OK, I want to clarify my use of the word ballin’… It can mean rich, so what I am trying to say is my Moleskine is rich with tasting notes. It is time for me to get real serious about sharing with you some of my thoughts on the wines I have tasted recently. Without further ado, here goes.
2011 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Blanc (Willamette Valley, Oregon)…$ 17.99
I have a hard time with Pinot Blanc, I find them kind of boring. There is a sales rep. that convinced me I needed to try this one because it is one of the best she has tasted. Damn if she wasn’t right. There may be hope for this varietal in my future.
Slight aromas of pears and lemon pledge, with pear coming through stronger towards the end. Minerals and pears in spades on the palate with a little saline edge to it. There is a little fresh-cut grass on the mid-palate flowing into notes of pears and minerals that linger. This Pinot Blanc is not one-dimensional as many of them can be. I liked this one a lot. (A-)
2011 Grayson Cellars Chardonnay Lot 11 (California)… $10.99
Classic California Chardonnay nose… Pears, butter and a touch of oak (the wood part that is, because we know the butter comes from oak). Creamy and soft on the palate without being flabby at all. Notes of pears, butter and butterscotch come through with a nice intensity from start to finish with some spices lingering. This is not my favorite style of Chardonnay, but I can guarantee there will be a lot of folks who like it. (B)
2011 C’Est La Vie Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc (Vin De Pays, France) …$10.99
Clean and fresh aromas of pears, white flowers and figs. Creamy on the front of the palate with apple skin and grassy notes. It gets a little awkward on the palate, kind of jumping all over without balance and flow. There is kind of an off-putting bitterness/fruit skin element on the finish. The wine wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t very good either. I just didn’t have a nice flow on the palate. 60% Chardonnay and 40% Sauvignon Blanc (C-)
20110 Scilio Etna Bianco (Etna, Italy) … $13.99
I always love to try interesting wines with obscure varietals like this blend of Caricante and Cattaratto grapes from the volcanic soils of Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy. This wine is a little challenged on the nose with dusty notes of ginger and a little pear. The palate was a different story. Very full and creamy in the mouth with pear notes in spades. There is a nice minerality from start to finish with a greasy element coming through on the back-end joined by orange blossom notes. This wine is a “10” in the delicious category and for the price, I think it is worth giving a try. It would pair nicely with roasted fowl or crab. (B+)
2011 J.Scott Cellars Pinot Noir “Susan’s Vineyard” (Southern Oregon)… $19.99
Aromas of light black tea with some cherry and oak notes coming through with a little heat (although it says only 13% abv on the label). Ripe dark cherry notes come through on the front of the palate with a back-drop of black tea. Spice-box notes come through on the mid-palate into the finish joined by white pepper notes that linger. A smooth and easy to drink Pinot, that will please a lot of palates at a very good price. (B)
2010 Treana Red (Paso Robles, CA)… $34.99
70% Cabernet Sauvignon & 30% Syrah, this has always been one of my favorite wines when I am looking for a palate blast. Very deep and seductive on the nose with notes of tobacco and currants with some rose pedal and cherry thrown in. Bright, delicious fruit on the palate with notes of currants, spice and a little citrus thrown in. Nice intensity at the start, yet it intensifies into the strong, spicy finish with notes of tobacco, currants and hits of blueberries that linger for some time. This is a hedonistic wine and needs to be saved for the moment when you are craving a little dessert and spice in your glass of wine. If you don’t admit you have those moments, then you are not being honest. (B+)
Non-Vintage Austin Hope Winery Trouble Maker Red (Paso Robles, CA)… $18.99
Most wine guys (and girls) are looking for those cute little wines with catchy names that are actually good. I am afraid that this is not one of them. This is a Rhone style blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre with a little Petite Sirah and Zin thrown in. The nose was very interesting with some meaty tobacco notes coming through along with smoke, Cassis, dark cherries and currants. Plump, ripe currants coat the palate with some spice notes coming through on the mid-palate. It has a spine of tar to it and finishes with white and black pepper notes. This is a fruit bomb wannabe that almost gets there but falls short. Just a little identity crisis in this wine (although I will admit that some will like it a lot). (C+)
2011 Coppola Vineyards Votre Sante’ Pinot Noir (California)…??
There is a nice “old world” edge to the nose with notes of baked earth, cherries and a hit of toast. It switches gears on the palate with a real jammy, cherry juice meets black tea bags element to it. A little on the simple side leading into a fruit-forward finish that thins out quickly. I know they can make Pinot Noir in California, but this is not a very good example. (C-)
2011 Treana White (Central Coast, CA) … $17.99
A spicy, floral nose with notes of mango and tangerine coming through. Full and creamy on the palate with exotic flavors of tropical fruits and spice coming through. Notes of papaya, white flowers and lemon curd come through on the lingering finish with hits of spice and white pepper. Like its cousin the Treana red, this is a mouthful of wine and a “10” in the delicious category. 50% Marsanne & 50% Viognier (B+)
2010 Coppola Votre Sante’ Chardonnay (California) … ??
Aromas of buttery pears and hits of fig. Butterscotch and pears on the front of the palate with slight notes of apple coming through. Butter and fig notes come through on the mid-palate leading into a sweet, spicy, oak driven finish. This is part of Coppola Wineries lower tier project and I am sorry I don’t have pricing for you, but I know it very reasonable. What I liked about this Chard is the fact that I didn’t get any fake flavors. Everything seemed real without make-up. If it has make-up it is very subdued. If you are in the mood for an old-fashioned oak driven Chard at a good price, this is a good choice. (B-)
2011 Soter Vineyards North Valley Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley, Oregon) … $31.99
Subdued aromas of black tea, earth, cherries and a hit of Worcestershire Sauce. Earthy notes on the palate with notes of Cassis and cherry backed by black tea notes. The wine expands and intensifies on the mid-palate leading into a kiss of raspberry on the clean finish. This Pinot has good balance and drinks nicely coming from a difficult vintage. (B+)
There you have it, another round of tasting notes directly from my trusty Moleskine. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
