A SLOW START TO 2012…

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Stan The Wine Man

In my segment… “From My Moleskine To You” I fully intend to post my tasting notes for each week so you can see what is out there and how I feel about it. I have tasted many wines this month already, and for some reason have not taken as many notes as usual. So I am making it a New Years resolution to submit my tasting notes from my Moleskine to you each week, regardless if it is one wine or thirty. Here are the wines that I have tasting notes on for the first three weeks of January 2012.

2009 Root:1 Carmenere Colchagua Valley, Chile … $10.99

I have been a fan of this wine for a long time. I love the true expression of the grape with the vegetation coming through i buckets. Admittedly it is not for everyone as many like a more fruit-forward style of wine. For those looking for “Old World” wine this will fit the bill.

Aromas of green bell pepper, celery, black pepper and dark fruits. Black currants with whipped celery notes hit you on the front of the palate. A little tomato stem action on the mid-palate with hits of pepper on smooth, well structured tannins. Nice balance and good intensity on a finish featuring cassis notes. Like I mentioned, some may be put off by the vegetable notes but I like it.   89 points

2009 Cono Sur Vision Series Carmenere Cachapoal Valley Chile … $13.99

You may be wondering why there are two carmenere in a row. I was searching for a wine for our tasting “The Best Wines With Chili”, and we thought a wine from Chile would be kind of cute. Both Pete and I felt that carmenere would do the trick so these are the two I tried. Although I liked the Root:1 personally, I felt this one would appeal to a broader audience.

Aromas of minty black currants, blackberries and an interesting beef marinade element. Plums and black currants with an underlying forest floor element, framed by structured, smooth tannins. Nice leather notes come through with hits of white pepper. Nice balance and excellent structure Long finish with traces of white pepper lingering for some time. This carmenere skips the vegetation, yet has the old world feel in it. 90+ points

2010 Charles & Charles Red Columbia Valley, Washington … $9.99

Last year, I was all over this wine putting it on my top 40 for under twenty dollar list. This is an example of why you should try a new vintage before you go crazy and buy a case or more.

Interesting nose of toasty vanilla, blackberries and what seems to be hints of coconut. Very smooth and grapey with notes of blackberries coming through. I found the wine to be slightly one-dimensional. This wine has a nice delicious factor with slight hits of bacon fat on the finish. Lacks complexity. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of folks will like this wine especially as an everyday red. I am just comparing it to what it was last year and it does not measure up.  87 points

2010 Concannon Selected Vineyards Pinot Noir Central Coast, California … $7.99

Aromas of bright cherries and hints of strawberries. Very light in the aroma category. Fruit forward almost jammy notes of black cherries, blackberries and plums. Slightly thin on the finish. This comes across as a big gob of fruit. A lot of folks might like this for it’s simplicity and fruit. It certainly is tasty. However, I find that it does not represent the varietal in a very good way, which is too bad because the price is right. If you are a die hard pinot fan, do not go here.  83 points

2008 J Vineyards Pinot Noir Russian River, California … $34.99

This is when I get just a little pissed. I compare two pinot noir, and the more expensive one shows so much better then the inexpensive one. How can I do my job as the Blue Collar Wine Guy this way? Kidding aside, I feel that this pinot is a pretty good value for what you get… And yes, I would have loved to have the eight dollar version show just a little better.

Wonderful nose on this baby with notes of earth, (good start) dusty rocks, dark cherries, red plums and anise. Deep and sexy on the palate with notes of ripe black cherries and black plums nestled by soft silky tannins. There is an underlying acidity that drives the dark fruit flavors backed by hits of minerality. Seamless across the palate with a long ass finish. A little on the soft side but a stunning wine.   90 points

2009 Chateau Les Deux Cedres Bordeaux … $10.99

2009 is another classic vintage from Bordeaux. They have had an amazing run of great vintages in the first decade of the new millennium. I am always on the look-out for wines from these vintages that fall in the “other appellations”  arena. Many times they show excellent quality for the price.This is exactly what I am looking for.

