Domaine Ste Michelle Frizzante

On November 30, 2009, In Sparkling, White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the Domaine Ste Michelle Frizzante sparkling wine from Washington’s Columbia Valley. I found this non-vintage blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for under $8. In Italy, sparkling wines are referred to as frizzante. Frizzante wines are considered to be slightly less effervescent than Champagne. Generally they are high in sugar and the bubbles mask the sweetness.

Color

In the glass this is a very light golden yellow.

Aroma

I don’t get a lot on the nose. There are some lemon and lime components.

Flavor

The attack is very sweet with lemon on the mid-palate. It finishes with a very interesting butterscotch component. I like the overall citrus components, but this is a bit simple. It will pair well with delicate flavors such as salads and desserts.

Rating

This is similar to other sparklers in this price range. I rate it 85 points.

Have you tried any American frizzante?

Tagged with: • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2007 Anakena Single Vineyard Carmenere

On November 24, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Single Vineyard Carmenere from Vina Anakena in the Rapel Valley of Chile. I’ve previously tasted the regular 2007 Anakena Carmenere. I appreciate Anakena’s commitment to the environment and the culture of Chile. They even feature the Condor Petroglyph on the label. Their Single Vineyard series emphasizes the terroir and this is a 100% Carmenere varietal which has been aged in oak for 6 months. I found this bottle for under $10.

Color

In the glass it is a dark purple, but a bit thin around the edges.

Aroma

A little mint on the nose at first followed by wet soil. There is some dark fruit present including black currant and prunes. The earthy, rotten wood component is very strong though. This is definitely not a fake nose.

Flavor

Great dark fruit on the attack. There are delicious black currant and mulberry components. The mid-palate shows black cherry and blackberry. On the finish there is some spice. Black pepper combined with a little heat from the alcohol. The finish is very long and pleasant. Overall this is a wine with tons of fruit. But unlike a lot of lesser wines, it isn’t high in sugar and the oak is not even noticeable. It will pair well with smoked meats, beef, and strong cheese. I believe it will be good with some dark chocolate as well.

Rating

For the price, this is a very good wine. Although the nose might put off some, I recommend you try it just for the flavor in the mouth. I rate it 92 points.

Have you tried any of the Single Vineyard line of wines from Anakena?

C8WYR53G7QMX

Tagged with: •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2008 Viña San Pedro Sauvignon Blanc Gato Negro

On November 23, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today we are tasting the 2008 Gato Negro Sauvignon Blanc by San Pedro from Valle Central in Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine was found for under $6 and comes with a screw cap. San Pedro is noted for their commitment to protecting the environment including using lighter glass in their bottles.

Color

In the glass this is a light yellow typical of Sauvignon Blanc.

Aroma

The most prominent note on the nose is lime. This isn’t showing a lot of aromatic intensity at this moment.

Flavor

The lime continues very strongly on the attack followed by custard apple on the mid-palate. There is also a hint of green apple and lettuce. There is some apricot on the finish. The acid is good and this crisp, citrusy wine will pair well with salad, seafood and chicken dishes.

Rating

We recommend this as a good value wine. It is very food friendly and we rate it 90 points.

wine.com

Tagged with: • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2007 Noel Bougrier Vouvray

On November 21, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today we are tasting the 2007 Noel Bougrier Vouvray from the Loire Valley in France. This wine is probably 100% Chenin Blanc; although, Vouvray wines are occasionally blended with Arbois. In Vouvray, the Chenin Blanc wines are made with different levels of residual sugar. The categories are from driest to sweetest (percent risidual sugar in parens): Sec (0-0.4%), Demi-Sec (0.4-1.2%), Moullex (1.2-4.5%), and Doux (4.5% or more). The Doux is sometimes known as liquoreux. We did not find any labeling on the bottle to declare which category this wine is. We acquired this horribly labeled bottle for under $12.

Color

This wine is very golden in the glass.

Aroma

There is not a lot of aroma from this wine. It shows a little chemical component which reminds us of chlorine. It also shows some white grape juice component. Not a very good nose.

Flavor

Upon first sip of this wine, the syrupy sweetness is overwhelming. Keep this in mind if you are going to pair it with food. It must be in the Doux category because it is close to a dessert wine. Once you get past the sugar, there is apple, peach, clover honey and papaya components. Although the fruit is present it is underwhelming. Surprisingly, for a Chenin Blanc there is very little acid.

Rating

Because of the high residual sugar and the muted fruit, we didn’t enjoy this Vouvray. We rate it 82 points.
Question for you. Should I abandon ratings? Do they help you? There is a lot of discussion of this lately. What are your thoughts on it?

Tagged with: •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2007 Horton Vineyards Cabernet Franc The Tower Series

On November 20, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 Cabernet Franc “The Tower Series” by Horton Vineyards from Orange County, Virginia. I have sent the vineyard a request for more information about the percentage of grape varietals used in this wine. Horton is a very intriguing vineyard due to their use of many different varietals. It is definitely a place I want to explore more. I found this bottle for under $11. I heard about this vineyard from Charlie Adler (@idrinkonthejob) of www.idrinkonthejob.com. It comes in a gorgeous package with a plastic cork (nice).

Color

It is somewhat thin in the glass with a good ruby red color.

Aroma

What an interesting nose. The oak is definitely playing a strong part. However, there is also some good blackberry and mint. I really like it.

