color and delicate nuances." 0.3%
Ingle Vineyard Cabernet Franc - $14.99. Bold. Green pepper, spice on nose and mid-palate. Like this one. "Small European oak barrel... intense berry flavors." 0.2% RS
Reserve Blaufrankisch 2007 - $32.99. Tight; spice and tannins without balance of fruit. Traditional California Pinot Noir nose. Aromas are stronger than flavors. "Deep blackberry and plum flavors, finishing with vanilla and spice notes and soft tannins." 0.2% RS

Other wines from the tasting menu:
Classic Chardonnay Unoaked 2008
Ingle Vineyard Chardonnay 2005
Classic Dry Riesling 2006
Game Bird White
Classic Semi-Dry Riesling 2007
Classic Semi-Sweet Riesling 2008
Classic Cabernet Franc 2006
Eclipse Red 2005
Late Harvest Chardonnay 2007
Late Harvest Vidal Blanc 2007
Late Harvest Muscat Ottonel 2005
Ingle Vineyard Late Harvest Riesling 2006
Riesling Icewine 2003

Glenora

2009-12-29T17:09:00.000-05:00

Seneca Lake (West - Dundee)
5435 Route 14
Dundee, NY 14837

800-243-5513
info@glenora.com
glenora.com

Hours: 10am-6pm Sun-Thurs, 10-7 Fri & Sat
Fee: $1, Reservations: not required

Let me set the tone for our Glenora experience. Driving up, we could see the noteworthy location on the lake. Great views. Someone was even getting married at the gazebo in the distance. The tasting room is perched on the top of the hill, which has even better views. It's too bad the experience went downhill once we walked inside.

An employee breaking down boxes at the front bar greets us and directs us to the cash register area. Look toward register area. It is a rickety card table festooned with seasonal tablecloth (think pumpkins) sectioned off from the rest of the room with a red velvet rope. We pay our $1 tasting fee and are instructed to stick out our hand to be stamped. Huh? Realizing the hand-stamping is not optional, I dutifully obey and walk through the busy, touristy gift room into the slightly less busy and touristy tasting room. I see small children and adults milling about and realize they have good reason for the hand stamps. It's so the kids and cheap adults don't con them into pouring wine.

It's only once we pass the circus in the main room that I realize something. I hear country music. And feel it, for it is being played at an unnecessarily loud level. Because it is country music I recognize, I know it is at least 15 years old. Our young host (May I see some ID? Seriously.) is unfazed and explains the tasting menu. We choose six wines, leaning heavily toward the reds... assuming based on our experience so far that the whites will be sweeter than what we prefer. At the start of our tasting, a roving cheese-tray employee appears with wasabi-horseradish something. I pass because I foolishly think wasabi would ruin my palate (should've gone with the cheese). But the group next to us dives fingers first into the tray, by-passing the toothpicks at the height of the Swine Flu scare. More cheeses came around; this time they were fruit-infused (raspberry, grape?). No thanks, I'm good.

Glenora's tasting experience allowed us to gain perspective. We could now truly appreciate the quality wine and tastings, elsewhere. It did get my first ever "Bottom of the Barrel" award. Overall, the wines were not so flawed that a newcomer to wines would be distressed. They were safe, mellow wines designed to appeal to the tastes of the masses. And our favorite wineries will be less crowded because of that.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2008 - $17.99. Though watery, this wine had good flavors. The value isn't there, especially when we had just come from a fantastic sampling of Rieslings at Wiemer.
Meritage - $24.99. Bordeaux blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. Found it to be "just meh".
Sangiovese - $16.99. Definitely one we wanted to sample since no one else had it on the tasting menu. It had a pleasing aromas but not enough complexity. This was one of the two better wines.
Syrah - $16.99. A Double Gold winner. Average, not a lot of flavor; good tannins. For this price, I really expect more personality. The second of the better wines.
Cabernet Franc - $15.99. A Gold Medal winner. Did not like this one. Oaky and a lot more fruit present than needed to be.
Brut 2002 - $24.99. Another Gold Medal winner. (Who are these judges? Not that I'm passing judgement, just curious.) Blend of Pinot Noir and Concord, excuse me... I meant Chardonnay. Couldn't get past the Concord grape smell and taste. Not recommended.
Glenora Port - $16.99. Hey, look. They have port on their menu. This is different. And it uses 8 year old brandy from their sister winery. Let's try it. Tasting notes just read "NO." I was idiotically hopeful.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Whites & blends: Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Dry Riesling, Lake Series.
Pinot Noir Rose
Semi-Dry & Sweet: Cayuga, Chardonnay and Niagara. Classic Blush. Bobsled Red and Jammin' Red. (I wish I were making this up.)
Reds & blends: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Yellow Cab.
Fruit Series: Blueberry Breeze, Raspberry Rose, Cranberry Chablis and Peach Passion.
Sparkling, Port and Ice Wine

Wiemer

2009-12-17T18:21:00.012-05:00

Seneca Lake (West - Dundee)
3962 Route 14
Dundee, NY 14837

800-371-7971
wiemer.com

Hours: 10am-5pm M-Sat, 11-5 Sun
Fee: $3 & $5, Reservations: not required

Herman J. Wiemer Vineyard was started by a German winemaker in 1973 with the first vintage released in 1979. At the time, Wiemer was one of the few wineries using vinifera (European) vines. The practices and traditions inherent to European winemaking carried over to these vineyards, creating series of wines that are well-crafted with balance, complexity and unique aromas and flavors. Everything from pressing to labeled takes place on premises. Wiemer employs environmentally-friendly practices.

Great tasting room in the barn - the old barn wood contrasts fantastically with the tall stainless steel tanks and white "barn within a barn". The staff (winemaker's wife Maressa, regrettably a Yankees fan) was friendly and offered side-by-side pours to compare vintages, which was immensely helpful in pinpointing preferences. I'd read great things about their Rieslings (HJW, Magdalena, Dry Reserve & Late Harvest all scored 89 points or higher in Wine Spectator). My favorite of the Rieslings was the regular Dry Riesling. I found the HJW to be too austere and the Magdalena flowery and too feminine, but still some of the best we sampled during our trip. Overall, Wiemer's selections of wines were a wonderful treat and will warrant a return visit next time we're in the area.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $17.50. A combination of the three Riesling vineyards, including austere HJW & flowery Magdalena. Crisp, dry with flint. Not a lot of sweet, balanced. Great nose. Texture is a touch oily. Very good flavor of apple and citrus with sharp acidity. Clean finish. 0.9% RS
Semi-Dry Riesling 2007 - $17. Oily texture; sourced from the Magdalena vines. Very well done. "Semi-dry Rheingau style... ripe, expressive nose featuring fresh floral notes of citrus and lime fruit. Complex minerality and subtle finish." 2.4% RS
Late Harvest Riesling 2008 -$23. The well balanced acidity brings the wine through; not cloyingly sweet. Spatlese style. "Apricot and honey flavors. Rich and full bodied." 4.5% RS. The 2007 vintage received 89 points in WS.
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $19. Heavier style. A touch sweeter than what I prefer. Picked up on the floral aromas, citrus flavors and finish. Smooth. Also aromas of "peaches, apples and melons perfumed with rose petals." 1.7% RS
Blanc de Noir 2003 - $26. Blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Chardonnay. Very delicate and great bubbles. Not my style as the flavors mimic the Niagara/Concord grapes, too fruity. "Apple and citrus on the nose... exotic maturity, nut flavors supported by a harmonious structure."
Dry Riesling Reserve 2007 - $23. Similar to the HJW (sourced from that vineyard). Much like the Dry Riesling 2007 but without oily texture and more acidity. "Hand-picked... from oldest low yield vineyard. Elegant... with brilliant fruit and long, lingering finish." 0.7% RS. This vintage received 89 points in WS.
Pinot Noir 2006 - more fruit driven with nice berry flavor. Pleasant, fine tannins. Ready sooner than the 2007 vintage. (Bonus taste to compare the two vintages.)
Pinot Noir 2007 - $18.50. Sharp, lean and not fruit forward. "Medium-bodied, smooth, dry... French oak. Black cherries in nose and taste... light tannins."
Estate Red 2006 - $16. Blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Lemberger and Pinot Noir. A darker style than the Pinot Noir with sharpness and good acidity. A nice wine but tight. Pink-red color. Tobacco aroma was easy to pick up on. Well-structured.
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $17.50. Nice mid-palate with Red Delicious apple peel finish. "Firm and velvety tannins, well defined acidity.
Cabernet Franc 2007 - Very similar to the 2006, but wound tighter. Previous vintage has benefit of an extra year in the bottle; opened up more and had a light color. The 2007 had a darker color approaching light magenta and surprising fruit flavor. Will definitely be good with some cellaring.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Chardonnay 2007
Pinot Noir Rose 2006
Frost Cuvee 2008
Cuvee Brut 2006
Chardonnay 2005
Select Late Harvest Chardonnay 2007

Ravines

2009-12-04T18:31:00.025-05:00

Keuka Lake (West - Hammondsport)
14630 State Route 54
Hammondsport, NY 14840

607-292-7007
ravines@citilink.net
ravineswine.com

Hours: 10am-5pm
Fee: $3 & $5, Reservations: not required

Ravines produces restrained, terroir-specific wines that follow the example of the fine Burgundian and Bordeaux wines. This was my favorite winery out of the 15+ we visited over the weekend. You have two options for wine tasting: with or without chocolate. It's never a question for me... so I enjoyed pairings of wine with the artisan chocolates from Hedonist, sharing nibbles with Brian. The chocolate pairing is well worth the nominal fee.

The second floor tasting room overlooks Keuka Lake. While the room buzzed with activity around our group, I was oblivious after my first sip of Chardonnay. The wines were so impressive that I think I did a happy dance more than once. Our host, Lisa, was super sweet and knowledgeable. After much effusive praise over the wine and chocolate (sesame seed and sea salt being my favorite), we found out we shared a common bond: Neuchatel chocolate. It was such a great whirlwind of an experience that my tasting notes were left behind.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $16.95. Elegant style with a great nose and lush tree fruit (apple & pear) flavors with a citrusy edge and minerally finish. Wonderful example of a well-made, truly dry Riesling. Bought three bottles!

Argetsinger Vineyards Dry Riesling 2007 - $24.95. I had heard great things (91 pts in Wine & Spirits) about this single vineyard Riesling and wanted to see how it compared to the regular Riesling, but it was not on the tasting menu. Lisa was kind enough to offer a bonus pour for comparison. It is a much more restrained style - elegant with lean fruit, good minerality and zingy acidity. While I can appreciate this elegant wine, the lush style and flavors of the Dry Riesling '07 were more appealing to my palate. (The Argetsinger vineyard on Seneca Lake is one of the the oldest vineyards in the area. Older vines typically produce wines with more personality.)

Ravines Chardonnay 2007 - $18.95. Color me impressed. This is not a varietal I usually reach for. I find the majority of Chardonnay to be heavy-handed and over-oaked. This wine was anything but. It is an elegant, balanced Bordeaux-style wine offering up pear, citrus, fig and hazelnut aromas. (The search to sniff out the fig particulary excited me.) Great acidity with just the right amount of oak. Ravines uses a traditional Italian drying technique, appassimento, to create rich, lush flavors from only the best Chardonnay grapes.

Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - $17.95. An unusual and enjoyable example of Sauv Blanc! Bright aromas of lemon and wet stones. Bracing, but balanced acidity and strong Alsatian minerality create a tight framework for the lemon, lime and tropical fruit flavors. Crisp and intense with an extended finish. Elegant, reserved but with a laser-like focus. Best with food. Picked up two of these goodies.

Gewurztraminer 2008 - $24.95. The Finger Lakes region is an ideal growing area for this persnickety cool-climate grape. This happens to be one of the wines I don't have much memory for. Really wish I hadn't forgotten those notes.

Dry Pinot Rosé 2007 - $14.95. This wine gets its salmon hue from the amount of time the juice and skins of the Pinot Noir grape are in contact. Great for sipping with or without food, summertime is a great time to enjoy this dry, delicate wine.

Meritage 2006 - $24.95. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes aged in toasted French oak barrels, the Meritage is classic Bordeaux style wine bursting with fruit. Pleasant tannins. This was the favorite wine for a member of our group.

Cabernet Franc 2007 - $18.95. Another lusciously soft wine with beautiful fruit and spice with a solid finish. I preferred the style of this wine only slightly over the Meritage '06.