Aromas of flowers, minerals, tomato stem, tobacco leaf and caramel. Black fruits, tobacco leaf and tomato stem are framed by refined, silky tannins. Notes of blackberries and red currants come through with a nice leather component on the finish backed by spice and earth. Not your typical Bordeaux but close, showing some love handles on the mid-palate. For eleven bucks, this one is hard to pass up.  90 points

2009 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon Horse Heaven Hills, Washington … $13.99

Aromas of black currants, red cherries and perfumed spice. If you are going to just “Pop & Pour” this baby, here is what you will find. Round notes of brown sugar currants that penetrate through the mid-palate with an interesting leather spice and mocha hit on a fruit forward finish. This is really a tale of two wines. If I scored this on the “Pop & Pour” method I give it 86 points. If you decant it for just a little bit, the fruit subsides and the wine becomes less of a fruit bomb with the brown sugar element disappearing. Decanted, I give this wine 89-90 points.

2009 Foppiano Vineyards Petite Sirah Russian River, California … $14.99

Restrained on the nose with notes of beef and dark currants. Powerful black fruits on the palate with notes of spice and mocha on sweet tannins. Nice hit of grip and spice on a long finish with a pepper and spice hit on the back end. A classic example of never judging a wine by it’s nose. This is not as inky and bright as some can be, but it is well built and delicious.  91 points

2009 Chateau d’ Oupia Minervois, France … $11.99

Aromas of earth and blackberries with a backside of dried herbs and cassis. Loads of minerals on the palate backed by notes of leather and cassis. Nice dried herb element on the mid-palate. Little bit of a leather grip edge with hits of dusty rocks on a decently long finish.  A true “Old World” style red. 60% carignan, 30% syrah, 10% grenache.  88+ points

2010 La Coterie Cotes -du – Rhone, France … $10.99

Aromas of perfumed red flowers, herbs, vanilla and cassis. This is a very young wine and it shows. Dirty on the palate with a load of minerals that over-power the fruit. Crushed rock, blackberries, cassis. Slightly awkward with a tannic grip on the finish. This will change over the next couple of years, but I am not sure which direction it will go… Dirt or fruit.  Made with 100% organically grown fruit.  84 points

2010 Fontana Fredda Briccotondo Dolcetto Langhe, Italy … $13.99

A little “Old World” stink on the nose along with notes of blackberries and perfumed black licorice. As it airs out the aromas get deeper. Soft and plush on the palate with notes of red plums, cassis and spice. A nice little chocolate hit on the mid-palate backed by a nice core of brightness from start to finish. Finish is slightly thin. This baby screams for BBQ ribs or a peppered steak.  87 points

2008 Fonterutoli Badiola Tuscany, Italy … $12.99

Even though it hails from Chianti, because it has 30% merlot in it they cannot put Chianti on the label. Also 70% sangiovese the main grape of that region, this little red is done in what they call a “Super Tuscan” style. I love it when I stumble upon a great value from Italy.

Aromas of currants, cassis, forest floor, dried herbs and hints of pencil lead. Quite an interesting nose for a thirteen dollar wine. There is a nice intensity on the palate with concentrated blackberry and currant notes that blend into minerals and spice on the mid-palate. Nice underlying notes of chocolate and mocha that lead into a nice finish with hits of worn leather on the backside. This little gem has a lot going on and I think it is one of the best values I have run across recently. Will pair nicely with a pasta dish with red sauce, pizza, burgers a hearty stew or juicy steak.  Thinking it might be my pick of the month in February… We’ll see.  91 points

2010 Michael David Incognito White Lodi,California … $16.99

Had a nice little sit down with the Michael David rep. a couple of weeks ago and a nice line-up of wines  to taste.

This is mostly a blend of viognier (68%) and chardonnay (20%) with a splash of sauvignon blanc and roussanne. Beautiful aromas of cut grass, grapefruit, kiwi and hits of lime and minerals. Creamy on the palate with notes of grapefruit, kiwi, papaya, mango backed by a very nice minerality. This is a great white that I have over-looked for some reason. No more! 90 points

2010 Michael David 7 Heavenly Chards Lodi, California … $13.99

It’s nice to see them change the label on this wine. I fell in love with this chard a few years ago but had trouble selling it, mainly because of the label.

