Mario Pelassa Bricco Enrichetta 2012

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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From the Langhe region in Piedmont comes this Nebbiolo/Barbera blend.  Big Horn’s wife Ronny brought this offering to the weekend retreat.  Typically Nebbiolo is a fruity and full flavored grape that matures to a Burgundy-like silkiness after a few years in the cellar.  Barbera is a lighter more acidic grape with lower tannin levels.

This particular wine was rather thin on the flavor profile and did not have the weight I would have expected.  It was almost pink in color and very see-through.  Cherry-like nose and red currants came through on the palate with a touch of dryness from the tannins.  It was pleasant enough but lacked any secondary fruit and is obviously not built to cellar.  Ronny pointed out the hidden 14.7% alcohol on the label which did not show up in the glass.  I would have thought that such a high level would translate into more depth and extraction.  This wine can be found for $15 but only got an 85 out of me and 3 stars.  Unfortunately the retreat has ended and we dash back to reality tonight after the long drive home.  Salut….

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Belle Glos Pinot Noir ‘Clark and Telephone’ 2012

05 Tuesday Nov 2013

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I loved the 2008 Belle Glos and was looking forward to this updated version.  It was dark purple in the glass and had a strong nose of cherry and vanilla.  On the palate, very extracted and plush.  This wine is huge in stature and offers a certain level of complexity yet goes against the grain.  In addition to the primary cherry flavors I got plums and berry with some spice on the mid palate.  The oak is well integrated and the tannins are very smooth.  This wine is neither Old World or New, it goes against the rules and strikes out in a new direction.  The extraction bothered me and detracted from the essence of the varietal.  Pinot is supposed to be seductive, intricate and restrained.  This wine was a like a bull, strong and in your face with the 14.6% alcohol cleverly hidden.  I believe it can be had for about $36 and only gets 88 points from me making it a 3 star effort.  Salut….

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Columbia Crest H3 Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills 2008

04 Monday Nov 2013

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An extremely interesting flavor from this Chardonnay that had me bewildered.  I finally figured it out, after the fact.  Quince.

A nice yellowish hue in the glass gives way to a nose full of apple, pear and a touch of oak.  On the palate is where the action happened for me.  The quince was predominant, with apple and citrus in the background.  Crisp acidity and a generous mouthfeel made this an enjoyable wine.  It was brought on the trip by a friend (who we shall name Big Horn) and I will endeavor to find it back at home, I would like a re-taste.  I see this going great with a Nicoise salad, perhaps a cold poached salmon dish with dill.  A quick perusal on the web tells me it can be had for about $13.  4 stars and 88 points from me.  This winery is consistent, they make tons of really good wine with great pricing to boot.  This particular wine was indeed a different Chard that needs to be tried.  Salut….

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Spier 21 gables Pinotage 2010

04 Monday Nov 2013

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This bottle was brought to the weekend retreat by my mate, we’ll call him Johnny.  He originally introduced me to Pinotage and I have been a fan ever since.  This particular bottle is a ‘Private Collection’ from Stellenbosch that could be had for $25.

Dark and lurking in the glass it offered up generous fruit on the nose.  On the first taste it was different from other Pinotages- more serious, complex and richer.  I instantly thought of black fruits and figs.  Rich oak and a delightful tannin backbone are interlaced with some great acidity.  The wine blossomed and offered up some secondary flavors of licorice and earth.  A thoroughly enjoyable wine that kicked the flank steaks into high gear.  If you have some spare cash and want to broaden your reach, Pinotage is becoming a must-try in my book, this example being rather terrific. 90 points and 5 stars from me.  Salut….

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Alouette Pinot Noir 2012

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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A Sonoma Pinot Noir made in a New World style.  And I disliked it.  Sorry, but the flavor profile was not to my liking with Strawberry and Cherry Kirsch on the palate mixed with a cloying component.  My first impression when I saw the dark purple wine in the glass was that it was over-extracted.  Pinot Noir is supposed to be delicate, pale and complex yet this wine was extremely fruit driven and in my face.  This varietal almost never shows off tannins like other reds do, but the acidity was decent.  If you are a fan of this style you can certainly give it a go for $25.  86 points from me and 2 stars.  I probably would not buy it for my cellar.  Salut….

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Framingham Sauvignon Blanc 2012

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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This weekend finds us at the beach.  The Outer Banks of North Carolina is where we are staying in an ocean front palace with three other families (the prize from a raffle  back in April).  It’s a bit chilly outside, but inside there’s food and wine, games and football and everyone is just chilling.  The beauty of the gathering is that we all brought some really nice wines and get to share them together.  This particular wine was opened as an aperitif.