Pinot Noir 2007 - $22.95. Hands down the best Pinot Noir of the whole trip. Given the time to taste all of the area Pinot Noirs, I would bet this would still be the best example of the varietal and terroir. A fine example of a Burgundian style Pinot Noir! Light red color with violet and brown undertones. Aromas of rose and clove with raspberry, cherry and touch of vanilla. Earth and smoke aromas emerge as the wine breathes. Great nose! Elegant and soft flavors of cherry and Red Delicious apple peel; long berry finish. Tart and earthiness in background. Lush but moderated mouthfeel. Spice comes out toward the end. After the second day, the wine presents more soft fruit and earthiness. Lots of complexity! Light tannins with an almost imperceptably bitter finish. Loved it so much I bought three bottles.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Dry Riesling 2006
Pinot Gris 2007
Keuka Village White 2007

Atwater

2009-12-04T18:31:00.000-05:00

Seneca Lake (Central South - Hector)
5055 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

800-331-7323
atwatervineyards.com

Hours: 10-5 M-Sat, 11-5 Sun
Fee: $3 Tours: No, Reservations: Not required

Atwater Vineyards was a winery I'd been looking forward to visiting. It received a noticeable amount of positive press - local and national - with a special nod to the great Rieslings and affordable Gewurztraminers. The wines and tasting room staff delivered on these expectations. The tasting started off on a great note with Riedel glasses (assuredly not the norm). Our host kept an unhurried pace offering recommendations on wines to try based on our personal preferences. The Cab Franc and newly released Dry Riesling were some of the group's favorites. The steely Gewurzt also stuck out for its unique style.

Highly recommend this winery for the wine and the views. There is a picnic space overlooking the vineyards and lake which I'd imagine would be excellent in warmer, less rainy weather. Bring some cheese, olive oil and a baguette to pair with your favorite wine!

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $16. Steely style with 0.4% residual sugar. "Heady Gewurz loaded with aromas of citrus and white flowers exploded with flavors of grapefruit and ginger." Rated 85 points in WS. Loved this style; only steely Gewurz on the lake.
Dry Riesling 2008 - $16. So light and delightful. Aromatic and unique. Grown on slate soils from mature vines. Peach, herb and lime flavors.
Pinot Noir 2007 - $17. Aged 8 months in French oak, this wine has an enjoyable resinous nose, light body and flavors. Cherry and sandalwood flavors with great texture.
Stone Bridge Red - $12. Beautiful color. A low tannin, easy drinking value red wine. Blend of Marechal Foch, Cabernet Franc and Corot Noir grapes. Cherry and plum flavors make it an ideal summer sipper to complement grilled meats.
Meritage 2006 - $18. Smoky, fruit nose leads to well balanced tannins with some tartness. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc creates a dark fruit (cherry, plum, black raspberry) profile that begs for hearty meats.
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $18. Another wine with a great nose. Balanced acid and tannins, solid finish with pleasant cherry flavors.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Chardonnay 2007
Stone Bridge White
Pinot Gris 2008
Vidal Blanc 2007
Riesling 2007
Cabernet-Merlot 2007

Chateau Lafayette Reneau

2009-11-22T14:56:00.013-05:00

Seneca Lake (Central South - Hector)
5081 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

800-469-9463
clrwine.com
info@clrwine.com

Hours: 10-6 M-Sat, 11-6 Sun
Fee: $5, Tours: No, Reservations: Not required

After hearing positive notes about their red wines before the trip, I had high hopes that this high-traffic winery would pull through with a winner or two. Overall, the reds lacked body or flavor. The whites were similarly styled and leaned more to the semi-dry level of sweetness.

The extensive tasting menu covered 17 wines. For the first winery of the day, it is quite an undertaking. Visited on a busy Saturday, so our host wasn't able to provide much information. Thankfully there was a tasting sheet with detailed notes.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - $19.99. Tart, don't like.
Pinot Noir 2006 - $19.99. Very floral with a sweet fruit nose. Dry style without a lot of flavor. Did not like.
Cabernet Franc - $18.99. Tart, smoky and light. 2/5
Merlot 2003 - $14.99. Jammy nose. Savory, soup smell finish - strange. Better than the previous wine. 2.5/5
Cuvee Rouge - $9.49. Couldn't get past the strong body odor aroma. Sweet. 1.5/5
Roaring Red - $9.99. Blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Baco & 10% Pinot Noir. Nice wine for summer. Pleasing flavors with good finish with lingering sweetness. Tannins and touch of sweet. 2.5/5
Chardonnay (Barrel Fermented) 2006 - $14.99. Pear aroma, juicy flavors. Silky texture. Not flavored strongly - watery.
Chardonnay (Proprietor's Reserve) 2008 - $19.99. Ripe flavor and aromas. Pear and apple dominate. Flat finish.
Dry Riesling 2008 - $14.99. Not dry. An okay wine but too pedestrian and flat. Peach, melon and some citrus.
Seyval-Chardonnay - $14.99. White flower and tree fruit aromas. Smooth but finish falls flat. Not complex. 3/5
Pinot Noir Blanc 2007 - $9.49. Not that bad! Watermelon and strawberry. Targeted at White Zinfandel drinkers.
Northern White - $9.99. Floral aroma, lush texture. Acidity balances out the sweetness and is not offensive.
Emperor's Blush - $9.99. Did not care for this wine. Blend of vinifera and hybrid grapes. Watermelon and strawberry.
Riesling Semi-dry 2008 - $14.99. A nice style Riesling, but sweeter than I prefer. Tree fruit aromas with similar flavors.
Meadow Mist - $7.49. Passed on this wine. The wines at the bottom of the list were sweeter than I prefer. This wine was a blend of Native American and French-American hybrids designed to create a fruity rose.
Niagara Mist $7.49. Passed on this wine. Niagara grape and all of its grape flavors are present.
Late Harvest Riesling 2008 - $14.99. Very perfumed nose. Not as rich or syrupy as the other late harvest or ice wines.

Other wines not on the tasting menu:
Cabernet Sauvignon Owner's Reserve 2005 - $59.99

Standing Stone

2009-11-18T18:49:00.001-05:00

Seneca Lake (Central South - Hector)
9934 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

607-582-6051
standingstonewines.com
ssvny@standingstonewines.com

The tasting room at Standing Stone is unassuming and relaxed. Our host was knowledgeable, friendly and made excellent recommendations on wines to sample. We were pleasantly surprised by the dry, European-styled whites and reds on the tasting menu. I heard the gewurztraminer was the wine to try, but it was the reds that impressed us. These reds were complex, medium-bodied, full of character and the finish was strong. A far cry from some of the day's previous reds. We did a side by side of the '05 and '06 Pinnacle, which is a great way to discover the nuances of each vintage and find your favorite.

After such a strong representation from the dry wines, I didn't need or expect the dessert wines to shine. However, their Vidal Ice and Chardonnay Ice wines were very good.

This winery is located next to the deepest part of Seneca Lake (about 650 ft). The deep waters help to cool the vineyards in the summer and radiate heat back in winter.

Hours: 10-5:30 M-Sat, 11-5:30 Sun
Fee: $3, Tours: Yes, advance notice required, Reservations: Not required

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Merlot 2007 - $20. The first vintage they produced in four years after the vines were hit by bad weather. Minty and herbal. This was a fun wine.
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $20. A good example of this varietal in the region. Balanced.
Pinnacle 2005 - $22. A plusher wine from a stronger vintage.
Pinnacle 2006 - $19. Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Merlot. Had more sharp acidity than '05.
Vidal Ice Wine - $24. Honeyed pineapple and tropical fruit with walnut finish. Liked wine but had trouble spending this much on a dessert wine.
Chardonnay Ice Wine - $24. Sauternes-like richness and honeyed fruit. Unexpected flavors wowwed. Nuttier flavors than the Vidal. Next time we'll pick up a bottle of this ice wine, simply for its uniqueness.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $16
Dry Riesling 2008 - $14 (tasted both whites but couldn't remember details without a tasting sheet)
Pinot Noir 2006 - $20
Smokehouse Blend - $20

Lamoreaux Landing

2009-11-11T15:20:00.002-05:00

Seneca Lake (Central North - Lodi)
9224 Route 414
Lodi, NY 14860

607-582-6011
lamoreauxwine.com
Hours: 10-5 M-Sat, 12-5 Sun
Fee: $3, Tours: No, Reservations: Not required

Lamoreaux Landing produces dry, European-styled red and white wines. The wines are consistent and show the character of each vintage. This is a great winery for tasty whites and bolder reds. A fuller-bodied, balanced red wine requires some dutiful tasting to find, but you can skip the searching and head to Lamoreaux knowing you'll be okay.

They were in the middle of harvesting their reds during our visit. Forklifts were busy bringing full bins into the winery for destemming and crushing. Empty barrels were lined up waiting to receive the 2009 vintage.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2008 - $13. Very light color with a hint of yellow. Energetic flavors with lemon, ginger and steely finish. Polished and clean. Prefer this vintage.
Dry Riesling 2007 - $10. Smooth with sharp acidic finish - a good thing. A leaner style than the '08.
Red Oak Vineyard Riesling 2008 - $20. Leaner than '07. Good acidity. Creamy mid-palate with tropical fruit.
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $15. Very light gold color. Great nose! Roses, litchi and spice. Delicate flavors with ginger and steely finish. Enjoyed this style.
Pinot Noir Barrel-Aged 2007 - $20. Very clear dusty red color. Bright aromas; light and lean style. Body and flavors reminiscent of Va La's Silk. Can age 3-5 years.
T23 Cabernet Franc 2008 - $15. Light rose color. Tobacco nose. Vanilla scream through on finish. Very light for Cab Franc (fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks).
Cabernet Franc Barrel-Aged 2006 - $16. Denser, dusty red color. Bold, spicy with well-integrated tannins. Spice stays through until finish. Great oak structure. Really enjoyable. The first red we tried that wasn't wimpy.
76 West - $25. New release of their first meritage blend: 55% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Soft and spicy, great mouthfeel. Wow. Color is a more brilliant pink than Cab Franc. This wine was so delicate and perfectly balanced. Really wanted to buy, but we had so many wineries left to visit. Would have bought at a lower price point.
Estate Red Barrel-Aged - $11. Spicy tingle on finish, sweeter nose than meritage blend. Great value; an everyday wine. Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir & Merlot blend.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Semi-Dry Riesling 2008 - $13
Chardonnay 2007 - $13
Reserve Chardonnay 2007 - $24
Semi-Dry Gewurztraminer 2008 - $15
42 North - $15
Merlot Barrel-Aged 2007 - $17
Reserve Riesling 2008 - $25
Riesling Ice 2007 - $36
Vidal Ice 2007 - $23

Wagner

2009-10-31T12:20:00.004-04:00

Seneca Lake (Central North - Lodi)
9322 Route 414
Lodi, NY 14860

607-582-6976
wagnervineyards.com

Hours: 10-5 M-Sun
Fee: $1, Tours: set times, Reservations: Not required

Just up the road from Penguin Bay, Wagner is one of the older wineries on Seneca Lake. Their vineyards envelope the tasting building, which enjoys views of the eastern shore of Seneca Lake. Folks say they haven't changed much since opening. This is a good thing if you enjoy wines with a touch of sweetness. Wagner's dry wines lean toward semi-dry; same for semi-dry to sweet. They do sweet wines well - my favorite wine of the ten samples was the Vidal Blanc Ice, a dessert wine reminscent of Sauternes.