Interesting aromas of smoked ham and peaches. Nice and lean on the palate. More of a white Burgundy style with hits of peaches and minerals. The New World comes through on the finish with hits of butter and oak. The best of both worlds if you ask me. Nice balance and very interesting.  89+ points

2009 Michael David 7 Deadly Zins Lodi, California … $14.99

Deep aromas of strawberries, black raspberries, anise and a little hit of bacon fat. Very jammy on the nose. Jammy on the palate but not out of whack. This wine has good structure with delicious notes of mocha and blackberry that flow seamlessly across the palate finishing with notes of spice and bacon fat. One of the more interesting zins I have tried recently. I liked it!  89+ points

2009 Michael David Incognito Red Lodi, California … $16.99

A blend of syrah, cinsault, carignan, mouvedre, petite sirah, greanache and a splash of tannat. Talk about a kitchen sink red! Aromas of bacon fat (Go figure) mocha and boysenberry. Spicy on the palate with bright notes of bramble berries, mocha and vanilla. Nice charcoal hit on a long finish. Seriously good barbecue red. 89 points

2009 Michael David 6th Sense Syrah, California … $15.99

Very deep aromas of black plum and bacon. Love this aroma out of a syrah. Notes of blueberry and blackberry come through on the front of the palate. Nice spice notes on the mid-palate, leading into notes of coffee bean, mocha, bacon fat and boysenberry on a lingering, delicious finish. I love syrah, and this hits the spot.  91 points

2009 Michael David Petite Petit Lodi, California … $15.99

A little subdued on the nose with notes of boysenberry and, you guessed it… bacon fat. Flavors of blackberries are vibrant on the palate with notes of black cherries joining it on the mid-palate. Minerals and smoke with a little hit of spice and licorice come through on a long ass finish. This is petite sirah with a splash of petit verdot, thus the name Petite Petitl 90+ points

2007 Michael David Windmill Petite Sirah Lodi, California … $12.99

Aromas of black plums, boysenberries and a backside of char. Nice leather component on the palate with notes of boysenberry, mocha and hints of blueberry. Notes of vanilla and spice linger for some time on the finish. This wine is a nine in the delicious category. 89 points

2009 Michael David InkBlot Cabernet Franc Lodi, California … $37.99

Very restrained on the nose with hints of blackberry and coffee bean. Penetrating notes of coffee bean, charcoal, bacon fat (??) and boysenberry are framed by sturdy, appr0achable tannins. Very clear and precise on the palate from start to finish. Just a little over-priced if you ask me.  88 points

Well, there you have it. My first three weeks of January and hardly anything to show for it. However, I do believe I found my pick of the month for February which I am happy about. Happy drinking! Stan The Wine Man

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

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A FINE NIGHT OF CHILI AND WINE …

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Stan The Wine Man

To many folks, the idea of pairing chili and wine may seem a little odd. Of course, the reason I put these tasting events together is to show that wine can and should be included in just about any meal that is put together. The last two years were… “The Best Wines with Pizza” and “The Best Wines with Mac & Cheese”. This year I went with “The Best Wines with Chili” , and made it a chili cook-off with seven entries. How did it go?

First of all, we had a huge crowd turn out for the event. There was no place to park at the facility even though it has lots of parking available. It was a cold night, so I figured that no one walked to the event like they would normally if they lived close by. Another words, lots of folks and lots of cars. The contestants brought their chili and our Deli Department staff from the store lined them up for a true blind chili tasting. They had to mix the numbers up a couple of different times as some of the contestants came into the kitchen to see how things were going. When it all came together, no one knew which chili belonged to whom.