Flavor

The attack has some good fruit. There is cherry and red currant. One thing I like right off the bat is that it isn’t too sweet. It tastes like real wine instead of a sugary substitute. On the mid-palate there is more cherry and some strawberry. The finish shows a little vanilla and the cherry lingers for a decent length. There is also a smokiness on the end. There are not any strong tannins, so it is drinkable now. My only complaint is that the oak is too much throughout. It covers up the taste of the wine and I don’t think it is adding the velvety smoothness that some wines achieve with it. But if you like oak, it will not impede the enjoyment of this wine. It will pair well with beef, pork and tomato sauced pasta.

Rating

I like this wine and think it is a decent value. I really wish they had used less oak treatment. It would have matched my palate even closer. I rate it 88 points. I am definitely looking forward to trying some of Horton’s other offerings. Have you had any? If so, what do you recommend?

Update: Neil Glaser of Horton Vineyards responded to my request and let me know that this is a blend of 86% Cabernet Franc and 14% Tannat. It was aged for 18 months in oak barrels.

Tagged with: • • •
 
5 Comments
Leave A Response

2008 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon

On November 19, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2008 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon from Wakely Vintners in Southeastern Australia. This wine continues my quest to find Eucalyptus in wine. I’ve previously tried the 2005 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2006 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2007 Gumdale Cabernet Sauvignon. I found this bottle for under $7. One amusing observation is that Wakely Vinters hasn’t changed their tasting notes on the label over the last three years.

Color

As in prior vintages, the color in the glass is a nice dark purplish red.

Aroma

There is a bit more oak showing on the nose than the prior vintages. The Eucalyptus component is still strong. There is also a blackberry component.

Flavor

The oak is present on the attack. Much more so than in the 2007 and 2006 vintages. There is also some dark fruit such as blackberry and black currant. Black cherry is present on the mid-palate and the finish is a bit hot with more oak. Overall this wine is too sweet. Perhaps the fruit has been over extracted during the wine-making process. It will pair with barbecue.

Rating

I found this wine to be too sweet for my palate. I rate it 83 points.

Tagged with: •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2009 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc

On November 18, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2009 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc from the Valle Central in Chile. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc comes in attractive packaging with a screw-cap and is shipped via a Carbon Neutral delivery method. I love the environmental approach by Cono Sur and found this bottle for under $9. I was very impressed by the 2008 Cono Sur Sauvignon Blanc, so it will be interesting to compare.

Color

Very light golden color in the glass. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Aroma

Grapefruit and passion fruit on the nose. There is also some good lemon components.

Flavor

A hint of green apple on the attack along with strong passion fruit. The mid-palate shows some great lemon. The finish is long with predominantly grapefruit and limes. This wine is super crisp with great acidity. If you like the citrus flavors then this wine is delicious. It will pair well with seafood, chicken, salads and many other light dishes. Due to the strong lemon, I’d love to try it with key lime pie. In additon, it will work well as an apéritif.

Rating

I like this wine and recommend you give it a try. I rate it 92 points.

Have you had this wine?

Tagged with: •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2008 Hermanos del Villar Verdejo Rueda Ipsum

On November 17, 2009, In White, By dcpatton

Today we are tasting the 2008 Ipsum by Hermanos del Villar from Rueda, Spain. This wine wins the award for labeling. There is even a number (1-800-Ole-Vino ext 137) to find out more. This blend of 60% Verdejo and 40% Viura(Macabeo) grapes was found for under $8.

Color

Very light in color which would be typical for a crisp white wine in the glass.

Aroma

Strong passion fruit on the nose, along with floral notes and lime. Very nice aroma.

Flavor

Good lemon on the attack with a creamy smooth mid-palate and finish. There is grapefruit on the finish and the passion fruit is still present in moderation. The smoothness (probably from the Verdejo) has a honey aspect to it which is nice. This pairs great with chicken, fish and salads.

Rating

I like this wine and recommend you find it. I rate this 89 points.

Tagged with: • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2006 Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

On November 16, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2006 Glass Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon by Markham Vineyards in California. This is a blend of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Shiraz. It is aged in oak and I found it for under $6.

Color

In the glass, this wine is closer to a Pinot Noir than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a bit thin.

Aroma

On the nose, this wine shows some blackberry and woody aromas. It also has a earthy component to it.

Flavor

The blackberry carries through from the nose to the attack on the palate. The mid-palate is pretty plain and it finishes with some oak. There is a little hint of cherries throughout. This is a very simple wine without much flavor other than oak.

Rating

I don’t recommend spending money on this wine. I rate it 75 points.

Tagged with: • • • •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response

2007 BV Coastal Estates Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays dOc

On November 15, 2009, In Red, By dcpatton

Today I am tasting the 2007 BV Coastal Estates Pinot Noir, Vin de Pays dOc by Beaulieu Vineyard from California. Note that this wine is actually from French vineyards in the Languedoc region. It is aged in stainless steel tanks and in oak barrels. It will be interesting to see if it is styled “old world” or “new world” or a combination. I found this bottle for under $7.

Color

It is easy to see your fingers through the wine in the glass and is a nice ruby color overall.

Aroma

The nose is medium in intensity with some earthy notes. It has wood and dirt in it similar to freshly dug up woody roots. There is also some smoky bacon components. Some fruity notes such as raspberry are also present.

Flavor

On the palate this wine is dry with slightly disappointing flavor profile. On the attack I get some sweet cherry. The mid-palate and finish show some cola flavors so that it turns into a bit of a black cherry cola. The oak also shows up on the end and there is some heat on the finish. It has some tannins and should pair well with pork or even strong fish. It does tend to be more of an “old world” style.

Rating

I was hoping for something a little more complex on the flavor side. I rate it 85 points.

More wines from Beaulieu Vineyardsicon (affiliate link)

Tagged with: •
 
0 Comments
Leave A Response
« Previous Entries
Go To Top »