There's also a brewery and beer tasting for the non-wine drinkers the group.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Dry Riesling 2007 - $13. A little thin, but otherwise fine. Pleasing citrus flavors. Residual sugar 0.23%. 3.5/5
Cabernet Franc 2006 - $15. Dusty berry and spiced nose, restrained berry flavors. Low tannins, lighter color than expected. No residual sugar. 3/5
Merlot 2004 - $16. Very similar to the Cab Franc flavors, but drying with a touch more fruit. No residual sugar. 2.5/5
Melody 2007 - $8. Too sweet and light. Peach, citrus. Residual sugar 0.8%. 1.5/5
Semi-dry Riesling 2007 - $13. Nice flavors, but not my style. Residual sugar 2.0%. 2.5/5
Sunset Red - $n/a. Aroma of sweetened Red Delicious apples. Concord grape dominates flavor - bleh! Red blend best served chilled. Residual sugar 3.5%. 0.5/5
Niagara - $7. One of the grapes native to the region, tends to be aromatic and fruity. Off-putting aroma - cat pee? Sickly sweet. Definitely not my style. Residual sugar 6%. 0.5/5
Vidal Blanc Ice 2006 - $22. Varietal is an old French hybrid. Very similar to Sauternes but a touch more unrefined sweetness. Grapes are commercially frozen rather than waiting for frost to freeze crop (which gives the winemaker control over harvest and reduces costs). Taste difference between the two methods is said to be minimal. 3.5/5
Chardonnay 2007 - $11. Flat, unappealing; possibly because this wine was added on after the reds and dessert wine. No residual sugar. 1.5/5
Reserve Pinot Noir 2007 - $25. Better than Penguin Bay's, not a good value. Light style, still tight. 2.5/5

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Gewurztraminer Semi-dry & Dry 2007 - $12
Riesling Select 2007 - $13
Chardonnay Barrel-Fermented 2007 - $11
Reserve Chardonnay 2007 - $14
Vintner's Chardonnay - $12 (1.5L)
Seyval Blanc 2006 - $8
Cayuga White 2007 - $8
Delaware 2008 - $7
Vignoles 2008 - $8
Reserve Red, White & Blush - $7
Alta B Red, White & Blush - $6
Riesling Ice 2007 - $22
Vignoles Ice 2007 - $22
Celebration Cuvee 2005 - $15. Sparkling.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $15
Meritage 2007 - $22

Penguin Bay

2009-10-29T20:05:00.022-04:00

Seneca Lake (Central South - Hector)
4565 Route 414
Hector, NY 14841

607-546-5115
penguinbaywinery.com
info@penguinbaywinery.com

Hours: 10-5:30 M-Sat, 11-5:30 Sun
Fee: under $5, Tours: No, Reservations: Not required

Casual tasting room located on the main road surrounded by vines with views of the lake. Winery produces value-minded, well-crafted wines. Go for the riesling & gewurztraminer. Try the sparkling wines while you're there; not many wineries produce them.

Selections from tasting menu (purchases in bold):
Pinot Grigio 2007 - $16. Lush, well done pinot grigio. Dry, strong pear aromas.
Surfside Chardonnay 2007 - $14. A dry, stainless steel fermented. Crisp & fruity. Not my style, but a nice wine.
Gewurztraminer 2007 - $18. Just a touch of sweet, very nice. Aromatic, spicy wine done in Alsatian style.
Blanc de Blanc Champagne - $14.99. Really enjoyed this semi-dry sparkler. Style and flavors reminded me of the Riondo prosecco.
Valvin Muscat 2007 - $16. Dessert wine from Muscat grape. Sweet, luscious. Good wine for my dad, who has recently discovered muscat. Crisp.
Rose of Chambourcin 2007 - $11. Light, clear red with delicate flavors and aromas.
Pinot Noir 2006 - $17. Great smoky nose, smooth but finish isn't strong.
Maroon Four - $14. Great nose on this dry, barrel-aged Shiraz-style blend. Tart with odd, unappealing finish.
Cabernet - $14. Cabernet Sauvignon/Franc blends of the '04 & '06 vintages. Light enough to be approachable. Purple-red color. A nice example of the varietal in this terrior.

Other wines on the tasting menu:
Naturel Champagne - $18
Pinot Noir Brut Rose Champagne - $18. Dry
Percussion (semi-dry white blend) - $12. Semi-dry white blend.
Riesling 2008 (semi-sweet) - $15. Semi-sweet.
Golden Spumante Champagne - $13. Semi-sweet.
Tuxedo White - $9.50. Sweet blend of Niagara and Diamond grapes.
Humboldt Red - $11. Semi-dry red blend of Rougeon and Isabella grapes.
Tuxedo Red - $9.50. Sweet, Concord grape.

Finger Lakes

2009-10-22T13:30:00.003-04:00

Headed to the Finger Lakes for a long weekend. Visiting lots of wineries along Seneca and Keuka Lake. Full report and photos to follow.

Port

2009-10-18T20:02:00.017-04:00

Mainly served as a dessert wine, port is a fortified wine from Portugal. The flavors, aromas and production method vary by style and include white, ruby and tawny port. Each port producer has a defined style, known as the house blend, so you may try several types of ruby or tawny port before you find a favorite.

Tawny port - barrel-aged, wine picks up the nuances of the oak barrels imparting nutty flavors and aromas. Tawnies can be served before or after a meal.
Ruby port - bottle-aged and does not generally improve with aging. This is a young, fruity wine perfect for after dinner pairings with dark chocolate and berries.
White port - very similar to a ruby port except white grapes are used. Great as an apertif.

Fine by itself as an after-dinner drink, port also cooperates with food. These wines pair well with mild, hard cheese like Manchego or a tangy, salty blue cheese (a perfect pairing to the sweetness of a ruby or white port).

White Port

Niepoort Dry White Port
$18
Lighter body, rich golden color. Sweeter than other white port (Rozes) while aroma isn't as strong. Sampled recently at Domaine Hudson. 3.5/5

Rozes white reserve port
$20
Soft aromas with walnut note. Sweeter nose than Niepoort. Caramel gold color. Rich, full flavor - decadent. Walnut flavors with long finish. Moderate sweetness. My favorite of the two white ports. 4/5

Tawny, Ruby & Late-Bottled Port

Graham's 10 year Tawny Port
$30
Beautiful orange-brown color. A little hot. Nutty & vanilla flavors on a light body. Pairs wonderfully with Manchego cheese and hazelnut dark chocolate. Ideal for an after-dinner drink, especially after a large meal because it is not as heavy or sweet as a ruby or white port. 4/5

Fonseca Porto Late Bottled Vintage 2001 Unfiltered
$22-30
This ruby port is very refined. A nice change from our everyday, $12 bottle ruby port which is much sweeter. Rich and smooth. 3.5/5

Fonseca Porto Bin 27
$18-23
Powerful nose of brambly, rich & concentrated fruits. Raspberry burst finish on the palate. A little hot but a very nice wine. Complex. 4/5

Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Porto 2003
$20
Striking nose. Much sweeter than Fonseca Bin 27. Softer, more delicate nose. Smooth finish, not too hot. My favorite of the three ruby ports. 4.5/5

Tiny Bubbles - Sparkling Wine

2009-10-12T21:54:00.000-04:00

Candoni Prosecco Brut
Veneto, Italy - $12
This is a drier style and doesn't have the explosion of flavor of the Riondo. Both were sampled during the 2008 Raft-up with appetizers and the consensus was that the Riondo was a better bottle. 3/5

Riondo Prosecco
Veneto, Italy - $14
Favorite sparkler with light aromas. Green apples flavors and pleasant tartness, good acidity. Flavors burst through, a very unique prosecco. Good summer sipper or apertif. Heard it can be found in NYC for $8 bottle... 5/5

Piper Sonoma Brut
Sonoma County, California - $13
Initial fruitiness opens into apple and citrus flavors. Another 2008 Raft-up wine.

Pinot Noir

2009-10-05T18:52:00.003-04:00

In ascending order of price, some recent Pinot Noirs with tasting notes from a Collier's Pinot Noir event below.

Meridian Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, California - $10
Buy several for the excellent value. Our house or party Pinot Noir. Clean berry, a little earth, vanilla. Floral aromas come out with food. Smoke. Flavors of blackberry, plum, interesting mocha with light spice. Light tannins & body. Smoky plum. Bitter finish. Better with food. Character comes out and forms a great complement. 3/5

Concannon Central Coast Pinot Noir Limited Release 2006
Central Coast, California - $15
Good earthiness with smoky sour cherry aromas and flavors. Soft. Not as complex as I'd expected or hoped for.

Erath Pinot Noir 2007
Willamette Valley, Oregon - $18
WS top value for 2008. Shows real class for moderate price. Light dusty rose color. Aromas of sour cherry, hay/straw, earthiness, light floral (rose). Light, but firm tannins. Light body. Flavors of light berry and red delicious apple peel opens to sour cherry and light spice in back of mouth. Elegant. Fruit flavors come out with food. Prefer more dynamic style, but a good summer wine. 3.5/5

Wild Horse Pinot Noir 2006
Central Coast, California - $20
Aromas of soft leather, slight barnyard, violets, red jammy berries & cherry. Soft tannins, low acid. Flavors of sweet red berry with woody aftertaste. Smooth finish. Average wine, not considered great value at price point. Lacks complexity of better Pinots. 3.5/5

Alamos Seleccion Pinot Noir 2006
Mendoza, Argentina
Aromas of sour cherry, red fruit, earthy, light barnyard & florals. Still tight. Dark, deep tannic berry flavors; earthy. Soft but steady tannins, cocoa bitterness. Not intense. Long finish, reserved & elegant. A better Pinot than most, especially if price is low. Lacks flavor alone; better with food when floral and spice notes come out. No strong faults. Less exciting than I prefer. 4/5

The following wines were tasted at Collier's on 4/15/08
Alfred Roco Pinot Noir 2006
Argentina - $12
Really liked. Spicy nose; great mouth feel - lush & soft. Spices in back of mouth almost like Zinfandel. Heavier weight than Cono Sur's Pinot Noir. Medium dark red color.

Picardy Pinot Noir 2004
Australia - $25
Aromas of barnyard, wet straw (interesting & intense), burning matches & smoke. Light body. Smooth on palate with some tannins. Berries come out with food. Style is truer to Burgundian wines.

Wild Hog Sara Lee's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
RRV, California - $32
Fruity & floral nose knock-out. Sweet aromas open up into herbal notes of menthol/mint. Anise & Spike spice rub aroma. More flavors of blueberry with side of the tongue spice with an overall heat. Not as smooth as previous wines and a thinner mouthfeel. Nose more interesting than flavors.

Stoller Dundee Hills JV Pinot Noir 2006
Dundee Hills, Oregon - $25
Light barnyard; light and elegant nose. Earthy, strawberry sweetness on palate. Most Burgundian of the tasting. Smoky, smooth, long finish. Rated 90 pts in WS. From the winemaker: Juicy raspberry, green tea & earth mingle enticingly.

Highfield Pinot Noir 2005
Wairau Valley, New Zealand - $32
Love it. Nose reminds me of Gary Farrell's Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. Jam, smoke and spice on palate; fresh ripe fruit with an edge. Smooth, lush and sophisticated.

Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2006
South Africa - $33
Earthy aromas with accompanying sour barnyard and peat. Cheese brings out fruit; wine is great with food. Meaty, bacon fat aroma and flavor. Age up to 5 yrs.

White wines for Mexican food

2009-09-30T17:41:00.009-04:00

Encostas do Lima Vinho Verde 2008
Lima, Portugal - $11
Light, herbal, crisp aromas dominated by lime and lemon. Light body with effervescence. Crisp lemon-lime and green apple flavors. Good acidity. Not fruity or floral - a pure, clean wine that doesn't overpower the food. Normally, I would drink this wine in the heat of summer with salad or seafood.

More info on this wine can be foundhere, on the importer's website.

Moulin de Gassac Guilhem 2006
Languedoc, France - $10
Vin de pays (table wine) with Sauvignon Blanc, Clairette and Grenache Blanc grapes. Producer is Moulin de Gassac; Guilhem is their name for the blended wine. Strong floral notes with slight petrol nose. Flavors are marked by minerality and lemon juice with balanced acidity. Much more floral and fruity than the Vinho Verde. Not my preference for chicken/shrimp tacos but enjoyed the petrol and minerality components.

Sauternes

2009-09-28T22:01:00.003-04:00

Sauternes is an intensely sweet, white dessert wine from the Graves region of Bordeaux, France. The primary grapes are semillon, sauvignon blanc & muscadelle. Thanks to a fungus called botrytis cinera, which removes the moisture and leaves a shriveled raisin-like fruit, the sugars are concentrated and sweetness approaches dessert wine levels. Because there is less juice to start with, more grapes must be used. This and several other factors (hand picked bunches, fermentation in smaller oak barrels) increase the cost of this unique wine.

Chateau Y'Quem is the pinnacle of Sauternes. I consider myself fortunate have enjoyed this prohibitively expensive wine... However, it was decidedly not an ideal introduction to Sauternes. I've set the bar too high.