The wines we had lined up for the event were three sparkling wines. A Prosecco, Cava and sparkling wine from California. In reds we had syrah, bonarda, malbec, Cotes-du-Rhone, zinfandel, garnacha, and Carmenere along with a Washington blend. Sparkling wine works good with chili as the bubbles and acid break through the grease but are not over-powering, conflicting with the flavors. We felt that the smokiness of the syrah would match up nicely and the juiciness of zin works. Anything with grenache works because it is medium in weight yet spicy on the palate. Carmenere was a bit of a long shot, but the Cono Sur Vision carmenere worked out nicely and was a lot more popular then I anticipated.

The tasters voted on the chili and we received a whopping 100 votes. The top chili went to Mark Lampe who was the creator of chili #7 although he was convinced that his chili was #2. Mark received a 3 liter bottle of Bogle Phantom (an awesome bottle of wine) for his efforts. Mark beat out Kings Market Deli by one vote. Good job Mark…. His recipe may show up on this blog in the near future. It was a Texas Smoke chili. Third place, just behind the second place Deli (#5) by two votes was Jeanie Foder (#2). Her recipe was as much fun to read as it was to eat. Fourth (#1) Albert, fifth (#6) Alex Lowe, and tied for sixth and seventh, (#3) Jamie and (#4) Judy. All the chili entries were excellent and I appreciate the effort that was put into making them.

As for the wine, many were curious about sparkling wine and chili. As I pointed out earlier, the bubbles and acidity of sparkling wine are excellent for breaking down the fat and grease of chili. Also, the fruit and weight of this wine is not overpowering, but complimentary. Gewurztraminer and riesling would also work with chili that has a little heat to it.

Adami Prosecco Garbel Brut was the favorite of the three. Prosecco continues to grow in popularity. It is fresh, fruity and in most cases on the dry side. Most prosecco come in at under twenty bucks which makes them very affordable. The Roederer non-vintage brut from Mendocino, California was excellent with the chili and is one of my personal favorites. It also came in at under twenty bucks (barely) with the discount offered to the tasters. The Mont Marcal Cava Brut Reserva had a tough time at the tasting. Don’t get me wrong here, it is excellent sparkling wine from Spain. It comes in around forteen bucks which is a high price point for Cava. I believe it is worth every penny, but there is stiff competition in the under ten dollar category. Unless it is a wine that makes them jump out of their shoes, the consumer would rather seek out the less expensive but good versions of cava.

There were a couple of  surprises for me in the red wine category.  First of all, I was surprised out how many ordered the Cono Sur “Vision” Carmenere. It is a great bottle of wine that rolls in at about forteen bucks. Carmenere is not a well known varietal and is primarily produced in Chile. We thought it would be cute to have a wine from Chile at a chili cook-off. It turned out to be more then cute, it was well received.The other surprise, was the lack of interest in the Argento Bonarda from Argentina. Bonarda is another varietal that is not well known, but most who try it like it. Much like syrah, it has a smokey character to it with plum and blackberry notes. The going price for bonarda is  around ten bucks or under making them an excellent value. The Argento came in at under nine dollars and few ordered it. I am puzzled, but this is not the first time. Just when I think I have folks figured out, I find out that I am wrong. It looks like my crystal ball needs some polishing.

Other favorites were the High Note Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, the Helix syrah from Washington, Andre Brunel Cotes-du-Rhone and the Deloach Heritage zinfandel from California. All in all, it was a very successful event. I will have detailed notes on all the wines presented along with my scores  in the near future. Now, it is on to the tasting next month… “Fifteen Under Fifteen in February”, fifteen wines under fifteen bucks. This will be the fourth year we have presented this theme and it is always well received. For now, I will continue in my quest to keep finding excellent values in wine and passing that info on to you. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man

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BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR DIONYSUS STYLE…

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Stan The Wine Man

When the invitation came my way to go to the lair of Dionysus and bring in the New Year with his family and friends, my heart started beating harder in my chest and I felt a flush of excitement over my entire body. No one in their right mind would miss a chance to enjoy the hospitality of the great Dionysus and his lovely wife.

Those of you who read my blog on a regular basis have read the experiences I have had at the hands of Dionysus. A most generous wine lover who thinks nothing of opening his best bottles and sharing them with his guests. It is because of him I experienced the sublime juice of a ’47 Petrus, an experience I will never forget. Needless to say, it was with much anticipation that my wife and I traveled to his home to bring in 2012.