Straw colored in the glass, it had a distinct Kiwi nose of Sauvignon Blanc.  On the initial attack it was somewhat sweet for the varietal, which made Moxie love it right off the bat.  She is easily pleased by whites that have residual sugar.  The textbook cat’s pee was missing but grapefruit was in full force as was the grass component.  I only had a few sips of her glass so I am not going to pass too much judgement except to say that it was easy to drink but lacked a certain acidity that I need for this type of wine.  88 points and for $17 I would say it’s a 3 star wine for me for this Kiwi wine from the South Island region of Marlborough.  Salut….

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Chateau Laplagnotte-Bellevue 2009

03 Sunday Nov 2013

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Moxie and I went out for dinner with friends and after perusing the menu I decided on this wine.  I was going to order Venison, my mate was getting a braised and roasted Beef rib.  We needed a somewhat tannic and juicy wine to pair with these two meaty dishes.  The wine was spot on.  The precise blackberry on the nose and palate was delicious.  I later got a slice of blueberry pie and some vanilla bean on the finish.  The tannins are what impressed me the most.  Crisp and linear but not over the top.  The dryness was perfect and the mouthfeel was exactly what we needed to cut the fat of the beef yet not too dry for the venison.  The wine was definitely old world and not overly fruity which worked to our benefit.  The acidity was excellent and the overall balance was great.  I love it when a plan works out!  We paid around $56 at the restaurant but I believe it can be had for about $22, a veritable steal.  90 points and 5 stars from me for this Merlot based St. Emilion.  Salut….

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Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1996

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

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I took a bottle of 2001 Calon Segur to my friend’s house for dinner last night.  After we had finished the Piper Heidsieck with the appetizers, we drank the decanted Bordeaux.  When that was done, he showed me his tiny refrigerated ‘cave’ where he stored some real gems going back to the ’50s.  He pulled the pristine ’96 Napa cab out and proceeded to open it.  I had no presumptions about this wine, but it shocked me.  For a 17 year old bottle of Cabernet, it was fresh and lively yet mature and brooding.  It had cassis, black fruit, leather, earth, plums and eucalyptus on the palate with ample tannins and vibrant acidity.  It rolled in at 13.5 % and was a delight.  Still dark purple in the glass, this wine has some years to go and can be found for roughly $75.  I have always been a lover of French Claret, eschewing Napa Valley as overpriced and under-delivering.  It’s wines like this that make me realize how narrow my focus used to be and I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my palate.  If you need a very special treat, this is sure-fire.  92 points and 5 stars, albeit quite pricey it’s worth the coin.  Salut….

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Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne NV

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

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I was invited to a friend’s house in the Bay area last night and swiftly put my diet on hold.  Our aperitif was the stunning non vintage brut style Champagne from Piper Heidsieck.   It opened up in the flute with apple and brioche notes that translated onto the palate seamlessly.  A fine mousse and refreshing acidity mingled in with some lemon and biscuit.  The mousse was perfect for me, I don’t like large bubbles and the sweetness (or lack thereof) was ideal.  Smooth and balanced with a decent finish.  We drank this wine with appetizers of cheese, olives and dips.  It paired well with all the flavors and was an excellent choice.  Very adaptable, this is a brand I will cellar for intimate parties or special occasions.  I found it online for $40 and would give it 90 points and 4 stars.  Good Champagne is never cheap, this one happens to be a great value.  Salut….

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Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz 2011

28 Monday Oct 2013

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I couldn’t help myself.  The extra packaging sold me on this wine, I just had to try it.  I did not care for the 2008 Reserve Shiraz that much and figured I would give this vintage a chance to shine.

A beautiful nose of blueberry and vanilla with some ripe plums got me very excited.  The initial attack was very tasty indeed, showing off the plums and berries with some pretty forceful tannins.  I was bothered by the balance of the wine though and wondered why.  I am no expert but there was a certain component that was out of line and it took about 3 hours for it to sort itself out.  The wine then became much nicer to drink and I could enjoy the dryness of the tannins and the medium acidity.  The fruit remained prevalent, never swaying.  This Barossa Shiraz cost me about $12 and should be widely available. I think it could use another 2 years in a cellar to help with the balance and should evolve into a nice weekday dinner wine.  3 stars and 87 points from me.  Salut….

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