Chateau Belingard Sauternes
France - $11
Amazing flavor and richness for price point. Pineapple flavors and aromas. The little wine that could. Good value dessert wine. Obscure enough for most people not to bother with detecting the nuances between a $11 and $40 bottle. Most are just happy to have something deliciously different. 3.5/5

Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2006
France - $30
Aromas of honey and tropical fruit, most notably pineapple. Honey, walnut and pineapple flavors emerge under a silky smooth and clean body with extended finish. First-cru Sauternes. Cleaner, purer, and more complex than the less expensive Chateau Belingard - no surprise. Not sure if it's worth the additional money, especially if consumed after a long night of wine drinking. A raft-up wine from 2008. Previous vintages have received a 92 rating from WS. 4/5

Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 2004
France - $40
Another first-cru Sauternes. A raft-up wine from a mystery year, but we loved it. Rated 88 points in WS, 95 by WE. 4/5

Mmmm... Malbec

2009-09-22T17:54:00.005-04:00

Originally from France, the Malbec grape has lived with an unfortunate reputation for being difficult to grow and mature. The varietal's true potential has finally been realized in Argentina. It has flourished in this sunny, warm country whereas it floundered in the cooler, rainy climate of Bordeaux. Primarily a blending grape in French Bordeaux, Malbec was rarely given the spotlight or even used as a single varietal wine. The wine is typically rich, plush and full of dark, juicy fruit. Argentinian expressions of the grape are less tannic than Bordeaux blends. (Chile has tried its hand at Malbec, producing a more tannic wine that approaches the French style.) The Mendoza region, as you'll read below, is the largest producer of Malbec in Argentina.

Mendoza Station Malbec 2008
Mendoza, Argentina - $6
Aromas of plum and rosemary; Lush and fruit-driven. Finely grained tannins. Stewed red fruits, smoke, plum, sour cherry, mocha or dark chocolate. Not overly sweet or syrupy. Needs time to open up, better on second day. Pair with red meat (lamb), grilled chicken or spicy Asian food. For the price, a surprisingly balanced and drinkable wine. 3/5

Bodega Norton Mendoza Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina - $8
Buy again, but too tannic initially - decant. Popular at party.

Altos Las Hormigas Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina - $9
Loved it; better than the Norton. Plum, black currant, raspberry aromas & flavors.

Phebus Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina - $9
Classic fallback. Have gotten out of habit drinking it to explore more Malbecs. Jammy raspberry and plum; clean flavors. Well-rounded, modern style. Finishes with a firm, yet juicy grip.

Kaiken Malbec 2006
Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina - $11
Great buy. Lots of flavor: brambly fruit, cocoa and plum. Enjoyed this one so much last year that I was spurred to purchase the '07 recently.

Maipe Malbec 2008
Mendoza, Argentina - $12
Smoky and earthy; brambly blackberry and raspberry. Lovely aroma. Blackberry is very strong. Flavors of spicy vanilla opens to brambly, bold berry with long balanced finish. Smooth, pleasant tannins. Mocha flavor lingers on finish. Deep purple color. An excellent value for the complexity and flavors this wine delivers. Good gift wine for nice label and flavor. 4/5

Kaiken Malbec 2007
Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina - $14
Smoky and juicy red fruit with cherry notes at the end. Balanced, smooth, and fruit forward. Vanilla and spice come out after it opens up. Dense. Enjoyed it as much as the 2006.

Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2007
Mendoza, Argentina - $15
Aromas of black pepper, tar; spicy and dark. Blackberry. Strong aroma. Flavors of blackberry, currant, slight bitter finish (pill-like). Well balanced but becomes more bitter as it opens up on second day. Bitterness ruined what started off as a strong wine. Better with food, bitterness subsides. Lots of complex flavors, good value. Not sure if I'll buy again because of the bitterness.

Paul Hobbs El Felino Malbec 2005
Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina - $20
A favorite on the higher end of casual. Juicy, rich dark fruit shows blueberry, raspberry, plum & black cherry. Layered with sweet spice & licorice. Long finish. Rated 88 points in WS.

Also check out the Luigi Bosca 2005 Malbec and Gouguenheim 2007 Malbec in previous posts.

Unusual Whites

2009-09-16T11:51:00.003-04:00

Martin Codax Albarino
Spain -
The albarino grape is light bodied with high acidity and features aromatics on par with Viognier and Gerwurztraminer. This wine had lemon juice & lime aromas. Flavors begin with fresh grass and lemongrass and close with a long, lingering citrus finish. Clean and crisp. Great with sushi. 3.5/5

Vitiano Falesco Verdicchio Vermentino 2008
Umbria, Italy - $11
Grape varietals verdicchio (high acid, grassy) and vermentino (crisp acidity, minerality, low alcohol, good richness). Green apple, lime, herb and floral aromas. Fresh, crisp & vibrant wine. Lots of Pinot Grigio flavors. Green apple and peach flavors follow sparkling acidity. Light golden color. Pairs well with salads. 3/5

Riondo Rose Prosecco

2009-09-13T20:24:00.003-04:00

Riondo Pink Prosecco Raboso
Veneto, Italy - $14
Soft pink color with light body, this sparkling wine starts off with berry aromas that lead to soft, delicate flavors of melon and berry. A well-balanced, dry and smooth wine that pairs well with grilled veggies and pasta salad. A lovely summer sparkler gets points for being different (pink) but still a basic prosecco. I still like the original Riondo prosecco much better with its strong note of green apple. 3.5/5

Sauvignon Blanc Round-up

2009-09-08T19:20:00.001-04:00

This list is an assortment of the Sauvignon Blanc wines I've sampled over the past few months. It's one of my favorite white varietals, simply because it is so food friendly. I have listed the wines with the higher rated ones at the top. The two at the bottom without ratings fall in the middle of the pack, but weren't assigned a value since they were consumed before I started to rate the wines.

Root1 Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Colchagua, Chile - $9
Aromas of zesty citrus fruit: lemon, grapefruit, grassy, clean and fresh. Sparkling acidity. Flavors of lemon & grapefruit. Really interesting as it finishes. Pineapple at end. Grassy. Pairs well with scallops and avocado. Bright & lively citrus flavors & aromas. Strong acidity without food. 4.5/5

Mahi Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Marlborough, New Zealand - $17
Part 1 of a Sauvignon Blanc flight at Domaine Hudson. Very lush aromas & exotic tropical flavors. Impressive, strong aroma. Juicy vibrant palate with mouth-watering acidity. Better alone; food brings out more acidity and slight bitter finish. Would buy again. Initially overshadowed other wines in flight from CA & France. Delight for the senses. 4.5/5

Bogle Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Clarksburg, California - $9
Green apple and floral aromas dominate followed by grapefruit, grassy and light vanilla notes. Pale gold color. Surprising body with acidic citrus with pear and apple on the mid-palate. A little bitey. Balanced with a long finish. The 2006 vintage was rated 86 points by WS. Lovely nose with balanced palate of citrus, sparkling acidity and green tree fruits. Great value and easy to pair with summer food. 4/5

Ricard "Le Petiot" Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Loire Valley, France
Part 2 of a Sauvignon Blanc flight at Domaine Hudson. Light nose dominated by mineral & wet stone. Restrained, sophisticated wine; light body but plush. Good acidity, doesn't overpower. Deeper yellow color. Complex aromas & flavors. Flavors sweeten as wine opens and is paired with food. Very long enjoyable finish. 4/5

Carl Roy Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Napa Valley, California - $14
Part 3 of a Sauvignon Blanc flight at Domaine Hudson. Lots of oak on nose (vanilla & cooking spices) compared to New Zealand and French companions in flight. Pineapple and other lush tropical flavors as it opens up. Balanced acidity, light body and light yellow color. 4/5

Sterling Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Napa County, California
Aromas of rich florals, lemon and a hint of melon. Crisp citrus and round fruit flavors. Lime and lemon with pleasant acidity. Not bitey. Melon flavors come out as wine opens. Paired it with Asian marinated beef and rice. Would go really well with sushi. 3.5/5

Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma Co, California - $12
A Marc freebie; zingy & citrusy. Grapefruit, grass, refreshing and crisp. For the price, a good value party wine.

Domaine Bellevue Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Loire Valley, France
A Marc freebie, very minerally, light & refreshing. Oysters would be an ideal pairing. Would like to find this again or a similar expression as the minerality was unusual.

California trip

2009-08-23T18:02:00.004-04:00

The California trip yielded a lot of loot. Several bottles have been polished off. Many others will be ready to drink this fall/winter. As we drink our way through the bottles from the trip, my thoughts naturally turn to restocking with another California trip. So I'm putting a question out there - any recommendations on new CA wineries for next time?

Wilson

2009-08-18T12:14:00.005-04:00

By far one of the best wineries on our trip! Wilson is known for their Zinfandels, ranging in style from soft and easygoing to spicy and bold. I love all the iterations of this grape at Wilson. The Tori Vineyard is my personal favorite simply because I've never encountered another Zinfandel that packs in so many spicy flavors balanced by a jammy backbone. The Carl and Sawyer are great as well, but definitely softer than Tori.

The Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County is a great place to start exploring Zinfandel. There are many wineries to visit here, but Wilson is a must. (The wines are affordable, especially if you can get wine club pricing.) Our wine guide was very personable, knowledgeable and helped me understand that my mind wasn't playing tricks on me when I smelled pencil shavings.

I have only one photo of Wilson for you. It is of either the Ellie or Sawyer vineyard. It seems we were too busy sampling the wine and enjoying the picnic overlooking the vineyards to mess with cameras.

Wilson Roger's Fault 2003
Dry Creek Valley, California - $28
Red Bordeaux blend. Very interesting wine because of pencil shavings aroma (due to inclusion of Cabernet Sauvignon). Light body, good for food. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, & Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Wilson Diane's Reserve Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $48
Very jammy nose. A bonus pour.

Wilson Reserve Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $40
Aromas of leather, red berry, musty. Flavors of all over black & white pepper, spice. Some cedar after wine opened up. Medium body, soft tannins, long finish with some spice. Simple, unusual and pleasant. 4.5/5 for balance and style, but prefer more complexity and spice in a Dry Creek Zinfandel.

Wilson Ellie's Vineyard Old Vine Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $32
Currant & blackberry nose; light and low tannins. Transforms as you drink it. 14% petite syrah, remainder is Zinfandel. Harvested from grapes grown at an elevation of 500 feet.

Wilson Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $32
Not exciting enough when compared to the other Zinfandels. Same elevation as Ellie grapes. (The valley floor vines created rich, jammy wine.) White pepper on the back of the tongue. A very consistent wine sip to sip, year to year. Classic easy entry Zinfandel. Fruit forward nose.

Wilson Carl's Vineyard Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $32
Jammy nose, spicy. Like more than Sawyer, stronger than Ellie, but just as smooth. Same vines are Sawyer but higher elevation of 2,200 ft.

Wilson Tori Vineyard Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $32
Aka "Spicy Tori", grown at 2,440' elevation on coastal fog line. Stressing the vines creates a spicy nose. All sorts of spice everywhere. Black & white pepper, green bell pepper; more tannic than others. Cellar until 2009.

More at Wilson Winery.com

Bella

2009-08-13T20:15:00.003-04:00

Bella is a little winery tucked into the hills of Dry Creek Valley. It is a winding car ride through the dusty back roads of the valley. The defining feature of Bella is their wine cave and tasting room.

Bella Hillside Cuvee 2005
Sonoma County, California - $28
Love. Not as sweet as it could be because of it is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon. Smooth, could cellar. Graceful wine with lots of ripe fruit and soft tannins. From the winemaker: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Zinfandel, 11% Petite Syrah and 10% Petite Verdot blend from Alexander Valley old vines. Ripe & juicy with excellent structure and finish. Opened bottle in July 2009 and it was just as juicy as I remembered.

Bella Estate Late Harvest Zinfandel 2006
Sonoma County, California - $24
Smooooth. Dessert wine. Higher alcohol content. Great nose, citrus peel, inky black color. Sweet, but not cloyingly obnoxious nor port-like. From the winemaker: 94% Zinfandel, 6% Petite Syrah. Left on the vine two weeks longer than their regular bottling. Only 250 cases produced.

More at Bella Winery.com

Elyse

2009-08-08T22:43:00.005-04:00

The last winery of the day is never easy. Especially when the tasting covers 10-12 wines and the tasting room host keeps pulling out bottles from under the bar. Most of these wines were so heavy with tannins, my tongue had shriveled up for want of water or food. Luckily, we had a stash of crackers in the car which were put to good use mid-way through. By the end of the hour plus tasting, we had sampled some two dozen wines - almost all red and powerful. If you're looking for an intimate tasting experience and are a fan of bold Napa Cabernets, give Elyse a try.

Elyse Wild Horse Valley Chardonnay 2005
Napa Valley, California - $37
Butter, lemon cream.

Elyse Hudson Vineyard 2004
Napa Valley, California - $42
Red blend: 90% grenache, 10% syrah. Sweet strawberry flavors, no residual sugar.

Elyse Tietjen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California - $80
Very cherry, berry. Very smooth. My favorite of the two Cabernets.