I like Dionysus and his family. I would enjoy their company wine or not. However, you do not go to his lair without enjoying the sweet libations of the vine, I and knew he would be bringing out some of his best. To my pleasant surprise, it was more then I could have imagined.

I did not bring my Moleskine to the party, because I was not there to taste. I went to have a good time, enjoy the company and of course drink. And drink I did while listening to the outstanding guitar playing of Randy Hansen. Here is a run down of the wine that Dionysus busted out for the party. (I’m going by memory here so I will do my best.)

I counted seven magnums of Champagne that were offered. ’85 & 2000 Dom Perignon Rose, vintage Cristal( I believe ’85), two vintage Krug, one was an ’85 that I remember and a ’61 Billecart-Salmon. I brought a magnum of Jacques Copinet non-vintage brut. I tried the ’85 Dom rose first and was blown away by the flavors and acidity yet it had an underlying muscularity that gave it a lot of depth. Delicious!

The Cristal was what I expected. Huge floral and fruit notes on the nose. Bracing on the palate with notes of apricots, bread dough and crisp apple flavors. I could have smelled this Champagne all night and been happy. Of course, drinking it was a necessity. The’85 Krug was mysterious and sexy with notes of coconut, apple and bread dough. Having been aged in barrel it was softer and deeper then I had remembered in the past. The last 1 opened for the night before I left was the ’61 Billecart-Salmon. I can only say that it was a religious experience. It was alive and well with brilliant acidity and lively notes of citrus and apple. Bone dry, vibrant and delicious.

The reds that he had lined up for the night were no less then redunkulous! Vintages ’94 – ’97 Bryant Family Vineyards, a ’94 & ’97 Harlan along with a ’97 Screaming Eagle, Abreu Vineyards and Dalla Valle Maya. Joining that group of cabs was an ’89 Beaucastel Homage Jaques Perrin Chatueaneuf-du-Pape and a magnum of ’07 Beaucastel. To top it off and send the palate into sensory overload, there were several bottles of Sine Qua Non. ’03 Papa syrah, ’08 The Line grenache, ’08 Poker Face syrah and B20.

I will spare you the details of tasting since my memory is just a little foggy. However, they all stood out as special and there were a couple that were quite memorable. The ’97 Abreu cab was one step away from decadent. Rich and smooth it reminded my of some of the best chocolate frosting you could possibly get your hands on liquified and blended with the best dark cherries and black plums. I absolutely loved the Bryant Family line-up. My favorite vintages were the ’07, ’06 and ’04 in that order. My favorite of the night was the ’97 Dalla Valle “Maya”. I loved it because of the balance of acidity and fruit. It was vibrant and alive with tons of room to age.

Leaving the party in fairly good condition, I slept peacefully that night with visions of cabernet and Champagne dancing in my head. I pinched myself in the morning to make sure that all of this really happened, and considering the hangover I was experiencing I knew it was true. To bring my palate back to reality, I had a dose of homemade AppleJack the next night and now I am ready to be the Blue Collar Wine Guy once again.

I will never forget bringing in 2012 with Dionysus and his family and I am thankful and humbled by the experience. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man

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STAN’S PICK FOR JANUARY 2012… FIRST OF THE NEW YEAR!

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Stan The Wine Man

2010 Apothic Red … $10.99

In my search for wines that are above average for a good price I often stumble across a blend. It doesn’t matter what part of the world it is from, blends seem to deliver a lot for the money. This wine is a blend of zinfandel, syrah, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.

On the nose, notes of coffee bean, cherries and blackberries with just a little alcohol hit. Juicy fruit on the palate that never goes over-the-top and becomes a fruit bomb. Notes of mixed berries and anise penetrate the front and mid-palate. The wine flows effortlessly across the palate with hits of white pepper on a delicious finish that lingers for some time.

Blends are the hot category in wine right now, and it is nice to see wine makers putting some thought into them rather then using up leftover juice as an afterthought.    89 points

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