Things started warming up for me this week as far as wine tasting goes, and I found a few little gems to share with you. Although I stated in an article earlier in the month that I am sticking with the 100 point wine scoring approach, I have changed my mind. I will write an article stating why the change came about. For now, I have decided to go with an A-F grading system for rating the wines I taste. In short, I think this is a system that allows for subjectivity and it is flexible enough to let you know how I really feel about a wine. I have come to believe that the 100 point scale is superfluous, and Robert Parker Jr. has basically made it a joke with inflated scores. Keep your eye out for my comprehensive explanation of my decision to switch approaches. That being said, here are some of the wines I have tasted this past week. I have a ways to go before I catch up to the powerhouse tasters like Parker, Tanzer or Asimov, but I am on my way. (Maybe)
2010 Caduceus Cellars Le Cortigiane Oneste (Jerome, Arizona) … $50.00
I received this bottle via a friend and as far as I know this is only available to wine club members.
I was kind of excited to give this a try, because the wine maker listed on the back of the label is Maynard James Keenan who is the lead singer for the alternative rock band Tool. There are number of celebrity backed wineries out there, but this is the first I’ve tried where the celebrity is listed as the wine maker.
Perfumed on the nose with notes of strawberries, cassis, caramelized cranberries and red cedar bark. Cranberries and bright cherry notes all over the palate. There is an undertow of strawberries that comes through on the mid-palate and finish with lingering strawberry and cherry notes. At first the wine seems to be light, but it grows in power as it sits in the mouth. 50% Barbera and 50% Merlot (B-)
2009 Haystack Needle “The Eye” Red (Washington State) … $9.99
I have really been a fan of this wine over the past couple of years. For ten bucks it has been an excellent value. I am not so sure about this vintage however. Strong perfumed notes on the nose which actually reminded me a little of make-up (lipstick). Notes of cherries, blueberries, black olives and iron. In the mouth, notes of perfumed blueberries, minerals, cedar and cherries. There is a nice intensity of fruit from start to finish with a little green vegetation edge on the finish. Wine drinkers will like this wine, of that I am sure. However, I could not get over the strong make-up perfume that kept coming through. (C+)
2009 Enrique Mendoza La Tremenda Monastrell (Alicante, Spain) … $13.99
Eric Asimov, wine columnist for The New York Times along with a panel of tasters picked this Monastrell as one of their top values recently, so I wanted to see what it was about. Eric doesn’t believe in writing out descriptors of the wines he tastes, so it is hard to pin down his palate. I thought this wine would give me a little clue.
Aromas of blackberries, cherries and a hit of rusty iron. Tart cranberries on the palate backed by notes of red cherries and under-ripe blackberries. Loads of minerals and acidity giving it a sharp fruit attack from start to finish. This wine is a little tough to take if you want some riper fruit. But, if you are an acid freak and like your wines a little tart, not to mention the minerality, you are going to love this. Based on Eric’s affection for this wine, I am guessing he attended Woodstock and has a nice collection of Jimmy Hendrix, Janis Joplin and The Doors music at his home. ACID BABY!! (C+)
2009 Kunde Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma Valley, California) … 20.99
Aromas of perfumed (Not make-up) notes of black currants and bright blackberries with hits of vanilla and black tea. Polished tannins back notes of cassis and black currants that expand across the mid-palate. A little oak and minerals come through on the medium finish. There is a nice green element to this cab that gives it an “old world” edge. However, there is also enough fruit to please a broad cross section of palates. (B)
2011 St.Urbans-Hof Piesport Spatlese Riesling (Mosel, Germanay) …. $40.99
Very intense aromas of peaches, apricots and apples. Bright and concentrated in the mouth with notes of vanilla cream, mango, apricots and papaya. There is a beam of sweetness to this wine but it finishes dry. I know it’s forty-one bucks, but if you are a Riesling nut, you are going to love this gem. (A-)
2011 Terracita Tempranillo (Cayalunya, Spain) … $7.99
A little perfumed flower element on the nose along with notes of rusty iron, blackberries and currants. Loads of minerals and baked earth on the front of the palate, with hits of blackberries and red currants. There is a nice balance of acidity that “pops” the fruit notes in the mouth. There is a veggie component that comes through on the mid and finish along with tobacco leaf and minerals. This baby needs some lamb or beef. (C+)
2011 Tilia Cabernet Sauvignon (Mendoza, Argentina) … $9.99
Dusty notes of dense dark fruits on the nose with a little tobacco leaf and currants thrown in. Polished tannins in the mouth backed by plush fruit notes. Black cherries and currants up front that expand on the mid-palate. Tobacco leaf notes come through with a nice bright core of acidity, that leads into a long spicy white pepper driven finish. This is a little “fat” for a cab, but is a solid effort. (B-)
2011 Grayson Cellars Zinfandel “Lot 12” (California) … $9.99
A little beef action on the nose along with some soy sauce, vanilla and bramble berries. Nicely balanced Zin, with notes of mixed berry jam, blackberries and cherries, backed by hits of white pepper and spice. This zin stays clear of over-the-top jammy, but still delivers classic zin flavors with a nice back round of spice and blackberries. (B-)
2010 Buena Vista Zinfandel (Sonoma, California) … $14.99
Solid core of dark fruit notes on the nose (Dark cherries and currants). Nice intensity on the palate with notes of boysenberries, black currants and a hint of oak. There is a nice balance of acidity and fruit to this wine keeping it from becoming a fruit bomb. This zin gains power on a long-ass finish with a slight grip to it. There seems to be an underlying core of black raspberries from start to finish. I am a zin lover, and this is an excellent surprise for fifteen bucks.
That’s it for this week. I hope you found something you can look for, and I hope I convinced you to save some of your money instead of spending it on a mediocre bottle of vino..
Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