Elyse Morisoli Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California - $80
More of a bite than Tietjen. More tannic harshness. Would need time to mellow.

Elyse Korte Ranch Zinfandel 2006
Napa Valley, California - $35
Made from 25-65% old vines, this is a good, but very tannic wine from the St. Helena AVA.

Elyse Morisoli Vineyard Zinfandel 2005
Napa Valley, California - $37
I liked this one. Jammier, notes of strawberry and young fruit. Interesting that I prefer the Zinfandel from this vineyard but not the Cabernet.

Elyse St. Helena Petite Syrah 2005
St. Helena, California - $37
Rosemary, eucalyptus, huckleberry and spice.

More at Elyse Winery.com

And visit Woodhouse Chocolate if you're ever in the area. It's worth the stop in downtown St. Helena. I highly recommend the quatre epices, thai ginger, toasted coconut & honey truffles. (And since I'm such a packaging/design nut, I couldn't bear to toss the box. It stills smells like chocolate.)

Baldacci

2009-08-05T10:17:00.005-04:00

Baldacci sits at the top of the Stags Leap district - home to my favorite expression of Cabernet Sauvignon: deep & intense wine with silky, velvety tannins and powerful fruit. The texture of this wine is key and won't be found elsewhere in Napa or Sonoma Valleys. The Stags Leap district is only 1 mile wide by 3 miles long, but the wineries in this area are well-known for their high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon.

At Baldacci, we enjoyed an outdoor tasting with views of the vineyards followed by a private tour of the wine cave and facilities. Our guide was very knowledgeable and encouraged questions. I would definitely recommend a visit to this winery or another comparable Stags Leap district winery.

Baldacci Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Stags Leap, California - $55
Rich with deep red hues. Big bold aromas with ripe fruit, vanilla bean, fig & clean dirt. Full, great body; overflows with intense mouth-watering ripe black fruit, dark chocolate mocha, & dried currants. Lingering finish with refined tannins & balanced acid. Rated 95 points in WS.

Baldacci IV Sons Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Stags Leap, California - $35
Lots of flavors; drying (Cab Franc). Good weekend Cab, more tannic than the Estate Cab. From the winemaker: 97% cab, 3% cab franc. Aromas of dried black fruit, cherries, figs, supple & full bodied. Velvet & lingering tannins. Hints of mocha & dusting of oak. Can be aged 2013-2015.

Baldacci Elizabeth Pinot Noir 2005
Carneros, California - $35
Very soft wine. Earthy, mineral and "stinky Pinot" barnyard aromas. From the winemaker: Notes of pomegranate, strawberries, raspberries balance earthy aromas. Rich, velvety structure with complex mineral. Dusting of oak & tannins, lingering finish & robust personality.

More at Baldacci Vineyards.com
More about Stags Leap

Caymus

2009-08-01T23:02:00.005-04:00

Caymus is another renowned winery with a strong presence in Napa Valley. The name Caymus comes from an Indian tribe and Rancho Caymus, an 1836 land grant which encompasses the town of Rutherford and beyond. They specialize in Cabernet Sauvignon and kickstarted our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon day.

The private tasting appointment was the earliest of all our appointments - around 10am. It was unusual to drink wine so early but my palate was especially sharp at this hour. This day was our last full day of tastings and so it began with a more serious, reverent tone than the previous days' tastings.

Caymus Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2003
Napa Valley, California
Love it. Grapefruit and lemon on nose and finish. Green apple flavors at first. Lemon verbena, cream finish. Cannot buy back home.

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Napa Valley, California - $56
Cigar (tobacco) nose. Soft tannins and smooth, lingering flavor. Lovely nose, better value than other Cabs, dark purple-red color. Drink 2008-2011. Can get at home.

Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Napa Valley, California - $160
Do not like nose - lots of smokiness. Opens up well but don’t prefer the style. Inky black-red color. Better when cellared 5-10 years, not one of the better Napa values. Can get at home.

Caymus Napa Valley Zinfandel 2005
Napa Valley, California
Like the style, lighter tannins. Soft fruit, smooth finish. Could lose something if cellared too long. Cannot get at home.

More at Caymus.com

Merry Edwards

2009-07-30T20:35:00.000-04:00

Most of my time is spent walking the vine rows - measuring, evaluating, tasting & planning - Merry Edwards

This really comes through in her wines. Merry is very hands on. We had the privilege of a private wine tasting at their new facility. While we thoroughly enjoyed the wines, I think we caught our host on an off day... as we received a very basic run-through of the wine without much enthusiasm. Learning more about the wine, vineyards and winemaker herself would have left a stronger impression.

Merry Edwards was our third and final stop on "Pinot Noir Day".

Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006
Russian River Valley, California - $42
Slightly brown color; dark black cherry and plum flavors.

Merry Edwards Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006
Sonoma County, California - $36
Too tannic, needs a few years. Nice black cherry finish.

Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2005
Russian River Valley, California - $54
Loved it, very fruity and smooth. Rated 90 pts from WS. From the winemaker: Generous aromas of blackberry, raspberry, anise w/hint of cardamom. Supple, rich flavors, firm tannins, lush palate. Powerful & well structured.

More at Merry Edwards.com

Arista

2009-07-29T11:50:00.004-04:00

Primarily focusing in Pinot Noir, Arista believes in sustainable farming and minimal interference in the vineyards. The grounds feature a breathtaking setting of mountain and vineyard vistas and Japanese water gardens - designed by renowned landscape architect Harry Sumigawa. It is an amazing place for a picnic lunch. (The vista below was designed to mirror views of Mt. Fuji.) The kind folks at Gary Farrell recommended Arista as a good picnic spot where they just happen to make great wine! (Arista was our second winery visit during "Pinot Noir Day".)

Arista Gewurztraminer 2007
Sonoma County, California - $25
Jasmine and honeysuckle aromas. Clean, crisp. Green & yellow pear flavors.

Arista Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2006
Sonoma County, California
A three vineyard blend and a wonderful example of RRV terrior - slightly sweet, slightly bitter and silky.

Arista Longbow Pinot Noir 2006
Sonoma County, California
Very berry, dry. Smoky, earthy and more toasty as it opens. Young, so put down for as long as 10 years but at least 2 years. We'll open the first bottle sometime in 2010 to decide when to open the second bottle. The 2004 vintage was available for tasting and had the benefit of 4 years of bottling. From that sampling, I decided the 2006 had much more potential as it ages. Looking forward to opening this one in a year.

More at Arista Winery.com

Gary Farrell

2009-07-27T22:19:00.004-04:00

A winemaker renowned for beautifully crafted Pinot Noirs, Gary Farrell Winery is an iconic name. The dramatic architecture of the hilltop tasting room enhances the amazing vistas of the Russian River Valley. It was a hike, but well worth it. This was our first stop on "Pinot Noir Day".

Gary Farrell Rochioli Chardonnay 2005
RRV, California - $38
Drink now-2012. Clean, flinty, melon and touch of oak with harmony and balance. Rated 91 points in WS.

Gary Farrell Starr Ridge Chardonnay 2005
RRV, California - $38
Drink now-2011. Floral aromas, lots of depth and complexity. Rated 91 points in WS.

Gary Farrell Westside Farms Chardonnay 2005
RRV, California - $38
Slightly tart, long finish with butter and oak. Brian likes this one. Drink now-2011. Fresh, snappy, elegant with long finish. Rated 91 points in WS.

Gary Farrell Cresta Ridge Chardonnay 2005
RRV, California - $38
This Chardonnay was my favorite. Picked up minerality immediately. More crispness and minerality than Redwood Ranch Sauvignon Blanc (below). From the winemaker: Bursts with aromas of orange blossom, citrus zest and hints of toffee. Luscious, fresh cut green melon, spiced pear, interesting mineral components.

Gary Farrell Redwood Ranch Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Sonoma County, California - $25
new French oak, very citrusy, not grassy. "Bright, forward aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, lime and melon. Generous flavors, richness on mid-palate, never strays from crisp refreshing acidity. Rated 91 points in WS.

Gary Farrell Sonoma County Merlot 2003
RRV, California - $32
Picked up the mint and cedar aromas. Very interesting. From the winemaker: Complex aromas of blackberry, chocolate-cherry, mint and cedar. Juicy expressions of wild berry fruit, cassis and green peppercorn.

Gary Farrell Collins Vineyard Zinfandel 2005
RRV, California - $40
Notable nose. Cranberry, very tart, really needs decanting for a few hours. Will be prime in 2011-2013.

Gary Farrell Starr Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005
RRV, California 2005
Very good, but needs more time to develop in bottle.

Gary Farrell Carneros Ramal Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005
RRV, California - $50
Very good. Beautiful now, but can age up to 12 years for greatness.

Gary Farrell Santa Barbara Bien Nacido Pinot Noir 2005
Santa Barbara County, California - $50
Favorite Pinot from the tasting. Pretty aromas & silky, elegant tannins. Nose of raspberry, black cherry with hint of spice. Fine, rich and voluptuous textures. Decant, cellar up to 10 years. Rated 87 points in WS.

More at Gary Farrell wines.com

Clos Pegase

2009-07-25T20:54:00.002-04:00

It was only a matter of happenstance that we visited Clos Pegase. Had we not been vacationing in Mexico two months prior, we wouldn't have met another wine-loving couple who gave Clos Pegase rave reviews for the wine, architecture and art collection. I'm never sure if someone else's glowing recommendation from memory will live up to expectations and assessments from our group, so I was hesitant to lobby for its inclusion on the winery tour. I can now say I was very relieved when our group was impressed with the quality of their wines and amazed at all the art.

Architect Michael Graves was commissioned to build a "temple to wine and art" and created a fantastic palette for the many art installations, large-scale paintings and sculpture. Everyone takes a picture of The Thumb sculpture. I don't know it's real name, but it's all over Flickr (go look, I'll wait) so I'll spare the internet the repetition of my photo.

Their Sauvignon Blanc blew us away, especially for the red drinkers who couldn't find a white to impress them. This one did it. I wish we would have bought more bottles of it and the sleeper-hit Cabernet Sauvignon.

Clos Pegase Mitsuko's Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Napa Valley, California - $20
A great find and top value for 2008. One of our favorites that represents my favorite expression of Sauvignon Blanc: supple & bright with tropical & citrus aromas & flavors. Bright straw color. Juicy nose of pineapple & pear, brightness of lemon. Herbal & grassy. Very complex aroma. Spicy pear, gooseberry, pineapple flavors. Well balanced acidity, medium-heavy body. Holds its own against garlic! a buy again and again. Almost 2,000 cases produced. Rated 88 in WS, 90 in Wine Enthusiast. 5/5

Clos Pegase Pegase Circle Claret 2005
Napa Valley, California - $26
Every day food wine, but complex enough to keep your interest. From the winemaker: Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot. Rich fruit tones, black currant, plums & cherries. Only available at the winery.

Clos Pegase Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California - $35
Very tannic, needs food and time to open. A fantastic value and sleeper-hit. From the winemaker: Ripe & luscious with density & elegance. Production is just under 5,000 cases. Rated 87 ("sweet black plum and mocha flavors... ends on a note of pencil lead... honeyed red for brisket").

Clos Pegase Mitsuko's Vineyard Merlot 2004
Napa Valley, California - $25
Plum, pomegranate, cherries, good, very dark purple. From the winemaker: Well composed with structure, balance, and vibrant fruit tones; soft, elegant and balanced. Only available at the winery.

More at Clos Pegase.com

Pride

2009-07-21T16:02:00.007-04:00

Pride was one of the best wineries we visited during our weeklong stay in Napa an Sonoma. Their Cabernets and Merlot were well-crafted expressions of the beautiful mountaintop location. The tasting room experience made an impression... not only because Scott Stooker, the man pouring our wine, knew his stuff and loves the wines, but because he is a former Delawarean. After playing the "Who do you know?" game, we discovered he worked at the same small company and had several mutual friends in common. You always find people from Delaware wherever you travel!

It's best to save this winding drive for after lunch! An even better reason to wait for lunch is the incredible views from the picnic area atop Spring Mountain. The winery straddles the Napa and Sonoma County line and, on a clear day, you can see the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada range.

Pride Napa Chardonnay 2006
Napa Valley, California - $37
Crisp. Toasty nut flavors thanks to a cool fermentation in French oak barrels.

Pride Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Spring Mountain, California - $66
Cellar til 2018. Very dark color. Slight pepper, very tannic & powerful. Grown on volcanic soils at elevation of 2,000+ feet. Another 90+ wine.

Pride Merlot 2005
Spring Mountain, California - $56
Merlot with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry, bolder style. Long finish, cellar until 2016. Everyone really liked this one. (The 2001 vintage received rave reviews and scored 90+ points in several industry publications.)

Pride Vintner Select Merlot 2005
Spring Mountain, California - $75
Lush, hedonistic. Single vineyard bottling. Production: 490 cases (sold out). This vintage was rated 93 points by Tanzer and 91 points from WS.

Pride Sangiovese 2005
Spring Mountain, California - $55
Very vanilla. Currently only sold at the winery. Rated 88 in Wine Advocate.

Pride Cabernet Franc 2005
Spring Mountain, California - $60
Really good. Nice tannins; juicy, fruity, soft. Very good example of Cabernet Franc. The best expression of this varietal on the entire trip. Rated 89 in WS and 91 in Wine Advocate.

More at Pride Wines.com

Rombauer

2009-07-20T23:26:00.001-04:00

We stopped at Oakville Grocery for picnic provisions before headed up the road for our AM tasting at Rombauer. This was the first stop on day two. This winery made it on the list because a group member loves their Chardonnays. Rombauer has an excellent picnic site with valley views.

Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay 2006
Napa Valley, California - $29
Up to quality of previous vintages, excellent, toasty, vanilla and oaky. Had with picnic lunch. From the winemaker: Rich wine with layers of tropical fruit, peaches, & pears. Creamy textres of apples, pears. Hint of citrus & light oak, lingering finish.

Rombauer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California - $38
Okay, weak. From the winemaker: Aromas of violet, black currant, cherry, plum, wild berry backed by spice. Flavor burst lingers, adds complexity.

Rombauer Diamond Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Napa Valley, California - $60
Earthy on nose, very drying tannins. From the winemaker: Rich, ripe plum & blackberry, vibrant & intense without overpowering. Finesse and polish on finish with ripe, integrated tannins.

Rombauer Napa Valley Zinfandel 2005
Napa Valley, California - $28
Sweet, jammy. From the winemaker: Ripe & luscious w/vivid aromas of boysenberry & wild berry, layered flavors of raspberry, blackberry & boysenberry. Fruit explosion, berry flavors linger on palate. Hint of oak, spice on finish.

Rombauer Zinfandel Port
Napa Valley, California - $45
Not raisin-y for a port. Vanilla, hint of pepper on aftertaste. From the winemaker: Chocolate, plum berry aroma. Long lingering finish of fruit & vanilla.

More at Rombauer.com

Peju

2009-07-16T22:20:00.004-04:00

Peju was the second winery we visited our first day in Napa. The grounds makes quite an impression as you drive up. The long driveway is lined by skinny sycamores being trained to bend over the drive (but they are still young so it is more of a lean). And the buildings are a mix of French provencal and Dr. Seuss. The rear tasting room, with granite floors and counters and stained glass windows, is the more beautiful of the tasting rooms. Tasting menu was extensive, highlighted by unique red/white blends and dry rose wines. We did not encounter so many dry, light reds at any other winery.

It is definitely worth a visit for the grounds and architecture. Since it's right off the main drag in Napa, it is easy to find and stop in.

Peju Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Napa Valley, California - $18
Grapefruit, "cat pee" on nose. From the winemaker: Pale straw yellow color. Tropical fruit mixed with fresh citrus, lychee & passion fruit. Crisp, fresh & lively on the palate. Long finish.

Peju Provence
Napa Valley, California - $22
Provence: California red & white blend. Very interesting and unique; slightly sweet, summer sipper. Like a white Zinfadel or rose. From the winemaker: Proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and French Colombard. Pleasing impression with refreshing finish.

Peju Rose of Syrah
Napa Valley, California - $25
(This wine was not available during our visit but we have since sampled several bottles.) Aromas of light cherry and other berries, dusty & melon. Dry rose style with light body. Brilliant red-orange color. Same light flavors as aromas. Paired well with smoked salmon, pickled red onion & goat cheese boursin. From the winemaker: The color is vibrant rouge with fragrant aromas of pear, fresh raspberries and ripe strawberries as well as a hint of spicy gumdrop. Delicate flavors of red berries, citrus notes with a whisper of Seville orange creamsicle. This wine is enticing and smooth on the palate with a creamy finish. It is an interesting wine for a summer event; surprising and refreshing. Rarity increases appeal. 3.5/5

Peju Estate Fifty/Fifty 2005
Napa Valley, California - $85
Red blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cherry color, coats glass thickly, dry finish. From the winemaker: 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright red berry fruit, ripe plum, dark dried cherry and currant aromas. Deep and rich.

Peju Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California - $40
Brian liked, better than Cakebread's Estate Cab. Watermelon, slightly bitter. From the winemaker: Aroma of bing cherry, vanilla, clove, blackberry, black pepper, cassis, toast, roasted coffee, fresh herbs and green olive. Palate is big, rich and round. Lengthy finish, soft supple texture and nicely integrated tannins.

Peju Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Napa Valley, California - $105
Hold until 2013-2014 to reach prime. Vanilla, dry. From the winemaker: Concentrated plum, blackberry nose and hint of cocoa aromas. Rich and powerful, layers of concentrated flavors with nice roundness. Rich and lengthy finish; complex and well developed tannins.

Peju Estate Zinfandel 2005
Napa Valley, California - $28
Very jammy, heavily coated glass. From the winemaker: Dark purple & garnet in color. Aromas of raspberry, cranberry, dried cherry and clove. Bright blackberry jam, round spicy flavor. Big bold tannins, long lingering finish.

Peju Estate Cabernet Franc 2005
Napa Valley, California - $45
Not a blend - 100% Cabernet Franc. Good minerality; powerful, puckering tannins. From the winemaker: Aromas of concentrated plum, mingled with spice, red currant, vanilla and violet. Full body, flavor of plum blackberry pie, espresso bean and hints of anise, fresh herbs and white pepper. Soft, luxurious mouthfeel.

More at Peju.com

Cakebread

2009-07-16T22:18:00.001-04:00

First stop on the first day. Expectations were high, but reigned in. After all, I didn't know what to expect. The folks at Cakebread gave us a guided tour of the grounds and some of the winery facilities. They had just finished bottling the week prior so things were a lot quieter. We had our tasting in the cellar room, which was quite atmospheric (and chilly). Their French style Chardonnay made quite an impression as did the Syrah.

Cakebread Napa Valley Chardonnay 2006
Napa Valley, California - $38
French style of Chardonnay. Loved minerality and flavor. My favorite white of the tasting. 5/5

Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay 2005
Napa Valley, California - $54
Disliked, too oaky. American style. 3/5

Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Napa Valley, California - $40
Unoaked, french style.

Cakebrea Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Napa Valley, California - $23
Typical, nothing outstanding. From the winemaker: Crisp, full body; complex. Added small amounts of Sauvignon Musque to contribute lovely floral aromas & Semillon to soften acidity, add citrus tone and enrich mid-plate.

Cakebread Napa Valley Syrah 2005
Napa Valley, California - $50
Loved syrupy, very ripe fruit flavor. My style of syrah. From the winemaker: Seductive, varietally expressive aroma of ripe black fruit, violets, white pepper, roasted coffee and sweet vanilla. Full body; lush blackberry, plum and fig; savory spice. Supple tannins and long toasty finish. Best flavor 2011-2013.

More at Cakebread.com

Gourmet Raft-up 2009

2009-06-21T23:03:00.009-04:00

Peju Rose of Syrah 2007
Napa, California
Light cherry, melon, other berries and dusty aromas. Dry style of rose, light body. Brilliant red-orange color. Light flavors that mimic the aromas. Paired with smoked salmon, pickled red onions, & goat cheese boursin. Interesting wine for summer event, surprising and refreshing. Rarity increases score. 3.5/5

Va La Silk 2007
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $28
Aromas of smoke, berry & plum open up to woodsy notes. After decanting for an hour, insane spice aromas appear - cinnamon. Spice and smoky fruit flavors with light body. Very complex flavors. Versatile red and a great local wine. Good for appetizers or as a substitute for Pinot Noir. 4.5/5

Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir 2006
Russian River Valley, California
Violet aromas followed by berry and vanilla with medium tannins. Needed more time to open - not as aromatic as initial tasting in CA.

Neal Zinfandel 2006
Napa Valley, California
Herbal, soft red fruits (berry) on the nose. Same jammy red fruits with medium tannins. A soft Zinfandel with powerful tannins that need time to open up, fruit is obscured. 4/5

Luchador Shiraz 2007
South Australia - $12
Stewed red fruits followed by good oak nose. Amazing flavor when paired with grilled lamb. Thick, powerful aromas; intense, spicy flavors and easy tannins. More potent nose than flavors. For the price, great flavor & intensity. 4.5/5

Luigi Bosca Malbec Reserva 2005
Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina
Aromas of smoke, earth, plum, red fruit and leather. Big hit of spice (back of throat) and smack of alcohol on initial taste. Bold. Same flavors as aromas. Peppery, port-like ripe fruit. Needs food. Tannic and powerful, nice finish. 4/5

Chateau de Segur Sauternes 2003
Barsac, France - $19
Pineapple, honey, light floral and ripe golden citrus aromas. Very sweet, syrupy weight. Honeyed pineapple. Very elegant and soft. Extended pineapple finish with caramel hint. Fantastic value for full bottle under $20 - why spend more? (That is, unless you're shooting for Chateau Y'Quem). 4.5/5

California Zinfandel

2009-06-17T19:36:00.005-04:00

Cline Zinfandel 2006
California - $8
Decant first. Spicy, easy to drink. Black cherry, pepper and cola aromas, zesty flavors. Opened up at end. Buy again. Rated 84 points in WS.

Ravenswood Old Vines Zinfandel
Sonoma County, California - $14
Outstanding as always. Great value and always tasty at parties. 4/5

CrauforD Kilt Lifter Brown Vineyard Zinfandel 2006
Napa Valley, California - $25
Birthday wine at James in Philadelphia. Big, juicy wine with deep spice & pepper aromatics. Cinnamon & clove from oaking. Huge mouthfeel; tannins & acids balanced. Long deep finish. Rated 91 points in WS. 4.5/5

Riesling

2009-06-17T19:11:00.008-04:00

Hogue Genesis Riesling 2006
Washington - $16
A top wine for 2008. Fruity & floral, pairs well with melon fruit. Not enough complexity & too sweet for my tastes. Rated 90 points in WS.

Bonny Doon Pacific Rim Dry Riesling
Central Coast, California - $9
Light, unoaked and crisp. Great flavor; acidity pairs well with sushi. Restrained style doesn't appeal to everyone. A buy again. One of my favorites. 4/5

Swedish Hill Dry Riesling
Finger Lakes, New York
Golden straw color; aromas of green apple, pear, citrus fruit, & light florals. Granny smith apple & lemon, good acidity on palate. Light body, balanced, not sweet! Pear with light salad or salmon. Apple aftertaste. Elegant lighter style. 3.5/5

Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling 2007
Australia - $11
Great value; medium, unoaked, crisp and minerally. A buy again. Rated 88 in WS.

J. Lohr Bay Mist Riesling 2006
Monterey County, California - $9 84
Unexpected quality; love it alone or with food. Pairs well with sushi. Aromas are like a blossoming peach tree, stone fruit; mineral flavors are easygoing and lively. Sparkling acidity. Rated 84 in WS. One of my favorites; for the price, it is a fantastic value. 5/5

Chardonnay

2009-06-17T19:01:00.003-04:00

Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006
Aconcagua, Chile - $20
Lots of oak on nose, soft & traces of smoke. Finish not great. Did not like and would not buy again.

Trapiche Oak Cask Chardonnay
Mendoza, Argentina - $11
First tried it in 2006 at El Vez, a Philadelphia Mexican restaurant. It's more like a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc with surprising tartness & crisp flavors. No buttery, over-oaked Chardonnay here. 3.5/5

Santa Rita 120 Chardonnay 2008
Maipo Valley, Chile - $9
Pear, apple and melon aromas and flavors. Tight, acidic. 3/5

White blends

2009-06-17T18:55:00.005-04:00

Hugel Gentil 2006
Alsace, France - $14
White blend. Bright yellow color. Aromas of lemon & grapefruit, floral notes, light wet stone; fresh. Dry, round w/pleasing acidity. Nice weight & mouth feel. Good minerality, especially on finish. Buttery and coats. Good for what it is. 3.5/5

Lo Tengo Torrontes
Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina - $8
White blend. Mineral & crisp. Lots of acidity; a decent wine. 3.5/5

Cler Blanc
Loire Valley, France - $9
Aromas of grass & florals. Acidic lemon & light melon on palate, most like a sauvignon blanc with strong citric acid. Almost too much acid, not balanced. Simple flavors, medium body. Too easy to drink, lacks complexity. Fine for picnics, summer sipper. Declassified muscadet. Admittedly, I liked the shape of the bottle more than the wine itself. 2/5

Va La Vineyard

2009-06-14T16:44:00.021-04:00

Va La La Prima Donna 2007
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $35
Initial pear aromas. Flavors shift from floral to light woodsy, mineral to white fruits; always changing. Lavender & honey finish. Medium body. Very complex. Similar in style to Caymus Conundrum. Blend of 5 grapes: Malvasia Bianco, Petit Manseng, Pinot Grigio, Tocai Friuliani & Viognier. Pairs well with seafood, shellfish, chicken and cream sauces. This will be the last vintage that the viognier grape will be part of the blend as the winemaker has yanked out all of the viognier vines. 4/5

Va La Cristallo 2005
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $25
Very berry aroma followed by cherry, strawberry, smoke, hint of cured sweet meat (ham). Jammy fruit like preserves and a honeyed sweetness. Flavors start with spicy tingle on the tip of the tongue. Strawberry, light minerality, and more smokiness comes through on the palate. Light body, but complex and smooth with solid backbone. Light, almost imperceptable tannins and smoky, long finish. Light red in color. Paired well with rustic pizza of goat cheese, basil, carmelized onion, and bacon. Great wine and very different, spicier than Silk with smoke notes. Bought 2005 when reserve was released; better vintage than 2006. No longer in production. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc grapes. 4.5/5

Va La Silk 2007
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $28
Red blend of Barbera, Carmine, Corvina Veronese, Merlot, Nebbiolo, & Petit Verdot. Light body with aromas of cooking spice. A non-traditional red blend meant to be a transitional wine for white wine drinkers. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks gives it a lighter color and body. Pairs well with chicken, red sauces, proscuitto, salmon & pork. Initially, felt it was too light but versatility has converted me. 3.5/5

Va La Siranetta 2006
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $40
Blend of 4 grapes (3 French and 1 American) Carmine 68%, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot. (Carmine is a cross of three French grapes created by UC Davis.) Lighter body than expected, light tannins and good backbone. Pork aroma. Smoky fruit. Pairs with steak, grilled meats & aged cheeses. "Little Siren"

Va La Castana 2006
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $35
Medium body red blend of Barbera, Nebbiolo & Corvina Veronese grapes. Flavors of dark chocolate and berry. Pairs well with meats (bbq, hot sausage) spicy food, Mexican food and even dark chocolate. Just released. Aged 14 months in oak.

Va La Barbera
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $35
Spicy tongue tingle, surprisingly light. Dark chocolate flavors with plum and brambly fruit. Some earthiness. This single varietal wine is no longer produced as the winemaker has chosen to use the Barbera grape in other wines. 4/5

Va La Cedar
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $45
Nebbiolo & corvina veronese (grape used in Italian Amarone) grapes. Brownish-red color from few years of bottle aging; can take 2-3 more years in cellar. Complex, rich wine that unfolds slowly. Changes from tight, tip of tongue spice, cooking spices, & tannic; white pepper appearing on back of tongue; lower tannins, dried fruit - specifically raisin, red berry, cinnamon but still tight. Pork aroma with impressive back of throat spice, softer red berry. Fruit emerges as wine breathes. Decant. Pairs well with wild game, lamb, fowl and truffles.

Va La Mahongany 2005
Avondale, Pennsylvania - $55
First release of this blend of Barbera, Petit Verdot & Carmine. Grown and bottled on site. Winemaker has been waiting 10 years for the vines to mature to produce a wine of this quality, range, and style. Light tannins, medium body with bold flavors. Will age well in bottle. Pairs well with everything from chocolate to bold cheeses. 4/5

More at Va La

Syrahs for Steve

2009-06-02T21:29:00.010-04:00

Some of my recent favorites in ascending order of price.

Cline Syrah
Napa Valley, California - $9
THE epitome of Syrah. Need to decant! A great, cheap selection with some oak. Wonderful go-to party wine; buy again.

Earthworks Syrah 2006
Barossa Valley, Australia - $10
Lighter style with initial black pepper flavor. Aromas of cherry and a grapefruity tang/sharpness. Flavor resembles a spicy pinot noir with supple tannins. Stewed fruit, fatty pork (sausage/bacon), blueberry. General red fruits lead to blueberry then to smoke/tar, then peppery finish. Great mouthfeel, smooth. 4/5

Paringa Shiraz
South Australia, Australia - $10
Pleasing, smooth like a Merlot but with nice spice. Buy again, good for parties.

The Winner's Tank Eskadale Shiraz 2006
Langhorne Creek, Australia - $13
Spicy! Held up to burgers and chocolate cake. Side of tongue pepper, chocolate, burnt toast flavors. Tannic with leather aromas on finish. Buy again.

Montes Alpha Syrah
Colchagua Valley, Chile - $19
Lots of jammy reds, lingering smoke on the palate. Smokey, pleasing tannins. Flavors of chocolate with black and blueberry as it opens up. An interesting wine to drink again.

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2006
Clare Valley, Australia - $20
Aromas of cinnamon, clove, sweet hay on a red berry backbone. Cut grass freshness with light barnyard earthiness. Stewed red fruit. Medium body, supple tannins. Spicy flavor opens up to vanilla red fruit (sweet red fruits). Needs more power at the end. Wine Spectator 91 points. 4/5

Cakebread Napa Valley Syrah 2005
Napa Valley, California - $50
Loved syrupy, very ripe fruit flavor. My style of syrah. From the winemaker: "Seductive, varietally expressive aroma of ripe black fruit, violets, white pepper, roasted coffee & sweet vanilla. Full body; lush blackberry, plum, & fig, savory spice. Supple tannins & long toasty finish. Best flavor 2011-2013."

While the $50 Cakebread was marvelous and very much what I prefer, I could not justify the price... especially when I considered this winery was the first of a dozen more still to visit on week-long Napa/Sonoma trip. The Earthworks was a great value, complex and definitely interesting. For a little more money, we really enjoyed the Jim Barry Lodge Hill.

Quivira

2009-06-02T20:51:00.004-04:00

This winery was one of the last we visited during our Napa/Sonoma Spring 2008 trip. While we weren't wowwed by most of the wines, their focus on sustainable and biodynamic practices was interesting. Quivira started their biodynamic journey in 2002. You can see the solar panels on the tasting room's roof. These panels have been able to completely satisfy the winery's energy needs for several years. A biodynamic and organic garden is also available to visitors curious to learn more about sustainable farming.

Quivira Sauvignon Blanc Fig Tree Vineyard 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $18
Big pineapple nose & lemon finish. Sweetness, just a touch, lingers. Light and fruity. From the winemaker: "Generous pineapple, citrus blossom, and wet stones w/bright lemon & carambola fruit on palate."

Quivira Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $20
Cherry aroma, lots of spice. Berry on finish. Smooth, low tannins. From the winemaker: "Blended barrels with valley floor and hilltop sites. 10% petite syrah. Dark cherry & bramble fruit, med mouth feel, blackberries, hint of bakers chocolate. Unfiltered.

Quivira Anderson Ranch Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $34
Couldn't pick out individual components but great mouth feel and flavor. From the winemaker: "Lush aroma of blueberry tartlets, ripe blackberries, Szechuan pepper, vanilla soaked cranberry. Palate: black cherries, raspberry."

Quivira Wine Creek Ranch Zinfandel 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $30
Made from the oldest vines, 100% Zinfandel. Bigger and bolder nose than Anderson Ranch. Black cherry, cracked peppercorn, dark cocoa.

Quivira Wine Creek Ranch Petite Syrah 2005
Dry Creek Valley, California - $26
Black currant aroma, coriander seed on first sip - very cool flavor. Candied cherry on palate.

More at Quivira. Thanks to Christa for the suggestion!

Paradocx Vineyard

2009-05-28T19:09:00.004-04:00

Another winery from the Brandywine Valley Wine Tour in September 2008. They had just opened a new tasting room - Flint Hill - in Landenberg a few months prior. A band was setting up for an evening concert during our visit. It looked like a great setting for listening to music under the stars so it merits another visit.

The wine below was the best from this particular tasting of three whites and three reds.

Paradocx PDX Leverage 2005
Pennsylvania - $25
My favorite of the three reds poured; the other two being Sangiovese & the Merge '05). Pepper spice, picked up the Cab Franc flavor. From the winemaker: "Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, & Petite Verdot. Full body, silky feel. Aroma of black cherry, raspberry. Pepper spice on finish."

More at Paradocx

Twin Brook Winery

2009-05-28T18:54:00.009-04:00

Another winery we toured back in September 2008 as part of the Brandywine Valley Wine Tour. This one was a hike. Considerably farther out than any other winery on the tour. I'd never been through Gap, PA. Now I have... Lots of sweet wines at this winery; seems to be their style. Okay by me, but not my preference. During the tasting, I kept thinking of my parents, who prefer sweet white and blush wines.

One of the best parts of this stop was the cellar tour. Hosted by an assistant winemaker, we sampled grape juice at various stages of fermentation. A good learning experience and you can tell the folks at Twin Brook really enjoy what they're doing.

I took home a bottle of Octarara Red & Vignoles. Below are the wines that I think stood out at the tasting.

The Whites
Twin Brook Vignoles
Pennsylvania - $13
White wine with good balance, fruit and floral nose. Good tropical fruit. 4/5 pts. Good balance w/fruit & floral nose. Liked it. Tropical fruit. From the winemaker: "Sweet but crisp medium body." Paired it with an apple pie a month later. Was not sweet enough against sugary filling but that wasn't the wine's fault. 4/5

The Reds
Twin Brook Octarara Red
Pennsylvania - $12
One of the better red wines at this winery. Vanilla nose, slight hint of tannins. From the winemaker: "Sweeter, full bodied well balanced Burgundy style w/hints of cherry."

Twin Brook Strasburger Red
Pennsylvania - $12
Again, one of their stronger wines. Just hard to find the right application or pairing. Smooth, sweet. Ended up having it with an apple pie a few months later. From the winemaker: "Light fruity w/strawberry & apple aromas."

Twin Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Pennsylvania - $18
Favorite of "dry wines" on list. Green pepper nose, more powerful on tongue. Thinner, lighter body than what you'd expect. From the winemaker: "Slightly tannic, peppery, medium body."

More information at Twin Brook Winery

Kreutz Creek Vineyards

2009-05-28T18:28:00.007-04:00

Some of my favorite wines from the Brandywine Valley Wine Tour in September 2008...

The Whites
Kreutz Creek Chardonnay
Pennsylvania - $19
Different & light for an oaked Chardonnay, great finish. One of the better wines Kreutz Creek wines. From the winemaker: "Very nice vanilla, oak & citric smells, buttery flavor & holds entire way thru finish."

The Reds
Kreutz Creek Wickerton Red
Pennsylvania - $15
One of the better reds. Chancellor grape blended w/Kordeaux; smoky, medium body of berries.

Kreutz Creek Kordeaux
Pennsylvania - $20
Different & fun, eucalyptus notes. From the winemaker: "Bordeaux blend of cab, cab franc, merlot & petite verdot loaded w/eucalyptus, berries, vanilla and little oak. Excellent & distinctly shows terrior of area."

Kreutz Creek Kordeaux Reserve 2006
Pennsylvania - $25
Medium tannins, concentrated long finish but not highly complex. Like this on. From the winemaker: "Big flavors of berries, oak, black velvet body."

Dessert
Kreutz Creek Ruby "K" Port
Pennsylvania - $15
I am not a port fanatic, but would never turn down a tasting. Pleasantly surprised to find no raisin aftertaste on this one... which is one of my turn-offs, especially when it comes to tawny. Not bad for a local port. Notes from the winemaker: "Cherry flavor complemented by dark chocolate."

More at Kreutz Creek

2009-05-26T22:17:00.005-04:00

Domaine de Montvac 2007
Cotes du Rhone, France - $15
Dusty red color. Concentrated & jammy red berry. Leather & earthy notes. Plum, same red fruits with long finish. Balanced acidity & medium tannins. Flavorful red with pleasing aroma. Tasted at Taboon in NYC. 3.5/5

More at Domaine de Montvac.com

Chadds Ford Winery

2009-05-21T22:04:00.009-04:00

The Whites
Chadds Ford Proprietor's Reserve White 2007
Chadds Ford, PA - $13
Apple aroma, flavors like a sweet Pinot Grigio without a lot of acid. Too sweet and basic for me. From the winemaker: "Light, crisp, fresh, & clean. All purpose, non-barrel aged." 2.5/5

Chadds Ford Naked Chardonnay 2007
Chadds Ford, PA - $16
Like it more than the Proprietor's Reserve White. Taste of mushrooms, strong asparagus aroma and flavor - distracting. Flawed. From the wine maker: "No oak, delicious fruit, natural flavors, crisp acidity." 2.5/5

The Rose
Chadds Ford Sunset Blush 2006
Chadds Ford, PA - $13
Very sweet - did they add sugar? Bright pink color. Too much sweetness to enjoy. I've had better white zinfandels. Couldn't rate.

The Reds
Chadds Ford Pinot Noir 2006
Chadds Ford, PA - $16
One of their better wines. Earthy nose; very smoky with strong smoke finish, cherry, simple & elegant style with lighter body. From the winemaker: "Soft warm fullness & medium body w/delicate black cherry, brown sugar and smoke." 3/5

Chadds Ford Due Rossi 2005
Chadds Ford, PA - $25
Sangiovese & Barbera blend. Smooth, supple tannins; good acidity. Flavors: spicy red berry, vanilla. Needs to decant; too tight, couldn't pick out much so early. Like their Pinot Noir better. Opened bottle just for our tasting. From the winemaker: "Laden with uncountable flavors & bursts in mouth w/sweet vanillins, big bouquet of flowers, ripe jammy fruit, licorice."

Chadds Ford Proprietor's Reserve Red 2007
Chadds Ford, PA - $13
Smooth, light body, soft tannins. Bacon, sour cherry aromas & flavors with spicy finish. Better than Penns Woods Chambourcin but still not a favorite grape. From the winemaker: "100% chambourcin, with smooth flavors of cola, cherry & blackberry."

Chadds Ford Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Chadds Ford, PA - $19
Needs to open up - too tight. Oaky finish, very light for a Cabernet. White chocolate flavor at end, fine tannins w/long finish. 2/5

More at Chadds Ford

Penns Wood Winery

2009-05-21T21:14:00.013-04:00

The Whites
Penns Word Proprietor's Reserve 2006
Pennsylvania - $23
One of my favorites from this winery, enjoyable. Lovely nose; citrus on palate reminscent of Pinot Grigio, green apple & lemon, a little more viscosity than Sauvignon Blanc. From the winemaker: "Deep lemony gold in color. Blend of Chardonnay & Pinot Grigio has warm nose packed w/generous armos of melon, tropical fruit, and citrus."

Penns Wood Chardonnay Reserve 2005
Pennsylvania - $33
Tangerine & spice on nose. Light body, thinner than what I'm used to but style typical of the terrior. Vanilla note on finish. Light oaking. From the winemaker: "Vibrancy on palate with aromas of juicy apple and tangerine, hint of vanilla."

Penns Wood Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Pennsylvania - $32
Grapefruit pith on nose, light minerality. Prefer French style of minerality, which this has. A little thin. From the winemaker: "Deep golden with notes of green in color, complex w/hints of tangerine peel, grapefruit pith & traces of minerality."

The Reds
Penns Wood Proprietor's Reserve 2004
Pennsylvania - $23
Cedar, red & black berry, earthiness! Some florals, nice acidity; light, lingering flavor and light, supple tannins. From the winemaker: "Blend of Cabernet and Merlot, floral bouquet, dark red fruit."

Penns Wood Ameritage 2004
Pennsylvania - $46
Earthy, barnyard, some light pepper on center of tongue. Smooth & elegant, like it but not for price. Prefer bolder style. Less than 70 cases produced. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Carmine, Sangiovese, and Nebiolo grapes.

Penns Wood Chambourcin 2008
Pennsylvania - $28
Like the nose, not the palate. Bitter smack in beginning, sour palate, some barnyard & earthiness. Picked up on sage & pepper. Did not like; apparently this grape is not one of my favorites as I've learned from other tastings. From the winemaker: "Bouquet of pomegranate, black pepper, sage."

Penns Wood White Merlot 2006
Pennsylvania - $18
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir nose, carmelly pink color. Not a lot of complexity, good summer sipper. Really cool nose, mocha & light light tannins. From the winemaker: "Cassis, black raspberry, mocha and underlying minerality."

More at Penns Wood

What I'm drinking right now...

2009-05-21T21:02:00.004-04:00

Gouguenheim Malbec 2007
Mendoza, Argentina - $9
Aromas of smoky plush red fruit, sweet tobacco, & light floral. Herbal! Love the nose. Supple tannins & slight spice; light flavors of black & green pepper. Jammy and easy to drink. Blackberry & raspberry with smoky long finish. Deep garnet color. More fruit as it opens. Perennial everyday favorite. Strong 4.5/5

Montemaggiore Tasting Notes

2009-05-17T19:01:00.015-04:00

You never know what to expect when you strike up a conversation with a stranger. I certainly didn't expect to get a lead on a unknown small-production winery. It was during a trip to Napa and Sonoma in spring of 2008 that we first heard about Montemaggiore. A group of enthusiatic wine tasters next to our group got my attention and, before I knew it, I was writing down only a phone number while the tipster emphatically described why we HAD to fit it in. Problem was, we were at the last tasting of the day and an early dinner reservation was looming.

Unable to drink any more red wine (for a few hours anyway), I opted to walk around Healdsburg while the group piled back into the Jeep to try their luck at finding the winery with only a phone number to go on. The owners, in the middle of labeling and bottling, only buzzed them in because they thought they were the tipster group we had run into at the previous winery. I got to hear all about the fabulous tasting, vineyard tour, and the magnanimous owners when they returned and really started to rue my choice to stay in town. A few opened half bottles of syrah were sent back so that we didn't miss out.

We felt the wines were such a unique product at an incredible value that everyone we know has heard about them. Friends visiting Sonoma have been told to go, taste! They are converts too and the word continues to spread.

A vertical tasting of their two syrah wines was arranged and I finally got the full experience. My favorites are below.

Paolo's Vineyard Syrah 2002 - $30. Very fruit forward, perfect alone. Amazing aroma. Favorite of all the wines this evening. Later ordered several bottles to drink within the year. 89% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon. 15/20

Paolo's Vineyard Syrah Hilltop Reserve 2004 - Steely, chocolate bitterness, charcoal dryness. Great aroma, but flavor and aftertaste not as strong as others in flight. 95% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14/20

Montemaggiore Superiore (Syrah blend) 2002 - $40. Herbal with tannic finish. Soft and smooth, some spice. 75% Cabernet, 25% Syrah. 14.5/20

Montemaggiore Superiore (Syrah blend) 2003 - $40. Classy, restrained style with more finesse. More tannic with some spice. Style is very different compared to '02 Syrah which was equally loved by the group. Stronger flavor than aroma. 77% Cabernet, 23% Syrah. 15/20

More at Montemaggiore.com

2009-05-17T18:46:00.003-04:00

Rosenblum Rhodes Vineyard Petite Syrah 2005
Redwood Valley, California - $23
Love it. Herbal nose, very full and lush. Lots of flavor, good acidity. Enjoyable to sip even with strong tannins. Dark fruits. Tannic finish but still great. More time in bottle will mellow tannins and make it easier to drink without food. A strong wine that is still one of my favorites. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 4.5/5

2009-05-17T18:44:00.002-04:00

Cono Sur Vision Pinot Noir
Chile - $10
Better than the other Pinot Noirs tasted that evening. Light, long finish. Sour cherry tartness, earthy, vegetal, and other red berries. Spice in top of mouth and back. Didn't wow but good, notably so for price point. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3/5

2009-05-17T18:41:00.003-04:00

Rancho Zabaco Dry Creek Zinfandel
Dry Creek Valley, California - $20
Sedate for a Zin. Failed to impress especially considering the value-oriented price point of several other common Zinfandels. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 2/5

2009-05-17T18:34:00.004-04:00

Grgich Hills Napa Valley Zinfandel
Napa Valley, California - $40
Yummy. Much like our beloved Wilson's smooth Sawyer Vineyard Zinfandel. Medium body, supple tannins, fruit forward (red berry) with hints of spice. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3.5/5

2009-05-17T18:28:00.003-04:00

Rosenblum Desiree Chocolate Port
California - $20
Zinfandel dessert wine. Intrigued and gave it a try, because at the time, I was not a fan of port. Chocolate and vanilla nose. Smooth and balanced with the right amount of sweetness. One nitpicky bit is that I would have preferred a fuller body. Chocolate aroma sticks to the glass! Impossible to get rid of and clouded next tasting so glass was swapped out. Would buy and pair with... chocolate. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3/5

2009-05-17T18:24:00.003-04:00

Mitolo Jester Shiraz
McLaren Vale, Australia - $20
Purpley color. Good "red" nose, toasty. Initial noticeable spice. Jammy, back of throat spice on long finish. A little light after powerhouse Phelps Insignia... Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event.

2009-05-17T18:20:00.003-04:00

Anaperenna Syrah
Barossa Valley, Australia - $70
Blend of 80% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow flavor with initial hit of white pepper. Smooth finish but strong tannins. Again, not a great value for the money. Perhaps it would have been more impressive alone and allowed to open up over several hours. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3.5/5

2009-05-17T18:13:00.004-04:00

Marquis Phillips S2 Cabernet Sauvignon
McLaren Vale, Australia - $45
Having enjoyed the Sarah's blend before, I was excited about trying one of their more upscale wines. Good spice, smoky, and low tannins. Disappointed, definitely not worth the money. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 2/5

(The Sarah's blend is about 60% Shiraz, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.)

2009-05-17T18:07:00.003-04:00

Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California - $25
Tasty, solid wine but prefer Conn Creek's Anthology - smoother finish, livelier fruit flavors, and naturally more expensive. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 4/5

2009-05-17T18:02:00.004-04:00

Conn Creek Anthology
Napa Valley, California - $57
Wowwed. Loved complexity and mouthfeel. Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Red & black fruit aromas; spicy flavors, creamy oak notes, and berry cobbler. Robust with silky tannins. Smoky finish. Reminiscent of a Wilson Zin. One of my favorites from this tasting. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 4/5

2009-05-17T17:57:00.002-04:00

Bove Sparkling Chenin Blanc
Loire Valley, France - $13
Made from the chenin blanc grape. Different grape makes for surprising choice. Yeastier than prosecco, very light with floral and fruit notes. Great value. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3.5/5

2009-05-17T17:54:00.002-04:00

Mionetto Prosecco Brut
Veneto, Italy - $19
Nice & light. No yeasty heaviness. Crisp, fruit, citrus; a do again. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3/5

2009-05-17T17:37:00.004-04:00

Sokol Blosser Evolution
Willamette Valley, Oregon - $19
Aromas lead you to think you'll get a Sauvignon Blanc "bite" upon first sip, but it's not there and is a pleasant change. Lychee flavor. Surprisingly good. Tasted at a Harry's Savoy wine event. 3.5/5

(Evolution is a blend of 9 varietals: Muller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner.)

2009-05-17T17:31:00.004-04:00

Huia Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Marlborough, New Zealand - $17.99
Great nose: bell pepper and herb opening up to complex floral and mineral aromas. Also green apple, lemongrass, exotic spice and boxwood. Full texture with zippy, lively acidity. Grapefruit finish. Pretty, well-balanced and elegant wine. Tasted at a Harry's Seafood wine event.

2009-05-17T17:23:00.002-04:00

Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Eroica
Columbia Valley, Washington - $18.99
Love it; currently one of my favorite whites. Sparkling acidity, floral nose; flavors of green apple, citrus and hint of petrol. Medium to full body. Different and liked it. Tasted at a Harry's Seafood wine event.

2009-05-17T17:16:00.003-04:00

Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc SV 2008
Valle Central, Chile - $7.99
Tropical fruit nose with grassy and citrus flavors of lemon, lime, and grapefruit. Green apple acidity. Flavors of green apple, melon & lemon. Floral and mineral finish. Medium body. Liked it. Tasted at a Harry's Seafood wine event.

2009-05-17T17:13:00.002-04:00

West Cape Howe Unwooded Chardonnay 2007
South Australia - $16.99
Lush with firm acidity and full creamy texture. Tropical fruit and earthy red apple, pear spiced nose. Lemon butter finish. Enjoyable flavor. Tasted at a Harry's Seafood wine event.